Chapter 345: The Cheonghae Shin Clan (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 345: The Cheonghae Shin Clan (2)
The second S-rank Gate ever recorded in the history of the Korean peninsula appeared in the middle of the East Sea.
The Blue Dragon was the gate's boss. Faced with a colossal disaster, Korea and Japan temporarily set aside their long-standing animosity and joined forces to conquer the gate.
After years of attempts, they finally succeeded in slaying the Blue Dragon and clearing the gate, but the cost was nothing short of catastrophic.
The immense loss of life and property, the scale of which was difficult to even speak of, left deep scars on both nations.
‘A byproduct from an S-rank boss...’
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Records stated that most of the Blue Dragon's corpse was lost in the fierce battle at sea, making the value of this blood simply immeasurable.
On top of that, the true value of this blood—a secret known only to me—kept stoking the flames of my desire.
[When consumed with the True Blood of the Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise, you will obtain the ‘Blessing of the Four Guardian Gods’.]
[Blessing of the Four Guardian Gods
Grade: Myth
The blessing of the Four Guardian Gods who rule the four cardinal directions.
Fulfilling a specific condition will allow you to summon the Yellow Dragon.]
‘A Myth-rank blessing...’
This was the first time I had ever seen the Myth grade since getting the dating app.
This was just my guess, but the Myth rank seemed to exist outside the conventional ranking system, much like the Holy Relic grade I'd seen in the Tower.
‘If I get my hands on this, I'll be able to summon the Yellow Dragon...?’
My mouth was already watering with anticipation, but it didn't take long for me to realize I was counting my chickens before they hatched.
From what I knew, the Vermilion Bird was an S-rank magical beast that had driven Africa to the brink of annihilation before being subjugated by the Round Table.
Naturally, the Vermilion Bird's remains became the property of the Round Table, and it was safe to assume there was no realistic way for me to obtain them.
Since the Round Table, composed of royalty and high-ranking nobles, was hardly in need of money, the only plausible method was theft.
Which was, of course, a ridiculous notion.
And that wasn't the only problem.
Unlike the Vermilion Bird, whose whereabouts I at least had a clue about, I knew nothing about the White Tiger and the Black Tortoise.
I was hearing their names for the first time.
It was logical to assume they were S-rank magical beasts like the Blue Dragon and the Vermilion Bird, but the complete lack of information suggested two possibilities.
One, they had not yet appeared on Earth. Or two, a specific nation was keeping all related information strictly confidential.
Either way, it was a pie in the sky for now.
Crucially, I didn't have the slightest intention of marrying Shin Yuna.
“You may consume the True Blood right here.”
Perhaps mistaking my reaction for a positive answer, Shin Mujun gave a sly smile.
But I shook my head and pushed the vial of True Blood forward.
“I’m sorry.”
Even if a knife were put to my throat, I had no intention of betraying my women.
My voice, colder and firmer than ever, came out.
“I am truly grateful for your generous assessment, but I must respectfully decline your offer.”
Rumble!!!
The moment I finished speaking, an immense pressure crushed down on my shoulders.
Hostility radiated from his eyes, so blatant it was almost tangible.
At the sight, I almost let out a bitter laugh.
Of course.
He was clearly a senile old lizard, just as I'd expected.
“...Very well. You're still young and seem incapable of objective judgment. I'll give you some time to reconsider.”
Shin Mujun pushed the vial toward me.
“Drink it.”
“I’m sorry.”
His tone was overbearing, but my answer wouldn't change no matter how many times he asked.
Even if it meant making an enemy of the entire Cheonghae Shin Clan.
“How dare you...!!”
Did the fact that a mere human had refused his offer wound his pride?
Shin Mujun's face twisted viciously.
Not only that, but a killing intent so potent it would have made an ordinary person faint on the spot washed over me.
After a moment's thought, I finally released my own energy.
-!
In that instant, the Vajra Qi extending from me neutralized Shin Mujun's aura. The pressure that had been weighing me down vanished.
In the strange silence that settled over the room, our eyes met.
A look of bewilderment spread across his face, which had been contorted with rage.
He must have never imagined he'd be pushed back by someone so much younger.
Trickle-
I picked up the teapot, filled the empty teacup, and pushed it toward him.
The tea leaves were standing upright.
“Please, drink. You seem to have gotten a little worked up.”
“...You are the height of arrogance.”
Grind-
“Don't be so angry. Please, be generous and see me as you would a cute grandson.”
I said it with a friendly tone, but the corners of my own mouth were set in a hard line.
In the somewhat tense atmosphere, something like scales began to sprout on the back of Shin Mujun's hands.
The sight of it left me dumbfounded.
‘...Is he really trying to take this all the way?’
Kiiiiing-
Faced with the fighting spirit shimmering in the vertically slit pupils of a man hundreds of years old, I too blatantly revealed my own energy.
I had been holding back out of a minimum of respect for the head of the Cheonghae Shin Clan.
But since he was the one about to cross the line, I had no reason to restrain myself any longer.
The consequences?
I could just ask Grandma Choi Young-ok for help.
‘...He's S-rank, but he's manageable.’
He was undoubtedly strong, but not so strong that I couldn't face him.
Just as the hair-trigger tension reached its peak, with only our mutual killing intent filling the room—
Creeak!
The door was thrown open and someone entered.
“Father!”
It was Shin Yuna.
Her face was covered in sweat, a testament to how fast she must have run.
But even so, she was still beautiful, like someone who had just stepped off the silver screen.
Shin Yuna's appearance completely changed the atmosphere.
However, it was hard to say it was for the better.
“Are you raising your voice before your own father?”
Shin Mujun's murderous gaze, which had been fixed on me, now shifted to Shin Yuna.
His voice was so cold and sharp it was hard to believe he was speaking to his only daughter.
“...Hyun-woo is my guest. Even if you are my father, I cannot tolerate any more of this rudeness.”
“Tolerate, you say...”
Shin Mujun let out a faint laugh as he looked at Shin Yuna.
But it was fleeting, and his expression quickly hardened.
“Who do you think you're spouting such nonsense to!”
A killing intent even greater than what he had shown me poured toward her.
Shin Yuna's face instantly turned pale.
“And I've told you time and again to quit your clowning, have you still not come to your senses! The successor to the Great Cheonghae Shin Clan, running around engaging in such vulgar theatrics! Do you still not realize what a disgrace you are to the family?!”
“...”
Shin Yuna visibly flinched at Shin Mujun's tirade.
It seemed this wasn't the first or second time he'd broken her spirit like that.
‘Tsk.’
If I had my way, I would have stepped in immediately, but I had no right to interfere in another family's affairs.
The only silver lining was that he didn't seem inclined to say anything more.
After a short silence, Shin Mujun shot up from his seat, glared at me, and muttered.
“Everyone gets one chance in their lifetime.”
A subtle pressure and blatant hostility washed over me.
His appearance, with the traits of a Dragonfolk now starkly visible, was utterly menacing.
“You just missed yours.”
“Then I'll be sure to catch it next time.”
I gave him a pleasant smile and bowed my head.
“It was an honor to meet the head of the 'Great Cheonghae Shin Clan' in person today. I hope you'll grant me a match next time.”
To someone who didn't know the context, it would have sounded like a polite farewell, but that was far from the truth.
‘You call yourself the head of the Great Cheonghae Shin Clan, yet you shout at your guests? How very dignified.’
‘I'd love to beat you up today, but it doesn't seem like the right time. So how about we throw down next time, no titles involved?’
As proof, Shin Mujun's face was twisted in a vicious scowl.
“...There are times when outstanding talent brings misfortune instead. Overconfidence can lead to unexpected results, so it would be wise to always be careful.”
Trusting in your meager talent and acting so recklessly will get you killed without anyone ever knowing.
I suppressed the laugh that threatened to burst out and nodded.
“I'll keep that in mind.”
After that, Shin Mujun glared back and forth between me and Shin Yuna before leaving the room without another word.
But thanks to that old geezer who clearly learned his manners from his own ass, the atmosphere remained tense.
After flipping off the door, I approached Shin Yuna.
“Why don't you have a seat?”
“...Ah.”
Shin Yuna, who had been standing there blankly, scurried to her seat.
She must have been very thirsty, as she gulped down the slightly cooled tea.
Watching her, I smiled faintly.
“I like it.”
“...Huh?”
“I like your acting, Shin Yuna. I've watched all your movies and dramas. I'm a fan.”
“...”
As a long-time fan of Shin Yuna, I couldn't forgive him for disparaging her acting as "clowning.”
If I could, I would have smashed a Buddha's Palm into his face, but his status as the head of the Cheonghae Shin Clan held me back.
“...Really?”
I nodded confidently.
“My favorites are ‘Princess of the East Sea,’ where you were the lead, and ‘Tracker of the Blue Moon,’ where you played the villain. I even messed up an exam back when I was a student because I had to watch it... Thinking back, I don't know why I was so obsessed when I could have just watched a rerun. Still, when you act...”
“...Sister Yuna.”
“Pardon?”
Shin Yuna, who had cut me off, spoke with her head slightly bowed.
“...Call me Sister Yuna. ‘Shin Yuna-ssi’ feels like you're drawing a line between us.”
I rubbed the back of my neck at the sight of her speaking so shyly, her voice trembling slightly.
“...I don't know about that.”
“Wh-Why?! You call Lael ‘noona’!”
“That's that, and this is this. A fan should never get too close to an actor.”
“That's so mean!”
Shin Yuna puffed out her cheeks, making it obvious she was pouting.
It wasn't a reaction befitting a woman about to turn thirty, but with a face like hers, it just looked cute.
Deciding to play along, I took out the wooden box I had prepared and handed it to her.
“What's this...?”
“It's a gift.”
Click.
As Shin Yuna carefully opened the box, a strange light filled her eyes.
[Jade Face Pill (玉容丸)
Grade: Rare
Known since ancient times as the elixir of celestial maidens. When consumed by a woman, it grants five years' worth of internal energy and aids in beauty.]
The Jade Face Pill shimmered beautifully, showing off its pearl-like form.
“I heard it was an elixir that helps with beauty, so I brought it thinking of you.”
“...Is this how you seduced Lael, too?”
Shin Yuna shot me a sidelong glance with a sulky expression.
I shrugged and tilted my teacup.
“If we're getting technical, I think I was the one who got eaten.”
“?!”
At my words, Shin Yuna's eyes went wide.
Come to think of it, that comment was a roundabout way of saying I'd slept with Han Lael.
For a moment, the thought that I'd misspoken crossed my mind.
But they were close friends, and it was unlikely she didn't already know, so I figured it wasn't a problem.
Besides, there's nothing strange about two consenting adults having sex; it's perfectly natural.
So I was confident.
“...You said you were my fan, right?”
“Huh? Yes, well...”
With a deeply flushed face, Shin Yuna glanced at me nervously, her lips parting and closing for a moment.
Then, she carefully moved to sit next to me.
“Th-Then, as some fan service, should I give you a little kiss...?”
