Chapter 73
Chapter 73
The Tang Clan's landscape, shrouded in darkness, was familiar yet foreign. The manor, devoid of any light, was eerily silent.
This must mean they wanted me to leave quietly, without causing a stir, like a mouse or a bird.
Over the past year or so, the faces of those I had grown fond of flashed through my mind. Songji, Kyung-ah, Deokju, Uncle Geun-myeong, and Woon, my brother.
And…….
The image of my grandfather in the Closed Training Cave flickered before my eyes. I didn't regret letting Dang Jung in, but my heart ached with worry that he might blame himself once he learned the full story.
I rubbed my stinging nose and looked up at the sky.
Hwahong was right. The moment to assume a new identity had arrived.
Where should I go? Where can I go to survive?
Moon Scent Pavilion was out of the question. Being in the heart of Chengdu, my path would be easily exposed. They would come after me and kill me before Hwahong could even help, then try to disguise it as an accident.
But aimlessly wandering into the mountains was not an option either, as I didn't know the way. I didn't want to be attacked while foolishly getting lost.
As I racked my brain, clenching and unclenching my fists, someone roughly pulled me.
“What are you doing standing around like an idiot? You need to leave right now. Come with me.”
It was Dang Juhee.
“Sister? Why……?”
Dang Juhee pressed her finger firmly against my lips and shook her head.
“First. Don't ask anything. I won't answer any questions. Second. Woon was the one who helped you, and I'm only here because he asked me to. His eyes are…… not doing so well. Third. I didn't poison your fiancé. I don't poison ordinary people. They'd die before I could even detoxify them.”
“……I know, Sister.”
“Grateful, aren't you? If you are, let me poison you next time.”
No thanks.
Dang Juhee, who nonchalantly promised a future encounter, started walking ahead. She navigated the darkness without losing her way.
Dang Juhee's usual attitude brought me back to my senses. I shook my head vigorously. This was no time to be sentimental. As she said, I had to leave immediately.
Opening the side gate that connected the inner and outer walls in a straight line, I saw Dang-un standing before a narrow path leading out of the fortress. He was with a sturdy-looking horse.
“Woon, Brother? Why are you out here when you're not feeling well?”
“How could I just lie down when things are like this? So-hye. Come closer, will you?”
Dang-un smiled gently and reached out to me. Hesitantly, I approached, and his large hand pulled me into an embrace.
I buried my face in Dang-un's arms. The scent of orchids mixed with medicinal herbs tickled my nose.
“You've suffered a lot. You've lost so much weight.”
I had only been in the prison for one night, so it was impossible for me to have lost weight. But I didn't dislike Dang-un's fussing.
Not everyone was my enemy. At least Dang-un was looking out for me.
Dang-un stroked my hair and said,
“Father disowning you was to protect you. He couldn't give you a severe punishment for being falsely accused, and if he handed you over to the Gu Clan, you would suffer terribly. He thought it best for you to leave until things calmed down.”
There was no way Dang Mu-hyeok would have thought that much about me. But Dang-un's comforting words helped me understand the situation objectively.
Gu Gyeong-cheon's death had not only put me in a difficult position. The Tang Clan's attempt to recruit the Yuju Merchant Guild using me as bait had also become problematic.
“Just hold on a little while outside. You'll be able to return soon.”
“Brother. There's no time for small talk.”
Dang Juhee, who coldly cut him off, pulled me away from Dang-un. She quickly explained.
“The leather pouch attached to the horse's waist is extra food. I packed Grain-avoidance pill and dried rations for ten days. The other bundle contains fire starters, some Poison, and Hidden Weapons.”
“What kind of Poison?”
“I put in all the highly toxic Poisons from the Poison King Hall that wouldn't be missed. I also swiped some extra Hidden Weapons from Cho-hee's quarters. Pay me back later. The silk pouch contains silver, so don't lose it.”
She was saying that she had stolen Poison from the Poison King Hall and Hidden Weapons from the smithy for me.
Contrary to her excuse that she was only here because Dang-un asked her to, Dang Juhee was doing her best to help me.
I was sincerely grateful to Dang Juhee.
“Thank you, Sister.”
“If you're grateful, let me poison you next time.”
“Thank you for granting this difficult request, Juhee.”
“If it's for Brother's sake, I could even assassinate the emperor of Jinling with Poison.”
“……There's no need to go that far. Here, So-hye. Take this.”
Dang-un, who smoothly changed the subject, also handed me something.
“This Flying Dagger was made by my mother when I was young. It will be difficult to find Hidden Weapons outside, so it would be good for So-hye to take it.”
“That's meteor iron. Don't lose it.”
“This is my identity plaque. I have no reason to go outside the Tang Clan, so take it with you. There will come a time when you need to prove that you are a direct descendant of the Tang Clan. And this is…….”
“Bone-melting Powder. Brother. We need to send her off before it gets any later.”
Dang Juhee, who urged him on, took off an earring from her ear.
“Wear this.”
I blinked. The coiled snake-shaped jade earring was Dang Juhee's most prized possession.
“That's your favorite, Sister.”
“I'm afraid I'll have nightmares if you die. Use it as a last resort. Who knows? Maybe my earring will save your life.”
“Don't assume I'm going to die, please.”
“If you're ever in a situation where you can't create distance from the enemy, turn the snake's head. Poison smoke will leak out and buy you some time. Now, stop talking and go.”
Dang Juhee, who had finished explaining, put the earring on my ear. Nodding, I looked at Dang-un.
“What happened to Deokju?”
“He was imprisoned, but the Black Cloud Lord is keeping an eye on him. He'll be released soon.”
“That's a relief. I hope he can return to the Black Cloud Troop this time. Brother. Can I ask you to take care of Songji and Kyung-ah?”
“Of course. Your brother will take good care of them, so don't worry. So-hye's safety is the priority.”
“Ju-ryeong too. He likes jerky. Please give him a piece whenever you think of him.”
“Kyaang!”
At that moment, a ball of fur poked its head out of the pouch attached to the horse's saddle, along with a whimper.
“Ju-ryeong?”
“Your ferret has been in the pouch since I was packing. He seems to be enjoying it.”
Dang Juhee shrugged. I pulled Ju-ryeong out of the pouch.
“Ju-ryeong. You stay in the Tang Clan. You won't be able to eat meat if you go with me.”
“Kiee!”
Ju-ryeong, struggling as if he didn't want to, easily climbed onto the horse and went back into the jerky pouch.
“Take him with you. Ju-ryeong will be lonely without you too.”
Dang-un gently advised. Hesitating, I stroked the pouch that Ju-ryeong had entered.
For Ju-ryeong's sake, it was right to leave him in the Tang Clan. But I didn't want to.
At least with Ju-ryeong……. I felt like I would be less lonely.
I knew it was selfish, but that's how it was.
I grabbed the horse's mane and put my foot in the stirrup. As I awkwardly climbed onto the horse, my thighs trembled.
Dang Juhee made a look of disdain.
“Didn't you learn how to ride a horse? You look pathetic.”
“It's because I never had a reason to ride one.”
“Excuses. Spread your legs a little more. Straighten your back more. Who taught you so poorly?”
“Grandfather taught me.”
“…….”
Dang Juhee, who was scolding me, shut her mouth. If she said any more, she would be Betraying the Teacher and Destroying the Ancestors.
She changed the subject as if nothing had happened.
“You know why I gave you the Bone-melting Powder without me having to say it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Don't be merciful. Erase your tracks cleanly. You'll be tracked.”
“What kind of tracking?”
“An son died, do you think the Yuju Merchant Guild will stay still? Since you've been disowned, they don't need to worry about the Tang Clan. They'll hire Wanderer or something to kill you.”
Dang Juhee replied as if it were obvious. Sweat gathered on the hand holding the reins.
It wasn't just the culprit who killed Gu Gyeong-cheon who was after me. The Gu Clan's people would also be after me.
Perhaps the situation was much more dangerous than I thought.
“Go to the southern docks and take a ship to Nangjung. Not the docks outside the city gates. The servants will see you boarding the ship.”
“I understand.”
“Once you arrive in Nangjung, go straight to Chongqing. If you move quickly, you'll be able to shake off the pursuit.”
Dang Juhee, who had calmly explained, gestured towards Dang-un as if telling me to say goodbye.
I managed to utter a single word.
“Brother. I'm leaving.”
I deliberately didn't say goodbye. I was afraid it would really be the last time.
Dang-un smiled and waved his hand.
“Feel free to send word whenever you can. The two characters 'safe' will be enough.”
Dang-un seemed confident that I would survive. Or perhaps he was verbalizing his wish to pray for my safety.
I took a deep breath and kicked the horse's side. The horse, snorting, soon plunged into the darkness.
\ \ *
It was a pitch-black night without even moonlight.
I had been riding for over an hour, but the docks were nowhere in sight.
My body, not used to riding, was screaming in pain. My chafed thighs stung, and my back, which had been stiffly supporting me to maintain balance, was throbbing.
My heart was pounding with anxiety.
How much further to the docks? Would I be able to arrive before I fell off the horse?
Judging by the trembling of my legs, I wouldn't be able to last more than an hour at most, no, half an hour.
I had to get to the docks as soon as possible.
Just as I was about to urge the horse on, estimating the remaining distance, I heard the sound of hooves in the distance.
Cold sweat ran down my back. If pursuers had already caught up, there was no way to escape.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart felt like it was about to jump out of my throat.
Was it a traveler passing by chance? Or an assassin aiming for me?
The sound of hooves grew closer and closer, approaching right beside me. I glared into the darkness, gripping the Flying Dagger in reverse.
