Chapter 522: Give it to me just once.

Should I let her go?

My mind became tangled at Namgung Bi-ah’s words about wanting to go.

If I have to let her go.

Why would I have to let her go?

The Northern Sea.

I wanted to stop Namgung Bi-ah from going all the way to that faraway land.

Yet, I couldn’t easily stop her.

The reason was none other than this.

‘Her eyes,’

Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes looking at me were clearer than ever before.

The seemingly lost eyes disappeared, and her blue eyes shone like jewels.

Like someone who had found their path.

Seeing those unusually shining eyes, it was truly difficult to tell her not to go.

But.

I still spoke.

‘Don’t go.’

‘Don’t leave me behind in that faraway place.’

I wanted to say that.

Even if it was sordid and petty. I wanted to hold onto Namgung Bi-ah somehow like that.

It’s truly a shameless feeling.

I had repeatedly pushed her away precisely because I didn’t want to feel this, yet now, I was entangled in emotions as if that worry had sprouted.

This is not affection, but a fishy possessiveness.

Because I had placed Namgung Bi-ah in my heart, that space grew ceaselessly, making it impossible to let go.

But then.

“I have to go.”

Despite my plea not to go, Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with clear eyes.

They were incredibly clear and distinct.

It was unfair that she was showing me eyes she rarely showed normally, now of all times.

So, should I let her go? Just like this?

I can’t do that.

‘To gain the strength to protect me? You have to go to the Northern Sea for that?’

What ridiculous nonsense.

‘Who is protecting whom?’

Look at how I’m struggling.

Moreover, for what am I struggling, that you intend to protect me even in this life?

That’s utterly impossible.

I wanted to unleash my words right in front of her.

‘It’s not you protecting me. It’s me protecting you.’

‘So just stay quietly by my side.’

I wanted to spit out such trivial words, but I had to bite my tongue and hold back.

This damned thing called affection stirs up possessiveness, yet also makes me endure it.

So I couldn’t speak.

However, just because I couldn’t speak didn’t mean my actions were controlled.

I stood facing Namgung Bi-ah.

“…”

As I quietly looked at her, our gazes met.

She didn’t avoid my gaze.

I stared intently into her blue pupils.

‘…’

Looking into that gaze, I involuntarily felt like avoiding it.

When was it?

That I had looked at her so slowly.

I tried hard to recall, but…

‘I don’t think there ever was.’

As far as I know, there wasn’t.

I have no memory of ever looking at Namgung Bi-ah’s appearance in such detail.

Perhaps because of that, I found myself looking unusually deeply.

Her white hair with a faint blue hue, and her snow-white skin. As if she had applied makeup, her eyes held a subtle aura.

She’s beautiful.

She was still beautiful.

As I watched her calmly like that.

“…”

I saw the accessory in Namgung Bi-ah’s hair.

It was the moon-shaped ornament I had gifted her.

She’s still wearing it.

I bought her such a cheap thing that it looks a bit worn out now.

I should buy her something a little better next time.

‘Ha.’

Thinking that, I let out a short, empty breath.

Am I going crazy? Now I’m thinking about things like this.

All sorts of thoughts came to mind.

A myriad of random thoughts flashed through my mind.

I knew it.

The endpoint of all these thoughts was an attempt to ignore my own unwillingness to let her go.

Perhaps because I knew that.

It wasn’t working.

There was no way I could ignore it.

If I could have done that, I wouldn’t have kept Namgung Bi-ah by my side in the first place.

She probably doesn’t know how big a choice it was just to keep me by my side.

Also, I hoped she wouldn’t know.

Sreung.

A cool sound reached my ears.

It was the sound of Namgung Bi-ah drawing her sword.

Seeing that, I asked.

“Are you really going to do this?”

“Yes….”

To my question, Namgung Bi-ah nodded firmly.

Her posture was upright. Honest.

A duel.

Despite my absurd demand, Namgung Bi-ah accepted without hesitation.

There’s no way.

No matter how much of a genius Namgung Bi-ah is, this is outside that realm.

She surely knew that too.

The reason she accepted despite that…

‘…is probably because of my pathetic trick.’

The condition attached to this duel was likely the reason.

‘Fight using a sword.’

Since a duel without any specific conditions was already nonsensical, I attached this as a condition.

Additionally, I mixed in wordplay, saying it wasn’t about winning against me, but about earning recognition.

This was also my cunning ploy to make Namgung Bi-ah agree to the duel.

Somehow, I had to present something that Namgung Bi-ah would also find acceptable.

And so.

I will make her lose and give up.

That is my goal right now.

‘Petty?’

‘I know. Things like that….’

I know very well.

But, it’s just that I don’t want to let Namgung Bi-ah go that much.

Gone are the days when I desperately urged her to go.

Now, it would be problematic if she wasn’t by my side. Especially in my current state.

‘…My mind isn’t quite right.’

I haven’t told anyone, but my mental state right now isn’t normal.

Combined with managing my energy, I also needed time to grasp my changed emotional state and mind.

Given such circumstances, I hoped Namgung Bi-ah wouldn’t leave right now.

Whether I was cursed for sordid possessiveness or pointed at for selfishness, my heart felt that way regardless.

Facing Namgung Bi-ah’s sword, I too drew a sword.

It was an iron sword I’d grabbed casually from nearby.

In my heart, I wanted to use Gwi-jeong, but that felt… too much like it.

As I drew a sword, I felt gazes from my surroundings.

They were the gazes of Baek-ryeon Geom and Gwe-seon.

The gazes I felt were full of curiosity; perhaps the issue was that I had declared I would duel Namgung Bi-ah with a sword.

They must be quite curious about how I intend to fight with this.

To them, it’s probably a very strange situation.

The difference in cultivation levels is clear, but…

For someone of the martial arts path like me to wield a sword means ultimately abandoning my main martial arts and fighting, or more broadly speaking, fighting with both arms discarded.

Because I know absolutely nothing about swords.

Even if I used sword energy, without enlightenment, it would be half-baked sword energy.

I don’t even know the sword path to utilize it, so it would just be swinging it around carelessly.

If I fight Namgung Bi-ah, who is at the perfected peak, I’ll lose unless something extraordinary happens.

At least, that’s how it would seem to them.

Namgung Bi-ah knows me, so maybe not, but…

Judging by her acceptance of the match, she probably thinks so too.

However.

‘…Noya. Please take care of this.’

I had none other than Hwasan Seon-geom Shin-cheol.

He’s a gentleman who never loses when it comes to swordsmanship.

A figure who rose to the position of hero with just one sword.

I even saw him toy with Namgung Jin as if teaching a child.

This time too, I’ll teach them a lesson with a sword.

Thinking that, I spoke to Noya.

[…Huh…? Me…?]

Noya, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke to me.

That reaction felt strangely poignant.

‘What’s with that reaction…?’

[No… Surely, you’re not telling me to fight, are you?]

‘Then, who else would fight?’

[Look at this crazy bastard? It’s your body, so naturally, you should fight!]

Noya spat out the words as if incredulous.

Hearing that, I was also dumbfounded.

‘No! How can I possibly fight! I don’t even know how to use a sword!’

[What, are you saying that so shamelessly! If you don’t know how to use it, you shouldn’t have done this, you punk!]

‘Of course, when you say ‘use a sword,’ it’s natural for you, Noya, to step up.’

It had always been like that until now.

So I naturally thought it would be the same this time, but…

[Hah… Haha… What should I do with this crazy bastard? He tries to get everything for free.]

Noya lamented endlessly, as if facing an unexpected situation.

[I thought you’d use a sword and maybe lose moderately, so I was watching… Truly the number one petty person in the world…! Does it make sense to treat your fiancée like this?]

‘…Uh, scold me later. Can’t you just help me out this once…?’

I know you’re looking at me pitifully. But I have to get this done, even if I have to throw a tantrum.

Deciding that, I tried to beg Noya.

[No.]

Noya refused firmly.

‘Noya…!’

[Even if you ask, what can’t be done, can’t be done.]

‘Why? You usually use things after stealing them…! Why are you acting so high-and-mighty precisely at a time like this?’

[This punk…? When did I ever steal and use something…! And besides. It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I can’t.]

‘Huh?’

…Can’t? What does that mean?

My eyes widened at the unexpected words, and Noya continued, as if explaining.

[Right after your body changed. I can no longer borrow and use your body.]

‘…What? What kind of out-of-the-blue nonsense is that?’

It’s the first time I’m hearing this.

It’s only been a few days since I shed my skin, but I had never heard of this problem from Noya at least.

Just as I was wondering what was going on, Noya added.

[…Because I was so busy running around. I forgot about it too, you know?]

‘Crazy…!’

At Noya’s words, my mind suddenly went blank.

Noya can no longer enter my body?

Then.

‘Then what am I supposed to do…?’

[Why are you asking me? You’re the one who caused the trouble.]

I’m screwed. It really feels like I’m screwed?

‘…Isn’t that a lie? Please, just say it’s a lie. I’ll let it slide just once.’

[What, shall I bet my status as the previous sect leader? That my words are true…?]

‘I can’t trust things like that… Noya seems like the type to bet on anything without hesitation.’

[Hoho, brat, if I could have taken over your body right now, I would have done it long ago and either stripped your pants or bitten my tongue off… It’s a regret that I can’t.]

Shit.

Hearing those words, it really seemed like it was impossible.

Facing an unplanned situation, my mind became frantically busy.

‘What do I do?’

Seriously, what do I do.

My pupils shook frantically.

Namgung Bi-ah seemed to notice this, tilting her head.

“…Why… are you like this?”

Namgung Bi-ah spoke, sounding concerned.

Should I suggest fighting with fists right now? Such a desire surged.

[That would be… a bit too pathetic, wouldn’t it?]

‘…’

Noya said it like that was really not an option.

I knew it too.

If I actually said that, I felt I would despise myself.

‘…Then what do we do? There’s no answer anymore.’

[Just fight with a sword appropriately. What’s so difficult about it?]

As expected from someone who’s supposedly cut the sky with a sword, he says it so easily.

If it weren’t difficult, would I have trained in swordsmanship instead of just punching?

‘I might as well use Gwi-jeong.’

Gwi-jeong, tied to my left arm.

If I used this, it might be a little different.

At least it would be better than this iron sword.

‘No… Gwi-jeong just doesn’t break, so it might be meaningless,’

If you think about it that way, not Gwi-jeong but…

Swoosh.

I looked at No-ah, held in my other hand.

It was right after finishing a conversation with Namgung Myung in my quarters.

We didn’t talk much. But important things were exchanged.

Perhaps that was the problem.

Namgung Myung remained silent.

‘…In terms of efficiency, this is better than Gwi-jeong.’

As a treasure that maximizes the user’s power. This would be more suitable in the current situation than Gwi-jeong, but…

‘I can’t use it.’

Leaving aside how I can hold Gwi-jeong.

This was an item that couldn’t be used without the choice of Noe-gi, and No-ah.

“…”

As I quietly looked at No-ah, I subtly infused some energy.

Using the fact that I could touch it, I tried infusing a little energy.

[Where are you putting that filthy energy…!]

Namgung Myung, who had been quiet, yelled out furiously.

I got caught.

With that, I smiled awkwardly and said.

‘I tried it just in case.’

[Ha…! You punk who can barely touch it…! Don’t you dare expect anything. This cannot be used without my permission.]

Not just No-ah’s choice, but Namgung Myung’s choice is also needed?

I have to appease a foul-tempered old man too. It couldn’t be a more shitty item.

‘Gwi-jeong is actually better.’

In that aspect, Gwi-jeong is better.

Because at least I didn’t need to appease Noya for that.

However.

Was it a mistake in the midst of it all?

As I infused energy into No-ah just now, I thought:

‘It felt like something might happen.’

I felt like it was absorbing the energy better than expected.

Just in case, I tried pushing more energy into it.

Perhaps sensing this, Namgung Myung said to me with irritation.

[I told you it was useless. I clearly said….]

Hwaak-!

“Huh?”

[…Huh…?]

After pushing a considerable amount of energy for a while.

Suddenly, a light appeared from No-ah’s jewel.

Chwaak-!

Starting with the light, an immense heat erupted.

“…”

[…]

Namgung Myung, who had been chattering excitedly due to the sudden situation, fell silent.

I quietly whispered, looking at No-ah in my hand.

“This… actually works…?”