"She returned?"
I spoke to Gu Huibi, but a face flashed through my mind.
One who possessed the distinct features of both Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.
And at the same time, possessed an infinitely noble elegance. That woman.
Baihuazhu Mi Xiaolan.
The Patriarch of the Gu Family.
The primary wife of the heroic Gu Tieyun. And the mother of Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo.
And.
The face of the current mistress of the Shanxi Gu Family.
'Why...?'
The timing for her return to the main family was still a long way off.
At the very least, I should have been past the age of twenty.
'It's a strange thing to be considering this now, though.'
Given how much the situation had changed.
It wouldn't be strange even if something bizarre happened now.
Still, strange is strange.
The Gu Family rarely stepped outside of Shanxi.
Without escorting merchant groups, professionally hunting demonic beasts, or receiving external patronage, they maintained the name of a prestigious family.
Also, the reason they could maintain abundant resources, if not the military strength and luxury of a major family,
Was none other than Baihuazhu Mi Xiaolan, her merit.
If the number one merchant group in Shanxi was the Tianyi Merchant Group.
The Baihua Merchant Group, where Mi Xiaolan served as the group head, was known to not be quite at that level.
But I knew.
Just how much money that household had hidden away.
In terms of money, it was at a level where, if they set their mind to it, they might be able to buy the Gu Family with wealth alone.
'That kind of woman has returned to the main family.'
For the mistress of the main family, the patriarch's primary wife, to leave the main family and stay elsewhere was quite an exceptional occurrence.
This was ultimately father's fault.
I hadn't heard the details of the circumstances, but.
It was to the point where father himself admitted it was his fault.
'I didn't pry, but it's probably related to mother's matters.'
The way he treated the primary wife and the concubine had a disparity close to favoritism.
Even from my perspective, the difference was severe, so it wasn't strange for Madam Mi, the primary wife, to be angry.
Anger.
'Was it anger?'
For a moment, I thought about recalling the person named Mi Xiaolan to correct my thoughts, but.
Regardless, it was true that through that opportunity, the mistress ended up staying outside the main family.
For close to several years, at that.
How bad was it?
Even when Gu Huibi received the moniker of Sword Peak.
Even when Gu Yeonseo achieved good results at the Gathering of Dragons and Phoenixes.
Mi Xiaolan only sent a few letters, and didn't appear at the main family in person.
Using the excuse of being busy.
On the contrary, I heard that Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo occasionally visited her on a yearly basis.
It was a story I couldn't understand.
Since it wasn't a place for me to intervene, after all.
'For such a person to return to the main family.'
Did it mean something big had happened?
Whether it was the merchant group, or Mi Xiaolan herself.
I looked again at Gu Huibi, who was conveying the news to me.
"I understand that Madam Mi has returned... but why?"
I understood that the mistress had returned to the main family.
But what was the reason for suddenly telling me this?
At my question, Gu Huibi picked up the letter next to her and handed it to me.
"What's this..."
As I unfolded the letter I received.
Inside, a single short line was written.
-Eldest Young Master, return immediately.
The handwriting was father's.
The stamped seal was also the patriarch's seal.
The fact that a seal was even stamped meant.
It wasn't a urging to come quickly.
It was an order to come right now.
'What the hell, so scary.'
This was a letter sent to me.
Observing Gu Huibi's reaction, it seemed a separate letter had arrived for her as well.
The problem was.
The connection between the news of her returning to the main family.
And me having to return to the main family right now, I couldn't find the point of connection.
"Am I the only one going?"
"Probably?"
"What do you mean probably? Give me a proper answer."
As I asked urgently.
Gu Huibi just shrugged her shoulders.
"Because there was no order for me to return."
Good grief... How can she be so irresponsible.
"Sister, you said last time that if I went back, you'd go back with me."
"..."
"You were saying something about loving your little brother, how can a person change so quickly?"
Back then, I actually preferred going alone.
But now, the situation had become a bit desperate for Gu Huibi's presence.
"...Little brother."
"Yeah."
"People naturally change."
As she turned her head slightly, her deeply shaken pupils were clearly visible.
'Damn it.'
I knew from the start that Gu Huibi, as the Great Lord, couldn't easily travel between the frontline and the main family.
But it was also strange that Madam Mi had returned, yet Gu Huibi wasn't going and I was returning alone.
'What's going on.'
I didn't know how things were progressing.
But at least it wasn't a good situation for me.
'Madam Mi.'
As the child of a concubine with no male heir from the primary wife, making my position as the Young Patriarch certain.
And as the patriarch's primary wife.
My relationship with Madam Mi, who had solid backing.
Was quite awkward.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
I myself also found Madam Mi burdensome.
'This is troubling...'
So, if possible.
I was hoping not to run into her.
This letter stamped with the main family's seal was endlessly irritating to me.
Ending the conversation with Gu Huibi.
I put the letter in my bosom and came out of the tent.
The report on the trip to the center was roughly finished.
But because of the letter about Madam Mi's appearance, it probably wasn't taken very importantly.
Sweeping my hair up and coming outside.
"Were you waiting?"
Nangong Bi'a was crouching in front of me, greeting me.
There are plenty of fine chairs, so why is she doing this here?
"...That, the talk... Did it go well?"
It was a question that seemed unbearable to ask even as I spat it out.
But it wasn't like I could ask confidently either.
Nod.
Nangong Bi'a nodded at my question and slowly stood up, approaching me.
I watched quietly, wondering what she was going to do.
Squish.
"...Huh?"
She grabbed my cheeks with both hands and pulled.
Her grip wasn't strong, so it didn't hurt.
I couldn't properly gauge what she meant by this action.
Repeating the pulling and letting go for a while.
She let go with a pop! and walked ahead with fast steps.
"Wha-hey!"
I called out to Nangong Bi'a urgently.
But she didn't seem to have any intention of stopping.
Even though she had told me earlier to explain to her when I came out.
Just as I was thinking about whether to follow and tried to move.
Sensing my movement, Nangong Bi'a stopped and turned her head this way.
"...Not... me."
"What?"
Leaving those words behind, Nangong Bi'a leaped and disappeared from sight.
It was a much too brief encounter compared to how long she had waited for me.
Honestly, at that speed, I could have followed her if I wanted to.
But the atmosphere I just faced was full of the feeling that she'd really get angry if I followed.
So I just stopped and had to watch the direction Nangong Bi'a disappeared.
"...Not me?"
What does this mean?
Expressing my doubts.
Somehow, I felt like I knew what Nangong Bi'a's intentions were when she said that.
I reluctantly stared at the empty air and finally moved my body.
I took a few steps following the direction she went.
The distance wasn't very far, but.
For some reason, the quiet atmosphere gave a strange feeling.
Honestly, the surroundings weren't that quiet.
The fact that I felt that way meant my insides were that complicated.
Passing through the forest, a plain appeared.
I didn't find the way for a specific reason.
It was just that, somehow, I felt like she would be there.
"She's crouching too."
Sure enough.
In the same posture as Nangong Bi'a just before, someone was crouching and staying still without moving.
It was Murong Xi'a, who had disappeared with Nangong Bi'a earlier.
'What's with that atmosphere?'
It was full of an inexplicable chill.
Perhaps reflecting Murong Xi'a's current atmosphere, a slight coldness was circulating around her.
'I told her not to do that.'
For her constitution to improve, she mustn't draw out her cold qi, even intentionally.
I found this out during the process of exchanging heat qi with her a few times.
..
!..
The heat qi wrapped around her body to barely fix her constitution.
Would likely face resistance from the cold qi emitted by Murong Xi'a and not circulate properly.
Because of that, Murong Xi'a hadn't been able to train properly for the past year.
A break in martial arts training for a martial artist is fatal.
Let alone for a rising star who must endlessly thirst and raise their realm.
Moreover, if they are a blood relative of a prestigious family, even more so.
Even if it was for treatment, the current time was a miracle for Murong Xi'a, but at the same time, it was undeniably an uncomfortable time.
Putting that aside.
Why is the atmosphere like that?
Like, after friends fight.
Especially after losing an argument, doesn't it look like that?
'That shouldn't be possible.'
Xuefeng is a person whose way with words and ability to handle others should be acknowledged.
Then she shouldn't have lost an argument to Nangong Bi'a, who is at the Central Plains' top level but naive when it comes to people?
Looking at Murong Xi'a's back like that, I slowly spoke to her.
"There..."
What are you doing?
I was going to ask.
But before I could ask, Murong Xi'a stood up.
She sprang up and whipped her head side to side.
It seemed like she was trying to shake something off.
I didn't really understand why she had to do that.
Doesn't her head hurt?
Kyu,,
The action was too intense, unlike Murong Xi'a, so I couldn't say anything.
I just stood there blankly staring.
Murong Xi'a seemed to have calmed down, as she turned around and faced this way.
As a result, our eyes met as I was watching her.
Kyu,,
"...Ah."
She must not have sensed my presence.
Seeing me when she turned around seemed to startle her a lot.
And.
'...Hmm.'
I also had to be quite surprised inwardly.
Both of Murong Xi'a's eyes were swollen red.
Given the slight moisture around her nose, it seemed she had a slight runny nose.
It was a face that clearly screamed, 'I cried my eyes out.'
"Um..."
What is it? What happened for her to end up like that?
Nangong Bi'a looked perfectly fine, though.
She looked a bit sullen.
But it wasn't a mess like Murong Xi'a.
Knowing herself that her face was strange right now.
Murong Xi'a hurriedly covered her face with her hands.
"W-why are you here?"
"She told me to go away."
"...Who did?"
"The one you fought with."
""
Bringing up the story about Nangong Bi'a.
Murong Xi'a flinched.
Seeing that, I could tell.
Something had happened.
"...Jian Wuxi?"
"Yeah."
Ah...
Hearing this, Murong Xi'a let out a deep sigh.
"...When she was beating me so one-sidedly, that was one thing."
"Beat? What? Did you guys actually fight?"
Not an argument.
Did they actually get into a physical fight?
Then there's no way Murong Xi'a could be standing right now...?
Because Nangong Bi'a was quite extreme when it came to sparring or fighting.
"It's not like that...! Just, just..."
Murong Xi'a, who was speaking, suddenly closed her mouth and mumbled her lips.
"...I just lost."
"So you did fight?"
"We didn't fight, and I lost."
What does this even mean.
What does it mean to lose without fighting?
'Is she taking after Nangong Bi'a now?'
Her explanation was so clumsy that there was no way to understand.
However.
Given Murong Xi'a's personality, doing this meant she intentionally didn't want to talk about it.
I couldn't pry into it right away.
As I was looking at Murong Xi'a with a subtle expression.
Murong Xi'a avoided my eyes and muttered to herself.
"...I won't lose next time."
"Uh, uh. Right.... Hang in there."
Since she spat it out like a vow with her swollen red eyes.
She didn't look strong at all.
Besides, she said she lost without fighting, so what does it mean that she'll win next time?
Did she really lose an argument?
No matter how much I thought about Nangong Bi'a.
She wasn't someone who could win an argument with anyone.
If she just mumbled, kept her mouth shut, and frowned, that'd be one thing.
'...Is it something I don't know?'
No way.
Unless Nangong Bi'a was putting on an act in front of me.
It wouldn't be that.
As I was scratching my head awkwardly.
Murong Xi'a wiped her eyes roughly with her sleeve.
Seeing that she didn't wipe her nose, she probably hadn't noticed.
I couldn't point that out, so I just stayed quiet.
"Please... tell Jian Wuxi I said thank you."
"You fought and lost, and you want me to say thank you? Isn't that really weird?"
"Because I don't want to say I'm sorry."
It was an incomprehensible pride.
"It's not a difficult thing, so I can do it. But more importantly."
"Yes..."
Murong Xi'a made an expectant face, thinking I was going to comfort her for a moment.
Unfortunately, my way with words wasn't like that.
There was an important main point left.
"Pack your bags first."
"...Pardon?"
"It seems I have to return home right away tomorrow."
"?"
At my words, Murong Xi'a's swollen eyes widened.
That round look suited her so poorly that I burst into laughter without realizing.
Seeing my laughter, Murong Xi'a rubbed her eyes even more with her hands.
It was around when night fell.
I had expected to depart in a few days.
Because there was a word from the main family to return immediately.
I had to prepare for my return urgently.
My exclusive attendants started packing urgently.
Also, since a few guards were missing, I had to finish coordinating with the Five Swords Unit quickly.
And naturally, since I was returning to the main family.
The Murong Family side also had to prepare.
Thanks to that, my schedule became quite busy until the next morning.
The problem was, in the midst of all that.
-Eldest Young Master.
"Yeah."
-As you instructed. I have brought them.
A guest had even come visiting at this late hour.
I had expected them to come and left a message in advance, but.
I didn't think they'd really come.
"Bring them in."
Swish.
As my command fell, someone immediately entered the tent.
The interior of the tent, which wasn't that narrow, seemed to fill up just by one more person entering.
The man was so huge that he had to bow his head so as not to hit the ceiling.
I slowly raised my head, looked at the guest, and spoke.
"Your action is faster than I thought."
"Nice to meet you."
The giant turned his head away, avoiding my gaze.
Huangpu Chu's younger brother.
It was Huangpu Zhanwei.