The Host's Banquet and the Poison Master's Mischief
Tang Harin was undeniably beautiful. No matter how many times he looked, the sight never failed to catch the eye. She had already drawn the stares of passersby on the streets, and now she had boldly announced she wanted to see Yuseong.
Even the clinic staff and the travelers passing by paused at her loud voice, turning their heads toward the group.
Yuseong grew flustered and quickly scanned the surroundings.
The clinic servants were already gathering with curious eyes, whispering among themselves. Any slip and an odd rumor would spread like wildfire.
Just then—
“Oi! What do you think you’re doing? You need to hurry up and finish so we can go home early! Get out of here! It looks like the Chief Physician has guests!”
Jang Chil’s loud shout sent the servants scattering.
“Hoo…”
That was Physician Cha’s delighted exclamation from right beside him.
He was clearly enjoying the show, shooting Yuseong a mischievous glance.
*Could it be…*
The thought was written all over his face. If the place had been a regular inn, he would have been questioned at once.
Yuseong shook his head and glanced at Tang Harin.
“Huh? What kind of misunderstanding is this? The moment we meet?”
“What’s wrong with being friends? Where are you going, though?”
Tang Harin suppressed her laugh and asked with perfect composure.
It was nothing more than a playful prank after all.
*…*
No change on the surface, yet deep down she hadn’t altered a single bit.
Still, the moment Tang Harin openly declared herself a friend, the people’s curiosity faded.
“Ah, never mind. I was already planning to head inside anyway.”
One of the servants finally freed himself from Jang Chil’s persistent pushes and walked into the clinic on his own.
A few people still glanced their way, but most of those with other business had already dispersed.
Yuseong introduced Physician Cha to Tang Harin.
“I have dinner plans with Physician Cha today, so that’s where I’m headed. How long will you stay at the Murim Alliance? If you’re going to be around a few more days, we can talk tomorrow.”
The fact that the meal was with Physician Cha meant it was only proper for Tang Harin to leave if she had no urgent business.
Yet…
“I might leave today, depending on what happens with my work.”
“Huh? What kind of work?”
“I can’t talk about it yet… Wait, would it be rude for me to join too? Chief Physician, how about it? May I come as well? I’ll pay for dinner.”
“Uh… Well…”
Physician Cha studied Yuseong’s expression.
This gathering had been arranged purely for him, after all. Was it truly right to bring a woman from the Sichuan Tang Clan along?
“I’ll buy you whatever drinks you want.”
His heart had already tilted heavily toward inviting Tang Harin. Money was money, and it was always better to save what could be saved.
And…
*If I can form a bond with the Poison Human who appeared at the Tang Clan for the first time in three hundred years, that would be wonderful.*
Physician Cha sought Yuseong’s opinion. He liked the Poison Human, but he had not forgotten the true reason for loyalty: Yuseong.
“I… don’t mind, but I’m not sure how the Chief Physician will feel about it.”
Yuseong’s resolve hardened at the mention of Tang Harin possibly leaving today.
They had only just met, after all. They had to talk, didn’t they?
“Then let’s go together. Thank you for understanding, Chief Physician.”
The three of them, plus the two guards, took their seats at the inn Physician Cha had chosen.
The guards, seated separately, paid them no mind. The trio soon fell into easy conversation.
“Completely unfamiliar. Everyone here calls him Chief Physician, Chief Physician.”
“…Even the Tang Clan was the same?”
“I don’t know. It only comes to mind when I’m with you.”
“Back then…”
They had been inseparable, studying together and calling each other by name alone. It made sense they felt unfamiliar…
Yuseong told them the reason he had left the Tang Clan so suddenly without greeting anyone, and Tang Harin quietly recounted the events of the past, only speaking loud enough for Yuseong to hear.
Physician Cha, as a natural conversationalist, kept them entertained with Tang Harin, leaving Yuseong with no chance for boredom.
The time until the ordered dishes arrived stretched on, yet it felt like the blink of an eye.
“Your dishes are here!”
The waiters brought the food one plate after another.
Yuseong didn’t know the exact name of the dish, but the sight of the red-oil-fried pork made his eyes light up.
*Smells amazing.*
A dish he had tasted in Sichuan before.
“Mmm, it looks good from the outside, doesn’t it? Let me try first.”
Tang Harin carefully picked up a piece with her sleeve tucked away so it wouldn’t touch the food and brought it to her mouth.
She chewed thoughtfully, then spoke.
“Mmm! It’s perfect. You said this is what the Chief Physician ordered?”
Physician Cha puffed out his chest at her reaction.
“Exactly! The Tang Clan’s top chef vouched for it, so it should suit the Chief Physician’s palate perfectly.”
He proudly explained how he had learned of this place and boasted about the innkeeper’s impressive background from Sichuan.
Yuseong lifted his chopsticks. His mouth had been watering ever since he saw the dish, and he was dying to taste it.
Just then—
“Wait!”
Physician Cha dramatically extended his arm in front of Yuseong’s chopsticks to stop him and searched inside his robes.
He soon produced a long wooden case.
“What’s that?”
“Hoo… I just acquired one recently.”
When he opened the case, a pair of silver chopsticks appeared. Physician Cha held them up and announced.
“Silver chopsticks.”
“…”
Yuseong gave him a questioning look. Physician Cha smiled at Tang Harin.
“Haha, since a Poison Human from the Tang Clan is joining our meal, as someone who supports the Chief Physician, I should test the food first, shouldn’t I?”
“Testing the food” meant checking whether the dish contained poison.
If the person were a stranger, accusing a Tang Clan member of poison would instantly spark a fight, but Physician Cha was deliberately exaggerating to make it clear this was all a joke.
He knew perfectly well that such theatrics were enjoyed by the crowd.
Since he had already become friendly with Tang Harin and was chattering away, he judged this to be a harmless step.
“…!”
Tang Harin’s eyes widened in shock.
As the silver chopsticks approached the food, she immediately opened her mouth.
“W-wait! Are you suspecting me right now?”
Her voice trembled, and the clear look of panic she wore only deepened the confusion on both Yuseong’s and Physician Cha’s faces.
Tang Harin’s eyes trembled violently. Her body leaned forward halfway, and when Yuseong looked at her, she quickly averted her gaze.
“…”
Yuseong gave a questioning nod at the clearly suspicious scene.
“Chief Physician.”
“Understood.”
Physician Cha received the signal and poked the silver chopsticks toward the food.
If the dish contained no poison, nothing should happen. As long as no one had tampered with it, the silver chopsticks should have picked up only the red seasoning.
Instead, the chopsticks slowly turned black.
They had reacted to some component, proof positive that the food was tainted.
Physician Cha, eyes bulging at the blackened chopsticks, opened his mouth.
“P-poison—”
“Shh! Just a moment, Chief Physician.”
Yuseong’s cold stare silenced the man, and Tang Harin rushed to explain.
“I-I was just joking! It’s nothing! I just wanted to see if my skin would react from the itchiness… It’s a kind of poison ivy, but apart from that, it’s really nothing!”
She wasn’t lying; the chopsticks had indeed stayed green, so the poison concentration had been mild.
*When did she do it?*
Only one suspicious moment existed. When Tang Harin had grabbed her sleeve and stirred the chopsticks once.
In that brief instant, she had secretly poisoned the dish!
As a Poison Master from the Tang Clan, she should have been obvious to the eye, yet neither of them had noticed a thing.
The two guards who had overheard the conversation from nearby now stood behind Tang Harin, gripping their swords, clearly ready to act if she tried any further mischief.
At the guards’ menacing presence, she grew even more frantic.
“There’s an antidote! I was just trying to see if I would feel itchy, I swear! I would never harm you!”
“What does that have to do with my symptoms?”
“That…”
Yuseong watched her struggle for a proper answer and realized he himself was the one being suspected.
*If I hadn’t been poisoned and had eaten the food, I might have scratched my skin without realizing it. Physician Cha would have taken one look at my clean skin and assumed I was the Poison Human!*
Of course, there was no reason he would do her harm.
In reality, Yuseong had never been poisoned, and even if he had, the poison blood had been neutralized long ago. He could easily detoxify it.
*If it hadn’t been Physician Cha, I might have been completely exposed.*
After politely bowing to Physician Cha, who still looked bewildered, Yuseong addressed the guards.
“He was just playing a harmless prank. You may return to your seats.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
At Yuseong’s firm confirmation, the guards retreated to their tables.
Tang Harin apologized, voice small.
“I-I’m sorry… I’ll order something else…”
Even though she had done nothing wrong, shame kept her from standing tall in the awkward moment.
But Yuseong’s desire to eat with Tang Harin had vanished completely.
*This is ridiculous…*
He remembered what Tang Harin had said about possibly leaving tonight.
*She was planning to take me back to the Tang Clan once I confirmed I was the Poison Human?*
It made sense that she might do something like that.
He had thought about it before too. Becoming a son-in-law of the Tang Clan and being bound by their growth restrictions was absolutely unacceptable.
For true growth, the Murim Alliance was the best choice. Considering his already deepening relationship with Jegal Yeong-yeong and the waiting Namgung Yurin, Tang Harin’s scheme had to be rejected at all costs.
Yuseong issued his command.
“Tonight’s matter can be discussed tomorrow. You should return first.”
“Huh? But you said you’d forgive me?”
“You… know I hate this kind of thing, yet you still… Get out before I get angry.”
“…Sorry.”
Tang Harin’s shoulders drooped as she kept glancing back, but Yuseong’s face stayed cold and unyielding.
That look was an act. He mustn’t soften.
*If I don’t act strongly, she’ll keep crossing the line…*
He had accepted a mild poison to test her reaction, but anything more was unacceptable.
In the end, she descended the stairs and disappeared from view.
Physician Cha remained, face long as he stared in the direction Tang Harin had gone.
Then the waiter finally appeared, carefully carrying a bottle of premium liquor toward their table.
*He ordered the expensive stuff because of the young lady…*
Even high salaries couldn’t ignore the astronomical price of the finest brews.
“Oh… so even someone ordering that expensive liquor is here. Who’s drinking it?”
Physician Cha cursed inwardly at the words from the other tables.
*It’s me, you bastards!*
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