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Chapter 93




<Chapter 94> Preparation. (2)
Preparation (2)
It had been more than ten days since I arrived on the island.
I was spending much more time at Huashan Sect than I had anticipated.
Perhaps it was due to all the sudden events.
‘When I return, it will be autumn.’
Given the distance, it would definitely be autumn by the time I arrived.
I felt that time was passing incredibly fast.
After all, it would be almost a year since I returned.
Despite not having done much, time continued to flow swiftly.
‘A lot seems to have changed, but... maybe not.’
In less than a year, the Nine Yan Huo Lun Gong had reached the Yan stage.
Although I was revisiting the levels I had once achieved in my previous life, it still felt incredibly fast.
Perhaps it was due to the unexpected opportunities I had encountered.
While I was still far from reaching the Xuan stage, it didn’t feel as distant as before.
If I were to reach it, it would be time to solidify my goals.
Actually, even without reaching the Xuan stage, my resolve was gradually becoming firm.
Whoosh!
Thud!
“Choke!”
From the flames surrounding me, Lingfeng jumped out and rolled on the ground.
At the same time, I extinguished the flames I had been burning.
99
As I exhaled, the remaining heat was expelled with my breath.
“...Amazing.”
These were the words I said to Lingfeng.
They were genuinely heartfelt.
It had been only a few days since our sparring match during the journey to Huashan Sect.
At most, it had been a few dozen days.
In that time, Lingfeng had changed dramatically.
The Plum Blossom Sword, which had felt somewhat light, had become faster and heavier.
His body, which supported it, had become more solid.
This growth was like someone who had practiced for several years.
“Geniuses are truly...”
I could feel the extent of Lingfeng’s talent, and a hollow laugh escaped me.
While physical aspects are more about effort than talent, his sword technique had subtly changed.
It wasn’t just faster and sharper; it was more about probing weaknesses and reducing openings, making it harder to counter.
This would take a long time even if someone were to teach him.
Lingfeng had realized and mastered this through repeated practice alone.
‘Of course, he must have a teacher.’
However, it’s unlikely that he has a teacher who only teaches him.
Lingfeng, who was lying on the ground, coughing, looked at me with a bewildered expression.
“...Who are you calling a genius?”
His expression was one of disbelief, as if asking how I could say such a thing to him.
From his perspective, I, who looked younger, had easily defeated him and was now saying such things, which must have been bewildering.
‘Compared to me, it’s a bit...’
If you’re upset, you could try regressing too.
‘But you can’t say that...’
Anyway, perhaps due to a significant turning point, Lingfeng’s growth had accelerated.
‘There should be no problem with the wall.’
Thinking about Lingfeng, who had been held back by a wall in my previous life, I felt he would be fine this time.
Although I thought so, Lingfeng just laughed helplessly.
“I thought I had worked hard, but I can’t match you, Old Hero.”
I was about to say something but decided to keep quiet.
Speaking now wouldn’t be very helpful.
“I need to work harder.”
He ignited his own passion without needing any words from me.
‘Scary.’
His talent was outstanding, and his passion was no less.
Being young, he had plenty of time.
If there were no issues, Lingfeng would eventually reach the level of a great martial artist.
At least, that’s how I saw it.
‘If it weren’t for the demonic sect...’
Gripping my fist in frustration, I quickly relaxed it.
Hiding my expression, I asked Lingfeng.
“Do you want to continue?”
“No, no. I’ve caused enough trouble for you. I need to go practice separately.”
Today, I had come for the sparring match Lingfeng had requested.
I had sought him out and suggested we spar.
Recalling his request, I had come to ask, and he had smiled brightly, as if moved.
Is sparring that good...?
After finishing the cleanup, I asked Lingfeng.
“Lingfeng.”
“Yes.
“The Zhi Hua Hall is opening in two days, right?”
“Yes, the Sect Leader mentioned it after coming out of the Plum Garden.”
The Plum Garden.
A place to console the spirits of those who had sacrificed their lives for Huashan.
While I, not being a member of Huashan Sect, didn’t know much, it was said that only the Sect Leader could enter.
‘Has it finally appeared?’
I had heard that Mei Hua Xian had entered the Plum Garden a few days after our last conversation.
‘No wonder it was so noisy.’
The murmurs I had heard on the way were likely related to the Zhi Hua Hall.
I had picked up on this while coming and asked Lingfeng.
If the Zhi Hua Hall was opening soon, it was time to return to the three families.
“What do you plan to do next? If you don’t have any plans, perhaps we could practice together...”
“I have some matters to attend to, so it might be difficult.”
“...That’s a shame.”
He genuinely looked disappointed.
I had recently increased my practice, and I needed more, but I had to return to my lodging.
After parting with Lingfeng, I immediately returned to my lodging.
Looking around, I didn’t see Weixie, who had been strangely absent lately.
‘What has he been up to that he’s not around?’
I had no idea.
In the past few days, I had only seen Weixie during meals, and it was hard to see his face otherwise.
When I asked Hongwa, she said he was doing his work.
Could he be avoiding me?
...
.
.
Thinking about it made me feel uneasy.
I even thought about catching him and asking why.
‘Should I buy some sweets to lure him...?’
It seemed more efficient than confronting him.
With such thoughts, I opened the door and saw Nangong Bei.
“What are you doing sleeping here again?”
She had even spread a blanket on the floor and was taking a nap.
Worse, it was my blanket.
I had heard that Nangong Bei sometimes took naps in my room.
But why doesn’t anyone stop her?
“Should I wake her up?”
It’s my room, so waking her up wouldn’t be a problem, but she looked so comfortable that I hesitated.
In the end, I closed the door and left her to sleep.
I had planned to change clothes, but I first asked a servant to bring me some and sat down on the veranda.
Basking in the sunlight, I closed my eyes and spoke.
“Why are you here again?”
“...Huh.”
Quietly peeking from behind the wall, I spoke to Gulinghua.
I had already heard from Hongwa that Gulinghua was here.
“Does your teacher have something to say?”
“...No.”
“Then why?”
Gulinghua was silently looking at me, her lips moving as if she had something to say.
I waited patiently.
“...I didn’t come to see you... I came to see my sister... No... I came to see you.”
What is she doing...?
Her reaction was strange, as if she were fighting with herself.
“Why are you calling me ‘brother’?”
“...Then, are you my sister?”
Gulinghua’s frown and words echoed what I had said to her before.
I didn’t expect her to use it here.
“Anyway, you came to see me?”
It was surprising.
Gulinghua, who was uncomfortable with me, had a reason to seek me out.
“...Thank you.”
I was taken aback by Gulinghua’s words.
Thank you, suddenly?
Especially coming from Gulinghua to me, it was even more surprising.
Did Jianhou send her?
“...For what?”
“For saving my teacher... Thank you.”
“I already received thanks from Jianhou.”
Moreover, I had even offered to help, so it was enough.
I had planned to seek Jianhou’s help when I made demands to Mei Hua Xian.
So, Gulinghua didn’t need to...
“...It’s because of you.”
“...!”
I was speechless at Gulinghua’s words.
Why? Why did she think that?
“You have a mark on your face.”
“Did you come just to say that...?”
Did she come all this way just to say thank you?
As I thought this, Gulinghua continued.
“...I’m afraid of you.”
“...”
Her words hit me hard, almost disrupting my breathing.
“It feels like I’ve returned to the past, but I’m confused. I’m afraid of when you might hit me or scold me again.”
Gulinghua’s calm words were laced with fear and dread.
It was my fault.
It should have been, but it shouldn’t have been.
“I’m sorry.”
That was all I could say.
No matter how many reasons I gave, they would only sound like excuses.
Gulinghua didn’t say anything in response to my apology.
She neither accepted it nor got angry.
I met her gaze, speechless.
After hesitating, Gulinghua spoke.
“...Can we go back to the way we were?”
“No.”
I answered Gulinghua’s question firmly.
Even though I had regressed, it was too late now.
We couldn’t go back to the way things were.
That’s why I had to be firm.
“It’s difficult to go back.”
We couldn’t return to the past because an important person was no longer there.
Gulinghua nodded calmly, as if she had expected this.
No more words were exchanged.
After a moment of silence, Gulinghua brought up another topic.
“I’ve decided to return to the family estate.”
“What?”
Suddenly?
“You said you didn’t want to go.”
“That’s true, I don’t want to go. But my teacher said she would go with me.”
What does that mean? Jianhou is going with her?
“...Jianhou is going with you?”
“She has some business at our family estate.”
“But... she’s just starting to recover. How can she go with you?”
I had never heard of this before.
What business could Jianhou have at the family estate?
“She said she would tell me when we meet. I’m just passing on the message.”
With that, Gulinghua turned around.
As she walked to the entrance, she said to me.
“Once again, thank you for saving my teacher, brother.”
Her words didn’t carry any resentment.
It wasn’t forgiveness.
Gulinghua shouldn’t have forgiven me.
- ... Dad... killed Mom...?
I recalled Gulinghua, hiding her face in her knees and sobbing.
- I’m scared... Mom...
Seeing my younger sister cry endlessly, I could do nothing.
Dad didn’t kill Mom.
If Mom had died, it would have been because I killed her.
- Be quiet.
- ... Mom...
- Don’t say anything. Just live quietly and pretend nothing happened.
Back then, I didn’t know any other way to protect her.
Even if I could go back, I wouldn’t have found a better way.
I would just remain silent.
If my sister needed someone to blame, it should be me.
I thought that was right.
Of course, I was half-mad at the time, so I couldn’t have found a better way for Gulinghua.
‘Now?’
Can planting seeds in dry soil make flowers bloom?
Would they just rot and become part of the soil?
I thought that was the relationship between Gulinghua and me.
Like my father and me, my sister and I would be the same.
- ... Can we go back to the way we were?
Gulinghua’s words echoed in my mind.
“...It’s difficult, anything.”
Thud.
Sitting on the veranda, I was lost in thought when something was placed on my shoulder.
Looking up, I saw Nangong Bei, with a sleepy expression, leaning her chin on my shoulder.
“...What are you doing?”
She had just woken up, despite sleeping soundly a moment ago.
“Open your eyes... Are you going to sleep again?”
Surprisingly, Nangong Bei, whom I thought was awake, leaned her chin on my shoulder and fell asleep again.
What is this?
I couldn’t help but laugh at the strange situation.
The dark mood that had been settling in my heart lightened up with this small disturbance.
I wondered if Nangong Bei had done this on purpose, but it was unlikely.
I gently stroked her hair.
‘I should take Weixie and Nangong Bei to Xian sometime.’
It wasn’t a specific plan.
There was no need to go to Xian now, but I felt like taking a trip.
Why, I didn’t know.
I just had the urge to do so.