Chapter 259: Before Going to Anhui. (3)

After finishing my wandering around Hyeon, I returned to my quarters.

Because Namgung Bi-ah’s hostile energy and glares kept stabbing into my back, I walked faster.

I was able to arrive earlier than I thought.

‘…I should never go out looking like that again.’

Not only could I not even tell where the food was going,

there was no way I could last long in that atmosphere.

Someday.

If possible, even if I go out together,

I should go alone, or perhaps bring just one person.

If not, it felt like I might genuinely get indigestion.

Hooook!

I slowly extend my fist forward.

Even while wrapped in thought, my movements extended properly.

It must be thanks to the countless repetitions of the past.

Being tired is one thing,

but training couldn’t be stopped, so I had to do it with sheer grit.

‘As my internal energy increases, controlling it becomes that much harder.’

Compressing it as much as the increased internal energy is even harder.

Unlike in my previous life, when I would just unleash it as it grew,

in this life, I had to learn a more efficient way to use it.

Since I gained a sliver of enlightenment,

I need to expand it and contain it within my body.

It was for the sake of advancing to a slightly higher realm.

I moved, retracing every minute movement,

and accordingly, reduced the movement of my internal energy.

While doing so, I had to reach the desired level of power.

For this, arduous concentration and…

my teeth clenched involuntarily from the pain in my Dantian, as if it were being squeezed,

but I still had to do it.

Crackle.

As my toes landed carefully,

I recalled the conversation I had with Moyong Hi-ah just before.

To put it in result,

Moyong Hi-ah said she would accompany me to Anhui.

It was unavoidable for her to periodically receive heat,

and moreover, she happened to have business in the Anhui region as well,

so she said she would be joining me.

Of course, this was something I had somewhat expected,

but hearing that she would actually come made me more surprised than I anticipated.

Regardless, it was a member of the Moyong family, one of the Four Great Clans, visiting another clan.

Furthermore, the Moyong and Namgung clans…

although their relationship has considerably softened by now,

just two generations ago, they were often compared as equally renowned sword clans within the Four Great Clans.

‘…Now, the Moyong family is a bit inferior, I suppose.’

If we look solely at martial power,

whether it’s the clan head, the Sky-Piercing Sword King Namgung Jin,

or his son, the Young Dragon, it’s the same,

but it’s enough to just think of Namgung Bi-ah right beside me, not those two.

Perhaps, not just within the Namgung family,

but even across the entire Central Plains, finding talent like Namgung Bi-ah’s wouldn’t be easy.

She was a woman who had reached her peak at the mere age of twenty,

and in my previous life, she was a figure who possessed the power to single-handedly annihilate her own clan.

Of course, Moyong Hi-ah is also not without talent,

but rather than exceptional talent as a warrior,

her talents as a merchant or strategist were more outstanding.

‘…I know that well.’

I saw her enough times in my previous life to be sick of it, so I couldn’t not know.

Amidst those crazy monsters,

the reason why quite a few survivors could endure for a long time

was not the martial power of the gathered high-ranking disciples,

but entirely because Snow Phoenix commanded people so skillfully and efficiently.

Furthermore, when the time came to sacrifice herself according to the situation,

because she herself threw herself in without hesitation,

she also created the justification for many to follow her words.

An endlessly cold, rational woman.

As if laughter itself had frozen due to her cynical aura,

she was a person who showed no trace of it.

That was Snow Phoenix in my memory,

“-I’ll cherish it.'”

“…”

The smile she gave when receiving a cheap trinket suddenly comes to mind.

It was a face so different from my previous life.

I had never imagined, nor tried to imagine, that Snow Phoenix could make such a face.

I had never even tried to imagine it.

The meaning of this is…

‘Just like the Demon Sword Empress, she too can change.’

From Namgung Bi-ah now,

Just as the scent of blood felt from the Demon Sword Empress in my previous life, and the loathing and hatred she showed towards others, including men,

as Moyong Hi-ah’s coldness lessened,

I wondered if a different aura from her past life was also permeating her.

If that were because of me…

Sli-ip-.

“Oops…!”

Was it because of the sudden thought that flashed through my mind?

My toes, which I was moving with effort, faltered for a moment.

My movements distorted, the internal energy I had barely controlled scattered,

and was recalled back into my Dantian.

“…Tsk.”

Feeling this, I clicked my tongue.

This is why I shouldn’t have stray thoughts.

“Today’s training is over.”

Now that my concentration was broken, there was no point in continuing.

In the end, after recalling even the minute residual internal energy in my body,

I moved my feet.

‘Somehow.’

Was it because I had too many stray thoughts?

I felt like I wouldn’t be able to sleep well tonight.

---

I am having a dream.

How long has it been? Since I’ve had a dream.

And not a nightmare, but an ordinary dream.

The reason I knew immediately that it was a dream was…

…not for any particular reason.

‘It’s soft.’

I was currently stroking a cat’s chin,

and there are no cats in my quarters.

So, it must be a dream.

Although I don’t particularly like cats,

or rather, I’m not really fond of animals in general,

I was just stroking it because it was there.

Perhaps finding my touch pleasing,

the cat rubbed its face against my hand.

It was a cat with white fur and blue eyes.

How unusual.

So there are cats like this.

It looked quite different from the spotted ones I sometimes see around the neighborhood.

It had an indefinable grace, perhaps.

Just by looking, it felt like it had a good lineage.

Purrrr-

As I quickly moved my fingertips to tickle its chin,

the cat made a rumbling sound.

It seemed to be in a good mood.

‘But somehow, it seems to resemble someone.’

White fur and blue eyes.

Who could it be…?

It definitely resembles someone.

‘Ah.’

I remembered.

Isn’t there someone nearby who obviously resembles it?

‘Namgung Bi-ah.’

White fur and blue eyes.

That fits perfectly.

This cat resembled Namgung Bi-ah.

Perhaps because of that.

My stroking hand unconsciously changed.

Moving the hand that was tickling its chin,

I stroked its head,

or gently rubbed its cheeks.

Maybe because it was a dream, even amidst this, the cat simply enjoyed the touch obediently.

Just then.

Grrrr-

The sound of a beast grinding its teeth could be heard from somewhere.

Hastily checking behind me,

I saw an unknown black shape slowly approaching.

‘What is that….’

What is that?

I stared with an absurd expression at the suddenly appearing presence,

but the approaching black shape suddenly charged towards me at high speed,

and I hastily pulled the cat into my arms.

It was to protect it.

As I hugged it tightly, for some reason, the feeling of holding it was different.

It was clearly a small cat I saw,

but it felt like it filled my arms completely.

Should I say it felt like hugging a person?

The softness I felt was distinctly different.

“Oof.”

“Hm?”

A short scream was heard.

It felt too vivid to be just a dream.

The sensation was the same.

Could I dare call this a dream?

Perhaps because I felt such strangeness,

I woke up from the dream without realizing it.

“…Hm?”

Lifting my heavy eyelids, I barely managed to check my surroundings,

and I was holding something.

It was quite soft and fluffy.

What is this?

Is it a pillow?

As I tried to pull away slightly,

I felt something stroking my hair.

Judging by the sensation, it was definitely a hand.

Once I was certain, I hastily pulled back, creating distance.

“W-what the heck.”

Checking the situation,

I saw what I had been holding until now.

There was Namgung Bi-ah, eyes wide with surprise, blinking blankly.

“…Y-you, what are you? What are you doing?”

As I asked, startled,

Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head.

“…I just… came to wake you up…?”

In this absurd situation, this felt even more like a dream.

No way.

Could it be that what I was fiddling with in the dream was real?

It couldn’t be.

If it were true, Namgung Bi-ah wouldn’t just stay still.

“Are you okay…?”

Instead, Namgung Bi-ah wore a worried expression, as if concerned about my sudden reaction.

“I’m fine. Nothing happened.”

“…”

She tilted her head at my answer,

and then slightly opened her arms.

At that gesture, I frowned slightly and asked,

“What are you doing?”

“…Don’t you want to hug me…? Or… want to touch me…?”

“…”

At Namgung Bi-ah’s words, I ran a hand over my flushing face.

It seemed I hadn’t just been doing it in the dream.

“…I don’t, so put your arms down.”

“…Okay….”

At my words, Namgung Bi-ah returned her arms to their original position.

It wasn’t the first time Namgung Bi-ah suddenly came to my room,

so it wasn’t particularly surprising,

No, it was surprising. I had just gotten used to it.

Even the servants seemed not to care anymore whether Namgung Bi-ah came in or not.

‘This is truly embarrassing.’

This might be the most embarrassing moment of the year.

I never thought I’d be caught in such a state.

“…Wait outside, I’ll wash up quickly and come out.”

“…”

First, I need to cool my face down,

and calm myself before going out, so I tried to get Namgung Bi-ah to leave,

but for some reason, Namgung Bi-ah just sat there, looking at me.

“Why, do you have something to say?”

To my question, Namgung Bi-ah slowly spread her arms.

“As expected… you want a hug…

“Please leave….”

“…Okay….”

Namgung Bi-ah finally left, looking disappointed.

I hastily called a servant, finished washing my face,

and changed my clothes.

The servant’s gaze felt somewhat strange,

but upon seeing my awkward expression, they quickly changed their demeanor.

They probably made some strange assumptions because of my flushed face.

“When do we depart?”

“I heard it’s about one Sijin later.”

“Then we’ll have time to eat.”

Hearing the servant’s answer, I nodded.

Several days had passed since I returned from leaving Hyeon with Namgung Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah.

Today was the day we were leaving for Anhui, as I heard from my father.

The period staying at the clan residence wasn’t very long,

so thanks to that, the schedule was tight.

I had to handle quite a lot of business within a few days.

Making appearances at the surrounding merchant guilds I heard about from my father,

and cramming in the education I was supposed to receive.

Moreover, Gu Huibi kept visiting and bothering me whenever possible,

and Madam Mi, whom I inexplicably kept running into often.

Ah.

For reference, from the moment Namgung Bi-ah handed the necklace to Moyong Hi-ah,

she hadn’t spoken to me for several days.

She must have been quite offended,

because even when I visited, she just ignored me and wouldn’t interact.

While I was contemplating what to do,

Hongwa, who was watching my worries beside me, said to me,

“-How about bringing her some flowers? I’m sure she’ll soften up then.'”

Hearing the advice, I was initially dumbfounded.

‘If a mere flower could improve her mood, she should have cheered up long ago,’ I thought.

When I asked if there was anything else,

Hongwa made a face I’d never seen before and sighed deeply.

“-…Wait, I felt sorry for Young Lady Namgung.'”

It was a rather sorrowful voice.

Seeing that, I pretended to be convinced and gathered flowers to give to Namgung Bi-ah.

For reference, I gathered white flowers to give her.

Because the only flowers I knew were the ones my mother used to grow.

‘…I’m glad it worked, though.’

It really did work.

When I gave her the flowers,

Surprisingly, I saw Namgung Bi-ah’s expression change in surprise.

And even a smile.

Why did it work?

Aren’t they just flowers?

A woman’s heart is truly mysterious.

After getting dressed and coming outside,

I saw Namgung Bi-ah standing in the garden.

She seemed to be looking at the pond attached to my courtyard.

There shouldn’t be anything there…

Originally, there would have been carp in that pond,

but since it seemed troublesome to manage, I sent them to Gu Yeonseo’s pond.

“When did you wake up?”

“Hm?”

“If you came all the way to my room, didn’t you wake up incredibly early?”

“…Ah.”

Unlike me, who had just finished getting ready,

Namgung Bi-ah had already finished preparing.

Her hair was nicely styled,

and she seemed to have put on a little makeup.

“You wouldn’t have done it yourself. Did Hongwa help?”

“…Nnnh?”

I asked because, given Namgung Bi-ah’s personality, I didn’t think she’d dress up just because she was going home.

Especially since Namgung Bi-ah, who loves sleeping, was up this early.

Her clothes also looked neater than usual.

Her sword, which was usually at her waist, was nowhere to be seen.

It was obvious it wasn’t Namgung Bi-ah’s doing.

“Who did this for you?”

“…Well…”

Why couldn’t she answer?

To my question, Namgung Bi-ah avoided my gaze, looking somewhat troubled.

Is it necessary to go to such lengths?

“…Madam Mi…”

“What?”

At the unexpected answer, I asked again.

It was because Madam Mi suddenly appeared in the conversation.

“Why Madam Mi?”

“…Since I was returning to my home… she said it was right to show that I had been doing well…”

In other words,

Madam Mi sought out Namgung Bi-ah this morning,

and had a servant, or someone, wash her, dress her, and fix her up.

“What is this supposed to mean?”

I roughly understood the meaning,

but the distance to Anhui isn’t short,

so what was the point of doing this already?

As if sensing my confusion,

Namgung Bi-ah added,

“…She said she would let me know… when we arrive…”

“…”

Right.

Madam Mi is coming along anyway.

The problem is why Madam Mi would bother Namgung Bi-ah like this,

‘Although there’s the way she looks at things,’

I recalled that there was no need to do so for others, so her actions were certainly inexplicable.

‘I heard that Gu Huibi’s side was also having a hard time.’

The moment Madam Mi returned,

Gu Huibi started suffering.

Gu Huibi, whose temper was originally even fiercer than mine,

was caught by Madam Mi, who values manners, decency,

and dignity, and was undergoing re-education regarding these aspects.

I heard she was being forced to restudy and redefine her attitude.

‘Wow… that must be awful, right?’

Just hearing about it gives me chills.

Besides, when did Gu Huibi ever care about such things?

Moreover, if you mention the Sword Peak in the Central Plains now,

it refers to the greatest disciple of the later generation, along with her fame,

and the story of her fiery temper was already famous enough to be mentioned alongside it.

Gu Huibi’s personality was like that even before now, and…

…it wouldn’t change in the future. At least, that’s how the future I saw was.

The reason she didn’t defy or run away from Madam Mi,

must be because Gu Huibi herself quite likes her mother.

Conversely, Gu Yeonseo seemed to enjoy that process, though.

“So that’s why you came looking like that this morning?”

“…Yeah.”

“You must have had a hard time.”

“No…”

What do you mean, ‘no’?

It was amazing that she, who barely wakes up when called, was up this early.

She must have managed to wake up somehow.

“Let’s go eat first.”

“…Ah….”

Namgung Bi-ah hesitated for a moment.

“What’s wrong?”

Since I heard there was about one Sijin left until departure,

there was plenty of time to eat.

At my suggestion, Namgung Bi-ah made a subtle expression.

Given the time, Namgung Bi-ah couldn’t have eaten anything yet,

so why was she acting like this?

“Is there a problem?”

I asked, filled with puzzlement,

and Namgung Bi-ah cautiously replied.

“…Food… Madam Mi asked me to eat together… with her…”

“What?”

Madam Mi?

It was a bit baffling that she made such a suggestion, not to me, but to Namgung Bi-ah.

I had noticed the frequency of our encounters increasing recently for some reason,

but a sudden invitation to breakfast?

“What is this, suddenly? Where do I need to go?”

“…”

To my question about where to go,

Namgung Bi-ah shook her head.

As if that wasn’t the case.

“You mean no? Then what on earth is….”

“Only me….”

“Hm?”

“…She told only me to come…”

“…?”

…Only you?

Why?