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EP.30 The Iron Lady. (2)

Splash—splash—

I stepped slowly through the deep pool of blood.

The mountains and cliffs piled high with corpses had become an all-too-familiar sight.

Not a single intact body among the rotting, decaying corpses; the stench that mingled in the air was definitely a terrible poison.

The once healthy land had turned into a rancid wasteland, soaked in toxins and cracked.

How long would it take for this vast land to regain its original form?

Probably several centuries at the least.

Even as I walked, I constantly circulated my energy to block the poison.

The once vibrant and resplendent land of Sichuan had become cursed ground.

It was no place for a human to survive.

At the end of the path I forged by stepping in the blood, the source of the raging poison sat quietly.

Her greenish eyes were cruelly gouged out, leaving only thick blood that flowed down her cheeks.

[Is it over now, Poison Empress?]

The Poison Empress, Tang Soyeol, who had simply closed her eyes and bowed her head, lifted her face at the sound of my voice.

[…Is that you?]

The refreshing tone was gone, replaced by a hoarse, exhausted voice.

[What a foolish sight. Your kin fled to another land long ago… What did you think would change by remaining here alone?]

[Nothing would change.]

[Then why?]

Tang Soyeol covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed.

[So why are you here, then?]

[What an idiotic question. Is it not obvious? I came to sever your last remaining breath.]

[I see.]

Splash.

I walked slowly toward Tang Soyeol. Oddly enough, I could feel the poison thinning as I moved closer.

While she remained here, the bloodline of the Tang Clan could safely embark on the escape route to Shaolin.

Because of that, I had a plan for the future.

But what about Tang Soyeol?

[Such a fool.]

What was left for her, now that she was all alone?

If the Righteous Faction were to win this war one day, perhaps there’d be a brief note in history:

– The sacrifice of Poison Empress Tang Soyeol ensured hope for the future.

Most likely, that would be all that remained. Truly a pointless tale.

Two days.

A time where only Tang Soyeol fought off the raging demons while protecting Sichuan.

Her eyes were gouged out, and a terrible poison accumulated around the land where the Tang Clan once stood.

In the meantime, countless demons met their end, but it was still just that.

Unless the Heavenly Demon fell, this war would never end.

As I approached her, Tang Soyeol spoke.

[…I’m truly sorry for you.]

I frowned at her absurd words.

[Apologizing to a demon? Have you lost your mind, Poison Empress?]

[Yes, it seems I’ve finally gone mad. I should have let go of my sanity a bit earlier… There’s so much that becomes visible only after losing my eyes.]

[Stop babbling. Is that all you have to say?]

I slowly gripped her neck with my hand. It was thin enough that it would snap with a little pressure.

[Though it’s not within my power,

If you have any remaining time in this world.]

Her trembling body—I couldn’t tell what emotion she was harboring as she spoke.

It was merely the grievances of what remained, perhaps a regret about the sacrifices now felt.

None of it mattered to me.

[You…]

Tang Soyeol continued speaking, but her voice failed her, leaving me uncertain about her words.

I tightened my grip on her neck without hesitation.

With a sound reminiscent of something breaking, Tang Soyeol bowed her head low.

When I released my hand and stepped aside, her body fell to the ground limply.

All around us, the blood was engulfed in poison.

No matter how much one claimed immunity to all poisons, a body would soon rot and dissolve once the breath left.

The difficult sacrifice had been made, but she would leave not even a single piece of her body behind.

Such is the nature of sacrifice.

I immediately turned and started to leave the land of Sichuan.

Perhaps it was the surrounding poison, but it was utterly repulsive to remain here.

This land.

Myself.

“Will you not answer?”

The thoughts faded away.

At moments like this, I despised how vividly I recalled memories I wished to forget. I met Tang Soyeol’s eyes.

One of her eyes retained a green hue due to the unfinished immunity to all poisons, but soon both would be entirely green.

Poison Empress Tang Soyeol, or perhaps now she was the Poison Phoenix.

“If you won’t answer, then I will…”

Before she could finish, Nangong Bi-ah whispered something to her.

Tang Soyeol’s expression softened at Bi-ah’s words.

Approaching me, she straightened up.

“I am Tang Soyeol of the Tang Clan. I apologize for raising my voice at a guest who has come to visit.”

It was a quick decision without hesitation.

“…I am Gu Jeolyub.”

I responded, but I borrowed the name of Jeolyub.

I should either quit this or do something about it soon… Ah, should I just lay low now?

If I were even slightly famous, this tactic would have failed miserably, yet why did no one question my name?

If only a year had passed, just mentioning my name would have summoned disdain, calling me the dog of Mount Shan.

Lost in my intense contemplation, Tang Soyeol spoke again.

“I see. Gu Gongja, this is a place where only kin are permitted. Outsiders aren’t allowed.”

“…But Nangong So-juh is also an outsider, right?”

“She’s permitted by her bloodline, so it’s fine.”

In other words, it meant I was not allowed here since she hadn’t given her permission.

How petty… Well, I wasn’t planning to stay anyway, so it didn’t matter.

Besides, Tang Soyeol’s sharp gaze bearing down on me was uncomfortable.

Why did she glare at me as if she wanted to kill me? Was it that distressing I came here?

“Then I shall take my leave.”

I concluded the conversation and turned to leave with Wi Seol-Ah.

Once we left, Nangong Bi-ah turned to Tang Soyeol and asked.

“Soyeol.”

“Yes, sister.”

“Why did you glare at him so menacingly?”

“…It bothers me that he didn’t even apologize after being pointed out for coming in without permission.”

“Oh…”

“If he thinks he’s good-looking, then so be it? All handsome ones are alike in being bothersome.”

“Uh…?”

Well… what?

Nangong Bi-ah pondered over her sister’s words, tracing back to the face of that boy who just flashed by.

With sharp eyes and an overall rugged face.

While he didn’t seem outright ugly, it was clear he looked more intimidating than handsome.

Even someone like me, who often failed to remember faces, could clearly recall his features.

“…Ah, indeed, I think warm-hearted and kind people are better, even if they are not good-looking.”

“…Agreed.”

‘All handsome folks are like that.’ Muttering various things, Tang Soyeol moved ahead while Nangong Bi-ah followed slowly behind her.

Even while walking, the question marks floating above Nangong Bi-ah’s head did not disappear.

The next morning after arriving at the Tang Clan.

Rubbing my eyes sleepily as I opened the door, I was met with two faces I’d rather not see.

Nangong Bi-ah.

Nangong Cheonjun.

The blue-haired siblings stood right before me.

…Why do they keep coming to bother me?

Isn’t it enough to just ignore each other after arriving at the Tang Clan?

As I stared at the annoying scene, I spoke.

“…Why have you come again?”

Since Cheonjun wouldn’t risk coming to find me himself, I looked at Nangong Bi-ah beside him.

It was obvious that Cheonjun had lazily trailed after her.

Nangong Bi-ah, looking at me, answered my question.

“We’re… eating.”

“Eating?”

What do you mean by eating…?

“We have to go eat.”

“…Yes, go then.”

If you’re hungry, just eat without reporting it to me, why don’t you?

Cheonjun, quietly listening, seemed a bit frustrated and added to the conversation.

“The Tang Clan invited you for a meal, and my sister thought it would be nice to bring you along, so we came to ask.”

“I see, understood. I’m fine, so you all can go eat.”

Now that they explained, I found it even less appealing. There was no way I’d sit across the table from them.

Cheonjun’s brow furrowed as if he didn’t expect me to decline.

‘How dare you, you insolent brat?’ That feeling was evident.

He quickly managed his expression, though.

“I simply don’t have an appetite.”

“It’s good for Righteous Faction members to strengthen their bonds. Gu So-hyeob.”

“I’m rather shy around strangers. I’d prefer to eat comfortably.”

“You’re… shy?”

That was Bi-ah’s remark.

I shot a glare at her, and she promptly looked away.

“Anyway, I am not going. You all can go eat and enjoy yourselves.”

The Tangbing Tournament will be held tomorrow afternoon.

So, until then, I planned to eat something simple and continue with my training.

Especially since I didn’t expect to maintain my composure if I had to share a meal with those two.

Ultimately, after several rejections, Cheonjun came closer with a slightly cracked expression.

“Please do join us.”

Cheonjun said this while grabbing my arm.

And quite forcefully at that.

Since it was out of Bi-ah’s sight, his expression was completely unguarded.

The intense disdain and annoyance were evident in Cheonjun’s eyes.

Crack.

His grip on my arm tightened more and more.

Was he really planning to drag me along through threats if I refused?

‘What should I do?’

It was annoying and frustrating.

Why are there so many people bothering me lately?

While I’m trying to just get by, if things keep up like this, it won’t bode well.

I could already feel the slight killing intent he harbored toward me.

In my eyes, even if he’s a madman or a lunatic, I thought there might be a slight help to me later on.

But since it’s the Nangong Clan too, maybe I should just leave things be, or I might feel the urge to punch him.

Or rather, killing him wouldn’t be out of the question.

-Huff!

Before I realized it, I’d introduced a bit of killing intent into the moment.

Then Cheonjun stepped back in surprise.

…Ah, that was a big mistake.

I quickly calmed my mind and reined in my energy, but it may have been too late, as Cheonjun stared at me with wide eyes.

Perhaps my weakened body led to my emotional state and its energy being difficult to control.

Fortunately, Bi-ah didn’t seem affected, as she simply looked at us, puzzled.

I awkwardly smiled at Cheonjun. It appeared I had to go along after all.

“I guess since you’ve insisted, I have no choice but to accompany you.”

As I spoke, I naturally draped my arm around Cheonjun’s shoulder. Since he was taller than me, it was rather uncomfortable.

He startled back, clearly shocked, but quickly returned a fierce glare.

As he tried to shake off my grip, I subtly whispered.

“Control your expression; your sister is watching you.”

-Crack.

It seemed my mention of Bi-ah irked him, causing tension at his lips.

I smiled at that.

But to my surprise, he seemed to take my advice, quickly returning to his previous façade.

“Thank you for accommodating me, Gu So-hyeob.”

“Not at all; with you asking so kindly, I must comply.”

Hahaha. We masked our true intents with smiles.

As long as he didn’t harbor kill intent towards me, I wouldn’t mind.

If we could just part ways then, I doubt we’d ever meet again.

At worst, I might run into him once or twice at Righteous Faction gatherings.

Let’s just keep it that way.

He was observant enough not to provoke further.

After all, they’re from the Nangong Clan; they think things through…

With this simple assumption in mind, I soon realized one thing.

This brat has no thought process at all…

That afternoon, Cheonjun asked me.

“So, So-hyeob, care for a spar with me?”

…Ah, what an annoying brat, Gu Jeolyub.

 

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