Revealed Truth (4)
I felt a twinge of irritation.
I couldn't understand why they were making such a fuss over not being able to touch the Yi-pil warrior, who was just standing there quietly.
From one angle, it probably stemmed from their anxiety.
What could they possibly be so anxious about?
The Yi-pil warrior firmly rebuffed her words.
"Don't misunderstand. I have no intention of returning to this clan."
"How can I believe you? You're surely plotting to come back and block my son's path..."
"I have no plans to block my brothers—no, their paths. They'll do that to themselves."
"What? What did you say?"
"It seems you've said all you wanted. I'll be going now."
With that, the Yi-pil warrior turned and walked away.
"Y-you! Stop! I said stop!"
But he didn't stop, heading straight toward the annex where we were staying.
I quietly watched her stamp her feet and scream in rage.
"Why did that brat have to show up out of nowhere... He still hasn't come to his senses. Maybe he needs to eat more fly-laced rice to wise up."
At those words, I couldn't help but chuckle.
I'd suspected that when the Yi-pil warrior was in the Sacheon Tang Clan, they'd tormented him by putting foreign objects like flies in his food. And it turned out to be true?
And the culprit was this man's great-aunt?
Wow...
I swallowed a curse that nearly escaped my lips.
She stormed off in a huff, and only then did Palgap make his presence known.
"Somehow, I feel sorry for Yi-pil warrior."
"Same here."
After a moment's thought, I said to Palgap,
"Looks like we'll have to postpone visiting Uncle's place by a few days. There's still something I need to take care of."
"You mean that thing?"
"Yeah. You're thinking what I'm thinking."
Not only would I ensure they could never touch the Yi-pil warrior again, but I'd also make them apologize for the past abuse.
That night.
I approached the Yi-pil warrior and said,
"Care for a quick chat?"
"Yes."
We went to a secluded spot with no one around. After confirming we were alone, I quietly told him,
"I saw you talking with that woman today—your great-aunt."
"Ah..."
The Yi-pil warrior bowed his head, looking troubled.
"I showed you an unsightly side. My apologies."
"No need. How could I demand an apology when I know the circumstances? Actually, I overheard something I couldn't ignore."
"What?"
"After you left, your great-aunt said something like, 'Maybe he needs to eat more fly-laced rice to come to his senses.'"
"......"
His expression hardened instantly at my words.
"That explains your unusual eating habits. While staying here, your food must have been laced with flies and such. No wonder you were always hungry."
He let out a sigh and nodded.
"That's right."
"How could family do that...!"
"Family... They probably didn't see me as family, so that's why."
"Even if not family, that's no excuse."
He gave a bitter smile at my words.
"From now on, I'll make sure no one from the Sacheon Tang Clan touches you. And I'll ensure you get a proper apology."
The reason I'd asked to talk was to get his permission—or at least inform him.
No matter how much it was for his sake, he was the one involved.
"No, I'm fine."
I shook my head firmly at his response.
"You're my bodyguard, which means you're my man. And I'm not the type to sit idly by while someone hurts one of mine."
"......"
"I guarantee you, they'll keep coming after you no matter where you are. You don't want that, right?"
"That's... true."
"And even if it's in the past, food laced with flies? That memory will still scar you, poisoning your mind."
"......"
"You really don't want an apology?"
After a long silence, the Yi-pil warrior spoke heavily.
"I... want an apology."
His emotions surged.
"And I want to demand answers. What did I do so wrong? I was just born... I only did what the clan taught me to do... Why? Did they hate me that much? I want to ask, just once."
I smiled and replied,
"Noted."
I had no intention of stopping at just an apology.
Since we were shaking things up, they deserved proper punishment for it to mean anything.
Back in my room after the talk, I started racking my brains.
How could I resolve this cleanly and satisfyingly? Then, my eyes lit up.
A good idea had come to me.
The next day.
I visited the Clan Head and made one request.
"There might still be accomplices to the Blood Poison Ghost Baedu-gap's crimes. I'd like to help by interviewing clan members to root them out."
"You know my intentions well enough. What's your real goal?"
As expected of the Clan Head.
Best to be upfront.
"Truth is, someone keeps targeting my bodyguard, the Yi-pil warrior."
I explained everything, and the Clan Head stared at me silently.
"I know adding more chaos to an already turbulent clan for my own ends won't sit well with you."
"......"
"But we have to untangle the knots now, or bigger problems will arise later, right?"
"......"
"I'll draft that document you promised—confirming your assistance."
The Clan Head shook his head.
"No need. You're... a fine lord."
"Pardon?"
"That boy Yi-pil has finally found a place where he can rest easy. I'm glad."
The Clan Head smiled faintly.
"You're right—we must untangle the knots. And since no blood needs to be spilled, sing a song while you're at it, as the saying goes."
"Thank you."
With the Clan Head's permission secured, I had my justification. I began interviewing clan members one by one.
The interview with the woman who was the Yi-pil warrior's great-aunt—Madam Go-yeon—was the sixth.
I brought Palgap, the Yi-pil warrior, and the Seo-u warrior to her residence.
Thanks to the Clan Head's prior notice that morning, I didn't need to explain my visit.
"P-please... come in."
Madam Go-yeon hesitated upon seeing the Yi-pil warrior behind me.
"Enter."
"Thank you."
But she wasn't the only one who reacted to the Yi-pil warrior.
The maids and servants flinched too.
A glance at the Yi-pil warrior showed his face was rigid.
We entered the reception room, and he said to me,
"Those maids and servants are still by Great-aunt's side."
"......"
"Mother passed away soon after, and I grew up under Great-aunt. They tormented me plenty alongside her back then."
I listened silently.
"In some ways... even more than her."
My hunch was right.
They'd gone along with Madam Go-yeon's abuse of the Yi-pil warrior.
No—even if ordered, basic human compassion would have tempered it.
Or they'd have lied about it.
Despite being Tang blood, with her permission, they'd vented their grudges from other clansmen on him.
That's why it was worse than from his great-aunt.
I weighed two options.
One: Make the maids and servants suffer. Two: Don't.
Until moments ago, I'd thought it unfair—they were just following orders from their superior, Madam Go-yeon.
But their reactions and his explanation changed my mind.
Option one it was.
I subtly raised one finger to the group.
Palgap and the two warriors nodded.
Then the door opened, and Madam Go-yeon entered, followed by a maid carrying refreshments.
Tea and three pastries were set before each of us four.
"It's an honor for our clan's benefactor to visit personally. So, what do you plan to ask?"
"Nothing much. Just chatting to pass the time. Haha."
And so, I made small talk, sipping tea and eating pastries.
As planned, the Yi-pil warrior didn't touch his.
"Yi-pil warrior, you're leaving your pastries?"
"Yes."
"Mind if I have them?"
"Go ahead."
I picked up his share and ate one.
"Ugh!"
I clutched my chest as if in sudden pain.
Palgap asked in feigned panic,
"What's wrong, young master?"
"My chest suddenly hurts... Urk!"
Blood trickled from my mouth, and the Seo-u warrior shouted in alarm,
"Th-this! My lord! Are you alright? My lord?"
The Yi-pil warrior yelled at Madam Go-yeon,
"What is the meaning of this?!"
She flailed her hands in panic.
"N-no! I-I... I didn't do anything...!"
Palgap bolted outside and yelled,
"Oh no, our young master's dying! Call a physician quick! He seems poisoned! Young master's in critical condition!"
The patrolling warriors heard and summoned help immediately. Things proceeded swiftly.
Upon news of my poisoning, the Danhwa Squad mobilized, arresting Madam Go-yeon, her maid, and servants.
Then Poison Flower Hall members arrived, including Lady Dang Su-bin.
Here, they handled poisoning cases, not physicians—detox was their domain.
"Benefactor, you've ingested Gam-mi Poison."
Gam-mi Poison was colorless and odorless, its only tell a sweet taste—perfect for pastries.
Yes.
This poisoning was my setup.
I'd pretended to take his pastry while secretly applying poison to it.
Lady Dang Su-bin had helped in secret, under the Clan Head's orders.
How else could I know of or obtain Gam-mi Poison?
"Luckily, the special identity token around your neck prevented it from spreading fully."
Lady Dang Su-bin gave me a pill.
"Antidote. Take it."
"Thank you."
I swallowed it, grimacing.
"Bitter."
"It's medicine—of course it's bitter."
She smirked briefly at me before dropping it. The "antidote" was just a vitality restoration pill.
Probably bitter from the bear bile.
The Seo-u warrior asked,
"So where was the poison?"
"Only in these pastries."
"Those were Yi-pil warrior's..."
The Yi-pil warrior nodded.
"Yes, mine. But I didn't eat them—my lord did."
"Then."
I continued,
"Does that mean Madam Go-yeon tried to assassinate Yi-pil warrior?"
"I must report to Father."
I returned to the annex and lay on the bed.
My body felt not just fine, but brimming with energy.
Lady Dang Su-bin's vitality pill must be top-notch.
But outwardly, I was a poisoning victim barely recovering.
Then.
"The Clan Head is here."
The door opened, and he entered, sitting by my bed.
"Faking illness is its own kind of sickness—takes effort, doesn't it?"
"Tea?"
"Just lie there. You're a patient, after all."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"So, what do you need from me now?"
"Hold a disciplinary assembly."
The Clan Head chuckled.
"Know what?"
"...?"
"This'll be the third one since you arrived in the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"That's a lot?"
"We usually hold maybe one a month, if that."
It was a lot, then.
Though frequent assemblies would be problematic too.
The next day.
Palgap said notices of the morning disciplinary assembly had been posted everywhere since yesterday.
Madam Go-yeon's children—three, including the Bi-geum Corps deputy commander—were said to exist.
I figured at least one would come begging to save their mother, seeking me or the Yi-pil warrior.
But I waited and waited, and not one showed their face at the annex.
Why does that saying come to mind—like mother, like children?