Preparation (3)
It was around the time when the Huashan Sect was busy preparing for the sword tournament. After finishing afternoon training, I returned to my quarters.
Originally, I should have been preparing to return to the Sega by now—.
'Things got a little twisted.'
Since Gu Ryeong-hwa had expressed his intention to return to the Sega, there was a need to delay the timing a bit.
Especially since he even said he'd go to the Sword Empress.
'Does that mean he wants to go together?'
Since he said he'd go to the Gu family, wouldn't that mean he wants to go together?
He said he'd come find me directly later to talk, so I could hear him out then.
Shin-ui also seemed to have said he'd come find me together....
It was about time to slowly wrap up this and that.
'First, I should go find Maehwa-seon.'
Even if I didn't go find her, there would be parts where Maehwa-seon's side should come to me, but as a junior, going first would paint a better picture.
Also because I had requests and demands to make.
'For that, I need to meet the Sword Empress first.'
When I later go to Maehwa-seon to make my request, I was planning to receive the Sword Empress's help.
That was why I had spoken to the Sword Empress beforehand.
Roughly organizing my movements, as I returned to my quarters, Wi Seol-ah, who was hanging laundry in the distance, spotted me and approached.
"Young Master!"
"What's going on? I barely saw you lately."
It was a face I'd only seen during meal times for the past few days, so seeing her like this was a bit novel.
'Is there a lot of work? She looks tired.'
Wi Seol-ah's slightly gaunt face caught my eye.
Given that Wi Seol-ah had exceptional stamina, it didn't seem like she'd be exhausted just from having a lot of work—
"Is something going on?"
"Yees?"
"You look really tired."
So I just asked outright.
If it's Wi Seol-ah of all people looking tired, there had to be something.
Wi Seol-ah smiles with her eyes at my question.
"I'm fine! Nothing's wrong!"
She patted her waist and puffed her chest out wide.
It was a gesture showing that she was healthy and perfectly fine.
At that sight, I snorted and ruffled Wi Seol-ah's hair.
"Ugh!"
In the past, I wouldn't have dared to even think about doing such a thing, but now I was doing it casually.
Looking at it this way, this too had changed a lot.
After ruffling for a while, I said to Wi Seol-ah.
"Want to go out and look around the village today?"
"Ye-es!?"
Wi Seol-ah asked back in surprise at my words.
Was it that surprising?
Except when I had business, I'd never suggested going out, but...
Wi Seol-ah was so surprised her eyes went wide.
"Wh-when... now?"
"Are you busy? If there's more work left..."
"No! Nothing's left! I'm done, nothing at all left!"
"Uh, okay, that's good."
She was shouting urgently, perhaps worried I might cancel.
I mediated the corners of my mouth that kept trying to rise at that sight and said to Wi Seol-ah.
"I'll wash up quickly and come out, so wake her up and bring her along."
"Yees... yes? Bring her along?"
"Hm?"
"Yes?"
Wi Seol-ah looks at me as if she doesn't understand what I'm saying.
But soon realizing it was about Namgung Bi-ah, she started glaring at me.
"...It'd be a bit much to just leave her behind, no?"
I tried making excuses that didn't even convince myself, but there was no way they'd work.
Of course, Wi Seol-ah had her own personality, so she only glared for a moment without saying much.
She just let out a breath similar to a sigh through her nose and went to wake Namgung Bi-ah.
I did feel slightly bad, but it seemed difficult to choose another method.
'I can't believe I've started having these kinds of worries.'
Even I was surprised at myself.
Thinking about someone else was itself a difficult thing, after all.
After washing off the light sweat from training and changing into clean clothes, Namgung Bi-ah was being held by Wi Seol-ah.
"...Ugh. Heavy... unni, you're heavy...!"
"Hmm..."
"What are you two doing?"
Namgung Bi-ah was still half in dreamland with a drowsy expression, draped over Wi Seol-ah.
Naturally, with the difference in body size, Wi Seol-ah was practically being crushed under Namgung Bi-ah.
It seemed like Namgung Bi-ah had been sleeping more lately—was something going on?
"If you're sleepy, want to go inside and sleep? We can go by ourselves."
At those words, Namgung Bi-ah suddenly straightened her back.
She still seemed to have some fatigue left, but it appeared she wanted to show that going out wouldn't be a problem.
Then she rummaged through her sleeves and pulled something out.
"A veil...?"
Surprisingly, it was a veil.
Did she bring it along because I told her to wear it often?
Since she originally had an atmosphere that drew attention, the stares that clung to her still existed, but wearing that would at least reduce them.
It wasn't like she frequently went to crowded places, but the looks she received while coming and going had been burdensome.
Namgung Bi-ah must have been satisfied after trying it on too.
"Thorough preparation."
"This... is comfortable."
"Young Master! Should I call Muyeon oppa?"
"Hm?"
I had told the escort side that I'd be going out early, so I thought he'd be out by now.
'Why isn't Muyeon out?'
Actually, it was a part where we could just leave without him, but if we did that, Muyeon would surely nag when he came later.
He'd already given me an earful about getting injured last time.
Asking why I kept going around alone when I had a perfectly fine escort.
'It was so urgent then that I couldn't help it.'
But for Muyeon to say that much, was something going on?
Surprisingly, Namgung Bi-ah solved the answer to this question for me.
"Went to spar."
"Went to spar?"
"With a Huashan Sect disciple."
"Disciple? Who."
If it's a Huashan Sect disciple Namgung Bi-ah was talking about... it wouldn't be Gu Ryeong-hwa, so there'd only be one.
"You mean Yeongpung Dojang?"
"Mm."
Muyeon went to spar with Yeongpung?
What was this suddenly about?
Muyeon, who had stubbornly refused to spar with Namgung Bi-ah or others while on escort duty.
"He sparred with me too."
"What...?"
I asked back without realizing at Namgung Bi-ah's words.
He sparred with Namgung Bi-ah too? This was the first time I'd heard of it.
I don't know how she took my reaction, but Namgung Bi-ah quietly added.
"...Lost."
I didn't ask who lost.
I could tell from Namgung Bi-ah's strangely shadowed expression.
'In the first place, to compete with Muyeon...'
Even considering that I had swallowed various fortunate encounters, Muyeon's martial arts realm was still higher than mine.
I recalled the time when the members of each sword squad at the Sega had asked Muyeon to return.
'Judging by his level, Muyeon is definitely not an ordinary talent either.'
He might not be able to match Yeongpung, but he was definitely not low.
It wasn't a level of martial prowess that an ordinary youth who had just passed twenty could possess, let alone a successor of a prestigious family.
"A spar... Did something blow over him?"
At my words, Namgung Bi-ah stares at me intently. That gaze was burdensome so I asked.
"What is it?"
"Because... I understand the feeling a little."
Namgung Bi-ah, who muttered something, quickly returns to her original expression.
Wi Seol-ah was hugging Namgung Bi-ah's waist and asking me with her expression when we could go out.
Since it was suddenly delivered news, if Muyeon wasn't here now, he wouldn't have heard.
So it'd be fine to just leave without him, right?
If it came to it, there were other escorts too....
As I was about to prepare to go out, Namgung Bi-ah spoke to me.
"When you come back... spar with me..."
"..."
I paused at Namgung Bi-ah's words.
Oh right....
Come to think of it, I remembered that quite some time had passed since the day we were supposed to do it.
Since I'd even sparred with Yeongpung, it would be fine.
'It's a bit unpleasant because I keep recalling my past life, but.'
I couldn't keep refusing forever, so I'd have to slowly accept.
"Let's do it when we come back later, if there's nothing going on."
"...!"
Perhaps because getting a definite answer was surprising, a rare change of expression appeared on Namgung Bi-ah's face.
Especially at the corners of her mouth.
I snorted looking at the corners of her mouth trying to sneakily rise, and moved my feet.
Was it really something to be that happy about?
Since there would be time going and coming, it would probably be night when we returned.
If there was nothing going on then, we could take some time.
'There were no problems when I sparred with Yeongpung last time, so it should be fine.'
If I overused internal energy like when fighting the Blood Demons, that would be different, but for now I thought it would be okay.
Around the time when I would have returned after looking around the village and hastily eating a meal.
The spar Namgung Bi-ah was looking forward to didn't happen.
Because something came up.
"You're finally here."
When I came back from looking around the village, Shin-ui was sitting in my room.
I felt like my room had a lot of visitors lately.
From Yeongpung, to the Sword Empress, Gu Ryeong-hwa, and now Shin-ui.
'I did hear that he'd come...'
I vaguely remembered the Sword Empress mentioning it. However, instead of the Sword Empress who said she'd come along, only Shin-ui had come.
"What brings you..."
"I came to check your body condition. Why are you so startled?"
"That's not it. I was just flustered."
I could feel Namgung Bi-ah's gaze piercing from behind, but what could I do.... When he came specifically to check my body condition.
After sending a glance saying let's do it next time, Namgung Bi-ah disappeared with a slightly sulky expression.
"Hmm... Did I pick the wrong time to visit?"
Shin-ui must have noticed too, as he let out a dry cough.
"It's fine. You came making time for me."
"I appreciate you saying that at least. Have a seat."
The examination that started immediately didn't take very long.
Because other than the demonic energy, there was nothing left that was a problem with my body.
"Hmm... Truly a mysterious body. What kind of change occurred for your energy to become so stable..."
I said it was an examination, but from what I could see, Shin-ui was closer to researching.
The meaning contained in Shin-ui's two eyes was clearly that.
'...What if he really tries to cut my chest open?'
What he said last time must have been a joke.
It had to be....
I roughly answered the various questions he asked.
Shin-ui showed great interest in the Gu family's martial art that drove out murky energy, but since Shin-ui wasn't a martial artist... explaining in detail was also ambiguous.
That was the excuse.
In the first place, there was no way to explain.
Saying something like 'Our martial art just seems to be that way! I don't really know!' would be sufficient, wouldn't it?
Of course, if Shin-ui suddenly brought this up and came to the Sega to ask, it would be a bit troublesome.
'Even so, he surely wouldn't come all the way to the Sega.'
Shin-ui was a person sought after throughout the Central Plains.
He wouldn't come to the Gu family, who didn't particularly seek out Shin-ui.
Probably.
Ultimately, as if he couldn't find anything special, Shin-ui let out a breath of regret.
"Well... your body seems healthy."
"...Why do you say that as if you're disappointed?"
His face didn't look pleased about me being healthy?
"Surely that can't be."
"Right? Must be my imagination?"
Shin-ui vaguely deflected the answer and quietly took out a wooden token from his robes and handed it to me.
"Take it."
"What is this?"
"Can't you tell by looking? It's a wooden token."
"I know it's a wooden token, I'm asking what its purpose is."
"I'm a physician, so there isn't much I can give you."
Shin-ui was trying to give me something. I'd said the treatment was enough, but what was he trying to hand me now?
"There's nothing big I can give, but I received this a long time ago. If you take it to the Beggars' Sect later, you'll be able to receive good treatment."
"Why are you giving this to me?"
From the feel of it, I could tell it was no ordinary item.
Moreover, if it was connected to the Beggars' Sect....
It felt strangely reminiscent of the black token Pang Woo-jin had given me before.
"Originally there was someone I wanted to give it to, but I couldn't, so I've been carrying it. Rather than compensation, think of it as a commission fee."
"Commission fee... you say?"
"Yes, I have one request for you."
As expected, it was too big a reward to just give away for nothing....
So there was an intention.
'It's not something like "Can I really cut your chest open," right?'
If it was something like that, I'd think about running away immediately.
"I heard that when you leave, the Sword Empress will follow along."
"...Ah, I did hear she'd do that. But I'm not sure yet."
First of all, since I was currently in charge of the party as the overall person responsible, my permission had to be granted for them to accompany us.
Also because I wasn't sure if it was even possible for the Sword Empress, who had just finished treatment, to leave the Huashan Sect.
The problem was what Shin-ui said next.
"I also have some business at the Gu family, so I think I need to go along."
"Excuse me?"
"I've already told that Do-hwa fellow, and since I'm not someone who gets rejected wherever I go, it should be fine."
Shin-ui, apparently thinking I would naturally permit it, said he'd already told Maehwa-seon.
"...Why?"
"Hm?"
I blurted it out without realizing.
It was because I was dumbfounded.
Why on earth was everyone abandoning a good neighborhood to gather at my house...?
'Is there honey smeared on our house or something?'
Even this kind of thought crossed my mind.
- I understand what the Mengju desires, but do you think I can do that?
- Regarding that girl, I've also seen her, but since Do-hwa fellow spoke up, I didn't bother to confirm.
-
Just because I'm called Shin-ui doesn't mean I'm truly a god.
At Shin-ui's firm words, the Sword Lord fell silent and barely managed to ask one thing.
-
Then, are you saying it's impossible even for you...?
...
Shin-ui doesn't speak falsehoods regarding treatment.
The Sword Lord believed in that one fact alone.
That was why he could understand the answer from Shin-ui's expression and silence.
Realizing that the Sword Lord had caught on, Shin-ui let out a deep sigh.
- Carelessly handling the energy of a person, especially one who is not a martial artist, is a difficult matter.
- The time required for that, and just considering the ingredients that must go into it, it might be enough to pull out the roots of the Sega.
-
...Those things, I will...
Mengju.
Shin-ui cuts off the Sword Lord's words.
- Before obtaining those, please grant the request I made to you first. I think that takes priority.
...
- Until then, I will not give any answer.
They were firm words and also absurd words.
If he said no, that was the end of it.
But the Sword Lord was not in a position to give such an answer.
It was a single ray of light barely reached in the pitch-black darkness.
Recalling his granddaughter's face smiling at him, the Sword Lord steadied his mind once more.
Relying solely on a single light, he quietly wrote down characters on a letter.
...
.
He rolled up the densely written characters and carefully folded them.
On the front page, the character Meng (盟) was written.
The letter was none other than a message to be sent to the current Murim Mengju, Nak-geom (樂劍) Jang-cheon.