Chapter 257: Advent of the Divine Dragon (13)

The saying “There are no filial children with long illnesses” didn’t come out of nowhere. Just how high is the accuracy rate of old sayings?

Qing thought this.

If Seol Ganom, the neighborhood’s top intellectual, heard this, he would have sneered “Hmph, ignorant woman.”

This is because originally, old sayings with low accuracy rates didn’t survive as they were just nonsense, so the ones still alive and passed down originate from universal human habits or psychology.

In Qing’s homeland, this is also called survivorship bias – it’s not that old sayings are particularly accurate, but only the accurate ones survived and were passed down.

Anyway, there’s only one person around Qing who’s been sick long enough to swallow old sayings.

“Miss Murong? Aren’t you hungry?”

At this, Murong Juhui stared blankly at Qing, then suddenly her focus turned downward. Qing was startled and raised her arms in a defensive posture.

It was a weakness she had been feeling deeply lately.

“Ugh.”

At this, Murong Juhui flinched, then sharply turned her head away.

In fact, Qing felt sorry while taking care of Murong Juhui.

Because she now realized that resolving resentment is no longer a universal method of mental treatment, she thought she had done something to be sorry for.

Still, she’s gotten much better lately, and follows along obediently when told “Let’s go wash up.”

Since she trembles in fear at the sight of bathtubs or large basins, Qing has been taking her to bathe, gently pouring warm water she brought.

It was almost like taking care of an elderly person.

Perhaps because that devotion worked, lately she doesn’t have fits or scream anymore.

So Qing thought she just needed to take care of her a bit more, but-

“Hey. Juhui. You’re not coming again today?”

“Ah. Sister Chaorye…”

“Aren’t you eating? You should eat more when you’re sick. You need to eat meat and gain strength.”

It was Peng Chaorye.

Murong Juhui has been attending the training ground with her head buried between her legs since her rescue, but it’s amazing that Peng Chaorye is only now speaking to her.

Though Peng Chaorye is kind, she’s originally someone who doesn’t pay much attention to others. Because women in the martial arts world always approach her first because of her outstanding younger brother, she never needed to approach first.

So she didn’t particularly care about Murong Juhui’s strange spectating either, since she was originally a child who followed Peng Daesan around.

As that period grew longer, she finally took a little interest now.

Isn’t she a bit strange? Why doesn’t she eat together even once? Qing’er isn’t the type to ostracize someone, and it doesn’t seem like she’s ostracizing her. But it doesn’t seem like she’s content just watching either. She seems sick or something.

At this, Murong Juhui immediately accepted.

“I will. Thank you for your concern.”

She even smiles brightly!

And she clings tightly to Peng Chaorye’s arm, even linking arms.

“What’s this, why are your arms so soft, have you lost all your muscles? Have you been starving lately?”

“Um, a little.”

“That won’t do. You need to eat meat. If you build up lots of muscle you won’t get sick. You’re sick because you’re not eating.”

“Yes. I, I understand.”

Seeing this sight, even Qing felt upset.

Half disappointed, half indignant.

Of course, she didn’t take care of her to hear words of thanks or be treated as a benefactor, but she had poured her heart into it and treated her kindly, only to be ignored.

How could it look good to see her clinging happily when Chaorye, who never cared before, just said a few words?

So she took up a whole seat at the restaurant table, and while Peng Chaorye diligently served her meat instead of various things, she ate it well like a baby bird swallowing food.

It’s fortunate Tang Nanah wasn’t here, if she saw this she would have sprinkled poison saying what the hell is this, no, pulled her hair.

So in the end, Qing thought:

What’s this? She looks fine?

Is she just acting out because I’ve been too nice and she looks down on me? Is she having fun watching me fret and fuss?

This is why they say you shouldn’t take in black-haired beasts, it didn’t come out of nowhere.

What, are you Old Saying again? Really…

This was half her thoughts.

And half was thinking, maybe I’m actually hindering her recovery.

She probably thinks of the underground when she sees me, so of course her condition can’t improve if she keeps seeing me and recalling bad memories.

Combining the two, Qing finally issued an eviction order.

“Shouldn’t Miss Murong return to her family soon?”

“…Huh? Why, why?”

“Well, your family must be worried. And seeing today, right, it’s hard to look at my face? I didn’t think of that. I’m sorry for making you recall bad memories. I didn’t think of it that way. Hmm. I’m sorry for being insensitive and clingy.”

“No, wait, wait a moment. That’s not it-“

Murong Juhui said this while reaching out her hand.

You, where are you reaching again! I won’t fall for it twice!

Qing nimbly widened the distance while defending her weak point.

The first time, Murong Juhui just grabbed the handle in confusion while being carried, so it wasn’t counted as an attack.

But the second time, didn’t she clearly mock her painful appearance? Since the intent is proven, it’s right to count it as an attack.

Murong Juhui, who fruitlessly stirred the air, made an expression like she was in more pain despite failing her attack.

“Miss Murong, you shouldn’t do that carelessly. Do you know how much it hurts? I won’t blame you since it’s in the past, but. Your feet are all healed now, right?”

“Not yet! Not yet. My toenails haven’t all grown back yet-“

“You don’t often show your toenails even to family, do you?”

“That, well.”

At that moment, there was a cough from outside. It was the sound of the Wucheon Pavilion maid.

“Yes. Please speak.”

– Miss Gongson has arrived.

“Ah, is that so? Oh my, I almost forgot her face. Wait, no. I’ll go now.”

Then Qing said to Murong Juhui:

“I’m sorry for insensitively showing my face all the time. Hmm, if you just endure until the finals, we probably won’t see each other anymore after that, so I’m sorry about the underground. I was trying to help in my own way, but I really, really didn’t know Miss Murong would be so shocked. Well, I’ll assume you’re returning home.”

Qing said this and left the room.

It’s the first time seeing Gongson Yoye since the semi-finals.

As soon as she saw Qing, Gongson Yoye’s expression bloomed brightly.

Qing’s heart couldn’t help but be pleased at the unhidden delight.

“Ye! What on earth have you been so busy with that you didn’t even show your face? I thought maybe you were hardening your heart since we have to face each other in the finals.”

“How could that be? But, friends and finals are separate. If I win, um, then, we’llstillbefriends. No no no of course Miss Ximen isn’t that kind of person but it’s a rare martial arts competition and with that result no, no, no, please pretend you didn’t hear that.”

“Hmm. You seem very confident? Are you already worrying about after you win?”

“That’s not it-“

“Come on, I’m joking. How could our friendship be damaged by something like that? But, what have you been so busy with?”

“Haah…”

At this, Gongson Yoye sighed deeply.

“I thought I just had to swing my sword hard, but I have to greet all sorts of people. I didn’t think my clan’s long-cherished wish would be such a complicated matter.”

And she talked about being called here and there to greet people. And she said she learned about the complex behind-the-scenes negotiations to fill the vacant spot among the Ten Great Clans.

“I sometimes envied Cheonil, though it’s a bad thought, because I had never gone outside the walls of the training ground before coming here, while Cheonil was rarely at the clan and always going around. But, that wasn’t it.”

Gongson Cheonil’s marriage has been arranged, and the partner is the eldest daughter of the Sima clan.

“She’s older than me, and, to be honest, an ordinary person. It’s a bad thing to say. I thought Cheonil would be matched with a more beautiful and younger lady.”

“So it’s a political marriage…”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“How does Cheonil feel?”

“Since Cheonil brought back the marriage proposal, he says he’ll do his best. That people’s lives are about getting close while seeing each other’s faces and being together anyway…”

Just as Gongson Yoye lived her whole life in the training ground, Gongson Cheonil also lived for the clan’s long-cherished wish.

“Hmm. If it’s his own choice, there’s nothing we can say. But, the Sima clan? Then, have you seen that person? The Wise Flower?”

“Ah. My new sister. I haven’t talked to her.”

“I heard she’s quite amazing here.”

Qing asked while patting her chest area.

At this, Gongson Yoye tilted her head.

“Not really? When I saw her, she didn’t particularly stand out.”

Since she heard she always wraps it up tightly to hide it, Qing thought oh well, I guess that’s how it is.

After chatting like that for a while, Qing finally brought up the main point.

“You know. I heard the martial art Ye uses consumes Innate True Qi? Is that true?”

“Ah. How did you…”

“Mountain said it seemed like that. So it’s true.”

Gongson Yoye nodded.

“Since I’ve already sparred with him several times, he might have felt the difference in sword power during the match. But, Miss Ximen. To be precise, it’s not a martial art that uses Innate True Qi, but one that can use it. Usually I don’t go that far, so don’t worry.”

At this, Qing immediately understood.

It’s a technique that can be turned on and off.

“But, that’s using up your lifespan, right? Do you have to go that far just for a martial arts competition?”

“Just?”

Gongson Yoye looked at Qing with disbelieving eyes.

“Even if it’s for your clan’s long-cherished wish, I don’t want Ye to go so far as to use up your life. Do you have to win that badly? Is there some kind of promise that you’ll enter the Ten Great Clans right away if you win?”

“It’s not like that, but.”

“If Ye really has to win no matter what, you don’t need to burn up your remaining life like that, I could, um. We could fight fiercely for 20 exchanges, no, maybe 40 exchanges and then-“

“Miss Ximen.”

Gongson Yoye’s expression was cold.

It was also an expression Qing had never seen before.

When she first saw her, she had a gloomy and pitiful look, and after becoming friends, she always had a smiling expression.

“Do I look ridiculous to you, Miss Ximen?”

“Huh? No, that’s not it-“

“Then, what is it? Do you pity me? Because I’m a fool who’s been locked up in the training ground at this age, swinging only my sword without knowing anything about the world? Is that why you pity me, did you ever really consider me a friend in the first place? Isn’t it just kindness you’re bestowing on a pitiful person?”

Qing was greatly flustered.

“No, I. That’s not what I meant. Just for a martial arts competition, for Ye to risk your life like that. I want Ye to live long and keep seeing you, so it’s too precious to burn up your life for something like this.”

“Just. Did you say just a martial arts competition?”

Gongson Yoye’s anger deepened.

“For you, Miss Ximen, yes. In fact, since your achievements are so high, it was probably just a boring pastime you could win if you felt like it.”

“Ye, that’s not what I meant-“

Qing kept repeating the same words.

But Gongson Yoye cut her off mid-sentence.

“But it’s not like that for me. I’ve lived my whole life for this moment, and it’s funny for a mere 27-year-old girl to talk about her whole life? But still, for my short whole life, I really lived only for an opportunity like this. But to Miss Ximen, it was nothing special? I staked my life on this.”

“Ye, wait, calm down.”

“Even looking down on people, ha. Somehow. I couldn’t have had a friend like this. Miss Ximen? This isn’t a friend, it’s just playing at being friends. Why, was it fun to have me cling to you while bestowing a meager friendship? I never begged for friendship, and I’m not pitiful.”

Qing just felt wronged.

Why, why this sudden outburst?

What? What did I do?