Chapter 525: Give it to me just once.

It was around the time a major problem exploded within the Tang Clan.

If I were to pick the busiest individuals among them, it would naturally be the Poison King, but…

Surprisingly, there was someone just as busy.

“No… What is this?”

The one moving around since morning, unable to even comb her hair due to the incident that broke out, was Moyong Hi-ah, the treasured jewel of the Moyong Clan.

In the quarters assigned for guests, Moyong Hi-ah kept stroking her forehead.

“…Information. Is there no more information?”

She said, looking sideways with furrowed brows.

The one kneeling on one knee replied to her voice.

“…Because the situation occurred so suddenly, we are still gathering more information.”

“…Ugh…!”

At her subordinate’s words, Moyong Hi-ah bit her fine lips.

‘What is this…?’

To be in this state first thing in the morning.

Facing such an unbelievable situation, Moyong Hi-ah had to quickly rack her brain.

‘Suddenly executing an elder?’

Hearing the information out of the blue, Moyong Hi-ah broke out in a cold sweat.

The Tang Clan’s First Elder was executed overnight. And apparently, the Poison King killed him personally.

‘What kind of situation is this.’

Speaking of the Tang Clan’s First Elder, he was the person who managed all the Tang Clan’s medicinal herbs.

His cultivation reached the Hwa-gyeong level in his later years, wasn’t that what they said?

Moyong Hi-ah knew the person too.

Once, due to her constitution, she had conducted various dealings with the Tang Clan.

Among those dealings were not just treatments, but also transactions involving the herbs themselves.

The First Elder must have been in charge of that.

She had even met him in person.

As for Moyong Hi-ah’s impression of that First Elder.

‘He was a rather shady character.’

She had judged him to be somewhat dark-hearted.

Separately from that, she had also assessed him as a capable individual.

Managing so many medicinal herbs, he must have had considerable influence within the Tang Clan.

‘But execution?’

To kill someone with such power so easily.

The moment she heard it, her scalp tingled.

Something had happened.

There was no way anyone wouldn’t know this.

‘I need more information.’

Trying to use her head since morning gave her a headache, but she had to do what needed to be done.

A major incident had occurred at the Tang Clan. This was a significant problem from Moyong Hi-ah’s perspective.

‘I have several businesses prepared for the future.’

How many businesses were being prepared in collaboration with the Tang Clan.

There were more than just one or two things she needed to expand using this.

An incident occurs at the Tang Clan at such a time? That’s quite problematic.

Moyong Hi-ah immediately conjured several paths in her mind.

The fastest and clearest among them was to hold the Tang Clan responsible and resolve the issue smoothly, but…

‘…’

Moyong Hi-ah erased this course of action, thinking of Tang Soyeol.

It wasn’t that she was worried about Tang Soyeol.

It was true that affection had built up during their time together, but Moyong Hi-ah knew that such friendship didn’t guarantee personal gain.

However.

‘He would hate it.’

Moyong Hi-ah knew that if she handled this purely calculationally, given that man’s personality of subtly looking out for his own people, he wouldn’t like it.

So she had to endure it, what else could she do?

Just as she was about to think of another plan.

“…Wait a moment….”

Moyong Hi-ah remembered.

Gu Yangcheon, who seemed to be hiding something when she went to the province last time.

That person, who had a look in his eyes as if he was about to cause trouble again.

And the current incident that broke out not long after.

Surely there couldn’t be a connection, right?

‘…It wouldn’t be, would it?’

She wasn’t sure.

You know what they say, ‘maybe’ can kill a person, and that guy was more than capable of it.

Creak. Moyong Hi-ah stood up.

“Miss?”

“…I’m going out for a bit. Please gather more information while I’m gone.”

“Understood.”

Immediately after telling her subordinate, Moyong Hi-ah left her quarters, walking as if running.

Her direction was towards the quarters where that guy, Gu Yangcheon, was staying.

‘It can’t be.’

Moyong Hi-ah prayed fervently inwardly.

For whom am I working so hard like this.

He wouldn’t have caused trouble, even if he couldn’t help.

She truly hoped so.

‘I haven’t even finished… Mother’s assignment yet.’

Her teeth ground together. (으드득)

“Mother’s assignment” meant the task personally given by the White Flower Guild Leader, Mi Hyoran.

One day, a letter arrived for Moyong Hi-ah from the White Flower Merchant Association.

It contained details about business ventures and a request to write down and send how to resolve such situations if they occurred.

Having experienced something similar with the Moyong Merchant Association, it was somewhat familiar to her.

Normally, she would have dismissed it as nonsensical and ignored it.

If the sender hadn’t been the White Flower Guild Leader.

Mi Hyoran specifically sent Moyong Hi-ah a written account of such complex and difficult situations.

Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t help but understand the meaning behind it.

‘It’s a test.’

This is a test.

Mi Hyoran is testing Moyong Hi-ah.

‘How outstanding a person are you.’

It was the same as asking her to show that.

What would change if she showed it?

What was the test for in the first place?

It was obvious without even looking.

She probably wanted to see if she was worthy of being by his side.

A strange, chilling sensation made Moyong Hi-ah frown.

‘I heard he wasn’t her biological son….’

Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t understand why Mi Hyoran was acting this way, when she had heard Gu Yangcheon wasn’t her biological son.

Nevertheless, an opportunity disguised as a non-opportunity had arrived, and she couldn’t let it pass.

In such a situation.

‘…This guy caused trouble?’

She wasn’t sure yet… No, honestly, Moyong Hi-ah was convinced.

That the guy was involved in the incident that broke out at the Tang Clan.

Her instincts told her so, making it hard to deny.

‘I’m already busy as hell…!’

Moyong Hi-ah walked, grinding her teeth fiercely.

She had to ask directly what kind of situation had occurred.

It would be better than gathering information.

Thinking so, she approached the quarters.

“Huh?”

Someone was visible in front of Gu Yangcheon’s quarters.

It was someone Moyong Hi-ah knew.

“…What are you doing there?”

“…!”

As Moyong Hi-ah approached and asked why she was lingering as if about to enter, the woman who was peeking startled and trembled.

In that brief tremble, the woman’s light brown hair danced.

“Ah, hello….”

The woman said to Moyong Hi-ah, showing off her characteristic golden eyes.

“She’s still pretty.”

Moyong Hi-ah knew she herself was quite attractive, but compared to this woman or Sword Dancer, she felt slightly lacking.

After trying hard to hide her busy demeanor.

Moyong Hi-ah asked the woman… Wi Seol-ah again.

“What are you doing?”

“Well…”

“Do you have business with this person?”

“Ah, no… It’s not with the Young Master.”

Without pointing anyone out specifically, they understood each other.

“Hmm?”

Wi Seol-ah doesn’t have business with Gu Yangcheon?

This was an answer even Moyong Hi-ah hadn’t expected.

Given it was Wi Seol-ah, she naturally assumed she came to see Gu Yangcheon.

‘If not him, then who?’

As far as she knew, there were three people staying in these quarters.

One was the Sleeping Dragon, and another was a young man called Cheol… something.

No matter how she looked at it, it didn’t seem like Wi Seol-ah would have business with the others.

Although she felt a strange sense of doubt.

‘If she doesn’t have business with him, then it’s fortunate for me.’

It was actually a good thing for Moyong Hi-ah.

Because she had business with Gu Yangcheon.

“Then I’ll go in first. I’m a bit busy.”

“Ah…!”

As Moyong Hi-ah moved to enter the quarters, Wi Seol-ah startled once more.

Why is she reacting like that?

The moment she entered Gu Yangcheon’s quarters while observing Wi Seol-ah.

‘What is this.’

Moyong Hi-ah felt something strange.

It felt like the temperature had slightly risen.

Being particularly sensitive due to her unusually low body temperature, Moyong Hi-ah felt it keenly.

She didn’t pay much attention to it for now, as it was urgent.

After all, it was important to ask what incident had occurred.

Thinking so, she went to the room where Gu Yangcheon might be.

“Young Master Gu. Are you there?”

-…

She asked at the door, but no answer came.

She had asked a servant on the way and heard Gu Yangcheon was in his quarters, though.

“Is he sleeping?”

“Sleeping at a time like this? Even for that guy, he wouldn’t be sleeping after causing such a commotion.”

“Then is he really not related to this incident?”

Just as she was thinking that.

Thump.

Wi Seol-ah appeared beside her.

Seeing that, Moyong Hi-ah narrowed her eyes.

“You said you didn’t have business here.”

“…Well…”

She had clearly said herself that she didn’t have business with Gu Yangcheon.

“What is this?”

Was she trying to start a standoff with her? Feeling surprised, just as Moyong Hi-ah was about to speak.

Creak!

Gu Yangcheon’s door opened. At the sound, Moyong Hi-ah tried to face Gu Yangcheon who appeared.

“…Young… ugh… huh?”

Moyong Hi-ah let out a stupid sound, uncharacteristic of her.

Because the one who appeared wasn’t Gu Yangcheon.

He was much larger than him.

His chest and shoulders were also much broader than Gu Yangcheon’s.

Moyong Hi-ah was speechless under the gaze looking down at her.

“It felt heavy.”

Just being looked at gave her a crushing sensation.

Gulp.

Under the downward-piercing red gaze, Moyong Hi-ah swallowed dryly once.

The man who appeared from Gu Yangcheon’s room was quietly staring at Moyong Hi-ah.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Moyong Hi-ah, managing to roll her eyeballs, quickly scanned the inner room.

And she had to be surprised once more.

‘…Why is that person over there again?’

Because she saw Sword Dancer sitting by the desk inside Gu Yangcheon’s room, seemingly observing the situation.

“This is unusual.”

“What is this atmosphere?”

Moyong Hi-ah’s sharp mind quickly started working.

Even so, time was short, and there was only one answer Moyong Hi-ah could choose right now.

“She composed her breathing.”

“She spent one second on this.”

Her startled heart wouldn’t calm down easily.

She paid her respects, trying her best not to show her trembling and stiff body.

“…A blood relative of the Moyong Clan greets the Clan Head of the Gu Clan. My name is Moyong Hi-ah.”

Fortunately, her voice didn’t tremble. It was a stroke of luck.

The identity of the man receiving Moyong Hi-ah’s greeting was Gu Cheol-un.

“She had seen him before.”

“How could she not know him?”

When she started this journey, she had heard countless warnings from her father, Baek Cheon Geom-ju, to be wary of the Gu Clan Head.

She remembered hearing words from her aunt, Baek Ryeon Geom, several times.

Moreover, he was Gu Yangcheon’s father.

It was an unexpected encounter, but she couldn’t show herself in a poor light.

“…”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s greeting, Gu Cheol-un’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

Although she couldn’t see because her head was bowed, Moyong Hi-ah knew.

That Gu Cheol-un was observing her.

“…Pleased to meet you. I am Gu Cheol-un.”

“I apologize for the sudden visit. It’s just that… I had urgent business with Young Master Gu, which is why I came in such a hurry.”

She didn’t ask questions like ‘Why is the Clan Head here?’.

She wanted to ask, but she had to hold back.

That was a lower priority.

“If you mean my son, unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like the right time to talk.”

“Yes?”

Immediately after speaking, Gu Cheol-un slightly turned his body to show the inside of the room in detail.

There, she could see Gu Yangcheon lying peacefully on the blanket.

She wondered if he was sleeping, but Moyong Hi-ah realized it instantly.

“He wasn’t just sleeping.”

“Something seemed to have happened.”

‘Did he get hurt again?’

Worry struck her before she could even think about what the situation might have been.

“That guy gets hurt like that so often.”

As Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes wavered.

Gu Cheol-un calmly took Moyong Hi-ah in with his gaze.

“First, come inside.”

“Yes?”

“If you’re in a hurry, you can leave, but if it’s alright, I meant for you to come inside and wait.”

“…”

At Gu Cheol-un’s words, Moyong Hi-ah flinched.

If she went in now, she’d have to wait with Gu Cheol-un, leaving the sleeping Gu Yangcheon behind.

‘What should I do.’

Even for Moyong Hi-ah, she wondered if she could endure such an atmosphere.

She felt like asking for permission and leaving, but…

‘But that person is there.’

Her feet hesitated, concerned about Sword Dancer inside the room.

She shouldn’t ponder for long.

Moyong Hi-ah steadied her resolve and said to Gu Cheol-un.

“Then… I apologize, but I’ll take my leave for a moment.”

Gu Cheol-un nodded at Moyong Hi-ah’s words.

Then he shifted his gaze to Wi Seol-ah.

Wi Seol-ah also hastily paid her respects to Gu Cheol-un.

“…I greet the Clan Head.”

“It seems your business is similar. You come inside too, young lady.”

“Ah… Yes.”

Gu Cheol-un finished speaking and entered the room, followed by the two women.

Thus, a terrifyingly oppressive atmosphere was formed.

For reference, until Gu Yangcheon woke up later.

The four people didn’t exchange a single word.

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

So.

“…What is this situation?”

Immediately after jolting upright, I surveyed the situation with trembling eyes.

“What is this?”

Why is my father, who was supposed to be handling the Poison King’s affairs, in my room?

And why are those three people here?

Moreover, all three had their heads bowed low, as if they had committed a crime.

‘I thought it was a dream….’

Naturally, this situation wasn’t realistic, so I thought it must be a dream and lay back down.

It didn’t take long to realize it wasn’t.

Because the piercing gazes and the suffocating feeling were terribly real.

Finally, after getting up with cold sweat, I asked my father.

“So… this, what happened?”

It was a question with much omitted, but it was enough to convey the meaning.

My father took a sip of tea and said to me.

“Baek Ryeon Geom relayed that you had collapsed.”

“Ah.”

It seemed Baek Ryeon Geom went to my father to relay the message after I collapsed from the backlash of using Nei-ah.

“The physician said there were no major issues with your body. But do you look alright?”

“…Yes. I’m fine.”

“Then that’s fine.”

My father nodded.

Seeing that, I had to ask something else immediately.

“…Father.”

“Speak.”

“Those girls… No, why are those young ladies acting like that…?”

I see the three women, completely intimidated and unable to lift their heads.

At my words, my father also glanced in that direction and said.

“I told them to make themselves comfortable, but it seems they weren’t comfortable at all.”

As my father said that, the three women’s heads snapped up.

“No. We weren’t uncomfortable at all.”

“…It was fine….”

“We were really comfortable.”

“…”

Seeing their flustered state, I couldn’t say anything.

What could have made them act like this?

They didn’t seem like this usually. I felt something subtle.

“You guys… So why are you here?”

After managing to break through the situation and ask, Namgung Bi-ah spoke to me first.

“…Suddenly… collapsing… so I was worried…”

I could understand Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

After the martial arts match and the… collision… I had passed out.

She must have been quite surprised.

‘…I hope she doesn’t think I passed out just from a kiss?’

I had to hope that wasn’t the case. That would be really pathetic.

[When were you not pathetic?]

As expected of a ghost, Shin No-ya quickly interjected.

Perhaps it was because I collapsed after the martial arts match.

Leaving Namgung Bi-ah, who was nervously watching Gu Cheol-un, behind. I looked at Moyong Hi-ah.

Then, this time, Moyong Hi-ah spoke.

Moyong Hi-ah also subtly glanced at my father while continuing to speak to me.

“…I heard an incident occurred at the Tang Clan. I came because I thought Young Master Gu might know something.”

The First Elder was executed by the Poison King.

To others, it seemed like something that happened overnight, but the fact that Moyong Hi-ah came to ask me about it…

‘Does that mean she immediately knew I was involved?’

She was smart, anyway. Quick-witted too.

How much time has passed? I don’t know yet.

‘…It would have been troublesome if she were a real enemy.’

If Moyong Hi-ah were an enemy, it would have been truly troublesome.

If Cheon Yu-rang-ah was the type to deliberately create an escape route only to corner the enemy and let them die of fear…

Moyong Hi-ah was the type to deal with them decisively, without even giving them such an escape route.

Should I say all her actions were planned?

In any case, if both were enemies, it wouldn’t have been merely troublesome.

I had to consider it a blessing that she wasn’t.

“…But… that…”

Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes wavered for a moment.

I thought I knew what she was trying to say.

She came to ask me something, but suddenly I was lying unconscious, and she was startled to see my father.

Yes, she must have been flustered.

Conversely, how flustered must I have been?

I still couldn’t forget the scene when I woke up.

‘But then.’

“What about her?”

There was one more person sitting there, staring at the desk without taking a sip of tea.

It was Wi Seol-ah.

I had seen her in the province last time, so it wasn’t a face I hadn’t seen in a while, but.

“…Do you have business with me too?”

It was a somewhat awkward combination to be here right now.

What business could Wi Seol-ah have with me?

As I looked at her with a mix of questions, she said.

“…I… well, I didn’t come to see the Young Master.”

“Huh?”

‘Not me?’

I had naturally assumed it was me, but I was slightly taken aback by Wi Seol-ah’s answer.

Wi Seol-ah looked at my father, not me, and said.

“…Seeing that the Clan Head had arrived… I thought I’d greet him… so I came….”

“What?”

Hearing that, I had to be even more surprised.

“She didn’t have business with me, but came to see my father?”

“When did she see him?”

Only a very few people would know that my father had arrived.

“Does this mean Wi Seol-ah saw him?”

Meanwhile, I saw my father’s eyes change slightly upon hearing that.

“Hmm.”

It was a very short sound, but my father made a noise.

“…!”

“…Oops.”

Hearing this, I saw Namgung Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah flinch.

Their expressions were full of ‘Oops!’.

“Why are they acting like that…?”

Wondering what was going on, I stayed still.

Suddenly, a voice came through the quiet silence.

-I won’t pry into your personal life,

It was my father’s telepathic message.

-But three seems a bit much.

“…”

At that sudden telepathic message, I had to hold back several words that were about to burst out.

First, I had to hold back the words saying it wasn’t three.

And then.

I also had to hold back the words saying that it wasn’t something Father should say, at least.

Because I felt like I’d get hit if I said them.