Chapter 261: To Anhui. (1)
Rattle.
The sound of the carriage moving reaches my ears.
The carriage that had started moving quickly rattled on without a moment of rest.
Rustle.
It hasn't even been that long since I returned to the estate, and I'm already leaving.
It was always like this after my regression.
I was now half-used to it.
'...I shouldn't be getting used to something like this.'
How did my life become so turbulent?
In my past life, leaving the estate was implicitly forbidden.
Now, I could go outside so easily.
It's just a guess, but.
Even if I told my father I was going somewhere right now.
I feel like he would allow it.
Wouldn't he not even notice if I just ran away from home?
'That probably wouldn't happen.'
That's going a bit too far.
It's just wishful thinking.
Rustle.
Thinking to myself, I turned another page of the letter.
What I was reading inside the carriage was none other than Tang Xiaolie's letter.
Since she had sent it this time as well, I decided to read it while on the move.
-Young Master, are you doing well?
-I am not doing well!
For a moment, I thought I misread it.
'...Why does saying she's not doing well sound so cheerful?'
I was dumbfounded.
The letters always had similar content whenever they came.
I heard the news that she returned to the Gu family, but.
She said she couldn't go because the Poison King held her back.
It seemed he probably wouldn't let her go until the day of entering the pass.
The Poison King...'
He is not someone I am personally acquainted with.
If I had to bring him to mind, it would be a bad karma.
In my past life, the Poison King hated me intensely.
Perhaps because he fell from being a righteous martial artist to a demonic cultivator.
If not that, then maybe he just disliked me.
Whatever the case, it means my ties with the Poison King were not good.
'So I'd rather avoid running into him this life too, if possible.'
Tang Xiaolie did mention last time that the Poison King wanted to see me, but.
It's fine if I don't see him.
Surely he wouldn't actually come to see me.
'...I'm already overwhelmed with Paizun alone, the Poison King is too much.'
Especially, the Poison King is a famous figure in the Dark Faction.
Since he belongs to the Righteous Faction, many might not know, but.
Anyone could find out with a little searching that the Tang Family originally belonged to the Dark Faction.
In the first place, the Tang Family primarily uses poison arts, and.
The martial arts Tang Xiaolie actually uses.
Were assassination-type martial arts using hidden weapons and daggers.
If it's the Poison King who mastered such martial arts.
'...If the Poison King harbors ill intentions now, I would die without anyone ever knowing.'
Of course, the Poison King wouldn't easily do such a thing.
It wouldn't happen inside the Gu estate, but.
You never know.
Around the time I finished reading the letter.
I felt movement from below.
Feeling that, I said.
"Why are you moving so much?"
"...Uncomfortable..."
It was Nangong Feiya, who was lying with her head on my lap.
Nangong Feiya was riding in my carriage as if it were a matter of course.
Looking at her, I let out a dry chuckle and said.
"Isn't it because you lay down right after eating?"
"...Ung."
She shakes her head as if to say no.
'...Heh.'
Nangong Feiya, who had left to have a meal with Madam Mi, returned before it got too late.
However, looking at her expression, it seemed something had happened.
No matter how much I asked, she wouldn't give me an answer.
'It didn't seem like she got scolded.'
Something did happen, but it didn't seem like a bad thing.
What on earth did Madam Mi call Nangong Feiya for?
I was curious.
"Hey."
"...Ung?"
"Are you really not going to tell me?"
Umm,
As soon as I asked, Nangong Feiya closes her eyes.
It seemed she was pretending to sleep.
Since she wasn't very good at acting, it was completely obvious.
In the end, dissatisfied, I lightly pinched her cheek.
I pinched her fairly hard, but.
Nangong Feiya didn't let out a single groan.
It seemed she was going to endure it.
"Anyway..."
At that sight, I finally lightly stroked Nangong Feiya's head.
If she's not going to tell me, she must have a reason.
I looked out the window at the Patriarch's carriage leading the way.
Inside, my father and Madam Mi would probably be riding.
For reference.
Before departing, Gu Xibei threw a fit, insisting she wanted to go to Anhui together, even if it meant coming along under the pretext of being a guard.
Madam Mi, unable to bear it, dragged her away by the ear.
Judging by how her eyes were moist when she returned.
It seemed she was scolded to the point of tears.
'Follow us? What do you mean follow us?'
Even I was bewildered hearing that.
If all the family members went, wouldn't that be strange in its own right?
Moreover, even Murong Xiya is going.
In the end, Gu Xibei was to stay at the estate on a sort of vacation and take care of Gu Yanxi.
She might not know it, but Gu Yanxi would probably be quite satisfied.
'What is she going to do?'
I heard she was coming along, but I didn't hear the details of what Murong Xiya planned to do.
I heard they already sent a letter to the Nangong Family from their side.
'The Nangong Family must be bewildered too.'
Since it feels like the Murong Family is abruptly intruding on the engagement ceremony with the Gu family.
It would be somewhat awkward.
'...After I finish this.'
Around the time this schedule ends, the season will probably be early autumn.
Autumn...?
Originally, it was the period I intended to go search for Wei Xue'er.
'It's become a bit ambiguous.'
Since she herself expressed her intention to come find me.
The situation has become somewhat ambiguous.
'Then...'
What should I do.
Training is a given.
I need to use my time a bit more meaningfully, though.
"It's difficult."
"...Hm?"
"It's nothing, sleep more."
Nangong Feiya closes her eyes again.
I look out the window and let out a slight sigh.
'First things first.'
Before thinking of other things, the immediate task at hand weighed heavily on my mind.
'...An engagement.'
I never thought I would actually go through with it.
Before I knew it, it was right in front of my nose.
It was strange enough that I was getting engaged.
Let alone that I'd be doing it with the Demon Sword Empress.
No, I shouldn't call her Demon Sword Empress anymore.
Looking at the woman breathing evenly with her head on my lap, I recalled.
'How did it come to this?'
I really didn't expect this.
I reached out and carefully stroked Nangong Feiya's hair.
Her silk-like hair softly slipped through my fingers.
Did you perhaps know?
That you and I could become like this.
I didn't know.
No, perhaps I vaguely knew.
On that rainy night.
The day the moon set in my embrace.
Perhaps, it was only then that I vaguely realized.
That the existence known as the Demon Sword Empress.
Occupied a much larger place within me than I thought.
That was why I thought I shouldn't get any closer.
Hoping that you wouldn't make that kind of choice again.
A small breathing sound is heard.
It seems she has fallen deep asleep.
It hasn't even been that long since she closed her eyes.
Looking at her like that, I let out a brief laugh.
"It must be nice to be so carefree."
Engagement and all.
Her completely nonchalant attitude was truly just like her.
And yet.
Thinking that this situation wasn't so bad.
I found myself a bit funny inwardly.
As time passed, autumn was already approaching.
It was still close to the sweltering heat, but.
In the gradually blowing breeze, one could tell the season was changing.
It would still be a while before the leaves fell, but.
Even so, autumn would come.
As it always did.
"Young Master Gu, are you tired?"
"Hm? No. I was just thinking."
I slightly shook my head at the voice.
I wondered if my tendency to get lost in distracting thoughts would never improve, no matter how much time passed.
Moving my gaze slightly to the side.
Eyes that closely resembled the current sky came into view.
The Murong Family's precious daughter.
Xuefeng, Murong Xiya.
Murong Xiya had left the Murong Family's carriage and transferred to mine.
For reference, Nangong Feiya was half-asleep as usual.
At first, she seemed to dislike Murong Xiya riding along, but.
Now she didn't seem to care much.
...More accurately.
'It's probably because of the heat.'
The sweltering heat must have been hard for Nangong Feiya too, as she was at a slight distance from me, unlike usual.
It seemed because heat was coming from my body.
On the contrary, the inside of the carriage with Murong Xiya, who possessed cold qi.
Maintained a somewhat cool temperature despite the hot weather.
Because of that, Nangong Feiya didn't seem to say much either.
It must mean this is better than the heat.
Murong Xiya smiled faintly as she watched that.
"You didn't eat much during the meal earlier."
"You noticed that?"
"I am always watching."
As she said that, a small necklace jangled around Murong Xiya's neck.
It was the one I had bought in Jiaxian and given to her.
'She actually wore that.'
Just by selling the earrings Murong Xiya is wearing right now, or the fan she always carries around.
She could probably buy hundreds of necklaces like that.
'Does she like cheap things?'
It could be because it's pretty rather than because it's cheap, but.
Even to me, whose aesthetic sense was close to zero, that necklace was lacking.
Considering its incredibly simple design.
"Hm."
"Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing."
Saying that.
I forcibly stretched out my stiff body.
Because we would arrive in a little while.
Stretching my body slightly, I asked Murong Xiya.
"Did you say you had something to do when you go to Anhui?"
"Ah... right. I have things to do there, and also happen to have business with the Nangong Family."
"Business?"
"Yes."
I wonder what business she has.
'Come to think of it.'
Weren't Murong Xiya and that Lei Long guy engaged?
In my past life, they definitely were.
'Are they not yet?'
That could be the case.
When I found out about Murong Xiya and Lei Long's engagement.
It was right around the time I turned twenty.
So it must have happened a little later....
'Wait.'
Then what does that mean?
The affection Murong Xiya harbored for me was unmistakable.
She said so herself.
And her actions themselves showed it.
Then.
'Affection is affection, but an engagement is an engagement?'
Isn't that a bit too complicated and somewhat cheap?
It was a concept far too difficult for me to comprehend.
Was Xuefeng originally into that kind of thing?
'...How would I know?'
I wasn't certain, but it didn't seem like it.
Recalling my past life... that didn't seem to be the case either....
Ugh.
'...I made it complicated for nothing by thinking about it.'
As distracting thoughts rushed in and I slightly frowned.
Murong Xiya brought it up as if she had read my mind.
"Young Master, is something really bothering you?"
"It's nothing. My head just hurts for a..."
As soon as I mentioned the pain, Murong Xiya reached her hand out toward my forehead as if she had been waiting for it.
Just as the visibly cold hand was about to reach my forehead.
Smack.
Another hand appeared and snatched Murong Xiya's wrist away.
It was Nangong Feiya, whom I thought was sleeping.
"...No."
"Tch."
Murong Xiya clicked her tongue shortly upon confirming this.
"Sword Dance Empress... You were awake."
"Yeah."
Nangong Feiya answered as she sat up.
What the.
She was really awake?
Murong Xiya gave a slight snort as she watched.
"I can't let my guard down for a moment."
"...Me too..."
Nangong Feiya answered and reached out to cover my forehead.
It seemed she was substituting the action Murong Xiya was about to do just now.
"There's no fever or anything, so you don't have to touch it."
"...It seems like there is..."
Of course there's heat. I'm saying it's not a fever from being sick.
Nangong Feiya seemed to have no intention of pulling away, as if she intended to keep touching my forehead.
In the end, only when I turned my face away did Nangong Feiya pull her hand back with a look of reluctance.
Sweeping my hair back, I asked Nangong Feiya.
"It's been a while since you returned to your home. Are you okay?"
"Hm...?"
At my question, Nangong Feiya tilted her head.
She seemed to be thinking about the meaning of the question.
Nangong Feiya didn't seem to like her family very much.
So even though she could return, she stayed at the Gu estate instead of going to her family.
Of course, I would probably be included in that reason, but.
Surely that wasn't all.
At this, Nangong Feiya seemed to realize what my vague question meant.
Her tilted eyes widened slightly.
And then, she gave a faint smile and answered.
It was a smile I couldn't get used to every time I saw it.
"...I'm okay now..."
That statement means it wasn't originally okay, right?
What kind of life Nangong Feiya lived.
Since I don't know in detail.
Furthermore, I couldn't ask until she brought it up first.
Looking into my eyes, Nangong Feiya whispered.
"...Now... it's not so scary anymore."
Her whisper, spoken so quietly, somehow struck a chord with me.
I was about to add a word to that, but.
-Young Master, we have arrived.
I closed my mouth at the coachman's words ahead.
Ah, for reference, the coachman is not Gu Jieye.
I wanted to bring him along if possible, but.
Didn't they say he was dragged away by the Yijian Squad Leader for Gu Xianwen's business?
'Why did they take Muyeon in the middle of all that?'
They said they took not only Gu Jieye but also Muyeon.
I couldn't understand the reason.
I tried to ask, but since it was the Patriarch's order, I couldn't pry further.
!
Clop... clop.
The sound of the horse's hooves gradually slows and fades.
The horse slowing its pace meant we were close to our destination.
Poking my head out the window, sure enough, it came into view in the distance.
"We're really here..."
The center of the Four Great Families.
The prestigious sword family of the Righteous Faction representing countless families.
We had arrived at Anhui, where the Great Nangong Family is located.
Looking at the entrance we were coming into, I suddenly recalled.
'...Did I forget something?'
I felt uneasy.
I definitely feel like I forgot something, but.
It didn't come to mind.
In my hazy mind, as if covered in fog.
An anxious itch rose in my chest.
"...It'll come to me if I stay still."
If it was important, I wouldn't have forgotten it.
I thought it probably wasn't that important.
'It couldn't be something important.'
I chuckled and brushed it off.
And in doing so, I had forgotten the most important thing of all.
That my bad premonitions.
Were never wrong.