Chapter 173: Chapter 173
“Even though the Imperial Army has practically occupied the place, is it fine to walk around so openly like this?”
Jang Geon stroked Seo-ha’s hair while keeping his eyes on Dark Dragon Agent No. 3. She answered with her smiling face intact.
“It’s not as though we can freely wander around inside the Murim Alliance as we please. We made our own agreement with their secret line. It’s just that wherever the Imperial Army is, we are permitted to be there as well.”
“Then is that guy here as well, by any chance?”
“That guy?”
Puzzled by Jang Geon’s question, she soon nodded as if realizing who he was talking about.
“No, No. 7 is currently out near the streets of New Sichuan. He seems to want to leave New Sichuan altogether, but since we are severely short-staffed around here, I kept him attached. Shall I tell him you’re looking for him?”
“I wonder if that guy would come out just because I’m looking for him.”
“What choice would he have? It’s an order from me, his superior.”
Jang Geon chuckled softly at her somewhat playful words. The guy the two were speaking of was Yang Goeng, and certainly, given his personality, if he felt he couldn’t avoid it, he would appear bowing and scraping with a genial, sycophantic smile.
Her eyes turned to Seo-ha, who was held tightly in Jang Geon’s arms.
“Your disciple is very lovely.”
At those words, Seo-ha peeked her head up and looked at her.
“…You are pretty too, Sister.”
Saying so, Seo-ha raised her wrist and showed it to Jang Geon. A small flower bracelet woven from flowers and stems dangled from her wrist.
“That sister made it for me.”
“Is that so? She made it well.”
Answering with a smiling face, Jang Geon turned his gaze back to No. 3 and spoke.
“I will drop by the fabric shop before long. Together with Seo-ha.”
“I will always be there during the day. Come whenever it is convenient. And…”
She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her waist deep with a stiffened face.
“…This incident was a blunder on the part of our Dark Dragon Bureau. We failed to notice their movements, let alone their objective or plan… As the current person in charge of the Dark Dragon Bureau in New Sichuan, I offer my apologies.”
As Jang Geon quietly observed her standing with her waist bowed, Seo-ha, who was held in his arms, tugged at his collar. Jang Geon almost burst out laughing, feeling as though she were winking at him to quickly forgive her. In the brief moment they had come out to the garden while Jang Geon and Yu Seol were talking, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 had created the most powerful ally.
However, Jang Geon concealed his inner thoughts and spoke in a calm tone.
“It was an event bound to happen someday. It is also my own fault for failing to stay alert despite anticipating it. I have no wish to blame you in particular.”
Speaking thus, Jang Geon took Seo-ha’s hand and turned around. It was time to return to the Jang Family Merchant Guild.
Walking along with Jang Geon’s touch, Seo-ha turned her head to look at Dark Dragon Agent No. 3, who was straightening her waist. She then raised her free hand and waved it. Observing them with slightly dazed eyes, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 lightly raised her hand in response.
While leaving the Murim Alliance, no one detained them. Of course, among the Alliance members passing by, some recognized him and were startled, but they merely exchanged light eye greetings with surprised eyes without holding him back. They seemed to assume he had come because of some special matter. After all, with the Imperial Army and the Murim Alliance under one roof, the atmosphere was chaotic.
Jang Geon and Seo-ha were quickly able to step outside the main gate of the Murim Alliance. The wide street of New Sichuan appeared, bustling with many people, carriages, and rickshaws, and the two crossed it while holding hands tightly. Then suddenly, Seo-ha’s steps came to a halt.
Jang Geon looked back at Seo-ha and asked.
“Why?”
Seo-ha looked up at him with her blue eyes and answered.
“…Did those people come to catch me?”
He could not answer right away. Jin Gyeon and Dan Sang-woon were wounded, and the children had also been in danger. Had Jang Geon been late, everyone in that house might have died, leaving only Seo-ha behind. And Seo-ha was a child fully capable of imagining such what-ifs.
“That is right. They were demonic practitioners.”
Therefore, Jang Geon spoke honestly. He did not think she would believe it if he lied.
“Why?”
“To eat you up.”
Seo-ha’s face, which had been gradually clouding over with guilt, turned pale in shock and assumed a horrified expression.
“…Really?”
“No.”
Seo-ha’s expression turned dazed. And that dazed expression soon scowled into an angry face. Tears even quivered around her eyes.
“Are you angry?”
“…I don’t know.”
Jang Geon smiled faintly and knelt on one knee in front of the child to match her eye level. Numerous people of New Sichuan were passing by around the two of them.
He faced Seo-ha, whose eye rims had turned reddish.
“I do not know what those bastards were planning to do with you after taking you. Whether they intended to use you in some sorcery, teach you their martial arts, or really boil and eat you… only those bastards know in the end. But considering what those bastards usually do, it certainly wouldn’t have been anything good.”
“…In the end, Monk Jin Gyeon got hurt because of me. If I hadn’t stubbornly come here, Uncle Dan, Sang, Yeong, Yong-jung, and Yong-a wouldn’t have been in danger either…”
Seo-ha’s brimming tears looked ready to fall at any moment. However, Seo-ha held back her tears tightly while looking at Jang Geon. Her blue pupils and brimming tears quivered, as if light blue paint were sloshing inside those eyes.
Jang Geon cupped Seo-ha’s face with both hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. The skin around Seo-ha’s eyes was warm. As he wiped her tears, nasal mucus also slid out, so he wiped that together. As a result, before she knew it, Seo-ha was twitching her eyes and nose, sniffling.
Jang Geon’s index finger lightly flicked the tip of Seo-ha’s nose.
“You went to Shaolin Temple only to end up with more tears.”
“…I don’t know.”
Seeing Seo-ha’s sulky expression, Jang Geon playfully pinched her cheek and spoke.
“Feeling guilt is a good thing. At least it means you are human. But sitting down in that place without doing anything because of that guilt is not a good thing. Monk Jin Gyeon and Uncle Dan are people who would throw themselves forward without hesitation if someone were in danger, even if it weren’t you, and what you should feel there is not guilt, but gratitude. Did you thank those two people for protecting you?”
“…Not yet.”
Because her cheek was held by Jang Geon, Seo-ha’s pronunciation was a bit strange. However, Jang Geon did not let go of her cheek.
“The same goes for the other children. It’s not that I’m telling you not to feel sorry for those kids, but if your thoughts end there, it will only be painful for both you and the children.”
“…Then what should I do?”
Only then did Jang Geon let go of Seo-ha’s cheek.
“You are my disciple now. Brother and Sister-in-law say we must perform rituals or ceremonies, but you were already my disciple since last night. Then what must you learn from me?”
“…Tai Chi Chuan?”
“Why must you learn that?”
Seo-ha blinked both eyes with a dazed face, then her expression gradually changed. Her tearful eyes and downturned corners of her mouth regained strength, and her pupils, blurred with tears, blinked away the moisture and sparkled. Uncharacteristic of a child, she answered with a resolute gaze.
“…So that no one gets hurt because of me, and to protect them.”
Jang Geon, who was about to say something more, shut his mouth and merely smiled. Seo-ha’s intelligence seemed to exceed his expectations. At the same time, the thought crossed his mind that ten years from now, Seo-ha’s name might become even more famous than his current renown.
“I will learn martial arts diligently, Uncle. No, Master.”
Listening to Seo-ha’s voice full of determination, Jang Geon dusted off his knees and stood up. He then naturally extended his hand to the side. Seo-ha eagerly grabbed that hand, and the two resumed their stopped steps.
Having paused briefly amidst the crowd, the two naturally melted back into that wave.
* * *
Returning home, they found that Jang Un, Madam Yeom, and Chae-yun had returned.
Whether the Imperial Army had retrieved the corpses of the demonic practitioners including Serpent Duke and cleaned up, all that remained in the yard were faint bloodstains. However, because furniture had been destroyed and the house was a mess, the returned Jang Un couple had rolled up their sleeves and were in the middle of cleaning up.
Among them, Madam Yeom spotted Seo-ha tightly holding Jang Geon’s hand, practically threw down the broom she was holding, approached, and embraced the child. Only after giving her a tight hug did she pull her face back and examine Seo-ha for a long time to see if she was hurt anywhere.
Carrying out a broken chair, Jang Un also checked whether Seo-ha or Jang Geon were hurt anywhere first, rather than pouring out blame. Seo-ha, who had been nervous by herself, began to tear up again at that warm welcome.
Watching that sight and letting out a small sigh of relief, Jang Geon soon rolled up his sleeves himself and joined the cleanup.
The children, Jin Gyeon, and Dan Sang-woon were resting inside. Telling her to rest, the Jang Un couple also shoved Seo-ha into the room. In the end, those cleaning the house were only Jang Geon and the Jang Un couple. Chae-yun was nursing Jin Gyeon and Dan Sang-woon and looking after the startled children.
It was around the time the yellow sunset fell as the sun set when they finished cleaning up the ruined house. As Jang Geon was sweeping the yard with a straw broom, Jang Un approached and asked softly.
“…I heard the Imperial Army came and escorted you all the way to the Murim Alliance. Are you alright?”
“Who? Me, or Seo-ha?”
“Both of you, you rascal.”
Jang Geon did not stop sweeping the yard with his straw broom as he spoke.
“I am sorry about today’s matter. The children were in danger because of me.”
“…When did I say I wanted to hear such an apology? I heard those bastards were users of evil demonic arts; how could I just let such bastards take Seo-ha away? Even if I knew the circumstances beforehand, I would have brought her into the house.”
Only then did Jang Geon stop sweeping and look at Jang Un.
“Still.”
Jang Un waved his hand as if embarrassed and asked.
“Anyway, is it fine now? Is it all settled?”
“Yes. There will never be an occurrence like today’s in this house again.”
Nodding his head, Jang Un suddenly felt Jang Geon’s tone was somewhat stiff and looked into Jang Geon’s eyes.
“…Surely you aren’t saying you will take Seo-ha and suddenly leave somewhere because you feel too sorry?”
“No. Seo-ha will continue to stay here.”
“…And you?”
Jang Geon’s face had his back to the sunset, casting a deep shadow over it. Perhaps because of that, his piercing blue eyes were even more clearly visible.
“Before long, there is a place I must visit for a short while. I think it will take a few months to return, so please take care of Seo-ha during that time.”
Jang Un tried to say something, but seeing the glint in Jang Geon’s eyes, he closed his mouth. And with a similar expression, he nodded his head. Already, the objective of the Imperial Army and the forces stationed at the docks of the Murim Alliance, the subjugation of the Demonic Palace, was famous. It was not difficult to understand Jang Geon’s meaning.
“…Right, the best method is to pluck out the roots. You truly are a martial artist.”
He spoke while nodding his head like that, then placed his hand on Jang Geon’s shoulder and patted it.
“When will you be departing?”
“It is not certain. They might even inform me of the departure on the very day. Still, it will not be within the next week or two.”
“Mmm. Even so, you will get to see Yeon’s face before leaving.”
Jang Un let out a sigh of relief, saying it was fortunate. Jang Geon also thought it was fortunate.
No one knew how the fight against the Demonic Palace would flow. No matter that the mighty Imperial Army of the Central Plains and the elites of the Murim Alliance were gathering to go, those enemies were also people who had built up power for over a hundred years under the assumption of warring against the Empire. Perhaps the Imperial Army might suffer great damage in an unexpected way, and in that process, what would become of Jang Geon was also unknown.
Of course, Jang Geon had no intention whatsoever of dying there. He would survive. He would survive to hand down his martial arts to Seo-ha, organize his martial arts thus far, and once that work was finished, he would resume his journey.
Still, it would be good if he could see his family before going off to fight like that.
“Excuse me… Head Manager.”
At that moment, Sang-pal, with bandages wrapped tightly around his chest, appeared at the main gate. Seeing him, Jang Un was startled, approached him, and supported him.
“Hey, why did you get up? I told you to lie quietly in bed. You almost died this afternoon!”
Sang-pal chuckled. His face looked pale, but still he did not look as though he were dying.
“Still, I must guide the guest. Everyone else is busy organizing the ruined guild house, after all.”
“A guest?”
At those words, Jang Un and Jang Geon’s gazes turned to the person standing behind Sang-pal. The man standing there confirmed Jang Geon’s face, smiled brightly, and clasped his hands in a fist salute.
“Hero Jang! Have you been well? I came myself because it didn’t seem like you’d ever visit Heavenly Empress City!”
However, Jang Geon could not recall who he was for a moment. But the moment he saw a native man standing behind him wearing Central Plains attire, he was able to remember who he was. He was Jeo Ryang, the author of The Nameless Hero.