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Chapter 525: Just Hand It Over Once.

Around the time when a big issue broke out in the Tang Clan.

Among the busiest people, it was obviously the Poison King.

Surprisingly, there was someone else equally busy.

“What… What is going on?”

Since morning, the incident erupted without a moment’s notice, and moving about in a disheveled state was Moyong Hi-ah, the precious daughter of the Moyong Family.

In the residence assigned for guests, she had to keep rubbing her temples.

“… Information. Is there no more information?”

She spoke while glancing sideways with a frown.

The one kneeling beside her answered.

“… It’s a sudden situation, so we are currently gathering more information.”

“… Ugh…!”

Moyong Hi-ah bit her delicate lips in response to her subordinate’s words.

‘What on earth is going on…?’

To have it come to this from the break of dawn.

This absurd situation required Moyong Hi-ah to think quickly.

‘Suddenly beheading the Elder?’

The unexpected news made her break into a cold sweat.

The Tang Clan’s Elder was beheaded overnight. By none other than the Poison King himself.

‘What kind of situation is this?’

The Elder of the Tang Clan was responsible for managing all medicinal herbs.

Supposedly, he was a person who achieved the Transformation Realm in his old age.

Moyong Hi-ah knew of him.

Once, due to her constitution, she had dealings with the Tang Clan.

Among these were not just treatments but transactions involving the herbs themselves.

The Elder must have been responsible for that.

She had even met him in person.

To Moyong Hi-ah, that Elder was.

‘A somewhat suspicious figure.’

She judged him to be a person of questionable character.

But on the other hand, she had also rated him as a capable individual.

Given his management of countless medicinal herbs, he must have had considerable influence in the Tang Clan.

‘But to be beheaded?’

To easily kill someone with such power.

Upon hearing it, Moyong Hi-ah felt a sharp pain at the top of her head.

Something had happened.

There was no way she could be unaware of it.

‘I need more information.’

Even though she felt a headache coming from this mental strain since the morning.

She had to act.

A big issue had erupted in the Tang Clan. This was a significant problem for Moyong Hi-ah.

‘How many plans have I prepared for the future?’

There were several projects she had been preparing in collaboration with the Tang Clan.

Things she needed to expand using those projects.

To have something happen in the Tang Clan at such a time? That was highly troublesome.

Moyong Hi-ah immediately formulated several paths in her mind.

The most straightforward and clear one was to hold the Tang Clan accountable for this and resolve it with no issues, but.

‘…’

She recalled Tang Soyeol, and scratched that plan.

It wasn’t that she was worried about Tang Soyeol.

While they had grown fond of each other over time, Moyong Hi-ah understood that such ‘friendship’ would not stand to lose anything.

One problem was that.

‘He wouldn’t like that.’

She knew that if she handled it purely calculatively, that man, who subtly looks out for his people, wouldn’t react favorably.

So she had to endure. What could she do?

As she was trying to come up with another plan.

“… Wait a moment….”

Moyong Hi-ah thought of Gu Yangcheong from the last time she visited Hyun, who seemed to be hiding something.

That person had looked like he was about to cause another incident.

And shortly after, the current situation erupted.

Surely, there can’t be any connection, right?

‘… No way, right?’

There was no certainty.

After all, ‘surely’ brings trouble. That man was a character who could cause plenty of it.

Druk. Moyong Hi-ah stood up.

“Miss?”

“… I’ll be right back. Please gather more information in the meantime.”

“Understood.”

After urgently communicating with her subordinate, Moyong Hi-ah left the residence, walking briskly.

Her destination was the place where that man, Gu Yangcheong, was.

‘It better not be true.’

She fervently prayed internally.

Why am I working so hard for someone like this?

He wouldn’t have caused a problem without providing assistance, would he?

She could only hope so.

‘Not yet… I haven’t finished Mother’s assignment.’

Her teeth ground together.

Mother’s assignment meant a task directly given by Baekhwa Sect’s Mi Hyo-ran.

One day, she received a letter from Baekhwa Sect.

It contained discussions about their business matters.

And a request to explain how to resolve problems should such situations arise.

She had faced similar issues with Baekhwa Sect before. It was something she was somewhat accustomed to.

If it had been a sudden absurd request without any context, she would have likely ignored it.

Unless the one sending the letter wasn’t the leader of Baekhwa Sect.

The fact that Mi Hyo-ran went out of her way to put such complex and difficult situations into writing for Moyong Hi-ah meant she couldn’t ignore it.

‘It’s a test.’

This was a test.

Mi Hyo-ran was testing Moyong Hi-ah.

How excellent of a person are you?

The implication was clear.

What difference would it make if she proved herself?

What was the purpose of this test in the first place?

It was obvious to her.

It was to see if she was worthy of being beside that person.

A cold sensation crept into her thoughts, and Moyong Hi-ah frowned.

‘I heard he isn’t her real son….’

She had been told before that Gu Yangcheong was not Mi Hyo-ran’s biological child. Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t understand why Mi Hyo-ran was acting this way.

Nonetheless, an unexpected opportunity had presented itself, so she couldn’t let it slip by.

In that situation.

‘… That guy caused some trouble?’

Though she wasn’t certain, honestly, Moyong Hi-ah was convinced.

That the incident in the Tang Clan had something to do with him.

Given the circumstances, denying it felt impossible, as everything was indicating in that direction.

‘Just when I thought I was busy enough…!’

Moyong Hi-ah gritted her teeth and walked.

She had to get to the bottom of what had happened directly.

That would be better than gathering information.

As she thought this, approaching the residence.

“Eh?”

She spotted someone in front of Gu Yangcheong’s place.

It was someone she recognized.

“… What are you doing there?”

“…!”

As the woman appeared to be hesitating to enter, Moyong Hi-ah approached and inquired, causing the woman, who had been peeking, to flinch.

In that brief moment of her flinching, her bright brown hair danced.

“Oh, hello….”

The woman greeted Moyong Hi-ah with her unique golden eyes.

She still looked lovely.

Moyong Hi-ah knew well enough that she herself was attractive, but compared to this woman or the Sword Dance Hero, she felt slightly overshadowed.

Putting on a busy facade with effort.

Moyong Hi-ah asked the woman, Wi Seol-Ah, once more.

“What are you doing?”

“Well…”

“Do you have business with that person?”

“Ah, no…. I’m not here for the Prince.”

Not pinpointing anyone in particular, they managed to understand each other.

“Um?”

So Wi Seol-Ah doesn’t have business with Gu Yangcheong?

That was an unexpected response from Moyong Hi-ah.

Given who Wi Seol-Ah was, she assumed she was there to see Gu Yangcheong.

‘If not, then who is that for?’

As far as she knew, there were three individuals staying in that residence.

One was a Sleeping Dragon. Another was a youth… what was his name again?

No matter how she saw it, Wi Seol-Ah seemed unlikely to have business with anyone else.

Though a strange feeling tugged at her mind.

‘If she has no business with that person, then that’s a relief for me.’

It was actually a good thing for Moyong Hi-ah.

After all, she had a reason to see Gu Yangcheong.

“Then I’ll go in first. I’m a bit busy.”

“Ah…!”

As Moyong Hi-ah moved to enter, Wi Seol-Ah looked startled once again.

What was with that reaction?

As she scrutinized Wi Seol-Ah, entering the place where Gu Yangcheong was.

‘What is this?’

Moyong Hi-ah felt something off.

It felt as if the temperature had slightly risen.

Being someone with an unusually low body temperature made her extremely sensitive to such changes.

For the moment, she didn’t think too much of it.

First, it was crucial to find out what incident had occurred.

With that in mind, she headed toward the room where Gu Yangcheong was staying.

“Gu Gongja! Are you there?”

-….

She asked at the door, but silence answered her. On her way, she had asked a servant, and they mentioned that Gu Yangcheong was in the residence.

Is he sleeping?

Is he really sleeping after all this? As much as that man was, he wouldn’t sleep through such a disturbance.

Could it be that he had no connection to this incident at all?

Just then.

Tap.

Wi Seol-Ah appeared beside her.

Seeing that, Moyong Hi-ah narrowed her eyes.

“You said you had no business.”

“… Well…”

She clearly stated she had no business with Gu Yangcheong, but now this?

What is going on here?

Was she trying to engage in a psychological battle with her? Unexpectedly caught off guard, Moyong Hi-ah was about to speak when—

Creek!

Gu Yangcheong’s door opened. As she was about to face the appearance of Gu Yangcheong—

“… Gong… uhh…?”

Moyong Hi-ah made an unintentionally foolish sound.

The one who appeared was not Gu Yangcheong.

But someone much larger than him.

With a broader chest and shoulders, he was considerably bulkier.

Moyong Hi-ah felt lost for words under the overwhelming gaze judging her.

It felt heavy.

Just being looked at was like a weight pressing down on her.

Gulp.

As she met the glaring red eyes, Moyong Hi-ah swallowed dryly.

The man who emerged from Gu Yangcheong’s room simply stared at Moyong Hi-ah.

A few seconds of silence passed.

Finally regaining her senses, Moyong Hi-ah quickly glanced into the inner room.

And was shocked once more.

‘… Why is that person there again?’

In the inner room of Gu Yangcheong, she spotted the Sword Dance Hero sitting at a table, as if being cautious.

This atmosphere was strange.

What is this vibe?

Moyong Hi-ah’s clever mind worked quickly.

But with little time to spare, she had only one immediate option.

She took a breath.

It took just a second.

Her racing heart wouldn’t settle down easily.

Trying her best to appear calm, she introduced herself.

“… The bloodline of the Moyong Family greets the Clan Leader of the Gu Clan. My name is Moyong Hi-ah.”

Fortunately, her voice did not tremble. What fortune.

The man receiving Moyong Hi-ah’s greeting was Gu Cheolun.

She recognized him.

There was no way she wouldn’t know.

During the start of this journey, she had received countless warnings from her father, Baek Cheon-gyeomju, to be cautious around the Clan Leader of the Gu Clan.

She also recalled a few words from her aunt, Baek Yeon-gyeom.

Not to mention, he is Gu Yangcheong’s father.

An unexpected encounter, but she couldn’t show herself in poor form.

“…”

Gu Cheolun’s eyebrow moved slightly at Moyong Hi-ah’s greeting.

Though she had her head down and couldn’t see, Moyong Hi-ah knew.

Gu Cheolun was examining her.

“… Nice to meet you. I’m Gu Cheolun.”

“I apologize for such a sudden visit. It’s just that…. I have urgent business with Gu Gongja, so I hurriedly came here.”

Why is the Clan Leader here? Such questions weren’t asked. Though she wanted to, she held back.

That was a secondary concern.

“If it’s about my son, I’m afraid this isn’t the right time for a discussion.”

“Eh?”

No sooner had he spoken, Gu Cheolun turned his body slightly to show the inside of the room.

There, on the bed, Gu Yangcheong lay peacefully.

Is he just asleep? But Moyong Hi-ah immediately realized.

He wasn’t just asleep.

It seemed something had happened this time.

‘Did he get hurt again?’

The thought of what might have occurred crossed her mind before the worry set in.

That man could easily get himself hurt like that.

As Moyong Hi-ah’s gaze trembled.

Gu Cheolun calmly kept his eyes on her.

“For now, please come in.”

“Excuse me?”

“If it’s urgent, you may leave, but if you’re fine with it, I suggest you come in and wait.”

“…”

Moyong Hi-ah flinched at Gu Cheolun’s words.

If she went in now, she would have to wait with Gu Cheolun while they left Gu Yangcheong asleep.

‘What do I do?’

No matter how capable Moyong Hi-ah was, would she be able to endure that atmosphere?

In her heart, she wanted to excuse herself and head back.

‘But that person is inside.’

Her attention drew to the Sword Dance Hero present in the room, taking a moment to hesitate.

She couldn’t afford to hesitate too long.

Moyong Hi-ah gathered her thoughts and addressed Gu Cheolun.

“Then…. I apologize for the intrusion.”

At her words, Gu Cheolun nodded.

He then shifted his gaze toward Wi Seol-Ah.

Wi Seol-Ah quickly gave her greetings to Gu Cheolun.

“… I’m honored to meet the Clan Leader.”

“The purpose seems similar, so you should come in as well, Young Lady.”

“Ah…. Yes.”

With that, Gu Cheolun entered the room, with the two women following behind.

An unbearably heavy atmosphere settled among them.

As a side note, the four of them exchanged not a single word until Gu Yangcheong awoke.

And so.

“… What on earth is this situation?”

Once I shot up, I examined the circumstances with trembling eyes.

What is happening?

Why is my father, who was supposed to deal with the Poison King, in my room?

And why are these three people here?

Are they all bowing their heads as if they did something wrong?

‘I thought I was dreaming….’

Given that the circumstances didn’t seem real, I thought maybe I was dreaming, expecting to lie back down.

But it didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t the case.

The penetrating stares and the suffocating feeling were unsettlingly real.

Ultimately, after cold sweat broke out, I asked my father.

“Uh… What happened?”

Although it was a condensed question, it was enough to communicate my concern.

After taking a sip of tea, my father replied.

“Baek Yeon-gyeom said you collapsed.”

“Ah.”

Apparently, when I used Thunder Fang, I fainted, and Baek Yeon-gyeom informed my father.

“The physician said there doesn’t appear to be any major problems. Do you feel alright?”

“… Yes. I’m fine.”

“That’s good.”

Satisfied, my father nodded.

Seeing that, I immediately needed to ask about something else.

“… Father.”

“Speak.”

“Why are they…. No, why are those young ladies in such a state…?”

I could see three terrified young women bowing their heads, unable to look up.

After I spoke, my father also looked that way and said.

“I told them to stay at ease, but it seems they were not at ease after all.”

As my father said that, the three young women quickly raised their heads.

“No, we’re definitely not uncomfortable.”

“… I was fine….”

“I was really comfortable.”

“…”

I was at a loss for words at their frantic responses.

What could have made them like this?

They didn’t seem like that normally. Something felt off.

“You all…. So, why are you here?”

After finally breaking through my confusion, I asked, and Nangong Bi-ah answered first.

“… Suddenly…. you collapsed… and we were worried….”

Nangong Bi-ah’s words I could understand.

After the sparring match and the kiss… I had fainted.

I could imagine they were probably quite shocked.

‘… You don’t think they think I fainted from that kiss, do you?’

I hoped that wasn’t the case. That would be really embarrassing.

[You were never not embarrassing, were you?]

Just then, Shin Noya chimed in as if he were a ghost.

Since I fainted after the spar, Nangong Bi-ah, who had been gauging Gu Cheolun’s response, turned her attention to Moyong Hi-ah.

When I looked at Moyong Hi-ah, she continued to speak.

Moyong Hi-ah, paying close attention to my father’s reactions as well, added.

“… I heard there’s been an incident in the Tang Clan, and I thought Gu Gongja might know something, so I came to ask you.”

The Elder was beheaded by the Poison King.

To outsiders, it seemed like it had happened overnight, yet Moyong Hi-ah came to me because she could immediately sense I had some connection to it.

‘Does that mean she’s sharp-witted?’

In any case, it felt good that she was perceptive.

How long has it been? I still couldn’t tell.

‘… If she’d been an enemy, that would have been really troublesome.’

If Moyong Hi-ah had been an enemy, that would have genuinely been a problem.

While Ten Yulang cornered the enemy into a critical situation on purpose, forcing them to die in fear, Moyong Hi-ah would promptly deal with the enemy without giving them room to breathe.

Every action of hers was like a calculated plan.

Thank goodness she wasn’t an enemy.

I had to count my blessings.

“… But… um….”

Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes flickered for a moment.

I could guess what she was trying to say.

She came to ask me something, only to find me collapsed and my father present, which startled her.

Indeed, that must have been shocking.

Conversely, how baffled was I?

The scene I witnessed upon waking hadn’t faded from memory.

‘But then…’

What about her?

There was one more person who had yet to take a sip of the tea, staring only at the table.

That was Wi Seol-Ah.

It wasn’t a face I hadn’t seen in a while since I had seen her last at Hyun.

“… Do you have business with me?”

Given the circumstances, her being here felt a little awkward.

What would Wi Seol-Ah have to do with me?

As I looked at her with questioning thoughts, she said.

“… I wasn’t here to see you, Gongja.”

“Eh?”

She wasn’t here for me?

I had thought it was a given that she was, but at her unexpected answer, I felt a bit startled.

Wi Seol-Ah turned to look at my father.

“… I came here because I thought I should greet the Clan Leader since he arrived….”

“What?”

Hearing that, I was even more surprised.

So she didn’t have anything to do with me but came to see my father?

When did she see him?

The number of people aware of my father’s presence was exceedingly few.

Did Wi Seol-Ah spot him?

As that thought passed, I noticed the change in my father’s expression.

“Mm.”

It was a very short utterance, yet I noticed my father had spoken.

“…!”

“… Oh dear.”

Upon hearing this, I could see Nangong Bi-ah and Moyong Hi-ah flinch.

Their expressions looked very much like ‘Oops!’ moments.

What’s up with that…?

Curious, I stayed quiet.

And in the ensuing silence, suddenly a voice broke through.

– I won’t be delving into your life in detail, but…

My father’s telepathic message came through.

– It seems three of you are a bit much.

“…”

Faced with my father’s sudden telepathic message, I had to suppress a few remarks I was about to make.

At first, I had to suppress the words saying it wasn’t three.

After that—

I had to stop myself from saying he shouldn’t be the one to speak on that.

If I blurted them out, I had a feeling I would be in trouble.

 

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