Welcoming the Guest (7)
“How is it? To your taste?”
Dang Gwan, who had been staring silently at his empty cup, held it out.
“One more.”
Yeon Wi smiled and refilled it. Dang Gwan drained it the moment it was full. He said nothing, but it seemed he quite liked it.
“Have one yourself, Yeon family head.”
Dang Gwan filled Yeon Wi’s cup. Yeon Wi drank only half.
Dang Gwan frowned.
“You said it was good liquor, so why not finish it?”
“I’m the type who shares.”
“Hmph!”
Dang Gwan snorted.
“Worried I spiked it with poison?”
“In my eyes, the Tang family head is quite overbearing. But not the sort to poison a cup.”
“You’ve got a way with words.”
Dang Gwan gazed out the window. Nothing special about the view. He seemed awkward in this setting too.
Yeon Wi refilled his cup and asked, “So, things sorted with your daughter?”
A highly sensitive topic, yet asked so naturally. Dang Gwan frowned.
“I didn’t come about my daughter.”
“Parents always put their children first. When this meeting ends, share a meal with her.”
“I’ll handle it. Mind your own business.”
“Hahaha.”
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy for Dang Gwan. He’d move when he felt the time was right—no need to press further, as he said.
“By the way, at this hour...”
“That woman.”
Yeon Wi showed no displeasure at the interruption.
“Which one?”
“The Serene Western Maiden.”
“Hm.”
“I hear her medical skills are exceptional.”
Yeon Wi nodded.
“I don’t know much myself, but rumor has it she’s fused Western and Central Plains medicine into something remarkable.”
Dang Gwan chuckled dryly.
“No matter how great those stinking Westerners’ medicine is, how impressive can it be?”
“Not quite. From what I’ve heard, Western medicine excels in surgical treatments, unlike ours.”
“Surgical...”
“Something called thoracotomy? They induce temporary suspended animation, open the chest, and treat organs directly.”
Dang Gwan’s eyes deepened.
“If that’s true, plenty must’ve died.”
“Hm?”
“Thoracotomy’s still experimental even in my clan. And anesthesia varies by person—time to knock out, time to wake.”
This was new knowledge for Yeon Wi. The Tangs, masters of poison and medicine, claimed top skill in Sichuan; their head needed mastery across all fields.
For all his faults, Dang Gwan was impressive. Yeon Wi had to admit it.
“Anesthesia demands precise pharmacology. Too weak, they wake mid-surgery and die from shock. Too strong, muscles seize or nerves fry.”
“Hmm.”
“Figuring the right dose? Tens of thousands must’ve died.”
Yeon Wi sighed.
“Medicine’s a tough discipline.”
“Takes half-madmen to master it. Free thoracotomy? Hands drenched in blood.”
Dang Gwan emptied his cup and turned to the window again.
“Not bad.”
Yeon Wi realized belatedly it was about the liquor.
“Why suddenly ask about the Serene Western Maiden?”
Dang Gwan fiddled with his cup, uncharacteristically hesitant. Yeon Wi waited patiently.
A moment later.
“Hate to admit it, but your son’s girl has solid fire skills.”
“Hm?”
“She went as her guard. If she doesn’t screw up, they’ll bond.”
Yeon Wi asked carefully, “Something specific you want from the Serene Western Maiden?”
Dang Gwan’s expression hardened as he stared out the window.
“Yes. But I can’t say what.”
“...”
“...Be a bridge midway.”
A pride-wounding request for Dang Gwan. Yeon Wi tilted his head.
“Not hard, but why? When she arrives, you could meet her yourself...”
“Can’t.”
“Why?”
Dang Gwan scowled.
“Moyong Gun’ll be watching.”
“...!”
“Doesn’t matter if he knows I met her. But no need to tip him off.”
“Hmm.”
“That paranoid skull’ll spin useless fantasies, needling me. If he strikes first, I’ll crush him—but no desire for noise.”
Trouble’s a hassle. Let them handle it smoothly.
Yeon Wi grasped Dang Gwan’s intent.
“One question?”
“...”
“What you need her for must involve medical knowledge.”
“You know, why ask?”
“Bridging’s fine, but if your gain harms innocents, that’s trouble.”
Dang Gwan laughed coldly.
“How much help got you that sword arm? Claim no blood on it?”
“You know what I mean.”
“Hmph.”
“Refining poison, crafting medicine, perfecting knowledge—whatever, no innocents suffer.”
“Saintly sage, eh? Poison’s medicine in need, medicine’s poison in excess. Both double-edged like blades.”
Yeon Wi narrowed his eyes.
“For Tang or self, I care not. Curiosity alone.”
“...”
“But this answer I must have. No innocents harmed.”
Dang Gwan scowled.
“Overreacting to nothing?”
“If you think it nothing, I’ve no more to say.”
Staring at Yeon Wi, Dang Gwan turned to the window.
“For me.”
“...”
“I don’t poison foes’ cups unless sure they’re foes.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“I’ll take that as promise.”
“Hmph.”
Dang Gwan held out his cup.
“One more.”
Yeon Wi filled it. Dang Gwan drained it and filled Yeon Wi’s. Yeon Wi smiled, raising his.
“There’s more, right?”
“What out of nowhere?”
“You didn’t come just for the Serene Western Maiden.”
“Fortune teller too?”
“Anyone with eyes sees it.”
“Sharp eyes serve well.”
“So, what else do you want from me?”
Dang Gwan stayed silent. This pause stretched long. Hard for him to voice.
Silence lasted over two ke. As the second jar emptied, Dang Gwan spoke.
“What’d she say?”
“Hm?”
Dang Gwan looked hesitant.
“You ate together then.”
“...?”
“Sang-a.”
“Ah!”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“Yes.”
“What’d that kid say about me?”
“Nothing.”
“...?”
“Not a word about you. Nor we about you. Just casual chat over a pleasant meal.”
Dang Gwan’s eyes deepened.
“You said before she was frustrated, worried about me.”
“True.”
“All lies?”
“No lie.”
Yeon Wi said earnestly, “Don’t need words to know her feelings. I knew the situation, saw her face and heard her voice—that was enough.”
“...”
“That’s parent-child. Wordless understanding. But it takes much talk first.”
“...”
“You asking me about her? Good start. But I can’t help more.”
Yeon Wi refilled Dang Gwan’s cup.
“Meet her yourself now.”
Dang Gwan’s eyelids twitched.
“...She won’t see me.”
“Wait if she refuses. When you sense she’s ready, reach out again.”
“...”
“As I said, no pride with kids. Unless total cutoff, the mature one approaches first.”
Yeon Wi smiled wryly.
“I couldn’t. Even recently.”
“...”
“Good bad example? Don’t repeat my mistakes.”
Gazing at Yeon Wi, Dang Gwan asked abruptly, “Why?”
“What?”
“Why treat me well? Skip the ‘for Sang-a, you’re no foe, my past’ nonsense.”
Yeon Wi chuckled.
“Sorry, that’s all it is. For Sang-a, you’re no foe, my past stirs it.”
“Absurd.”
“Sang-a weighs more, of course. She’s my son’s friend—family like a niece.”
“Niece.”
Dang Gwan’s lips twitched.
“You know what happened between your daughter and my son?”
“I do.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“Your son messed up big.”
“Hmph!”
“So what?”
“Say it with that hypocrite mouth. My son’s a nephew too.”
“No.”
“...”
“My son doesn’t see yours as friend—how could I? Don’t expect too much.”
Yeon Wi drained his cup.
“But if they get along, that’s good. Like you said, I prefer harmony and laughter over strife.”
Straightforward and bold. A faint smile ghosted Dang Gwan’s lips—meaning known only to him.
Yeon Wi laughed.
“Not bad hosting, eh?”
“Judge Sword, yet so loose with smiles?”
“Hahaha!”
“Another jar?”
“Of course. One more.”