Chapter 225. Omen of Listening. (11)
Moyong Huia barged into the room unceremoniously.
Perhaps because of Moyong Huia's entrance, the small room somehow felt as though cold energy was rising.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, you are hugely intruding."
"Thank you." ""
At this point, isn't she practically asking to be sworn at?
Even though Moyong Huia was originally cold, fierce, and ill-mannered.
She wasn't the type to give off a brazen vibe.
How did she end up like this?
'Or, was she originally this kind of person?'
Perhaps that could be the case, but.
Whatever it was, it was a truly awkward situation.
"Um..."
"Please speak."
"I heard the news. That you made a deal with the Moyong Clan."
"Yes. That's right."
Even while speaking, I observed Moyong Huia's appearance.
The scent of powder I usually felt.
The heavy makeup.
And the accessories she used to decorate herself with were nowhere to be seen.
Unlike her usual adorned appearance. This meant that right now, it was Moyong Huia's natural look.
'It's similar to when she was in the Demonic Realm.'
Back then, it wasn't a situation where she could care about dressing up or not.
Because it was a situation where she had to endure the day and survive until tomorrow.
From my perspective, her current appearance looked better.
[Even while saying you dislike her, you're checking out her face again.]
'I just looked because it was visible.'
[...Well, with a face that pretty, it's impossible not to look.]
Even though Shin Noya muttered in a very small voice.
Since it resonated directly in my head, I couldn't help but hear it.
'Noya.'
[What is it?]
'By any chance, are you unable to forget her?'
[...Hmm?]
'That, the beautiful one of the Moyong Clan...'
[Hah.]
At my words, Noya displayed a reaction as if it was nothing.
[So much time has passed, do you think I couldn't forget such a thing? You greenhorn. You're more romantic than I thought.]
'...I see. Never mind then.'
I nodded slightly in affirmation at Noya's words.
Along with that, I decided to pretend I didn't hear that Shin Noya's voice was trembling like crazy.
Because if I dug deeper here, he'd get offended and obviously wouldn't speak to me for days.
Seriously, for a Taoist, his heart is as narrow as a rat's tail.
[Hm? What did you say?]
'I didn't say anything.'
[That's strange... I clearly heard someone cursing me.]
And his hearing is sharp too...
"First, there is something I would like to ask you, miss."
"Please ask. I will listen carefully."
"...Why are you doing this?"
"Pardon?"
There was a part I had to ask about first.
"I understand the part about the Moyong Clan building a structure in Shanxi and establishing an industrial complex, while simultaneously providing public favors."
"Yes."
"But from my perspective, it seems like an absurd condition..."
"That's right. Our clan used a bit of our power. Is this still not enough for you?"
How could it not be enough.
The Gu Clan doesn't contribute much financially.
And although they don't exert much greed to earn it.
It's not like they refuse money.
'Nor do they do things specifically to earn something.'
Others receive sponsorships under the name of protection from demonic beasts.
Or like the Moyong Clan or the Tang Clan, they accumulate wealth through businesses utilizing their family's characteristics.
But the Gu Clan didn't do such things.
Although they are responsible for the safety of the Shanxi region.
It meant they weren't receiving massive sponsorships for it.
Of course, considering their relationship with the merchant guilds, they do receive some...
'But not enough to indulge in luxury.'
More accurately, compared to being called a prestigious clan, they aren't exactly affluent.
"That's not it. I just want to hear what it means that what you want, even while taking such a huge loss, is merely to buy my heat."
"Ah."
An expression as if she had forgotten to explain.
Unlike her usual cold and bewitching expression, Moyong Huia made a cute expression as if she had made a mistake, but.
'What is she doing right now?'
I knew even that was an act.
Moyong Huia is a woman who knows her strengths too well.
It meant she knew that showing such a difference in vibe was quite helpful.
"Umm..."
Perhaps because I was making an unimpressed expression even while seeing that.
Seeing this, Moyong Huia immediately returned to her original expression.
"As expected, it doesn't work."
Tsk.
Seeing her click her tongue in disappointment actually relieved me.
'As expected, that personality of hers hasn't changed.'
If there was a slight difference.
It was that there was some difference from the gaze she used to send me in the past.
"The more I look at you, the more mysterious you are. By any chance, do you have some kind of problem?"
"A problem...?"
"...No, well. Just... perhaps you have some problem with your masculinity..."
"Are you sexually harassing me right now?"
"Seeing how you act with Dokbong or Geommuhi, that's not it..."
What do you mean 'that's not it'.
What is 'not it', you piece of—.
I looked at Moyong Huia like that, let out a deep sigh, and asked.
"Let's end the jokes there."
"It's not a joke..."
"...Please just explain what you mean by wanting to buy my heat."
Stop with this useless talk.
We needed to get to the main point quickly.
Because talking for too long would only result in me getting swept up by Moyong Huia's words and getting even angrier.
When I brought up the main topic.
Moyong Huia briefly hardened her expression and corrected her posture.
She knelt on both knees.
Meaning she politely gathered her hands and showed proper etiquette.
Seeing that, I also corrected my posture.
"As I mentioned before, I need your heat, Young Master."
"So, why."
"If you wish to hear the reason, you may have to receive a restriction of silence."
"A restriction?"
I wondered what kind of story would require a restriction.
If what I was thinking was correct.
It would likely be about Moyong Huia's Severed Meridians.
"For your information, Patriarch Gu did not hear the reason."
"...So you're saying he sold his son without even hearing the reason?"
" "
Seeing as she didn't deny it, it seemed to be true.
Our father, isn't he a much greater snob than I thought?
Thinking about that for a moment, I said to Moyong Huia.
"Then I won't listen eith—"
"The truth is, I suffer from Severed Meridians."
"Hey, if you weren't going to listen, why do you keep asking?"
"...It is a disease where cold energy gradually builds up if I don't use my qi to manage it." I hadn't planned on listening since I knew anyway.
But for her to say it with her own mouth.
Is she really crazy?
Because I heard something I didn't want to hear, I scowled in disgust.
Moyong Huia's eyes widened slightly.
"Young Master... aren't you very surprised?"
"You spoke as you pleased, and now I even have to be surprised?"
"Well, no... but that's not the usual reaction."
To be honest, I felt a slight 'oops' while speaking.
I should have at least put on a slightly surprised expression.
I didn't react properly even after hearing the term Severed Meridian syndrome.
'I got slightly swept up in the atmosphere.'
Is it because it's a conversation with a polar opposite.
Or is it because of my past life's memories?
I had to circulate my qi to calm my slightly unsettled stomach.
"...So, you're saying that has something to do with the reason you need my heat?"
"Yes."
"I'm not the only one who can use heat qi, so why specifically me?"
I could tell that Moyong Huia's Severed Meridians weren't simply something that got better or worse with fire.
If that were possible, she wouldn't have suffered like that.
Besides, I'm not the only one in the Central Plains who uses fire techniques.'
Of course, there's my father.
There's also Gu Huibi.
Gu Ryeong-hwa belonged to the Hwasan Sect, and Gu Yeon-seo wouldn't be able to produce flames yet, so they were out of the question.
Moreover, if one were to speak of current fire techniques, the Gu Clan held a representative position, but.
It wasn't only the Gu Clan.
As there were those among the Top 100 Masters of the Central Plains who also used fire techniques.
I had to think about the reason Moyong Huia deliberately sought me out.
'Don't tell me, it's because I'm an easy target?'
Probably not.
She's not a woman who would choose a person for such a petty reason.
'Then what is it.'
A thought briefly crossed my mind—what if her Severed Meridians only react to my heat?
'But to say that...'
Even from 'that day' I experienced in my past life, I knew it wasn't the case.
Even though we embraced so much.
Unlike my body which was hot at that time, Moyong Huia's body was as cold as ice.
I was expressing my doubts with such thoughts, but.
Moyong Huia's answer was firm.
"It must be your heat, Young Master Gu."
Kyu,
"I felt it last time. If it's your heat, it will work."
I see white fingers carefully reaching out.
The slowly approaching fingertips touch mine.
It's a cautious touch, as if she can't bring herself to grab it.
"...I'm asking you."
It was a sudden remark, but.
I could vaguely guess what she was asking.
Without saying much, I used the slight touch as a medium.
And sent a very small amount of heat qi.
Flinch.
I could feel Moyong Huia's body tremble slightly as she received the heat qi.
Seeing that reaction, I thought.
'...For real?'
Does it really have an effect?
Why?
'Just why?'
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure it out.
What was the difference between Moyong Huia from back then and Moyong Huia now?
'Is it because she's younger?'
The Severed Meridian syndrome deepens as time passes, so perhaps that could be the case, but.
That probably wasn't it.
'Don't tell me... is it because of the changes in the Gu Yeomhwa Ring Qigong?'
Recalling what didn't exist in my past life, that was the only thing for now.
If the power of the Heavenly Demon absorbs others' qi.
I'm not sure if it can also take away cold energy.
If it's reacting to the heat.
The likelihood of it being the power of the Gu Yeomhwa Ring Qigong was high.
'Like purifying demonic qi, is it pushing out the cold energy?'
When recalling the changes in the Gu Yeomhwa Ring Qigong since entering this life.
One could think of the power to burn and purify demonic qi, converting it into my own qi.
Since it didn't happen in my past life.
This was the only principle I could think of.
"...Heok...
ah."
I pulled my hand away at the moan coming from in front of me.
I had been thinking about this and that and forgot.
I hurriedly raised my head to check on Moyong Huia, but.
"I'm fi..."
Seeing her with her head buried low and trembling, she didn't seem fine at all.
"L-Lo... Look."
Moyong Huia, who had been groaning for a while, mumbled something in a very small voice, but.
It was so quiet that I couldn't hear it.
She seemed to be trying to hide her trembling voice, but it didn't seem easy.
"As expected... As expected. It's you..."
"Pardon?"
Having spat out incomprehensible words, Moyong Huia suddenly jumped up from her seat and adjusted her clothes.
"...I'll be taking my leave for today."
"Suddenly?"
"Yes... I think it'll be a bit too difficult to continue."
What does she mean it's too difficult.
Moyong Huia moving slightly unsteadily was somewhat concerning, but.
There was something I had to ask first.
"What will you do about the restriction?"
"Pardon?"
"You said I would have to receive a restriction if I heard your circumstances."
It was a rather unpleasant part, but.
If it came to this, I had to receive it.
A restriction placed by a prestigious clan could be undone one way or another, so it didn't matter.
I could just receive it and then break it.
At my words, Moyong Huia made an expression as if thinking 'I did say that,' and then smiled slightly.
"That was a lie."
"What?"
"It's true that it's normally supposed to be applied... but I had no intention of doing so to you, Young Master Gu."
"What is the reason?"
When I asked why she made that choice.
Moyong Huia pondered for a moment and then gave me an answer.
"Because if it's someone reliable like you, I thought it would be fine... You won't believe the same answer again, will you?"
" "
Moyong Huia, who met my eyes, suddenly turned her head and covered her mouth.
Looking at her, she seemed to be holding back a burst of laughter.
"...I'm sorry. Your expression was just a bit shocking."
Shocking expression?
It sounded somewhat like an insult, which made me feel terrible.
Meanwhile, I'm really not sure if this even has an effect on Moyong Huia.
Because I could still feel a faint cold energy coming from her.
"Does this really have an effect..."
"Young Master."
"Yes?"
"Thank you. I think I should leave first today."
This was definitely good news, but.
The conversation hadn't properly ended yet.
"...I also want to continue our cozy conversation, but."
"It wasn't cozy though."
"Because if I stay longer, I don't know what might happen to me."
What does she mean, what might happen?
The gaze of Moyong Huia, who was speaking, was directed somewhere.
Where I looked following her gaze. " "
I saw three pairs of eyes peeking out and glancing this way. The fact that they were different colored eyes made it feel even more awkward.
"What are you guys doing there?"
I asked with a dumbfounded voice, but.
The eyes just stared at me without uttering a single word.
How on earth did they know to come here.
At that precarious feeling, a chill ran down my spine.
"I'll be leaving first. Young Master Gu. Thank you so much for today."
Perhaps I wasn't the only one who felt it.
Moyong Huia slipped out of my room with faster steps than usual.
As she stepped out of the room, Moyong Huia.
Glanced at the three women and added a word towards me.
"It was a fun time. I'll ask for your help again next night."
"What?"
She dropped a remark full of potential for misunderstanding and disappeared with light steps.
"Wait... You need to explain properly before you go!"
Sensing it was a mess, I immediately tried to grab Moyong Huia, but.
Crunch.
A hand grabbed me first. Then, a voice was heard.
"Explain."
I swallowed a dry gulp at Namgung Bi-ah's firm voice.
Not only Namgung Bi-ah, whose face was much more expressionless than usual.
The two squirrels hiding behind Namgung Bi-ah were also a problem.
'Haha.'
.
...
！..
.
It seemed like sleeping comfortably was out of the question again today.