By the time Murong Huiya returned to her room with her attendant, night had already fallen.
After changing her clothes, finishing her light wash, drinking the tea the attendant brought, and pulling the blanket up to her neck, only then did Murong Huiya close her eyes.
Closing her eyes, what happened earlier naturally came to mind.
The figure of the boy who wouldn't even spare her a glance no matter how much she approached.
The face of the boy who somehow gave off a blank feeling all day.
And.
—Don't do things that make you suffer on your own. It's a nuisance to others too.
Even the words the boy said to her on the stairs still seemed to linger in her ears.
—When you're so sensitive to the cold, too.
Those were the words he said to her.
How did he know? She was certain she hadn't shown any signs.
Her breath.
Her gait.
Even in the gesture of tucking her hair behind her ear, she showed no disorder.
'...Did it show?'
That wouldn't be the case.
Having lived her entire life in the cold, hiding it from others was as easy as eating cold porridge.
Therefore, she hadn't thought the boy would notice this.
However, it was too subtle to say he just spat it out as a courtesy because the weather was cold.
'Gu Yangtian...'
The boy, for a bloodline of a prestigious clan, had no detailed information available.
In just a few days, he had become more famous than anyone.
Now he would probably be called more by his moniker than his name.
His appearance, cloaked in hot flames and crushing his opponents to death, was like hell to the rising stars of the same era.
With such a thick and high wall right before their eyes, how many would dare not to despair?
'...The Thunder Dragon seemed to have already collapsed.'
Nangong Tianjun hid himself after the duel with Gu Yangtian.
The last time he was seen was when the Young Patriarch of the Peng Clan appeared and took him away.
Because of that, the plan Murong Huiya had initially set up was twisted.
It probably had been twisted from the moment she faced Gu Yangtian.
What Murong Huiya hated the most was her established plans not progressing properly.
But this time, it was a little different.
'...Why?'
She asked herself, but Murong Huiya already knew the answer.
The unknown sensation she felt at the moment she faced him.
Became clear through the sparring.
And today, it became a conviction.
He was the right hope for her.
The coiled sensation was telling her so. That she mustn't let him go.
Even without following the sensation, Murong Huiya already knew.
Murong Huiya carefully stroked her lower abdomen with her hand.
"It's warm..."
Heat remained in her Dantian area.
Heat.
A word that had not existed in Murong Huiya's life.
To think she had suffered so much trying to obtain it somehow, only to get it from briefly holding the boy's hand.
It was an empty feeling, yet an emotion she couldn't quite put into words.
"...Haa."
So this is what warmth is.
The winter that felt exceptionally cold found comfort with just this small warmth.
'How on earth is this possible?'
The heat she felt on the sparring arena was not an illusion.
Through this incident, she could know for certain.
That the heat she received from Gu Yangtian affects her cold energy.
Was it because of fire arts? It was not.
Wanting to get help regarding fire arts early on, she had even invited Hua Xian, who was called one of the Central Plains' Hundred Great Masters, to ask for help.
Even when receiving heat from others, the cold Murong Huiya felt was the same.
The cold that natural flames, the energy of demonic beasts, and even the internal energy of martial artists couldn't do anything about.
Gu Yangtian had defeated it all too easily.
'...Maybe.'
Could he cure this cold?
Murong Huiya unknowingly harbored such hope.
Even though she knew better than anyone that she was a person completely unsuited for such emotional thoughts.
She didn't know if it was only the Gu Clan's fire arts.
Or if it was only Gu Yangtian.
The important point was that his heat could make her warm.
Even though it had now lessened significantly, leaving only a little.
Murong Huiya couldn't escape her impressions of the heat she felt for the first time.
So warm.
To be this cozy.
She pulled the blanket closer and hugged it tighter.
Hoping that not even a bit of the heat would escape.
'...Now, only a few days left.'
The remaining time Gu Yangtian was expected to stay in Henan would be only a few days.
The Gu Yangtian that Murong Huiya observed was not one to easily leave his affections in distant places.
Although he seemed to show a soft-hearted appearance to the women he kept around him.
In the end, the one above them was Gu Yangtian.
It would be extremely rare for his will to change.
'...'
She tried to plan what to do from now on.
But Murong Huiya's mind quickly became a mess.
The thoughts she had woven so intricately.
Were filled with the boy's uttered voice and gaze, so nothing else came to mind.
—Could you lend me your hand for a moment?
Startled!
At the boy's voice that seemed to brush past her ears for a moment, Murong Huiya, who had been tightly hugging the blanket, sat up.
"...Haa... Haa..."
Only then did he realize. That something seemed to have gone wrong. For some reason, a chilly atmosphere lingered in the lodging.
It probably wasn't because it was a winter night.
Wei Xue'er had food in front of her but wasn't eating.
Nangong Biya was subtly avoiding looking at him.
Tang Xiaolie's glances were slightly sharp.
Even Wu Yan looked like he was about to say something to me, but seeing the atmosphere, tightly shut his mouth.
'...I'm screwed.'
It felt like the greatest sense of crisis lately.
I've experienced so many crises, but this was quite dangerous.
"...Uh."
"...You said you'd tell me."
I tried to say something, but at Nangong Biya's words, I had to immediately shut my mouth.
"...Where you're going... you said you'd tell me."
""
It was rare to feel so much emotion from Nangong Biya.
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This was definitely disappointment.
She was showing me the emotion of disappointment.
At that level, it was a very intense reaction for Nangong Biya.
"...I'm sorry."
In the end, that was all I could say.
"...That's cheap."
"Ugh."
Wei Xue'er hadn't even looked at me for a while.
Seeing as she hadn't even touched the food in front of her, she seemed quite upset.
"Me too... I wanted to go with you too, Young Master."
"We can go together next time."
"When is next time?"
""
Right.
When should I go next time... I have to go home soon.
"We go around together often even after going... home."
"There's... no Shaolin Temple at the Young Master's house!"
No, going there, it felt like there was nothing to see other than bald monks and carp. Why does she keep doing this?
Even recalling that the carp was a monk, in reality, it's a place with only monks.
Ah... So it's Shaolin.
[Kid.]
'Yes?'
[It's a rare sight to see you in a good mood.]
'...Are you fanning the flames of a burning house right now?'
[Didn't you know? I'm quite good at that.]
'...'
I really hated to hear the old man's hearty laughter.
"...For now."
Having already been hit once by Wei Xue'er and Nangong Biya, I was exhausted.
Tang Xiaolie casually asked me.
"How did it end up like that?"
"...How did you guys find out?"
"Miss Murong personally came and told us before leaving."
What?
"Miss Murong came and told you?"
"Yes."
Oh my goodness...
As I was being extremely surprised, the old man's laughter was heard.
[Looks like you got hit hard.]
"...Did she not tell you the details?"
"I heard them."
At Tang Xiaolie's words, I tilted my head.
"Then why are you asking?"
At my words, Tang Xiaolie looked at Wei Xue'er and Nangong Biya, then said to me.
"They said that rather than that, I need to hear it from you directly, Lord Gu."
"..."
She was saying that rather than hearing it from Murong Huiya, she needed to hear it directly from me.
How should I put it, it was a proud feeling, but.
Still, it was beyond overwhelming to endure those gazes.
'I'd rather... fight a master of the Absolute realm one more time.'
How bad must it be to compare it to a life-and-death duel.
With Tang Xiaolie's words, silence found me. It meant they were waiting for my words.
Knowing their minds, I eventually had to bring it up.
"...She was waiting for me out front."
At my words, Wei Xue'er and Nangong Biya's ears perked up.
"Miss Murong?"
"Yeah."
"Why...?"
"...Right? She was just waiting."
"And you went in together again, My Lord?"
"...No. The situation just somehow... ended up like that."
"How did you approach, how did it happen...?"
"How it happened... it just happened, right?"
I didn't even know what I was saying anymore.
[Did you hit your head earlier... It's broken.]
"Then..."
In that gap, Nangong Biya looked at me and spoke.
"...Aren't you going together?"
"Where...?"
"Shaolin Temple..."
"Why is everyone so obsessed with that place?"
"You went... with that person."
""
Why does she keep making me speechless?
Whenever those words came out, my mouth kept shutting tight.
Honestly, I have plenty to say.
And my head is full of excuses.
Somehow, I couldn't bring myself to say them out loud.
Is it because of those disappointed and hurt eyes?
As silence found us again, Wu Yan, unable to bear the atmosphere, slipped out with Hong Wa.
I looked at him with earnest eyes, but Wu Yan didn't even look back and left me behind with quick movements.
This was definitely revenge for me leaving him behind earlier...
As I didn't know what to do and rolled my eyes around.
"...I want to go too."
Nangong Biya said to me in a slightly lowered voice.
"I want to go... together too."
"To Shaolin Temple...?"
I reacted with doubt at Nangong Biya's words.
That was because it didn't seem like Nangong Biya would be particularly interested in that sect.
If it's Shaolin, it's truly a place that has nothing to do with swords, not even a bit.
At my doubtful words, Nangong Biya shook her head and said.
"...Anywhere."
Ah.
Only at those words could I feel the emotion mixed in vividly.
It was jealousy.
It was an emotion I didn't know I could feel from Nangong Biya, and one I didn't know well myself.
It was a part I didn't know she could feel such an emotion towards me.
Perhaps because I realized that, speaking became really burdensome.
While a sticky heat rose in one corner of my chest.
The immaturity of not knowing what to do coexisted.
"Then... let's go together."
As I brought up the words, Nangong Biya's eyes widened considerably.
"All of us."
The shape of Nangong Biya's lips changed slightly.
I was feeling the change brought by that subtle difference better than anyone else.
No method beyond this came to mind.
The only fortunate thing was, whether it was Wei Xue'er or Nangong Biya.
They had expressions showing their own satisfaction.
[Does that look like satisfaction to you?]
'...Is it not?'
[Yeah, it's a face saying 'I'll let it slide since you put in some effort.' Sigh... If I was going to wake up and see this sight, it would have been better to just stay holed up.]
'...'
After bringing it up, I roughly shoved the food in, not knowing if it was going into my nose or mouth, and went up to my room.
As I was going up the stairs alone, I heard the sound of Wei Xue'er, Nangong Biya, and even Tang Xiaolie joining forces in some conversation below.
But as soon as I glanced their way, they all shut their mouths tight as if nothing had happened.
'What are they talking about?'
I was a little curious, but anyone could see it wasn't a situation to go and ask, so I just quietly entered my room.
With a sense of relief at barely surviving, I plopped down on the bed.
[What, you have the expression of someone who crawled out of a den.]
"It's roughly similar, isn't it..."
[You're spouting bullshit. Do you think there's another den that happy?]
Without even the energy to reply to the old man, I took out the book I had picked up earlier from my chest.
Seeing as it hadn't burned, it was definitely made of demonic beast hide.
'Is it an important item?'
On the outside, it looked just like a normal book, so it didn't particularly seem so.
[Are you thinking of opening it now?]
"It's better than being late."
With those final words, I immediately opened the book.
"Hmm?"
As soon as I saw the first page, I let out a sound without realizing.
Not only was it written in clumsy handwriting.
But most of it expressed the human body with what looked like immature drawings.
Seeing that, I quickly flipped through the book.
*Flap flap.*
As the pages flipped dryly, the more I looked, the more distinctly I could recognize something.
The subtle movements, and the phrases explained in detail...
'...It looks like Shaolin martial arts.'
Because they all seemed to be writings related to Shaolin, and even its secret martial arts.
*Swoosh.*
In the dark room full of emptiness, only the quiet sound of a brush was heard.
The old man wrote the letter down in a calm posture.
The tea placed in front had already cooled and lost its warmth.
The teacup was full of water, as if he hadn't taken a single sip.
—Tai Zhu.
At the voice coming from outside, the old man's fierce eyes turned towards the door.
Even so, his hand was still moving.
"Come in."
As soon as the old man's permission fell, a man opened the door as if he had been waiting and entered the room.
The man, who appeared covering even his face with black clothes, carefully paid his respects to the old man.
Although the man was standing in front, the old man's hand and eyes were focused on the letter again.
The man looked at the old man and spoke.
"...San Hu has vanished."
*Halt-*
Only at the man's words did the old man stop his hand.
"Vanished?"
"Yes."
Vanished.
It was an incomprehensible word. Vanished?
Those guys were existences that couldn't die unless they aged and died from the passage of time.
But they died?
The old man's gaze turned to the man.
The man flinched at the old man's fierce gaze, but didn't stop and continued speaking.
"The connected energy has been severed. It seems he touched the seal."
"If it's San Hu, that fierce bastard."
"...Yes."
Wasn't he the guy who kept saying he'd kill him someday at the drop of a hat?
His tone was grating, but he kept him around because he carried out his work skillfully in the end.
What could have happened?
"He broke the seal..."
"...Yes."
"I hope it's not a careless remark."
If he touched the seal to that extent, it meant it was that dangerous of a situation.
'Did the Alliance perhaps notice something?'
It was difficult to assume so.
Even if the Three Venerables of the World came, they wouldn't be able to notice these guys.
However, it wasn't a part he could just feel entirely at ease about.
'If by any chance the Alliance noticed this process...'
It was still troublesome.
Leaving Luojian aside for now, there was a risk that the news might reach Wei Xiaojun, that damned bastard.
The old man took out a letter of a different color from his chest and picked up the brush.
"Send the other children to check if any traces were left."
"...Understood."
He quickly drew a few lines and handed it to the man in front.
"Deliver this separately to the Palace Lord."
"Should I send it right away?"
"Yes, and while delivering it, also give a hint that matters related to Shaolin will be delayed."
"Understood."
The man was about to turn around and leave immediately, but the old man called him to a stop.
"Wait."
"Yes, Tai Zhu."
"How are matters regarding the Gu Clan going?"
"It seems the right time has come, so I've sent the children to Henan in advance."
If it was a matter regarding the Gu Clan, it was about the letter sent by Gu Changjun, the First Elder of the Shanxi Gu Clan.
The content was adorned with fine words, but in reality, it was a request to help with the clan's political strife.
'It's a trifling matter.'
The old man clicked his tongue inwardly, but since it wasn't the first or second time the Gu Xian Men offered something, he had to accept this level of request.
Even so, he couldn't help but form a sneer.
'He seems to not know how trivial it is to harbor such futile desires.'
He seemed to have reached a certain level as a martial artist, but Gu Changjun still didn't seem to know.
That there are things one shouldn't covet.
"You said the target was the Gu Clan's boy?"
"Yes."
I remember he wasn't a being worth paying much attention to. Gu Changjun seemed to feel the same way, as I recall him not bringing up anything about it.
But seeing him bring it up now.
'The old fox must be in a hurry.'
The old man took a sip of the tea that had long grown cold.
"Was it Gu Yangtian?"
"Yes, it seems communications are coming in, but from what I heard in between, it seems he's showing his talent at the martial arts competition."
"Hmm... It seems he did inherit the talent."
He is none other than the child of the Flame Ghost, Gu Tieyun.
To the old man, it was a bloodline where it would be more strange if he lacked talent.
'...Even if he's just a rising star, if he's that guy's child, we need to be careful.'
The brat who was originally evaluated as talentless and a scoundrel, had suddenly begun to bloom with talent.
'Did I hear the Gu Clan's child is also in Henan?'
He briefly recalled that San Hu was also at Shaolin, but the old man soon shook his head.
Since the Dragon Phoenix Gathering was there, there would be numerous rising stars in Henan.
Various forces would be there, so to suddenly think of the Gu Clan's boy alongside this.
Even to the old man, it was a thought that went too far.
"There won't be any delays, right?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Proceed as is."
At the old man's words, the man bowed his head, paid his respects, and disappeared out the door.
*Creak.*
As the man disappeared from sight, the old man leaned his back against the chair.
Perhaps because he got a little closer to the candlelight, the long scar on the back of the old man's neck.
It was the spot where a dragon-shaped tattoo should have been, though it wasn't there now.
The old man then stroked the back of his neck.
Even though so much time had passed.
Pain was still felt from the scar.
The old man whispered alone in that pain.
"...The day we meet is not far away, so wait."
The old man, who was once called the Black Dragon Sword in the distant past.
Whispered his friend's name in the dark shadows.
"Wei Xiaojun."