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Chapter 475 – For You Forgotten by Oblivion.

“… Who are you?”

The voice of Shin Noya, furrowing his brow, echoed throughout the space.

“What…?”

What’s this old man talking about?

Caught off guard by his unexpected words, I found myself gaping in surprise.

My mind was filled with complaints for Tang Je-mun just moments ago.

But this single phrase from Noya made me forget all those thoughts.

“Noya…?”

“Hm? Do you know this person?”

Whether he realized my bewilderment or not, Noya frowned at me.

“Another woman… Tsk, tsk, it seems your nature of being a womanizer hasn’t changed.”

Noya’s gaze shifted toward Tang Je-mun’s chest.

“Cough, cough…”

“… Noya.”

Is he really out of his mind?

What is this old man doing right now?

Not recognizing Tang Je-mun is one thing.

But a reclusive martial artist blushing while looking at a woman’s chest?

It was a ridiculous situation in many ways.

“… What are you doing, Noya?”

“Cough… What do you mean?”

Realizing he must feel embarrassed, he repeatedly coughed to avoid my gaze.

While I found that amusing, I had to clarify the incomprehensible situation first.

“You don’t know who that person is?”

“How could I possibly know a woman like that?”

“No…”

Just as I began to interpret the strange atmosphere, a chuckle came from the direction where Tang Je-mun sat.

Tang Je-mun was quietly laughing, covering her mouth as if she found something amusing.

“Uh?”

Recognizing that, Shin Noya’s eyes widened as if he realized something.

Seeing this, I felt relieved inside.

Yeah, it wouldn’t make sense not to recognize her.

Just as I was about to nod in agreement, Noya suddenly blurted out.

“You… could you be Je-hee?”

“Eh?”

An unexpected name popped out of Noya’s mouth.

Je-hee? Who is that?

Tang Je-mun remained silent, merely smiling at Noya’s bewildering utterance.

“Je-mun’s younger sister. Isn’t that right? You can see it all here.”

“…”

Hmm.

As I observed Noya’s exclamation, I pondered where to start addressing this.

‘… If it’s Je-hee, does that mean Tang Je-hee?’

If Je-mun is my older brother, then Je-hee would be the younger sister… Do people actually have such casually created names?

‘No, that’s not the point.’

Caught up in the situation, I briefly entertained weird thoughts, but that wasn’t important.

“Noya, what on earth are you talking about…? That person is not Tang Je-mun, you know?”

“Hmm?”

When I pointed to Tang Je-mun and inquired, Noya made a strange face and replied.

“You’re the one talking nonsense. Where do you see that woman as Tang Je-mun?”

“Eh? Well…”

“Last time you said something similar, so what ridiculous thing are you saying now…”

Noya’s expression tightened as he strongly frowned and spoke again.

“From the start, Je-mun is a man. What filthy words are you even saying…”

“…”

With Noya’s incredulous statement, I frowned and stared at Tang Je-mun.

… What does that even mean?

Tang Je-mun is a man? I looked at Tang Je-mun in disbelief.

What in the world makes him think that’s a man?

Even if he dresses as one, it wouldn’t be possible to hide the feminine physique.

While we kept tossing words at each other, the woman presumed to be Tang Je-mun merely smiled.

For some reason, there seemed to be a deep nostalgia in that smile.

As a moment passed, the woman stood up from her seat.

And then she spoke to Noya.

“It’s been a while since we’ve met, Brother Cheol.”

Brother?

That address seems a bit off.

I made a subtle face at the unfamiliar title, but seeing Noya’s expression brightening, I was confused.

“Indeed…! You are Je-hee!”

Her hearty laughter indicated she seemed to be recalling Tang Je-mun.

Does that mean that woman really isn’t Tang Je-mun? Just as I was pondering why she referred to herself as Tang Je-mun…

“Je-mun’s younger sister, Je-hee… is right….”

“You still lack awareness.”

“Eh?”

Just as Tang Je-mun was slowly approaching Shin Noya, a drastic change began to occur in her body.

With every step Tang Je-mun took, her form started to grow larger.

Her height gradually increased, and her frame became sturdier.

“… Uh… Uhh?”

Along with that, the surprise in Shin Noya’s voice escalated as he watched.

Gradually, Tang Je-mun morphed and tied her hair back as she thrust her newly assertive form toward Shin Noya.

“Do you understand now?”

Tang Je-mun’s voice and tone had completely changed as well.

‘Wow.’

My jaw dropped at the sight.

Tang Je-mun’s height matched Shin Noya’s, not to mention the build reminiscent of warriors from the Hwangbo or Peng clans.

Her voice was deep, ranking among the lowest I’d ever heard.

‘What the heck.’

The delicate and beautiful woman I had been observing was gone.

Instead, a formidable man stood there, appearing as though he could intimidate anyone.

It wasn’t just me who was stunned; Noya stared at Tang Je-mun with a trembling voice that didn’t close his mouth.

“Je-mun…?”

By observing Noya’s reaction, it seemed this form indeed belonged to Tang Je-mun.

‘… What is going on?’

My mind turned chaotic.

If the appearance of the woman was that of Tang Je-mun’s younger sister and now we’re seeing Tang Je-mun himself…

‘… Who are they really?’

Which one is the true form?

Was the person called Je-hee genuine?

Or is this current appearance of Tang Je-mun the truth?

As those puzzling thoughts whirled in my head, Noya spoke, still with furrowed brows.

“Have you been using the Body Transformation Technique?”

Body Transformation Technique? I focused on Noya’s words.

It was a term I had never heard before.

Then Tang Je-mun chuckled and nodded slightly in agreement.

“So what you’re saying is… you’ve been deceiving us all this time.”

“Incorrect.”

Tang Je-mun replied firmly to Noya’s words.

“You were the only one deceived.”

“What…?”

Noya’s eyes widened at Tang Je-mun’s response.

His gaze was filled with questions about why he was the only one deceived.

To that, Tang Je-mun replied in a flat voice.

“You were the only one fooled. The others all knew it long ago.”

“… Huh?”

“…”

Hearing that made me feel remarkably embarrassed.

‘Body Transformation Technique.’

From what I gathered, it’s a type of martial art that allows physical alteration. But I had never heard of a technique that could change one’s form so seamlessly.

Changing a feminine, delicate body into such a muscular and rugged form isn’t something that happens easily.

Perhaps a martial artist who had mastered reversal arts could handle it, but it wouldn’t make sense for someone of Tang Je-mun’s caliber to solely train in that.

‘What is going on?’

While I was growing intrigued by this mysterious ability, Noya asked in a trembling voice.

“… Then… what about Je-hee?”

As he recalled the appearance of the woman he presumed was Tang Je-mun’s sister, Tang Je-mun smirked.

“Sorry, but I’m an only child, Shin Cheol.”

“Whaaa…!!”

Noya seemed taken aback, almost collapsing from shock at Tang Je-mun’s revelation.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but suppress a cough inside.

Naturally…

‘It makes sense that they would react like that if they found out their friend was actually a woman.’

I’d probably be shocked too if someone told me the Sleeping Dragon was a woman.

‘Besides, it’s even more ridiculous that he was completely unaware of it.’

It was amusing to realize that his previous taunts at me for being clueless seemed ironic now.

After a while in shock, Noya was still reeling from the revelation, and at that moment, Tang Je-mun relaxed her body and began transforming back.

The bulging muscles that seemed ready to burst shrank down, returning to her previous breathtakingly beautiful form.

‘… It’s still somehow amazing.’

How can she change so drastically?

As I watched her fascinated, she called out to me.

“Hu-in.”

“Yes, yes!”

I jumped at Tang Je-mun’s call, suddenly feeling flustered.

With Nanggong Bi-ah’s discipline in gaze handling, I had let my guard down.

I swallowed nervously.

I can’t let myself drift to the depravity of that old man from Hwasan.

Forcing myself to maintain composure, I focused on Tang Je-mun’s eyes.

Those eyes were a much more brilliant jade green than what the Poison Empress had once possessed.

That holds significant meaning.

‘Proof of Immunity to All Poisons.’

That was what I’d heard, but honestly, it was uncertain.

It was the realm that the previous life’s Poison Empress achieved, and Tang Je-mun likely enjoyed that boon too.

As I stared into her eyes, Tang Je-mun slowly continued speaking.

“Have you talked a lot with that foolish one?”

The title had changed from Shin Cheol to foolish one.

“Yes, we haven’t had a few conversations, but…”

Before Noya disappeared, we had quite a few exchanges, by the way.

Though I realized I hadn’t heard much from Noya himself.

While I reminisced about that, Tang Je-mun looked at me and asked.

“Did I not come up in the conversation?”

“Oh, yes. No particular stories about you…”

Just as I was about to say that, the mention of the Moyong family’s Young Lady unexpectedly emerged in my mind.

I unwittingly blurted out, “I’ve heard about the Moyong family’s Young Lady.”

“Ha.”

Upon hearing that, Tang Je-mun’s expression turned icy.

I inwardly nodded, thinking it was indeed a misstep.

This was probably a topic not to be brought up.

Sure enough, Tang Je-mun looked at me with cold eyes and spoke.

“It seems she mentioned the Moyong Young Lady.”

In a hasty attempt to rectify myself, I added, “No… I just heard that she was taken away by Namgoong Myung…”

“Taken away? You mean that she was snatched by Namgoong Myung?”

Tang Je-mun’s eyes widened slightly before she broke into a chuckle.

“It seems you are still under that impression.”

“Eh?”

“Maybe that’s for the best.”

With a sly smile, Tang Je-mun’s gaze sharpened at me.

I felt an unsettling chill run down my spine.

“Originally, I meant to reveal this as well, but…”

It felt like an unease lingered heavily in her words.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Cough cough.

Behind Tang Je-mun, the sound of Shin Cheol repeatedly banging on the barrier echoed as they expressed their anger.

 

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