Tangmunjeon - Chapter 331



Only Noblemtl

Chapter 331 of Tangmunjeon The party decided to wait until Tuhee Wijinanhyang’s broken ribs healed a little before leaving Samguchon.

However, Dang Mu-jin had something on his mind.

“If Elder Tohui leaves this village, won’t he be harmed by the Sapa warriors?”

Tohee answered Dangmujin’s question vaguely.

“Well, it’s been quiet these past few years, with hardly any visitors…”

“Even Cheonpae died in this village.”

“hmm···.”

Toohee also seemed to be very concerned about the part that Dangmujin had pointed out.

But as if she had guessed Toohee’s feelings in advance, Kang Ji-so spoke.

“If Cheonpae had come to report his whereabouts, his subordinates would have followed him. I think he came quietly for personal business.”

“Well, I’m not sure…”

When Toohee couldn’t easily shake off her worries, Kang Ji-so let out a deep sigh.

“Just go, sis. Are you just going to blow this opportunity that you’ll never have again?”

Only then did Dang Mu-jin and his party realize that Kang Ji-so was calling Tu-hee “sister.”

The age difference between Toohee and Kang Ji-so made them seem more like parents and children than sisters. The role Toohee has played for the past twenty or thirty years must have been closer to that of a parent than a sister.

But the karma that Toohee committed was so great that she could not be called a mother.

The fact that she was called Unnie and that Kang Ji-so ran all the way to Dongjeongho to find a doctor who could treat Wei Jinan-hyang was a miraculous improvement in their relationship.

“but.”

“Sister. I’ve also learned martial arts. Now I’m better than any bully. Don’t worry and go.”

In fact, the safety of the village was something that Wijinanhyang had been thinking about ever since he disappeared.

Of course, he never thought he would leave like this. He just thought there would come a time when he would either go completely crazy or become too old to do his part.

That is why Wi Jinan Xiang taught martial arts to several villagers. It was like teaching the martial arts of the Wi Ji Family to people who were not related to the Wi Ji Family, but he was not in a position to nitpick.

There was no one who was particularly talented, and Kang Ji-so was at best third-rate. One of the men in the village who was not badly talented was second-rate.

But even that is much better than nothing. In fact, even a second-rate drone can do the job of one person.

Although it is a story about a relatively stable martial arts world, wouldn’t it be possible for a second-rate martial artist to serve as a leader in a small business?

Finally, Kang Ji-so added a word.

“Come back when you’re young enough that I can comfortably call you sister.”

Only then did Toohee smile silently.

And Tuhee looked around. It seemed like the other villagers had no intention of catching Tuhee either.

They also knew deep down that although Toohee had committed a great sin, he was not the kind of person who should be in a small town like this. And that the devotion he had shown so far was a little too much for the people of this small town.

However, an old woman heard Kang Ji-so’s story and joined in.

It was the old woman who went to sing Sul-hwa when the Cheonpae invaded a while ago.

“Come back? It’s time for Nanhyang to find her own life. She’s not a girl who fits in with our village. If you leave now, don’t even think about coming back.”

“yes?”

The old woman’s story went even further than Kang Ji-so’s. It was enough to make both Too-hee and Kang Ji-so a little flustered.

“Did Nanhyang ever dream of a future like this when she was little? Now it’s time for Nanhyang to find her own life. She’s been lost and wandering for way too long.”

“No, I don’t think so…”

“You’re a lost person, aren’t you? If your name was Wijisilhyang (失向), I would have told you to settle down in the village since you’ve lost your way. But since you’re Wijinanhyang (難向), it might be difficult to find your way, but it’s right to find your way someday and return.”

It was a pun. The name of Wei Zhen Xiang was Nan Xiang (蘭香), which means the fragrance of orchids.

But the old woman’s story captured the hearts of the old woman and the villagers.

Kang Ji-so looked at Wi Jin-nan-hyang with a subtle expression, sighed deeply, and finally spoke to Wi Jin-nan-hyang.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

“Hey, that’s…”

“I’m not saying you shouldn’t come at all. It’s okay to come once or twice when you remember. But I’m saying you shouldn’t think about settling down completely. Now, go live your life, unnie.”

Because they had been together for a long time, she couldn’t completely hide her regret. Kang Ji-so’s voice was full of regret.

On the contrary, that was why Kang Ji-so couldn’t go back on her story. If she caught Wi Jin-nan-hyang now, she wouldn’t be able to tell Wi Jin-nan-hyang to leave again, and Wi Jin-nan-hyang really wouldn’t be able to leave.

Tuhee Wijinanhyang happily accepted the hearts of Kang Ji-so and the villagers.

The next day, Tuhee set off with Dang Mujin and his party.

*

The group’s movements were not very fast. The first reason was that they were afraid that if they ran excitedly while using lightness, Wei Zhenanxiang’s ribs, which were just starting to stick together, would break again, and the second reason was that Assemblyman Yeom’s lightness was not very good.

This was true even though Rep. Yeom’s achievements in light combat were far superior to those in swordsmanship or martial arts. This was natural, since Rep. Yeom had only recently begun to learn martial arts.

Hwayeonshinni said to Dangmujin.

“Okay, see you next time.”

“Yes. Thank you for your help.”

Hwayeonshinni and Tuhee decided to part ways with their group in Chongqing.

As has always been the case, Hwa Yeon-shin-ni will stay in Chongqing and occasionally visit Tang Jia Zhang.

Dang Mu-jin watched the backs of Hwa Yeon-shin-ni and Tu-hee as they left, and thought about Tu-hee’s future.

What does the future hold for Tuhee?

Will he succeed Hwayeonshinni and settle down in Chongqing, become the second head of the Hao clan, and take care of the lower classes?

Or will he make a comeback and return to Samgu Village?

Will he be able to turn back the clock and hide his past, and move into the Central Plains martial arts world to start a new life?

Or will I die without ever being able to achieve a return to normalcy and escape madness?

I couldn’t know. That was entirely up to Tuhee.

Dang Mu-jin knew that the last possibility was the most likely among the many possibilities. But for some reason, he had a feeling that it would never happen.

As the old woman I met in Samgu Village said, Wijinanhyang will find her way, even if it is difficult.

It is inevitable that people live up to their reputation.

Even if it is a name given as a pun, it would be so.

*

While heading to Chengdu, Sichuan Province via Chongqing, Namgung Myeong spoke to Dang Mujin.

“Why are you dawdling so much?”

“No, just···.”

Although he did not tell his friends, Dang Mu-jin was overcome by a creeping fear as he approached Sacheonseong. Any man who returned home after being away for a year would feel the same. The fear and guilt of a father who abandoned his family are very deep.

Eventually, as Dang Mu-jin’s steps gradually slowed down and stopped, Namgung Myung grumbled.

“Why again?”

“No… What is that?”

Before going home, I need some time to prepare myself mentally.

Dang Mu-jin thought about the way back to the castle and came up with a suitable excuse.

“Honggeolgae. Let’s go to Juulchon for the first time in a while. Just take a slight detour on the way there.”

“Juulchon? I like it.”

Hong Geol-gae looked quite excited. However, other than Hong Geol-gae and Dang Mu-jin, no one else knew where Ju-eul-chon was. They just thought, “I’ve heard of it somewhere.”

Rep. Yeom asked.

“Where is Juulchon?”

“This is the hometown of Hong Geol-gae.”

At the same time, it is the village where Dang Mu-jin met Hong Geol-gae, and the village where Dang Mu-jin first faced a life-threatening situation.

Dang Mu-jin also clearly remembered how scary Janyangssangsal had been at that time. Dang Mu-jin had run away as soon as he encountered Janyangssangsal and then returned in a daze.

Hong Geol-gae spoke to his other friends.

“That’s where I first took the elixir. Have you heard of black peony? I heard that I climbed the mountain behind Jueulchon and got black peony.”

Worried that there might be someone who opposes, Dang Mu-jin cut off the beginning and the end and brought up the topic of elixir. As expected, Hyun-gong was caught.

“You got the black peony from that village?”

“Yes. I ate the fresh black peony as soon as I dug it up. I just roughly shook off the dirt from the root and ate it in one bite…”

Hyun-gong was lost in thought. All elixirs tend to grow in groups, so even if there is no black peony, there may be elixirs one or two levels lower nearby.

It’s very unlikely, but there may be an elixir that’s even more valuable than black peony. Couldn’t black peony be a side dish? Elixirs tend to grow well in places where people are sparsely populated.

Of course, it was a vain hope. Wasn’t the black peony of Juulchon half-artificially created using clear streams and the carcasses of numerous animals?

But Dang Mu-jin didn’t go that far in talking about it.

Hong Geol-gae was the first to express his consent. He was thinking of visiting Ma Jeon-gae’s grave, and he also wanted to show himself to the villagers.

“Okay. Let’s go visit for the first time in a while. No one objects, right?”

I wondered how people would react when they heard that that ignorant beggar had become one of the best martial artists in the martial arts world.

Hong Geol-gae still harbored deep resentment towards the villagers.

Hong Geol-gae still couldn’t forget the mistreatment he received from the villagers after killing Janyangssangsal.

I also vividly remember being looked down on as if I didn’t exist, and burying the magic pot outside the village alone with only my bare hands and a stick.

The party immediately gathered opinions and made a decision.

“Okay. Let’s go to Hong Geol-gae’s hometown. No one objects, right?”

Of course, he did not forget to create an atmosphere where it seemed like he was going to Juulchon for Hong Geol-gae and not for himself.

*

“···Hey, how come you don’t even know how to get home?”

“That could be the case.”

The way to Juulchon had to be found by Dang Mujin instead of Hong Geol-gae.

At first glance, it might seem strange that Hong Geol-gae didn’t even know his way home, but if you think about it, it wasn’t particularly strange.

When I first met Hong Geol-gae, wasn’t he half lost? Hong Geol-gae has poor eyesight.

Even Hong Geol-gae had never returned to Jueul Village since he left it. Although he was familiar enough with the inside of Jueul Village to be able to walk around with his eyes closed, he didn’t really know how to get to Jueul Village.

Still, it was good. Hong Geol-gae followed Dang Mu-jin with a puffed-out heart.

As they got closer to Juulchon, Hong Geol-gae’s heart swelled as if it was going to burst.

It was fun to imagine how the villagers would view him. The village’s ignorant rascal would return to his hometown as a great martial arts master. Isn’t this a situation that only comes from old tales?

I was curious about the reaction of Mrs. Lee, who was secretly dissatisfied that I came too often to get food, and the reactions of the village girls who treated me like I didn’t even exist.

“think.”

Finally, a small village appeared.

Juulchon was a bit smaller and more shabby than the Juulchon in my memories.

Unlike Samgu Village, which I had left not long ago, the poverty in Jueul Village was not temporary.

Juulchon was too remote and the land was not good for farming, so it was impossible to escape poverty while living in Juulchon.

Hong Geol-gae straightened his shoulders and took the lead as he entered the village.

When I was young, I thought about going to the village chief of Juulchon, who seemed as high as the sky, and boldly asking for a place to stay for the night.

Hong Geol-gae fiddled with the dagger in his bosom.

This is a dagger that was obtained along with the prize money from winning the Mu Chang martial arts competition. It may not be very practical, but it is decorated with various jewels, so it is clearly an extremely valuable item.

Hong Geol-gae intended to offer this dagger to his master, Ma Jeon-gae’s grave. He intended to be lenient and not criticize the poor villagers who found it and took it. If the villagers thought that it was also Ma Jeon-gae’s merit, they would be happy.

Hong Geol-gae imagined this moment and entered the martial arts competition under the name of Hong Gyeon, the demon lord.

Anyone who knows the magic wand well will eventually suspect the relationship between the magic wand Hong-gyeon and the heavenly spirit Hong-gyeon. If there is such a suspicion, I am ready to gladly accept it.

Hyun-gong spoke about his feelings.

“It’s a small town.”

“That’s right. Small and poor.”

As Hong Geol-gae led his group into the village, the villagers’ attention was focused on him.

But before long, Hong Geol-gae noticed something strange. The people’s faces were unfamiliar.

It didn’t matter if there were a few unfamiliar faces.

As they grow older, their faces may change a lot, or maybe they move. Maybe they move to a poor, remote village, but anyway.

But that wasn’t the case. There wasn’t a single familiar face.

Even the people who came and went through the village were all trained in martial arts, even if they were not of high level. There were dozens of people with first-class and second-class skills. Most of them had suffered minor or major injuries, and had wrapped their wounds with rags or something.

While I was at a loss as to what was going on, a man with a beard that grew thickly and covered half of his neck approached me. He had the aura of a leader of a group. Judging from his gait and the way he looked, his skills were probably first-class chin-ups.

The man asked Hong Geol-gae.

“Where did you come from?”

“···yes?”

“You wouldn’t have just come to this remote village. There must have been someone who sent you here.”

“There is no such person···.”

“Then, why did you come here?”

“I’m from this town. It’s been years since I’ve been back, but I don’t see any familiar faces. Where did all the original residents go?”

As Hong Geol-gae answered, the atmosphere of the people surrounding him became subtle.

The bearded man smiled faintly.

“You can follow along and check!”

The man suddenly drew his sword and swung it at Hong Geol-gae.

But the man’s black dagger was caught between his index and middle fingers.

“uh···?”

Hong Geol-gae glared at the man with blazing eyes as he spoke.

“Where did everyone go?”