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Chapter 253: Baekhwa Jumihyeoran (2)

How much time has passed?

I had only just woken up.

As I gazed at the risen moon, it must have just passed midnight.

Though it was rather late for guests to arrive.

Nangong Bi-ah couldn’t say anything about it.

After all, the other party was who they were.

Nng,,

Nangong Bi-ah searched around everywhere.

The way the woman sipped the tea she managed to find radiated elegance.

Even with the subtle traces of time upon her, her beauty remained intact.

Just a glance at her clothes revealed they were anything but ordinary.

The silence hung heavily.

What should I say to break the ice?

Nangong Bi-ah felt frustrated at her lack of conversation skills.

As she fumbled with her lips, the woman sitting across from her broke the silence.

“I’m sorry for coming so late at night.”

The woman spoke, smiling slightly.

There was an indescribable grace in that smile, making things even more difficult.

“Oh… I was… in training, so… you don’t have to worry.”

“Thank you for understanding. So, do you always train at this hour, Young Lady?”

“•••Ah, yes….”

“I see. You’re quite diligent.”

As she spoke, the woman began to write something on the letter she had pulled out.

“•••Training… at night.”

It seemed she was writing something very important.

Nangong Bi-ah was incredibly curious, but shyness kept her from peeking.

Perhaps noticing her attention, the woman cleared her throat slightly.

“Sorry, I have some matters to attend to.”

“It’s fine….”

“Should I call you Nangong Young Lady?”

Nangong Bi-ah nodded at the woman’s words.

And then regretted it.

She should have responded verbally instead of just nodding.

Maybe it was the tension, but her mind felt scrambled.

“I prefer that you….”

The woman began to speak but suddenly fell silent.

It seemed she had something in mind but struggled to express it.

“…Lady Mi, yes. I think Lady Mi will do.”

“Yes….”

“I apologize for coming late. I heard that a member of the Nangong Clan was staying here, and I dared to seek a conversation.”

Nangong Bi-ah nodded at Lady Mi’s words.

But was that really the reason?

While it might be true that she wanted to converse…

It didn’t seem like it was just to discuss her last name, Nangong.

‘…Why do I feel this way?’

Nangong Bi-ah didn’t understand why she thought so.

Yet somehow, it felt that way.

If she were to claim it was intuition…

She had never been wrong about such things.

“Nangong Young Lady, you have quite a calm aura.”

Was the woman tactfully implying that she was quiet and dull?

If that were the case, she’d want to change it, but there was nothing she could do.

She truly was like that.

“I wish my daughters could inherit that calmness as well.”

“…Excuse me?”

Is that a good thing?

Nangong Bi-ah struggled to comprehend the conversation unfolding before her.

What was happening?

She tried to suppress the tension while observing the woman in front of her.

‘…Is there a foul smell…?’

If she didn’t pay attention, it was barely noticeable.

Part of it was due to Nangong Bi-ah’s rising realm.

And as her realm increased, her awareness had sharpened too.

But still, it felt shallow.

Still, it was comforting for Nangong Bi-ah.

Yet, the silence lingered.

With zero conversational skills, she couldn’t find a topic to break the stillness.

More importantly, she was unsure how to address the other person.

Gu Yangcheong was the child of a concubine.

The person before Nangong Bi-ah was said to be the wife.

How was she supposed to navigate such a complicated relationship?

A remark from Gu Yangcheong echoed in her mind.

– You really should study common sense.

Could this also fall under common sense?

If that were the case, then she should have listened to him earlier.

If only she had known she would end up in this situation.

“That child.”

The one to break the silence this time was still Lady Mi.

Nangong Bi-ah felt a jolt at the words that reached her ears.

‘…What does she mean?’

If she was referring to that child…

It certainly sounded like it was about Gu Yangcheong.

What would Lady Mi have to say about Gu Yangcheong?

‘…Ahem…?’

If a wife brought up the child of the concubine.

It was usually something contentious.

From what Nangong Bi-ah had seen, it was always the case.

Was Lady Mi about to bring up Gu Yangcheong’s past misdeeds or fabricate something without basis?

If that happens, how should she respond?

‘Should I… get angry?’

If it were someone else, she’d unsheathe her sword without hesitation.

But now, she had to think.

If she acted rashly, the consequences would fall on him.

And, in this matter…

Because she understood that, Nangong Bi-ah had to think a lot.

To be by his side, she must not bring harm.

That’s why she waited, tense for Lady Mi’s next words.

“Was he good to you?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Does that child treat you well?”

The question was so unexpected that her already dazed mind felt like it turned even whiter.

Does he… treat me well?

She strained to recall.

Though things had improved a bit lately, he often avoided her when she approached.

He would say he wouldn’t, but he’d sometimes vanish without a word.

Then he’d come back, majorly injured.

His tone was rough.

He had no awareness of the situation…

‘…?’

The more she thought about it, the more strange it felt.

As Nangong Bi-ah’s expression grew increasingly baffled, Lady Mi smiled slightly and spoke.

“Seeing your expression, I can tell.”

Nng… Ah…! That’s….”

That was a blunder.

She should have tried to manage her expression somehow.

Nangong Bi-ah felt a sense of anger against her own weakness.

“Like it looks, he’s quite prickly.”

At those words from Lady Mi, Nangong Bi-ah’s instinct to explain went silent.

“He wears thorns to hide his scars, so please don’t hate him. It’s the fault of the adults, not the child…”

The early words came out as calmly as before.

Her tone was emotionally devoid, filled with a chilling reserve.

Yet somehow, because of the peculiar sensations emanating from each word, Nangong Bi-ah unconsciously felt her tension easing.

The person she first met…

And the picture she had imagined was somewhat different.

“It’s been rude of me to take up so much of your time at this late hour. I should be leaving now.”

As Lady Mi stood up, slightly bowing her head.

Nangong Bi-ah hastily rose too, but Lady Mi gestured for her to remain seated.

It was a sign that her company wasn’t necessary.

But Nangong Bi-ah couldn’t just sit still.

Did she truly come just for such a brief conversation?

What had Lady Mi come to see?

With her limited knowledge and skills, she couldn’t figure it out.

But for some reason, she felt as if she couldn’t let her go just like that.

“…He is a good person.”

The words that Nangong Bi-ah struggled to utter caused Lady Mi’s steps to suddenly halt.

“Young Lady?”

“Though he seems indifferent, he tries to protect those around him.”

The halting and awkward words began to smooth out abruptly when it came to Gu Yangcheong.

How fascinating it was…

That she could change so significantly when it came to him.

“…He may seem reckless, but ultimately acts for others.” Of course, sometimes his temperament might lead him to act violently.

Living every day was certainly a hassle for her, even while he claimed to live for her.

Yet, she knew that when he looked at her, his gaze often drifted to someone or something else.

Why did he sometimes look at her with eyes filled with guilt and regret?

She didn’t press for details, since he wasn’t inclined to speak first.

Whatever it may be.

He cared about her, and that was enough for Nangong Bi-ah.

“…That person is a good person.”

Even when she spoke clearly, her lack of words meant she ultimately couldn’t convey what she wanted to say.

However, Lady Mi seemed to ponder for a moment before smiling lightly, reminiscent of her earlier expression.

“…Is that so?”

With those words, Lady Mi slowly exited, vanishing from view.

Left alone, Nangong Bi-ah sighed, feeling as though she had weathered a storm.

She would later recount that day as the most nerve-wracking day of her life.

As she walked the moonlit path.

The moonlight shimmered down, but the dim road obscured her view.

If she were an ordinary person without a bet, it would be hard to find her way without any light.

But.

Mi Hyo-ran walked the path unperturbed.

It was a path she had ventured countless times, so there was no way she could be lost.

‘On the left, flowers were blooming.’

Though they were gone now.

Flowers had bloomed there.

She didn’t remember their name, but they surely had been white flowers.

Neglected weeds were rampant, and even the trees grew unsightly.

Yet, Mi Hyo-ran didn’t intervene.

She understood why her husband didn’t maintain this path.

Because he wouldn’t want to disturb the garden she had created.

‘Foolish man.’

Mi Hyo-ran’s thoughts were limited to that.

Strolling through the garden, she suddenly called out to someone.

“Mujin.”

In an instant, a voice responded from the void.

-…Yes, Lady Danju.

Surprisingly, Mi Hyo-ran’s voice rang in the air.

Unperturbed, she inquired calmly, “How goes it?”

– …As the world speaks, it seems a lot has changed.

“For example?”

– Most notably, it seems I was detected by your presence.

At Mujin’s words, Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes widened in surprise.

Detected?

“Is that certain?”

– Yes. More specifically, it seems I was sensed from the moment I faced Lady Danju.

From the moment he entered Gu Yangcheong’s room.

Did that child sense Mujin’s aura?

– Because of that, I was unable to approach easily, but from a distance, it looked very different from before.

“…Oh.”

Mi Hyo-ran exhaled upon hearing Mujin’s words.

She attempted to define the swirling emotions within her.

“Is it joy? Or confusion? Or maybe regret?”

It’s complicated.

Emotions remained a mystery to her.

The growth she witnessed in that child was concerning.

Had he healed from the scars of the past?

Could that be called expectation?

It was equally tough to define that.

“Right, they call him Jin Ryong now.”

– Yes. I’ve heard he’s become well-known in the Central Plains.

She had learned that a nickname had been bestowed upon the child.

It was widely known among many late-stage talents.

And she knew that he had made a place in the minds of even more people.

‘That child, huh?’

Unable to endure the scars etched into his heart,

The young child who had gradually succumbed to despair.

How had he transformed so much in the time she had naively distanced herself?

As Mi Hyo-ran drowned in her unexplainable feelings.

‘…’

Mujin reflected on his prior encounter.

Though he didn’t mention it to his Danju,

Gu Yangcheong hadn’t merely sensed his aura.

‘To think I’d be discovered.’

The moment he realized the other party had sensed his presence,

He thought of widening the distance little by little.

But Gu Yangcheong met his gaze half-heartedly.

Their eyes locked, even from that far away.

And then.

[It’s incredibly bothersome, so just keep it quiet.]

How surprised Mujin was by the sudden voice.

‘…How?’

The last image he had of the child born to Danju was,

That he had already been broken to an irreparable state.

Not physically but mentally.

Yet, how was it now?

‘Shallow.’

Despite the unmistakable presence and his inability to assess the character.

This meant he was quite skilled at hiding himself.

How had so much changed in just a few years?

Even though the words of the Danju hinted he had left the other clans,

After all, it had only been a few years.

Yet this Gu Yangcheong had somehow transformed everything about himself, in that brief span of time.

Could he have accomplished such alone?

‘Or with assistance from another force?’

Mujin quickly dismissed that thought.

Surely the Danju would not be unaware of things that crossed his mind.

“I understand. You’ve had a tough time.”

—Not at all.

As Mi Hyo-ran resumed her slow pace, she decided to ask Mujin another question.

“By the way, how is your son doing?”

– Ah…

Mujin appeared taken aback by Mi Hyo-ran’s question.

It was clear he hadn’t expected her to remember.

Gathering his thoughts, Mujin replied awkwardly.

– He seems to be doing well.

Naturally, with Danju’s son at his side.

From the looks of it, he seemed to be doing just fine.

“…That’s a relief.”

– Lady Danju.

“Hmm?”

-Could I inquire about the circumstances surrounding your last visit?

At Mujin’s question, Mi Hyo-ran’s steps abruptly halted.

“How curious. That you would ask me something.”

-…If I’ve overstepped, I apologize.

“No, there’s no need for you to apologize.”

Her expression shifted.

For a moment, the emotions that had briefly flickered on Mi Hyo-ran’s face extinguished,

Replaced by her usual chilliness.

“I don’t think he’s a particularly good child.”

This was her assessment of Nangong Bi-ah.

Though beautiful, she seemed to lack in several aspects for the descendant of a renowned lineage.

It was true her talents were above average, earning her the title of Sword Dance Hero.

But that didn’t satisfy her.

There were plenty of talented kids in the world.

In this regard, something else was far more important than mere martial arts talent.

‘If need be, I could intervene.’

Nangong Clan.

…

…

…

While it was regarded as a prestigious place among the Righteous Faction,

It also had its share of murky dealings intertwined within.

Just how dark was that shadow? Even the tiniest shard could be leveraged to cut off engagements or apply pressure with ease.

Let alone the Baekhwa Merchant Group.

When it came to that, they had plenty of strings to pull.

The clumsy words she could share with her children were nothing but these acts.

Though Mi Hyo-ran could have severed ties with this situation if need be,

-…That person is a good person.

At the last utterance from Nangong Bi-ah,

Mi Hyo-ran set aside her thoughts for a time.

“The child may be lacking, but he wasn’t bad.”

With her words, Mi Hyo-ran began to walk again.

As Mujin’s response resonated, she did not pay it mind.

“…This still remains difficult.”

It would be wonderful if she could treat her first and second children just as easily with the rest.

Yet, doing so with the children that remained was incredibly tough.

She wasn’t sure if she even had the right to.

After all, she wasn’t their biological mother.

Moving slowly, she cast one last glance at the area she had been watching.

The thicket where white flowers had once sprouted.

Nng,,

Not so long ago.

She recalled the child approaching with fear-filled expressions, pushed on by a friend’s hands.

Bearing her husband’s features.

The teardrops pooling in his eyes were quite comical.

Extending a trembling little hand toward her, the child had said,

“—L-Lady Mi… this…”

What was in his hand but a white flower?

One cultivated by his friend in the garden.

As she accepted that quivering flower from his hands, she wondered what she had replied.

‘Did I say thank you?’

Surely, she wouldn’t have said something that warm.

If by chance she had, the child wouldn’t have dashed back into his mother’s embrace, streams of tears rolling down his cheeks.

“How unfortunate.”

What it was she found unfortunate, Mi Hyo-ran couldn’t tell.

It was merely a phrase that slipped out in the moment.

 

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