Chapter 135
135
My eyes widened on their own. After blinking blankly, I carefully asked.
“Jinseong disciple? Does that mean, perhaps……”
“I don’t know anything. Miss. It would be best to discuss this with Beopgong Daesa.”
Jin-sung, who was sparing with his words, bowed his head and walked away from us.
I exchanged glances with Yeon-ryang and mouthed.
“Did I understand correctly? What Jin-sung disciple said, it means he’ll turn a blind eye to Brother’s situation, right?”
“……Uh, yeah. I think so.”
Yeon-ryang also looked bewildered. We stood there for a long time with puzzled expressions.
\ \ *
I didn’t know what kind of conversation took place between Beopgong and Jin-sung.
But seeing Beopgong’s face, smooth without any worries, I felt relieved.
At least it seemed like things wouldn’t get any worse.
Since Jin-sung had prevented the situation where he would directly report Yeon-ryang’s identity, if luck was on our side, we might be able to safely escape from the Alliance.
We prepared to enter the main base of the Alliance at the entrance of Mu Han.
Yeon-ryang and Jin-sung didn’t exchange words, but it was visible that they were being careful not to bump into each other.
While everyone was nervous, only Beopgong was excited enough to hum.
“Hey, pull your arms back more.”
“Tie it gently. It hurts.”
“Stop exaggerating. Do you think we can deceive others by tying it loosely? We have to tie it properly.”
Beopgong’s face was full of joy as he chuckled and tightly bound Yeon-ryang with the Jiaolong Rope.
“Hehehe, this is fun.”
“……Crazy bastard. Is tying people up fun?”
“When else would I get to tie you up like this?”
“I’m an idiot for trusting a crazy monk like you……”
A sense of self-disgust appeared on Yeon-ryang’s face as he lowered his head.
I, who was watching the two with pitiful eyes, also held out my wrist to Jin-sung.
Jin-sung, who was looking down at me, reluctantly took out the Jiaolong Rope from his pocket.
He frowned deeply and carefully gathered and tied my wrists together.
His hand gestures were so clumsy that the loosely tied knot came undone as soon as I lightly applied force.
“Disciple. It’s undone.”
“……I will tie it again.”
Jin-sung, who answered calmly, picked up the Jiaolong Rope that had fallen on the floor.
After pondering for a moment, Jin-sung tied his left hand and my right hand to each end of the Jiaolong Rope, connecting them.
“Will this be alright?”
It’s not like tying up a criminal, but more like a child leash to prevent getting lost.
It looked somewhat strange, but I didn’t want to say anything because Jin-sung seemed reluctant to tie it. I nodded obediently.
“If it’s comfortable for you, Disciple.”
“Yes. It is comfortable.”
Jin-sung, who answered, stretched out the Jiaolong Rope.
As I smacked my lips and turned around, I saw Beopgong holding a medicine bottle to Yeon-ryang’s mouth.
“Hey. Eat this.”
“What is this?”
“Medicine used during interrogations in the Alliance. The kid should know what it is, right? The Tang Clan makes this.”
“Is it Ten Thousand Soul Coins?”
“That’s right. You have to empty the whole bottle to hide even the Demonic Energy. You’ll be an ordinary citizen for about half a month, but you have to endure that much.”
Yeon-ryang’s expression became complicated when he saw the powder filled in the bottle.
“I had to take Poison anyway……”
“Just eat it. Brother. I’ll make an antidote later.”
“That’s so touchingly grateful.”
Yeon-ryang smiled weakly, closed his eyes tightly, and opened his mouth. I was dumbfounded by Beopgong’s way of pouring the Poison powder thoughtlessly, but it was too late to stop him.
……Who uses Mountain Air Poison like that? I’m going crazy.
“You’ll choke. Brother. Drink some water.”
I took out a canteen and held it to Yeon-ryang’s mouth, who was coughing.
It was late at night when we stepped into the Murim Alliance headquarters.
It seemed like the two had deliberately avoided times when there were many people, as the surroundings were quiet.
However, there were Martial Artist guards standing watch at each building, and braziers were placed everywhere, making it as bright as daytime.
“Be careful with your words from here on out. Don’t say anything.”
Beopgong, who warned bluntly, held the rope that bound Yeon-ryang tightly in his hand and began to walk ahead. He stopped in front of a particularly dark building.
Exterminate Demons Unit.
The faded sign hanging on the building gave off an eerie atmosphere. Perhaps it was just my imagination, but it seemed like I could faintly smell blood.
“Beopgong Daesa.”
The guard Martial Artist who recognized Beopgong put his hands together. Beopgong also respectfully put his hands together and stated his business.
“I informed Ak Unit Leader in advance. I have brought those who will be investigated.”
“Yes. You may enter.”
The guard Martial Artist, who nodded lightly, opened the door. As I showed signs of nervousness due to the ominous atmosphere, Jin-sung carefully moved closer to me.
“Nothing will happen.”
His whisper snapped me out of it. I had done nothing wrong, so I shouldn’t show a timid appearance.
I straightened my back and put strength in my eyes. Jin-sung, who saw the changed gaze, also seemed relieved and relaxed his expression.
“Jin-sung disciple.”
“Yes.”
Beopgong, who was more polite than usual, called Jin-sung respectfully, and Jin-sung, who nodded, guided me into the building.
It seemed that Beopgong and Yeon-ryang were moving separately, as they did not follow.
The interior of the building was empty, with only basic furniture.
Jin-sung, who passed the reception room, entered a small room, opened a closet, and then pressed something.
Creak! Clang!
Then the wall moved and a small doorway appeared.
It was a door leading to the basement.
A chilly wind blew through the opened doorway.
The ominous shape, as if one could not come out once inside, made my heart pound.
I slowly took a deep breath and looked at Jin-sung. He untied the Jiaolong Rope from my wrist connected to his, and then took out a black cloth with an apologetic face.
“The structure of the interrogation room cannot be exposed to outsiders…… Please excuse me for a moment. Miss.”
“Yes.”
Jin-sung, who lowered his upper body, tightly covered my eyes. He put my right hand on his shoulder and slowly began to descend the stairs.
“The stairs are high. Please be careful.”
His worried remark made me laugh involuntarily. Jin-sung seemed to have completely forgotten that I was a Martial Artist.
He took me to a small room, sat me on a chair, and then removed the blindfold.
“Please wait here for a moment. The Exterminate Demons Unit Leader will be here soon.”
Jin-sung gave me a faint smile as if trying to reassure me. But his face was full of tension.
“Thank you. Disciple.”
“I will be leaving now.”
“Yes.”
Jin-sung, who bowed his head lightly, turned his back.
I could hear Beopgong’s voice as if he was arguing with someone outside. But when Jin-sung closed the door, all sounds disappeared.
The room, surrounded by thick walls without a single window, had only a small brazier burning.
The floor was wet and smelled musty. Terrifying torture tools were hanging in a row on the stone walls.
It seemed like they were trying to amplify the anxiety by confining me in a dark and humid place.
Because the more anxious I became, the greater the effect of the interrogation would be.
I tried to calm my mind and straightened my posture. I didn’t want to show a weak side.
After about an hour, I heard someone approaching from afar. He didn’t even seem to be trying to hide his footsteps.
I bit the soft flesh inside my mouth and stared at the tightly closed door.
Soon the door opened.
“Dang So-hye. Is that right?”
A Martial Artist who called me in a rough voice strode in. A huge axe was hanging on his back.
I was naturally intimidated by the aura he exuded. I tried not to be afraid and looked straight at the Martial Artist.
Judging from the circumstances, this person must be Chang Wang Ak Ji-baek.
“Yes.”
“The interrogation is half an hour.”
Ak Ji-baek, who spat out coldly, lit incense and stuck it in the incense burner on the table. The end of the incense burned, and thin smoke rose.
Even though I knew that the smoke would not affect me, I felt thirsty due to the oppressive atmosphere.
Ak Ji-baek, who sat heavily on the chair opposite me, placed an iron pot on the brazier.
I swallowed hard and looked up at Ak Ji-baek. He was looking at me from side to side with an expression that was impossible to read.
The strange silence was broken as the iron pot began to boil.
The iron pot, which was spewing out so much steam that it was unsettling, made a chilling sound as if it would explode at any moment.
Ak Ji-baek, who glanced at the loudly boiling iron pot, rested his chin on his hand and opened his mouth.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“……Pardon?”
When I asked back, thinking I had misheard, Ak Ji-baek replied indifferently.
“I thought you might have skipped dinner. You have to eat well at your age to grow big. Your brother was small, but I don’t think he was as small as you, you’re unusually small.”
“……?”
Ak Ji-baek chuckled at my bewildered face.
“Relax. I never thought you were a spy for the Demonic Sect. If you were a spy, the Alliance wouldn’t need to do anything. Your teacher would tear you apart. That old man wouldn’t stay still.”
I was momentarily speechless at his confident words.
……Grandfather, how on earth have you lived your life?
At the same time as I became curious about Dang Jung’s reputation in the Jianghu, my rapidly beating heart returned to its original speed.
If what Ak Ji-baek said was true, there would be no problem with my safety. All that was left was for Yeon-ryang to get out safely.
Beopgong Monk will somehow take care of Yeon-ryang. Let’s believe it.
As I swallowed hard and clenched my fist, Ak Ji-baek moved the boiling Teapot onto the table and said.
“It’s a formal interrogation, so just kill time and leave. What kind of tea do you like? It’s been a long time since you left Sichuan, so should I give you Mengding Tea? Ah, brew it yourself. If I brew it, it tastes like trash.”
I was so burdened by his unusually kind attitude that I couldn’t open my mouth. As I awkwardly rolled my eyes, Ak Ji-baek smacked his lips.
“Was I being too much? I have a favor to ask from your brother, that’s why. Woon was so worried that that guy would treat you harshly…… Anyway, are you going to drink tea?”
“Yes. If you take it out, I’ll brew it.”
“Alright.”
Ak Ji-baek, who nodded, took out tea utensils and a tea leaf container from somewhere.
When I smelled the savory aroma of the well-dried tea leaves, the corners of my mouth naturally went up. I was reminded of my Grandfather, who enjoyed tea while sitting in the tea room.
As I slowly poured water into the tea utensils to warm them, Ak Ji-baek looked at me with curious eyes.
“As expected, blood cannot be deceived.”
“Pardon?”
“The way you handle the tea utensils is the same as your brother’s. Is it natural since you grew up together? The Dangs, I mean.”
“Me?”
“You’re talking nonsense. Who else is here besides you? Of course, I’m talking about you.”
Ak Ji-baek, who chuckled, tapped the teacup as if telling me to pour the tea.
I smiled awkwardly and poured tea into his teacup.
His reaction, which was convinced that I was a member of the Tang Clan, evoked strange emotions.
I don’t have any affection for the family.
When I opened my eyes, it was the Tang Clan, so I naturally relied on them.
I learned the Tang Clan’s martial arts because I depended on my Grandfather, but I never felt a sense of belonging or pride in the name of the Tang Clan.
Because I was just a stranger.
But when I came out of the family, everyone thought of me as a Tang Clan person.
Meeting people who read the Tang Clan from my martial arts, temperament, and trivial habits was a very strange feeling.
The name of the family, which had unknowingly permeated my life, was now becoming my roots, so dense that they could not be cut off.
I looked down at the calluses embedded in each of my finger joints and slyly hid my hands inside the sleeves of my Long robe.
……Perhaps, I may never be able to return to the life I had before falling into the Central Plains.
