Chapter 406: Want to play with big sister for a while?

After a storm had passed and evening arrived, once dinner was finished.

I was touching Moyong Hi-ah’s back inside the completely empty carriage.

This was because I had to send warmth to Moyong Hi-ah after a long time.

Sssseuuu.

Perhaps it was because I was sending warmth after a long time.

“…Nngh.”

Moyong Hi-ah’s back twitched slightly.

I had heard before that it felt strange.

Only after sending a certain amount of energy did I withdraw my hand.

Only after the treatment was completely finished did Moyong Hi-ah exhale the breath she had been holding.

“Haa….”

Listening to her breath, I spoke.

“It should take about a few more times.”

“…I suppose so.”

The coldness felt within Moyong Hi-ah had significantly reduced compared to the beginning.

At this rate, it seems the treatment will be completely finished within the next half-year.

‘If that happens.’

Moyong Hi-ah will likely be able to start training again.

Counting just the years, it’s already been 2 years.

The period during which Moyong Hi-ah hasn’t trained as a martial artist, that is.

2 years is quite a long time for a martial artist.

Even when she did occasionally, it seemed like just basic physical training.

If it gets any later, various problems will arise.

‘Although, Moyong Hi-ah herself doesn’t seem to care much.’

She never seemed particularly interested in martial arts in the first place, but considering the Moyong family is strictly a martial family, Moyong Hi-ah really should start training again soon.

Especially if she needs to deal with the blood feuds that will occur in the future.

Looking at Moyong Hi-ah’s back like that, I decided to ask about something else first.

“By the way…. what’s the deal with your aunt?”

“Ah.”

When asked about the White Lotus Sword, Moyong Hi-ah’s expression twisted slightly.

“My bodyguard?”

How surprised I was when she suddenly showed up as my bodyguard.

She said she received permission for this.

No matter what I heard, it wasn’t something I could easily understand.

Regarding this question, Moyong Hi-ah spoke to me, sounding slightly tired.

“I don’t really know either…. Auntie is usually a bit strange… no, eccentric. Even the Gajunim can’t do anything about her.”

“…”

So, what Moyong Hi-ah meant was.

‘The White Lotus Sword is someone the family has given up on.’ That’s what she’s saying.

My goodness….

‘And on top of that, she received permission.’

When asked who exactly gave her that permission, the White Lotus Sword mentioned Madam Mi.

I had to be surprised once more here.

‘Why did Madam Mi suddenly pop up?’

It was surprising enough that the White Lotus Sword and Madam Mi were connected.

But for Madam Mi to be the one who granted permission for my bodyguard status? No matter how I looked at it, it was a strange situation.

Thinking about it made me sigh involuntarily.

‘Bodyguard my ass….’

At this point, it wasn’t exactly a situation where I needed a bodyguard.

What need does a martial artist who has reached the Hwajing realm have for a bodyguard?

Unless you hold a position like Alliance Leader or Family Head, perhaps.

Usually, even those who reached the Peak wouldn’t bring bodyguards.

But to have a bodyguard even after reaching Hwajing, and it’s the White Lotus Sword, no less?

With the Moyong family’s own blood relatives clearly present, the idea of a Moyong family expert acting as my bodyguard seemed utterly ridiculous.

Perhaps she saw my troubled frown.

Moyong Hi-ah carefully spoke to me.

“I’m sorry…”

At her apology, I let out a wry smile.

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not like you did anything wrong.”

“Still…”

Moyong Hi-ah’s face, looking genuinely apologetic, which was rare, felt somewhat cute… no, minor.

“…It’s gotten a bit troublesome, but it’s fine.”

Actually, it wasn’t fine at all, but I figured it would somehow work out.

I didn’t know what conversation occurred between her and Madam Mi to lead to this situation, but I thought maybe I should look at it positively: a high-ranking expert offering to be a bodyguard.

‘No, it doesn’t look good at all, though.’

I was trying to see it in a positive light somehow.

After all.

‘This isn’t the time to worry about things like this.’

I had more pressing matters to resolve first, so I didn’t have time to dwell on the White Lotus Sword.

I glanced at the moon rising outside the window. Judging by its position, it was almost time.

As if on cue, once I confirmed that, a voice reached my ears.

-It’s time. Come.

“…”

Hearing the heavy voice, I got up. It was the Dark King’s telepathic message.

Moyong Hi-ah looked at me quizzically at my sudden movement.

“Gongjanim?”

“It’s time for training, so I’ll head out first.”

“Ah… couldn’t you stay a little longer?”

“Sorry, I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

Leaving Moyong Hi-ah looking at me regretfully, I got out of the carriage and moved quickly.

The destination was the same forest where I encountered the Dark King last night.

“…Tsk.”

As soon as I entered the forest, the same sensation as yesterday swept over me.

My vision darkened, and my senses became disoriented in an instant. It was still an irritating sensation.

While there was definitely a backlash from reaching the trance-like state, seeing this, it was clearly the aftermath of the Dark King’s martial arts.

It blinds the eyes and darkens the senses. Is it a martial art similar to a formation?

‘Looking at it, the feeling is similar to Jeokcheon.’

It felt somewhat similar to the secret arts of Gu Family that I use.

It’s quite similar to Jeokcheon’s method of dominating a certain area with heat.

The difference is that Jeokcheon is a power that helps me, while this martial art is one that hinders the opponent.

“…Hoo.”

After arriving at the destination, I took a deep breath.

Even as I was coming here, I wondered, should I stop?

Or should I just run away? I kept debating, but in the end, I chose to face it.

‘I have to try, even if it’s just out of spite.’

I had to endure it, even if it just made me angry.

What meaning could this kind of training possibly have, making someone unable to sleep?

The Heaven Venerate wouldn’t have made me do this without any reason, but I couldn’t help feeling pissed off.

‘Any other person wouldn’t have lasted even a day.’

He’s making me experience such vivid deaths repeatedly. Any other person might have had their mind collapse before a day passed.

I couldn’t quite understand why the Heaven Venerate chose such bizarre training.

If you ask why I endure this, gritting my teeth without much complaint despite knowing all this.

‘It’s because there aren’t really any other options.’

For now, I had to trust. If I saw even a sliver of possibility.

I have to do as much as I can.

That way, maybe, just maybe, there’ll be a little more hope.

After thinking that far, I stood still and straightened my posture.

Then, after raising my Ki sense as much as possible.

I opened my eyes and spoke.

“Please take care of me.”

The Dark King’s reply wasn’t heard, but with those words.

The second day of the Night of Death began.

******************

Time passed like that.

When I opened my eyes, the night had passed, and morning had already arrived.

Has time already reached that point?

Just like yesterday, I feel like my sense of time is becoming increasingly distorted.

“Haa….”

Lying on the floor and looking at the sky, I could see the sun slowly rising.

It seems I had lost consciousness.

How long was I unconscious?

“…Sssup.”

I don’t know about that.

But I remembered at least one thing.

Fifteen times.

That’s how many times I died at the hands of the Dark King tonight.

Recalling that it was nine times the previous day, the number had increased.

‘What’s the problem?’

Is the Dark King perhaps angry with me?

It felt a bit more brutal compared to the day before…

‘…And yet, I couldn’t even graze him.’

The important thing was that during those fifteen deaths, I couldn’t even find the Dark King, let alone graze him.

Seeing this, I had to reconsider.

‘There’s no chance of winning.’

I realized this wasn’t something that could be accomplished in a day or two.

I don’t know if the hallucination-like martial art that darkens the surroundings is the issue.

Even setting that aside, the gap between me and the Dark King was simply too vast.

It’s even more problematic since the Dark King hasn’t undergone rejuvenation like the Heaven Venerate.

‘How am I supposed to handle this? Damn old geezer.’

Resentment towards the Heaven Venerate welled up involuntarily.

I don’t even know what I’m supposed to gain from this.

Even if I manage to achieve what the Heaven Venerate desires.

Will I even be able to reach the Dark King?

“Ha.”

I shot up from the ground.

Then, I repeatedly opened and closed my fist, only to realize a strange feeling.

‘I feel refreshed.’

Even though I spent the night experiencing over ten deaths. My body felt refreshed, as if I had slept soundly.

Did I go crazy from dying so much?

Maybe that’s why my body feels refreshed.

“…That can’t be it.”

I immediately denied it, even though I had just thought of it.

Because I knew. My mind wouldn’t break from something like this.

No matter what happens, my mind will not collapse.

It must have been that way ever since I went through the demonic realm in my past life.

I looked around.

The Dark King, who must have been somewhere, was nowhere to be seen.

Just like yesterday, he must have disappeared as soon as morning arrived.

Seeing that, the first thought that came to mind was.

“Should I eat first?”

My thought was to fill my stomach first.

******************

It’s now the third day since we started the journey to Sichuan.

We were told that departure from the valley we’re currently staying in wouldn’t be until the afternoon.

The waiting period feels quite long. It seems there’s some issue regarding transportation.

Should I consider it as them being thorough to that extent?

Regarding the transport team, even those accompanying us are not allowed near, except for individuals from the Tang Clan.

While guarding the vicinity is possible, extremely close approach is impossible.

‘They did feel quite tense.’

To call it a normal transport, one could see sharp energy surging from the Tang Clan members.

Are they concentrating more because it was a request from the Alliance?

Of course, I didn’t bother asking about this. There was no need to, and besides, it’s the Tang Clan’s territory, so it would be strange for me, an outsider, to intrude.

I moved my steps, glancing at those Tang Clan martial artists.

‘Where are the kids?’

I was currently looking for the rest of the party.

I could just eat alone, but if possible, I preferred eating together.

Is it because, with so many things happening lately, I can at least see their faces during meal times?

‘Could that really be the trivial reason?’

I don’t quite understand myself for looking for them for such a reason.

No other reason came to mind either.

I probably just don’t want to admit it.

I just don’t want to admit the simple reason: ‘I miss them.’

‘Tsk.’

After clicking my tongue inwardly, I continued looking around.

Usually, around this time, Wi Seol-ah would pop out from somewhere and greet me.

Not only Wi Seol-ah, but Tang Soyeol was also nowhere to be seen.

‘What’s going on?’

Namgung Bi-ah might be sleeping in my carriage or out for a walk somewhere.

But the fact that the two people who would usually approach me subtly, even when I wasn’t doing anything, were nowhere in sight made my eyebrows furrow slightly.

It was because I started thinking that something might have happened.

That wasn’t all.

‘No wonder.’

The number of people staying at the campsite seemed relatively sparse.

Not only the figures from the Pae family, but even the figures from the Bi family, whom I often saw, were missing.

It felt like they were all gathered somewhere.

At this point, I thought I should spread my Ki sense.

‘Ah… this is annoying.’

Since I had just gone through a rough ordeal, I wanted to give my body a bit of a rest if possible.

With a hint of irritation, I spread my Ki sense wide.

Immediately, I sensed the presence of many people from a location slightly further away.

But something about it felt strange.

“…This is”

Not just their presence.

Fierce fighting intent was also picked up by my Ki sense.

As soon as I felt that, I leaped forward quickly.

Did a battle break out?

If it were just fighting intent, maybe.

I could faintly sense lightning Ki mixed within the air. This was definitely Namgung Bi-ah’s energy.

Tudududuk-.

Sounds came from my body.

Following instinct, my body involuntarily shifted into a combat stance.

As the distance rapidly closed, I gradually saw a gathering of people in the distance.

I shot myself towards that location.

Kwang-!

Without using any falling techniques, I landed as if pressing straight down onto the ground.

Hudududuk-! Dust flew in all directions, and smoke obscured my vision, so I generated wind pressure to clear it away.

Looking towards the direction where the fighting intent was surging, I surveyed the situation.

“…What the?”

Centered around the people who had gathered to watch.

Chaeng-!

Along with the sound of blades colliding.

Several flashes occurred simultaneously.

Within them, different types of internal energies clashed as if fighting for territory.

Namgung Bi-ah’s lightning Ki was like that.

Wi Seol-ah’s sword Ki was like that.

Between them, Tang Soyeol’s poison Ki, subtly pushing its way in, could also be felt.

At first, I wondered what those three were doing.

Were they sparring?

Sparring is possible, but what I found puzzling was.

That the three energies weren’t targeting each other, but were moving with the intent to strike something else.

Just then.

Wi Seol-ah’s sword shot out, targeting someone.

The golden energy lingering at the tip of her sword was particularly distinct.

Has Wi Seol-ah grown even amidst this?

The sword Ki, shot out while displaying elegant curves, looked quite refined.

However.

Geugeugeuk-! Chaeng-!

“…!”

The attack faltered from a sword swung by someone, and Wi Seol-ah was eventually sent flying.

Just as Wi Seol-ah was about to roll on the ground, unable to withstand the recoil, Namgung Bi-ah appeared and helped her with her falling technique.

“What is that…?”

Seeing that, I had no choice but to cast a bewildered look.

It was surprising enough that Wi Seol-ah, Namgung Bi-ah, and Tang Soyeol were attacking together.

Because I had confirmed the person calmly countering their combined assault.

Meeting Namgung Bi-ah’s strange gaze, the woman smiled brightly.

“You pretty things are doing better than I thought? This big sis might be a little pleased.”

The identity of the person receiving that combined assault was none other than.

Moyong Biyeon, the White Lotus Sword.