Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: Dang Manor
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By the time Dang Mujin unfolded his Cloud Covering Cloak to catch up with Mok Wana, she had already run into Dan Seolyeong.
Dang Mujin hurriedly hid behind a building.
'My judgment was too late.'
Dang Mujin looked around, thinking he might have to ask his father Dang Jesun for help if things went south.
But whether he lacked the confidence to handle the situation himself or not, Dang Jesun had vanished somewhere as well.
Dang Mujin's instincts, honed by crossing the line between life and death countless times, rang alarm bells, warning of danger.
He couldn't act rashly now.
Dang Mujin agonized more desperately than ever.
The space between Dan Seolyeong and Mok Wana wasn't wide.
Was that place a death trap, or a path to life that he had to plunge into despite the risks?
Dang Mujin reached a conclusion quickly.
'It's a death trap. Getting between them would lead to nothing but ruin.'
Dang Mujin unfolded his Cloud Covering Cloak in reverse and slipped away from the scene.
*
Dan Seolyeong was caught off guard by the sudden conversation.
"...What? You want to become a concubine?"
When Mok Wana nodded faintly, Dan Seolyeong felt a sharp headache.
Dang Mujin thought the feelings between him and Mok Wana were pure loyalty and friendship. But that was just Dang Mujin's perspective. Dan Seolyeong had known for a long time that Mok Wana harbored affection for him.
It wasn't hard to notice. Common sense dictated that no one risks their life for the opposite sex without romantic feelings involved. And Mok Wana hadn't stopped there—she had traveled all the way from distant Tianshan to Sichuan.
No, there was no need to analyze it piece by piece. Just seeing how Mok Wana looked at Dang Mujin told the story. It was the gaze of a woman in love, plain for anyone to see.
Of course, Dan Seolyeong wasn't the only one who knew.
Aside from the father-son duo of the Dang family—who would rank second to none in obliviousness—everyone connected to Dang Manor was aware.
But having feelings and confessing them were entirely different matters.
Especially when the other woman was the legal wife, Dan Seolyeong.
"How did you even... No."
Dan Seolyeong started to say something but stopped. It wasn't because she had nothing to say.
There were just too many thoughts swirling in her head. She couldn't start the conversation easily, unsure where to begin.
In truth, Dan Seolyeong had considered this scenario before.
For example, on the day they hung the sign reading Dang Clinic at Dang Manor. She had pondered the issue seriously then. As a household grows, men inevitably look elsewhere.
Of course, it would be best if that never happened.
But if it did, she had quietly thought Mok Wana might be better than others.
Unlike scheming women who eyed family fortunes shrewdly, Mok Wana felt almost endearingly naive and pure.
Moreover, just as Dan Seolyeong connected with Dang Mujin through crafting, Mok Wana shared a bond with him in poisons and medicines.
She had thought it all sounded fine.
But accepting something in imagination was one thing; facing it in reality was another.
And it was far too sudden.
Was there a worse time to bring up such a topic? Dan Seolyeong felt betrayed by Dang Mujin.
'He's been wandering outside for a year, and it's only been two days since he returned. Is this the time to bring it up? No. Last night he slept outside and came back, so he's really only been home for a couple of hours.'
The fact that Dang Mujin proposed Mok Wana become his concubine right after returning home suggested he had been thinking of her, not Dan Seolyeong, during his travels.
'He might have pretended not to notice her feelings and brought her to Chengdu on purpose.'
And the messenger was a problem too.
If Dang Mujin had said it himself, it might have been different. Having Mok Wana deliver the message was too cowardly.
Dan Seolyeong suppressed her anger and disappointment toward both Dang Mujin and Mok Wana as she spoke.
"Did Dang Mujin tell you to get my permission?"
Dan Seolyeong spoke as calmly as possible.
But Mok Wana instinctively sensed the anger in her voice. Her own voice shrank to the size of an ant's.
"No... He didn't say that."
"What do you mean, no? Didn't Dang Mujin tell you to become his concubine?"
"Well, not exactly..."
She had come on her own without Dang Mujin asking.
The situation felt odd, but Dan Seolyeong thought it possible for Mok Wana. She seemed clever at times but always slipped up somewhere.
At that point, another thought surfaced—one more fundamental.
Dan Seolyeong asked again.
"Then did Dang Mujin express any feelings for you?"
"Ah..."
Mok Wana's face clearly showed her fluster.
Dan Seolyeong let out a sigh of relief.
She had suspected as much, and it seemed there was no such thing.
Dan Seolyeong neatly folded away her disappointment toward Dang Mujin and let it drift off on the wind.
Now, only a touch of irritation and subtle pity toward Mok Wana remained in her heart.
Was it her natural clumsiness that led to this, or had her feelings for Dang Mujin made her foolish? There was no way to know.
Just then, Dang Yeong, who had toddled after Mok Wana, squeezed between them and said,
"Don't fight..."
"We're not fighting."
Dan Seolyeong picked up Dang Yeong and held him close. Her demeanor visibly softened.
At first, she had been boiling with anger, planning to snap back sharply—or even show her a taste of the old disciplinary slap if needed.
But piecing together the situation changed her mind.
Truth be told, Dan Seolyeong and Mok Wana had never had a bad relationship. Mok Wana had always followed Dan Seolyeong well, and Dan Seolyeong held considerable fondness for her.
'It might just be that something inevitable arrived in a strange order.'
So how should she handle this? Dan Seolyeong thought for a moment before broaching the subject.
"It's ridiculous to come ask my permission for something like that, but I don't think it's a bad idea. It shows you at least considered my feelings, even if it's awkward."
Mok Wana nodded.
Dan Seolyeong hesitated on what to say next. It might leave room for hope.
But in the end, she decided to speak.
"Don't forget there's something more important than getting my permission."
"What is it?"
"Dang Mujin's own will. Seeking my approval comes after that. What's the point of convincing the owner of an apple tree when the apples haven't even ripened?"
"Actually, Dang Mujin doesn't seem interested in me at all... No, never mind."
Mok Wana trailed off mid-romantic advice, mumbling awkwardly. She had that much sense.
Dan Seolyeong replied with feigned coolness.
"And don't misunderstand. Even if Dang Mujin accepts you, that doesn't mean I will. I'm just telling you the proper order. Got it? You haven't convinced the apple tree's owner yet."
Mok Wana nodded.
Unlike her confident arrival, she now looked deflated.
Dan Seolyeong stared at her intently, then pinched her cheek.
"You naughty girl. Really."
*
At the same time, Dang Mujin wandered aimlessly around Dang Manor's courtyard. He dreaded the backlash to come so much that he wondered if he should make some excuse and flee the house.
His anxious steps betrayed his unease plainly.
And people who noticed that unease right away approached him: Nangong Myeong, Hyeon-gong, and Hong Geolgae.
"What's wrong? Got some worries?"
Dang Mujin debated whether to confide in them.
It wasn't something he could easily share. But it also wasn't a problem he could solve alone.
Even with his wide connections, few people he could turn to for this.
They were far from romantic experts, but Dang Mujin was desperate enough to borrow even a cat's paw.
"Here's what happened..."
Dang Mujin explained the situation to his friends.
Hong Geolgae, knowing nothing about such matters, plugged his ears and declared he hadn't heard a thing.
Nangong Myeong wasn't much different. He knew more about relationships than Hong Geolgae, but not enough to offer solutions.
Hyeon-gong, however, stared at Dang Mujin with burning eyes. He had quietly harbored feelings for Mok Wana. Though she wasn't the only one.
'What does Mok Junior see in this guy?'
Jealousy gripped him at first.
But changing his perspective, he thought it might actually be a good thing.
Hyeon-gong spoke up.
"So, you had no intentions toward Mok Junior, but she suddenly confessed her feelings, leaving you flustered?"
"Yeah."
"And you're scared this could ruin things with Dan Seolyeong if it drags on."
"Spot on."
"Then I've got a great solution."
"What is it?"
Dang Mujin leaned in to hear.
"I'll win Mok Junior's heart, and all your problems are solved."
Dang Mujin, along with Nangong Myeong and Hong Geolgae, looked at him like he'd lost his mind.
But Hyeon-gong believed he was the only one who could step up.
'Dang Mujin is married, Nangong Myeong practically has a fiancée, and Hong Geolgae is... well, Hong Geolgae. That leaves me.'
Objectively, Hyeon-gong was a decent catch.
Handsome, one of the top experts his age, and now wealthy too.
The only hitch was his Daoist status. But even Daoists sometimes married and started families. Weren't dual cultivation arts rooted in Daoism?
Nangong Myeong clicked his tongue and pointed out,
"Even if you approach her, do you think you can win her over? If she's willing to become a concubine, she's not just casually smitten."
"I've got to try."
"It's obvious it won't work. You know that, right?"
Hyeon-gong closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
A clear resolve shone in them brighter than ever.
"Have you ever heard of an arrow that fears breaking and refuses to leave the bowstring?"
Hyeon-gong rose with detached calm and set off to find Mok Wana.
An hour later, the arrow shattered pathetically against its target without leaving a mark.
Hyeon-gong shed a few tears.
*
That night, Dang Mujin slunk sheepishly into the annex. Dang Yeong must have fallen asleep, as Dan Seolyeong was tucking him in.
Sleeping beside her used to feel natural.
But now, it felt like descending to the depths of hell.
Dang Mujin braced for whatever she might say, but surprisingly, Dan Seolyeong said nothing unusual.
Thinking he'd dodged it, he extinguished the candle and lay down.
Darkness filled the room.
Just as he thought he'd survived the day, Dan Seolyeong asked,
"Dang Mujin. Are you going to take Mok Wana as a concubine?"
His heart sank despite no wrongdoing, but he answered without showing it.
"No."
"Really? That's unexpected. Didn't think you'd deny it so flatly."
"Why?"
"Why do you think? Men are like that."
Dang Mujin stared into the darkness quietly before replying.
"It's not that I dislike it—I just never thought about it. Didn't realize she saw me that way."
"If you never thought about it before, does that mean you will now?"
Playfulness laced her words, but sharpness lurked beneath.
Dang Mujin realized this was a feint. And feints often hid lethal strikes.
He gauged the hidden blow amid the feint and responded.
"Not like that. I can't even take proper care of you yet."
"So you're saying you won't take her as a concubine in the future either?"
"Yeah."
Dang Mujin thought he'd answered honestly and well.
But Dan Seolyeong's reaction was subtle.
"Hmm. We'll see."
He didn't know what she meant, but one wrong word could spell danger.
From experience, actions beat words here. Instead of explaining, Dang Mujin rolled over and pulled her into a tight embrace. The conversation cut off, silence settling over the room.
Nestled in his arms, Dan Seolyeong lightly traced his back, sides, and arms with her fingertips. She felt far more scars than before. This journey had been rough too.
Dan Seolyeong recalled their first meeting. Dang Mujin had barely any scars back then.
'Well, he's still smoother than Elder Three-Eyes...'
Dang Mujin had no idea what she was thinking. The quiet just made him uneasy.
"Are you mad?"
"Hmm."
Dan Seolyeong examined her feelings from a step back.
Too calm to call it anger, too rippled to call it peace.
Of course, she knew it wasn't fair to be mad at him. Just a faint sense of grievance.
But even that melted a bit under his warmth.
Dang Mujin whispered,
"Don't worry about it. I'll talk to Wana and convince her."
"Hmm. Can you convince her? Is convincing her even the right answer?"
Three years into marriage, Dan Seolyeong had changed in many ways.
The biggest? She now considered the household beyond just herself.
When Hyeon-gong called her mother-in-law, it had irked her—but also pleased her a little.
Though unintended by Dang Mujin, Dang Manor was becoming a true powerhouse.
From Dang Manor's perspective rather than her own, keeping Mok Wana here by any means was wise.
Dang Mujin had once said that when it came to poisons, even he couldn't fully match Mok Wana's instincts. She was likely the only one in the world he could discuss them with.
Dan Seolyeong weighed her own satisfaction and happiness against the needs of what Dang Clinic had become: Dang Manor.
No clear right answer existed. But she felt Dang Mujin's warmth.
Ever-reliable warmth, solid presence.
In the end, Dan Seolyeong hugged him tightly and whispered,
"I don't know how this will turn out. But I've made up my mind about one thing."
"What?"
"Next time you bring home a woman, you're dead."
Dang Mujin nodded without hesitation.
Dan Seolyeong grinned in the dark, then caressed his skin for the first time in ages.
Their sounds kept Dang Yeong tossing and turning for the first time in his life.
*
At the same time, Mok Wana stood alone under the dim moonlight.
Dan Seolyeong's words echoed in her mind.
What's the point of seeking the apple tree owner's permission when the apples haven't ripened?
She was right.
Mok Wana pondered how to win Dang Mujin's heart, but nothing came to mind.
With hardly any peers her age, she knew little of the gossip about romance. When was the last time she'd faced such impasse?
Deep in thought, she sensed a faint presence.
Not from her sharp senses—it was overt, as if begging to be noticed.
Startled, Mok Wana looked toward it.
Someone perched on Dang Manor's wall.
"Who... Ah!"
She recognized him even in the dark.
His appearance was that distinctive.
The man who visited Dang Manor every few months.
The one who made even mighty Elder Three-Eyes yield a step.
The Flame Immortal Nun whispered intimately,
"Long time no see, Wana. Your heavy steps suggest deep worries. Need my help?"
Their first talk since escaping the Demonic Cult. Yet her voice brimmed with familiarity.
Mok Wana hesitated before replying.
"Help? My martial arts are too weak."
"Tsk. Who said anything about that?"
The Flame Immortal Nun leaped down, landing silently beside her.
"Three years ago, Dan Seolyeong sought my advice on winning Dang Mujin's heart. Less than three months later, she married him. Your situation seems strikingly similar."
It perked her ears right up. Mok Wana asked unwittingly,
"Really?"
"Believe it. I never lie."
Confidence filled the Flame Immortal Nun's voice. She drew close and whispered excitedly,
"Will you trust me?"
Mok Wana nodded, entranced.