Chapter 216

News that the Tang Family Great Compound had burned spread throughout the martial world.

The martial world’s busybodies were excited by the Tang family news they had heard in quite some time.

And they were even more amazed by the fact that Poison Dragon was involved behind the scenes of that incident.

Even when pacifying the Yunnan Poison Sect, Jin Ja-gang hadn’t drawn much attention. This was because the Yunnan martial world itself was too unfamiliar and held in low regard.

However, after capturing Young Phoenix and Silent Dragon, and even defeating Demon Buddha, his reputation began to skyrocket rapidly.

And it was even said that a Tang family direct descendant had fallen for Jin Ja-gang and released the Jin Ja-gang they had captured. In the midst of this, a major incident occurred where the Tang family’s Library Pavilion burned down.

Now Jin Ja-gang was sufficient to become gossip fodder for busybodies.

Many people’s interest was drawn to how strong his martial arts were, whose legacy he had inherited, and what methods he used.

Among these, what was most clearly revealed was Jin Ja-gang’s personality.

A poisonous fellow.

A poisonous fellow who would stop at nothing to kill his opponents.

Rumors spread that he was such a poisonous fellow that the nickname Poison Dragon seemed too fitting to be coincidental.

Some even said he might be the strongest rising star of all time.

News about Jin Ja-gang also reached Qingcheng Mountain.

“…!”

Bian Bu couldn’t close his mouth.

Woon-jeong, who had brought news of Jin Ja-gang, still had a face that couldn’t believe it even after saying it himself.

“He, he, he… bu-bu-burned down the Tang family’s Library Pavilion completely?”

Bian Bu broke out in cold sweat even though it wasn’t his own affair.

The Tang family was considered one of those in the martial world you should never make enemies with. This was because they would remember grudges and thoroughly take revenge, whether several times or dozens of times over. But since he had committed such an act against that Tang family, Jin Ja-gang should now be considered as good as dead.

“Yes, that’s what they say.”

“He’s cra-crazy. Crazy!”

Woon-jeong shouted.

“What do you mean crazy? We should go out to meet him!”

“What?”

“If he’s caught before reaching Qingcheng Mountain, Poison Dragon will die!”

Bian Bu also shouted.

“If Poison Dragon comes here, we’ll all die!”

“What…?”

Woon-jeong was dumbfounded, then got angry.

“Are you looking down on our Qingcheng now?”

“The Qingcheng sect will be fine! But what about us who are outside it?”

Woon-jeong became a bit intimidated.

“Our master said he would protect us this far…”

“When the Tang family kids have gone crazy, do you think they’ll quietly let it pass? It’s not like we can live here forever either.”

Bian Bu was restless.

“Either we run away before Poison Dragon comes, or until we catch Poison Dragon and hand him over…”

“Eek! We can’t do that!”

Then Soso came running and kicked Bian Bu’s shin hard. Bian Bu rolled on the ground.

“Owww! What are you doing now! It’s a leg that hasn’t been healed for long!”

“Ahhhhh! Ahhhhh!”

Soso’s face turned red with anger, then she huffed and turned away.

“Geez, look at Soso acting all uppity now that she’s grown a bit.”

Bian Bu looked at Woon-jeong with eyes asking to be helped up, but Woon-jeong also shook his head.

“I’m not normally the type to say such things. You deserved to be hit for what you just said.”

“Come on, even Taoist Woon-jeong is going to treat me like this? We’re not that kind of relationship.”

Woon-jeong grumbled while helping Bian Bu up. Bian Bu glared at Woon-jeong with sharp eyes.

“By the way, why haven’t you been practicing martial arts lately, Taoist Woon-jeong?”

“Huh? Why suddenly?”

“If the Tang family comes to kill us, you’ll have to block them first. Haven’t you gotten too lazy? You sleep in late every day, eat, sleep, and play.”

Woon-jeong looked embarrassed.

“I was thinking when such days would come again. Heh heh… When I return to master, I’ll have to do it anyway, so I should rest at times like this.”

“Tsk. You still haven’t come to your senses? This won’t do. From today, I’ll monitor you and if you don’t practice, I’ll tell Taoist Bok-cheon.”

“Ahh! That’s unfair!”

Woon-jeong made a sound of understanding, then said slyly.

“Um… I’ll start practicing from tomorrow, and today let’s play that dice game we were playing once more. I won yesterday, didn’t I? You should get your revenge.”

“Heh, our Taoist Woon-jeong has gotten much more smooth-talking. Really hitting people’s cheeks and coaxing them.”

Bian Bu cleared his throat awkwardly and smiled sheepishly.

“Then shall we do that? Even if the Tang family comes and we have to run away, we should settle the match before going.”

“No cheating!”

“No using internal energy.”

* * *

Five days had passed since the Library Pavilion fire was concluded.

The Tang family mobilized all available resources to search for Jin Ja-gang, but Jin Ja-gang’s whereabouts remained mysterious. He hadn’t gone to Qingcheng Mountain either, and where he was couldn’t be determined.

Because Jin Ja-gang wasn’t found, Tang Ha-ran was still imprisoned in the underground Jeol-ok prison.

Tang Ha-ran wore wedding clothes with a blade hanging from her neck, even wearing a bridal crown while kneeling. Even when exhausted from crying, she gritted her teeth and didn’t change her posture. Her neck had been aching for a long time due to the weight of the heavy bridal crown decorated with all kinds of jewels, and her knees touching the cold stone floor had no sensation.

She had also left the internal injuries from Myowol untreated. She didn’t practice breathing exercises and let her condition worsen through neglect.

For five days, she hadn’t touched a drop of water to her lips. Meals were brought every mealtime but she didn’t eat, so Tang Ha-ran’s cheeks had become hollow and the darkened area around her eyes was sunken. Her previously lustrous skin had become rough and the vitality had disappeared from her eyes.

If only she could just die like this.

So that even if Jin Ja-gang was captured and brought back, she wouldn’t have to see him.

When Tang Ha-ran thought of Jin Ja-gang, tears welled up in her eyes.

Creak.

As usual at mealtime, a small window opened below the iron bars and a guard pushed in a tray with rice balls and water.

But today the guard didn’t leave after placing the tray. He was waiting outside.

Tang Ha-ran spoke in a parched, cracked voice.

“Take it away.”

The guard didn’t move. He seemed to be crouching and watching Tang Ha-ran.

Tang Ha-ran couldn’t see the guard because her head was bowed due to the bridal crown weighing over ten pounds. No, she didn’t have the strength to lift her head and look in the first place.

“Do you… find me laughable because I’m imprisoned? Take the food away.”

But the guard actually leaned his back against the bars and sat down with his legs stretched out, turning around.

Tang Ha-ran bit her parched, cracked lips with her teeth. A bitter laugh naturally flowed out.

“Now even a mere guard won’t listen to my words.”

Tang Ha-ran forced herself to lift her head and look at the guard.

The guard’s appearance with his back turned was insufferably insolent.

However, Tang Ha-ran was suddenly overwhelmed by indescribable emotions upon seeing the guard.

The sight of his turned back was somehow familiar. It was clearly a guard’s outfit with the character for “prison” written on the back?

No, it was difficult to say it was familiar. Rather than knowing intuitively, she felt emotionally close to him.

“Ah… ahh…?”

Tang Ha-ran’s mind went blank.

The guard spoke with his back turned.

“No matter how long I waited, you didn’t seem like you’d come out, so I came to ask directly.”

The moment Tang Ha-ran heard the guard’s voice, Jin Ja-gang’s voice, tears burst forth instantly.

A surge of emotion!

Tang Ha-ran bit her lips. She threw her bridal crown against the bars and shouted.

“You fool!”

Crash!

Jin Ja-gang jumped up in surprise.

The bridal crown that hit the bars fell. Jin Ja-gang put his hand through the bars to catch the falling crown and looked at Tang Ha-ran with bewildered eyes.

Tang Ha-ran spoke without even thinking to wipe her tears.

“Why are you here!”

“……”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t speak. Jin Ja-gang’s gaze was fixed on Tang Ha-ran’s face.

Only then did Tang Ha-ran realize her appearance was a mess. She hastily turned her head to hide her face, but fell sideways due to the heavy blade hanging from her neck.

“Ah!”

Her body had stiffened from not moving for a long time.

Jin Ja-gang took out a key, unlocked it, and hurriedly entered the prison. He removed the blade and helped Tang Ha-ran up.

“Go!”

Tang Ha-ran turned her head and pushed Jin Ja-gang, but there wasn’t much strength in her arms. From the moment she heard Jin Ja-gang’s voice, Tang Ha-ran had already lost all strength in her body. What she had been forcing herself to endure for days had all collapsed in an instant and felt like it was flowing away.

“Go, please… Since I shouted, those nearby will hear the sound and…”

“It’s fine.”

Tang Ha-ran was dumbfounded but also reassured by Jin Ja-gang’s words. She thought that if Jin Ja-gang was here to this extent, he would naturally have taken measures regarding the surroundings.

A baseless, vague faith.

Where did this faith originate from?

Tang Ha-ran found herself ridiculous even by her own thinking. However, faith and showing her disheveled appearance were different matters.

Tang Ha-ran continued to keep her head turned. Otherwise, she felt like she would cry more.

“Please stretch your legs.”

Tang Ha-ran tried to apply strength but her legs wouldn’t stretch. Due to kneeling on the cold stone floor for days, Tang Ha-ran’s legs had stiffened rigidly.

“I’m sorry.”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly apologized, then lifted Tang Ha-ran’s skirt hem up to her knees.

Seeing her legs that had turned white from lack of blood circulation, Jin Ja-gang’s face hardened.

Tang Ha-ran’s face turned bright red. Even in this situation, she felt embarrassed.

“Don’t, don’t do it. It’s dirty.”

Tang Ha-ran tried to lower her skirt hem again to hide her legs.

Jin Ja-gang was angry. He got angry without even knowing why he was angry.

“Just stay still!”

Flinch.

Jin Ja-gang pushed away Tang Ha-ran’s hand and immediately began massaging her legs.

“If you leave them like this, they’ll rot.”

Tang Ha-ran had almost no sensation in her legs, but she could feel Jin Ja-gang’s hot hands touching her. Tang Ha-ran’s face heated up even more. Tang Ha-ran turned her head away.

An even deeper silence came to the originally quiet prison.

Though she didn’t want to, Tang Ha-ran wanted to see Jin Ja-gang’s face so badly. She was so curious and longed to see what expression he had now.

So she glanced at Jin Ja-gang sideways.

Jin Ja-gang’s expression was serious. Beyond serious, it even looked severely stern.

“…Hey.”

“……”

“Do you know your expression looks really scary right now?”

Jin Ja-gang looked up at Tang Ha-ran as if asking what she meant. Tang Ha-ran was startled and shouted.

“Don’t, don’t look at me like that! My face is a mess right now!”

Jin Ja-gang was flustered.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“…Huh?”

Tang Ha-ran turned her head and mumbled.

“I mean, well… just… since I’m so embarrassed, couldn’t you treat me a bit more gently or something…”

Jin Ja-gang silently massaged around Tang Ha-ran’s knees for quite a while. Little by little, color was returning to her legs.

Because Jin Ja-gang didn’t give any response, Tang Ha-ran became even more embarrassed.

Only after quite a while did Jin Ja-gang ask.

“Why did you do that?”

“What?”

Tang Ha-ran automatically spoke in a sulky tone.

“Why didn’t you eat and leave your wounds untreated?”

“……”

Tang Ha-ran, who couldn’t answer immediately, responded as if sighing.

“Because I didn’t want to live.”

At those words, Jin Ja-gang again didn’t speak for quite a while. Tang Ha-ran, feeling frustrated, asked first.

“You said you came because you had something to ask me. What was it? What did you want to ask?”

“It’s fine now.”

“Tell me.”

Jin Ja-gang waited a moment, then answered without looking at Tang Ha-ran.

“I wanted to ask. Whether you wanted to live or die.”

Tang Ha-ran’s heart tightened. An uneasy feeling arose. She calmed her emotions as much as possible and asked calmly.

“Why were you curious about that?”

“If you said you wanted to die…”

Jin Ja-gang slowly turned his head to look directly at Tang Ha-ran. Then he answered.

“I was going to kill you myself.”