Chapter 276: Generation of Shooting Stars. (5)

After spending a pleasant training session with Gu Jeolyeop.

Returning to the inn where I was staying, it was already evening.

Including Namgung Bi-ah, who hadn’t shown her face since we arrived in Hanam.

Moyong Hi-ah, who still looked busy, was also already seated in the dining hall.

As I dragged Gu Jeolyeop in.

Moyong Hi-ah spotted me and greeted me.

For reference, Namgung Bi-ah had been sending glances my way from the moment I entered the entrance.

“You’re here?”

“Yeah.”

“Young Master-nim, you’ll be eating too, right?”

“I am a little hungry.”

As I said that, I pulled out a chair next to Namgung Bi-ah and sat down.

As soon as I sat down, Namgung Bi-ah poured water into my empty glass.

Accepting it and taking a sip, I grabbed Gu Jeolyeop and casually tossed him into a corner.

He’ll probably get up and eat when it’s time.

In the meantime, I casually glanced around the inn.

“There aren’t many people here?”

It was the same when I arrived yesterday.

It seems we’re the only guests right now.

Did they perhaps rent the whole place out?

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s just that you seem like the only one here who would spend money like that.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

It was a reasonably logical suspicion, I suppose.

For some reason, I felt like Moyong Hi-ah would have rented out the entire inn.

But if she says she didn’t.

“Then are there just no people?”

For reference, Moyong Hi-ah recommended this inn.

She said it was good because it was a place with some reputation.

Since everyone in our party was from prestigious families, securing lodging wasn’t particularly difficult.

Honestly, if Moyong Hi-ah so much as breathed a word, renting out the entire inn wouldn’t be that difficult.

‘How strange, people should be gathering around now.’

While I figured there must be some reason.

Considering the admission period for the Divine Dragon Pavilion is just around the corner, it should be a time when people are flocking, but.

Seeing it so empty felt… peculiar.

As we were exchanging pleasantries while waiting for the food to arrive.

Namgung Bi-ah, who had been continuously pouring me tea and water.

“…Ah.”

She shifted her gaze towards the door, her eyes widening.

“Hm? Why are…”

Just as I was about to ask what was wrong.

Only then did I sense someone’s presence through my ki-sense.

There were multiple presences felt, but.

Amidst them, I sensed one familiar aura.

Just as the presence gradually drew closer to the inn.

Creeaak!

“Young Master-nim!”

The inn’s door burst open, and someone entered.

Then, a gust of winter wind simultaneously swept in from the open doorway.

“Young Master-nim…!”

The figure calling out with all their might quickly ran towards me the moment they spotted me.

It seemed they were about to leap up and embrace me.

The person’s action of trying to leap off the floor.

Was instantly stopped by Moyong Hi-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, who had already gotten up.

“Nngh!”

The woman, unexpectedly embraced by Namgung Bi-ah against her will, glared at the two with a displeased expression, but.

She was only blocked as if it was out of the question.

Soon, Moyong Hi-ah looked at the woman and spoke.

“Such a grown woman, trying to embrace people so carelessly. Restrain yourself.”

Moyong Hi-ah opened her fan and sighed deeply.

The woman, glaring at Namgung Bi-ah holding her, sputtered indignantly.

“Unnie, are you really going to be this petty? We haven’t seen each other in ages!”

“Still… no.”

“…That’s really unfair.”

Seemingly resigned to not being able to embrace, the woman pulled away from Namgung Bi-ah.

Only then was her previously hidden face clearly visible.

Her deep green hair, still the same,

And her emerald eyes, much deeper than before, caught my attention.

Her hair, which barely reached her shoulders, now reached her chest.

It seemed she had grown her hair out a bit.

Then, the woman met my eyes, her cheeks flushing slightly as she broke into a bright smile.

“Young Master-nim…. It’s been so long. I missed you so much…!”

“…Uh, yeah. It’s been a while.”

Her unusually brightened demeanor, coupled with the intensified emotions I felt, almost made me instinctively step back.

She was.

A little taller than before,

A little more mature than before.

The treasure of the Poison King,

And the prized jewel of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Was Tang Soyeol, the Poisonous Pillar.

About a year.

Perhaps a little more than that since we last met.

Tang Soyeol, compared to when I last saw her.

‘She’s grown.’

She had grown.

It’s a rather mundane observation, but.

This phrase fit perfectly; Tang Soyeol had become much more mature.

She was older than me, so she was like that even then, but.

Now, should I say she had become a complete woman?

Or perhaps it was because she grew her hair out a bit?

And while Tang Soyeol was overly enthusiastic,

I was also quite pleased to see her.

Tang Soyeol, who had approached casually, asked me.

“Did you read all the letters I sent?”

“I read them all.”

“Oh, really!?”

Tang Soyeol’s eyes widened as if touched.

It was fascinating how her already large eyes grew even wider.

“But why didn’t you send a reply…?”

Oops.

At Tang Soyeol’s words, I swallowed dryly inwardly.

It was something I had completely forgotten.

“Didn’t I… send them occasionally?”

“You didn’t.”

“Sorry.”

Tang Soyeol stated, her voice uncharacteristically firm.

While I couldn’t reply due to the situation at the front lines,

I had no excuse since I didn’t send one even after returning to my clan.

Seeing Tang Soyeol’s expression shift from overjoyed to slightly disappointed,

I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry.

“Food, right. Have you eaten?”

“No?”

“Good, let’s eat first.”

As I tried to change the subject and divert her attention.

Tang Soyeol seemed to have already figured out my intention and let out a small sigh.

“…But we’ve seen each other again, so.”

Seemingly deciding not to press the issue further,

She found a seat, forcing a smile.

Tang Soyeol, who was looking for an empty seat to sit down,

Seemed to recall something and cautiously brought up another topic, looking at me.

“Ah, right, Young Master-nim.”

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry, but I have company…. If it’s not too much trouble, would it be alright if they joined us for the meal…?”

“Company? Who?”

Someone Tang Soyeol brought along?

Even as I thought about it, I immediately understood.

‘Well, she’s not exactly like Namgung Bi-ah.’

Tang Soyeol, who had considerable social graces and, while perhaps not as much as Moyong Hi-ah, was well-versed in the ways of prestigious families.

It wasn’t impossible for her to have company.

It was just a bit puzzling.

“Ah, we happened to cross paths on the way, and ended up traveling together by chance. They’ll be here shortly.”

“Is it someone I know?”

Judging by her reaction, it seemed likely it was someone I knew, but.

Tang Soyeol gave a subtle reaction.

“No…? Or maybe not. You might know them. Or perhaps not, if it’s Young Master Gu.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

I wondered what kind of strange statement that was.

Knowing them, but maybe not knowing them.

As I was about to slightly raise the corners of my mouth at the somewhat playful remark.

“…!”

The light observation lasted only a moment.

Instantly, I had to sharpen my senses throughout my entire body.

It was because of the presence detected outside the door.

“Well….”

Tang Soyeol tried to add something, but that wasn’t important right now.

I couldn’t hear a single word.

‘…No way.’

I focused my gaze intently on the door.

Thump.

Thump.

As if my heart was announcing my body’s tension,

It vibrated with loud beats.

Creeeak.

The inn’s door slowly opened,

And I could see someone crossing the threshold.

Thud-

He wasn’t particularly large in build,

And the sound of his footsteps was quiet, like a whisper, but.

It sounded deafeningly loud to my ears.

With deep black hair.

He was a warrior clad in black martial attire.

His age, at first glance, seemed similar to that brat Zamryong, but.

That wouldn’t be everything.

You can’t know what’s inside someone based on their apparent age.

The man who led the way met my eyes.

‘…Crazy.’

Meeting those deep, pitch-black eyes devoid of any light,

I involuntarily cursed under my breath.

Those were the terrifying eyes I had faced in my previous life.

He seemed to have recognized me too.

He didn’t avoid my gaze and continued to meet it.

It was chilling.

The tension crawling up my back invaded my neck and reached the top of my head,

And I had to barely manage the cold sweat threatening to break out.

How long had we been exchanging glances?

It must have only been a few seconds.

Yet it felt like an eternity had passed.

Just as my breathing started to falter slightly from the tension.

“Hey…. Brother-nim! Why are you just standing there instead of going in?”

At the voice of the girl who entered right after, the black-clad young man soon turned his head.

“Seriously…. Miss Tang is being considerate, so we should at least try to accommodate her, shouldn’t we?”

The cute girl, dressed in black martial attire just like the young man,

Frowned deeply and pushed the young man’s back.

Of course, it seemed he didn’t budge despite the push, but.

“Ah, you’re here. Those are them.”

At Tang Soyeol’s welcoming words, I involuntarily let out a cough.

“…Those… are people?”

“Yes, it seems Young Master Gu knows who they are too?”

“….”

I know them well.

Especially that man in black.

I knew him too well.

I almost died because of that guy, how could I not know him?

The young man, led by the girl’s hand, approached this way.

The young man’s gaze was directed towards me once again.

His eyes held an unreadable expression, but.

I had to swallow hard, recalling the presence contained within him.

‘Damn it….’

I really didn’t expect to meet him.

No, I thought I might meet him, but.

I certainly didn’t think it would be right now.

Because I didn’t know that guy would come to the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

A late-stage genius currently known as the ‘Fighting Dragon’ in the world.

Bi Ui-jin, the Fighting Dragon.

He was posing as a late-stage genius with a youthful body, but.

I knew that man’s true identity.

A true monster wearing the guise of a young dragon.

Called the pinnacle of martial arts.

One of the Three Sovereigns of the Central Plains.

Who had subdued countless hordes of demons with a single fist.

One of the absolute rulers of the current Central Plains, before the arrival of the Heavenly Demon.

The Master of the West.

Hegemon Lord Bi-ju.

The one who said he would come see me someday.

That terrifying man was right there.

---

Chirp-chirp.

Birdsong could be heard from amidst the bushes.

A quiet forest path heading towards Hanam.

In the woods where only the birds whispered quietly.

A figure sat slumped by the riverbank.

Her face was completely hidden by a wind-breaking cloak, so her appearance was unseen, but.

From the fine curves of her body faintly visible beneath her clothes,

It could be known that her identity was that of a woman.

The woman dipped her hand into the flowing river, swallowed some cool water to quench her thirst, and

Soon picked up her sword again and moved forward.

Mixed with the coldness of winter.

The harsh wind blew ceaselessly, but.

The reason it didn’t feel particularly cold

Was likely because she felt a faint flutter of excitement within.

‘Just a little more.’

If I go just a tiny bit further.

He will be there.

That’s why I don’t feel the cold.

The woman thought so.

Although she realized it was a strange thought, the woman didn’t mind.

What mattered was that inside the castle visible in the distance,

The person she wanted to see was there.

The woman, walking lightly,

Took a pouch from her bosom and took something out of it.

It was a fingernail-sized black jade.

And then she immediately put it in her mouth and swallowed it.

Shin-ui said she could chew and eat it, but the woman couldn’t bring herself to do so because of the extremely bitter taste.

No matter how much time passed.

The woman still disliked bitter things and preferred sweet ones.

Of course.

Unless it was the yakgwa he used to give her,

Even sweet things, she hadn’t bothered putting them in her mouth for quite some time now.

Just after barely swallowing it down her throat.

Thump.

The woman moved again.

Thus, the woman, who had been walking briskly despite the somewhat harsh wind,

“…”

Soon cast her gaze somewhere into the woods.

Her clearly shining golden eyes seemed to be searching for something.

After staring blankly into the air for a moment, then.

Sring.

The woman suddenly drew her sword.

Then.

Swoosh-

She slashed downward with her sword in a smooth motion.

Even though the speed was not fast at all, but leisurely.

A shallow, straight line was drawn in the air.

The line was faint in color, but clearly golden.

Then.

Thud-thud-!

From somewhere among the numerous trees, the sound of something falling with a ‘thump’ was heard.

Thump-

The woman walked again towards the direction of the sound, and

There.

Gasp-! Hack-!

A man, continuously letting out dry coughs, sat slumped.

Even with the man’s sudden appearance, the woman

Had a calm gaze, as if she had expected it.

No, rather than calm,

The word ‘cold’ suited her gaze better.

“Who are you?”

The woman raised her sword, brought it to the man’s neck, and asked.

Her voice was clear and resonant, devoid of any murderous intent, but.

The aura subtly emanating along the woman’s shoulders suggested otherwise.

Facing that aura, the man barely stopped coughing and hastily spoke.

“Kun, Kunlun. Ah, no, I came from the Divine Dragon Pavilion!”

The man.

Hearing the man’s shout, Jo Wi-seok,

The woman wore a complex expression, and then.

Sring- Clack.

She soon sheathed her sword.

“Divine Dragon Pavilion….”

Recalling the echo of the words, the woman closed her eyes.

And then, only then.

The woman could feel that her long yet short journey had briefly come to an end.

Closing her eyes, only one thought came to mind.

Quickly.

She wanted to see him soon.