Through the small window of the carriage, beyond the scenery flowing past, I could see the now-familiar sight of Chengdu in the distance.
"Nothing happened after all."
"That sounded like you were hoping something would happen. Is it just my imagination?"
"It's not that. It's just—when everything flows smoothly without a hitch, it makes me uneasy for no reason."
"…I've never felt that way."
Beside me, Tang So-wol tilted her head as if she couldn't understand. When I silently turned my gaze to Seol Ri-hyang across from us, she nodded as if she knew exactly what I meant.
"Mm-hm. I know what you mean. Like, 'There's no way my life would go this smoothly—life was supposed to be something dirtier, meaner, more messed up than this…' That kind of feeling, right?"
"Exactly. So I wasn't the only one thinking that."
"I haven't said this to you or Sister Dang, but I've been thinking the exact same thing."
As she said this, Seol Ri-hyang had a thin book spread open on her lap.
She wasn't reading a martial arts manual already. It was merely preparation for that—a book for learning to read.
If someone were to take her on as a one-on-one disciple, it would be different, but no one in the Tang Clan had mastered the Yin-cold line of martial arts.
At any rate, since it was a mental cultivation method, there would be plenty of people who could teach her the basics, but to delve deep and reach a high level, she would ultimately have to chew over the oral formulas herself and make them her own.
To do that, the first step was to understand the exact meaning of each and every oral formula.
Whether it was realization or real combat, all of that was ultimately a matter for later, wasn't it?
That was the reason Seol Ri-hyang had begun to learn to read and write. Just as I had done before my regression, with the help of the Iron Blood Faction Leader.
"But I didn't expect your father-in-law to agree so readily. He says it's not family martial arts, but still, it's a martial art taken from the Tang Clan's Martial Arts Library."
"I suppose young hero Cheon's influence had a lot to do with it. You haven't held the ceremony with me yet, but you've already been acknowledged as a member of the Tang Clan, haven't you? And it's not like you're doing something else—you're repaying a past favor. How could we not lend a hand?"
"I thought he'd attach some conditions, or at least show some reluctance."
"If he did that, wouldn't it be failing to repay a favor twice over? …And more than anything, after hearing Miss Seol's circumstances, I think my father saw a bit of himself in me."
They say the Central Plains are vast, but those born with a constitution special enough to earn a name are extremely rare.
To put it another way, it means it's hard to find someone who shares your talent—and the side effects that come with it.
Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang were born with different constitutions, but the fact that their constitutions caused them great and small hardships was surely the same.
Perhaps Tang Jincheon simply wanted to give Tang So-wol a companion who shared a similar situation.
…Though in the end, the person Seol Ri-hyang actually got along with best wasn't Tang So-wol—it was me.
"Whatever the circumstances, I'm grateful. It's already a wonder that I get to study letters, something I thought I'd never learn in my lifetime, and now I'm to become a retainer of a noble house."
"Do you know what a retainer does?"
"No. But I know what I'll have to do because I heard it from Sister Dang. I eat good food in a nice house, wear warm clothes, train in martial arts, and when the time comes, work for the Tang Clan, right? …Ah, Cheon Hwi. How do you read this? I learned it last time, but I can't remember."
"It's 'silkworm cocoon.' You put it a bit simply, but it's roughly right. I understand. Rather, I think if something actually went wrong, your body would suffer, but your heart would be at ease."
"Mm-hm! Though nothing too bad, of course."
"A broken wagon wheel, or getting stuck in a bog and having to stop for a while—that would be just about right."
I'm not the only one who feels things are going well. Cheon Hwi feels the same way.
In my previous life, I never learned who was behind the attack on Tang So-wol. Now I've found them. Thanks to that, I've also gotten a rough sense of the Demonic Cult's movements in this timeline, I've caught wind of the seal on regression that I knew nothing about, and I was able to meet and save Seol Ri-hyang in a place I never expected.
It was a struggle, to be sure, but it was worth more than the trouble.
Above all, I was able to let go of one of the deepest lingering attachments of my life.
Seeing me and Seol Ri-hyang nod, Tang So-wol pouted slightly, pushing out her lips.
"If things are going smoothly, that's a cause for joy. Why fear a misfortune that hasn't come yet? Enough of that—young hero, come here. I have something to discuss with you."
"What is it?"
"We agreed that the moment we return to the Tang Clan, we'd hold the Engagement Ceremony first. Since it's an engagement and not a Wedding Ceremony, it doesn't need to be lavish, and we don't need to invite many people—but that doesn't mean we can rush through it either."
"That's true. A house like the Tang Clan has to keep up appearances even for an internal event."
"Yes. That's why I asked you to come over and talk about it in advance. There won't be much we have to do ourselves, but that's exactly why we should sort out any wishes we have and pass them along."
Tang So-wol patted the seat beside her. It felt like she was changing the subject a bit forcefully, but… this was fine too, so I decided to play along.
I sat down right next to her, pressing close, and asked.
"So? What is it we need to decide in advance?"
"The order and content of the ceremony will follow the Tang Clan's traditions, but shouldn't we decide in advance where it will be held and who we'll invite?"
"Hmm. I don't care where it is, but I'd prefer the outdoors over indoors if possible. I can't stand stuffy places. And as for who to invite…"
The first face that came to mind was the Iron Blood Faction Leader.
The person I called when I thought of who to invite was the one who had been both teacher and parent to me since I was an orphan from an age I couldn't even remember.
The one who told me, when my vision was still narrow, to see the world rather than just the sword, who generously taught me every martial art he could, and who urged me to someday live a life for myself rather than a life of mere survival—if not him, then who else would I call?
But the Iron Blood Faction Leader I knew no longer existed.
Just as Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang from before the regression were different people from who they were now, the Iron Blood Faction Leader of this timeline was both the same person and a completely different one.
A bitter smile formed on its own, and I shook my head.
"There's no one else. I have no family and no friends."
"…"
"…"
At those words, a moment of silence fell. Tang So-wol, moving a beat late, patted my shoulder with an awkward smile.
"Th-there's nothing to worry about. Now the Tang Clan is young hero's family, isn't it?"
"Mm-hm! I'll be your friend. That's all that matters, right? Isn't that right, Sister Dang?"
"…I appreciate you both caring, but I'm fine. And Tang So-wol. Don't pat that shoulder. It still hurts."
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Has the injury from last time not healed yet?"
"It's almost healed. It wasn't a broken bone, just a bruise, so I thought it would be better before we reached Chengdu, but we set out sooner than I expected."
"I didn't know Father would want to leave for Yanzhou the very next day either. Still, I have to manage somehow before the ceremony. Would you show me your shoulder?"
"It's a place that'll be covered by clothes anyway. What's so important about it?"
"Enough of that, just lower your top a bit. Even if your skin turns black and blue, you said it'll be covered by your clothes, so that's fine, but if your shoulder hurts, you'll flinch every time you move and your posture will go off. That won't do."
"I'll just endure it. It's at a level I can handle."
"Why would you stubbornly endure it? We can take care of it starting now."
"Is there a medicine for bruises? I thought the only way was to circulate internal energy steadily like with muscle pain to boost recovery."
"There's no medicine. But we can at least dull the pain, can't we?"
Tang So-wol flashed a playful smile and grabbed the clothes at my shoulder, pulling them down.
Sreuk.
In an instant, the fabric slipped aside, revealing my shoulder. Caught off guard, I froze for a moment.
Tang So-wol tucked her hair behind her ear and brought her face close. Then, a hint of crimson tongue slipped out.
"Nyaa…"
Just like before, Tang So-wol began licking my wound. No matter how many times this happened, I could never get used to this ticklish, damp sensation.
This was already the third time, yet I still felt shy, and I glanced to the side. There, Seol Ri-hyang was half-hiding her flushed face behind the book she had been reading until just now.
"Eep!"
She had frozen in surprise. Even so, her eyes were sparkling with curiosity.
It seemed she had no intention of stopping me. In the end, unable to do anything about it, I remained stiff for a long while, and Tang So-wol, who had finally turned my shoulder into a mess of saliva, slowly lowered her head.
I quickly straightened my clothes and moved my shoulder slightly. The sensation was a bit dulled, but it didn't hinder my movement, and the pain had noticeably decreased.
It was likely an application of the paralysis poison she had shown me before. Though I still had questions about why it had to be done this way.
As I stared intently at Tang So-wol's face, she asked back with a brazen expression, as if nothing had happened.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Are you asking because you don't know?"
"If it's about thanking you, there's no need. As your betrothed, isn't this something I'm naturally allowed to do?"
"I meant, why did you have to do it here? There are other people around."
"I've already done it in front of the Dark Soul Squad before. Are you feeling embarrassed now?"
"…Tell me honestly. You've just developed a taste for licking my body, haven't you?"
"Just a little? I keep doing it because the young hero's reaction is amusing."
Tang So-wol stuck out her tongue slightly and smiled brightly. I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head at the sight.
"You've developed a strange taste."
"So? Did you dislike it?"
"…"
"Answer me, please."
"I didn't say I disliked it."
"Can't you be a little more honest?"
"I do like it, but I wish you'd pick a better place for it."
"Yes, yes. I'll be more careful from now on."
Tang So-wol giggled and nodded her head.
Thunk! Thud!
The carriage suddenly lurched to a halt with a loud crash. I reflexively grabbed Tang So-wol, who was beside me, to steady myself. But—
"Ugh!"
Seol Ri-hyang, who had been standing out of arm's reach, ended up smacking her head against the ceiling.
"Ugh… What on earth was that all of a sudden?"
Seol Ri-hyang, who must have hit her head quite hard, was rubbing her scalp with one hand while fumbling around on the floor for the book she had dropped.
As if answering her question, one of the Dark Soul Squad members knocked on the wall of the carriage from outside.
"Are all three of you alright? The wheel has broken, so you'll need to come out for now."
"Very well."
Tang So-wol answered briefly, then turned to look at him with a curious expression.
"I never expected the carriage wheel to actually break, young hero Cheon."
"I was a bit surprised myself. Still, at least it got rid of that lingering unease."
"Yes. It's a relief that it broke just as we were almost at Chengdu."
We exchanged a small chuckle and then turned to look at Seol Ri-hyang. After all, she was the only one who had gotten bumped anywhere.
"Are you alright?"
"…I'm fine. It hurts a little, but I didn't bite my tongue, so it should heal soon."
Seol Ri-hyang then looked back and forth between me and Tang So-wol, who were pressed tightly together. Soon, the corners of her lips curled up.
"Yeah. That's right. This is how it should be. My life was never going to work out that easily."
It was a smile that somehow seemed hollow.