Chapter 777: Really? Did I do a good job?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 777: Really? Did I do a good job?
Trickle.
Cold sweat began to pour down Tang Jin-seol’s forehead.
The moment she stood face-to-face with Yorang, the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, tension coiled around her entire body.
Tremble, tremble.
Her frame began to shake uncontrollably.
Fear was welling up inside her—fear of the monster before her, who had struck her down without a moment’s hesitation.
"Are your earholes plugged? Want me to clear them for you?"
When she didn't answer, Yorang continued with a bright smile. Of course, her words were anything but pleasant.
"...No need for that... I can... hear you just fine."
Startled, Tang Jin-seol answered urgently. She had the distinct feeling that the woman in front of her might actually pierce her ears if she didn't.
"If you can hear me, you should answer. It hurts my feelings..."
Yorang glared at Tang Jin-seol with cold eyes, her tone chiding.
"......I’m sorry.... I was lost in thought.."
Tang Jin-seol immediately lowered herself and apologized. Her mind was consumed by the single thought that she must not offend this woman.
"You were thinking about something else while someone was talking to you?"
Yorang’s eyes narrowed as she continued to glare.
'Damn bitch...'
Tang Jin-seol’s brow furrowed slightly. The woman was nitpicking every little thing. She could tell—Yorang was simply looking for an excuse to pick a fight.
Tang Jin-seol felt a surge of killing intent. She had lived her entire life being treated with the utmost respect. Her bloodline as a direct descendant of the Tang Clan and her status as the mistress of the Cheonmu Alliance had ensured that.
And yet, this woman was treating her like trash. And doing so quite blatantly. How could she not feel murderous?
'Endure it... Just endure...'
However, Tang Jin-seol quickly suppressed her rising killing intent. Showing it here would only complicate things. In the worst-case scenario, she could be completely suppressed by the woman standing before her.
"........I apologize."
Tang Jin-seol lowered her head slightly.
Grit.
Of course, she was grinding her teeth hard enough to break them.
"What, are you on drugs? Why are you being so obedient?"
Yorang asked back, her expression suspicious. She found Tang Jin-seol’s submissive attitude strange.
".........I was simply stating the truth."
Meeting Yorang’s suspicious gaze, Tang Jin-seol continued, feigning composure.
"Suspicious... Very suspicious......."
Yorang stared at her with a dissatisfied expression. Tang Jin-seol forced herself to look away, fear rising that Yorang might notice something.
"Be honest with me...... You’re hiding something, aren't you?"
Yorang asked, her eyes narrowing further.
".......There’s... nothing.."
Tang Jin-seol replied, cold sweat beading on her brow.
"I think there is."
Seeing her reaction, Yorang looked certain. Tang Jin-seol’s behavior was far too suspicious to ignore.
"..........Really..... What would I be hiding?.."
"Then why did you come out to the outskirts?"
".....Over there..... at the very edge, there’s a teahouse called the Sampyeong Teahouse. It has a nice atmosphere... I was having a cup of tea there."
Tang Jin-seol pointed behind her as she spoke.
"Sampyeong Teahouse?"
"Yes. Their Tieguanyin is exquisite, especially when enjoyed by the window in the sunlight. I recommend the Head of the Jaegyeong Pavilion visit at least once."
Tang Jin-seol spoke slowly, feigning leisure to perfectly deceive the woman before her.
"That’s strange."
Yorang looked at her with skeptical eyes.
"What is strange?"
"You smell like blood, but you say you were at a teahouse..... It’s just strange."
"............."
"Did you really go to a teahouse?"
"A fight... broke out at the teahouse..... Fights happen quite often in places like that."
Tang Jin-seol began to make excuses.
"Ah, so that’s why the smell of blood is on you?"
Yorang nodded as if she understood.
"Yes..... That must be why."
Tang Jin-seol nodded back, thinking she had finally convinced her.
"Did you go to the teahouse alone?"
"Yes, I went alone. I don't have many close acquaintances."
"Well, with a personality like yours, who would want to be your friend?"
Yorang nodded in agreement.
'.....That dog-like bitch.'
Tang Jin-seol ground her teeth again. Yorang’s insulting remarks were infuriating.
"I suppose so... Perhaps next time, Lady Yorang could join me for a cup of tea.."
Despite her inner rage, she hid her true feelings and spoke with a pitiful expression.
"No thanks. Being with you brings bad luck."
Yorang refused flatly.
".........I suppose it can't be helped..... I’ll just have to drink alone next time as well....."
Tang Jin-seol spoke with a look of regret and began to walk away slowly, as if she had said all she needed to say.
Tap. Tap.
"Wait."
Yorang spoke up.
"I never told you to leave."
"....Do you have something else to say?"
Tang Jin-seol asked, meeting Yorang’s gaze with tension in her eyes.
"Yeah, there’s one thing that hasn't been resolved yet."
Yorang continued, staring straight at her.
".........And... what is that?"
Tang Jin-seol asked, her voice trembling.
"Where is Tang Seo-yoon?"
Yorang’s eyes flashed sharply.
Whoosh!
"Die!"
The moment she saw that look, Tang Jin-seol lunged forward with a Poison Palm dyed in a sickly green. She realized she had been caught.
Yorang watched the Poison Palm approach calmly. Then, she smiled brightly.
Thwack!
The Poison Palm struck Yorang squarely in the face, the sound of the impact echoing through the air.
'I hit her!'
Tang Jin-seol rejoiced. She thought she had landed a decisive blow on a defenseless Yorang. Her Poison Palm was at the Super-Peak Realm. That beautiful face would surely melt away.
Or so she thought.
Lick.
Suddenly, she felt a wet sensation on her palm.
'W-What!?'
Startled, Tang Jin-seol quickly pulled her hand back. There, she saw the peerless beauty sticking out her tongue.
"H-How could this be?!"
Tang Jin-seol’s face was a mask of bewilderment. She was stunned that Yorang was completely unharmed. She had gathered every ounce of poison in her body for that strike. How could she be fine?
"You really have no learning ability, do you? Even after everything."
Yorang looked at the panicked Tang Jin-seol with an amused glint in her eyes. She raised her small fist and slowly clenched it.
"N-No...."
Tang Jin-seol’s entire body trembled. She knew exactly what Yorang was about to do.
"Yes."
Whoosh.
The fist swung through the air.
Crack!
It struck Tang Jin-seol precisely on the temple.
"Guaaaaagh.."
Tang Jin-seol’s eyes rolled back, showing only the whites. The shock was beyond anything she could have imagined, and her consciousness began to fade.
'I... have to... run.. away..'
She tried desperately to hold onto her senses. She knew that if she was caught here, everything would be over.
Whoosh.
Crack!
"Geuuuugh...."
The same impact hit her other temple. Yorang had struck the other side.
Snap.
Tang Jin-seol’s consciousness finally snapped. She had fainted completely.
Thud.
Her body collapsed onto the ground.
"Tsk, tsk. Pathetic struggling."
Yorang clicked her tongue as she looked down at Tang Jin-seol. She hoisted the woman over her shoulder and began to walk slowly back toward the Sampyeong Teahouse.
*
Dash, dash, dash.
Tang Seo-yoon ran and ran. She was pursuing the Tang Jin-seol she had lost. However, tracking Tang Jin-seol, who had fled without leaving a trace, was proving more difficult than expected.
'Damn it, I was too careless!'
Tang Seo-yoon cursed inwardly. She had been too complacent. Even during the battle, she should have kept an eye on Tang Jin-seol’s movements. But she hadn't, and now she had lost her.
'I can't let her get away!'
Tang Seo-yoon’s cold eyes flashed. She couldn't let her escape. The mere fact that she had connections to the Demonic Cult made Tang Jin-seol a stain on the Tang Clan. If this became known, the clan would face a great disaster. She had to catch her at all costs.
Dash, dash, dash.
She pushed her movement technique to its limit. After some time, something finally entered her field of vision. It was a woman carrying something over her shoulder.
Eyes as beautiful as starlight. A high bridge of the nose. A slender, sharp jawline. Lips as red as cherries. She was a woman who embodied the very definition of peerless beauty.
"Lady Yorang!?"
Tang Seo-yoon called out loudly. It was a woman she knew all too well.
"Seo-yoon!"
Yorang shouted back with a bright smile. The two met shortly after.
"Are you hurt?"
Yorang asked with a worried expression.
"I’m fine.... More importantly.... what brings you here, Lady Yorang...."
Tang Seo-yoon asked, her face full of questions.
"I followed the scent."
"The scent?"
"Yep!"
Yorang nodded her cute face.
"Why..... were you looking for me?"
".......To apologize."
Yorang mumbled.
"Apologize?"
"Yeah...... When I said I hated you because you wouldn't give me land.... I didn't mean it. Even if you don't give me land, I still like you, Seo-yoon.."
Yorang spoke with a dejected expression. It seemed she had come looking for her because she felt bad about saying she hated her before running off.
".............."
Tang Seo-yoon was speechless for a moment. She had intended to apologize for her teasing, but receiving an apology instead left her bewildered. At the same time, Yorang’s pure nature seemed incredibly endearing.
"...I like you too, Lady Yorang...."
"Really?"
Yorang asked with a bright smile.
"Of course."
Tang Seo-yoon replied with a soft smile—a rare sight for someone who usually maintained a stiff expression.
"Hehehehe."
Yorang let out a clear, happy laugh.
"Oh, right."
Yorang suddenly remembered something.
Whoosh.
Thump.
She unceremoniously dropped Tang Jin-seol from her shoulder onto the ground.
"This is a gift for you."
Yorang said, looking at Tang Seo-yoon.
"Tang Jin-seol?!"
Tang Seo-yoon looked shocked. She had been so focused on Yorang that she hadn't noticed the identity of the person on her shoulder.
"How did you get her?"
"I ran into her on the way and suppressed her. She was acting really suspicious."
Yorang explained with a gentle smile.
"....Thank you, Lady Yorang."
Tang Seo-yoon bowed slightly to Yorang. She knew that without her, Tang Jin-seol would have surely escaped.
"Really? Did I do a good job?"
Having received praise, Yorang smiled as brightly as a child.
"Yes, you did a wonderful job."
"Then will you give me land?"
"I will. As many thousands of acres as you want."
Tang Seo-yoon nodded.
"No taking it back!"
Yorang held out her pinky toward Tang Seo-yoon.
"What is this?"
"If we hook pinkies, we have to keep the promise no matter what!"
"Who said that?"
"Sun-woo did!"
"..Ah.."
Hearing that, Tang Seo-yoon slowly extended her pinky. Their fingers intertwined.
"Hehehehe..... I’m so happy."
Having confirmed the promise, Yorang laughed. She was already thinking about becoming a great landowner. Tang Seo-yoon watched her with a warm expression, wondering how she could be so easily pleased.
Then, she slowly lowered her gaze to Tang Jin-seol, who was face-down on the ground.
Glare.
Her eyes turned incredibly sharp as anger toward the woman welled up.
'You won't get off easy, Tang Jin-seol.'
Her gaze grew even colder.
*
Flutter.
Tang Jin-seol slowly opened her eyes as she regained consciousness. She looked ahead and saw a damp, gloomy room.
'W-Where am I!?'
She immediately recognized it. This was the Tang Clan’s underground torture chamber.
"You’re awake."
A familiar voice reached her ears. Tang Jin-seol quickly turned her head. There, in a corner, she saw her younger sister watching her.
"Tang.. Seo-yoon.."
Tang Jin-seol spoke slowly.
"Don't say my name with that filthy mouth. It’s not a name to be spoken by someone like you."
Tang Seo-yoon glared at her with icy eyes.
"Seo-yoon..... You...... seem to be misunderstanding something...."
Seeing her cold reaction, Tang Jin-seol spoke urgently.
"Misunderstanding? What exactly? That you have subordinates who practice demonic arts? Or that you tried to force me with violence?"
"........It’s a misunderstanding...... Seo-yoon..... Please..... listen to your sister..... I didn't know they practiced demonic arts.. They were..... well...... they were hired help..... I didn't know they were filthy demonic seeds.."
Tang Jin-seol began to make desperate excuses, claiming she had nothing to do with it and that she didn't know.
"We can find out for ourselves if it’s a misunderstanding or not."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke in a calm tone. She slowly raised her hand, and it began to glow a bright, fiery red.
"T-That is?!"
Tang Jin-seol gasped in shock.
"This should be enough to prove your innocence."
"Seo-yoon... No.... Not the Scorching Poison.... No.... It’ll twist my mind!"
Tang Jin-seol began to scream and struggle. Scorching Poison was a terrifying poison, so dangerous that even within the Tang Clan, it was never used unless they intended to kill the subject of the torture. How could she use such a horrific poison on her own sister?
"I believe you can handle it, Sister. I trust you."
Tang Seo-yoon spoke with an indifferent expression and began to walk slowly toward her.
"Noooooo!"
Tang Jin-seol thrashed her body, trying to escape. But it was useless. Her internal energy was sealed, and her limbs were bound by restraints. There was no way out.
Touch.
Tang Seo-yoon’s glowing red hand touched Tang Jin-seol’s dantian.
"AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!"
Tang Jin-seol’s desperate scream echoed throughout the torture chamber.