Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 203
Chapter Title: Servant of the Tang Clan of Sichuan (5)
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I jumped right up and offered cupped hands salute to the Clan Leader.
“Cl-Clan Leader, greetings.”
“...”
Dang Jeokcheon wore an expression full of things he wanted to say.
He already looked scary enough as it was, so just being glared at by him with gritted teeth made my legs shake.
This was pretty much the face he made when crushing Wi Cheonsang. Those eyes were fixed on me.
I couldn't find any words and just stared down at the ground.
...Hey, you bitch Dang Soran. I told you the Clan Leader would blow up!
You said you'd handle the convincing yourself, so what the hell is this mess now!
“Our household servant, you say.”
After a long silence, he spoke lowly.
“...Yes.”
“A household servant of the clan doesn't come to greet the Clan Leader?”
“Yes?”
“You fool. Haven't you even learned manners?”
Unlike before, his tone was sharp. He definitely seemed pissed.
“Well, you didn't summon me... Given my situation, how could I...”
“...”
He didn't argue back. He just stared at me sullenly.
I had my grievances, but adults always love proper greetings.
To some extent, Dang Jeokcheon had a point.
“I'll greet you properly again. I'm Han Seojin. I won't forget the grace you've shown me for the rest of my life.”
“No, you've already repaid it with betrayal.”
“...Yes?”
His shout made me tense up, but at the same time, I started seeing glimpses of Dang Soran in him.
Why did I suddenly think this uncle was being a bit childish?
“Cl-Clan Leader. Are you perhaps angry?”
“How could I not be offended when a rude fool freeloading in our clan doesn't even come to greet his host?”
“I apologize for that. Hiding away as I am, I didn't want to draw attention. I knew you wouldn't welcome my presence, Clan Leader, so I tried to stay quiet.”
“A guy who knows that sticks to our Soran.”
Look at this guy?
At his nagging, I finally couldn't hold back my rising frustration and spoke.
“...Didn't you hear?”
“Hear what.”
“That Dokgo Jinmuk has his eyes on me.”
“I heard.”
“Have you thought about why?”
Would things have turned out like this because I stuck to Dang Soran, or because she stuck to me?
Plenty of people clung to Dang Soran, so even if I did, they wouldn't have paid me any mind. Just look at all the servants fawning over her.
But only two people clung to me: Dang Soran and Cheongwol.
Who do you think is the reason I'm hiding like this?
My fault? Or hers?
I could see veins pulsing faintly at Dang Jeokcheon's temple.
Was it because he kept coming at me with illogical bullshit? I was starting to feel the strength to push back against him too.
He continued.
“You're mistaken. What about our Soran is worth her following a guy like you around.”
It was the tone of someone denying it despite knowing better. Looked like classic doting dad talk.
I was starting to accept the fact that I'd resolved some of Cheongwol and Dang Soran's heart demons to a degree.
I still didn't fully understand how, but that was the result anyway.
Dang Soran had reached the peak in a timeframe several times faster than in the original story.
All the unexpected bad things happening in this world were butterfly effects I'd caused, but conversely, all the good things were thanks to me too.
“Did you really not hear how I've helped Lady Soran?”
Dang Jeokcheon sighed and ran a hand through his hair, like he knew something.
“...I still can't quite believe that part. If it's really true, what wouldn't I do for you? But the price to pay is too steep, isn't it?”
“...? If I may be so bold, is hiding one guy like me really that hard for you?”
“Out!”
What the fuck.
Leaving Dang Jeokcheon looking like his head hurt, I muttered my complaint softly.
“...I did my part to help Lady Soran, and what I get in return is threats from horse bandits. Ha. Better off before I knew her. I never wanted to step foot in the jianghu to begin with.”
“Those horse bandits—you mean me?”
“Yes? I mean Dokgo Jinmuk. Why would you say that?”
A strange tension hung in the air.
He'd come barging in picking a fight, so I wasn't about to back down.
Not like he's gonna kill me, right? Honestly, Dang Jeokcheon scared me, but with righteousness on my side, he was half as scary as Cheongwol back then.
Dang Jeokcheon approached me slowly with a face full of dissatisfaction and stood beside me.
Just when I thought he was trying to intimidate me, he quietly squatted down in front of the herb garden I'd been looking at.
“...Haaaaah.”
He tore at his hair and let out a deep sigh that seemed to carry away his soul.
Why was this uncle acting like this?
His sigh instantly melted away my tension.
At the same time, seeing him drop all pretense of dignity and show such vulnerability left me at a loss.
“Wh-what are you doing, sir? People are watching. Please stand up—”
“—They're all clan members anyway. Quiet down, you rotten bastard.”
“How am I a rotten bastard?”
“You're a rotten bastard to me. My enemy. Someone I want to kill. You fool. You thief.”
“No, what the hell did I do for you to keep saying that? All I did was help Lady Soran.”
“You did more. More to me. Damn it, all because of a beggar brat like you...”
Beggar brat? Was this uncle always so foul-mouthed?
Even so, I couldn't help chuckling in disbelief.
I'd already been pissed from Dang Soran's teasing lately... and my desires had been stirred up, making things tough. Want to bring it up?
“...Clan Leader.”
“What.”
“Are you really that against me staying in the Tang Clan?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
“Why?”
“...My prerogative.”
“Then, just give me one annex somewhere.”
“...What?”
“Somewhere in the Central Plains no one knows about... Mm, set me up with a Leather Room or an inn. With escorts too. I'm uncomfortable staying in the Tang Clan of Sichuan, and so are you, Clan Leader, so it makes sense for me to leave. Naturally, the escorts protecting me would have to hide their identities, and so would I... If the Demonic Cult's demon heads won't harm me, then I don't need to stay in the Tang Clan of Sichuan—”
-Boom!!
At that moment, Dang Soran's annex burst open.
Both Dang Jeokcheon and I flinched, shoulders jumping.
“...”
I could understand me, but why was this uncle startled?
With Dang Yeop clutched in one arm, gnawing wetly on her sleeve, Dang Soran stormed out with sharp eyes.
Even I had to swallow hard at Dang Soran's expression.
...A little scary.
Dang Jeokcheon shot to his feet and raised both hands to his chest, sputtering excuses.
“S-Soran. We were just talking for a bit—”
“—You're breaking your promise already?”
“Soran, that's not—”
“—You said anything would be fine!! You definitely said that. Am I wrong?”
“N-No, you're not.”
“Then refrain from such actions.”
“Waaah!”
At Dang Soran's sharp tone, Dang Yeop suddenly burst into tears.
Dang Soran snapped fiercely at Dang Jeokcheon amid the crying, then patted her little brother's back.
Dang Jeokcheon mumbled wordlessly, and I watched cautiously.
What was surprising was that Dang Soran seemed even angrier at me than at Dang Jeokcheon.
Her piercing gaze wouldn't leave me.
“Ahem, ahem!”
Not even getting his money's worth, Dang Jeokcheon took Dang Yeop from her.
Then he let out another earth-shattering sigh and said to me.
“Take etiquette lessons from now on. Those beggar habits—”
“—Father, I said I'd handle it. Please leave for now.”
Dang Jeokcheon trudged away, looking pathetic and wretched.
As I watched my powerless father's retreating back, Dang Soran planted herself right in front of me.
She still looked far from appeased.
“Is that for real?”
She asked.
“Yes?”
“Was it sincere?”
I swallowed and answered.
“If the Clan Leader is uncomfortable, a guest should leave. If I can find somewhere else safe—”
“—No, not that.”
“Yes?”
Dang Soran's eyes trembled. Her furrowed brow wouldn't smooth out.
“...You said it was better before you knew me. Was that sincere?”
...How much did she hear, this girl?
I panicked and hesitated for words, but Dang Soran took that brief silence as offensive and turned away abruptly.
She went back into her annex and slammed the door shut.
I belatedly tried to follow and open the door, but—
“Lady, that's not—”
-Clunk, clunk!
The door wouldn't budge.
‘Go rest today. See you tomorrow.’
Dang Soran said from inside.
“...Sigh.”
I rattled the door, sighed, scratched the back of my head...
“...I didn't mean it. Alright?”
I tossed that out and turned away.
****
Dang Soran's sullen mood didn't settle until evening.
She believed Han Seojin's words that it wasn't sincere, but she'd probably reacted so emotionally because it hit a sore spot for her too.
Maybe it really had been better for Han Seojin without her.
That hurt too much to accept.
Han Seojin didn't need her, but she needed him so badly.
Wasn't it pathetic enough to keep him close even if it tormented him?
Even if she was the one protecting him for now.
Dang Soran didn't want to go back to how things were.
A drab, colorless world. A world without Han Seojin.
She felt sorry for reacting childishly, but the resentment from those words coming out of his mouth lingered uncomfortably.
Whenever she got tangled with him, her emotions always spiraled out of control.
Once her lingering hurt finally subsided, what welled up was frustration.
Why the hell?
What more did she have to do to satisfy him? He was always holding back, and it frustrated her.
Couldn't he just give in to his desires? He'd said he'd accept them.
He wasn't getting proper compensation for it, so maybe he thought it didn't add up.
She'd offered to pay any price for what he'd done, but if he refused payment and cried foul on the math...
“...”
Why did Han Seojin keep rejecting her? Where was the reason?
She hated her father pressuring him, but she understood it to some extent.
To others' eyes, she'd seem like a waste.
And rightly so—she was the most spotlighted late-generation talent, the eldest daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan with the moniker Poison Phoenix.
Her looks weren't ugly; she was beautiful enough to be admired by all.
Even she thought it miraculous to have been born like this.
She never imagined any man would reject her.
But a beggar like Han Seojin was doing just that.
“...”
Other than being handsome, what did he have going for him?
Was he strutting around so boldly just banking on that jade unicorn face?
“Relying on his good looks to act so cocky...”
Dang Soran stood before the mirror in her room.
She slowly undid her sash and stripped off her clothes.
Bathed in moonlight, her naked body was revealed.
Dang Soran looked at her own body.
Was her chest a bit small? She gently cupped her perky breasts from below.
Did she lack feminine allure?
Did he prefer Cheongwol's vulgarly massive tits?
But her body wasn't bad—curves in all the right places, slim where it should be.
Long legs. Hips wide compared to her waist. Small but perky breasts. Long, pretty collarbones.
“...”
After agonizing over her flaws for a while, Dang Soran shook her head.
She was tired of doubting herself. She didn't want to.
Right, this isn't my problem.
...Han Seojin must be impotent. Blind in the eyes.
It was that guy's issue.
Her frustration doubled into anger.
Anger at Han Seojin for pushing her away.
If he was impotent, shouldn't she fix it for him?
Her thoughts reached that point, and one clever idea popped into Dang Soran's head.
****
It had been nearly a month since staying in the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Group living for the first time since becoming an adult meant endless discomforts.
No personal time, for starters.
Well, there was personal time, but no alone-alone time.
Like staying in the Leather Room on Emei Mountain, there were no moments truly by myself.
Even sleeping and waking had other dudes right next to me, and working? No need to explain.
So honestly, it was piling up.
More bluntly, I hadn't jerked off once since coming to the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
I'm no monk on pilgrimage, but calluses were gonna form. I don't do it that often, but a month was rough.
No time fiddling with leather toys in the Leather Room basement, no moments for lewd fantasies alone—desires piled up and writhed.
“...Sigh.”
Even this morning, upon waking, all I could do was sigh.
Time to head out, but my lower half wouldn't settle.
Was I gonna have a wet dream like this?
If word got to Dang Soran, I'd be dead. She'd tease me till my ears bled all day.
Couldn't sneak off in the crowded dorm at night. Couldn't slip away during work. No way in the stinky outhouse either.
Just days of agony. How much longer could I hold out?
The other male servants seemed to head out after shifts to brothels, and I envied that so much.
Even if I got the chance now, I probably wouldn't jerk off at a brothel, but just the fact they could relieve it was enviable.
Even a breeze rustling leaves tormented me.
But amid all this, the worst torture was...
“...Seojin, hurry...”
“...”
The next morning, the Dang Soran I faced looked in a good mood.
Maybe half-asleep, or she'd forgotten yesterday.
Back to teasing me relentlessly as usual.
“Can't I just get up on my own today?”
It was a day when waves of stimulation hit hard, so I pleaded.
“...Hurryyy.”
She wouldn't even listen with half an ear.
I picked up Dang Soran and headed down to the first floor.
My lower half was stiff enough now that I couldn't deny it.
Her hot body heat, her slender arms naturally around my neck.
As she playfully nuzzled, I felt her high nose bridge and soft lips on my collarbone.
Her feminine scent. Breasts swelling and falling with each breath. Long eyelashes, soft thighs.
Her weak moans leaking out with every step down the stairs.
I was defenseless to every stimulus, like I'd lost all barriers.
Realizing she was the lofty lady of the mighty Tang Clan of Sichuan made it worse.
Like hunger or sleepiness, desire was beyond my control.
Dang Soran being unnecessarily pretty made it harder.
She was a woman, I was a man. That simple.
“...Ahm.”
“D-Don't...!”
She even lightly nipped my neck.
I flinched like I'd been burned and pulled away.
I knew it was a reconciliatory gesture and tease for yesterday, but I was in a bind.
Dang Soran giggled, then languidly leaned against me.
My lower half stayed rigid. I clenched my teeth, pretending nothing was wrong, and went through the motions of daily life.
After observing her all day, Dang Soran was truly back to normal.
No sulking over yesterday, no anger.
She greeted me as usual, spent the day, and around afternoon gave an order.
“Young Master, deliver this to Maeok.”
She handed me a note with something written on it.
“What's this?”
“Tea I want to drink. I wrote down the leaves, so mix them in these proportions and bring it every morning.”
I bowed my head and left the room, heading to find Sister Maeok.
Honestly, even sharing a room with Dang Soran was ordeal enough, so this was a relief.
“Sister!”
I found Sister Maeok in front of the apothecary and turned to greet me, asking after me.
“Young Master Seojin—Seojin, huh. Doing well, I hope?”
“Yes, very well. Lady Soran sent me for something she needs.”
“What's this?”
“Tea she wants to drink. She wants you to mix the leaves in these ratios and bring it every morning.”
Sister Maeok slowly read the tea leaves on the note.
“Lianyeo and danggui—nice fragrance indeed. And sahwa, green leaves, yahap... Yahap grass?”
Seeing her surprised, I asked.
“Any problem?”
Sister alternated between the note and me, then cautiously asked.
“...Lady Soran is drinking this?”
“Yes, the lady is.”
“Not you?”
“I don't know tea ceremonies or anything. Why, is there poison grass?”
Sister Maeok stared at the list for a while, then quietly nodded.
“No. Come here every dawn for the tea leaves. I'll prepare them.”
I bowed deeply.
Then, to catch my breath, I slacked off a bit before returning to Dang Soran.