Free Web Novel“What a vicious look on your face. Put the throwing knife away.”
“Uncle Geunmyeong?”
At the familiar voice, the strength drained right out of me. The one who had chased me down was Tang Geunmyeong.
“It is reckless to pull a throwing knife before you even know who your enemy is. If I were you, I would have prepared Dissolving-Power Poison.”
Tang Geunmyeong stared at me as he pointed that out. I awkwardly tucked the throwing knife away, and he let out a short laugh.
“I will guide you until you are out of Chengdu. Where were you planning to go?”
“I was going to head to Langzhong.”
“You should not be giving up your destination so easily either. Never tell anyone next time.”
Tang Geunmyeong warned me in a chilly voice.
What was I supposed to do about that?
“Langzhong is a good choice. Go on from there through Chongqing and into the Central Plains. If you make it that far, you should be able to hide yourself until the Elder’s closed-door training ends.”
“Grandfather’s closed-door training... it’ll take a long time, won’t it?”
“I say five years. Let’s get to the docks. I’ll find you a ship headed for Langzhong. Hyah!”
I followed after Tang Geunmyeong and asked,
“How did you come here?”
“If I just stood by and watched while you were driven out, do you think the Elder would let me stay? I do not want to get kicked out either.”
That dry joke from Tang Geunmyeong made me laugh for no reason at all. He was even making jokes he normally never made, all because he was trying to put me at ease.
We reached the docks just as the first dim light of dawn began to settle in. freёweɓnovel.com
The docks, not yet awake, held only the sound of the river flowing past and the chirring of insects in the grass.
Every time the wind blew, the lanterns hanging in front of the inns swayed and flickered faintly, and cargo that looked half-carried by porters sat piled up on the dock.
After dismounting, Tang Geunmyeong strode over to the nearest shack on the docks and pounded on the door. The man who flung it open snapped irritably in a sleep-thickened voice.
“No, what time do you think it—!”
“Is there a ship going to Langzhong?”
“...It is rather early.”
Frightened by Tang Geunmyeong’s size, the man hurriedly lowered his voice. Tang Geunmyeong paid no attention and asked,
“An urgent message came in, so we must leave for Langzhong at once. Can anything be done?”
“R-right this instant? Even so, the sun should at least come up before I can prepa—”
“We need to go now. If ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) my niece arrives safely and sends word, I will give you another one.”
When Tang Geunmyeong held out a silver ingot, the man’s face lit up.
“My goodness, of course it can be done. Just wait a moment.”
The man’s attitude changed in an instant, and he began preparing to launch the boat.
Once the boatman had moved farther away, Tang Geunmyeong whispered low,
“If you run into wandering martial artists, do not fight them. Run. The tricks used by men who have rolled around at the bottom are not something you can handle. It is nothing like sparring with household guards.”
“Yes. I’ll be careful.”
“I am sorry, but I cannot help you any farther than this. The Clan Head has already stated that since you were expelled, you have nothing to do with the Tang Clan anymore. As long as I wear the green robe, I cannot protect you.”
“This is more than enough. Thank you for guiding me this far, Uncle.”
Tang Geunmyeong’s footing was just as shaky as mine with Tang Jung gone. Even helping me this much was a reckless choice on his part.
If he defied the Clan Head’s orders and helped me any further, he might lose the Tang surname he had spent his entire life earning.
After letting out a low sound through his nose, Tang Geunmyeong quietly held out a hand to me. With his help, I climbed down from the horse.
He studied my face, then added awkwardly,
“The Clan Head will not leave you out there for long either. If the situation changes, I will come for you at once.”
Remembering Tang Muheok’s cold eyes, I gave a bitter smile. I did not think the Clan Head would change his mind the way Tang Geunmyeong hoped.
Cane, half-awake, came wriggling out and burrowed into my sleeve.
“Cane. Stay still and don’t come out.”
“Kii...”
Mumbling like he was talking in his sleep, Cane settled against my side under my clothes.
While we were gathering my things, the boatman finished getting ready and brought the boat alongside the landing.
“Young Lady, step aboard this way.”
“Uncle. I’m going.”
“Yes. Go on.”
Tang Geunmyeong nodded and stepped back, holding the horse’s reins.
With the boatman’s help, I climbed aboard.
“We are departing.”
As the boatman pulled in the rope and began rowing, the little ferry that had been wobbling in place finally started moving forward. Tang Geunmyeong’s figure slowly grew smaller.
He did not move from where he stood until I had shrunk into a tiny dot.
It really was a farewell.
*****
Daybreak was beginning to seep into the sky.
I curled up and wrapped my arms around my knees. I could not tell whether my body was trembling from the cold or from fear of the situation I was in.
Cane reacted to my trembling by rubbing himself against the back of my hand as if trying to comfort me. The feel of his soft fur made me feel a little better.
As I stared blankly into the air, the boatman cautiously suggested,
“You should get a little sleep, Young Lady. At this hour, there is no chance of running into river bandits. You will be safe.”
“Yes.”
I answered, but I could not sleep. I could not trust the boatman completely, and my head was as tangled as a ball of thread.
If Tang Geunmyeong was right, then the Clan Head had effectively permitted revenge against me, which meant pursuers from the Yuzhou Merchant Guild would come after me.
How was I supposed to shake them off? Was there anywhere I could hide?
Only then did it hit me. I knew absolutely nothing about the world outside the Tang Clan.
I was a frog in a well.
I let out an empty laugh and lifted my head, only for something damp to touch my cheek.
Half-frozen raindrops were tapping against the river’s surface.
“Oh dear, Young Lady. At least wrap yourself in this. It suddenly started raining.”
The boatman pulled out a straw rain cape from the pile of cargo and handed it to me. It smelled of damp grass, but I was in no position to be picky.
“This weather’s complete garbage. Ah, I was not saying that to you, Young Lady.”
Just as the boatman said, the weather really was complete garbage. I pulled the straw cape over myself, even though it was twice my size.
The sleet grew harsher, churning the water’s surface, and then thunder began to roll.
KRAAASH!
At the thunder that vibrated all the way through the boat, the boatman spat out a curse. The tiny ferry rocked so violently it felt as if it might be swallowed whole by the rainstorm.
“How much farther?”
“At least five more hours!”
the boatman shouted back at the top of his lungs.
Five more hours in this? At that point I was more worried the boat would break apart.
Fortunately, the boatman fully earned the worth of that silver ingot. Like a professional, he drove the boat through the pounding rain and brought us into the main current of the wide river.
When broad traffic began appearing here and there on the river, the boatman said,
“Langzhong is in sight.”
I stretched my neck out through the folds of the straw cape.
Langzhong, glimpsed through the dreary mist, was a splendid city.
As befitted a city where goods gathered along the Jialing River, grand inns lined the docks street after street.
I even spotted the White Wind Trading Company, Madam Im’s family business. It was a dazzling building.
But none of it stirred any excitement in me. With my life hanging by a thread, I was in no state to admire the scenery.
Soon the boatman tied up at the dock and helped me down from the ferry.
“You may get off now, Young Lady.”
“Thank you.”
I gave a small nod, then the moment my feet touched land, I started searching for another ship. I had to leave for Chongqing immediately.
“I need to get to Chongqing.”
“No boats are leaving today. Spend the night at an inn and come back tomorrow.”
“I... Chongqing...”
“No one can depart before this storm lets up. Once the rain stops, the river will freeze over, and in weather like this, boats split apart easily.”
I ran all over the docks looking for a boat to Chongqing, but every single person shook their head.
The rain came down harder and harder. The river heaved under the downpour, which was now so heavy I could barely see a foot ahead of me.
I turned away, rubbing at my chilled body. Just as the boatman had said, it looked like I would have to spend the night at an inn.
After circling the main road a few times, I picked an inn shabby enough that it would not draw much attention and went inside.
“Oh, welcome, miss. You’re soaked through. Should I prepare washing water for you?”
“Yes.”
“Hot water is two mun.”
The runner who came hurrying out rubbed his hands together as he spoke. It felt a little expensive, but I did not have the energy to haggle.
“Bring my meal to the room too. Anything decent is fine.”
I roughly calculated the cost of the water and food, paid it, and went up to the second floor.
I washed up, filled my stomach with the meal the runner brought me, and collapsed onto the bed.
The wet straw cape smelled fishy, but I did not even have the energy to shove it farther away.
Maybe because I had been tense all day, sleep poured over me the instant I lay down.
“Cane. You slept a lot earlier, didn’t you? Let me know if anyone comes close.”
“Kyuu.”
Cane stamped his foot with an annoyed look, but I had no strength left to answer him.
I dropped into sleep like I had fainted.
*****
The rain had not stopped the next day either.
If anything, the wind had grown even fiercer, rattling the windows.
Judging by the boats tied down tight at the docks, there would be no boat to Chongqing today either.
I could not stay in Langzhong for long. If I could not board a ship to Chongqing, I would have to find another way.
I was eating breakfast and brooding over it when I got a bamboo hat from the inn runner and headed outside. I was thinking of asking around the docks to see whether I could get a horse.
“Damn it, why post notices on a rainy day?”
“They say someone’s son was killed. They probably want to catch her this instant.”
At those voices, I looked up and saw government soldiers in straw capes plastering notices across the walls.
Would those even mean anything when they would be washed clean off by the rain?
Thinking that, I stepped closer in confusion, then nearly bit my tongue.
[A vicious woman who murdered her betrothed and fled. Any report will be rewarded by the Yuzhou Merchant Guild.]
The portrait sketch looked nothing like me, but the wanted woman on the notice was me.
I pulled the bamboo hat low over my face and hurriedly changed direction.
A notice being posted meant the Yuzhou Merchant Guild had begun hunting me.
It seemed the Tang Clan had deliberately handed over an inaccurate portrait sketch, but it would only be a matter of time before they found out what I really looked like.
I had no time to linger in Langzhong. I had to run now.
But where?
Just then, Cane dug his claws into my arm.
“Cane. What’s wrong?”
“Kii.”
Cane gave a short warning cry and burrowed into my clothes.
Only then did I feel it.
Someone was following me.
The moment I realized that, the smell of blood mixed into the scent of wet rain. Whoever it was, he was a wandering martial artist used to killing people.
If you meet wandering martial artists, do not fight them. Run.
Tang Geunmyeong’s warning flashed through my mind.
Holding my breath, I stopped walking.
The other person stopped at the exact same moment.
Splash.
The puddles gathered on the ground were a stroke of luck for me. They kept the other person’s footsteps from being hidden.
“Cane. Hold on tight.”
“Kkyuk?”
I kicked off the ground and started running.
