Chapter 576

Chapter 576 - Side Story 10

The Southern Sea Sword Sect, which once encompassed most of the Great Yuling Mountain Range, was originally close to an alliance formed by several families gathering together, but now its power had greatly diminished and it had been pushed back to Hainan Island at the southern tip of the sea.

Tang Yu-jeong and Tang Gyeong decided to go down to Hainan Island via Chongqing and Guizhou.

"Are we doing the right thing going to the Southern Sea Sword Sect?"

Tang Gyeong casually said.

"That's the only lead we have. The sect would know where Aunt Ice Phoenix is."

"If she really gave birth to Dad's child, we should call her little mother, not aunt."

"So you don't want to go?"

"No no, it's not that. In a way, the Southern Sea Sword Sect is our enemy. They fell after the Sword Empress died. So it's the enemy's lair. If they find out our dad is Poison Dragon..."

"If Aunt Ice Phoenix gave birth to Dad's child, we'd also be in-laws."

"Enemies or in-laws. Are you saying it's okay or not?"

"I don't know. Me neither."

Tang Yu-jeong slightly lifted her human skin face mask and scratched below her neck.

"Ugh, it's itchy. I'm dying to take it off. I can't even scratch hard in case it tears."

"Just bear with it a little. We agreed to take it off once we get a clue from the Southern Sea Sword Sect. I'm also embarrassed to death wearing the clothes Aunt So-so gave me."

Chongqing and Guizhou didn't have famous sects in the martial world, nor were they regions with exceptional specialties or interests. However, during Jin Ja-gang's revenge journey, it was revealed they were geographically extremely important strategic points. They were regions from which not only Sichuan but also Shaanxi and Gansu could all be monitored. Therefore, the new Murim Alliance was operating branches in Chongqing and Guizhou with special care.

Because of this, Tang Yu-jeong and Tang Gyeong decided to maintain their disguises as much as possible until they passed through those places.

However, Tang Gyeong still seemed anxious and kept glancing back while walking.

"By now... I think our running away from home has been discovered..."

***

Tang Ha-ran received a report at the leadership meeting that was difficult to understand and became enraged.

"How did this happen?"

The messenger who reported answered.

"It's exactly as written in the report. The fact that the young lady and young master left the main house without any escorts has become known in the martial world. Such rumors are definitely circulating."

Tang Ha-ran's eyes narrowed.

The two running away from home was kept secret within the family. Excluding the leadership, only a very small number knew.

But how did even the fact they went out without escorts become known?

The new head of the Soul Seizing Division, which handled secret operations, offered his opinion.

"It's clear that the Hungry Ghost King's successor is targeting the children to draw out your husband. If it becomes known that Yu-jeong and Gyeong went out in this situation, into a lion's den..."

Tang Ha-ran looked back at the head of the Talent Nurturing Division, the organization that fostered the next generation. The head of the Talent Nurturing Division answered.

"It's like putting two dragons into a lion's den."

The division heads and elders present all nodded in agreement. If evaluating Tang Yu-jeong and Tang Gyeong as members of the Tang Family, it was difficult to give good scores, but personal evaluations were different.

From the womb, they were already poison bodies immune to all poisons, and they grew eating poison. Unlike Jin Ja-gang, they received proper gifted education through the Tang Family's Poison Sect mental techniques for handling poison. Therefore, even without special opportunities, they had reached high levels of mastery with the Tang Family's martial arts. No, if you said inheriting Jin Ja-gang's blood was an opportunity, then that was the opportunity.

Their flaw was lack of real combat experience, but time would compensate for that.

Tang Ha-ran said.

"If we put the children in a lion's den, the lion's den will be smashed to pieces."

The elders smiled and said.

"They're not Poison Dragon's children for nothing."

"The Hungry Ghost King's successor might taste bitterness instead."

Tang Ha-ran didn't smile.

"However, if they cause problems more than necessary, that will also become controversial. People will be reminded of my husband's past through our children."

"Mm."

That's why they didn't send them on missions until they could completely control poison energy.

The head of the Soul Seizing Division said.

"The family head's words are correct. Times have changed from when your husband was on his revenge journey. If they mistakenly harm innocent people, they will receive tremendous criticism."

The one who codified the current martial world's moral standards was Jin Ja-gang himself. But if his children caused problems, they would be pointed at by a much harsher standard than others.

Of course, Jin Ja-gang wouldn't care what others said, but from Tang Ha-ran's position of having to run the family actively, it was a troublesome matter.

Tang Ha-ran wrote an order on a bamboo slip and handed it to the head of the Soul Seizing Division.

"Either way, it's a problem. Find them. If you trace back the route of the rumors, you will surely discover who the source is."

The head of the Soul Seizing Division cupped his fists.

"As you command. I will find them and make them pay the price without fail."

***

Tang Yu-jeong and Tang Gyeong were waiting at the dock to board a ship heading to Hainan Island. Finally, the Southern Sea Sword Sect wasn't far away.

The two spent time planning how to extract information from the Southern Sea Sword Sect and also looking around. Especially sitting in the teahouse on the first floor of the inn, Tang Gyeong eavesdropped on others' conversations and voice transmissions and told Tang Yu-jeong about them, which was secretly fun since all kinds of people gathered there.

"Achoo!"

Tang Yu-jeong sneezed.

Then she scratched her nose tip very gently while trembling so the bearded face wouldn't tear. Tang Gyeong checked the surroundings.

"Ah, hold it in a bit."

"It's too itchy. Achoo! Achoo!"

Because she was trying to hold it in, she couldn't change her voice and it came out as a cute girl's sneeze.

People in the teahouse looked at Tang Yu-jeong.

Tang Gyeong, disguised as a young lady, sniffled as if she had sneezed to divert people's attention. Fortunately, people turned their heads without suspicion.

Tang Gyeong glared at Tang Yu-jeong.

"Geez, this is so annoying. I told you to hold it in, didn't I? You're interfering with my eavesdropping."

"Sorry. It's just itchy. The face mask I haven't removed for days is itchy, and most of all the beard... the beard tickles my nose every time the wind blows... achoo!"

It was a strange sight where Tang Yu-jeong was sneezing but Tang Gyeong was making exaggerated gestures.

Tang Yu-jeong said while tearing up.

"The beard is so annoying. It's this itchy and uncomfortable, how do men live with it?"

"It's similar to how I live with you, big sister."

"You and I must have been enemies in a past life. I'm so disgusted I'll never travel with you ag... ag..."

Tang Yu-jeong wanted to say something but another sneeze came.

"Ah... ah... ah... ah..."

Tang Gyeong looked out the window and widened his eyes.

"Oh! The ship's here!"

The ship that came from Hainan Island was docked at the pier. They were unloading people and cargo. It was the ship that would depart for Hainan Island again tomorrow morning.

"Achoooo!"

Tang Yu-jeong sneezed so violently that tea water splattered all over Tang Gyeong's clothes. Even the sweet snacks they had ordered were splattered and stuck on. Tang Gyeong got annoyed.

"Ugh."

"Soorry."

Tang Yu-jeong brushed it off with a laugh.

"I'll go to the room to change clothes. It looks sloppy when a woman has stuff on her clothes."

"You're a man. Ah... ah... achoo!"

Tang Gyeong clicked his tongue and went up to the room upstairs.

"Achoo, achoo!"

Tang Yu-jeong kept sneezing and even sniffled.

"This damn human skin face mask, I want to..."

She wanted to tear it off, but she couldn't. A young man who had just entered the teahouse was looking around and approaching Tang Yu-jeong who was sneezing. He was definitely coming to Tang Yu-jeong, not someone else.

But the moment she saw the young man, Tang Yu-jeong's body tingled as if struck by lightning.

He was a young man who appeared to be in his twenties and was extremely handsome. His skin was fair and his eyes were clear. His expression was cold as if gloomy, which added more charm.

Strangely, it was as if his appearance was stuck in her eyes and wouldn't leave her sight. Tang Yu-jeong hurriedly shook her head, straightened her clothes, and sat up as if nothing had happened. She held her breath as much as possible to calm the sneezing.

The young man approached and looked at Tang Yu-jeong, saying.

"Elder, are you feeling unwell?"

Tang Yu-jeong almost spoke in her original voice.

"Ah, that... hehehe, I'm fine."

"I know a bit of medicine and have medicine good for sneezing. Would you like to try a little? You just need to smell it lightly. You'll feel better right away."

Unlike his appearance, he was a kind young man.

Tang Yu-jeong firmly declined, but the young man insisted on leaving the medicine. Tang Yu-jeong felt like she was about to sneeze again, so she tried it. She opened the medicine packet and inhaled the scent lightly. The cinnamon scent made her nose tingle, but surprisingly the sneezing stopped.

"I was passing by outside and heard the sneezing, and your voice seemed hoarse too, so I bothered you, Elder. The medicine seems to have worked well, so I'll be going. Then."

The young man collected the medicine packet, said farewell and was about to leave, but Tang Yu-jeong somehow didn't want to let him go.

"Wait a moment. The sneezing that tormented me all morning has disappeared like magic. Having met such a kind person, I can't just let it pass. I'd like to express my gratitude."

"It's not necessary."

The young man who was about to leave suddenly thought of something and turned back to Tang Yu-jeong.

"By any chance, are you heading into Hainan Island?"

"That's right. I plan to enter on that ship tomorrow morning. And you, young hero..."

"I just got off that ship."

The young man seemed to ponder for a moment, then took out a letter from his bosom and placed it on the table.

"Actually, I need to send a letter but couldn't send it in time. When you enter Hainan Island, could you ask anyone to send this letter to the Southern Sea Sword Sect?"

Tang Yu-jeong was startled but asked without showing it.

"Did you say the Southern Sea Sword Sect?"

"Yes. It's a very famous place in Hainan Island, so they'll send it for you. Then."

The young man cupped his fists and left without hesitation.

Tang Yu-jeong stared blankly at the young man's back for a while. And she looked down at the letter he asked to be delivered to the Southern Sea Sword Sect. She felt very strange.

"Should I just rip off the human skin face mask right now and follow him with my real face?"

Tang Yu-jeong muttered, and Tang Gyeong returned.

"Go where? Huh? What's this?"

Tang Gyeong picked up the letter the young man left. Tang Yu-jeong quickly snatched the letter from Tang Gyeong's hand.

"Give it here. Someone asked me to deliver it."

"A favor? We don't know anyone here except the two of us, but you were asked a favor?"

Tang Gyeong's eyes sparkled with curiosity. Tang Gyeong suddenly reached out to snatch the letter from Tang Yu-jeong's hand.

"Let me see too!"