Pit-pat... Pit-patter.
Rain streams down outside the window.
The sky, which had clearly been bright just a few days ago,
is now filled with dark clouds, obscuring the sun,
and the air, which should have been cold and crisp, feels somewhat damp.
Meaning it doesn't suit winter.
Drop—patter.
I quietly gazed at the rain flowing outside the window.
It wasn't a heavy downpour, but closer to a shower.
But if it's rain that falls for days on end, can it really be called a shower?
Thinking of that, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
"Rain in winter, what kind of rain is this?"
Even as I spat those words out, I could see my breath at the edge of my lips.
Rain in this kind of weather.
What on earth is going on?
Rattle, clack.
After watching the falling rain for a while,
I reached out and closed the window.
I was already feeling gloomy, so I couldn't just keep staring at the damned weather.
After closing the window and stretching my stiff body,
I finally let out a sigh of relief.
Ah....
The reason my body is exceptionally tired
is probably not because I've been training these past few days.
There wasn't even a proper space to train, so I hadn't been training that hard,
and lately, I had mainly been focusing on mental cultivation to reach the Transformation Realm.
Even so, the reason I feel so exhausted is none other than
the siblings staying in the same inn as me.
It's because of the Bi siblings.
'...Tsk.'
Just thinking about the older brother among them brings on a headache.
'I'd rather you just beat me up, you bastard.'
Just recalling it makes my head throb.
The other day, when I met Paejon Bi-ju, Bi Ui-jin, at the inn,
he immediately offered a greeting and said,
- I have heard much from my master.
'...Damn it.'
This was Bi Ui-jin implicitly mentioning that he was Paejon's disciple.
The problem is,
Paejon is not Bi Ui-jin's master,
but myself.
'I can't reveal that I am him, so he must be taking that stance.'
I couldn't just come right out and say, 'I am Paejon. Are you the bastard impersonating my disciple?'
Since I couldn't come out like that,
he must be saying it this way.
Whatever the case.
From my standpoint, it wasn't a welcome thing.
Because ultimately, facing Paejon meant nothing else but...
The only thing I'm wondering is,
what is he expecting from me?'
The feeling that Paejon seems to be expecting something from me.
This too was something I didn't know well.
In the first place, I had never properly conversed with him,
and in my past life, he was a guy who almost killed me, so it would be stranger if I knew him well.
"Hmm...
At the very least, he's only observing me so far.
And he hasn't shown any significant movement.
On top of that.
'A younger sister.'
There is someone next to Paejon who calls herself his younger sister.
I think her name was Bi Bi.
She seems to be the youngest blood relative of the Bi family.
Since Paejon grew younger after experiencing rejuvenation,
unless this person named Bi Bi is the same,
the possibility of them being siblings is nonexistent.
However.
She should clearly be at the level of a granddaughter or great-granddaughter to him,
yet this woman named Bi Bi firmly believed that Paejon was her older brother.
If that wasn't an act,
then it meant Paejon was putting on an act.
'Is the reason he can call himself the son of the Bi family head also because of that?'
Originally, Paejon Bi-ju was also born into the Bi family,
so it's not strange that he belongs to the Bi family.
However, for this to be possible, the current head of the Bi family
must also be aware of Paejon's condition.
Hiding his weakened body
would be the optimal state to be protected while he gathers his strength.
'Even so, acting as a rising star of the younger generation?'
What is a fully grown old man doing playing around with the kids?
Isn't he embarrassed? If it were me, I'd be so ashamed I'd bite my tongue and die...
Ugh,
While thinking, I unknowingly brushed my face.
Because I realized I'm in no position to talk about others.
"Damn it."
What he expects from me.
Or what he plans to do with me, I don't know, but
whatever it may be.
When Paejon tries to do something to me, there is only one thing I will say.
'...I'll have to sell out the First Elder.'
...
....
!
Sell out or whatever.
It all started because of the things that guy pushed onto me in the first place, so it should be fine.
If things go south, I can just run.
Surely he wouldn't chase me all the way to the family estate?
If he does chase me...
It'll work out somehow.
"Hah."
I let out a deep sigh and looked to the side.
As I moved my hand slightly, flowing strands of hair caught on my fingertips. The pure white hair had a texture similar to silk.
Although it was already well past noon.
This sleepyhead seems to still be swimming in dreamland.
"Are you going to get up now?"
Even though it was by no means a quiet voice,
Namgung Bi-a, submerged in sleep, didn't even stir.
For your information, this is my room.
Namgung Bi-a's room is next door.
When I woke up from sleeping in late, she was lying right next to me like this.
I watched Namgung Bi-a with exasperated eyes,
and eventually just stroked her head roughly before getting up.
No matter how many times I tell her and try to wake her up,
she won't wake up unless she gets up on her own.
I knew that well enough from the time spent so far.
In times like this, leaving her alone to sleep is the best option.
I left Namgung Bi-a behind
and went out of the room.
"Ah, Young Master!"
The person I bumped into as soon as I stepped out was Dang So-yeol.
She must have just washed up, as her hair was still damp.
Noticing my gaze, Dang So-yeol beamed and patted her hair.
"I just finished training...!"
She added, throwing out an excuse,
which was unexpected.
"You trained in the rain?"
"Huh? Ah... Yes. I have to work hard."
Her slight smile seemed somewhat mature.
'That's unexpected.'
Since Dang So-yeol was also a martial artist, it was natural for her to train,
but I didn't know she was training this hard.
Moreover, seeing that her internal energy and breath were still rough,
she seemed to have trained quite intensely.
'Come to think of it, Dang So-yeol doesn't have much left either.'
The tail end of the First-Class realm.
That was Dang So-yeol's current level.
Actually, it was just because there were monsters around like the Sword Dragon and Namgung Bi-a, who transcended the Peak realm at a young age.
At Dang So-yeol's level, she was more than enough to be called a genius.
Considering there are plenty of people who reach the First-Class realm around the time they come of age.
Probably, Dang So-yeol herself also
knew that there wasn't much left until she crossed the wall,
so she was pushing herself so hard.
Seeing that, I felt somewhat proud of having dragged Gu Juryeop from the middle of the First-Class realm to the tail end by the scruff of his neck.
'I should work him harder.'
I felt a bit happy that I seemed to have gained a justification to steadily work Gu Juryeop hard in the future too.
"Oh, right, Young Master."
"Yeah?"
"Do you know where Bi-a Unnie is?"
Ugh,
At Dang So-yeol's words, I had to hide my inward surprise.
"Why her...?"
"Ah, I thought we could train together... but I couldn't see her. So I wondered if the Young Master might know..."
"..."
'If it's Namgung Bi-a, she's sleeping in my bed right now.' Those words couldn't easily come out of my mouth.
It was a statement that was full of potential for misunderstanding, no matter who saw it.
In the end, I had to spit out a lie.
"Isn't she probably sleeping somewhere again?"
She is sleeping, alright.
In my room.
"Right? Seriously, she sleeps so much..."
"...Uh, yeah."
"Oh, and Young Master, Miss Bi asked earlier if you'd like to have a meal with her and Young Master Bi, perhaps..."
"Sorry, I don't think I'll be hungry then."
"Huh? I haven't even told you the time yet...?"
"My stomach is a bit upset."
"Ah, I understand..."
Dang So-yeol making a sullen expression at my refusal weighed on my mind a bit, but
it couldn't be helped.
If I ate there, I felt like I'd really throw up while eating.
There had already been a few offers like this anyway.
I had been working hard to avoid them over the past few days.
Dang So-yeol puckered her lips and made an expression showing extreme displeasure, but
even so, my answer wouldn't change.
Perhaps knowing that, Dang So-yeol didn't push the matter any further.
"I got it..."
"Your pronunciation got weird."
"No... And, Young Master, lastly."
"What is it now?"
Why does she have so much to say?
"It's nothing much... Well, Miss Gu was training really hard."
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but make a subtle expression at the abruptly popped-up name.
Why did Gu Yeon-seo's name suddenly pop out of her mouth?
"Our Noona?"
Did Dang So-yeol have a conversation with Gu Yeon-seo or something?
Why is she suddenly talking about Gu Yeon-seo?
Leaving my doubts behind,
Dang So-yeol continued speaking.
"Yes. She was already training when I got there. And she was still training even when I finished."
"Um..."
It was a story I didn't know because I hadn't paid much attention.
Is it because I haven't gone out to train myself?
Continuing on, I frowned slightly as I looked at Dang So-yeol.
It was because I was a bit suspicious of the reason she was bringing this up now.
That was because
in Dang So-yeol's eyes right now, there somehow seemed to be pity.
"I'm sorry for speaking out of turn."
Immediately, Dang So-yeol bowed her head and spoke.
Those words were an admission that it contained the same meaning as the intent I had anticipated.
If Dang So-yeol was saying it to that extent, it meant she felt something was off,
and since she couldn't tell anyone else,
she was telling me, her blood relative.
Hearing that, I had to squint one eye slightly.
Because I felt uneasy.
Soon after, I asked Dang So-yeol.
"...Apologies are unnecessary. Where is that place?"
I felt like I had to go and see for myself first.
If you go a little behind the inn, a wide field appears.
It felt artificial, probably a field made by pushing down all the trees that were there.
Since they didn't seem to have done anything else after that,
it had the shape of a wide plain, good for training.
Of course, since it was completely open and we weren't the only people there,
it was a somewhat difficult place to train in exclusive martial arts.
On top of that, it was even raining, so it couldn't be said that it was entirely pleasant.
Piercing through the falling rain,
I moved my steps.
After walking for a while, I saw the silhouette of someone training in the distance.
The heat I felt faintly as I approached
was definitely from the Gu family.
Feeling that, I frowned and heightened my qi sense.
It was to check if there were other people around.
Fortunately, there were no other presences caught by my qi sense.
Whoosh!
Feeling relieved, the heat brushed past the tip of my nose.
Gu Yeon-seo was taking stances, vividly exhaling heat.
Shiiik-!
The blade parted the rain, leaving a sword scar in the air.
Pak.
Gu Yeon-seo's martial uniform fluttered roughly.
With a *splash!* the tips of her feet stomped on the wet ground.
As if linking the movements, Gu Yeon-seo swung her sword diagonally once more.
Seeing that, I stopped walking.
And observed Gu Yeon-seo from afar.
'Ugh...'
It was only a brief observation, but
I could vaguely understand why Dang So-yeol had told me about Gu Yeon-seo.
Because even to an outsider, there was a problem with Gu Yeon-seo.
'She's wavering.'
The tip of her sword couldn't settle,
and the arm gripping the sword lacked trust.
The internal energy, strenuously pulling up the heat, couldn't ride the flow properly,
making it seem like she couldn't even draw out her original strength.
Heart Demon.
Gu Yeon-seo was currently possessed by a Heart Demon.
One might scoff and ask how deep a mere Second-Class martial artist's Heart Demon could be,
but precisely because she was only Second-Class at best,
once she fell into such a swamp, there was no way out.
Gu Yeon-seo's movements were full of anxiety.
That was probably the cause of the Heart Demon.
Looking at that, I furrowed my brow.
'Since when?'
Just since when was it?
That Gu Yeon-seo ended up in such a state.
If left alone, Gu Yeon-seo, who would later be called the Crimson Flame Sword and make a name for herself as a promising female warrior,
was she in such a situation around this time in her past life?
Probably not.
Then for what reason did she end up like that?
'Is it because of me?'
There was only one answer.
If there was a cause, I would be the cause.
'Tsk.'
It was something I had neglected under the excuse of being busy with this and that.
In reality, there were times I couldn't pay attention because accidents kept happening one after another,
and there were also times I left it alone because I didn't want to think about it.
Rather than filling and fixing the emotional rift,
it was easier to just not bother.
Was it because of that?
Before I knew it, Gu Yeon-seo had fallen into the swamp,
and she was struggling to get out of it.
'Annoying.'
The fact that it happened because of me
is always a shitty thing to deal with.
Moreover, the swamp Gu Yeon-seo was in right now
was not something I could solve.
Like dragging and rolling Gu Juryeop, somehow grabbing him by the hair and pulling him up.
It was possible literally because it was Gu Juryeop.
Rather than a difference in talent,
it was a matter of disposition,
and a difference in the relationship with me.
If I were to drag Gu Yeon-seo out by force like Gu Juryeop,
and roll her forcefully,
her realm would rise,
and perhaps I could make her stronger than before, but...
'That can't happen.'
If I pull and extract her with my own hands,
even if Gu Yeon-seo could momentarily escape the Heart Demon right now,
scars and wounds would remain,
and it was obvious they wouldn't heal but only grow larger.
Then what should I do?
In the pouring rain,
Gu Yeon-seo was still swinging her sword,
and I just watched from a distance so my presence wouldn't be caught.
'...'
Dang So-yeol seemed to think I could solve this kind of thing, but
this is not my jurisdiction.
Especially when it comes to her.
However, I intended to take responsibility.
If another person were doing that,
I would have clicked my tongue inwardly, spat out a curse, and ignored them,
but I felt my own sense of guilt towards Gu Yeon-seo.
The time she listened to what I said in Kuryong and slapped me?
'She deserved that.'
I don't regret that.
Who told her to piss me off?
By my standards, slapping her was a perfectly fine thing to do.
Of course, it would have been better if I had held back a bit, but what can I do, it's already done.
Even so.
She still kept weighing on my mind.
-I hate you.
Hugging the coldly stiffened body of Gu Hui-bi.
The Crimson Flame Sword, Gu Yeon-seo, who had pointed her sword at me,
couldn't be completely erased from my mind and remained there.
"Tsk."
I turned my steps to leave the field.
Gu Yeon-seo's Heart Demon was quite deep, and even if I couldn't solve it,
fortunately,
right now, on this land, the right person to solve that Heart Demon was staying.
With slightly quickened steps,
the place I headed to was not the inn I was staying at, but somewhere a bit farther away.
"Huh...? Young Hero Gu?"
Finding a presence, I entered the inn, and
Yeongpung and the others, who were having a meal, looked at me with surprised eyes.
"Master Yeongpung."
"What brings you here...? Ah! Perhaps you'd like to train with me..."
Yeongpung spat out the words as if excited, but
that wasn't my purpose.
"Where is the Sword Empress?"
At my question, cutting off his words,
Yeongpung's face was instantly dyed with disappointment.