Master of the West. ⑵
One of the Three Venerables Under Heaven, called the sky and absolute being by countless Central Plains martial artists.
Master of the West, Baizun Biju.
The reason he came to be called Baizun (Venerable of Defeat) was no other.
It was because he was a man who had experienced hundreds of defeats, just like his epithet.
Many people say it.
That Baizun is lucky.
He himself admitted it.
That he was lucky.
Having suffered so many defeats, not only did he preserve his life, but he still had all his limbs
intact.
Later, when his achievements were considered and he was to be called Bazun (Venerable Hegemon).
Baizun wished to be called Baizun (Venerable of Defeat: 敗).
Because he was here by ending his countless defeats.
Saying it meant he would never lose that mindset.
In the end, his epithet changed according to his wish, but the fact that he was a powerhouse strong enough to rise to the position of the Three Venerables
did not change.
He was a powerhouse who held the achievement of single-handedly annihilating a major faction of the Demonic Path,
other than Jianzun.
And the story of him wiping an entire mountain off the map in his fight against Tianzun was a very
famous tale.
'...But why?'
The reason I'm surprised is not only because Baizun wrote me a recommendation letter.
It's because, just like Jianzun, he has hidden his traces and been missing for several
years.
In fact, even in my past life, he wouldn't have appeared if it weren't for the emergence
of the Heavenly Demon.
Why is this elder holding a recommendation letter from such a person.
"Elder, where did you obtain that?"
"Where did I obtain it, I received it directly."
"From... Baizun?"
a
"Yes."
I couldn't help but be surprised about this matter.
I don't know why Jianzun lived in hiding in the past, but.
I did know the reason why Baizun had to do so.
He had no choice but to do so, and I thought he was absolutely minimizing contact with
others right now.
"How on earth do you know each other?"
"Is it strange for martial artists to know each other?"
It wasn't a strange thing, because this elder had a time when he was active under the
alias Yan A-quan.
"No... Even so, that Baizun is..."
I was about to speak but firmly shut my mouth. It was strange that I knew this,
too.
After a brief silence, I changed the topic.
"How are you telling me to use this?"
"How to use a recommendation letter, it exists for you to go and show it."
"...Baizun's recommendation letter?"
It was nothing else, but an unknown blood descendant of the Gu family suddenly going to the
Longfeng Gathering with a recommendation letter from the half-missing Baizun?
Oh... Good heavens.
"What are you worrying about. You seemed to have made up your mind to cause an incident
anyway, so I gave you something very good."
"Yes... You certainly gave me something very good for that purpose."
It will certainly attract the attention of many. I'll have to think about how to use
this, though.
"Thank you."
Regardless, he gave it thinking of me, so I was just grateful. I put the recommendation
letter into my chest pocket first.
While stroking the hair of Wi Seol-ah standing next to me, I thought.
About how to use this.
The time when the sun had just risen.
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Namgung Bia's eyes opened.
At the same time, she slowly rose.
99
Morning comes quickly. From the standpoint of Namgung Bia, who loved her sleep, it was too
early a time, but Namgung Bia struggled to get up.
Because she knew that no matter what, going back to sleep was hopeless.
She moved her gaze toward the window.
On the windowsill, the Baekyuhwa she had brought last time was bathed in sunlight.
For a fresh flower, its lifespan seemed quite long; it still looked lively.
At the same time, she tidied up the bedding.
Originally, it was a task that should have been left to the servants.
But Namgung Bia tried to organize it herself. The origin of the pillow she had hugged and
sniffed all night was the problem.
'...It doesn't have that special scent anymore.'
What Namgung Bia was currently using was the bedding she had taken from Gu Yangcheon's
room.
Saying it's harder when what's there disappears, the stench she felt again as soon as she put
a little distance between herself and Gu Yangcheon plummeted her quality of life to rock bottom.
She was already regretting it repeatedly.
Wondering why she had distanced herself.
'...It's embarrassing.'
After acquiring knowledge of the new world from Dang So-yeol, Namgung Bia somehow became
embarrassed to see Gu Yangcheon's face.
His breath as he approached, his gaze as he looked at her.
From his fingertips to his lips.
Every moment was embarrassing.
How ridiculous.
That she thought a child would be conceived just because she held his hand and slept.
And that her thoughts changed to think it might not be bad to have a child.
She had made up her mind to escape the stench by training as a sword cultivator and raising
her realm, but as soon as another breakthrough appeared, she changed her mind so easily.
Namgung Bia was more embarrassed of herself than of others.
She recalled her father kneeling in the middle of the night.
Her father, who had been so indifferent and hateful, was still the same even after several
days when they met.
Her mother, who had left alone after suffering from his indifference, did not resent her
father until the moment she closed her eyes.
How could she do that.
If that was what people called love, it was truly a terrifying thing.
Left alone in the world, Namgung Bia fell into the stench, but she endured it.
-Please live happily, my daughter.
Namgung Bia did not forget the words her mother left behind. Because she prayed for her
to be happy, she intended to endure until she found happiness.
She didn't know when it would come, but Namgung Bia endured the hellish time alone.
And now, she reached the thought that perhaps that time was for this.
Namgung Bia remembers the sight of her terrifying and heavy father kneeling before the
boy the other day.
How could that be.
Seeing her father's broken appearance like that, what should Namgung Bia have thought.
Relief? It was too heavy for that.
Fear? It wasn't stifling for that.
Human emotions are so difficult.
Namgung Bia was slowly learning this.
She came out of the annex and strolled along the path as if taking a brief walk.
"...I'm sleepy."
Because she barely slept, the drowsiness still lingered.
During her past life, she had somewhat gotten used to going to bed in the stench.
After enjoying just a few months of peace, she had changed this much.
Namgung Bia liked wandering around somewhere. It was something she could only realize
after the stench disappeared.
That she liked wandering around more than she thought.
Walking along the path like that, there was a direction where the stench was weaker.
That meant he was over there.
"...!"
Namgung Bia found herself unconsciously trying to go that way.
"Not yet..."
She forced herself to turn her steps. There were things left to do before going there.
The place Namgung Bia headed to was the training ground.
Not to swing a sword.
-Swish, swoosh, swish, swish!
The sharp sounds coming from within the training ground were the sounds of Namgung Jin
swinging his sword.
Recently, Namgung Jin had been suddenly engrossed in training.
She thought she had seen him training at the main house a few times, but being this engrossed
was quite a strange thing.
"What is it."
As Namgung Bia approached, Namgung Jin, who sensed her presence, asked.
His cold gaze was as usual.
"...There's something I want to ask."
"...You, to me?"
At Namgung Bia's question, Namgung Jin made an expression of surprise.
Because the times Namgung Bia had initiated a conversation could be counted on one hand.
"If you're asking about the future schedule, do as you plea—"
"Father, did you love mother?"
Namgung Jin, who was about to answer based on assumption, firmly shut his mouth at his daughter's question.
Then he stared at Namgung Bia with slightly widened eyes.
"You're asking something trivial all of a sudden."
"Did you not love her?"
What could it mean. Namgung Jin couldn't grasp his daughter's intent.
At Namgung Bia's question, a woman's face came to mind.
It was a woman who resembled the current Namgung Bia. She was the second daughter of
the largest merchant guild in Anhui Province.
For a merchant's daughter, she had a gentle personality.
She was a beautiful person, a truly gentle woman.
But there was no empty space in Namgung Jin's heart, so she couldn't enter.
That was why he couldn't answer his daughter's question, which he heard for the first time in over ten years.
They didn't have an affectionate relationship.
He was never tender as a husband.
Namgung Jin, who was busy solidifying his position as the family head, only felt a small
sense of guilt when he recalled her.
Namgung Jin did not take a concubine.
Not out of guilt toward his dead wife.
But because there was no occasion to do so, and no efficient situation arose.
Just that much.
The feeling left in Namgung Jin was just that much.
"..."
Depending on the situation, silence can become the greatest answer.
For Namgung Bia, that was the case right now.
"...I will... go first."
Although she didn't hear an answer, Namgung Bia turned her steps after bowing politely
to Namgung Jin.
She could know all the answers from her father's expression, breath, and the look in his eyes when he saw her.
How many years had it been, this feeling like she might cry.
Why did she ask it now, when she was afraid of the answer she would hear.
She knew.
Because a futile hope had arisen.
Because she had embraced within her heart once more what she thought she had let go of.
"...I'm tired..."
She felt herself getting tired without realizing it. She hated this feeling.
Losing the purpose of wanting to train with the sword from the day, she moved her steps.
The stench the world gave off was still there.
Flowers bloomed but were ugly; birds chirped beautifully, but it sounded like screams.
Her current life was hell.
Namgung Bia's life was always like that.
The further she walked, the fainter the stench became. The sobbing that had risen to her
throat was swallowed back down involuntarily.
Because Namgung Bia knew where she was heading, she tried to hide her expression.
Because she didn't want to make this kind of expression in front of him.
She walked for a long time with slow steps.
Sure enough, she felt heat from a distance.
Perhaps because of the cold weather, it felt exceptionally warm.
He harbored flames, but to Namgung Bia, it was simply pure warmth.
As she approached the kitchen, someone quickly walked toward Namgung Bia.
"Hello, Miss!"
She wondered if it was Wi Seol-ah, but it was a different woman wearing the same servant uniform.
Who is it?
"Thank you for last time...!"
"Ah..."
Only then did she remember.
It was the woman who was on the verge of tears when Namgung Bia swiped the bedding.
Namgung Bia, not long after, apologized to the servant and gave her twice the value of
the bedding.
She remembered being rather flustered when the servant, without even being told anything,
repeatedly bowed, saying she would keep her mouth shut on her own.
"...Hello."
Namgung Bia gave a slight nod. It was her way of greeting.
At this, the servant was flustered.
Was a blood member of the Namgung family greeting her something to be this surprised about.
She had erased such futile thoughts from her mind long ago.
"Did you come to see the Young Master?"
Namgung Bia nodded.
"Ah, the Young Master will be training right now. He always trains at this
time."
The servant cheerfully told her the location, but Namgung Bia already knew where he
was.
After parting ways with the servant like that, she moved slowly.
One step, then two steps.
As she took the third step, the stench that had been closing in from all directions
vanished in an instant.
'Compared to before... It's gotten much wider.'
When they first met, she felt the stench even if she moved just a little away.
Now, it was okay even if she was a certain distance away.
What was the difference.
Did it change as he grew stronger.
Thinking like that, this was hope.
Because it meant that if her realm rose, the stench might disappear.
Smelling the scent she had barely regained, Namgung Bia headed to where he was.
The closer she got, the stronger the heat became.
Had it gotten stronger than before.
Stop.
The steps she was taking while thinking like that stopped.
It was because the heat that had been piercing through the training ground stopped.
The door immediately opened, and Gu Yangcheon, soaked in sweat, appeared.
As if he knew Namgung Bia would be outside the door, he showed no sign of surprise
even when their eyes met.
"What, why did you come from the morning... Why is your expression like that?"
Gu Yangcheon asked with a surprised expression.
It was always like this.
He would casually notice small changes in her expression that others wouldn't easily
recognize.
And that attention felt somewhat different to Namgung Bia.
"Couldn't you sleep?"
She nodded slightly at his question.
Why did you come, don't come too close.
The boy who used to push her away with such prickly words no longer showed such a
side now.
"Then you could've just slept more, why come looking for me in the morning."
It was still a bit gruff, but.
Namgung Bia was okay with that.
The gaze her father gave her mother.
And the gaze he gave her were distinctly different.
Knowing that better than anyone, a slight smile unknowingly formed on Namgung Bia's
lips.
"...Because I missed you."
"Huh...?"
"...Just, I missed you..."
She conveyed her pure heart without mixing anything else in.
She just missed him.
" "
Gu Yangcheon froze as if he had turned to stone and chose silence.
It was similar to the silence Namgung Jin had shown just before.
But Namgung Bia felt that this stillness was not everything.
After a brief silence passed, Gu Yangcheon opened his mouth.
"...Food."
"Huh...?"
"...Have you eaten?"
"No."
"Then let's eat."
Saying that, he walked past Namgung Bia.
Namgung Bia unknowingly let out a soft laugh.
"Why are you laughing."
Gu Yangcheon demanded as if he didn't like it, but Namgung Bia just smiled as if it
was nothing.
"...So uncool."
She didn't hear any words.
Yet, it felt like she had already heard the answer.
Compared to Gu Yangcheon's gruff expression, his red ears were visible.
He walked a few steps ahead, but she could see his back slightly slowing down to
wait for her.
That was enough.
That was plenty for now.
Feeling her stifled heart instantly calm down, Namgung Bia followed Gu Yangcheon.