Chapter 597

Chapter 597 - Side Story 31

My friend.

Today I cut down fifty enemy soldiers. And I made the one said to be the strongest among the enemies kneel and admit defeat.

But the joy of victory was brief.

Already several letters have gone unanswered by my friend, so I am worried.

Is Jianghu so chaotic and confused that this letter does not reach you?

Then when will I be able to meet my friend again?

My friend said you would shoulder my burden together with me, and even urged me to pursue great undertakings.

But all this master can do is wait for my friend's reply.

Please, if there is anything this master can help with, do not hesitate to tell me.

This master will also use all my strength to help you at any time.

After we became acquainted, eight springs and seven winters have passed.

There is one thing I must apologize for, but not knowing when I will meet my friend again, this long night is restless.

Tang Gyeong dried the letter after writing it by blowing on it gently.

"What's going on? There's no way Dragon Captor Great Hero wouldn't reply for this long."

He was worried. He had already sent letters several times but received no reply.

Dragon Captor Great Hero was the person Tang Gyeong respected most after his father. Though he couldn't tell the exact situation for fear his identity would be exposed, every time he smashed a stronghold and achieved military success, he wanted to boast to him first.

Tang Gyeong felt uneasy about hiding his identity from him, especially his age, and pretending to be an adult.

"Before going home, I want to meet him and apologize for deceiving him..."

What kind of person was Dragon Captor Great Hero? Looking back on the letters they had exchanged, he was a very calm and thoughtful person. Judging by his speech, he didn't seem extremely old as one might think, probably around fifty.

Tang Gyeong sighed and folded the letter.

While waiting for a reply to come.

***

The atmosphere in the room was very heavy.

Left Commander, master of the Green Forest, said.

"There's still no contact from Ghost Commander."

Gold Commander, a great merchant, said.

"And Poison Dragon's children are still rampaging through Huguang. As if nothing happened. Is that even possible?"

It was a much bigger shock to the Five Commanders than expected.

If Ghost Commander attacked Poison Dragon's children, naturally there should have been a commotion. But the fact that there was no talk of any problem meant Ghost Commander couldn't show even a speck of presence. Since he couldn't even leave a scratch, no rumors arose.

They thought Poison Dragon's children would be strong since they grew up at Tang Family. But they never expected Ghost Commander to disappear without a trace like this.

Dark Commander, master of Heavenly Horse Escort Bureau, ground his teeth.

"Ghost Commander ate the second most elixirs among us. I had a suspicion, but as expected, they're Poison Dragon's children. Who would have thought Ghost Commander would lose not to Poison Dragon, but to Poison Dragon's children."

Left Commander, Gold Commander, and Dark Commander looked at Right Commander.

Right Commander had been silently thinking about something for a while.

"Right Commander. Say something. Tang Family is closing in more and more, and all our main forces are divided and can't unite."

"Ghost Commander's failure means we also can't handle Poison Dragon's children."

Gold Commander and Dark Commander were demanding.

Right Commander.

Right Commander must step up.

Poison Dragon is absolutely invincible. No one in Jianghu dares think of confronting Poison Dragon.

However, if there's anyone in Jianghu who can face Poison Dragon, it's Right Commander.

Right Commander had been analyzing and working to defeat Poison Dragon's martial arts for a long time. It was also Right Commander who worked behind the scenes to name Poison Dragon's fighting style Asura Extinction Technique and get many people to join the research.

Finally, Right Commander made a decision.

"Gather all personnel in Henan. Even if they're split north and south, if they gather in central Henan, we can scrape together quite a lot."

"So, the target?"

"Poison Dragon's children."

"Are you giving up on Poison Dragon?"

Right Commander answered.

"Even if we can't kill Poison Dragon right away, killing Poison Dragon's children and spreading Asura Blood throughout Jianghu was also part of our plan. Tens of thousands will die on the spot, and through that, Jianghu will recall the terror of Poison Dragon once more. After that, Poison Dragon and Tang Family will naturally fall away from Jianghu. Our true revenge will be achieved after that."

Right Commander clenched his fist tightly around the hole in his hand. Blood beaded from the hole.

Tension also hung in the expressions of the Three Commanders. Rather than being obstructed here and there, they intended to push all at once and reverse the situation.

Dark Commander asked cautiously.

"If we gather a bunch of troops and lure them there, will they come?"

"They'll come."

"But Shaolin Temple is there. If we gather in Henan, thinking we're attacking Shaolin Temple, others will swarm in."

In the past, no matter how vast the land, it would have been impossible for the Green Forest to set foot in Henan. However, Shaolin Temple had barely engaged in outside activities since Poison Dragon, almost to the point of seclusion.

"That's what we're aiming for. Tens of thousands will gather. And."

Right Commander said.

"There, I will kill Poison Dragon's child and spill his blood."

***

"It came!"

Tang Gyeong received a letter that came by courier.

It was the letter he had been waiting for. From Dragon Captor Great Hero.

"Thank goodness! Nothing happened to you. Whew."

Tang Gyeong went to a place where no one was around and opened the letter with a pounding heart.

My friend, Supreme Asura.

I am ashamed to have not replied during this time. A difficult matter arose even for me... Please understand that I had no choice but to rush about to resolve it, and thus could not reply to my friend.

Tang Gyeong nodded as he read.

"Of course. Dragon Captor Great Hero is such a busy person, so that can happen."

However, despite utilizing all available resources and making painstaking efforts... the situation only flows toward the worst.

"Huh? What does this mean?"

Tang Gyeong was surprised and his heart pounded. Something had happened to Dragon Captor Great Hero.

My friend!

Not much time is left to me now. If my final decision, into which I poured everything, concludes properly, I will be able to send joyful letters to my friend as before.

However, if there is no reply from me...

Please do not forget that the friendship we shared for several years was not entirely in vain, and that this one departed holding gratitude to my friend until the end.

That way, I can leave behind at least one wonderful memory in my life.

My dear friend, Supreme Asura.

I miss you.

Tang Gyeong was shocked and couldn't speak.

"Dragon Captor Great Hero...? What great danger could he be in to say such things!"

His heart grew urgent.

"No... I can't just stay still like this."

For nearly seven years, he was the only friend Tang Gyeong could open his heart to, and a grateful adult who sincerely worried together about Tang Gyeong's future path.

He couldn't do nothing when someone who had helped him so much was struggling to the point where his life hung by a thread.

Tang Gyeong rushed out. He chased after the person who delivered the letter and ran more than ten li. Then he found him and confirmed where the letter came from.

"It came from Henan. Normally it should come through the escort bureau, but given the current situation, I understand it was received directly through personal connection and delivered our way."

"Henan? Where in Henan!"

"I heard... Huixian Temple."

"Huixian Temple!"

"I hear it's chaos there too with the Green Forest swarming. What is Shaolin Temple even doing?"

Tang Gyeong was shocked.

Green Forest!

Come to think of it, when the letters stopped coincided with when the Green Forest became active.

Is that it?

Could it be that the Green Forest moved because of them, and Dragon Captor Great Hero was harmed because of that?

Tang Gyeong felt guilty. He recited the name of where the letter came from again.

Huixian Temple.

There... Dragon Captor Great Hero is there.

Dragon Captor Great Hero who wants to see Tang Gyeong at what might be the last moment.

Perhaps the words "I miss you" might be Dragon Captor Great Hero's desperate cry for help.

***

When Tang Gyeong returned to the inn, those gathered looked very unsettled. Everyone was murmuring.

Tang Yu-jeong urgently looked at Tang Gyeong and said.

"Gyeong-ah! Pack your bags."

Tang Gyeong flinched.

"Why, suddenly?"

"The Green Forest is using all their strength to go to Mount Song. It seems they're trying to attack Shaolin Temple. Other sects are also trying to go to Shaolin Temple because of that."

But Tang Gyeong couldn't say he would go to Shaolin Temple.

"I can't."

"Huh?"

"I have something left to do. I can't go to Shaolin Temple. I'll go later."

"What do you have to do?"

Tang Gyeong threw a tantrum.

"Does sister think I'm a child? I have my own affairs too!"

Tang Yu-jeong looked at Tang Gyeong with wide eyes.

"Gyeong-ah?"

"Since I listened to sister every day, you treat me like a child! There are many people who can protect Shaolin Temple even without me. So I don't want to, I can't go. No, I won't go! I won't!"

Because Tang Gyeong shouted, nearby warriors turned their heads to look at the two.

Tang Yu-jeong stood silently, seeming briefly shocked that Tang Gyeong was defying her.

Tang Gyeong went into his quarters, came out lightly carrying just one bundle.

"I'll go on my own later."

"..."

"Don't stop me."

Then Tang Yu-jeong answered.

"Okay, I won't stop you."

Tang Gyeong felt a bit sorry and looked back at Tang Yu-jeong. But the moment he looked back, his face scrunched up. Tang Yu-jeong had both hands raised.

"Ah, crap..."

Tang Gyeong tried to dodge by using his movement technique to the fullest. But the moment he tried to dodge, his body was already stuck to the ground.

Bang!

Tang Yu-jeong glared at the face-down Tang Gyeong.

"I said I won't stop you, but where are you acting like a rebellious teen? This one's gotten too big-headed lately..."

All nearby warriors felt scared and shivered their shoulders.

"Ouch... that must hurt."

"As expected, Steel Lady Hero. Even Poisonous Pest Messenger can't do anything against our captain."

***

Tang Yu-jeong read the letter Tang Gyeong had and put it down.

Tang Gyeong finally confessed about Dragon Captor Great Hero.

"He was my only friend."

"So, you've been exchanging letters like this through the escort bureau for seven years? That's all fine, but his pseudonym is Dragon Captor Great Hero. Someone who caught a dragon. Didn't you think that was strange?"

"Not at all."

Tang Yu-jeong narrowed her eyes.

"Didn't this Dragon Captor Great Hero person incite you so that you wanted to go out to Jianghu so badly? And the timing of rumors spreading in Jianghu that we went out is also suspicious."

"He's not a suspicious person. He never once asked about my origins. If you don't know, don't speak carelessly."

"Hey, your pseudonym is Supreme Asura."