Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Poison Flower of Sichuan, Dang Yeoryeong
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Poison Flower of Sichuan, Dang Yeoryeong
Once my stomach was full, I could finally take in my surroundings.
The Unit Leader had vanished somewhere.
What were my other companions up to?
Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo were sitting off to one side, competing to see who could eat more.
*That's just how kids their age grow up.*
As for Senior Jegal Biyeon…
*I don't see her.*
"Looking for me?"
She was right beside me. When had she gotten there? Had she been here all along?
Jegal Biyeon was picking at the food in front of her.
I wondered if she could ever feel full eating like that.
*Tsk, tsk. She's so thin already. How is she supposed to gain any weight eating like that?*
Ha Yuseong gathered all sorts of dishes from around him and placed them in front of Jegal Biyeon.
"Hm?"
Jegal Biyeon tilted her head.
Ha Yuseong clicked his tongue again and said,
"When you eat, you should really dig in like this."
"Why?"
*She's asking why?*
"So you can train harder in your martial arts, of course!"
"But I train all the time anyway."
Sigh! Just how much did I have to explain to her?
I knew she could be a bit dense at times, but I never thought it was this bad.
I don't know who her parents are, but if I did, I'd run to them right now and tell them to pay a little more attention to their child.
"You're too thin, Biyeon."
Jegal Biyeon looked down.
"Small?"
She then touched her prominent chest and tilted her head again.
"Isn't this about right? Everyone else seems to like it."
Ha Yuseong quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over Jegal Biyeon.
"Not that! I mean your overall frame! And never act like that in front of other people!"
"I don't."
Jegal Biyeon swallowed the rest of her words.
*Except in front of Yuseong.*
"Hoo. For now, just eat up! From what I've seen this time, it looks like you need some really intense training, Senior Biyeon."
"Isn't that just because you're abnormally strong, Yuseong?"
Just then.
-Yuseong. Come to the rear courtyard.
It was a telepathic message from the former Poison King.
"You must finish all of this before you get up! Well then, something suddenly came up for me."
Ha Yuseong repeatedly stressed that she had to eat everything on her plate before he left.
Left alone, Jegal Biyeon didn't take a single bite and left her seat.
* * *
The Tang Family of Sichuan.
One of the great super-clans of the Central Plains, proudly counted among the Five Great Families.
This place, which could be called the greatest of all single clans...
"Whoa!"
It was quite different from the Murim Alliance.
The Murim Alliance was much larger in scale, but that was a collective of many clans!
The Tang Family of Sichuan had achieved all this as a single clan, and the sight of it made my chest swell with awe.
Ha Yuseong suddenly wondered if he could ever build his own Ha family to this scale.
*It would be impossible, even over ten generations.*
*So this is why they call them the Five Great Families.*
"Anyway, where is the rear courtyard?"
He'd said the rear courtyard, so I thought I could just head towards the back, but the buildings seemed to go on forever.
Ha Yuseong had to admit he was lost.
Just then, a woman caught Ha Yuseong's eye.
Dressed in green robes, she appeared to be a member of the Tang family.
Ha Yuseong approached the woman and asked.
"Excuse me, may I ask you something?"
The woman, Dang Yeoryeong, replied coldly.
"This is the inner court, accessible only to the direct line of the Tang family."
"Ah! I see. I must have taken a wrong turn."
"Now that you know, I'd appreciate it if you left quickly."
"Of course! I'll leave right away. But before I do, may I ask just one thing?"
"Hah!"
Dang Yeoryeong sighed. Having experienced countless similar situations since she was young, she could guess what the man would say next.
So, without waiting for Ha Yuseong to speak, Dang Yeoryeong said,
"I refuse."
"Please, just let me ask one thing! It's very simple."
Usually, by this point, men would take the hint and back off, but this one seemed completely clueless.
Dang Yeoryeong spoke more directly.
"I have no interest in you, young warrior."
"Pardon?"
*To pretend not to understand even after I've been so direct. If he was invited to the banquet, he must be from a branch family of the Tang or at least a disciple of a major sect.*
"Hah."
Dang Yeoryeong sighed again and said with certainty.
"I said, I have, no interest, in you."
*Look at that dumbfounded expression. He seems quite surprised now that I've used a stronger tone.*
"I've seen many men like you. Men who approach women, captivated only by their beauty."
"..."
"However! As someone aiming to become the next Poison King, I wish to focus on my martial arts above all else."
"..."
"If you understand, please leave now."
Ha Yuseong scratched his head.
Objectively speaking, the mysterious woman before him was beautiful.
With a little exaggeration, she was on par with Jegal Biyeon, one of the so-called Three Flowers of the Martial World.
Ha Yuseong could fully understand why the woman was acting this way towards him.
With beauty like hers, even his younger self would have wanted to confess his feelings at least once.
But that was a story from his youth.
Ha Yuseong, who was over sixty, had no interest at all.
"I'm rooting for you."
"Pardon? For what?"
"Your dream of becoming the next Poison King. I think it's great to have a dream. For your information, my dream is to become a 3rd-class warrior of the Murim Alliance."
"I-Is that so?"
"Yes."
Ha Yuseong smiled brightly.
"Ah! And about the question I wanted to ask earlier. Where is the rear courtyard?"
"Why do you ask?"
The Tang family's rear courtyard was naturally located within the inner court.
This meant it was a place only the direct lineage could enter.
As a direct descendant of the Tang family, granddaughter of the former Poison King, and the cherished daughter of the current Dark King, Dang Yeoryeong had never seen this man before.
Ha Yuseong once again answered brightly.
"Elder Dang Mandok asked me to come."
"Who did you say asked you to come?"
"Elder Dang Mandok."
Dang Yeoryeong was flustered by the mention of such an unexpected person, but she quickly composed herself.
And she realized one thing.
This man before her was completely and utterly insane.
After she preemptively rejected his confession, he had made the mistake of uttering a name that should never be spoken so lightly.
Occasionally, there were men who would resort to such absurd, desperate measures.
But this man had chosen the wrong place.
Within the Tang Clan.
Because the Grand Family Head was that kind of existence.
An idol and spiritual pillar for all who practiced the poison arts.
"Can you take responsibility for what you just said?"
Ha Yuseong, thinking that taking responsibility for asking for directions was a bit much, answered lightly.
"Yes!"
"Fine. If what you just said is a lie, I will not let it slide."
"Yes!"
*Ha! What kind of man is this!*
A moment later.
Dang Yeoryeong was bowing at a ninety-degree angle, apologizing.
"I'm so sorry! I was rude!"
"Haha. It's alright. Anyone can make a mistake."
With her head bowed, Dang Yeoryeong's face was flushed red like a ripe apple.
*Damn it! This is so embarrassing!*
"I was just about to introduce you to Yeoryeong, and here you are together."
The man named Ha Yuseong was indeed her grandfather's guest.
And not just any guest.
"Was your journey here dangerous?"
"No, sir. I did encounter a martial artist using a fake sword ki, but it was a good experience. And just in time, the Unit Leader arrived and took care of the real danger."
"Kekeke. I'm glad to hear that. Let me take a look at you."
"Yes, sir."
Her grandfather's eyes were dripping with honey as he looked at the man.
Not only that, his tone was far more affectionate than when he spoke to her, his own granddaughter.
On top of that! Her grandfather, known as a divine physician, was personally examining him.
This was the grandfather who wouldn't treat someone even for a thousand gold pieces if he didn't feel like it.
Moreover, she had never seen her grandfather like this before. That dazed expression, practically drooling as he touched the man!
Ever since his retirement, her grandfather had been listless, showing no interest in anything.
And now, that same grandfather was grinning foolishly, completely captivated.
*Could it be!*
From a certain day, her grandfather had changed.
He would suddenly stare into space and chuckle to himself.
Or nod his head with a pleased look while walking.
Dang Yeoryeong wondered if her grandfather was perhaps starting a new, second life, meaning...
It was a slightly bizarre thought, but considering her grandfather's status, his past achievements, his appearance, and everything else...
With a little effort, her grandfather could still pass for a handsome older gentleman!
Her grandmother had been gone for a long time!
She thought he might have found a new lover.
Dang Yeoryeong wasn't the only one who thought this. Most of the Tang family's leadership thought the same and had been quietly cheering him on.
Above all, it was wonderful to see the family's eldest elder regain his vitality.
But looking at the situation now...
It wasn't... a lover.
Perhaps it was a situation even more serious than a lover.
Only today could she pinpoint the exact cause of her grandfather's strange behavior.
Her grandfather's blazing gaze!
The dazed expressions he made from time to time!
The proactive attitude he had never shown even to his family!
*That's it!*
That man is!
Isn't there a saying?
That while a parent loves all their children, there is always one who tugs at the heartstrings more!
All children are precious, but there's always one that tugs at the heartstrings more!
The youngest child has been loved the most since ancient times!
Dang Yeoryeong looked at Ha Yuseong with a shocked expression.
*To think Grandfather had a hidden son!*
The Tang family's lineage, suddenly complicated.
*Is he... my uncle?*
He even looks younger than me!
Dang Yeoryeong thought she had to tell her father about this immediately.
*Dad! This is no time to be drinking! You've suddenly got a younger brother!*
"I've given you a quick look-over, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong."
"Ah! There's something I'd like to ask."
"Alright. Let's save our deep, private conversation for inside. Before that, say hello to Yeoryeong. Yeoryeong."
At Dang Mandok's call.
Dang Yeoryeong, who had been lost in a flight of fancy, returned to reality.
*Here it comes.*
Suddenly faced with serving an uncle younger than herself, Dang Yeoryeong didn't know what expression to make.
"Ye-yes!"
Dang Yeoryeong's reply was a bit stiffer than usual. Dang Mandok continued.
"This is Ha Yuseong. Since he's around your age, Yeoryeong, you two should get along."
Ha?
"Not Dang Yuseong?"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"Ah, nothing."
*Phew.* Dang Yeoryeong sighed in relief inwardly.
And then, a new confusion set in.
*Then, if he's not my uncle, why is Grandfather treating him with such reverence!*
At that moment, Dang Yeoryeong thought of another possibility. This might be an even more serious problem than before.
*Could it be!*
Watching Dang Mandok and Ha Yuseong walk away, Dang Yeoryeong, the Poison Flower of Sichuan among the Three Flowers of the Martial World, muttered.
Considering her grandfather's social status, there was only one possibility.
A unique tradition upheld only by the Tang family, found nowhere else.
The system of adopting a son-in-law!
"Is that man... the future husband my grandfather has chosen for me?"
As a member of the Tang family, one must obey the marriage arrangements made by the elders. Especially if it is for the good of the family.
Dang Yeoryeong recalled Ha Yuseong's face once more.
Well!
"He's not bad."
And so it was. Dang Yeoryeong's misunderstanding was still in progress.