Chapter 141
My expression stiffened, and Tang Geunmyeong spoke as though trying to soothe me.
“I know. You don’t want to. But even if you are not returning right away, that does not change the fact that you are still a martial artist of the Tang Clan.”
“...”
“I cannot yield on this point either. Sometimes form matters more than substance. If you insist on roaming the martial world, wear the green robe. The Tang Clan’s name will protect you.”
The Tang Clan’s name would protect me.
It was funny, considering how some people in that family had been itching to tear out my throat. Still, he was right.
The Tang Clan’s poisonous creed—repay a favor twice over and a grudge tenfold—was known throughout the Central Plains. Few people were reckless enough to lay a hand on Tang Clan blood, let alone a direct-line descendant.
The fact that the Clan Head had permitted the green robe also meant that he acknowledged me as Tang Clan blood. With the situation changed, Third Madam would not be able to openly send assassins after me anymore.
If I could not erase the shadow of the family trailing after me like a tag, I was better off using it to my advantage.
I stared hard at the green robe.
“...I’ll wear it.”
“A wise decision.”
At my answer, the corner of Tang Geunmyeong’s mouth lifted slightly before settling again.
“Do not live like a pauper. Do not worry about expenses. Eat expensive meals and stay in expensive places. Bill all of it to the Tang Clan. You have every right.”
“Yes.”
“Give me any letters you intend to send to Un. At least if I bring him letters, I may feel a little less ashamed.”
“I will. When are you returning to Sichuan?”
“That is what I should be asking you. When do you plan to leave Wuhan? I need to see with my own eyes that the Martial Alliance is no longer pursuing you before I can return in peace.”
“I do not want to stay long. I’ll talk it over with Yeon Ryang.”
“Do that. Tell me once you have chosen a destination. I will stay with you until then. Once you decide, I’ll arrange a carriage.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“What are you thanking me for? This is my job. So do not try to handle everything alone. Ask me for help. Please.”
Tang Geunmyeong answered gruffly, then tapped the bowl of porridge.
“Eat before it gets cold. You have lost too much weight. Grandfather would be upset to see you like this.”
His sharp tone did not match the warmth in his eyes, and my heart felt strangely full.
A thought suddenly occurred to me.
Even if every adult in the clan turned their backs on me now that I no longer had Grandfather’s protection, perhaps this man would remain and help me.
“Yes, Uncle.”
I nodded and slowly readjusted my grip on the spoon.
*****
Cane was the one happiest to see the green robe again.
It rolled all over it, reveling in the delicate texture of the silk. Then it wrapped one of the long robe’s sleeves around itself and fell soundly asleep.
The little black sable really could spot something valuable with eerie precision.
After poking sleeping Cane in the cheek, I gathered the medicinal ingredients and left the room. I intended to decoct the dragon bone Master Beopgong had given me in Yeon Ryang’s room.
“Brother, I’m coming in, okay?”
“Yeah. Come in.”
The moment I opened the door, thick steam rolled out in a rush. At the same time, the strong scent of medicinal herbs stung my nose.
I stepped inside slowly and called toward the partition.
“Did you finish your porridge?”
“Of course I did. You must be tired. Why are you here instead of resting?”
“I came to make a decoction with the ingredients I extorted from Master Beopgong.”
“Wow. I’m being spoiled thanks to my sister. At this rate, I’ll drink every decoction I’m meant to have in a lifetime before the year is out.”
Yeon Ryang snickered at his own joke. I set the medicinal ingredients on the table and laughed too.
“Are you dizzy? Your internal energy is depleted, and it has thrown your body badly out of balance. Brother, you really need to rest properly this time.”
“It is not the first time. This much will clear up quickly.”
“It will not clear up quickly. What do you think you are, made of iron? You cannot keep abusing your body like before. I’m the one who ends up suffering.”
At my deliberately stern tone, Yeon Ryang burst out laughing. Water sloshed against the tub.
“Oops. Can’t have my sister suffering. I suppose I should lie still and behave. More importantly, how much longer do I have to stay in this bath?”
“The longer you soak in the Hundred-Herb Bath, the better it works. Do not come out until I finish the decoction. Has the water gone cold? Do you want me to heat it back up?”
“No. It is perfect right now. It was too hot earlier.”
Yeon Ryang declined, waving a hand from beyond the partition.
As I combined the ingredients in the medicine pot, I spoke again.
“You really need to be careful. It is true that you recover better than most people, but that does not mean your injuries vanish without a trace. Unless you somehow undergo a complete physical transformation, cracks will form in the vessel.”
“...”
“Your martial arts are founded on defying heaven. If the vessel breaks, you will collapse before anyone has time to do anything.”
“All right. I’ll be careful.”
“You always say that.”
I shot a glance toward the partition and set the medicine pot on the brazier. Yeon Ryang gave a quiet laugh.
“You know, I think I’m going to send a letter to Your Grace.”
“To Jinling? Anything bound for the Imperial Palace will be inspected thoroughly. Will it even reach Your Grace?”
“I am worried about that too... but Your Grace asked me to send her a travel journal, remember? I should send one at least once.”
“All right. If you want to send one, then let’s do it. Your Grace will be pleased too.”
“Yeah. Once this is done, I need to get brush, ink, and paper. I need to write letters to Brother Un and the girls too. I should thank Sister Chohui as well. She made me new hidden weapons.”
Counting them off on my fingers, I realized there were quite a few people I needed to write to.
“My sister is busy. You really have made a lot of connections.”
“Which brings me to it, Brother. Why don’t we go to Yueyang?”
“Yueyang?”
“Yeah. It is close to here, and I am curious about Dongting Lake too. I want to tell Your Grace what Dongting Lake looks like.”
“Hmm... Things will be unsettled because of the river-bandit suppression...”
After hesitating for a moment, Yeon Ryang answered brightly.
“Then again, that might make it safer. We can go by land. If all those orthodox-faction idiots—no, the Martial Alliance martial artists—are converging there, the rabble will not be able to come anywhere near us. Let’s go.”
I could have sworn he had just called them idiots.
Considering what he had been through, it was not as though he could feel kindly toward orthodox martial artists. I pretended not to have heard it.
“Okay. Oh, Uncle said to let him know once we chose a destination. He said he would arrange a carriage. Should I tell him we are going to Yueyang?”
“That is generous of him. Let’s do that.”
“And Uncle said we can bill the Tang Clan for our travel expenses. From now on, I’m going to take their money and spend it freely. I need to bleed that bastard father of mine dry.”
At my vow, Yeon Ryang made a strangled sound as if trying not to laugh.
“Fine, fine. I will not stop you. Do whatever you want, Sister.”
“Why does that sound like you are making fun of me? Come out now and drink your decoction, Brother. It is ready.”
“...Urgh.”
The moment I mentioned the decoction, Yeon Ryang’s laughter cut off.
“What are you doing? I said come out.”
“...Mm.”
Shaking my head, I began tidying up the medicine pot.
*****
Once our destination was set, Tang Geunmyeong moved quickly.
At dawn the next day, before the sun had even risen, he had an extravagantly ornate carriage waiting outside the inn. It was so large and conspicuous that it made people wonder who on earth could possibly be riding inside.
I turned to Tang Geunmyeong with an awkward smile.
“Uncle, isn’t a four-horse carriage a little excessive for two people? A two-horse carriage should be more than enough.”
“It is far too conspicuous, Elder.”
When Yeon Ryang joined in, Tang Geunmyeong looked over the carriage with a sheepish expression and answered gruffly.
“...I may have overdone it. I’ll exchange it.”
“We probably do not need a driver either, Uncle. It would be a hassle to watch what we say around one. We will drive ourselves.”
“All right.”
A short while later, Tang Geunmyeong returned with a different carriage and loaded the baggage compartment himself. I let out a hollow laugh as sacks of rations kept going in.
He had definitely taken note of Yeon Ryang’s enormous appetite.
Impressed by his thoughtfulness, I wrapped warm Cane around my neck and looked up. The sky was overcast, as though it might snow.
“Master Beopgong said he would be right back, but he still has not come. Are we waiting for him? Shouldn’t we leave before it snows?”
“There he is.”
In answer, Yeon Ryang pointed toward a man staggering toward us from afar. Master Beopgong was approaching, reeking of alcohol.
“Fake monk. Looks like you drank a lot.”
“Ugh, I barely survived.”
Master Beopgong scratched his head furiously, as though telling us not to even ask.
When his eyes met Tang Geunmyeong’s, he cleared his throat and pressed his palms together in a formal greeting. Then he snickered at the sight of me in my green robe.
“Ooh, kid. Now you finally look like a proper young lady from a distinguished clan. Green suits you. A good outfit really does wonders, huh?”
“Right? Unlike me, she actually looks highborn.”
“Stop teasing me, Brother.”
“Teasing? I am saying it because it truly suits you.”
Yeon Ryang shrugged and smiled with satisfaction. Then he patted Master Beopgong on the shoulder as he said goodbye.
“I have seen your face, so we are leaving. Fake monk, if you are still alive, I will see you again.”
“Right. Live a long time, for your sister’s sake. And hey, you know you kept saying you would buy me drinks but never did, right? Next time, you really do buy them.”
“Fine.”
“Take care, kid. I have a feeling we will be seeing °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° a lot of each other from now on.”
“I do not want to see you, Master.”
“Next time, I’ll give you a Minor Restoration Pill.”
“Really? That is a promise. When will I see you? When will the river-bandit suppression end? Should I come to Shaolin?”
“Ha ha ha! Look at this one. You have already built up more than thirty years’ worth of internal energy, and you are still crazy for spiritual medicine.”
Master Beopgong burst out laughing and grinned.
“I said next time, not when. Anyway, get going. Once the snow piles up, the horses will not get far.”
“All right. We’re off.”
Yeon Ryang nodded and climbed onto the driver’s bench. Without thinking much of it, I sat beside him.
Tang Geunmyeong, who had been silently watching, furrowed his brow.
“...I went to the trouble of preparing a carriage. Why are you sitting on the driver’s bench?”
“I cannot sit inside by myself while Brother drives the carriage.”
“Whew... I’ll drive you as far as the outskirts of Wuhan. Get inside the carriage.”
Pressing hard at his temples, Tang Geunmyeong strode up to the driver’s bench and snatched the reins.
Watching his mood, we climbed into the carriage. As soon as we closed the door, I heard Tang Geunmyeong give the horse’s flank a light kick.
“Hyah!”
The carriage began to move at once.
The sight of Master Beopgong waving to us through the window quickly slipped out of view.
Soon, snowflakes began to drift down, and the world gradually darkened.
As I looked out the window, I slowly closed my eyes.
Once again, it was winter.