The Black Curtain Was Always Nearby (2)
Yi Pil warrior's father was the younger brother of the previous family head and the uncle of the current one.
By the time he came to the Sacheon Tang Clan, he was already a branch family member.
Moreover, as a child brought in from outside, he rarely would have entered the inner residence.
So he must have spent most of his time here in the outer residence.
He was bullied here, tormented here.
Which meant this place held painful memories for Yi Pil warrior.
I approached him and whispered softly.
"I'm sorry."
"Pardon? What do you mean, my lord?"
"I failed to consider your feelings. I should have realized beforehand that this outer residence would be painful for you..."
I continued.
"If it's too hard, you can wait in the annex."
Yi Pil shook his head at my words.
"No, it's fine. Honestly, it hurts seeing every corner, but I've always wanted to come back here at least once someday. So thank you, my lord."
"Well, that's a relief, then..."
"Don't worry about it. If it gets too tough, I'll let you know."
"Yes. Please do."
As we inspected the outer residence, a group approached from ahead.
A middle-aged woman with attendants, it seemed.
Her attire suggested she was of considerable status.
But the moment Yi Pil saw her, his face stiffened even more.
That told me who she was.
Still, better to confirm.
"Lady Dang Su-bin, who is that?"
"She's my youngest uncle's eldest aunt. My uncle is currently dispatched to the Murim Alliance, but his wife stays here."
"I see."
We soon drew near, and Lady Dang Su-bin bowed first in greeting.
Even between inner and outer residences, the eldest aunt was clearly the senior.
"Hello, Aunt."
"My niece. And who are those beside you?"
"They're benefactors from our clan: Young Master Eun Seo-ho and his escort warriors."
"I... see."
She smiled. Then her gaze shifted to Yi Pil. It was a subtle smile.
After touring the outer residence, we headed last to the administrative offices.
"Truth be told, there's plenty to see here."
I agreed.
The Sacheon Tang Clan's poisons spreading across the world.
It was obvious someone had leaked them.
The culprit would try to frame it on someone else, and the easiest place was the administrative offices, where the most people came and went.
The inner residence had limited residents, making the perpetrator obvious.
We'd found no real evidence in the outer residence.
The one who leaked info to the Murim Alliance about the Formun Sect's plague or tried to sabotage Brother Jin-ho's squad leader announcement with scattering poison would likely have stored evidence here.
Please let us find it here.
Otherwise, we're in for hell.
Dong... dong... dong...
Then drums echoed from afar.
"Perfect timing—it's the hour of the monkey. If we head to the training grounds now, we can catch something fun."
"Is it the warriors' training time, by chance?"
She nodded at my question.
"Yes. Regular training, and today happens to be the Danhwa Unit's day."
Her words made the four escorts' eyes sparkle with anticipation.
Honestly, I was curious about the Danhwa Unit's skills too.
"May we observe?"
"Of course. Follow me."
We entered the administrative offices.
High walls enclosed it, with buildings arranged in orderly fashion.
It resembled a go board.
"To quickly isolate sections in case of accidents?"
"Exactly."
Lady Dang Su-bin nodded.
"A long time ago, an accident caused heavy casualties. They razed it all and rebuilt."
We arrived first at the southern training grounds.
Entering, I was surprised.
It was far larger than expected.
The spacious grounds made sense for clan-wide gatherings.
Nearly thirty tiers of seating encircled it.
Many people sat watching from various spots.
We found seats too.
A group of warriors entered and began training.
"Haat—!"
"Hat—!"
Their aura was disciplined yet sharp as frost.
The vigor I'd seen in the inner residence warriors wasn't a fluke.
Dang Dae-jeong, the unit leader, must have trained them.
His death was a profound loss and sorrow for the clan.
"Is this training every time?"
Lady Dang Su-bin answered.
"Every three days, each combat unit does public training. Danhwa's turn today."
"I see."
I grasped the purpose: to foster bonds between units and pride in the Sacheon Tang Clan.
And that wasn't their full strength.
Warriors always had skills to show and skills to hide.
Me included.
Then I spotted someone seated ahead.
Who is that?
Noticing my gaze, Lady Dang Su-bin spoke.
"That's my third brother."
Ah...
The one who became vice head in my past life.
I hadn't heard of a new family head before dying.
And the prime suspect in this incident.
"Dismissed!"
Dang Dae-jeong, before the Danhwa warriors, called out.
They echoed "Dismissed!" and the training ended.
Clap clap clap!
I applauded encouragingly.
"Truly impressive."
"Right?"
Pride for them shone in Lady Dang Su-bin's voice.
But,
"Huh? Why is Dang Dae-jeong coming here?"
The unit leader approached us.
Family privately, but publicly by title, it seemed.
Why here, though?
He's looking at me... yep.
Lady Dang Su-bin quickly cupped her fists.
"Greetings, Danhwa Unit Leader."
We followed suit.
"Eunhae Merchant Group's third son, Eun Seo-ho, greets the Danhwa Unit Leader."
The four escorts greeted after me, and he returned the gesture.
"Danhwa Unit Leader Dang Dae-jeong. Pleased to meet you."
"An honor to meet the famed Crimson Flower Edge King."
"No need for such flattery."
"Not at all."
I pressed on.
"That training just now was eye-opening."
"Hahaha, glad to hear it."
Dang Dae-jeong laughed heartily.
"Heard about you from the family head. The benefactor who saved Jo Woong, right?"
"Just a chance encounter."
"Even so, saving someone takes courage."
Continuing, he said,
"Touring the main house?"
"Yes. I imposed shamelessly for this tour."
"You've reached here, so inner and outer done. Impressions?"
"Like camellias blooming in snow."
"Is that so?"
Dang Dae-jeong looked pleased.
"You two suit each other well."
Lady Dang Su-bin's face flushed.
"Hahaha."
I laughed inwardly.
Time to escape this place.
Lady Dang Su-bin spoke.
"Sorry, but we have much left to see, so we must go."
"Ah! I kept you too long. Off you go."
"Then we'll take our leave."
Dang Dae-jeong watched Eun Seo-ho and Dang Su-bin depart with a pleased smile.
They suit each other well.
And handsome enough to make Dang Su-bin, usually veiled, show her face.
Eighteen, and already peak realm...
He'd sensed Eun Seo-ho's level at first glance.
Allied with a merchant house, not martial, but no matter.
If such talent joined the Sacheon Tang Clan, it'd be reassuring.
Truthfully, his interest stemmed from Dang Su-bin.
She'd been raised for poison arts since childhood.
Meaning she'd ingested poisons to build resistance young.
Resistance meant harboring poison aura.
Especially as her main cultivation, she held potent poison qi.
She controlled it well, and they wore special badges to block it.
But close contact was unavoidable.
Dang Su-bin hadn't noticed because those near her had resistance.
This was the first outsider.
Yet Eun Seo-ho showed no effects.
Not even a headache.
Amazing.
Higher realm than I thought?
The family head must have anticipated this, assigning her to guide them.
What scheme is this?
Dang Su-bin had forsaken marriage upon seriously cultivating poison arts.
Now a man immune to her poison appeared.
If he'd pair with Su-bin...
His "they suit well" wasn't empty words.
Lady Dang Su-bin smiled awkwardly.
"Actually, the Danhwa Unit Leader has a nickname: Moonlit Elder."
"Moonlit Elder—do you mean the legendary matchmaker?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"He sees matchmaking as a mission."
"I see."
"Anyway, let's tour the offices properly now."
We began looking around, rediscovering the Sacheon Tang Clan's vastness.
While wandering the offices,
"...!"
I stopped.
A familiar energy emanated from somewhere.
The same from the Formun Sect plague.
Here.
I asked Lady Dang Su-bin.
"Where is this?"
"Jisaeng Hall. Where they research poisons."
"Does the family head's son work here?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"My eldest brother works here."
That threw me.
The family head's eldest son?
Not the third?
This changed my hypothesis.
But too early to conclude.
"May I tour inside?"
"Well, no reason not to, but be careful. A bite means big trouble."
I turned to Palgap and the four escorts.
Couldn't risk them for my sake.
"Then I'll go alone."
"No."
"As escorts, we must protect you."
I nodded.
"I know. That's why."
"Pardon?"
I whispered close.
"If something happens to everyone, who saves me?"
"Ah..."
They backed off convinced.
I turned to Lady Dang Su-bin.
"Let's go."
"Entrance is this way."
Following her lead, I entered Jisaeng Hall.
Boxes with small holes lined the interior.
Papers labeled contents: scorpions, snakes, centipedes, it seemed.
"Worth seeing: that."
Something writhed in a tightly barred cage.
A black snake.
With a horn on its head.
No way... this is...
Poison Horned Serpent?
Lady Dang Su-bin said,
"Cool, right?"
"Ah... yes."
Cool about the Poison Horned Serpent...
The issue: the plague's energy came from this serpent's cage now.
Someone hid evidence here...
"Can I go inside?"
She shook her head reluctantly.
"It's quite vicious. Only Big Brother or the tamer elder can handle it."