Mi Hyoran liked dreaming.
Unlike the present, where so much had been overturned and cast into chaos, the world she saw in her dreams often reflected days that had been bright and brilliant.
Of course, the nightmares she occasionally had were agonizingly, painfully tormenting, as though they would kill her; yet even so, dreams would often reflect the happiest of times.
And yet, in another sense, she sometimes felt that dreams were sad.
Because the dreams that showed only the happiest moments she could no longer experience would leave her blankly desolate with an aching longing after she woke.
Now was no different.
Mi Hyoran knew that she was dreaming. It was impossible not to know.
Because having a friend she could no longer see standing before her so vividly could happen only in a dream.
"Flowers! Flowers!"
"Kyaaaah! A bee!"
"Hyoran! Biyeon is running away!"
"Cheonhui! Put that down!"
...
To be honest, it probably wasn't a scene she would have wanted to see. Mi Hyoran suddenly came to that realization.
Even so, she did not avert her gaze.
"Hyoran?"
Amid a scene verging on chaos, the white-haired woman approached, a smile gracing her lips.
No matter when she saw it, it was a truly radiant smile.
Even Mi Hyoran, who had been described as cold—or rather, ruthless—would feel something frozen inside her melt a little when faced with that child's smile.
She was a child with such charm.
Perhaps that was why even that man had been able to smile, if only for her.
"Hyoran! This is a flower!"
How could she smile so joyfully while thrusting out something that was clearly no ordinary flower? Given Mi Hyoran's disposition, she could not easily understand it.
Still, Mi Hyoran accepted the flower she offered.
At the sight, someone grimaced.
"Young Lady Mi! That's a poisonous herb! Throw it away this instant!"
It was a beautiful woman with a cold appearance, wearing a light blue martial uniform, her hair black.
Despite possessing an impression as cold as frost. Her personality, conversely, was that of a fiery woman.
She was the woman called Baekbong, Moyong Biyeon.
At Moyong Biyeon’s words, the white-haired woman whipped around and changed direction. It was toward Moyong Biyeon. The moment she confirmed that, Moyong Biyeon let out a scream and began to flee.
"Is she crazy?! No! Leave the bee behind!"
"It's a flower!"
"I know, so don't come near me!"
Watching this, Mi Hyoran covered her face with her fan and burst into a soft laugh.
It was like a trivial play, but such a sight gave her a sense of security in a way.
Thinking so, Mi Hyoran looked down at her own hand.
In her hand was held a nameless white flower. It was what the white-haired woman had given her, and Moyong Biyeon had told her to throw it away, calling it a poisonous herb.
But Mi Hyoran knew well that this flower was not poisonous. She was certain that child would never give her such a flower.
Carefully tucking the flower into her bosom, she thought:
"I should find out the name of this flower later."
Perhaps it was because she had taken such an unusual liking to the flower.
She briefly considered trying to cultivate it later, should the chance arise.
After that, Mi Hyoran took in the scenery spread before her with calm eyes.
A cloudless sky and a widely spreading forest. The occasional butterfly, and the sound of grass insects coming from within the woods.
If this scenery that looked incomparably peaceful were called 'Maging,' would people believe it?
They could not.
Not for any other reason, but because Mi Hyoran herself could not believe it.
This place was the Maging that so many people had so greatly feared?
Even as she wondered how she had come to such a place, she was not greatly worried, contrary to her situation.
She had been like that at the time.
Had it been because she was young, or because as long as she was with them, nothing else mattered?
To the present Mi Hyoran, it was clearly closer to the latter.
No matter what happened. As long as she was with them, everything would be fine.
It had been a time when she was swept up in such a childish romance, utterly contradictory to her nature. And laughably, she missed those days so much that she often dreamed like this.
That was why she felt sad.
Because she knew this was a sight she would never see again, it was all the more sorrowful.
Even the present Mi Hyoran knew.
That the moment she was experiencing now was a dream.
That was why she was trying to take it in just a little more.
Because it would become a small comfort in the days she had yet to live.
Before such a Mi Hyoran, the white-haired woman, who had been chasing Moyong Biyeon for some time, was suddenly seen approaching her.
"Hyoran."
She called out to Mi Hyoran.
Along with her shimmering white hair, her purple eyes close to pink were like gems.
"Are you happy?"
At the woman’s words, Mi Hyoran flinched. Her own face reflected in the woman’s eyes appeared quite startled.
"What..."
"If you're happy, that's all that matters. Hyoran, are you happy?"
Was it because this was a dream that she could hear such words as well?
Just as a strange emotion swept over Mi Hyoran, she realized she was unable to give any answer.
The question of whether she was happy.
She could have at least said no, but conversely, it was not easy for Mi Hyoran to recall what happiness was.
What is happiness?
Perhaps it was because she had often been thinking of it recently that she heard these words even in a dream.
And from her own friend, no less.
Mi Hyoran remained silent, and after a brief deliberation, spoke to her.
"I am trying to be happy."
And then she asked in turn.
"Were you happy?"
At Mi Hyoran's words, the woman smiled. No answer came.
She had known.
That the woman would not give her an answer.
Because this world was, in the end, nothing more than a memory Mi Hyoran had conjured up because she wanted to see it.
Suppressing such regret as she tried once more to take the world into her eyes, the white-haired woman spoke to Mi Hyoran.
"It's not your fault, Hyoran. So it's okay for you to be happy."
"...!"
At the woman’s words, Mi Hyoran stiffened rigidly.
Because something about it felt alien for a dream.
The moment Mi Hyoran looked at the woman with trembling eyes and reached out her hand.
[My Lord.]
A voice that cut in from afar invaded Mi Hyoran's ears.
At that instant.
Mi Hyoran had no choice but to wake from her dream.
******************
When Mi Hyoran opened her eyes, a dark ceiling greeted her first.
It seemed the night had not yet passed. Confirming this, Mi Hyoran slowly sat up.
"..."
Despite having just woken, Mi Hyoran's eyes were sharp. It was the product of her will to always appear composed on the outside.
Even if her insides were in turmoil, her outward appearance had to be sharp.
It was one of the ironclad rules of the leader of the merchant company.
Having sat up, Mi Hyoran shook her head slightly and organized her thoughts.
'...What was that dream?'
She was certain she had dreamed of something. But she could not remember. It had seemed like an important dream....
Though a reluctantly wistful feeling welled up unbidden, Mi Hyoran deliberately forgot it and looked to her side.
"What is it?"
Beside her, a man in black clothes and a mask was kneeling on one knee facing her.
It was Mujin, her bodyguard.
"...A guest has come."
"At this hour?"
"Yes."
At Mujin's answer, Mi Hyoran furrowed her brow.
The fact that a guest had come at such a late hour meant they had visited rudely without giving any notice.
Such people were among the types Mi Hyoran hated most, as she valued planning.
Nevertheless, the reason Mi Hyoran did not lose her temper was because of Mujin, who had gone out of his way to wake her despite knowing all this.
If it was a matter of rudeness, Mujin would have turned them away himself.
The fact that he had deliberately woken her and said a guest had come meant it was an important guest for Mi Hyoran.
Knowing that, she did not speak further.
"Where is the guest?"
"...They are waiting outside."
At Mujin's words, Mi Hyoran nodded and moved outside.
She had to straighten her appearance and then identify who the visitor was.
'Who is it?'
Someone who would visit her at this hour.
A few figures came to mind, but there was no one among them that Mujin would not have stopped.
Because she knew that, Mi Hyoran could not help but harbor doubts.
Just who had come to find her?
Creak.
She stepped outside the door.
The first thing she saw was the lake. A small lake at the quarters provided separately by the inn.
The full moon floating in the sky was reflected in that lake.
It's quite a fine view. That was the thought that crossed Mi Hyoran's mind.
Only after looking that far did Mi Hyoran realize that she was not the only one gazing at the lake—there was another person.
"...Ah?"
The moment she confirmed it, Mi Hyoran let out a reaction.
Hidden by the shadows and not clearly visible, yet Mi Hyoran could tell.
Who she was.
"Aha ha."
The figure who noticed Mi Hyoran had recognized her burst into laughter.
That unique, cheerful, high-pitched laugh of hers.
"How...?"
Hearing that much, Mi Hyoran became even more certain.
That this figure was the woman she knew.
At Mi Hyoran's voice, which was uncharacteristically flustered, her counterpart scratched her cheek awkwardly and began to approach.
The shadows hiding her form faded, revealing the figure's identity.
She was a woman wearing a light blue martial uniform, her black hair still as lustrous as ever.
As she was born a martial artist, unlike Mi Hyoran, an ordinary person, her appearance had not aged much.
That was something enviable as a woman, and at the same time.
Because she still bore the same appearance as back then, she made Mi Hyoran recall old, longing times.
"Lady Mi."
"..."
At an address she had not heard for at least a dozen years, Mi Hyoran's pupils trembled.
"It's been a while."
At the awkward greeting, Mi Hyoran's shoulders stiffened rigidly.
The woman looking at such a Mi Hyoran, her nervousness palpable.
A blood relative of the Moyong family, a former rival in love who had looked upon the same man, and a close friend.
She was the White Lotus Sword, Moyong Biyeon.
Moyong Biyeon spoke to the rigidly frozen Mi Hyoran.
"Can we talk for a moment?"
Her voice somehow seemed to tremble.
Mi Hyoran looked at her without saying a word, then nodded her head slightly.
And so the two entered the quarters.
******************
"Sorry."
An apology suddenly came while eating breakfast in the morning.
I looked at the one offering the apology as I stuffed a handful of dumplings into my mouth.
A woman noticeable for her black bob reaching her shoulders, wearing a black martial uniform.
It was Paeng Ahui.
"Mmph?"
"...Sorry for interrupting your meal. Can you tell me after you finish...?"
At those words, I roughly chewed and swallowed what was in my mouth, then asked her again.
"What are you talking about. An apology out of nowhere?"
Wondering why she had come so abruptly in the morning, I asked, and Paeng Ahui avoided my gaze and spoke.
"I heard that... there was a bit of an issue between you and our family head."
"Ah."
Was she talking about yesterday?
It seemed she was referring to the clash with the Paeng family head on Hanam Street last night..
Even as I heard the reason, I had to tilt my head.
"I wasn't the one who had an issue?"
If there was an issue, it had been with Gu Yeonseo. If an accident occurred, it happened with the White Lotus Sword.
It wasn't a matter that had much to do with me.
Despite my words, Paeng Ahui continued speaking with an uneasy expression.
"I apologized to Young Master Gu as well.... I'm sorry."
It seemed she had gone to see Gu Yeonseo too.
Was Paeng Ahui cleaning up the mess her father Dowang had made? Looking at this alone, that was exactly what it was.
'She seems perfectly fine.... I wonder why that old man is like that.'
It was truly fascinating that while Dowang had such a temper, his children turned out fine.
Paeng Ahui was the person closest to normal in my eyes.
As for Paeng Ujin.... Well, he was definitely not normal, but at least he wasn't a nasty-tempered person like Dowang.
Recalling that, I spoke to Paeng Ahui.
"I'm telling you again, you don't need to apologize to me."
"...Yeah."
Even at my words, Paeng Ahui's expression still didn't look good, but what could I do.
"He's... not originally like that. It's just that his condition has been poor lately."
Paeng Ahui spat out words as if making excuses.
At her words, I inwardly sympathized as well.
From what I remembered, when the topic of breaking the engagement between the Gu and Paeng families had come up. If Dowang had been his usual temperamental self, it would have been a mess, but it had passed over relatively smoothly.
It seemed something had been bothering him lately.
'I'm not particularly curious about that.'
It was the other family's business, not my place to interfere.
At best, I'd just be careful to avoid any further friction.
'If I get entangled again next time, I might get annoyed too.'
Having met many people of that sort.
I knew well that I wouldn't be able to hold my own temper for long. If I got entangled with Dowang any further, I would end up biting his head off before I knew it.
No matter what, crashing into the head of one of the Four Great Families would obviously become troublesome.
If I couldn't endure it, avoiding him was the best course.
In that sense, from my standpoint, it wouldn't be wrong to see Dowang as shit.
Because you avoid shit since it's filthy.
"Don't worry about it. Just eat."
"..."
"I can tell you've been skipping meals."
"I can go without a few meals...."
"You'll drop dead like that. Sit down and eat, quickly."
These words came from the heart. Because of failing to fill one's stomach properly... I'd seen too many people who accumulated that and dropped dead.
Skipping meals when you can eat is a foolish thing.
Even at my words, Paeng Ahui hesitated, so Dang Soyeol and Wi Seola, who were beside her, pulled her down to sit.
For reference, Namgung Bia was still sleeping in her room.
Moyong Huia had not yet appeared at this point.
'I need to check on her soon too.'
It was reaching the time when I had to channel heat into Moyong Huia. Moyong Huia would know that better than anyone, so wouldn't she come on her own?
...If she doesn't come.
'Should I go find her?'
Honestly, I didn't want to. Needless to say, the Baekcheon Sword Lord was sure to be clinging to Moyong Huia's side.
Recalling that, a sigh escaped me.
'Why do all these old men have it out for me?'
For some reason, the heads of the Four Great Families were all desperate to devour me alive.
Well, the current Namgung Jin was a different story, but the Baekcheon Sword Lord was truly desperate to eat me alive. And Dowang's gaze at me was extremely ominous.
In that sense.
'At least the Poison King...'
Might he not be a relatively decent person?
Thinking so, Dang Soyeol looked somewhat different.
It was just that she had odd eyes and taste, but otherwise, she fell within the normal range like Paeng Ahui.
Just as I had gone that far in thought and was about to nod, Dang Soyeol seemed to notice I was thinking about her and opened her mouth while looking at me.
"Ah, right, Young Master Gu."
"...Uh, yeah?"
As if a guilty thief had stepped on his own foot, I flinched and looked at her.
Dang Soyeol smiled brightly. It was her usual expression.
"There is something I must tell you regarding this Sichuan trip."
Ah, so it was about the Sichuan trip. Thank goodness.
It was indeed about time. Just as I thought that and was about to answer.
"Because of that matter, my father wishes to meet you, Young Master. Are you free today?"
"..."
At Dang Soyeol's words, my mouth shut tight on its own. The father she spoke of was the Poison King.
...The Poison King wants to see me?
An inexplicable chill ran down my spine.
Dang Soyeol continued.
"He said we would prepare the meal! He said he'd find a delicious place!"
"...Ah...."
The Poison King was preparing the meal I would eat.
There was definitely nothing strange in what she said.
Yet perhaps because of the epithet he bore, a feeling of unease came creeping in for some reason.
Was I imagining things?
It had to be.