Chapter 486: What are you splitting?

[Have you been well, Myung-ah?]

At Shin Noy-a’s call, the humming vibration from the hand Goe-seon was holding intensified.

Perhaps it was because of the unexpected situation. Goe-seon’s expression, in particular, was quite a sight.

[Shin-cheol.]

A chilling voice reached my ears.

Is this voice Namgung Myung’s voice?

‘Wow.’

To describe it, it felt like the voice alone could kill someone.

With this tone and voice, he looked just like Goe-seon?

‘Women must have swooned over him.’

Putting aside that frosty voice. If he looked like that, he’d already have them hooked.

“Hmm.”

Goe-seon, perhaps due to the unexpected situation, tilted his head for a moment.

“You can hear it too, it seems.”

I asked him a question.

Was he asking if I could hear Namgung Myung’s voice?

That means…

‘Goe-seon can hear it too.’

Glance.

I glanced at Woo-hyeok next to me, but Woo-hyeok himself was frowning, seemingly hearing nothing.

“Master, what do you mean, hear….”

“Disciple.”

“Yes.”

Seeing the bewildered Woo-hyeok, Goe-seon spoke.

“Step aside for a moment. I have something to say to your friend.”

At Goe-seon’s words, Woo-hyeok’s eyes widened slightly, and he looked back and forth between me and Goe-seon.

His expression showed he couldn’t understand the situation.

But.

“Understood.”

Woo-hyeok simply got up without uttering another word.

He could have asked why, but perhaps his master’s words were more important.

Woo-hyeok, with a hint of disappointment on his face, leaped lightly and disappeared into the distance.

I was left alone with Goe-seon, forced to meet his gaze.

As a rather awkward feeling washed over me.

“It’s strange since it’s the first time I’m experiencing this.”

Goe-seon spoke first.

“What’s going on?”

Woong-!

The Neuro-brain continued to emit vibrations.

I had to divert my thoughts at Goe-seon’s words.

‘What should I do.’

What should I say?

It’s a rather ambiguous situation.

I had expected for a long time that Namgung Myung might be inside the Neuro-brain.

The last time I visited the Namgung family regarding the engagement, I heard a voice presumed to be left by Namgung Myung.

Because I was told to find the Neuro-brain there.

‘This was also something left for Shin Noy-a.’

Knowing that their traces already remained in the Ghostly Treasures or the Records.

It wasn’t difficult to predict that Namgung Myung’s lingering thoughts would also be in the Neuro-brain.

‘That was true, but….’

Something felt different. Namgung Myung felt different from the past lingering thoughts I had encountered so far.

Thinking about that, I carefully asked.

“…Are you… perhaps, Senior Namgung Myung?”

“Huh?”

Goe-seon reacted first to my words. It seemed he hadn’t expected Namgung Myung’s name to come out of my mouth.

“How could you….”

Just as Goe-seon was about to speak, furrowing his brow slightly.

[Since you haven’t appeared until so late.]

Namgung Myung’s voice came through.

[As expected of your lacking self, I thought there might be a problem. But your condition is pathetic.]

[Myung-ah, I don’t think that’s something you should be saying.]

Unlike Shin Noy-a’s voice, full of laughter, Namgung Myung remained chillingly cold.

Is he always like this?

[Why have you ended up in such a state, Shin-cheol?]

[There were quite a few circumstances here.]

[And who is that fellow?]

Does ‘that fellow’ refer to me?

[This one is my successor, or something similar.]

I clicked my tongue inwardly at Shin Noy-a’s answer. What do you mean ‘similar’?

Namgung Myung seemed just as puzzled by Noy-a’s words, as he asked Noy-a.

[You took someone who isn’t even a sword master as your successor? Shin-cheol. Have you truly gone mad?]

[He’s not a disciple, just someone who inherited the will.]

[What novel nonsense. Have you truly lost your mind?]

Amidst Namgung Myung’s continued sharp words. The one with the strangest expression was Goe-seon.

“Old man, who on earth are you talking to?”

‘…!’

At Goe-seon’s words, I hid my surprise internally.

It seemed Goe-seon couldn’t hear Shin Noy-a’s voice.

‘So, Goe-seon can only hear Namgung Myung’s voice?’

Unlike me, who could clearly hear both Namgung Myung’s and Shin Noy-a’s voices distinctly, it seemed Goe-seon could only hear one of them.

As it was rather useful information, I hid my reaction and spoke to Namgung Myung this time.

“When I visited the Namgung family, I heard your voice there.”

[What?]

Namgung Myung reacted upon hearing my words.

It felt like he understood what I meant.

“Find the Neuro-brain.” You definitely said that.

[…]

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t said to me, but left for Shin Noy-a, but since I came with Noy-a, it doesn’t matter.

There were too many things to worry about such details.

[Isn’t it just that you can’t be bothered to care, you rascal?]

‘Please be quiet….’

He’s ruining the mood at a time like this.

“So….”

[I don’t remember.]

“…What?”

Just as I was about to start talking, saying I came after hearing his words.

Namgung Myung abruptly cut me off.

He doesn’t remember…?

“Senior?”

[I have no such memory. I have nothing more to say about this, so leave.]

It was an unexpected development.

I had naturally assumed Namgung Myung would explain the situation if I brought this up.

He says he doesn’t remember and tells me to leave?

‘What is this….’

What a damn situation this is.

If it’s like this, what should I do about giving the Neuro-brain to Namgung Bi-ah?

As my mind went blank amidst the incomprehensible situation.

Goe-seon spat out words with a displeased expression.

“Old man, shouldn’t you tell me what’s going on? I don’t understand….”

[Send him back.]

“What?”

[I said, send him back.]

“What kind of bullshit is this all of a sudden.”

[If he refuses to leave, send him back by force.]

“Ha, has your crazy illness acted up again? Didn’t I always tell you? Whether you explain properly or not….”

Snap.

The Neuro-brain, which had been vibrating intensely, stopped trembling after those words.

Goe-seon’s face also contorted instantly upon confirming this.

“Damn it. That damned old man, I don’t know why his personality never changes and stays so foul. What are the ghosts doing, not taking this ill-tempered old man away?”

[That descendant of Myung speaks so refreshingly. I quite like it.]

“…”

I sighed, watching Noy-a chuckle heartily at Goe-seon’s words.

‘This isn’t the time to be laughing.’

[Then, it’s not the time to be crying, is it?]

‘No, we need to talk. Isn’t this situation problematic?’

Why Namgung Myung remained in the Neuro-brain, why such lingering thoughts were left in the Namgung family.

Isn’t this the situation where I should be asking those things?

Noy-a let out a disbelieving scoff upon hearing my thoughts.

[No, since when did conversation become important to someone who came intending to snatch the Neuro-brain and give it to their own brat?]

“…”

Ahem.

It was true, so I couldn’t retort.

‘…You said you’d help.’

[I did help. I called, but he refuses to talk, so what can I do?]

What is this?

Why is this old man so nonchalant?

Something was wrong. Shin Noy-a wasn’t the type to act like this in such a situation.

‘Noy-a.’

[Hm?]

‘…You seem to have something in mind, don’t you?’

[Hoho.]

Otherwise, Noy-a’s attitude was incomprehensible.

Even if this old man has a foul temper and doesn’t seem like a hermit…

‘I have to admit, at least when it comes to ability.’

The more I sought to know, the more endless Shin Noy-a’s achievements were. Stories too overwhelming for one person to accomplish in a lifetime. Yet, Shin Noy-a handled them all nonchalantly.

[You’re always quick to notice things like this.]

‘…’

[We’ve confirmed enough for today. Just as that Myung fellow said, let’s go back. Staying longer will only provoke him.]

‘But….’

[This is something you should understand.]

Shin Noy-a’s voice, previously full of laughter, now held a subtle seriousness.

[If it were me, I might have done the same.]

‘…What do you mean?’

[It’s not a certainty, so I’ll tell you later. Just like Myung said, let’s go back now.]

‘…’

[Besides, I have many things I need to tell you.]

Was this what Tang Je-mun meant last time, saying there were many things Shin Noy-a had prepared to tell me?

‘This feels unsettling.’

The feeling that something was tangled left me quite unsettled, but…

It seemed there was no other way.

‘He told me to leave. What’s that all about?’

I couldn’t understand Namgung Myung’s attitude or demeanor, but if he has no intention of talking, I guess there’s nothing I can do.

“Hmm.”

Likewise, Goe-seon kept looking at me with a questioning expression, but…

Judging by the fact he wasn’t asking questions, he seemed inclined to follow Namgung Myung’s directive.

This means…

‘If I don’t leave, they might forcibly send me back.’

I wanted to avoid such an unpleasant situation right from our first meeting.

Especially since I would eventually have to take… no, receive the Neuro-brain.

[…Don’t you have the option of not taking it in your head?]

‘I can’t give that up.’

I recently saw Ma-geom-hu, who held the Neuro-brain, again.

Knowing how significant the difference having it or not having it makes for Namgung Bi-ah.

I absolutely couldn’t give up the Neuro-brain.

‘Now I need to give them out one by one.’

If it were up to me, I’d want to handle it all myself, but…

I knew I wasn’t at that level yet.

At the very least, I wanted to prepare them so they could protect themselves.

‘Not just Namgung Bi-ah.’

I also needed to find something I’d prepared for Wi Seol-ah soon.

I also intended to give something to Moyong Hi-ah and Tang Soyeol.

[You don’t look the type, yet you try so diligently to take care of everyone.]

‘What do you mean I don’t look the type? What are you saying?’

Does he think he looks affectionate or something?

He looks like an angry lynx.

[What did you say, you bastard…?]

“…I apologize for suddenly visiting when you must be busy.”

Regardless of how Noy-a reacted, I ignored him and showed respect to Goe-seon.

“It seems now is not the right time, so I will take my leave.”

“…Hmm… alright.”

“I will visit again in the near future.”

I’d made a basic appearance.

I had no intention of giving up, so I planned to visit again.

Moreover, Goe-seon seemed curious about the current situation,

so he didn’t say anything about my plan to visit again.

With a sense of lingering dissatisfaction, I turned my body and…

…leapt away through the forest.

Goe-seon’s gaze, which I could still feel, bothered me slightly, but I launched myself forward without looking back.

‘As for Jamryong… he’ll probably come on his own.’

He’s more directionally challenged than I thought, which is a concern, but…

I figured he’d manage somehow.

He’d have things to talk about, having met his master after so long.

Or so I thought, but I didn’t know then.

…that Woo-hyeok, not knowing the way back, would take two days to cover a distance that should take an hour.

---

Returning straight to the Tang family, the next day arrived.

Perhaps it was due to meeting Goe-seon the previous day, I slept restlessly.

It felt like I had dreamt something, but I couldn’t recall it well.

It was a morning marked by a distinctly unsettling feeling.

I came to the annex building and was waiting for the meal.

Not just me, but most of the Tang family’s visiting guests were gathered.

Pae-jon and Am-wang were nowhere to be seen.

Excluding those two… Ah, that Woo-hyeok fellow isn’t here either.

Anyway, excluding them, everyone else seemed to be present.

“Young Master-nim, did you sleep well?”

As I sat waiting for the meal, someone approached and spoke to me.

It was Tang Soyeol.

Seeing her, I made a strange expression.

“Why are you here?”

“What?”

“Don’t you usually eat elsewhere?”

As Tang Soyeol is a direct blood relative of the Tang family, she’s in a position where she doesn’t necessarily have to eat here.

Ah, of course, even as a guest, if I were in my quarters, they’d bring food to me.

But I’ve gotten into the habit of eating together, so I ended up coming here.

“…Aw. Since Young Master-nim is here, it’s nice to eat together.”

Perhaps my words sounded a bit off, Tang Soyeol pouted slightly.

Seeing that face, I involuntarily recalled someone.

‘Does she resemble him?’

Tang Je-mun, whom I encountered in the Records.

Because I felt Tang Soyeol had some resemblance to her.

Could that thought have been the problem?

[Resemble? Their feelings are entirely different, aren’t they?]

Suddenly, Shin Noy-a spoke as if taking offense.

‘Why are you suddenly angry? This is absurd.’

I just said they looked a bit alike, why is he getting so worked up.

Can’t they resemble each other if they’re from the same clan?

Thinking that, I looked more closely at Tang Soyeol.

‘Here… if her hair grew longer, she might resemble him a bit.’

If the bob-haired Tang Soyeol’s hair grew longer…

…and she grew taller, she would definitely resemble him.

Of course.

‘Her body won’t grow much more….’

I’m not talking about her upper body, considering Tang Soyeol wasn’t very tall even in her past life.

She probably won’t be much different from now.

That’s not a bad thing.

In fact, a change in her impression might be more uncomfortable for me.

“Young Master-nim?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Perhaps because I kept staring intently, Tang Soyeol asked why.

I stared too much. That was a mistake.

As I made an awkward expression, Tang Soyeol waved her hand dismissively.

“No, it’s fine. You can look more.”

“…What are you talking about.”

“Heehee.”

Perhaps joking, Tang Soyeol laughed aimlessly.

“Oh, right. Young Master-nim.”

“Hm?”

“What will you do after the meal?”

“After eating?”

After finishing the meal, I planned to go out to the county first.

I would look for the Baekhwa Merchant Guild’s Sichuan branch somewhere.

‘I need to entrust some things there.’

By ‘things to entrust,’ I meant the rattling items in my possession.

‘…Fortunately, I managed to get them this time.’

The items that made me smile just thinking about them – the Night-shining Pearls brought from the Records.

I couldn’t bring back items from the Geumcheon Yeon family’s Records last time, but I managed to get them properly this time.

To sell these at a fair price conveniently, finding the Baekhwa Merchant Guild was the fastest way.

Because using Madam Mi’s name would make it simple.

‘If I wanted to squeeze more out of them, it would be easier to find another place, but that’s a bit troublesome.’

It wouldn’t be difficult for me to go to a regular merchant guild and get more than the fair price, but…

…it’s bothersome to go that far.

‘…I also feel a bit sorry for using Madam Mi’s name.’

I recalled making an excuse to the Poison King, saying I obtained the Poison-breaking Pills from the Baekhwa Merchant Guild.

After thinking that far, I answered Tang Soyeol.

“After this. I’ll probably go to the county.”

“The county? Really!?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Young Master-nim. May I go with you?”

“Hm? Sure.”

What’s so difficult about that?

I nodded lightly, and Tang Soyeol beamed.

Is it something to be that happy about? It’s fortunate she’s happy, though.

“Then get ready. Wait for me with the kids.”

“Yes! I’ll get ready and wait… Kids?”

“Hm?”

Tang Soyeol asked back, as if asking what I meant.

“Wasn’t it just… me going?”

“Hm? No. I mentioned everyone was going, so I said let’s go together. It’s good timing. You come along too.”

“…Yes.”

I think Namgung Bi-ah, Wi Seol-ah, and Moyong Hi-ah also said they were going.

As I mentioned the companions, a slight shadow crossed Tang Soyeol’s face, which had been smiling moments before.

Just as I was about to ask why she looked like that…

“The meal is ready.”

A servant announced from outside.

The moment the words were spoken, the empty table was instantly filled with dishes.

Just like when I came to Sichuan in the past, the Tang family seems particularly serious about food.

Although I dislike things being slightly spicy.

Immediately after all the food was served. As soon as the servants left, everyone began to eat.

Beside me, Tang Soyeol seemed to have lost her appetite, starting to pick at her food.

Paying attention to her state, I picked up a dumpling in front of me with my chopsticks.

‘It’s been a while.’

It felt nostalgic, as if it had been a long time since I had a proper meal.

I took a light bite of the steaming dumpling.

Then.

Thud.

The sensation I felt immediately after eating made me pause my movements for a moment.

And then, I secretly smiled.

“…Ah, these bastards, they sure are impatient.”

“Young Master-nim?”

At the whispered curse, Tang Soyeol reacted and looked at me.

Feeling Tang Soyeol’s gaze, I swallowed the dumpling whole.

Gulp.

Immediately, I felt something seeping into my body.

A sensation that was incredibly murky.

Feeling that, I took a breath and then spoke with all my might.

“Oh. My. Goodness. Poison!”

Then.

Flump-

I collapsed right in front of the table.

As if I had lost consciousness.

“…”

As I spoke and collapsed, the surroundings instantly fell silent.

Feeling that silence, I thought internally.

‘…Why no reaction?’

I expected them to scream and cause a commotion, naturally.

But for some reason, it was quiet.

I was retracing my steps internally, wondering if I made a mistake.

[…Seriously, brat.]

‘What?’

Noy-a told me the reason.

[You shouldn’t try acting anywhere. It’s truly unbearable to watch. Tsk tsk…. Oh, how embarrassing.]

“…”

The words hit me hard, but I still didn’t get up.

Especially at times like this, I needed to put on a thicker face.