Chapter 200
Chapter 200
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 201
Chapter Title: Servant of the Tang Clan of Sichuan (3)
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I was transferred under the new chief clerk even before the sun had set.
It was a move from Yeojeong Chief Clerk to Jangsan Chief Clerk.
From what I heard, the miscellaneous tasks and errands for the Tang Clan's key figures were generally handled under Jangsan Chief Clerk's command.
In simpler terms, I had been incorporated into the group that attended to the convenience of the clan's core members.
Among them, given the prior hint, I would likely be serving Dang Soran frequently.
Up until now, I thought I had managed to keep some distance, but what was the intent behind this sudden change?
Why had she, who had been ignoring me, created such a clear shift at this point?
As she had said, was the time so far merely to imprint her position?
In one corner of my frustrated heart, I couldn't deny that her intent had succeeded at least halfway.
Once you seep deep into the hierarchy, the levels above seem endlessly distant.
It's like thinking you know how high a general's rank is from outside the army, only to feel its true weight once you're under it.
In the end, it was inevitable that Dang Soran felt dazzlingly lofty to me, a mere lowly servant.
“Haah!”
Yeoseo had been venting her irritation nonstop since dinner.
Now that I was under the new chief clerk, it would be hard to stick together like before.
So I sat at the table thinking this was practically our last dinner together, but Yeoseo's tantrum showed no signs of stopping.
“I thought I'd finally escape being at the bottom...! But I'm the youngest again, still!”
Yeojeong Chief Clerk glanced at her, then spoke slowly with his mouth full of food.
“Don't worry, Yeoseo. We'll soon take on new hands.”
At those words, Yeoseo's eyes lit up.
“...Really?”
“It's no secret that the Tang Clan is hiring new servants these days. Since Lady Soran has reached the Peak Realm, she'll need more attendants. The Clan Leader also views the Demonic Cult's movements with concern. His recent trip to northern Sichuan was for similar reasons. In other words... it's time to build up our strength.”
Yeoseo's expression softened a bit at Yeojeong Chief Clerk's words.
“But... that doesn't change the fact that I have to train another newbie! I taught this idiot everything, and now he's just up and leaving!”
“Where'd you pick up the habit of calling an older man an idiot?”
“I'm your senior! What does age matter?”
“Once Seojin starts serving under Jangsan Chief Clerk and attending to the lady and young masters, you might end up under him?”
“What...? No way! I came first!”
“If we're going by years served, I've been here longer than the youngest young master, so does that make Young Master Yeop under me too?”
The youngest young master referred to Dang Soran’s youngest brother, Dang Yeop.
Dang Jeokcheon had five children under him. Two daughters and three sons.
While staying in the Tang Clan of Sichuan, I had opportunities to see Dang Soran’s siblings, including Dang Jiun, and I always felt astonishingly tense in their presence.
That tension was probably what I should have felt toward the Tang Clan bloodline I was originally supposed to have.
Dang Soran was more complicated.
Strictly speaking, I should have been most tense and stiff around her... but having spanked her cheeks, fed her saliva, and even tied her up created a strange contradiction in those emotions.
Were all those things just a dream? They felt almost unreal.
Only then did Yeoseo seem to realize her position and start glancing at me nervously.
Not just Yeoseo—everyone in our group was looking at me.
I finally grasped my own situation.
...Was this a promotion of sorts?
I took a deep breath and smiled.
-Smack!
“Ow!”
Then, as if getting revenge for all the scoldings I'd endured, I flicked Yeoseo's forehead.
It felt satisfying. I said,
“...That's why. You little brat who can't even keep your hair dry properly, where do you get off talking down to your big brother like that.”
The servants all burst into loud laughter, while Yeoseo stuffed her face irritably without a peep.
****
The next day, I stood before Dang Soran's chambers from before dawn broke.
I still couldn't quite figure out how this had happened.
For the handover, Maeok—the exclusive servant who had previously attended Dang Soran—explained various things to me.
She already knew who I was. We'd crossed paths a few times.
Perhaps because of that, she showed a complex, subtle expression upon hearing I was becoming Dang Soran's exclusive servant, but I couldn't read her thoughts.
Maeok, who appeared to be in her mid-thirties, didn't act entirely deferential like before. She seemed to be accommodating me so I could truly look like a servant.
“Come out before dawn, during the Mao hour (5-7 a.m.) like today... that's the routine. If the lady coughs, listen immediately and attend to her calls. Serve until the Wu hour (11 a.m.-1 p.m.), rest for half a shichen (one hour), then return and stand by as needed until the You hour (5-7 p.m.). After that, go rest unless ordered otherwise. For anything else, always get the lady's permission before acting.”
Maeok whispered softly, in case Dang Soran might wake.
Even in these small details, her thoughtfulness was evident.
“You don't need to worry too much. From Mao to You hour—it's not that long, and there's not much to do even then. The lady isn't one to ask for much help, and some days there might be nothing at all. Cleaning is handled by others, and meals are prepared by the kitchen staff. Your job is simply to relay whatever the lady wants to the other servants. That's it.”
“Yes.”
She glanced around gently, then lowered her voice to a whisper.
“...It's a good, comfortable position. Much easier than regular duties, so please appreciate the lady's consideration.”
I understood Maeok was right, but why did my instincts tell me otherwise?
It probably stemmed from not knowing where this Dang Soran might bolt next.
But since Maeok truly believed it, I nodded.
“Yes.”
Then, a sudden question struck me, and I asked,
“But does it really end at the You hour (5-7 p.m.)?”
“It ends at You hour.”
“From what I've seen before, the servants for the other young masters work later.”
“True. Lady Soran is the exception.”
“Why?”
Maeok stiffened for a moment, then seemed to decide it was fine to tell me.
“...Just a year ago, after Mao hour, Lady Soran would weep endlessly. She didn't want anyone around.”
“...”
“That's how the unwritten rule came about.”
Unsure how to react, I scratched my ear.
Honestly, the Dang Soran I'd seen was always vibrant, so I could hardly imagine her lying in bed just crying.
From Maeok's expression, I could sense Dang Soran's state back then had been truly dire.
Her face looked haunted just recalling it.
I nodded to shake off the heavy story.
“Got it—”
“—Who's there?”
A drowsy voice drifted from Dang Soran's annex.
Maeok startled and pushed my back.
Following her gesture and expression, I cleared my throat and replied.
“...Here, ma'am.”
...Fuck, what the hell is this humiliation?
Only after speaking did the intense wave of humiliation hit me harder than expected, and I bit my lip.
Why was I the servant of this masochist?
A sadist like me, waking early before dawn to wait here for this masochistic bitch?
Had my brain broken, or was it okay to think this way?
This was Dang Soran of the Tang Clan of Sichuan. Someone I originally wouldn't even have laid eyes on.
And yet, she was also the masochist I'd dominated.
All these emotions tangled chaotically, tormenting me.
Maeok whispered from behind.
“...She never calls for anyone this early...”
But the exact opposite unfolded.
“...Seojin, it's you. Come up.”
I gritted my teeth.
Dang Soran was technically my elder sister, and casual speech wouldn't matter.
Yet strangely, hearing her talk down to me felt insulting.
I heard it from Cheongwol too—why did it hit harder from Dang Soran, who was actually older?
I nodded to Maeok in greeting and entered Dang Soran's annex.
“...Upstairs.”
Dang Soran said in a languid tone.
With a sigh, I climbed the stairs.
Dang Soran lay on the bed in comfortable white robes, and the moment I saw her, my heart tightened slightly.
The defenseless form of the Tang Clan's precious golden leaf.
Like a cat stretching, Dang Soran extended both arms toward me without even opening her eyes.
Looking at those arms, I asked,
“What?”
“...Huh? Seojin. Is that how you talk to your lady?”
“No one's around—do I have to?”
Only after asking twice did Dang Soran chuckle softly.
Maeok's words about Dang Soran crying every day until a year ago echoed in my mind.
“You wouldn't understand, Young Master. The feelings I'm having right now.”
“I get that you're thrilled from teasing people.”
“That's part of it, but... isn't this daily life wonderful?”
“It's daily life for you, miss. Every day is novel for me. What's good about it? Hiding away like this. And now you're closing the distance we barely opened—what's the plan?”
“You don't trust me much, do you, Young Master?”
“Pardon?”
“I'm a Peak Realm martial artist now. In the Tang Clan, there's no safer place than by my side, except maybe a few elders and the Clan Leader. It might even be safer than with them. If something happens, I'll give everything for you.”
“...It's not about worrying someone might attack. It's about the info that I'm hiding here leaking out.”
“That's why I kept distance these past few days and hired lots of new servants to avoid awkwardness. I'm expanding the household for you alone, Young Master. With Yeonchang dead by Dugojinmuk's hand, there's justification to hire more, and as a Peak expert, it's natural for me to have more attendants. I didn't call you to my side thoughtlessly. It's because my side is the safest now. Not just to tease you.”
“...Doesn't that mean you do plan to tease me?”
Dang Soran wriggled on the bed and giggled.
Then she declared,
“Of course. Seeing you flustered is my favorite, Young Master? I'm glad you act emotional because of me. It makes me feel how much I mean to you.”
“What?”
Look at her openly admitting she's a brat?
“Who gets mad for someone irrelevant? I'm important in you now, so you react emotionally.”
“Even Buddha would get annoyed if you messed with him like that.”
“Really? All I asked was 'rub my legs' or 'pour water.' No Tang Clan servant would get mad at those orders. But you were upset. Why?”
As I froze, Dang Soran smiled and whispered,
“...Because in your heart, I'm not the Tang Clan's Dang Soran anymore—I'm Han Seojin's cute Soran.”
My elder and higher-status Dang Soran said it without a hint of shame.
“That's the truth my teasing draws out. So even my small orders feel arrogant to you. You want to punish me. Am I wrong?”
“...”
“You declared you'd treat me as the Tang Clan's Dang Soran. No more play. I respected that these past days. But how is it? Is this really what you wanted?”
Absurd, yet my heart raced.
“Your raw honest feelings spilling from my teasing make me happy. You say one thing... but emotions don't lie. Deep down, you want to play with me. You see me as beneath you. As a possession. You want to dominate me. Right?”
Her words strangely weighed down my lower body.
I felt swayed by Dang Soran's provocative coquetry and charm.
A beautiful woman lying on the bed, exposing her defenseless form.
Her provocation heated me up.
Yet a strange conquest desire stirred. Our lady.
It tantalized me, feeling like I could conquer her anytime I wanted.
“...Didn't you say no need for play?”
“No need. I won't beg. But... you never said you didn't want to?”
Before I knew it, I was approaching Dang Soran.
As I drew near, her eye smile faded. Hot breath escaped her lips instead.
Soon, I loomed over her.
Dang Soran looked up at me like an obedient puppy, exposing her defenseless, toned belly with faint abs.
My hand arbitrarily rested on Dang Soran's hair.
Her leisurely expression was gone.
Her upward gaze held tension, fear, and perhaps what could be called lust.
Yet she didn't shrink away. Despite the fear, she bared everything to me.
Just from that, I felt her trust toward me.
A desire to be dominated by me shone through.
After a long eye lock with her...
“...Hah.”
I sighed, shaking off stray thoughts.
Leaning toward her, I whispered,
“The reason I'm pissed isn't that—it's because I'm in this mess partly due to you, yet you just keep teasing.”
“...Pardon?”
I said it, but even I didn't fully believe my own words.
Strictly speaking, hadn't I refused to accept being this masochist's servant just this morning?
But I had no intention of admitting it before Dang Soran.
She wore a complex, subtle expression, then huffed and turned her head away peevishly.
It didn't seem performative—just instinctive.
“Whatever. Anyway, I need to start my day, so help me.”
Still lying down, Dang Soran spread her arms.
“So, what exactly do you want?”
“I told you yesterday—my legs hurt. Carry me.”
“...Do you make other servants do this?”
“...”
Dang Soran didn't answer.
Dodging tricky questions like that screamed spoiled young lady.
She didn't act this way before others—why make such a fuss only with me?
“Hurry. If you help now, I'll leave you alone for at least one shichen.”
“...Sigh.”
“I-I'll even get you tasty food.”
I slowly lifted Dang Soran. Arms under her legs and back, hoisting her up.
She naturally wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her forehead to it.
A small laugh escaped her. I vaguely felt her happiness transmit to me.
“...Being handled like a feather feels so good.”
Knowing her as a masochist, even this felt like maso tendencies.
Think positively: it meant I could handle her roughly, so why enjoy it?
“Feels like I'm gonna die from the weight—what're you talking about.”
Her high body heat radiated. That warmth made my lower body heavy again, but I pretended not to notice even in death.
Her scent was clouding my reason too.
In a sweet, melting voice, she whispered,
“...This reminds me of wandering Zhongjing just the two of us.”
I muttered while repeatedly picturing Cheongwol.
“Cut the nonsense and wake up already.”