Chapter 15
15
4. Immunity to all poisons? Me?
I wanted to ask what he was talking about, but it wasn't the time to interrupt.
Dang Jung's heavy Qi was pressing down on me and Dang-un, making it feel like I was suffocating.
The first time I felt Dang Jung's martial prowess, I understood why he was called the Poison King. His Qi, filling the space, resembled poison.
Silently seeping in and violently cutting off breath.
I felt like I was going to vomit from the storm-like Qi. I gripped the chair legs and panted.
My body, sensing a threat to my life, urgently sent signals. A beep rang in my ears, and my pupils dilated, hurting my eyes.
It wasn't a reassuring situation at all, but seeing the true nature of the Poison King actually relieved me.
This person, who exuded such terrifying Qi, had been carrying me around, feeding me snacks, and comforting me.
He must have been concealing his Qi out of consideration for me, a mere Maid.
I think he said he almost killed me because he misunderstood, but I'll pretend I didn't hear that. It seemed better for my mental health.
When I managed to lift my head with difficulty, I saw Dang-un's pale face. He was kneeling and scratching the floor with his fingernails.
"Grandfather… Cough, cough!"
Dang-un, clutching his chest, started coughing. He must not have high martial prowess either, as he was struggling under Dang Jung's Qi.
Dang Jung lessened his energy at the painful coughing sound. But Dang-un's coughing didn't stop. He covered his mouth and convulsed, then vomited blood.
The blood splattered on the floor was a vivid red. The strong smell of blood made my head spin. It was the first time I had seen someone vomit blood.
My stomach churned, and the ringing in my ears intensified. My head throbbed, aching as if it would split.
I blinked slowly. My vision gradually turned black.
"Grandfather, So-hye… Cough!"
"So-hye!"
I heard the voices of Dang-un and Dang Jung in panic, but I couldn't see.
I lost consciousness.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on soft silk bedding. The feel of the fine silk was so nice that I rubbed my cheek against it, and someone spoke to me.
"Are you awake?"
"…Elder?"
Dang Jung's voice startled me. I hurriedly sat up, and saw Dang Jung looking troubled. He clicked his tongue and pushed me back down.
"Lie down more. You'll get dizzy."
"Yes."
I obediently lay back down. Dang-un sat beside Dang Jung with his arms crossed, looking pale.
Dang-un, meeting my eyes, asked kindly.
"So-hye, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine."
"That's a relief."
Dang-un's hand, gently patting the back of my hand, trembled slightly. His skin, as cold as ice, had a purplish tint.
Dang-un should be lying in bed instead of me.
Dang Jung, looking at the shivering Dang-un with pity, waved his hand.
"You should go back and rest too. I don't want to clean up a corpse in my residence."
My mouth dropped open at the unbelievable words.
…What are you cleaning up? You're being too harsh on your grandson.
But Dang-un seemed used to it and laughed off Dang Jung's words.
"I'll stay a little longer, Grandfather. I'm worried about So-hye."
Then he stroked my hair. Looking at his worried eyes, my conscience pricked.
I'm sorry for misunderstanding you as a weirdo. I didn't know you were my half-brother.
Dang Jung pouted.
"If you're not trying to make your sister feel guilty for no reason, go back and rest. What good is it for a guy with blocked meridians to be exposed to the cold wind?"
Dang-un, checking his appearance at Dang Jung's scolding, looked taken aback. Blood splatters were scattered on his green robe.
What were blocked meridians again? I'd heard of it somewhere. I hurriedly searched my memory.
'Blocked meridians? That's a disease where your blood vessels are blocked and you die young. It's a terminal illness. Usually, rich kids get it. They have to pump in elixirs to extend their lifespan, but that's only possible if a doctor diagnoses you with blocked meridians. If you're from a poor family, how can you afford to see a doctor? You'll die suddenly without even knowing the name of the disease. Only the rich can say, "I'm a blocked meridian patient."'
Brother, you're sick. I felt sorry for Dang-un. As far as I knew, to treat blocked meridians…
'Then how do you get better?'
'You die unless you're the main character.'
'Huh? Why?'
'That's just how it is. I'd kill him even if I were the author. People feel sorry for a smart and talented guy who dies young.'
Is there no cure? I guess not?
Boss. This isn't just pitiful, it's so unfair it makes me cry blood.
That beautiful young man's genes should be passed down for generations.
Dang-un, covering the bloodstains as if embarrassed, got up without further ado.
"Then I'll take my leave. So-hye, rest well, your brother will be going."
I nodded slightly, and Dang-un carefully tucked my blanket in before leaving. I watched Dang-un's retreating figure.
His frail shoulders, which I hadn't noticed before, caught my eye. The ends of his hair, reaching down to his waist, were faded white.
Was his gentle demeanor due to resignation to everything?
Strangely, I couldn't take my eyes off the spot where Dang-un had been. He was too young to end his life already.
As I stared blankly at the empty chair, Dang Jung sighed and stroked my hair.
"I'm sorry."
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry. This old man got excited and made a fool of himself."
Dang Jung's softened attitude felt awkward. Wasn't he someone who did whatever he wanted and never apologized?
Only one thing had changed.
The fact that the same Tang Clan blood flowed in my body as his.
I didn't know what to say. I moved my lips.
"Elder, I…"
"Call me Grandfather."
"Yes?"
"I'm your great-great-grandfather. So, I'm your grandfather."
"Yes."
If he's my great-great-grandfather, then he's my great-grandfather's brother. How many degrees of kinship is that? Seven? I can't even calculate it.
Dang Jung, rubbing his eyes wearily, said.
"Sleep here today."
"No. I'll go back to my residence. I can't dare to take Elder's, no, Grandfather's bed."
"It's not like you'll ruin your health sleeping on the floor for one night. Just lie down."
The words, 'Usually, that's exactly the age when you ruin your health,' almost reached my throat, but I didn't say them out loud.
Dang Jung, sighing deeply, turned off the lamp and left the room.
Darkness fell all around, but I couldn't sleep.
'I didn't even know you were alive…'
'The Patriarch is also indifferent.'
'So-hye is our youngest. Grandfather.'
'A person with Immunity to all poisons, inheriting the blood of the direct line, is stuck in the outer residence doing laundry!'
Now the puzzle pieces fit together.
A child who inherited the blood of the direct line but was neglected by the Patriarch and worked as a Maid. Knowing that no one would protect her, she silently endured the bullying to avoid attracting attention.
The Tang Clan Patriarch's illegitimate child.
That was me.
I had cursed the Tang Clan people for being crazy, but in fact, I was one of those crazy people too. I had been spitting on my own face all along.
Tossing and turning in frustration, I pulled the blanket over my head.
I had no idea what pit the new identity of being the Tang Clan's illegitimate child would lead me into.
Kicking the innocent blanket, I tore at my hair.
I want to go home.
* * *
The next day, Dang Jung took me to the Clan Head Hall. His touch was much gentler, showing that he cared because I was his kin.
But his shoulder and side were still uncomfortable to ride on. I dangled from Dang Jung's side, taking in the unfamiliar scenery of the Clan Head Hall.
One of the Martial Artists on guard recognized Dang Jung and respectfully clasped his fist.
"I will inform the Clan Head that the Grand Elder has arrived."
"No need. Troublesome."
"But the procedure… Grand Elder!"
Ignoring the strict security, he leaped over the wall and moved with the light steps of a feline predator.
"Grand Elder! Please use the main gate!"
"Quiet."
He lightly ignored the guard's tearful cry and abruptly threw open the doors of the Clan Head Hall.
"Mu-hyuk, I want to see you."
"You've arrived, Grandfather."
A middle-aged man who had been writing something put down his brush and looked up. His calm response suggested that Dang Jung barging in was a common occurrence.
I glanced at the middle-aged man. He looked so cold that a needle wouldn't be able to pierce him.
Is looking cold a Tang Clan trait? Dang Jung has a young face, but if you think about it, he's also the cold beauty type.
Judging from the context, that man must be Dang Mu-hyeok, the Clan Head. Dang Jung, lifting me up in front of him, said.
"This is your daughter, So-hye."
"So it seems."
Dang Mu-hyeok answered without denying it.
Wow. I really am the Tang Clan Head's daughter.
My surprise was short-lived, and a hollow laugh escaped me at the words that followed.
"I'll raise her."
…Elder. This is a person, okay? Not a puppy. And who would understand if you say it like that?
Namgung Hwi was like this too, what's wrong with these Martial Artists?
Dang Mu-hyeok, seemingly thinking the same thing, stared at Dang Jung before sighing lightly.
"Are you saying you will teach this child, Grandfather?"
"Your ears are working properly."
A cold wind blew between them. The Martial Artists' battle of nerves was too intense for a commoner like me to handle.
As my breathing became labored, Dang Jung clicked his tongue and covered my vision with his sleeve.
"How dare you open your eyes like that in front of anyone? Lower your Qi. The baby is scared."
"I apologize, Grandfather."
His voice didn't sound apologetic at all, but neither he nor Dang Jung seemed to care.
I focused on the embroidery on Dang Jung's sleeve and calmed my breathing. I felt the Qi pressing down on my body gradually fading.
Dang Jung, confirming that my breathing had returned to normal, stroked my head lightly.
Then the middle-aged man frowned slightly. It was the expression of someone watching someone else touch dirty trash.
"That's all. I've said what I needed to say, so keep that in mind."
"Even if you are my grandfather, you cannot ignore the rules. Please do not interfere in my daughter's education."
Dang Mu-hyeok's face was filled with disgust as he looked at me.
His daughter? Are you looking at your daughter like she's trash?
I sincerely wanted to curse him.
The father she's seeing for the first time in a month is looking at her with such disgust that he wants to kill her right away. Is that okay?
Trying to ease the atmosphere, I forced a smile, but he glared at me with revulsion.
"It was you who promised to live quietly as if you were dead. Why are you stirring things up now?"
It seems smiling was the wrong choice. I hurriedly wiped the expression off my face.
"Stirring things up? Because of your nonsense, this child was stuck in the outer residence, covering herself in poison and doing laundry! A talent that comes along once in a hundred years was rotting away in the servants' quarters!"
Dang Jung was angry, but Dang Mu-hyeok didn't even flinch. He glared at me and said coldly.
"Grandfather. I cannot accept this child as a direct descendant of the Tang Clan. She is a child born from a one-night mistake with a courtesan. I have done my part by taking in the mother and daughter so they wouldn't starve to death. Even though the mother died, I didn't kick her out and kept her within the Tang Clan."
"What a load of crap. That's why I hate those with a ×."
Dang Jung snorted and made a fierce face. Dang Mu-hyeok didn't back down and glared back insolently.
The sharp Qi emanating from the two made my skin tingle and my legs tremble.
Like a shrimp getting crushed in a whale fight, my back was getting crushed in the Martial Artists' battle of nerves.
If I stay here, I'm going to faint again. Elder.
Please fight without me!
