Thinking that there must be more than one place selling the byproducts of monsters, I finally realized after searching all the possible shops in Huayin County.
Buying magic stones now is like picking stars from the sky.
Every place I asked gave the same answer.
That the number of monsters caught has decreased compared to before.
And that they no longer handle magic stones.
In the end, I had no choice but to return to Huoshan Sect without obtaining a magic stone.
"All I got was a chicken skewer..."
"It was delicious, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, it was pretty good."
By the way, the money for the chicken skewer that Wu Yan paid was given to the inn as soon as we arrived.
When I gave him the money, Wu Yan looked surprised, and I hesitated for a moment about whether to give it or not.
How did I end up in this situation...
I really shouldn't give it next time.
'Can't confirm anything about the magic stone right now.'
Perhaps, if I search the mountains of the island, I might find a monster that hasn't been caught yet.
Should I look for it?
If there's no way to confirm, I plan to do it that way.
I glanced around the inn, which seemed somewhat empty, and asked.
"Has she not come yet?"
It was about Nangong Bia.
When I asked the people around, it seemed she hadn't arrived yet.
I heard she left early in the morning, but it was almost time for dinner.
I knew she practiced a lot, but it seemed later than usual—
[Are you worried?]
'...No way.'
Who would dare to worry about whom...
[Isn't it usually called worry when you look for someone who comes home late and wonder if they've eaten?]
'...Ahem.'
For some reason, I felt a bit guilty and cleared my throat.
It was funny that I couldn't firmly deny what Xin Noya said.
While resting on the veranda, Wei Xue approached.
From the slight difference in her clothes, it seemed she had been making dinner.
"What's up?"
"Hongwa asked what you want to eat!"
"...What do I want to eat?"
Although the idea of dumplings popped into my head, I didn't think they would appear just by ordering, so I said it would be fine as usual.
"She said there's fish too."
"Ah, then I'll have that."
"!"
After hearing everything, Wei Xue ran off briskly.
I got up slightly.
[Where are you going?]
The subtle tone in Xin Noya's voice was a bit sinister.
I ignored it and kept clearing my throat.
It's just a job to eat, so I need to eat, right?
[So, you're going to bring her back because you don't want her to go hungry, right?]
'...'
It's true, but why is it so hard to admit?
Is it because Xin Noya said it?
I shook off the feeling and headed to the back mountain.
It was to find Nangong Bia.
There was still some time before sunset.
Considering that dinner preparation wouldn't take long, it was better to bring her back quickly.
'Now I'm even paying attention to such things.'
I thought she would manage on her own, but I can't help but worry for some reason.
If I had to find an excuse, the image of someone starving until the brink of death because no one fed them in a past life came to mind.
If I think it's because of that, it could be a good reason.
'...But I know it's not just that.'
It's not enough to fool myself, so it's a futile effort.
Climbing the mountain path under the sunset, I arrived at the flat area where Nangong Bia was practicing.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Or was it just me, but the sound of a sword being swung could be heard.
Since I came following the sound, there was no mistake.
However, from the moment I climbed up, there was another presence besides Nangong Bia.
It was a familiar presence.
Yesterday and for some reason, they seemed to be together often.
Whoosh!
- Eek...!
The wooden sword sliced through the air, followed by a pained voice.
- Step... Your stride was too wide...
- Please... Just one more time.
- Okay.
I pushed through the bushes, making a rustling sound.
It was a scene I saw yesterday.
Gulinghua, who had rolled around in the dirt, and Nangong Bia, who looked relatively fine.
Gulinghua's head turned in my direction at the sound.
Her expression twisted when she saw my face.
"...What?"
What's the first thing you say when you see someone?
"Nothing... Just passing by."
"Then just pass by."
"I stopped because I saw a familiar face."
I looked at Nangong Bia, demanding an explanation.
It was a look asking why she was here at this time.
" "
Nangong Bia quickly avoided my gaze.
What's going on?
Since she didn't seem to notice my look, I asked directly.
"What are you doing here? Have you eaten?"
She kept avoiding my gaze.
"You... "
"Don't say anything to my sister."
"What?"
99
Gulinghua, who had interrupted, looked at me.
Actually, what she said was even more absurd.
Sister... Sister??
When did you see her to call her sister?
Noticing my look, Gulinghua blushed slightly.
"...Just, she came to me this morning, and I begged her to teach me."
"Morning... You went to see my sister in the morning?"
Nangong Bia slowly nodded.
Gulinghua, who seemed displeased with my words, interrupted again.
"Who's your sister?"
"Well, she's my sister, aren't you her older sister?"
" "
What kind of ridiculous nitpicking is this?
Nangong Bia avoided my gaze and remained silent.
"Have you been doing this since morning?"
She nodded slightly again.
Since Gulinghua was there too, it means they had been practicing since morning.
I sighed and said,
"It's almost sunset, so let's stop and go down."
"...Okay."
Nangong Bia agreed and put away her wooden sword.
Gulinghua seemed displeased but had no choice since Nangong Bia nodded first.
After finishing up, Gulinghua bowed to Nangong Bia.
"Sister... Thank you for today."
"No... I enjoyed it too."
Gulinghua dusted herself off and tried to leave the training ground, but I stopped her.
"Where are you going?"
"None of your business."
"You must be hungry too. Dinner... "
I wanted to invite her to eat together but couldn't finish the sentence.
Because the shoulder I was holding was trembling.
Thud!
Gulinghua forcefully pushed my hand away from her shoulder.
"Don't... Don't touch me...!"
She looked at me with trembling eyes and quickly disappeared into the bushes.
I couldn't say anything as I watched her go.
'...Did I approach too quickly?'
The time Gulinghua has and the time I've spent are different, so I couldn't gauge the distance.
I sighed and said to Nangong Bia,
"Let's go down."
Nangong Bia, who was looking in the direction Gulinghua had disappeared, nodded without a word.
When we returned to the inn, dinner was ready, and Wei Xue looked proud.
She said she had grilled the fish or something.
"So, is that why she's so dark...?"
"They said this part is the most delicious."
No... It looks terrible.
I tried a piece of fish, feeling uneasy.
Surprisingly, despite its monstrous appearance, it tasted quite good.
Seeing my surprised expression, Wei Xue puffed out her chest proudly. It was quite annoying.
After eating for a while, I asked Nangong Bia about what happened earlier.
"..."
Nangong Bia's explanation was simple.
She went to apologize for the accident yesterday.
Then, Gulinghua asked for a sparring session, so she continued to do it.
Since morning, apparently.
While Gulinghua could do that, it was surprising to me that Nangong Bia kept guiding her.
In the past life, she didn't pay much attention to anyone except strong swordsmen.
"...Tomorrow too?"
"Huh?"
99
99
"Can you go tomorrow too?"
Nangong Bia asked me.
She was asking if she could go see Gulinghua tomorrow.
What's the reason?
It's not because she finds sparring enjoyable.
Gulinghua isn't at a level to entertain Nangong Bia.
To match her level, it would have to be someone like Yingfeng or Wu Yan.
So, going tomorrow must mean she wants to finish what they started today.
"...Do as you please."
"U 99
O."
With my permission, Nangong Bia seemed relieved and took a drink of water.
I whispered softly,
"Take care of her a bit."
Nangong Bia's eyes widened at my words.
I said it lightly, thinking I couldn't do it myself, but it seemed so surprising to her that she just stared at me.
"Take care... 99
"Why?"
"I asked... to you."
"Just, since you're doing it... "
"I'll do my best."
"Why go that far?"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I stopped moving my chopsticks.
I couldn't help it.
Nangong Bia was smiling.
It was the same smile I saw before, but it was too intense.
"Thump!"
I was a bit flustered, and even a shiver ran down my spine.
I quickly drank the water on the table.
I sensed danger from the tingling sensation.
Nangong Bia's smile was dangerous.
'I thought I was getting used to Wei Xue's smile.'
This might take a while.
As the sun set, Gulinghua was still swinging her wooden sword, not returning to the inn.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Swinging her wooden sword in the night breeze for a long time.
"Ugh... 99"
Gulinghua let out a short groan and dropped her wooden sword.
She examined her palm, where the skin had rubbed off and was bleeding.
"...It hurts..."
Perhaps from practicing while reducing her sleep for several days.
It seemed her hands had reached their limit.
Still, after a brief pause, she picked up the wooden sword again.
Wrapping her palm with a cloth she had brought, it was somewhat better.
She recalled the movements Nangong Bia had taught her earlier.
Don't take too wide a step.
Don't use excessive force from your body.
But still, be strong where necessary.
It was a basic and fundamental lesson.
Thanks to experiencing it through sparring, she was gradually understanding it.
When Nangong Bia appeared suddenly in the morning, Gulinghua was flustered and wondered why.
But seeing her make such an awkward request and spend so much time, one thing was clear.
She seemed to want to make a good impression on her.
'Why...?'
She wondered why a woman with such martial arts skills and appearance would do that.
But if she had to find a reason, Gouyang Chuan's face came to mind.
Gulinghua didn't understand, but it seemed Nangong Bia had a good impression of Gouyang Chuan.
Perhaps she was trying to be nice to her because of that.
That such a cool, beautiful, and talented person chose Gouyang Chuan...
'I can't understand it.'
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If it was the Gouyang Chuan from the past, she might have understood a bit.
But now, Gulinghua couldn't understand it.
- Don't show your face, it's annoying just to look at.
- I told you not to call me brother!
- Shut up and live quietly... Don't draw attention.
"..."
Words and gazes that pierced her heart like a dagger, still suffocating her even after years.
Just thinking about it made her body tremble.
She barely held back the tears welling up in her eyes and continued to swing her sword.
'After all this... '
- You went to see my sister in the morning?
- So, she's your sister, are you her older sister?
She swung her sword once more, ignoring the throbbing pain in her palm.
To erase the lingering voice of Gouyang Chuan in her ear.
It was annoying.
She was frustrated and regretful, having run away and then being swayed by a