Chapter 22
22
Moyong-gi seemed unable to grasp the situation. Like a broken robot, he blinked, alternating his gaze between Dang Jung and Moyong So-ye.
An elder, in place of the speechless Moyong-gi, dissuaded Moyong So-ye.
"So-ye. This person is the Grand Elder of the Tang Clan."
"Oh, really? Then when can we get married?"
"Even if he is a Grand Elder?"
"Is there a law that says Grand Elders can't marry?"
"Of course, there's no such law, but..."
"Then we can do it."
At Moyong So-ye's nonchalant words, he glanced at Moyong-gi as if asking what to do.
"Young Patriarch."
"..."
"Young Patriarch, pull yourself together."
He poked the blankly standing Moyong-gi. Only then did Moyong-gi start sweating profusely.
The elders of the Moyong Clan hurriedly took the child away and explained why she couldn't marry Dang Jung, but Moyong So-ye didn't understand.
"Yesterday, you said that marrying the Tang Clan would help the family, right?"
"Y-yes. Your father said that. It's true, but how about looking for someone else? Poison King is a bit old..."
"It's not like he's going to live for ten thousand years, so why does age matter? If I'm going to get married anyway, I can choose my partner, right?"
Wow, a logic king.
Moyong-gi opened and closed his mouth, speechless. He didn't even seem to have the energy to argue.
Looking around with a vacant expression, Moyong-gi looked at Dang Jung with pleading eyes, as if asking for help.
"Goodness. Oh dear."
Dang Jung sighed deeply and said to Moyong So-ye.
"Young Miss Moyong, I recommend you choose your future husband from over there instead of me."
Then, he pointed in the direction where the Tang Clan descendants, who were his great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, were lined up. However, Moyong So-ye sullenly shook her head.
"I don't like them. They're old. They're like uncles!"
An uncle is better. The one you chose is a grandfather.
Every time Moyong So-ye opened her mouth, everyone except Moyong-gi had fascinated expressions. Frankly, I found this situation amusing too.
An eight-year-old Young Miss, captivated by the youthful face of a grandfather who is well over 150 years old, suddenly proposing marriage.
Does Moyong So-ye know that she is currently writing a dark history that she will be teased about for the rest of her life? I bet when she grows up a little more, she will kick her blanket at the mere sight of the Tang Clan.
Well, I could understand her feelings.
Born as the daughter of a martial arts family, she has only seen large, dark Martial Artists, so when she saw a nobleman who seemed to have the scent of flowers coming from his sweat, she must have been captivated.
Since it was a banquet, he was even dressed in formal attire, so he must have looked like a prince on a white horse.
Everyone was watching the standoff between the two with bated breath when a hearty laugh burst out from the Peng Clan's side.
"Hehehe, hahahaha!"
An old man with hair and a beard as lush as a lion's mane was laughing at Dang Jung. His grizzled beard trembled every time he laughed.
Dang Jung rubbed his forehead and glared at the old man.
"Don't laugh."
"Ahahaha, Brother. You've been chosen by an eight-year-old child? I've never seen anything like this in my life. Hahaha!"
"I said don't laugh."
Dang Jung frowned in annoyance. Regardless, the old man didn't care and clutched his stomach, laughing.
"Hehe, right. It's about time you got married late... Ah, Brother! What kind of manners are you showing by suddenly throwing a large dart at a guest?"
He grumbled and raised his hand. In the old man's hand, which was as big as a pot lid, was a dart that was about a foot long.
Moyong So-ye, who was looking at Dang Jung, tilted her head. It seemed strange to see a white-haired old man calling a tiny child "Brother."
"Why does Grandpa Peng call that older brother 'Brother'?"
Moyong-gi's face brightened at his daughter's question. This was the perfect opportunity to explain the age difference between Moyong So-ye and Dang Jung in a straightforward manner.
"That's because the Tang Clan's Grand Elder is older than the Peng Clan's Clan Lord."
"Why?"
"So-ye, have you heard that when a supreme master attains enlightenment, they reach a state called Reverting to Childhood? The Grand Elder is a master who has reached that state. His body has become younger."
"I see."
"So, how about reconsidering? The Grand Elder is older than your grandfather, So-ye."
"Yes, So-ye. Dang Jung is an elder even to this old man. Please reconsider."
An old man who appeared to be Moyong So-ye's grandfather chimed in. Judging by his ornate headdress, he was probably the Jegal Clan Lord.
Despite the adults' dissuasion, Moyong So-ye didn't care.
"It doesn't matter. You said his body has become younger, right?"
No, child. That's not the problem.
No matter how I think about it, Dang Jung's appearance is the problem. He makes everyone around him look strange.
While the adults were persuading Moyong So-ye, Dang Jung, who had taken the seat next to the Peng Clan Lord, was exchanging silly jokes.
"Peng-rak, what have you been up to? I haven't heard from you, so I thought you were already in the ground."
"Me? I've been busy making a coffin. My body is a bit big, you see. There wasn't a suitable coffin for me to fit in. So what could I do? I had to personally cut down the trees to make the coffin."
...Is that a joke? It seems like a joke since only the two of them are laughing.
"Really? What do you like? I'll prepare a memorial table for you in advance, so eat a lot before you go."
"Hahaha! Your jokes have improved a lot, Brother? Good. I've come all the way to Sichuan, so let's taste some Sichuan Baijiu."
Peng-rak, who thumped his chest heartily, picked up a bottle of alcohol. I glanced at Peng-rak, who was pouring alcohol into Dang Jung's glass.
The Peng Clan people were gritting their teeth, unable to cry or laugh at the two men's harsh jokes.
Please consider the descendants who are listening.
Unlike Dang Jung, who was chuckling and clinking glasses with Peng-rak, Moyong So-ye looked upset.
"I hate Father."
"So-ye, your father didn't mean it that way..."
"I don't care. I hate him!"
Moyong So-ye stomped her feet and flopped onto the table. She seemed upset that the adults weren't listening to her.
Raising children is a war everywhere.
I smacked my lips and followed the Moyong Clan Lord with my eyes as he returned to the platform after comforting his granddaughter.
The Clan Lords of each family were sitting solemnly on the platform.
From the left, there were Namgung Sang, the Moyong Clan Lord, Dang Mu-hyeok, and two unknown men, but the one fanning an Iron fan was probably the Jegal Clan Lord.
Then that burly man must be the Peng Clan Lord. If I touched that arm, I would fly away as if hit by a truck.
I clicked my tongue as I looked at the man with extraordinary muscles. The Peng Clan people were said to have outstanding physiques, and it was true.
"Ahem."
Dang Mu-hyeok, who had attracted attention with a dry cough, rose from his seat.
He looked around the banquet hall and slowly spread his arms.
"Then, I will begin the banquet. I hope you enjoy it."
As Dang Mu-hyeok sat down, the musicians who had been waiting began to play. It was the first day of the banquet.
The morning banquet went smoothly. Or rather, Dang Jung pulled me out before anything could go wrong.
He dragged me out under the pretext of wanting to catch up with Peng-rak alone.
"What's the point of old men joining in where the children are playing? Let's go out and not make the atmosphere gloomy."
"Since when did Brother care about that? Are you drunk?"
Peng-rak asked back at the unnatural words, but Dang Jung pretended not to hear and got up.
He handed me a bottle of alcohol and spoke.
"You there. Take this bottle and follow me."
Elder, you're making it obvious that you're trying to get me out of here.
Dang Mu-hyeok looked at me and Dang Jung at the busy movements. However, he didn't seem to want to make a fuss and quickly averted his gaze.
I hugged the bottle and followed Dang Jung and Peng-rak.
Peng-rak, who had followed Dang Jung without knowing why, looked puzzled.
"Brother, Brother? Where are we going?"
"My residence."
"What? I don't want to. Why are you trying to take me to a dustbin?"
I couldn't help but snort at Peng-rak's words. It seemed that Dang Jung's residence being dirty was not a one- or two-year thing.
Dang Jung glared at Peng-rak and me alternately and twitched his lips.
"What do you mean by dustbin? So-hye cleaned it up nicely yesterday."
"Even so, it's probably a dustbin. By the way, who is So-hye? Is it this child?"
Peng-rak's gaze reached me. When I bowed politely, he nodded and narrowed his eyes.
"It's unusual for Brother to remember the names of his Maids. Is she Hwayeon's granddaughter? No, she wouldn't be wearing Maid clothes then."
"She's not related to Hwayeon."
"She looks exactly like Hwayeon."
"I was surprised too. I even touched her twice, thinking she was wearing a human skin mask. I wondered if she was a spy."
"Brother, really. Who remembers Hwayeon's face? You're too suspicious."
Dang Jung smiled bitterly at Peng-rak's nagging.
"...That's right. Now, I'm probably the only one who remembers Yeon. They've all turned to dust."
I blinked at the voice filled with loneliness. It was the first time I had seen Dang Jung looking lonely.
Peng-rak also seemed flustered and stammered.
"Has this old man really gotten old? You're saying weak things. And why are you excluding me? I'm here, you know."
"What's the point of including someone who's about to die?"
"Who said I'm going into a coffin tomorrow? I'll be fine for a couple of years. No, why are you calling people over and getting sentimental when you said we were going to catch up? Are you feeling the spring?"
"Just in case. If you meet Hwayeon first, please tell her that her brother is sorry."
"Brother, let's stop there."
Peng-rak cut him off awkwardly, but Dang Jung didn't stop talking.
"I often think. If I had known that Hwayeon would go that way, I would have taught her the Martial Arts Technique she wanted, regardless of the rules."
"..."
"That Poison skill wasn't a big deal."
Dang Jung, who had pursed his lips, looked up at the sky without a word. I could feel the old man's regret in his sunken eyes.
Silence fell. I hugged the bottle of alcohol tightly. I felt as uncomfortable as if I were sitting on thorns.
I couldn't dare to offer comfort without knowing the circumstances, and I couldn't rudely interrupt and change the subject.
All I could do was stand quietly, pretending not to hear.
Peng-rak, who was rubbing his face with a complicated expression, raised his head. However, he did not comfort Dang Jung. Instead, he sharply rebuked him.
"Brother, that's a bad habit. Don't superimpose a dead person on a living person."
"Who said I was superimposing anyone?"
Peng-rak didn't even blink at the sharp retort. He said coldly.
"If that's not the case, then why are you keeping a child who resembles your dead sister? Don't do that. It's a terrible thing to do to Hwayeon and to that child."
