The Elixir That Rolled In
"That celadon box looks like it was sent by Great Aunt."
Dang Chehwan didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at me and Sohee before speaking. On closer inspection, it seemed the Bi Yeon Pavilion Master had been showing off her cooking skills for more than just today or yesterday. The Yang Wife's tone was icy as she confronted him.
"Do you still think of yourself as the deputy hall leader of the Punishment Hall? You're no longer qualified to interrogate anyone."
She was right. He'd been fired from the Punishment Hall for arresting Dang Jihwan in my place. Ever since, he hadn't been assigned to any position and was essentially unemployed.
"Interrogate? I've come to apologize." With that, Dang Chehwan held out a wooden box wrapped in fine silk. As the luxurious packaging was peeled away, a rich, fragrant aroma wafted out.
"Uncle sent some Spirit Zhu Fruit, but wouldn't it be more useful for Jihwan here than for me, who's already broken through the Peak wall long ago?"
So, he was trying to make up for arresting Dang Jihwan in my stead with this. Even in a moment like this, he couldn't resist bragging at the end of every sentence. What a consistently obnoxious prick.
"Zhu Fruit?"
I whispered to Sohee, who was tilting her head in confusion. "Zhu fruit is a fruit, but it's also a spirit medicine."
Stuff like thousand-year or ten-thousand-year varieties had stolen the spotlight in recent martial arts novels, making it less common, but hey, any spirit medicine was good! I was jealous of Dang Jihwan getting one as a gift after just being held in the Punishment Hall for a day.
"Do I look so destitute that I can't even procure spirit medicine for my own son? Did your mother put you up to insulting me like this?"
Her tone was as sharp and merciless as when she'd woken me from sleep. No matter how mildly the Yang Wife usually behaved, I knew she wouldn't just take it lying down forever.
"Of course not. This is sacrificial Zhu Fruit, used in imperial rituals."
At those words, the Yang Wife's expression brightened.
"Is this really sacrificial Zhu Fruit?"
I had no idea what sacrificial Zhu Fruit was either, but from her reaction, it seemed better than regular Zhu Fruit.
"Well, something like sacrificial Zhu Fruit might be worth accepting, at least."
"A mere spirit medicine won't make up for your mistakes as deputy hall leader of the Punishment Hall."
Dang Chehwan smirked in a way that looked truly sinister. Trying to buy the Yang Wife's favor with money—what a hopeless guy.
"Dang Sohee, how's life with the Bi Yeon Pavilion Master? Are you keeping up with your Tang Family Fist training?"
What the hell? Why's this bald bastard suddenly acting chummy with Sohee?
"I'm barely managing to keep up, Young Master."
Come to think of it, this guy was the one who'd interrogated Sohee personally. Sure, a high schooler wouldn't creep on a kindergartener, but it still felt off. Sohee was so pure and kind that she was even talking to a jerk like him!
"...If you're done here, why don't you head out, brother? You're at the Super Peak level, yet you have time to wander the city?"
He stared at me with a disgusted look. Then he turned back to the Yang Wife.
"Little Aunt. Since Jihwan will be consuming the sacrificial Zhu Fruit anyway, I could assist with his qi circulation and meditation. What do you say?"
This guy's mistaking me for Dang Jihwan again...?
Well, it made sense—he'd think Dang Jihwan was at his mom's workplace. At this point, I was starting to wonder if reaching Super Peak had damaged his brain. The Yang Wife clearly found him pathetic too, her expression subtle, like she had a tadpole in her mouth. She mulled it over briefly before accepting readily.
"Sure. It'd be reassuring with your help, Young Master."
Huh?
"Please help our Jihwan consume the spirit medicine and circulate his inner energy."
The thing was, the Yang Wife had said this while looking down at me. Why was this woman trying to make me eat the spirit medicine?
* * *
After sending Dang Chehwan outside, claiming some preparation was needed, the Yang Wife transmitted a single fact to me via voice transmission. She even set up a barrier—it was thorough.
[Young Master Chehwan has been unable to distinguish faces since before.]
The Yang Wife's words were shocking. Dang Chehwan really had prosopagnosia?
[It's not something that benefits the Fifth Young Master if it leaks out, so everyone keeps it quiet.]
I'd suspected as much, but he was the frontrunner in the next family head race? I hadn't realized Dang Chehwan was that impressive. My eldest brother, the First Young Master, had gone into secluded training years ago—maybe because he was falling behind this kid.
[That's why he hasn't been chosen as next family head yet, despite reaching Super Peak at such a young age.]
Fair enough—even in a world with human-faced beasts, not recognizing your own side was a problem.
"Wait, then how did he recognize Sohee just now?"
[...That's why I suspected Young Master Chehwan might be faking his condition.]
What? His prosopagnosia could be a lie? What kind of nonsense was this?
[So this time, I'll yield it to the Fifth Young Master. Sacrificial Zhu Fruit is valuable, but now that I'm head of the Gold Merchant Group, acquiring spirit medicines isn't hard.]
I was moved by the Yang Wife, who didn't hide her ulterior motives even from a five-year-old. Had the position possessed her? The previous head was a Blood Cult spy, and now the current one was already plotting to abuse her authority.
"Yield? You're just using me to catch Dang Chehwan in the act."
Only then did fine lines crease the Yang Wife's elegant brow, like a painting come to life.
[...The Fifth Young Master catches on quick in these matters. Annoying.]
No matter the gift Dang Chehwan brought, it was natural for the Yang Wife to be wary. Trying to settle things with a present days later only made his intentions more suspicious. Even a five-year-old like me could see that. Worst case, what if the Zhu Fruit was poisoned? With the Mirror Ghost in my room, why wouldn't there be something like a poison apple?
In the meantime, the Yang Wife planned to gauge the hostility of someone she'd have to deal with long-term. By feeding me—not her own son—the spirit medicine Dang Chehwan had brought. She had nothing to lose. If he'd tampered with it, my heroic sacrifice would expose him. And if it was fine, well, she didn't mind missing out on the medicine anyway.
This grown woman was plotting to use a five-year-old. And yeah, she probably figured I'd be tempted since I was always short on spirit medicines. Come to think of it, despite the infamous reputation of the Tang daughters-in-law, what kind of viper would marry into a family like this? The Yang Wife, who feigned goodwill and paid me extra attention over the other two, might be the craftiest.
"So, what do you want me to do, Mother?"
[...You're really going to eat the Zhu Fruit knowing the risk?]
I shrugged confidently at the puzzled Yang Wife.
'Of course I am.'
"They say if it's good for you, even lye is worth swallowing. And this is spirit medicine, right?"
[Never heard that proverb, but fine. Consider it your cooperation.]
A poisoned holy grail—no, even second-rate spirit medicine was tempting and scarce for me, with less than ten years of inner energy. I didn't have a mom like everyone else to look after me. It sucked. But I couldn't just cower and whimper forever.
What had the Yang Wife said earlier? Dang Chehwan was on the verge of the Mysterious Realm. Meanwhile, I was "mere" Fifth Young Master. If I didn't take a gamble now, I'd spend my life working under jerks like him.
I had some confidence, at least. I was the family head's son—would they really poison me to death in the Tang Clan, full of master physicians?
...Wait, isn't this safety blindness?
My mind was made up, but I was still a bit scared. Who knew what a sleazy bastard like Dang Chehwan might do?
[It'll be fine.]
"Huh?"
I reacted to the sudden encouragement, but for some reason, the Yang Wife looked baffled.
[Fifth Young Master, what did you say? Changed your mind about the Zhu Fruit?]
"...No. I didn't say anything."
"Then Jihwan, I'll head out first. Come out as soon as you're ready."
I cringed at the Yang Wife's bright smile and words.
'She's speaking out loud like it wasn't a transmission—that's pretty creepy—.'
Anyway, the recent transmission hadn't come from the Yang Wife—Dang Jihwan's mom. But aside from her, the only one in the room was—
Only then did I turn to look for Sohee. She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence, then tilted her eyes gently in a smile that made her look like a fairy.
[Young Master Chehwan wouldn't have tampered with the spirit medicine.]
Unlike the Yang Wife's curt, choppy transmission, Sohee's slipped into my ear like a gentle breeze. When did Sohee learn voice transmission, anyway? Since I couldn't use it yet, I had no choice but to lean close to her ear and whisper deeply.
"Still, what if something goes wrong?"
I didn't have to wait long for an answer—Sohee's transmission soon tickled my ear again.
[Then I'll kill Young Master Chehwan and avenge you.]
No, it was definitely a transmission, but it vibrated not just in my eardrum but through my whole body. Was it because we were so close? At Sohee's firm declaration, I laughed too.
"Deal, promise!"
Her soft, warm pinky wrapped over mine. With Sohee's vow, all my fear vanished.
As we left the room, I saw Dang Chehwan leaning cockily against a pillar.
"What took you so long? Did you stop by the outhouse?"
Dang Chehwan held the Zhu Fruit he'd brought as a gift brazenly in his hand. Even as I swallowed nervously, he casually peeled it with a knife in his other hand like ordinary fruit.
"Yeah, we were discussing with Little Aunt that half should be enough for you young ones."
With the Yang Wife watching intently, I boldly shouted,
"I'm good—give me the whole thing!"
I couldn't act timid with Sohee watching.