Tang Myung and the Heavenly Grant Forest
Tang Myung walked alongside Tang Mi-ryeong, his steps measured and deliberate. The numbers of his family’s retainers had dwindled considerably.
The Pyeonbok Unit members carried young children one by one, following Bul-gwi’s lead toward Tang Mi-mi’s residence. The remaining retainers were protected by Tang Mi-ryeong and Tang Myung as they moved forward.
“How have you been faring in my absence?”
“By Young Family Head’s order, all retainers have taken refuge in the underground passages beneath the Flying Heaven Pavilion. In a month, they will emerge and head back to the main estate.”
Tang Mi-ryeong let out a sigh, shaking her head as she spoke.
“The estate… has sustained significant damage. Buried explosives and poisons detonated, leaving much of it in ruins.”
“Were there no thieves?”
“Thieves?”
“Those who would have taken advantage of the empty estate while its owners were away—its treasures, secret manuals, hidden weapons, poisons, and the estate’s precious elixirs.”
“There could have been such people.”
Tang Mi-ryeong smiled at the absurdity of the idea, and Tang Myung shook his head in response.
“Now that the estate has been reduced to this, such opportunists may well exist. Unclaimed manuals, hidden weapons and poisons, and the estate’s precious elixirs.”
And Tang Myung had already seen it all in his previous life. Tang Mi-ryeong nodded at his words.
“I believed what you said, Young Family Head. I thought it possible… but fortunately, nothing like that happened.”
Tang Mi-ryeong looked at him with a smile.
“Still, the Qingcheng Sect did not forget us. When I went to the main estate, they had sent people from the Qingcheng Clan to stand guard.”
Tang Myung smiled at Tang Mi-ryeong’s words.
‘Jeong Myeong… you honored my request.’
Even though he was the top disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, he was still merely a junior disciple. Moreover, with the rise of the Demonic Cult as a major issue, Jeong Myeong had sent people to guard the Tang Family in accordance with Tang Myung’s request.
‘It must have been difficult to convince the elders… Thank you, Jeong Myeong.’
Tang Myung muttered to himself and continued.
“What of the people of Tang Family Town?”
“They came the moment they heard that we had reached the main estate. Haa!”
Tang Mi-ryeong sighed, shaking her head as she spoke.
“I never imagined so many people would be waiting for us.”
“They are people of the Tang Family as well.”
Tang Myung’s words made Tang Mi-ryeong nod.
“I would have liked to take them with us too… but we could not. I have entrusted them to my business contacts in Chengdu and am moving the rest to the prepared location.”
“Were there no pursuers?”
“A few information organizations followed us, but we eliminated them with poison.”
Tang Mi-ryeong looked at Tang Myung.
“You said you would spread the word that the main estate had relocated to the Heavenly Grant Forest in Yunnan. Is that all right?”
Tang Myung had made it known to Tang Hong that the Tang Family people were heading to the Heavenly Grant Forest in Yunnan.
“It is fine.”
“Is Great-grandmother truly that formidable a master?”
Tang Myung nodded at Tang Mi-ryeong’s question.
“Even if the entire Demonic Cult comes, within the Heavenly Grant Forest I can exterminate them all.”
Tang Mi-ryeong found it hard to believe.
“I… cannot bring myself to believe that. A master capable of handling the entire Demonic Cult… does such a person truly exist in the world?”
Tang Myung smiled at her words.
“You will understand once you experience it yourself.”
He then asked about the other retainers. The five dan units were moving the retainers numbering over a hundred each to the prepared locations.
Tang Hong, the one who had gone to the nearest location, had instructed an old man to guide them and set off for another place. Therefore, Tang Mi-ryeong had arrived at the Heavenly Grant Forest first among those closest to them.
Tang Myung asked Tang Mi-ryeong about the events that had occurred in the meantime.
“Did that old man do anything strange?”
Tang Mi-ryeong shook her head, knowing that Tang Myung recognized the old man as an evil person.
“He guided us very respectfully.”
Just as Tang Myung nodded at her words, the old man turned his head, smiling and repeatedly bowing his head.
As if asking Tang Mi-mi to convey his message of gratitude.
Tang Myung nodded in understanding.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Tang Myung’s words brought a bright smile to the old man’s face as he continued walking. Seeing the lightness in his steps, Tang Mi-ryeong whispered.
“His martial skill seems higher than that of the Iron Fist. How is it that such a master serves as a mere servant?”
Tang Myung explained the situation in a voice transmission, and Tang Mi-ryeong frowned.
[A bad person indeed.]
Just as Tang Myung nodded, armed men of the Tang Family came running from ahead.
Tatat!
Tang Mi-ryeong looked at the Pyeonbok Unit members who had lightly landed in front and asked.
“Have you met Grandmother?”
“Yes. She welcomed us with great warmth.”
“I see.”
Tang Mi-ryeong answered with a small note of suspicion toward Tang Mi-mi, then looked back at the retainers.
“We will reach the destination very quickly if we carry the remaining people.”
At Tang Mi-ryeong’s words, the Pyeonbok Unit members each lifted a child into their arms.
Tang Mi-ryeong watched these armed men and turned to Tang Myung.
“We should depart.”
Tang Myung looked around at the retainers and said.
“We depart.”
***
The place they arrived at, carrying Tang Mi-ryeong and the retainers, was a short distance from Tang Mi-mi’s residence.
There, a vast open field stood, incongruous with the Heavenly Grant Forest.
Originally filled with enormous, towering ancient trees, Tang Mi-mi had cut them down so that the Tang Family people could live there.
In the open field, several simple buildings had been erected.
The retainers who had arrived earlier were inside the buildings, examining the interiors and organizing the luggage they had brought.
“Please come in. I will introduce Great-grandmother.”
Tang Myung approached Tang Mi-mi, accompanied by Tang Mi-ryeong and the Pyeonbok Unit members.
Tang Mi-mi was giving small sweet buns to the young children, each containing honey and medicinal herbs that were both tasty and beneficial for the body.
“Eat up.”
“Thank you.”
As Tang Mi-mi handed out the buns, she saw Tang Mi-ryeong approaching and smiled.
“You are Tang Jin’s descendant.”
“Do you know my grandmother?”
“I was close to her. Seeing your face, I can still sense Tang Jin’s presence.”
Tang Mi-ryeong glanced at the Pyeonbok Unit members one by one, and occasionally called out names when she recognized familiar faces.
Tang Mi-mi, looking at the retainers with a satisfied smile, pointed at the jar nearby.
“Come and drink a cup each.”
Tang Mi-ryeong bowed and lowered her head in a greeting.
“Pyeonbok Unit Leader Tang Mi-ryeong. I greet you, Grandmother.”
“I have heard much about you. I heard you have the beautiful title of Heavenly Net Fairy.”
“It is an undeserved title.”
Tang Mi-mi looked at her with a cute expression and pointed at the jar.
“Drink it quickly. I have prepared it for you.”
Tang Mi-ryeong looked inside the jar. Strange things were packed inside.
Medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs, and even something that looked like an odd poisonous insect.
“What is this?”
“Great-grandmother prepared it for the retainers. Since it is a precious elixir, you will understand when you take it and circulate your energy.”
At Tang Myung’s explanation, Tang Mi-ryeong scooped a cup from the wooden bowl beside the jar.
The thick liquid and the solid ingredients were mixed inside, and just as Tang Mi-ryeong wondered what to do, Tang Mi-mi spoke.
“Just eat everything. It is good for the body.”
Tang Mi-ryeong licked her lips and downed it all in one gulp.
Gulp! Crunch! Crunch!
After chewing the ingredients that had entered her mouth, Tang Mi-mi smiled and pointed to one side.
“Circulate your energy and eat.”
Tang Mi-ryeong went to one side and began circulating her energy and eating. The other members also took turns drawing water from the jar and drinking it.
Those who finished gathered around Tang Mi-ryeong and assumed meditation postures. Some, however, did not meditate but began guarding the area.
Tang Myung sent a voice transmission.
[This place is safe. Do not worry and circulate your energy and eat together.]
At Tang Myung’s voice transmission, the Pyeonbok Unit members assumed meditation postures and began circulating their energy.
Tang Mi-mi looked at Tang Myung, watching these Pyeonbok Unit members.
“Is everyone’s level among the five dan unit members like this?”
“Among the five dan units of the main estate, the Visa Unit is the strongest, and the other four are of similar strength.”
“Hmmm… so the Iron Fist is the strongest?”
“He is at the peak of the Qi Flame realm. Great-grandmother will teach him, and he will reach the Qi Flame realm quickly.”
Tang Mi-mi nodded at Tang Myung’s words full of anticipation.
“Have you made your resolve to open the Samyang Divine Art?”
“Of course.”
“Then the Golden Elixir Daoist Art as well?”
“If the main estate is to become stronger, those who can learn the Golden Elixir Daoist Art should do so.”
“Hmmm…”
Tang Mi-mi thought for a moment after Tang Myung’s words.
“If a person with ambition has power, they might aim for the position of Young Family Head. Still, what do you think?”
“I do not care about the position of Young Family Head. Even if they have ambition, it is to make the main estate stronger. If they are not benevolent, they will not hold back with their techniques against enemies. If the main estate becomes stronger, I will pass the position of Young Family Head to someone capable.”
At Tang Myung’s sincere words, Tang Mi-mi nodded.
“Very well. I will teach the main estate’s warriors as you wish and strengthen them. Also… if there is someone among them who is worthy of becoming Young Family Head, I will not interfere even if he becomes Young Family Head.”
Tang Myung bowed and lowered his head in thanks.
“Thank you.”
“After Tang Mi-ryeong finishes circulating her energy, gather the people and head to the Sichuan Pavilion. Go to the Great Menglong Temple and return.”
“The Great Menglong Temple?”
“When you came to the Heavenly Grant Forest, did you pass the Sichuan Pavilion?”
“No. We came from another place and did not pass the Sichuan Pavilion.”
“You took a detour.”
Tang Myung nodded at Tang Mi-mi’s words.
“Ask the people of the Sichuan Pavilion about the Great Menglong Temple. Tell them that it is work given by the owner of the Heavenly Grant Forest, and have them gather workers and provisions.”
Tang Mi-mi took three bamboo tubes from her pouch and placed them down.
“Use these as compensation. Ah! Do not give all three from the start. Give one and be sorry if you want more, and give one more.”
“What if I want even more?”
“If you are greedy even for the last one… tell the owner of the Heavenly Grant Forest that I want to see you. That way, you will not be greedy for the last one.”
“Then why give three?”
Two would have been enough.
“Just in case. One is sufficient, two is excessive, and three means the person is greedy… I am telling you the character of the owner.”
“Understood.”
Tang Myung answered and watched Tang Mi-ryeong and the people.
***
Tang Myung, carrying out the instructions given by Tang Mi-mi, was entering the Sichuan Pavilion together with Tang Mi-ryeong.
As the city at the southernmost tip of Yunnan, the buildings and houses were quite different from those of the Central Plains.
A Tang Family expert who saw the people coming and going to the Sichuan Pavilion said.
“It seems Yunnan is indeed a frontier of the Central Plains.”
Tang Mi-ryeong nodded at the expert’s words.
“Given that the Han people are only a fraction of the population, it must be mostly other ethnic groups.”
“Look there. Why do those women wear such strange things on their heads?”
Tang Mi-ryeong smiled at the mutter of the person staring at the women wearing flamboyant veils on their heads.
“Each tribe has its own culture. And do not stare too much.”
“Understood.”
As they moved forward with the armed men, three armed men with swords approached from the front and bowed.
“The Three Winds of Jingchang greet the young lady of the Pyeonbok Unit, Tang Mi-ryeong.”
Tang Mi-ryeong looked at the three and bowed her head.
“Tang Mi-ryeong greets the Three Winds. And this side is the Young Family Head of our main estate, Tang Myung.”
At the title of Young Family Head, the Three Winds were startled and looked at Tang Myung. Then they hurriedly bowed and lowered their heads.
“We apologize for our late greeting since we did not know the Young Family Head has risen to the position of Family Head. The first of the Three Winds is Chu Mu-jin. This side are my younger brothers, Chu Mu-gang and Chu Mu-hyeop.”
“I remember seeing you at the previous Wulin tournament. What teachings do you have for us?”
Tang Myung bowed and lowered his head, and Chu Mu-jin smiled.
“Teachings? I was just passing by and happened to see the Tang Family people, so I came to greet you.”
Chu Mu-jin pointed to the inn on one side with a smile.
“It is a coincidence that we met here. Why don’t we have a meal together?”
Tang Myung smiled and shook his head.
“I am grateful for the offer, but we have somewhere we must go right now.”
“Yunnan is unfamiliar territory. If you do not mind, allow us to guide you?”
“No. We are going to the Great Menglong Temple that can be seen from here, so we will only accept your kindness.”
Tang Myung pointed to the tower visible from here, and Chu Mu-jin’s eyes sparkled.
‘The Tang Family is going to the Great Menglong Temple?’