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Chapter 7: The Encounter of Fates

“What did you say?”

A cold voice wrapped around my ears. The discomfort embedded in her tone paired with her sharp gaze was truly striking.

With an expression resembling disbelief, there lingered an air of displeasure.

She appeared slightly older than her early twenties, draped in luxurious silks and ornaments that screamed opulence.

It was clear to anyone that she hailed from a wealthy family.

“What did you just say?”

Staring at this woman, I came to my senses.

“Ah.”

Lady Mi.

She was indeed the Lady Mi I knew.

Matron of the Gu Clan and a prominent figure in the upper echelons of the Central Plains.

Furthermore, she was an enigma that rendered me unsure how to behave.

The young and beautiful woman in front of me was none other than her.

“…What did you just say to me?”

I came to myself upon hearing her words. I shouldn’t have casually called someone so evidently youthful “Lady.”

I hastily tried to redirect my speech toward Lady Mi.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You just look a lot like someone I know.”

“…Look like? Is that person also named Mi?”

“…”

Oh, great. I just had to mention her name.

“Yes… I suppose it was a coincidence.”

At my words, Lady Mi raised an eyebrow.

“From the way you said ‘coincidence,’ it seems you know who I am?”

“…”

Ah, damn it.

I had made a verbal blunder. I was clearly flustered.

Seeing Nangong Jin and Moyong Tae, I realized it was quite probable to encounter someone I knew in this world.

Even though I was aware of that, I found myself flustered nonetheless.

How to handle this? My contemplation was short-lived.

“…I do know. You’re quite a famous person.”

Lady Mi would undoubtedly be famous in this world as well.

Saying that was an attempt to express my assumption, thinking that such a figure wouldn’t lack some degree of notoriety.

“Hmph.”

Lady Mi snorted.

“Then should I view it as you mocked me while knowing who I am?”

It seemed she was indeed famous.

“Mocked? No, I simply made a brief mistake.”

“In the Central Plains, I doubt there’s another woman that looks like me?”

“There is. Almost identical.”

“That’s a laughable excuse. What? Are you saying I look like your mother? That’s a common excuse used by men.”

“…”

Hearing her words, I paused for a moment.

To say she resembled my mother… that thought made me ponder.

“…There is some resemblance.”

“Ha.”

At my answer, Lady Mi let out a snort of disbelief.

“Are you planning to keep joking with me?”

“If I’ve offended you, I apologize. That wasn’t my intent.”

As if I would joke around with Lady Mi.

“…What is it you came to see me for, Lady Mi?”

I shifted the conversation to the core of the matter, and Lady Mi’s eyes narrowed.

Should we continue this banter or delve into a more efficient conversation?

She appeared to be contemplating that.

“As I was going to say initially, I have a proposal for you.”

Lady Mi suppressed her displeasure and reverted to the original topic.

It was a clear reflection of her personality.

“You have a proposal for me?”

“Yes. I have something to propose to you.”

“Does Lady… do you even know who I am?”

It was difficult to adjust to the unfamiliar title on my tongue as I queried.

“Well, not really. At most, just your name?”

“And?”

“However, I do know that the Pejon has shown interest in you.”

“…”

Oh no.

“Was that the issue?” The Pejon approaching me, which had led to Lady Mi wanting the conversation?

“What is this about?”

Even so, I still couldn’t comprehend why she would approach me. Just as I was about to narrow my eyes in confusion.

“Do you, by any chance, belong to a sponsored martial group?”

“Oh.”

With Lady Mi’s next words, I could grasp the implication.

Sponsorship.

“She’s trying to get her claws into me.”

To be sponsored by a martial group implies that they are tied to that martial artist in an unspoken manner.

In truth, the more martial artists there are sponsored by a group, the more their standing changes.

“Seems like the Baekhwa Sect is currently sponsoring martial artists.”

As far as I knew, the Baekhwa Sect didn’t sponsor anyone other than the Gu Clan.

But has that changed now?

“Sponsorship…”

“I understand that Prince Baek is a scion of the Baekha clan, yet he reportedly has no sponsors.”

“…”

I hadn’t even introduced myself, yet she already knew my name.

She seemed to have a grasp on the Clan dynamics as well. How quick was she?

“I just took a wild guess,” I thought.

“So, if you lack sponsorship, we might be able to offer favorable conditions.”

“Hmm…”

Sponsorship from the Baekhwa Sect.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“…Things are getting increasingly bothersome.”

Both the Pejon and Lady Mi.

I had no idea why I was getting entangled with them. Even the power dynamics between us seemed so similar.

Originally, I was a disciple of the Pejon, yet I received an offer.

By virtue of being part of the Gu Clan’s bloodline, I was being offered support again.

What a ridiculous situation it was.

But.

“What do you think? It’s not a bad deal for Prince Baek, right…”

“It’s a bad deal.”

Separately, I needed to assert myself.

“What did you say?”

“I said it’s a bad deal.”

I spoke to Lady Mi, whose expression darkened.

“Why-”

“From what I see, Lady, you seem to think I’m inexperienced and have approached me…”

I scratched the back of my head and continued.

“But really, this feels a bit inappropriate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Considering that the Pejon would go so far as to approach me, you must realize that I have something to offer. So coming to me right after the exam ends in such a manner is strange.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“From how you arrived, I figured you wouldn’t have come here with an attractive proposal.”

“…”

Having spoken incessantly, this time Lady Mi was left speechless.

I was sure of it.

“She seems young.”

The woman before me was not the Lady I was familiar with.

Had she been the Lady Mi I knew, she wouldn’t have approached me this way in the first place, and her demeanor would have been entirely different.

“She’s still immature.”

The woman before me was showing signs of this.

“In comparison to Moyong Hi-ah, she feels lacking.”

“Ah.”

Lady Mi chuckled as if in disbelief.

“Looks like my pride took a hit. You’re rather unexpected.”

“How did you expect me to be?”

“Just like how you described me a moment ago.”

An innocent fool ignorant of the world’s ways.

That was her honest opinion.

“I misjudged you. I apologize.”

Lady Mi wiped her expression clean and immediately offered her apology. Her response was swift.

“If so, how about I come to see you in a different manner next time?”

It seemed a bit too late for that, but she pressed on.

“No.”

I declined.

The reason was simple.

“I’m already receiving sponsorship.”

“…What?”

Lady Mi twisted her expression upon hearing that I was already receiving sponsorship.

“That can’t be…”

“I don’t know what information you’ve gathered, but it’s accurate that the Baekha Clan does not have sponsorship. That doesn’t mean I don’t.”

“…!”

Lady Mi’s eyes widened at my statement.

In other words, it also implied that I was under personal sponsorship.

“From where?”

“I don’t have any reason to disclose that to you.”

“Goodness…”

She clicked her tongue as if she had gotten a step too late. Then.

“…This is strange. Why would I only find out about someone like you now?”

“I don’t really enjoy going out.”

“…”

“Have we reached the main point? I appreciate the offer, but for these reasons, it would be difficult for me to align with the Baekhwa Sect.”

I moved slightly while maintaining my composure.

Though I pretended to act indifferent, inside, my heart was racing.

“Wow.”

What if my voice trembled? What if I fumbled over my words?

Fleeting thoughts crossed my mind as I felt I had managed the situation well.

“I never imagined I’d meet Lady Mi.”

I was genuinely surprised and nearly lost it.

“…I need to wrap this up and move on swiftly.”

It felt like I should handle the entrusted matters as quickly as possible, and it was time to compile my strategy.

“Let me hasten through the remaining tasks.” Just as I thought that moment.

“Hahaha! What’s this? Lady Mi got played, huh?”

A laughter echoed from a distance.

It was a bright, cheerful voice.

“See? Moving like that won’t do you any good.”

Turning my gaze toward the voice, I found it familiar again.

Could it be?

Staring with wide eyes, I saw that Lady Mi too was glancing at the approaching figure.

Then she opened her mouth in anger.

“…Baek Bong! I’m not in the mood for your antics right now.”

“Oh, really? That’s a pity. I’m in the mood to mess around.”

With a bright smile, the woman teased Lady Mi.

She had significantly dark blue hair, and despite her chilly demeanor, she adorned a refreshing smile.

Her name was—

“Moyong Biyeon.”

“Oh, you know me?”

Baek Ryeon-gyeom Moyong Biyeon.

In my previous life, she held the highest grave of Moyong Hi-ah.

Visibly similar to Moyong Hi-ah, yet completely different in vibe.

As I stood there unable to say a word, staring, she cast a captivating smile my way.

“What’s with those eyes? Have you perhaps fallen for your big sister?”

“…What?”

“You have an eye for beauty? Well, I must admit, I’m indeed better looking than this icicle of a woman, huh?”

“This lunatic?”

Huh…?

Did I mishear something? I could have sworn I heard Lady Mi referred to as a crazy woman just now.

Despite the insult hurled at her, Moyong Biyeon continued her banter, seemingly unbothered.

“Sorry, but this big sister’s already taken.”

“…No, it’s that.”

Thump.

I turned my head abruptly, causing my heart to race.

Suddenly, my heart was responding.

Swoooosh.

A heated breath escaped.

Thump—! Thump—!

I forcibly calmed my racing heart. As I sensed what Moyong Biyeon was coming from.

“Ah, looks like my one is coming this way. My partner.”

Waving at someone approaching from afar, Moyong Biyeon seemed joyful as she focused her attention beyond me.

I too gazed in that direction.

Even just a glimpse of the crimson eyes was enough.

Given the height, he seemed a handspan taller than me, possessing a big physique.

The scar that used to sit upon his nose was nowhere to be seen.

He appeared slightly older than me. No way he seemed like an adult.

Slowly.

And gradually.

The young man approached our direction.

I was trying to ease my tension as I watched him.

‘…I’m meeting him so soon?’

I recognized who he was just from his red eyes.

If that was not enough, the disturbance within me was enough to make it clear.

That’s the person.

The reason I was destined to be in this world.

“Father.”

The ruthless Gu Cheolun.

Or, Shin Ryong (神龍) Gu Cheolun, locked eyes with me.

 

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