Sichuan Tang Clan
Sichuan Tang Clan
Dangsan Immortal.
They said he was the figure who gave birth to Dalma and Sambong, considered the greatest in the thousands of years of Gangho martial arts history.
During the Heavenly Demon Blood Incident, rumors were already famous that he protected the Sichuan province from the Heavenly Demon's demonic energy, turned the mountains and vegetation green, and boosted the earth's spiritual energy.
However—
Too much time had passed.
Even the scars of war dull after ten years, and it had been a whopping one hundred and eighty years since the Heavenly Demon Blood Incident.
Unless one had lived an unnaturally long life like Shin-ung, it was a story difficult to encounter, and as it was a war that could only be passed down by word of mouth, many people believed it must have been greatly exaggerated.
Everyone within Tanggata was like that.
Woo Hyo, the best among the Tang Clan's hidden weapons, was the same.
Only Shin-ung, who had witnessed that transcendental sight in person, knew the words were true.
But not anymore.
Everyone knows.
That the words of the 190-year-old man, whom they thought had lost his mind, were true. And that there wasn't a single lie in those rumors.
The Tang Clan's hidden weapons left to announce Dohwa's manifestation. For now, it would spread quietly through the mouths of the residents within Tanggata, but once the Iron Butterfly Squad members left Sichuan province, the entire world would know.
'That the Dangsan Immortal... that the Supreme Patriarch of the main family has manifested.'
So-young, who had been snuggled in Dohwa's arms for quite a while, stirred and sat up.
"Are you awake?"
Dohwa smiled brightly.
So-young nodded, feeling a pang of conscience. In fact, she had woken up a while ago, but because the embrace was so soft and felt so good, she had pretended to be asleep.
'It was nice....'
So-young was naturally small in stature.
She was a head shorter than Dohwa, so when she was held in her arms, her head naturally rested against her upper body. The sensation was indescribably fluffy, so she couldn't bring herself to get out.
With that guilt, So-young whispered into Dohwa's ear.
"You must have been heavy, I'm sorry. I caused you trouble."
"Heavy? If anything, you were so light it was a struggle. Do you like cherries? Want to eat some?"
"I'll gratefully accept."
Dohwa handed the cherries that the squirrel and sparrow had brought to Shin-ung and So-young. Shin-ung, who was leading the two, made an expression of utter gratitude.
When he tried to bow again, Dohwa waved her hands and barely managed to stop him.
"Immortal-nim...."
So-young gripped Dohwa's collar tightly.
There was a scent that strangely bewitched people.
It was like the scent of a pine-filled forest, or perhaps a clear, natural skin scent, but it was buried under a deep peach fragrance, and it was a pity that it flew away so quickly.
So So-young didn't think about getting down, and while still held in Dohwa's arms, she buried her face between her armpits.
'What is wrong with me, seriously.'
So-young thought while burying her face.
'It's disrespectful to the Immortal-nim, but this is a nature that bewitches people. It's definitely demonic.'
So-young didn't have a mother.
She had never felt a mother's embrace since she was born, but Dohwa's embrace reminded her of a mother's embrace she had never experienced.
How could that not be demonic?
Nyam—
Having finished rationalizing it to herself, So-young munched on the cherry in Dohwa's arms. It tasted good.
Pleasantly sweet, and tart enough to make her tongue moist.
There was no astringency at all, and the pit was small.
"U-um, c-could you give me a few more?"
Like a child seeing her mother for the first time in decades, So-young whined.
'So cute, really.'
Dohwa just found So-young cute.
Look at her wiggling in my arms.
Thinking that she was the descendant of a friend, she was overjoyed. If she went to the house Yeong-yeong built, didn't that mean there were children like this everywhere? Dohwa was just happy about that fact.
"There are mulberries and wild raspberries too. Shin-ung-ah. Let's rest for a bit. Here. You have some too."
"I-I am humbled."
Shin-ung was overly polite again.
Dohwa combed the hair of So-young, who wouldn't leave her arms, and took in the surrounding scenery as if it were new.
Sichuan province, Tanggata.
It was a clan village where people with the surname Tang lived together, but its influence grew, and now it is said to have become a street where people living under the protection of the Tang Clan gathered.
According to Shin-ung, Tanggata was large enough to occupy half of Sichuan province.
"It's wonderful."
"I am glad you like the street. Tanggata occupies half of Sichuan province, but this is the market street. It is the shabbiest place."
Shin-ung spoke humbly.
"No.... It's just pretty."
Dohwa shook her head.
The murmuring of the people around them was still loud.
It was a street where thousands of people lived. There was no way the hidden weapons of the Iron Butterfly Squad could control the entire crowd. The barrier set up by the Iron Butterfly Squad leader meant nothing to Dohwa.
Yet, it was fine now.
Until just a moment ago, the noise had only been bewildering.
It might be because the bewilderment had faded, or perhaps she had gotten used to meeting people after hundreds of years.
What was certain was that it was because she knew all of this was built by her friend. It felt as if Yeong-yeong's voice was being heard from everywhere.
Dohwa smiled softly.
You lived well before leaving.
"Then, why didn't you at least show your face."
Why so heartlessly, not even coming near Dangsan....
It seemed there would be a lot to ask once she entered the Tang Clan. Anyway, not right now.
Her friend's descendant was in her arms. Since it wasn't a good look to show more, Dohwa tidied her behavior and took out an acorn and a few pills from her bosom.
"Ung-ah, I saw it while we were walking, your breathing is shallow and your posture is hunched. It looked like your waist and knees hurt, am I right?"
"I apologize for causing you concern."
"I didn't mean to nag. Take this."
"This is....?"
Shin-ung, who received the medicine, expressed doubt with his deeply wrinkled face. Dohwa said while braiding So-young's hair.
"It's a medicinal pill I named Manguan Pill. It's medicine made by boiling and mixing willow bark, frankincense tree sap, and Achyranthes root, and it will be helpful."
"Th-thank...."
While having a quiet conversation, Dohwa learned what kind of person Shin-ung was. So, she preempted him before he could pour out more cringeworthy words.
"Stop! Just eat it quickly. Ah! You must chew it thoroughly. The taste is very unique, so it's good to eat it with an astringent acorn."
Dohwa diligently crushed the acorn and handed it over.
"I will gratefully eat it, Immortal-nim."
Shin-ung was just incredibly moved by the current situation.
It was overwhelmingly humbling that his benefactor remembered him, and she had given him medicine again for his sake.
He wanted to bow and offer prayers right away, but with superhuman patience, he suppressed it and chewed the acorn and Manguan Pill.
The taste was certainly very unique. It was sour and bitter, but the astringency of the acorn masked most of it, making it edible.
Gulp—
That was the moment he swallowed the medicine.
Spring!
Shin-ung stood up without realizing it. His whole body was overflowing with vitality. He felt like he had returned to his vigorous twenties.
He felt like he could run while carrying a full load of wood on an A-frame carrier.
"W-what is this!"
This was the person who taught the founder of the Sichuan Tang Clan, who was called a Divine Doctor or Medicine Immortal. It was natural for the medicinal effect to be miraculous, but to this extent.
It was comparable to Shaolin's Great Hwandan.
"I'm glad it's effective. It seems So-young has finished her fruit too, so let's get going."
"H-how could you give such a precious thing to someone like me...."
"Someone like you?"
Dohwa tilted her head as if she really didn't know. Shin-ung found it difficult to fathom Dohwa's temperament.
He had done nothing to repay her kindness other than remembering it greatly and offering a few prayers. It was sinful and sorry to only receive, so he couldn't help but ask.
Dohwa saw Shin-ung's awkward expression and only then realized the intent behind the question.
Then, she spoke in a tone that suggested he was having all sorts of strange thoughts.
"The ears of the Jang-i-jok hear many sounds. Among them was your voice."
"M-my voice....?"
"Yes. Since you remembered me and considered me a friend to think of, I just thought I should naturally do the same. Everyone is like that. Because you remember me, I remember you too."
Dohwa stood up as if it were nothing and walked ahead. So-young dangled in her arms.
Sabjak—
The scent of flowers naturally followed behind her steps.
The market street of Tanggata, which had turned into a street where not a single blade of grass could grow because people and carriages had traveled there for so long, became bright with bouquets of flowers immediately after Dohwa's steps.
They were hydrangeas, chrysanthemums, fringe trees, forget-me-nots, and plum blossoms, respectively.
It was a sight where flowers that could not bloom in one place were in full bloom, a colorful sight like the garden of the Jade Emperor who looks down upon the world. In the midst of it, Dohwa said.
"Let's go now, friend. Unlike Dangsan, Tanggata is too complicated, I feel like I'll get lost."
"Yes, yes. I will lead the way."
Shin-ung felt moved by receiving that kindness again and hurriedly followed behind her.
The flowers under Dohwa's feet did not bend.
* * *
Walking for about half an hour as Shin-ung led, with So-young in her arms. That was how Dohwa arrived in front of a house with a large signboard that read Sichuan Tang Clan.
Originally, she could have arrived faster, but because Dohwa dawdled, saying she had to take in every place where Yeong-yeong's traces remained, the arrival was delayed.
In front of the large house, there were a few familiar faces, Woo Hyo, who had overtaken us, and.
"The master of Tanggata greets the Supreme Patriarch. I am called the Poison Monarch, Dang Gyeom."
There was a middle-aged man wearing green clothes like So-young.
Sichuan Tang Clan leader Dang Gyeom looked at Dohwa, who held his daughter like a precious jewel, and intuited. That she was the only person who would become salvation for the declining Sichuan Tang Clan.