I intended to ask about the reactions that came up when I mentioned Gu Ryeong-hwa during the journey to Seomseo.
Seeing the current reaction, I wondered if I had been misunderstanding something.
But upon hearing that, Shin Hyeon instead said he had something to ask and brought up the topic himself.
It was the story of Gu Ryeong-hwa from when she first came to the Hwasan Sect until now.
And how that young child had existed within the Hwasan Sect, in what manner.
Even while explaining, Shin Hyeon was also asking.
He was asking if it wasn't my fault that Gu Ryeong-hwa had become that way.
There was only one answer I could give to that.
"Yes, it is my fault."
For words brought up after suddenly saying he had something to ask, it contained a deep story.
It was my first time hearing the experiences Gu Ryeong-hwa went through after entering the Hwasan Sect, from her perspective.
That she cried while looking for me.
That she had a fear of men.
These were parts I hadn't recalled much because the reactions seemed minor when I saw them.
But it seemed worse than expected.
I didn't think the Gu Ryeong-hwa I recently faced had overcome this.
It seemed more likely she was merely enduring it.
Shin Hyeon said nothing after hearing my answer.
However, from his slightly furrowed expression and somewhat roughened breathing, I could feel emotions that were far from good.
He looked like he was forcibly suppressing something.
At first, I thought Gu Ryeong-hwa was being bullied, but seeing this, fortunately that didn't seem to be the case.
Rather, it seemed she received some affection.
'If she was tormented, I would have been the one playing that role.'
It was an undeniable fact.
Since Shin Hyeon didn't follow up with any words, I asked him.
"Are you not going to ask why I did such a thing?"
At my question, Shin Hyeon's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"...Did you think an answer wouldn't come back even if Young Hero asked?"
As Shin Hyeon said, it wasn't exactly something I could answer.
It was my own shameful matter, and furthermore, it wasn't something worth telling others.
"And."
Shin Hyeon continued speaking.
"I still don't think my eyes were wrong."
"..."
I didn't know what Shin Hyeon was arbitrarily seeing in me to think that way.
I quietly maintained eye contact with Shin Hyeon.
Though not all the words contained in his eyes were conveyed, one thing I could understand—
The shallow resentment he was sending toward me originated from worry for Gu Ryeong-hwa, so I didn't feel particularly bad about it.
Yeongpung wouldn't have brought me here to show this....
Sure enough, Yeongpung appeared from behind and paid his respects to the second-generation disciples.
"I greet the martial uncles."
"Martial nephew Yeongpung."
"Yes..."
"Did you bring Young Hero Gu?"
"I did."
"This is a place that cannot be freely accessed except by sect members right now. You know that, don't you?"
"...I apologize. When you asked about Martial Niece Gu, I thought it would be better to let you converse directly."
"About Martial Niece Gu?"
Shin Hyeon looked toward me. It had changed slightly from the gaze when I first faced Shin Hyeon.
It was probably because of the answer I had just given.
Listening to Shin Hyeon's words, it seemed like it was originally something that shouldn't have been brought here.
Knowing that, Yeongpung had still committed the deed.
'That guy is quite reckless too.'
Even if not as much as the Murim Alliance, the sect was famous for its members firmly obeying their seniors' words, yet he ignored that and brought me here anyway.
I let out a slight sigh and spoke.
"I was going to ask why my sister is sparring with the third-generation disciples."
"Ah... that is."
Shin Hyeon opened his mouth as if to answer in her stead, but a voice interrupted from between.
"Brother?"
At the familiar voice, I turned around and Gu Ryeong-hwa was standing there.
Her eyes showed surprise at seeing me here.
And then, seeing the second-generation disciples obviously hiding here and there, Gu Ryeong-hwa's face immediately scrunched up.
"...Martial brothers."
"Ah, we're caught."
"It's because of the eldest martial brother... Why is someone who's supposed to be hiding talking so openly like this?"
"Martial sister Gu... This is all because the eldest martial brother coaxed us to come, we did nothing wrong!"
"...Selling out your martial brother first, the sect must be running well. You crazy bastards."
Excuses spewed out as if they'd practiced them, and Shin Hyeon was wiping his face as if embarrassed.
Gu Ryeong-hwa looked at them and spat out quietly.
"I told you not to come..."
At the small lament, Shin Hyeon hastily explained.
"I'm sorry, the junior disciples kept insisting we should come..."
"What...? You just said something about selling yourself out first and now you're immediately selling us out."
"It's not the first or second time, why are you surprised? The eldest martial brother is always like that."
The people grumbling from behind shut their mouths at Shin Hyeon's growl.
Gu Ryeong-hwa quietly watched this.
It looked like she had much to say, but was deliberately not bringing it up.
Then she let out a sigh and lowered her head.
"...Thank you for worrying about me. Still, I wish you wouldn't worry too much."
It was a somewhat firm statement.
It could be seen as behavior lacking respect toward one's seniors.
Unconsciously, I glanced at the men's expressions as if gauging their reaction.
They didn't look angry or displeased.
Rather, how should I put this... surprise? Emotion? Roughly that kind of feeling...?
"M-My goodness, our martial sister said thank you to us."
"She didn't avoid eye contact, didn't back away either."
"What? What is this? Am I going to die tomorrow...?"
...Now it was getting scary.
What were those insane reactions about?
Shin Hyeon kicked the half-deranged men out of the way with his foot and approached Gu Ryeong-hwa.
"...Are you alright?"
At Shin Hyeon's question, Gu Ryeong-hwa nodded.
"As always, I respect the junior disciples' choices."
"Yes... thank you."
"It seems like the first time I've heard you give thanks, it's a strange feeling."
"...I'm sorry."
"Your apology is accepted. Whether thanks or apologies, there was nothing I ever sought to receive."
Shin Hyeon smiled slightly as he looked at Gu Ryeong-hwa.
Perhaps the gaze was a bit burdensome, as Gu Ryeong-hwa turned her head away.
"I'll take those fools away. It seems there isn't much time left, so I hope you achieve satisfactory results."
At Shin Hyeon's words, the men behind murmured, but when Shin Hyeon's face, having turned his back, changed like a tiger's, they all clamped their mouths shut.
I thought he had a good-natured face, but he can make that kind of expression too...!
Unconsciously, I flinched slightly.
"What brings you here, brother?"
I moved my gaze at Gu Ryeong-hwa's call.
It seemed calling me "brother" had become somewhat familiar again.
The problem regarding that part lay with me.
'Do I even have the right to hear such words.'
That was my only thought.
I quickly erased the useless thoughts from my mind.
"You're sparring with the third-generation disciples, you said."
"Yeah."
"I was just wondering why, so I came to ask, but ended up getting dragged all the way here."
Shin Hyeon had already disappeared, dragging all his disciples away.
Yeongpung was gone too, so it seemed he'd been dragged off as well.
Gu Ryeong-hwa answered my question calmly.
"I just thought it was right to do it in a place that suits my level."
I thought I understood what she meant.
Right now, Gu Ryeong-hwa was far from sufficient to face the second-generation disciples.
Since most of the current Hwasan Sect's power was gathered among the second-generation disciples, it wasn't a place for Gu Ryeong-hwa to fit in.
'Though even the third-generation disciples might be difficult.'
Gu Ryeong-hwa had trained consistently, but there was no reason the other third-generation disciples wouldn't have done the same.
The only third-generation disciple I'd properly faced was Yeongpung, so I couldn't know exactly, but...
Anyway, if she chose to compete with the third-generation disciples for such reasons, there was nothing more for me to ask.
She wouldn't be in this position unless those above had permitted it in the first place.
'Yeongpung on the second-generation disciple side, and Gu Ryeong-hwa on the third-generation disciple side.'
It felt like something was reversed.
If Yeongpung was forced, the difference was that it was Gu Ryeong-hwa's own will.
"...Do your best."
At my trailing words, Gu Ryeong-hwa raised her head.
Her eyes looked a bit surprised.
"What's with that expression?"
"I... didn't expect to hear something like that from you, brother."
"Seeing earlier, it seemed like you heard it a lot. Looks like you receive some affection."
I recalled the second-generation disciples who had praised Gu Ryeong-hwa almost like worshippers.
"...They're just some eccentric people."
Gu Ryeong-hwa's face showed she found it somewhat burdensome.
If it were me, I'd probably want to hide too if muscular men were going "Our Ryeong-hwa is the best!"
Still, it wasn't an expression of pure dislike.
Just discomfort.
"Anyway, I've seen you, so that's enough. I'll be going."
"Wait."
Gu Ryeong-hwa, who was about to turn back, called out to me and stopped my steps.
When I looked at her wondering why, she approached slightly and grabbed the hem of my sleeve.
I couldn't help but be surprised by Gu Ryeong-hwa's action.
She was the Gu Ryeong-hwa who had found it difficult to even face me, so it couldn't be otherwise.
"You..."
"Are you going to watch the Jehwa-jeon?"
"I came to watch, so of course."
"Is... Sister here too?"
If she meant sister, she was probably talking about Namgung Bi-a. If it was Namgung Bi-a, she would probably be seated with Wi Seol-a.
I answered Gu Ryeong-hwa.
"She's here, she'll be seated."
"Brother too?"
"I..."
I had come to watch Gu Ryeong-hwa's sparring, but saying I would watch from here felt somewhat embarrassing. I let out a light cough and then spoke.
"...I'll watch."
At my answer, Gu Ryeong-hwa released the sleeve she was holding. As expected, her hand trembling shallowly was visible, as it was still difficult for her.
Why did she grab it when it was so difficult for her?
Gu Ryeong-hwa stroked her trembling hand and smiled bitterly.
"It seems it's still a bit difficult."
I'm sorry. If it's difficult, don't do it. You don't have to force yourself.
There were many words that almost burst out, but I deliberately didn't voice them.
The young Gu Ryeong-hwa was trying to overcome it herself.
It was already a story very different from her past life.
"...Yeah. I'll be watching carefully."
Every time I saw that appearance, regret and resolve formed simultaneously.
The belated regret that I shouldn't have done that, and the resolve that I must change, even now.
Gu Ryeong-hwa said she needed to prepare now and returned to her place.
I too watched Gu Ryeong-hwa's back for a moment before moving my steps.
With somewhat complicated feelings, I returned to where the spectators gathered and looked for my companions.
Finding where they were was easier than expected. I just needed to find Namgung Bi-a.
Sure enough, there was a place where subtle gazes were聚集.
Though she was wearing a veil, perhaps because of Namgung Bi-a's unique atmosphere, gazes were slightly drawn to her.
Namgung Bi-a was leaning against Wi Seol-a with a somewhat exhausted look, then suddenly raised her head and looked around.
It seemed like she was searching for something.
Namgung Bi-a's gaze, which had been looking around, turned this way. Having spotted me, she waved her hand.
Wi Seol-a next to her also waved together.
'We were quite far away, how did she find me?'
Did she use qi?
She probably didn't do that, so was it a coincidence?
'It must be a coincidence.'
As I walked over there with trivial thoughts, the seat next to them was empty. It seemed they had saved it as my seat.
Wi Seol-a asked me.
"Young Master, where did you go?"
"I went to see my sister. She said she's competing today."
Hearing my words, Namgung Bi-a reacted from beside us.
"She's... coming out today?"
"That's what they said."
Namgung Bi-a's lips twitched as if wanting to ask more, but she soon turned her head away.
Her gaze was on the sparring platform above.
There was no need to ask why.
The somewhat noisy murmuring also disappeared.
Everyone's gaze was directed at the sparring platform above.
The sparring platform that had been completely quiet.
In the not-so-high empty air, a crimson energy suddenly gathered and formed a small leaf.
The light-bearing leaf swayed as if rustling in the breeze and fell.
Then, when the leaf touched the ground—
Whooosh—!
The crimson energy swirled in an instant and enveloped the sparring platform.
It was clearly an enormous amount of internal energy.
The energy that swept across the sparring platform like a whirlwind suddenly spread out with a bang! and disappeared, leaving a faint trace in the air.
On the sparring platform where the energy had disappeared, with the Hwasan Sect Leader Maehwa-seon at the forefront—
Behind him stood those who appeared to be the third-generation disciples who would compete in the Jehwa-jeon.
Upon seeing that, the spectators seated around erupted in cheers.
...They're crazy.
It was probably Maehwa-seon's production for the disciples who had come up to Hwasan, but what was more amazing was that he used that much internal energy for a mere production and didn't show a single sign of it.
As soon as Maehwa-seon raised his hand, as if coordinated, it became quiet again.
"Every year, I wonder what this small event is that makes you all climb the high mountain in this heat to come here... I am truly grateful."
Every time Maehwa-seon took a step, it gave the illusion of wind blowing.
Was this also a transformation created with internal energy?
"There is nothing as tedious as an old man's long words, so I shall step down with these words of gratitude. I ask that you please watch how brightly our children have worked."
As if Maehwa-seon truly had nothing more to say, he came down from the sparring platform and went elsewhere.
The Sword Dragon Yeongpung was at best a promising rising star, but Maehwa-seon was an absolute master widely known throughout the Central Plains, so there were many who regretted not hearing more of his words.
From my perspective, it was good that I could watch the Jehwa-jeon more quickly, though.
When Maehwa-seon sat in the seat where the elder-level figures were gathered, as if they had been waiting, the third-generation disciples on the sparring platform began to prepare.
From among them, two came out, drew wooden swords, and faced each other.
'SThey're using wooden swords?'
I think I heard that the second-generation disciples use real swords.
The man in the center who appeared to be the referee glanced at the young men on both sides and confirmed they had finished preparing.
"...Begin!"
At the voice shouted with internal energy, they immediately kicked off the ground and charged at each other.