Chapter 133: I Shouldn't Mess With That Guy. (1)
Just before departing for the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, sure enough, I came face to face with the Second Elder who had come looking for me.
"You're leaving as soon as you arrive."
"Indeed. How did things end up like this."
Even in my past life, I would have been holed up in the family estate living a lazy life around this time.
The drastically changed direction of my life almost made me let out a hollow laugh.
"I heard it won't take much time this time, so that's a relief at least."
Indeed, given the distance, it wasn't a schedule that would take too long.
In that situation, the Second Elder brought up a topic.
"Yangcheon, by the time you return, this old man will likely be gone."
"Pardon? Second Elder, where are you going?"
"It seems there's business at the Five Swords Unit."
"The Five Swords Unit..."
That's where Gu Huibi currently serves as the unit leader.
It's a place focused on reconnaissance and dispatch. Why would the Second Elder need to go to such a place?
What happened around this time? It didn't seem like anything major occurred.
"It's not a big deal, so don't worry."
"Who in the world would worry about you, Second Elder?"
If there's a problem, I'd worry about the other side.
"Ah, and for the Winter Nine Dragons Assembly, since both your sisters are available, there shouldn't be a problem."
"You mean the second sister and the youngest?"
"Yes."
The Nine Dragons Assembly held twice a year—for the part requiring blood relatives to attend, this winter it seemed to be Gu Ryeonghwa and Gu Yeonseo.
'Gu Ryeonghwa should be affiliated with the Huashan Sect, is that okay?'
They wouldn't assign it if there were problems.
I heard that the second eldest, Gu Yeonseo, had sent word that she wouldn't attend this Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
Perhaps because she attended last year, or maybe because I was involved.
'...Gu Ryeonghwa and Gu Yeonseo.'
Remembering that their relationship wasn't very good, I worried about Gu Ryeonghwa, but.
Thinking about the appearance she showed at the Huashan Sect, I felt she could handle it alone.
'I should probably worry about Gu Yeonseo instead.'
Since our last meeting wasn't very good, we hadn't had much contact.
I don't know how much Gu Yeonseo has grown after finishing her seclusion, but.
The current Gu Ryeonghwa is no pushover either.
"Ah, Yangcheon."
"Yes."
When I answered the call, the Second Elder rummaged through his robes and spoke.
"I heard you're going to Shaolin..."
"No thanks."
"Hm?"
I sharply cut off the Second Elder who was about to take something out.
That person—remembering how he shoved the Huashan Sect's treasure at me when I said I was going to Huashan.
This time, who knows what he'd do when I say I'm going to Shaolin.
"I won't accept anything from you, Second Elder."
"My, refusing before even knowing what I'm giving."
"...Anyway, I won't take it."
Who knows? He extracted the Huashan Sect's treasure by practically breathing down their necks—who's to say a Shaolin treasure won't pop out too.
The Second Elder smiled as if dumbfounded and took out a coin pouch.
"Look at this rascal, talking as if I always make you do things. I was just going to give you some spending money..."
"Thank you, Second Elder. There's truly no one but you, Second Elder."
"...Your shamelessness grows day by day. What am I to do with you."
The Second Elder sighed but pressed the pouch into my hand.
"I didn't put much in."
"Then I might be a little disappointed... I'm joking. Please put your hand down."
If I really let my guard down, I almost would've gotten hit.
Shaking the pouch slightly, I could hear silver coins clinking inside.
The weight was decent, so contrary to the Second Elder's words, it seemed he'd put in quite a lot.
Thank you.
"Alright, since you're going anyway, cause some trouble and come back."
At the Second Elder's confident words, I momentarily thought I misheard.
"...Didn't you tell me to come back quietly last time?"
When going to the Huashan Sect or Sichuan, I felt like I heard nagging about the family's position and authority. And now he's telling me to cause trouble?
At my words, the Second Elder instead looked at me as if I was being ridiculous.
"The Dragon Phoenix Gathering is originally for causing trouble. It'll be full of people anxious to stand out more than anyone else."
The Second Elder's words were a bit much, but they weren't wrong.
For martial artists, fame seems like an附加 thing but is actually an important part.
Very realistically, that is.
The reason why peers desperately try to earn even one title at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
The reason why people envy and highly praise the outstanding stars of the current generation—whether called Thunder Dragon, Sword Dragon, Poison Phoenix, or Sword Phoenix.
It's no different from proving that they were recognized for their value and will stand tall in the near future.
"You'll handle it well enough on your own."
"Where does that burdensome trust come from?"
"Even when told not to cause trouble, you went around causing it. If told to cause it, you'll cause even more."
"..."
It was a sad story that I couldn't deny.
After that, while chatting briefly with the Second Elder, Gu Jeolyeop approached from a distance, sweating profusely.
"F-First Young Master. The carriage is ready."
"Already?"
Too bad, it seemed the amount was less than expected.
While panting heavily, Gu Jeolyeop bowed his head again upon seeing the Second Elder nearby.
"I greet the Second Elder."
"Oh, it's Jeolyeop. You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you."
Gu Jeolyeop smiled awkwardly. He definitely looked much taller compared to when I last met him.
I also grew this year from being devoted to martial arts, but not to that level... I don't like it.
The Second Elder stared at Gu Jeolyeop then spoke to me.
—Don't work him too hard. He's a pitiful child too.
—That seems a bit difficult, but I'll try.
Since he asked via sound transmission, I answered the same way.
The Second Elder seemed slightly surprised by that, but perhaps because he had already noticed my level, he just let it pass.
"Anyway, have a safe trip."
"Yes."
With those final words, the Second Elder immediately walked away.
He must be busy after all.
Ending with the sight of Gu Ryeonghwa standing far away with a sulky expression.
I too moved into the carriage and departed for Henan, where the Murim Alliance was located.
By the way, Gu Jeolyeop drove the carriage.
The journey began, and the seasons changed quickly.
Autumn departed without lingering, as if it had arrived at winter.
As if to prove it, the beautifully bloomed maple leaves went to sleep, promising next year.
And I too. Welcoming my first winter after regression, I held a slightly excited heart.
Looking at the snow falling outside, Wi Seola offered a bun and spoke.
"Young master... aren't you cold?"
"Hm? It's refreshing, I like it."
"Young Master—. Normally, wearing those clothes would be cold."
Dang Soyeol also chimed in.
Even so, after inner energy reaches the completion stage, one hardly feels the cold.
Thanks to that, my attire wasn't much different from summer.
Because of that, to others, my outfit probably looked quite cold.
"Young master, should I take off my clothes?"
"Even if I took everyone else's, taking yours would get me cursed at a lot."
Wi Seola was armed with a fur coat.
They said it was made from animal fur and leather.
Surprisingly, it was made by the Sword Demon himself. Considering his hobby of carving, he seems quite skilled with his hands.
Since Namgung Bia was a member of the Yeming family, there were many people to take care of her, and it seemed Dang Soyeol had been taking good care of her.
Even now, she was snuggled between Dang Soyeol and Wi Seola, sleeping soundly.
"She's not a bear, but she's hibernating."
It seemed she'd been sleeping a lot lately.
As if to answer, Dang Soyeol smiled slightly and said,
"Sister always sleeps a lot when it's cold."
"Is it really because of the cold? She used to sleep a lot anyway."
"That's true but..."
Dang Soyeol couldn't refute this part either and averted her gaze.
"...Would you like some tea if you're cold?"
"If it's the poisonous tea you gave me last time, I won't accept it."
"Pout."
I had accepted tea offered to me before when I said I was cold, but it turned out to be a type of poisonous herb that makes the body generate heat.
Although it was at a level harmless to the human body, it was a poisonous herb, so I was quite uncomfortable with it.
'You really can't let your guard down.'
It hadn't been a very long time, but since we'd been together, Dang Soyeol wasn't as uncomfortable as before.
Especially since she was spending time in our carriage instead of her own.
I took a bite of the bun Wi Seola offered.
"When did you get this?"
"When we stopped at the last village, young master."
"Sorry. It's fine to say it after eating."
Wi Seola had a mouthful of food and couldn't speak properly.
It was probably about getting them when we stopped at the last village.
'She eats that much and doesn't gain weight.'
I used to worry because she was too thin, but since she always eats ridiculous amounts, her cheeks have filled out nicely.
The current Wi Seola, rather than being thin, looked healthy and was increasingly resembling her past life, her appearance maturing.
But the soft cheeks disappearing was a bit disappointing.
With that regretful feeling, I stroked Wi Seola's cheek, and it was still soft and squishy.
'It seems she still has some baby fat.'
If even that disappeared, I'd really miss it.
Perhaps because my hands were warm, Wi Seola pressed her face a bit more against my hand.
"Warm?"
"Young master's hands are always warm...!"
Even though the season had become winter, my body had plenty of heat.
Looking out the carriage window, the snow was falling slowly and thickly.
Watching that quietly, I asked the coachman.
"How much longer?"
"It seems we'll arrive soon..."
An exhausted voice answered immediately.
The coachman was none other than Gu Jeolyeop.
Originally, the Sword Demon had called himself the coachman, but he didn't participate in this trip.
It was a strange thing, and something that caused quite a bit of concern.
Because he didn't participate in the trip but made Wi Seola participate.
'What could he be thinking?'
I don't know about the Sword Demon. That's why I was anxious.
[...Wouldn't it be right to say you don't trust him?]
'It's been a while, Elder.'
It was Shin Noya's voice, sounding as if steeped in exhaustion.
As the seasons changed, Noya complained that he couldn't handle the cold at all and gradually reduced the frequency of his chatting.
He said spirits don't feel anything, what a contradiction.
[I don't feel the cold... but winter has a difficult feel to it.]
What's the difference? It was a story neither Noya nor I could easily understand.
Anyway, for the coachman position that had become vacant, Muyeon or the other guards could have done it sufficiently.
But since Gu Jeolyeop also happened to know how to drive a carriage, I made him do it.
Perhaps because he was raised quite well, Gu Jeolyeop made a rather reluctant face at my words, but he didn't complain. First, while he's from a branch family, since he uses heat-based inner energy, he's resistant to the cold.
Besides, I needed to make him do something.
'Seeing how he follows all my orders, it seems the First Elder or Father has a firm hold on him.'
Father probably didn't do anything, so it must be the First Elder's side.
In that gap, Gu Jeolyeop didn't seem to be doing anything.
'He did get cut off when trying to talk to Dang Soyeol though.'
And that was very cold and sharply cut off at that.
—I'm sorry, but my face can't handle it physiologically, so please don't talk to me.
The fact that I felt even colder after hearing those words was definitely not because of the weather.
Thanks to that, Gu Jeolyeop lost his words and didn't even eat that day.
'That hibernating bear over there, he doesn't seem to mess with Wi Seola either.'
It's not because Namgung Bia or Wi Seola aren't pretty.
Objectively, Dang Soyeol is also on the pretty side, but those two are on a different level.
Perhaps it's because he's in an engagement relationship with Namgung Bia and got beaten up trying to mess with Wi Seola, so he's desperately holding back.
'Then is the target Dang Soyeol?'
But he doesn't seem to be making any effort for that either.
Is he really serving as a hostage?
His expression shows how much he dislikes it, but he does everything he's told.
Other than occasionally sparring with Muyeon, Gu Jeolyeop had nothing to do.
Though it also helped that I criticized him every time I saw him, whether with words or feet.
—Hey, bring some water.
—I already brought some.
—Carriage cleaning?
—I did it this morning. The cleaning you mentioned yesterday too.
—...Did you eat?
—I haven't.
—Let's eat.
He actually did the work quite well.
Why?
Why does he do it so well.
"I can't figure it out."
"About what?"
"Just... I can't figure out him, her, or anyone either."
"Young master, my grandfather always said the world is originally something you can't figure out."
"...Elder Wi teaches you all sorts of things."
Early education is too scary.
I spoke to Muyeon, who was walking at a pace matching the carriage outside the window.
"Muyeon."
"Yes, Young Master."
Her answering posture was as upright as ever, and her gaze faced straight ahead, but the energy radiating from Muyeon's body reached in all directions.
As expected, she's by the book to a frustrating degree.
Meanwhile.
'...She's breaking through the wall.'
Something must have happened, as it didn't look like much time was left before Muyeon broke through the wall of the Peak Realm.
That means she's putting in that much effort.
"Do I have to go straight to the Alliance when we arrive?"
"No. It seems you can stay for a while at the lodging prepared by the Alliance side."
"They even prepared lodging?"
Normally they wouldn't prepare lodging.
It seemed the Murim Alliance was paying attention to this.
'I'd have to attend to find out.'
Because the Dragon Phoenix Gathering that I grit my teeth and participated in under the name of the young family head was a complete disaster.
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering's Demonic Realm incident.
If it weren't for that damn experience, I could have learned various things.
'That kind of thing... I just have to make sure it doesn't happen now.'
It was an event like a disaster.
The outstanding late-generation experts of the current generation were all transferred at once.
In the end, everyone returned with no casualties, but I know.
Back then, everyone except me died.
'...Should I call that survival?'
As written in the Alliance's records, everyone lived. Including me.
However, the problem was that everyone except me had no memories of the Demonic Realm.
'...'
A considerable amount of time had passed, including the regression, but the bitterness that arose when I tried to recall it was still the same.
'It's useless attachment.'
It's in the past.
And it was something I had to make sure didn't happen.
"First Young Master."
I listened to Gu Jeolyeop's voice.
"I can see the walls..."
"Okay. Could you wake that bear up for me?"
At my words, Wi Seola shook Namgung Bia, who was leaning against Dang Soyeol, asleep.
"Mmm..."
"Sister! You need to get up!"
"Eek! Sister drooled...!"
I should pretend I didn't see that just now.
'Henan, huh.'
I exhaled, feeling the cold air.
The heart of the righteous faction that was the center of all events.
Arriving in Henan, where the Murim Alliance and Shaolin were located, after the journey that was short but not too short.
The lodging prepared by the Murim Alliance for late-generation experts, Bachonmaru.
In the room where she had barely unpacked, a beautiful woman was scrunching her face.
Her crumpled face seemed to indicate she wasn't in a good mood, but it didn't detract from her beauty at all.
"Didn't we arrive too early, Miss?"
At the attendant's question, the woman smiled faintly.
"...What can I do, that person says they'll arrive at this time."
Sky-blue pupils rippled in the woman's eyes.
Looking at those eyes, the attendant carefully asked.
"Shall I prepare some alcohol?"
"...I am a bit hungry, but it's fine. If I drink now, it'll be obvious."
Looking at the snow falling outside the lodging window, the woman thought.
"Soriya."
"Yes, Miss."
"Isn't life really fucking terrible?"
At the rough words that suddenly burst from the woman's mouth, the attendant slipped and fell while organizing the luggage.
Then the attendant urgently shouted.
"Miss, please...! Please refine your language!"
"So what, there's no one here."
"What if the Family Head hears..."
"Father? He'd fly all the way from Liaoning here?"
"...If it's the Family Head, he might actually do that."
At the attendant's faint words, the woman let out a snort of laughter.
She thought if it was her father, he really might do that.
After watching the falling snow for a long while, the woman closed the window.
"It's cold."
No matter where the snow falls, she hates the sight of it.
Calming her shivering body with inner energy, Seolbong (Snow Phoenix) Mo Yong Huia recalled.
Winter is truly a fucking season.