Part 1

Chapter 12. Request

Inside the old thatched hut. People dressed in fine clothes, ill-matched to the shabby surroundings, remained silent. They were Tang Min, Tang So-hwa, Tang Hak, and deputy leader Tang Jin-hu.

So-hwa’s gaze rested on the wooden box placed in the center of the room. Inside were five pills of the precious medicine known as Yeonju pills.

Yeonju pills must be crafted with careful attention to the patient’s condition to ensure effectiveness. Yet, the old physician had still prepared it for them, assuring that they would aid in major injuries—accelerating recovery and preventing tissue necrosis.

That wasn’t all the old physician had given. Outside the door were the Yeonju Group’s medical texts and medical tools personally developed by the Divine Physician.

Gifts were received along with the request to take care of Jeom-chil. It was too generous to take for just one child.

Even so, they couldn’t easily bring themselves to leave.

The deputy leader’s gaze turned to the open doorway. Meeting Yun-jin’s eyes, he turned to Tang Min with a grim expression.

“It seems we’re surrounded.”

Tang Min tapped the floor with the flying dagger he had been toying with.

“Who are they?”

“They don’t seem to be martial artists from Sichuan. Looks like they came from elsewhere in search of the Divine Physician.”

“I don’t know about ‘divine,’ but their skills seem certain.”

Tang Min spoke with a hint of a smirk.

“There’s a strong smell of blood from that hut, but no scent of corpses. Looks like he managed to save all those bleeding men.”

At those words, the deputy leader held back a sigh and glanced at So-hwa and Tang Hak’s expressions. Tang Hak looked tense, while So-hwa was expressionless, making it hard to read her thoughts.

The deputy leader turned back to Tang Min and calmly relayed what Yun-jin had reported before they entered the room.

“There are a little over a hundred of them. They’re splitting up to look for the formation’s entrance. We don’t know when they might come in.”

“If that many have gathered, they’ll find a gap soon. They’ll probably come in before the night is over.”

“Should we reveal our identities? We don’t know who they are, but they can’t be bold enough to provoke the Tang Clan of Sichuan.”

At the deputy leader’s words, Tang Min leisurely looked around the room. He tapped the floor with the flying dagger and said,

“Two children, one old man, ten martial artists.”

Tang Min chuckled.

“If they really have a hundred, wouldn’t they think it’s worth a shot?”

It wasn’t a question—it was a certainty.

“Seeing how those nearly dead guys crawled here looking for the Divine Physician, and how these people chased them all the way here, it doesn’t seem like a grudge they’ll let go of easily.”

Tang Min lightly tapped So-hwa’s shoulder, who had been staring at the floor—prompting her to focus. Only then did So-hwa raise her head.

Tang Min spoke again to the deputy leader.

“Seems like that old physician understands the situation, too. That’s probably why he handed us everything he had, just to save that child Jeom-chil.”

“Yes. That seems to be the case.”

Tang Min tapped the floor with his flying dagger for a while, lost in thought, before letting out a sigh.

“Let’s take the child—Jeom-chil or Jeom-pal or whatever—and head down. It doesn’t seem like it’s our business to get involved.”

So-hwa couldn’t react to those words.

Because her question remained unanswered.

If the Yeonju Group were annihilated today, then Yeon-ah would have died too—so how did Namgung Hyun manage to take her?

No, from the start… did Namgung Hyun even come in here at all?

At that moment, a thread unraveled in her mind.

“Wait a moment!”

So-hwa grabbed Tang Min’s sleeve as he tried to rise.

“Grand Elder, we must save the Yeonju Group.”

Just as Tang Min was about to snap, thinking it was nonsense, So-hwa spoke again.

“If we leave now, we’re doing Namgung a favor.”

Hearing Namgung’s name, whom he loathed, Tang Min exploded.

“What the hell are you bringing up those bastards for now?”

His anger immediately shifted from So-hwa to Namgung. So-hwa continued calmly.

“Namgung also knows the location of the Yeonju Group. They’re on their way here now.”

“What? How would you know that?”

There was no way Yeon-ah would have followed Namgung Hyun down here just out of infatuation.

So-hwa felt she now understood what kind of favor Yeon-ah had received from Namgung Hyun. Perhaps it was Namgung Hyun who had found Yeon-ah amidst the destroyed Yeonju Group.

At first, she thought the ones surrounding the group from outside were Namgung Hyun and his lackeys. But Yeon-ah would never harbor feelings for someone who had massacred people she considered family.

On the other hand, if Yeon-ah had been saved by Namgung Hyun, her actions in her previous life made complete sense.

However, there was one problem.

Namgung Hyun had talent as a martial artist, but he was still young. He was a year younger than So-hwa—sixteen now. At this age, he wouldn’t yet have the ability to take on over a hundred martial artists alone.

If someone could rescue Yeon-ah even while facing more than a hundred assassins…

So-hwa clenched her fingers into a fist.

If her guess was correct, this wasn’t just a matter of saving Yeon-ah.

Just then, the impatient Tang Min slammed the floor.

“Ah, did you eat honey or something! Aren’t you going to tell us how you know?”

Only then did So-hwa speak again.

“… Namgung Jin is currently in Sichuan.”

“What?”

“A few days ago, during the festival, Hak-ah took the twins into town. They went out with the Umyun Merchant Group, and it seems Namgung Jin, who visited the group at the time, helped Hak-ah.”

At those words, both Tang Min and the deputy leader turned their gaze to Tang Hak. His face had gone pale, and he gave a shaky, awkward smile.

“Is that true?”

After some hesitation, Tang Hak nodded.

“This! This weakling took the children out?! Do you have any idea how many lunatics are roaming out there?”

As Tang Min reached to grab Tang Hak by the collar, So-hwa leapt forward to block him. She quickly spoke, catching Tang Min’s attention.

“Why do you think Namgung Jin visited the Umyun Merchant Group? There shouldn’t be any medicinal ingredients the Young Lord couldn’t acquire—so why come all the way to Sichuan to meet a medicine dealer?”

“… Are you saying the Young Lord is searching for the Yeonju Group?”

Tang So-hwa nodded.

“That’s what I believe. I took a quick look at the materials spread out on the bench earlier, and many of them would be hard to come by on Emei Mountain. There was even a Seven-Step Viper venom. That means the Yeonju Group has its own supply channels for medicinal ingredients. If Namgung Jin discovered the group’s supplier, it would only be a matter of time before he finds this place too.”

She hesitated a little before continuing.

“But there’s something that doesn’t add up.”

Her voice lacked confidence.

“I’m not certain, but it’s been five days since Hak-ah met the Namgung Young Lord. If they moved quickly, they should’ve arrived by now.”

“You’re saying there’s a reason for the delay.”

“Yes. If they were waiting for someone’s permission, that might have caused a delay.”

“You mean the Murim Alliance?”

At Tang Min’s sharp voice, So-hwa nodded.

Namgung Jin belonged to the Murim Alliance’s Anhui branch. If he had come to Sichuan on alliance matters, he would’ve reported to the Anhui branch leader, and waiting for a response could take time.

But if they had come here to carry out the Murim Alliance’s mission, there was a major problem.

Tang Hak cautiously broke the silence with his voice.

“But… Father didn’t seem to know anything about this. Why would the Anhui branch send a force without giving any notice to the Sichuan branch?”

Exactly. That was the problem.

The Head of the Murim Alliance’s Sichuan branch was none other than the Clan Head of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the Dark King, Tang Ji-ha. He didn’t seem to be aware of the Yeonju Group’s true identity—nor did he appear to know that Namgung Jin had arrived in Sichuan.

Of course, it was possible he hadn’t said anything because he didn’t feel the need to inform the clan, but that didn’t quite line up, since he had allowed his children to head toward the Yeonju Group.

A cold chuckle escaped from Tang Min.

“If what you’re saying is true, then it looks like Namgung is harboring vile intentions.”

So-hwa nodded.

“Yes. That’s why I hesitate to leave.”

So-hwa looked quietly at Tang Min.

Silence fell over the room.

Everyone now understood Namgung’s actions.

Namgung had concealed what was happening in Sichuan from the Sichuan branch.

They must have judged that the matter they were tracking was related to the Tang Clan.

Either they were planning to frame the clan for something—

Or they were afraid the Tang Clan would interfere and so kept their mouths shut.

Either way, it was a deeply offensive act.

So-hwa searched her memories from her past life.

At this time, the Tang Clan had never been criticized or suspected by the Murim Alliance.

Many years later, a group pretending to be the Tang Clan would go on to slaughter an entire village with poison, causing the Murim Alliance to expel them, but that was a matter for decades into the future. It was still far off.

So, at this point, they weren’t trying to frame the clan.

‘… What in the world are they thinking?’

At this point, it was clear that So-hwa had to stay, not just to rescue Yeon-ah but to uncover the truth. She needed to figure out the identities of the people stationed outside and learn about the Anhui branch’s mission.

The deputy leader spoke in a heavy voice.

“Yun-jin has requested support from the main family, so they will probably arrive around Maoshi (5 to 7 AM).”

“Maoshi…”

Tang Min let out a long breath and scratched his head.

“For now, I’ll assess the situation and follow after. Deputy leader, take the children and head down the mountain first. Tell Yun-jin to find a path down.”

Just as the deputy leader was about to reply, So-hwa interrupted.

“Grand Elder, I have an idea.”

So-hwa, who had opened her mouth, froze for a moment.

A sweet fragrance wafted in from outside. It was a pleasant, refreshing scent that seemed like peaches or pears.

Her head turned toward the door.

The shadow of a person, divided by the doorframe, fell into the room.

Without saying a word, So-hwa stood up and stepped outside. She saw the last glimmer of light fading from the sky as it was swallowed by the darkness.

Under the twilight, between the walls, a young girl was catching her breath.

“Ha.”

The silhouette of Yeon-ah, backlit and appearing black, spoke in a voice as dark as her figure.

“I won’t go! So, don’t worry about what the Senior said.”

Yeon-a spoke those words and then sealed her lips. She began to move her lips as if to say something else.

It seemed she had something else to say, but after waiting for some time, no words came from her.

Eventually, So-hwa, tired of the silence, spoke first.

“Do you know why the physician wants to send you?”

Yeon-ah responded with silence. She seemed to understand the situation.

Well, that was why they had welcomed her in when she mentioned they were from the Tang Clan of Sichuan.

So-hwa stared at Yeon-ah, her gaze lingering. For some reason, someone else seemed to overlap with her.

‘… Did I look like this?’

Had she, too, been looking at someone with eyes that appeared strong, but were desperate to rely on others?

So-hwa was consumed by an uncomfortable feeling. To break the silence, she asked in a deliberately cold voice.

“Then why aren’t you leaving? Do you intend to die with the physician instead of surviving alone?”

Yeon-ah didn’t answer.

In spite of being terrified, she stayed silent, unwilling to face her true feelings.

***

Jeom-chil couldn’t say a word.

She wanted to ask for help; she needed to, but her mouth wouldn’t move.

She hated this hesitation.

Yet, the lingering attachment that prevented her from giving up and turning back was even more terrible.

She couldn’t understand why she had to be in such turmoil, why she had to feel this miserable.

Countless people had come to seek out the Yeonju Group.

Among them were the sick, those hoping for better health, those who came to take something, and those who came bearing gifts to repay a debt.

The Yeonju Group, which had once been vast enough to embrace even a lake, was now a small village with only five thatched huts.

Over the course of several decades, many had come to harm them.

… It felt unfair.

Physician Jin-cheol was truly a good person.

Physician Han Jin, Physician Gil Won, all of them were good people.

They saved many lives, but in exchange, many of the physicians had died.

Yet the Yeonju Group did not refuse those who came seeking them.

She couldn’t say their choice was wrong.

Ironically, the fact that the physicians who hadn’t learned martial arts had lived in the mountains for decades was evidence that there had been people who fought to protect them.

Even now, those staying in the thatched huts were the same.

To them, Jin-cheol was a benefactor, just as they were a benefactor to him. That was why Jin-cheol couldn’t leave them behind. But he couldn’t sacrifice the young Jeom-chil. So, he gathered all of his precious belongings and handed them over to the Tang Clan.

The child had come to kneel and beg for help, but instead, she felt her insides grow hot.

The sense of helplessness mixed with deep injustice was something she couldn’t contain.

This mountain had been visited by countless martial artists.

It was also the Emei Mountain, located in Sichuan.

***

Part 2

It was impossible not to know about the Tang Clan of Sichuan.

In the girl’s eyes was the image of someone her age, whom she was meeting for the first time. Tragically, this moment might also be their last.

The life of the girl she met now was completely different from her own.

What could a young lady of a prestigious clan, who had lived peacefully behind solid gates, possibly understand?

There was no way she could understand the heart of the Yeonju Group, who, despite not sharing a single drop of blood, risked their lives to save others. Nor could she comprehend this feeling of wanting to die alongside her benefactor, even if it meant losing her own life.

That was why she didn’t have the confidence to ask her to risk her life with her.

The red light shed before the sun disappeared settled upon the thatched roof.

Soaked in the sunset, the young lady of the noble clan looked at her with calm eyes. She was only standing a handspan higher, but her gaze—accustomed to looking down on others—showed no wavering.

Jeom-chil closed her hand into a fist.

What was so different that they, who came asking for help, could go back with both hands full of gifts, while she had to beg them with empty hands?

The child felt not helplessness, but something closer to hollowness. It was a sense of deprivation.

Jeom-chil hesitated at the unpleasant feeling she was experiencing for the first time.

It wasn’t a matter of pride. She could kneel and beg for help if she had to. But the thought of even Grandfather Jin-cheol’s heart being treated like a handout made her feel bitter. That was why she couldn’t easily open her mouth.

Then, suddenly, the noble young lady lowered her gaze. Her eyes settled on Jeom-chil’s hand.

Following that gaze, Jeom-chil glanced down and quickly hid the worn sword behind her back. It had been a gift from a wandering swordsman last year who’d taken note of her potential. For a fourteen-year-old girl whose grip was still untrained, it was too large. Even so, she had never let go of it. It was a precious possession.

The noble young lady’s gaze seemed to mock her—Are you cherishing that worthless thing?—and Jeom-chil instinctively hid the sword.

Only then did the young lady’s gaze slowly rise again.

A strange person.

She looked to be around the same age, and yet the way her eyes met hers felt like that of an adult.

A disquieting gaze that seemed to see right through her, even without a single word exchanged.

It made her want to say something—anything—to break that train of thought.

To spout nonsense, to ramble aimlessly, and then, maybe, to plead for help.

Jeom-chil barely managed to suppress the urge to blurt everything out. She clenched her jaw so hard her cheeks began to ache.

At that moment, a calm voice brushed her ear.

“Then why aren’t you leaving? Do you intend to die with the physician instead of surviving alone?”

A wrinkle formed between Jeom-chil’s brows.

The naturally polite tone sounded incredibly awkward to her ears, but Jeom-chil couldn’t bring herself to interrupt the noble young lady.

The girl continued to gaze at her with a calm look.

And then, a strange sentence pierced her eardrums.

“I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but turning away from your pain isn’t easy for me.”

The corners of the girl’s lips gently lifted.

“I’ll protect the Yeonju Group, so don’t worry, and go pack your things first. We’ll be coming down the mountain together soon.”

With that, the noble girl turned and went back into the thatched hut. From beyond the closed door came a disgruntled voice.

“… I’m the one doing the fighting, so why are you the one acting like the hero?”

“If I end up reducing more of them than you, Grand Elder, may I claim the credit?”

“Oh, so you know how to bluff, too?”

“It’s not a bluff. The good idea I mentioned earlier…”

Her words trailed off as if something had silenced her.

Silence stretched on for quite a while.

Even after the sunset had faded, Jeom-chil couldn’t bring herself to move from where she stood.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep