Chapter 176
176th Episode
I checked the letter again, wondering if Jegal Madam had gone down to Jukhae together, but in context, 'Madam' seemed to refer to Gwisu-sin.
I had never heard that Jegal Madam was well-versed in medicine, and it seemed unlikely that there would be many noble doctors in the Central Plains with a secret cave where they could easily take out precious Elixir as if it were pocket money.
As I thought of Gwisu-sin, it felt like my neck, which had once been pressed down by Ho-taeng, was throbbing. I rubbed my neck and rolled up the letter.
Gwisu-sin, who treated me like a newborn babe and looked down on me. There was no way he would have seen Dang-un any differently.
What on earth happened between the two of them? Uncle Geun-myeong didn't say anything specific...
'That, Woon... It seems that Divine Doctor old man...'
He didn't finish. He was trying to say something?
The image of Uncle Geun-myeong, who was trying to gloss over the words, flashed through my mind, and I felt dizzy. It seemed that he had already sensed something before he came to see me.
I chewed my lips and looked down at Dang-un's letter. Surely the reason why Gwisu-sin was suddenly being called Madam was written inside, but I was too afraid to open it.
He didn't cause an accident, did he?
As I fiddled with the letter with a blank expression, Jin-sung asked worriedly.
"Dang Sojeo. Are you all right? Is it bad news...?"
"I haven't opened it yet, but I don't think I'll be okay."
"Yes?"
"What if Grandfather is so shocked that he falls backward because it's such a serious relationship? What happens to the Tang Clan's family tree if they actually get married? Can the family get even more messed up than it is now? Is it even possible when it's already a mess?"
Jin-sung, who was blinking at my rambling, gently soothed me.
"It would be good to have something warm. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Would you?"
"Yes. I'll prepare it right away."
As Jin-sung, who answered, was putting on the kettle, I made an ugly face and carefully unfolded the letter. My teeth kept chattering with anxiety.
Let's see. The first line is a normal greeting. The second line is also about Jukhae.
The third line is...
Thank goodness. It's about health.
I checked the rest of the contents with a nervous face and put the letter down with relief. There was nothing about Gwisu-sin.
Hey, I must have been mistaken. Kyung-ah must have confused the words. You scared me.
"Here you are."
"Thank you. Disciple."
As I sipped the tea that Jin-sung handed me and stroked my chest, I suddenly felt like I had missed something.
I unfolded Dang-un's letter again and wanted to cry when I found the postscript I hadn't seen.
Seol-yak's messenger hawk is a troublemaker. If he plays a prank, please accept it without getting angry.
Seol-yak?
I'm going crazy. Why is he calling an old elder by name? Gwisu-sin must be older than Grandfather? Is there really something between them?
I pressed down on my throbbing temples and looked at the hawk sprawled on the floor. It seemed that this crazy messenger hawk belonged to Gwisu-sin.
When my expression turned sour, Jin-sung carefully spoke to me.
"If it's difficult for you to write a reply with me here, I'll leave."
"No, Disciple. You can write the reply later. It seems like something happened at home, so I was worried."
I waved my hand and answered, then sighed and neatly arranged the letters.
If I ask if there's something going on with Gwisu-sin...
I can't ask because Woon Oraboni seems like he'll tell me the truth. Let's just pretend I don't know and forget about it.
When I think about it, it's actually good news, even if it's embarrassing for the other person. It means that Dang-un has found a will to live.
If his eyes, which had been waiting for the end of winter and had given up on everything, were filled with life, wouldn't that be enough?
If he has found someone he wants to spend his life with, I should be happy to support him as a brother...
I should... but isn't it too rough of a road? Oraboni.
Jin-sung, who had been silently watching me tear at my hair, quietly refilled my empty teacup as if to calm me down.
As I held the warm teacup and regulated my breathing, Song-hwa's cheerful voice was heard from outside.
"Dang Sojeo! May I come in?"
"Yes, come in."
"The weather is really nice today. If you have time... Ah, Sasukjo was here too. By the way, what's that messenger hawk? Is it dead?"
"No. He'll wake up soon."
"I see."
Song-hwa, who nodded at Jin-sung's answer, looked at me and got to the point.
"Anyway, I came to ask if you'd like to get some fresh air outside. On a day like this, the view from the top of Cheonjubong is spectacular. The flowers are in full bloom, so why don't you take some time out for a picnic?"
"Oh, are you going to show me around? I'd love to. But is it okay for me to go that deep?"
"It's okay as long as you avoid the places where the Sect elders are training. I know the way well. I'll take you on a path where you won't meet anyone. Sasukjo, you're coming with us, right?"
Song-hwa, who smiled, looked at Jin-sung with playful eyes. However, Jin-sung's face was reluctant.
"Let's go together, Jin-sung Disciple. If Disciple is next to me, I'll be less scolded even if I take the wrong path."
When I added jokingly, Jin-sung, who had been hesitating a little, answered.
"I understand. But it's only possible for an hour."
"Hey, an hour is enough. Shall we go now?"
As I jumped up from my seat and pointed outside, Jin-sung also got up.
He's good at it when you ask him to do it.
I chuckled and glanced at Jin-sung, then followed Song-hwa out.
As Song-hwa said, the weather was nice.
The sky was blue without a single cloud, and the mountain peaks, which were always foggy, were clear, and the village below was clearly visible.
The scenery that made my heart feel like it was opening up made me feel like the worries that filled my head were slowly being forgotten.
Song-hwa also seemed a little excited on this particularly sunny day.
"Wow, this is the first time I've seen such a clear day. I expected it to be spectacular, but I didn't know it would be this good. We're lucky."
Song-hwa, who was impressed, clapped her hands and casually spoke to Jin-sung.
"Isn't that right, Sasukjo?"
"...Yes."
"Then I'll step back here, so the two of you..."
"Song-hwa."
Song-hwa, who flinched at the warning call, quickly changed her words.
"It would be nice to have a conversation, but since I brought you here, I should guide you to the end, right? Dang Sojeo, this way... Oh dear."
Song-hwa, who was smiling brightly and looking at the road, scratched her head with a troubled face.
I stretched my neck to see what was going on and frowned.
The stairs leading down were broken in the middle. To get to the intact stairs, you had to go through a steep cliff.
"I'm sorry. Sojeo. I'll guide you to another path..."
"It's okay. I'm good at climbing cliffs."
I shrugged my shoulders and nonchalantly climbed down the cliff and stood on the intact stairs.
Unlike Jin-sung, who landed lightly after me, Song-hwa climbed down the cliff with unsteady movements, taking her time.
Song-hwa, who sat down on the floor and took a rough breath, asked as if she was amazed.
"Dang Sojeo, are you familiar with Byeokho Martial Arts Technique?"
"Yes? Is this a Martial Arts Technique? Grandfather just made me do it every day, so it's ingrained in my body."
Song-hwa made a face as if she understood at my answer.
"You didn't even think it was a Martial Arts Technique, so there was a reason why Dang Sojeo is so extraordinary. What else did you do?"
"I didn't do much. Hiking, climbing cliffs, putting my hands in jars of poisonous insects to practice handling poison, and training to distinguish between plant and mineral poisons by eating them?"
"...Did you happen to hike in the Sichuan area?"
"Maybe? I don't know. I just followed Grandfather without knowing where it was. Oh, I also practiced sewing people's skin from time to time. I'm good at sewing, even if I don't know anything else. It sticks together neatly."
"The Tang Clan's training is... amazing..."
Song-hwa, who muttered, made a face as if she was about to throw up.
"The Rivers and Lakes / Jianghu is wide and full of eccentric people, so the Tang Clan's training is normal, right?"
"It's not normal at all."
"Wudang Taoist priests who wield swords on top of mountains are also far from normal."
"I have nothing to say if you put it that way."
Song-hwa, who scratched her head, chuckled.
While Song-hwa and I were chatting, Jin-sung, who was looking at the sky and checking the time, opened his mouth bluntly.
"An hour has passed. I'll go now."
"Sasukjo. Why don't you stay a little longer?"
When Song-hwa grabbed him with a regretful face, Jin-sung shook his head.
"I can't. Great Sasuk told me to gather at Shinshi."
"Yes? Then you have to go. You can't be late, can you? No, you should have said so from the beginning! Go quickly."
I was startled and hurriedly pushed Jin-sung's back. Jin-sung, who nodded, soon ran down the stairs at a speed that was hard to follow with his eyes.
"Shall we go down too?"
"Yes, Sojeo. But can we rest for a bit?"
"Of course. Catch your breath, Disciple."
I let out a hollow laugh at Song-hwa's exhausted appearance and sat down on the stairs.
Song-hwa, who was wiping her sweaty forehead, cautiously spoke.
"Um, Dang Sojeo. It would be best if you didn't come out of the guest quarters tomorrow. The atmosphere will be a bit chaotic."
"Tomorrow? What's going on?"
"It's Sasuk's death anniversary. We'll be busy with some things, so it'll be difficult for us to come and see you tomorrow."
"Ah... I understand. I will."
I nodded obediently at Song-hwa's serious voice.
I didn't know much, but I thought there must be a story that was difficult to tell to outsiders.
\ \ *
When I returned to the guest quarters, Gwisu-sin's messenger hawk was awake.
As soon as he saw me, he flapped his wings and rushed at me,
"Kyack!"
He was hit by Ju-ryeong and sulked in the corner.
"Ju-ryeong. Do you know him?"
"Kiee."
Ju-ryeong, who nodded, proudly puffed out her chest. It seemed like she wanted to say that she was higher in the hierarchy.
Well, both of them have been touched by Gwisu-sin.
"He understands what I'm saying, right? I'll write you a letter tomorrow. Stay overnight."
I roughly told him and washed my face and lay down on the bed.
As if it had never been clear, the evening air felt heavy, and it started raining late at night.
The raindrops that tapped on the roof quickly turned into a downpour.
Rumble, crash!
The thunder and lightning were so loud that Ju-ryeong, who was startled, jumped and hugged me.
I covered my ears at the sound of the rain pouring down as if the sky was falling and wriggled into the blanket for a moment, then rubbed my eyelids and got up at the feeling outside.
Someone was standing in front of the guest quarters, getting rained on.
Who is it?
I put on my coat and went out to check over the fence, then paused and gasped.
Madam Ma was standing blankly in the pouring rain.
