Chapter 94
Chapter 94
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: A Serpent Becomes a Dragon
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Tea was prepared in the guest parlor where Bu Eun-seol was staying.
Sitting across from Dang Cheong, Bu Eun-seol stared blankly at the teacup before him.
*Slurp.*
Bu Eun-seol took a sip of the hot tea, feeling a simultaneous sense of emptiness and liberation.
This was because there was no one here to ask him what the tea tasted like or what expression would best describe it.
After a few more sips, Bu Eun-seol looked at Dang Cheong and nodded.
“What is it you wanted to say to me?”
“Are you planning to continue staying at the main house?”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Does one need a reason to stay at a friend’s house?”
“You’re not just here to eat our food and take up space, I hope?”
“Perhaps.”
An out-of-the-blue question followed by a half-hearted reply. The conversation repeated itself.
As their talk lost focus, Dang Cheong shrugged.
“Alright. I’ll be direct.”
She stared intently into Bu Eun-seol’s still eyes and asked.
“Your decision to stay—is it to help my third brother?”
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol slowly took another sip of tea.
He had no obligation or need to answer her question honestly in a situation like this. The one feeling frustrated would be Dang Cheong, not him.
“And you?”
Bu Eun-seol turned the question back to Dang Cheong.
“Your reason for inviting me—is it to help him?”
Only then did Dang Cheong realize that Bu Eun-seol was no ordinary person. She smiled faintly.
“Fine. Let’s stop beating around the bush.”
Taking a deep breath, she rose from her seat and looked out the window.
“The rise and fall of our family can be said to depend on what kind of person the Patriarch is.”
“……”
“Other families have their power well distributed. But in our family, only the Patriarch holds absolute power.”
Dang Cheong looked back at Bu Eun-seol and said.
“I want only one thing: for an exceptional individual who can bring greater prosperity to the Dang family to become the Patriarch.”
Mulling over her words, Bu Eun-seol offered a cold smile.
“It seems you believe you’re qualified to judge the heirs.”
“And why wouldn’t I be?”
Dang Cheong winked and looked Bu Eun-seol straight in the eye.
“The balance would shatter the moment I chose a side.”
Bu Eun-seol simply stared at her in silence.
“Originally, my third brother was not among the exceptional individuals I had in mind. That’s because his temperament was too gentle, and he lacked the ruthlessness needed to lead the family.”
Dang Cheong’s eyes curved into crescents as she spoke.
“But as of today… I must admit that my third brother is also qualified.”
Her voice was not only clear and distinct but also possessed a remarkable eloquence that drew others in and made them listen with interest.
“Why, as of today?”
“I believe you know the reason better than anyone, Young Master Bu.”
“I despise evasiveness.”
“There are two reasons.”
As Bu Eun-seol’s expression turned icy, Dang Cheong immediately answered with a bright smile.
“First, my third brother has already secured military power on par with the family’s elite guard.”
Military power on par with the Dang family’s elite guard.
That was likely a reference to Bu Eun-seol himself.
“And the second?”
At Bu Eun-seol’s question, Dang Cheong walked slowly toward the door and said.
“Because that hopelessly kind nature of his must have vanished.”
Turning around, she looked at Bu Eun-seol with a sweet smile.
“To befriend someone like you, Young Master Bu, wouldn’t my brother have to become a person of a similar caliber?”
Her point was clear without need for further explanation.
Bu Eun-seol found himself looking at her with an expression of admiration.
‘I see… so that’s it.’
Just then, Dang Cheong turned and walked to the door, her voice ringing out clearly.
“I enjoyed our time today. Farewell.”
Leaving behind that short remark, she slowly exited the room.
Sitting at the table, Bu Eun-seol watched the door through which Dang Cheong had left and let out a low sigh.
“A fearsome woman.”
Dang Cheong was not only skilled in martial arts and strategy but also possessed an insight that seemed to peer into the hearts of others.
It was as if she combined the strengths of Dang Ryeong and Dang Gon, not to mention Dang Bi.
*Creeak.*
At that moment, the door opened, and a sweat-drenched Heuk-pyo entered with a bright face.
“Young Master!”
“……”
“Were you enjoying some tea?”
Bu Eun-seol stared into the empty air as if he hadn’t heard Heuk-pyo.
“There’s a smell.”
“Ah, I was training in hidden weapon techniques with the Third Master for four hours, so I’m a bit sweaty…”
“A very thick scent of blood, I mean. Heh heh.”
Seeing Bu Eun-seol smiling brightly at the distant sky,
‘Someone must have provoked the Young Master again.’
Heuk-pyo swallowed hard, breaking into a cold sweat with a fearful expression.
***
Ssangseonggak, the Twin Saints Pavilion.
This was the hall where the ancestral tablets of the past Dang family Patriarchs were enshrined.
At the very top rested the tablets of the two saints who had transformed the Dang family from a small village clan into a great power in the martial world: the Poison Saint, Dang Cheon-gun, and the Life-Reaping Dagger, Dang Sim-bin.
*Fwoosh.*
Dang Gon lit incense before the tablets, bowed, and carefully made his way outside.
“Hoo.”
Looking up at the distant sky, Dang Gon let out a deep breath. Just as he was about to walk away,
“……”
His hurried steps came to a halt.
In the distance, a figure in a navy robe embroidered with silver thread was slowly approaching.
His gait was as stately as a lion’s, and an aura of dominance that seemed to pierce the heavens emanated from his entire being. It was the Patriarch of the Dang family, Dang Pae.
“Dang Gon pays his respects to the Patriarch.”
As Dang Gon bowed his head, Dang Pae nodded.
“It has been a while.”
An awkward air flowed between them, belying their father-son relationship.
As the silence stretched, Dang Pae finally asked in a low voice.
“What brings you here?”
Born to a lowly maidservant, Dang Gon had been forbidden from even entering the Dang family’s inner court during his childhood.
Although Dang Pae had lifted the ban after he came of age, Dang Gon had never once set foot in the inner court.
So for him to suddenly visit the Ssangseonggak…
“Having returned to the main house, I felt it was my duty to pay my respects.”
“Hmph.”
Dang Pae stared at Dang Gon for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“Let us walk for a moment.”
A short distance from the Ssangseonggak was a small pond with a little pavilion built over it.
Looking up at the plaque that read ‘Sangrimjeong,’ Dang Pae spoke in a low voice.
“Now that you have returned to the main house, you must have decided on your course of action.”
*It’s finally come to this.*
Taking a deep breath, Dang Gon tensed his stomach and said.
“I intend to remain in the running for the succession.”
“Did you not return to the main house with the intention of giving up?”
When Dang Gon flinched, Dang Pae gave a faint smile.
“That was merely this Patriarch’s assumption, of course.”
“To be honest… that was my intention, but I have had a change of heart.”
“Why is that?”
After a deep breath, Dang Gon’s eyes flashed.
“I wish to stand shoulder to shoulder with my friend.”
“You mean the one named Bu Eun-seol you brought with you.”
“Yes.”
Dang Pae’s eyes held a peculiar glint.
“Is he truly that remarkable an individual?”
Dang Gon smiled with a proud look on his face.
“He is. He is the most exceptional… and the most cold-headed person I have ever met.”
“Cold-headed… you say.”
A strange smile played on Dang Pae’s lips.
Cold-headedness.
Was that not the sole flaw of Dang Gon, who, despite his outstanding talent, had always fallen just short?
“I understand. You may go.”
As Dang Pae nodded, Dang Gon clasped his hands.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
Just as he was about to turn, Dang Pae spoke.
“To become the heir of this family, you must become a cold-blooded man, devoid of blood and tears.”
A war between flesh and blood.
To be acknowledged as the heir, he would now have to fight his own brothers.
Dang Gon’s eyes flashed as he said.
“I am already prepared for it.”
“I see.”
Dang Pae took out a blackened leaf from his sleeve.
It was the blackened leaf of a pear blossom tree.
“This is…”
As Dang Gon accepted the leaf with a surprised expression, Dang Pae nodded nonchalantly.
“I shall permit you to learn one of the Dang family’s secret arts.”
Dang Gon’s body trembled slightly.
The reason he had failed to build a faction despite being a candidate for succession was that he had not learned one of the Eight Great Secret Arts of the Dang Family, which could only be learned by those of the direct bloodline.
—“There is no precedent in this family of passing down a secret art to an illegitimate son.”
Due to the fierce opposition of the council of elders, Dang Gon had ultimately been barred from entering the secret cavern where the manuals were kept.
But now, if he could master one of the secret arts, he could stand on equal footing with Dang Ryeong and Dang Bi. And he could finally gain a faction to support him.
“The reason this Patriarch did not pass down a secret art to you was not because the elders opposed it.”
In the Dang family, the Patriarch’s authority was absolute.
Even if the entire family, not just the council of elders, opposed it, they could not change the will of the Patriarch, Dang Pae.
“Back then, your desire to become the heir was not as strong as it is now.”
It was true.
If he had fiercely desired the position of heir, he would have started by persuading the Patriarch, Dang Pae, to let him learn a secret art.
But he had let his pride and obstinacy get the better of him, leaving for the martial world to build his own power.
“But now, I can see that desire and ambition in your eyes.”
“Thank… you.”
Tucking the pear blossom leaf into his robes, Dang Gon clasped his hands.
“I will never disappoint you.”
After bowing deeply to Dang Pae, Dang Gon straightened his shoulders and turned away.
“Can a mere serpent become a dormant dragon… just by making a friend?”
Watching the departing Dang Gon, Dang Pae spoke softly into the empty air.
“U-gang.”
In response, a very small, low voice came from the air.
“Your orders.”
“From now on, report to me every single one of that child’s movements. Down to the most trivial detail.”
“Understood.”
Lifting his head to look at the distant sky, a smile formed on Dang Pae’s lips.
“The family’s prestige will rise even higher with the next heir.”
***
“A bastard like him is learning a family secret art?”
*Crack! Crash!*
Upon hearing that Dang Gon was entering the secret cavern to learn a family art, Dang Bi began to destroy the furniture in his office.
“Has Father already gone senile!”
“Young Master, please watch your words.”
At Dang Sa-un’s remark, Dang Bi’s fury turned on him.
“You’re just as bad! What was that? He’s giving up his claim to the succession? Does this look like the action of someone who’s giving up?”
*Thwack!*
A dragon-horn inkstone crafted by a master from the White Pine Workshop slammed into the pillar next to Dang Sa-un, shattering into pieces.
“My apologies.”
Blood dripped from Dang Sa-un’s cheek, grazed by a flying fragment.
Seeing this, Dang Bi finally suppressed his anger and yelled.
“Dang Gon. Where is that bastard now?”
“Before entering the secret cavern, he went to see Elder Gam to choose a weapon.”
“I see.”
Kicking the door open, Dang Bi strode quickly toward the grand armory at the north gate.
After passing several dozen pavilions, he finally saw the black-painted grand armory.
“What in the world do you think you’re doing!”
Spotting Dang Gon standing in front of the grand armory, Dang Bi shouted.
“A brat like you…”
His roaring voice trailed off.
Standing there were not only Dang Gon and Bu Eun-seol, but also Elder Gam, who was in charge of the armory, and even Dang Ryeong.
“Second Young Master.”
When the white-bearded Elder Gam acknowledged him, Dang Bi reluctantly clasped his hands.
“Great Uncle Gam. Eldest Brother, you are here as well.”
As he offered a begrudging greeting, Dang Gon also clasped his hands.
“Second Brother.”
“Second Brother, my foot!”
Meeting Dang Gon’s gaze, Dang Bi bared his teeth and shouted.
“What right does a bastard like you have to learn a family secret art!”
“Second Brother, this was permitted by Father.”
“And you’re just going to stand by and watch, Brother?”
Dang Bi pointed at Dang Gon, his face contorted with rage.
“This is a matter you should have gone to Father to prevent, Eldest Brother!”
“Second Brother.”
Just as Dang Ryeong raised a hand to speak, Dang Gon said calmly.
“It seems you are displeased with me entering the secret cavern, Second Brother.”
“What? You have the nerve to say that?”
Dang Gon spoke through gritted teeth.
“If you give up right now and go back to the outer court to quietly rot, you might just be able to keep your life.”
“That’s precisely why I’m going—to keep my life.”
“What did you say?”
A broad smile spread across Dang Gon’s face as he pointed to the sword at his waist.
“If I master the Poison Spirit Annihilation Ki, I won’t die at your hands, will I, Second Brother?”