EP.71 Sharing a Bed...? (3)
Around the time Gu Yangcheon and Nangong Bi-a fell asleep.
The lights were on in the Sect Leader's residence, built at the highest point of the Huashan Sect's hill.
Inside the residence, Maehwaseon had delicately lit a single candle and was brewing plum tea.
Placing suitable refreshments bought from the county in the center, she prepared two teacups.
Because a guest was expected.
Filling the cups with tea, Maehwaseon, who had been quietly keeping her eyes closed, suddenly spoke to the empty air.
"Please come in."
As soon as the words, spat out upon the tranquil emptiness, faded, the door to the residence opened swiftly.
Creak.
Surprisingly, the one who opened the door and entered was Geomjon.
Maehwaseon had a relaxed face, as if she had already known.
Geomjon calmly entered the residence and sat across from Maehwaseon.
After taking his seat, Geomjon looked at Maehwaseon and spoke.
"I apologize for coming at such a late hour..."
"It is fine. I was feeling rather lonely anyway."
As if his throat was burning, Geomjon took a sip of the tea placed before him.
In that situation, Maehwaseon merely waited calmly for his words.
As a little time passed, Geomjon, having finished organizing his thoughts, spoke to Maehwaseon.
"I came to ask the Sect Leader something."
As for what he would come to ask at such a late hour, Maehwaseon had a vague idea of what it was.
"Please speak, I will listen."
At Maehwaseon's consideration, Geomjon asked without hesitation.
"Sect Leader, do you perhaps know where the Divine Doctor is?"
At Geomjon's question, Maehwaseon opened her closed eyes.
It was indeed the question she had expected, but she didn't know he would ask so directly.
Was it a sign of how urgent it was?
Maehwaseon answered Geomjon's question.
"I do know."
At the casually delivered answer, it was Geomjon whose eyes widened instead.
"Do you also know that I am looking for the Divine Doctor?"
"Yes, I know. I also know that Shaolin and Wudang are looking for you."
Though she didn't know if they were really looking for Geomjon, or something else.
"But how could you give the answer so easily?"
"I believe you already knew when you came here."
"..."
The reason Geomjon visited Maehwaseon at this late hour.
Maehwaseon knew it wasn't simply because the Huashan Sect had a large presence in Shaanxi.
"Isn't that right, Geomjon."
"...That is correct."
Shaanxi is vast.
Even though he had arrived, Geomjon didn't think he could easily find the Divine Doctor.
Expanding his qi sense carelessly would draw the attention of others.
So he expected to struggle for at least a few days.
He thought so at first, but contrary to Geomjon's expectations, finding the Divine Doctor was easier than anticipated.
As if starting near Huayin County was the correct answer, he felt a dense qi from the nearby mountains.
The Divine Doctor is not a martial artist.
Unlike other physicians, it was said he possessed a very small amount of qi for the purpose of examinations, but...
He shouldn't be harboring such dense and heavy qi.
Moreover, a strong Daoist fragrance could be felt from the qi.
Along with its unique plum scent.
Calling this a formation would be ambiguous.
Rather, if they were trying to cast a formation, the presence shouldn't be felt this strongly.
If one had to say, it would be more appropriate to call it a barrier.
Although the difference between a formation and a barrier was subtle, there was a difference in their purpose.
In Geomjon's view, it was more for protection than concealment.
And the only martial artist in Shaanxi capable of deploying qi of that level, as far as Geomjon knew, was just one person.
"But I wasn't certain, which is why I came to ask the Sect Leader directly."
No matter how dense and strong the barrier was, cutting through and entering was not a difficult task for Geomjon.
It was that urgent of a matter, yet Geomjon came to Maehwaseon first.
"Even so, it seems you didn't just barge in."
"I thought asking first was the polite thing to do."
"...Coming at this late hour, you mean?"
"..."
"I am joking."
Geomjon is looking for the Divine Doctor.
It was a story about Geomjon, who had disappeared one day and reappeared.
Maehwaseon also knew of it from hearing the rumors.
She didn't know why he was looking for the Divine Doctor.
The important thing was the news that the Abbot of Shaolin and the Sect Leader of Wudang were looking for such a Geomjon.
'To think he can evade them so well even when those two are searching, does this mean Geomjon's abilities have reached that level?'
Having such thoughts, Maehwaseon suddenly asked Geomjon.
"May I ask the reason you are looking for the Divine Doctor?"
At Maehwaseon's question, Geomjon's gaze lowered slightly.
"The reason for seeking the Divine Doctor is... mostly similar."
At Geomjon's words, Maehwaseon nodded.
Although the reasons for seeking the most outstanding physician in the Central Plains might all differ in reality, the essence would be the same.
Because one wants to live, or because one wants to save someone else.
Maehwaseon knew that while the Divine Doctor was reluctant to save someone, he was implicitly passing his location to the information guild.
She also knew he was a person full of compassion, who would constantly say he'd quit being a physician right away, yet couldn't actually let go of anything.
Maehwaseon looked at Geomjon.
No matter how she looked at it, the reason for seeking the Divine Doctor wasn't for his own body.
Even though Maehwaseon thought she had reached a considerably high realm, whenever she saw Geomjon, she still couldn't properly gauge what level of martial artist he was.
She knew that the martial artists of the world tried to compare her and Geomjon, placing them on the same level.
But only Maehwaseon knew exactly.
That Geomjon was on a dimension higher than herself.
Geomjon (Sword Venerable).
'...What a terrifying title.'
Wi Hyogun was someone who felt no sense of incongruity in having such a nickname.
Maehwaseon couldn't understand how such a being was experiencing inner demons and showing such a vulnerable appearance.
'...Is the reason Shaolin and Wudang are looking for Geomjon also tied to that?'
Since Maehwaseon had originally run on a different track from them, she probably couldn't know exactly what was going on.
To her, 'they' who claimed to be thinking of the future of the Central Plains felt somewhat unsettling.
Rather, those like Guryun or the Divine Doctor, who were expected to live only for their own benefit, actually harbored more sacrifice within them.
That was also the reason Maehwaseon associated with them.
Geomjon spoke to Maehwaseon.
"...Sect Leader."
"Yes."
"Please tell me where the Divine Doctor is."
"I believe that it is not my will, but the Divine Doctor's opinion that is more important."
"Then, is it alright if I open that place and enter?"
If he meant 'that place', he was likely referring to the hut where the Divine Doctor was staying.
In a way, it sounded like a threat.
Since it was a remark that he would break through the barrier and enter.
Maehwaseon smiled bitterly and said.
"What do you plan to do if I tell you that you can't?"
Even at Maehwaseon's question, Geomjon didn't answer, but Maehwaseon could tell.
That he would go see the Divine Doctor no matter what.
Even if it meant opposing the Huashan Sect.
'What made him so impatient?'
When he led the Martial Alliance, although his disposition wasn't entirely relaxed or kind, he was never an impatient person.
Maehwaseon let out a deep sigh and said to Geomjon.
"Not right now."
"..."
The Divine Doctor was currently taking care of the Sword Empress.
As for Gu Yangcheon, Maehwaseon had brought him herself, and the examination process was so short it could be called a moment, making it possible, but this was a different matter.
"The Divine Doctor is currently taking care of someone else. Even if you go to the Divine Doctor right now, what you desire will not happen."
"..."
"However."
Geomjon, who had been maintaining silence while only staring at the teacup, raised his head at Maehwaseon's call.
"It is not the case that I have no way."
"...What..."
Maehwaseon smiled and asked.
"Could you grant me one request?"
Geomjon didn't answer this time either, but he straightened his posture while looking at Maehwaseon.
It was likely a sign that he would listen.
******************
Is this a crisis?
Did I face a crisis as soon as I woke up in the morning...?
It was the thought that crossed my mind the moment I faced Wi Seol-a.
This is a crisis.
It seemed like a trivial situation, but the alarm bells in my head were clearly ringing with danger.
Indeed, weren't Wi Seol-a's eyes somewhat different from usual?
With her usual drooping eye corners and puppy-like gentle face nowhere to be seen, she looked relatively expressionless.
That Wi Seol-a who used to smile all day long.
Moreover, the current silence doubled the discomfort I was feeling.
After sweating cold sweat for a while, I barely managed to ask.
"...D-did you return safely?"
"Yes."
"...I see."
A cold, short answer.
It felt like the cold sweat that had barely stopped was starting again.
'...Come to think of it, why am I being so wary of her?'
I didn't do anything?
Nangong Bi-a was the one who suddenly barged in and threw a fit saying she'd sleep together, and I was the victim...?
And why am I unconsciously being wary of Wi Seol-a right now?
At times like this, it was the moment I had to say a word as the master.
Since I was letting it slide, Wi Seol-a seemed to constantly forget her position.
It doesn't make sense for me to be the one watching her mood, right?
Having gathered my resolve, I glared at Wi Seol-a.
It felt like my face was reflected in Wi Seol-a's clear eyes.
Soon, intending to scold her, I spat out a word.
"...Want some yakgwa?"
"Yes."
...Oh, okay.
...Even in this situation, she's not rejecting it?
Just as my head was getting complicated, not knowing what to do, Nangong Bi-a stirred in the back and sat up.
Her eyes looked sleepy, perhaps because she hadn't fully woken up yet, but for some reason she seemed to be in a good mood.
Nangong Bi-a waved her hand as she looked at Wi Seol-a.
"...Hi."
Looking at the gently waving fingertips, Wi Seol-a furrowed her brow.
Even moisture was welling up in her eyes.
"Sister... that's underhanded."
"...Huh?"
When Wi Seol-a suddenly said that, Nangong Bi-a was rarely flustered.
Wi Seol-a continued speaking with a tearful face.
"I could... sleep with the Young Master too."
Saying that, Wi Seol-a was about to cry.
Nangong Bi-a hurriedly approached Wi Seol-a and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
...What is this baffling situation?
"I said I can sleep together too..."
In the meantime, Wi Seol-a grumbled something but didn't push Nangong Bi-a away.
Rather, she just buried herself in her arms and spoke with a trembling voice.
In this strange situation, I was just standing there blankly.
[So why are you just standing there blankly...]
"You can just sleep together."
"What...?"
[Huh?]
At Nangong Bi-a's statement, Wi Seol-a raised her head with a surprised face, and I froze.
"What did you just say?"
When I asked again, Nangong Bi-a spoke casually.
"You can just... sleep together."
My mind became dizzy at the words she spat out as if asking what the problem was.
Wi Seol-a's position was an issue to begin with, and it was a situation where I had no intention of sleeping with Nangong Bi-a in the future either.
Moreover, Wi Seol-a wouldn't want that either...
"Sister, is it really okay...?"
I guess she does...?
Nangong Bi-a nodded to Wi Seol-a, who was asking with sparkling eyes.
"Yeah..."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, let's sleep together."
It felt like the conversation was flowing into a strange situation.
It was a situation that seemed impossible in many ways, so I urgently intervened.
"What in the world are you..."
"Young Hero! Good mor..."
The one who came in, cutting off my words with a loud voice, was Yeongpung.
Yeongpung, who had walked in brightly, alternately looked at the sniffling Wi Seol-a, Nangong Bi-a who was holding her, and me who was watching the scene.
"No... um, I came because I have something to tell you..."
At this subtle atmosphere, Yeongpung's eyes shook vigorously from side to side.
"It seems I came to the wrong place. I, I will come back a little later."
"No, you came to the right... Where are you going, Master!"
As if he didn't hear my words, Yeongpung quickly disappeared out of the residence.
Thud.
The sound of the door closed by Yeongpung echoed in the quiet residence.
And it was about two hours later that Yeongpung reappeared in the residence.