Jegal Clan (3)
I couldn't exactly say I'd come back from the future I'd lived through, so I just made something up.
"I'm something of a genius myself."
"You really won't tell anyone?"
"Of course not. I have zero interest in getting dragged into anything troublesome."
"What a relief. Saves me the hassle of having to do anything about it."
I gave a wry smile.
The impulsive young lady from moments ago was gone without a trace.
The Jegal Yu-a Sojeo before me now was much closer to the Undefeated Jade Maiden I remembered.
Sharp yet courteous...
This was the girl who'd been playacting the brainless, airheaded maniac?
Realization hit me like a chill down my spine.
"By the way, what exactly are you doing all this for? For your clan? Or just your own survival?"
"If it was just for my survival, I wouldn't bother with something this annoying. I could always fake my death."
"For the clan, then."
Suddenly, the harsh words I'd flung at her earlier came rushing back.
Ah...
A wave of guilt crashed over me. I was the one who owed her an apology.
I quickly clasped my hands in a formal bow and apologized to her.
"Please forgive my rudeness earlier—I accused you of destroying your clan."
"No need. I deserved every word of it back then. If anything, I should apologize."
"Pardon?"
"I picked a fight for no reason. Stirring up a scene when all eyes are on you tends to work best."
She flashed a bright smile.
"Hearing you solidified my resolve to save the clan. Honestly, I'd been getting a little worn out."
Her smile left me momentarily stunned.
She could smile like that too...
I asked Jegal Yu-a Sojeo, "Why go so far as to come here and challenge me to a duel, though?"
"Truth is, something came up where I need to officially stay out of sight. Grandfather even said it was fine to break one of my arms, so there won't be any fallout for you."
Her answer made the reason clear at once.
With one arm visibly broken, she'd have a legitimate excuse to hole up in her quarters. But in the training grounds, someone might intervene before it got that far.
Hence this remote spot with no one around.
"Forgive me for using you like this."
"It's fine."
"Next time you see me, just pretend you didn't—or ignore me outright."
"Understood."
"And thank you for coming alone."
So that's why she'd opened up to me—she thought I was by myself.
Not quite.
Palgap's right over there...
I could see him hidden away, but feeling no presence at all was still mind-boggling, no matter how I thought about it.
Was he always like this in my previous life?
No need to mention Palgap's presence, so I kept my mouth shut.
At that moment, she extended her left arm.
"Mind if I ask one more favor?"
I sighed and asked, "You really want me to break it?"
* * *
Dawn broke.
After breakfast and a short rest, I was summoned by the Jegal Supreme Patriarch along with Chief Steward Yu, and we headed to his residence.
This time, thankfully, we arrived without any interruptions.
The Supreme Patriarch lived in a separate pavilion, but it was nothing like the modest annex I'd imagined.
Did normal annexes come with pavilions this grand, complete with ponds and gardens?
"Hahaha! I've been waiting for you."
"Thank you for inviting us to such a fine place."
Chief Steward Yu, now accustomed to the Jegal Clan's scale, greeted him calmly and properly.
I followed suit with a bow.
"You've prepared a wonderful spot. Come this way."
Chief Steward Yu and I followed the Supreme Patriarch, taking seats at a table in a pavilion overlooking the pond and garden.
"First, let me apologize to you."
He looked at me as he spoke, and I had a pretty good guess what for.
"I heard Yu-a came to you last night and challenged you to a duel. I hoped she wouldn't, but she actually went through with it."
"If anything, I should be the one apologizing."
"Ah... you mean her broken arm?"
"My deepest regrets."
"I told her to let you break it. No need for you to apologize."
"I still feel terrible about it."
I apologized to the Supreme Patriarch, but truthfully, I had no real reason to.
No matter how far I'd go, how could I actually break a young lady's arm for real?
"It's truly fine. If anyone's sorry, it's me. Anyway, enough of that... What do you think of the scenery here?"
"It's wonderfully serene."
The Supreme Patriarch chuckled at Chief Steward Yu's words.
"It's one of my favorite spots. Care to share your impressions in verse?"
"My skills are humble, but I'll give it a try."
Chief Steward Yu pondered for a moment, then recited a poem.
Both I and the Supreme Patriarch closed our eyes, savoring the lines.
"Thank you for indulging my poor verse."
"Nonsense. I love poetry, so I've invited countless literati here to recite. And yours is by far the best among them."
The Supreme Patriarch showered Chief Steward Yu with praise.
His eyes were completely smitten.
You'd think they were soulmates.
Before long, the Supreme Patriarch and Chief Steward Yu were exchanging poems and bonding like old friends.
"Where on earth have you been hiding all this time?"
"I've been blind until now. Meeting you today is like rain on my parched life."
But the problem was me.
I wasn't much for poetry.
They'd only included me as a nominal co-author to publish Chief Steward Yu's collection.
Now here I was, invited along and forced to smile through poetry talk—my face muscles were starting to twitch.
Ah, this is driving me mad.
In the meantime, a teapot had emptied, and a maid brought a fresh one.
Dried jujubes arrived as refreshments.
The Supreme Patriarch poured the tea himself, and we sipped from our cups.
"The tea's changed."
He smiled at my comment.
"I get bored drinking just one kind, so I switch it up constantly."
"I see. Is this Moon in the Cup by any chance?"
"Oh! You know your teas, do you?"
"I've encountered many varieties through the merchant group."
"To identify it just from the taste—that's impressive."
"Thank you."
"Speaking of which, that poem of yours..."
And just like that, the topic looped back to poetry, the two of them lost in their own world.
Hello?
Over an hour's already passed.
I'd never seen Chief Steward Yu this delighted, though.
What the...?
How could a man who could smile like that live the life he did?
A bitter taste filled my mouth.
As I slowly savored my tea while listening to them, another pot emptied.
When the maid brought more, the Supreme Patriarch gave me an intrigued look.
"Care to guess this young master's tea as well?"
"I'll give it a shot."
I politely accepted the cup he poured and took a sip.
This one I knew too.
"This is Green Beauty."
The Supreme Patriarch beamed.
"Spot on. They're all my favorites, actually."
"Thank you for sharing such fine teas with us."
"For dear poetic friends? It's only right."
Honey practically dripped from his gaze at Chief Steward Yu.
That enjoyable, huh?
Whether due to the Jegal Clan's emphasis on wisdom or his personal tastes, the Supreme Patriarch deeply enjoyed poetry.
Even as head of a murim clan, his literary knowledge was profound, and he had wide connections among scholars, not just martial artists.
If he rated Chief Steward Yu this highly, his fame among literati would soar.
And the Jegal Clan would become his solid backer.
Provided the Supreme Patriarch survives, that is.
My mouth soured again, so I popped a dried jujube.
Sweetness spread across my tongue.
Sweets do lift the mood.
I reached for another—and froze.
Wait, jujube?
Something nagged at me.
In the future I'd lived through, there was an incident involving jujubes...
Then it hit me: the names of the teas I'd drunk.
Moon in the Cup.
Green Beauty.
And the first one: Flower Bird Clear Sound.
I bit my lip lightly.
The Supreme Patriarch... he was poisoned to death?
In the future I'd experienced—about fifteen years from now—an event shook the world.
The Empress's passing.
It nearly passed as natural death by illness, but the Emperor, who loved her dearly, wouldn't let it go.
He demanded no shadow of doubt remain on her death.
Probably out of lingering attachment, unable to send her off just like that.
But that attachment unearthed an unexpected truth.
The Empress had been poisoned.
Flower Bird Clear Sound, Moon in the Cup, Green Beauty.
Poison mixed into these three teas blended seamlessly with each, masking any toxic aura.
Perfect balance.
But break that balance, and it goes wrong.
The jujube's hidden poison was the breaker.
Each alone was just delicious tea or sweet fruit.
But consume them sequentially over a day, and problems arose.
Not even one or two days showed effects.
It took at least a year of steady intake for symptoms to emerge.
Even physicians couldn't spot it as poison.
The victim withered away and died.
Cause of death: illness, naturally.
The poison's name: Wugak-su—No-Awareness Thicket.
Like sinking into a swamp without realizing it exists, this terrifying quadruple-layered toxin dragged its victim to death over time.
No one knew who created it, but it was genius-level work.
Couldn't that talent have gone to something better?
And it started being used around this time.
What do I do?
I glanced at the Supreme Patriarch's face.
His complexion suggested he wasn't deeply poisoned yet, and considering when he died in my previous life, it wasn't too late for an antidote.
Once the poison became known, physicians figured out the cure.
And I knew it too.
Most merchants walked the straight path, but many used shady tricks behind the scenes.
To avoid falling victim, we had to stay vigilant—and memorize antidotes like this.
If the Supreme Patriarch died, Chief Steward Yu would be devastated.
He'd finally found a true kindred spirit.
He might even grieve himself to an early grave, and that would sadden my father too.
I sighed.
Moralizing aside, I couldn't just watch a man die before my eyes and pretend not to notice.
Truth be told, I'd hesitated before coming here.
The Jegal Clan had long handled military affairs for the Murim Alliance, so building good ties wouldn't be easy.
But something felt off.
Even as the clan crumbled—and after— the Alliance offered only perfunctory condolences.
No real aid or cleanup.
So I'd come to see for myself and judge.
But who?
Who would do this...?
Maybe Jegal Yu-a Sojeo already suspects and that's why she's playacting the fool?
That seemed likely.
Just then, a maid announced lunchtime.
This was my chance.
"Excuse me, where is this tea brewed?"
"Why do you ask?"
Hiding my intentions, I replied, "The aroma is so rich, I couldn't help wanting to see the process myself and learn."
"Hahaha! Youthful enthusiasm—admirable!"
"My apologies."
"No need. Eagerness to learn from excellence is praiseworthy."
Smiling, he continued, "It's no great secret, so I'll let you observe later."
"Thank you."
"We'll do that after lunch first."
We planned to resume poetry after the meal.
But things didn't go that way.
"Oh dear, we have an uninvited guest."