Chapter 64: Yunnan Province
Yunnan Province was a land of diverse climates, with towering mountains in the north and dense jungles and poisonous swamps blanketing the southern extremes. Far from the Central Plains, it faced the heartland across impenetrable natural defenses of high peaks, allowing various ethnic minorities to maintain their autonomous kingdoms since ancient times. Though it had fallen under the rule of several dynasties, its remoteness sparked frequent rebellions and bids for independence. Central Plains folk derogatorily called it the Southern Barbarians, and it was first subdued during Emperor Wu of Han's unification, incorporated into Yizhou Commandery. Later, Zhuge Liang quelled Meng Huo's 100,000 rebels, bringing it under Shu Han control. After periods of chaos, Kublai Khan, founder of the current Yuan Dynasty, destroyed the Dali Kingdom and annexed it once more. Now, with the imperial throne shaken, corrupt officials ran rampant, turning Yunnan into a near lawless wasteland. Without major righteous martial sects to maintain order, opportunistic unorthodox factions thrived in the turmoil.
A single carriage and twelve horses crossed the Sichuan border into northern Yunnan and halted before the imposing mountains. The driver declared no further progress possible by cart, and a young man and woman emerged from within.
Tian Ailang stepped down with Dang Jeong-ah, surveying the rugged terrain. The steep, treacherous peaks made it impossible to bring either carriage or horses.
The riders on the twelve horses were the Dangga Twelve, secretly assigned to escort their clan head, Dang Cheongeum. Officially here to protect the Dangga lady Dang Jeong-ah, their gazes toward Tian Ailang were far from friendly.
Tian Ailang recalled the scene before departing Dangga.
* * *
Dangga head Dang Cheongeum stared impassively at Tian Ailang, who had appeared out of nowhere just two weeks prior, declaring his intent to hunt down Palgaksa. Inwardly, he was deeply shocked.
"Is your training in Palgaksa's inner poison sanctum truly complete?"
Tian Ailang met his gaze steadily. "Thanks to you. And the instructor here was exceptionally capable."
At his words, Dang Cheongeum narrowed his eyes at Dang Jeong-ah, who averted hers and bowed her head.
No matter how I look at it, this doesn't seem like a normal father-daughter dynamic.
Tian Ailang sensed an inexplicable unease from Dang Cheongeum's stare—utterly unlike the proud, protective looks Dam Haung gave to Nidaihyeok or Dam Soyeon. Dismissing it as clan custom felt insufficient; something unsettling lingered. As Tian Ailang pondered, Dang Cheongeum spoke in his usual authoritative monotone.
"Very well. Is there anything more we can assist with? Just say the word."
Tian Ailang replied without hesitation. "I'd like to request Miss Dang Jeong-ah as our guide. Would that be acceptable?"
For the first time, Tian Ailang saw the clan head's impassive mask crack. Dang Cheongeum seemed the type who wouldn't lie even for his authority, yet this deep hesitation only amplified the mystery.
What on earth is their story...?
Tian Ailang observed the subtle tension between father and daughter.
"So be it."
Dang Cheongeum sank deeper into his chair and waved dismissively, issuing the order to see them off.
Thus, Tian Ailang and Dang Jeong-ah left the clan head's hall, made brief preparations, and set out from Dangga—accompanied by the carriage driver and the twelve Dangga elites.
* * *
As Tian Ailang and Dang Jeong-ah dismounted, the Dangga Twelve followed suit from their horses.
Escorts should scout and secure new terrain, yet these men merely trailed them, their vigilance toward Dang Jeong-ah feeling more like surveillance.
Tian Ailang endured their sharp glares once more but ignored them. Over the ten days from Dangga, their hostility had grown tiresome to address at every turn. Regardless of their attitude, he was receiving Dangga's aid and didn't wish to jeopardize the smooth acquisition of the Hwaryongdan by getting prickly.
"We should rest here tonight and cross the mountains at first light tomorrow. Driver, you can head back to the clan now."
The driver bowed deeply with words of caution before turning the horses and carriage away.
Dang Jeong-ah scanned the surroundings after sending him off, but the Dangga Twelve made no move to help. In Sichuan, under Dangga influence, they'd enjoyed comfortable inns, but now, in the late hour, they needed to prepare camp—and everyone should pitch in.
Yet the Twelve just stood watching.
Even as the clan head's direct subordinates, Dang Jeong-ah outranked them; by Dangga rules, they should obey her orders or at least explain refusal.
"Can't you lot help out a bit?"
Tian Ailang finally spoke up, only to receive sneers in return.
"We're not here to play hunter's game with you. Can't you see we're standing guard right now?"
"Heh heh."
"Kuk kuk."
Dang Jeong-ah glanced embarrassedly at Tian Ailang amid their mockery, but he signaled it was fine and continued gathering firewood.
Hwaryongdan.
Tian Ailang let their jeers flow past one ear, silently repeating the name of the spirit pill that would save his sister.
Night in the mountains falls in an instant, the moment you meet its gaze in the growing dark. It descended swiftly on Tian Ailang's group.
Crickets chirped in harmony with the crackling campfire.
As Tian Ailang fed more wood to the flames, he thought of Song Sogeol.
I wonder if she's holding on safely.
With two divine doctors attending her, she should be fine—or so he told himself each time. Yet he couldn't forget that day she collapsed, her body cooling rapidly in his arms.
"Thinking of your sister again?"
Dang Jeong-ah's question pulled him from his reverie. He nodded affirmatively, eyes fixed on the fire.
"Yes. Not knowing what agony she's enduring gnaws at me all the more. As her sworn brother, I need to move faster to shorten her suffering."
Dang Jeong-ah tore off a strip of jerky and offered it with a warm gaze. "Master Tian is doing his utmost. Even an outsider like me can see that, so don't push yourself so hard."
Tian Ailang let out a wry chuckle. While he fretted only over Sogeol, others worried for him—it felt strangely comforting. Free for a moment from rage and anxiety, memories of bonds forged along the way surfaced. Perhaps it was the rare night breeze by the mountain campfire.
"Thank you."
Dang Jeong-ah smiled in response.
"The Dangga Twelve still haven't returned, though."
After refusing to help with camp, they'd left at dusk to "patrol the perimeter."
Tian Ailang didn't care what they did, but at Dang Jeong-ah's concern, he extended his qi sense.
Hm? What's this?
Odd presences flickered in his awareness. He spread his qi thin and wide for a quick scan: beyond fifty zhang—some 150 meters—multiple figures encircled them, closing in decisively without hesitation.
"Enemies approaching. Stay calm and prepare."
Tian Ailang identified them as foes outright. Clear killing intent radiated from those now within ten zhang—thirty meters.
Dang Jeong-ah startled at his sudden words but calmly readied her hidden weapons.
Rustle.
Three zhang—nine meters. Silence fell with the faint sound.
Dang Jeong-ah extended her own sense into the unseen dark but detected nothing. Trusting Tian Ailang's word and steady expression, she prepared.
Shiiik!
A small dagger, painted black to blend with night, struck first.
Ting!
Tian Ailang casually swatted it aside with his firewood.
Shii shii shik!
That first shot was the signal; hidden weapons of every variety rained from all sides.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
They clattered dully to the ground, deflected by his log, their momentum lost. Over twenty in the blink of an eye.
With Tian Ailang covering all directions, Dang Jeong-ah gripped her weapons and scanned warily, astonished.
Chwaruruk---!
As the barrage ended, chain sickles flew in. Sickles on one end, weights on the other—chained weapons.
Tian Ailang infused qi into his firewood and hurled it at the chain's midpoint of the incoming sickle.
Chwarararak!
The whipping blade veered off the log, spinning into the air before falling.
But like a living serpent, it slithered back into the dark and struck again—this time eight at once.
Charararararak!
A rattle like a swarm of rattlesnakes.
Tian Ailang dispatched them effortlessly with Tanjigong.
Frustration rippled from the shadows at the failed assault. Without pause, the attackers turned and fled.
"Hold on."
Tian Ailang spoke to Dang Jeong-ah and pursued with Chukjibeop.
"Gahk!"
A death rattle echoed from the woods moments later.
Less than a bangeuk—seven minutes—passed before Tian Ailang dragged eight corpses back from the forest.
Their attire was distinctive: hair shaved on both sides, leaving only a central strip from forehead to crown; crude garments exposing chest and groin with any movement.
"Japanese pirates."
Dang Jeong-ah recognized them. "From the island nation across the sea. Scarce resources breed many pirates. But finding them here, far from the coast beyond Yunnan—it's baffling to me too."
Should've left one alive.
Tian Ailang eyed the corpses, curiosity unsatisfied. He'd had no intent to kill them all, but assuming them like the martial artists he usually faced, his Tanjigong struck fatally.
Didn't expect them to be this weak.
They had decent technique but fragile bodies.
Then, from the opposite woods where they'd clashed with the pirates, the Dangga Twelve emerged.
Spotting the bodies at Tian Ailang's feet, they approached in feigned surprise.
"What happened? Is the lady alright?"
Their words rang hollow, devoid of genuine worry.
Tian Ailang tilted his head and stared them down wordlessly.
His silent scrutiny furrowed their brows, but no retorts came. Dang Jeong-ah offered a brief explanation amid them.