〈Chapter 263〉 Anhui. (3)
As soon as we arrived at the Nangong family, we were guided to the guest quarters.
The servants unpacked the luggage they had brought.
During that time, I looked around the surroundings.
‘...This place looks better than our house?’
For one thing, that was certain.
I guess it's because they're a family with money and know how to spend it.
The place they offered, saying it was for guests, was quite impressive.
Of course, given the relationship between us, they wouldn't have given us an ordinary place.
Even considering that, it meant it was splendid.
I took a slight look around the pond.
The carp swimming inside each had beautiful scales.
The pond was large, and there were many carp, so it must require constant maintenance.
"Flaunting their wealth, just flaunting their wealth."
The maintenance costs alone seemed astronomical.
Those were the entirety of my impressions.
My sensibilities in this regard had dried up long ago, so there was no way I'd have any special feelings.
Right now, I needed to think about the tasks ahead rather than such things.
‘How many days until the engagement ceremony?’
The engagement ceremony, which I expected to take place as soon as we arrived, was scheduled for a few days later.
Admittedly, holding it right after arriving in an exhausted state would be odd, but.
‘But waiting for several days?’
It was a small doubt.
I wondered if there was really a need to go that far.
Of course, since it was the incredibly awkward situation of waiting for an engagement ceremony.
I thought I should be glad that I was given time, but...
‘Several days.’
It was true that the timing of the engagement ceremony was delayed because of my personal issues.
But for that, the Gu family had personally made the trip to the Nangong family.
With the eyes of others focused on them, this was quite a concession.
Just the fact that the Gu family came to the Nangong family.
In the eyes of others, it meant the groom's side had gone to the bride's family.
They would assign unnecessary meaning to it.
‘They'll spout bullshit about me being a matrilocal husband and whatnot.’
They might even see it as an implicit admission that the Gu family was weaker than the Nangong family.
That was just how things were.
Placing meaning on each and every little thing like this.
As if this damned world was easy anywhere.
Anyway.
Normally, since we even went through the trouble of coming in person, telling us to wait for several days could be considered discourteous.
Indeed, when I first heard it.
I saw my father's expression stiffen slightly.
‘They must be having a conversation right now.’
Since the family heads went to have a discussion.
They were probably talking about this as well.
As long as the situation is properly explained, there shouldn't be a problem.
‘Is there something else?’
I just hoped I wouldn't get tangled up in some troublesome situation.
With accidents breaking out everywhere I go, I just wanted this trip to be quiet.
Of course, I knew that hoping for a quiet trip was already a bit twisted.
‘Damn it.’
It wasn't anything else, but the matter regarding the Nangong family head.
What should I do? What should I do?
Seeing the look in his eyes earlier, he didn't seem willing to let me off easily.
Honestly, holding out for over a year was impressive.
He learned the flaw in his martial arts.
And he would think I was the only one who knew how to fill that flaw.
He could certainly think that way, but.
For Nangong Jin, who was audaciously called the Sword King.
For such a thirst to persist until now.
He must have practiced the slight difference I uttered借用 Old Man Shin's words back then, but couldn't advance beyond a certain point.
‘...What should I do?’
I did say back then, "I will teach you."
That was when Old Man Shin was present.
He is a figure proficient in the sword.
Moreover, he was someone who directly watched over Nangong Myung, the Thunder Heaven One Sword who led the golden age of the Nangong family, from his side.
Lamenting the collapse of the Nangong family's sword.
It was Old Man Shin who stepped forward, saying he would teach them himself.
But such Old Man Shin was now asleep inside my body.
‘But how am I supposed to teach him anything?’
My whole life, apart from playing with a wooden sword as a child, I've never done anything related to swords.
What could I possibly teach Nangong Jin?
‘I'm going crazy.’
Thanks to that, I was worried sick about what excuse I could use to get out of it.
‘Hey. Seeing the situation, wake him up quickly.’
[...Rrr?]
‘Don't pretend you just woke up, wake up Old Man Shin.’
Seeing as it responded immediately to my casual call.
The beast didn't seem to be sleeping.
‘You saw everything and you're playing dumb?’
[Grrr?]
‘...This is really driving me crazy.’
The bastard who consistently played dumb was incredibly annoying, but.
There was a reason I couldn't say anything more even while doing this.
Before Old Man Shin fell asleep.
We had talked about what would happen if this guy didn't wake Old Man Shin.
Back then, it definitely said.
When a year has passed.
Old Man Shin would be able to wake up on his own.
That was the promise.
If the guy's words were true, it meant there was a high probability that Old Man Shin was deliberately not waking up right now.
‘The situation has come to this, and he has a reason not to wake up?’
If Old Man Shin was watching this.
There was also a probability that he was deliberately not waking up so I would be screwed...
...Hmm.
‘That probability is quite high?’
Recalling Old Man Shin's behavior so far.
He was definitely an old man who could do such a thing.
‘The fact that he would totally do it to screw me over makes it even more annoying.’
I wondered if he was actually awake right now, chuckling to himself.
If so, it'd be nice if he'd just wake up now.
‘Even if we put aside the matter of Nangong Jin.’
There was one more urgent matter that required Old Man Shin to wake up.
‘...I also need to question him about the Thunder Heaven One Sword.’
When we visited Henan in the past.
There were words spoken by Cheol-yeong, the former hero Hwangahbulyeong, whom we met at Shaolin and was Old Man Shin's old friend.
He said that not only himself, but Nangong Myung, the Thunder Heaven One Sword, also currently had his soul placed somewhere and possessed consciousness.
If those words were true.
I naturally thought he would be within one of the Nangong family's demonic artifacts.
‘...Of course, there are exceptions.’
Recalling that there was one demonic artifact wandering outside the family, it wasn't a certainty.
Especially considering that the probability of Nangong Myung being inside the wandering demonic artifact was the highest.
‘Leia.’
The divine sword of the Nangong family, called the Lightning Fang.
It was the sword used by Nangong Myung, the Thunder Heaven One Sword.
Currently, for unknown reasons, it was a demonic artifact in the possession of Mudang Gwaeseon, a martial artist of the Wudang sect.
Additionally, in my past life, it left Mudang Gwaeseon's hands.
It was also the sword used by the Demon Sword Marquis.
‘If a soul were to deliberately dwell in it, it would naturally be there, but...’
You never know.
As the famous Nangong family, there was no way that was their only demonic artifact.
However, it wasn't a situation where I could just go and look at those demonic artifacts as I pleased.
‘Whatever it is, Old Man Shin needs to wake up so we can at least talk about it.’
Even at a moment like this, Old Man Shin remained silent.
I didn't think he had disappeared.
As always, I could feel Old Man Shin's presence deep within my dantian.
Just very quietly.
"Hoo..."
I let out a heavy sigh under the glaring midday sun.
I had only come with a moderate amount of tension.
It was because there were more matters tied to the Nangong family than expected.
While I was racking my brain over the complicated situation.
"Hmm?"
I suddenly turned my head and examined the area behind me.
It was an ordinary scene with a few trees, but.
I focused my eyes slightly and observed the spaces between them.
‘What was that?’
I felt like something was watching me.
Just in case, I drew up my internal energy to heighten my senses, but.
"Was it my imagination?"
Nothing was caught in my senses.
Especially considering the spot where I thought I felt a gaze wasn't that far away.
There was no way I couldn't feel it.
I even went so far as to walk over and directly inspect the place where I felt it.
There were still only trees standing there, and I couldn't find anything else unusual.
"What, how unpleasant."
It was too vivid to be called imagination, but.
No matter how much I searched, there was nothing.
Just as I was thinking about looking around a bit more.
"Young Master, it will soon be time for the banquet," Hong-wa said, appearing from afar to inform me of the schedule.
"...I'll be right there."
"I will prepare things."
"Yeah."
In the end, I moved on without being able to investigate further, but.
My gaze was still directed at the trees.
Somehow, from the very start of the first day, I had a really unsettling feeling.
Inside the Nangong family, there was someone in the First Princess's quarters for the first time in a while.
It was because the owner had returned to the room that had been empty for the past few years.
"Miss, may I touch your hair?"
The servant cautiously spoke to her master.
She had been attached to this one master for almost ten years, but.
In reality, she didn't know her well.
She was someone who only stayed in her room and disliked people coming.
Or conversely, someone who hid somewhere and concealed her existence.
Even the servant who was relatively close to her didn't know her well.
What she knew was.
That her master was an incredibly beautiful person.
And that she rarely spoke.
Although she technically had the title of exclusive servant.
She wasn't much different from other servants.
Because she disliked being with anyone, no one could get close to her.
That was why the servant was unusually concerned about her master, who had returned after a long time.
However, she had to prepare for the banquet.
And the family head had told her to make sure she prepared properly.
The servant held back her trembling and asked her master.
While she was watching her master's reaction with a pounding heart.
The master looked at the servant slightly and uttered a word.
"...Please do."
The servant's eyes widened upon hearing the voice.
"Ah...! Yes, ma'am."
The servant couldn't help but be surprised.
It was the first time her master had ever replied with words.
Not just her face.
She thought the clear voice she heard was also so beautiful.
The carefully extended fingertips.
Gently stroked the pure white hair.
She was surprised once by the silky hair.
And surprised again by the fair and beautiful skin, even though she had spent the summer.
‘...Such a beautiful person.’
It was a question.
She had heard that she went out to the Central Plains and even acquired an alias.
Why did the family head dislike such a beautiful daughter so much?
"...You know."
"Yes?"
While she was carefully touching her hair or helping with her makeup.
The servant was surprised once more by her master's voice.
It was also the first time she had ever initiated a conversation.
"Is something the matter, Miss...?"
Did she make some mistake?
She wondered if it was a big mistake for her master to initiate a conversation, but.
"Name..."
"Yes?"
"...What is... your name?"
The master asked for the servant's name.
It was an unexpected question, so she wondered why she was asking, but.
Answering came first.
"...Ok-ji. I am called Ok-ji."
The voice that gave the answer trembled.
The servant was a bit embarrassed by her countrified name, but.
The master, hearing it, maintained her usual expressionless face.
"Ok-ji."
"Yes, Miss."
"...I'll remember it."
"Pardon...? Ah, yes... thank you."
The master, Nangong Bia, repeated her servant's name.
It had been ten years.
The time that had flowed from the moment she first saw this servant until now.
Only now did she remember her name.
Despite it not being a short period of time.
Nangong Bia realized only now that she didn't even know the name of a mere servant.
No.
She hadn't just not known.
She hadn't wanted to know.
Nangong Bia closed her eyes, feeling the hand touching her hair.
Her life had been like hell, submerged in a foul stench.
It wasn't a situation where she could remember or care about someone.
Now, hearing someone's name.
She must have gained the composure to remember it.
"...I'm sorry."
"Pardon?"
Nangong Bia spat out an apology.
An apology to someone whose name she didn't even know.
She slowly regulated her breathing.
Her family was still filled with a foul stench, but.
It wasn't a place where she felt suffocated and like she was going to die like before.
This could be because her realm had risen.
Or conversely, it could be because 'his' realm had risen.
Whatever it was.
It wouldn't change the fact that she had taken a step away from her hellish life.
"You know..."
"Yes, Miss."
"...That... should I do that?"
Ok-ji looked in the direction Nangong Bia's hand was pointing.
It was a box containing several ornaments.
They were given by the Nangong family for the blood relatives to use, but.
Ok-ji had never seen Nangong Bia use them even once.
"Uh... what do you mean by good?"
"Would a man... like it...?"
At the quietly whispered words, which sounded slightly embarrassed.
Ok-ji had to swallow a gasp inwardly.
Because she had never imagined her master would ask such a thing.
Her ears and cheeks slightly flushed, perhaps out of embarrassment.
And the eyes looking at her as if she still had to hear the answer, were so beautiful that even she, a woman, was captivated.
Then a thought crossed her mind.
‘...Is her fiancé that wonderful?’
Just how outstanding of a man was he.
To make someone like her master make such an expression?
Ok-ji suddenly became curious about that.
"Would you... like to try using them?"
"Yeah..."
Nangong Bia replied with a slight nod.
In the past, she hadn't cared.
But now, Nangong Bia knew she was beautiful.
This was just an objective thought, and she didn't place much meaning in it.
Even if others felt it and approached her, it didn't mean much to her.
Only one person.
It was enough if only that person saw her as beautiful.
So, if possible, she wanted to be more beautiful.
If this was her strong point.
She hoped to use it to catch his eye more.
Someone came to Nangong Bia's mind.
The face of the woman who had been clinging to him lately.
She was a pretty person with a cold aura.
Unlike herself, she knew how to dress up.
She was a cool person with abilities that made people follow her.
‘Different from me.’
A swirling emotion was felt.
At the same time, it was murky and heavy.
Nangong Bia realized that these emotions were jealousy and an inferiority complex.
In order to escape the foul stench.
Unlike when she pursued a higher sword.
Had she now gained the composure to feel such emotions?
It wasn't a very good feeling.
Because it seemed like all she had was the title of his fiancée.
"I have to... try harder."
"Miss? What did you just say...?"
"Yeah... it's... nothing..."
Nangong Bia shook her head.
Along with that, she recalled another event that happened during the day.
The people around didn't seem to notice, but.
Between his father.
And her father, just as they met and were talking.
Nangong Bia felt another gaze.
The eyes of her younger sibling, who seemed to be looking at her from afar.
To be exact, it wasn't a gaze.
It would be more accurate to say she smelled it.
Ugh.
Just recalling it made her feel suffocated for some reason.
She wanted to think it was her imagination, but.
Something was definitely different.
Within the foul stench that had become just a little more comfortable than before.
Only her sibling's stench had grown thicker.
There should have been a distance between them, but Nangong Bia could clearly feel that difference.
It meant it had worsened that much.
‘...I hope... nothing happens.’
Nangong Bia closed her eyes and prayed so.
For her sibling, who had been unusually attached to her since the past.
And for him, who had come to visit this place.
She hoped nothing would happen to them.
"It is all done."
At Ok-ji's words, Nangong Bia slowly opened her eyes.
She felt a foreign sensation near her ear.
It seemed to be the earrings she had chosen earlier.
So, Nangong Bia took out another ornament from her bosom and asked her to put it in her hair.
Ok-ji complied without asking any questions.
The ornament was a hair accessory he had bought for her in the past.
‘...This should be enough.’
Then she felt her heart ease.
It was just one ornament, but so what?
Nangong Bia slowly stood up.
It was now time to go to the banquet hall.