Chapter 210: Chapter 44. Return

“......Hah.”

Tang Jung gave a derisive snort, the whites of his eyes veined with red.

Tang Geunmyeong subtly looked away and shrank back under the murderous glare that made his knees feel weak.

“They still haven’t learned their lesson. How long has it been since this old man turned the clan upside down, and they’re already wagging their tongues again?”

“If the child stays at the main estate for even a few days, the rumors will die down quickly. Her condition isn’t something visible from the outside.”

“I’ll have to think about it.”

“Rumors aside, the child has been away from the main estate for too long, Elder. You need to give her a place there before it gets any later.”

Tang Jung’s brow furrowed at the seriousness in his voice.

“So there’s more than one rumor going around. What else are they saying?”

“The truth is...... the mood has been poor over what happened to Tang Gak’s household.”

“That was decided by the Council of Elders. This old man had nothing to do with it.”

“Of course. But since no one would dare blame you directly, there is a good chance the resentment will turn toward the child instead. It is easier to hate someone who isn’t there.”

“......”

“Shouldn’t she return before she becomes a complete outsider? She’ll be coming of age soon. If she keeps wandering outside the clan, she may never truly fit in with the household.”

At Tang Geunmyeong’s earnest advice, Tang Jung rubbed both hands over his face.

He was right.

Even if Sohae returned now, the household would probably see her as nothing more than an illegitimate child who had once been driven out and then carried back in on his back.

They might ostracize her outright, or refuse to acknowledge her and treat her with contempt.

“......You’re right. We should go back.”

“If you give the order, I’ll make preparations immediately.”

“There’s no reason to drag it out. We’ll leave at once. Geunmyeong, you’ll have some work to do.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Not a day of peace. This old man is definitely going to die of rage.”

Tang Jung grumbled, his cheeks twitching.

Relieved by the softened response, Tang Geunmyeong wiped the sweat from his palms.

Tang Jung slowly closed his eyes.

Under ordinary circumstances, he would never even have considered something as tasteless as flaunting connections.

But the situation was different now.

If he wanted to make the household understand exactly what kind of reputation the child had earned in the martial world, then he would have to put on a show they could appreciate.

Tang Jung calmly opened his eyes.

“That place that keeps sending tea to my little pup—what was it called? The one that sent Junshan Silver Needle.”

“Do you mean the Golden Dragon Merchant Guild?”

“Grand name. Send them some gift in the little one’s name to show off their friendship. If the guild head has any sense, she’ll send back twice as much.”

“I’ll prepare it.”

Tang Jung watched his subordinate give a respectful clasped-hands salute, then asked another question.

“You said Taeneung looked after her for a while?”

“Yes. She stayed on Mount Wudang for quite some time.”

“Among all the people Sohae met during her travels, are there any worth mentioning?”

“Monk Beopgong of Shaolin and Commander Paeng of the Dragon and Phoenix Corps, I would say. Thanks to the two of them watching over her, she had no particular trouble at the Martial Alliance.”

“This old man rotted away at the Alliance for years. Of course she shouldn’t have had any trouble there. If she’d come back with even a scratch on her, I would have plucked every last hair out of Wiji Gok’s beard.”

Tang Jung replied sourly, then tilted his head as though telling him to continue.

“Daoist Taeheo of Wudang also seemed quite fond of the child. I heard he gave her the Lotus Golden Needles as a gift......”

“The Lotus Golden Needles? What was that old Daoist thinking, handing over a weapon of his own sect? What a burden.”

Tang Jung scratched his head in irritation, then muttered with a reluctant expression.

“Well. They’re made of millennia-old cold iron. They should suit the child well enough. Invite all three of them to the Tang Clan. At least one should accept.”

“Yes. I understand that she also grew close to some of Wudang’s younger disciples while she stayed there. Shall I invite them as well?”

“I don’t mind, but young disciples will have a hard time leaving the sect.”

“Then I’ll invite Daoist Taeheo and suggest in the letter that some of the third-generation disciples accompany him.”

“Fine. Handle it.”

Tang Jung nodded, then seemed to remember something.

“......Right. Taeheo had a disciple, didn’t he? Around my little one’s age?”

“Yes. He is four years older than she is.”

“Tell him to bring his disciple too. Spending time with someone close to her own age might cheer the child up.”

“She already knows Daoist Taeheo’s disciple. As far as I know, they’ve known each other since the Martial Alliance.”

“Really? Even better. Invite him too.”

But Tang Geunmyeong did not answer immediately.

He hesitated for a long moment before cautiously opening his mouth.

“Um...... Elder, there is something you should know first. This is only my personal impression, but Daoist Taeheo’s disciple......”

“What about him?”

“I think he may have feelings for the child......”

Tang Geunmyeong trailed off.

Tang Jung immediately understood what he meant, and his face twisted.

“What? Some Daoist brat who lives on pine needles dares set his sights on whom?”

He barked the words, then waved both hands in disgust.

“Forget it. No need to invite young men. Same goes for that Namgung boy. They’ll only attract flies.”

“Still, wouldn’t it be better if she at least exchanged letters with them? Once we return, people will start talking about the child’s marriage—”

“Not necessary. If anyone is fearless enough to bring up marriage, bring him to this old man. Clan head or whatever else, I’ll smash his skull on the spot.”

Tang Jung bared his teeth with a growl, his eyes blazing with anger.

Tang Geunmyeong hurriedly changed the subject.

“Understood. Then I’ll go make preparations for our return, Elder.”

“......Go.”

After answering, Tang Jung pressed at the corners of his eyes with a troubled expression.

Then he bent down and picked up the shattered remains of his long pipe.

He stared at the splinters, which showed absolutely no hope of being repaired, and muttered weakly,

“I rather liked this one...... I suppose I’ll have to find a new one.”

44. Return

Uncle Geunmyeong had been unusually busy these past few days.

Now I knew why.

“Little one, pack your things.”

“What?”

“We’re going home.”

“......What?”

“We’re returning to the Tang Clan tomorrow.”

“T-Tomorrow?”

I blinked at him in complete bewilderment.

So they had been rushing around to prepare for our return to the Tang Clan.

Grandfather gently tried to persuade me.

“I know you may not like it, but you are a martial artist of the Tang Clan, Sohae. You cannot turn your back on your sect.”

“......That’s true.”

I answered slowly and nodded.

Love it or hate it, I couldn’t deny my roots.

That was where everything had begun for me.

Perhaps my expression still looked less than enthusiastic, because Grandfather gave me a gentle smile and asked,

“Is there anything you want? Shall your grandfather have a pretty new outfit made for you on the way?”

Yet even as he changed the subject, Grandfather did not look particularly happy either.

From that subtle manner, I guessed there must be some reason he needed to return to the Tang Clan.

Right. I always knew that once Grandfather came back, we would return eventually.

I settled my restless feelings and began packing the few belongings I had.

Grandfather remained subdued throughout the journey back to the Tang Clan.

At times he seemed angry.

At others, simply upset.

Did something really happen at the main estate?

When I kept glancing at him, Grandfather gave a small laugh.

“It’s fine, little one. Don’t worry about it. You must be tired from riding in the carriage. Why don’t you close your eyes for a while?”

Then he laid me down with my head on his lap and gently stroked my hair.

I wasn’t sleepy in the slightest.

But after seeing Grandfather’s bitter smile, I couldn’t bring myself to say I was fine.

So I obediently closed my eyes and pretended to sleep.

The road back into Sichuan was brutal.

Steep cliffs blocked the overland routes, while the waterways were full of rapids, with fast currents that constantly shifted the channels.

The journey was so rough I honestly wondered how I had ever managed to get out in the first place.

Boat, carriage, boat again, then back to a carriage.

After repeating the cycle over and over, we finally emerged before a vast open basin.

Chengdu.

******

The Tang Clan estate looked almost exactly as I remembered it, even after several years.

The impossibly high walls, the old-fashioned pavilions, the meticulously maintained gardens—everything was unchanged.

Grandfather, however, looked thoroughly displeased.

“Tsk, tsk. What a state this place is in...... Geunmyeong can handle the luggage. Go greet that bastard father of yours. Your grandfather will stop by the Council of Elders.”

“You’re not coming with me?”

“If I see that wretch’s face, I’ll probably lose control and wring his neck.”

Oh. He’s serious.

“......I’ll go by myself. See you later.”

After watching Grandfather leap over the wall as usual, I headed toward the Clan Head’s residence.

It wasn’t as though I was happy to see Tang Muheok either.

But as long as he remained Clan Head, basic courtesy demanded that I greet him.

Brother Un would have said the same.

I was walking along, doing my best to set aside my personal feelings, when I sensed someone following behind me.

Pretending not to notice, I slowed my pace.

Soon, a lazy, swaggering voice called out.

“Hey.”

Only then did I turn around as though I had just noticed him.

A man in green robes waved at me familiarly.

“You’re back?”

I had never seen his face before.

Confused, I asked,

“Um, excuse me, but who are you?”

“......What? Hey! You forgot your own brother’s face?”

The man practically jumped in outrage, speaking as though I had said something completely absurd.

But there was something familiar about his manner of speaking.

I thought about it for a moment, then tilted my head.

No way. Is this guy......?

“Tang Seho?”