Chapter 41: The Engagement Ceremony (1)
Chapter 41. The Engagement Ceremony (1)
Through the small window of the carriage, I could see the familiar sight of Chengdu in the distance.
"So, nothing happened after all."
"It sounds like you were hoping something would go wrong. Is that just my imagination?"
"No, it's not that. It's just that when everything goes smoothly without any problems, you start feeling uneasy, you know?"
"I've never felt that way," Tang Sowol replied, tilting her head as if she couldn't understand.
I glanced at Seol Lihyang, seated across from me. She nodded in agreement, as if she understood perfectly.
"Yeah, I get it. Like, you think, 'There's no way my life could go this smoothly. Life's supposed to be more messed up and shitty than this.' Right?"
"Exactly. So it's not just me, then."
"I didn't say anything to you or Tang Sowol, but honestly, I've been feeling the same way," Seol Lihyang said.
She had a small book spread out on her lap. It wasn't a martial arts manual—just a basic book to help her learn to read and write.
If someone could personally tutor her one-on-one, it wouldn't be an issue. But in the Tang Clan, there weren't many who practiced yin-based martial arts.
They could teach her the basics, but to reach higher levels, she would have to understand the specific meanings of the texts on her own.
Whether it was understanding the deeper meanings of martial techniques or applying them in practice, everything would come after that.
That's why Seol Lihyang had started learning to read—just as I had with the help of the Ironblood Hall's leader in my past life.
"Still, I'm surprised the patriarch agreed so easily to this. It's not like the techniques are the Tang Clan's core martial arts, but they still came from the clan's vault, didn't they?"
"Your influence must have been significant, young hero. Even though we haven't had the official ceremony yet, you're already considered part of the Tang Clan. And if it's for repaying a past debt, how could they not offer their support?"
"I thought they might at least attach some conditions or show a bit of reluctance."
"If they did, then it wouldn't be a proper repayment of a favor. Besides, I think my father saw some of my own situation in Miss Seol's circumstances."
While the martial world is vast, those born with unique constitutions are extremely rare.
That also means it's hard to find anyone who can truly understand the talents and drawbacks associated with such constitutions.
Though Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang had different constitutions, they both faced difficulties because of them.
Perhaps Tang Jincheon wanted to give Tang Sowol someone who could relate to her.
Though, in truth, the person Seol Lihyang got along best with wasn't Tang Sowol—it was me.
"Whatever the reason, I'm grateful for it. I never thought I'd learn to read in this lifetime, and now I'm even going to become a guest of the Tang Clan."
"Do you know what a guest's responsibilities are?" I asked.
"Nope. But I know what I'm supposed to do. Tang Sowol explained it. I'll live in a nice house, eat good food, wear warm clothes, and practice martial arts. When necessary, I'll do work for the Tang Clan. Oh, by the way, Cheon Hwi, what does this word say? I learned it last time but forgot."
"It's 'silkworm cocoon.' And yes, you pretty much got it right. I understand how you feel. Sometimes, having something go wrong makes you feel better, even if your body suffers for it."
"Exactly! As long as it's nothing too serious, of course."
"Something like the carriage wheels breaking or getting stuck in the mud for a while would be just about right."
It wasn't just Seol Lihyang who felt that things were going unusually well. I felt the same way.
I had uncovered the people behind the attack on Tang Sowol, something I hadn't known in my previous life. As a result, I'd gained insight into the Demonic Cult's activities at this time, become aware of hidden restrictions on my abilities since returning, and even unexpectedly encountered and saved Seol Lihyang.
There had been difficulties, but the rewards outweighed them.
Most importantly, I'd been able to let go of one of the biggest regrets of my past life.
Seeing me nod in agreement, Tang Sowol pouted slightly, as if she felt left out.
"If things are going smoothly, isn't that something to be happy about? Why worry about problems that haven't happened yet? Come here, young hero. I need to discuss something with you."
"What is it?"
"Didn't we agree to hold the engagement ceremony as soon as we returned to Chengdu? Since it's just an engagement, it doesn't need to be grand or involve a lot of people, but we still can't do it half-heartedly."
"That's true. The Tang Clan would have to maintain appearances, even for an internal event."
"Exactly. So let's discuss it. We won't have much to do ourselves, but if you have any preferences, we should make a list in advance."
Tang Sowol patted the seat beside her. It seemed like she was trying to change the subject a bit forcefully, but it wasn't a bad topic to focus on, so I decided to play along.
I scooted over and sat right next to her. "Alright. So, what do we need to decide?"
"The order of the ceremony will follow Tang Clan traditions, but we need to decide on the location and the guest list."
"Hmm. I'm not too picky about the location, but I'd prefer somewhere outdoors rather than inside. I get uncomfortable in cramped spaces. As for guests..."
The first face that came to mind was the Ironblood Hall's leader.
He'd been a mentor, almost like a parent to me, ever since I met him as an orphan. He was the one who told me to look beyond the sword, taught me everything he knew about martial arts, and encouraged me to live a life for myself, not just for survival.
But the Ironblood Hall's leader I knew no longer existed.
Just as Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang had become different people in this timeline, the current Ironblood Hall leader was the same person, yet not the same.
With a bitter smile, I shook my head. "There's no one. I have no family, no friends."
For a moment, silence filled the carriage. Then, Tang Sowol awkwardly patted my shoulder, wearing an uneasy smile.
"Th-that's alright! The Tang Clan is your family now, isn't it?"
"Yeah! I'll be your friend, too. That should be enough, right? Isn't that right, Sister Tang?"
"I appreciate the thought, but I'm fine. And Tang Sowol, could you not pat my shoulder? It still hurts."
"Oh? Sorry. Is the injury from last time still bothering you?"
"It's mostly healed. It wasn't a broken bone, just some bruising. I thought it would be better by the time we got to Chengdu, but we left sooner than I expected."
"I didn't think my father would decide to leave Yeonju the very next day, either. But we'll have to make sure you're okay before the ceremony. Can you show me your shoulder?"
"What's the point? It'll be covered by clothes anyway."
"Still, let me take a look. If your shoulder hurts, your posture will be affected, and you'll flinch whenever you move. That won't do at all."
"It's fine. I can endure it. It's not that bad."
"There's no need to endure it. We can address it right now."
"Is there a medicine for bruises? I thought it was just a matter of circulating internal energy to speed up recovery."
"There's no medicine, but I can numb the pain, at least."
With a mischievous grin, Tang Sowol grabbed the fabric of my shirt around my shoulder and pulled it down.
Swoosh.
In an instant, my shoulder was exposed. I was about to ask what she was doing when she tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned in.
A flash of pink as her tongue darted out.
"Bleeeh..."
Just like before, she began licking the bruised area on my shoulder. The sensation was both ticklish and damp, and it was something I could never quite get used to.
Even though it was the third time she'd done it, it still made me feel embarrassed. I turned my head slightly, avoiding her gaze, and found Seol Lihyang staring with wide eyes from behind her book.
"Eep!"
Startled, she froze in place, her face bright red, though her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Clearly, she wasn't planning on intervening.
Unable to stop or even respond, I stayed stiff as a board until Tang Sowol finally pulled back, leaving my shoulder thoroughly coated in saliva.
I quickly adjusted my clothes and moved my shoulder. It felt slightly numb, but it wasn't stiff, and the pain had lessened considerably.
It must have been her unique application of the numbing poison she'd used before. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the only way to administer it.
When I stared at her, she met my gaze with an innocent expression, as if nothing had happened.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Do you really not know why I'm asking?"
"If you're about to thank me, there's no need. It's something any fiancée should do."
"That's not what I meant. Why did you do that here? There are other people around."
"Well, I've already done it in front of the Dark Soul Unit, so why be embarrassed now?"
"Come on, be honest. You're just getting a kick out of licking me, aren't you?"
"Maybe a little. It's fun to see your reaction," she said, sticking out her tongue playfully.
I let out a half-amused, half-exasperated sigh. "You're developing a strange hobby."
"And? Did you dislike it?"
"Tell me honestly."
"I didn't say I disliked it."
"And if you were to be a bit more honest?"
"It felt good, but... I'd appreciate it if you chose the location more carefully."
"Alright. I'll keep that in mind."
Tang Sowol giggled and nodded.
Just then, there was a sudden thud and crash! The carriage came to an abrupt stop.
Instinctively, I reached out to steady Tang Sowol, but...
"Ugh!"
Seol Lihyang, who hadn't been close enough to grab onto anything, banged her head against the ceiling.
"Ow... What the heck just happened?"
Rubbing her head with one hand and fumbling for her dropped book with the other, Seol Lihyang looked dazed.
As if in response to her question, one of the Dark Soul Unit members knocked on the side of the carriage.
"Are you all alright? One of the wheels broke. I'm afraid you'll have to step outside for a bit."
"Yes, we'll do that," Tang Sowol replied promptly.
Then she turned to me with an intrigued expression.
"I can't believe the wheel actually broke. Young hero Cheon, you really called it."
"Yeah, that was unexpected. Still, at least now I don't have that uneasy feeling hanging over me."
"And it broke just as we were about to reach Chengdu. I suppose we should be grateful for that."
We exchanged amused smiles before turning to Seol Lihyang. She was the only one who seemed to have been hurt by the incident.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. My head hurts a bit, but at least I didn't bite my tongue or anything. I'll be alright," she said, glancing between me and Tang Sowol.
Then a faint, resigned smile spread across her face.
"Yeah, this makes sense. My life was never going to be that easy, was it?"
It was a smile tinged with a bit of bitterness.
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[TL]
Happy Christmas! <*~*>