Chapter 183
Chapter 183
'Dang Sojeo, no. No!’
‘No!’
The Three Great Disciples were frantically mouthing words, and I realized I’d already spilled the milk.
Jin-sung seemed to be suppressing his anger, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath before turning around to ask.
“Who is it?”
“It’s not like that, Do-jang. I just wanted to drink with you all, so I brought it.”
“You don’t have to cover for them, Young lady. It’s right to punish the disciples for breaking the rules.”
“Really. The Guest quarters were noisy, and I was lonely, so I wanted a drink. I couldn’t sleep, and I didn’t want to drink alone, so I tempted them first. I didn’t know it was against the rules. I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
Jin-sung’s cheek twitched unhappily at my answer. He stared into my eyes for a long time before replying with a sigh.
“……Yes. I understand.”
He knew it was a lie but was answering that he wouldn’t press the issue further for the sake of the guest’s dignity.
As Jin-sung stepped back, the expressions of the Three Great Disciples, who had been trembling with anxiety, brightened.
I chuckled and lightly tapped the liquor jar on the floor, then sat down with a thud.
“Then you’ll join us today, right?”
“I cannot. I will put the liquor back where it was.”
His firm voice made me flinch as I hugged the jar, and Jin-sung’s eyes narrowed.
“Sojeo.”
“Come on, Do-jang. It’s not good for superiors to be too strict. Sometimes you have to let loose to breathe.”
“……”
Jin-sung looked like he didn’t agree at all but kept his mouth shut, seemingly not wanting to start an argument.
“Is it no? Then can’t you just consider it my birthday drink? My birthday is coming up soon.”
“Yes? Dang Sojeo, is it your birthday?”
Song-gwang, startled, spoke loudly before quickly closing his mouth, noticing Jin-sung’s gaze. Jin-sung also stared at me with a blank expression.
“Not today. It was said to be around the Hawon Festival, so it should be around this time. I don’t know the exact date either.”
Because Dang-un used to get me presents around this time.
I replied casually, then, flustered by the solemn atmosphere, gave an awkward smile.
No. It’s not what you’re thinking. Don’t look at me with pity.
“Master Uncle, it’s her birthday! We should drink together at times like this……. I’m sorry.”
Song-gwang, trying to change the mood, chattered on before shrinking back like a turtle at Jin-sung’s cold gaze.
Song-hwa, meeting my eyes, subtly put his hands together. It seemed like a signal for me to speak first.
Feigning a sulky expression, I hugged the liquor jar and mumbled.
“I’m sorry for causing trouble without realizing it. I’ll put it back. Don’t say anything to the others. It’s my fault.”
“……Dang Sojeo.”
“I apologize for the late hour. I’ll be going now.”
“Dang Sojeo. Please wait a moment.”
Jin-sung rubbed his eyes and stopped me. He furrowed his brow with a troubled expression before surrendering.
“……Two Gak. No more than that.”
My lips curled up at his subdued tone. I put the liquor jar back down and sat on the floor with a thud, then smiled brightly.
“Two Gak is enough. Come on, Do-jang. Sit down.”
“I……”
“It’s a rare occasion, Do-jang. Let’s have a drink.”
As I playfully mimed pouring a drink, Song-in cautiously whispered.
“Um, Dang Sojeo. Master Uncle doesn’t drink alcohol.”
“Yes? He doesn’t drink at all?”
“Yes. He never does anything against the rules. We’ve never seen him drink.”
“Come on, there’s no way he doesn’t drink at all……”
Is there?
Startled, I opened my mouth wide and asked.
“Jinseong disciple. You don’t drink alcohol at all?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“That is correct.”
“The Sword Saint Elder liked to drink, though?”
“My master……. Hooo.”
Jin-sung trailed off and let out a small sigh before belatedly realizing his mistake and composing himself. He seemed to have closed his mouth because he couldn’t bring himself to speak ill of his master.
As I looked up at Jin-sung with wide eyes, he avoided my gaze, looking embarrassed.
He was well past twenty, yet he had never drunk alcohol. Considering the customs of the Central Plains, where even fifteen-year-olds were treated as adults and married, it was a strange thing.
Everyone secretly drinks, so it seems like a rule that people turn a blind eye to. He’s amazing in many ways. He’s a person of strong principles.
“Ahahaha. I won’t force you, Do-jang. Then just stay here and watch. You’ll be relieved if you see it with your own eyes, right? We’ll drink quietly and leave quietly.”
“……Yes.”
As I patted the spot next to me, Jin-sung hesitated before quietly coming and sitting beside me.
The relieved Three Great Disciples also looked at the liquor jar with expectant eyes.
“Alright, everyone, sit down. Song-hwa disciple, will you open it?”
“Yes, Young lady. I will open it.”
Song-hwa, answering cheerfully, brought his hand to the jar with a beaming smile. As he opened the lid, a rich fragrance filled the air.
“Ooh!”
“It’s good liquor. This beautiful fragrance……”
Song-rim, exclaiming, pretended to wipe his eyes with a moved expression.
Jin-sung didn’t seem to like the situation but didn’t interfere and remained silent.
“Do-jang, would you like some water?”
“It’s alright.”
“Then have some snacks at least. How about some dried fruit?”
Feeling conscious of Jin-sung sitting there blankly, I offered him this and that, and he nodded, putting a piece of dried persimmon in his mouth.
The Three Great Disciples, who had been hesitant, conscious of Jin-sung, soon relaxed and began to enjoy their small happiness.
“Senior Brother……. This isn’t a dream, is it? There’s a cup.”
“How long has it been since I drank from a cup……”
“Drink quickly. We don’t have much time.”
The boisterous atmosphere made me feel excited as well. Smiling, I sipped the liquor, and Song-gwang, excited, spoke to me.
“Dang Sojeo. There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a while.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“I heard that all Tang Clan Member use poison, but you don’t really use anything besides the weasel. Is there another reason?”
At Song-gwang’s question, I scratched my cheek.
Poison? That’s not right. There aren’t many people who use poison.
Everyone raises scorpions and snakes, but few use poison to fight enemies.
Maybe the Ninth Elder, who covers his whole body with poison spiders, or On-jeong Aunt’s son, who carries ants in a porcelain gourd.
Unless you’re going to war to shake the enemy’s psychology, it’s not very useful. A Martial Artist who knows how to use Protective Aura can easily shake off poison.
“Um……. I don’t know? Is there such a rumor? There are Martial Artist who handle poison like their own body, but they’re not the mainstream. I’m not one of them either. I don’t like creepy things in the first place.”
“Ah, it was a false rumor.”
“Rumors are all like that. If three people gather, they can create a tiger out of nothing.”
Song-in, looking at me with interest, also opened his mouth.
“Please understand if we ask strange questions, Sojeo. The Tang Clan isn’t a Martial Sect / School that actively interacts with the outside world, so there are so many wild rumors. There are many things we misunderstand.”
“I know the Tang Clan’s bad reputation well. You don’t have to worry about it.”
As I waved my hand to mean it was okay, Song-gwang, with a foolish expression, clasped his hands together and grinned.
“Actually, I was surprised that Dang Sojeo was different from the rumors I had heard. I was wondering why such rumors were attached to such a gentle person.”
“What kind of stories did you hear?”
“That she enjoys luxury so much that gold dust falls with every step, and that she’s a crazy person who puts a poisonous snake around her neck and scares everyone who passes by……. Oop!”
Song-hwa, hurriedly covering Song-gwang’s mouth, laughed and pulled him back.
“I’m sorry. Dang Sojeo. Our Senior Brother seems to be drunk already.”
He looked a little tired from keeping tabs on his Senior Brother, who was younger than him. I chuckled and replied.
“That’s not me. It seems like they’re talking about my older sister. It’s not that she enjoys luxury so much that gold dust falls, but it’s true that she likes to dress up. It’s also true that she raises poisonous snakes.”
At my affirmation, Song-in’s eyes sparkled as he asked.
“Um, Dang Sojeo. If it’s not rude, may I ask a few more questions? There are so many strange rumors that I wanted to know the truth about.”
“Of course. Feel free to ask. The Tang Clan is also a place where people live. It’s not as brutal as the rumors say.”
As I shrugged and emptied my glass, Song-rim, quickly refilling my glass, asked.
“I heard that the Tang Clan even feeds poison to their servants. Is that true?”
“Ah, we do steadily feed them a medicinal bath to build resistance. But it’s such a small amount of Poison that there’s no need for an antidote, and it’s actually good for the body. It helps the body detoxify itself.”
“So, you really do feed them…….”
Song-in’s pupils, flustered, trembled violently.
“Th, then the saying that you should always prepare silver chopsticks when visiting the Tang Clan……”
“There’s also a saying that you should prepare silver chopsticks?”
There are all sorts of rumors.
I tilted my head and replied.
“You don’t have to bring them. We use silver utensils for all meals when serving guests. It’s the same for banquets.”
At my words, Song-hwa nodded as if he understood.
“Ah, you’re giving out silver utensils first to quell the bad rumors. We can rest assured if we’re treated like that.”
“That’s right. But silver doesn’t react to all poisons. Don’t trust it. If you’re determined, there are endless ways to poison someone, right?”
At the same time, everyone’s face turned pale.
Oh. This isn’t it. Did I say something wrong?
Song-in, subtly moving away from me, hid behind Song-hwa and barely managed to say a word.
“It wasn’t a false rumor, Second Senior Brother……. You shouldn’t mess with the Dangs…….”
At their frightened reaction, I awkwardly licked my lips.
It seemed that I had not only failed to clear up misunderstandings but had also further solidified prejudices against the Clan.
