The Dang Clan's Doting Patriarch
The world's perception of the Sichuan Dang Clan was something like this.
Shady poison users.
Double the grace, tenfold the grudges.
Hidden weapons and assassinations.
In short, petty as hell.
They seemed like the type who'd be scrawny and petty, the kind to jot down every little grievance in a diary. Total small-minded vibe.
"Hahaha! Hwaeun, you little rascal! Were you trying to scare your old man to death?!"
But having seen it with my own eyes, Namgoong Juhee knew it was total bullshit.
Take Dang Family Head Dang Seowoo, for starters.
His entire body was a rippling mass of muscle, and the aura he exuded was as bold and unrestrained as they come. It was like Hwangbo Un after his final evolution or something. Even I, who doesn't scare easy, felt my legs clench a bit here. Women have shorter urethras than men, after all.
His face had to be that terrifying.
"Dad! I told you not to call me Hwaeun in front of other people!"
"What can I do? You're my Hwaeun."
"Ugh, just don't if I say don't!"
At the same time, I figured out exactly where Dang Hwaeun got her manners from. The Dang Family Head was a massive daughter-con. No, doing this in front of all the gathered elders? That went beyond daughter-con into daughter-idiot territory.
I wisely kept my mouth shut.
"Heh heh, still, what a relief. A real relief. When I heard you'd run off to Hobuk, I was shocked half to death."
"Hmph! I was the only one who made it out, wasn't I? Shocked my ass."
"Of course I was. The entire Dang Clan is still in Hobuk even now. We wiped out every last one of the Heukgwi-bo in Sichuan too. Look here? Even your old man picked up a wound."
"Fine, whatever, if that's how it is."
This guy was telling a horror story with the gentlest smile. The way he said it, it sounded like he just went door-to-door in the neighborhood looking for his daughter.
I thought, utterly dumbfounded.
And who could blame me? Fights between sects never end with just a skirmish. Considering grudges and all that, it's standard to uproot the whole damn thing—down to the last blade of grass nearby. No different from Cao Cao's slaughter in Xuzhou.
"Aigoo, my daughter... Hm!"
The Dang Family Head's kindly expression hardened the moment he looked at me.
What the hell? Even I, who doesn't scare easy, felt chills crawl up my spine at that face. It was seriously intimidating.
"My apologies. I've kept our guest from the Dang Clan standing this whole time."
"No, it's fine."
"Heh heh! Young lady, no need to be tense. You're Hwaeun's friend, right?"
"Dad, seriously, stop!"
"If you're a friend of Hwaeun's, you're like a daughter to me too. Speak freely."
At those words, my legs relaxed a little. He didn't seem to harbor any malice toward me, at least. I'd been worried that this extreme daughter-idiot might even see a woman like me as a threat. If I'd been a guy, I'd probably be a pincushion of poison needles by now.
"Namgoong Juhee of the Namgoong Clan greets the Dang Family Head."
"Oho! Namgoong Juhee!"
The Dang Family Head clapped his hands with a smack!
"I heard about your victory at the Hobuk Branch. You took down Cheongmyeong himself? Even earned the moniker Little Sword Princess, they say... I've been dying to meet you, and fate has delivered."
"Just luck."
"Modest to boot! Heh heh."
A brief, warm exchange followed. How's your father? Any troubles lately? If so, I'll help. The usual adult chit-chat.
Growing embarrassed or bored, Dang Hwaeun suddenly jumped in.
"Dad. Anyway, I need some silver taels."
Dang Hwaeun asking for an amount a commoner couldn't earn in a lifetime, like it was pocket money.
"Silver taels? Suddenly? Well... if my Hwaeun wants it, I can give as much as you like."
And the Dang Family Head agreeing like it was nothing.
Daughters really shouldn't be spoiled rotten. That was my firm resolution—until then.
"Two cartloads."
"Two cartloads. Mind if I ask why?"
"For this girl here."
"Hm?"
Oh shit.
Even as I clenched my legs, a little something leaked out. Because the Dang Family Head's neck had twisted at an unnatural angle to glare at me. Scarier than any monster in a horror flick.
No, how do you just ask for that much cash out of nowhere? At least explain what happened and why she needs it. Look at him. He's pissed. Now I'm the trash who sweet-talked his innocent daughter into fleecing him.
Sweating bullets, I shot Dang Hwaeun a look.
"What're you staring at?"
"Lady Dang, you need to explain. Your father's misunderstanding."
"Explain? Why me?"
Argh! If the family head wasn't right there, I'd smack her upside the head.
"Hmph, fine. Dad needs to know anyway."
Luckily, Dang Hwaeun laid out everything that had happened, clear and logical. Rich girl education showed; even a three-year-old could've followed along. No omissions.
"Wha... what?! Such a thing!"
Having heard the tale, the Dang Family Head strode toward me.
Damn, still can't get used to that face. Intimidating from afar while seated all high-and-mighty, but up close? Terrifying. Like he might snap my neck any second.
"Namgung Sojeo! Thank you. You are the Dang Clan's benefactor!"
The family head went to hug me but instead grabbed my hands and bowed repeatedly. His aura was so intense I had to brace myself not to get blown away.
"Without you, my Hwaeun would've died. And Chugwi's encirclement isn't something luck alone breaks."
"It was nothing."
"Heh heh heh! A junior takes down Chugwi and calls it nothing? 'Nothing' is harder than greatness itself!"
After a big laugh, he grinned and thump! thump! patted my back. Encouragement, I guess? I stood still, waiting for his next words.
"What a pity. If our Namgung Sojeo were a man, I'd hand over my daughter on the spot."
"D-Dad!"
"If not for your status as successor, I'd adopt you into the Dang Clan with a marriage on the spot. Ah, forget I said that. I got greedy."
The Dang Family Head clearly took a shine to me, showering praise. The elders watched in surprise; he was notoriously stingy with compliments. Without Dang Hwaeun, seeing him smile was a rarity.
"Right. You were promised two cartloads of silver taels?"
"Yes."
"Two? Bah. You there, chief steward!"
At his call, a goat-faced man scurried over.
"Yes, Family Head!"
"Fetch five cartloads of silver taels from the warehouse right now. Handle the ledgers yourself."
"Understood."
I couldn't hide my awe. Five cartloads of silver taels? In modern terms, over 10 billion won. And he hands it over just like that?
"Isn't that too much?"
"Heh heh! No need to refuse. You're the Dang Clan's benefactor."
I pondered briefly, then nodded. Money's good in heaps. This meant no worries for life. Refusing a gift's bad manners too.
My lips were grinning ear-to-ear with those thoughts.
"If you insist, I won't hold back."
"Heh heh! Straightforward, I like it!"
What came next was predictable. Feign surprise before the five cartloads to stroke the Dang elders' egos. Bow and greet, stamping faces in memory. Bicker with Dang Hwaeun a bit.
Separate from the routine, it was exhausting. I'd been climbing mountains nonstop for days without rest. Thought I'd finally unwind, but nope—more labor.
"Hey, you okay?"
Dang Hwaeun, who'd been glued to me for ages now, noticed my off-state and looked worried.
"...I'm dying of exhaustion. And starving."
"Oh... you said you wanted mala tang, right?"
"Yeah, planning to gorge once this is done. Gonna hit every mala tang spot in Chengdu."
"No need. The banquet's soon anyway."
My weary eyes snapped open. Banquet! Right, no way daughter-idiot Dang Family Head lets his girl's safe return pass quietly. Gotta be a spread of delicacies.
"Mala tang. They got mala tang too?"
"Yeah, our house makes killer mala tang. Sulfur duck's great too."
"...Know where the banquet is?"
"Uh... that Dangryong Pavilion from earlier... Hey! Where you going! Hey!"
"Catch up slowpoke. I'm heading first."
When it came to food, no one outdid me. I'd endured the long trek to Sichuan dreaming of mala tang alone. Who could stop Namgoong Juhee now?
I bolted straight for Dangryong Pavilion.