His cheeks are annoyingly flushed, his eyes annoyingly trembling, and his gaze annoyingly unable to meet mine.
From the way he's acting with that handsome face, it's clear he's fallen for her at first sight.
After all, the sight of Weixuela with his slightly damp hair and uneasy eyes is incredibly alluring.
It's a dangerous appearance that can break down one's defenses and penetrate their heart in an instant, unless they are a seasoned practitioner of Dao, Buddhism, or a long-cultivated expert.
Even I feel a bit lightheaded; how could this guy possibly resist? In the end, he was completely captivated by Weixuela.
"Tsk."
Weixuela looks at me with a blank expression, not understanding the situation.
Feeling irritable, I pull Weixuela back a bit.
Seeing this, Gujeolip, who is a blood relative, hurriedly tries to maintain his composure, but he can't hide his flushed cheeks.
Elder Li, standing beside him, can't hide his twitching lips as he looks at Gujeolip.
'He's trying to hold back his laughter.'
He's a truly nasty old man.
"Ahem! Ahem!"
Gujeolip repeatedly clears his throat, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere, but it doesn't seem to be working.
"Again, I, Gujeolip, request a sparring match with a blood relative of the main family."
'Look me in the eye and say that, you brat...'
His eyes keep drifting towards Weixuela, and it's obvious to everyone.
I wave my hand dismissively, signaling him to leave.
"Sparring? I'm not interested, so go away."
It's clear that this is a troublesome matter. Demanding a sparring match out of the blue is not exactly polite.
In fact, it's more like an act of disrespect.
I have plenty of reasons to refuse. Gujeolip's tone changes, clearly displeased with my attitude.
"Are you afraid?"
"Yes, I'm very afraid."
"You're still so weak, running away from such a trivial matter..."
"Yes, yes, I'm very weak. Indeed, indeed."
I pretend to listen with one ear and let it out the other, causing Gujeolip's eyes to twitch more and more. His breathing becomes rough, clearly very angry.
So what are you going to do? I said I won't do it.
This relative came to the main house early in the morning to demand a sparring match, and I have a clear reason to refuse.
As if reaching his limit, Elder Li approaches the fuming Gujeolip and asks,
"Jueyeop, why are you demanding a sparring match? Is it because of Elder Yi?"
'Elder Yi?'
Gujeolip hesitates at Elder Li's question but doesn't answer.
However, his silence is enough for me to understand.
'It's just some petty politics.'
I wondered why this happened out of the blue, and that's the reason.
'Sure enough, it was a mistake for me to cause trouble in the sparring match with Guxianxue.'
Everyone in the family knows that Elder Yi is ambitious. However, the main family can't do much about Elder Yi's ambitions, and the reason is me.
A blood relative of the main family, weak in both temperament and talent.
Clearly insufficient to be the head of the family, let alone being the son of a concubine.
Elder Yi's ambitions are a kind of reserve for the family. Elder Yi consistently tries to turn this reserve into certainty.
However, this reserve is starting to waver.
It's because I won the sparring match against Guxianxue.
Most people dismiss it as mere luck, but the ripple effect is not something Elder Yi would welcome.
"So, you're doing this childish act?"
Feeling annoyed, I try to ignore it and return to the training ground, but Elder Li stops me.
"Since you came all this way, why not give it a try?"
His face is full of interest, and he seems to have some strange thoughts.
"Elder Li, do you want me to get beaten and lie on the ground? Why do you keep doing this to me?"
Elder Li slowly looks between Gujeolip and me, then smiles.
"I don't think you'll fall so easily, Yangchuan."
This cunning old man.
I glare at Gujeolip.
From the brief exchange, I can tell:
'This is going to be tough.'
It's clear. This annoying guy is stronger than Guxianxue.
I can't accurately gauge his inner strength or martial arts level, but my instincts tell me so.
His inner strength and martial arts proficiency are probably higher than Guxianxue's.
However, that doesn't mean Guxianxue is stronger.
The reason I could dodge and defeat Guxianxue was because of this.
"Regardless, I won't do the sparring match. I don't want to get involved in this troublesome politics."
Elder Li pouts, looking disappointed.
The old man's expression is a bit, no, very creepy.
Gujeolip pouts, clearly frustrated. His expression fits his annoying face.
Then, he speaks to Weixuela.
"Over there, are you a servant of the main family?"
He stutters slightly, but can't hide the trembling in his voice. Weixuela, wrapped in a blanket, tilts her head in confusion.
Gujeolip seems to have been hit hard by this action.
Why is this guy suddenly sparring with himself?
"Yes! I'm a servant."
Weixuela's answer straightens Gujeolip's wobbling body. He then looks at me and says,
"Miss, wouldn't it be better to come with me instead of serving such a weak person? I can provide a much better environment for you."
What kind of ridiculous proposal is this in this situation?
What can he do better? His increasingly red cheeks are annoying, and I wonder if he's embarrassed.
This is clearly not right, so I interrupt.
"What, what kind of bullshit...?"
"I like Young Master."
This is the first time I've heard Weixuela speak so firmly since the regression. I, Elder Li, and Gujeolip are all surprised.
"I won't go with anyone else but Young Master."
Weixuela's words make my heart ache.
'...This is not good.'
This is a bad situation. I rub my chest vigorously. It's definitely a bad situation.
This is a different, perhaps even more intense curse than the one the demon horse placed on me.
I thought I could escape through death, but it's happening again.
Weixuela is looking at me. What emotion is in her eyes? I know I shouldn't look at her eyes for too long.
I shift my gaze to Gujeolip. He seems shocked, unable to maintain his composure.
I sigh deeply and stand up, dragging my heavy body past Gujeolip.
"Follow me, I'll give you a sparring match or something."
A strange sound, "Oh!" comes from behind. It's obviously Elder Li.
Gujeolip grinds his teeth and follows me. Is he happy to have a target for his anger?
'Why am I always getting involved in troublesome things?'
Why? Because I do everything myself, of course. Right! That's it.
...Fuck.
******************
"Was it a mistake?"
This is what I think as soon as we enter the training ground for the sparring match. Why do I always do things and then regret them?
I've never liked myself.
Crack, crack—
I stretch my body, and the joints make cracking sounds. While stretching, I ask Elder Li, who is looking at me strangely,
"Why did you suggest the sparring match?"
"I didn't. You said you would do it, Yangchuan."
"You suggested it first, and you came here without stopping me, so it's partly your fault."
This is a direct response to what Elder Li said to me after I beat the Pang family guy at the Jiu Long Assembly.
Elder Li laughs heartily, knowing what I mean.
"Right! It is partly my fault."
"So, why did you suggest it?"
[Because of Elder Yi.]
Elder Li uses telepathy, which sounds like a bad omen. It's been a while since I heard telepathy, so my head hurts a bit.
"What do you mean?"
I can't use telepathy, so I answer bluntly. Elder Li looks surprised.
[Don't you think you should be more cautious when using telepathy?]
"It doesn't matter, does it?"
...Hmph.
Elder Li lets out a small groan.
[Elder Yi is ambitious. You already know this. Some ambition is good, but using his own bloodline for this purpose is not good for the family.]
As Elder Li says, this sparring match is clearly a political move.
If I lose, Gujeolip's position in the family will rise. Conversely, if Gujeolip loses to me,
'It will be a huge blow.'
From Gujeolip's perspective, it's unimaginable.
Elder Yi must think I won't lose, which is why he's forcing this on Gujeolip.
'He's just too impatient.'
I don't understand why Elder Yi is doing this, such a forced and flawed move.
Was there something so urgent? I listen to Elder Li and then speak again.
"...Hmm, if I'm doing this troublesome thing, shouldn't I get something in return?"
[What...?]
"If I win, grant me one favor."
[Why should I grant your favor if you win?]
"If you don't, I'll just roll on the ground and lose right now."
[You're saying some bizarre things. If you lose here, it will be a stain on your future as the head of the family...]
"Elder Li, you keep assuming I want to be the head of the family."
My body is mostly warmed up, so I rotate my wrists and approach Gujeolip.
"I don't particularly want to be the head of the family."
[...!]
Elder Li gasps at my shocking statement. Everyone thinks I want to be the head of the family.
'I left all that greed behind in my past life.'
I repeat to myself. Is it really greed? Or do I think it's too much for me? No, it's just useless to me.
What does being the head of the family mean? What does it entail?
I know it all too well now.
"You're all warmed up."
"Pretty much."
Gujeolip raises his wooden sword to face me. Indeed, it's clearer when we're face to face.
This guy is much stronger than Guxianxue.
As we prepare for the sparring match, Gujeolip suddenly apologizes.
"I feel sorry for Gongzi."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Last year, I was too harsh in the sparring match with Gongzi."
"Did we already have a match?"
"Yes, Gongzi was bedridden for a month because of it."
He was in bed for a long time... Why don't I remember this?
"Gongzi is too weak."
"Now you're starting trouble."
"I heard Gongzi defeated Gongnü, but it was just a coincidence."
"Right, I think so too."
"But my grandfather doesn't think so, and that's the problem."
"Right, right, I think so too."
Gujeolip looks at me with squinted eyes. Did he catch me giving a casual answer?
He shakes his head and continues.
"I don't want to bully the weak, but I don't want a weak person to become the head of the family."
"Do you realize you're saying this in front of a direct descendant of the head of the family?"
It's a very risky statement to make.
Whoosh!
Heat brushes past my cheek, emanating from Gujeolip. It's different from the Guxianhua Gong, which is passed down only to the direct descendants of the head of the family.
Gujeolip inherited the Guxianyan Gong, which focuses on compression and speed rather than destruction.
'His martial arts... are at the 3-star level?'
On par with Guxianxue, the intense heat Gujeolip emits clearly indicates this. Should I just forfeit now?
[What you said earlier.]
Elder Li's telepathy comes as if he's been waiting for this moment.
[If you win this sparring match, I swear on my name to grant your favor.]
'Now I can't easily forfeit.'
...This is always how it goes for me.
Resigned, I start to circulate the Guxianhua Gong within me.
The technique I start to circulate gradually pushes back Gujeolip's inner energy.
Gujeolip's eyes light up.
"Elder Li."
It's Gujeolip who calls out to Elder Li.
"Why are you calling me?"
"I also have something I want if I win this sparring match."
This kid must have heard what I said earlier.
He has good hearing, indeed...
Elder Li glances at me and then answers Gujeolip.
"Fine, the conditions should be equal. What do you want, Jueyeop?"
Gujeolip finally points to something with his hand.
There, Weixuela is subtly putting a piece of candy in her mouth.
"I want that servant."
The desire in Gujeolip's eyes is clear. It's not necessarily about lust, but more like a desire.