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EP.46 Sword Team (6)

If it’s a memory from childhood, over time, everything tends to fade.

That’s how it is for people, and even for Gu Huibi, a martial artist with inner strength, it was no different.

Yet, among those distant memories, there was one that remained firmly in her heart.

[Please take good care of Yangcheon.]

Gu Huibi’s warmest memory.

It was a recollection that naturally popped up whenever hardships arose, serving both as a blessing and a curse.

In her memories, she was a delicate and beautiful person.

Unlike the fierce ones from the Gu Clan, she stood alone amidst the heat, embodying the White Night.

In some ways, she was someone who loved us even more than our biological mother.

She would lay her son’s head on her knee.

Always smiling, even at the mischievous pranks of her adopted daughter.

Filled with worry, as if her own pain intensified whenever we got hurt.

Mother.

She was more than enough for us to call her that.

Now that she had passed away, having embraced us with her heart rather than her strength, Gu Huibi thought she needed to uphold the promise she made to her.

Unlike her endlessly kind demeanor, Gu Huibi felt unable to do so.

She tried to make an effort, but it was inherently beyond her ability.

Thus, she needed to find another way.

Figuring that strength was essential, she learned to wield a sword.

Fortunately, she found that she had talent.

Due to her bloodline from the Gu Clan, she was only surrounded by violent things.

After her departure, her own temperament too bore traces of fire energy.

But Gu Huibi didn’t forget what she had learned.

If you can embrace it out of love, then it’s also possible to protect it.

She would not forget what her mother had so wholeheartedly shown her.

She would live her life in that manner.

The life she received as a final gift was to be used for this purpose.

“Brother.”

She called for her younger sibling.

After a long time apart, her younger brother looked a bit taller.

While it once seemed he was well-fed enough to gain some weight, his sunken cheeks from training now caught her attention.

Seeing that, she felt sorry and had brought him dumplings after making an effort.

Giving them to him, she watched with delight as he ate them.

“Yes.”

His voice was dry and devoid of affection.

Gu Huibi smiled.

He looked as cute as a kitten extending its claws.

It seemed her brother had been living in Sichuan, where the energy in his body was now overflowing.

He had gotten into trouble almost as soon as she took her eyes off him for a second.

“How can you be engaged twice without my permission?”

Once with the Peng Family, and again with the Nangong Clan.

It only seemed to happen when she wasn’t around.

At this point, she couldn’t help but resent her father for pushing her brother’s engagements.

Did he only rush this when she went off for long missions?

What’s fascinating was that he seemed to have changed completely in just a few months.

Her brother was still her brother.

There was no way she could have been mistaken.

He had merely started to exude the aroma of a martial artist, little by little.

Look at him now.

In such a situation, her brother, who should have hidden away in a corner, no longer showed any fear in his eyes.

He was even looking for an opening.

An opening to slip past her, that is.

What should she call this feeling?

Ecstasy? Ah, that seems a bit too perverse.

Fighting strong individuals is always enjoyable.

There’s no retreat.

Thus, it surprised her to feel such things emanating from her younger brother.

When he began to misbehave and ignore her, she wondered what the future held…

To think in just a few months he had grown so much, it was both regrettable and fulfilling.

If he was still growling like a beast, she would’ve considered dragging him into the sword team to teach him a lesson.

Fortunately, it seemed that wouldn’t be necessary.

‘Is this all because of that Nangong girl?’

Flame Burst-!

Perhaps due to her emotions, her energy fluctuated chaotically and fiercely.

The Tangbing Tournament? Was that where they met?

She had expected he would conveniently make excuses to avoid going again, but he had done something unnecessary.

‘I heard Elder Lee insisted it.’

That’s what she had heard.

By chance, how could Elder Lee not get angry? Tch.

A daughter of the Nangong Clan… Was she pretty?

The Thunder Dragon seemed to have a handsome face, so she couldn’t be ugly.

If only she had met her, it would have been better.

How tightly had they hidden her that she couldn’t obtain proper information?

‘…the only thing I could find out was.’

That she was allegedly the most beautiful in Anhui.

The only trivial information they could dig up.

“Sister.”

Lost in thought, Gu Huibi was jolted back by her brother’s voice.

Gu Yangcheon was already in his stance.

“What is it?”

“I called because you seemed to have a lot on your mind before the sparring match.”

“What? Are you worried I might get hurt? How thoughtful of you.”

Gu Yangcheon didn’t answer, twisting his head while loosening up.

Each movement cracked like bones, setting the atmosphere right.

It looked cute to Gu Huibi.

While he was readying himself, she couldn’t feel the warmth usually radiated by someone of his rank.

Why was that?

Was there something he needed to prepare? Or was he just nervous?

“Brother, aren’t you going to draw your sword?”

“I don’t use a sword anymore.”

Gu Huibi faltered for a moment at his words.

No sword…?

Just a few months ago, he had been carrying a wooden sword.

Did he think it was not a good fit for him?

Then again, it’s not like he had practiced with a sword for long.

If he had just discarded the sword because he didn’t like it.

‘Maybe I should scold him a bit?’

Though she shook her head despite the thoughts.

‘…He must know what he’s doing.’

She couldn’t meddle in everything.

After all, she wasn’t his mother.

“…Well, I suppose it’s fine not to.”

Gu Huibi pointed the tip of her wooden sword at Gu Yangcheon.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Are you not coming?”

“No, I’m going.”

At her brother’s response, Gu Huibi also adjusted her stance.

Honestly, she didn’t plan to go all out.

With the engagement issue at hand, she thought about being a bit stronger…

But she didn’t want to go that far with a child.

‘Just enough to tire him out.’

She needed to keep her goal in clear focus.

It had been ages since sparring with her brother.

Unlike Gu Yeonseo, who had clung to her like a tick, Gu Yangcheon had loathed mixing swords with her.

In that sense, it was a refreshing experience.

‘Let’s take it easy.’

She wanted to keep feeling this novelty.

If she applied excessive force by mistake, the spar would end too quickly.

She wouldn’t be able to achieve her true purpose.

Gu Huibi was confident in her own talents.

She believed she was much better than those she had seen called Five Dragons or Three Peaks.

Though it might seem arrogant at first glance.

She had enough talent to back her words.

‘That Peng brat…’

That weirdo.

Or should she say, the Lesser Clan Leader now?

Despite his seemingly scattered head, he was a competent martial artist.

His handling of energy was entirely different than that of other late-stage talents.

But not to the point she couldn’t catch up.

It wouldn’t take long, Gu Huibi judged.

“Sister.”

She heard Gu Yangcheon’s voice again.

Gu Huibi realized she had once again been lost in thought.

Regardless of who her opponent was, this was clearly a mistake.

Should she offer an apology?

But there was something peculiar.

Gu Yangcheon’s voice sounded much closer than expected.

“What….”

Before she could even finish her words, her body moved instinctively.

After spending months wielding a sword against demon beasts, her body moved as if driven by instinct.

She swung her wooden sword through the air.

As the red energy burst forth, it traced a half-moon in front of her.

But there was nothing there.

Thud-!

That wasn’t right.

Gu Huibi quickly turned her body at the sensation felt at her side.

Bang-!

She barely dodged.

As soon as she evaded, a sound of the energy bursting in the spot she had been standing rang out.

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

Gu Huibi took a few steps back, looking at Gu Yangcheon with trembling eyes.

Standing where she had been was now Gu Yangcheon.

A punch thrown lightly shimmered with faint red energy.

So faintly, it seemed almost ethereal.

As she distanced herself, the darkness returned to the training grounds.

From the center, she could feel Gu Yangcheon’s gaze upon her.

His eyes glimmered with a dim red glow.

‘How…?’

To be able to wrap oneself in red energy.

To experience physical changes.

Those were changes only achievable after reaching her realm.

‘How?’

She repeated the same question.

Using the same martial arts made it clearer.

That must be the Technique of the Flame Wheel, but something was different.

If she had to pinpoint it, he resembled the Clan Leader.

In the way he stood, in his gaze.

In the very energy being utilized.

A hint of her father’s formidable presence emerged in Gu Yangcheon.

Not in the way of a son resembling his father.

But to see her three-star brother approach the level of her father was an uncanny sight.

As if brushing off dust, Gu Yangcheon spoke.

“Sister.”

She felt oppressed.

A sensation she had never felt, even when facing a demon beast.

It was not the energy that oppressed her.

It was solely the atmosphere exuding from Gu Yangcheon.

The most outstanding of late-stage talents.

Sword Team Gu Huibi herself.

‘…This is chilling.’

What on earth had happened for that child to change like this?

She felt it was regrettable that she had been absent for the few months when she was missing from the clan.

It was too unfortunate, seeing how he transformed without her witnessing it.

Gu Yangcheon, looking at her, spoke.

“The time for carelessness has ended, hasn’t it?”

“…Indeed, I did become careless.”

What if Gu Yangcheon hadn’t called out to her?

What if he had aimed for her jaw instead of her side?

Would she have been standing without a scratch?

Gu Huibi couldn’t be certain.

Suppressing the rising thrill, Gu Huibi asked.

“Brother, what has happened to you?”

“Quite a few things have happened.”

He replied with a somewhat sullen expression.

It hadn’t been a pleasant experience, apparently.

“This can’t be….”

Gu Huibi licked her lips slightly.

Her brother’s growth was too good to be true.

The brother she thought had gone astray seemed to have found his path, making her feel somewhat relieved.

Separate from that, her desire as a martial artist was surging.

To quickly make her opponent kneel before her.

One must not forget the original purpose, but the rising ambition was bothering her.

‘Just a little, to taste?’

Just a little might not be overwhelming enough for her brother.

As those thoughts lingered in her mind.

Flame Burst-!

Gu Huibi immediately set her plan into action.

‘…Has she finally come to her senses?’

Feeling an energy that was much hotter than before, she let out a deep sigh.

For a while, she had been switching between frowning and smiling, her expressions shifting back and forth like a pendulum.

If she had merely struck his chin, it would have been an easy task, but that was never the intention.

Gu Huibi had likely meant it that way too, giving him a jolt to get him back on track.

Her initial aim was to simply say, ‘Get a grip, I’m good enough for sparring.’

Had she gone a bit overboard?

‘Crazy… how much had he been hiding?’

The heat brushing her face made her stagger unknowingly.

It was evident.

That was not the aura of a five-star level.

If anything, it was higher.

“…Sister, are you back to your senses now?”

She asked anxiously, receiving a gentle smile from Gu Huibi amidst the flickering flames.

“Of course! It’s all good, it’s all good.”

But it doesn’t seem all that good.

She recalled the strange expression that seemed a bit off, wondering what sort of nickname that madwoman would end up with.

Killer of the Crimson Flame Sword, Gu Huibi.

‘…Let’s just call her the Red Flame Lunatic.’

That nickname really didn’t sound pleasant. On the contrary, it felt like it suited her too well.

Had she over-stimulated him?

Having risen to three stars, using energy had become much easier.

That allowed her to exploit an opening and successfully deliver a strike.

“…I think I’ve regretted this.”

It seemed she had over-stimulated that flame boar.

This could make it difficult to rein her in.

“I’m coming, brother…!”

“…No need to come. I… Forget it!”

Without paying any heed to her words, Gu Huibi dashed forward.

And that night, the training grounds at her residence collapsed from her rampage.

As Gu Yangcheon’s residence was crumbling,

Inside the Head House of the Nangong Clan.

“…What is this?”

Gajoo Nangong Jin could not hide the tremors in his eyes as he asked.

“What on earth is this?”

The guard who delivered the letter knelt, unable to utter a word.

“…It’s my failure. I’m sorry, Clan Leader.”

The guard’s words did not reach Nangong Jin’s ears.

What mattered was the letter held tightly in his trembling hands.

Nangong Jin unfurled the letter his daughter had left behind.

A few lines of text barely readable smeared across the page.

Yet, Nangong Jin could firmly ascertain that it was written by his daughter.

Because she was the only one in the Nangong Family bold enough to write like this and walk around unashamed.

“…She didn’t even say when she disappeared?”

“That is correct….”

The guard answered in response to Nangong Jin’s query.

Nangong Jin’s forehead creased with displeasure.

Should he find solace in that his daughter managed to evade the clan guards?

Were it not for this reason, he might have felt jubilant.

Nangong Jin couldn’t suppress his anger any longer and crumpled the letter.

“…Bring her back.”

His fierce voice resonated in the room.

The guard was at a loss for words, unable to respond to the turbulent energy.

He simply nodded, suppressing his screams.

Within the crumpled letter, Gu Bi-ah had scrawled in hasty handwriting.

– I’m off to meet my fiancé.

In other words.

Gu Bi-ah had run away from home.

 

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