Father Said He Hates Noodles (1)
Sichuan's summers were mild. Beneath a clear sky free of even a hint of fine dust, the sunlight beat down harshly, but step into the shade and a gentle breeze would caress your skin. I sat on the porch in front of Sohee's room, listening to her crisp voice.
"Sorry for badmouthing your master. I had no idea the Poison Insect was such a big deal! Your dad explained it to me..."
It was Moyoung kneeling before Sohee, begging.
"...So, please, just one more spar!"
"You lost to me that day, so why challenge me again?"
"I think I can win this time!"
Turned out Moyoung wasn't just rude—she was a sparring addict too. Luckily, Sohee wasn't getting dragged into her nonsense anymore.
"Unnie, do you know how to play diabolo?"
"Diabolo? What's that?"
Diabolo—, that thing you roll around. Basically a Chinese yo-yo, but controlled with sticks instead of fingers hooked on string. Sohee was freakishly good at it, like a pro. Sichuan was full of bamboo everywhere, and even the Tang Family Fist had techniques using it despite being fist arts...
Ugh, just thinking about Tang Family Fist makes my stomach churn.
"If you don't know, I can teach you. Let's play diabolo together!"
"Then you'll spar with me?"
"If you play diabolo with me, I'll think about it!"
Having won their spar, Sohee brimmed with more confidence than before.
"Fine, I'm in!"
Moyoung, it seemed, listened well to someone who'd beaten her—especially with Sohee's talent naturally sorting out the pecking order. Watching them get along was heartwarming, but I felt a twinge of jealousy. She'd told me not to look at other girls, yet here she was hanging out with Moyoung.
Of course, the Bi Yeon Pavilion master had told Sohee to take a break from training and play with her. Sohee was the obedient good girl type, but the intent to get them close early on felt too obvious, leaving us with a bit of resistance. By "us," I mean me and Jihwan hyung.
Dang Jihwan suddenly nitpicked my posture.
"Dang Yohwan, sit properly."
"I'm relaxing—what's it to you? You should loosen up yourself."
In my eyes, Jihwan sitting in full lotus position was the weird one. I knew he had a stuffy side, but this much?
Sohee, playing diabolo, came over to me.
"Yohwan! You said you never lie to me last time, right?"
"Huh?"
My heart dropped at those words. I had secrets from Sohee, so it felt like the thief getting cold feet.
Could I lie to Sohee, the girl I liked?
What if she asks about what happened in the underground?
If she asked if I'd killed her father, how would I answer?
Of course, she couldn't possibly figure it out.
No adult would easily believe a five-year-old broke through security with Full Sky Flower Rain. What five-year-old could even pull that off?
"Can I ask you something?"
I froze before the serious Sohee. My heart pounded wildly.
Thump thump thump thump.
"What the..."
I swallowed hard in anxiety, facing her earnest question.
"Does Moyoung unnie still have that evil virgin ghost?"
"...Yeah, she's still got it."
I couldn't see ghosts myself, but Moyoung's rudeness couldn't be explained without some spiritual influence. Once the bored virgin ghost got exorcised, her attitude would snap back.
"What? She's still there?"
Moyoung came stomping over and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me violently. Sohee didn't stop her.
"That ghost's still on me? Does that mean I can't get married?"
"Hey, why chew me out? You think I'm a Taoist? Go slap on some talismans or find a holy monk yourself!"
"That's a great idea."
"Poison Insect!"
Dang Yeonhwa popped up out of nowhere and addressed Moyoung.
"Yeong, your father's going to rest for a while. How about we head to Emei Mountain in the meantime?"
"Emei Mountain?"
"The eminent monks of the Ami Sect might be able to exorcise that ghost."
She was clearly talking to Moyoung, but Dang Yeonhwa stared right at my face. Before the irresistible offer, Moyoung swung her arms excitedly.
"Yes! Let's go!"
And that was how, the next morning, the four of us ended up heading to Emei Mountain with the Bi Yeon Pavilion master.
The sacred Buddhist mountain Emei Mountain hosted the Ami Sect, a gathering of nuns. Since the Bi Yeon Pavilion master was going herself, our clan must have decent ties with them.
Come to think of it, the Yang Wife was an Ami Sect lay disciple.
Once we were ready, the carriage waited at the entrance to Tang Family Village. The girls boarded first.
"Yohwan, did you see the coachman's face?"
"Why would I check out the coachman?"
Even with his nosy nature, checking the coachman too?
Dang Jihwan hesitated until Moyoung and Sohee were fully inside, then spoke via transmission.
[It's Father.]
"What?"
I leaned back to inspect the coachman again. With his face disguised beyond recognition, he still had Father's build and that signature sour expression. Our dad, having become clan head young, always wandered around with a rotten scowl—what was his deal? The coachman had the same crappy vibe.
What's he playing at, disguising himself?
"Yohwan, why aren't you getting on?"
"Oh? Right."
Dang Yeonhwa's nudge snapped me out of it. While I'd been staring at Father's lame coachman getup, Jihwan had already boarded. I scrambled in. Naturally, next to Sohee was my spot!
As soon as Dang Jihwan and Moyoung sat opposite, I whispered to Sohee.
"Sohee, the coachman's our dad. Got it?"
[Yeah, Master told me.]
Whoa! Sohee knew! As expected of Sohee!
Dang Jihwan, eyes now open, sent me a transmission.
[Probably 'cause Moyoung's such an important guest.]
Even so, the clan head volunteering as coachman?
Our father was one weird guy. But honestly, the real shocker wasn't the coachman's identity.
I still couldn't use transmission. Fine, Sohee was a genius, but Jihwan too?
Once we're back, I'll bug the instructor nonstop. If he won't teach, then the Mirror Ghost...
I clenched my fists on my lap, resolving to learn more and build my inner power after this trip, no matter what.
As I steeled myself, Moyoung stirred awake.
"Yaaawn..."
Rubbing her eyes, she immediately started complaining, looking grumpy.
"What's with this coachman's driving?"
Her blunt criticism nearly made me laugh, but I held it in. Who knew I'd agree with Moyoung, whose own riding skills were consistently trash?
Sensing her foul mood, Dang Jihwan tried to calm her.
"There's an old saying: The roads of Shu are harder than climbing to the green sky—the mountain paths are that rugged..."
She shot him a sharp glare and cut him off.
"What? Have you ridden as many carriages as me? You haven't even gone wandering the jianghu yet!"
Dang Jihwan shut up. Fair enough—even I knew Jihwan hyung hadn't gone far.
"My dad could drive better blindfolded! Poison Insect! Fire that coachman! If you keep him, it'll ruin the clan's—"
I disliked Father too, but at this point, I got a little worried... Masters had sharp ears, and even an elder couldn't miss Moyoung's loud rant from outside.
But Dang Yeonhwa was ice cold.
"Seems the coachman's pushing too hard to go fast. Have some patience. Even kids younger than you are sitting quietly."
Yeah, this old hag lives for embarrassing underlings!
With the Bi Yeon Pavilion master shutting her down, Moyoung scowled and muttered timidly.
"But... it's so bumpy I'm gonna puke."
"Puke outside the window."
Dang Yeonhwa didn't blink.
"I'll open the window for you, unnie."
Even Sohee piled on—not quite scolding her senior, but close. Moyoung bit her lip. Finally realizing no daddy here to back her up, her deflated look was oh-so-satisfying.
With the window open, the scenery was nice. Towering cliffs and dense forests peeked through thick mist. After passing slopes, the carriage slowed, wheels jolting roughly to a stop. We all got out.
Looking up, stone steps led dizzyingly to a massive entrance.
The mountain air felt quite chilly. Beyond the endless stone steps stretched a huge gateway, faintly visible.
"This is the Ami Sect..."
Moyoung asked Dang Yeonhwa.
"But Poison Insect, can men enter the Ami Sect?"
"Right, good point. We'll check. Sohee, Yeong, follow me first?"
"Y-Yes?"
And just like that, Jihwan hyung and I were ditched.
Worried we really couldn't go in after coming this far, we stood awkwardly—then the coachman approached us. I snapped to attention awkwardly. Felt like punishment despite doing nothing wrong.
"Heard someone badmouthed a Mo Yong clan kid... Which of you?"
Instead of answering, Dang Jihwan kicked my leg. I protested my innocence.
"Ghosts are real!"
The Mirror Ghost lounging in my room was proof!
"Spouting nonsense is your freedom. But as a Tang, own your words."
Saying that, Father pulled something from his bosom. Untying the tight knots revealed a wriggling creature in paper.
He crouched to show us. I recognized the sleek thing with claw-like toes.
"Lizard?"
The wrinkly pale-yellow lizard was palm-sized, its eyes shimmering with faint patterns, mysteriously alluring.
"Snake? Similar, but this is a house gecko."
That's what they called lizards here. But why did this guy bring a gecko? To have the nuns raise it? Nah, probably not to grill and eat...
Dang Jihwan touched it.
"Does this gecko have poison?"
"No poison. But it's trained."
Showing off something cool could've waited till Tang Family Village. The mystery solved soon enough.
Father flipped the gecko and pressed its belly. It turned transparent.
"Whoa, transparent gecko."
Super tough—must be the strongest lizard. Not fully see-through; up close, faint veins and guts pulsed beneath the skin.
"Take it."
I stared at the transparent gecko forced into my hand. Its smooth texture felt oddly creepy, covered in tiny bumps.
Father told me,
"Dang Yohwan. Stick this on Moyoung's back."
I couldn't believe my ears.
"Me? Why?!"
"If there's no ghost, make one."
"Ghost? How is this a gh—... Wait, no way...?"
Owning my words meant using the transparent gecko to convince Moyoung ghosts were real. Who'd have guessed?
So this jerk volunteered as coachman just to mess with someone else's daughter?
Layer upon layer of schemes—isn't that what "mountains upon mountains" means?