Chapter 258: Before Leaving For Anhui (2)
When was it, I wonder?
I believe it was around the time I was still suffering at the frontlines.
It happened when I was on night watch duty.
-Flame.
I abruptly turned my head towards the voice I heard while I was mindlessly gazing at the moon.
-You fucker, I told you not to call me that.
-Who cares, they say that you should always give your friends a nickname.
-Fuck... what kind of a nickname is Flame?
-Oh? So I guess you are not denying that we are friends then?
-Screw off.
After hearing the young man, I wrapped my head in pain.
It was impossible for me to have a normal conversation with that bastard.
The Water Dragon of Wudang Sect.
That crazy guy who was supposedly the best amongst the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes might have looked lazy and easygoing, but when it was time, he displayed his true talent, while also showing that his personality was anything but normal.
-Anyway, Flame, do you know?
-Know what?
-How to survive against a group of beasts?
-...What?
I wondered what he was talking about all of a sudden.
Beasts? What beasts?
-Beasts? What? Are you talking about Demons?
-They could be Demons, or they could be humans.
-You said beasts first, so what are you prattling on about?
The Water Dragon started smiling after hearing my response.
Due to the dust accumulated in his messy hair, his face was dirty , but because of his natural handsomeness, he still looked like his smile would be able to win over girls.
That was why all handsome guys needed to die.
-I guess our little Flame is still naïve huh?
-What did you just say, you fucker?
-Humans can be beasts too. You know you saw it as well, right?
I frowned as soon as I heard the Water Dragon.
Just like it was now, the bastard’s gaze became chillingly cold at times.
Since he usually looked like an extremely cold person, seeing him with such a gaze made me rather uncomfortable, especially considering how he always had a smile on his face.
-Did I not tell you to not gaze like that near me? You want me to dig your eyes out?
-Flame, you know, you are the last one who should be judging other people’s eyes for not looking kind, you know.
-Shut up.
-I see your personality is still nasty as ever.
I felt like I would lose my mind if I continued talking with that bastard.
Snow Phoenix. Out of all the people, why did that crazy bitch pair me up with him for the night watch?
Though of course, even if I were to ask her that,
I paired you up with the Water Dragon because you are incredibly weak.
I knew I would hear an offensive response like that, so I decided to just bear with it.
The Water Dragon chuckled as he found something funny.
-Why are you laughing?
-I knew it. It’s really fun talking with you.
-Not for me, so please shut your mouth.
-Ubfubfubf?
-...Please, you insane fucker.
When I asked him to shut his mouth, he started speaking with his mouth closed.
He really was a maniac that transcended imagination.
-Am I not doing what you asked for?
-Ugh... my head hurts.T/his chapter is updat/ed by nov(ê(l)biin.c/o/m
Could time not speed up a little bit? I might die of anger at this rate.
-Anyway, listen carefully.
-What do you keep telling me to listen to?
-About how to survive.
-If it’s just some nonsense like last time, I’m not even going to bother listening.
What was it he said?
He said that even if I became angry, I had to take hold of myself three times.
Since he was telling me to calm down when it was the other person’s fault, I didn’t even bother taking his words seriously.
-Nah, it’s a bit different from that.
-What is it then?
-The easiest way to survive...
When the Water Dragon spoke clearly, I unconsciously gave him all my attention.
For him to say it with such emphasis, I wondered what it was that he was about to tell me.
A way to survive huh? Did the Water Dragon have a secret method or something?
To satisfy my curiosity, the Water Dragon answered with a smile.
-It’s to never put yourself in a dangerous situation.
-...
-...What’s with that expression?
-I’m the retard for having hopes for you, even if it was for an instant.
-Hey, this is really important, you know.
-I’m sure it is, fucker.
How did it differ from something obvious? Like a person being able to become the Zenith with enough training?
Did he think that I intentionally jumped into dangerous situations?
-True, it’s not like you do it intentionally.
-...Did I just say that out loud now?
-Flame, I could tell from your expression.
-For fucks sake.
-Which is what makes you so fun.
The Water Dragon chuckled as if my face seemed funny to him.
Why was he laughing at another person’s face?
Should I just punch him?
-However, you have a tendency of jumping in despite knowing the danger.
-What?
-Sometimes, you run into danger despite knowing it.
-...
I couldn’t deny that.
Just as the Water Dragon said, I did willingly run into dangerous situations a few times, knowing well that I would be fucked.
-What does that have to do with anything though?
The Water Dragon made a strange expression on hearing my question. He seemed to be lost in thought.
-True, you always take it the wrong way whenever I jumble my words.
-What are you...
Namgung Bi-ah hurriedly drank the cup of water I had poured.
Because of how similar it was to what happened to me in Sichuan, it felt pretty refreshing.
“...Sigh, I didn’t expect to lose in this regard too.”
Next to me, Moyong Hi-ah had an expression of disappointment for some reason.
What did she lose in?
“As expected, I can’t underestimate you... Sword Dan- “
“Hi-ah.”
After she finally managed to get rid of the spice in her mouth, Namgung Bi-ah called Moyong Hi-ah after listening to her.
Was it the first time Namgung Bi-ah had called Moyong Hi-ah by her name?
“What did you just... say?”
“...I.”
Wondering if she misheard, Moyong Hi-ah tried asking again, but Namgung Bi-ah cut her off while pointing to herself.
“Fiancée...”
“...!”
Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened after hearing Namgung Bi-ah speak lightly.
It seemed like Namgung Bi-ah was saying that she was my fiancée, while Moyong Hi-ah wasn’t.
Moreover, because Namgung Bi-ah now had a small smile on her face, I saw Moyong Hi-ah clench both her fists in anger.
I wondered what they were trying to do instead of eating.
Thanks to that, I, who was watching this from the middle..
“...I feel sick.”
Didn’t know how the food entered my body.
******************
After forcing down the food, I stepped outside.
The sun had set already and the moon had taken its place, welcoming the night.
However,
A lot has changed.
The nights of Shanxi that were quiet just a year ago, had changed a little in that span of time.
Bright lights filled the streets and I could see more people than before.
It was hard to say that this change was only due to the passage of time, so I assumed it was most likely because of the Moyong Clan’s shop built in Shanxi.
While I wondered if a single shop could cause so much change, I was also able to see how much influence the Moyong Clan’s name had when it came to business.
Now that I felt refreshed enough, I decided to return to the clan after walking a little more.
...It’s also difficult to watch the war taking place from any further.
The status quo between the girls following me was still the same.
It would have been better if they just had a physical fight at this point.
They didn’t seem to get along well and were also very incompatible with each other.
But I couldn’t just force them to be friends either...
Oh, right.
Now that I thought about it, I had forgotten about something.
I didn’t get to ask Moyong Hi-ah about what would happen to her if I went to Anhui.
Father said that he had already taken care of that.
...But because of the sequence of events, I forgot to ask her.
It was my mistake.
I should’ve at least asked her while we were eating.
Should I just go and ask her now?
I turned around immediately and looked for Moyong Hi-ah.
“Hmm?”
When I turned around, I saw Moyong Hi-ah staring at something in the distance.
When I looked in the same direction, I just saw an ordinary street.
Is there something there?
I decided to get a bit closer to Moyong Hi-ah and ask her.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
Moyong Hi-ah had a look of surprise as she didn’t expect me to approach her first.
“What’s going to happen to you if I go to Anhui?”
“Huh?”
“The Lord told me that he has already taken care of it.”
“Did he not tell you?”
“He told me to hear it directly from you.”
He could’ve just told me himself, so I didn’t know why he insisted that I hear from her
After hearing me, Moyong Hi-ah suddenly opened her eyes conspicuously and gave a slight smile.
It was the look she had whenever she was planning something.
“...What are you thinking about?”
“Are you curious?”
“Huh?”
“I’m asking if you are curious.”
“A little?”
After my response, as if she was waiting, Moyong Hi-ah pointed at something.
When I looked in the direction she was pointing at, I just saw the same street that Moyong Hi-ah was staring at earlier.
“Please buy me that.”
“Huh?”
“If you buy it for me... I’ll tell you.”
She was pointing to a small necklace at the shop from the streets, and it just looked like a cheap accessory to me.
“What is that?”
“I just... want it.”
Moyong Hi-ah responded while looking away, and despite thinking that it was meaningless to buy it for her, I didn’t hesitate because of how cheap it was.
I made the purchase right away and gave it to Moyong Hi-ah.
“...Ah.”
After receiving the necklace, Moyong Hi-ah gave a small reaction, but it probably wasn’t because she thought that the necklace was pretty.
There was no way that Moyong Hi-ah would be impressed by a cheap necklace like that when she was already decked with expensive accessories.
“Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”
Even so, even though it was just a cheap necklace, Moyong Hi-ah’s voice contained some warmth.
“You should’ve just bought it yourself if you wanted it that badly.”
“...It would have no meaning if I bought it myself.”
Moyong Hi-ah said along with a smile.
Hmm.
Come to think of it, this was the first time I’d seen her smile so brightly like th-
Zap.
“...!”
I suddenly felt Lightning Qi from behind.
I didn’t turn around, but it was obvious where such Qi came from.
“...Sigh.”
Only after hearing the small sigh did I realize that I had just made a huge /genesisforsaken