< Return to War, Episode 77 >
It was the fourth day since I entered Gansu with a carriage.
Dan Yuxian’s carriage passed Qilian Mountain for a while and arrived at Nanzhou. If they continued to expand eastward, they would soon reach Shaanxi, and the distance to Anhui was also rapidly narrowing.
Those who stopped in Nanzhou, the capital of Shaanxi, first started moving around to get the supplies they needed.
And as if it were only natural, the person who received that role was none other than Jang Sam-tae. This is because everyone passes it on to him as if it is natural because it is something he does every time.
So, normally, I would be whining and grunting alone with both hands full of things, but this time, I was walking down the street with strangely light movements.
“Ah, that’s good!”
Jang Sam-tae was in a very good mood.
The anger that rose up every time I went to the grocery store suddenly disappeared and ceased to exist. The reason is none other than Geum Geum-ran and Jin Tae-gong who followed in his footsteps.
The two people’s hands were piled with so many things that it was hard to say that their hands were full, so much so that even walking was difficult.
“Ugh?! “What… heavy!”
Geumjin-ran frowned and gasped.
With both hands full of objects, it is quite heavy. Even my feet hurt from walking for a long time, so I wanted someone to share my luggage.
But Jin Tae-gong has no time to spare.
Rather, it is because it is carrying more baggage than the forbidden column.
Then, what is left is Jang Sam-tae….
“What would be good…?”
Jang Sam-tae was just humming and looking around the street, not paying attention to anything else. He didn’t seem to have any intention of helping.
“Over there! “Why don’t we share some?”
“Oh my! Can’t you see I’m shopping? “If I hold it, I can’t go shopping, right?”
I tried to muster up the courage to speak out, but what I got in return was a cold response. Since they were brought in to be used as porters in the first place, Jang Sam-tae’s idea was to treat them to their heart’s content.
They were such good bastards to Jang Sam-tae, who had been working as a slave for over ten years, that he wanted them to go to the manor with him like this.
Jin Tae-gong is strong and does everything with determination.
Is this a guy who grows up by getting scolded even if he doesn’t act like an idiot when he’s told to? I feel like it is rewarding to raise him as a servant next to me.
Conversely, what is prohibited?
I don’t know how to do anything properly while complaining.
If I tell him to do laundry, he rips it all up, and if I order him to do the dishes, he breaks it all. However, there was one thing that I gradually improved on, and that was cooking.
At first, they served food that was too miserable to eat, but now they started to adjust it to suit people’s tastes.
When it was time to eat, he naturally got up and prepared, and it was inevitable that he was greatly relieving the burden of Jang Sam-tae, who had been in charge of the meal for a long time.
‘Cancer will never let you escape!’
Jang Sam-tae felt it.
Why is Dan Woo-hyeon pampering himself so much?
He was realizing once again how easy it was to manipulate someone. Thus, he cherished and loved the two people more than anyone else and revealed his resolute will to never let them go.
“Ugh…”
At that time, Geum Geum-ran swallowed a moan and frowned. Because the day was so hot, her head spun for a moment and her body swayed, but Jin Tae-gong, who was next to her, quickly helped her up.
“Gwae… are you okay?”
“Ha… Ha… Are you a little worried because it seems like it’s time for someone to die?”
“That… that…!”
“That’s it. “Because I can do it alone!”
Geum Geum-ran gritted his teeth and shook off Jin Tae-gong. Usually, he would cling to Namgoong Sohye and act like he would give anything, but now I was sick of him pretending to be worried.
I will grit my teeth and endure and endure.
Wasn’t it impossible to even escape from those humans anyway? Then I had to learn how to live somehow.
This was the true taste of life that Jang Sam-tae had taught her over the past few months.
“….”
“Is that…?”
And there were eyes looking at those three people.
Although it passes by in passing, there is confidence in the gaze that remains until the end. They looked at each other and seemed to think for a moment, then nodded and quickly left.
* * *
“What? “Is that true?”
“Yes, definitely. “It was clear that it was a priestess and Jin Tae-gong.”
Elder Hyeongungak, who was returning to Cheonjigyo after finishing his work, could not hide his surprise as he listened to the stories of his subordinates. The world’s maiden and Jin Tae-gong were carrying luggage and following someone?
It’s a somewhat hard story to believe.
Priestesses have high pride and tend to always look down on people. A person like that is acting like a maid?
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t understand it at all.
But more than that…
“Was he alive?”
Hyeongungak sighed.
The religious leader had already tried to deal with the two people in Sichuan. There is no one who does not know about it, and it was immediately after it was declared that the priestess had died due to an attack by a political faction.
As a result, the morale of the Church of Cheonji is boiling and the power of the Church of Heaven and Earth, which was split in half, has now become one under the leader and is gnashing its teeth against Jeongdo Murim.
In this situation, she should not be alive.
Hyeongungak tapped the table with his fingers and sighed.
Should I report this to the religious leader?
Hyeongungak, who was thinking about that, shook his head and smiled. It is the person’s facial expression that seems to have some meaning.
“If you’re a priestess, you’re probably the oldest with the religious leader, right?”
I know that they have been together since before Cheonjigyo was established. It can be said that he is the person who knows the best about the religious leader.
Even though it appeared out of nowhere, the power that instantly defeated the current elders and the guardians into submission, and the martial art that created the two beings of the Four Heavenly Emperors, who can be said to be his close associates.
I thought that she might be able to solve the questions that had been hidden and not revealed.
“It might be useful… I don’t know.”
Hyeongungak stood up from his seat.
If you can uncover the secrets of the cult leader, you may be able to obtain the unknown power he possesses.
If that’s the case, wouldn’t the Five Emperors of the World be a separate thing?
You may be able to place this heaven and earth under your feet.
Hyeongungak could not control his pounding heart. The passion I felt when I was young was boiling over like crazy, and I felt like I was going to explode.
* * *
“Is there no one there?”
“Huh huh huh.”
“Oh no, I’m dying…!”
Jang Sam-tae, who entered the guest room, looked around and frowned. It felt strange to leave the grocery shopping to others, and it seemed like everyone had gone out to look around.
I’m sure they’ll be laughing among themselves and buying something delicious.
Jang Sam-tae swallowed his anger and clenched his fists.
If so, you too will enjoy eating and drinking.
‘I’m sure… I heard there’s a really good bar here too…?’
Jang Sam-tae burst into laughter as he recalled the stories of people passing by. Is this the sound of freedom I feel for the first time in years?
We will drink good alcohol and eat delicious snacks.
If possible, it would be better to have a girl who pours drinks for you.
I couldn’t stop laughing, probably because I was dreaming without realizing it.
But there were things to take care of before that.
When I glanced to one side, I saw Geum-ran and Jin Tae-gong lying on the floor.
“no way! “He went out to play without me again.”
Soon, he spoke nervously and looked at the two people’s thoughts. However, the exhausted people did not show any reaction, and Jang Sam-tae grinned invisibly as he looked at them.
Juseomjuseom took out a piece of eunja from his pocket and threw it to him.
“I’ll do the rest, so go out and buy something to eat. From the looks of it, it looks like Mr. Jang will be eating outside too.”
“Huh huh… Is… is that okay?”
“Did you see me playing around with something like this?”
I wanted to say that I saw a lot, but Jin Tae-gong shook his head with a bitter smile. Although Jang Sam-tae treats people harshly, he makes sure to reward them.
“Oh, and don’t think nonsense.”
At that moment, Jin Tae-gong broke into a cold sweat.
Even if you run away, will you be successful?
It’s the same as Son Wukong on Buddha’s palm.
And I don’t even want to think about the tragedy that will happen later.
“Then I’ll be back.”
Jin Tae-gong struggled to get up and supported Geum Geum-ran. You might be wondering why I’m being so hard on myself when it’s just a matter of moving luggage around the street, but the fatigue that has built up over the years is no joke.
Unlike those who ate and slept comfortably, I was always on edge, so I couldn’t sleep deeply, and I couldn’t sleep in late because I had to wake up on time to work.
That’s why I can’t help but feel tired.
When the two people go out, Jang Sam-tae is the only one left in the guesthouse.
He started looking around.
I quietly opened the two old men’s rooms, the two women’s rooms, and Dan Woo-hyeon’s room one by one. As expected, the room was empty and there was not even a trace of popularity.
That means it is certain that everyone is gone.
Soon, Jang Sam-tae quietly entered the room.
When I unpacked the baggage I brought with me and looked at the bottom, I saw the clean clothes I had brought with me when I left the house.
“I brought it for this day haha!”
I smiled without realizing it and started changing my clothes. I quickly straightened out my tangled hair and looked towards Tokyo to see a completely different person standing there than the Jang Sam-tae I usually saw.
The moment I was about to put my backpack inside my clothes.
Flap-!
A piece of paper fluttered and fell to the floor.
What is this?
Although I haven’t worn it for a long time, I’ve never had paper like this stored in it. The paper also looked quite worn, as if it had been put there a long time ago.
The moment you hold it with a puzzled expression.
Jang Sam-tae felt the hairs on his entire body stand up.
– Just look at me. Because I will cut off that hideous thing.
The text written is very simple and clear.
But the handwriting is very familiar. Handwriting as clean and clutter-free as Namgung So-hye’s. However, it feels like it has power and somehow steals people’s attention.
Yes, the owner of this handwriting is… Maehyang.
“What the hell?!”
Jang Sam-tae sat down in tears.
Jang Sam-tae was devastated as he pictured Maehyang’s face in his mind. Isn’t it as if I read Jang Sam-tae’s thoughts from beginning to end?
Even though I haven’t worn these clothes in over ten years…
the creepiness never went away.
