Chapter 124: Beyond the Door You Opened for Me

TL: FoodieMonster007

Ghostly Sage organized his study.

He dusted each book, moving them between shelves. He focused his energy on an arrangement only he would notice.

He then placed fragrant flowers around the room and boiled water for tea. Just then, Lim Hyang arrived.

"Young Lord Seo."

"Young Lady Lim. Please, come in. It's a mess, I haven't had time to clean."

The room was sparkling clean, but Lim Hyang smiled and pretended not to notice.

"You have so many books."

"I used to have more, but I've cleared out a lot."

"Still, this is a huge number of books. I never knew you were such an avid reader."

Ghostly Sage beamed.

"This book was written by the author himself. I received it right here in this room, and this one, I went all the way to Tibet to get it. If you'd like to know about ghosts, you should read this book. Shall I lend it to you?"

"Ah, yes."

Ghostly Sage pulled out the book and handed it to her.

"It's very interesting. Ah, if you find that one interesting, you should read this one too."

"That's alright."

"This book here is…"

Ghostly Sage excitedly explained his books. Lim Hyang couldn't bring herself to stop him, so she just listened. As his explanation dragged on, she finally spoke up.

"Shall we have some tea?"

"Ah, I'll make it for you."

A heat like boiling water filled Ghostly Sage.

He had never forgotten the day he first saw her.

Ghostly Sage attended a banquet for prodigies, where he once again found himself on the fringes.

While no one was intentionally ostracizing him, he felt they were subtly looking down on him. There was the prejudice against the Ghost Sect, but more decisively, Ghostly Sage just didn't have a personality that meshed well with others. What did they all have so much to talk about? What were they so eager to boast about?

Feeling suffocated, he stepped outside. Lim Hyang was there. He thought she was a beautiful woman with a wonderful presence. Then, she spoke to him first.

"This is pretty bad, isn't it?"

Ghostly Sage grew flustered. She was the first woman to speak to him at the banquet.

"The banquet, I mean. The musicians, the taste of the alcohol, and the people who've gathered."

Ghostly Sage could never have imagined speaking so freely to a complete stranger.

"I'm Lim Hyang of the Im Sword Clan."

"I am Seo Gong of the Ghost Sect."

"Ah!"

Ghostly Sage felt a pang of regret.

I shouldn't have revealed my sect. Or I should have waited until we talked more.

But her reaction was unexpected. She showed genuine interest.

"I've heard a lot about the Ghost Sect."

"What have you heard?"

"That it's a very mysterious sect."

He wanted to talk more, but someone from inside called for Lim Hyang.

"They're calling for me. I'll see you later, then."

Lim Hyang went inside.

A short while later, Ghostly Sage also went back inside.

He saw Lim Hyang in the distance, surrounded by several martial artists and deep in conversation. She was popular.

Lim Hyang recognized him and waved. The others looked his way, but she ignored them and smiled at him.

Even after returning home, Ghostly Sage couldn't stop thinking about her. For a while, he diligently attended banquets, hoping to see her again.

Ghostly Sage brought the carefully prepared tea and smiled.

"If there are any books you want to read, feel free to borrow them all."

Lee Ahn gazed at the night sky from the window and spoke to me.

"Young Master? Do you know the most common wish when a shooting star falls?"

"What is it?"

"'Ah! Oh! Damn it!' Things like that."

I laughed at her words.

"My eyes and mouth are fast, so I'll never miss it."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Just watch."

We both looked up at the night sky, ready to make our wishes. Then, Lee Ahn suddenly spoke.

"That was the first time I ever brought up my parents."

She had mentioned her parents while talking with Lim Hyang at the inn.

"I've wanted to tell you about them at least once, Young Master, so I thought it was a good opportunity."

"I thought so."

"Alright, then. Please comfort me."

"Comfort you? To be honest, I don't know much about the affection between parents and children either. You know, right? My mother passed away when I was young, and Father is the most blunt person in the world. So I'm not sure what I should say to you."

"Actually, it's the same for me. Back when you were struggling because of the Cult Leader, Young Master, I wanted to comfort you, but what do I know about comforting someone? If anything, I learned everything I should have learned from a parent from you."

"We grew up together with runny noses. What could you have learned from me?"

"But you were the one who wiped my nose. I learned a lot from you and relied on you, Young Master."

I started to say something comforting but stopped. We just stood together, looking up at the night sky.

"By the way, how's the plan going?"

"I'm thinking about it."

"It needs some kind of stimulus!"

"What kind of stimulus?"

"How about we kidnap Young Lady Lim and have Young Lord Seo rescue her?"

"A clumsy attempt like that will only lead to an accident."

"There needs to be something thrilling between a man and a woman!"

"Lee Ahn, think back to the most thrilling moment of your life. Did it involve kidnapping, rescues, or anything like that?"

"…No, it didn't."

"It's probably the same for other people."

The thrills in my life came from everyday moments, usually because of something someone said to me.

Words from Father, Lee Ahn, Seo Daeryong, Jang Ho, the Demon Supremes, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Go Wol, and even words I myself had said…

The accumulation of those countless words was changing my life. I didn't change easily as a person, but my life was changing.

"That's why I'm trying to keep telling him. That person."

Just then, a shooting star streaked across the night sky.

Ah! Please… Argh! Damn it!

A few days later, I rented a manor with a pleasant atmosphere and invited Ghostly Sage and Seo Jin. It was to return the favor for their last banquet invitation.

Ghostly Sage's favorability toward me had already increased, and Seo Jin felt a goodwill toward Lee Ahn. They both readily accepted the invitation.

It was a modest banquet for just the four of us, with delicious food from a skilled chef. Ghostly Sage preferred this kind of atmosphere.

While Lee Ahn and Seo Jin talked, I spoke with Ghostly Sage.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"Don't mention it."

After some small talk, I subtly brought up his marriage.

"Are the wedding preparations going well?"

"Thanks to your concern, they are."

"Sometimes, I find myself envious of married couples."

"What are you envious of?"

"The way they know each other so well, don't they? With just a look, they know, 'Ah, that person must be thinking this.' Or, 'Ah, in this situation, that person would act this way.' I think it'd be wonderful to have at least one person like that in your life."

I had to pull Ghostly Sage down to earth. He was floating in the sky, and I needed him to plant his feet on the ground and calmly look at the woman before him.

"When you look at Young Lady Lim, do you get a sense of what she's thinking?"

Ghostly Sage pondered for a moment before shaking his head.

"To be honest, I'm still not sure."

I said nothing, letting him think.

I was not in a hurry.

I left the topic of marriage there and gained his favor by discussing ghost arts. My knowledge of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique gave me a deep understanding of such secret arts, so our conversation flowed smoothly. When I added my flattery skills, Ghostly Sage became completely engrossed.

Even after that day, I found ways to meet with him.

Ghostly Sage was busy, but our meetings were short. A moment for a cup of tea was enough.

One day, I even waited in his guest room while circulating the qi of the Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

Whenever I met Ghostly Sage, we would chat, and I would bring up topics related to marriage or women.

As I kept seeking him out, Ghostly Sage was initially suspicious. This guy, why is he acting like this after just one meal? What's he after? But as time passed, he began to enjoy our conversations. After all, he had never had a single friend in his life.

Though I started with an intention, I also began to enjoy talking with him. My flattery became less necessary.

"My junior sister says you shouldn't be too nice to a woman."

"Why is that?"

"Because it's human nature to feel disappointed if you're treated well ten times and then poorly once, I suppose."

"Can't you just treat her well all ten times?"

"Won't a person's heart change over the years?"

"I won't change."

"Young Lord Seo, you're human too. You will change."

"I'm different! I will never change!"

When he was this stubborn, I wanted to rush at him and shout.

You did change! You really do change! Ugh, forget it. Let's just scrap this.

"Don't be too nice. If you go to the marketplace, bad boys are popular."

"Ah! I've noticed that too. At banquets, I often wondered why they liked guys like that."

"So don't be too nice. If you're a little mean and then nice once in a while, wouldn't that be more touching? A person can't be perfect all the time."

"That makes sense."

The old Ghostly Sage had desperately wanted to talk with me. Back then, I only had one drink with him before leaving to search for materials.

Let's have all the conversations we couldn't have back then.

Time passed, and I visited him as frequently as a mouse visits a pantry.

"You're saying the day you need to get an important material for your ghost arts training is the same as Young Lady Lim's birthday?"

"That's right. Which would you choose?"

"Of course, you have to celebrate Young Lady Lim's birthday."

"Even if it's an important material? If you miss it this time, you have to wait three years?"

"Still, there's no comparison."

When a similar event happens someday, Ghostly Sage, you better remember what you said today! There's a clear difference between words never spoken and words uttered even once.

I tried. I spoke as if I didn't know, I persuaded him, and I encouraged him. I gave him courage, hints, affection, and a treasured blade. This was the Ghostly Sage who had betrayed me, the one who gathered materials for the great technique his whole life, just to go back to the past himself. Still, I was grateful that I was here because of him, and I put in my best effort until the very end.

Finally, the day before the wedding, I met him one last time.

"To think I'd be seeing you up until today."

Ghostly Sage began, revealing his honest feelings.

"Frankly, I still don't understand why you're being so good to me."

It was a question he had held back for a long time, and proof that we had grown closer.

"Didn't you say you liked Young Lady Lim from the moment you first saw her? It was the same for me. When I saw you, Young Lord Seo, I felt like you were an older brother or a friend. I had good feelings. I have no other intentions. I've seen you so often because I plan to leave after the wedding tomorrow, and I don't know when I'll see you again."

Ghostly Sage still looked suspicious.

I raised my hand to the sky.

"I swear to the heavens. If my words are false, may the Heavenly Demon drag me away!"

Ghostly Sage waved his hands dismissively.

"Stop! There's no need for such a terrible oath! I'll believe you. With an oath like that, I have to."

He extended his hand.

"Thank you."

"Congratulations on your marriage."

We shook hands. It was the first time I had ever held his hand, both before and after my regression.

The wedding was held the next day.

Lee Ahn was excited, as it was her first time seeing a wedding. Befitting a prestigious family, the wedding was splendid with much to see. Lee Ahn watched every detail meticulously. If she didn't know something, she would ask the people conducting the ceremony.

To ensure she wasn't the main character, she wore a veiled bamboo hat and clothes that hid her figure.

As the wedding ended, I spoke to Lee Ahn.

"Let's return to the Cult now."

"Yes, Young Master."

"Did you enjoy this trip?"

"I'll never forget it for the rest of my life."

She even kept a record of it in a book, so I knew how much she had enjoyed it.

Lee Ahn and Seo Jin said their reluctant goodbyes. The two had become quite close. While I met with Ghostly Sage, Lee Ahn had spent a lot of time with Seo Jin. I had completely entrusted Seo Jin's fate to Lee Ahn.

In the distance, my eyes met Ghostly Sage's as he greeted guests. I waved. He smiled and waved back.

I didn't know if my connection with him ended here or if we would meet again. I didn't know what kind of life he would live.

I could only hope that our conversations would change his life, and that those changes would accumulate to alter the outcome.

I don't know what lies beyond the door you opened today. Whether it holds only the regret everyone speaks of, or a companion with whom you can understand each other with just a look. I will ask only one thing of you. No matter what hardships you face, do not give up. Just as you waited a lifetime for me, do not give up on your life until the very end. Because beyond the door you opened for me, I too am moving forward without giving up, so I hope you will do the same. Ghostly Sage, I wish you happiness.

I left the Ghost Sect with Lee Ahn.

"Alright, let's go back now, Lee Ahn!"