Chapter 43
43
10. My Family's Enemies
Half an hour after being kicked out of the reception room, I circled the pond, waiting for the guest to leave.
Why did the Murim Alliance Leader come to see Dang Jung? Who is the owner of the wooden plaque that made Dang Jung so excited?
Neither Wiji-gok nor Ok-hwan were mentioned in the novel.
The Murim Alliance Leader during Namgung Hwi's time was not Wiji-gok but the Abbot of Shaolin.
And Ok-hwan…
"Go back to the detached palace. This conversation won't end easily."
"Wah!"
You scared me. I almost had a heart attack.
I jumped and turned my head to see Dang Geunmyeong standing there with a blank face. I stroked my fluttering chest and greeted him.
"Hello, Seventh Elder."
But Dang Geunmyeong's reaction wasn't good. He frowned and asked sharply.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Yes? What, what is it?"
Why is he suddenly angry?
As I stammered in embarrassment, Dang Geunmyeong, who had been staring at me intently, spat out,
"I am not an Elder."
"Yes? But everyone calls you Seventh Elder…"
As I trailed off, sensing his displeasure, Dang Geunmyeong softened his expression, realizing I had no ill intentions.
"The Patriarch just gave me a fancy title. No one considers me an Elder. I'm just the lucky son of a Gatekeeper who received the Dang surname."
"…Ah."
So, this person isn't a Tang Clan blood relative. I never knew.
I hesitated, then awkwardly joked.
"Well, if you put it that way, I'm just a lucky-to-be-alive gisaeng's daughter."
"…I guess so."
He chuckled, and his voice softened.
I didn't realize it because he always frowned, but he had a surprisingly likable impression when he smiled. I smiled back and asked.
"Then what should I call you?"
"Just call me Mister."
"Is that okay?"
"It's better than being called Elder. Now, go back to the detached palace. I'll let you know if the Patriarch calls for you."
Having settled the matter of address, he returned to his stiff expression as if he had never smiled.
"Yes, Mis… He's gone."
Is it a trend in this neighborhood to leave without listening to the end of what people say?
I scratched my head, left alone, and started walking.
As soon as I returned to the detached palace, I was greeted by Songji and Kyung-ah sitting on the porch, amicably sharing Osmanthus rice cakes.
"Oh, Young Miss. What brings you back so early? I thought you'd be back after sunset."
Songji nonchalantly munched on a rice cake, and
"Ah, Young Miss…! Rice cake… have some…."
Kyung-ah jumped up and held out the tray of rice cakes to me.
It seems like I've become an intruder.
"I'm okay. Deokju, do you want a rice cake?"
"I'm fine."
"Ri, rice cakes are delicious…."
When no one took a rice cake, Kyung-ah fidgeted with her fingers and popped a rice cake into her mouth.
I swallowed a laugh and sat down on the porch.
"Yes. Kyung-ah, eat a lot since they're delicious. Songji, do you know anything about the Murim Alliance?"
"Yes? The Murim Alliance? Young Miss, surely you don't think I would know something like that?"
Songji's eyes widened as if she had heard something strange.
She might know. She usually rattles off things I don't even ask about.
"Even something trivial is fine. Have you ever heard stories about people from the Murim Alliance visiting, or about Tang Clan members belonging to the Murim Alliance?"
Songji shook her head as if she knew nothing about it. Instead, Kyung-ah swallowed a rice cake and said,
"Sa, Sichuan, branch…!"
"Huh? Sichuan branch?"
"The Murim Alliance… Si, Sichuan branch… co, comes… once e, every three months…. The ki, kitchen… prepares for guests…."
Kyung-ah stopped, out of breath, and took a deep breath before continuing.
"They te, tell us… not to make mistakes… be, because… they're very… im, important guests…."
"Really? I never knew. Hey, were there any handsome young masters?"
"Th, that's… not yet…."
Kyung-ah shook her head at Songji's question. Songji clicked her tongue as if disappointed.
"If a handsome young master comes, call me too. Let me feast my eyes."
Kyung-ah's expression turned strange at the brazen remark. She looked like she regretted saying it. I pretended not to hear Songji's words and asked.
"Do you know why they come every three months?"
"I, I don't know well, but… they said it's the Alliance's investigation team…."
Then Deokju, who had been listening silently, interjected.
"You can think of it as regular information sharing. It's impossible for the Murim Alliance to operate in Sichuan without the Tang Clan's cooperation."
"Information sharing?"
"More accurately, it's closer to a request for cooperation. It's a request like, 'The Murim Alliance's forces will be moving on such-and-such a date, so be aware in advance,' or 'A Murim public enemy has fled to Sichuan, can you help with the search?'"
When I looked at him with eyes that asked how he knew that, Deokju awkwardly explained.
"I've interacted with Martial Artists from the Sichuan branch before."
"I see."
I guess it's just my imagination that it sounds like he had a fistfight with them.
After hearing the explanation, the current situation felt even stranger.
The fact that the Murim Alliance Leader came despite the usual visits from the investigation team was proof that this wasn't a normal occurrence.
I hope nothing dangerous happens to Grandfather.
Deokju, who had been watching my expression change every moment, carefully opened his mouth.
"Young Miss. Sometimes, what you don't know can be medicine. It would be best if you kept silent about today's guest."
"I haven't said anything yet."
"I know. But it seems like you want to know about the guest."
Worry clouded Deokju's face. He seemed concerned that I might stir up a hornet's nest.
"I understand what you mean. Don't worry."
I nodded and stretched out on the porch, smacking my lips. Dang Jung's face, which had been full of anger, kept popping up in my mind above the pure white clouds.
I hope it's nothing serious.
Songji, who had been watching my mood, spoke brightly as if trying to change the atmosphere.
"Young Miss. Does that mean your training is over for today?"
"I guess?"
"Then shall we grill some tofu? Kyung-ah brought some to eat after the rice cakes."
"Hehe."
Kyung-ah, with a smile, shyly held out a bowl of tofu.
"Okay. Let's eat."
I chuckled and got up.
* * *
It was the next day at dawn when I heard the news that Dang Jung had left with the Murim Alliance Leader.
Dang Geunmyeong, who had come to my detached palace, conveyed Dang Jung's words in a blunt voice.
"Don't slack off and train properly. Your grandfather will be back to check. …That's what he said."
"Yes. Did he go far?"
"It will take seven days and nights."
"That long? It's not dangerous, is it?"
"That's none of your concern."
A granddaughter can worry about her grandfather, can't she? He's so stiff.
When I pouted, Dang Geunmyeong awkwardly added.
"Geunmyeong will listen well. I'll bring you a gift. …He also said that."
"Aren't you going with him, Mister?"
"If your martial prowess was outstanding, I would have gone. He's worried you'll get beaten up somewhere."
"…."
What does Grandfather think of me?
I forced a smile and waved my hand.
"Deokju is here too."
"That child isn't top-notch either. Do your morning training on your own. I'll come see you in the afternoon."
Dang Geunmyeong, with a serious expression, said only what he had to say and disappeared. I grumbled.
"That Mister is so cold."
"The Tang Clan elders are all like that, I guess."
Songji, who agreed, changed the subject.
"By the way, do you know that you're having dinner at the Clan Head Hall today?"
"Clan Head Hall? Is it today?"
"Yes. It's the eighth day of every month, so it's today."
I couldn't help but sigh at the schedule I had completely forgotten.
I heard that the children of the Patriarch gather once a month to eat a meal.
Since everyone stays cooped up in their own residences and doesn't come out, Dang Mu-hyeok ordered them to do so.
It was a gathering created to strengthen the brotherly love between siblings, and since I was officially registered as a direct descendant, I had to participate as well.
The problem was that I had no clothes. I had nothing but martial arts uniforms!
Grandfather. You should have made me some everyday clothes too.
I don't know whether to admire Dang Jung's preparedness in making ten martial arts uniforms, or to admire his indifference in not caring about anything other than martial arts uniforms.
But I couldn't go wearing shabby clothes. Since I was participating as the Patriarch's daughter, I had to maintain at least a minimum level of formality.
…No, wait. Do I have to maintain formality? It doesn't seem like there's anyone who would expect me to be formal anyway.
My damn father probably wouldn't care whether I wore a martial arts uniform or pajamas.
"Can't I just go wearing a martial arts uniform?"
Songji shook her head firmly at my question.
"No. It's the first time you're meeting your other siblings. There are already a lot of rumors because of your birth, so if you go looking scruffy, you'll be looked down upon."
Songji. I'm your Young Miss. Are you allowed to call me a bastard to my face?
But it wasn't wrong, so I just let it go. I felt a little sorry for her as I watched Songji rummage through the empty closet with a troubled expression.
At that moment, Deokju lowered his body, guarding the outside.
"What's wrong?"
"Young Miss Ju-hee has come to find you."
What Young Miss?
I tilted my head in confusion and listened, and I could hear Kyung-ah's voice as well.
"Y, Young Miss…! Y, you can't just go in…!"
"It's okay. I won't bite."
"Sh, she's… re, resting… right now…! Vi, visit again… la, later…."
"I said it's okay."
"B, but…!"
Despite Kyung-ah's dissuasion, someone was entering the detached palace without regard for the situation.
Who's causing such a commotion? My brow furrowed involuntarily.
Soon, the door to the detached palace burst open.
"Hello."
It was a cheerful greeting for someone who had barged in uninvited.
Songji quickly bowed her head, recognizing the uninvited guest.
"Young Miss Ju-hee, have you arrived?"
My eyes widened at the unexpected person.
The one who came to find me was my half-sister, Dang Ju-hee, who had been clinging to Dang-un's side at the banquet.
Why is she here?
I felt uneasy.
Dang Ju-hee's nickname is…
"Are you my new little sister?"
The Tang Clan's Mad Dog.
