Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Akyang Apothecary in Hunan (1)
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I stay hidden quietly, watching the Blue Tiger Sect Leader.
A man who gets back up like a roly-poly doll no matter how many kicks he takes or how hard he's whipped with horse reins, silently doing the work he's assigned.
His face is expressionless, like he's wearing a thick mask.
Even from this fair distance, I can see his dead eyes.
A man who can't even die. Not even suicide is allowed.
If he'd been the only one left to endure such humiliation, he probably would have taken his own life long ago.
But he can't. The Blue Tiger Sect Leader can't even commit suicide because of the hostages they have.
His young daughter. And the young disciples they captured when they wiped out the sect.
His daughter and the young disciples are doing hard labor too, but apparently not to the same extent as the sect leader.
At least they preserve a minimum of human rights for him? So they can use him however they want.
But do they really need to go that far? Did they hate the Blue Tiger Sect that much?
The Crimson Bandit Sect bastards. I don't like them.
Well, they'll get their comeuppance eventually. It's all their own doing.
Rescuing the Blue Tiger Sect Leader will require some preparations.
I need to scout the situation more thoroughly too. Jobs like this have to be done cleanly.
So hang in there just a bit longer.
I'll resolve it within the fortnight I'm staying at the Yellow Jade Tower, at least.
I'll check the details again tonight, so for now, I head somewhere else.
Chorin's intel pointed to two places.
The other one is the Song Stream Sect, located a little ways outside Akyang.
From what I'd heard about the Song Stream Sect and what I observed until evening, I gleaned a few pieces of information.
The Song Stream Sect is based on Song Stream Mountain and is currently being strangled by the Crimson Bandit Sect.
Originally, they were far enough away—and up in the mountains—that there was no reason for them to cross paths with the Crimson Bandit Sect.
But the Crimson Bandit Sect grew into the greatest evil sect, steadily expanding its territory until their borders now touch.
The Song Stream Sect isn't strong enough to withstand the Crimson Bandit Sect charging in en masse and turning it into a wasteland.
The silver lining is that the Crimson Bandit Sect can no longer do that now?
Having become the top evil sect, they can't just act like common thugs anymore.
Even the Crimson Bandit Sect has to care about its reputation these days.
That doesn't mean they have no options.
There are plenty of ways to apply pressure without being overt. They just take time.
That's why they're still choking the Song Stream Sect even now.
Pack up and leave on your own. Or we'll make you.
That was the state of the Song Stream Sect.
Thanks to the Crimson Bandit Sect's rampages, no new disciples are joining.
On top of that, only about six disciples remain.
It wouldn't be strange if they collapsed any day now.
The good news was that the remaining six had sharp eyes. And talent too.
Like all the prime cuts were left behind?
I liked hearing that the Song Stream Sect had a good reputation.
That was the most satisfying response from the locals nearby.
A place with nothing to be ashamed of when looking up at the heavens.
How must they have lived to earn such high praise?
And it wasn't just one person. Most reacted the same way.
This is why people should live righteously. The good deeds come back around eventually, right?
As the sun set, I returned to the pavilion overlooking the Crimson Bandit Sect.
The still-harassed Blue Tiger Sect Leader, Ma Wonpyeong, watches a Crimson Bandit Sect disciple kick him and cackle mockingly before leaving, then lets out a small sigh.
How frustrating it must be.
Heart-wrenching pain, like one's intestines are being severed?
That must be how the Blue Tiger Sect Leader feels right now.
People can endure anything if they have even a shred of hope.
That man has none. No salvation, no reversal.
Maybe that's why I feel drawn to him.
As the sun sets, the Blue Tiger Sect Leader shuffles off to his quarters, chains rattling.
A rundown building in one corner of the Crimson Bandit Hall. No different from a stable.
Watching it, I see a few others besides the sect leader.
Eight in total. Judging by the chains and their young ages, those must be the Blue Tiger Sect disciples.
They glance at each other's faces, wear forlorn expressions, and weakly head inside.
A woman emerges from the building to greet the Blue Tiger Sect people, her face as listless as theirs.
She's no great beauty.
Her shabby clothes and evident hardships make her look even more worn than her age suggests.
She must be the sect leader's daughter.
Seeing her look on the verge of tears while watching her father.
That's it. I've confirmed everything I need to. Time to do my part.
I return to Akyang town and head to the apothecary.
What was it called? Great Tiger Apothecary, I think.
At the apothecary entrance hangs a pouch labeled with angelica root.
The "tang" in angelica is a different character from the Tang Family's "Tang."
Well, hanging up the Tang Family's "Tang" bold as brass would be a bit much.
It could cause unwanted associations.
"What brings you here? We're closed for the night."
"That's why I'm here. I'm the lord of Ink Sword Grove."
At that, the apothecary owner's eyes deepen, his face breaking into a smile as he speaks.
"Hoho. An honored guest. Please, sit. I should brew some tea. How's little Soyeon?"
"Not Soyeon, Sohye."
"Kukukuk."
At my correction, the owner switches out the tea leaves he'd been about to use.
I don't know if anyone's tried impersonating me, but a botched attempt would probably earn a cup of tea laced with the Tang Family's special affections.
Anyone less than exceptional probably wouldn't leave this apothecary in one piece.
The tea comes out, and I drink the cup the owner brings without worry.
A profound taste. Being a Tang Family apothecary, the tea has remarkable depth.
Less like tea and more like medicine?
"Good for restoring your vital energy. Especially for men."
"I'd love to take a bunch and savor it for days."
"Kuku. Shall I pack some for you? Not a difficult request."
"That'd be great."
"Dang Jungmyeong at your service. I go by Elder Cheon of the apothecary since I can't reveal my identity."
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Kang Jeong-un, lord of Ink Sword Grove."
The owners of Tang Family apothecaries are generally good-natured.
Affable and sociable. At least to those they like.
"I heard you were coming to Akyang. Have you checked out the Crimson Bandit Sect?"
"Taking my time observing. That's actually why I'm here—I need something."
"Kekke. Speak freely. What can't we provide for the benefactor and friend of the Tang Family?"
"First, I need to send word to Chang'an. To Ink Sword Grove. Got any writing supplies?"
Elder Cheon fetches brush, ink, and paper right away. I take the brush and jot down a few characters.
I shake it a few times to dry the ink, fold it neatly, and hand it to Elder Cheon.
"How long to get a letter to Chang'an?"
"By this time tomorrow, it'll reach Sohye."
"Good. Then from Chang'an, sending goods here?"
"How much?"
"Not enough for a carrier pigeon—just what one person can carry."
"Rushed, it'd take four days."
"Four days. Plus the letter, that's five."
"Yes."
"Perfect. Handle that for me. And one more thing. I need ten corpses. Eight young men's, one middle-aged man's, and one young woman's."
At my words, Elder Cheon frowns briefly before asking in a puzzled tone.
"Is this related to the Blue Tiger Sect, by chance?"
I grinned broadly at his response.
This is why I like it. No need for long explanations.
"Exactly."
"Asking for corpses means you're planning to burn the place down?"
"Spot on."
"Hoho. Not an easy task. They may look sloppy, but the Crimson Bandit Sect will have plenty of eyes watching."
"Figured as much."
"Got a plan? With your skills, wouldn't it be better to just snatch them out?"
"Still thinking it over. That's why I came to ask. Which is better? I figured faking deaths might make them drop their guard."
"Hmm... Need to mull it over."
"Yeah. No rush for a perfect plan—gather some ideas when you have them. Still got five days."
Elder Cheon nods, then looks at me with curious eyes.
"But... mind if I ask why you're bothering to rescue the Blue Tiger Sect people? Need someone with a grudge against the Crimson Bandit Sect?"
"Something like that. I'm getting plenty of help from you all, but you're operating from the shadows. Can't step into the light. So I need people who can."
"True enough. Hmm. So you're looking for folks to stand against the Crimson Bandit Sect?"
"You could say that. And helping the wrongfully wronged along the way."
"Like the Tang Family."
"Exactly. Like the Tang Family."
"Kekke. Splendid. Lucky for us you're the Tang Family's benefactor and friend. Hard to find such people these days. Folks who uphold justice and chivalry to right the martial world's order."
Elder Cheon's purely admiring words made me feel a bit embarrassed.
It's not really like that.
"Nothing so grand in what I do."
"Hoho. Doesn't matter. Gratitude is felt by the recipient, and great causes are judged by posterity. If you help the needy out of your innate goodness, that's a great cause."
Goodness, my ass. Way too high an opinion of me.
"Guess I should head out. I'll drop by often—got a lot of questions."
"Kekke. Come anytime. A guest like you is always welcome, even for this old man. Need to stock better tea. Ah, take this. Can't have you leaving an apothecary empty-handed."
With that, I left the apothecary, tea leaves neatly packed in hand.
Heading back to the Yellow Jade Tower with the tea, I mulled over my talk with Elder Cheon.
Eighty-five. The years I've lived. But my mindset stopped at twenty-eight.
That's why I'm immature. All I've grown is my martial arts.
Increased internal energy. Higher attainments. Greater skill. Same old mind.
And still not knowing what I should do in this world.
When I talked with Seolha, she called it a journey to find a reason to live.
But just surviving isn't enough. You have to pursue something.
A great cause.
What is a great cause?
How do you even define one?
What do I need to do to pursue a great cause?
I need to think deeply about it sometime.
What my great cause is. What I should pursue.