“Gu… Great Hero?”
“Yes?”
At Moyong Biyeon’s words, I had to respond with a voice full of bewilderment. Gu Great Hero? Does she recognize me?
*How?*
Even if she had, the title was somewhat strange. Great Hero…? It wasn’t a form of address that Baekryeongeom, who was far my senior, would use for me.
Feeling something was off as I stared quietly at Moyong Biyeon, it was she who showed strange symptoms instead.
“No… that’s not it? The Great Hero was a bit more…”
A bit more?
“Handsome…?”
“…What?”
At the words Moyong Biyeon spilled out as if entranced, I involuntarily flared up.
*Crap.*
I regretted it immediately after shouting in anger. Watching Moyong Biyeon from the side just now, I could tell she had a rather aggressive personality, unlike the impression I’d gotten.
But contrary to my worry, Moyong Biyeon simply looked at my face with questions in her eyes.
Could she have mistaken me for someone else?
*If she’s mistaking me for someone…*
Moreover, if it was someone with the surname Gu, there was in fact only one person.
*Father?*
I asked Moyong Biyeon, who had an unreadable look in her eyes.
“Might you know our Patriarch?”
“The Patriarch?”
At my words, strength entered Moyong Biyeon’s eyes. Soon she alternated her gaze between Gu Yeonseo and me.
“Could it be…”
She asked me with slightly surprised eyes.
“Are you… So Yeom-ra…?”
Fuck.
At Moyong Biyeon’s words, I had to squeeze my eyes shut tight. I could never get used to that damned nickname no matter how many times I heard it. I swore once more that I would find out which bastard had come up with it.
Hearing it from someone else’s mouth on top of that made rage boil up inside me.
“…I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Family.”
Since I couldn’t let it show, I just squeezed my eyes shut and endured it.
“My…?”
Having confirmed my reaction, Moyong Biyeon suddenly approached and grabbed my cheek.
Startled, I tried to step back, but Moyong Biyeon blocked me from retreating.
What’s with this lady?
“You’re… saying you’re Great Hero Gu’s son?”
“No, wait a moment… Senior, your hand…”
“Now that I look, you resemble him. Your eyes, your eyes… your eyes.”
“Senior…?”
“Oh my, why is your eye injured? These eyes are precious eyes, you know…”
Whether she couldn’t hear me or not, Moyong Biyeon began to fondle my face with a hint of madness in her eyes.
Gu Yeonseo’s eyes were wide with incomprehension at this situation. I was in exactly the same state.
In the end, unable to bear it, I brushed Moyong Biyeon’s hand away.
“Why are you doing this?”
I spoke with a slightly irritated tone, yet for some reason Moyong Biyeon’s expression was full of smiles.
“You even have a temper like your father. I like it. This kind of thing.”
Rather than getting angry, she looked at me as if she missed him, making me feel even more stifled.
Wiping my cheek roughly, I asked Moyong Biyeon the same question once more.
“Do you and our Patriarch know each other?”
“We knew each other in the past. I don’t know about now. I wonder if he still remembers me.”
Seeing her speak so wistfully, it seemed they did know each other.
I couldn’t tell what their relationship was for her to act this way.
Moyong Biyeon simply continued to look at me with subtle eyes.
That gaze was unbearably burdensome. It was obvious she was looking at my father through me.
While I subtly averted my gaze, Moyong Biyeon spoke to me.
“I heard the rumors. Seeing you in person… you’re certainly extraordinary. I suppose blood doesn’t lie.”
In that moment, I felt it. Moyong Biyeon’s aura swept over me.
Crazy—she’s checking me so openly? It was absurd.
Sizing up an opponent like this could easily lead to drawn blades.
Moyong Biyeon was measuring me without a care. I didn’t like her actions, but since she had just saved Gu Yeonseo, I stayed still for now.
Perhaps she had finished her assessment. Surprise rose on Moyong Biyeon’s face.
“Amazing…? I thought it was a mistake. Really…”
She didn’t say the rest, but I could tell Moyong Biyeon was about to mention Hwagyeong while looking at me.
*So the polite language from earlier was because of a misunderstanding.*
Since she was a martial artist who had reached Hwagyeong, she had never thought I could be a rising star of the later generation; that must have been why her attitude was like that.
“At this point, it’s not just resembling him… you seem to have far surpassed him.”
“…I am grateful for your words, but you seem too close.”
It seemed like praise, but the distance was too close. Close enough that I wished she would step back, or rather, step far back.
At my words, Moyong Biyeon finally seemed to realize and took several steps back.
Then she said to me,
“Sorry, I guess noona got a little carried away because I was happy to see you.”
“…Noona?”
The title Moyong Biyeon casually threw out grated on me.
Noona? As far as I knew, Moyong Biyeon was at least…
*Isn’t she Father’s age?*
Though her outward appearance was young, as was the case with Sword Lords, both she and Moyong Biyeon were martial artists who had lived in the same era as my father.
Then at least…
She was not someone who should be called noona.
It was a title that required quite a lack of conscience.
Of course, I didn’t bother voicing this.
*If I point this out, I get the feeling she’ll kill me.*
From the madness in her eyes, I could sense that mentioning this part would not be let go.
“…”
I clamped my mouth shut at the unknown killing intent. Moyong Biyeon nodded as if pleased and spoke to me and Gu Yeonseo.
“Nice to meet you. Your names are Yangcheon and… Yeonseo, was it?”
“Yes.”
“What a pity. Noona didn’t bring money today, so there’s nothing I can give you…”
“Ah, it’s fine…! How could I dare accept anything from Senior Baekryeongeom… ugh?”
As Gu Yeonseo tried to refuse hurriedly, I poked her side to quiet her down.
She looked at me resentfully as if asking why I poked her, but I had my reasons.
*Why refuse when she’s giving? I should take everything.*
It wasn’t just anything; it was something given through Father’s connections.
There wouldn’t be any backlash from accepting this kind of thing.
The only things I refused were items that would cause problems later. Watching my actions, Moyong Biyeon burst into laughter.
“Haha! This part is different too.”
Saying so, Moyong Biyeon took something from her bosom and handed it to me and Gu Yeonseo.
Receiving the item carefully, I thought.
*What is this?*
It looked like a jade stone, but it was an object of unknown use.
“What is… this?”
“It’s nothing special. Just a gem that would be nice to set in an ornament or accessory.”
Really nothing special. I was immediately filled with disappointment.
Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon burst into laughter even louder than before.
“He’s funny? How can you show your disappointment so openly like that?”
“I wasn’t disappointed. Thank you…”
“You must be. Interesting. I think this is the most fun I’ve had in a while.”
Good for you that you’re amused.
Putting aside Moyong Biyeon’s reaction, I roughly stuffed the jade stone somewhere in my chest pocket.
What does she expect me to do with a jade stone? Ornaments, my ass.
Unlike me, Gu Yeonseo seemed moved simply by having received something from Baekryeongeom, one of the idols of female swordswomen.
Leaving Gu Yeonseo to her own devices, I sized up Moyong Biyeon.
I wondered why she was here, but after a moment’s thought, it wasn’t particularly strange.
The master of the Moyong Family was here, after all.
I just hadn’t expected to run into her like this.
Moyong Biyeon looked at me quietly for a moment before asking.
“By the way.”
“Yes?”
“If you really are So Yeom-ra, I heard you’re getting along well with our niece.”
“…Ah… yes.”
I was a bit taken aback by the sudden question.
Baekryeongeom’s niece.
Knowing she was the sister of the Moyong Patriarch, the niece was naturally Moyong Huia. It seemed she also knew I had a connection with Moyong Huia.
Hearing my answer, Moyong Biyeon continued softly.
“Please understand even if she acts a bit cold. She may seem cold, but she’s warm inside.”
I nodded at Moyong Biyeon’s words.
A basic worry for her niece? As I nodded at her words, I suddenly spoke.
“She’s not particularly cold.”
“Hmm?”
It seemed there were words that needed correcting.
“Seolbong isn’t a cold person. Not on the outside, nor the inside.”
“…”
“So there’s no need for me to understand.”
Though my relationship with Seolbong from my previous life wasn’t all good.
I knew she was not someone who was merely cold and ruthless.
She always acted rationally and presented only the most optimized path for any given situation.
But within that, she also shouldered the responsibility herself.
The choices she made that involved sacrificing someone.
Paradoxically, I knew they were the choices of someone who wanted to save as many people as possible.
And.
*I also know she wailed every night.*
I knew that Seolbong muffled her voice in the wind and cried where no one could see.
As if my words hadn’t offended her, Moyong Biyeon smiled broadly.
“…Not bad. Not bad.”
I didn’t know what was not bad, but Moyong Biyeon stepped back a little more and said to me.
“I have a schedule today too, so I’m afraid I have to go first. Let’s meet again next time?”
As if there was nothing more to talk about, Moyong Biyeon moved to leave first.
And she says let’s meet again next time.
“Yes.”
I clearly looked annoyed.
Still, I gave an answer contrary to my feelings. Words were something I could say as many as needed.
However, Moyong Biyeon seemed to hear my answer differently.
“To make such an openly annoyed expression. You really are fun, aren’t you?”
“…You misunderstand.”
I flinched at the words Moyong Biyeon uncannily drew out.
How on earth did she know?
I had been managing my expression quite well.
Perhaps finding my appearance amusing for some reason, Moyong Biyeon repeatedly burst into laughter.
After giggling for a while, she wiped away the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes from laughing and spoke.
“It was fun. Ah, and.”
What else does she have to say? I felt drained even though we’d only talked briefly.
It had been a while since I’d met someone like this. A type of person I wanted to talk to for as short a time as possible.
“Hm…”
Moyong Biyeon hesitated as if about to say something, then shook her head and said to me.
“Never mind. It’s fine.”
“Understood.”
“…Aren’t you even curious?”
“If you say it’s fine, wouldn’t asking out of curiosity be rude in its own way?”
“Wow.”
Moyong Biyeon looked at me as if dumbfounded, then burst into a fit of laughter.
Yeah, honestly, I didn’t ask because it was bothersome.
And Moyong Biyeon seemed to catch that too.
“Anyway. Let’s meet again. Noona is going now, alright?”
“Yes. Senior.”
“…That part is a bit boring.”
Moyong Biyeon furrowed her brows as if displeased. I had a slight idea of what she didn’t like.
Still, I didn’t want to call a woman my father’s age noona.
After leaving those words, Moyong Biyeon let out a small sigh and then leaped with all her might, instantly disappearing into the distance.
Did she really leave?
Only when I could no longer sense any trace of her by my standards did I withdraw the energy net I had spread around the surroundings.
It really felt as if a typhoon had passed through.
“My energy is completely drained.”
Letting out the breath I’d been holding, I spoke to Gu Yeonseo, who was still dumbfounded.
“Let’s go now too.”
“Ah, yeah…”
At my voice, Gu Yeonseo finally seemed to come to her senses and nodded.
I also stepped forward, heading toward the guesthouse.
“…Thanks.”
“Hm?”
Hearing a whisper from behind, I turned around.
It seemed Gu Yeonseo had said something, but I couldn’t quite hear it.
Looking at her questioningly, she simply followed me with her lips tightly shut.
“What did you say?”
“…Nothing.”
Gu Yeonseo avoided my gaze as if she had no intention of opening her mouth any further.
What?
******************
The Uicheon Guesthouse, one of the branches managed by the Moyong Family.
It was a guesthouse in Hannam run by the Moyong Merchant Group, counted among the best.
Moyong Huia, who had been staying here sipping tea alone, had to be greatly flustered by someone who barged in abruptly.
“Hello! My niece!”
“…Aunt?”
“You’ve gotten prettier since I last saw you?”
The woman who suddenly burst through the door and greeted her cheerfully was Moyong Huia’s aunt, whom she hadn’t seen in several years.
“Uh, how did you get here…?”
“I heard my niece went through something big? Then this aunt had to come.”
“…Huh?”
Moyong Biyeon, the White Lotus Sword and aunt of Moyong Huia, approached and pinched her cheek lightly.
Then with a startled expression, she spoke to Moyong Huia.
“My, look at your skin. This is why being young is good.”
“A-Aunt.”
“I used to be like this too. You look more like your aunt than your parents. Our niece, how about becoming my daughter instead?”
Battered by Moyong Biyeon’s unrelenting words, Moyong Huia was at a loss, her mind reeling.
From a young age, Moyong Huia had found her aunt difficult.
Even among the Moyong Family’s blood relatives with similar personalities, Moyong Biyeon had an exceptionally standout character.
While Moyong Huia was undergoing unexpected hardship, the White Heaven Sword Lord appeared from the upper floor.
“…What is the meaning of this?”
He looked at his sister who had appeared out of nowhere with an absurd expression.
“Ah, hello Patriarch.”
“…Sister.”
Moyong Biyeon waved her hand cheerfully. The White Heaven Sword Lord’s head throbbed the moment he saw her.
“It’s been a while?”
“What brings you here without so much as a word?”
“Look at you? Do I need to call ahead to visit family?”
When Moyong Biyeon spoke as if hurt, the White Heaven Sword Lord answered firmly.
“If you’ve appeared after several years of no contact, that much should be expected.”
She was the sister who had left saying she would travel the Central Plains on a whim.
She had always had a standout personality, and the White Heaven Sword Lord knew that once she decided she wanted to do something, she would do it no matter what.
That was why he hadn’t bothered to stop her and let her go. He hadn’t expected her to show up like this.
Rubbing his throbbing forehead, the White Heaven Sword Lord spoke to Moyong Biyeon.
“Is your journey over?”
“More or less? Ah right, Patriarch.”
The form of address was already wrong, but the White Heaven Sword Lord didn’t point it out.
He knew all too well that doing so would only tire him out.
“Speak.”
“That Paeng Gom bastard still has no manners? I mean, if a child grows old they should gain some sense, but how can he be like that?”
“…Did you encounter Patriarch Paeng?”
“Ah, just by chance?”
“Are you alright?”
Feeling the White Heaven Sword Lord’s worry, Moyong Biyeon smiled inwardly. As expected, blood is blood no matter what.
“Of course, this noona is fine…”
“No, I meant is Patriarch Paeng alright?”
“…What did you say?”
Moyong Biyeon had to make an incredulous expression at the White Heaven Sword Lord’s words.
Even as he confirmed her expression, his answer did not change.
He knew all too well what happened when his sister flew into a rage once.
“We didn’t fight. We just exchanged some words.”
“That is a relief, at least.”
“This is really absurd.”
Moyong Biyeon snorted and pulled out a chair, sitting down with a thud.
“He was cute when he was young. He’s gotten strange as he got older.”
“You are exactly the same as when you were young.”
“Really? Thanks for the compliment.”
“It was an insult.”
When on earth would she grow up.
Before telling the Paeng Patriarch to grow up, he wished she would do so herself. Though he hadn’t seen her in years, she was exactly as she had been.
Moyong Biyeon glared at the White Heaven Sword Lord once. Then she drank the remaining tea that Moyong Huia had brewed, quenching her throat.
“Ah, and niece.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
“He seemed alright.”
“Pardon?”
Confused by the sudden shift in topic, Moyong Huia asked back.
Moyong Biyeon smiled and said to her.
“You know, the boy our niece is chasing. So Yeom-ra, was it?”
“…!”
“He’s quite interesting.”
“…Aunt. Did you meet Young Master Gu?”
At her aunt’s sudden mention of meeting Gu Yangcheon, Moyong Huia’s eyes went wide.
It was completely unexpected.
“Uh… how did you meet him?”
“Hmm? Just ran into him?”
Seeing Moyong Huia’s expression, Moyong Biyeon couldn’t help but laugh.
*Ah, this.*
That expression was somehow familiar.
It was like looking at her past self. Because her own expression had been similar when she was head over heels for someone.
*What should I call this.*
And to top it off, the family was the same too.
If this too was fate, then it must be called fate.
Moyong Biyeon briefly fell into memories, recalling the young man she had met earlier.
*He resembles him so much.*
He was a child who resembled the man she had loved as if willing to give everything.
As his son, it couldn’t be helped.
Unfortunately, he didn’t resemble him completely in looks, but the characteristics were quite similar.
Especially the unique gaze of that family.
*I don’t know about looks. But his talent seems to have surpassed him.*
Moreover, he seemed to have surpassed the talent of her father, who had been called a once-in-a-generation genius.
*…He had reached Hwagyeong, hadn’t he?*
The reason she wasn’t certain was that while it was clearly higher than a mature peak level.
It felt somehow subtle to be called Hwagyeong.
Even so. The energy Gu Yangcheon was emitting was at a level that made it absurd to call it the energy of a rising star of the later generation.
*I thought the rumors were all exaggerated. Instead, the rumors couldn’t keep up.*
That child made Moyong Biyeon think many things.
About her niece who was chasing the child who resembled the man she herself had so desperately chased.
*Still, is it better than back then?*
At least there should be fewer competitors than that man had. Judging by his face, he didn’t seem like someone who would be swarmed by women’s fortune.
While Moyong Biyeon was thinking this.
“…That damned bastard… no, you met a blood relative of the Gu Family?”
The White Heaven Sword Lord cut in upon hearing Moyong Biyeon’s words. It was not a story that could be easily passed over.
Seeing the White Heaven Sword Lord’s face, Moyong Biyeon burst into loud laughter.
“You still haven’t gotten rid of that temper either.”
She recalled her younger brother in the past who had picked a fight, displeased that his sister was chasing some nobody.
The result was…
*He got completely thrashed.*
She remembered the young White Heaven Sword Lord lying on the floor without even touching the hem of the other’s clothes.
The difference in level had been extreme.
Would that person from that time really have stayed still if he knew that his own daughter was doing the same?
She somehow didn’t think so. Moyong Biyeon asked the White Heaven Sword Lord.
“Patriarch.”
“Speak…”
“Surely you didn’t come here to meet him so you could scold him, did you?”
“…”
“You didn’t, right? You wouldn’t do that at your age. A person called a patriarch, right?”
At Moyong Biyeon’s words, the White Heaven Sword Lord closed his mouth tightly without giving a proper answer.
Seeing that, Moyong Biyeon’s expression contorted greatly.
“You…”
“Stop with the useless talk… tell me why you have come.”
The White Heaven Sword Lord tried desperately to change the subject, but Moyong Biyeon was already making an expression of disgust.
Whether it was the Paeng bastard or her own brother, she couldn’t understand why patriarchs were all the same.
“As I said earlier, I just came to see my niece.”
“You? I hardly believe that.”
“You littl—”
Her old temper flared and she almost cursed. But she held back, thinking of Moyong Huia beside them.
She couldn’t curse at a father in front of his child.
Moyong Biyeon, having barely endured, let out a deep sigh and took something from her bosom.
As the White Heaven Sword Lord said, Moyong Biyeon hadn’t come here for a simple reason.
She had various matters to attend to, so she figured she’d kill two birds with one stone.
“Here.”
“What is this?”
The White Heaven Sword Lord received what Moyong Biyeon handed him. It was a letter.
Just as the White Heaven Sword Lord was about to open the letter his sister had given him out of the blue—
*—It is a letter from the Ice Emperor.*
At the telepathic transmission Moyong Biyeon sent, the White Heaven Sword Lord froze stiff.
The Ice Emperor she had spoken of.
He was the master of the Ice Palace ruling over the frozen lands of the Northern Sea.
He was also the father of the woman who was Moyong Huia’s mother and his own other half.
The White Heaven Sword Lord looked at Moyong Biyeon with surprised eyes.
*—How did Sister…*
*—Don’t show it and look carefully. Our niece takes after me; she’s very perceptive.*
Though her voice was serious, Moyong Biyeon’s outward appearance remained cheerful.
She drank the rest of the tea in one go and stood up.
Moyong Huia widened her eyes, observing Moyong Biyeon. She spoke to her niece.
“I’ve already shown my face, so I’ll be out and back.”
“What? You’re leaving right after arriving?”
“I’ll just be out for a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Moyong Huia made a disappointed expression. Moyong Biyeon found it cute inwardly and briefly considered staying.
“I have someone to meet.”
Unfortunately, she didn’t change her plan.
Moyong Biyeon had to go.
While one reason she had come here was to deliver the letter.
Ultimately, she had come to meet *that person*, and Moyong Biyeon was not one to delay such important matters.
She immediately moved. Her destination was where the members of the Gu Family had gathered.