Chapter 505
Chapter 506: Just Give It to Me Once
“Wow, this is quite a predicament.”
This was the thought that crossed Gwaeseon’s mind as he looked at Gu Cheolun standing with his hands behind his back.
It had been about a decade since he had seen him.
Sure, he had crossed paths with him once while battling the Demonic Faction, but calling it a meeting wouldn’t be quite right.
‘What on earth is that?’
Gwaeseon swallowed his words as he focused on Gu Cheolun.
The reason was simple.
Why was he suddenly in Sichuan? And why, of all times, did he have to show up while Gwaeseon was here?
‘Nothing feels off?’
Gwaeseon struggled to keep his gaze steady on Gu Cheolun.
Absolutely nothing could be felt. That was the problem.
He recalled the past—specifically the time he was pushed into a life-or-death duel with Hyuk Eo Chun by that ornery elder.
What was Gu Cheolun like back then?
If Gwaeseon’s memory served him right…
‘He was disgustingly strong.’
With the intense heat radiating from his body and the overwhelming presence that pressed on everything around him, Gwaeseon had sensed defeat looming.
Even Nangong Ming had suggested running for it if Gu Cheolun turned out to be an enemy.
That kind of presence.
Back then, Gu Cheolun had exuded an intimidating aura, but now? It felt like nothing at all.
What could that mean?
Was Gu Cheolun so weakened compared to before that Gwaeseon couldn’t feel anything?
That seemed impossible. Gwaeseon understood that the reason for Gu Cheolun’s obscured presence was quite the opposite.
It was Gwaeseon who couldn’t perceive it. The disparity had widened so much that he couldn’t feel it at all.
‘Sigh…’
As that thought sank in, Gwaeseon instinctively held back a breath. A small sense of pride bubbled within, yet.
Fear pressed down stronger.
To feel the sensation typically reserved for his grandfather directed towards Gu Cheolun.
As Gwaeseon struggled to suppress his cold sweat while staring at Gu Cheolun, it seemed Gu Cheolun noticed and returned the gaze.
As those crimson eyes approached, Gwaeseon trembled ever so slightly.
“Gwaeseon, it’s been a long time.”
At Gu Cheolun’s greeting, Gwaeseon’s eyes widened.
“… You remember me?”
They had merely brushed past each other. During the Late-Stage Talents days, they had crossed paths a few times, but those were trivial interactions, with the last one being rather one-sided.
It was the overwhelming presence that had allowed Gwaeseon to remember Gu Cheolun, but the fact that Gu Cheolun remembered him was astonishing.
As Gwaeseon expressed his surprise, Gu Cheolun tilted his head slightly and replied.
“You’re not someone I could forget easily.”
“…”
So it was only natural he remembered. Gwaeseon wore a peculiar expression, surprised by those words.
‘Oh boy.’
Experiencing a rumor he had only heard about was mildly disconcerting.
‘I would have fallen for her if she were really a woman?’
Gwaeseon chuckled softly.
Felt like he had just confirmed the truth behind the strange rumors from the past.
Thinking so, he casually glanced to the side. The issue was that it wasn’t him.
Next to him, there seemed to be an earthquake, as the trembling presence was felt.
The strong young female general who was once powerful seemed to have vanished, replaced by a woman who appeared utterly frail.
‘Ah…’
Baek Cheon-gyeom could hardly believe this situation.
Why was she here? Why was she facing him?
He hadn’t been able to bear the sight of her for so long.
How long had it been since he last saw her? Counting those days was far too much.
‘She’s got wrinkles now.’
Time had changed her.
Baek Cheon-gyeom thought to herself.
The youth who had felt the pressure and loneliness burdening his strong features had now transformed into middle age.
Wrinkles were visible around her eyes and various places.
One.
‘…’
Baek Cheon-gyeom immediately realized that none of that mattered.
The depth in those eyes that once scanned and protected everything around her.
Now filled with time, they had grown even more intense.
Was it because she met that gaze?
Thump…
Baek Cheon-gyeom felt her heart pounding hard within her chest.
At that moment, it was already too late.
“… Ah…”
What should she say? Many words came to mind, but none formed on her lips.
It was no wonder she couldn’t say anything.
Baek Cheon-gyeom struggled to maintain her sanity at that moment.
‘What do I do?’
It was dangerous. Feelings that had barely faded were suddenly stirred by just making eye contact.
This had been something she wanted to avoid, and she thought she was finally on the mend.
Could it be because she had remained close to her child and kept recalling memories from the past? The impact was immense.
‘… If I were old, I’d at least look bad.’
It was frustrating. Other humans seemed to grow a little less appealing with age.
Why did this man still look as he did?
Baek Cheon-gyeom found that quite repugnant.
Time passed, but he remained charming. She hated that.
“Baek Cheon-gyeom.”
“…!”
A deep voice called out, startling her.
She couldn’t help but flinch at that call.
Involuntarily, she bit her lip in a sudden wave of vulnerability.
She felt so small in that moment. But it wasn’t like she could show it. Tentatively she forced herself to speak, wanting to disguise her unease.
“Ah… It’s been… long… long time.”
Why did her voice have to tremble so?
Was she still wanting to appear younger despite being all but an aunt now?
Baek Cheon-gyeom harshly squeezed her eyes shut at her deteriorating state.
Yet, Gu Cheolun didn’t seem to mind at all.
“I heard from your husband. You visited once in Hanam.”
“…”
Miss Mi had mentioned it.
Hearing that, Baek Cheon-gyeom couldn’t help but resent Mi Hyo-ran.
… She had specifically asked for confidentiality.
“… I had some urgent matters… so I only greeted Miss Mi.”
“Miss Mi, huh?”
Baek Cheon-gyeom noticed Gu Cheolun’s reaction to the title.
Was he dissatisfied with her referring to her as Miss Mi?
Right when she considered changing her term of address—
“What a nostalgic title.”
His voice held a hint of a smile.
Gu Cheolun’s words made Baek Cheon-gyeom bite her lip again.
It was a warning for her.
Don’t get swayed.
She could not afford to let this happen again.
“I’ve heard that Baek Cheon-gyeom has been protecting our child,” he continued.
“Ah… that is…”
“Thank you.”
“…!”
Baek Cheon-gyeom nearly stumbled at Gu Cheolun’s words of thanks.
A gratitude coming from Gu Cheolun was utterly unimaginable.
She was shaken by this unexpected onslaught.
Seeing that, Gwaeseon hurriedly supported Baek Cheon-gyeom.
“Why is this older sister suddenly losing her wits?”
“… I’m fine.”
Baek Cheon-gyeom shook off Gwaeseon’s arm as she regained her composure.
“… It’s nothing to be thanked for. It was a little matter, really.”
“Regardless of the reason. As a father, I am grateful to you.”
“You’ve… changed a lot, too.”
He had changed. Upon hearing those words, Gu Cheolun narrowed his eyes.
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It feels like you’ve changed… considerably.”
He seemed to have begun to use more words. His distinctive deep voice still held a certain warmth, a soothing tone within it.
Having reminisced over their past countless times, Baek Cheon-gyeom clenched her memories closely; the difference felt all the more apparent.
“That’s a relief.”
With a soft step, Gu Cheolun advanced toward her.
As his approaching footsteps sounded louder, Baek Cheon-gyeom’s instincts screamed to flee.
The wall she thought she had carefully built up, layered and fortified over time.
Feelings that she believed she had securely buried within it seemed to crack with this trivial encounter and superficial exchange.
She had to escape.
This felt dangerous. It was perilous to stay any longer.
Yes, she should run even if it wasn’t proper etiquette. Remaining here any longer felt like disaster awaited.
Regardless of Gwaeseon and anyone else, Baek Cheon-gyeom had thought of breaking out immediately.
But—
A sudden pulse of sensation from her toes left her paralyzed.
Her feet felt as though they were stuck, as if someone had grasped onto them.
‘… No.’
Baek Cheon-gyeom realized this was her own lingering attachments, but it was already too late.
Gu Cheolun stood right before her.
“Mm.”
Gu Cheolun’s gaze was strange as it lingered on her.
It appeared he wasn’t looking directly into her eyes, but rather just beside her ear.
Swoosh.
Gu Cheolun’s large hand made its way toward where he was gazing.
Baek Cheon-gyeom wished to twist and turn her body, escaping that beckoning hand, but her immovable form allowed her no escape.
Swish.
His fingertips lightly brushed past her hair.
As his hand withdrew, a leaf was clutched between his fingers.
“My apologies.”
“…”
“I found this stuck in your hair.”
Without any sense of wonder, Gu Cheolun burned the leaf to erase it.
Could that have been the issue?
Inside Baek Cheon-gyeom’s mind, a sound echoed as she stared at the leaf engulfed in flames.
Crack!
The sound of a thick wall breaking down.
The wall where she had desperately hoarded her emotions crumbled.
Suddenly, the embarrassment she stowed away rushed forth, attacking Baek Cheon-gyeom like a tidal wave.
It was like a massive tsunami.
Perhaps it was due to all the years of it being locked away that its force was more overwhelming.
The waves crashed; the waters flowed, and before she knew it, her vast ocean was resurrected.
“…”
As she felt that, Baek Cheon-gyeom was certain.
‘… It’s over now.’
It dawned on her that she could never return to how things once were.
As the sun set, casting hues of twilight.
I sat at my residence, face to face with Tang Deok. He was half-kneeling, head bowed, visibly strained, as displayed by the veins taut around his neck.
Watching Tang Deok like that, I asked,
“Well then. What happened?”
“… First, the elder has returned…”
“Without any fuss?”
“… Yes….”
He evidently despised speaking formally, as the resentment was palpable in his eyes.
Well, that was none of my business.
‘So he simply left, huh?’
A claim that the elder of the Tang Clan had just left because Tang Deok had intervened?
I was puzzled. I couldn’t shake off the strange feeling that washed over me.
I glanced at the items on the table.
Tea leaves taken from the Elder.
‘I was told he just handed it over.’
These were leaves Tang Soyeol had intended to gift; Tang Deok had brought them back.
I heard that when I made excuses, Tang Soyeol got excited and insisted on giving them to me.
‘Hmm.’
There were many aspects that didn’t add up.
I reached out.
A slight hum resounded, and the bundle of tea leaves floated into the air, approaching me.
An impossible feat for a novice.
What I could achieve thanks to the Transformation Realm Martial Artist’s strength.
Sure, it devoured energy like a hungry beast but wasn’t worth a dime.
I picked up the tea leaves and examined them closely.
“Is this not it?”
Right before I set off for my solitary training, I had summoned Tang Deok to give him an order.
To be on guard against anything strange that might happen around Tang Soyeol and stop anyone from approaching her who I hadn’t approved.
The condition was simple: everyone deemed suspicious was to be restricted from approaching.
Over the past few days, I had roamed the Tang Clan, weeding out suspects.
Selecting only those who seemed at least somewhat reliable, while excluding everyone else from getting close.
‘When Nahi mentioned it, I pondered if it was a possibility.’
As soon as the Paralysis Poison was fabricated, the elder sought out Tang Soyeol.
And he handed over the tea leaves.
Could this really be a coincidence?
I honestly didn’t believe so.
Especially considering what Tang Je-mun had told me.
‘Tang Soyeol is involved.’
This suggests that the elder intended to devise something through Tang Soyeol.
“…”
I popped a piece of the tea leaf into my mouth, crunching down.
Crunch.
The dry leaf’s distinct texture turned unpleasant as it spread within me.
Ignoring that, I chewed and swallowed.
“… What is this?”
As I did, more questions arose. The tea leaves didn’t have any detectable poison.
Could the Paralysis Poison not have been included here?
Or was it aimed at Tang Soyeol instead?
An inkling of doubt ran through my mind.
‘What a shame.’
A regret washed over me.
Had the Paralysis Poison been present, I could have quickly captured or dealt with them on the spot.
‘Seems like they aren’t that foolish.’
If they had mixed in poison, they wouldn’t want to make the stupid decision to hand the tea leaves over directly.
‘In between all of this.’
The elder was completely aware of Nahi’s capabilities.
Since Nahi still had uses, I was planning to make use of her as long as I could.
But if it seemed problems would arise from this…
‘Should I deal with it preemptively?’
That might be for the best. Though not immediately, it would be better to handle it than have to deal with it later.
With those thoughts in mind, I turned to look at Tang Deok.
He gazed back at me with a contorted expression, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What’s that look in your eyes?”
“… What on earth do you plan to do?”
“Hmm?”
“To place me near that detestable female from the Tang Clan, what is your intent… really?”
“What do I intend to do? I told you clearly. To keep watch, of course.”
“… Gnash.”
Tang Deok gritted his teeth.
Watching that, I couldn’t help but admire him a little internally.
‘Still got some spirit, huh?’
I had assumed I would have firmly kept him in check. Yet, it seemed Tang Deok could still show such sentiments towards me.
It was peculiarly fascinating.
Was it perhaps because he was of mixed lineage, where the essence of Demon Beasts flowed through him? It felt like my influence wasn’t entirely effective on him.
‘Then it’s time we stepped on him a bit.’
This brat had some uses.
He wasn’t just someone I could easily dispose of like Nahi.
I would have a chance to eliminate him sooner or later, but for now, he needed to be utilized.
To do that, I had to remind him to be decent for a spell.
‘Just about time to give him a nudge.’
Should I do that now? Well, it just so happened that I was feeling a bit bored.
Thinking so, I rose from my seat.
Just as I was about to gather my energy to approach Tang Deok—
Bam!
Suddenly, a door crashed open and someone barged in.
“… Huh?”
Upon seeing them, my eyes widened. The unexpected intruder was none other than Baek Cheon-gyeom.
That lady, Moyong Hi-ah, had been rumored to be wandering around outside, so what on earth was going on?
Then—
‘… Why does her face look like that?’
Her face was as red as a ripe apple. Did she drink since earlier in the day or something?
Narrowing my eyes, I observed her approach quickly.
“Hey!”
“… What’s going on?”
Taken aback by her somewhat rough demeanor, I was left flabbergasted for a moment before Baek Cheon-gyeom grasped my shoulder tightly.
“Are you— do you need another mom?”
“… What?”
