Chapter 108
108
Blinking, I awkwardly fiddled with the hem of my clothes.
“Why are you saying things like that, Brother?”
“I’m just preparing for the worst.”
“Don’t talk like something’s going to happen. It makes me anxious.”
Why does it sound like we’re about to part ways…?
What’s the meaning of saying this right after talking about going to the Murim Alliance?
An ominous premonition began to creep up.
Considering his character, there was a possibility that he was prepared to die and take me to the Alliance.
I pursed my lips and stared straight at Yeon-ryang, but I couldn’t read any thoughts on his calm face.
I wiped the sweat from my hands and changed the subject. I didn’t even want to imagine a situation where I had to run away, leaving Yeon-ryang behind.
“I’ll remember all three. More than that, before we go to find Monk Beopgong, there’s something we need to do first.”
“What is it?”
“Brother’s health. I heard there’s Gongqing oil in Anhui? Let’s find it and eat it before we go.”
Perhaps because the True energy he had depleted hadn’t returned, Yeon-ryang’s movements weren’t the same as before.
I felt like I would be a little more at ease if I fed him an Elixir.
Sorry, Namgung Hwi. I’ll just swipe one more of your lucky encounters.
It was such a minor incident that it wasn’t even considered a lucky encounter in the novel, so it should be fine. It’s just a few drops.
But Yeon-ryang didn’t seem to like my suggestion.
“Anhui is so vast, and you’re trying to find it based on a rumor. If there really was Gongqing oil, Martial Artists from all over the Jianghu, regardless of whether they’re righteous or evil, would have flocked there.”
“I know the location. It’s a cave in Tianzhu Mountain. It’s said to be west of Bilai Peak. It’s close, so let’s stop by.”
“Tianzhu Mountain is out of the question.”
“Why? We can just go straight down the mountain range from here. It’s a quick trip.”
“Tianzhu Mountain is in the Namgung Family’s territory. They moved their base to Hefei, but they still use it as their ancestral mountain, and many people spend their final years there. If we go poking around and run into a Namgung Family Martial Artist, things will get complicated.”
“Oh… I didn’t know that.”
So that’s why Namgung Hwi’s younger sister was in the village at the foot of the mountain. This is troublesome.
But it’s Gongqing oil, of all things. It was a waste to give up just because it was in Namgung’s territory.
“Can’t we at least check it out? Or I’ll just sneak off by myself. I can pretend I got lost, and it’ll be fine.”
Then Yeon-ryang cut me off firmly and became serious.
“Absolutely not. Anyone can tell you’re a Tang Clan Martial Artist. Do you think the Namgung Family wouldn’t know that?”
“Is it that obvious?”
“As obvious as a beggar from the Beggars’ Sect.”
That sounded kind of like an insult.
He frowned and groaned.
“I can’t just send this reckless Young Miss off alone…”
“Don’t do that, Brother. Let’s go. We’ll be able to find it quickly.”
“Haa. How can I win against my headstrong sister? Let’s look for two days. But if we can’t find it after two days, we’re giving up.”
“Okay! We can find it! Trust me, Brother.”
“…I said we’re giving up if we can’t find it.”
“I said we can find it. I’ll definitely take care of your health.”
I confidently shook my fist.
It was definitely written that it was a cave west of Bilai Peak. So, if we just find Bilai Peak, it’ll be quick.
It can’t be that there are dozens of caves, right?
\ \ \
From that day on, we began to prepare to leave.
We repaired various parts of the hermitage, soaked summer fruits in honey, and dried fish and meat for the Deposed Queen, storing them neatly in the kitchen.
We borrowed writing tools and carefully recorded prescriptions to use according to the Deposed Queen’s symptoms.
Monk Seol-jae seemed to sense that we were leaving, seeing us moving busily like squirrels preparing for winter.
“Do you perhaps have some time? Would you like to have a cup of tea, Benefactor?”
“Yes, Monk.”
I readily nodded at the Monk’s invitation. I was just about to tell him that we would be leaving soon anyway.
Following Monk Seol-jae, I saw Monk Wolam and Monk Gangmun waiting for me.
“Benefactor. You’ve arrived.”
“We’ve been waiting. Benefactor. Please sit here.”
As I sat down on the chair that Monk Gangmun had pulled out, Monk Wolam poured tea into a small earthenware cup. Then, he placed a purple flower fritter on my plate.
“These are crape myrtle flowers, lightly fried. Please enjoy them with your tea. They have a lovely fragrance.”
“Thank you, Monk.”
I carefully put a piece of the flower fritter in my mouth, and it felt like I was rolling the fragrance on my tongue.
Monk Seol-jae, who had been watching me munch on the petals, opened his mouth with a benevolent face.
“We are so happy that the Deposed Queen has regained her health thanks to you, Benefactor. Thank you for caring so much, Benefactor.”
“What are you saying? I should be the one giving thanks. Thank you, Monks, for letting us siblings stay here.”
Hiding a Martial Artist who was fleeing covered in blood wasn’t an easy thing to do.
I was just grateful to the Monks for letting us stay for three months without asking any questions.
Monk Seol-jae, who smiled gently at my answer, asked.
“You are planning to leave soon, aren’t you?”
“Yes. My brother’s injuries have healed, and it would be a burden if we stayed any longer. We will leave before the Monks are misunderstood.”
“I am worried about how my words will sound to you, Benefactor… But there is something I would like to earnestly ask of you before you leave.”
“Please speak comfortably, Monk. I will definitely help if it is within my ability.”
“That is…”
Even with my answer, Monk Seol-jae couldn’t easily speak.
Monk Wolam, who had been watching the prolonged silence, interjected.
“Um, Benefactor. Perhaps, when you leave, could you take the Deposed Queen down the mountain with you?”
“Yes? The Deposed Queen?”
I widened my eyes at the unexpected request.
They’re asking me to smuggle out the Emperor’s concubine? Isn’t that treason?
Swallowing hard in embarrassment, Monk Wolam carefully took my hand.
“I know it is a difficult request. I am not trying to force you, Benefactor. But it seems that there will be no other opportunity once you leave, so I am asking you shamelessly.”
Monk Gangmun, who had been anxiously watching the conversation, added.
“The Deposed Queen’s physical strength is not enough for her to descend the mountain without palanquin bearers, but you can lift her up so easily, Benefactor. We have thought about it a lot, but asking you was the best option.”
It sounded like there was no other way to secretly move the Deposed Queen down the mountain except with me.
I asked with an awkward smile.
“What do you plan to do after the Deposed Queen leaves the hermitage?”
“We plan to hold a fake funeral. So that the Deposed Queen can live freely outside.”
“We have not informed the Imperial Palace that the Deposed Queen’s health has improved. She has not been well since she left the Imperial Palace, so if we say that she contracted a contagious disease and was cremated, everyone will agree.”
It seemed that the Monks had been contemplating this for more than a day or two.
“Did the Deposed Queen want to leave?”
“We have not yet asked the Deposed Queen. This is only possible if you help us, Benefactor. We were going to suggest it after hearing your answer.”
“In that case, it would be better to ask the Deposed Queen first. The most important thing is the Deposed Queen’s choice. I… I will discuss it with my brother.”
Answering, I brought the lukewarm teacup to my lips. For some reason, my heart felt heavy.
\ \ \
Yeon-ryang, who heard the request from the Monks, didn’t think much of it.
“What’s so difficult about going down the mountain together? If you want to help, So-hye, then do it.”
“Brother. This is treason, treason. We’re smuggling out the Emperor’s concubine. Are you okay with potentially being chased by both the government and the Martial Arts World?”
“What power does the Emperor have? Your grandfather is ten times scarier than that weakling who’s just sitting on his butt in Geumneung and not doing anything.”
He didn’t seem to have any feelings about the word “Emperor.” He just seemed to think of it as a story from another world.
However, the Deposed Queen was different.
The Deposed Queen, who heard the Monks’ suggestion, had a face as if the world had collapsed.
“Leave… the hermitage? Are you chasing me away? Am I so inadequate that I’m being chased away from here too?”
“Chasing you away? That’s not it. Deposed Queen. We are saying this because we want you to be happy.”
“That’s right. Please don’t be angry. Deposed Queen. This humble Monk thought of this with the hope that you would live freely outside the Imperial Palace.”
As the Monks hurriedly tried to appease her, the Deposed Queen, who had been moving her lips, dropped her head.
“…I understand what you mean. There’s no possibility of me returning to the Imperial Palace, is there?”
“Deposed Queen…”
The Deposed Queen, who bit her lip, was silent for a long time as if trying to control her emotions. She spat out in a gloomy voice.
“Send word to the Imperial Palace that I am dying. That Deposed Queen So wants to see the Emperor before she dies.”
“I understand. Deposed Queen.”
“But if there is no contact, then… then hold a funeral and leave the hermitage.”
\ \ *
After sending a Letter Carrier Bird to the Imperial Palace, the Deposed Queen changed her mind dozens of times a day.
“I wish the Emperor would come to see me.”
“He will definitely come, Deposed Queen.”
“I want to go back to the Imperial Palace and see my children again. My heart aches so much when I think of our Ah-gon and Ah-jeong…”
But then she would quickly change her mind and huff and puff.
“I’m going to forget about life in the Imperial Palace and live freely.”
“Yes, Deposed Queen. Let’s go to Dongting Lake and go boating with us.”
“Okay. I heard Dongting Lake is so big and wonderful? Then I’ll open a embroidery shop in front of it. My embroidery is so exquisite that even the Imperial Palace recognizes it.”
It seemed that the Deposed Queen herself couldn’t make up her mind and was wavering.
After waiting and waiting, when no answer came from the Imperial Palace, the Deposed Queen gave herself a final three-day grace period.
“Three days. I’ll wait just three more days. If there is no answer even after that, then take me away.”
However, no answer came on the first day or the second day.
The Deposed Queen had a resigned face, as if she had foreseen that there would be no answer.
Finally, the last day that the Deposed Queen had decided to wait dawned.
I was returning from my dawn training in the forest.
I stopped, feeling a disturbing sensation, and quickly put my hand into my sleeve.
I felt the presence of dozens of people at the foot of the mountain.
Yeon-ryang, who had been training on the opposite side, also approached me, muffling his footsteps.
“Brother.”
“Shh. Someone’s coming. Let’s get out of here first.”
We grabbed our weapons and quickly moved away from the hermitage.
As we crossed over to the opposite peak and hid, we saw a palanquin and a long procession climbing the steep mountain path.
Yeon-ryang muttered.
“They’re not Martial Artists. Unless they want to become targets, there’s no crazy person who would ride around in such a fancy palanquin. They look like people from the Imperial Palace…”
“Could the Emperor have come to see the Deposed Queen?”
“I don’t know. Let’s watch first.”
I pressed down on my anxious heart and watched the procession heading towards the hermitage.
As the soldier at the head raised his hand, a splendid palanquin painted with gold stopped in front of the mountain gate.
