Chapter 31
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Soso Among Mortals, Soso Amid Hemp
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A mine pit had caved in at the sheer cliff's edge.
It was a gaping hole that blocked off all directions left and right.
Countless blades and ownerless graves were strewn about everywhere.
From the cliff behind them to their very feet, it was far too grand a scale for the work of just two people.
A chilling air hung in the atmosphere as Dang Cheol-son exhaled a breath to steady himself, like he was catching his wind.
"How does it look?"
The man hadn't even revealed his name.
He who'd been busy raging and marveling until now nodded at Dang Cheol-son's question.
"What more needs saying?"
Then he swept a rough palm up across his own face.
"Father."
With his touch, artificial skin and flesh peeled away.
Crack.
Beneath the human skin mask lay a middle-aged face far more wrinkled than before.
"A hidden dragon lurked in the Seo Mun Clan, it seems."
His calm tone and steely gaze made him an entirely different person.
Crunch.
Just like his changing appearance.
The man, now altering even his bone structure, stretched his stiff body this way and that before tying up his disheveled hair like he was tidying it.
His forehead fully exposed, his true name was Dang Mu-gi.
Son of Dang Cheol-son and current head of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
Moreover, a warrior who'd reached the sixth realm—a peak expert in the Limitless Realm.
"Your Bone Shrinking Technique has improved since last time."
"Enemies abound, as ever—past and present."
As the saying goes, a clan head's steps must be heavy. He recalled an old acquaintance just then.
"Speaking of which, that friend Jeong-cheon seems to have fallen from grace. Not even knowing his own child."
"Isn't it natural for parents not to know their kids? And I hear you're the one with headaches over that girl Soso."
"It's because Soso takes after you in temperament, Father."
"……."
"……."
A brief silence settled between father and son.
"Seo Mun Jeong-cheon's third son, right? I can see why you'd take an interest, Father. Still hard to believe, even now."
"Does he look like he'll solve your problems?"
The Tang Clan of Sichuan held one of the seats among the Six Great Clans. Leading it, Dang Mu-gi had woes aplenty, but the topic at hand was clear.
"Who knows. He struck me as a rare young man these days."
Seo Mun-ha was an exceedingly uncommon case across the entire murim, white path and black alike.
"Isn't he, though?"
Praised as a prodigy destined to lead the murim from a young age, who wouldn't grow arrogant? Surrounded by sycophants propping them up, their shoulders naturally rose—and from there, it was only a matter of whether they showed it or not.
New-generation experts untouched by the Demonic Cult War.
No victory for the orthodox paths came without losses. Just look at the Murim Alliance's four divisions—full of later-generation disciples. Thanks to that, young experts' status and confidence had reached an all-time high in murim history, no exaggeration.
"Pride and arrogance are but a membrane apart, after all."
Thus, plenty of fools roamed ignorant of the world's breadth. Like dry grass catching fire, thunderbolt brats with courtesy burned from their minds.
"Even so, Soso's not that bad."
Dang So-so, the Thousand Poisons Prodigy, with few later-generation talents in the old Nine Provinces to match her.
"Of course, her knowing she's so damn brilliant causes issues now and then."
Dang Mu-gi's youngest daughter had realized her genius from childhood—and her beauty, too.
To put it simply, she was arrogant.
"Being too exceptional is its own burden, for sure."
"At Soso's level, she can afford some arrogance. Who could deny she's the one to inherit everything, surpassing even her brothers?"
"Compared to her, that young Seo Mun-ha felt like a veteran who'd weathered every storm. Restrained power, achievements no later-generation disciple could dream of."
Seo Mun-ha had seized the advantage against a Heavenly Star Seat holder.
Though merely enduring ten exchanges, even granting Dang Cheol-son's strikes held testing intent, that youth had achieved what none could replicate.
"Especially the end—you put three-tenths of your power into it, didn't you, Father?"
Dang Cheol-son burst into hearty laughter at Dang Mu-gi's words.
"Not three."
"……?"
"Five."
What amused him so? With his genuinely shocked son before him, he added,
"Even providing the opening for Mancheon Hwau wasn't coincidence. A promise is a promise—mind your words."
Don't worry. Dang Mu-gi recovered swiftly from the shock.
"So, what do you think? As repayment for my qi, I figure Sichuan's top phoenix suffices."
The reward they'd vaguely agreed upon.
"So you threw it on purpose. To foist Soso on that young man."
"Dead serious. Half of it, anyway."
Dang Cheol-son emphasized the five-tenths once more.
"Anyway, that's up to them, isn't it?"
"Just stick 'em together. Soso won't back down. Oh, right—heard the Seo Mun Clan plans a branch hall in Sichuan?"
"I'll push for branch leader."
Long-standing public and private ties made father and son click instantly.
'Whether Soso accepts, though.'
As head of the Tang Clan of Sichuan, one of the world's top 100 masters, Dang Mu-gi was a sixth-realm warrior famed and feared for his Poison Blood Absorption Technique.
But as a father, his worries were endless.
Still, in this peaceful era, such domestic concerns were a small comfort.
They say beauties are a nation's treasure.
nation-toppling beauties, sometimes poison itself. Yet this woman embodied the term perfectly, poison and all.
"L-Lady, wait! Come back!"
The maids panted after her, dashing out helter-skelter.
They threw every ounce into their legs, clothes disheveled, but couldn't close the gap.
"Milady?!"
These women were trained warriors too.
"No need to follow. Wait at the main house."
Compared to their charge, though, they seemed utterly mediocre. The growing distance between the three said it all about their skills.
"I'll be back before midday!"
The peerless beauty flitted lightly onward, accelerating in a half-gallop.
Her refined gait gained true speed, leaving the maids behind.
"The Lord will scold you, milady!"
Ignoring the cry, she crossed the city like a streak—the Poison Phoenix, Dang So-so.
The Tang Clan of Sichuan specialized in poison and hidden weapons.
Far more than the public knew. As pillars of the orthodox murim, they'd forged countless supreme arts through history.
Whoosh!
Her lightness skill was but one such.
'Seo Mun Clan's third young master?'
Yet her graceful form seemed rougher than usual.
Thanks to the shocking words from father and grandfather after so long apart.
Lips bitten tight, eyes blazing fury.
Panting out her rage, she looked ready to erupt into flame.
"Whoever the bastard is...!"
How could he charm the clan's pinnacle experts?
Sudden talk of marriage alliance left Dang So-so harboring doubts as she bolted straight out the main gate.
Dang Cheol-son and Dang Mu-gi—father and grandfather she revered.
But that didn't shut her ears to worldly rumors. She acknowledged their eccentric sides, yet swallowing a marriage proposal like hawking wares was too much.
"Welcome! I wondered who—ah, Lady Soso. More beautiful by the day."
"Long time, elder. I have a question."
In the bustling market, she brushed past the rote merchant without preamble.
"You mean... that... young man?"
Even to her abrupt query, he replied kindly.
"Thanks."
Having gleaned his trail, Dang So-so pivoted without a breath.
"At least wear a veil, milady!"
Ignoring even the merchant's fretting.
Tracking his steps proved easy.
His name had been buzzing lately, so her legs poured strength toward the docks.
She had to see that vaunted face at least once.
'Those two went too far!'
Not even the Tang father-son duo could dodge her ire.
Using the closest direct kin as political pawns?
What good were the Six Great Clans then, all that built authority?
A hundred concessions—she might've stomached it as a groom-to-be mention.
This betrothal was discrimination, not privilege. The nonstop grumblings inside and out the Tangs predated her blowup.
With the Poison Phoenix's fame soaring, she threatened even her escort-heir brothers.
She knew a woman couldn't become Tang heir. She had no such ambition anyway.
Grip.
But treating her superior to the next head just like that? Too far.
'Sure, I've poisoned a few.'
Dang So-so, adept with a thousand poisons.
She'd disciplined plenty who'd rampaged on their own clout.
Flawless background and skill left her untouchable—save that some family members were among the "disciplined." Her sole issue.
And...
'Found you!'
Not her kill list, but some education ledger—she was sure Ghost Flash would join it.
"Young master, shall we load the luggage with the horses?"
In another sense, Dang So-so doubted her ears for a moment.
Her feet halted abruptly before the Seo Mun-ha she'd desperately sought.
Spotting the Seo Mun Clan's third young master amid the crowds was simple.
His look matched perfectly. Face-to-face with the striking handsome man, contrary to her plans, she quietly observed.
"Soso won't budge again..."
No choice—she had to watch.
"Is she hungry?"
The boy gripping the reins fidgeted anxiously, while a Yangtze riverboat bound for Hangzhou sat docked with them.
What Dang So-so eyed unexpectedly, ignoring the boy, wasn't a person—but a horse.
"Give her here."
Seo Mun-ha took the reins from A-so.
Clop.
Only then did Soso lazily lift her hooves.
"How do you do it? Every time... Lazy Soso gets diligent only for you, young master."
The black mare, paired with Flying Dragon, was named Soso.
"Soso's just brimming with excess energy she can't contain. Normally she'd go berserk—that a horse this genius is lazy like a human is rare enough."
Seemingly pleased with the offhand naming, the mare shook her mane once before meekly following his touch.
"Deep work requires channeling inner power, but guiding and evenly spreading her energy? No need."
His touch alone worked.
"Just the right massage to stimulate her does it for Soso."
"...No idea what that means. Like bonding?"
"Exactly."
"Heh heh, good thing Soso obeys you. Brother Yang Jeong kept worrying we'd been scammed."
Prime goods, they said, but Soso was hell to control.
Stubborn mare, yet now A-so and Yang Jeong had adapted.
"Take her aboard."
Seo Mun-ha handed back the reins as Soso began to move.
"Yes!"
A-so led the mare onto the riverboat.
Soso, Soso, Soso...
Muttering coaxingly all the way.
"Hm?"
As Seo Mun-ha's turn came and he stepped forward.
Amid the thinning crowds, one gaze had fixed on him from before.
A woman gaping in disbelief.
'Is she... doing that on purpose? Gotta be.'
This stranger reacted unlike the masses.
Famous in Sichuan, his looks drew eyes. Glances aplenty, but the sword at his waist deterred most after one or two.
Few commoners riled a warrior.
She alone stared relentlessly. Seo Mun-ha met her eyes silently, as if asking if she had words.
"You..."
Third time now.
Her staring face twisted savagely, like a wrathful ghost.
"You?"
Looking again, veiled or not, she drew more eyes than he did—a beauty.
Just as his view of her shifted from the ordinary, the woman who'd blended in unleashed a shriek.
"I'll kill you!"