Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Thirteenth Chapter - Sichuan, Conclusion (5)
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Returning to her quarters, Dang Hwa-seo belatedly realized that she had forgotten about the mission.
‘Such a foolish mistake….’
She chided herself while rubbing her eyes, but it was already too late.
Going back to the Clan Leader’s quarters now to ask for cooperation would be ridiculous.
After all, she wasn’t so shameless as to cause such a scene and then ask for cooperation.
Dang Hwa-seo let out a sigh and sat down in a chair, leaning back.
She closed her eyes to cool her heated head.
Suddenly, a chuckle escaped her lips.
“…At least I said what I needed to.”
Only now did it feel real.
Considering that in the past, she had never once confided her true feelings to Dang Sa-geuk, this was encouraging progress.
‘Things have changed.’
It meant she was no longer the coward who only ran away.
The reason for the change came to mind immediately.
Mok Ri-won.
It was the courage that had grown since meeting him and leaving Suyang County.
Squeeze—
Thinking of him made her chest tighten.
Dang Hwa-seo placed a hand on her breast and steadied her breathing.
Just then, a voice came from outside the door.
—Little Sister, may I come in?
It was Mok Ri-won.
They say even a tiger comes if you mention it—how could he appear right as she thought of him?
A hollow laugh escaped her, and Dang Hwa-seo opened the door.
“Did you need me?”
“Ah, thank you for opening. Did everything go well?”
Worry was etched on his refined face.
How could a martial artist be so full of affection?
A smile deepened on Dang Hwa-seo’s lips.
“Yes, but I didn’t get a proper answer regarding the mission. I plan to visit the Clan Leader’s quarters again in a day or two, after some time passes.”
“I see.”
Mok Ri-won replied and then hesitated.
He looked like he had something to say.
Dang Hwa-seo tilted her head and asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…”
“Speak freely. Isn’t that why you came?”
Mok Ri-won hesitated a bit more, then lifted his head resolutely as if he had made up his mind.
“Little Sister.”
“Yes.”
“If staying here is too hard, I think it’s fine to return to the Alliance.”
Halt—
Dang Hwa-seo’s movements stopped.
Her response came a beat late.
“…What do you mean?”
“I asked all the other squad members too! The reason we have to be here isn’t the mission. But if it’s making things hard for you, we all agreed the mission can fail.”
Dang Hwa-seo’s eyes trembled.
Mok Ri-won grinned and continued to her.
“Of course, the mission is important, but not more than you. Besides, it’s not even about capturing demons—it’s just persuasion. We’re fine, so relax. All the squad members are on your side.”
Mok Ri-won’s hand reached out and enveloped hers.
Rough with calluses as befitting a martial artist, yet still warm.
It was probably the warmth from his gentle care in not squeezing too hard.
Dang Hwa-seo suddenly felt her heart grow moist.
‘On my side….’
Perhaps because she had just come from talking about that.
Tears threatened to well up pathetically.
But if she started sniffling now, he’d panic, so Dang Hwa-seo bit her lower lip to hold back.
“…Thank you.”
Yes, with these people by her side, what was there to fear?
Dang Sa-geuk had said only blood kin could be true allies, but if she accepted his words, then these people were it.
‘These people are my family.’
They were the ones she could lean on in tough times.
The ones who saw her flaws and still viewed her fondly.
And so, they were the reason she had no need to fear.
Dang Hwa-seo forced a smile and said.
“…And I’m fine.”
“Hm?”
“What do you take me for? Do you see me as some weak girl who’d cry just because I’m in a place I don’t like?”
When Dang Hwa-seo asked teasingly, Mok Ri-won startled and shook his head vigorously.
“N-No! I was just worried! Really!”
“Hmm….”
When she narrowed her eyes, Mok Ri-won made an even more earnest face.
“Believe me!”
“I’ll believe you just this once.”
“Th-Thank you!”
His face brightened with relief, looking utterly endearing.
As expected, his captivating appearance stirred strange emotions.
Dang Hwa-seo thought.
‘…But it wasn’t entirely fine.’
It was true that resentment had boiled up while facing Dang Sa-geuk and talking with him, so she wanted to act a bit spoiled.
“Young Hero Mok.”
“Speak!”
“Still, since you treated me as fragile, you deserve some punishment.”
“Th-That’s…!”
Mok Ri-won’s eyes darted around.
As if looking for an escape, but no such luck.
Grab—
Dang Hwa-seo seized Mok Ri-won’s wrist.
She pulled him inside and closed the door.
Then, standing before it, she spread her arms wide.
“This is your punishment.”
“Wh-What….”
“Will you hold me for a moment?”
She smiled brightly, and Mok Ri-won froze stiff.
His eyes quivered as if filled with pity.
It was a petty sentiment, but feeling like exploiting even that pity, Dang Hwa-seo didn’t take back her words.
Fortunately, Mok Ri-won didn’t press further and simply approached.
“Mm… like this?”
Mok Ri-won opened his arms.
It was clumsy.
Bending awkwardly at the waist, wrapping his arms around her yet keeping his hands from touching her body, watching for any offense.
‘So frustrating.’
How long did he plan to act this cute?
Dang Hwa-seo giggled and wrapped her arms around his waist.
A bit firmly.
Mok Ri-won’s body tensed.
“L-Little Sister?!”
“I asked for a hug, not some acrobatics. Is there an invisible barrier around my body?”
“N-No, not that…”
Mok Ri-won’s fluster deepened.
Dang Hwa-seo felt delighted.
‘With such a warm embrace, his heart must be warm too.’
Or was it the other way around?
Either way, it didn’t matter.
Thump— Thump—
With her mind already busy focusing on the steady, powerful beats, she didn’t want to clutter it with idle thoughts.
“Stay like this just a little longer.”
As negative thoughts washed away, Dang Hwa-seo simply smiled softly and closed her eyes.
They stayed like that for quite a while.
*
The next day, before Dang Hwa-seo could visit the Clan Leader’s quarters, she received Dang Sa-geuk’s answer.
“…He says he refuses to cooperate with the Alliance.”
So Hyang bowed her head apologetically.
Dang Hwa-seo smiled bitterly.
“Why are you so dejected? It’s not your opinion.”
She hadn’t expected a good response, yet it still left a bitter taste.
Dang Hwa-seo knew what he wanted.
‘He wants me to return to the clan.’
He’d cooperate with the Alliance if she did.
How absurd.
“Alright, rest for now. I have things to discuss with the squad members.”
Turning to look, they all wore serious expressions.
Right after So Hyang withdrew, Dang Hwa-seo spoke.
“As you heard, the immediate result isn’t good.”
“Then what should we do?”
“There are plenty of ways.”
“Ways…?”
Mok Ri-won asked.
The other squad members looked curious too.
Dang Hwa-seo smiled and replied.
“We make it so he has no choice but to accept.”
What was there to lament anew?
They had departed anticipating this outcome.
They just needed to fall back on the original plan.
“You may know this, but the Tang Clan is an extremely insular sect. As such, its history holds many secretive events, some of which must never be revealed.”
“…I’ve heard something like that.”
Jegal San narrowed his brows and said.
Namgung Jincheon nodded too.
“My grandfather once told me the Tang Clan wasn’t originally part of the orthodox sects.”
It wasn’t news.
It was centuries ago, so no one cared now, but the founding Tang Clan had been close to the Black Dao.
Dang Hwa-seo nodded and continued.
“Only the Clan Leader knows the Tang Clan’s history. But there is a way to uncover it. We’ll dig up those secrets and shove them in his face.”
“You mean blackmail?”
“Exactly.”
“Sister, won’t that be dangerous?”
“What danger?”
Dang Hwa-seo chuckled.
“You forget because you’re always off doing nonsense every other day, but we’re affiliated with the Alliance. Excluding Young Hero Mok, every squad member here is a representative promising talent from a major sect. Even if the Clan Leader sits on the Poison King’s throne, he can’t touch us.”
The chance he’d go berserk and slaughter the entire squad?
Near zero.
Dang Sa-geuk was a man who valued the clan’s survival above all.
If such an incident occurred here and brought harm to the Tang Clan—or even the risk of it—he wouldn’t act.
‘Moreover….’
…His body already seemed too ruined to use martial arts.
Recalling Dang Sa-geuk’s appearance from the day before, Dang Hwa-seo felt her heart settle.
“…Little Sister?”
“Nothing.”
Dang Hwa-seo shook her head to clear her thoughts.
“…Anyway, there’s one way to uncover the secrets.”
Dang Hwa-seo raised her arm and pointed north.
“The Tang Clan’s forbidden area. That’s where we’re going.”
“Forbidden area?”
“The most secretive place in this land. I don’t know exactly what’s there. I only know there’s a secret cave somewhere with the Tang Clan’s secrets.”
Jegal San’s eyes gleamed.
“…Spirit beasts!”
“Hm? You’ve heard?”
“Of course! The Tang Clan’s forbidden area! Before I left home, the Clan Leader told me! If you want to find spirit beasts in the Central Plains, there’s no surer place than the Tang Clan’s forbidden area!”
Dang Hwa-seo chuckled at his uncharacteristic excitement.
“Not wrong. Past Clan Leaders kept spirit beasts there for centuries to harvest their poison. If we’re lucky, we might encounter some along the way.”
As expected, the one showing the most interest was poison addict Namgung Jincheon.
“Can I catch them?”
“Do as you like. Whether those spirit beasts live or die isn’t my concern.”
Tang Clan treasures held no value to Dang Hwa-seo.
Besides, entering the forbidden area without permission was already taboo—killing a few spirit beasts wouldn’t change that.
With her tacit approval, the squad members’ enthusiasm ignited.
“I-I want to see a Millennium Flower once! Even just seeing one in person would fulfill my dreams!”
“Youngest Mok’s dreams are small! I want to see a Heavenly Silkworm!”
“Heavenly Silkworm Moth!”
“Yeah, the silkworm that makes that silk! Might as well get some Heavenly Silkworm silk too!”
“…They say the Golden Turtle’s inner core holds immense inner energy.”
With Mok Ri-won, Jegal San, and Namgung Jincheon opening the floodgates, Hyeun followed.
“There are turtles good for skin care.”
“H-Hyeun Monk! Killing for desire is…”
“Then you won’t eat it, Il-un Monk? It’s an inner core! A spirit medicine! You really won’t?”
Il-un was at a loss for words.
His pupils trembled like an earthquake.
In the end, he said nothing and averted his gaze.
Dang Hwa-seo watched them and let out a hollow laugh, clapping her hands.
“Now, everyone calm down. What are you, kids getting excited over spirit beasts?”
No, their mental age was childish anyway….
‘…Not the point.’
Dang Hwa-seo gathered her thoughts and said.
“Our goal is to find the secret cave. Spirit beasts are just a bonus if we see them on the way. Don’t forget!”
“Got it!”
Mok Ri-won replied energetically, clearly not getting it at all.