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EP.28 Foul Smell (1)

The morning dawned after a night spent in the lodging.

Technically, it was still early dawn, but I had to get up around this time for an early departure.

Stretching my stiff body and stepping outside, I happened to see Wi Seol-Ah emerging from the servants’ quarters next door.

Rubbing her eyes and looking dazed, I approached and gently tossed a peanut at her.

“Ouch…!”

“Wake up, hurry and go wash your face.”

“It huuurts…….”

“Stop the dramatics. Seriously, where’s a servant that wakes up later than me?”

“My sisters left without waking me….”

“You should wake up on your own.”

“Aw, I’m sorry….”

Wi Seol-Ah descended the stairs with nervous steps.

How long would the departure preparations take? Probably around two hours, I figured.

Creeeak.

Hearing the sound of a door opening next to me, I looked over to see Nangong Cheonjun stepping out.

Was he already all dressed and ready to go?

As soon as our eyes met, he slightly furrowed his eyebrows.

Should I say hi? I really pondered for a moment. Given what happened yesterday, I felt it wasn’t necessary.

Instead, he glared at me, as if wanting to say something.

Just then, as if waiting for the perfect moment, Nangong Bi-ah popped out from the adjacent room.

Seeing her, Nangong Cheonjun’s expression instantly changed. He became the sweet prince I had encountered just yesterday.

“You’re up early. Gu So-hyeob, did you have a comfortable night?”

“…..Wow.”

All I could muster up was an exclamation. Who in the world was this uniquely bizarre person?

I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for Peng Woojin, whom I had secretly deemed a madman.

Peng Woojin, even in his eccentricity, appeared to have a kind side.

But this guy was just a madman, and definitely a bad one at that.

Nangong Bi-ah tilted her head at the sight of us. She looked puzzled, like, “Why are you two together?”

“I happened to meet Gu So-hyeob while coming out. Looks like you just got up, sister.”

“Ah…. Right….”

“We’ll need to set off soon, so sister, please get ready. I’ll send a servant to your room.”

“…Okay.”

Nangong Cheonjun was particularly skilled at cutting me off before I could say anything. This wasn’t his first rodeo.

After a brief yawn, Nangong Bi-ah returned to her room. Nangong Cheonjun instantly shot me a glare.

Then he added, “Remember the warning from yesterday, keep it in your mind.”

With those words, he brushed past me and headed downstairs.

Is this the kind of guy Nangong Cheonjun was destined to be before he became known as the Thunder Sword? Back when Nangong Bi-ah was still in a position to erase his connection to the clan.

As a future leader of the Nangong Clan, he had been highly regarded for upholding justice and negotiation.

Anyway, the Nangong family isn’t quite sane. Whether it’s the clan leader or an elder. Not to mention the offspring too.

At least, based on what I’ve witnessed.

‘With such a state of affairs, they’re the center of the Four Great Clans? What a time….’

Turning my head, I made my way downstairs as well.

By the time I reached the lower level, the servants of the Gu Clan had already gathered.

Muyeon spotted me and approached.

“Young Master, would you like to have a meal?”

“Hmm…. Not particularly appealing.”

“They say the dumplings are delicious.”

“Well, maybe I should try them.”

At my words, the dumplings appeared as if they had been waiting.

Wi Seol-Ah, half-asleep, had entrusted her hair to the other servants.

“Seol-Ah, your hair looks nice.”

“Isn’t it just because I’m young? I had nice hair when I was little too….”

“What are you saying? You had such a mess of a hair that Gu Dong oppa said it could be used as a broom!”

“Stop with that, I scratched your face the last time you brought it up.”

“…I wondered why your face had a scar, you said it was from a cat scratch, huh? Was that you?”

“Hongwa is the messy-haired one?”

“Hey, Seol-Ah, don’t pick up such language.”

Such pointless chatter. Amid everything, Wi Seol-Ah was still half-asleep.

…But she was naturally holding dumplings in her hand? Is she seriously eating in her sleep?

I grabbed a dumpling as well.

The freshly steamed ones were indeed delicious.

Creeeak.

As I munched on the dumplings, I heard the sound of a chair being pulled, and when I looked over, Nangong Bi-ah had surprisingly taken a seat next to me.

Why on earth is she sitting there…?

“…Um, isn’t the proper place for a Young Lady over there?”

Directly across from me sat the Nangong clan members.

So why on earth did she decide to sit next to me, causing that mad Nangong brat to glare at me with fiery eyes?

Nangong Bi-ah, either aware or oblivious, began to grab a dumpling, prompting me to swiftly block her with my chopsticks.

“Young Lady, that dumpling is mine. No, that’s not it! Why are you sitting here, anyway?”

“…I just sat down because it was closer….”

“Your younger brother is glaring at me really hotly, you know?”

“…?”

Nangong Bi-ah glanced towards Nangong Cheonjun, and in that moment, either from her surprise or quick thinking, he wore a faint smile.

‘…What a truly unsettling guy.’

If he’s going to act, shouldn’t he do so in front of everyone, rather than putting on a show just for me? Did I do something to draw his attention?

Nangong Bi-ah looked back at me, as if wondering what the problem was, so I decided to just let it be.

But seriously, don’t touch my dumplings, you girl…

Stuffing the last dumpling into my mouth, I got up carelessly.

Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze seemed to be fixed on the dumpling entering my mouth, but what could I do?

Perhaps I looked so pitiful that soon enough Wi Seol-Ah appeared, dumpling in hand, to offer it to Nangong Bi-ah.

Seeing the portly glutton handing food over was always a wonder. She’d be lacking even if she ate some herself.

In turn, Nangong Bi-ah, finally receiving the dumpling, gently ruffled Wi Seol-Ah’s hair.

Wi Seol-Ah cheerfully smiled once, then came to sit near me.

She thrust her head towards me, expecting a head pat as if to say she did well, so I lightly tapped it.

“Ow!”

“Why do you want a compliment for that?!”

“Giving food to a hungry person is a kind act, grandfather always said….”

“There are plenty of people who can give food besides you! Go eat more dumplings.”

“Yes….”

With a sulky gait, she returned to the servants’ area to munch on her dumplings.

Watching her, I sighed deeply, only to have Muyeon approach again.

“Young Master, it seems we’ll be departing shortly after we finish our breakfast.”

“Earlier than I expected. Are preparations complete?”

“Yes, as soon as we finish eating, we can load the supplies and head out.”

When we arrive, it should be late afternoon.

That means we should arrive just as I anticipated.

“Then first, let’s get ready to go….”

As I spoke, I noticed Muyeon looking oddly towards one side.

I wondered what that was about, only to find Nangong Bi-ah intently watching Muyeon’s sword.

This was seriously starting to give off mad vibes.

“…Young Lady Nangong, didn’t you say you wouldn’t do that? Please stop staring. At this rate, someone’s going to choke.”

Thinking it would be best not to let this continue, I urged Muyeon to get going.

Muyeon, with an acknowledgment, disappeared a step faster than usual.

“Why the obsession with him among so many other options?”

“He’s a strong Sword Master… I think I can learn a lot from him in a duel….”

“Then why not spar with the crazy little brother glaring at you over there?”

“Cheonjun is….”

Nangong Bi-ah started to say something but clamped her mouth shut.

I found it curious how she swallowed her words.

Isn’t the Thunder Dragon strong enough? Even at a glance, he seemed a notch or two above Gu Yeonseo or Gu Jeolyub. I wasn’t sure where he stood against Muyeon.

For sure, even if Nangong Cheonjun forced himself to use his talents when sparring with Gu Jeolyub, he shouldn’t be in a position to win.

Suddenly, a question popped into my head.

It was about Nangong Bi-ah.

‘Come to think of it, why isn’t she more well-known?’

The Demon Sword Queen is a peerless sword master.

Before even becoming a demon, her swordsmanship was such that it could overshadow even the Sword Demon.

Someone who’s supposed to shine in this era of talents should have at least garnered some recognition.

Though not incredibly clear, she couldn’t possibly be worse than that Nangong guy, who was glaring at me like he was about to kill me.

She’s earned the unique title of Demon Sword Queen.

This means she won’t start gaining renown until long after this point.

…What on earth happened? The Late-Stage Talents certainly have their ranks, but she seems too strong to be out of the picture, even if she can’t be among the Five Great Dragons.

Is there something I just don’t know?

“Well, I shouldn’t dwell on it.”

“…Pardon?”

“Never mind. Young Lady, keep enjoying your dumplings. I’ll get up and take my leave.”

With that, I abruptly stood up and headed outside the inn. Wi Seol-Ah followed closely, two dumplings in hand, as if she was planning to eat them both.

“Are you really going to eat two? You might choke if you eat while moving around.”

“One is for you, Young Master!”

“Well, that’s a decent idea.”

We headed towards the carriage, cheerfully eating dumplings together.

Following Wi Seol-Ah around while munching, it seemed I ended up eating more than I usually would.

I could feel something softening at my side, indicating I needed to increase my training regimen.

Nangong Bi-ah kept her eyes fixed on the backs of Gu Yangcheong and Wi Seol-Ah as they exited.

Her gaze wouldn’t falter.

Why? She questioned herself, yet the answer was already known to her.

At that moment, Nangong Bi-ah sensed the foul smell.

She wanted to cover her nose, but she knew that even if she did, the scent wouldn’t vanish.

“Elder Sister.”

Nangong Bi-ah slowly turned her head to look at her younger brother.

It was overwhelming. It was all just foul smells. Why on earth did her brother emit such a hard-to-bear stench?

She couldn’t understand.

Neither her father, nor the elder, nor even her brother made her want to be close to them.

Even if her brother treated her well without being resentful, Nangong Bi-ah couldn’t define the growing emotion inside her.

Was it a guilt because of blood ties, or was it pure disgust toward them?

‘…I want to run away.’

She longed to escape to a place without foul odors.

“We’re over there, so why are you sitting here?”

Nangong Cheonjun asked.

Because the area they gathered in smelled worse.

Nangong Bi-ah couldn’t bring herself to say the real reason.

“…I just sat here because it’s closer.”

“If you keep this up, you might inconvenience others. Please sit properly next time.”

“Yeah…. I’m sorry.”

Nangong Cheonjun’s smile entered her vision, yet something within her felt blocked.

She wanted to run away.

‘Where to?’

Nangong Bi-ah questioned herself, and in a moment, Gu Yangcheong came to mind.

Strangely enough, around him, there was not a trace of foul smell at all.

Not a single scent. It was the first time in her life she had felt such a sensation.

Regardless of the faint traces lingering from Muyeon and the members of the Gu Clan, they vanished completely when she was near Gu Yangcheong.

The annoyance she felt towards herself or the sudden desire to keep distance from him was incomprehensible.

Yet, it felt comfortingly eased.

Nangong Bi-ah found it increasingly unbearable as she strayed just a little from his side, and the chill of discomfort washed over her.

Suddenly, she stood up and moved her feet.

“Elder Sister…. Where are you going?”

“To the carriage…. I’ll rest there first.”

Leaving her brother behind, Nangong Bi-ah followed Gu Yangcheong with hurried steps.

Left alone, Nangong Cheonjun’s expression shifted as he witnessed Nangong Bi-ah’s departure.

From the face he had worn while acting like a good brother, it turned cold and devoid of smiles.

“What could be the problem?”

Tap-tap.

The sound of his fingers clicking echoed, a habit of Nangong Cheonjun’s.

Something was off. This hadn’t happened before; where had it gone wrong?

“I absolutely hate obstacles.”

With his voice cutting off, Nangong Cheonjun slowly turned around.

In his cold gaze, there was no mistaking it—killing intent.

 

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