Chapter 37
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Dark King's Misunderstanding
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Agong
Suddenly, I was the only one left at the Tang Family.
This was because the request was directed solely at me.
However, a problem arose.
Just because a request came in, a low-ranking warrior couldn't decide to take it on their own.
Fortunately, there was a supervisor here who could authorize the mission.
I wondered if the old master had foreseen all this and called for the Unit Leader.
Haven't you heard of such things?
The great masters of the martial world always see two, three, or even more moves ahead.
Someone who was one of the Ten Grandmasters of the World could probably see ten moves ahead.
It was a kind of grand design.
“Why should I grant permission? Follow the proper procedures.”
Truly, that was our Unit Leader. Unsparing, even to the old master.
Such a confident attitude!
Yes! That's a warrior of the Murim Alliance!
A dignified stance that doesn't yield to any power, pressure, or persecution, upholding principles and rules.
Someday, though it's unlikely, if I ever become a Unit Leader, I must follow his example.
The old master discreetly slipped a bribe to our Unit Leader.
“I'm sure you're aware I have no need for money.”
That's right! Our Unit Leader wouldn't bow to something like money!
“Open it.”
But the old master, with a relaxed expression, exuded an air of experience.
It was as if he were saying, 'Let's see you refuse after looking at that!'
That's what it seemed like.
As the Unit Leader checked the contents, the old master continued speaking.
“I noticed the children seemed quite drained this time.”
What the old master had given him were pills.
Seeing them, Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo's eyes sparkled.
Even from a distance, I could smell the medicinal fragrance. The strong scent suggested they were quite beneficial for the body.
I already felt my head clearing.
“Just something I made in my spare time. Well, they won't increase your internal energy, but they should raise its purity to some extent.”
Hearing this, Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo drooled.
I thought having more internal energy was always better, but it seemed purity was important too.
I've learned something new.
Ha Yuseong also glanced at the pills the Unit Leader was holding.
“Hah. This damned old man is targeting my subordinates instead of me.”
“As if you're anything to look at.”
The Unit Leader's stern expression slowly softened.
Perhaps we had unexpectedly found the Unit Leader's weakness.
The Unit Leader, who seemed like he would never yield to power, ultimately accepted the bribe.
Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo jumping around and causing a scene in the back was just a bonus.
At least Senior Jegal Biyeon was the only one who remained composed.
*Grumble.*
It turned out she was just standing still because she was hungry.
I had packed her a lot of food before we left, but it seemed I'd have to pack even more next time.
The Unit Leader tossed the pills behind him.
The pills flew through the air.
Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo each caught one.
Senior Jegal Biyeon stood still, yet a pill landed right in her hand.
“Let's go.”
Seo Pung left the Tang Family, leaving only Ha Yuseong behind.
Why is no one interested in me?
Ha Yuseong felt a bit bitter.
* * *
“This way, please.”
It's awkward.
Is it because this is the first time I've taken on a mission alone?
Or is it because the person I'm about to meet is someone I thought I'd never have any connection with in my entire life?
“Why are you trembling so much? We'll be seeing each other often from now on.”
“Seeing each other often?”
“Hmph! Is pretending to be ignorant your specialty?”
Her tone was angry.
Why is she angry?
Even after racking my brain, I couldn't figure out what I'd done wrong.
“Your relationships with women are clean, right? I hate complicated things like that.”
Kids these days are so bold.
It was never like this in my day.
Ha Yuseong fought back a wave of embarrassment and answered.
“Yes. I'm a pure man.”
“Not bad.”
That's a good thing, right?
I want to hurry up and talk to the old master, my peer(?).
Ha Yuseong stopped walking.
The person walking ahead of him had stopped.
Before them was a single door, simple yet by no means ordinary.
Dang Yeoryeong straightened her clothes and cleared her throat.
Ha Yuseong followed suit.
He had a good idea of who was behind that door.
Soon, Dang Yeoryeong spoke.
“Father. I've brought him.”
“Come in.”
A low voice came from inside.
Ha Yuseong was extremely tense.
And for good reason.
*Creeak.*
The door opened, and a man in a scholar's robe was inside.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary scholar.
But the man before him was one of the people standing at the pinnacle of the current martial world.
“Are you Ha Yuseong?”
Ha Yuseong bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
One of the Ten Grandmasters of the World.
The Dark King, Dang Yu.
“A junior of the martial world dares to greet the great senior! Please accept my bow!”
“Ho ho. No need for a full bow.”
Ha Yuseong had only done it out of courtesy, but Dang Yeoryeong next to him took it for granted.
After all, it was only natural for a son-in-law to bow to his future father-in-law.
“You're an interesting fellow. Thanks to you, my father has regained his vigor, which is a great relief to me as well. You are the savior of the Tang Family.”
“I wouldn't go that far.”
Dang Yu's expression turned serious.
“No! Never underestimate yourself. And listen. If anyone in the Tang Family gives you trouble, just tell me. I, Dang Yu, swear on my name. I will cut off their limbs and feed them to my poisonous creatures.”
Dang Yeoryeong nodded.
How dare they persecute the Tang Family's son-in-law!
Still, Father is showing some restraint since it's his first meeting with his son-in-law.
If it were her, she would have just pickled them in poison until not even a corpse remained.
“Haha!”
Ha Yuseong was reeling from the Tang Family's style of humor.
But isn't there a saying?
When in a temple, eat the temple's food!
Since he was at the Tang Family, Ha Yuseong decided to eat the Tang Family's food.
“Yes. Thank you for your kind words. And as for the mission the old master gave me, I don't know if I'll succeed, but I will do my best!”
“There's no need to do your best. Just.”
Dang Yu paused for a moment, then spoke with all his heart.
“Stay at the Tang Family for as long as you can.”
After his mother passed away early and he took over as the family head, his father had become noticeably listless.
Then one day, that same father began to stare into space and chuckle to himself more and more often.
Dang Yu suddenly grabbed Ha Yuseong's hands.
Dang Yeoryeong glared at them.
‘I haven't even gotten to hold his hand yet!’
Dang Yu was so overjoyed he felt like he could fly, just from seeing his father smile brightly again.
Indeed. Dang Yu was known throughout the martial world as a devoted son.
“I'm counting on you!”
Ha Yuseong didn't know what to do. He had never dreamed that one of the Ten Grandmasters of the World, of all people, would treat him with such great hospitality.
He had only ever heard heinous rumors about the Tang Family, but it seemed they were all misunderstandings.
Such good people couldn't possibly do those sorts of things.
Ha Yuseong was once again reminded that you can't trust rumors in the martial world.
The Tang Family.
‘What a good place!’
And so, another misunderstanding was born.
* * *
“You can stay here.”
Dang Yeoryeong guided Ha Yuseong to a rear courtyard.
“Which one is my room?”
Ha Yuseong asked, looking at the numerous rooms.
Dang Yeoryeong tilted her head and replied.
“This entire area is for you to stay in.”
“What? This whole spacious place?”
“Spacious? It's quite small.”
Dang Yeoryeong thought Ha Yuseong was a very humble person.
‘To become a man worthy of being the Tang Family's son-in-law, he'll have to develop a grander perspective first!’
“I-I see.”
Ha Yuseong was once again astonished by the Tang Family's resources.
This was one of the Five Great Families!
To provide such a large space for a mere guest.
Ha Yuseong entered the nearest of the many rooms and prepared for sleep.
The blankets were soft, and he was able to get a very sound sleep.
* * *
The next day.
Perhaps yesterday's banquet was the last, because when morning came, the once-bustling Tang Family estate was quiet.
It felt as if yesterday's events had been a dream.
But seeing that he was still here, it couldn't have been just a dream.
“I'm really at the Tang Family estate.”
As soon as he woke up, Ha Yuseong headed for the field in the backyard.
He wanted to complete his mission as quickly as possible.
His first personally assigned mission since joining the Murim Alliance.
“I have to succeed.”
He arrived at the field.
“But where do I start?”
The mission was to get rid of the giant snake in the field... well, not get rid of it, but to drive it out.
How nice would it be if we could talk to each other at times like this.
“If it were a person, we could resolve any misunderstandings through a nice conversation.”
Half-joking, half-serious, Ha Yuseong tried to speak snake language into the air.
“Sssha!”
He glanced behind him.
Even though he was the one who did it, he felt a little embarrassed.
The field was quiet.
“I guess it doesn't work.”
Of course it wouldn't.
“*Tsk.*”
I need to see its face before I can do anything. With that thought, Ha Yuseong plunged his hand into the ground at the edge of the field.
The moment he put his hand in, he felt a sharp sting at his fingertips.
‘A reaction already?’
Ha Yuseong quickly pulled his hand out of the ground.
“Agong!”
“You are?”
“Agong!”
The First Elder's legacy(?).
The hundred-year-old centipede had taken the bait.
* * *
Ha Yuseong didn't know the biggest reason why spiritual beasts were different from regular animals.
But now, he thought he was starting to understand.
“Sit!”
“Agong!”
The hundred-year-old centipede sat down as Ha Yuseong commanded.
He wasn't sure if that was actually sitting, or if a centipede's body was even structured to sit in the first place, but it answered so enthusiastically that it was hard to argue.
And this centipede.
From now on, I'll just call it Agong.
Agong was very obedient.
“Roll over!”
“Agong!”
It followed his hand and rolled over once.
“Do a somersault in the air, then give me 100 push-ups!”
“Agong!”
Its many legs kicked off the ground at once. After landing, it used its many arms(?) to do push-ups.
Spiritual beasts were truly mysterious creatures.
So this is why people go on about spiritual beasts.
Have you ever seen a centipede do a somersault and push-ups?
From today on, I could confidently say that I have.
And though he had spent less than a day with Agong, he already knew what it liked.
“Agong! Agong! Agong!”
Agong cried like a baby.
This was the signal that Agong was hungry.
Ha Yuseong offered his finger.
A sharp pain immediately followed at the tip of his finger.
*Suckle, suckle!*
Soon, Agong began to suck on his finger like a baby nursing from its mother.
A moment later, apparently full, Agong stopped sucking his finger.
“Are you full now?”
“Agong!”
Whether it's people or beasts(?), you have to feed them well. That's how they grow up big and strong.
Having wandered the streets as a hungry child, Ha Yuseong knew the sorrow of hunger better than anyone.
“Hmm.”
So why was this Agong here?
Ha Yuseong could easily deduce the reason.
Agong's original owner was the First Elder.
That First Elder was dead.
Poor Agong had suddenly lost its master and had been starving all day before running into him.
Furthermore, he had newly discovered that many other poisonous creatures were also living in this field, having lost their homes.
Perhaps Agong had brought the other creatures here to settle down.
Full, Agong was now lying on its back, sunbathing and taking a nap.
When he pressed its belly, he found it was slightly soft, unlike its hard back.
Every time he touched it, Agong let out a purring cry, as if it felt good.
Looking at it this way, it seemed rather cute.
Maybe that's why the First Elder raised so many poisonous insects.
At that moment, a good idea occurred to Ha Yuseong.
“It might just be possible.”
To provide a safe home for Agong and the other poisonous creatures, and also find another good place for the Black-Scaled Blood Python to live.
Ha Yuseong considered waking Agong up, but since it was sleeping so soundly, he decided to wait a little.
Fortunately, Agong didn't seem to be a bad centipede that took long naps.
After napping for about two hours, Agong woke up again.
“Agong!”
Ha Yuseong made a request to the newly awakened Agong.
“Could you possibly call out that snake over there?”
Honestly, he didn't have high expectations.
“Agong!!!!”
Agong responded with a loud cry, as if to say 'Leave it to me!', and then burrowed into the ground.