Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan Chapter 34: Chapter 34 - Ghosts in the Mist

Read chapter 34 of Gatewalker: Remnant of the Tang Clan by TheeRaven on NovelPedia.

The mist of the Black Pines was thick this time of year. Sa Gwan led the trio in silence, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword. Ilho moved beside him with ease. Ryul kept pace just ahead of Blue. They searched for signs of the missing scouts since dawn. The deeper they went, the more the forest seemed to swallow the trail. Blue glanced at Ryul and caught up to him. "You've been quiey this whole time. What's bothering you?" Ryul didn't answer. Only when they paused near a clearing did he respond. "It's just So-Yeon." "What about her? Are you still upset over how she reacted?" Ryul looked at Blue. His expression was heavy, like the weight of 15 years of regret. "Hyung." He said quietly as Sa Gwan ordered them to rest for a bit. "You've been gone so long. I'm afraid... there's so much you don't know. There's still much I don't." Ryul looked into the forest. "It's not that i hate her, though she did stab you. But after you died, everything fell apart. We were left to fend for ourselves. She didn't come back. Never looked for us." Blue opened his mouth, but Ryul raised his hand. "Eventually each of us found a place to belong. We had each decided to take our own paths. Though, it seemed as if we were guided. Except for Haejin. He took your death the hardest. You were the only father figure he'd ever known. The Heavenly Demon himself found him. He helped him overcome his despair. That's all I know about our little brother. I was left wandering chengdu... alone. Until Wu Cheng brought me to Wudang." Ryul sighed. "I'm not telling you this to make you feel bad. But, when I saw you again. Really saw you, all those memories flooded my mind. Everything we lost. Our siblings scattered. I don't know, maybe it's regret, maybe a grudge. But after she stabbed you, something inside of me hardened when it comes to her. And I can't seem to let it go. Blue's eyes dropped to the forest floor. "You're right. I don’t understand, and I can't fathom what you all have suffered." He looked up and met Ryul's gaze. "But she's still our sister. We can't abandon her. She had her reasons, just as you now. If she ever realizes who I am, you need to sit with her and give her a chance to explain. Whatever it is you're feeling. I'm sure she shares the same regret. Trust me, I know, just look at my shoulder." Before Ryul could speak, Sa Gwan held up his hand. "Quiet. Ten hellhounds in that direction." Sa Gwam muttered as he pointed. "Weak, but aggressive. We'll handle them easily. Don't break formation, and don't try to be a hero." The clash came quickly. The hellhounds emerged from the mist. Low growls, fire lighting up the ground as it rose from their skin. Sa Gwan barked orders. The 4 of them swiftly moved through the hellhounds in formation. Slicing them open as lava poured from their wounds. There was no hesitation in the boys movements or swords. The ten hellhounds were decimated in a matter of seconds. Sa Gwan looked back and smiled. "Well done." ─── Above the commotion, unnoticed by the boys. So-Yeon watched. Her hood down, she watched Blue as he moved through the hellhounds. She muttered to herself. "Just because uncle taught you grandfather's footwork, doesn't make you Jiung." Below Sa Gwan turned his head quickly to the tree line behind them. "More?" Ilho asked. Sa Gwan shook his head. "It's nothing." He stared at the spot So-Yeon had just been. As Sa Gwan turned back, the trees in front of them started trembling. A deep boom, echoed between the pines. The boys all looked at each other. The trees right in front of them toppled over. Out of the mist, it appeared. An Orc. Nine feet tall. Green skin tempered like iron. It dragged a club behind it, tearing through the forest floor. It's blood red eyes locked onto the group. Sa Gwan didn't hesitate. "Get ready! Sa Gwan and Ilho both vanished, shadow step carrying them through the shadows. Both men flanked the creature from either side. The orc swung. A wide arc that shattered a tree trunk beside him. Ilho