Ah! Namgung Clan Episode 008
008 Let's Return Alive (2)
If one considered only martial arts, Namgung Joseok was no match for Jang Yang-ryang. Moreover, he was in a situation where he could not even use one hand.
But that was the nature of real combat. Because countless variables came into play, unexpected results could occur.
Clang!
Namgung Joseok blocked the short spear thrust by Jang Yang-ryang with his sword, deflecting it sideways. He handled the next several attacks all in the same manner.
Growing irritated, Jang Yang-ryang took a step forward to close the distance. Then, as if he had been waiting for this, Namgung Joseok channeled qi into his sword and unleashed sword qi.
Thud!
Jang Yang-ryang blocked it by holding his short spear vertically and nearly fell from the tree. Had both feet been planted on the branches, it would not have happened, but as he had been advancing forward to attack, his center of gravity was unstable.
"Haat!"
Namgung Joseok swung his sword continuously, pressing Jang Yang-ryang. On flat ground, he would have dodged easily, but on the tree branches, his movements were restricted. He had no choice but to block everything.
Up to the third strike, the attacks were all the same, so blocking was not difficult. But suddenly, the attack crashed in fiercely. It was sword qi.
Thud!
"Heok!"
Jang Yang-ryang nearly fell again but barely maintained his balance. While doing so, he swung his short spear to brace for the next incoming attack.
But Namgung Joseok did not attack. One of the bandits below had thrown three daggers.
He dodged two and struck one with his sword, sending it flying toward Jang Yang-ryang. Startled, Jang Yang-ryang quickly bent his upper body, and the dagger bounced off the tree behind him.
"Damn it! I nearly died! Stay out of this!"
When Jang Yang-ryang shouted in anger, not only the bandit who was about to throw another dagger but even those preparing to shoot arrows all froze. Regardless, if they did not attack, it was a good thing for Namgung Joseok.
"You are quite skilled. That is not the martial art of the Sang-gwan Clan. Who are you?"
"You need not know. If you are thinking of buying time for your subordinates to climb up, abandon the idea."
As Namgung Joseok spoke, he glanced backward. The bandits were climbing the tree up to the branches. Jang Yang-ryang was in front, bandits were behind and below; it was truly a situation of being surrounded on all sides.
But Namgung Joseok did not despair. He calmly assessed the situation and thought of a way to escape.
A bandit with a drawn sword crept up from behind. Moving on tree branches required caution.
Swish!
Namgung Joseok swung his sword toward the bandit's face. It was a surprise attack without the slightest preparatory movement.
The bandit was startled and bent his upper body to dodge the sword. But that was exactly what Namgung Joseok had wanted.
He leaped lightly, stepped over the back of the bandit who had bent down, and kicked the bandit who had been cautiously approaching behind him. Then he cut the legs of the bandit he had just stepped over, and the two screamed simultaneously as they fell below.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Kuaaah!"
Seeing this, the bandits who had been continuing to climb the tree hesitated. They were afraid of meeting the same fate if they went up.
Then Jang Yang-ryang instantly closed the distance and stabbed at Namgung Joseok with his short spear.
It was a ferocious attack, but Namgung Joseok swung his sword to deflect the thrusting short spear sideways and struck his chest with his shoulder.
Even at that moment, Jang Yang-ryang raised his arm to defend, but the impact pushed him backward. He stepped wrong and began to fall below.
"Heok!"
Just as the startled Jang Yang-ryang quickly tried to regain his balance, Namgung Joseok threw his entire body at him. He intended to fall together. When Jang Yang-ryang realized this, his eyes went wide.
"What...?"
The two became entangled and fell downward. In the process, Jang Yang-ryang grabbed Namgung Joseok and switched their positions. If they fell like that, Namgung Joseok would end up crushed beneath.
It was a dangerous situation, but Namgung Joseok waited until just before striking the ground and then violently flipped his body. Because if he switched positions midway, Jang Yang-ryang could switch them back.
In that instant, their eyes met. Jang Yang-ryang's eyes were filled with fear.
Thud!
"Keuak!"
With Jang Yang-ryang crushed beneath him, he screamed. Namgung Joseok also received the impact, his body bouncing slightly before falling. His entire body throbbed with pain, but if he remained there, he would be done in by the bandits. Gritting his teeth, Namgung Joseok quickly rose and dashed forward.
The bandits who had been blankly watching Jang Yang-ryang fall to the ground belatedly tried to stop Namgung Joseok. But he was already past them and fleeing far away.
"After him!"
"Catch him!"
As the bandits pursued, Namgung Joseok unleashed his lightness art. Though he had sustained internal injuries from the fall and felt nauseous, he could not stop.
As the distance from the bandits gradually widened until they were no longer visible, he finally stopped and steadied his ragged breathing. His body was a wreck and his mind was exhausted. He wanted to rest just like this.
But Namgung Joseok moved again. He could not remain still, worried as he was about Namgung Ganghae. He walked slowly, and after taking enough time to drink a cup of tea, the main road came into view.
From afar, a man and a woman were approaching on horseback. By the time Namgung Joseok reached the main road, they had drawn quite close.
The two, dressed in comfortable martial uniforms, appeared to be in their late teens to early twenties. From the swords hanging at their sides on the horses, they appeared to be martial artists.
Namgung Joseok blocked the road and stopped them.
"Halt!"
"What is the matter?"
The man asked, heavily on his guard. Looking at Namgung Joseok's appearance, his clothes were stained with blood and he even carried a sword. He suspected Namgung Joseok might be a bandit.
"It is urgent, so sell me that horse. I will pay handsomely."
"What sort of words are these, appearing suddenly out of nowhere?"
Namgung Joseok took out his money pouch and threw it to him. The man caught it instinctively and looked at him with suspicious eyes before checking the money.
It was a larger amount than expected. Since Namgung Joseok had given all the money he possessed, it could not be helped.
Travel expenses to return to the Namgung Clan later were a concern, but he did not have the luxury to worry about such things now.
"If it is insufficient, come to the Sang-gwan Clan later. I will pay you more."
"Are you from the Sang-gwan Clan?"
He was not. But Namgung Joseok did not bother to deny it. The name of the Namgung Clan no longer carried weight. It was slowly fading from people's memories. In contrast, the Sang-gwan Clan still maintained its prestige as one of the Eight Great Clans Under Heaven.
"A person's life hangs in the balance. I beg you."
"Hmm!"
The man hesitated for a moment but soon dismounted. He then extended his hand to the woman who had come with him.
"Martial Sister. Since it is the Sang-gwan Clan's affair, let us help."
"Very well, Brother."
The woman readily agreed and dismounted. Namgung Joseok, out of gratitude, almost habitually asked about their sect, but stopped himself. If he did, he would have to reveal that he was from the Namgung Clan as well.
"Thank you for understanding."
"Not at all. We received sufficient compensation, so that is enough."
As Namgung Joseok spoke courteously, the man likewise placed both hands together in front and gave a slight bow. Meanwhile, the woman retrieved the bundle and sword that had been on the man's horse and loaded them onto her own.
Namgung Joseok glanced at that sword. Looking at the scabbard, the blade was straight, and on the back of the blade was engraved a wave pattern shaped like the character for "river" (川). It meant they were from the Seomun Clan, one of the great families of Anhui.
"Then."
Pretending not to have noticed anything, Namgung Joseok mounted the horse the man had been riding and spurred it on. The horse began to gallop powerfully.
***
Continuing along the main road, he soon spotted Namgung Ganghae. He was with Sang-gwan Irok's party. Behind them, bandits were giving chase with all their might.
"Uncle!"
Namgung Ganghae called out in great joy. He had been worried because his uncle had not been coming for so long.
"You are safe."
"Yes."
Dismounting from the horse, Namgung Joseok stroked Namgung Ganghae's head once and looked at Sang-gwan Irok's party. When he had sent them ahead earlier, there had been more people. But now there were barely four. He did not need to ask to guess what had happened to the others.
"I have a request."
"Please speak."
"Please take Morang as well."
Sang-gwan Irok had thought he would only take Namgung Ganghae. Was the situation not such?
Namgung Joseok had no connection whatsoever to the Sang-gwan Clan. He was not close with Sang-gwan Irok or Sang-gwan Morang either. Though he had received the azure jade, it was not more precious than life. Thus, it was only natural that he would take his leave now.
But Namgung Joseok did not. There was a moment of hesitation, but soon he looked at Sang-gwan Irok with the eyes of a man who had resolved upon something.
"Lord Sang-gwan, ride the horse and take the children with you."
"What do you mean..."
"What they seek is that child. So if you, Lord Sang-gwan, take that child, then I and these men can somehow escape from here."
"That cannot be. You..."
"There is no time to argue. Go quickly."
"But..."
"I!"
When Sang-gwan Irok kept refusing to leave, Namgung Joseok suddenly shouted loudly. Then everyone around was startled and looked at him.
"I am Namgung Joseok! A man of the Namgung Clan! Living with the belief that I will become stronger through my own efforts, never losing courage no matter where I am, and realizing justice! To such a person as I, are you telling me to leave the injured behind and go?!"
At Namgung Joseok's righteous and unyielding figure, Sang-gwan Irok lost his words. Come to think of it, that was right. The people of the Namgung Clan. To the point of being called reckless, sometimes to the point of seeming arrogant, they were upright and threw away their lives like grass for their convictions. It was something the merchant clan of Sang-gwan could never dare to imitate.
"Uncle."
Namgung Ganghae approached Namgung Joseok and grabbed his sleeve. Then Namgung Joseok held out the sword of Namgung Sanhak that he had kept until now.
"This is the sword of the Namgung Clan, and your father's sword. The three leaf shapes engraved upon it signify strength, courage, and justice. Make them the conviction of your lifetime and take pride in them."
It was a farewell. Namgung Joseok had resolved himself for death.
But Namgung Ganghae could not stop him. After hearing such words, how could he ask him to come along?
"Yes, Uncle. I will."
"Good. Go quickly."
Namgung Joseok looked at Namgung Ganghae with sorrowful eyes and stroked his head.
"Lord Sang-gwan, go quickly. If something happens to me, please look after Ganghae."
"I shall not forget your favor."
As Sang-gwan Irok mounted the horse, the warriors placed Sang-gwan Morang in front and Namgung Ganghae behind.
"You must all be safe as well."
"Do not worry, my lord."
The warrior spoke thus and lightly slapped the horse's rump. The horse began to gallop forward. The three men who had been watching quietly turned their bodies and drew their swords.
"Hero Namgung. It is an honor to stand together with a man such as you."
"I feel the same. Today, I have newly felt that the Namgung Clan endures. If I survive here, I shall proclaim it to all under heaven."
"You two praise me so that I am embarrassed. Now let us do what must be done."
Namgung Joseok smiled and looked at the two men. Then, gripping his sword, he charged forward.