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Chapter 229: Departure

Wi Seol-Ah has left.

Not a word, not a single hint.

She departed with the Sword Sovereign, leaving the Gu Clan behind.

“What in the world happened?”

Such a sudden parting.

I had anticipated that Wi Seol-Ah would eventually leave the Gu Clan one day, but I never expected it to be this soon.

Let alone.

“Shin Yi too.”

Just as the Sword Sovereign took Wi Seol-Ah away, I also had to hear that Shin Yi left the clan.

I asked Hong Wa about it, but she said that during the time everyone was asleep, Wi Seol-Ah and the Sword Sovereign disappeared without a trace.

I wondered if they really vanished and checked with the clan, yet the head officer simply told me that the two had indeed left.

“That means my father must have known beforehand.”

It meant the Sword Sovereign and Wi Seol-Ah’s departure was something my father was aware of.

“…Why didn’t he say anything to me?”

It was a mystery.

Why didn’t Wi Seol-Ah tell me?

Did she really not know she was leaving?

If that was the case, why didn’t she leave even a letter behind?

What on earth was happening…

As these thoughts began to swirl in my mind—

Suddenly, I felt someone grab my hand.

It was Nangong Bi-ah, who had been walking beside me.

“…Calm down….”

Her gaze, filled with concern, gently regarded me.

It was a strange difference given that I used to be taller than her.

“What should I calm down about? I’m fine.”

I tried to act nonchalant.

Inside, it felt like an earthquake was shaking my insides, but I couldn’t let that show.

Of course, Nangong Bi-ah must have realized something was off.

“Did you see it?”

“Who?”

“Her leaving.”

At my question, Nangong Bi-ah shook her head.

Indicating she hadn’t seen anything.

“…Right.”

Why did she suddenly leave?

What on earth was going on?

“From the start, it was strange that Wi Seol-Ah was staying at the clan with me.”

Even while repeating this painful thought, that was the reality.

Time spent with Wi Seol-Ah was, in essence, like a mismatched puzzle piece.

The second time I met Wi Seol-Ah in my previous life was when I caused a huge accident and was dragged into the Five Sword Team, rolling around the front line.

At that time, Wi Seol-Ah was much different from the one I knew now.

That was merely a fleeting meeting.

When we finally met properly, it was when whispers began that she was the formal heir of Sword Sovereign.

The mere fact that Wi Seol-Ah was by my side was odd from the start.

It was just a series of coincidences.

As I returned, things that were meant to be different slightly shifted.

Despite knowing all that, the fact that Wi Seol-Ah had vanished left my head spinning.

“I thought for a moment that just being together meant we could be together always.”

What a shameless thought it was.

I had forgotten my place.

—Young Master!

At the voice echoing in my ear, I instinctively turned around.

There was no way Wi Seol-Ah would be there.

“Is this a crazy joke?”

Is it really this much of a shock just because Wi Seol-Ah left the clan?

Or was it that I was realizing just how significant she was in my heart?

Thinking about it, I was definitely shaken to the core.

Days passed.

Right after finishing closed training, I tackled the pile of work and repeated my training.

The flames I produced filled the training grounds as they vanished, repeatedly.

The energy stabilized after closed training, yet I showed no signs of fatigue.

I could endlessly produce it.

Drawing my fingers in a diagonal line.

I burned my emotions with the flames blooming in the air.

Currently, Shin Noya, whom I could seek advice from depending on the situation, was absent.

He probably was sleeping for quite some time.

“Since that guy was like that…”

Although I had gained a lot during closed training, oddly enough, more questions arose.

For some reason, I had to constantly explore why that guy was within me.

“So, did I figure it out?”

I didn’t manage to.

I hadn’t truly discovered it.

But perhaps I vaguely understood it.

If I had to compare, it felt like understanding a mere sliver of a fingernail’s worth.

Yet, even that was more than enough.

“…It almost overflowed.”

If I had been just a bit more greedy during the conversation with that guy, I might have been consumed.

Recalling that now, surely, that situation would have been the case.

[…Creak…Kick…]

Even now, I could see.

That guy seemed to be licking his lips in disappointment.

“…I wish I didn’t know.”

If I hadn’t realized the danger he posed,

It might have been more comfortable.

I would have at least reduced one thing to worry about.

[..Food….]

At the muttering voice expressing dissatisfaction,

I clenched my teeth.

“Stay quiet; you’ll be full soon enough without me rushing it.”

[…Grrr…]

The guy groaned, yet I expected he would listen.

Flame Burst.

The flames I ignited harmonized with the Taoist Qi, still radiating a scarlet glow.

The Taoist Qi helped safely channel the wild energy of the Gu Clan,

And it suppressed the recoil distinctive to brutal martial arts.

By regulating it, I clenched my fist.

The energy beginning from the lower Dantian filled the Lower Dantian.

Growing in intensity, it made the flames floating in the air even more vibrant.

Gazing quietly at the fire,

I drew in one more hidden energy from my body.

Boom.

In an instant, my body felt like it was going to burst with power.

The heat I held surged forth, filling the surroundings.

Along with that.

Flame Burst!

The scarlet flames gradually transformed into blue.

Those flames cloaked in blood energy.

As I stared at the azure flames blazing before me, that guy began whining in my mind.

[…This… is… not great… not great at all…]

He uniquely detested the blood energy.

To be precise, he craved it, yet felt strangely averse to the energy inside me.

“Stop whining and stay still.”

I naturally didn’t care about his reactions.

I swung the blue flames in the air a few times as I controlled it.

Tap.

Finally extinguishing the flames.

“Haah…”

It was still exhausting to use for long periods.

“If I had to force myself, I could probably last a bit longer.”

If I gave it everything, I could endure that much.

However, considering the backlash that would hit after, it could be possible only if I didn’t think about that.

The sweat that never flowed during physical training,

Now poured down just a little after this minor workout.

“Indeed, the quantity of energy makes a difference.”

No matter how much energy I had,

Or how well I regulated it,

It felt irrelevant when using blood energy.

“It’s best not to use it unless absolutely necessary.”

Unless the situation was exceptionally dangerous, using blood energy was indeed the better option.

I needed to figure out what purpose the Blood Demon had for putting this into me.

As I wrapped up my random training with a sigh,

I sensed an approaching presence.

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“…Ah, thank you…”

I instinctively reached out to take water when—

I hesitated momentarily.

It felt odd that someone who always handed me water at the end of training had changed.

“Young Master…?”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you.”

Hong Wa looked at me with those curious eyes.

I hurriedly averted my gaze and drank the water.

Moistening my throat, I softly asked Hong Wa, “Nothing to report?”

“No, nothing has come in. This is the fourth time you’ve asked today.”

“And you’ve answered me four times?”

“Yes, indeed.”

“Is that so? Sorry.”

I awkwardly smiled while scratching my cheek.

Considering there wouldn’t be anything, it was irritating that I asked four times.

“You’re worried about Seol-Ah, aren’t you?”

“Not exactly.”

Hong Wa still looked at me with those strange eyes.

But I pushed past Hong Wa and kept walking.

I was soaked in sweat and needed a wash soon.

As I left, I said to Hong Wa, “Could you prepare some food?”

“…Understood.”

“Okay, thanks for the trouble.”

I trudged out of the training ground.

Left alone for a moment, Hong Wa let out a deep sigh.

“…Seol-Ah, where did you go?”

The child I had considered like a younger sister suddenly leaving was quite the shock for Hong Wa as well.

But looking at the situation, it was clear that the one most affected was the Young Master.

Even now, walking around with such absent-minded eyes.

Showing such a sorry state just because a single attendant had disappeared wasn’t a good look for a direct bloodline.

But considering the relationship between Wi Seol-Ah and Gu Yangcheong, I could vaguely understand such a reaction.

Gu Yangcheong was particularly sensitive toward Wi Seol-Ah, treating her more gently than others.

While worrying and not worrying,

Hong Wa quickly shook her head, shaking those thoughts away.

Even though it pained her heart that the beloved Wi Seol-Ah had left,

She couldn’t afford to let such feelings get in the way of work.

Walking briskly, Hong Wa followed the direction Gu Yangcheong had taken.

After eating,

I walked along the wooded paths of the Gu Clan.

Naturally, Nangong Bi-ah was beside me.

These days, she would appear around meal times after practicing too.

“Didn’t Tang Soyeol say she would go to Sichuan?”

That was something I already knew, so I wasn’t too surprised.

She had told me that she would have to go to Sichuan for a bit.

By her own words, she had said she would return before the closed training ended,

But that seemed impossible.

Given the distance to Sichuan, it would be impossible within just two months.

“Speaking of which.”

“…Hmm?”

“What will you do?”

As we walked along a path drenched in light,

I asked Nangong Bi-ah, who was quietly walking beside me.

We were supposed to head to the front lines according to clan orders.

I didn’t mind going, but it was a matter of Nangong Bi-ah. I couldn’t leave her alone at the clan.

“Are you planning to return to the clan for a bit…?”

“I’ll go with you.”

Her voice was unexpectedly firm.

“…There?”

“Yeah.”

“Why would you go that far?”

It wasn’t just a short trip.

It wouldn’t be a fleeting visit either.

There was no need for Nangong Bi-ah to follow me to the front lines.

After all, I couldn’t help but feel that, eventually, she’d go there herself someday.

Since it was a place anyone from a prestigious family would visit at least once.

She didn’t have to specifically follow me…

“…But you’re going.”

Nangong Bi-ah’s casual words caught me off guard.

So simple and straightforward.

But the weight of what that meant was heavier than expected.

“I… am… not going anywhere….”

“What do you mean…”

“…So you don’t have to worry.”

As I tilted my head, her words struck me as if I had been hit.

“Worried?”

Nangong Bi-ah spoke as if I had been concerned about something.

What exactly was I worried about, I wondered.

I found myself feeling a tug of guilt.

I was worried that Nangong Bi-ah might go somewhere too.

That was probably what I was worried about.

It was a gruesome desire born from my inability to act my age.

Did Nangong Bi-ah catch on to it somehow?

…And…”

As I swallowed the self-loathing rising to my throat, Nangong Bi-ah added on,

“…Seol-Ah will… return soon too.”

“…How do you know that?”

“I just do… Why don’t you know?”

“What?”

“If I know, why don’t you know?”

Of course, she would return.

Why would that not be the case?

Nangong Bi-ah questioned me with a tone that carried a hint of reprimand.

Along with that, it felt like she was chiding me to stop acting foolish and get a grip.

Then, with dainty steps, she moved a step ahead of me.

“If she doesn’t come back, you can just go find her.”

“…That’s what I did.”

I did that just to see you.

Nangong Bi-ah whispered to me.

Her calm words gently filled the emptiness within me.

“Indeed, it really was that simple.”

If I missed her, I should just go find her.

What on earth made me struggle so much over such an easy matter?

I couldn’t quite understand.

Maybe it wasn’t that hard to find someone who disappeared.

“I probably just didn’t want to look for her.”

For some reason, it felt like I shouldn’t chase after her.

I silently took a step back and thought that way.

Now would be a good time for Shin Noya’s intervention,

But of course, this old man was fast asleep.

As afterthoughts of Nangong Bi-ah made me chuckle softly.

“Yeah, it really would have been enough to just go find her.”

“…Yeah.”

Having a poor head full of so many thoughts made me end up in this mess.

It was a simple path, yet I kept forgetting it.

Maybe feeling grateful for her words,

I unknowingly stretched my hand to pat Nangong Bi-ah’s hair.

“…I apologize for interrupting at a time like this.”

An unexpected voice chimed in.

As I looked around, it was surprisingly Moyong Hi-ah.

What was she doing here…?

Maybe I was feeling overwhelmed thinking too much.

Until Moyong Hi-ah got close, I hadn’t even noticed her presence.

I wasn’t the only one in shock;

Nangong Bi-ah was glaring at Moyong Hi-ah with a look of disdain as well.

“Please don’t look at me like that, Sword Dance Hero. I really struggled with when to jump into this conversation.”

…

！..

…

“”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s words, Nangong Bi-ah let out a rare snort and turned her head.

‘…What’s up with their animosity?’

While Tang Soyeol got along well with Wi Seol-Ah, Nangong Bi-ah,

for some reason seemed to have a standoffish demeanor with Moyong Hi-ah.

Approaching Nangong Bi-ah and slightly closing the distance,

I asked Moyong Hi-ah, “What brings you here?”

Considering the heat, I had shared with Moyong Hi-ah a few days ago.

It shouldn’t have been too excessive, but I had thought we agreed to meet just once at night.

“Ah, it’s nothing really… but if the Prince goes to the front lines, there would be issues due to our contract.”

“…I see.”

That made sense.

Since Moyong Hi-ah’s side had assuredly mentioned that they would handle this matter, I hadn’t bothered to worry about it.

Was that the problem?

“So, I decided that I would go along too.”

“…What did you say?”

“To the front lines. I’ll go with you.”

With an enchanting smile, Moyong Hi-ah said that.

“Click.

Zap-!

At her words, I suddenly broke into a cold sweat from the prickling thunder I sensed from behind.

 

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