Chapter 393: Long Time.

“Gu… Daehyeop?”

“Yes?”

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, I had to answer with a voice tinged with panic. Gu Daehyeop? Did she somehow recognize me?

‘How?’

Even if she had recognized me, the title was rather strange.

Daehyeop…? Baekryeon Geom, who was a considerable senior, wasn’t someone who would use such a title for me.

As I stared at Moyong Biyeon, feeling somewhat strange, Moyong Biyeon started showing symptoms of strangeness herself.

“No… it’s not? Daehyeop was a bit more….”

A bit more?

“He was better looking…?”

“…What?”

At Moyong Biyeon’s entranced words, I couldn’t help but snap back.

‘Oops.’

Immediately after snapping back in anger, I regretted it. Because, contrary to the impression I’d gotten from observing Moyong Biyeon’s personality up close just now, I realized she had a somewhat aggressive temper.

However, contrary to my worries, Moyong Biyeon merely stared at my face, full of doubt.

‘Did she mistake me for someone else?’

‘If she was going to mistake someone for me…’ Especially if she was mistaking me for someone with the surname Gu, there was really only one person.

‘Is it Father?’

I asked Moyong Biyeon, who was looking at me with an unreadable expression.

“By any chance, do you know our Family Head?”

“Family Head?”

At my words, Moyong Biyeon’s eyes sharpened. She then looked back and forth between Gu Yeonseo and me.

“Could it be….”

She asked me with slightly surprised eyes.

“You… are Soyeomra…?”

Fuck.

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, I had to squeeze my eyes shut. I just can’t get used to that dog-like nickname, no matter how many times I hear it. I vowed once more that I would definitely find out which bastard came up with it. Moreover, hearing it from someone else’s mouth like this just made my insides boil.

“…I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu family.”

But I couldn’t show it, so I just squeezed my eyes shut and endured.

“Oh my…?”

Seeing my reaction, Moyong Biyeon suddenly approached and grabbed my cheek. Startled, I tried to pull back, but Moyong Biyeon blocked me, preventing me from moving away.

‘What’s with this old lady?’

“So you’re… Gu Daehyeop’s son?”

“No, wait a moment… Senior’s hands…”

“Now that I think about it, you do resemble him. Your eyes, and your eyes… or rather, your eyes.”

“Senior…?”

“Oh my, why are your eyes injured? These are precious eyes….”

As if she couldn’t hear me, Moyong Biyeon started roughly stroking my face with a crazed look in her eyes. Gu Yeonseo’s eyes were wide with incomprehension at the situation, and I was in the same state.

Unable to stand it any longer, I shook off Moyong Biyeon’s hands.

“Why are you acting like this?”

Although I spoke with a hint of annoyance, Moyong Biyeon’s expression was somehow full of smiles.

“You’ve got quite the temper, just like your father. I like it. This kind of thing.”

Instead of getting angry, she looked at me as if with longing, which only made me feel more stifled. Wiping my cheeks, I asked Moyong Biyeon the same question again.

“Are you acquainted with our Family Head?”

“I knew him in the old days. I don’t know now. Whether he remembers me.”

Hearing her speak so wistfully, it seemed like they knew each other. I couldn’t figure out what kind of relationship they had for her to act like this. Moyong Biyeon just kept looking at me with a subtle gaze. That gaze was quite burdensome. I could clearly feel her seeing my father through me.

As I subtly avoided her gaze, Moyong Biyeon spoke to me.

“I heard rumors. But seeing you in person… you’re definitely different. Blood can’t be faked, can it?”

At that moment, I felt it. Moyong Biyeon’s aura scanning me.

‘Crazy, she’s checking me out so openly?’ It was absurd? To size someone up like that could easily lead to a knife fight if things went wrong. Moyong Biyeon was assessing me nonchalantly. I didn’t like the action, but since she had just saved Gu Yeonseo, I decided to stay quiet for now.

Was the assessment over? Surprise dawned on Moyong Biyeon’s face.

“Amazing…? I thought it was a mistake. But really….”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but I could tell Moyong Biyeon was about to mention Hwagyeong upon seeing me.

‘So was the polite speech earlier because she mistook me?’ As a martial artist who had reached Hwagyeong, she couldn’t have possibly thought I was a late-stage disciple, hence her attitude.

“In this aspect, it’s not just resemblance… it seems you’ve far surpassed him.”

“…Thank you for your words, but you seem a bit too close.”

It seemed like praise, but the distance was too close. It would be nice if she moved back a little, no, a lot. At my words, Moyong Biyeon seemed to realize it then and took a few steps back. She then said to me.

“Sorry, I guess your big sis got a little carried away because I was so happy to see you.”

“…Big sis?”

The title Moyong Biyeon casually threw out bothered me.

‘Big sis?’ As far as I know, Moyong Biyeon is at least…’

‘Isn’t she around Father’s age?’ While her youthful appearance was similar to Geomhu’s, both she and Moyong Biyeon were martial artists who lived in the same era as my father. So, at the very least… She shouldn’t be someone I’d call ‘big sis’. It was a title quite lacking in conscience.

Of course, I didn’t voice this opinion. ‘I got the feeling she’d kill me if I pointed this out.’ From the madness in her eyes, I could sense that she wouldn’t let it slide if I mentioned this.

“…”

I firmly shut my mouth, sensing an unknown killing intent. Moyong Biyeon nodded as if pleased, then spoke to Gu Yeonseo and me.

“Nice to meet you. Your names are Yangcheon… and Yeonseo, right?”

“Yes.”

“What a shame. I didn’t bring any money today, so there’s nothing I can give you….”

“Ah, no…! How could I possibly accept anything from Senior Baekryeon Geom… urk?”

As Gu Yeonseo hastily tried to refuse, I poked her side to quiet her down. She glared at me resentfully, as if asking why I poked her, but I had my reasons.

‘She’s offering, so why refuse? We should take it all.’ It’s not just anything; she’s giving it because of Father’s connections. There shouldn’t be any repercussions from accepting this. I only refuse things that might cause trouble later. Seeing my actions, Moyong Biyeon burst out laughing.

“Haha! This part is different again.”

Saying that, Moyong Biyeon took something out of her robes and handed it to Gu Yeonseo and me. Carefully accepting the items, I thought.

‘What is this?’ It looked like a jade stone, but it was an item whose purpose I didn’t know.

“What… is this?”

“It’s nothing special. Just like a gem that’s good for embedding in ornaments.”

‘Really nothing special.’ I was immediately filled with disappointment. Confirming that, Moyong Biyeon burst into louder laughter than before.

“This kid is hilarious. How can you show disappointment so openly?”

“I am not disappointed. Thank you…”

“I bet. This is fun. You seem like the most entertaining person I’ve met recently.”

‘Good for her that she finds it amusing.’ Putting Moyong Biyeon’s reaction aside, I roughly tossed the jade stone somewhere in my robes. ‘What am I supposed to do with a jade stone? Ornaments, my foot.’

Unlike me, Gu Yeonseo seemed genuinely moved just to have received something from Baekryeon Geom, one of the idols of the female swordsmen. Leaving Gu Yeonseo to her own devices, I observed Moyong Biyeon. I first wondered why she was here, but upon thinking a bit, it wasn’t particularly strange. After all, the head of the Moyong family herself was here. I just didn’t expect to run into her like this.

Moyong Biyeon quietly watched me for a moment before asking a question.

“You know.”

“Yes?”

“If you really are Soyeomra, I heard you’re getting along well with my niece.”

“…Ah… yes.”

I was slightly taken aback by the sudden question.

‘Baekryeon Geom’s niece.’ I knew her as the Moyong Family Head’s sister, so the niece would naturally be Moyong Hi-ah. It seemed she also knew that I had ties with Moyong Hi-ah.

Hearing my answer, Moyong Biyeon smiled gently and continued speaking.

“Please understand if she seems a bit cold, she’s a warm-hearted child despite appearing cold.”

I nodded at Moyong Biyeon’s words. ‘Is it basic concern for her niece?’ As I nodded to her words, I suddenly spoke up.

“She isn’t particularly cold.”

“Hm?”

It seemed necessary to correct what needed correcting.

“Snow Phoenix isn’t a particularly cold person. Neither outwardly nor inwardly.”

“…”

“Therefore, I don’t need to understand her.”

Although my relationship with Snow Phoenix in my past life wasn’t exactly great. I knew she wasn’t just a cold and ruthless person. She always acted rationally, presenting only the most optimized path for any given situation, but… she also took responsibility for the consequences that unfolded within that path. The choices that led to sacrificing someone… were, paradoxically, her choices born from a desire to save more people, a fact I knew.

And.

‘I also know she cried her eyes out every night.’ I knew how Snow Phoenix muffled her cries against the wind in the unseen darkness of night.

Perhaps my words didn’t offend her. Moyong Biyeon grinned.

“…That’s fine. It’s fine.”

I didn’t know what was fine, but Moyong Biyeon took a few more steps back and said to me.

“I have a schedule today, so I’m afraid I have to leave first. Let’s meet again next time?”

As if there was nothing more to discuss, Moyong Biyeon moved as if to leave first. And yet, she says ‘let’s meet again’.

“Yes.”

‘She looked obviously annoyed.’ Despite that, I gave an answer contrary to my feelings. Because I could say anything. However, Moyong Biyeon seemed to have interpreted my answer differently.

“To wear such an obviously annoyed expression. You’re really funny?”

“…It’s a misunderstanding.”

I flinched at Moyong Biyeon’s words, which came out as if she were a ghost. ‘How does she know?’ I thought I was managing my expression quite well. Whatever she found amusing about my reaction, Moyong Biyeon kept bursting into laughter.

After laughing heartily for a while, she wiped the tears from her eyes and said.

“That was fun. Oh, and.”

‘Is there something else?’ We only talked briefly, but I feel like my energy has been completely drained. ‘It’s been a while since I met someone like this. She’s the type I’d prefer not to talk to for long.’

“Hmm…”

Moyong Biyeon seemed hesitant, starting to say something then stopping, pondering, before shaking her head and saying to me.

“No. Never mind.”

“Understood.”

“…Aren’t you even curious?”

“Since you said never mind, wouldn’t it be rude of me to be curious?”

“Wow.”

Moyong Biyeon looked at me as if it were absurd, then chuckled. Yeah, honestly, I didn’t ask because I couldn’t be bothered. It felt like Moyong Biyeon noticed that too.

“Anyway. Let’s meet again next time. Your big sis is leaving now, okay?”

“Yes. Senior.”

“…That part isn’t very funny.”

Moyong Biyeon frowned, clearly displeased. I had a slight idea of what displeased her. No matter what, I didn’t want to call a woman my father’s age ‘big sis’.

Moyong Biyeon uttered her last words, let out a slight sigh, then leaped powerfully, disappearing into the distance in an instant.

‘Did she really leave?’ Only when I could no longer sense her presence by my standards did I recall the ki I had spread around. It truly felt like a typhoon had just passed through.

“My energy is completely drained.”

I let out a long breath I had been holding and said to Gu Yeonseo, who was still stunned.

“Let’s go now.”

“Ah, yeah…”

As if snapping back to reality at my voice, Gu Yeonseo nodded. I too started walking towards the inn.

“…Thank you.”

“Hm?”

I turned around at the words whispered from behind. It sounded like Gu Yeonseo said something, but I couldn’t hear it clearly. Looking at Gu Yeonseo with confusion, she just walked behind me, her lips firmly shut.

“What the?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Gu Yeonseo avoided my gaze, as if she had no intention of speaking further.

‘What the heck?’

---

The Yicheon Inn, one of the branches managed by the Moyong family. It’s a renowned inn in Henan, operated by the Moyong Trading Company.

Moyong Hi-ah, who was staying here and sipping tea alone, was taken aback upon seeing the person who burst in unannounced.

“Hello! My niece!”

“…Aunt?”

“You’ve gotten prettier since I last saw you!”

The woman who suddenly kicked the door open and greeted her cheerfully was Moyong Hi-ah’s aunt, whom she hadn’t seen in years.

“H-how did you get here…”

“I heard my niece went through something big? Then this aunt had to come.”

“…Ah?”

Moyong Biyeon, Moyong Hi-ah’s aunt and Baekryeon Geom, approached Moyong Hi-ah and lightly pinched her cheek. Then, with a startled expression, she said to Moyong Hi-ah.

“Oh my, look at that good skin. This is why youth is so great.”

“A-Aunt.”

“I was like this when I was young too. The more I see you, the more you resemble your aunt rather than your parents. My dear niece, why don’t you just be my daughter instead?”

Overwhelmed by Moyong Biyeon’s relentless barrage of words, Moyong Hi-ah became disoriented, unsure of how to react. From a young age, Moyong Hi-ah found her aunt difficult to handle. Even among the Moyong family members who shared similar personalities, Moyong Biyeon stood out uniquely.

Just as Moyong Hi-ah was experiencing this unexpected ordeal, Baekcheon Geomju appeared from upstairs.

“…What are you doing?”

He looked at his sister, who had suddenly appeared, with an expression of utter disbelief.

“Ah, hello Family Head.”

“…Sister.”

Moyong Biyeon waved cheerfully, and Baekcheon Geomju’s head immediately started throbbing upon seeing her.

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“What brings you here without any notice?”

“Look at this! Do I have to notify someone when I come to see my family?”

Moyong Biyeon said this as if hurt, and Baekcheon Geomju looked at her and replied firmly.

“After not contacting us for several years and then suddenly appearing, shouldn’t you at least do that much?”

His sister had left years ago, abruptly declaring she would travel through the Central Plains. She always had a quirky personality, and Baekcheon Geomju knew that once she set her mind on something, she would find a way to do it. That’s why he hadn’t tried to stop her, but he never expected her to show up so suddenly.

Clutching his throbbing forehead, Baekcheon Geomju said to Moyong Biyeon.

“Is your journey over?”

“Roughly? Oh right, Family Head.”

Although the title itself was wrong, Baekcheon Geomju didn’t point it out. He knew too well that pointing it out would only tire him out.

“Speak.”

“That Peng Gom guy still has no manners? I mean, shouldn’t he mature as he gets older, but how can he be like that?”

“…You encountered Family Head Peng?”

“Ah, just by chance?”

“Are you alright?”

Sensing Baekcheon Geomju’s concern, Moyong Biyeon chuckled inwardly. ‘As expected, blood is blood, no matter what.’

“Of course, this big sis is fine….”

“No, I mean, is Family Head Peng alright, not you, Sister.”

“…What, punk?”

At Baekcheon Geomju’s words, Moyong Biyeon had to wear an expression of disbelief. Baekcheon Geomju also registered her expression, but his answer didn’t change. Because he knew very well what happened when his sister lost her temper.

“We didn’t fight. We just had a bit of a verbal argument.”

“That’s fortunate, at least.”

“This is truly absurd.”

Moyong Biyeon snorted, pulled out a chair, and sat down with a ‘tak!’

“He was cute when he was young. He’s become strange as he’s gotten older.”

“Sister, you are exactly the same as when you were young.”

“Really? Thanks for the compliment.”

“It was an insult.”

‘When will she ever mature?’ Before telling Family Head Peng to mature, I wished she would mature herself. Even after seeing her after years, she was exactly the same as before.

Moyong Biyeon glared at Baekcheon Geomju once, then took a sip of the tea Moyong Hi-ah had prepared, moistening her throat.

“Oh, and niece.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“That one is quite alright.”

“What?”

As Moyong Hi-ah asked again, taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. Moyong Biyeon grinned and said to her.

“You know that boy our niece is chasing after? Soyeomra, wasn’t it?”

“…!”

“He’s quite amusing.”

“…Aunt. Did you meet Young Master Gu?”

At her aunt’s sudden mention of meeting Gu Yangcheon, Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened. It was something completely unexpected.

“H-how did you meet him?”

“Hm? Just by chance?”

Seeing Moyong Hi-ah’s expression, Moyong Biyeon couldn’t help but smile.

‘Ah, this.’ That expression was somehow familiar. It was like looking at her past self. Her own expression used to be similar when she was infatuated with someone.

‘What should I call this?’ And to think their family background is the same, of all things. ‘Should this also be called fate?’

Moyong Biyeon recalled the young man she met earlier and fell into reminiscence for a moment.

‘He resembles him so much.’ The boy shared many similarities with the man she had loved with all her heart. ‘Perhaps it’s only natural, being his son.’ Unfortunately, his appearance wasn’t entirely similar, but his characteristics were strikingly alike. Especially the unique gaze characteristic of that family.

‘I don’t know about his looks. But his talent seems to have surpassed his father’s.’ He even seemed to have surpassed the talent of his father, who was called an all-time genius.

‘…He had reached Hwagyeong, hadn’t he?’ The reason I’m not sure about this is… although he seemed clearly beyond the peak of mastery. It felt subtly different from what I’d call Hwagyeong. Even so, the aura Gu Yangcheon emitted was on a level that was nonsensical to call that of a late-stage disciple.

‘Based only on rumors, I thought he was all hype. But it seems the rumors couldn’t keep up.’ That boy made Moyong Biyeon think a lot. As well as her own niece, who was chasing after a boy resembling the man she had pursued so intensely.

‘Still, is it better than back then?’ At least he’d have fewer rivals than that man did. Judging by his face, he wasn’t the type to be overwhelmed by female attention.

As Moyong Biyeon was thinking this.

“…That damned bastard… No, you mean you met a member of the Gu family?”

Hearing Moyong Biyeon’s words, Baekcheon Geomju interjected. It was a topic he couldn’t easily overlook. Seeing Baekcheon Geomju’s face, Moyong Biyeon burst into loud laughter.

“It seems you haven’t shed that temper yet either.”

She recalled her younger brother, who used to challenge her to fights back then, disliking that she was chasing someone he didn’t even know. The result… ‘He was utterly crushed.’ She remembered the young Baekcheon Geomju, who ended up on the floor without even being grazed. The difference in level was extreme. If that person, knowing his own daughter was in the same situation, would he really stay quiet? The thought that he probably wouldn’t crossed her mind, and Moyong Biyeon asked Baekcheon Geomju.

“Family Head.”

“Speak….”

“Surely you didn’t go to meet him again, saying you’d teach him a lesson, did you?”

“…”

“You wouldn’t. Not at your age. As the Family Head, you wouldn’t do that, right?”

At Moyong Biyeon’s words, Baekcheon Geomju remained silent, firmly closing his lips without giving a direct answer. Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon’s expression contorted.

“You…”

“Stop with the pointless talk… and just tell me why you came.”

Baekcheon Geomju tried hard to change the subject, but Moyong Biyeon was already wearing a disgusted expression. ‘Whether it’s that Peng family guy or my own brother, I don’t know why these people who are Family Heads are all like this.’

“As I said earlier, I just came to see my niece.”

“You, Sister? I highly doubt that.”

“You son of a…”

Her old temper flared up, and she was about to curse, but she held back, thinking of Moyong Hi-ah beside her. After all, she couldn’t curse at the father in front of his child. Moyong Biyeon, barely restraining herself, let out a deep sigh and took something out of her robes. Just as Baekcheon Geomju suspected, Moyong Biyeon hadn’t come here simply for a visit. She had various matters to attend to, so it was a convenient occasion.

“Here.”

“What is this?”

Baekcheon Geomju took what Moyong Biyeon handed him. It was a letter. Just as Baekcheon Geomju was about to open the letter his sister had suddenly given him.

“-It’s a letter from the Ice Emperor (Bingje).”

At the message Moyong Biyeon sent, Baekcheon Geomju froze stiff. The Ice Emperor she mentioned… was the master of the Ice Palace, ruler of the frozen lands of the Northern Sea. He was also the father of the woman who was Moyong Hi-ah’s mother and his own other half. Baekcheon Geomju looked at Moyong Biyeon with wide, surprised eyes.

“-How did you get this, Sister…”

“-Don’t show it, and look carefully. My niece takes after me and is quite perceptive.”

Even while speaking in a serious tone, Moyong Biyeon’s outward appearance remained cheerful. She downed the remaining tea in one gulp and then stood up. As Moyong Hi-ah watched this, her eyes widening, Moyong Biyeon looked at her niece and spoke.

“I’ve made my appearance, so I’ll be going out now.”

“What? You’re leaving right after arriving?”

“I’ll just be out for a moment. I’ll be back soon.”

Moyong Hi-ah wore an expression of disappointment. Moyong Biyeon found it inwardly endearing and almost considered staying.

“Because I have someone to meet.”

Unfortunately, she didn’t change her decision. Moyong Biyeon had to go. Her purpose for coming here wasn’t just to deliver the letter. Ultimately, she had come to meet ‘that person’, and Moyong Biyeon was not one to postpone important matters.

She immediately set off. Her destination was where the Gu family members were gathered.