Ah! Namgung Clan Episode 009
009 Let's Return Alive (3)
They ran nonstop along the main road for a long time, and the horse gradually tired, slowing its pace. Even so, Sanggwan Irok did not stop. Riding for a long time in a severely injured state, he had lost much blood and his mind was hazy, but he barely endured.
"There's a village over there."
When Namgung Joseok shouted, Sanggwan Irok shook his head once and looked ahead. There really was a village.
Just as they spurred the horse and entered the outskirts of the village, Sanggwan Irok, who had been overexerting himself, finally fell from the horse.
"Uncle!"
Sanggwan Morang screamed in alarm. Namgung Ganghae quickly jumped down from the horse and examined Sanggwan Irok. Thanks to falling limply, he fortunately had not sustained further injuries, but his condition was not good.
"Get down."
First, Namgung Ganghae helped Sanggwan Morang down from the horse, then looked around. It was not a very large village. But there had to be a physician somewhere.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll go call a physician."
When told to stay alone, Sanggwan Morang revealed her anxiety plainly. Namgung Ganghae let out a small sigh and placed the small dagger he always carried into her hand.
"If anything happens, shout loudly. Then I'll come running right away."
"Y-yes."
Namgung Ganghae hurriedly ran and knocked on the door of the nearest house. Then an old villager came out with a frown.
"What is it? You're children I've never seen before."
"Please help us. Someone is injured."
"Oh my, who got hurt?"
"A companion."
"Dear me……."
The old man clicked his tongue in pity. Then he rolled up his sleeves and came outside.
"Where? I'll help."
"He collapsed at the village entrance. Is there a physician in the village?"
"If you go straight that way, you'll find a thatched cottage. If you say Mano called, he'll come right away."
"Thank you."
Namgung Ganghae immediately ran that way, glancing back. The old man was heading toward the village entrance.
When they arrived at the thatched cottage, the door was open. As they entered the yard, someone came out from inside. It was a woman who appeared to be in her late teens. Judging by her attire, she seemed to be about to go gather medicinal herbs.
"Is there a physician here? A man named Mano told me about this place."
"Huh? Yes. I'm not a physician, but I do know some healing arts. Who is it?"
"Is it you?"
"That's right."
She was so young that he couldn't quite trust her, but in such a small village, there was unlikely to be another physician. They were in no position to refuse help, and revealing such thoughts would only cause offense.
"You're young, yet you know healing arts. That's amazing."
"Huh? Oh, y-yes."
At the sudden praise, the woman grew bashful and her face flushed slightly. The sight was innocent and cute.
"A companion is injured and collapsed at the village entrance. Please help. We will reward you generously."
"Really? How were they injured?"
"He was cut by a sword and lost a lot of blood."
"Are they a martial artist?"
"Yes. The injured person is the Lord of the Sanggwan Clan."
"Wait just a moment."
The woman said so, went inside, and came back out having gathered what was needed for treatment.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
When they went to where Sanggwan Irok and Sanggwan Morang were, several villagers had gathered. The old man called Mano had called them over.
"Grandfather."
"So-mong, you've come."
Her name was Ma Yemong, but close acquaintances called her So-mong. It was common to attach "No" before the name for elders and "So" for the young when there was close acquaintance.
"Is it him?"
"Yes."
"Just a moment."
Ma Yemong crouched down and examined Sanggwan Irok's condition. The injury was severe. He had lost a lot of blood too. After briefly stopping the bleeding, she spoke to Mano.
"Grandfather. Please move him to our house for now. Be careful so the wound doesn't open."
"Of course. Come now, don't just stand there, move him."
Mano urged the gathered people and moved Sanggwan Irok to Ma Yemong's house.
Then Ma Yemong began treating Sanggwan Irok's wound, and Mano sent the people back before asking Namgung Ganghae this and that.
He seemed afraid that treating Sanggwan Irok might bring harm to the village.
To this, Namgung Ganghae revealed that he was from the Sanggwan Clan and made up that they had encountered bandits on the way.
***
That night. Sanggwan Irok opened his eyes. Sanggwan Morang was dozing beside him, and Namgung Ganghae had stayed awake until then.
"Mmm… Where is this?"
"A village. Fortunately, there was a physician, so we asked for treatment."
"What about him… Did he not come?"
The "he" Sanggwan Irok spoke of was Namgung Joseok. Namgung Ganghae shook his head with a bitter expression.
"It seems the others haven't come either."
The two intermediate-level warriors who had been with them all along were his bodyguards and people like family. If they had not come by now, all three of them must be dead.
"Uncle will definitely return."
"I… believe so too."
They had only spoken briefly, yet Sanggwan Irok was exhausted. But he had something he absolutely had to say to Namgung Ganghae.
"You said your name is Namgung Ganghae, correct?"
"Yes."
"I have a request."
Namgung Ganghae looked at Sanggwan Irok with detached, emotionless eyes. He could guess what the request would be. No doubt, he would ask him to take Sanggwan Morang and go.
"They will find this place soon. Then Morang will die. So take Morang to the Geumnyeong Guesthouse."
"I hate you."
It was completely unexpected, yet understandable. Because of the sudden entanglement, Namgung Joseok had ended up that way.
"I know. I would feel the same. But I beg you. I don't care what happens to me, but I want to save Morang."
"The only reason I'm helping you is because of my uncle."
"Thank you. I shall never forget that grace for the rest of my life."
"You'd better."
Namgung Ganghae swallowed the rest of the words. That if he didn't, he would rip apart both him and the Sanggwan Clan.
"Leave quickly."
Sanggwan Irok spoke feebly and closed his eyes. Namgung Ganghae gazed at him silently for a moment, then woke Sanggwan Morang.
"Mmm… What?"
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"We have to go to the Geumnyeong Guesthouse."
"What about Uncle?"
"He's going to treat his wound here."
"Then I'll stay too."
"If you don't go, the Sanggwan Lord will die too."
"Huh?"
Sanggwan Morang stared with wide eyes. Did she really not know anything?
Namgung Ganghae let out a small sigh.
"They're after you. So if you leave here, the Sanggwan Lord will be safe."
"But……."
Sanggwan Morang looked at Sanggwan Irok, conflicted. She knew Namgung Ganghae was right. But she was worried about Sanggwan Irok. She was also afraid of leaving him.
"Let's go. Until we reach the Geumnyeong Guesthouse, I'll protect you."
"You will?"
"Yes."
When Namgung Ganghae said he would protect her, Sanggwan Morang felt strangely relieved. Just as she had on the ship back then.
"Alright. Then I'll go."
It was not an easy decision, but Sanggwan Morang spoke firmly. At this, Namgung Ganghae nodded slightly and went to Ma Yemong to explain the situation.
"Alright. Don't worry about him. But can you two go on your own?"
"Yes. I've been there a few times before, so I know the way."
It was a lie, of course. But if he didn't say so, Ma Yemong seemed likely to interfere. Given her personality, which he had briefly experienced, she was more than capable of it.
"Hmm… Alright. Then. Be careful since it's a night road."
"Please look after the Sanggwan Lord."
Namgung Ganghae packed his things and took Sanggwan Morang's hand as they went out. It would be nice if they could ride a horse, but they had no choice but to walk.
They left the village and walked along the main road for a long time. Before they knew it, the surroundings grew brighter, and the sun began to rise. The two stopped walking for a moment and watched the morning sun.
"Will Uncle be safe?"
"He'll be fine. Let's go."
Namgung Ganghae took Sanggwan Morang's hand again and walked. After going a bit further that way, a small restaurant by the roadside came into view. Perhaps because it was early morning, there was only one pair of customers, a man and a woman.
Namgung Ganghae sat down in a corner and looked at Sanggwan Morang.
"We'll eat noodles."
"Okay."
"Mister. Two noodles here, please."
"Wait a moment."
The owner in the kitchen briefly came out, spoke to the two of them, and went back in.
While waiting for the food, Namgung Ganghae pretended not to look and glanced at the pair who had arrived first. Both looked to be in their early twenties and wore swords. They were martial artists.
"Here you are. Did you two come alone?"
"No. Father will follow soon. We were just hungry, so we came ahead."
"Is that so?"
"How much is it? I'll pay in advance."
Namgung Ganghae said so and paid for the food. That his father would follow was obviously a lie. He had said so because you never know what might happen to children traveling alone.
They ate the noodles and immediately left the place. Then, as they walked along the main road again, Sanggwan Morang complained that her feet hurt. She had grown up delicately and had never walked this long before.
"Let's walk just a bit more."
"Okay."
Sanggwan Morang answered weakly. The sight was pitiful, but Namgung Ganghae steeled his heart. They were in a situation where the bandits could pursue them at any time. They had to keep going while they could.
They walked a bit further when the sound of hoofbeats came from behind. Turning around, it was the pair of man and woman from the roadside restaurant. The two of them were riding a single horse.
"It's the young friends from earlier. Where are you headed?"
The man asked with interest. Namgung Ganghae looked up at them for a moment and answered.
"To Hapbi."
"It seems the father who was supposed to come hasn't arrived."
He must have overheard the conversation with the owner at the restaurant earlier. He was slightly mocking them, but it didn't seem to carry bad intentions.
However, Namgung Ganghae did not let his guard down. He watched the two with a gaze full of wariness and hid Sanggwan Morang behind him.
Seeing that, the man smiled. He had once been like that too. Risking his life to protect his martial sister.
"We happen to be going to Hapbi as well. How about going together?"
"No. We're fine."
"You might be fine, but I don't think the young lady behind you is."
The man said, pointing at Sanggwan Morang. In truth, Sanggwan Morang was very tired from walking so long. He would be grateful if they let her ride, but there might be ill intentions. The thought crossed his mind for a moment, but upon reflection, it couldn't be. If that were the case, they would have already made a move; there would be no need to converse like this.
"Then please let Morang ride."
"So the child's name is Morang."
The man lightly jumped down from the horse. At that, the woman riding with him shrugged her shoulders as if she couldn't stop him.
"I am called Seomun Hankwang. Over there is my martial sister and younger sister, Seomun Yeongyeong."
Seomun Hankwang revealed his identity and introduced the woman. Then she smiled coquettishly and greeted them.
"Nice to meet you."
The Seomun Clan was a prestigious family of Taeho (Lake Tai) in the western region of Anhwi, famous for their blade techniques. As the Namgung Clan fell and retreated to Hwangsan, they were gradually advancing into Hapbi, which had become ownerless. The two of them had also come here for that reason.
"I'm called Namgung Ganghae. This is Sanggwan Morang."
"Oh, from the Namgung and Sanggwan families. But why are you going alone? What about the people you came with?"
One could understand the Namgung Clan being a fallen house, but the Sanggwan Clan was one of the Eight Great Clans Under Heaven and continued to enjoy great renown. Moreover, hearing the name, she was a blood relative of the Sanggwan Clan. Yet the children were traveling without a guardian, which seemed odd.