‘Ak Wi Cheon doesn’t say anything?’

Ak Wi Cheon accepted the Cheonma’s proposal.

Seeing that, I felt a strange emotion. Of course, Ak Wi Cheon had never disobeyed Cheonma’s orders in the original work.

This was because in the Cheonma Singyo, Cheonma was regarded as a god. But still, what was strange was that Ak Wi Cheon seemed happy to receive Cheonma’s order.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong muttered with a dazed face.

“We’re departing faster than I thought.”

Originally, he should have received the Cheonhaje winning prize and heard various words of encouragement from the Cheonha Hakgwan Lord, but due to the unfortunate incident, everything was canceled.

‘They said they would deliver the Jahadan, the Cheonhaje winning prize, to the family later.’

I didn’t mind since I had already received everything I needed to.

Rather, it was Nam Gung Yu Cheong who felt disappointed about it.

“Lin, you should have been recognized for how outstanding you are in front of many people.”

“Elder brother Yu Cheong, if I won the Cheonhaje, anyone would have thought that. I don’t need to be specially recognized.”

“Still, I feel upset. Other Cheonhaje winners always had glorious moments, but you’re the only one who didn’t get to experience that.”

Nam Gung Yu Cheong seemed to be becoming more and more doting as time passed.

‘He was described as having a serious personality in Cheonmajijeon.’

Of course, it was understandable that his personality changed since Nam Gung Yu Cheong didn’t survive until that time.

“Still, it’s fortunate. Your escort has increased. I was worried since I have to stay at the academy and can’t be with you…”

Uncle Dagger added to Nam Gung Yu Cheong’s words.

[That guy, did he forget that you’re stronger than him?]

‘He’s just being kind.’

In my case, having been attacked, the Murim Alliance escorts decided to accompany me to the Nam Gung family.

It was then.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong carefully asked me.

“Lin, Ji Gyeong came to see me. He said he wants to meet you. He wants to apologize for his rudeness.”

“Eon Ji Gyeong?”

“Yes, if you don’t want to meet him, I’ll tell him to go back.”

I wondered why Eon Ji Gyeong came to see me.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong scratched the back of his head.

“Actually, that guy isn’t that bad. Of course, I was very disappointed this time because he was rude to you… but I can understand why he had those feelings.”

“…”

“So I’m grateful to you. I also experienced a lot of frustration at the Cheonhaje. Thanks to you, I saw some hope, you could say? Ji Gyeong probably came to see you for the same reason.”

I nodded at Nam Gung Yu Cheong’s words.

Meeting Eon Ji Gyeong wasn’t a difficult thing to do. Above all, he was Nam Gung Yu Cheong’s friend.

“If he’s elder brother Yu Cheong’s friend, I don’t think he’s a bad person.”

“Lin…”

“I’d like to see him.”

Nam Gung Yu Cheong nodded and left the room. Not long after, Eon Ji Gyeong entered the room. His face looked quite damaged.

I looked at Eon Ji Gyeong, who came to see me, with a strange expression.

He bowed to me with a cupped-hand salute.

It was a very polite gesture.

“I have something to say to young lady Nam Gung.”

“To me?”

“Yes, I want to apologize for my rudeness.”

“…”

“It was really wrong of me to judge people carelessly with my lacking insight and skills. It was a pathetic action clouded by a sense of defeat.”

As he said this, Eon Ji Gyeong’s face was red to the tips of his ears.

He was sincerely ashamed of his actions. I didn’t say anything special to him.

Instead, I nodded to accept his sincere apology.

[This is the timeline separator]

I boarded the carriage.

My heart raced at the thought of returning to the Nam Gung family.

‘I gained a lot too.’

I gained a lot from this Cheonhaje trip. First, I shed the notorious reputation of being the black sheep of the Nam Gung family.

‘It seems the conflict between the righteous sects and the demonic sects has been somewhat resolved too.’

It wasn’t all good points though.

Standing out meant I would be exposed to that much more danger.

[The Blood Sect will start keeping an eye on you.]

‘I suppose so.’

[They might even try to kill you.]

It was just as Uncle Dagger said.

Just as the Blood Sect had watched my father, they would start watching me.

The fact that the Blood Sect targeted Ak Wi Cheon was also because he was outstanding. I could also be in the same situation as Ak Wi Cheon.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t afraid of that fact.

[Do you regret it? Saving Ak Wi Cheon, I mean.]

‘No, as I told Ak Wi Cheon, it was something I had to do.’

I’ve thought about it sometimes.

What if I had run away the moment I knew I would be born as Nam Gung Lin?

What if I hadn’t reached out to Ji Cheon Wu after discovering Uncle Dagger?

What if the name Nam Gung hadn’t become precious to me?

‘If I had abandoned everything and run away, I wouldn’t have known these children either.’

On my right, Ji Cheon Wu was sitting with his arms folded and eyes closed.

On my left, Sin So Gyeong was also dozing off, nodding her head.

The face of Nam Gung Yu Cheong, who wasn’t here, also came to mind.

‘Indeed, no matter how I think about it, I don’t regret it.’

In the Cheonmajijeon I knew, they all lived unhappy lives. I was satisfied with the fact that I had prevented their unhappiness, even if just a little.

The carriage started moving without rest. I now put aside my anxiety and started imagining what would happen when we arrived at the family estate.

When we arrive at the estate, aunt and grandfather will welcome me warmly.

‘I wonder if grandfather has heard the news of my victory at the Cheonhaje by now?’

He might be rejoicing. Or maybe he’s worried I might become too arrogant?

Still, I hope he’s pleased.

Grandfather sent me to the Cheonhaje wanting me to taste the bitterness of the world. Even if I had talent, he wanted me to see a wider world.

[But you ended up winning. As expected of my disciple!]

I felt a bit of anticipation.

Grandfather would pat my head whenever he found me praiseworthy.

Even without saying anything, I knew it was because he was proud of me.

‘Will he do it this time too?’

I missed grandfather.

Aunt would be waiting for me too.

As if knowing my anticipation, we arrived at the Nam Gung family estate faster than expected.

[This is the timeline separator]

I blinked my eyes.

The atmosphere of the family estate was different from usual. The gatekeepers somehow looked at me with worried expressions.

Having heard that I had arrived, Yak Ran ran to the main gate.

“Young lady!”

She couldn’t quite throw herself into my arms, but she jumped up and down with joy looking at me.

“Oh my, I heard the news that young lady won at the Cheonhaje. You’re so amazing. If only the family head knew this news, he would be so happy…!”

I felt a sense of discomfort.

Only Yak Ran and a few maids had appeared.

‘Grandfather isn’t here?’

As if sensing my puzzlement, Yak Ran carefully opened her mouth.

“The family head said there was an urgent matter at the Dang family and moved there. If he had heard this news, he would have been so happy.”

“Something happened at the Dang family?”

“Yes, I didn’t hear the details either. Seeing that even young lady So So went along, it seems to be a big matter.”

The Dang family was currently in seclusion. That’s why even Dang Hwa Ryeong couldn’t attend the Cheonhaje.

What big event could have happened at the secluded Dang family to make grandfather and aunt go there?

“More importantly, young lady, don’t be surprised. Right now in the family…”

Before Yak Ran could finish her words.

A noisy sound was heard.

“What’s such a big deal that it’s so noisy!”

It was a familiar voice.

And not long after, I frowned at the sight of one person.

“It’s been a while.”

That person was Mo Yong Hee.

She was looking at me with a faint smile. My body stiffened automatically.

‘It’s been 5 years, hasn’t it?’

It had been almost 5 years since I last met Mo Yong Hee. Mo Yong Hee glared at me.

“I heard you had a big incident at the Cheonhaje, but you look quite well.”

“Well, thanks to you. Maybe I ate too well because elder mother wasn’t around.”

“Your manners are still the same. No, they’ve become even more impertinent. This is why there needs to be an adult to control the household.”

Saying that, she turned to my companions behind me.

“It seems you’ve made many friends of your level.”

I pondered her words.

‘That’s supposed to be an insult, right?’

[I suppose so. She doesn’t know their identities after all.]

‘It doesn’t feel much like an insult because my friends are so great.’

Ak Wi Cheon was currently in some disguise. He was wearing ordinary black clothes and his hair was tied with plain cloth. So at a glance, he looked like a handsome but ordinary boy.

“I heard you had a match with Ak Wi Cheon there, did you really win?”

“Well, I did win… I won, so I must have won, right?”

Mo Yong Hee looked at me with displeasure and clicked her tongue.

“If Hwa Su had been at the Cheonhaje, it would have been different.”

“Ah, I see.”

Nam Gung Hwa Su was currently staying at the Mo Yong family. I had completely forgotten about his existence since he couldn’t use the Nam Gung surname or martial arts.

“So don’t get cocky just because you won the Cheonhaje. Not all the later-stage disciples of the righteous sects participated!”

Mo Yong Hee said this while shrugging her shoulders. In fact, as she said, many of the later-stage disciples of the righteous sects didn’t attend the Cheonhaje.

‘They ran away out of fear.’

They all thought Ak Wi Cheon would win and didn’t send their children. It was for a mental victory of not having lost if they didn’t fight in the first place.