Chapter 219
219th Episode
Even with the cold question, strangely, I wasn't scared.
I just felt like what was coming had finally arrived.
I didn't avoid Grandfather's gaze and stared straight back.
It was a problem I would have to face sooner or later. It would be better to get it off my chest now.
"It's neither, Grandfather. The reason I'm considering the Devil Subjugation Unit... is because there's someone I want to find."
"Who?"
"My brother."
Grandfather simply looked at me with an indifferent face, not asking for more details.
Seeing his reaction, which clearly indicated he already knew about Yeon-ryang, I calmly continued.
"When I was left alone outside Seongdo... there was a time I almost died."
My memory went back to the day I hid in the ruined shack.
The Wanderer Ju-ryeong had called.
The benefactor who saved me from Qi Deviation.
The strange man who followed me all the way to Mu-han for just two silver coins.
The protector who turned the lakeside upside down for three days and nights to find me after I disappeared into the Secret cave.
The foolish Demonic Cultist who risked his life to accompany me to the Alliance to clear my name.
The more words I used to describe Yeon-ryang, the clearer the conclusion became.
He tried to protect me in every moment.
I should do the same.
When I finished telling the whole story, Grandfather wore an expression that was hard to describe.
After moving his lips for a long time, Grandfather firmly grabbed my shoulders.
"...So-hye. Look at your Grandfather."
"Yes."
"The Devil Subjugation Unit is out of the question."
"I won't do anything dangerous. Just the information from the Devil Subjugation Unit..."
"Joining the Devil Subjugation Unit itself is a dangerous thing."
Grandfather shook his head, cutting me off.
"Everyone knows that you are this old man's disciple. You will become a target for the Demons who hold a grudge against your Grandfather."
"Then please, just let me find my brother, just Yeon-ryang."
"No. With your Martial Prowess now, you'll become a cold corpse before you even find that child. Already... Haa."
I knew what Grandfather swallowed back without having to hear it.
It meant that all I managed to do was cut off Bishop's arm, even risking my life.
But I didn't feel resentful about those words. Because it was the truth.
"I still want to find him."
When I didn't yield, Grandfather softened his voice.
"Baby... I know you won't listen to your Grandfather right now. Your heart must be aching."
"......"
"But because your desperation is blinding you, your Grandfather has no choice but to stop you as your teacher."
"Am I acting so foolishly that you can't bear to watch?"
When I asked quietly, Grandfather chose silence instead of an answer. A bitter smile leaked out at the silent affirmation.
At the same time, the thought that it didn't matter if I was foolish made me realize that I was probably already not in my right mind.
But wouldn't it be better to be foolish than to just wipe the Spirit Tablet of the person who left and make excuses that there was no other way?
Wouldn't a fool be better than a coward who compromised with reality without even trying?
As I clenched my teeth, Grandfather, who had been biting his lip, pleaded.
"Please, baby. Don't make your Grandfather force you..."
That meant he would lock me in the Brain prison if I didn't obey his will.
"Lock me up."
"Baby. Please...!"
"What can I do to go against you, Grandfather? Since you gave it to me, I'll cut my meridians if you tell me to, and I'll destroy my Dantian if you tell me to."
"Why are you saying such harsh things...! That's not what your Grandfather means. You're... you're saying you're going to walk into hell... How, how can I bear to see that...?"
I blinked blankly at the faintly trembling voice.
Grandfather was crying.
Tears were streaming down his face, which was filled with despair.
"Poor thing. Oh, this poor thing... Do you really have to go? Do you really have to do that to resolve your resentment?"
In the end, I drove a stake into Grandfather's heart.
I stabbed his heart with a Throwing Daggers.
My stomach churned with guilt, but I still couldn't change my mind.
I answered.
"I'm sorry... But if I run away like this, I'll only run away until the day I die."
"Baby. This isn't running away. It's just reality..."
"I abandoned my brother using that reality as an excuse, so next time I'll abandon my family, my teacher, and run away."
"Still, no. Your Grandfather can't allow it."
"Please let me go, Grandfather. I'd rather die as a Martial Artist than live running away forever."
Then Grandfather's dark blue eyes shook terribly.
Was it my imagination that Grandfather's shoulders, who had covered his face with both hands without a word, looked as if they would collapse at any moment?
After taking a deep breath for a long time, he listlessly ordered me to leave.
"Go back and rest now. Your Grandfather needs to think, so don't come until I call you."
"......Yes."
I bowed and slowly got up.
\ \ \
Even after Dang So-hye left, Dang Jung didn't move from his seat.
Only after the sunset and darkness fell did he lift his head and rub his stiff eyelids.
'I wish it was revenge...'
How could he deal with a child who spoke of the pride of a Martial Artist and said she would rather choose death?
"Geun-myeong."
"Yes, Elder."
"Send a message to the Devil Subjugation Unit Leader and tell him I want to see him."
"Understood."
Dang Jung, turning his back on Dang Geun-myeong, who was bowing respectfully, put his hand inside his long sleeve.
He couldn't rule out the possibility that the child had been deceived, but it seemed true that the Demon had protected the child for a long time.
However, according to what he heard, the child she called her brother was likely already dead.
Even if he was alive, he was a Demon destined to be sacrificed to the Heavenly Demon, so he wouldn't live long.
Even if he was lucky enough to save him, there was a problem.
Those Demons were not so lenient as to let a traitor live.
They would surely come after him to punish the traitor, and the moment the Demon group appeared in the Central Plains, the Orthodox Faction would also move to find out why the Demonic Sect had appeared.
The moment the Alliance found out that the child had smuggled out a Demonic Cultist, it was obvious what would happen.
Dang Jung had been involved in the Murim Alliance for over a hundred years. He knew the Alliance's methods without even seeing them.
They would pressure the Tang Clan to hand over the suspect, and they would brand those who were close to him as those who had colluded with the Demonic Sect and lock them in the Brain prison.
The isolated child would become an Enemy of the Martial World, chased and chased again, and eventually be trapped in Heaven's net, Earth's web and meet her end.
Dang Jung washed his face with a desolate expression.
He didn't have the courage to tell her the predetermined ending with his own mouth.
He didn't have the courage to watch the child, who had lost hope, break down.
As he moved his steps in anguish, he was already at Dang So-hye's detached house.
Swallowing a sigh, Dang Jung opened the door of the detached house. Songji, who ran out at the sound of the door opening, bowed deeply.
"Is So-hye asleep?"
"Yes. She went to bed early."
Dang Jung, nodding at Songji's answer, quietly entered and opened the door to the bedroom.
Dang So-hye, who was curled up on the bed, was biting her lip.
He could clearly see that the child was pretending to be asleep, but he didn't bother to show it and sat on the bed.
He saw the child's hands, which were torn and tattered.
Swallowing a groan, he took out the Salve. He knew it was useless, but he couldn't leave it alone.
'...So-hye must be the same.'
Sometimes there are things you have to do even if you know they are useless.
Dang Jung silently applied Salve to all ten fingers and wrapped them in cotton cloth.
Dang So-hye also closed her eyes tightly, pretending not to know.
Dang Jung's mouth twisted painfully.
What kind of teacher should he be to his only disciple?
As the night deepened, his worries also deepened.
\ \ \
After the day he came to see me late at night, Grandfather stayed behind closed doors for several days and didn't show his face.
Seeing that he had locked the door so that even Uncle Geun-myeong couldn't enter, it seemed that he was greatly upset.
"He won't even let me bring him meals. Only the smoke from his long pipe keeps rising... Wouldn't it be better for you, So-hye, to go and see him?"
"I want to, but he told me not to come until he calls me."
"Haa... I see. This is a big problem. He's never been like this before..."
Uncle Geun-myeong, who had been depressed, left his seat powerlessly.
I also became depressed.
Because I was the one who had made Grandfather so troubled.
When I thought of Grandfather, who had secretly applied Salve and left, a bitter taste rose from within.
...Should I go even if I get scolded?
"Kit."
As I dropped my head with worry, Ju-ryeong grabbed my sleeve as if asking what I was hesitating about.
"Okay. Let's go."
I was led by the guy to Grandfather's residence. But I couldn't even dare to get close because of the Poison that was felt even from afar.
I could immediately see why Uncle Geun-myeong was worried.
I could feel the unpleasant emotions as much as he was feeling.
As I hesitated and lingered near the entrance, the tightly closed door slid open.
"Come in."
There was no anger in the voice that allowed entry.
As I cautiously entered, I saw Grandfather sitting on a willow tree, puffing on his long pipe.
"Grandfather..."
I called out carefully, but Grandfather didn't answer. I stood respectfully with both hands gathered, waiting for him to open his mouth.
Grandfather, who had put down his long pipe, asked in a monotone voice.
"Do you still have to go?"
"Yes."
"Even if your Grandfather holds you back?"
"Yes."
When I answered without the slightest hesitation, a painful light flashed across Grandfather's face.
But only for a very brief moment, the pain was soon hidden by a blank expression.
"Follow me."
Leaving those short words, he crossed the wall without giving me a chance to answer.
As I followed him and lifted my head, I saw the darkening sky.
Grandfather, who had been going ahead while maintaining a distance that was hard to catch, stopped only after entering an empty space far away from the Tang Clan.
He, who had loosely lowered his sleeves, began to step on his footwork without any explanation.
The Hidden Weapons emitted from each step of the miraculous footwork silently cut through the wind.
The Hidden Weapons scattered in the air became eight, twenty, and forty each time I blinked.
A mysterious Azure flame scattered like flower petals, and I couldn't help but open my mouth at the overwhelming sight of the sky being covered.
The wondrous light that made me feel insignificant captivated my eyes.
A rain of flowers.
A rain of blue flames.
A splendid flame that flaunted its presence and burned the opponent's breath.
Breaking the common sense of Hidden Weapons being emitted secretly, the flames that poured down like a meteor shower with long tails turned into hundreds of Hidden Weapons and plunged down to the earth.
My heart was beating fast from the overwhelming pressure that made it impossible to move even a finger.
The Ultimate move that any Martial Artist of the Tang Clan dreams of.
Myriad Blossoms Falling was unfolding before my eyes.
