Entering the Tang Fortress
After entering Sichuan, Woo-gang and his group felt a sense of relief wash over them.
They had heightened their vigilance and sharpened their senses following the previous battle, bracing for any sign of the enemy. But none appeared.
What truly eased their minds further was the fact that Dangga-ta, the pride of the Tang Family, was drawing near.
The closer they got to Dangga-ta, the more relaxed the expressions of Dang Cheon-yong and the other Tang warriors became.
It was a testament to their unwavering belief that they would be safe once they reached it.
The journey continued smoothly like this until, at one point, Dang Cheon-yong pointed ahead with his finger.
"That's Dangga-ta you see there."
At his words, Woo-gang's gaze followed the tip of his finger.
"Whoa..."
Woo-gang let out an involuntary exclamation.
Countless houses clustered together like a meticulously arranged garden, dense yet orderly.
They weren't crammed into a narrow space; instead, they spread across a vast area.
At first glance, it might seem complex, but it felt perfectly harmonious, like pieces of a puzzle fitted with precision.
Woo-gang sensed that Dangga-ta wasn't some organic settlement that had grown haphazardly from people gathering one by one.
He didn't know the principles behind how villages and cities formed, but the strong impression was that it had been deliberately planned.
As if reading his thoughts, Dang Cheon-yong spoke up.
"Dangga-ta didn't just happen by chance. The placement of every house, every forge, the width and length of every alley, path, and main road—everything was calculated."
"You mean it was all done on purpose?"
"Exactly. In a crisis, the entire fortress switches to defense mode, protecting the Tang Family. You could call Dangga-ta one massive mechanism formation."
Pride rang clear in Dang Cheon-yong's voice as he explained.
In truth, Dangga-ta's mechanisms embodied the pinnacle of Tang Family ingenuity.
"We're almost fully within the Tang Family's defensive perimeter now. Just a bit more endurance, please."
Woo-gang nodded at Dang Cheon-yong's words.
"In that case, I've fulfilled my role. I should rejoin the Bing Palace warriors and get back to our task."
At that moment, Han Seo-yeon suddenly announced she would be leaving.
"You've come this far—why not stop by the Tang Family, rest a few days? It was no easy journey, and the family head would surely welcome the young palace lord."
Han Seo-yeon simply shook her head at Dang Cheon-yong's invitation.
"I appreciate the offer, but the work my Bing Palace warriors and I were handling is just as urgent. We joined this trip to Sichuan at the Murim Alliance's request, but now it's time to resume our duties."
She expressed her polite refusal.
Dang Cheon-yong found it hard to press her further.
"What a shame. Please visit next time if the opportunity arises."
"I will."
Han Seo-yeon gave a light bow and replied.
Woo-gang stared at her intently.
She had been shrouded in gloom throughout the journey here, so sending her off like this tugged at him unexpectedly.
"Oh, and..."
Han Seo-yeon turned to Woo-gang and pulled something from her bosom.
It was the letter Dok Go-seol-ran had given her before they left the Murim Alliance.
(Sealed letter from Dok Go-seol-ran)
"With everything going on, I couldn't hand it over right away. Dok Go-seol-ran asked me to pass this to you. Sorry it's late."
Woo-gang slowly accepted the letter from Han Seo-yeon.
Having delivered it, she bowed once more to the group, as if her task was truly complete.
"Well then, I'll be off."
With those final words, Han Seo-yeon turned and vanished swiftly.
Her sudden departure made the emptiness she left feel all the more vast.
"She says she has duties as the Bing Palace's young palace lord, not as an individual—what can we do? We should head on too. The important thing is Ak So-cheon in the carriage."
"Yes."
At Geomwang's words, Woo-gang swallowed his regret and turned his horse toward the Tang Family.
Finally, Woo-gang's group entered Dangga-ta.
The atmosphere inside differed utterly from the outside, as if stepping into another world entirely.
Far more peaceful, stable, and brimming with vitality.
But Woo-gang was in no state to savor it.
Since Han Seo-yeon's departure, he had been lost in thought.
"Elder."
"Hm?"
"If it wouldn't be a bother, could you let me know when Ak So-cheon's examination results come in?"
Geomwang looked at Woo-gang for a moment at his request.
Then, as if he'd guessed it, he asked,
"Planning to follow her?"
"Yes. She's been on my mind."
"You're just like your grandfather—too soft-hearted for your own good. Since you've made up your mind, what can I say? I was thinking you'd rest here a while after all your hardships anyway. I'll inform you as soon as the results are out."
"You're leaving too?"
Dang Cheon-yong asked in surprise, now that even Woo-gang wanted to go.
"Yes. The Bing Palace's work involves me as well. Rather than wasting time here, I'd rather help them and do something useful."
Woo-gang's reasoning made sense.
With no telling when Ak So-cheon's results would come, sitting idle felt like a luxury they couldn't afford.
Dang Cheon-yong showed even greater regret than when Han Seo-yeon had left.
But it wasn't just from the bond they'd built.
Frankly, the Bing Palace was an outsider force with little connection to the Central Plains murim.
To the Tang Family, they were valued guests, nothing more or less.
But the disciple of the Flame King? That was entirely different.
The man at the pinnacle of Central Plains murim was the Flame King, and his disciple visiting the Tang Family?
That alone carried endless implications they could ascribe.
Now that the opportunity was slipping away, the regret was inevitable.
Through their recent trials, Woo-gang had grown sharp enough to sense such undercurrents.
Helping the Bing Palace was no lie, but he had no intention of being used for others' ambitions anymore.
Dang Cheon-yong tried to persuade him once more, but Woo-gang spoke first.
"Elder, I'll leave it to you then."
"Fine. Go on. Don't want to miss her."
"Yes."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Woo-gang handed over his horse and dashed away like an arrow.
Dang Cheon-yong swallowed his regret, gazing after him.
Geomwang, who had been watching, tossed out a casual remark.
"That kid's got sharp instincts. A guy who hates that sort of thing wouldn't miss it."
Dang Cheon-yong stared at him, puzzled.
Geomwang chuckled and continued.
"Playing dumb, or really clueless? That scheme in your head—the one you're harboring."
With that, Geomwang took the reins—including Woo-gang's horse—and rode toward the Tang Family.
Dang Cheon-yong followed, his face flushed with embarrassment.
Separated from Woo-gang's group, Han Seo-yeon was taking a brief rest.
She had things to coordinate with her scattered Bing Palace warriors.
"Not as far as I thought?"
At Woo-gang's voice, Han Seo-yeon turned to look at him.
Her eyes brimmed with the question of why he was here.
"Geomwang will let me know as soon as Ak So-cheon's results are out."
"You sure hand off your responsibilities easily."
"Not at all. Ak So-cheon is my concern too, but we've reached the Tang Family, so I've done my part. Since the Bing Palace matter ties to me as well, I'd rather follow and make use of the time waiting for results."
Han Seo-yeon turned away with a haughty expression.
"You're probably exhausted anyway, and you have that letter to read."
Woo-gang chuckled and sat beside her.
"What now?"
Han Seo-yeon's eyes sharpened instantly at his question.
"The Bing Palace doesn't forget grudges. We have to find Bokryong Valley."
"Bokryong Valley."
Woo-gang murmured softly.
"So that's why you've been so downcast..."
"You thought I was shocked or hurt? Wrong. I was just figuring out how to track them down and pay them back."
As she said, Woo-gang had completely misread her.
Throughout the journey to Dangga-ta, Han Seo-yeon had thought of nothing but locating Bokryong Valley and exacting revenge.
That's why she'd left the moment they reached safety.
"If that's the case, I should come along even more. Bokryong Valley is one of the clues to Grandfather's affairs too."
"Do as you like."
Woo-gang nodded with a resolute expression at her reply.
"Let's head somewhere—anywhere. We can't just sit here waiting for them to appear."
At Woo-gang's words, Han Seo-yeon ended her rest and stood.
Their solitary journeys merged back into one in that instant.
Two days later.
Woo-gang and Han Seo-yeon sat inside a teahouse in a certain village.
Not in the open area, but in a secluded room partitioned by walls.
A man and woman alone in a closed room might feel awkward, but not between these two.
They were waiting for something.
And soon enough.
"Young palace lord, I've prepared what you ordered."
"Come in."
At Han Seo-yeon's words, the door opened, revealing a Bing Palace warrior.
He carried a large bundle stuffed full.
Thud.
The warrior set it on the table and unwrapped the cloth.
Inside lay a staggering array of documents and books.
"What's all this?"
"Materials related to Bokryong Valley. I gathered everything we could."
"How did you...?"
Woo-gang muttered in astonishment.
"Even if the Bing Palace faces restrictions operating in the Central Plains, don't underestimate our capabilities."
"I wouldn't."
As Woo-gang replied, Han Seo-yeon slowly examined the items her subordinate had brought.
"So far, all we've heard are rumors and legends about Bokryong Valley. But this is records. Some might be far-fetched, but we've collected everything possible."
"Impressive. Truly."
Woo-gang meant it.
"We need to understand Bokryong Valley first before the next step. Our task now is sifting through this mountain of info for anything meaningful."
Woo-gang nodded at Han Seo-yeon's words.
It looked like a grueling, time-consuming task.