Chapter 40: The Way Back. (3)

“…Why are you all here?”

As soon as I entered the building, I frowned at the sight before me.

Honestly, I briefly held onto the hope that maybe I’d misread the presence of others, but that was wishful thinking.

Tang Soyeol, who had been cautiously picking at some food, turned to stone the moment she saw me.

Namgung Bi-ah, still with a vacant expression as she fiddled with her chopsticks, pretended not to see me and put some noodles into her mouth.

Moreover, Wi Seol-ah casually took a seat next to her and started eating noodles together.

‘…Okay, that’s possible. It’s understandable.’

Wi Seol-ah is always like that, so it’s understandable.

And I know Namgung Bi-ah well enough to know how crazy she is, making her actions unpredictable, so that’s understandable too.

But, Tang Soyeol.

Why is she here?

She was even subtly avoiding my gaze, sitting there like a statue of a grieving wife.

“Miss Dang.”

“Y-yes!?”

Why is she so startled just because I called her?

“Why are you here?”

“…I-I was just passing by.”

“Passing by…?”

What are the chances that the Poisonous Jewel of the Tang Clan, Tang Soyeol, would just happen to pass by here, stumble upon us, and decide to join?

Especially when I wasn’t even here.

Just in case, I asked Tang Soyeol.

“Were you perhaps waiting for me?”

Tang Soyeol answered immediately to my question.

“N-no! Why would I wait for Young Master Gu here!?”

She denied it, waving her hands dismissively, but based on the circumstances, there was no other explanation.

“Right? Then why are you here?”

“…”

Tang Soyeol seemed to have no excuse, becoming speechless at my question.

Why is she acting like this? Just like in my past life, I could never understand Tang Soyeol.

‘Could she possibly like me?’

I quickly shoved that fleeting thought far away.

I’m not blessed with looks that could sustain me like Gu Jeolyub or that Namgung Cheon-jun brat, so unless Tang Soyeol has extremely peculiar tastes, it seemed unlikely.

No way. Even if, by some chance, that were the case…

In that instant, I remembered Tang Soyeol from my past life, torturing someone by inserting a pinky-sized poisonous insect into their nostril.

Although I hadn’t experienced it myself, I remembered Tang Soyeol maintaining a nonchalant expression even while performing such torture.

This line of thinking was probably too much.

Right, well, she must have come because she had some business to attend to…

I just hoped she’d finish her business quickly and leave.

I asked Namgung Bi-ah, who was beside me.

“Miss Namgung.”

“…?”

“Why are you here?”

“…Hm?”

What’s this?

Why is she making that face? I could feel Namgung Bi-ah’s expression asking, ‘Why are you asking something so obvious?’

I really hoped my interpretation was wrong.

“A greeting…”

“Huh?”

As always, Namgung Bi-ah’s blunt, short answers provoke me.

It’s the same now. A greeting? Like saying hello?

Or perhaps, like in my past life, it’s short for ‘man-hunting’?

From my perspective, Namgung Bi-ah was still the kind of woman suited for man-hunting.

Of course, I was trying hard to shake off that kind of gaze.

That’s why I’m holding back and asking again.

“A greeting?”

“I couldn’t… say goodbye.”

“Oh, oh, I was here for that too!”

Tang Soyeol quickly interjected upon hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

Ah, so you’re saying you waited here because you couldn’t say goodbye?

Really?

Why?

“I explained the situation to the Young Miss Dang, didn’t you hear me?”

“…I heard, but.”

Tang Soyeol answered in a dying voice, while Namgung Bi-ah looked as if asking, ‘What’s the problem with that?’

‘…Right, there’s no problem with that.’

Honestly, since things resolved well, I wondered if there was a need to look for ill intentions.

So, if we break it down, they came all the way here just to say goodbye because they couldn’t before, right?

‘…Yeah, good things are good.’

Seeing people who came to say goodbye because they didn’t see me leave, and showing my displeasure, might seem cold-hearted to some.

I genuinely didn’t want to get involved with those terrifyingly bizarre women.

I mean it, truly.

“Thank you for coming. It was a good encounter, and I wish you peace for the rest of your lives.”

Hoping they would be satisfied and leave, I offered my greetings with as much courtesy as possible.

However, the faces of those who received my greeting looked strange.

There was a subtle hesitation, as if this wasn’t what they expected.

What on earth are they expecting from me?

Setting that aside for now, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah and asked.

Because there was one thing I was curious about.

“Miss Namgung.”

“Hm?”

“The Tang Family Martial Arts Tournament is over, so why are you still here? What about the other Namgung people?”

“Cheon-jun said he had business… said he needed to wait for someone.”

Namgung Cheon-jun has business in Sichuan? Actually, it wasn’t surprising that brat had business.

I had something going on, so he could have something too.

What surprised me was something else.

“But he allowed you to come here? Without following you?”

It was strange that Namgung Cheon-jun wasn’t here when Namgung Bi-ah was right in front of me.

“Hm…? He gave permission… said he wouldn’t come even if he went…”

‘He gave permission?’

I thought that crazy brat would definitely follow or at least not give permission, so it was strange he casually let her go.

He even said he wouldn’t come? What does that mean?

“But Miss Namgung.”

“…”

“Didn’t our previous promise include not bothering me…?”

“Hm…?”

We had made a promise: in exchange for telling me her name, she wouldn’t bother me.

“We did.”

Namgung Bi-ah confidently replied with an expression that said, ‘I remember.’

But if you remember, then why are you here…

“Then why are you here, Miss?”

“Why…?”

“You said you wouldn’t bother me.”

“I wasn’t bothering you…?”

Oh, shit.

Namgung Bi-ah genuinely seemed to not realize this was bothering me.

It was my fault for not specifying the contract terms in detail…

Right, I’m the idiot for not stating things clearly, the idiot.

“Then what about the polite speech?”

Namgung Bi-ah paused at my words.

She rolled her eyes for a moment and said.

“…yo.”

“….”

Should I hit her?

I genuinely considered it.

At this point, hadn’t Namgung Bi-ah basically drawn her sword first, challenging me to a fight?

Talking to her always gives me a headache.

How did I possibly endure this in my past life?

Ah… I just didn’t talk to her.

‘…Wise man.’

That seemed to be the correct answer.

As I clutched my throbbing head, Tang Soyeol, who had been listening quietly, stirred.

She seemed to want to say something, but I didn’t want to pry, so I stayed quiet.

If I just played dumb, wouldn’t she eventually bring it up herself?

“Um, excuse me.”

As expected, Tang Soyeol hesitantly started talking to me.

“Yes?”

“If you return to your clan now… when will you come back to Sichuan?”

“Well…?”

Will I really come all the way to this remote place again…?

No, I’ll probably come eventually, but not anytime soon.

It might take a few years, at least.

I gave Tang Soyeol the same answer.

“Th-that won’t do… that seems too long.”

Tang Soyeol, lost in thought after my answer, opened her mouth again.

“Do you… perhaps have a favorite poison?”

“…What?”

“Or, are you any good with dagger techniques…?”

“Why would I ‘hit’ that?”

Did I hear that wrong?

I think she just said ‘poison’.

Tang Soyeol flinched upon seeing my reaction.

“As I thought, this probably wasn’t the right approach. My brother said it would work…”

“Miss Dang… are you feeling unwell?”

Especially in the head… it seems quite bad.

Just then, I saw a hand reaching for the dumplings, taking advantage of the complicated situation.

I immediately smacked the back of the hand with a ‘slap!’, and a short scream followed.

There was no need to check who it was.

“Did you eat all of yours?”

“…Yep.”

Wi Seol-ah replied, rubbing the back of her hand.

Seriously, why are you trying to eat mine when you could just order another one…

I let out a sigh and pushed the bowl of dumplings towards Wi Seol-ah.

I didn’t really have an appetite, so it was fine.

Wi Seol-ah happily started eating the dumplings.

Namgung Bi-ah’s chopsticks suddenly moved towards the bowl, and I quickly blocked her.

“Order another one, don’t steal mine.”

Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with her vacant eyes.

The focus that seemed missing from her gaze appeared to have slightly returned.

“I have… a question.”

“Why are you suddenly speaking politely…?”

“That… how did that happen…?”

Namgung Bi-ah quietly pointed towards my dantian with her hand.

Like Mu Yeon, Namgung Bi-ah had noticed the change in me.

Tang Soyeol didn’t seem to pay attention to such things, but Namgung Bi-ah apparently did.

“Something just happened.”

That was the only answer I could give.

If I suddenly told them I found the Bigo of the Geumcheon Family in Sichuan, and a giant snake spat out a fortuitous encounter…

Hmm.

‘I don’t know if she’ll believe this literally…’

From my perspective, she’d probably just accept it, but there was no need to say it anyway.

Namgung Bi-ah nodded at my answer.

Then, a spark of vitality appeared in her eyes.

That was a bad sign.

Because when Namgung Bi-ah got that look in her eyes, she usually said the same thing.

“Then, spar with me…”

“I won’t.”

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened at my swift refusal.

“Why…!”

It was the first time in a while I’d heard Namgung Bi-ah raise her voice like that.

What is she doing?

Why is she suddenly acting like this towards me, when she only cared about sword practitioners?

It was truly unwelcome attention.

“Time has already passed quite a bit, and I can’t stay here much longer. I don’t think I can spar.”

As I said that, I felt Mu Yeon’s resentful gaze from behind.

Yes, I know it’s delayed because of me, so please don’t look at me like that…

“Ahem…!”

I let out a fake cough and stood up from the table.

We’d finished eating, and I needed to get moving soon to leave before sunset.

Since I had to travel back the same way I came, it would be another arduous journey.

…Just imagining it was tedious.

As I prepared to leave, Tang Soyeol hastily pulled something from her clothes.

“Please, accept this…!”

What Tang Soyeol handed me was a neatly folded letter and a small, unidentifiable bottle.

“What is this?”

“It’s an invitation to next year’s Tang Family Martial Arts Tournament…”

“This… why to me?”

“I wanted to foster good relations between our clans! It doesn’t hold any major significance…”

Although invitations come every year, one handed over personally by a blood relative of the Tang Clan holds a different meaning.

It wasn’t just a casual offering; it implied a special request for me to attend.

I wondered how I should interpret this awkward situation.

Does she really like me?

“Then… Miss, what is this vial?”

Could it be some kind of elixir?

When I mentioned the vial, Tang Soyeol wore a somewhat pleased smile.

“That’s… a poison I like… It’s a gift, so please use it later if you decide to practice poison arts.”

I nodded at Tang Soyeol’s words.

…As expected, she’s not normal either.

I was certain.

It was difficult to refuse the letter, so I accepted it and put it in my clothes for now.

I was already thinking about what excuse I could make to refuse next year.

I definitely wasn’t going…

“Well then… I’ll be going first. I hope you two have a pleasant time separately.”

“See you again.”

Namgung Bi-ah gave me a small wave and said goodbye.

I accepted her greeting with a reluctant expression.

“Ah, yes… See you next time.”

After the awkward farewell, I started walking towards the carriage.

Tang Soyeol also offered a greeting with a stiff gesture, which I accepted as well.

Wi Seol-ah stuffed her cheeks full of the remaining food and followed me out.

How did all that food even fit into her mouth…?

‘Is it over?’

Could I finally return to my clan?

My capacity had grown, and my internal energy increased, so my body didn’t feel fatigue, but mentally, I was incredibly exhausted.

I walked towards the carriage with half-staggering steps.

---

Namgung Bi-ah quietly watched Gu Yangcheon’s retreating back.

She recalled something he suddenly said to her.

-Why do you keep using informal speech?

That’s right… why did I speak informally to him?

Looking at it objectively, Gu Yangcheon is younger than her own brother, Namgung Cheon-jun.

However, that wasn’t a reason to use informal speech.

Yet, strangely, polite speech didn’t come easily.

What could be the reason?

Namgung Bi-ah herself couldn’t understand, so she could only tilt her head in confusion.

“Unni…”

It was Tang Soyeol’s call.

“Hm?”

“Unni… do you perhaps like Young Master Gu?”

“…Hm?”

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t understand Tang Soyeol’s question.

Like him?

“What does ‘like’ mean?”

“Huh? Well, um…”

Tang Soyeol showed signs of panic at the question.

Her face turned bright red, and she shut her mouth.

Seeing that she couldn’t provide an answer, it seemed Tang Soyeol didn’t properly understand either.

‘Like’, huh.

What does it mean to like someone?

‘Is this about romantic feelings?’

If asked whether she felt love (愛) for Gu Yangcheon, she felt that wasn’t the case.

But if asked if she was interested in him as a martial artist, that was true.

‘He was a completely different person.’

The Gu Yangcheon who broke her brother’s arm back then.

Was the Gu Yangcheon she just met the same person?

She couldn’t be sure.

It was strangely so.

That’s why she wanted to get closer. Although she was quickly rejected…

If someone were to ask if they could defeat the current Gu Yangcheon, she could still say yes.

For now, at least.

It was quite strange even to Namgung Bi-ah herself that she couldn’t be sure about the future.

Aside from the fact that he didn’t emit a foul odor.

Gu Yangcheon was someone who captured her attention significantly.

“…If you ask if this is ‘liking’, then is it?”

Tang Soyeol, standing beside her, looked crestfallen at the words spoken so casually.

“Why the long face?”

“It’s nothing…”

‘If Unni is the opponent, there’s no answer…’ Tang Soyeol muttered to herself.

What is there no answer to?

“What about you, Soyeol?”

“Yes…?”

“That thing you were going to give me.”

“Ah…!”

The invitation to the Tang Family Martial Arts Tournament that Tang Soyeol was giving was originally meant for her.

It had been like that ever since the year she first met Tang Soyeol.

However, this time, Tang Soyeol gave it to someone else.

Namgung Bi-ah, curious about the reason, asked Tang Soyeol.

“…Th-that.”

Perhaps flustered, Tang Soyeol stammered.

It seemed her stammering had increased noticeably lately.

‘What could be the reason? Is she sick?’

The foul odor emanating from Tang Soyeol was very faint.

So faint that you wouldn’t notice it unless you paid attention.

That’s why Namgung Bi-ah felt comfortable around Tang Soyeol.

So, she hoped she wasn’t sick.

“I just… wanted to try and get closer.”

“I see.”

“I’m sorry, Unni… You must be disappointed, right?”

“Hm? It’s okay.”

Even without an invitation from a clan member, she could have just come.

Namgung Bi-ah thought there was no need to feel upset about that.

“Shall we go back now…?”

Tang Soyeol’s voice held a lot of regret.

What could she possibly regret so much?

There were so many things she didn’t know.

“Yeah.”

Namgung Bi-ah followed Tang Soyeol, starting to walk.

Now that Gu Yangcheon was gone, Namgung Bi-ah had to return to the stench, but…

That’s how she had lived in the first place.

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t harbor much regret.

Fortunately, above all else.

‘I have a feeling I’ll see him again soon.’

She somehow felt that way.

And usually, when Namgung Bi-ah had such intuition, it tended to come true.