Chapter 136: The Reclaimed Green Robe
We had done nothing but drink tea without much conversation, yet an hour passed in the blink of an eye.
Ak Jibaek watched with a satisfied expression as I cleared away the spent tea leaves.
“You make tea quite well. It has been a while since I had such a decent cup.”
“I am glad it suited your taste.”
“Ahahaha. You even speak just like your brother. I should be going now, so stay here for a moment. That Wudang fellow who brought you will come fetch you.”
With a booming laugh, Ak Jibaek rose to his feet. I gave him a small nod and a light bow.
The moment he left and the door shut behind him, all the strength drained from me, and a sigh slipped out. I slid down in my chair and tipped my head back.
Whew. He was terrifying. A wild beast would have been gentler.
Considering that he had brought up Tang Un to ease the tension, he probably had not even been trying to pressure me. Yet my palms were soaked with sweat.
It seemed the presence of a supreme master was not something easily concealed.
After meeting the Ghost-Hand Divine Therapist and the Spear King, I understood anew just how dearly Grandfather had cherished me.
Thinking back, aside from the first time I had fainted, I could not remember ever being startled by Grandfather’s presence.
Even taking into account the Tang Clan martial arts’ emphasis on concealing one’s presence in order to secretly release poison and hidden weapons, that had been impossible without the care and consideration of the person himself.
“I miss Grandfather...”
I muttered the words and rubbed at the stinging tip of my nose.
Just then, the firmly closed door opened.
“Young Lady Tang. Are you all right?”
It was Jinseong.
Jinseong entered with a stiff expression, then froze when he saw the state of the room. His lips parted slightly.
“You... drank tea?”
“Yes. Division Leader Ak offered it first.”
“...Ah. I see.”
Why was he so surprised? Was I not supposed to drink it?
For a moment, I wondered whether something had been done to the tea set. But if there had been poison in it, there was no way I would not have noticed.
The tea had tasted excellent, too. Ak Jibaek had seemed pleased and had kept emptying the pot.
Just in case, I touched the damp spent leaves. They were clean.
Well, even if they had not been, it probably would not have mattered.
Wiping my fingertips, I cautiously spoke.
“Um, Yeon Ryang...”
“Master Beopgong went in with him. We will escort him outside shortly.”
Jinseong cut me off, then gave a small shake of his head as if telling me not to ask anything more. It seemed there were ears nearby.
I hoped nothing had gone wrong.
I nodded and rose from my chair. Jinseong took out a blindfold and carefully covered my eyes before asking,
“Would you like to visit the Black Moon Unit? Captain Peng asked that you come by.”
“Now? Is it not too late to impose on her?”
“I saw Captain Peng just before coming here. She is preparing food that you might be able to eat.”
“What? Food for me?”
“Yes. She said you had probably skipped dinner and went to the kitchen herself.”
A meal, out of nowhere.
It was an unexpected offer, but refusing the kindness of someone who had prepared something for me this late at night did not seem polite.
“Ah... in that case, I should go.”
I took hold of Jinseong’s shoulder and began climbing the stairs.
*****
As befitted the heart of the orthodox martial world, the Martial Alliance main headquarters was enormous.
There were so many buildings that even I, who had grown accustomed to the Tang estate, felt dizzy just looking around.
I tried to memorize the route in case I ever needed to, but it was not easy. The passages were tangled like a maze. Unless someone knew the place well, escaping would not be simple.
When I walked slowly and glanced about, Jinseong frowned and urged me onward.
“Young Lady Tang. You should refrain from behavior that may be misconstrued.”
That ghostly Taoist bastard. He noticed right away.
“What did I do? I did not do anything.”
“...Yes. This way.”
When I played innocent, Jinseong swallowed a sigh and pointed toward a brightly lit building.
Captain Peng stood in front of it in comfortable clothes. The moment her eyes met mine, she waved.
“Oh, kid! Come on in!”
“Hello, Captain Peng.”
“You must have had a hard time getting here. Oh, have you grown a little already?”
“Ahaha, have I?”
“A little? Your baby fat has gone down, and your face is slimmer, too. You did well, you know. I thought they would catch you right away, but you slipped away from them again and again. You surprised me. Not bad at all. Ah, we should not be standing here. Come in, come in!”
Captain Peng approached in a friendly manner, laughing as she patted my back.
Her hand was so heavy that my eyes nearly watered.
Ow. That hurt.
I forced the corners of my mouth up and followed her inside.
A light meal had been laid out on the table in the reception room. Captain Peng came over first, pulled out a chair for me, and patted its backrest as though urging me to sit.
“Fill your stomach first. You were too nervous to eat anything, right? It is not as if Division Leader Ak is delicate enough to make sure you get your meals.”
“Ahaha... I am, um, fine right now.”
“I am not fine. Eat.”
At Captain Peng’s firm reply, I awkwardly sat down before the meal.
There was no way food would go down easily when I did not know whether Yeon Ryang was alive or dead. Still, since she had prepared it for me, I felt I should at least make the effort.
When I picked up my chopsticks, Captain Peng puffed out her cheeks and grumbled.
“The Grand Clan Head scolded us so badly for sending you off like that... He said we had to scrub you clean and polish you up before the Poison King found out, then put you right back in the Tang Clan.”
As though that could hide everything that had happened.
Still, Peng Rak’s concern was welcome.
People were worrying about Grandfather’s temper and looking after me because of it.
Even though I was apart from him, his name remained at my side, protecting me and making me feel secure.
I pressed down the warm, prickling feeling in my chest and answered Captain Peng.
“I am sorry for asking so much of you that day. How have you been?”
“Zhuge Hyogang chewed me out a little, but he is always foul-tempered, so I do not care. Thanks to that, I got some leave and rested well.”
Captain Peng snorted softly, sat across from me, and crossed her legs.
While we spoke, Jinseong brought out the tea set and sat beside Captain Peng to prepare tea.
Captain Peng accepted the teacup Jinseong offered and opened her mouth.
“I heard the circumstances from Taoist Jinseong. That wandering martial artist is your blood brother, right?”
“...What?”
“I thought it was strange that you were traveling with a wandering martial artist who had no ties to you, but once I heard that, I understood. If I were you, I would have gone to rely on blood family, too. The world is dangerous.”
Startled, I looked at Jinseong, but he did not return my gaze.
He simply sat there with a blank expression, holding his teacup as though he knew nothing.
I stared at him blankly.
Did Master Beopgong tell her? Why did he go out of his way to make excuses for me?
“Ah, yes... Then does Division Leader Ak know as well?”
“Of course. The report went to him first. But is your brother close with Beopgong? It was quite a sight, watching Beopgong kick up a fuss about going into the interrogation room with him.”
“...”
“He threw himself onto the floor, asking whether they planned to threaten a half-wit with not a scrap of internal energy. Tsk. When is that man ever going to grow up? I have known that fake monk since he was ten, and he has not changed at all.”
Captain Peng’s face filled with exasperation.
Apparently, Beopgong’s reputation within the Martial Alliance was not much different. When I gave an awkward smile, Captain Peng looked at me with concern.
“You really cannot eat at all. Division Leader Ak’s presence does have a way of shrinking people. Still, eat a little. Food is what keeps you standing. You have to take care of your own body.”
Clicking her tongue, she pushed a bowl of warm broth toward me. I slowly took hold of my spoon.
The news Captain Peng had given me eased my heart somewhat.
Master Beopgong was protecting Yeon Ryang, and Jinseong had even quietly spoken in his favor.
As long as Yeon Ryang did not show anything suspicious, he ought to make it through the Alliance’s scrutiny safely.
When my expression relaxed, Captain Peng grinned, then clapped her hands as though she had nearly forgotten something.
“Ah! The Grand Clan Head told me to give you some spending money when I saw you. Hold on. Where did I put my money pouch?”
“Really? Thank you in advance.”
The moment she began searching through her sleeves, I immediately held out my hand. Captain Peng burst into laughter.
“Haha, you are not even going to pretend to refuse? Well, you do not turn down what an elder gives you.”
“Now that I have come out into the world, I have learned how important money is.”
“See? This is why children need to get out of the house. I should raise the little ones in my clan to be strong like you. Here. Spend it carefully.”
Amused by my reaction, she placed two silver ingots in my palm.
“Thank you. I will use them well!”
When I beamed and put away the silver ingots, Captain Peng chuckled.
“You have no idea how much the Grand Clan Head talked about you. He said that if his son had been a hundred years younger, he would have made you his daughter-in-law.”
I will pass. More importantly, was not his son dead? The current Clan Head should be his great-grandson.
I had no idea what to say to that, but considering that Peng Rak’s determination to find himself a daughter-in-law had helped save my life, I let it slide.
I hurriedly put on my practiced professional smile.
“I am grateful that Elder Peng thinks so highly of me. But the Tang Clan only accepts husbands who marry into the clan.”
“Ah, I did not think of that.”
Captain Peng scratched her cheek as though the thought had slipped her mind. Then she shrugged.
“They are all dead. What does it matter? In any case, it is good to see you again.”
“Me too. Let us have a drink together sometime when we have the chance, Older Sister.”
Captain Peng blinked at my response, then burst out laughing.
“Bwahaha, Older Sister? You have some nerve. Fine. Come visit Hebei sometime. The Grand Clan Head would love that.”
“All right. I will come with Grandfather someday. You two seemed close.”
“Did we? I do not think we were that close. I heard the Poison King has no friends because his personality is no joke. He said he only keeps him company because he is so old that there is no one else left to play with.”
“...Haha. I see.”
It was difficult to respond to that, so I gave a strained laugh.
Grandfather’s personality certainly was not ordinary, but that seemed excessive. They had been together ever since their younger-generation days.
Anyone who saw the two of them emptying liquor jars and passing drinks back and forth would never think they were anything less than close friends.
Just then, someone shouted and flung open the door to the reception room.
“Captain Peng!”
Startled by the sharp voice, I turned around.
A man stood there, furious.
“What is the meaning of this? If you took the child away, you should have said so!”
The man strode inside, protesting roughly. He was a martial artist dressed in a green robe.
Seeing the familiar face, my eyes widened.
“Uncle Geunmyeong?”