I stood at the classroom door, holding a thousand steps, and stood there in a daze.
Elder Li seemed embarrassed by our reaction and explained in a slightly lower voice, different from his usual hearty tone.
"...Well, I received it as a bet in the past, but I forgot to return it after sobering up..."
"...You bet the fourth sacred treasure of your own sect?"
What kind of ridiculous story is this?
Even if I were told it was stolen, I might not believe it, but now I'm supposed to believe this? What kind of crazy sect master would bet the treasure of their own sect in such a ridiculous bet!?
Elder Li cleared his throat and added,
"...I also bet an item of a similar level, so don't be too disappointed."
"...Disappointed? What do you mean...?"
"Huh? Since the other side bet the fourth sacred treasure, I felt disappointed that I didn't bet anything."
"Really, what kind of crazy talk is that..."
In the middle of this, he said he bet something similar to the fourth sacred treasure? Did Elder Li even have something like that...?
At this point, I started to think he was just messing with me.
'Yeah, no matter what, it can't be the real fourth sacred treasure, right?'
I laughed, convinced it was a joke.
"Hey, even if I look like a fool, to play such a joke... That's too much."
Claiming I wouldn't fall for such a trick, I quickly unwrapped the cloth Elder Li handed me...
Immediately, the scent of plum blossoms spread in all directions.
It was a fragrant and soft scent.
Looking down, I saw a round stone emitting a light in my hand, which was filled with an indescribable energy.
I quickly covered it with the cloth again.
'...Damn, this is really the real thing, isn't it?'
What else could a stone that emits light and fragrance be if not a sacred treasure?
"How can you give me a sacred treasure wrapped in such cheap cloth!"
"Hey! When the sect master gave it, it was also wrapped like this, so why are you angry at me!"
"Seriously, what kind of cheap cloth do you wrap a sacred treasure in...?"
I really can't believe this.
How am I supposed to handle this...? Suddenly, I have to load a sacred treasure into the carriage and go to the volcano.
I never would have thought the sacred treasure of the volcano would come out of the sect.
"...Why are you entrusting this to me? Why not contact a safe escort service?"
"There is no safer place than here, so don't worry and just go."
Safe? I thought for a moment, wondering what he meant...
Then I remembered Sword Saint, who was petting a horse behind me.
If Elder Li, like my father, also knew about the existence of Sword Saint, this made some sense.
'...But why are you entrusting it to me?'
My heart sank when I saw it.
Holding the sacred treasure with trembling hands, Elder Li smiled and said,
"Ah, I've already talked to the family head, so don't worry and just go."
"You've already talked to him without me...?"
Why am I always left out of these conversations?
It seemed I was treated like just another son.
Not that I was treated well in the first place...
But since it had already come to this, I couldn't refuse.
I carefully put the stone in my bosom. I couldn't just ask Sword Saint to carry it.
Fortunately, it was small enough that it didn't show.
Wuyan approached and said,
"Young master, the preparations for departure are complete."
"I'll go now."
As I was about to head to the carriage, Elder Li stopped me for a moment.
"Like last time when you went to Sichuan..."
"Yes, I'll return without any accidents."
"But last time, you went and killed a thunder dragon, didn't you...?"
"..."
Cough.
"By the way, where's your sister?"
Guxiubi, who was beside me a moment ago, had disappeared.
When I asked, Elder Li laughed heartily.
"She must be crying somewhere, unable to bear the sight."
"Really?"
"She must be crying behind a tree, heartbroken that you're going far away. Don't worry about her, just go."
I laughed, finding Elder Li's words absurd.
It was more unbelievable than saying the small stone was the fourth sacred treasure of the volcano.
That fiery person crying out of worry? Nonsense.
If she were mocking me for leaving, it would make more sense.
Involuntarily, I imagined Guxiubi wiping away tears, and a small laugh escaped me.
It was such an uncharacteristic image.
"Yes, I'll be back."
I had to leave, so I bowed to Elder Li and got into the carriage.
"Go well."
"Yes, take care of yourself."
Puhuhuhing!
As I settled into a half-lying position, a powerful neigh echoed, and the carriage immediately set off towards the volcano.
After Guchan left, Elder Li entered Guchan's quarters and saw something sobbing in the corner.
Sigh.
Elder Li, uncharacteristically, sighed deeply.
"Are you that sad?"
The thing that was crouching trembled at Elder Li's call.
"Guchan isn't a three-year-old child. Why are you crying over something like this?"
"He's...so weak...! Lately, he's even skipping meals to practice..."
The voice, filled with sorrow, belonged to Guxiubi.
"If you only take care of Guchan, Lianxue will be disappointed."
"Lianxue can take care of herself, but Guchan always gets into trouble wherever he goes."
Guxiubi's words were undeniable.
Indeed, during this trip to Sichuan, he broke the arm of the Southern Palace's son.
When I heard the details, I thought he should have broken his leg too, but as an elder, I had to keep quiet.
"...I haven't seen him much..."
Elder Li averted his eyes from the sobbing Guxiubi.
...Though called Sword Peak and in her forties, in Elder Li's eyes, she still looked like a spoiled granddaughter.
Elder Li watched silently for a moment, then quietly left and closed the door.
After seven days and nights.
Someone trudged up and knocked on the door of the Gu family.
******************
Three days before Guxiubi was to leave on her mission, her mood was already quite bad.
It was even worse because of the person in front of her.
"Who are you?"
The informal tone slipped out naturally.
Whether the other person was younger or older, in a prestigious family, one should show respect.
But Guxiubi, though she looked spoiled, didn't want to.
The other person, seemingly unaffected by the harsh words, simply bowed in respect.
"My name is Nangong Bia."
She's incredibly beautiful.
This was Guxiubi's first impression of Nangong Bia.
The strange servant her brother used to bring around was also incredibly beautiful, but this Nangong Bia was no less.
She was said to be the most beautiful in Anhui, and she seemed to live up to the name.
Annoyingly so.
"Okay, I get that, but why are you here?"
For some reason, Nangong Bia's martial uniform was covered in all sorts of dirt, from leaves to dust.
Had she been on a rough road? Or had she been fighting monsters for a while? Upon closer inspection, there was even monster blood on her.
Nangong Bia answered Guxiubi's question firmly.
"I came to see my fiancé."
"Fiancé..."
It was true, but it was very annoying.
"I heard it's not an official engagement yet."
"Oh...?"
Is that so? Was it? She seemed to have a vague expression.
Her brother's fiancée, though cold in appearance, seemed somewhat naive.
I don't like her.
But Guxiubi had something to say to Nangong Bia that would make her feel good.
Until a few days ago, it was something she didn't like at all.
But it turned out to be helpful.
Hmph.
Guxiubi snorted and said,
"What can I do? My brother isn't at the family estate right now."
"...Brother?"
"Yes, brother. I'm his sister."
"...Oh!"
No wonder...
Nangong Bia nodded in understanding.
"Hello."
Then she bowed politely.
This made Guxiubi feel awkward.
What is she like? Guxiubi responded with a puzzled expression.
"...Oh, yeah... Hello."
"Then... where did he go...?"
"He went to the volcano. It's far, isn't it? It's a shame, but you should just go home..."
"Volcano...!"
Guxiubi was about to assert her home advantage but stopped.
Nangong Bia smiled brightly the moment she heard where Guchan was.
Though her pride was hurt, the smile was overwhelmingly beautiful.
Nangong Bia, who was about to leave, paused and asked Guxiubi a very unexpected question.
"Are you a sword master?"
"...Yes, didn't your brother tell you?"
Nangong Bia tilted her head at Guxiubi's words.
Brother? I'm not sure.
Qianjun doesn't talk about people stronger than himself.
The woman in front of her was much stronger than Qianjun.
She was incredibly strong.
It was obvious just by looking.
She was probably much stronger than herself.
The energy flowing naturally from her was intense.
Her aura was similar to her fiancé's but even thicker and rougher.
It was exciting.
She wanted to stick close to her.
Even a sword master? The woman in front of her was the kind of martial artist Nangong Bia most wanted to be.
She wanted to stick close to her for a few days and ask to fight once.
But...
"...It's a shame, but not now."
"What...?"
"Thank you for telling me."
Nangong Bia bowed again.
"...Oh... Okay."
Guxiubi felt dazed by this reaction.
But she quickly regained her composure and shot back,
"Let me repeat, my brother isn't at the family estate... So you should know and go... What?"
She was trying hard to say it, but the ridiculous part was that Nangong Bia was already gone.
"What, where did she go...?"
Guxiubi stood there for a while, feeling as if she had seen a ghost.
The next day,
She heard that the Nangong family had requested to detain Nangong Bia if she was seen, to prevent her from leaving.