Chapter 114: The Human-Faced Spider Obtains the Name Yorang
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: The Human-Faced Spider Obtains the Name Yorang
'Sigh, fuck.'
Sun-woo cursed inwardly as he watched their reactions.
To be honest, he hadn't wanted to go this far. But he realized that if he didn't do something drastic, this situation would never be resolved.
Un-jeok-ja was completely infatuated with the Human-Faced Spider, and Bulheo Satae was desperate to take her in as a disciple.
What was the easiest way to settle such a mess?
It was to make the Human-Faced Spider a woman who already had a husband.
No matter how intensely Un-jeok-ja had fallen in love, he couldn't obsess over another man's wife. Similarly, Bulheo Satae couldn't very well turn a married woman into a nun.
"That... that's a lie! It's a lie! That can't be true!"
Un-jeok-ja vehemently denied Sun-woo's words, as if desperate to reject reality.
"I cannot believe it either. The Tang Clan Head, who is over fifty, taking a new wife? And so soon after the Demonic Cult's attack?"
Bulheo Satae also spoke to Sun-woo, her tone suggesting the idea was preposterous.
"Bulheo Satae, this woman and I were promised to be married even before the attack."
"Even so, it makes no sense. You are over fifty years old, Clan Head."
"Tsk, tsk. Why is your thinking so rigid, Bulheo Satae? Love knows no borders, no age, and no race."
"............"
"All the children who could have succeeded me died in this incident. There are currently no direct-line descendants left in the clan. Marriage is inevitable if I am to continue the bloodline."
"............"
Bulheo Satae was left speechless by Sun-woo's smooth-talking response.
In the Murim, it wasn't a particularly great scandal for a figure of the Tang Clan Head's stature to take a new wife. He was wealthy, handsome, and powerful.
The problem, however, was that the woman in question was the very girl she had felt was her destiny.
"This is madness! Young lady, speak! Is what the Tang Clan Head says true? Are you truly marrying this fifty-year-old man!?"
Un-jeok-ja spoke to the Human-Faced Spider with a sense of urgency. His face was a bizarre mix of lingering hope and burgeoning despair.
At his question, the Human-Faced Spider tilted her head. Too many unfamiliar words had been used for her to understand.
What was 'marriage,' and what did it mean to 'marry into a family'?
She assumed 'wife' meant someone like the Great Matriarch, but did that mean her tits would also become incredibly huge like the Matriarch's?
She was lost in a whirlwind of confusion and questions.
[Just say yes.]
At that moment, Sun-woo's Voice Transmission reached her ears.
Hearing Sun-woo's command, the Human-Faced Spider startled and nodded her head vigorously.
Nod, nod.
"That's right! I'm gonna marry! I'm gonna be a wife!"
Upon hearing her words, a look of pure despair washed over Un-jeok-ja's face.
The woman he felt was his once-in-a-lifetime destiny belonged to another man? And that man was the Tang Clan Head—someone stronger, wealthier, and more handsome than himself?
There wasn't a single category where he could win.
Well, maybe age?
But the Tang Clan Head possessed a charm that seemed to transcend his years.
It was impossible. He couldn't surpass that man.
Un-jeok-ja slumped his head.
"Ah..."
Un-jeok-ja wasn't the only one in despair. Even Bulheo Satae clutched her forehead, her body swaying.
She had felt the girl was her destiny. She believed that with this child, the title of 'Sichuan's Greatest' would eventually pass to the Emei Sect.
That was why her expectations and excitement had been so high.
But the girl was to be the Tang Clan Head's wife. And not just any wife, but the chosen Sixth Lady.
It didn't take long for her anticipation to turn into crushing disappointment.
"Sigh."
Though it was rude, a sigh escaped her lips involuntarily. The greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment.
Watching the two of them, Sun-woo felt a flicker of pity. Even though they were making fools of themselves over something that wasn't even human, they had been quite desperate in their own way.
Sun-woo shook his head and stood up.
"Since our side isn't entirely without fault, I shall consider this matter settled and forgotten."
Sun-woo strode over and grabbed the Human-Faced Spider's arm.
"It is late, so we shall take our leave."
He quickly pulled her toward the exit of the outer guest room. Led by Sun-woo's hand, the Human-Faced Spider followed him out.
Creeeeak.
Thud.
The door closed, leaving only two figures steeped in despair behind in the guest room.
*
In front of the Clan Head's Office.
"Ow! That hurts! Let go gently!"
The Human-Faced Spider shouted at Sun-woo, who was dragging her along by the arm.
"You damn troublemaker. You're dead meat once we get inside."
Sun-woo barked at her before continuing his internal rant.
What a mess this brat had caused. Now he was stuck with a wife he never asked for.
How absurd would this sound to Tang Seo-yoon, the Great Matriarch, or Geum Jeok-hwa?
Before the clan was even fully stabilized, rumors would spread that he had brought in a mistress.
Sun-woo's head began to throb.
To build a force capable of opposing the Cheonmu Alliance, he needed to grow his power, and to grow his power, he needed to increase his reputation. Instead, the Clan Head was now looking like a lecherous madman.
"Dammit."
Sun-woo tightened his grip on the Human-Faced Spider's hand. He intended to give her a proper thrashing once they were back in the office. If he broke her legs, maybe she wouldn't wander around so much.
"Why are you being like this?! I did everything you told me to do!"
She tried to defend herself. She had followed his orders, so why was he cursing and using force to intimidate her?
"Because of you, I'm stuck getting married!"
"You're the one who said we should!"
"You're the one who made it happen!"
"It's because you suddenly started talking about love and acting like a crazy person!"
Sun-woo cursed, blaming her reckless mouth.
"What was I supposed to do? My whole body shakes like a dog whenever I see you. You said that was love!"
"You little bitch!"
Sun-woo raised his fist, about to give her another noogie on the head.
It was then.
"You're saying some very interesting things, aren't you?"
A familiar voice drifted from nearby.
Creeeeak.
The office door opened, and a woman revealed herself.
"O-oh... Uh... You haven't left yet?"
Sun-woo stammered as he looked at the woman. Why was she coming out of there?
"I still had work to finish," said the woman, Tang Seo-yoon, with a bright smile. "Anyway, keep talking. Who are you marrying?"
The smile on Seo-yoon's lips began to deepen.
'Fuck.'
Sun-woo swallowed a curse.
*
"So? You lied and said the Human-Faced Spider is your sixth wife?"
Tang Seo-yoon sat in the office chair, crossing her legs as she spoke.
"I guess you could put it that way."
Sun-woo stood politely before her, head bowed alongside the Human-Faced Spider. He felt like he'd committed a crime, so he didn't feel right sitting down.
"Sigh."
She let out a deep sigh. Just when she thought the clan was finally stabilizing, another major incident had occurred.
"Right now, you are the Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Every single word you say affects not just the clan, but the entire Murim."
She began to lecture Sun-woo calmly.
She wasn't wrong. He wasn't Sun-woo right now, nor was he Jang Sam or Tang Se-gi. He was the Poison King, Tang Jin-cheol, a man renowned as a great hero of the Murim.
Sun-woo reflected on his reckless behavior. He wasn't shameless enough to act stubborn after making a mistake.
As Sun-woo's expression hardened with gloom, Tang Seo-yoon opened her lovely lips again.
"Still, you did well to draw a line with the elders of the in-law factions and to show a display of force to Qingcheng and Emei."
"Huh?"
"We needed to show them that the Tang Clan Head is still going strong anyway. You did a good job there."
This was true. Those people were different from ordinary merchants or random martial artists. If he hadn't set boundaries with the heads of the in-law families, they would have tried to interfere in everything. And if he hadn't shown his power to the elders of Qingcheng and Emei, they would have tried to hinder the Tang Clan at every turn.
Sun-woo had managed to solve all of that at once. It was worthy of praise.
Hearing her compliment, Sun-woo felt a bit dazed, but a smile involuntarily formed on his face. This was why he liked Tang Seo-yoon. She looked at everything objectively, praising what was done well and advising on what was done poorly.
"First, let's think about what to do with the Human-Faced Spider."
"What are you going to do?"
"What else? You actually have to marry her."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke as if it were no big deal.
"What!?"
Sun-woo asked back, shocked.
"Wait a minute, can't we just let it slide and hope people forget?"
"You made an official statement as the Clan Head. Moreover, you did it in front of the elders of Qingcheng and Emei. You can't just take it back."
"But..."
"Besides, what if you don't marry her? They'll come after her again. Would that be okay?"
That was also a problem. Both parties were pursuing the Human-Faced Spider for desperate reasons. If they found out the marriage was a lie, they would undoubtedly target her openly. And if the fact that she was the Human-Faced Spider ever came to light, the resulting fallout would be uncontrollable.
He couldn't let that happen.
"Dammit."
Sun-woo cursed. It seemed he had accidentally walked right into a trap of his own making.
"You'll have to go through with a wedding, even if it's just a small ceremony. That's the only way to get those two off her back for good," Tang Seo-yoon said firmly.
"....Fine."
Sun-woo conceded to her firm tone. Her logic was irrefutable.
"Then, let's start by giving the Human-Faced Spider a name."
"A name?"
"You're going to be married. You can't keep calling her 'Human-Faced Spider.'"
"Right! Right! Me! Me! Give me a name!"
The Human-Faced Spider, interested in the topic, started jumping up and down, asking for a name. She had wanted one. It had bothered her that she couldn't even answer when that man swinging the sword had asked for her name. Others called her 'Human-Faced Spider,' but that wasn't her actual name.
"What kind of name would you like?"
Tang Seo-yoon stood up, walked over to her, and asked.
"Ummm.... what's good?"
"Think about what you like the most."
"I like Tang-gwa the best!"
"Oh dear... I'm sorry, but we can't name you Tang-gwa."
"Aww.... really?"
She looked genuinely disappointed.
"But isn't there something else you like besides Tang-gwa? Is there something you want to be?" Tang Seo-yoon coaxed her like one would a child.
"Ummm..... I.... I want to be a Yokai Immortal!"
At the question, the Human-Faced Spider spoke her honest feelings. Tang Seo-yoon's gentle manner had likely put her at ease.
"Since it's a human name, we can't use the character for 'monster' (妖), so let's use this 'Yo' (姚) instead."
"Then is my name going to be Yoseon?"
"No. Since you look like a pretty young lady, how about Yorang (姚娘) instead of Yoseon? it means 'pretty young lady.'"
"I love it! I love it! I'm Yorang from now on!"
Hop, hop.
Yorang jumped for joy, clearly pleased with her new name.
"Understood, Lady Yorang."
Tang Seo-yoon found the sight so cute that she couldn't help but pat Yorang's head a few times.
"Hehehehe."
Yorang seemed to enjoy Tang Seo-yoon's soft touch and stood still, basking in the affection.
"Sun-woo! You call me Yorang too!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Sun-woo answered indifferently. To him, it didn't really matter what her name was.
"You're giving me a half-hearted answer again!"
Yorang slowly approached Sun-woo and held out her pinky finger.
"What's this?"
Sun-woo asked, puzzled by her sudden action.
"Come on, pinky swear! Promise you'll call me Yorang from now on!"
She puffed out her cheeks as she spoke.
Snicker.
The sight was unexpectedly cute, causing Sun-woo to let out a small laugh. How much of an impression had the pinky swear made on her for her to value it so much?
"Fine."
Sun-woo held out his pinky and hooked it with hers. They held the pose for quite a while. Yorang finally released his finger, a satisfied smile on her face.
Watching them, Tang Seo-yoon continued with a smile.
"She will soon be registered in the Tang Clan's genealogy as the Sixth Lady."
"But is that really okay?" Sun-woo asked her, sounding a bit worried. "She's not human."
As Sun-woo said, she was a spiritual being, not a human. Moreover, she was a spiritual being who had lived for hundreds of years. He was worried about whether it was right to put such a creature into the family records.
"You're not the real Tang Clan Head either."
She dismissed his concern as if it were nothing. Since Sun-woo himself was pretending to be the Clan Head, a fake wife wasn't much of an issue.
"Ah."
Sun-woo immediately conceded. When she put it that way, it made perfect sense.
"Now that we've settled Lady Yorang's situation, let's talk about what we need to do next."
Seeing Sun-woo's agreement, Tang Seo-yoon spoke in a suggestive tone.
"Alright."
Sun-woo perked up his ears and listened intently. Yorang, though she didn't understand everything, also perked up her ears and focused on Seo-yoon's words.