〈Chapter 111〉 Oops. (2)
Oops ⑵
The incident that befell Dang So-yeol began on a summer day.
It was the moment she was practicing her hidden weapon techniques as always, wiping away sweat, and taking a sip of poison tea.
There was the reason of practicing her poison arts, but fundamentally, Dang So-yeol simply enjoyed drinking poison tea.
It was around the time she was savoring its characteristic bitterness and the slight numbing sensation on the tip of her tongue.
Dang Ju-yeok, who was the young master of the Dang Clan and Dang So-yeol's older brother, casually let slip as he passed by.
"So-yeol, did you hear that news?"
"What news?"
"Bi-a is getting engaged."
"...What!?"
Dang So-yeol cried out in dismay. Wait, how long has it been since she even saw her sister's face, and suddenly she's getting engaged?
"Suddenly getting engaged... what do you mean..."
"I was shocked when I heard the news too, but the information has already spread all through the Gupang."
The Gupang, which had contracts with various places across the righteous faction, periodically handed over important information to each family and clan as well.
This time, the major piece of information was about the engagement of a blood relative of the Nangong family.
Upon hearing the news, Dang So-yeol immediately began to worry.
'...That airheaded sister of mine is getting engaged?'
Leaving aside her absurdly beautiful appearance, though it wasn't widely known, Dang So-yeol was aware that Nangong Bi-a's martial arts level was considerably high even among the later generation experts.
The problem was that unlike the Nangong family's characteristic cold appearance, Nangong Bi-a had an extremely airheaded personality.
'She hasn't gotten tangled up with some strange guy, has she?'
No matter what, since it was the Nangong family, she wouldn't have gotten engaged to anyone from a suspicious side.
Soon Dang So-yeol asked.
"Brother, which family is Bi-a's sister getting engaged to?"
"Well, it's not completely settled yet..."
If Nangong Bi-a had gotten entangled with some strange guy, Dang So-yeol was prepared to help.
She had a track record of extinguishing the engagement talks with Nangong Cheon-jun by throwing a tantrum, so she had some confidence in this area.
To Dang So-yeol's determined question, Dang Ju-yeok answered.
"They said it's the Gu family of Shanxi."
"...Huh?"
Thinking she had misheard for a moment, Dang So-yeol asked again.
Dang Ju-yeok, failing to notice Dang So-yeol's expression which had begun to slowly melt away, continued speaking brightly.
"You know the face too, right So-yeol? Young Master Gu whom we met last time is getting engaged to Bi-a."
"...?"
Dang So-yeol collapsed from the shock that day.
On the third day, Dang So-yeol finally managed to collect herself.
'Right, it's not like we knew each other for that long anyway?'
Though she had received a massive shock, she was a blood relative of an illustrious clan! Dang So-yeol struggled to organize her dizzying thoughts.
And as she did, she briefly recalled the boy she had been swayed by due to his appearance.
They hadn't even properly conversed. She had truly been shaken only by his looks for a moment.
So she thought she would forget him quickly.
On the fourth day.
The boy's eye shape kept flickering before her eyes all day long.
To think she was this troubled simply because she was infatuated with his appearance—still, Dang So-yeol endured.
They said time was medicine. She would feel better soon.
On the fifth day.
She couldn't sleep a wink.
On the sixth day.
She started skipping meals. It was because she had no appetite.
From this point on, Dang So-yeol began to gradually realize that something major was wrong with her.
On the seventh day.
"...She said she didn't like him..."
She began to resent the older sister she had secretly liked. When she asked at the end, Bi-a had clearly said no with a blank expression...
"An airheaded fox of a sister who looks all innocent!"
With her heightened sensitivity, she threw a pillow, and unfortunately, Dang Ju-yeok, who was passing by, got hit.
On the eighth day.
Dang So-yeol realized that if things continued like this, she would truly be in serious trouble.
She couldn't train properly, couldn't eat properly, and above all, couldn't even sleep properly.
Dang So-yeol had to admit that the illness she had caught was lovesickness.
It was laughable that she had fallen this far simply from being infatuated with a handsome face, but if she didn't acknowledge it, there was no answer.
Still, those sharp eyes kept coming to mind, making her act as if possessed.
It had crossed her mind occasionally even before hearing the news. But after hearing about the engagement, it had become unbearable.
"...What do I do."
She needed to find an answer quickly.
On the ninth day.
She found the answer.
It was a much simpler answer than expected. If it was hard because she wanted to see him, she just needed to go see him.
That was all there was to it—why had she kept agonizing over what the problem was.
Only then could Dang So-yeol eat a proper meal for the first time in a while.
...Now her normal way of thinking had begun to break down.
And so, on the tenth day.
Dang So-yeol went to her father, the family head, and brought it up. That she needed to go to the Gu family, that she wanted to go.
Naturally, the family head refused, asking what kind of nonsense this was all of a sudden.
But Dang So-yeol prided herself on having reached a considerable level in throwing tantrums. She had no intention of losing.
If she lost here, it would be the end for her. She couldn't back down easily.
She brought forth her own justifications and reasons, but the family head also seemed to have no intention of backing down, and a long battle of attrition ensued.
After a fierce contest, the one who claimed victory was ultimately Dang So-yeol.
Using her cute act 3 times, holding hands with her father for a walk by the lake 5 times, keeping secret the location of the snake liquor her mother had hidden away, and so on.
She had to give up many things, but Dang So-yeol was satisfied. As long as she could see him, everything was fine.
Honestly, Dang So-yeol didn't even have thoughts of sabotaging the engagement.
It was an engagement between families.
She realistically knew that an outsider who wasn't even a party involved could not break or make the alliance oath between families.
She simply wanted to see him.
Even if she had to give up, she wanted to see his face one last time.
Time passes again.
Dang So-yeol arrived at the Gu family accompanied by guards. It had been a long journey, but thanks to the family head's consideration woven throughout the trip, it wasn't particularly uncomfortable.
The season had already changed.
Summer had become autumn, and in the meantime, Dang So-yeol's cheeks had thinned a bit.
Upon entering the Gu family estate, the one who had received the Dang family's letter and come to greet them was the Gu family's First Elder.
She wondered why the family head hadn't come out, but she didn't think much of it.
Normally, she might have gotten angry, thinking it was a contest of prestige between families, but that wasn't an important issue to Dang So-yeol right now.
The First Elder, who was guiding her to her room, asked Dang So-yeol.
"Lady Dang, how is it that you know our Jeol-yeop and have come to visit?"
It was a voice that seemed somewhat proud. Our Jeol-yeop? Were Young Master Gu and the First Elder that close?
'People from different families can be close too.'
Up to this point, she still harbored no particular doubts.
"It just happened that way... I came to know of him."
Unable to bring herself to say she had fallen in love at first sight upon seeing his face, she spoke evasively.
The First Elder showed infinite affirmation, saying "I see... I see!"
Before long, she was guided to a guest annex.
"Please rest comfortably here for a moment, and the young one will come shortly."
"Yes, yes!"
At the mention that he would come soon, Dang So-yeol unknowingly tensed up with all her might.
What should she say first when she sees his face? She should start with a greeting, right?
Should she ask if he's been well? How should she bring up the business she brought as a pretext?
As countless concerns swirled in her mind, she felt a presence outside the door.
Thump—!
She could clearly feel her heart pounding immediately at the presence.
To cool her burning cheeks, she grabbed her face with cold hands.
Still, the heat showed no signs of subsiding.
'W-what do I do!'
A tense situation. Her heart was racing madly at the thought of seeing his face again.
'Lord Jeol-yeop...'
Creak—! The door finally opened. To start with a greeting as she had initially planned, Dang So-yeol gathered her courage and spoke.
"Y-Young Master Gu, have you been well..."
Dang So-yeol, who had spoken in a somewhat bright voice, fell silent upon seeing the boy who opened the door and entered.
The boy who entered with a slightly shy expression asked Dang So-yeol.
"I am Gu Jeol-yeop. Did you say you were looking for me...?"
"...Who are you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm sorry...?"
Dang So-yeol realized.
That something had gone terribly wrong.
'Damn it.'
Cold sweat flowed at Dang So-yeol's somewhat resentful glare.
Come to think of it, he had said something like that. Because he didn't want to be entangled with Nangong Bi-a and Dang So-yeol, he had used a different name, and now the karma for that had returned.
'I didn't know she'd come all the way here.'
Who would have known, that Dang So-yeol of Sichuan would come all the way to Shanxi.
Moreover, though she probably already knew he was a direct blood relative, it was a remark he had spat out due to his pointless pride at the time when he didn't want to reveal it.
He hadn't known it would come back like this.
"...I came looking for the young master, but someone I've never seen before appeared—do you have any idea how flustered I was?"
'...Damn.'
It seemed she had even met Gu Jeol-yeop in the meantime. If he had known this would happen, he should have used a different name.
Like Gu Jin-jin...
[Seeing you have idle thoughts, you still haven't come to your senses.]
'I'm sorry.'
First, he needed to apologize. Regardless of the circumstances, she had come to the family and experienced something strange.
"...So when I checked, they said the young master was on his way back from Huashan. And the name was different too."
Upon hearing the news, Dang So-yeol had stayed as a guest at the Gu family for ten long days.
"...May I ask why you did that?"
Dang So-yeol asked me for the reason, but the only answer I could give was 'Because you made me uncomfortable.'
And I couldn't possibly explain why I was uncomfortable.
"There were some circumstances at that time..."
"Does sister know?"
Sister? Did Dang So-yeol have a sister... could it be?
With a sudden suspicion, I asked Dang So-yeol.
"By sister, do you perhaps mean Lady Nangong?"
"Yes, did Bi-a's sister know your proper name?"
...Yes.
She probably told her on the day they returned to their families from Sichuan.
It seemed Dang So-yeol had also been present then, but perhaps because she was a bit further away, she hadn't heard.
At my answer, the corners of Dang So-yeol's eyes drooped deeply. It was an expression as if she had received a tremendous wound.
"L-Lady?"
"Yes..."
"Are you alright?"
Was the fact that Nangong Bi-a knew my name really that shocking? At the strangely flowing situation, Shin No-ya suddenly said to me.
[What do you have to do... for girls from all over the country to cling to you like this, you praying mantis bastard? Why don't you just collect them by hair color while you're at it.]
'Please stop saying strange things, No-ya. She's someone I haven't even seen for days.'
Moreover, they hadn't even exchanged many conversations. In that situation, was there any reason for Dang So-yeol to have developed feelings for me?
[Who knows, maybe she fell for your appearance.]
'...I don't think the person who just cursed at me calling me a praying mantis should be the one saying that.]
[...Right. That did seem a bit off even to me.]
Damn it...
That was definitely a roundabout insult. I could feel the subtly prickly tone in his words.
I looked at Dang So-yeol first. Perhaps because of her achievements in that short time, one of her eyes was also gradually swirling with a green hue.
The most perfect martial artist immune to all poisons in the history of the Sichuan Dang Clan.
Though her martial arts realm was lower than the geniuses born in other eras of stars, she was a woman who demonstrated overwhelming power in widespread slaughter.
The master who had poisoned thousands of heretics and defended Sichuan was now sipping tea with a troubled expression.
"Lady Dang... that, first of all, may I ask why you came to find me?"
At my question, strength returned to Dang So-yeol's gaze which had been about to fade.
Slap!
Then she suddenly slapped both of her cheeks with both hands.
What...??
"It's fine... it's an unexpected situation, but actually it's better. You can do this, So-yeol, this is nothing, right?"
Then she suddenly started muttering to herself. How should I put it, I felt a bit frightened and pulled my hips back slightly.
[This child doesn't seem to be in her right mind either.]
'...Well, who knows, maybe she has a ghost attached to her like me.]
[Ghost... is it pretty?]
'No-ya?'
[...It's a joke, so don't look so serious.]
No, that was definitely a voice that didn't sound like a joke.
After rubbing her cheeks and mumbling to herself for a while, Dang So-yeol pulled something out from her embrace.
It was a letter tied with a sky-blue string. I knew what that was the moment I saw it.
It was something that anyone belonging to a family or clan of the righteous faction received at least once, let alone the later generation experts.
She wouldn't have come all the way from Sichuan just to show that.
Dang So-yeol carefully held up the letter in her hand and asked.
"Are you aware, Young Master Gu, that the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering will be held at the Martial Alliance in a little while?"
"I am aware."
As expected, that was an invitation to the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. Since it was held in winter, there was still plenty of time left.
'Did an invitation come for me too?'
It could have come, but since I hadn't attended one in my previous life either until I received the position of young master, I wasn't sure.
Dang So-yeol took a deep breath before speaking to me.
"...I came to find you like this because I want to go to the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering with you."
"Hm?"
For a moment, I couldn't quite understand Dang So-yeol's words.
"Lady Dang."
"Yes."
"Are you saying the reason you came all the way from Sichuan to Shanxi just to find me is that?"
"Yes."
"...Really?"
The Martial Alliance where the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering was held was in Henan.
It wasn't too far from Shanxi, but it meant there was no need to go out of the way from Sichuan to Shanxi and then make the bothersome trip to Henan.
Yet Dang So-yeol was urging me to go together by coming all the way to the Gu family at this early season.
Seeing those reddened cheeks and Dang So-yeol constantly trying to avoid my gaze, I suddenly recalled what Shin No-ya had said to me earlier.
'Don't tell me...?'
Could this girl actually have feelings for me? If so, why exactly?
No matter how much I thought about it, there wasn't a single reason for it. Not just in this life, but I believed the same for my previous life.
Ultimately, after repeated questioning, I couldn't help but ask out of frustration.
"Lady Dang."
"Yes, yes!"
"Do you perhaps like..."
Right at the moment I was about to ask.
Creak.
I turned around at the sudden sound of the door opening.
Standing there, completely unexpectedly, was Nangong Bi-a.
"...Why are you..."
I was about to ask why she was here, but my mouth instinctively closed shut at Nangong Bi-a's expression, which had unknowingly turned cold.
Nangong Bi-a quietly looked at Dang So-yeol, then shifted her gaze to me and spoke.
"...Step outside for a moment..."
"Step outside? I'm still in the middle of talking."
"I'm asking you."
It was a firm tone. Even if she said that, this was something I needed to ask about from Dang So-yeol's perspective as well.
This time, Dang So-yeol, who was looking at Nangong Bi-a with slightly surprised eyes, said to me.
"Young Master, my business is finished, so it's fine... I have things to talk about with sister anyway."
To think that was really the end of her business. That was even more surprising to me.
"P-Please... consider my proposal carefully."
"Well... yes, I understand for now."
It was an atmosphere as if a storm would strike in just a little while.
They were clearly close, but what on earth was this situation?
[Greenhorn, at times like this, you shut up and get out quickly if you want to save your life...!]
Following Shin No-ya's words, I first passed by Nangong Bi-a and closed the door.
And immediately stroked my shoulders with a shiver.
Though it was still too early for cold weather, for some reason, I felt the cold air.
"What... why is it so cold?"
Since the martial arts I had cultivated were fire arts, it was an even more incomprehensible phenomenon.