"...Why are you all here?"
As soon as I entered the building, I frowned at the sight before me.
Honestly, I hoped for a moment that I had misjudged the situation, but that was wishful thinking.
Dang Xiaoyue, who was carefully picking up a piece of food, turned to me and froze like a statue.
Nangong Bia, who was still eating with a blank expression, pretended not to notice and put a bowl of noodles in her mouth.
Moreover, Weixuea naturally sat down next to her and started eating the noodles.
"...Fine, you can do that, you can do that."
Weixuea can do that; she's always been like that.
Nangong Bia is also unpredictable, and I know all too well how crazy she is, so she can do that too.
She even subtly avoided my gaze and sat there like a stone.
Why is she so surprised just because I called her?
"...I, I just happened to pass by."
Dang Xiaoyue, the precious daughter of the Dang family, what are the odds that she would pass by and happen to join us, especially when I'm not here?
I asked her, just in case.
"Are you waiting for me?"
Dang Xiaoyue immediately responded.
"No, no! Why would I wait for you, Master Gou!"
She waved her hands and denied it, but the situation suggested otherwise.
"Right, then why are you here?"
Dang Xiaoyue seemed to have no excuse and was speechless.
Why is she acting like this? I couldn't understand her, even in my past life.
The thought that crossed my mind was quickly dismissed.
I don't have the looks to live off my face like Gou Jieye or Nangong Tianjun, and unless Dang Xiaoyue has an extreme taste, it's unlikely.
Even if, by some chance, she does...
Suddenly, the image of Dang Xiaoyue from my past life, who inserted a small venomous insect into her nostril to torture someone, came to mind.
I haven't experienced it myself, but I can imagine her maintaining a calm expression even while inflicting such torture.
This seemed a bit far-fetched.
Well, she must have come here for some reason...
I hoped she would finish her business and leave quickly.
I also asked Nangong Guangnian, who was sitting next to me.
Why is she making that face? From Nangong Bia's expression, it seemed like I was asking something obvious.
I hoped my interpretation was wrong.
As always, Nangong Bia's short answer was infuriating.
It's the same now. What kind of greeting is this? Is it just "Hello"?
Or is it a shortened form of "human hunting" like in my past life?
Nangong Bia still seemed like someone who would engage in human hunting.
Of course, I was trying hard to get rid of that impression.
So, I held back my frustration and asked again.
"Oh, oh, I didn't either!"
Nangong Bia's words made Dang Xiaoyue quickly interject.
Ah, so she didn't greet me, which is why she was waiting here?
"Did you tell Dang Xiaojie about the situation? Maybe she didn't hear you?"
Dang Xiaoyue answered in a dying voice, while Nangong Bia looked like it wasn't a big deal.
'...Right, it's not a big deal.'
Honestly, things went well, so there's no need to look for bad intentions.
So, in the end, it seems she came here to say goodbye to me since she couldn't do it before.
'...Right, it's better this way.'
If I showed my displeasure to the people who came to say goodbye, it would seem heartless.
But I really didn't want to get involved with these bizarre women.
"Thank you for coming. It was a good meeting, and I hope you have a peaceful life ahead."
I bowed as respectfully as I could, hoping they would leave satisfied.
However, their faces looked strange.
There was a subtle hesitation, as if something was off.
What do they want from me?
Putting that aside, I asked Nangong Bia, as I had a question.
"The Dangbingzhuan meeting is over, so why are you still here? What about the other Nangong people?"
"Chunjun said he has some business... and he's waiting for someone."
Nangong Chunjun has business in Sichuan? It's not surprising that he has business.
I had some business too, so it's possible he does too.
What surprised me was something else.
"But did he allow you to come here? He didn't come with you?"
Nangong Bia was here, but Nangong Chunjun wasn't, which was surprising.
"Hmm...? He said I could... but he said I wouldn't come anyway..."
I thought that crazy guy would either come with her or not allow her to come, but he casually said she could go.
And he said she wouldn't come? What does that mean?
"Didn't we agree that you wouldn't be a nuisance...?"
We agreed that she would tell me her name in exchange for not being a nuisance.
Nangong Bia confidently answered, as if to say, "I remember."
But if you remember, why are you here...
"You said you wouldn't be a nuisance."
"But I wasn't a nuisance...?"
Nangong Bia genuinely seemed to not understand that this was being a nuisance.
The problem was that I didn't set the terms of the agreement clearly enough...
I should have been more specific, I guess.
"Then, what about using honorifics?"
At my question, Nangong Bia hesitated.
She rolled her eyes and then said,
I seriously considered it.
This felt like Nangong Bia was challenging me to a fight.
Talking to her always gives me a headache.
How did I endure it in my past life?
Ah... I didn't talk to her.
That seemed to be the right answer.
As I massaged my aching head, Dang Xiaoyue, who had been quietly listening, fidgeted.
She seemed to have something to say, but I didn't want to ask, so I just waited.
Sure enough, Dang Xiaoyue hesitantly spoke to me.
"If we go back to the manor now... when will you come to Sichuan again?"
Would I really come back to this far place?
I might, but not anytime soon.
It would probably take a few years.
I answered Dang Xiaoyue in the same way.
After thinking for a while, Dang Xiaoyue spoke again.
"Um... do you have a favorite poison?"
"Or, can you use a dagger...?"
"Why would I use a dagger...?"
She said "poison" just now, didn't she?
Dang Xiaoyue flinched at my reaction.
"Um, I guess this isn't a good idea. My brother thought it would work..."
"Dang Xiaojie... are you sick?"
Especially your head... it seems to be in a lot of pain.
At this moment, a hand reached for the dumplings.
I immediately slapped the back of the hand, and a short cry was heard.
I didn't need to check who it was.
Weixuea stroked her hand and answered.
If you're out, just order more. Why are you trying to eat mine...?
I sighed and pushed the bowl of dumplings towards Weixuea.
I didn't really want to eat them anyway.
Weixuea happily started eating the dumplings.
When Nangong Bia's chopsticks tried to reach in, I quickly stopped her.
"Order more, don't steal."
Nangong Bia looked at me with a blank expression.
Her gaze, which had been unfocused, seemed to regain a bit of focus.
"Why are you suddenly using honorifics...?"
Nangong Bia quietly pointed to my dantian.
Nangong Bia, like Wulian, had noticed the change in me.
Dang Xiaoyue didn't seem to care about such things, but Nangong Bia did.
That was all I could say.
If I told her that I found the secret of the Jinchuanlian in Sichuan and a big snake gave me a stroke of luck...
'She might just believe it...'
I thought she might believe it, but there was no need to say it.
Nangong Bia nodded at my answer.
Her eyes then showed a bit of excitement.
When Nangong Bia had that look, she usually said something specific.
"Then, a sparring match...?"
Nangong Bia's eyes widened at my quick refusal.
It was the first time I heard Nangong Bia's loud voice in a while.
Why is she suddenly interested in me, when she only cared about swordsmen?
It was an unwelcome interest.
"I can't stay long, so I can't spar."
As I said this, I felt Wulian's reproachful gaze from behind.
Right, I know I made him late, so don't look at me like that...
I cleared my throat and stood up from the table.
I had finished eating, and I needed to leave before sunset, so it was time to go.
The journey back would be as long as the way here, and it would be tiring.
...Just thinking about it made me feel bored.
As I was about to leave, Dang Xiaoyue urgently took something out of her sleeve.
Dang Xiaoyue handed me a neatly folded letter and a small, unidentified bottle.
"It's an invitation to the Dangbingzhuan next year..."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"I want to maintain a good relationship between the manors! It's not meant to have any significant meaning..."
The invitation comes every year, but it's different when a Dang family member personally gives it to someone.
It's not given lightly; it's a special invitation to come.
I wondered how to interpret this awkward situation.
"Then... what is this bottle, Xiaojie?"
When I mentioned the bottle, Dang Xiaoyue smiled contentedly.
"That's my favorite poison... Please use it if you ever practice poison techniques."
I nodded at Dang Xiaoyue's words.
...So, she's not normal either.
I found it hard to refuse the letter, so I took it and put it in my sleeve.
I was already thinking about what excuse I would use to decline next year.
"Then... I'll go first. I hope you both have a good time."
Nangong Bia waved slightly at me.
I returned the gesture with a grim expression.
"Ah, yes... see you again."
I moved towards the carriage, feeling uncomfortable.
Dang Xiaoyue also gave a stiff farewell, which I returned.
Weixuea, who had filled her bowl with the remaining food, followed me out.
How did she fit all that in her mouth...?
Can I finally go back to the manor?
Physically, I wasn't tired, but mentally, I was exhausted.
I wobbled slightly as I walked towards the carriage.
Nangong Bia watched Guo Qian's retreating back.
She remembered the question he had asked her.
"Why do you keep using informal speech?"
Why did I use informal speech with him?
In the end, Guo Qian is younger than her brother, Nangong Tianjun.
But that wasn't a reason to use informal speech.
Still, it felt strange to use honorifics.
Nangong Bia couldn't understand herself, so she could only tilt her head.
"Sister... do you like Master Guo?"
Nangong Bia didn't understand Dang Xiaoyue's question.
"Like... what does that mean?"
Dang Xiaoyue seemed flustered by the question.
Her face turned red, and she closed her mouth.
From her reaction, it seemed she didn't fully understand either.
"Like... what does it mean to like someone?"
'Is it a rational thing?'
If she asked if I felt affection for Guo Qian, the answer would be no.
But as a martial artist, I was interested in him.
'He was completely different.'
The Guo Qian who broke her brother's arm and the Guo Qian she just met—were they the same person?
It was funny how she felt.
So, she wanted to stick around, even though she was quickly rejected...
If someone asked if she could beat the current Guo Qian, she would say yes, for now.
But she wasn't sure about the future, which was surprising to her.
Aside from the fact that he didn't stink.
Guo Qian was someone who often caught her attention.
"...If I ask if you like this, do you like it?"
At her casual question, Dang Xiaoyue's face fell.
"It's not that... I just don't know what to say to you..."
What does she mean by that?
"What were you going to give me?"
The invitation to the Dangbingzhuan that Dang Xiaoyue was supposed to receive was originally for her.
It had always been that way since they first met.
But this time, Dang Xiaoyue gave it to someone else.
Nangong Bia was curious about the reason, so she asked.
Dang Xiaoyue stuttered, seemingly flustered.
Lately, she seemed to stutter more often.
'What's the reason? Is she sick?'
The stench from Dang Xiaoyue was very faint.
It was barely noticeable unless you paid attention.
That's why Nangong Bia found Dang Xiaoyue comfortable.
So, she hoped Dang Xiaoyue wasn't sick.
"I just... wanted to get closer."
"I'm sorry, Sister... were you disappointed?"
Even without the invitation, she could still come.
There was no need to be disappointed over it, Nangong Bia thought.
"Shall we go back now...?"