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Chapter 550: Wudang

“Big Brother?”

As I pondered the unfamiliar title, my ears rang slightly.

The other party seemed equally bewildered, staring at me with wide eyes.

Those large eyes were now even rounder.

“Why are you here, Big Brother?”

Upon hearing Gu Ryeonghwa’s question, I furrowed my brows.

“That’s what I want to ask.”

Why on earth are they here?

“You, why are you here?”

“And you?”

We were both taken aback, exchanging dumbfounded looks.

Who would’ve thought we’d meet flesh and blood here?

It had been quite a while since I’d last seen Gu Ryeonghwa.

After all, they had left the clan.

With the distance involved, we wouldn’t have seen each other unless there was something special happening.

‘How many years has it been?’

I thought the last time was about five years ago.

Perhaps that was why Gu Ryeonghwa appeared so different after all this time.

The chubby-cheeked girl from before had vanished.

In her place stood a woman radiating maturity.

‘Hmm.’

What do I even call that?

While Gu Huibi and Gu Yeonseo had the sharp features distinctive of the Gu Clan, Gu Ryeonghwa possessed an appearance with a soft charm.

That was just….

‘She resembles Mother.’

Her looks reminded me of my mother in my memories.

As I examined Gu Ryeonghwa’s face, she too was scrutinizing mine for the same reason.

No, her gaze seemed more directed at my body?

“…Big Brother.”

“Hmm?”

“Why… why have you grown so tall?”

“…What?”

Gu Ryeonghwa’s voice bore an undertone of disbelief.

Grown? What do you mean I’ve grown?

When I locked eyes with her, I realized.

‘Ah.’

She meant my height.

Though I had slimmed down somewhat, I wasn’t particularly short.

‘Maybe I slimmed down too much.’

After shedding some bulk, I said I wanted to adjust to my original body type.

That wasn’t easy.

‘Those around me are so much taller.’

The people around me were towering over the average height.

It was hard to gauge myself just by looking.

Perhaps that’s why Gu Ryeonghwa seemed so flustered.

“I’ve grown a bit from eating well and sleeping well.”

“You’ve not just grown a bit…? You’ve grown a lot, though.”

Gu Ryeonghwa was glaring at me with an expression of unjust frustration.

It seemed she wasn’t too thrilled about my height increase.

It’s true that in terms of proportions, she was rather petite compared to me.

‘Looks a bit like Tang Soyeol.’

It couldn’t be helped.

The Gu Clan typically had smaller physiques.

In fact, aside from Elder Lee and my father, who were anomalies, there weren’t many tall folks in history.

In my previous life, I couldn’t even reach six feet.

I was considered rather short for a male martial artist.

Given that, it was understandable for Gu Ryeonghwa to be on the smaller side.

So, I really couldn’t pay any mind to her being upset.

“…So, why are you here?”

At my question, Gu Ryeonghwa frowned slightly.

Just then, I heard a voice calling her from behind.

“Teacher.”

The voice belonged to somebody I sensed earlier.

Upon hearing her name, Gu Ryeonghwa shut her lips tightly.

I, too, shifted my gaze toward the source of the voice.

A young man was approaching under the moonlight.

Though it was night, there seemed to be an unusual brightness emanating from that direction.

Whoosh—

Moreover, the breeze blowing from that direction carried a subtle floral fragrance.

This was definitely not an illusion.

“It’s been a while.”

The young man said with a smile as he looked at me.

Tall with a striking face, especially with that deep smile.

That was still his infuriating face.

Looking at him, I said, “…Yeongpung.”

The young man was none other than the youngest disciple of the Hwasan Sect, the current Sword Dragon, and a Late-Stage Talent.

Hwasan’s Yeongpung.

“Haha!”

At my call, Yeongpung awkwardly laughed as he walked over.

“I didn’t expect to see you here. Have you been well?”

Yeongpung approached me with his signature gentle smile.

“Yes, as for the sect…”

While speaking, I briefly scanned Yeongpung with a quick glance.

“You seem to be doing quite well, indeed.”

“Hahaha…”

Even as I spoke, I was internally surprised.

‘Is that him?’

Yeongpung’s level was clearly exceptional.

‘Is he about to reach a breakthrough?’

A few years ago, he had only barely reached the peak level, but now he seemed shockingly close to the Transformation Realm.

On top of that.

‘His energy seems much deeper.’

The Taoist Qi of Hwasan had thoroughly deepened.

“…What have you been up to?”

Though I didn’t intend to ask, curiosity got the better of me.

What in the world had he been doing at Hwasan to change so much?

As I posed the question, Yeongpung wore a bashful expression, not hiding his embarrassment.

“I didn’t expect you to notice so quickly. As expected of Gu Gongja.”

“I don’t believe there was anything to notice.”

It was absurd.

If Yeongpung had hidden his level, I could understand, but right now, he wasn’t even trying to conceal it.

‘How could anyone miss something that massive?’

His presence had been magnified beyond imagination.

An overwhelming energy emanated from Yeongpung.

‘That’s why I sensed someone approaching from afar.’

The reason I had recognized someone coming toward me was that Yeongpung’s energy was just that potent.

How could I not notice it?

“Ah.”

Hearing my words, Yeongpung responded as if he realized something.

“…Oh dear, it seems I’ve made a mistake.”

As he spoke that way, he began to pull back his energy gradually.

The wind around us decreased, and the floral aroma softly faded away.

Once all his energy disappeared, I finally understood how he had managed to emit such energy.

“It seems you’ve just recently attained enlightenment.”

“Haha….”

Yeongpung laughed awkwardly.

It appeared he had achieved some enlightenment recently and had grown rapidly.

Thus, he hadn’t been able to rein in his energy and had been inadvertently displaying it.

Sigh…

Gu Ryeonghwa, who was standing next to me, sighed deeply.

Then, turning to Yeongpung, she said, “…Please, I told you to try and keep your energy hidden.”

“Teacher, did I really stick out that much?”

“Of course you did!”

Gu Ryeonghwa shot a weary glare at Yeongpung.

“Do you not remember how many demon beasts swarmed us just from your energy while we were on our way here?”

Given how powerful a martial artist’s energy can be, many demon beasts must’ve been drawn to it.

“I’m sorry. I tried to hide it, but…. It’s not easy.”

As Yeongpung said this, he wore an apologetic expression, leaving Gu Ryeonghwa with seemingly no words left to say.

It seemed she understood it wasn’t intentional.

“Fine… all the demon beasts were taken care of by Yeongpung anyway.”

“No, Teacher also put in effort…”

“I have a conscience too, so you don’t have to say that.”

“…Yes.”

Under Gu Ryeonghwa’s firm words, Yeongpung sealed his lips tightly.

Watching this, I interjected.

“So, what’s with you two?”

No matter how I looked at it, it was a peculiar pair.

The youngest disciple and the second disciple making their journey together was odd enough.

Moreover, considering they should be at Hwasan, it was strange for both to be so far in Honam.

“That’s…”

As Gu Ryeonghwa began to respond, Yeongpung interrupted.

“It’s an order from the Sect Leader.”

“The Sect Leader?”

“Yes.”

If Yeongpung was talking about the Sect Leader, it referred to Hwasan’s Maehwa Seon.

“You mean the Maehwa Seon sent the two of you here?”

“Yes.”

A strange combination of the youngest disciple, who rarely ventured beyond the sect, and the second disciple, who was still quite young?

Logically, that didn’t make sense.

Yet, while I wanted to inquire further, I refrained since I understood the implication behind Yeongpung’s words.

‘The fact that he mentioned the Sect Leader means.’

It was a significant issue within the sect, and without the Sect Leader’s permission, they wouldn’t be able to divulge more.

‘He’s hinting I shouldn’t pry further.’

Realizing that, I instantly lost interest.

“Alright then. That suffices.”

When I casually replied, Yeongpung glanced at me and gave a slight smile.

“…Gu Gongja hasn’t changed a bit.”

To not have changed? No one else has changed as drastically as he has.

“Is that a compliment?”

“Yes, at least I believed that Gu Gongja wouldn’t change. I’m relieved.”

Though it felt like anything but a genuine compliment, I decided not to nitpick.

“…So why are you here, Big Brother?”

At the question that followed, I turned to Gu Ryeonghwa.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at Mount Shan?”

What should I reply? I paused for a moment, contemplating, but without a clear response, decided to just speak candidly.

“I ran away from home.”

“What…?”

As a runaway, that was the simplest answer I could give.

“I wanted a breath of fresh air outside. So I just ran away.”

When I said so bluntly, Gu Ryeonghwa’s expression shifted immediately.

She looked somewhat pitiful.

“Big Brother….”

“…I was just about to head back. I’m on my way home now, you know?”

In truth, I was contemplating heading straight to Hanam instead of home.

It shouldn’t matter.

Gu Ryeonghwa made a face of disbelief at my words, then shifted her gaze to survey the surroundings as if searching for something.

“What are you doing?”

“Then where’s your sister?”

“My sister?”

Feeling puzzled by her words, I looked at Gu Ryeonghwa as she replied with an expression of ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

“If you’re here, then your sister should be too, right?”

“…No, that means…”

I stuttered, pausing mid-sentence.

I barely suppressed what was about to slip out.

‘Which’ sister was she talking about?

If I said it, all the affection I had for Gu Ryeonghwa, just because she shared my blood, would vanish.

As I hesitated, Gu Ryeonghwa remarked with frustration,

“Bi-ah.”

“Oh.”

Finally, I nodded my head.

She was talking about Nangong Bi-ah.

“Is she not here?”

“She….”

She’s gone quite a distance, but should I say this?

“Since I haven’t heard from her in years, I thought if you were here, she’d be here too….”

Huh?

I frowned at Gu Ryeonghwa’s words.

“What do you mean by ‘haven’t heard’? What are you talking about?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’ve been exchanging letters with my sisters occasionally. Unlike someone, my sisters reply quite nicely.”

“…”

Listening to Gu Ryeonghwa, I froze in shock.

‘Someone’ must refer to me.

I had never replied to any of her supposed letters that she dutifully sent my way.

It was a hassle, and I hardly had anything to say with written words.

But.

‘…You’ve been exchanging letters with who?’

Putting aside the fact that Nangong Bi-ah was in contact with Gu Ryeonghwa, I needed to focus on a specific phrase.

She didn’t just say ‘sister,’ but ‘sisters.’

“What do you mean by ‘sisters’? Who exactly have you been in contact with?”

At my question, Gu Ryeonghwa looked at me as if asking why I was curious.

“Bi-ah unni, Seol-Ah unni…. and even Soyeol unni sometimes….”

As she began naming them one by one, my head started to spin slightly.

“Oh, but the one I message the most is Hi-ah unni.”

“…”

Mo Yong Hi-ah was mentioned too.

“Just the other day, she came over, and we had a meal together.”

“What? You had a meal with whom?”

“With Hi-ah unni.”

Gu Ryeonghwa had enjoyed a meal with Mo Yong Hi-ah.

Nangong Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah I could understand, as I had a chance to meet them at least once.

But as for Tang Soyeol and Mo Yong Hi-ah? They must’ve never even met each other, so when did Gu Ryeonghwa contact them?

Also.

‘When did she ever go to Shanxi?’

How on earth did Mo Yong Hi-ah make it to Shanxi in the midst of her busy life?

I felt dizzy as the realization of what I hadn’t known hit me.

“Oh, Big Brother.”

“Uh…?”

As my brain whirled, Gu Ryeonghwa leaned closer and asked.

“Is it true that Hi-ah unni is getting married next year…?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Then what about Bi-ah unni…?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Who told you that?”

“Hi-ah unni said… she thought she might have the wedding next year….”

“You’re kidding me. Really?”

Who had been spreading such ridiculous rumors?

If Mo Yong Hi-ah indeed told Gu Ryeonghwa something like that, then I had to—

‘Find her and have a word with her about it.’

There was an urgent need to confront her about what nonsense she had been going around saying.

Of course.

‘…But now isn’t the time.’

Mo Yong Hi-ah was currently busy managing a business with Lady Mi.

Furthermore, she was also in the middle of fulfilling my requests, so I hardly got to see her lately.

At most, I might catch her once in a blue moon.

So.

‘When I have the chance later, I need to ask her directly.’

I needed to uncover what kept happening behind my back.

While planning how I would scold Mo Yong Hi-ah later, I noticed Gu Ryeonghwa’s expression had crinkled slightly.

“…Did I say something I shouldn’t have…?”

“No, this was incredibly helpful information.”

“I feel like I might get scolded by my unni later….”

Gu Ryeonghwa nervously glanced behind her toward the figure watching from a distance.

It was Seongyul, who was observing us quietly.

“Is he perhaps a friend of yours?”

“Hmm?”

“Um, that… the Wudang Sleeping Dragon…?”

Upon hearing Gu Ryeonghwa’s words, I frowned.

“How do you know that?”

How did she even come to know about my connection with the Sleeping Dragon?

At that question, Gu Ryeonghwa made a flustered expression, giving a vague smile as she replied.

“An unni of mine….”

Once again, it seemed to have come from that elusive ‘unni’ of hers.

Which ‘unni’ this time?

Thinking about it brought about a headache.

“He’s not that person.”

“He’s not?”

“Does he seem like a Taoist to you?”

Of course.

Even though Woo Hyeok was a troublesome individual by most standards, I decided to play dumb for explanations’ sake.

I turned to look at Seongyul and gave a brief explanation to Gu Ryeonghwa.

“Just a friend. Don’t worry about it….”

“Seong Défense?”

“…Huh?”

As I tried to clarify about Seongyul, Yeongpung jumped in, glancing at Seongyul.

Pausing.

Now that Yeongpung had mentioned it, Seongyul flinched visibly.

He looked incredibly shocked.

Seeing Seongyul’s reaction made me wonder if they had some sort of unsettling relationship.

*

Swoosh—!

The raging wind whipped through, sending snowflakes swirling.

The relentless snowstorm made it impossible to see a step ahead.

This was truly a biting cold, as sharp as a blade.

No matter how many layers I wore, it wouldn’t be long until my body froze solid.

Thus, people often referred to this land as the land of extremes.

A place where snow never ceased to fall upon its surface.

And a land where the wind never paused to greet spring.

This was that kind of land.

Beyond that land.

<Roar!>

A colossal beastly roar pierced through the winds.

Boom—!

With a thunderous sound, the ground trembled.

Thud! Thud—!

The terrain shook violently as if an earthquake had struck.

Dressed heavily in fur, a figure trudged through the shaking earth.

Their destination was the source of that overwhelming sound.

Clong-clong-clong!

<Roar!>

Despite the countless eruptions of noise that could instill fear, the figure walked onward slowly.

As they took more steps, an unfamiliar burnt aroma began to permeate the air.

Growl! <Roar!>

The noise had intensified, but the figure continued to discern the scent and sounds.

They could tell, it was nearing its end.

Once they picked that feeling up, their pace quickened.

After more steps, an explosive sound reverberated.

Boom—!

Something crashed down, causing the ground to shake heavily.

Finally, the youth could see it.

Far away, amid the ruins of the ground.

A giant demon beast, resembling a red-furred monkey, lay collapsed.

That burning scent wafted from it.

“Wow.”

The youth couldn’t help but exclaim in awe upon seeing it.

“You’ve done quite the job. Did you have a tantrum?”

The youth spoke with a teasing tone, but the voice wasn’t directed at the beast that had perished.

His gaze was fixed, not on the beaten beast, but instead upon the woman standing atop it.

Wearing simple outer garments, and with white hair tied back, she didn’t seem affected by the cold.

Her skin resembled snow, with a captivating allure, but her gaze was colder than the weather itself.

Addressing the woman, the youth said, “Have you not noticed I’ve been searching for you for quite a while, Sister?”

“…”

As the youth kept talking, the woman still ignored him.

It seemed she didn’t hear him at all.

Yet, the youth refused to stop.

“I know you’re mad because we’re delayed, but what can I do? The Ice Palace Lord has unfinished business.”

“…”

“Despite the fact that my Master and Baek Cheon’s senior have thrown a fit, why is it always my job to find you?”

“…”

“Have you not gotten lost again? Next time, you should leave bread crumbs so I can find you easily.”

“…”

Even being ignored, the youth relentlessly pursued conversation.

Yet the woman remained silent.

Eventually, he let out a deep sigh.

“Dear Sister, could you at least listen…?”

“…Why…?”

“…”

Finally getting a response, the youth rubbed his forehead in exasperation.

“…What a pain.”

An expression he often heard from his friend.

For some reason, Ur Hyuk understood why it had slipped out.

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Ur Hyuk turned back to the woman.

“…The noble lady is looking for you.”

“The noble lady…?”

The woman’s expression filled with confusion.

She couldn’t comprehend why the lady would be searching for her.

“Well, from what I heard…”

Ur Hyuk continued.

“Yangcheon, that friend of yours, has some questions he wants to ask….”

“…!”

“If, this dear sister doesn’t wish to go, I can always come up with an excuse… huh?”

Ur Hyuk suddenly paused mid-sentence.

The woman who had stood before him had vanished.

Just then.

“I’ll go.”

The voice from behind him made Ur Hyuk swiftly turn around.

Right there, the woman was moving as if she were ready to go right away.

“…”

Ur Hyuk stared at her in disbelief.

But the woman was already set on her path.

Ur Hyuk exclaimed, “Sister, that is not the way!”

“…”

Upon his comment, the woman changed directions, but that way seemed wrong to him as well.

 

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