Chapter 93: Preparation. (2)

Preparation (2)

It was already around the time when the days spent in Shanxi had passed ten days.

I was spending far more days at the Hua Mountain Sect than I had anticipated.

It’s probably because various things just kept popping up.

‘By the time I return, it’ll be autumn.’

Since it’s quite a distance, it will truly be autumn by the time I arrive.

Time felt like it was really flying.

After all, it’ll be a year soon since I regressed.

Even though I don’t feel like I’ve done much, time still flows by quickly.

‘It feels like a lot has changed… but then again, maybe not.’

In less than a year, the Nine Flames Wheel Technique had reached the 4th Star.

Even though I was re-ascending to realms I’d reached once in my past life, no matter how I thought about it, it felt excessively fast.

It must be thanks to gobbling up unexpected fortuitous encounters.

I was still far from reaching the 5th Star, but it didn’t feel impossibly far.

If I were to reach it, it would finally be time to set a proper goal.

Actually, even without the 5th Star, it was gradually becoming more solidified right now.

Hwarureureuk-!

Kung!

“Keok!”

Yeongpung burst out from amidst the flames surrounding us and rolled across the floor.

At the same time, I extinguished the flames that had been burning as if to devour him.

“Hoo….”

As I exhaled the breath I was controlling, the remaining heat was expelled along with my breath.

“…That’s amazing.”

These were the words I said to Yeongpung.

These words were purely and tightly bound by sincerity.

How many days has it been since the martial arts spar I had with Yeongpung during our journey to the Hua Mountain Sect?

At most, a few dozen days.

In that time, Yeongpung had changed so much.

The Plum Blossom Sword, which felt somewhat light, had become faster and heavier.

And the body supporting it had become tougher.

Anyone looking at this would think it was growth achieved through years of repeated training.

“So this is what geniuses are like….”

I let out a hollow laugh, truly realizing the extent of Yeongpung’s talent.

While I could accept the physical aspects being more a result of effort than talent.

The way he swung his sword had subtly changed.

It wasn’t simply a matter of being sharper and faster; he was exploiting vulnerable points and minimizing openings, making counterattacks difficult.

This is something that would take a long time even if someone were to guide him.

Yeongpung was realizing and mastering this through repeated solo training.

‘Of course, he probably has a master.’

However, it’s unlikely to be a master who only teaches Yeongpung.

Yeongpung, still coughing on the floor, looked at me and spoke as if incredulously.

“…Who exactly are you calling a genius right now?”

He had an expression of disbelief, as if asking how I could say such a thing to him.

Of course, from Yeongpung’s perspective, it must be baffling that I, who look younger, am casually demolishing him and then saying this.

‘Compared to me, it’s a bit much.’

If you’re salty, you should have regressed too.

‘I can’t exactly say that though….’

Anyway, perhaps due to the significant trigger he experienced, Yeongpung’s growth rate was accelerating.

‘He won’t have trouble with the bottleneck anymore.’

Recalling Yeongpung, who had been stuck at a bottleneck in my past life, I felt he would be fine this time.

That was my thought, but Yeongpung just let out a hollow laugh.

“I thought I had worked hard, but as expected, I can’t match Young Hero Gu.”

I considered what to say but decided to just keep quiet.

Bringing it up now wouldn’t be very helpful.

“I need to work even harder.”

Even without me saying anything, he ignites his own passion.

‘Scary.’

He possesses outstanding talent, and his passion doesn’t lag behind.

He’s also young, so he has plenty of time.

If there are no problems, Yeongpung will eventually rise to become a Three Venerables level martial artist.

At least, that’s how it looked to me.

‘If only the Demonic Cult didn’t exist.’

Kkuuk.

My fist clenched in frustration.

Noticing it, I quickly relaxed my grip.

I tried to hide my expression and asked Yeongpung.

“Do you want to continue?”

“Ah, no. It would be a bother to Young Hero Gu beyond this point, so I should go train separately as well.”

Today, I came to have the spar Yeongpung had requested last time.

It wasn’t Yeongpung who sought me out; I went and suggested we spar.

I came to mention it because he had requested it last time, and I remember him smiling brightly as if touched when I asked first.

Is sparring that enjoyable…?

After finishing the cleanup, I asked Yeongpung.

“Yeongpung.”

“Yes.”

“I heard the Jehwajeon opens in two days, is that correct?”

“Ah, that’s right. The Sect Leader mentioned it after emerging from the Plum Blossom Cave.”

Plum Blossom Cave.

It’s a place to console the souls of those who perished for Hua Mountain.

As I’m not a member of the Hua Mountain Sect, I don’t know the specifics, but according to common knowledge, it’s a place only the Sect Leader can enter.

‘So he’s finally out.’

I heard Plum Blossom Immortal went in shortly after our last conversation, which means he was there for at least several days.

‘No wonder it was so bustling.’

The murmurs of the people I saw on the way were likely related to the Jehwajeon.

I had overheard it on my way here too, which is why I asked Yeongpung.

If the Jehwajeon is opening soon, it’s about time I returned to my family’s estate.

“What are your plans now, Young Hero? If you don’t have any set plans, perhaps we could train together….”

“Ah, I have matters to attend to afterwards, so it seems difficult.”

“…That’s a shame.”

His expression showed genuine disappointment.

I also needed to train a bit more, having significantly increased my training volume lately, but I had to return to my lodging now.

After parting ways with Yeongpung, I returned straight to my lodging.

I glanced around, but strangely, Wi Seol-ah wasn’t visible today either.

‘What has she been up to lately to be so unseen?’

I had no idea.

For the past few days, I’ve only seen Wi Seol-ah during meal times; it’s been difficult to see her face most of the time.

When I asked Hong-wa, she said Wi Seol-ah was doing all her work.

Could she possibly be avoiding me?

Thinking that gave me an unsettling feeling.

I even considered catching her someday and demanding to know why.

‘Maybe I should try bribing her with yakgwa…?’

It seemed more efficient than confronting her.

Lost in such trivial thoughts, I opened the door to find Namgung Bi-ah.

“Why is this one sleeping here again?”

She had even laid out a blanket on the floor and was openly taking a nap.

And it wasn’t even her blanket, but mine.

I think I’ve heard that Namgung Bi-ah sometimes naps in my room.

No, knowing that, why isn’t anyone stopping her?

“…Should I wake her?”

It’s my room, so waking her wouldn’t be an issue, but she looked so comfortably asleep that I hesitated.

In the end, I decided to let her sleep, closed the door again, and left.

I had intended to change clothes, but first, I asked a servant to bring them and then sat quietly on the wooden floor.

Basking in the sunlight, I closed my eyes briefly before blurting out a word.

“Why are you here again.”

“…Eut.”

I spoke to Gu Ryeong-hwa, who was quietly peeking around the wall.

I had already heard from Hong-wa that Gu Ryeong-hwa was here.

“Does your master have something to say?”

“…No.”

“Then why?”

“…”

Gu Ryeong-hwa looked at me without a word, her lips moving.

She seemed like she had something to say, so I waited patiently.

“…I didn’t come to see you, Oppa…. I just came to see Unnie… Ah… No, I came to see you, Oppa.”

What is she doing…?

It was a strange reaction, as if she were fighting herself.

“What’s this? Why are you calling me Oppa?”

“…Then are you Oppa or Unnie?”

Gu Ryeong-hwa frowned as she spat out words similar to what I had said to her last time.

I didn’t expect her to use that here….

“Anyway, you came to see me?”

It was an unexpected statement.

Gu Ryeong-hwa must be uncomfortable around me, so why would she go out of her way to visit?

“…Th, thank you.”

I looked up in surprise at Gu Ryeong-hwa’s words.

To suddenly come here and say thank you? Moreover, for Gu Ryeong-hwa to say it to me made me even more flustered.

Did Sword Empress perhaps order her to?

“…Thank you for what, exactly?”

“For saving my master… thank you.”

“I already received thanks from Sword Empress for that.”

Besides, I had promised to grant a request, so it was sufficient.

I had planned to receive Sword Empress’s help when making demands to Plum Blossom Immortal.

So there was no need for Gu Ryeong-hwa to…

“…You did it because of me.”

“…!”

I closed my mouth at Gu Ryeong-hwa’s words.

Why? Why does she think that?

“It’s all written on your face, Oppa.”

“Did you come all the way here just to say that…?”

Did she come all this way just to convey her thanks?

As I was thinking that, Gu Ryeong-hwa continued speaking.

“…I’m scared of you, Oppa.”

“….”

It was a statement that hit my chest hard for a moment, almost disrupting my breathing.

“I’m confused, it feels like you’ve returned to how you were before, but I’m scared because I don’t know when you might hit me or curse at me again.”

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s calmly spoken words clearly carried fear and dread.

It must be my fault.

It should have been, but it shouldn’t have happened.

“I’m sorry.”

That was all I could say.

If I were to spout countless reasons, at best, they would only sound like excuses.

Gu Ryeong-hwa said nothing in response to my barely uttered apology.

She neither accepted the apology nor got angry.

I also remained silent, meeting Gu Ryeong-hwa’s gaze.

Gu Ryeong-hwa, hesitating as she couldn’t speak, finally spoke.

“…Can we go back to how things were?”

“No.”

I answered Gu Ryeong-hwa’s question firmly.

Even though I regressed, it’s far too late now.

Since it cannot be undone, we cannot return to how things were.

That’s why I had to speak even more firmly.

“It would be difficult to go back to how things were.”

Because to return to that time, an important person is already gone.

Perhaps my words were something Gu Ryeong-hwa had expected, as she nodded calmly.

No further words followed.

After a brief silence, Gu Ryeong-hwa brought up another topic.

“I’ve decided to return to my family’s estate.”

“What?”

Suddenly?

“You said you didn’t want to go.”

“That’s right, I don’t want to go to a place like that. But my master said she would accompany me.”

What is this now? Sword Empress is accompanying her?

“…Sword Empress is accompanying you?”

“She said she has matters to attend to within my family.”

“No… Someone whose body is only just starting to recover, where are they going together?”

This is the first I’m hearing of this.

What business could Sword Empress possibly have with the Gu family…?

“She said she’d tell you when she sees you later, but I’m relaying it since I’m here.”

Saying that, Gu Ryeong-hwa turned her back.

As she walked calmly towards the entrance, Gu Ryeong-hwa spoke to me.

“Once again, thank you for saving my master, Oppa.”

There was at least no resentment in her words.

It wasn’t forgiveness, though.

Gu Ryeong-hwa shouldn’t have.

“-…Dad… killed Mom…?”

I recalled Gu Ryeong-hwa crying her eyes out, hiding her face in her knees.

“-I’m scaredddd… Mommmm….”

Watching my sibling cry endlessly, there was nothing I could do.

Father didn’t kill Mother.

If Mother died.

It would be me who killed Mother.

“-Be quiet.”

“-Oppa….”

“-Don’t say anything, just shut up and live as if you don’t exist.”

Back then, I didn’t know any other way to protect her.

Of course, even if I went back to that time now, I don’t think there would be a better way.

Just silence.

If my sibling needed someone to resent, it had to be me.

I thought that was the right thing to do.

Of course, I was also half-insane, so I probably couldn’t find a better way for Gu Ryeong-hwa.

‘What about now?’

If you plant seeds in already barren land, can flowers bloom?

Won’t they just rot and become part of the soil without sprouting?

I thought Gu Ryeong-hwa and I were in such a relationship.

Just like Father and I, my sibling and I would be the same.

“-…Can we go back to how things were?”

Gu Ryeong-hwa’s words lingered.

“…It’s difficult, everything is.”

Tuk.

As I sat on the floor, composing my thoughts, something was placed on my shoulder.

Wondering what it was, I saw Namgung Bi-ah leaning her chin on my shoulder from behind with a sleepy expression.

“…What are you doing?”

When did this one wake up? She was sleeping soundly just a moment ago.

“Just open your eyes… Don’t tell me you’re falling asleep again?”

Surprisingly, I thought Namgung Bi-ah had woken up, but she leaned her chin on my shoulder and fell asleep again.

What is this.

In this strange situation, a laugh escaped me unintentionally.

My heart, which had been darkening just moments ago, easily cleared up with this small disruption.

I wondered if Namgung Bi-ah knew that and was doing it intentionally, but that couldn’t be it.

I gently stroked Namgung Bi-ah’s hair.

‘I should take Wi Seol-ah and go out to Hyeon later.’

It wasn’t a thought that arose with any particular purpose.

There was no particular need to go to Hyeon now, but I just felt like maybe I should wander around once.

Why is that, I don’t know.

It’s just.

It must be that I harbored a desire to do so without realizing it.