Chapter 80
Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Murong Family - 4
A moonlit night.
I was strolling through the garden to sort out my thoughts about me and So-hee when I sensed a presence and slowed my steps.
As I slowly approached, a woman was sitting on a rock, enjoying the view of the garden.
'Tang Hwa-rin, I presume.'
It wasn't hard to figure out who she was. Purple hair. And her feminine curves, which were even more prominent from the side. Those two clues alone made it easy to identify her.
She must have sensed my presence, as she turned her head to look at me.
When she turned, unlike during the day, her face was not covered by a veil over her lower jaw, revealing it to me at a glance.
"Hey. You. Turn your head."
She immediately frowned and spoke to me.
"I see we have a guest."
Why do I keep running into her? I naturally turned my body to avert my gaze.
It was only for a moment, but I saw her lower jaw unobscured by the veil.
Skin discolored in a mottled pattern.
It didn't look like there was inflammation or pus, but if you didn't look closely, it was the kind of appearance that would make you suspect she had contracted a plague.
"Hey. Barbarian. You. You saw it just now."
"I'm not sure what you're referring to."
"I saw your gaze drop."
"I was merely captivated by your beautiful attire."
"Bullshit. I finally felt well enough to take a walk... Damn it." Her voice was tinged with annoyance.
'Is this an early-stage side effect of the Poison Person?'
A Poison Person. In simple terms, it's turning a person into a poison-attribute human. Naturally, humans aren't originally poison-attribute, so they suffer numerous side effects during the process.
In the original story, Tang Hwa-rin wears a mask because her skin is ruined by the side effects. Right now, it seems to be just at the discoloration stage.
"Hey. Just so you know. It's not the plague. Don't run away blatantly. ...No. Just go." She started speaking confidently but soon adopted a resigned tone.
I glanced at her secretly and saw her hanging her head dejectedly, looking at the ground.
'Is her discoloring skin a complex for her?'
She seems particularly sensitive about her face. Wearing a veil even inside her own home must be to hide her face.
Walking around in the middle of the night must be because she wants to feel free without the veil.
"Hey barbarian. Are you listening?"
'Could Tang Hwa-rin also be a heroine?'
Ignoring her words, I was lost in thought for a moment.
If Cheon Sa-hee, the villain from the Thousand Killing Star in the original, is a heroine, then Tang Hwa-rin of the Poison Butterfly could also be a heroine.
I came out for a walk to sort out complicated thoughts, but now my head feels even more tangled.
"My name is not 'barbarian,' it's Kang Yun-ho."
Since I haven't formally introduced myself, I should at least let her know my name.
"I can't remember barbarian names like that. If you're going to run away, do it quickly. Let me take my walk." She turned her head so I couldn't see her face and spoke as if annoyed.
'I need to lay some groundwork.'
She's quite rude, so I'm not thrilled about it, but if I want to lay groundwork, now is the perfect opportunity.
Just as the Thousand Killing Star's personality change might make heroine transformation difficult, Tang Hwa-rin of the Poison Butterfly might also find heroine transformation harder as her Poison Person transformation progresses.
'Let's go with a concept often used in martial arts stories.'
For now, So-hee's problem is more urgent.
For Tang Hwa-rin, it's enough to just throw out some bait and temporarily halt the Poison Person side effects.
"I haven't heard the young lady's name."
I smiled at her, fully utilizing the proverb about not spitting on a smiling face.
"You must have heard it from that bastard."
"I'd like to hear it from you directly."
"Wh-what, are you hitting on me or something? It's Sung Hwa-rin. Sung Hwa-rin. Got it?"
Why is her voice trembling just because I asked her name?
In this situation, most people would greet her and leave, or social butterflies would try to get her number. But I need to give it a twist.
"Not Sung Hwa-rin, but Tang Hwa-rin, right?"
I sneered and pointed out her secret in a sarcastic tone.
"You, you. How do you know that?"
Startled, she forgot to cover her face and stared at me.
"I'll take my leave now."
I slowly turned my body as if to go back the way I came.
"Hey! How did you know?"
Tang Hwa-rin reached out to grab me.
"How rude."
So slow. Even reaching out. I caught her wrist with my left hand and gripped it. The sleeve of my left hand rolled up by chance, revealing the bracelet on my wrist glittering in the moonlight.
"The Bracelet of Unforgetting? You. What's your relation to the Sichuan Tang Family?"
She happened to see the Sichuan Tang Family's Bracelet of Unforgetting on my left wrist.
Though I intentionally let my left wrist show.
"I have no intention of telling someone who lacks manners."
I looked directly at her face with a rather serious expression.
"......"
Tang Hwa-rin's expression was a mix of bewilderment, suspicion, and surprise.
This should be enough. A mysterious man. A man who seems to be connected to her. The concept should be firmly established.
Let's drive the nail in.
"The medicine you're taking. It's not a medicine that heals your body. It's a medicine that worsens it."
"What do you mean?"
"Find out for yourself what's in that medicine."
"Do you know something?"
"My goodwill ends here. Next time we meet, be more polite."
I forcefully shook off her wrist and turned my body again.
"Hey! No! Excuse me!"
No intention of stopping. I started walking back the way I came without reacting to her words.
"Ah! Damn it. What the hell."
She didn't dare to follow me and ended up muttering to herself.
'Leaving this much of an impression should be enough.'
A mysterious man.
A man who suddenly appears and speaks her real name, Tang Hwa-rin. And on that man's hand is the Tang Family's Bracelet of Unforgetting.
He must be connected to the Sichuan Tang Family. She'll likely think that.
What is that man's true identity?
She can't investigate the man's identity, but she can investigate the medicine she's taking.
If she discovers the secret of the medicine, the name Kang Yun-ho will be strongly etched in her mind.
This much is enough for now.
Enjoying the hospitality of the Murong Family and resting from my journey, before I knew it, the day of the birthday banquet had arrived.
As So-hee and I, having prepared, were about to enter the area prepared for the banquet in the inner garden, the warriors at the door blocked our way.
"Only the storyteller may enter. The woman beside you cannot."
What nonsense is this now.
"She is my wife. I can only perform at ease if my wife is by my side."
"Only honored guests and their immediate family members may enter."
The warrior spoke to me in a tone that made it clear he had no intention of moving aside.
What to do? This performance is dangerous, I need So-hee.
Should I refuse to perform and turn back? If I do that, I might be kicked out of the inner garden, making So-hee's assassination mission difficult.
I exchanged looks with So-hee about what to do.
"Husband. Go in."
So-hee nodded slightly and spoke.
Right. If I miss this chance, who knows when I'll get another assassination mission. So-hee might succumb to her killing intent before the next mission.
Murong Se-hwi's close associates said they'd protect her, so it shouldn't be a big problem.
"Then I'll finish the performance and come right out."
I left So-hee behind and entered the banquet area.
"Greetings! I am Kang, the storyteller from Joseon!"
When my turn came, I went up on stage and greeted the honored guests.
"Oh! It's the storyteller's turn now!"
"Kang? Is that the famous storyteller from Chilgok County? It seems they invited him."
"My son went all the way to Chilgok County to hear this Kang storyteller's tales. Thanks to the Murong Family Head, we can hear him without going to Chilgok!"
As I introduced myself, people stopped drinking in unison and looked at me.
'Murong Se-hwi, you. Isn't that too blatant?'
I quietly looked at Murong Se-hwi. He was glaring at the Murong Family Head as if he wanted to kill him.
Around him, warriors who seemed to be on his side were vigilantly guarding the surroundings.
They look ready to draw their swords at any moment. The Murong Family Head also has many warriors around him, isn't your intention a bit too obvious?
"The story I will tell today is the tale of Prince Ha Mu-rin!"
The atmosphere feels more like the eve of a bloody banquet than a joyous celebration of the Murong Family Head's birthday.
Murong Se-hwi, you do plan to protect me, right?
With an uneasy heart, I began the tale of Prince Ha Mu-rin.
"Ha Ji-ro! How dare you betray me!!!"
The highlight of the performance unfolding at the Murong estate.
I began performing, reconstructing the events of that day as told by Murong Se-hwi.
The mysterious death of Murong Family Head Murong Jo-ru.
Murong Jo-ru met his mysterious death encountering bandits on a journey. Meeting bandits on a journey wasn't rare, but that day's events were strange.
The entourage was unusually small, and most of them were Murong Ji-ru's close associates. Moreover, all those who died at the hands of the bandits were close associates of the previous Murong Family Head, Murong Jo-ru.
At this point, you can't help but be suspicious.
"Brother! Today, you! Will die from an unexpected bandit attack! Kehahahaha!"
"You bastard! Ha Ji-ro! How dare! Poison me!"
I acted out Murong Jo-ru staggering from being poisoned.
"That... the previous Murong Family Head..."
"Shh. Be quiet, my friend. That's just a rumor, isn't it?"
"It's a well-known fact that the poisoned Murong Family Head died from a bandit attack."
Whispers began to be heard among the honored guests.
It will take a little more time for the whispers to spread.
I acted out the confrontation between the two men, waiting long enough for the whispers to spread.
"Kehhehe! Brother! If you're going to die, die gracefully. Why do you resist so much when you're about to die, when you were just a coward at night?"
"How dare you speak such nonsense!"
"Nonsense? When do you think you drank the poison? The drink your wife gave you before she left, telling you to take care of yourself, contained poison! I told her if she wanted to be my woman, she should at least offer the Ha Family's assets. And she really did it!"
"You scoundrel!"
I passionately performed Jo-ru's rage, revealing the secret of that day to the people.
"Look at those crazy bastards!"
"Is it true that Murong Jo-ru's new wife has been visiting the current Murong Family Head's room lately?"
"My goodness. How could he with his brother's wife..."
"Since I'm taking care of the wife, I might as well take care of the assets. Farewell!"
I acted the evil Murong Ji-ru, about to deliver the final blow to Murong Jo-ru.
*Thud!*
If only someone hadn't flown onto the stage.
"I can't stand to watch any longer."
The one who flew onto the stage was Murong Family Head Murong Ji-ru.
He was at the farthest point in the banquet hall, and he flew here in one go? How strong is his martial arts?
The entire banquet hall froze at the unexpected situation.
"Family Head. No matter how realistic the performance feels, you shouldn't come up on stage."
This is bad. Should I run?
"Realistic? It's not realistic, it's insulting."
The Murong Family Head strode towards me.
"Insulting? This Kang has always done his best in performances, he has never insulted anyone."
I smiled as if I didn't understand. If I step back here, it means I'm scared. I need to act as natural as possible.
"Murong Ji-ru! Insulting? Are you trying to silence a storyteller who speaks the truth!"
Murong Se-hwi shouted loudly from where the honored guests were. When did he even get over there?
It's good to let the honored guests know, but you shouldn't say it like that. Say it was just a coincidence that the story was similar.
"Murong Se-hwi! I spared your life, and yet! You're finally causing trouble! This must all be your doing!"
"Honored guests! Look! Murong Ji-ru is the ultimate villain who! To seize the Murong estate! Conspired with his stepmother! And killed! His own brother! My father!"
"Murong!!! Se!!!! Hwi!!! You ungrateful wretch!!! Drive him out!"
At Murong Ji-ru's shout, the warriors all drew their swords in unison.
"Finally showing your true colors by drawing your sword! Our warriors, draw your swords too! Let's drive out that cruel villain!"
At Murong Se-hwi's words, his close associates all drew their swords in unison.
"Save me!"
"Run away!"
The banquet hall instantly turned into a scene of chaos.
'I should run.'
As I tried to get off the stage to run away, someone blocked my path.
I looked up to see a furious Murong Ji-ru standing there.
"I don't overlook insults received."
Something flashed before my chest. Shit. It's a sword.
"Eek!"
I quickly twisted one ankle to evade the blade.
"You dodged that?"
A tone of surprise. I trained hard in self-defense. It was luck, but still, I dodged well.
But it seems luck is only good once.
"Kgh!"
Something hot pierced my chest. I got stabbed after all. Shit.
Murong Ji-ru confirmed the sword was embedded in my chest and leisurely descended from the stage.
"The storyteller was struck by Murong Ji-ru's sword!"
"Benefactor!"
Murong Se-hwi hurriedly climbed onto the stage and caught me as I collapsed.
"Ugh!"
"I'm sorry! I couldn't protect you! I couldn't stop the sword from piercing your heart!"
You were just inciting without any intention of protecting me. Did you really mean to protect me?
"Hea... heart."
Hey. It didn't hit my heart.
Thanks to the Jade Face Protection Art, my skin is tough, so it stabbed off-center.
"Pierced in the heart, bleeding profusely. Your sacrifice. I won't forget it."
"Treatment..."
I'm bleeding a lot, but if you treat me now, I can live! The knife didn't even go in that deep!
"This dagger that stabbed my benefactor! With this dagger, I will pierce Murong Ji-ru's heart. Watch over me from the afterlife!"
No. If you pull that out, I'll bleed more.
You idiot. Hey!
There's a lot of blood.
I feel dizzy. Shit.
I'm feeling faint.
Maybe I shouldn't have trusted someone who was trying to scam me in the first place.
"Yun-ho!"
In my fading consciousness.
I thought I heard a familiar voice from afar.
