Chapter 49
49
Dang Hwa-yeop was so tall that I had to crane my neck to look up at him.
He was also sturdily built.
Unlike the slender Dang-un, he had a thick frame and strong features.
He looked like a villain straight out of a Tang Clan novel. If that guy had appeared in a novel, he would definitely be a villain.
When I didn't avoid his gaze, displeasure flickered across Dang Hwa-yeop's face.
"I heard the Clan Head had taken you in, so I thought you'd be some kind of unparalleled genius, but there's nothing to see except your face. Is that what you call Inner Energy?"
He talks just like Dang Mu-hyeok. I've only had my Dantian for a month, you jerk.
I should tell Grandpa when he comes that this guy said my Inner Energy is weak.
...No. Grandpa would probably say you're weak too. I should keep quiet.
His harsh words didn't particularly bother me. Because his face is Dang Mu-hyeok's, I just assumed he was that kind of guy.
You can only be disappointed if you have expectations.
I nonchalantly sipped my tea, and Dang Hwa-yeop's eyebrows twitched.
"Insolent."
What did I even do? He's just suddenly getting angry on his own.
Dang Ju-hee, who had been watching, snapped,
"If you're done with your business, get out of my residence. It's not like we're close enough to have tea together, are we?"
"Can't you speak nicely to your older brother?"
"Want me to speak even nicer? Your face is disgusting, so can you just get lost?"
Dang Hwa-yeop glared at Dang Ju-hee's snarl.
"Are you picking a fight?"
Unlike his blunt voice, the aura Dang Hwa-yeop was emitting was ominous.
He had already slipped his hand into the sleeve of his Long robe, as if he were about to launch Hidden Weapons at any moment.
"Don't."
Dang Cho-hee, as if this was a common occurrence, sighed and quickly stepped between the two.
Dang Hwa-yeop raised an eyebrow and slowly relaxed his hand. It seemed he still cared for his sister, who came from the same womb.
"Brother. Go. I'll send Sister to Father."
"Don't associate with those who lack refinement. You'll be corrupted."
Dang Hwa-yeop, as if he was letting it go this time, arrogantly raised his chin and strode out of the back garden.
"That bastard, really...!"
Dang Ju-hee cursed and kicked the spot where Dang Hwa-yeop had been standing.
It seemed that Dang Ju-hee only treated Dang-un as a respected older brother.
These siblings are a complete mess. Father, your children are never going to have good sibling relationships.
Dang Cho-hee, pulling her fuming sister, said calmly,
"Wait for Father."
"Hmph, I'm going, I'm going."
Dang Ju-hee, suppressing her anger and smoothing her clothes, stomped her feet and leaped over the wall.
Dang Cho-hee, clicking her tongue at the deep footprints, shook her head.
"Such a temper."
...Are you just leaving? Am I just leaving too?
There seemed to be no need to stay any longer in a residence without its owner. As I cautiously got up, Dang Cho-hee gestured as if it was okay.
"You can go."
"Yes, Sister."
I turned around to leave the back garden, but stopped abruptly. The distance from the pavilion to the gate was too far.
I turned back around.
"Sister, the wall Ju-hee Sister jumped over, it doesn't have any traps, right?"
"No."
Dang Cho-hee tilted her head as if wondering why I was asking that. I grinned slyly and imitated Dang Ju-hee.
Meaning I was going to sneakily jump over the wall.
Wow, I wouldn't have dared to before, but now it's easy.
I could see why Dang Jung jumped over walls. It was much faster and more convenient than walking to the gate.
"There was a reason Ju-hee Sister liked it."
Dang Cho-hee, who muttered quietly from the other side, also jumped over the wall.
Why does that sound like an insult?
In the meantime, the maid who had gone on an errand returned and said in a flustered voice.
"Young Miss, I brought the wet nurse... but. Young Miss? Young Miss? Where did everyone go?"
I felt a little sorry for the maid's anxious appearance. I shouted over the wall.
"Sister went to the Clan Head Hall!"
The maid, startled, turned to me and bowed politely.
"Thank you, Youngest Miss."
"You're welcome."
I waved my hand lightly and turned around. Dang Cho-hee, who had been staring at me, asked.
"Do you know the way?"
"No. I don't know. Which way is Dang-un Brother's residence?"
"...Follow me."
Dang Cho-hee, suppressing a sigh, pulled me along.
It was past noon when we arrived at Dang-un's residence.
Dang-un, covered with a thick blanket, was sitting in the pavilion, getting some fresh air.
"Brother. I'm here."
"So-hye, you're here? So early today... Cho-hee, you're here too? What brings you here?"
Dang-un's eyes widened as he got up from his seat. The blanket draped over his shoulders fell to the floor with a thud.
Dang Cho-hee, calmly picking up the blanket and handing it to him, replied,
"The youngest didn't know the way."
"I see. Would you like some tea? I have some good Da Hong Pao."
"I already drank."
Dang Cho-hee, shaking her head, looked at Dang-un with complicated eyes.
She seemed to pity him, and also seemed to feel sorry for him.
It was blatant pity, but Dang-un smiled sweetly as if he was used to it.
"Then take some snacks with you. Your brother wants to give you something."
"You eat it, Brother."
Dang Cho-hee shook her head brusquely. The expression on Dang-un's face momentarily stiffened at the tone that implied she didn't need anything he gave her.
I broke out in a cold sweat at the awkward atmosphere.
I think she wants to say she can't steal a patient's snacks, but her expression is wrong.
Everyone in this family has communication problems.
I hurriedly rummaged through my sleeves to change the atmosphere.
"Oh, Brother! Look at this. Cho-hee Sister gave me a Flying Needle."
"A Flying Needle?"
"It's pretty, right? It's my first time seeing something like this. Sister said she'd teach me how to throw it too."
After showing off as if I was excited, I was overcome with self-loathing.
What am I doing? Being the youngest is hard.
Only then did Dang-un, who had relaxed his expression, ask gently.
"Really? It seems like it's the first time Cho-hee has given her Hidden Weapons to someone else?"
"Really?"
She just gave it to me out of the blue. She told me to stick it in Dang Juyeop's face.
I asked in surprise, and Dang Cho-hee avoided my gaze, embarrassed.
I smiled and linked arms with Dang Cho-hee.
"Sister. Is this really the first time you've given it to me? I'm so touched."
"Our Cho-hee made a big decision. It's good to see."
Dang-un also smiled and chimed in, and Dang Cho-hee, who had been mumbling, pushed me away.
"...I'm going."
Dang Cho-hee, rubbing her bright red ears, kicked open the door of the building and left before we could stop her.
"Sister, wait a minute...! She's gone."
"Understand her. Cho-hee must have been very embarrassed."
We shrugged at each other and chuckled.
It wasn't easy to answer the question, "How did Cho-hee end up bringing you here?"
Trying to summarize what had happened from when Dang Ju-hee, who had come without warning, had coaxed me and Dang Cho-hee into drinking tea, I couldn't figure out where to start.
When Dang-un saw that I seemed to be struggling, he asked again.
"Was it Ju-hee?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Dang-un chuckled as if he understood without me having to say anything.
I smiled along and began to tell him what had happened today. Perhaps because I had become more comfortable with Dang-un, the words I had been holding back came out smoothly.
"You met Hwa-yeop too? He looks exactly like Father, doesn't he?"
"I thought they were stamped out of the same mold. His voice is the same as the Patriarch's too. Hah, is that what he calls Inner Energy?"
"Ahahaha!"
Dang-un, imitating Dang Hwa-yeop with a nasal voice, burst into laughter and fanned himself with his hand.
"Hwa-yeop has an arrogant side. But it's not unfounded confidence. His Martial Prowess is the best among us brothers. He's been learning from the Black Cloud Lord for years."
"Is that so?"
"The Young Patriarch is Young-ho Brother, but Hwa-yeop is in charge of all external exchanges. The world calls him Poisonous Hero."
What's Poisonous Hero? That's awful.
To call that narrow-minded guy a hero. The world must be going completely wrong.
When I looked disgusted, Dang-un gently chided me.
"Like him or not, he's your brother. Get along with him."
He doesn't seem to have any intention of getting along with me. He was the only one who called me a bastard at our first meeting, Brother.
"I'll try."
"That's good."
Dang-un, nodding, pushed a plate of snacks in front of me.
"Oh, Brother. I have something I'm curious about."
"Tell me."
"About Juyeop Brother..."
I was about to ask about Dang Juyeop, but I closed my mouth.
I couldn't just ask if that guy was a Demonic Cultist. It would also be strange to suddenly ask about Gu Poison techniques.
When Dang-un saw me hesitating, he looked puzzled.
"Did something happen with Juyeop?"
"Well, um... I think I heard Juyeop Brother was going to the Moon Scent Pavilion."
"Ah, you're curious about the place where Little Mother lived?"
No. I'm not curious at all.
If anything, I'm curious about what Dang Juyeop does when he goes to the Moon Scent Pavilion, not the Moon Scent Pavilion itself.
I forced a smile and nodded.
He was a kind guy to call a courtesan who wasn't even recognized as a Concubine Little Mother.
Dang-un stroked his chin with a troubled expression.
"Hmm. Father wouldn't like it, so what should I do..."
"No. Brother. There will be a chance to go someday."
"Yes. You can follow Juyeop. If necessary, we can blame it on Juyeop for dragging you along, so it'll be a way to avoid responsibility."
Dang-un, who had been stroking his chin, said brightly.
Please don't casually suggest blaming it on him. He's definitely Tang Clan blood.
"Ahaha, I'll think about it."
"Don't feel pressured. He'll be happy if you say you want to go with him. That child goes to the brothel because he needs someone to listen to his music."
It was a telling point about how Dang-un thought of Dang Juyeop.
Was I preemptively afraid and misunderstanding Dang Juyeop?
The Dang brothers saw Dang Juyeop as a carefree young master who spent money at the brothel every day and enjoyed playing musical instruments.
Seeing him foaming at the mouth after eating the Poison he made, he didn't seem very smart either.
He feels a bit stupid to be a mastermind...
'There is no such thing as a secret method to control people in the main family.'
The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I felt.
It sounds like he's saying that if the main family doesn't have it, he'll bring it in from outside.
When Dang-un saw me looking troubled, he asked kindly.
"Is it difficult to bring it up to Juyeop first? Should I ask him for you?"
"No. Brother. I'll go and ask him myself."
I shook my head.
Now that it's come to this, it's better to ask Dang Juyeop directly.
He seems to want something from me too, so he won't refuse.
I needed to see with my own eyes what Dang Juyeop was doing at the brothel.
