Episode 162: What I Want to Show You. (1)
What I Want to Show You. (1)
I think I've heard of being intoxicated by the flow.
Rather than moving to where one intends, it moves on its own to where the sword path leads.
Some call this the realm of enlightenment.
Before her gaze settles, the sword extends first.
The inner qi contained within the sword spread beautifully, riding the flowing current.
As though floating upon a calm lake and drifting along.
The principles of nature?
Namgung Bia didn't know such difficult things.
She had merely surrendered her body.
She had kept thinking it strange.
Why the Namgung sword path did not connect properly.
Only when bearing inner qi did a path worthy of the sword path unfold.
Every time she swung the sword countless times, the sense of dissonance grew.
Namgung Bia merely swung.
Because there was no answer, or because she didn't know the answer.
Yet now, she felt she knew.
Because she could see the path.
Mmm.
The sword cried out.
As if answering that it was right.
The flowing track showed her the way forward, as if beckoning her to come.
Should she go there?
Should she not go?
Her deliberation was brief.
Hesitating did not suit Namgung Bia's personality.
She would regret it after going.
As always, there was no need to fear the path not taken.
The tip of her sword lightly set foot upon the track.
As if it had been waiting, it stretched out along the path.
Smooth.
Was a sword path originally this soft?
There was no obstruction, and the blade cutting the air swayed gently.
Crackle! Thunder qi mixed in accordance with the flow.
It wasn't Namgung Bia's intention.
Flowing along the track, it permeated naturally.
Was this assimilation?
A strange feeling.
But not bad.
Rather, what had been bound was released, making her even more comfortable.
Namgung Bia saw the end of the flow.
Not the opponent in the duel, but the further end.
At the end of the line flowing far into the distance, someone stood.
‘Who is it…?’
She couldn't see well.
She could faintly see the clothes they wore; they seemed to be of the Namgung family.
Who could it be.
Father? Or grandfather?
If not… great-grandfather?
But the atmosphere was different.
It didn't seem to be someone Namgung Bia knew.
The more she swung her sword, the closer the distance became.
Very slowly, so slowly she wouldn't know unless she focused.
Yet she was clearly closing the distance.
Perhaps that was why she felt this path wasn't wrong.
‘…Just a bit more.’
She didn't know why, but she wanted to get there even a little faster.
She felt she had to.
Going there felt like her own path.
She tried to hurry her steps, but the more she did, the more she felt she would deviate from the track.
Namgung Bia thought.
Ah, I shouldn't be hasty.
Namgung Bia, having organized her thoughts in a fleeting moment, slowed her steps.
There was no hesitation in this either.
The swaying path once again grew firm.
As it did.
— Mmm.
A voice was heard.
— Not bad.
Beyond Namgung Bia's sight, a man with his hands behind his back continued speaking.
— Come slowly.
— Hastening won't suit you; you'll trip.
— Without tripping. Leisurely.
— And so come to where I am.
The man's face was still not visible.
Still, Namgung Bia felt for some reason she had to go there.
Leisurely, and yet arrogant.
But a man to whom arrogance suited so well that it didn't feel strange.
— Then I shall give you a gift.
At the whispered words, holding a smile as if pleased.
Namgung Bia opened eyes that had been closed for a long time.
"Unni…? Unni!"
"Ah…! Bia unni woke up!"
Through her blurred vision, green and black hair could be seen.
What came into view next were two cute-looking young girls.
"…Ah."
Namgung Bia let out a brief word.
Because she realized it had been a dream.
It had been an all too vivid dream.
So much so that she wouldn't have thought it strange had it been reality.
"How is your body…?"
"…It hurts."
From head to toe, she throbbed.
"Of course it hurts… Is your chest alright?"
"…Chest?"
At Dang Soyeol's words, Namgung Bia looked down at her own chest.
She could see it wrapped tightly not in compression bandages, but in medical bandages.
"Fortunately the sword didn't cut deep, so if you rest for a while you'll be fine. They say there won't be a scar."
"…Yeah."
Though it seemed only her chest was injured, for some reason her whole body hurt.
It seemed to be muscle pain.
‘Muscle pain…?’
She hadn't felt this since reaching a certain level.
But why was she feeling this now?
Namgung Bia tried to force her body up, but Dang Soyeol and Wi Seora urgently stopped her.
"Lie down."
"You can't get up!"
"Ngh…."
"How can an injured person be so thoughtless."
"…Soyeol too… You just got up last time…."
"…That's that!"
Dang Soyeol, with nothing particular to say, just changed the subject entirely.
True, Dang Soyeol had also moved recklessly.
Even without that talk.
Namgung Bia wanted to move right away.
Because she wanted to recall the sensation she had seen in the dream and felt in the duel.
It was a sensation she must not forget.
‘Ah, the duel….’
Upon thinking that far, Namgung Bia realized one thing.
"…I lost."
She had recalled losing the duel. Upon recalling it, her chest sank heavily.
She had said she would show him proudly, yet she had lost.
Dang Soyeol too, seeing Namgung Bia like that, had no words and merely fidgeted.
She had lost too; what words could she possibly offer?
Saying she fought well, that it was a valuable defeat.
They were merely empty, hollow comforts.
"Unni…."
"He…? Where did he go…?"
Dang Soyeol felt a strange sensation at Namgung Bia's words.
Namgung Bia was clearly not asking "where is he," but "where did he go."
She could feel the certainty that Gu Yangcheon had been here.
‘…What frightening faith.’
And she envied it.
Because she could suddenly feel the bond they shared.
Above all, Gu Yangcheon had actually been here until just moments ago.
Dang Soyeol answered Namgung Bia.
"…He left a short while ago. Because he had to go out for the tournament."
As she spoke, she thought herself pathetic for coming out slightly sulky without realizing it.
"Ah."
At Dang Soyeol's answer, Namgung Bia let out a brief word.
The reason Namgung Bia had thought Gu Yangcheon was here was none other than this.
‘…The foul stench is gone.’
She thought she might emit it faintly, but it was barely felt.
The faint remaining heat also let her know he had been by her side until recently.
‘Thank goodness….’
Namgung Bia could feel that warmth and feel relief at the same time.
The terrible foul stench she had felt again on the dueling stage had now disappeared.
She hadn't been able to understand why she had felt it again then.
Could it be that she would feel it again like this?
Fear crept in for a moment.
‘…I must go to him.’
She wanted to go and check. Praying it would end as mere anxiety.
In the end, Namgung Bia tried to raise her body again, but.
Wi Seora blocked Namgung Bia.
"Unni, I told you not to move!"
"…"
As Namgung Bia made a stubborn expression at Wi Seora's words, Dang Soyeol added as if she had been waiting to say it.
"They said you need to rest for now. The injury is one thing, but your internal condition is greatly disordered…."
"But…."
"Young Master Gu told us to stop you if you tried to get up."
" "
The moment she heard Dang Soyeol's words, Namgung Bia lay back down obediently.
Even her near-nonexistent stubbornness vanished when Gu Yangcheon's name was mentioned.
To Dang Soyeol, this was both cute and slightly displeasing.
"And… He asked me to tell you something when you woke up."
Namgung Bia's eyes shot open at Dang Soyeol's words.
"Unni, isn't your reaction too different?"
"What do you mean?"
"So you just don't listen to me…?"
At the absurd sight, Dang Soyeol held back a laugh.
Anyway, she had to admit this unni was strange too.
"I saw it well."
At Dang Soyeol's words, Namgung Bia's hair swayed.
"Rest. Now I'll show you."
At the following words, her drowsy eyes grew a bit clearer.
"That's what he asked me to tell you."
Namgung Bia, who had been looking up with a briefly surprised expression, slowly closed her eyes.
"Unni, why are you closing your eyes all of a sudden?"
"…Because he told me to rest?"
" "
Dang Soyeol brought her hand down her face.
How had that pretty, cold unni ended up like that.
Of course, he was handsome enough that… You could live by just devouring his face… You could survive, but.
Huh, is he that worth it?
She thought it was strange, but the more she looked, the more she thought it might be possible.
"But Soyeol."
"Yeah."
"You imitate him well…?"
"Right? I think it was pretty good."
"Yes… It was exactly the same."
Wi Seora shuddered, rubbing her shoulders as if goosebumps had risen.
Had it been that identical?
It had been a fairly decent vocal impression.
She had imitated the tone more than the voice.
That unique, blunt and seemingly emotionless way of speaking.
To be precise, it was an unpleasant manner of speaking with no courtesy whatsoever.
Yet that itself was charming.
‘Though it seems we're the only ones who think so.’
Perhaps this was fortunate.
There were already plenty of tangled women. Three people knowing Gu Yangcheon's true nature was enough.
‘…Maybe four.’
The reason she thought of four was because Paeng Ahui's face had flashed through her mind for a moment.
Having broken the engagement, yet they had been betrothed.
Paeng Ahui herself didn't see Gu Yangcheon as particularly bad.
Of course, neither Gu Yangcheon nor Paeng Ahui seemed to show much romantic interest in the other.
Still, it couldn't be helped that it bothered her.
The problem was that she herself was an interloper and had no right to speak.
‘Ugh….’
There was another face that flashed by.
Seolbong.
For some reason, Dang Soyeol was concerned about her.
Dang Soyeol felt guilty toward her as a fellow bearer of the Tang clan name.
‘…It can't be.’
..
.
....
It was merely an ominous premonition mixed with anxiety.
There had been no time or event for Seolbong to develop feelings for Gu Yangcheon, so it was probably a needless worry.
Dang Soyeol decided to think so.
"Anyway, unni, rest well for now."
Namgung Bia didn't answer, as if she had already fallen asleep.
She had seemed so urgent, yet could a person change so much from a single message from Gu Yangcheon telling her to rest….
The reason she watched strangely yet had nothing particular to say was.
Because Dang Soyeol herself felt she would do the same if put in the same situation.
Watching Namgung Bia quietly, Dang Soyeol asked Wi Seora.
"Isn't it okay if you don't go?"
"Huh?,,,"
"Don't you need to go watch Young Master Gu's duel?"
Even putting aside Dang Soyeol.
She asked if Wi Seora shouldn't go, but Wi Seora just smiled brightly as if to say it was fine.
At that sight, Dang Soyeol let out a slight cough and turned her head.
‘…This kid is somehow hard to deal with.’
She knew Wi Seora was his exclusive attendant, but Wi Seora was difficult for Dang Soyeol.
Putting aside that she was Gu Yangcheon's exclusive attendant, she was somehow hard to deal with.
Why? She didn't know the reason, but to Dang Soyeol, it certainly felt that way.
"It's fine. The young master said he'll be back soon."
At Wi Seora's words, Dang Soyeol tilted her head.
Had Gu Yangcheon said such a thing? Long hair hid Wi Seora's expression.
It was a somehow lowered voice.
Trying to sneak a glance at what face she was making.
"I'm hungry. Want to eat?"
Wi Seora suddenly called out to Dang Soyeol with a bright expression.
"…O-oh, okay."
"What should we eat…. Soyeol unni, what do you like?"
"Hmm? I'm fine with anything… Ah, I have some poisonous herbs left over from yesterday, so maybe that…."
"Then we should eat!"
"…Yeah, okay."
Does she hate medicinal herbs?
Why would she hate them… Poisonous herbs are delicious.
Dang Soyeol secretly made a slightly sullen expression.
The duel stage of Sagang Hall.
The heat from earlier hadn't cooled, and the crowd's buzz showed no signs of dying down.
Well, with such a high-level match having unfolded among the late-stage experts, it was natural for people to buzz.
From Moyong Huia's perspective, this wasn't very welcome.
Such attention might help later.
Because Moyong Huia couldn't show a level of excellence matching their expectations.
‘The level was different.’
Jang Seonyeon, the son of the Alliance Leader.
The power he showed far surpassed that of a late-stage expert.
To the point where she couldn't understand why he had been pushed back in the middle.
It was ambiguous to say he had been holding back.
‘…That woman too.’
Namgung Bia, was it? The sister of the Thunder Dragon.
If one looked only at her beauty, it was breathtaking.
If one looked at her skill, it was the same.
Sword Dance.
Moyong Huia couldn't forget the sword dance she had performed.
No matter how beautiful, while the victor was Jang Seonyeon, what remained in memory was Namgung Bia.
Especially her movements at the last moment were at an indescribable level.
Even her appearance, which had become a mess compared to the beginning—when she danced with her sword, it made one forget everything.
The sense of alienation, as if she alone stood among these many people.
For Moyong Huia, it couldn't be anything but a shock.
The problem was.
‘That so many people saw it.’
Already, after seeing the duel earlier, there were people calling her the Sword Dancer of the Namgung family and the Divine Saint of the Jang family.
Moyong Huia let out a deep sigh.
‘…With even the Thunder Dragon eliminated.’
Was there any need to come up here?
Moyong Huia hadn't particularly wanted to participate in the tournament from the start.
The banquet was unavoidable, but.
She hadn't wanted to participate in the tournament and exert herself.
The reason she was participating in this duel, responding to this trivial play.
‘…Father.’
Was because of her father.
With the Sword Phoenix, Sleeping Dragon, and Sword Dragon, showing superior levels compared to the other Dragons and Phoenixes, being absent.
It wasn't possible for others to not appear either.
That was likely the original agreement.
‘Really…’
The name Seolbong felt so futile.
How far must she go with this fake name?
‘I feel like I'll grow tired.’
Or perhaps she was already tired.
Still, she couldn't complain.
Because she knew how much sacrifice her father and the entire clan were making for her.
Moyong Huia quietly drew her sword.
Her opponent was already up.
‘Gu Yangcheon.’
The boy standing quietly across from her.
Right before the duel began, the boy was looking somewhere.
Where is he looking?
She followed his gaze; it was the highest place of the Alliance.
Where the Alliance Leader and the high figures of the Alliance gathered.
‘Why is he looking there?’
Moyong Huia didn't know the boy well.
But what she had realized slightly was.
That the boy was tightly hiding his power.
Was it right to say he was hiding it?
Perhaps there simply hadn't been an opponent worth showing it to.
Moyong Huia's instincts told her so.
Even Jang Seonyeon, who had begun to be called the Divine Saint.
Even Namgung Bia, called the Sword Dancer.
Be it the Thunder Dragon. Or the Poison Phoenix.
Let alone herself.
They didn't seem to enter the boy's sight.
Was it because that was strange?
"Where are you looking so intently?"
Moyong Huia suddenly spoke to Gu Yangcheon.
She didn't know why she had bothered to speak.
Gu Yangcheon's gaze turned to Moyong Huia upon hearing her.
"…Just. I was having stray thoughts."
Though they had rarely exchanged words.
His usual tone was leisurely and blunt.
Indifferent.
A voice truly devoid of any emotion, uncaring.
As they quietly met eyes, Gu Yangcheon suddenly spoke to Moyong Huia.
"I apologize."
It was an apology.
Suddenly…?
It was too sudden an apology.
Had Gu Yangcheon done anything worth apologizing to Moyong Huia for?
She racked her memory, but couldn't recall him doing anything particular to her.
Of course, his attitude of half-ignoring her and seeming to dislike her was rather annoying to Moyong Huia.
But it wasn't something worth pointing out.
"Why are you apologizing so suddenly?"
As Gu Yangcheon tried to answer Moyong Huia's question.
"Sagang Hall. Gu Yangcheon of the Sansuh Gu family. Moyong Huia of the Moyong clan."
The referee cut in and she couldn't hear.
But immediately, Moyong Huia could understand why Gu Yangcheon had apologized.
"Begin."
Fwoosh—
"…Wow."
An exclamation of a single sound.
This was spat out by Moyong Huia.
Breath was instantly blocked.
Because a heat impossible for midwinter had engulfed the duel stage.
The winter wind held its breath, blocked by the heat.
The flames taking root massively circled endlessly around the surroundings.
Before a few seconds passed, upon the duel stage.
A small sun had been created.
Within it, Gu Yangcheon merely looked at Moyong Huia with a calm expression.
Seeing that, Moyong Huia spoke in a hollow voice.
"…Isn't this a bit too much?"
The level was different.
Such words were far from enough to express it.
A sun suddenly appearing where stars played.
It couldn't be anything other than a wicked outrage.