Live Well Without Me-Chapter 15

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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On the way from the Hangshan Sword Sect to the Taiyuan Zhen Family.

As usual, I was giving Jin Gayeong a lap pillow in the carriage when…

“Hey, have you heard the news?”

The voices of the escorts outside the carriage reached me.

I tried not to pay attention.

Until the word “Sword Saint” came out of their mouths.

“What news?”

“That madman Sword Saint caused another incident.”

“The Sword Saint? He’s been quiet for a while, hasn’t he?”

Even though I tried to ignore it, thinking that I was no longer the Sword Saint, my ears perked up involuntarily.

Jin Gayeong, who was sleeping, twitched slightly, as if she was aware of it too.

‘He did cause an incident.’

If saving the Hangshan Sword Sect could be called an incident.

“Did you hear that the Sword Saint was expelled from the Namgung Family?”

“Ah, that. I heard about it. But I don’t believe it easily.”

“After that, the Sword Saint lived like a madman. Then he happened to run into the Blade Sovereign, Saber Sovereign, and Sword Sovereign while they were passing through Anhui.”

“The Sword Saint? Those three?”

“Yeah, naturally, a fight broke out… and in the end, the Saber Sovereign and Blade Sovereign died. Apparently, they died horribly. The Sword Sovereign, who was hiding and watching, had a hard time collecting their remains because their organs kept spilling out.”

“Damn……”

I was here, so it seems Namgung Bin did something again.

Not that it matters now that Namgung Cheolbin no longer exists, so let him slander all he wants.

The image of that arrogant bastard punching the air made me laugh.

“Ha……!”

Jin Gayeong let out a sigh as she woke up.

It was a sigh filled with anger.

“Is something wrong?”

“Uncle.”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of the Sword Saint?”

Why was she angry?

Come to think of it, last time too, when there was talk of slandering Namgung Cheolbin, she had shown subtle signs of anger.

“The Sword Saint, you mean.”

“Yes, Namgung Cheolbin, the Sword Saint.”

“I don’t have any particular thoughts.”

“……Really?”

To me, it’s just a name I’ve discarded. Why would I care?

Now that I’ve discarded it, I feel so at ease.

Even hearing such things, Namgung Bin just seems pitiful.

“What do you think of the Sword Saint?”

Jin Gayeong pondered for a moment, then cautiously spoke.

“He’s trash.”

“Is that so.”

“…If what people say is true.”

“……?”

Was it just my imagination, or did her words carry a strange weight?

Before I could ask, she preempted me.

“The world isn’t always as it seems.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes, honestly, I……”

“But isn’t it strange?”

At the voices from outside, Jin Gayeong fell silent.

I also closed my mouth and focused on their conversation.

“What do you mean?”

“The Sword Saint. Well, it’s one thing that he was expelled from his family and went mad, but isn’t it strange that a man who killed two Sovereigns left the Namgung Family alone?”

“Is that strange?”

“Isn’t it? Who in the Namgung Family could stop him?”

“Hmm… now that you mention it, it does seem strange……”

“And, didn’t the Sword Sovereign say that? Isn’t that strange too? Everyone knows the Sword Sovereign is a puppet of the Martial Alliance’s elders. But that money-loving, prideful woman revealed something that would damage her own reputation?”

“That is strange. The Sword Saint might be a madman, but the Sword Sovereign is sane.”

“It doesn’t make sense. If the Blade Sovereign and Saber Sovereign were fighting while she hid, the Peng Family of Hebei and the Water Dragon Sect wouldn’t support her. And no one even knew the three of them were traveling together.”

“I see, so she dug her own grave?”

“If the Sword Sovereign were a righteous person, it would make sense. But she’s the type to hide things, not reveal them.”

“Hmm, so what’s the truth?”

“From what I see, the Sword Sovereign killed those two. I don’t know why. Maybe they had a disagreement while traveling. Then she panicked and blamed the Sword Saint.”

“Hehe… you’re usually sharp, but now you’re saying strange things. How could the Sword Sovereign kill the Saber Sovereign and Blade Sovereign? Even with a sneak attack, it would be impossible.”

“Is that so? I don’t know more than that. But it’s clear that something smells fishy.”

…….
At least not everyone in the world is a fool.

Whether they slander Namgung Cheolbin or not, it doesn’t affect me now.

“Later.”

Jin Gayeong muttered as if talking to herself.

It seemed like she was speaking to herself, not to me.

“I should give that person a bonus.”

“Is that so.”

I didn’t ask why.

“He’s sharp.”

—

### Arrival at the Taiyuan Zhen Family

“Lady, we’ve arrived at the main house.”

At the coachman’s words, Jin Gayeong and I poked our heads out of the carriage and saw a grand, old-fashioned gate.

At the top of the gate was a plaque that read “Taiyuan Zhen Family.”

A man waddled out from between the gates.

“……Uncle, I’ll go greet him and come back.”

Jin Gayeong got out of the carriage with a stiff expression.

That man, I’ve seen him a few times in other cycles.

Zhen Guangwu, the Flame Heaven Blade Sovereign.

In this cycle, he hadn’t done so, but… in the early regressions, he often sided with the Blood Cult.

Because of that, he’s died at my hands a few times.

“Gayeong! You’re safe! Are you hurt anywhere?”

He approached Jin Gayeong with his arms wide open.

Jin Gayeong took a step back to refuse him.

Zhen Guangwu’s expression turned red and blue.

Despite that, he kept his smile intact.

“Hmm! Our Gayeong has become more cautious after staying away for so long.”

“I haven’t even seen the family head yet, what are you talking about? I need to report my return first.”

“Ah, the family head’s condition is like that, so what’s the point of reporting? Just tell me, and I’ll take care of it.”

“Stop it. Even if we’re family, there’s a line.”

“…….”

Zhen Guangwu didn’t say anything, but it felt like curses were hanging in the air.

Since the incident at the Seven Evils Fort, where Zhen Guangwu was revealed to be the mastermind, their relationship wasn’t just bad—it was closer to mortal enemies.

“Uncle, get down. We need to go greet the family head. Can I introduce you as my bodyguard?”

“That’s fine.”

Jin Gayeong pulled my arm, urging me to get out of the carriage.

I got out smoothly, and Zhen Guangwu, who had been watching us, had a strange glint in his eyes.

Specifically, he was looking at me.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As I followed Jin Gayeong into the Taiyuan Zhen Family…

“You must be the White Blade Guest. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Zhen Guangwu made a fist salute toward me.

White Blade Guest…

Because I wore a white mask and used a white blade at the Hangshan Sword Sect, I guess that’s how I got the nickname.

Come to think of it, rumors spread fast.

“Yes, it’s my first time meeting you.”

“Hmm, I’m glad to have met such a good person. Let’s get along well.”

A hint of greed flashed in Zhen Guangwu’s eyes as he looked at me.

I returned the fist salute indifferently, and Jin Gayeong tugged at my sleeve.

“Uncle, the family head is waiting, so please step aside.”

“Hmph, I was being too presumptuous.”

As we passed by Zhen Guangwu, who had stepped aside, Jin Gayeong led the way.

Even after I had completely turned my back, Zhen Guangwu couldn’t take his eyes off me.

Jin Gayeong quickened her pace, as if she wanted to get away as soon as possible.

Thud, thud-.

We passed through the inner courtyard of the Taiyuan Zhen Family and entered the main hall.

People whispered as they saw Jin Gayeong pulling me along, but she ignored them and walked forward.

She took me to the inner quarters.

……Inner quarters?

“The family head is here.”

“Ah……”

She had said the family head was ill and bedridden.

For a martial artist of a family head’s caliber to fall ill, unless he was quite old, it would be nearly impossible.

‘But didn’t they call Jin Gayeong the Grand Lady?’

…….
The family head of the Taiyuan Zhen Family, who had done nothing notable in countless cycles.

Perhaps there was a hidden side to that “nothing notable” that I didn’t know about.

“Lady! When did you arrive?”

“I just got here. How’s the family head?”

“Well… he’s the same as always. But go see him. He’ll get up if he knows you’re here.”

“Got it. Take care, nanny.”

The middle-aged woman called “nanny,” who had been wringing a rag, disappeared.

Jin Gayeong slid open the door to the room where the family head was.

Inside… was an old man lying on a sickbed.

Not a trace of internal energy could be felt from him.

“Family head, your eldest has arrived.”

Jin Gayeong called out to him cautiously.

“…….”

There was no response from him.

“Family head?”

Jin Gayeong stepped closer.

“Father…?”

I followed her in.

A chilling energy crept up my ankles.

“Father! Dad!”

Jin Gayeong rushed to the old man.

It’s not good to make a scene where a sick person is, but I didn’t stop her.

Because there was no sick person.

“…….”

“Dad!!! Why can’t you open your eyes!!!”

Instead, there was only a corpse that seemed to have died not long ago.

“Ugh……!”

Jin Gayeong began to sob, collapsing on top of the emaciated old man.

Knowing how painful it is to lose family, I couldn’t say anything.

—
Three Days Later

“White Blade Guest, the elder is calling for you.”

Three days after the death of the family head.

The funeral was held grandly, befitting the Taiyuan Zhen Family, but not many people actually attended.

Jin Gayeong played the role of the chief mourner, greeting the few guests.

Of course, “few” was relative to the size of the Taiyuan Zhen Family, so her days were still hectic.

“Zhen Guangwu is calling?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go right away.”

Zhen Guangwu had sent a subordinate to call me.

For the past three days, he had only glanced at me occasionally, but it seemed he had made up his mind.

“Ah, White Blade Guest. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Does he want to get close to me?

Zhen Guangwu offered me a handshake.

“Is that so.”

I extended my hand and shook his.

“Have you been comfortable while staying here? At the main house?”

“I’ve been fine.”

He grinned.

It was a smile that was the opposite of innocence.

“That’s good… Oh, by the way, how is Gayeong? She must be heartbroken after her father’s death, right?”

“You know better than I do that the lady is a composed person.”

“……Is that so? Haha.”

What a fox.

You could tell just by looking at his face.

“Hmm… well, since I know your personality is as sharp as a blade, I’ll get straight to the point.”

“…….”

“How about we work together on something?”

A fox cub.

That’s all he is.

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