Tanggata (Tang Clan Territory)
Tanggata (Tang Clan Territory)
A burial mound suddenly bulging out in the middle of the street.
Once the shaking of the ground stopped, the bustling crowd gathered around the mound in twos and threes, and one by one, they began to open their mouths.
"What on earth is going on... suddenly having the ground rise up like this?"
"But— wasn't there a young woman there?"
"H-huh, then shouldn't we rescue her quickly? It might be the trickery of some evil heretic, so if anyone has fast feet, go and bring the elders of the Tang Clan here!"
Tanggata in Sichuan Province.
It was a region maintained under the protection of the Sichuan Tang Clan. If something happened, it was only natural to look for the Tang Clan before the government troops. One person raised their hand high and was about to run off...
"I am called Jang I-hyo, and I have experience working as an escort warrior at an escort agency! I will go, so please hold the spot—"
"Stop! You fools! It's not some devil or evil person, or anything of that sort! It is the Dangsan Immortal. The Immortal is angry!!"
An elderly man jumped out from a stall and swung his cane wildly. He was an old man who had been receiving a lot of attention from the children for a while due to rumors that he had witnessed a horrific bloodbath from afar.
There were even whispers that he had seen the Dangsan Immortal, who had been passed down like a legend.
The old man screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Instead of bringing the elders of the Tang Clan, you should be offering prayers! You ignorant fools—!"
"I heard he was senile (dementia)... Hey, you called Jang I-hyo, right? What are you doing! Every second counts, why aren't you going quickly! Someone might die!"
The commotion was spreading. Suddenly, a clear, elegant fragrance spread throughout the area.
"Stop. The city is noisy."
"Green-clad one...! An elder of the Tang Clan has arrived!"
In Sichuan Province, the only ones allowed to wear green martial arts uniforms are the Tang Clan. The commotion on the street died down in an instant. The girl, who was clutching her forehead, said,
"People of Sichuan, listen. Forget everything about today's strange event. If you happened to see any harm, the Tang Clan will compensate you, so please step back from the burial mound."
A short arm cut through the crowd.
The way she controlled the people was quite natural, and the pressure that naturally exuded from her was immense.
Perhaps because it wasn't the kind of pressure one would expect from a physique that barely exceeded 4 cheok (approx. 133cm), even though she was an adult, the effect was doubled.
"Aside from the blades that received the previous order, the other blades, listen."
"Loyalty."
Eight men popped out from the girl's shadow. They were all people whose spirits were sharpened like blades.
"They are of the Jang-i-jok. To avoid any disturbance, spread a Qi barrier to dampen the sound, and you must only let in the sounds of nature."
"We obey your command."
With upright attitudes, the men raised their energy. Every one of them had their hands placed on the ground.
Uung—
A radiance began to stir in their lower dantian, and it surged out with immense force from the Yanggok acupoint on the edge of their hands, traveling along the blood vessels spread throughout their bodies.
It took only an instant for a round hemisphere to surround the area.
Only the girl in green and Dohwa inside the burial mound existed within the barrier like a different world.
Sabak—
Lightly stepping on the air and descending, the girl sat down politely in front of the mound with her knees together and placed her hand on the mound.
"This girl is called So-young of the Tang clan. Privately, I am called the Dark Heaven Poison Arm, so please forgive my rudeness."
Hwaak—!
Immediately after the light heated in the dantian wrapped around her palm, a spirit like a trembling small animal began to flow into her palm.
So-young tilted her head.
'Is this really the Dangsan Immortal......?'
I don't feel any transcendental Qi at all.
It was somewhat strange. The feeling, how should I put it.......
'The feeling of being seen. Exactly that.'
Suddenly. So-young.
"Uh......?"
She realized that her consciousness was racing over the surface of the water. Beside her, the wind was walking, and peach blossoms that had just bloomed were pouring down like snowflakes in the sky. Deep Mountain Song— or Peach Blossom Spring.
The waves beneath her consciousness drew round ripples.
Without realizing it, So-young looked up beyond the clouds that had risen deeply from the water's surface.
She saw a high rocky plateau hanging in the sky.
There were four round rocks hanging on the rock branches like immortals' bamboo hats, and there was a White Tiger, an Azure Dragon, a red-bodied peacock, and a bear that had started to sprout a shell.
So-young's mind was filled with sensations she was experiencing for the first time.
One could call it elation, or one could call it fear. It was indescribably strange.
What is this place?
What is the Dangsan Immortal?
Why am I—
Here?
There is nothing she can answer.
So-young just flopped— onto the surface of the water.
The subtle immortal fragrance of the Peach Blossom Spring, blowing clearly from beginning to end, made her consciousness go limp, and the four Divine Beasts looking down at her were as warm as old friends.
It was as warm as summer and as affectionate as a mother.
'It's comfortable. To the point where I don't want to leave.'
I want to stay here forever— it was when she thought that. A voice as fine as silk was heard.
"You cannot."
Sarak.......
So-young felt a touch gently stroking her face. It was accompanied by a feast of dignity that was hard to approach.
"Immortal-nim......?"
It was Dohwa.
The clouds that had come down upside down were thick around her, but only Dohwa was exceptionally clear. This was because the sunlight of the Peach Blossom Spring, dyed behind her back, wrapped around Dohwa's body.
It was truly spiritual.
The black martial arts uniform also looked like it had been crafted from the night sky, and the emotion of wonder and awe came before beauty.
How could a worldly being be like this?
It felt like the night sky was layered over a body crafted by beauty.
Only a thrill raced through her consciousness.
From the Yongcheon at the tips of her feet to the Baekhoe at the top of her head. It surged up in one breath, and So-young's entire consciousness trembled lightly.
Just by facing her, she felt like she had grown a step further.
"I have shown you an unsightly appearance. I am sorry. Are you hurt anywhere?"
It was a tone that treated her like a mere child. So-young realized that she had a physical body as she received Dohwa's touch, and as soon as she realized it, she instinctively burrowed into Dohwa's arms.
Kkok—
"Tang So-young, the young master of Tanggata, greets the Immortal of the Spiritual Mountain."
"Puhut......."
Dohwa laughed lightly.
It was because the old-fashioned greeting she gave while burying her face in her arms felt quite cute.
Dohwa, who had gently rubbed So-young's face in her arms, said,
"You look exactly like Yeong-yeong."
"You are pretty too, Immortal-nim."
"Don't say empty words. I am not an immortal. I have not reached the realm of immortals that Sambong speaks of, nor have I entered the detachment and nirvana that Dalma recited. The mountain and friends— oh my, you must have been tired."
Dohwa looked down lovingly at So-young, who had already fallen asleep in her arms with a soft snoring sound.
'She really looks exactly like Yeong-yeong.'
She even knows how to flatter with words she doesn't mean. And she's just as clever!
"You raised her very well. If she could give birth to a child like this, she must have lived well, so why not show your face......."
Dohwa grumbled for no reason and whispered while holding So-young preciously.
"Rest for now."
Descendant of my friend.
* * *
"You fools! Why won't you open it immediately?! Do you know who is inside there, you fools—!"
"Hey, please just stay still! That high-ranking person from the Tang Clan has arrived, so what on earth is the problem? Can't you grow old gracefully!"
Outside, the argument was still in full swing.
It was because of the old man who was shouting that he had to offer prayers while sitting and holding his ground, even though the young master of the Tang Clan had issued an order to expel guests, and the people trying to stop him.
Between those two crowds, Woo Hyo, the leader of the Tang Clan's blades— the Iron Butterfly Squad, was in a very difficult position.
He had devoted his whole heart to the Tang Clan and had lived as a virgin for forty years.
He had never disobeyed an order once until he became the leader of the Iron Butterfly Squad, but to think such a crisis would arise in the streets of the common people of Tanggata. Woo Hyo made a tearful face under his black mask.
'The young master told me not to let any noisy sounds reach her, sob!'
He had heard well of the amazing hearing of the Jang-i-jok.
Some said they could hear sounds from a thousand li away, and some said they could even hear the sound of ants crawling.
To such a Jang-i clan, this commotion must be like a blast of sound. Even if he covered it with a formation technique, it was the same. High-pitched voices were going back and forth at an absurdly close distance.
Then.
He had to silence that commotion and maintain the formation.......
The Qi barrier also depends on how you set it up.
The target is one of the Five Dragons and Three Peaks, who are discussed as the best among the rising stars.
The proud Poison Phoenix of the Great Sichuan Tang Clan, who was given the nickname Ga-hwa for her cuteness alone among the Wulin Five Flowers, who are said to be the most beautiful people in the Murim!
It was such a young master of the Tang Clan, and the Jang-i-jok.
Anyway, to maintain this Qi barrier, Woo Hyo. It meant he had to stick to it.
'It is truly difficult! To prevent the noisy sounds of the world from being heard, I must maintain this formation, but if I maintain the formation, I cannot silence that commotion!'
What on earth should he do!
He couldn't calm his wavering heart at all.
While Woo Hyo was swallowing his tears, not knowing what to do.......
Pasak, pasak—
The burial mound began to sink into the ground with a quiet sound. From the opened burial mound, Dohwa, holding So-young preciously, walked out lightly.
In an instant. The whole world was engulfed in silence.
It was natural.
Anyone in the whole world would naturally close their mouth and be filled with admiration upon seeing that beauty.
Woo Hyo thought.
The Wulin Five Flowers are not as big a deal as I thought—
"Woo Hyo, you crazy thing!!!"
How dare you look down on the young lady!
Jjaak!!
Thanks to the best of the Tang Clan's blades suddenly slapping his own cheek roughly, the silence was broken.
"The Dangsan Immortal has manifested! Aigoo, aigoo—"
"O-old man, I'm sorry...... I didn't know it was true......."
The first to open his mouth was the old man who had been angry, saying they had to offer prayers. Behind him, a procession of apologies from the people who had slandered him followed.
Thus, after the commotion was settled.
The old man led his frail body and bowed.
"Shin-ung of Tanggata greets the Immortal of Dangsan...... I don't know how moved I am to see you again before I die."
"You are the child I saw before. When did you grow up like this."
"Ah, ah......."
Tears flowed down the old man's eyes.
"Do you remember me......?"
"How could I not know. I remember you guiding Sambong and Dalma to the mountain when they came. Seeing that the burn scars have all healed, it seems the medicine worked well. I am glad."
Dohwa's delicate hands stroked the old man's shabby face. Sounds of gasping could be heard from here and there.
It was inevitable.
Dohwa said with her ears pressed down tight!
"First...... I need to lay So-young down. Can you take me to Yeong-yeong's house?"
"O-of course."
The old man nodded with an overwhelmed face.
Dohwa took a step.