Chapter 39. Return (1)
As expected, the Tang Clan erupted into chaos when I arrived back at the inn.
I'd shown up unable to walk on my own, carried on Tang Sowol's back, and accompanied by an unfamiliar face.
After mustering the last bits of my strength to give a brief explanation, I left the rest to Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang and promptly collapsed into sleep.
The next morning...
"Tch. Still sleeping, huh? How is someone so frail supposed to become the Tang Clan's son-in-law?"
"Brother, no one would call someone frail after they fought off the entire Hao Clan in Yeonju and even defeated the branch leader."
Even in my half-asleep state, the gruff voice reached my ears clearly, waking me.
A soft bed, warm sunlight streaming through the window, the distant chirping of birds...
And the unpleasant sight of burly men glaring down at me from my bedside. What a refreshing way to start the day.
I circulated my internal energy to shake off the remnants of sleep before speaking.
"What brings you all here so early in the morning?"
"We have things to discuss and some things to give you," Tang Jincheon said.
"I'm sorry to disturb you when you need more rest," Tang Yujin added, giving me a friendly wave. "But it's something that will help you, so please don't find us too troublesome."
Despite their appearances, they were genuinely good people. But seeing them first thing in the morning was a bit overwhelming.
"How could I think that? I'm just surprised. What's so urgent that you've come to see me?"
"We've arranged a carriage," Tang Jincheon explained. "We're planning to return to Chengdu in about an hour, so we came to let you know to prepare."
"Wait, right now?"
"We can't risk staying here longer. Who knows what might happen next? It's best to prioritize returning to Chengdu. I know you're not fully recovered yet, but we'd like you to rest in the carriage instead of on a bed."
"I have no objections, but isn't this a bit rushed?"
"It needs to be rushed. We have a lot to deal with—explaining the situation to the Hao Clan, addressing any protests, and potentially applying some pressure if necessary."
Tang Jincheon's expression hardened as he spoke, his tone barely suppressing his anger.
I glanced at Tang Yujin for clarification. Catching my look, he offered a sheepish explanation.
"Even though you haven't officially married Sowol yet, we've made it clear that you're part of the Tang Clan. The Hao Clan knows this, but the branch leader here treated you like prey and hunted you down."
"Well, it's probably because I 'kidnapped' Seol Lihyang," I said.
"You mean the girl you brought with you? She's the daughter of your benefactor, so I understand your actions, but they were still extreme. However, there's an order to things and a proper way to handle them."
Tang Yujin's smile turned sharp as he continued.
"The Lord of the Bright Moon Pavilion should have first visited us to explain the situation and seek a resolution."
But the Lord didn't do that.
Instead, he controlled the area around the inn where the Tang Clan members were staying to keep the commotion out of earshot while he mobilized the Hao Clan to capture me.
He must have planned to secure Seol Lihyang first and then negotiate with the Tang Clan from a position of strength.
He had been desperate and likely assumed we wouldn't hand Seol Lihyang over once we learned the details.
But still...
"That doesn't change the fact that he disregarded the Tang Clan. And you could have been seriously injured."
"That's true..."
If the Hao Clan members had continued fighting after I defeated their leader, I might not have made it out unscathed.
"Of course, I'm not saying you did the right thing. You should have consulted the elders about this beforehand."
"I apologize. Tang Sowol already scolded me about it."
Perhaps because her name was mentioned, Tang Jincheon's tone softened as he spoke again.
"Let me say this once more. We all know you're skilled, but not every problem needs to be solved with a sword. If you face difficulties, bring them to us. That's what the elders are here for."
Though I acknowledged that I was still young from an outsider's perspective, as someone with memories of a past life, I wasn't fond of being treated like a child.
Still, just like when Tang Sowol said something similar, the sentiment didn't feel bad.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Now, let's move on to the next matter."
"Next matter?"
"As I said, we have things to give you."
Tang Jincheon began pulling out various items and handing them to me.
"This is Supreme Vitality Pill, this is a tonic called Hundred Herb Decoction, and here are a few Reinforced Essence Pill pills. If we were in the Tang Clan's main estate, we'd have better medicines, but unfortunately, this is the best we could get here."
I looked at the armful of medicines with a puzzled expression.
"What are these for?"
"They're for you, of course. We bought these from a nearby pharmacy in a hurry. None of them are miracle elixirs, but they're all good for restoring energy. We made sure they don't conflict with each other, so eat them all."
Tang Jincheon grumbled about how I was too frail for someone about to marry into the Tang Clan, yet he'd gone out and bought this much medicine in a single night.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I accepted the medicines and said, "Thank you?"
"Don't thank me. Just eat them."
After swallowing the pills and drinking the tonic, a bitter medicinal taste lingered in my mouth, making me grimace despite my efforts to hide it.
Satisfied, Tang Jincheon stood up.
"Now then, we'll leave. Someone will come to get you soon, so be ready by then."
"I understand."
With those parting words, Tang Jincheon and Tang Yujin left the room.
In truth, I had little to prepare. All I owned was my body and a sword.
They likely knew this and were simply giving me time to recover using the medicines they'd brought.
"Whew."
Ignoring the soreness in my body, I forced myself into a meditative position and took deep breaths.
Soon, my consciousness sank deep into my inner world.
Though my body still ached here and there, I managed to recover enough to move properly.
When one of the Dark Soul Unit members arrived to escort me outside, I was greeted by a grand and luxurious carriage, far more impressive than I had expected.
Near the carriage, Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang were chatting.
Judging by the scene, it seemed Tang Sowol was making an effort to ease Seol Lihyang's nervousness around the Tang Clan warriors.
When I approached, Tang Sowol immediately noticed me and hurried over, with Seol Lihyang following hesitantly.
"Brother Cheon, are you feeling better now?"
"The patriarch brought me medicine this morning. Thanks to him, I'm well enough to move."
"My father? Heh, as much as he complains, it seems he really does like you!"
Tang Sowol giggled behind her hand, while Seol Lihyang inspected me curiously.
"You were so exhausted you collapsed, and now you're fine after a single night? Are all martial artists like this?"
"I was only fatigued, that's all."
"Isn't that still a problem...?"
"I wasn't seriously injured, either externally or internally. And while the medicines weren't miracle elixirs, they helped replenish my energy. A bit of meditation did the rest."
"Can you explain that in a way someone who doesn't know martial arts can understand?"
"For someone like me, good medicine and rest are enough to recover quickly."
"Wow, martial artists are amazing!"
Seol Lihyang's awe was so pure that it made me chuckle.
As I laughed, Tang Sowol gently tugged my arm and guided me toward the carriage.
"Brother Cheon may say that, but he's far from fully recovered. You'll need to rest in the carriage for the time being."
"R-really? Is that true, Sister Tang?"
"Yes. According to my uncle, young men like him often overestimate themselves. They feel embarrassed to admit when they're not fine, so they insist they are."
"That's not true," I retorted.
"Oh, it isn't? Then why is it that every time you claim you're fine, you end up collapsing or seriously injured?"
"When have I ever—"
"When you fought the Hundred Kill Swordsman, you passed out covered in blood. When you faced the Ogre Chief and Ghostwood Witch, you suffered severe internal injuries from the demonic energy. And this time, too. If you'd pushed yourself a little further, you'd have damaged your energy flow and needed a long recovery."
"...I said I was fine because I was fine. I wasn't dying, was I?"
"'Not dying' doesn't mean 'safe.'"
I had no response to that.
She was right, of course. Many young martial artists in my position often met tragic ends because of their recklessness.
Tang Sowol continued leading me toward the carriage, where Seol Lihyang opened the door.
With seamless coordination, the two of them had me seated in no time.
Tang Sowol sat beside me, while Seol Lihyang took the seat across from us. The seats were already padded with soft leather for comfort.
With her usual graceful yet firm smile, Tang Sowol spoke.
"Lie down here, young hero."
Before I could respond, she gently pulled my head toward her lap.
Resting my head on her thigh, she nodded in satisfaction.
"You were disappointed when you had to ride with my father on the way here, weren't you? Now you can return with me instead. Isn't that wonderful?"
Her words carried the confidence of someone who believed her actions could only make me happy.
Normally, I might have played along and enjoyed her assertive attitude, but...
For some reason, the conflicted expression on Seol Lihyang's face, her wide eyes staring at me, made me feel awkward.
Without thinking, I changed the subject entirely.
"Speaking of which, about Seol Lihyang's situation..."
"M-me? The patriarch said he'd help me settle in Chengdu," Seol Lihyang replied.
"That would be good. Living under the Tang Clan's protection would be safe and comfortable. But for me, it would feel like a waste."
"A waste? Why?"
Her voice carried a hint of curiosity, as though she was expecting something.
"You have a talent for martial arts. It would be a shame to let it go to waste."
"Martial arts?!"
Her initial disappointment turned to excitement as her eyes sparkled.
"What kind of martial arts talent? Swordsmanship like yours? Throwing weapons like Sister Tang's? I guess I am pretty good at throwing stones."
As she grinned and nodded to herself, I replied in a calm voice.
"You have a natural talent for seductive arts."
A cold silence filled the carriage.
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[TL]
Happy Christmas! <*~*>