Chapter 140
Yeon Ryang spat out blood-tinged saliva, braced a hand against the ground, and slowly pushed himself upright.
“Brother! Are you all right? Are you badly hurt?”
I ran over to support him. He wiped at the corner of his mouth and gave me an embarrassed smile.
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“Are you all right?”
Tang Geunmyeong hurried out of the hall, looking just as flustered.
“Uncle! What are you doing?”
“Ah, no. I just... I thought you would obviously be able to avoid it... I’m sorry. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Yeon Ryang waved him off with an easy smile, then groaned as he straightened fully.
But he swayed slightly, as though dizzy. Looking closer, I saw that the spot on his chest where he had taken the poison palm strike was turning blue.
“Ah! Uncle! Yeon Ryang has no poison resistance! Hurry and give me an antidote pill! An antidote!”
“Huh? Ah, yes. All right, just wait a moment.”
At my frantic urging, Tang Geunmyeong stared blankly for a moment before pulling out an antidote pill and handing it over.
I snatched it, stuffed it into Yeon Ryang’s mouth, then pressed Cane into his hands and urged it on.
“Cane. Eat it. Hurry!”
“Kii.”
He can’t even circulate his energy right now. What if this damages his nerves? His body is already in bad shape because of the Dissolving-Power Poison.
Upset, I whirled around and glared at Tang Geunmyeong.
“What happened? Why are you just beating people up?”
“It was a mistake. I truly apologize. I had no intention of harming him. His presence was far from ordinary, and I only meant to test him... It seems I misunderstood something.”
At his explanation, my heart sank.
I had grasped the situation.
Sharp as ever. Uncle has a good eye too.
Maybe Yeon Ryang had deliberately chosen not to react in order to avoid suspicion.
...Still, if he keeps taking internal injuries like this, his body won’t last.
Yeon Ryang nodded as if he understood.
“I truly am fine. Please don’t give it another thought.”
“Fine, my ass. His qi and blood must be scrambled again. At this rate, he won’t die a natural death.”
Clicking his tongue, Beopgong jumped down from the wall.
“For once, you said something sensible. Brother, give me your hand.”
I took Yeon Ryang’s pulse and let out a deep sigh.
The meridians, already parched dry of internal energy, had cracked from the earlier shock like drought-stricken fields.
What am I supposed to patch together this time?
When my expression darkened, Beopgong tossed me a small wooden box.
“Kid, give this to your brother.”
“A Minor Restoration Pill?”
“Do you think Minor Restoration Pills are candy? That isn’t something you use carelessly. It’s dragon bone.”
“Oh. That’s valuable. Can I decoct it right away?”
“Go ahead. You probably know better than I do how to prepare it.”
“Then bring me some medicinal ingredients. I need bupleurum, pinellia, cinnamon, poria, and jujubes. Oyster shell too, if you have it.”
Beopgong let out a disbelieving laugh.
“...Kid. You’re getting more shameless by the day.”
“You said I could prepare it. Then you need to give me the ingredients too.”
“Good grief, you’ve got nerve. Wait here. I’ll bring them.”
Grumbling, Beopgong left to fetch the herbs.
Then I held out my hand to Tang Geunmyeong.
“Uncle, you hand it over too.”
“Hm? Hand over what?”
“You have Hundred-Herb Bath concentrate, don’t you? Give it to me. Don’t tell me you’re going to make him like this and then wash your hands of it.”
“Ah. Right...”
Still looking dazed, Tang Geunmyeong took out a bottle of thick liquid from inside his robe and handed it to me.
He watched me with an odd expression.
“You seem to have changed.”
Guilt crossed Yeon Ryang’s face.
“After going through so much... It is all my fault.”
“Do not say that. The martial world is harsh. Once this difficult stretch has passed, things will slowly get better.”
What kind of conversation is this?
For a moment, I could not even speak.
They were treating me like some delinquent adolescent who had suddenly started acting out.
I narrowed my eyes and grumbled.
“Stop saying strange things and go find us an inn. One with a large bathing tub. Since Uncle tenderized this frail wandering martial artist so thoroughly, I think he needs to soak in a Hundred-Herb Bath for two hours before he turns soft again.”
“...I’ll find one, so stop talking like you’re soaking blood out of meat. I did not hit him that hard. Stay with the child for a moment. I will send an attendant to the Martial Alliance gate.”
“Yes. Do not worry.”
Tang Geunmyeong looked between Yeon Ryang and me, swallowed a sigh, and soon disappeared.
Not long afterward, Beopgong returned with a smug look on his face, carrying a bundle full of medicinal ingredients.
Every single item he had brought was of excellent quality.
As I rummaged through the bundle in admiration, my eyes widened.
Tucked among the herbs was a fist-sized, century-old fleeceflower root.
It was too lacking to be called spiritual medicine, yet it carried enough spiritual energy that it could not be dismissed as an ordinary fleeceflower root.
It would definitely help Yeon Ryang.
When I looked at Beopgong with a question in my eyes, he flashed me a grin.
“Use it well.”
I could not help laughing at him as he waved a hand like he was trying to look impressive.
That annoying man is impossible to hate.
Yeon Ryang smiled too and patted Beopgong on the shoulder.
“Thanks, fake monk.”
“So, are you leaving now? Which inn did he arrange?”
“I don’t know. He said he would send someone to the entrance.”
“Ah, then finding an inn whose owner is awake comes first. Fine. I’ll take you to the gate. I’ll go later after humoring Sister Peng.”
“You don’t have to come.”
“What? Kid, I’m hurt. We’ve grown pretty close, haven’t we? We should at least say goodbye.”
“I only remember you beating me up.”
“Hey. I really held back. Ask your brother. Do you have any idea how kind I am? Honestly, you don’t appreciate me at all.”
Beopgong protested as though deeply wronged, then slung an arm around my neck and whispered,
“Honestly, this worked out for the best. Everyone saw your brother go rolling from one poison palm strike. No one will pay attention to him now. You just need to be careful.”
“Yes.”
“Still, I’m glad you’re a physician. Help him recover properly and take him with you. He’s too good to die already.”
“What? You were doing fine. Why would you say something so unlucky? Master, you treat people well, then ruin everything with that mouth of yours, don’t you?”
“Ha. Your insight is impressive. Stop talking and let’s go. At this rate, the sun will be up.”
Beopgong chuckled and pushed me forward as though pretending nothing had happened.
Clutching the bundle of herbs tightly, I set off with Yeon Ryang.
After passing through the long corridor, we finally walked out through the Martial Alliance gates on our own two feet.
I clenched my fists, overwhelmed with emotion.
For some reason, it felt as though I might cry again.
We had finally escaped the Martial Alliance’s relentless pursuit.
When I looked up at Yeon Ryang, his eyes held the same relief.
We exchanged glances and smiled weakly.
Then a child holding a small lantern approached us from the darkness.
“Um... Are you Young Lady Tang?”
“That’s me.”
“The Elder instructed me to tell you to come to Chao Lake Inn. May I guide you there?”
“Yes. Master, we’ll be going.”
I nodded and turned toward Beopgong.
He waved his fingers lazily, telling us to go.
“Chao Lake Inn, is it? Go get some rest. I’ll come by later.”
“All right. See you later.”
With Beopgong seeing us off, we turned away.
*****
By the time we reached Chao Lake Inn, dawn was breaking.
As befitted one of Grandfather’s trusted men—no, one of his close confidants—Tang Geunmyeong had arranged everything in no time at all.
He had rented out an entire floor of the inn. The moment he saw me, he frowned in dismay and shoved me into a room where a bathing tub had been prepared.
“Uncle. Yeon Ryang...”
“I know. His Hundred-Herb Bath is ready, so do not worry about him. See to your own body first.”
“Yes. Then may I use the concentrate you gave me earlier later?”
“Yes. Use it as you please. Do you need a maidservant to attend you?”
“I’m fine. I’m more comfortable bathing alone.”
“All right. I’ll be outside. Call if you need anything.”
With that instruction, Tang Geunmyeong shut the door.
When I walked over to the tub to wash, I let out a hollow laugh.
I had no idea where he had gotten them, but he had moved over the very same bathing supplies used at the Tang estate.
Is Uncle’s true calling actually that of a household steward? There’s a reason Grandfather keeps him close.
For the first time in a while, I soaked in warm water and enjoyed a leisurely bath.
After scrubbing off the accumulated grime and changing into fresh clothes, I stepped out.
Tang Geunmyeong looked satisfied when he saw me.
“You look much better after washing. Come. You need to eat something.”
He opened the door to the next room and beckoned.
A bowl of thin egg porridge had been prepared on the table.
“Yeon Ryang has been going hungry too.”
“I sent him the same food, so do not worry about him. I told you to see to yourself first.”
Tang Geunmyeong firmly seated me in a chair.
I did not argue and quietly picked up the spoon.
He watched me eat for a while before hesitantly opening his mouth.
“My child. About your brother.”
“Yes.”
“I can see that he is a good person, but must you truly go with him? I worry about you. This is a world where strength becomes justice.”
Tang Geunmyeong’s worried voice sank low.
He was asking whether I could really trust a third-rate wandering martial artist who could not even counter a light attack.
I could not explain the full circumstances to him, so I simply smiled and shook my head.
“We have been doing fine so far. It’s all right, Uncle.”
“Even so...”
“If you’re worried, give me more poison. The poisons I make outside are not as effective as the ones I made at the Tang Clan.”
When I smoothly changed the subject, Tang Geunmyeong rubbed his forehead with a complicated expression.
“...You truly have changed.”
With a sigh, he rummaged through his sleeve and laid out several ceramic bottles filled with poison.
“I gave your brother plenty of travel money, but take this promissory note too, just in case.”
Next, he brought out five silver ingots and a promissory note from the White Wind Trading Company.
“And this...”
After hesitating for a moment, Tang Geunmyeong placed a neatly folded piece of silk on the table.
“Your green robe.”
The green silk robe embroidered with gold thread, permitted only to direct members of the Tang Clan.
The splendid green robe I had once worn every day now lay before me.