The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family-Chapter 147

Chapter 147. The Thread That Cannot Be Let Go
He wanted to feign ignorance and deny it.
Say it was nonsense.
But he couldn't open his mouth, fearing that a clumsy lie would only give her certainty instead.
“I want to trust the young warrior, but...."
At the sigh-like words, Namgung Hyun felt as though his heart had sunk.
“I don’t know how I am supposed to trust the young warrior.”
He was not accustomed to facing someone's disappointment. No one had ever placed expectations on him, so he had never needed to face such disappointment.
But the disappointment of the woman sitting before him was different.
Her black eyes, stripped of all emotion, pierced his heart like a well-honed blade.
It was not the first time he had suffered coldness, yet it felt as though the blood was draining from his body.
"I thought that you and I shared a connection."
"I..."
As Namgung Hyun opened his mouth, Tang So-hwa fell silent.
As though waiting for his answer.
But even with the chance given, Namgung Hyun could not reply.
His mind went blank. The woman he liked was angry with him, and since the reason was clearly his fault, he had no idea how to overcome this predicament.
Seeing him only move his lips without words, Tang So-hwa sighed.
"If the young warrior did not use me, then prove it."
Namgung Hyun asked urgently,
"How should I prove it?"
He was ready to do anything, but the request he heard left him hollow.
"Give me what you meant to give the Blood Demon."
"... You truly are convinced that I am of the Blood Sect."
"Do you know what I heard in Jin Yin Mountain?"
At her mention of Jin Yin Mountain, Namgung Hyun could say nothing. Jin Yin Mountain was the stronghold where the Blood Demon resided.
"I heard you promised to create a passage connecting the Central Plains and the Outer Regions."
Namgung Hyun's expression changed. She knew of his dealings with the Blood Demon.
Now, he truly had nothing to say.
If he lied to someone who already knew the truth, he would lose her trust. But if he admitted it, he would become a Blood Sect member.
Namgung Hyun's insides burned black, unable to give any answer.
As the silence dragged on, Tang So-hwa leaned back from the table she had been close to.
As though she no longer thought there was any need to continue the conversation.
It was only a span of a hand's breadth, but the distance felt immeasurably vast. Namgung Hyun, without realizing it, asked.
"If I bring you what you spoke of, would that not mean your suspicion is correct?"
"I do not believe the young warrior even now."
Tang So-hwa added in a low voice.
"I just want to try to trust you again."
Namgung Hyun closed his eyes in thought, yet his heart had already chosen.
"How can that... become trust?"
Instead of handing over the woman who had uncovered his identity to the Blood Sect, he chose to win back her heart.
It was a foolish decision, one he had not even realized—no more than a reflex, like catching a falling teacup.
Thus, he did not recognize this as Tang So-hwa's test.
When a faint warmth began to return to her cold face, he thought only that it was fortunate, unable to think further.
"The Blood Demon will appear again. Before that one takes me away, I intend to leave the Central Plains for a while."
Tang So-hwa leaned forward once more. All his focus was on her reaction, so though she was making an unreasonable request, he felt only relief. He did not even notice the flow of his own thoughts.
He simply waited for her next words, eyes asking her to say anything.
Carefully, watching the young martial artist's face, Tang So-hwa spoke,
"If the young warrior will help me flee from the Blood Demon by going to the North Sea, then I will be able to trust you again."
Namgung Hyun bit his lip and answered with difficulty,
"... I cannot create it now."
Her brows lowered. Just as disappointment began to show in her eyes, he quickly added.
"Ah, I do not mean I refuse! To make a passage requires Cold Iron, and there is no Cold Iron at present."
"Cold Iron?"
As if the words were too sudden, Tang So-hwa frowned.
"I am nothing more than a tool to the Blood Demon. It is true I acted under his orders, but my heart is sincere. So please, do not think I sought to deceive you. I am... truly..."
"If the young warrior obtains the Cold Iron, then you can create the passage?"
Though Namgung Hyun was baring his heart, Tang So-hwa cut his words off indifferently.
It would be a lie to say he did not feel hurt. Still, he tried to understand her. Had she not just returned after being abducted by the Blood Demon? He ought to be grateful that she did not consider him a Blood Sect member.
'Yes... Young Lady Tang is right....'
If he wanted her to trust his sincerity, he had to prove it first.
Pushing aside his emotions, Namgung Hyun answered in a calm voice,
"Yes, I can make it."
"How long will it take?"
"Even if Cold Iron is obtained, blacksmiths capable of working it are rare. It depends on when such a blacksmith can spare the time."
"If I obtained the Cold Iron, and also a blacksmith that could work it, then?"
Her tone sounded as though she were telling him to stop saying useless things and answer properly, yet Namgung Hyun thought he was being oversensitive and answered earnestly,
"If the Cold Iron is ready, all it would take is the time to melt and temper it. Half a day would be enough."
In truth, Namgung Hyun firmly believed he would obtain Cold Iron, since the Blood Demon had already sent him the Red Blood Hall and Blue Blood Hall.
Through the Blue Blood Hall, which slipped easily among people, he had arranged for a blacksmith capable of working Cold Iron, and had even prepared the casting mold (zhuxing, a mold into which molten metal is poured) in advance in Anhui. What's more, the blacksmith he had secured was in Hubei. Yet he could not make use of it—for if Tang So-hwa went there, word would reach the Blood Demon.
Because the situation was so tangled, though he had resolved to tell her everything, he could not bring himself to speak of the blacksmith.
Just then, Tang So-hwa's expression grew strangely bright.
Securing the Cold Iron was no easy matter, nor was finding a blacksmith to work it. Her reaction did not match the weight of the task.
"What size must the Cold Iron be?"
"A child's fist will be enough."
Tang So-hwa gave a small nod.
A faint trace of a smile touched her lips.
His gaze was caught by it.
Namgung Hyun wanted to see that smile deepen.
Like a man under a spell, he spoke.
"... If you wish, I can send you to the North Sea without the Cold Iron. But the passage would not hold, so you could not return. You would have to walk back to the Central Plains yourself, or I would have to go with you and draw the formation anew."
At that, Tang So-hwa lowered her gaze in thought. After a long pause, she answered,
"No. I will first try to obtain the Cold Iron."
Namgung Hyun felt she truly wished to let him prove himself. Though it was she who was asking, he was the one who felt regret.
But then Tang So-hwa, lifting her gaze again, suddenly narrowed her brows. He did not know what expression he had made, but she seemed to find it strange. She parted her lips as if to speak, then closed them again.
Tang So-hwa turned her eyes aside, as if avoiding his gaze.
"Why?"
“A lot of time has passed since you went to the residence, so why haven’t you received any treatment yet?”
He received a question in return for his question.
Only then did Namgung Hyun look down at his disheveled state.
"Ah."
He gave a bitter smile.
"The Clan Head summoned me, so I had no time to go to the Medical Hall. As soon as I came out, I heard Young Lady Tang's message and came straight here."
Tang So-hwa's gaze returned to him.
"The Clan Head saw you and did not tell you to receive treatment first?"
Namgung Hyun, embarrassed, could only show her a small smile without answering.
Hearing her words made him suddenly feel ashamed.
I should have at least changed clothes before coming. I'm not in any position to boast.
The desire to stay with her a little longer was wiped away by the weight of embarrassment.
Awkwardly, Namgung Hyun rose from his seat.
"Then, I'll take my leave. As you said, I should get treated first. Everyone must be worried."
It was an attempt to salvage his dignity, but they were meaningless words. Tang So-hwa didn't even respond.
But just as he was about to open the door, she called to him.
"Young warrior Namgung."
Her voice wasn't the same cold one as before.
The tone, tinged with a sigh, held him in place.
"If you don't mind, you should receive treatment here before you go."
Namgung Hyun turned back.
At some point, Tang So-hwa had risen and was walking toward him.
"For treating external wounds, the Tang Clan is better than the Namgung Clan."
"I know."
"In truth, I was only pretending to be modest. The Tang Clan's medical arts are on a level beyond comparison with the Namgung Clan."
She added words that he couldn't tell were jest or serious.
Though not warm like before, at least she wasn't turning him away. That alone gave him a profound sense of relief.
It was like feet that had been floating in the air finally touched solid ground.
"Then, I'll trouble you."
Tang So-hwa didn't answer.
She merely brushed past him, as if to say he should follow.
Watching her walk ahead, Namgung Hyun felt a strange emotion.
It wasn't the same as when the Namgung Clan gave him trust only to push him away, nor like when the Blood Demon feigned interest only to betray him.
Just the fact that this thread between them hadn't snapped was enough to satisfy him.
Even though there was nothing more he could possibly gain from Tang So-hwa.
He was not the type to accept loss, so he couldn't understand why he was feeling such foolish emotions.
For a moment, Tang So-hwa turned her head to the side, as if to check that he was keeping up.
Namgung Hyun unconsciously held his breath.
Their gazes met briefly, then drifted apart again.
Staring at the hair that flowed like black satin before his eyes, he clenched his hand against the itch in his fingers.
Perhaps the fact that this thread had not yet broken might turn out to be a great misfortune for him. But what frightened him more was knowing he could never be the one to let go first.