Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: That's My Granddaughter!
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When I heard that the Dark Venerable had come looking for me, I didn't think much of it.
I just figured he'd praise the performance I'd put on during the martial exhibition or toss a few questions my way.
I'd already prepared answers for all of that, so I wasn't worried.
The lingering spirits were the same—except they were busy squabbling pointlessly among themselves.
"The Young Cult Leader has to establish the Divine Cult going forward! An engagement with one of the orthodox prestigious families is naturally out of the question!"
"Before worrying about affiliations, consider the other's status! This is the Dark Venerable's granddaughter we're talking about! Think about how much of a boon a blood alliance would be?"
This debate feels oddly familiar, like I've seen it somewhere before.
Why the déjà vu?
"We must never forget our roots! Our roots! The Central Plains folk are our enemies! They must be utterly exterminated!!"
"Pah, how outdated! What era do you think this is, still harping on about roots?"
"What did you say!?"
"Think about our situation first, please! Sure, they've been our age-old enemies, but starting from the bottom like we are, the Tang Clan would make a perfect foundation—and you're tossing it away?"
"Hey now! Our foundation is the Heavenly Mountains! The Heavenly Mountains were a paradise for those rejected by the world! Aligning ourselves with them is absolutely—"
"Ah, and that's exactly why that 'perfect paradise' screwed us over again? Bunch of old-timers who don't know reality when it bites them."
"Old-timers? What's that supposed to— you little...!"
"Huh? Took you long enough?"
"You bastard!"
"Hey, we're all in the same boat age-wise, so cut the 'you bastard' crap. Makes me feel bad hearing it."
"What the hell, man!?"
Crash, bang, clatter. As usual, the two factions' arguments were running parallel, going nowhere.
The spirits not joining the debate laid out more practical points.
"The Dark Venerable and the Mad Wind Rogue Knight's relationship is no different from crocodile and plover. From that angle, the Young Cult Leader's sudden engagement cancellation—'Tang Un-hwi' as you are—would be utterly unreasonable."
"It could ruin not just the standing he's built in the Tang Clan so far, but even block any future activities in Sichuan's martial world entirely."
"Even if the Dark Venerable has an unpredictable personality, would he really sit idly by while one of his bloodline tarnishes his own face? That's doubtful."
Naturally, my marriage to Tang Ye-won could solidify the Tang Clan's unity.
It might even greatly aid my plans to claim the Tang Clan—and by extension, the Alliance—for myself.
After all, Heaven-Earth Phoenix Tang Ye-won was seen as the closest to the Dark Venerable's successor.
So I could just grit my teeth and go through with the wedding, but after much deliberation, I'd concluded that wasn't the way.
Both rationally and emotionally.
"Still, it might be best to delay any decision on the marriage as long as possible."
"Agreed. The more options, the better!"
"From that perspective, claiming you already have a beloved makes for a pretext that's hard to challenge easily."
"As expected of the Young Cult Leader's stratagems—they reach the heavens!!"
The spirits who'd been fiercely arguing moments ago were now all nodding along like cuckoos, showering me with praise.
These guys, always so busy flattering one way or another.
But there was one misconception I needed to correct.
'Stratagems? Not at all.'
"Huh?"
"...Pardon?"
'Not stratagems. I'm serious.'
"!!"
"Y-Y-Y-Young Cult L-L-Leader, are you s-s-saying you truly h-have a b-b-beloved!?"
'Yeah.'
"Gasp!"
"W-When did this—"
"As far as we know, the Young Cult Leader has never even been in a relationship—"
"Does that mean you found a beloved after reincarnation? But we're always by your side—how could you—"
"M-Maybe one of those painted beauties trending among the youth these days—"
'Want to die? I haven't made spirit orbs lately—life treating you that good?'
"F-Forgive us!"
The spirits quickly prostrated themselves flat on the ground.
"Might we ask when this beloved came into the picture?"
I clamped my mouth shut without a word.
I just didn't want to mention it.
...Strictly speaking, it was less a mutual confirmation of feelings and more my one-sided affection.
The spirits fell silent too, their eyes just rolling around wildly.
* * *
And so time passed, and now in the Rebel Heroes' Hall,
I was strolling a walkway behind the manor grounds alongside the Dark Venerable.
Word must have spread that he was passing through, because the path was deserted.
'What could he possibly want with me?'
The Dark Venerable walked ahead leisurely, absorbed only in savoring the grass blades, saying nothing.
For me trailing silently behind, it was torture not knowing his thoughts.
The man was impossible to read.
Not knowing what bizarre scheme he might be plotting only heightened my tension.
"Seems like this guy enjoys watching the Young Cult Leader squirm."
"That faint smile on his lips looks like he's having the time of his life with this..."
If that's really it, it's pissing me off.
"The way he gets under people's skin is eerily similar to the Young Cult Leader's— Eek!"
What was that, punk?
I glared daggers at the spirit spouting nonsense when suddenly the Dark Venerable spoke up.
"Heh heh! I invite you for a stroll together, and the guest of honor clams up—must be frustrating as hell, huh? No clue what this weirdo's scheming either."
I flinched inwardly but kept a straight face.
"Not at all. I assumed you were organizing your thoughts before speaking."
"Really?"
"Yes. That's what I thought."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"No."
"You're not fooling anyone. It's written all over your face."
What is this triple negative nonsense?
"I've never even considered such irreverence since birth."
"Hearing 'irreverence' from your mouth feels off somehow."
"......"
"Aren't we close enough? So whisper it to me alone. You were pissed, right?"
Close how, exactly?
"Absolutely not."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Really really, for real?"
"Really really, absooooolutely serious."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"......"
Ah, this guy's really grinding my gears, nitpicking like this!
"Heh heh heh. You were pissed. Totally pissed."
"...No."
"That eyebrow twitched, didn't it? My veteran eyes don't miss a thing."
"Must be a nutrient deficiency. Just a minor muscle spasm."
"Hahaha. Sure. Let's go with that."
"......"
Just one hit.
I really want to land just one solid hit!!
Was this guy always this infuriating? He's a master at wearing people down.
"Truth is, I checked you out to see if you'd make a good grandson-in-law."
Hearing that snapped me alert like I'd been doused in ice water.
The Dark Venerable grinned mischievously.
"You knew, huh? I figured old Hosan wouldn't have said a word yet."
"Yeah, well... I happened to find out."
"How was it? Impressions from reuniting with your fiancée after so long. Pretty, right?"
"Pre...tty, yeah."
"Not just pretty! That's why they call her the Fairest in Sichuan—it's no empty title!"
"She has a nickname like that?"
"Huh? You didn't know?"
"No. Not really into that stuff."
"How can a young guy show zero interest in romance! And she's your fiancée! You should know!"
"......"
"You look kinda lukewarm about it?"
"...No. Let me correct that."
"Good. That's more like it. And her personality? You know how sweet it is? This prankster old man annoys her every time, she grumbles about hating it, but she sticks by my side chattering away about this and that—how adorable is that?"
"......"
"And her talent? At her age, she's already deputy commander of the Green Zombie Corps. Folks say she only got it because she's my granddaughter, but nonsense! Do you think the Green Zombie Corps is some pushover outfit? Even as my direct subordinates, if they don't buy into someone, they flat-out ignore them—stubborn lot. And they acknowledge her. That's my granddaughter for you!"
"......"
"Plus—"
I felt like my ears were about to blister.
In front of others, he plays the cool type to the hilt, but turns out he's just a total granddaughter simp.
"And you're gonna take away my beautiful granddaughter like that? Not until dirt's in my eyes!"
I never said I'd take her, though?
Better this way, actually.
If I use this as an excuse to call off the engagement—
"But, well, whatever."
The Dark Venerable stroked his chin, eyeing me up and down.
Like he was appraising merchandise.
"Not bad-looking. Decent martial arts too. Hmm! Could work."
"......"
"But if you pull any funny business before the proper wedding rites... you know what happens, right? Won't end fun."
The Dark Venerable glared murderously, flashing his poison hand shimmering with green light.
"Still, a real man doesn't tuck tail in fear. That'd disappoint me big time."
...Please just pick one or the other.
I pressed my throbbing temples with my index finger.
If I didn't clear up this misunderstanding now, he'd hound me forever.
'...Are you planning to say you have no intention of marrying your granddaughter?'
'Yeah, that's the idea.'
'N-No, you can't! Absolutely not!'
'This is bad!'
The spirits prostrated and grabbed my pant legs.
'What do you mean bad?'
'His love for his granddaughter is so obsessive it's twisted—tormenting her is his hobby! He thinks she's the prettiest, kindest, most obedient girl in the world!'
'Imagine suddenly thinking she's dumped! What do you reckon his reaction would be!!'
Is it... that bad?
I'm just saying let's rethink it?
A good explanation should convince him—
'Don't think reason and logic will work on this guy—that's a huge mistake!!'
......Damn.
I glanced at the Dark Venerable.
His bulging eyes brimmed with madness.
Pure killing intent, ready to unleash his poison hand at any nonsense.
No way I could broach the topic lightly now.
Still, I had to resolve this somehow.
Then one of his earlier words flashed in my mind.
"Clan Leader, may I ask one thing?"
"What? If it's about another woman or something like that, you'll end up buried right here."
"......"
"Don't tell me it really is? You that eager to die?"
"N-No, not that."
"Your stammering doesn't inspire confidence. Anyway. Spit it out."
"What you said earlier."
"Earlier?"
"You thought Branch Leader wouldn't have mentioned the engagement to me."
"Oh, that."
"Could you clarify exactly what you meant?"
"Why's that matter?"
"...Marriage is one of life's greatest rites, isn't it? All the more reason to approach it with utmost care. And above all—"
I trailed off briefly before continuing slowly.
"I'm a bastard from a branch family, even among sidelines. No matter how renowned you were in your youth or how you were the clan leader's right hand, that doesn't change my origins. If anything, wouldn't Ye-won, with her maternal South Palace Clan ties, suit a direct heir like Yu-chang better? I'm curious why I was chosen. If it was some political deal, I'd like to reconsider from square one."
"......"
The Dark Venerable fell silent.
Seemed my angle had landed well.
"Ooh, that pretext should work."
"Even in merit-based Tang Clan with no favoritism for bloodlines, status gaps aren't nonexistent."
Even if the Dark Venerable and Tang Ho-san pushed hard, if I kept delaying on status grounds, the elders would revolt.
Tang Ye-won wasn't just a blood alliance pawn—she was prime orthodox successor material, potential next clan head.
Plenty of purists would dislike me.
So I was nudging toward that angle, but for some reason, the Dark Venerable's gaze soured.
"...Looks like you're not keen on this marriage either."
Such a petty ploy didn't faze the Dark Venerable, whose mind swirled with countless political calculations.
He saw right through my intent.
As wariness crept in over handling his stubbornness, one word snagged my ear.
'You' too?
Did that mean Tang Ye-won wasn't interested in the marriage either?
Sure enough.
"Guess adults can't force a man and woman's fated bond."
A hint of loneliness touched the Dark Venerable's lips for the first time.