Chapter 142: The Road to Dongting Lake
33. The Road to Dongting Lake
Tang Geunmyeong did not leave even after we had traveled far beyond Wuhan.
Only after passing three snow-covered forks in the road did he finally stop the carriage and offer a worried warning.
“This snow does not look like it will let up soon. Stay the night at the first inn you see along the way. It is not normal for this area to get so much snow... It seems this winter is especially cold.”
“Yes, Uncle. Do not worry.”
“Take care of yourselves. Seeing that the Martial Alliance assigned someone to follow you, I cannot help feeling uneasy. It is probably only to verify matters, but the very act of verifying them is unpleasant.”
“Wait, you knew someone was following us?”
Master Beopgong had said they would attach someone, so I had expected it, but I had not sensed anyone.
When I asked in surprise, Tang Geunmyeong glared at me and flicked my forehead.
“Look at you. You knew too, yet you did not tell me? How am I supposed not to worry when you do things like this?”
“Ow. That hurt, Uncle.”
I whimpered and lowered my eyes.
Even at my exaggerated complaint, Tang Geunmyeong’s expression did not ease. He looked as though he were boiling with anger as he spoke.
“They withdrew half an hour ago, so it is fine. Even if they assign another tail, they can only watch your movements. They will not dare harm you, so there is no need to be afraid. The Tang Clan will send a formal letter of protest over this matter.”
“A letter of protest?”
“Of course we should protest. Handing over a direct-line descendant’s safety is no different from conceding a point to the Martial Alliance. Yet even after they concluded their investigation and found no grounds for suspicion, they assign someone to follow you? Is that not the same as saying they intend to force a crime onto you even where none exists?”
He spoke while forcibly swallowing his anger. The cold gleam in his eyes was enough to make even me flinch.
“Will the Clan Head allow a protest? I do not think he cares whether I am threatened or not.”
“No. The Clan Head weighs gains and losses thoroughly. If he can use you as a card to demand something from the Martial Alliance, he will not hesitate. In fact, he may step in personally to wring out even more.”
Tang Geunmyeong shook his head as he answered.
In that moment, I realized something I had overlooked.
To escape the threat of the family, I needed to become a card they could use.
There had only been one reason Tang Muheok had abandoned me despite knowing it would incur Tang Jung’s anger.
I had held no value to exploit.
Then all I had to do was become someone worth exploiting. Whether he liked it or not, I had to give Tang Muheok a reason he could not avoid protecting me.
...Wow. I really had been stupid. I should have understood this before I was thrown out.
“Uncle, what would I have to do in the Central Plains to become a card the Clan Head could use?”
“Why ask that? What are you planning to do?”
“My one and only father only treats me as his daughter when he needs me. So I should play along.”
I clenched my fists and smiled with my teeth bared.
Tang Geunmyeong muttered,
“...Now that I look at you, even your smile is exactly like Grandfather’s.”
He looked at me with an odd expression for a moment before speaking slowly.
“From what I saw at the Martial Alliance, you are already doing well enough... Keep associating with people from the orthodox factions. It would be even better if they are promising young talents with a sobriquet or if their sect treasures them.”
“You mean I should build relationships and flaunt them?”
“Yes. Your father is pathologically obsessed with outside opinions. The only reason I was able to come was because Master Beopgong sent a letter. A disciple of the Shaolin abbot had come forward to protect you, so even if he disliked it, he had to send an observer.”
Oh. I owed Master Beopgong drinks too. I had wondered why he had sent word around, but he had created a situation where the Tang Clan had no choice but to act.
As I nodded, impressed by Master Beopgong’s political maneuvering—no, his worldly wisdom—Tang Geunmyeong continued.
“Your brothers never step outside the walls of the Tang estate. Hwayeop is the only one who interacts with people from other clans, and even he is limited to forces within Sichuan. There is little real benefit to the family in that. The sects at the heart of the Central Plains are the ones that move the Martial Alliance, are they not?”
“That is true.”
“If you build connections with people from sects that form the backbone of the orthodox factions, the Tang Clan will try to use you as a link. If you were even to become betrothed to a promising young talent, they would welcome it wholeheartedly. ...I am not telling you to get engaged, so stop looking at me like that.”
“I thought the same thing and quietly prepared for an engagement, only for all this to happen. What are you even saying?”
“I only meant it as an example. And the son of a small trading company is not comparable to a marriage prospect like the Sword Immortal’s disciple—”
“Uncle!”
I shouted in disbelief, but Tang Geunmyeong answered without even blinking.
“I did not say anything wrong. He is an orphan, intelligent, and has spent his whole life in Taoist sects, so he is unlikely to cause needless trouble. He would make the perfect live-in son-in-law. Plenty of Taoists return to secular life when they marry. More than anything, he seemed to have feelings for you.”
“That is rude to the person involved. I am going to pretend I did not hear any of that. What other options are there?”
I shook my head with a serious expression. Tang Geunmyeong shrugged.
“Make use of the fact that you are Grandfather’s direct disciple.”
“Using Grandfather’s name feels a little... Would that not attract pests?”
“You need to use those pests. When people line up to use you to establish a connection to Grandfather, hand them over to the Clan Head. He will know how to extract value from them.”
“Hmm...”
I let out a low sound and scratched my head.
Not everyone thought well of Grandfather. Ghost-Hand Divine Therapist, for one, had warned me that I could die because of my master.
Putting forward the fact that I was the Poison King’s disciple could become a move that backfired on me.
As I hesitated, Yeon Ryang, who had been listening quietly, spoke.
“Neither of those sounds like a good method. A card that Sohae does not hold the advantage over is meaningless. Especially if it means standing behind someone else’s name.”
“That is all my limited knowledge can offer, but I would like to hear your wise counsel as well.”
At Tang Geunmyeong’s blunt reply, Yeon Ryang rubbed his chin and smiled sharply.
“The martial world follows the rule of the strong. She only needs to make a name for herself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Elder, are you not saying that Sohae is the only direct-line member of the Tang Clan currently in the Central Plains? Then she only needs to stand out the most. Surely no one foolish enough to let a child who has made a name in the martial world die would be sitting as Clan Head. If someone like that is sitting there, then the Tang Clan is already doomed.”
Tang Geunmyeong’s brow twitched at the cutting mockery, but he did not interrupt Yeon Ryang.
“If she gains even a single sobriquet, there will be no need to consider an engagement at all. Sohae’s existence itself will become a benefit to the family. Telling a child to make herself useful through an engagement she does not even want... You really will say anything.”
...I think he was a little annoyed because Uncle’s example had been Jinseong.
Tang Geunmyeong cleared his throat and looked at Yeon Ryang before speaking as though in self-defense.
“Do not be angry. I only chose what seemed like the most realistic method. If the child can stand on her own two feet, that would be a good way as well.”
“I will make sure she can.”
Yeon Ryang’s attitude was as cold as the wind. I quickly smiled and cut in.
“Uncle, I do not cry anymore just because I fell off a cliff like before. I can catch ten fish at a time with copper coins now. Children grow up fast.”
“...Yes. They do. Grandfather will be proud of you.”
Tang Geunmyeong smiled awkwardly, grunted, and reached into his sleeve.
“Forget what I said. Your ambition to deal with the Clan Head directly is admirable, but... do not take on anything too reckless. Please take good care of her.”
“Do not worry, Elder.”
“I should be going. I will send word the moment there is news of Grandfather, so stay in contact.”
“Yes, Uncle. I will see you again.”
Even after I said goodbye, he seemed unable to leave with peace of mind.
“If the Martial Alliance threatens you in any way, threaten to cut off their supply of Ten-Thousand-Soul Ruin.”
“Yes.”
“Do you remember the locations of the safe houses? Are you sure I do not need to write them down?”
“Of course. I memorized them all.”
“Good. All right.”
Tang Geunmyeong swallowed a sigh and gave Yeon Ryang a respectful clasped-fist salute. Then he vanished like smoke.
He moved so quickly that my eyes could barely follow him.
After watching the direction in which he disappeared, we climbed back into the carriage.
Just as Tang Geunmyeong had said, the snow showed no sign of stopping. It only grew heavier.
Yeon Ryang looked a little tired as he held the reins. Was it because his internal energy had not returned yet? Ever since leaving the Martial Alliance, he had looked exhausted.
Once we reached an inn, I needed to brew the century-old fleeceflower root for him first.
I put down the map in my hands and held out a hand to Yeon Ryang.
“Brother, I’ll drive. You get some sleep.”
“You want to? Let’s see how well my sister handles horses.”
Yeon Ryang snickered and handed me the reins. I took them, cleared my throat, and tried to drive the carriage.
“Hyah!”
But the horses headed in a completely different direction from what I intended. When they wandered off the road beyond my control, my voice rose on its own.
“Hey! Hey, hey! Come back! I said come back! Why are you going wherever you want? Not that way! Hey, hey!”
“...Just give them to me. Your brother will do it.”
Yeon Ryang clicked his tongue and held out a hand. Feeling somehow wounded in my pride, I glared at the back of the horses’ heads.
Then Cane, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly let out a sharp cry.
“SKREE!”
The horses jolted, returned to the road, and began walking straight ahead.
Yeon Ryang and I both stared at Cane with wide eyes.
“Cane, you really are a spiritual creature. You are earning your keep.”
“Kyii.”
At my praise, Cane stretched itself tall with pride. Holding the reins loosely, I started driving the carriage with a far calmer heart.
About fifteen minutes passed when Yeon Ryang poked me repeatedly.
“Sohae. There is someone over there.”
“Where?”
I turned toward where Yeon Ryang was pointing and saw a white lump beside the road.
Looking more closely, I realized someone had collapsed there. A fair amount of snow had accumulated over the body, as though the person had been lying there for quite some time.
“Whoa, whoa!”
Startled, I hurriedly stopped the carriage and jumped down.
“Excuse me. Are you all right?”
As I rushed over to the fallen person, Yeon Ryang shouted in alarm.
“Sohae, you do not even know who that is. You cannot just run straight up to someone like that!”
“If they are hurt, we should help them. Excuse me? Are you conscious?”
“Mm...”
At my call, the fallen person let out a faint groan. I carefully brushed away the snow and examined the body.
Despite having lain by the road for so long, the person’s body temperature was normal. There were no visible wounds, and the pulse was steady as well.
“Your pulse is fine.”
“...Hungry.”
“What? You can talk just fine. You are not hurt. You scared me.”
I rose in relief, but the person urgently grabbed the hem of my trousers.
“Do not go! F-food, please...!”
“What did you say?”
“Give me food... I am too hungry to move.”
For a moment, I could not think of anything to say in response to the absurd request.
What is wrong with this guy?
Frowning, I exchanged a look with Yeon Ryang.