Chapter 130

Currently, the temporary headquarters of Wang Miaoyang’s Jeonjin Sect is also being used as Sima Mantian’s training ground in the Sima Family’s villa garden. There, Jiegal Yang’s granddaughter, Jiegal Yeon, who was worried about her dear friend Guhae, followed along. Jiegal Yeon frowned deeply at the incomprehensible scene unfolding before her eyes.

“What… what on earth is that?”

Sima Mantian spins. Round and round.

“Deoooot!!”

With a cane in his right hand and a wooden training sword in his left, he lets out a strange shout and spins like a top. The rotation is irregular, with no discernible pattern. He spins clockwise, then suddenly drags the cane on the ground and spins in the opposite direction. A twisted spiral unfolds. He moves freely, drawing curves as he goes.

It’s incomprehensible.

Jiegal Yeon cautiously wonders if Guhae might be hurt by Sima Mantian’s bizarre behavior.

“I’ve heard that men sometimes act foolishly. Just look at my grandfather—he once carved night pearls to make a glowing Go board.”

She rambles while checking Guhae’s expression.

“…He’s cool. Amazing!”

Guhae’s blue eyes sparkle as she looks at Sima Mantian.

“Huh? Cool?”

Jiegal Yeon’s eyes blink in disbelief.

Regardless, Guhae’s silky black hair flutters as she moves forward.

“I want to do it too!”

It might seem like puppy love, but to Guhae, Sima Mantian truly looks cool. It’s no lie. He doesn’t care about others’ gazes or ridicule. Even as he stumbles and struggles, the way he gets back up reminds her of how he saved, protected, and taught her so much when she was young.

To Guhae, Sima Mantian is her most precious treasure. He’s always been “cool” in her eyes.

She smiles, showing off the sharp teeth he once complimented as cute, and quickly closes the distance, joining the spin. The blue-eyed girl and the limping young man spin in circles together. It’s a dance, a game of tag, and a martial arts display all at once.

**Heavenly Mystery Steps (天機迷離步)**

Guhae’s eyes read the heavenly mysteries, predicting the path and taking the most efficient steps as she spirals toward the center. Her movements are beautiful, with no waste. Her dance slowly encroaches on Sima Mantian’s territory.

After the Dragon and Phoenix Association event, this martial arts display feels nothing like the life-or-death battles they once fought. Back then, Sima Mantian was most threatened by Guhae’s ultimate technique, which she used before he could even react. Now, her best footwork is closing in again.

In fact, because of this, Sima Mantian avoids the fight altogether and changes tactics to secure a diplomatic victory, conceding the match to Guhae.

One step, two steps. Guhae closes the gap, her hand reaching out toward Sima Mantian. Her blue eyes shine. Though Sima Mantian flails like a monkey, he’s already within Guhae’s grasp.

“Right.”

She reads the spin’s direction and grabs him.

“……!!”

But the sensation of catching him doesn’t register. In an instant, Sima Mantian’s body shakes, leaving an afterimage as he disappears. The monkey slips out of her palm.

Guhae’s eyes widen. The heavenly mysteries shift, showing a different future.

“…Left?”

She quickly reaches out with her left hand, but it’s too late. Sima Mantian’s body slips away, surpassing her reaction speed. He stops spinning and confidently turns his back to her.

Witnessing this, Wang Miaoyang, who had been sitting on the floor munching on snacks, drops her cookie.

“Th-this… Body Shift…?”

Her face, smeared with cookie crumbs, is stunned. The speed of movement is enough to leave an afterimage. But no, Body Shift is a technique only martial artists at the peak of their skill, especially those specializing in footwork, can perform. It’s impossible for Sima Mantian to do it.

“Did he create an illusion through body rotation…?”

But an illusion alone couldn’t deceive the Jiegal Family’s Heavenly Mystery Steps. That means he really tried to dodge to the right, then twisted his body to spin left at a speed surpassing her reaction time… That’s just too reckless.

Wang Miaoyang’s eyes fix on Sima Mantian’s back. He was always a tall disciple, but for some reason, he looks even larger now.

No, that can’t be.

Wang Miaoyang rubs her eyes with her free hand. When she opens them again, she realizes it was just her imagination. The imposing figure from before is gone.

“Ugh, ugh… I’m dizzy… I spun too fast.”

Sima Mantian kneels on one knee, collapsing. And that defenseless back…

Guhae, like a raccoon pouncing on prey, raises both hands with a happy expression and lunges at him.

“Kyaa~ I caught you! You’re mine!”

She presses her chest against his back and rubs her soft cheek against his face.

“Sima Mantian~ Guhae~.”

Though it was more like a playful spar, Guhae shows no sign of frustration even though her footwork was broken. After all, Sima Mantian is her most precious treasure and companion. His growth is a joy to her.

And yet…

For a brief moment, Guhae’s blue eyes take on a cold, wintry light.

“Still, I’m stronger.”

Though they’ve ended up in a truce, dragons are possessive creatures. But for now, she expresses her affection by rubbing her cheek against him.

“Sima Mantian, you’re the best. So cool. I like you. I like you.”

Following her dragon instincts, she hugs her treasure tightly.

…And then, a new scent she hadn’t noticed before.

“Woman? New?”

Her expression darkens.

“Eek! Guhae, don’t bite!!”

She lightly nips Sima Mantian’s neck. It’s a territorial mark.

“Gyao.”

Sima Mantian belongs to Guhae.

***

The young lady of the Jiegal Family, who had even discussed marriage with Sima Mantian, watches as the beautiful blue-eyed girl hugs him from behind and bites his neck.

“Haa… haa…”

Poong Ran, who had come to find Sima Mantian, turns and runs away without realizing it.

She knew. She knew she was just a girl who had carelessly inserted herself into Sima Mantian’s kindness. In a novel, she’d be an unpopular side character. The kind who, the more she appears, makes readers wonder why she’s even there, stealing screen time from the main characters. She knew she was the kind of side character who should gracefully exit.

She knew all that… yet…

Returning to her room, she crouches down and buries her face in her knees. Tears fall onto the novel she had worked so hard on, which she couldn’t bear to throw away and instead hugged tightly.

This is why…

She was happy to receive the Young Master’s praise. His smile made her happy. But his kind words were just that—kind words. She had foolishly assigned meaning to them, deluding herself into thinking she was special. But she wasn’t special at all.

That’s why her heart aches now.

This is the punishment for a greedy person who wanted too much. She should have been content just watching Sima Mantian from afar, liking him quietly.

“Why did I want more…? How foolish.”

With a careful touch, she fiddles with the hair ornament made from a cherry blossom branch he had once broken for her.

To her, he is an incredibly special person. But to him, she is just one among many. The thought of confirming that scared her.

…So she ran away.

But this Young Master doesn’t even allow her to run.

*Knock knock.*

The door is knocked, and the voice she most wants to hear—and also least wants to hear—rings out.

“Ran, I’ve been waiting. Shall we go now?”

At Sima Mantian’s question, Poong Ran, wiping her tear-stained eyes, looks puzzled.

“Huh? Where…!?”

Her body shudders. She remembers. The reason she had gone to find the Young Master in the first place.

Today was the day he had suggested they hang out to help her with her writer’s block.

***

Near the lake, there’s a garden where you can enjoy both boating and flower viewing. There, Sima Mantian and Poong Ran walk together.

The well-maintained scenery, the fragrant flowers. The laughter of people drinking in the pavilion. The sight of men and women walking together, chatting warmly.

Honestly, it’s not really her taste. Not that she dislikes it, but… what matters isn’t the place, but the person you’re with.

They watch a family of ducks swimming in the pond.

“Hey! Look, ducks. When I was little, I fell over while feeding them and got pecked.”

*Quack! Quack! Quack!!*

‘Ka, Katrine! Pull yourself together!!’—It was a deadly battle, a tragedy.

Anyway, things like this. Just talking with someone close to you is enjoyable.

“……”

But there’s a slight problem…

The person who had once said she wanted to come here is now walking quietly beside her, hands clasped and head bowed.

Sima Mantian glances down at Poong Ran, who is walking demurely beside him.

Come to think of it… her eyes looked a little red earlier.

Is she feeling unwell? Did she not want to come but couldn’t refuse?

We can come another time. There’s no need to push herself.

Despite Sima Mantian’s worries, Poong Ran’s green eyes spin as her cheeks turn red. She remembers how she had once casually mentioned wanting to come here, and Sima Mantian had remembered.

“Ran, are you okay?”

The affectionate tone in which he calls her name, the kindness directed at her, tightens her chest. She bites her lip.

‘Is… is it okay to hope…?’

Once again, she finds herself hoping. Like a fool.