Chapter 489 - Do You Need It?
A messenger had been sent to the Gu Clan.
At Nahi's words, I swallowed hard.
'What do I do...?'
Cold sweat trickled down.
Because this was the one thing I hadn't anticipated.
The Poison King's response was, in some ways, the most normal thing a clan head of another clan could do.
A blood relative from another clan who had come as a guest had been harmed within his own clan.
It was only natural for him to immediately send word to that blood relative's family, but...
'He's actually keeping to this.'
Most would be busy trying to hide such an incident.
The fact that the two clans harbored ill will toward each other was a problem in itself, and furthermore, it could affect the Tang Sect's standing.
It was expected that he would try to handle it quietly.
But since the Poison King had actually kept his word, I was left bewildered.
'Is he someone who would keep to something like this?'
I hadn't thought so.
Honestly, I still didn't think so.
I knew the Poison King was a much more upstanding person than I'd expected, but that didn't make him a clan head untainted by the secular world.
Which meant...
'Does he have some ulterior motive?'
I still didn't know.
And I hoped, if possible, that this wouldn't become a problem.
'...Nothing serious will happen, right?'
He must have included the news that I had eaten poison and come out unscathed. He must have.
Moreover.
'Even if Father sees this, nothing serious will happen.'
It had to be that way.
Because if something did happen, it would be troublesome.
I had already caused too many accidents since regressing; if this piled on top, there was no telling what would happen.
So... I desperately hoped that nothing would happen, but...
I realized, within just a few days, that this was a world without a god who would answer such prayers.
********************
Sichuan had many counties, but the most prominent streets were ultimately determined by how close they were to the Tang Sect.
Even if not the Tang Sect itself, there was the Peng Clan, which could be called a representative great clan of Sichuan.
Among others, there were many famous sects and clans in the surrounding area.
Since this was a world where the martial arts reigned supreme, being close to a representative great clan carried that many advantages.
By paying sponsorship money to them, one could come under their protection.
Especially since the Tang Sect handled commerce as well as the Murong Clan.
The counties of Sichuan were as vast and well-managed as Henan, where the Alliance was.
"Brother!"
As soon as I arrived at the county and stepped onto the street, a large man welcomed me.
It was Pae Ucheol, whom I hadn't seen in a long time.
"Long time no see."
"Hahahaha! Have you been well!"
Flashing a bright smile on his fierce face, Pae Ucheol tried to hug me.
I shifted my body slightly and threw Cheol Jiseon, who was standing next to me, toward him.
"Uwah!? Wai—!"
At the sudden toss, Cheol Jiseon couldn't react and was engulfed in Pae Ucheol's embrace.
Sorry, but I wasn't the type to be hugged by a man.
The funny thing was that Pae Ucheol didn't seem to care and simply hugged Cheol Jiseon.
"Brother Jiseon! Have you been well!"
"Aack...! W-wait...!"
Cheol Jiseon screamed as if in agony, but Pae Ucheol didn't seem to hear.
"Should we... just leave them like that?"
Woo Hyeok, who had spent two full days wandering lost before finding his way back, spoke as he watched the scene.
"Leave them. They look happy."
"They look happy...?"
Cheol Jiseon looked like he was about to faint from Pae Ucheol's grip, but...
I thought that was a form of happiness too.
Or not.
As I was sniffling to myself, Woo Hyeok looked at me with a strange expression.
Feeling his gaze, I asked.
"What."
"You okay?"
"What do you mean."
"You ate poison."
"Ah."
How did he know?
I chuckled shortly at Woo Hyeok's words. I wondered how he'd heard about that too.
"I was just a bit hungry."
"So you ate more poison because you were hungry?"
"It was delicious."
"..."
At my answer, Woo Hyeok looked at me like I was a madman.
Honestly, the taste hadn't been bad.
'Ah, this isn't good.'
I recalled how Dang Soyeol would often say it was delicious every time she offered me poison tea.
I wondered if I had developed a resistance to poison.
I should pretend not to notice for now.
"Did you talk it out?"
"Um...."
I asked if he had talked things through with Gwiseon, but Woo Hyeok's expression turned slightly hesitant.
"Why."
"No, nothing happened."
He definitely had the face of someone who had been through something, yet said nothing had happened.
I wanted to press him, but decided not to.
"But you know."
"Mm?"
"The guy who said he'd leave after meeting his master—why is he still here?"
"..."
Woo Hyeok flinched at my words.
Did he think I'd forgotten? Not a chance.
Hearing that, Woo Hyeok immediately walked ahead and started whistling loudly.
"Ah.... I'm hungry, what should I eat? Should I eat meat?"
Another clumsy attempt to change the subject.
And this Taoist bastard wanted to stuff his face with meat again....
At that shameless attitude, I let out a small sigh and followed him.
I didn't plan to chase him out, but his behavior was irritating.
Just as I was trying to walk while pretending not to notice.
"Ah right, Master said to bring you again."
"Mm?"
I had to tilt my head at Woo Hyeok's words.
Gwiseon told him to bring me?
Recalling how Namgung Myeong had kicked me out last time, I had a question.
'It probably isn't Namgung Myeong's words.... Then did Gwiseon call me of his own will?'
I didn't know. Why Gwiseon had called me again.
But it didn't matter.
'I was going to go back anyway. This is a good excuse.'
I had been planning to visit soon enough.
Since they had called first, it actually worked out better.
"When do I need to go by?"
"...He didn't say. Considering our master's personality, roughly within seven days and nights should be fine, probably."
"...He's laid-back."
"Haha!"
I had wondered where that sly personality came from. Looking at Gwiseon, I thought I understood.
Also, seeing Woo Hyeok laugh like that, something I'd been curious about for a while came to mind.
"Come to think of it. How did you become his disciple?"
The lazy genius of Wudang. How did the sleeping dragon Woo Hyeok become Gwiseon's disciple?
I'd been wondering that unconsciously.
"...Hm."
Woo Hyeok seemed to contemplate for a moment at my question, then smiled faintly and answered.
"It's not that special.... Just."
His smiling expression seemed somehow refreshing, yet faintly nostalgic.
"A bunch of outcasts might as well get along.... Something like that."
"What are you talking about."
This bastard was talking in riddles. He didn't seem to have any intention of explaining, so I just walked ahead.
Leaving Woo Hyeok behind, I headed to where the women were gathered.
*Flinched.*
As I approached, I saw someone flinch.
It was Dang Soyeol.
She had promised to come to the county together, so she was with the group, but...
Ever since the incident, I'd felt like Dang Soyeol was slightly avoiding me whenever she saw me.
Why...?
Setting aside the hesitant Dang Soyeol for now.
I first spoke to another person who was walking while taking in the sights of the county.
"Having fun?"
"Ah, yes!"
Wi Seol-a smiled brightly at my question.
She looked much more mature than when I had first seen her. But it seemed this part of her remained.
'Her appearance seems to be getting colder, though.'
I wondered if her looks from her previous life were disappearing somewhere, as Wi Seol-a's appearance matured day by day.
Also, a uniquely cool atmosphere was emanating from her.
Just like the divine sword of her previous life.
However, because she smiled a lot, her eye corners curved up slightly.
That made a considerable difference.
As I was gently stroking that Wi Seol-a's blonde hair, someone beside me spoke.
"What is it?"
It was Moyong Hui-a.
For some reason, it felt like I hadn't seen her in a while, so I was a bit glad.
Hiding that emotion, I asked Moyong Hui-a.
"What?"
"Those."
At Moyong Hui-a's chin gesture, I looked around.
"Ah."
Then I understood what she was talking about.
She was talking about the martial artists hidden all around.
On top of buildings, of course, and even mixed in among ordinary people.
Hidden martial artists concealing their presence were everywhere.
They were all from the Tang Sect.
They were probably martial artists the Poison King had deployed.
Looking at them, I thought.
'Is the intention to protect me? Or to monitor me?'
Probably both.
Since I had been harmed inside the Tang Sect, there would be the intention to protect me accordingly, and because of what I had said, there would also be the intention to monitor my actions.
I turned my gaze back to Moyong Hui-a. Because it would be troublesome if I stared too long.
"Don't worry about it."
"What on earth have you been doing...."
Moyong Hui-a spoke while pinching her brow, and I felt a bit wronged.
"Hey, I ate poison. Shouldn't you be worried about me first?"
At the time, Namgung Bia, Wi Seol-a, and Moyong Hui-a had been in the annex.
Those three didn't seem particularly concerned.
I said it because I felt slightly disappointed, but Moyong Hui-a replied with an unconcerned expression.
"...Young Master. How could anyone believe that after seeing that act of yours?"
"..."
At Moyong Hui-a's words, Namgung Bia and Wi Seol-a beside her nodded.
That hurt a bit. Was it really that obvious?
[It was more than just obvious, you brat.]
The Old Man, who had been quiet, cut in like a ghost.
"No, I really did eat poison...."
"I didn't think you swallowed that without any intention. Even if you seem like the most reckless person in the world, you are the most cautious. Isn't that right?"
"..."
Damn it.
At Moyong Hui-a's words, I couldn't say anything.
"You're planning to cause trouble again, aren't you?"
"It's not that big of a deal...."
"Then it must be incredibly serious."
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Yes."
Moyong Hui-a swept her hair back slightly as she spoke.
"Seeing that you can't explain it properly to us, I can tell it's dangerous."
"..."
"And you won't answer even if we ask. I know that well."
Cold sweat ran down. Every word cut coldly.
As always, I shouldn't talk with Moyong Hui-a for long.
Because I knew I would lose no matter what I said.
So, inevitably, I decided to use the method Woo Hyeok had used on me.
"By the way. Where did the White Lotus Sword go?"
"I know you're changing the subject. I'll let it slide just this once? Aunt went out saying she had someone to meet."
"...Uh, okay. Thanks."
In the end, I let out a dry cough and scratched the back of my head.
It's not working at all, damn it....
As I was walking awkwardly, Moyong Hui-a, who had been subtly fanning her fan toward me, asked.
"So, Young Master, where are we going right now?"
Some time had passed since we entered the county, and since we had just been walking, she was asking.
It wasn't just Moyong Hui-a; everyone seemed curious as their gazes focused on me.
Feeling those gazes, I pointed ahead with my hand.
"We're almost there. It's right up ahead."
"What's in front of us.... Ah?"
At my gesture, Moyong Hui-a lifted her head and let out a short sound.
She seemed to immediately realize where I was trying to go.
There was a large building up ahead; to my knowledge, it was probably the second-largest building in this county.
The largest would be the merchant guild that had the deepest alliance with the Tang Sect.
The second was....
"Baekhwa Merchant Guild...?"
It was exactly the Sichuan branch of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild run by Lady Mi.
"So the business you had... was your mother's... no, Leader Mi's merchant guild."
"Hmm? What?"
The way she'd addressed her had been strange just now. Was I imagining things?
Since it wasn't important right now, I decided to let it pass.
"I don't plan to eat there until dinner. I have some business."
The reason I went out of my way to come to the county to find the Baekhwa Merchant Guild.
As I had mentioned before, it was to sell the items I had stashed away in my possession.
'It'll be annoying if I just sell them carelessly.'
Since they were quite valuable and rare items, trying to sell them just anywhere could become troublesome.
Because it would be annoying if rumors spread.
'The rumor that So Yeom-ra carried the Yamingju around for everyone to see....'
If such rumors circulated, all sorts of unsavory crowds could cling to me.
I didn't think it was particularly dangerous, but...
'It's just annoying to clear them away.'
It would merely be bothersome to deal with them one by one.
Moreover, since I had previously used Lady Mi's name, selling the Yamingju to the Baekhwa Merchant Guild was a good way to ease my guilt on my conscience.
In terms of easing my guilty conscience.
[Brat, are you saying you've actually felt something called a guilty conscience?]
'Of course. I'm human too.'
[Not anymore, are you?]
'...'
Fuck.
He's really driving daggers deep into me.
Letting out a deep sigh inwardly, I headed toward the entrance of the merchant guild.
"I'll be right back. Everyone sit on the first floor. It won't take long."
Right after leaving those words with the group, I reached my hand out to open the door of the merchant guild.
*Creak.*
"Hmm?"
Before I could grab the doorknob, someone appeared opening the door.
"Unh?"
"Huh?"
Meeting eyes with the person who appeared as the door opened, we both reacted.
Because it was someone we knew.
An old man who looked fierce in his later years, and a boy of skinny build.
Looking at them, I spoke in surprise.
"Sinui?"
They were exactly Sinui and Jegal Hyeok.
Just as I was wondering why these two were coming out of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild out of nowhere.
'What?'
I had to harbor doubts as I looked at Sinui.
Because Sinui's gaze, which had looked surprised upon seeing me, had already fixed on someone else.
I turned around following that gaze.
'Huh?'
There.
Was Cheol Jiseon, frowning as he looked at Sinui.