Chapter 1430
So, is this flying dagger a failure? (5)
“Ughhh…”
“…”
“Uggghhhh…”
“…”
“Uggghhhhhhh…”
“Hey, seriously! So noisy!”
Chung Myung, who was being carried, suddenly shouted and smacked Jo Geol’s head.
“What’s the big deal about carrying one injured person? Huh?”
“I-I’m injured too, you jerk!”
“You’re quite the whiner!”
“Uggghhhhh.”
Tears welled up in Jo Geol’s eyes.
“Why me, huh? Why! There are plenty of healthy people over there!”
“They won’t do. They make me uncomfortable. Besides, they’re probably exhausted from running at full speed. People have consciences, you know. How could I make them carry me? Wow, what a personality Sahyeong has.”
“What about me? Am I not uncomfortable? Can’t I be tired too?”
“Huh.”
Jo Geol’s head drooped weakly after being smacked abruptly again. Chung Myung chuckled.
“It’s okay for you to suffer a bit, you had an easy life.”
“If you suffer too much, you’ll really die, you bastard!”
“Enough! If you have time to complain, then run fast! We’re busy right now!”
“Uggghhh.”
Jo Geol, with tears in his eyes, lunged forward.
Although it’s aggravating, it’s not entirely wrong. There’s no time to dwell on complaints right now. Even in this moment, those Maninbang’s scoundrels are probably chasing after the people who fled from the Tang estate.
Haven’t they experienced firsthand how relentless and dreadful their pursuit can be? Just the thought of Ho Gamyeong’s face was enough to stir up emotions.
“Euracha!”
Jo Geol hit the ground and ran forward in a single swift motion.
“But, Sahyeong.”
“What?”
“Are you okay with that? Four Seas merchant guild is in Chengdu. How about at least you headed there?”
“Well…”
Jo Geol’s face distorted.
“Jang Ilso, what’s gotten into that bastard? If he was planning something, he should have done it sooner!”
“…”
“Don’t underestimate our guild! It’s not easy to make a living traveling through the Central Plains. These kinds of crises have been overcome by the Four Seas merchant guild many times!”
“Well said.”
Chung Myung chuckled softly. In truth, he wasn’t overly worried. The information passed on by the Beggars Sect was undoubtedly at the behest of Hong Daekwang or Neungsam. Naturally, they would have sought to gather information about the Four Seas merchant guild.
The absence of any mention of the guild meant that nothing significant had happened there. If even a single word about the guild had been written, Chung Myung would have beaten Jo Geol and sent him to Chengdu.
Jo Geol added.
“And if we can’t stop them, then no one in Sichuan is safe. It’s not just about protecting my family. If we’re going to protect, we need to do it properly!”
Chung Myung, who had been listening quietly, silently looked at Jo Geol. Somehow, Jo Geol’s shoulders, while he had carried him, seemed broader.
At that moment, Baek Cheon discreetly approached Chung Myung.
“Chung Myung-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s not too late, is it?”
Chung Myung’s gaze slightly darkened at those words.
To be honest, Chung Myung didn’t know either. If he had continued to assess the situation without losing consciousness, he might have had a rough estimate, but the information he had now was too sparse.
Perhaps the enemy had already caught up with the Tang clan, or perhaps there was still plenty of time left.
But either way, their task remained the same.
“If we’re late, should we turn back?”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Right. So let’s just go. Clear your mind and run. We’ll find out if we’re late or not when we arrive.”
Baek Cheon nodded. Hearing those words, he felt the distracting thoughts in his mind vanish completely.
Then, Chung Myung, who had been staring at Baek Cheon, spoke up.
“More importantly… Your face looks too pale. Are you about to collapse?”
“Huh? Sasuk is naturally pale, isn’t he?”
“Sahyeong is too noisy. Hurry up and run.”
Baek Cheon glanced at Chung Myung and chuckled.
“Who’s worrying about whom now? You’re the one looking weak.”
“…Huh, look at that unfortunate face.”
Chung Myung grumbled but turned away with a smile.
“Anyway, there’s no point in trying to stop you. Just hold on as long as you can. If it doesn’t work out, just collapse.”
“You worry about yourself, you damned brat.”
A bitter smile crept onto Baek Cheon’s lips.
‘He is like a ghost.’
His body must not be in good shape either. Despite the treatment using his family’s heirlooms performed by Tang Gunak, objectively speaking, they could only barely save his life. Didn’t Tang Gunak himself admit that when treating Chung Myung?
In the meantime Chung Myung was assessing the situation and making decisions, and even caring for others, it felt strange…
It was a peculiar feeling. The situation hadn’t changed much. They were still heading towards the Tang clan, and the Tang clan was still in great danger. No, if anything, the situation had become even more urgent.
Yet, despite this, there was a distinct difference in the feeling compared to before.
Watching Chung Myung being carried on Jo Geol’s back, Baek Cheon clicked his tongue.
‘I can’t stand this, really.’
Everyone here would know. The current Chung Myung could barely demonstrate a quarter of his usual strength.
No, that’s an overestimation. Perhaps the current Chung Myung wouldn’t be much different from an ordinary commoner who couldn’t wield a sword.
Yet, they felt confident. Just the fact that this damned bastard had regained consciousness was enough.
The disciples Hwasan and Five Swords, the elders of Hwasan including Hyun Jong, and even Tang Gunak – the atmosphere around everyone had changed.
Still urgent, but at least there was no longer a sense of anxiousness. The intense unease that had surrounded them had noticeably diminished.
“No, run faster! Have you not had your fill of bloodshed? These brats, I told them to pay attention to the training! If they dare to be late, I’ll…”
Baek Cheon tightly shut his eyes.
‘If only that mouth would stay shut, it would be better.’
Of course, that was an impossible wish.
“So, I was saying, right? Normally…”
“Let’s go faster, come on, faster!”
“Yes!”
As Baek Cheon quickly cut off Chung Myung’s nagging and shouted, Hwasan and Tangga increased their speed even more.
Chung Myung chuckled and looked ahead. But his gaze had darkened unlike before.
❀ ❀ ❀
Tang Byeok glanced back at Tang Oe with a worried expression.
“Elder! A-Are you alright? Let me carry you!”
It was understandable, as Tang Oe’s face was drenched with sweat as if he could faint and collapse at any moment. But Tang Oe stubbornly pushed Tang Byeok away.
“Don’t bother with useless gestures.”
“B-but…”
“If you have strength left, take care of the little children and women! I’m fine!”
Tang Byeok looked at Tang Oe with slightly trembling eyes.
To anyone, he didn’t look fine at all. But if Tang Oe insisted like this, there was nothing Tang Byeok could do.
“We need to go faster! Those Maninbang’s bastards are probably chasing after us. We need to enter Shaanxi before they catch up.”
“Yes!”
After staggering for a moment, Tang Oe pushed away Tang Byeok’s outstretched hand again and glanced back. Countless members of the Tang clan were following him.
“These foolish men! Instead of leaving the children to their mothers, shouldn’t you carry them yourselves!”
“W-well, we are already doing that.”
“Do the elders have no hands? No backs? Are they saving their strength for the afterlife! Why aren’t they moving faster?”
“Ah, understood!”
Tang Oe gasped for breath as he watched Tang Byeok rush out. When he wiped his face, it felt as if his hand was dipped into water with how soaked in sweat it was.
But he absolutely couldn’t stop moving.
He still believed this choice was wrong. The place where Tangga’s people should die is within their own home. Sichuan Tang’s poisons and techniques must never be lost.
But now that things had come to this, they had to protect what remained. If they couldn’t do that, then they would truly be nothing more than fools who had destroyed everything with a stupid choice.
At least when facing their ancestors in death, shouldn’t they be able to justify that they did their best?
“Huff! Huff!”
Tang Oe let out a rough breath, moving his trembling legs desperately.
‘To Shaanxi…’
Jang Ilso would already consider Sichuan as his own territory. And it had become a situation where it was difficult to deny that.
But Shaanxi was different. Shaanxi was still land not easily invaded by Sapaeryeon. If they could just get there, they could shake off their pursuers.
The key is one thing: whether they can reach Shaanxi before Jang Ilso catches up with them. That’s the only thing that matters.
‘More…’
Tang Oe bit his lip and shouted hoarsely.
“There’s not much time left! We just need to reach Shaanxi. Everyone, push yourselves!”
He didn’t expect any response. It was better to gather the strength to lift their feet than to expect a response.
‘How much further? Three hundred li? Five hundred li?’
If they were only men of the Tang clan, they could have easily broken through this distance. But those remaining here were mostly children and women who hadn’t even mastered basic martial arts.
Even the main family’s women, though they were direct descendants, hadn’t learned martial arts. Children who were considered collateral family were taught simple martial arts and tactics for self-defense, but that was about it.
‘The law…’
Yes, that’s the Tang clan’s law. Passed down through generations, it’s something that should never be broken, no matter what.
But… if these women of the Tang clan had been trained in martial arts like the men… would they have had to undertake such a desperate escape?
No, even if that couldn’t be helped, did they have to flee so desperately like this?
In a moment, Tang Oe’s mind was filled with none other than the face of Tang Soso, the daughter of Tang Gunak. The girl who rejected the laws of the Tang clan and left for Hwasan.
When he heard of her choice, Tang Oe scoffed and scorned her. Calling her a true daughter of her father.
But… the reputation she earned as a member of Hwasan shook the world, reaching even Tang Oe’s ears.
If she hadn’t made that choice and had stayed with the Tang clan all along, what would have happened?
Perhaps there wouldn’t have been much more she could do other than supporting the exhausted children here.
Was that girl special?
Tang Oe looked at the women of the Tang clan again as if seeing them anew.
Maybe she wasn’t. Perhaps everyone here could have lived a life like Tang Soso’s. If that were the case…
“…No.”
But soon, Tang Oe shook his head.
The choices of their ancestors weren’t wrong. Eventually, the women would leave the clan and become part of other households. If they passed on their poison and hidden weapon techniques, eventually the influential figures of the world would develop immunity to Tang clan’s poison.
Avoiding such a situation was only natural, wasn’t it?
How could there have been no hesitation even among their ancestors? They too must have come to their conclusion after much deliberation. Judging their choice as wrong just because the situation has changed is nothing but arrogance of later generations.
Yes, what he needed to do was to protect the Tang clan…
“Huh?”
At that moment, Tang Oe’s foot caught on a rock. His old body wavered for a moment and leaned forward. Just as he was about to fall, someone tightly grabbed his arm.
“Are you okay, Elder?”
Tang Oe turned his head to see who had grabbed his arm.
‘Who is it?’
He didn’t know. He recognized the face, but he didn’t know the name.
There were too many people in the Tang clan. All he knew was that she was someone’s daughter.
He felt her arm tremble as she held onto him. Not out of fear, but out of exhaustion. Despite being so exhausted that even restraining her own body was difficult, she reached out to support Tang Oe.
“I’m… fine.”
With a strong pull, he regained his footing with the help of her assistance. With a cough, he gazed blankly at the woman of the Tang clan. She had an innocent-looking face.
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