Chapter 109
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Clean Up Your Own Mess
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“Is it because you called my name out of the blue? It feels kind of unfamiliar. Scholar Cheon, you can't just call a senior by name like that.”
I responded to Mae Yu-yeon's words.
“Do you know me?”
“Of course I do. Even though I'm trapped in Yeoseol's consciousness, I exchange a bit with her mind, so I'm aware of the situation.”
“Then, is the Palace Lord's consciousness always awake?”
“Not at all. I can't awaken unless Yeoseol calls me. She split my consciousness into three parts. Anyway, first things first—let's sort out how you address me while we have the chance. Ditch that 'Palace Lord' nonsense.”
“What should I call you, then?”
“'Palace Lord' rubs me the wrong way, and 'little aunt' gives me the chills. Hmm, just call me 'sis'.”
“Huh!”
A hollow laugh escaped me unconsciously at her words.
“How could I possibly do that? You're the Sixth Palace Lord of the Ice Palace, a legendary figure from three hundred years ago.”
Mae Yu-yeon shook her head.
“Even if I've been asleep for three hundred years, I died at twenty-nine physically, right before turning thirty. So I don't really feel that old. And even though three centuries have passed, it feels like I just woke up from a nap—I don't sense the time gap at all. So just call me sis.”
I knew well the tales of Mae Yu-yeon, recorded as the Ice Palace's greatest powerhouse.
She was the most brilliant genius in the palace's history, claiming the title of Martial Marquess in the martial world just past her prime.
Mae Yu-yeon, the supreme warrior among all women in the martial world.
I could sense her profound loneliness from her words.
Living as the Ice Palace Lord and the world's Martial Marquess, she must have endured extreme isolation.
Being alone was lonely enough for a moment, but even surrounded by people, if they didn't truly connect, that loneliness layered into deep solitude.
Through the aura of solitude she exuded, I could gauge how barren her life must have been.
“If you want 'sis,' then that's what I'll call you. It's an honor.”
“Honor, my foot. I like 'sis.' Sister Mae.”
As I made a reluctant face, Mae Yu-yeon narrowed her eyes playfully.
“Don't like it? You've got a little sister in Yeoseol and now a big sis in Mae Yu-yeon.”
“Wouldn't that feel weird? One person's body being both little sister and big sis.”
In our brief conversation, I realized Mae Yu-yeon wasn't as prickly as her reputation suggested.
Records from the past had painted her as notoriously difficult.
“Not to speak ill, but the histories say Warrior Marquess Mae Yu-yeon was incredibly hard to deal with.”
“But meeting you in person, she doesn't seem so bad, right?”
Mae Yu-yeon cut me off and continued smoothly.
“Someone else took my prickly side. A gold-loving woman named Cheongyo.”
“Mm.”
As I let out a low hum, Mae Yu-yeon—wearing Yeoseol's face—flashed a subtle smile I'd never seen before, as if it amused her greatly.
“She split my consciousness into three, but luckily, the part left in Yeoseol is from when I was at my most normal.”
Hearing that made me suddenly worry about Cheongyo and Songran.
Mae Yu-yeon was infamous for her prickliness, but her ferocity was the stuff of legends.
It was fortunate it hadn't affected Yeoseol, but thinking of those two women sharing it...
It'll be fine. If her consciousness stayed with Yeoseol, it probably hasn't awakened in those two.
I comforted myself that way.
“No need to worry. The split weakened it. Unless Yeoseol deliberately pulls me out, it can't awaken.”
It was a blessing amid misfortune.
I didn't want Mae Yu-yeon's consciousness dominating Yeoseol at random.
I wanted Yeoseol to live with her own mind.
“What a good big brother.”
Mae Yu-yeon gazed into my eyes and murmured.
“My consciousness fragment is weak—I'll fall asleep soon. But before that, one thing: thank you for treating Yeoseol well. She really likes having a big brother who sees her as family.”
“Sister Mae doesn't need to worry about that. I told people she's my cousin, but I truly think of her as a late-born little sister.”
Mae Yu-yeon rubbed her eyes with a small hand.
“Too bad. We had so much to talk about. We'll have time again someday. I want to hear things, and tell you plenty too. So share as much as you can with Yeoseol. I learn from her consciousness when I wake.”
I realized I couldn't separate Mae Yu-yeon from Yeoseol.
In that case, letting her access as much information as possible through Yeoseol might even help keep her safe.
“Got it.”
“Thanks for not thinking me strange or rejecting me, little brother.”
“As long as you're not a threat to Yeoseol, I'll respect you. But if you harm her, that's another story.”
“That puts my mind at ease.”
With those words, Mae Yu-yeon's consciousness fell dormant.
Indeed, if they hadn't split it then, Yeoseol would have vanished, and Mae Yu-yeon's full consciousness would have taken over her body.
The split had weakened it, letting it sleep so quickly.
And now it was too feeble to awaken without Yeoseol's deliberate effort.
In a way, this first encounter with Mae Yu-yeon had gone off without a hitch—another stroke of luck.
Family Head Dang Myeong of the Tang Clan summoned Dang Pae and demanded a full account.
Dang Myeong hadn't known Dang Pae had meddled in the Hong Stronghold affair.
“If you're going to scheme, do it perfectly. In the end, you just splashed shit water all over the main house.”
Dang Myeong wasn't angry that Dang Pae had acted behind his back—it was the botched cleanup that irked him.
“I'm sorry, Father. The Hong Stronghold job was nearly flawless. It was designed so their third daughter would take the fall and end it there.”
“And things still went this wrong? With handling like that, how do you expect to become head of the main house?”
Dang Myeong snapped in irritation.
And rightly so—a summons for both him and Dang Pae had arrived.
“The Central Inspectorate is demanding you and I appear to explain ourselves.”
“They just posted a new Inspector, and he's trying to put the main house in its place, no doubt.”
“With this incident already buzzing even in the streets, he can't ignore it.”
Dang Pae ground his teeth.
“It's all that Scholar Cheon's fault. He stuck his nose in and ruined everything.”
Dang Myeong's eyes turned icy.
“Pae. If a mere scholar tripped you up, that's on your sloppy work. Blame yourself, not him. Do you think Scholar Cheon went out of his way to sabotage you? Your mess was so obvious, it just got in his way.”
Dang Pae seethed inwardly at what felt like his father defending Scholar Cheon.
Geoin said the clan improved thanks to Scholar Cheon, and now Father's taking his side. Things have changed.
Dang Pae steeled himself differently.
“I'll handle this myself, Father. I'll meet the Inspector and tie up the loose ends.”
“Me showing up at the Inspectorate too would look bad. Wrap it from your end.”
“Yes, Father.”
“You're dismissed.”
As Dang Pae left, Dang Myeong rubbed his chin.
“The eldest has passion, but his execution lacks finesse. Anyone sharp would see through Pae's schemes easily.”
His younger brother Dang Jeol approached from afar.
Dang Jeol served as Dang Myeong's strategist with his keen mind.
“Pae's greed blinds him to moves ahead. Classic case of ambition clouding judgment.”
Dang Myeong tsked, displeased.
“If only the youngest fixed his mindset, no worries there. He's got everything but a soft heart—unsuited to the main house.”
As Dang Myeong revealed his true thoughts, Dang Jeol chuckled softly.
“Don't you know the youngest is just like you were as a boy?”
“Me?”
“Probably even more than Geoin. You couldn't stand injustice, always charging in with righteous fury. Fiercer than Geoin now. You changed after realizing you had to lead the clan. Otherwise, that seat would be yours.”
“Was I like that?”
“You erased even the memory? That's why you grumble about Geoin but cherish him—he feels like your younger self.”
Dang Myeong smiled wryly, reminiscing.
“True. But leading the main house takes more than Geoin's heart.”
“Exactly. We're not some upright, righteous clan. In that sense, credit to the eldest for targeting Hong Stronghold solo to build funds.”
“But his greed knows no bounds—that's the problem. Even with Hong, he should've consulted me if it got tough. Trying to swallow it alone caused the mess. He doesn't know his limits.”
“Still, you need to back him now. Pae has to lead the next Tang generation. Even if he doesn't meet your standards, he's next in line now that Jinok lost an arm and dropped out.”
“I know—that's why it's frustrating. No better option...”
Dang Myeong muttered, then replied.
“Help Pae out. Before he makes it worse trying solo.”
“Understood.”
Dang Jeol turned to leave, then looked back.
“One thing, brother— are you really marrying Garyeong off to the Seb Clan with that aphrodisiac ledger tie-in?”
“I said so. We need their wealth. Future prey, but you need bait for the hunt.”
“I hate wasting Garyeong like that. A loveless political marriage—she'll suffer.”
“I know you care for her, but it's decided. Still got some romantic notions? You know love alone doesn't sustain us.”
Dang Jeol knew when Dang Myeong had changed.
When he lost the woman he loved.
That worried him.
Garyeong might change like Dang Myeong too.
Dang Pae prepared several gifts to impress the new Inspector.
First, a small chest with a pair of silver treasury notes.
It was part of his personal stash, so parting with it hurt like carving flesh.
His own, not the clan's.
Next, a spirit herb any middle-aged man would covet.
Millennium Dodder.
Properly stewed and consumed, it banished chronic ills till death and restored youthful vigor—a rare treasure.
No inner energy boost, so warriors ignored it, but common folk dreamed of it.
He'd splurged a fortune on the dodder for future royal or imperial use, never telling his father—it stung deep.
To wrap up the Hong Stronghold mess cleanly, this was the price.
If not for that damn Scholar Cheon, no pointless spending like this.
Seeing it all as Scholar Cheon's doing ignited murderous rage like wildfire.
Scholar Cheon, I won't let you off.
Dang Pae was confident he could win the Inspector over.
This mess might even forge a useful connection—his anger cooled a bit.
These two gifts would sway not just the new Inspector, even that geezer.
To flaunt Tang prestige, he mobilized over a hundred warriors too.
The Tang Clan, famed as the Thousand-Man Tang in these times, brimmed with fighters.
He took those loyal to him and departed the estate.
With a hundred Tang elites at his back, Dang Pae puffed up automatically.
“Young Master, since we're at it, it'd be great if Demonic Cult thugs showed up. If we slaughter them spectacularly, the Family Head would see you in a new light, right?”
Dang Hu, his aide, buttered him up shamelessly.
Dang Pae swallowed the flattery whole.
“Yeah. If they ambushed us, it'd be perfect for venting.”
Since the Hong exposure, Dang Pae brimmed with pent-up fury.
He was itching for someone to take it out on.
“Huh?”
Dang Pae looked up at Dang Hu's startled voice.
“What the hell are those guys?”