After finishing my conversation with Muk Yeon, I selected the people who would be going on the expedition and immediately went to find the First Elder.
I explained the situation to the First Elder, as it concerned matters that lay ahead.
“So. You’re saying you’re going to Sichuan.”
I nodded as I answered.
“Yes. It seems that’s how things will turn out.”
“You certainly move about busily.”
“It just sort of… turned out that way.”
At the news that I would be going to Sichuan before even returning to Shanxi, the First Elder let out a hollow laugh.
It was understandable that it would look strange. I had begun spending more time roaming around outside than at home.
“If that’s what you want to do, I have no intention of stopping you…. But will you be all right?”
“…Hmm.”
I lightly scratched my cheek at the First Elder’s words.
There was a reason he asked whether I would be all right.
“The other elders may make things troublesome for you.”
The time when I would have to take the position of heir was fast approaching. Under these circumstances, if I suddenly went wandering outside, saying that I would take on major responsibilities, opposition was only natural.
“That should work itself out somehow.”
I was not particularly concerned.
No matter how much the elders rose up against me, the resulting disturbance would not be all that great.
If there was one problem—
“But what do you think, First Elder? Should I simply go to Shanxi?”
The opinion of the First Elder before me seemed rather important.
Thus, I asked with some tension in my voice, and the First Elder replied,
“What difference would it make to ask after you’ve already gone and done everything?”
“…”
He was quite right.
“If that is what you want, then do it. In any case, bearing the consequences will also be your responsibility.”
He was indirectly telling me that it was not a good choice.
I knew as much myself. This probably was not the best option.
So when I made a slightly displeased face, the First Elder let out a sigh.
“What is that expression? Surely you weren’t hoping this old man would bear the consequences for you. You weren’t, were you?”
“That’s not it. Besides, even if I asked you to bear them, you wouldn’t, would you?”
“Of course not. Heh heh. Why would this old man do such a thing?”
That was also true.
When one caused trouble, one had to deal with it oneself. This was no different.
Whether it was opposition from the elders, or forcing matters despite the timing—
Whatever backlash came at the end would also be mine alone to bear.
‘That’s why I can’t drag this out any longer.’
There were too many things to worry about, and too little time had been given to me in return.
It was another reason I had to move even more desperately.
Just then—
“Everything is fine. Whatever you plan to do, work hard if that is what you want. But you know…”
“Yes.”
“You still need to pay attention to certain things, don’t you?”
As he spoke, the First Elder pointed somewhere.
I followed his finger with my gaze, and something came into view.
“…”
Someone was glaring at us with a deeply furrowed, evidently furious expression.
It was the Gu clan’s fourth daughter. Gu Ryeonghwa.
“I hear that you haven’t shown your face even once since arriving here. Is that true?”
“I was a little busy…”
I knew that Gu Ryeonghwa had arrived with the Mount Hua Sect.
I knew it, but I simply hadn’t gone to see her.
My schedule had been extremely packed. More importantly—
‘I forgot.’
…Yes, I had forgotten.
On the day Yeongpung came and mentioned Gu Ryeonghwa—
I had said I would go see her at least once then, but…
‘…I don’t think I ever went after all.’
I probably hadn’t.
That must have been why her expression looked like that. Her face was practically plastered with spite.
But it seemed I was the one in the wrong, so I found it difficult to look at her directly.
I could barely manage to steal occasional glances.
Gu Ryeonghwa looked much more mature than the last time I had seen her. She didn’t seem to have grown much taller, but… her atmosphere felt different.
‘Hmm.’
Had she gotten a boyfriend?
Without realizing it, I clenched my fist.
‘What bastard is it?’
What kind of bastard could he be? I suddenly found myself curious.
Ah, I was merely curious. I had no intention of doing anything.
‘I think there was one strange-looking bastard when I went to the Mount Hua Sect last time…’
Could it be him? I think he was among the third-generation disciples…
‘Well, she’s allowed to date.’
Knowing wouldn’t change anything, but I really was just curious.
It was only natural to be curious about a relative’s love life.
I wasn’t actually going to do anything even if I found out…
‘I just have to make sure I don’t.’
An accident could happen by chance, though.
Of course. Naturally.
‘So maybe I’ll just find out his name.’
“…Cheon-a.”
‘His Taoist name should be something I can find out by asking Yeongpung, and after learning that… I’ll tell Nahi and have someone—’
“Yang Cheon-a.”
“Yes?”
I came to my senses at the call, stopping midway through my scheming.
“What are you doing?”
“What did I do?”
“You have the face of someone who’s determined to bury somebody. You’re frightening, so relax your face a little. With your already unpleasant features, making that expression makes you look like a ghost…”
“…”
I almost vomited blood at his words.
Calling someone a ghost—what was this old man saying, after having called me his grandson and whatnot? It was rather hurtful.
“…I was just spacing out for a moment.”
“If you space out twice, someone will die.”
“…”
Unable to endure the continued attacks, I eventually rose to my feet.
If I listened any longer, I felt I would develop an ulcer.
When I stood, there was a reaction from ahead of me.
It came from Gu Ryeonghwa’s direction.
She seemed startled, as though wondering whether I was coming toward her.
‘Uuumm.’
I had originally gotten up intending to go to her anyway.
Having come this far, it would be strange not to go.
“Hey.”
Flinch.
Gu Ryeonghwa’s entire body trembled at my call.
Her expression, however, remained unchanged.
“Hey.”
When I called her again, her eyes narrowed slightly and her closed lips opened.
“…What?”
At least she answered. That was a relief.
Her voice was quite unpleasant. She was clearly showing that she was answering only because she had no choice.
“Are you angry?”
“I’m not.”
“You are. Look how puffy your cheeks are.”
“…!”
The moment I pointed it out, Gu Ryeonghwa hurriedly touched her cheeks.
Then she rolled her eyes around frantically. She had realized for herself that she was puffing them out.
“…T-They’re just swollen.”
“Swollen? Why? Did someone hit you?”
What bastard was it?
Should I rip out his joints and pickle them?
“…It’s not like I was hit. It’s nothing.”
“If you say so.”
I spoke curtly and sat down beside her.
The instant I sat, Gu Ryeonghwa shifted a little farther away.
“What?”
“What do you mean? I just sat down beside you.”
“Why are you sitting here? Go away.”
“I’m using my own butt to sit down. Who are you to tell me otherwise?”
“This is my seat.”
“Why is this your seat? If we’re being precise, it belongs to Madam Mi.”
“…”
Gu Ryeonghwa pressed her lips tightly together.
The residence where the Gu clan members were currently staying did in fact belong to Madam Mi.
Besides—
“Aren’t you a member of the Mount Hua Sect? If we’re being even more precise, I’m the one who should be saying this is my—”
“I’m leaving.”
“I was joking. Just joking.”
She was about to get up over a little teasing, so I caught Gu Ryeonghwa and made her sit back down.
“I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“Do you lighten the mood like this, Oppa…?”
“Why? Isn’t it fine?”
“…I feel sorry for the older sisters.”
“…”
What was that supposed to mean…? It felt as though something had scraped across my heart.
In any case, I succeeded in keeping Gu Ryeonghwa from leaving. We sat beside each other, and a little time passed without either of us saying anything.
After that brief moment—
“So. I’m sorry.”
I awkwardly offered an apology first.
Gu Ryeonghwa looked at me.
“What are you sorry for?”
“For saying I’d come see you and then not coming?”
“…Hmph. I’m not particularly bothered by that.”
As if she wasn’t bothered. Her face made it perfectly obvious that she felt better just because I had apologized.
How she had become so incapable of lying, and whom she had inherited that from, I couldn’t tell.
“I mean… I was busy. It’s not that I didn’t want to see you.”
I quickly added an excuse, trying to take advantage of the atmosphere, but—
“I know.”
“Hm?”
Gu Ryeonghwa continued,
“I know. That you’re busy, Oppa.”
“…How do you know?”
“Is there anyone in Henan who doesn’t know you’re busy right now? All I hear is that someone saw you here or there. Just how much do you roam around?”
“…”
…Was that so? I didn’t think I had been roaming around that much, but apparently there were occasional reports of me being spotted.
‘I’ll have to be more careful from now on.’
I would have to pay more attention when I went about. There were more eyes on me than I had expected.
“So… are you all right physically?”
Gu Ryeonghwa asked me that.
“Hm? Physically?”
I wondered what she was suddenly talking about, but—
“…I heard you were injured. Are you okay?”
“Ah.”
She must have been referring to the incident with the White Grade demonic beast.
“As you can see, I’m perfectly fine.”
“…”
Though I answered her, Gu Ryeonghwa merely examined me from head to toe with doubtful eyes.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Are you really all right?”
“I told you I’m fine. Look, if I were hurt, there’s no way I could be walking around like this—”
“Then why didn’t you come find me?”
“…Right. I suppose I’m still a little hurt.”
“…”
“…”
I subtly looked away.
It felt as though I had fallen into an interrogation trap.
This girl had gotten much smarter while I hadn’t seen her.
As I faltered and failed to answer, Gu Ryeonghwa sighed and said,
“Forget it…. It’s not as though I particularly wanted to see you. I was just asking. It’s not like I was dying to see you either.”
After all, when had we ever been close?
It was a reasonable point, so I nodded.
“But for someone who didn’t care, I hear you came to see Yang Cheon right away when you heard he’d been injured.”
“E-Elder! What are you talking about?”
Behind me, the First Elder chuckled and added fuel to the fire. Gu Ryeonghwa shouted angrily, her face bright red.
“I-I never did that! I didn’t…!”
“Is that so? Because according to the servants…”
“Elder…!”
“Hmm. Yes. I must have heard wrong.”
“…”
In the end, unable to withstand Gu Ryeonghwa’s shouting, the First Elder changed the subject.
But it was already too late.
‘…When did she come to see me?’
It was something I had never heard about. I looked at Gu Ryeonghwa after hearing the First Elder’s words.
Gu Ryeonghwa’s face was flushed as she busily avoided my gaze.
‘Hmm.’
It seemed to be true after all.
Because of that, a slight sense of guilt rose within me.
The reason I hadn’t seen her despite her coming was obvious.
‘I had been unconscious. And perhaps Gu Ryeonghwa hadn’t gone inside when she came.’
When I had been resting at the time, Moyong Huia had been taking care of me, so she might have known that Gu Ryeonghwa had come.
But the reason she hadn’t told me was—
‘Was that Gu Ryeonghwa’s doing?’
That seemed the most likely explanation.
“If you came, you should have come in to see me.”
“…I told you I didn’t come.”
She was pretending otherwise, so she would probably deny it to the very end. I didn’t press her further.
What right did I have to question her when I hadn’t gone to see her either?
“Fine. So you didn’t come to see me.”
“You don’t look like you believe me.”
“I believe you.”
“Okay…”
And then silence descended once more.
It was a silence we were both familiar with.
We had grown more accustomed to simply sitting quietly than to having conversations.
We could not return to how things had once been, and merely refraining from exchanging words filled with resentment was already a major change.
I was thinking that as I steadied my breathing when—
“Hey.”
Gu Ryeonghwa suddenly spoke to me.
“I think I’m going back to Shanxi.”
“What?”
My eyes widened.
She was going back to Shanxi?
“I’m not going back for good. I think I’ll spend the remaining time in Shanxi…. Madam Mi wanted that too. The sect leader gave his permission as well.”
Ah, so she didn’t mean she was returning permanently.
It seemed she meant that she would spend the rest of this year resting there.
But there was one thing that surprised me.
“Madam Mi wanted that?”
“Hm? Yes.”
It was what she said about Madam Mi.
“You… talk to Madam Mi?”
“Hm? Y-Yes. Sometimes?”
That was unexpected.
I had thought Gu Ryeonghwa didn’t speak with Madam Mi at all. But apparently, they did speak occasionally.
As I stood there surprised by that, Gu Ryeonghwa instead looked at me strangely.
“Why are you so surprised…?”
“No, it’s just a little surprising. You…”
I thought you hated Madam Mi.
I swallowed those words.
She had left because she hated her home.
If she had found freedom in the place she went, then that was enough.
That was what I had believed until now.
When I continued to look at her strangely, Gu Ryeonghwa spoke with her eyes slightly lowered.
“I don’t hate her.”
“…”
Though I hadn’t voiced what came after, Gu Ryeonghwa had realized what I had been about to say.
“…It’s not as if she did anything to us. We’re just a little awkward and distant. Aren’t you the same, Oppa?”
“…”
“And besides, if anyone should hate someone, it should be her hating us. But…”
Gu Ryeonghwa hesitated before continuing.
“She doesn’t hate us. So we don’t have a reason to hate her either… right?”
At those words, which flowed so gently from her lips, I unconsciously swallowed.