Tang Yeo-eun (2)

At our sudden appearance, the startled martial artists immediately pointed their sabers toward us and shouted.

“Who are you?!”

“Who the hell are you?!”

However, the moment they recognized our faces, their mouths fell open and they froze in place.

“Ga…!”

“Th…!”

I had expected something like this, but their reaction was even more intense than anticipated, drawing a wry smile from me.

Every one of their gazes was fixed squarely on Miss Tang’s face.

They seemed to have forgotten even the situation they were in, staring blankly with their mouths hanging open.

‘Well, this works out.’

They looked pathetic, but this situation was precisely what I had wanted.

The reason I had revealed myself before making a decision was that I wanted to see how they reacted upon seeing Miss Tang.

I first stepped forward, cupped my fist toward them, and spoke.

“We are travelers who happened to be passing by and came over after hearing a commotion. However, it seems that so many of you are threatening a single man.”

The first to respond was a large man among the martial artists.

He scowled fiercely and shouted at me.

“If you were passing by, then you should have kept going! How dare you interfere without even knowing where you are?! Are you saying you intend to obstruct the Sucheon Association’s business?!”

Yet even as he shouted, the bastard’s eyes continued darting toward Miss Tang.

I could clearly see the unmistakable greed in his gaze.

‘Hmm. You people lose points for that.’

His reaction alone was enough for me to form a rough judgment of them.

Their greed was not displayed as openly as that of the Blood Cult bastards, but they certainly did not seem like men who could be called virtuous.

I then turned my gaze toward the surrounded young man named Do Munseung.

He was looking at us with darkened eyes.

After considering something for a moment, he slowly released the sword hilt he had been gripping tightly and spoke to us.

“First, I offer my thanks to the two of you for coming to my aid. However, the present situation is not what you believe it to be. I merely… had a brief quarrel with some friends from my hometown because of a difference of opinion. Therefore, I do not believe you need to concern yourselves.”

I smiled faintly as I listened to him.

He had phrased it indirectly, but he was telling us that it was nothing serious and asking us to continue on our way.

There was no need to confirm that he had said it because he was worried about our safety despite having nothing to do with us.

That meant there was no longer any need to deliberate.

I had now decided exactly whose side I would support.

Just then, one of the large men shouted at me.

“Why aren’t you answering?! I asked whether you intend to interfere with the Sucheon Association’s business!”

When I looked at him again, their hostility had, for some reason, shifted away from the young man named Do Munseung and was now focused more heavily on me.

The bastard approached me with a menacing expression and shouted.

“Are you ignoring me right now?! Huh?!”

However, even as he did so, he kept sneaking glances toward Miss Tang.

The moment I saw that, I understood why they were acting this way.

‘They probably want to get rid of me.’

And the reason was most likely Miss Tang.

I grinned.

I had already decided whose side to take, and now they were even setting the stage for me.

I could not have been more grateful.

Smiling savagely, I tried to step toward him.

“Well now, thank y—!”

However, Miss Tang’s urgent voice transmission suddenly reached me.

—Young Master, no!

I stopped short.

No? Why?

When I looked at her in confusion, she sent another voice transmission.

—If they truly belong to the Sucheon Association, then they are allies of the Tang Clan. Allies whom the Clan Head considers extremely important….

At her words, I had no choice but to halt.

Allies of the Sichuan Tang Clan?

Those bastards?

A bitter taste filled my mouth.

If what she said was true, did that not mean I could not deal with them?

If I acted entirely according to my own feelings, I would place Miss Tang in a difficult position.

But leaving things like this felt deeply unpleasant….

As I bit my lip and hesitated over what to do, the large bastard stepped right up to me and shouted.

“You little bastard! I’m asking why you won’t answer me! Huh?!”

Then another man behind him sneered.

“Maybe he’s too scared to answer. He looks like some pretty-faced gigolo, doesn’t he? Seems like he’s completely shriveled up.”

“Khhuhuhuhuhu!”

Hearing their ridicule caused something hot to surge violently inside me.

It was enough to make me wonder whether I truly needed to let these bastards go merely because Miss Tang’s position might become difficult.

Just then, the young man named Do Munseung shouted at them.

“Wonwang! Upo! I’ll go with you!”

At his sudden shout, everyone’s gaze turned toward him.

By then, he had completely released his sword and stood there defenseless.

He spoke in an earnest tone.

“I’ll go with you. So stop this. Are you not martial artists of the Sucheon Association, the orthodox faction representing Sichuan Province? How can men such as yourselves threaten people who have nothing to do with this?”

The large man frowned in dissatisfaction. Even so, he stepped back as though he had no choice.

Once the name of the Sucheon Association had been invoked, it seemed he no longer had any justification to continue provoking us.

He clicked his tongue regretfully, restrained the arms of the young man named Do Munseung, and began dragging him away roughly.

“Tsk. Let’s go!”

Yet even as they did so, they did not forget to continue glancing at Miss Tang’s face with lingering regret.

‘Tsk!’

I was just as disappointed.

Had they taken some sort of action, I would have gained justification to move as well.

I watched the bastards leave without doing anything, feeling frustrated, then subtly turned my head toward Miss Tang.

She had lowered her head with a dark expression and was staring only at the ground.

After letting them leave, we increased our speed and entered nearby Yeongnam in Sichuan Province.

Since the young man named Do Munseung had said he was a disciple of the Yeongnam Sword Sect, he was probably from this area.

Miss Tang suddenly asked me a question.

Her expression had remained gloomy ever since the earlier incident.

“Are we going directly to the Yeongnam Sword Sect?”

“No. Let’s go to an inn first.”

It would have been best if we could go directly to the Hao Clan branch, but since I did not know where it was located here, I planned to visit an inn first and gather information.

We went to the largest nearby inn and were able to hear various stories by slipping the servers a few iron coins.

“The Sucheon Association, you ask? Goodness, that place is the pride of us people of southern Sichuan! It is entirely thanks to the Sucheon Association that we can survive in this southern corner of Sichuan Province, beyond the reach of Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan!”

“That’s right! If they weren’t here, we would have already been killed by those Blood Cult bastards from Yunnan Province or the Six Ghost Hall bastards from Guizhou Province!”

The local people’s opinion of the Sucheon Association was surprisingly favorable.

That was probably because the Sucheon Association itself had arisen naturally to protect southern Sichuan from external invasions.

The servers explained that the sects of southern Sichuan Province had each contributed disciples and funds to form a self-defense force, which eventually became the present Sucheon Association.

Opinions regarding the Yeongnam Sword Sect, and Do Munseung in particular, were divided even among the servers.

“Young Master Do Munseung of the Yeongnam Sword Sect is a truly outstanding man. He is famous for being gentle and fair, and here in Yeongnam, he is practically considered the model of a chivalrous hero.”

“Hmph! The model of a chivalrous hero, my foot! Isn’t Young Master Do the hypocrite who defied the Sucheon Association’s summons and even tried to flee?!”

“You fool! Young Master Do is the only person currently holding up the Yeongnam Sword Sect! How could he possibly go to the Sucheon Association?! If even he leaves, it is obvious that the Yeongnam Sword Sect will collapse entirely!”

“That is merely his personal circumstance! Wasn’t the present Sucheon Association created because everyone joined forces despite having circumstances of their own?! If he places his own circumstances first and defies the greater cause, how can he call himself an orthodox chivalrous hero?!”

It seemed the Sucheon Association currently maintained its strength by conscripting disciples from nearby sects as though drafting soldiers.

Do Munseung of the Yeongnam Sword Sect had refused, citing the difficult circumstances of his sect, whereupon the Sucheon Association immediately declared that it would execute him as an example.

That appeared to be the cause of the present situation.

I asked them several more questions.

“Have there been previous cases where someone was unable to answer the summons because of personal circumstances? And did they also immediately declare that person would be executed?”

The server thought back for a moment before answering.

“Ah, there was! When I was young, there was also someone who refused because of his sect’s circumstances. I believe they postponed the date of his summons back then!”

“Huh? Did that happen?”

“What do you mean? Young Master Sang of the Baekdo Sect did exactly that!”

“Ah, Young Master Sang! That’s right, he did!”

After listening to them, I asked again.

“Then declaring an immediate execution merely for refusing the summons, as they have now, is not a normal occurrence?”

Both men readily nodded.

“Yes. At least, this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“It is the same for me.”

However, one of the servers who had answered hurriedly added something.

“But that must be because the Sucheon Association is in an urgent situation these days! I heard they have suffered many casualties recently while stopping incursions by the Blood Cult and the Six Ghost Hall!”

“Hmm, that’s right. I heard that rumor as well.”

I slowly contemplated their words.

‘They have suffered many casualties because of invasions by the Blood Cult and the Six Ghost Hall?’

Then I asked another question.

“Have you recently heard of anyone who actually suffered harm from the Blood Cult or the Six Ghost Hall?”

They shook their heads and answered brightly.

“No, we haven’t! How could such a thing happen when the Sucheon Association is protecting us?”

“That’s right! It is entirely thanks to the Sucheon Association that we can live so peacefully!”

“I see. Thank you.”

I gave them a few more iron coins and sent them away.

Then I asked Miss Tang, who had been listening beside me.

“What do you think, Miss Tang?”

She answered with an expression that still seemed dispirited.

“It does seem somewhat strange. Mak Ujeon, the current leader of the Sucheon Association, is known as the Rising-Heaven Swordsman and is a master approaching the Supreme Realm. That is why my father… the Clan Head pays close attention to him. Yet they claim casualties have occurred because of the Blood Cult and the Six Ghost Hall. If the Blood Cult’s forces had crossed the front and advanced northward, there is no way we would not know. And the Six Ghost Hall should not possess enough strength to invade Sichuan Province.”

It was an accurate analysis.

I had found that point suspicious as well.

It was strange for the Sucheon Association to be suffering damage from the Blood Cult while the front remained intact, and it was impossible for the Six Ghost Hall, one of the Eight Houses of Guizhou, to invade a place connected to the Tang Clan.

As had been the case with the Righteous Chivalry Guild, there was a considerable difference in strength between the Eight Houses of Guizhou and the forces of Sichuan Province.

Claiming that the Sucheon Association was struggling because of the Six Ghost Hall’s incursions was as absurd as saying a pack of wolves was struggling because of invading cats.

However, after saying that much, Miss Tang lowered her head and added self-deprecatingly.

“But… even if that is true, what could someone like me possibly do? I’m sorry, Young Master Seonu. Because of me….”

Seeing her so dejected that she looked ready to dig a hole and crawl into it, I let out a deep sigh.

She definitely had a problem.

More than anything, her rock-bottom self-esteem would eventually cause trouble in Miss Tang’s life one way or another, even if not today.

I had noticed this aspect of her for some time and had wanted to speak with her about it.

However, until now, I had been too cautious about approaching others to do so….

Yet somehow, I felt I could do it now.

No, I felt that I had to.

I looked at her and carefully began to speak.

“Miss Tang. I greatly like the side of yourself that you show only to me. You are so adorable that it makes me want to help you with anything.”

Startled by my sudden confession, she snapped her head up and stared at me.

“What?”

Her face had flushed as red as an apple.

However, I continued speaking without concern for that.

“But I also like the side of you that you show your squad members as their captain. You inspire trust, and I feel a strength in you that makes it seem we could overcome hardship together.”

“Ah….”

Her expression became confused.

She looked as though she had no idea what I was trying to say.

Looking at her, I asked solemnly.

“I like both of those sides of you very much. Then why do you dislike and deny yourself?”

“…What?”

She still did not seem to understand, so I decided to speak briefly about something else.

“There are times when I am afraid of dealing with people. I lost my mother when I was young, and I was ostracized by my brothers and family, so approaching people has always been difficult and awkward for me. I was also afraid that they might leave me.”

“…….”

Her eyes grew slightly moist at my unexpected confession.

Perhaps it was because she had experienced pain similar to mine.

“On the other hand, when facing enemies, I sometimes become colder than anyone else. I do not hesitate to kill them or even use schemes against them. Whenever Bi Sayoung sees how I deal with members of the Blood Cult, he sometimes curses me for being a heartless bastard without blood or tears.”

She nodded as well.

“Ah, yes. I also….”

However, I had not finished speaking.

“I am also quite mischievous when I am with my friends. Especially when I am with fellows like Bi Sayoung or Bae Jonggwan, I often play childish pranks like a ten-year-old.”

Then I looked directly into her eyes and spoke.

I told her what I had truly wanted to say.

“Though I may change depending on the situation, all of these are parts of me. Together, they make up the person called me. I believe that only when all of these sides come together do they form my true self. And as time passes, I may develop entirely new sides as well.”

That was probably true.

A person was not a being who remained fixed in only one form.

Was it not said that anything stagnant eventually rotted?

Then I asked her.

“Then why have you defined yourself solely as the wounded little girl you once were? And why do you hate that child so much?”

“…What?”

Her startled eyes trembled violently.

Miss Tang believed that the hated child she had been in her youth was her only true self.

She considered every other side of herself a lie and felt guilty toward everyone to whom she showed those sides.

Most of all, Miss Tang hated that little girl who had been subjected to her mother’s hatred.

She had convinced herself that she was someone who deserved her mother’s hatred and had no right to be loved by anyone.

That was probably because she was too kind.

She was such a kind and tender person that no matter how much hatred she received, she could not bring herself to hate her mother and had instead chosen to hate herself.

However, there was no possibility that she could become happy while trapping herself inside the image of a little girl who deserved to be hated.

I knew that better than anyone, because in my previous life, I had hated myself more than anyone else.

“The Miss Tang I see is a lovely woman, a captain filled with leadership, and also a martial artist who steadfastly trains herself. Then why are you the only one who confines yourself inside that child?”

Her eyes had now lost focus and drifted aimlessly.

Her confusion resembled the memories of my own past so closely that it hurt unbearably.

I watched her with pity for a moment, then spoke again in a gentle voice.

“I believe you are a truly remarkable woman. I do not mean only the wounded little girl, nor only the cold and commanding captain. I mean the present Miss Tang, who was created by all those sides coming together. And I am certain the members of the Third Platoon and Brother Myeong, who departed, all felt the same way.”

Tears suddenly gathered in her eyes as she looked at me.

There was a child within them.

A wounded child who had wanted to be loved by her mother.

A kind child who could not bring herself to hate her mother and had instead chosen to hate herself.

Looking at that child, I filled my voice with all the warmth I could muster.

“So now, please let that child go. You know better than anyone now that the little girl did nothing wrong, do you not?”

At that moment, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“Ah.”

She looked startled and flustered by the tear that had fallen.

It seemed to be a tear she herself had not realized she was shedding.

“Ah, I-I’m sorry. Why is this…?”

However, once the tears began, they did not stop.

They continued falling endlessly, as though pouring out all the sorrow she had endured until now.

Somehow, I felt as though I could understand the many emotions mixed within them.

I left her alone and quietly went outside.

I wanted to give her time to sort through her feelings by herself.

“Huuuu.”

I let out a deep sigh.

The words I had spoken to Miss Tang had not been meant solely for her.

They were also words I had wanted to tell my past self.

They were meant for that Seonu Jin who had been so afraid of hating and shedding blood with his family that he had chosen to ruin himself instead.

I had always wanted to say something like this to that man from my previous life.

That he had been young, and there had been nothing he could do.

That it was all right.

That I understood him.

For some reason, the sky was slowly becoming hazy.

Time passed, and Miss Tang came outside about half a shichen later.

She appeared to have cried a great deal, as her face was clearly stained with tear tracks.

However, a pleased smile naturally appeared on my face when I saw her.

Her eyes were shining more clearly and brilliantly than ever before.

Miss Tang smiled at me like sunlight and spoke.

“Thank you, Young Master Seonu. And….”

After hesitating briefly, she continued.

“I want to help that man named Do Munseung.”

I chuckled at her sudden words and asked.

“Even though the Sucheon Association that captured him is an ally of the Sichuan Tang Clan?”

She smiled softly and answered.

“Yes. Even so, I feel like helping him. Is there perhaps some way we can do that?”

As she asked, her face held a slightly mischievous, faintly confident smile unlike anything she had shown before.

That side of her was also so beautiful and captivating that it dazzled me.

I grinned and answered.

“Of course there is. Is there truly anything in this world for which no method exists? Shall I see what I can come up with?”

She smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yes! Please do!”

Her smile, as though she had shed an old layer of skin, shone dazzlingly beneath the sunlight.