Chapter 589

Chapter 589 - Side Story 23

Tang Gyeong read the letter several times and lay down on the bed with a proud feeling.

Tang Gyeong, who had been confined to the annex every day, was starved for people. Just hearing from his sister about how the world worked wasn't enough. Then he happened to hear from a guest visiting the Tang Family about scholars exchanging letters.

Originally, this letter exchange started when famous scholars hid their identities and gave advice by letter to help struggling scholars without teachers. Then it gradually expanded until it developed into exchanging poems and thoughts with people whose identities were unknown.

Since Tang Gyeong was bored with nothing to do anyway, he participated in the anonymous letter exchange and exchanged letters several times. However, since he lacked literary skill and mainly wrote about martial arts techniques, he received almost no replies from the scholars.

That's when the Dragon Captor Great Hero replied.

At first, they exchanged many stories about martial arts, especially Dad Poison Dragon's martial arts, and then their hearts connected. For Tang Gyeong, who didn't want to reveal his identity, having his age and identity exposed would be most awkward, but the contact method was very simple. If you left it at the designated escort agency, it would be connected through relay stations.

After that, Tang Gyeong built friendship by exchanging letters with the Dragon Captor Great Hero. That had already continued for seven or eight years.

***

Tang Yu-jeong, Tang Gyeong, and Jin Heon attended the morning meal at Yeon Family Sect. Dozens of household members gathered to eat together. It wasn't a formal setting, nor was it specifically for Tang Yu-jeong and the others. Several retainers staying at Yeon Family Sect were also joining, so eating together wasn't strange.

However, they couldn't avoid receiving others' gazes. First of all, since Tang Yu-jeong and Jin Heon's appearances were quite remarkable, many people gave them attention. Several young people also approached Tang Yu-jeong. They seemed to want to exchange names and at least become acquainted. Tang Yu-jeong had to introduce herself by the name Hwa-ran each time. Only after Yeon Woong came and sat beside Tang Yu-jeong did the barrage of questions decrease a bit.

"Chu-mong used to be like that before. Every time that friend visited, our family's young ladies would lose sleep from excitement."

Jin Heon was silently eating alone when he heard talk about himself and looked up glaring.

"But they don't talk to him now?"

"Because they know he has no interest in women. He's incomparably blunt toward women, so our family's young ladies had their hearts wounded a lot. Haha."

Jin Heon said one thing.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Yeon Woong shrugged as if to say "see that" and said.

"Does Miss Hwa-ran have plans for the future?"

"Well. I'm not sure yet."

"If you don't mind, you can stay longer. Having even one more skilled master would be reassuring."

"Oh my, I'm not a master. Great Hero Yeon should protect me. Hohoho."

At Tang Yu-jeong's words, Jin Heon's expression twisted. However, Tang Yu-jeong and Yeon Woong ignored Jin Heon and conversed pleasantly. Tang Gyeong also had unexpectedly good social skills and was getting along well with those beside him.

***

After finishing the meal, Tang Yu-jeong had something to say and went to the Merciless Twin Axes, who had been locked in the storage since early morning.

"Mister. These people will escort you to the magistrate's office later, so please cooperate then too."

The Merciless Twin Axes looked at Tang Yu-jeong blankly. Then as Tang Yu-jeong was about to leave the storage, he called her.

"Excuse me."

"You don't need to leave a will or anything. I already asked them to treat you as leniently as possible."

"Well, I don't really care what happens to these dregs here. I'm just asking in case. I really thought about this all night and worried before asking."

The Merciless Twin Axes asked Tang Yu-jeong through telepathy so the other bandits couldn't hear.

「You're not by any chance related to the Poison Dragon, are you? Like his children...」

Just as she had been startled by Yeon Gi-sang's casually thrown words, Tang Yu-jeong couldn't help but be surprised to hear the same words from a mere bandit's mouth. It was even puzzling how such words came from the Merciless Twin Axes' mouth. Tang Yu-jeong tried to calmly say no, but in that very brief moment of silence, the Merciless Twin Axes seemed to catch on.

The Merciless Twin Axes jumped up and shouted.

"I'm screwed! Damn it, I had a feeling, but what terrible luck!"

The Merciless Twin Axes tried to curse but quickly turned his head. Then he ran with all his might in the opposite direction from Tang Yu-jeong. He seemed to be trying to break through the storage wall and escape.

Whoosh.

Tang Yu-jeong appeared beside the Merciless Twin Axes running toward the wall. Tang Yu-jeong grabbed the Merciless Twin Axes' collar. The running Merciless Twin Axes' body froze in midair.

It was tremendous internal energy and grip strength. How could he stop a running giant just like that?

The Merciless Twin Axes hung suspended in midair with his body curled up, grinning foolishly. Tang Yu-jeong also grinned back foolishly.

"First of all, I'm not related to what you said."

"Of course, of course. I thought wrong."

"But I'm curious why you said you're screwed, so want to tell me?"

"A notice went out to all of our Green Forest. For the three people, that is, not you, young lady. Just discovering the Poison Dragon's children earns promotion. Even one cut earns a house and one hundred taels of silver. Capture them and you get a bandit stronghold and ten cartloads of silver."

It was such an enormous reward that even Tang Yu-jeong's eyes widened. It seemed everyone would be scrambling to catch them.

"Hmm. Well, that could be. So why did you say you're screwed? I'm not the person you're thinking of, but if I were the Poison Dragon's child, you'd be making money."

The Merciless Twin Axes smiled brightly while waving his hands.

"Oh no, not at all. Ah, how could that be? Since I was young, my parents told me to regard money as stones, so until now I've lived with the mindset of seeing money as stones."

Tang Yu-jeong put her finger to her lips and said to the Merciless Twin Axes.

"Mister. Shh."

"Yes, shhhh."

Tang Yu-jeong smashed the Merciless Twin Axes' head into the wall.

Crack! The Merciless Twin Axes' head was embedded in the thick planks. Precisely only his head went outside while his body was caught, and with his hands tied, he fainted. Tang Yu-jeong pulled him back out. The Merciless Twin Axes woke up dazed.

Tang Yu-jeong asked again as if asking what just happened.

"Oh right! I think I was asking something just now. So why did you say you're screwed?"

"Ehehe, ehehehehe. Heh..."

Tang Yu-jeong put her hand to her mouth again.

"Mister, shh."

Goosebumps rose on the Merciless Twin Axes' neck.

"No, wait. Just a moment."

The Merciless Twin Axes urgently shouted at the bandits hiding and eavesdropping in back.

"Cover your ears, you bastards! If I catch you secretly keeping your earholes open, I'll make earholes in your heads!"

The bandits showed expressions of protest as if asking how they could not listen with their hands tied. The Merciless Twin Axes glared at the bandits, then looked at Tang Yu-jeong and smiled brightly while sending telepathy.

「Actually, I wanted to escape just a little bit. So, um... I secretly left some markers while being captured.」

"Markers?"

「Ehehe.」

He had left markers saying the Poison Dragon's three children appeared so come rescue me, but they turned out to actually be the Poison Dragon's three children.

"Then promotion?"

The Merciless Twin Axes said as if asking why she was like that.

"What good is advancement? For people like me, it's a blessing to just live quietly and thinly. What's good about becoming an Eagle Scarf in times like these?"

With the Poison Dragon's children around, the atmosphere was turbulent. If unlucky, it was perfect for getting caught up and dying.

Well, considering he had quickly noticed the skill difference and knelt from their first meeting, it made sense.

"So... they'll come soon?"

Nod nod.

Tang Yu-jeong put the Merciless Twin Axes down and immediately left the storage. The Yeon Family Sect people were murmuring while looking at the hole in the wall.

Tang Yu-jeong shouted.

"Please tell the family head. The Green Forest is going to attack!"

Hearing the commotion, Tang Gyeong also ran over.

"Sister, what's wrong?"

"Didn't you hear?"

"That? I've been deliberately not listening since yesterday. Because it would be rude in someone else's sect. Sister, you might not know well. Other people's secrets aren't always fun. Sometimes crude, sometimes conversations between intimate relationships happen..."

Tang Yu-jeong pushed Tang Gyeong's back.

"Go call Chu-mong. The Green Forest will attack soon."

***

Tang Yu-jeong, Tang Gyeong, and Jin Heon consulted on what to do.

Jin Heon cut right to it.

"Let's leave. We'll just be a burden anyway."

"But Twin Axes mister lied saying the Poison Dragon's children are here without knowing it's us. So the number coming won't be small."

If they're not just coming to rescue but to catch the Poison Dragon's children, the story is different. Yeon Family Sect won't be able to handle it.

"Damn. That's why I said it would get troublesome."

"Now's not the time to assign blame."

But Tang Gyeong said in a firm tone.

"I'm against running away. If I don't advance one step today, tomorrow I'll retreat ten steps. So I can't back down."

"What's with you? Suddenly talking so mature."

"Anyway, I'm going to fight."

Jin Heon frowned.

"Our identities could be exposed."

"It'll work out somehow. But we can't just ignore the hardships of people who helped us."

But then Yeon Gi-sang came bringing Yeon Woong.

"I heard. Fighting seems unavoidable. My son will guide you outside Guangdong, so you all evacuate."

"What?"

Tang Gyeong said.

"We can help! Because of us...!"

"We cannot protect you."

"You don't have to protect us."

"Don't you know the rumors that someone is targeting you? Hurry back to your home."

"But..."

Tang Yu-jeong tried to speak again, but Yeon Gi-sang refused.

"The timing was just early, but we prepared for this from the moment we decided to antagonize the Green Forest. We made the decision, and we'll take responsibility. That's the right thing, isn't it? If something happened to you..."

Yeon Gi-sang shook his head.

"The jianghu will rush toward an irreversible situation. You don't want that either."

Yeon Woong looked curious. Yeon Gi-sang hadn't told even Yeon Woong about Tang Yu-jeong and the others' identities.

Tang Yu-jeong and Tang Gyeong couldn't say anything. If they called Dad on Hainan Island, it might be resolved instantly. But making Jin Ja-gang, who declared himself unemployed, break his own vow would be shameful as his children. No, it's even questionable whether he'd step forward in the first place.

But should they just let these people face danger?

"Now, don't think too complicatedly and leave. Sichuan is farther than you think."

Tang Yu-jeong choked up. She felt guilty thinking their existence had harmed these people.

Yeon Woong looked at Tang Yu-jeong and smiled awkwardly.

"Later, when things are over, anytime is fine. I'll prepare better liquor then so we can have a comfortable conversation someday."

Tang Yu-jeong couldn't say anything and just nodded. It was a situation where she couldn't even promise they'd meet again.

But.

Tang Yu-jeong's eyes changed.

"They're here...!"

Crash bang bang.

A Yeon Family Sect warrior ran in through the front Sect and shouted.

"The Green Forest... the Green Forest is attacking!"