"…So when you look at Miss Seol, do you think of her as well?"
"…"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, I found myself at a loss for words.
If she was asking whether looking at Seol Ri-hyang made me think of Tang So-wol from my previous life, then the answer was obviously no.
But just as looking at Tang So-wol brought back memories of the Tang So-wol from my previous life, it was true that looking at Seol Ri-hyang made me recall the Seol Ri-hyang of that past life.
Both of them were beings so deeply etched into my life that I couldn't help it, no matter what I did.
And it was precisely in that sense that she must have asked this question.
Tang So-wol must think that the source of my goodwill toward her lies in some unknown figure from the past.
And honestly, that's not entirely wrong. It's true that I hold the current Tang So-wol in special regard, but…
The Tang So-wol of my previous life—the one who knew me, whom I knew, with whom I shared countless memories and made a promise that could never be fulfilled—was just as precious to me.
Strictly speaking, the unconditional goodwill I showed toward this life's Tang So-wol, who was a stranger to me, and the affection that bloomed from it, must surely have been because of the Tang So-wol from before my regression.
In that sense, Seol Ri-hyang is the same. Though I regard the Seol Ri-hyang before the regression and the Seol Ri-hyang of now as the same person, I still see them as separate beings.
I still remember. The way Seol Ri-hyang used to snap at me. The way she'd sometimes tremble alone from the side effects of her Pure Yin Constitution. Her simplicity—how she'd fume and rage over trivial jokes, then leap with joy over trivial gifts. The way her face would flush with happiness when she received a boat with the same name. The coquettish voice she'd let out from her sickbed. The desperate gestures that seemed to beg for reassurance.
And the last breath she exhaled in my arms. The hot blood that flowed down. The petulant curses. The final words that were never completed. The lingering scent of the boat at the tip of my nose.
I still remember.
It was a realization too sudden to process, a loss that struck before I had any time to quietly mull it over, and in the end, what filled that empty space was a violent anger fierce enough to burn even myself.
Like soot that had baked on and refused to come off no matter how hard I tried to scrape it away, that deep stain had already become part of my mindscape.
Just as Tang So-wol was, Seol Ri-hyang was also someone I could never forget, and no matter how hard I tried not to care, the current Seol Ri-hyang was bound to be affected by it.
After deliberating for a long time, I carefully put into words what I had chosen and re-chosen.
"I…"
If what Tang So-wol was asking was whether I harbored goodwill toward the current Seol Ri-hyang because of my memories from before the regression. If it meant that, beyond that, the affection that had been abruptly carved out was growing back again.
"I sometimes think the same thing when I look at Seol Ri-hyang."
"Ah…"
Tang So-wol's voice trailed off as her strength gave out. I hurriedly added a word.
"But even so, nothing will happen that you, Tang So-wol, need to worry about."
"Did I not say so from the start? That I harbor neither jealousy nor suspicion."
"But you must have felt uneasy. That is why I will repeat what I said once before."
Tang So-wol lay with her head resting on my thigh. I stroked her dark green hair gently as I continued.
"My betrothed is you. I cannot even imagine anyone other than you, Tang So-wol."
"…"
"You said you would seduce me, didn't you? If so, I'd call that a resounding success."
At the mention of the Guangdong Province incident again, Tang So-wol let out a soft laugh, as if she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I wasn't worried about that much. But well… it's nice to hear. Would you care to say a little more?"
"More, here?"
"Yes. More, here. That way, even if something unexpected happens, I won't grow anxious or waver."
"…?"
I wasn't quite sure what she meant, but since Tang So-wol was asking for more, I decided to be a bit more honest than usual.
"As I always think, your eyes are truly beautiful, Tang So-wol."
"Eh?"
"It must be because of the poison energy of the Poison Spirit Constitution, but the faint green light rippling across your black pupils makes them look like some kind of gem."
"Eh… so this was what you meant by more? I merely wanted to hear you say that I'm your only betrothed, young hero…"
"Ah, I'll add that too. Next would be your hair. Like your eyes, it's a color rarely seen, and it naturally draws the gaze—not to mention how you always keep it well-maintained and let it hang long, beautiful like silk. And when you tie it up for convenience, the pale white nape of your neck that's revealed catches the eye, and every time it does, my heart is shaken."
"Ugh, add that too, you say. Just how long is this going to go on?"
"Wait. This is only the beginning. There's still your lips, your scent, your fingers, how you've started casually making light physical contact at some point, how your chest keeps brushing against me every time you do—I still have plenty I want to say."
"…Young hero. I never knew, since you always respond so brusquely—are you perhaps extremely enthusiastic about this sort of thing?"
"Of course. I've merely been holding back for various reasons—my father-in-law's watchful eye, martial arts training, the thought that since we're still only betrothed, moving too fast might displease you, Tang So-wol."
"Th-then that's how it was?"
"Hm. Is that so. Since you don't know much, you must keep getting anxious over things like this."
"It's not to the point of anxiety…?"
Tang So-wol said that cautiously. This time, I pressed my thumb against her lips.
Having ended up biting my thumb and unable to speak properly, I whispered to Tang So-wol.
"It's fine, just listen first. Isn't this what you wanted, Tang So-wol?"
"…"
Tang So-wol's eyes wavered wildly like a candle flame before the wind. I curled up the corners of my mouth at the sight and continued.
"Let's see. Wasn't the lips next in line?"
It was still early evening, so there was plenty of time.
***
"Phew."
As I stepped out of the guest room, the wind that rushed in cooled my heated face pleasantly.
Perhaps it was pushed by the wind that had just blown. At the same time, the moon, freed from the clouds, began to faintly illuminate the night world.
"It's later than I thought."
The time that had clearly been evening had now turned into full night.
In the meantime, Tang So-wol, who had been subjected to my "I like this about you" offensive, was still curled up like a firefly, asleep in my room.
Well, that made sense. She had gone beyond merely blushing with embarrassment and had been screaming her head off without a pause, so it was only natural she'd be exhausted. There had also been the sparring match during the day.
I would have liked nothing more than to lie down beside her and fall asleep just like that, but… I had come out here to get some fresh air first.
After all, Tang So-wol wasn't the only one whose blood had run hot.
Letting out a deep sigh, I looked around.
"It's dark."
I could make out shapes well enough, but that was about it. Probably because the moon that had risen tonight was a crescent.
Not that it mattered—I had no intention of going far, and it was a problem that could be solved by spreading out my Qi Sense anyway.
I planned to take just one lap around the small clearing in front of the guest room and then head back in. After that, I'd free Tang So-wol from the blanket and send her back to her own room.
Scratching my head, I set out a simple plan and began walking across the clearing without much thought.
I had no idea Tang So-wol was thinking such things, and to be honest, it wasn't something I'd ever given deep consideration to either.
Still, now that I'd brought Seol Ri-hyang here instead of leaving her to fend for herself, it was a matter worth examining at least once.
How many laps had I walked like that, sorting through my thoughts alone?
Beyond my dim vision, a gaunt figure appeared.
"What are you wandering around for at this hour?"
"Elder Gwiyeong Sin-tu?"
"That's right. It's me. So would you mind not staring at me like I'm a ghost?"
"I was definitely using my Qi Sense, but…"
"Heh heh. It's true that your skills are impressive, but you're still far from being able to detect my presence."
"No, that's not what I meant. I was asking why you were erasing your presence, hiding in the shadows, and wandering around outside in the middle of the night."
"Wh-what?"
"Could it be that you've swiped something from the Zhongnan Sect again…"
"Damn you, boy! What exactly do you take me for?!"
"As you always say yourself, a thief. And a thief who lost the goods he went through the trouble of stealing from the South Man Beast Palace and the North Sea Ice Palace."
The Heart Protection Armor he'd swiped from the South Man Beast Palace while facing the Heavenly Demon had shattered in an instant, and the martial art he'd barely managed to salvage from the North Sea Ice Palace had fallen into my hands.
In other words, for Gwiyeong Sin-tu, his later years had been nothing but hardship with nothing to show for it.
"So I figured you were trying to get something out of the Zhongnan Sect."
"…I won't deny that such a thought never crossed my mind. However, didn't I already steal the Flowing Cloud Sword's scabbard? There is nothing more valuable than that among the things I could steal."
"Indeed. So the numbers don't add up."
"Are you going to keep painting this old man as someone without a shred of decency?"
"My apologies. I have a habit born of cowardice—when I see a shadow suddenly appear in the middle of the night, I feel the need to confirm whether it's a person or a ghost."
"I'm merely asking out of curiosity. If it were a ghost, what would you have done?"
"I would have cut it down."
"What?"
"Men who skulk around in the middle of the night and claim to have abandoned their humanity are all dangerous sorts, wouldn't you agree? So they should be cut down."
"…"
Gwiyeong Sin-tu, who had been silent for a moment, cautiously spoke up.
"Ghost is part of my alias, but that's merely a descriptor for Sin-tu—I'm not claiming to be an actual ghost."
"Of course. Even I know that much."
"R-right."
"…"
"…"
For a moment, an awkward silence hung in the air. Unable to bear it any longer, Gwiyeong Sin-tu hopped over on one foot.
Seeing him like this, he really was a ghost-like shadow. Though in a different sense than his name, Gwiyeong.
Anyway, as the black doll drew closer, his features became more visible. Only after they were close enough to recognize each other's faces even under the faint moonlight did Gwiyeong Sin-tu clear his throat.
"Ahem. A fine night, isn't it."
"Yes, it is a fine night. So, what were you doing at this hour?"
"That's still going on…?"
Gwiyeong Sin-tu's mouth fell open, but soon he chuckled and nodded.
"Well, I ran into an old friend I thought I'd never see again, and seeing a crescent moon that would have made me happy in my youth as a perfect night for thievery, my thoughts got complicated, so I stepped out for some air."
"I see. …But wouldn't a new moon night with almost no moonlight be even better?"
"Surprisingly, no. On a new moon night, people's guard goes up, so it can actually be more dangerous."
"Oh."
I'd said it without much thought, but I hadn't expected an answer like that.
And rightly so. Even I had just thought that since it was dark, I should spread out my Qi Sense. On a normal night, I wouldn't have extended it at all.
If the night had been darker, I would have tried to spread it even wider.
It's always important to keep your opponent appropriately tense, and appropriately off guard.
I nodded inwardly as Gwiyeong Sin-tu added one more thing.
"And I was waiting for you."
"For me?"
"That's right. There was something I wanted to discuss with you alone. About your martial art."
"My sword carries heavy killing intent, but Elder Sam has vouched that I am not the Heavenly Killing Star."
At my words, Gwiyeong Sin-tu quietly shook his head.
"It's about your footwork, not your sword."
"Pardon? What about my footwork…"
I flinched, not expecting him to bring up my footwork. Gwiyeong Sin-tu continued, his gaze so intense it seemed to pierce even the dark of night.
"That footwork of yours. It's changed a lot, but isn't it from the Seomun Clan?"
"…!"
The one who taught me my current footwork was the Iron Blood Faction Leader.
And her name is Seomun Hwa-rin.