Chapter 136
136th Episode
- The Recovered Green Robe
They only drank tea without much conversation, but half an hour passed in an instant.
Ak Ji-baek, watching me clear away the tea leaves, had a satisfied expression.
"Your tea-brewing skills are quite good. It's been a while since I've had such a decent cup of tea."
"I'm glad to hear it suits your taste."
"Aha ha, you even speak just like my older brother. I'll be going now, so stay here for a bit. The Wudang fellow who brought you will come to pick you up."
Ak Ji-baek burst into a hearty laugh and stood up. I gave him a nod and bowed lightly.
The moment Ak Ji-baek left and closed the door, my energy drained away, and a sigh escaped my lips. I slid down the chair and leaned my head back.
Ugh, that was intense. He's like a wild beast.
Considering he was trying to ease my tension by bringing up Dang-un, he probably wasn't even trying to pressure me, but my palms were still sweating.
It seemed the aura of an Absolute Master couldn't be easily concealed.
After meeting Gwisu-sin and Chang Wang, I realized anew how much Grandfather cherished me.
Looking back, I didn't remember ever being startled by Grandfather's Qi, except for the first time I fainted.
Even considering the nature of martial arts that conceal one's presence to secretly unleash poison and Hidden Weapons, it wouldn't have been possible without the other party's delicate consideration.
...I miss Grandfather.
I mumbled, rubbing the tip of my tingling nose. Just then, the tightly closed door opened.
"Dang Sojeo. Are you alright?"
It was Jin-sung.
Jin-sung, who entered with a stiff face, was surprised by the sight of the room and opened his mouth slightly.
"You... drank tea?"
"Yes. The Clan Leader offered it first."
"...Ah. Is that so."
Why is he surprised? Was I not supposed to drink it?
I wondered if he had tampered with the tea set, but I would have known if there was poison.
The tea also tasted excellent. Ak Ji-baek seemed satisfied and kept emptying the teapot.
Just in case, I touched the remaining tea leaves, but they were clean. Well, even if they weren't clean, it wouldn't have mattered.
I wiped my fingertips and cautiously opened my mouth.
"Um, Yeon-ryang..."
"Beopgong Daesa went in with him. I will escort him outside."
Jin-sung cut me off and shook his head slightly, as if telling me not to ask any more questions. It seemed to mean that there were ears listening.
I hope nothing's wrong.
I nodded, and Jin-sung took out an eye cover and carefully covered my eyes, asking.
"If you're alright with it, would you like to go to the Ink Moon Squad? Paengrak Daeju asked you to stop by."
"Now? Isn't it too late to be imposing?"
"I met Paengrak Daeju a little while ago. He is preparing food that Sojeo can eat."
"Huh? For me to eat?"
"Yes. He said you must have skipped your meal and went to the kitchen himself."
Food out of the blue. It was a bewildering story, but it didn't seem polite to refuse the sincerity prepared for me this late at night.
"Ah... In that case, I should go."
I answered, grabbed Jin-sung's shoulder, and started climbing the stairs.
\ \ *
As the heart of the Orthodox Faction Martial Arts World, the Murim Alliance headquarters was incredibly large and vast. There were so many buildings that even I, who was used to the Tang Clan's estate, was overwhelmed.
I tried to memorize the path in case of an emergency, but it wasn't as easy as I thought. The entrances were intertwined like a maze, making it difficult to escape unless you were an insider.
As I walked slowly, glancing around, Jin-sung urged me with a displeased expression.
"Dang Sojeo. It would be best to refrain from actions that could be misunderstood."
This ghostly Taoist. He noticed right away.
"What? I didn't do anything."
"...Yes. It's that way."
Jin-sung, who swallowed a sigh as I feigned ignorance, pointed to a brightly lit building.
Paengrak, dressed comfortably, was standing in front of the building. Paengrak, who met my eyes, waved his hand.
"Oh, little one! Come on in!"
"Hello. Paengrak Daeju."
"You've had a hard time coming here. Oh, it seems you've grown a bit taller?"
"Ahaha, is that so?"
"A bit? Have you lost your baby fat? Your face has become slimmer too. You're skilled. I thought you'd be caught quickly, but I was surprised at how well you escaped. Not bad. Ah, we shouldn't be doing this standing here. Come in, come in!"
Paengrak, who approached me with friendly words, patted my back and laughed. His hand was so strong that tears welled up in my eyes.
Ugh. That hurts.
I forced a smile and followed him into the building.
A light meal was set on the table in the reception room. Paengrak, who first pulled out a chair, tapped the back of the chair as if telling me to sit down quickly.
"Fill your stomach first. You must have been too nervous to eat anything, right? Ak Danju isn't a meticulous person who would take care of your meals."
"Ahaha... I'm, I'm alright now."
"I'm not alright. Eat."
At Paengrak's firm reply, I awkwardly sat in front of the table.
There was no way I could eat when I didn't know if Yeon-ryang was alive or dead, but I felt like I had to pretend to eat since he had prepared it with sincerity.
As I picked up the chopsticks, Paengrak puffed out his cheeks and grumbled.
"The Supreme Clan Leader scolded me so much for sending you like that... He was worried that I had to clean you up and put you back in the Tang Clan before the Poison King found out."
I don't think that would hide what happened.
A hollow laugh escaped me, but I was pleased with Paengrak's concern.
People were worrying about Grandfather's temper and taking care of my well-being.
Even though I was separated from Grandfather, his name stayed by my side, protecting me firmly.
I pressed down on my tingling heart and responded to Paengrak's words.
"I'm sorry for asking for too much that day. How have you been?"
"I got a bit of a scolding from Jegal Hyo-gang, but he's always had a bad temper, so I don't care. Thanks to you, I got a vacation and rested well."
Paengrak, who chuckled, sat in front of me and crossed his legs.
Meanwhile, Jin-sung, who had taken out a tea set, sat next to Paengrak and started brewing tea.
Paengrak, who received the teacup Jin-sung handed him, opened his mouth.
"I heard the circumstances from Jin-sung Dojang. That Wanderer is your biological older brother, right?"
"...Yes?"
"I thought it was a bit strange that you were traveling with a Wanderer who had no connection to you, but I understood when I heard that. If I were you, I would have gone to rely on my blood relatives. The world is a harsh place."
I looked at Jin-sung in bewilderment, but he didn't look at me.
He was just holding the teacup with a blank face, as if he didn't know anything.
I stared blankly at Jin-sung.
Did Beopgong Monk tell him? Why did he bother to make excuses for me?
"Ah, yes... Does, does Ak Danju know about this too?"
"Of course, the report went to him first. But is your older brother close to Beopgong? It was quite a sight to see Beopgong stubbornly insisting on going into the interrogation room with him."
"..."
"He lay down on the floor, saying, 'Are you going to intimidate a cripple with no Inner Energy?' Tsk tsk, I wonder when that guy will grow up. I've known that Monk since he was ten years old, and he hasn't changed."
A look of exasperation appeared on Paengrak's face.
Beopgong's reputation didn't seem to be much different within the Murim Alliance. As I smiled awkwardly, Paengrak looked at me with worried eyes.
"You're not eating at all. Ak Danju's aura does make people feel intimidated. But still, eat something. Eating is what matters. You have to take care of your own body."
He clicked his tongue and pushed the warm soup towards me. I slowly took the spoon in my hand.
I felt a little relieved by the news Paengrak told me.
Beopgong was protecting him, and Jin-sung was subtly dropping favorable words.
As long as Yeon-ryang didn't show any strange signs, he should be able to safely escape the Alliance's suspicion.
As my expression relaxed, Paengrak, who raised the corners of his mouth, clapped his hands as if he had almost forgotten.
"Ah! The Supreme Clan Leader told me to give you some pocket money if I saw you. Wait a moment. Where did I put my money pouch?"
"Really? Thank you in advance."
As I quickly held out my hand to Paengrak, who was rummaging through his sleeves, he burst into laughter.
"Haha, you're not even pretending to decline? Well, you shouldn't decline what an elder gives you."
"I realized that money is important when I came out into the world."
"Wow, this is why kids need to come out of the house. I need to raise the little ones in our family as strongly as you. Here you go. Spend it wisely."
He seemed amused by my reaction and placed two Silver Ingots on my palm.
"Thank you. I'll use it well!"
As I smiled brightly and took the Silver Ingots, Paengrak chuckled.
"You have no idea how much the Supreme Clan Leader talked about you. He said he would have taken you as his daughter-in-law if his son was a hundred years younger."
I decline. Besides, his son is dead. The current Patriarch must be his great-grandson, right?
I didn't know what this was about, but I thought I could easily brush it off since I thought I had saved my life thanks to Paengrak's daughter-in-law mantra.
I quickly pulled out a social smile.
"I'm grateful that Paeng Elder thought so highly of me. But the Tang Clan only takes in sons-in-law."
"Ah, I didn't think of that?"
Paengrak scratched his cheek as if he had forgotten. Then, he shrugged his shoulders.
"What does it matter since they're all dead anyway? Anyway, it's nice to see you again."
"Me too. Let's have a drink sometime later if we have time. Sister."
Paengrak, who blinked at my answer, burst into laughter.
"Euhaha, sister? You're quite sociable. Alright. Come visit Habuk. The Supreme Clan Leader will be pleased."
"Yes. I'll go with Grandfather later. The two of you seem to get along well."
"Really? I don't think they're that close? I heard that the Poison King Elder's personality isn't ordinary, so he doesn't have any friends. He said he has no choice but to hang out with him since he's old and has no one to play with."
"...Haha, ha. I see."
I awkwardly agreed to the words that were difficult to answer.
It's true that Grandfather's personality isn't ordinary, but they get along too well for that. They've been together since their Rising Star days.
No one would think that the two people who were emptying the liquor jars and exchanging drinks weren't close friends.
Just then, someone shouted and burst open the door of the reception room.
"Paengrak Daeju!"
Startled by the sharp voice, I turned around and saw a man who was very angry.
"What is the meaning of this! If you take a child away, you should at least say something!"
The man who was protesting roughly and striding in was a Martial Artist wearing a Green Robe.
I widened my eyes at the familiar face.
"Geun-myeong Uncle?"
