Chapter 124
124
Dang Gak cut off Madam Jo as if to say she was talking nonsense.
“It doesn’t look good for me to move when there are young elders.”
“……I understand. Then who do you think you’ll send? Can’t we sway the elder who’s going to the Alliance headquarters to our side?”
“Seventh Elder will probably go. No elder wants to take on troublesome tasks.”
“No! He’ll try to protect the bastard. We need to pick someone who will testify that the girl is definitely a spy for the Demonic Sect.”
When Madam Jo raised her voice, Dang Gak shook his head.
“If we meddle clumsily in the Alliance’s affairs, we’ll only turn suspicion towards ourselves. What will you do if they misunderstand that we’re trying to cut our tail? Let’s wait until the interrogation is over.”
“We can’t kill her directly, and we can’t keep her from leaving the Alliance! Then what are we supposed to do?”
Madam Jo, who had shouted, gripped her teacup and snorted. Her bloodless hand turned white. She seemed to be suppressing her anger.
Dang Gak, who pressed his ears at the sharp voice, replied bluntly, as if he was a little annoyed.
“Just leave her alone until she returns to the Tang Clan.”
“If that girl has any sense, she won’t want to return to the Tang Clan.”
“That’s why we have to let Seventh Elder go. She was quite close to Seventh Elder, so she will return to the Tang Clan with him.”
“……I don’t know. Seventh Elder just watched when that girl was being chased out. Why would she trust him and follow him?”
“Jianghu is not an easy place, Madam. She’s felt the threat to her life several times, and she’s been a wanted person for a long time, so she must miss the family now. If her grandfather is a person, she will trust him and return.”
At the almost certain tone, Madam Jo closed her mouth.
“Let’s make our move when that child returns. I will move myself then.”
“……Yes.”
Madam Jo, who answered slowly, glared fiercely.
“But you must not forget that promise. The moment that bastard sets foot on Sichuan land, you must step forward yourself.”
“I will.”
Dang Gak, who answered obediently, got up.
“Too many noticeable meetings are not good. Don’t look for me for a while.”
“Yes. I won’t see you off. Be careful.”
After finishing the conversation, the two laughed at each other with smiling faces.
‘Cowardly old man.’
‘Foolish woman.’
Dang Gak, who turned his back coldly, came out of Madam Jo’s residence.
A snort escaped him at Madam Jo’s arrogant attitude. He slowly clenched his fist.
Look. How is Tang Chun-gi’s son, whom everyone praised as a prodigy, ruining the clan?
And what is the greedy and foolish Madam he brought in doing?
Like a pack of hungry stray dogs, they only chase after immediate gains and are busy cutting away at their own flesh.
Tang Chun-gi’s bloodline is not truly suitable for the position of Patriarch.
Soon his lovely grandson will take the seat of glory.
So, just a little more until then.
Just crouch down a little more.
Sweetness will be waiting at the end of long patience.
Dang Gak glared at the direction of the Clan Head Hall with murderous eyes.
A cold gust of winter wind scratched his cheek.
\ \ \
The wharf was crowded with people.
Laborers were busy loading cargo onto cargo ships with merchant flags, and many passengers were lined up to board passenger ships.
I thought it would be difficult to move around because my face covering obscured my vision and there were so many people, but it was an unnecessary worry.
Everyone who saw Yeon-ryang and Beopgong flinched and made way for us.
……Because of those two, my face covering seems more noticeable. Those old men should have worn the face coverings, not me.
As I hesitated because I felt burdened by the persistent gazes, Yeon-ryang gently pulled me.
“So-hye. You’ll get on the wrong ship. Come this way.”
Meanwhile, Beopgong, who had boarded the ship first and paid the fare, called us.
“Yeah, kid. Don’t go to the wrong ship and come here.”
The two didn’t seem to care about the gazes around them at all. I felt like I was the only one being conscious.
“Are you paying for me?”
“I’ll pay for the fare since you’re going on a long journey. It’s travel money.”
“Don’t say unlucky things.”
Beopgong, who chuckled, asked.
“Kid. Have you ever fought pirates?”
“No. I’ve never even met them.”
“Really? Then we need to practice preparing for enemies who use water techniques.”
The moment Beopgong muttered and stretched out his arm, Yeon-ryang quickly blocked his arm.
“Uh-uh, no.”
“What? Why?”
“Do you want to poison the river? Do you know how many poisons So-hye has in her possession? Why are you trying to throw her into the river?”
“Ah. I didn’t think of that.”
Beopgong smacked his lips and withdrew his hand. I stared blankly at Beopgong, wondering what he was talking about, and then I opened my mouth wide.
“What are you talking about? Were you trying to throw me into the river just now? In this winter? In this weather?”
“Don’t be disappointed. There will be many chances to throw you.”
I’m not disappointed at all. This guy really has no morals.
I quickly hid behind Yeon-ryang, and Beopgong smirked and took out a bottle of alcohol and brought it to his mouth.
The sight of a monk drinking from a bottle drew attention from the surroundings.
But that was it; the passengers, intimidated by his muscular appearance, couldn’t even think of whispering.
They just slowly distanced themselves.
“Keuh. The alcohol tastes good.”
I, who had naturally stepped back, also subtly moved away from Beopgong.
……I should pretend I don’t know him. I might really get thrown into the river if I stay nearby.
\ \ \
Beopgong, who saw Dang So-hye disappearing into the crowd, lightly tilted his chin.
“Hey. Your sister is slowly moving away. Is it okay to just leave her?”
“She probably doesn’t want to be associated with you. It’s her first time on a big ship, so she probably wants to look around. Let her go.”
“What? What’s wrong with me? Where else can you find a reliable companion like me?”
“Put away the bottle and talk. Everyone’s staring.”
Beopgong, who wiped the rice wine from his mouth at Yeon-ryang’s nagging, asked.
“Yeon-ryang. What are you going to do?”
“About what.”
“What are you going to do in the future? You were planning to clear that kid’s name and disappear, right? Are you going to leave her alone even though she’s your blood relative?”
Yeon-ryang, who was stung by the question that hit the nail on the head, avoided his gaze.
“……You’re disgustingly perceptive.”
“How could I not know what you’re thinking? I knew it as soon as I heard it. You were going to ask me to tell the kid that you had gone far away, whether you died or were imprisoned.”
“…….”
Yeon-ryang, who closed his mouth tightly, looked at the sky. Beopgong said calmly.
“You can’t do that to your sister. If she finds out later, it will stay in her heart forever.”
“……I know. I won’t die.”
He muttered and slowly blinked his eyes. The dazzling winter sky was fully reflected in his eyes.
“Want a sip?”
Beopgong casually held out the bottle. Yeon-ryang, who nodded, took the bottle and brought it to his mouth.
As he poured a mouthful of harsh rice wine, his throat burned.
Yeon-ryang, who bit his lip, said as if making a resolution.
“Somehow……. I’ll somehow live. I can’t die leaving that child behind.”
“That’s a good mindset.”
Beopgong, who chuckled, took the bottle back. Beopgong, who tilted his head back and licked the drops of alcohol falling, grumbled.
“Hey, I already drank it all. Didn’t you drink two mouthfuls?”
“Huh, are you being stingy with just one mouthful? I’ll buy you a whole jar, so don’t whine.”
“Really? You promised with your own mouth? No changing your mind?”
“……When I look at you, I get the illusion that I can live righteously.”
“What’s not righteous about you? You’re a decent guy.”
Yeon-ryang laughed with a deflating sound at Beopgong’s reply.
“You and So-hye are strange. How can you be so calm even though you know my identity?”
“It’s a little regrettable. If you had mastered orthodox Internal Martial Arts, the Alliance would have used you well.”
“Get lost. I’m not doing your lackey work.”
Yeon-ryang, who glared at Beopgong, shifted his gaze to the flowing Yangtze River.
For the first time in his life, which was long if long and short if short, he had something to protect.
So, he had to change.
For the child who had given him the everyday life he had longed for, a new life.
He would live for his only family.
……He would never, ever die.
\ \ *
It was already evening as I watched the sailors adjust the sails to match the direction of the wind.
The ship, which cut through the orange-tinted river, was as fast as a sleek fish.
They said it would only take half a day if the wind was good, and it’s true. It’s so fast.
As I marveled and stretched my neck to look down below the railing, one of the sailors shouted at the top of his lungs.
“It’s the Water Dragon King! It’s the Water Dragon King!”
“Pirates have appeared!”
Pirates?
Startled, I raised my head and saw several ships approaching in the distance.
They all had black flags, and when I looked closely, there was a picture of eighteen large fish tangled together.
The sailors hurriedly turned the direction of the sails, but the distance only narrowed and it was useless.
“Ah, no! My Madam is waiting for me at home!”
“Everyone, prepare to take out what you have and give it to them! It’s better to be penniless than to die!”
The passengers, frightened by the approaching pirate gang, screamed and cowered. Some passengers were preparing their ransom.
Beopgong, who quickly crossed the chaotic deck and stood next to me, brought his hand to his eyebrow.
“Are those the Water Dragon Corps guys? I hope they don’t use fire arrows. I hate hot things.”
“Fire arrows?”
“Yeah. When they’re trying to kill everyone, they burn or cripple the ship. They seem to be trying to surround us with several ships, so I don’t think they’re just thinking of taking ransom.”
“Weren’t pirates supposed to take tolls and let us go nicely? Isn’t it a loss for them if they kill everyone?”
“That Water Dragon or Water Snake guy is a little different. He has a perverted hobby of playing with fire on the water.”
Beopgong, who shrugged his shoulders, raised his chin.
“Since there are five ships, it seems like it will be quickly taken care of with two for you, two for me, and one for the kid. Yeon-ryang. What do you think?”
Yeon-ryang, who had already approached, nodded.
“Okay.”
“I’ll go to the flagship? The kid……. You don’t have to go far. They’re here.”
Beopgong, who rubbed his chin, pointed to the pirates who were hooking onto the railing of our ship.
One of the pirates, who met my eyes, smiled menacingly.
“Hehehe, you must be a daughter from a noble family since you’re covering your face. You must be quite pretty, right? I’ll offer you to the Water Dragon King.”
Beopgong, who was looking at the pirate spouting nonsense, asked me.
“Kid. What did I tell you before?”
“If you want to have a rational conversation, hit them first?”
“Exactly. You’re smart.”
“I told you not to teach strange things to the child.”
I heard Yeon-ryang sigh. Beopgong chuckled and waved his hand.
“I’ll give you a quarter of an hour. Clear that ship by yourself.”
“What if I take more than a quarter of an hour?”
“Then I’ll throw you into the river. I’m counting. One, two…….”
“Uh-oh? That’s invalid! Count again from now!”
I shouted and jumped towards the pirates climbing the ship.
