Chapter 50
50
The next day, and the day after that, Dang-un's medicinal herb lessons continued.
Gyun-gye, Yunmo, Bokryeong, Seokchangpo, Yeolseok….
I mumbled the names of herbs I had never heard before, returning to the detached palace late in the afternoon.
"Ah, Young Miss…! Y-you're back…! I, I prepared some snacks…"
Kyung-ah, waving her hands in welcome, scurried over and presented a basket filled with yugwa. It was still warm, as if freshly fried.
"Thank you, Kyung-ah. Deokju, you can have some too."
"I'm alright… Mmph."
"Here, let's chew on this since it has saliva on it. Kyung-ah, say 'ah'."
I gave each of them a piece of yugwa and munched on my own.
Kyung-ah, swallowing her yugwa with a giggle, said brightly, "E-eat lots… You need your strength… You haven't practiced… throwing cash… yet…"
Then, she brought over a bundle of coins.
…I was trying to slip past it today, but how did she know?
I plastered on a soulless smile and headed towards the pond.
In the small pond, the colorful carp that Dang Geunmyeong had moved were swimming leisurely.
Sunlight shimmered softly on the surface of the pond.
I lightly gripped a coin and took twenty steps back from the pond, taking a deep breath.
Holding my breath, I threw the coin. It sliced through the air and struck a carp's head, piercing the surface of the water.
Ooh, a hit?
My excitement was short-lived. The coin bounced off with a 'thunk' and flew out of the pond. Kyung-ah muttered with a look of dismay.
"S-stone head…"
"The fish's head must be really hard. It bounced it off."
Deokju offered words of comfort at my grumbling.
"You've improved a lot compared to the beginning. Now you can hit them even from twenty steps away."
Thinking back to the days when I couldn't even hit a fish right in front of me, it was a great improvement.
But I didn't want to be satisfied with just this.
Compared to the level Dang Jung had shown me, my skills were no better than a newborn taking its first steps.
In Grandfather's eyes, I must look like a chick still wearing its eggshell.
Hmm. Let's practice.
As I steeled my resolve and took out a new coin, Kyung-ah tilted her head, watching me.
"B-but… Young Miss… do you… have to… g-grab it… like that…?"
"Huh? Is there another way?"
"Yes… S-shall I… show you…?"
"Yes. Show me."
Kyung-ah's confident attitude piqued my curiosity.
Did Kyung-ah also know how to throw Hidden Weapons? Or was there a different way to use coins?
Seeing my curiosity, Kyung-ah smiled and took something out of her pocket.
"T-this will… do…"
"What is that?"
"Japanese snowbell… berries… If you do… t-this…"
Kyung-ah crushed the berries on a stone and threw the mashed pulp into the pond.
The fish in the pond flipped over and floated to the surface, bellies up.
"Oh, uh…"
A few too many floated up.
Kyung-ah's face flushed red with embarrassment.
"Kyung-ah. All the fish are dead."
"I… put in… t-too much…"
Kyung-ah mumbled, fidgeting with her fingers as she glanced at me.
…Grandfather's going to scold me when he comes.
I clicked my tongue.
"The effect is certain, I guess. Thanks for letting me know, Kyung-ah. What's the name of the berry?"
"J-Japanese snowbell…"
"The fish won't come back to life, will they?"
"I think they died instantly."
"Looks like it. Should we clean it up first?"
"I-I'll get… the net…!"
Kyung-ah, stamping her feet, hurried off to the shed.
Squatting in front of the pond, I fell into thought.
How should I clean this up? Should I secretly replace them with new fish?
As I scratched my head and exchanged glances with Deokju, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Was Martial Artist training too bothersome? I told you not to use tricks, and now you're using Poison techniques."
"Grandfather?"
It was Dang Jung.
My body moved before my face could register my happiness. I jumped up and ran to Dang Jung, hugging him and hopping up and down.
"Grandfather! When did you arrive? Did you just get here?"
Dang Jung chuckled at my enthusiastic reaction.
"Goodness? Anyone would think your grandfather had died and come back to life. How much time did I even spend away for you to make such a fuss?"
"Those few days felt like a year. I really, really, really missed you."
I knew that Grandfather was the most normal one in this family, at least. Everyone else seemed out of their minds.
"What? Hahaha, you rascal. You're getting more and more spoiled."
Dang Jung, as if saying I was talking nonsense, stroked my head.
I quickly scanned Dang Jung's appearance. His green Long robe with gold thread embroidery was as neat as always, and there wasn't a single scratch on his face.
Seeing him looking well put my mind at ease.
Thank goodness. It must not have been a big deal.
As I let go of Dang Jung, who I had been hugging, he exclaimed as if he had almost forgotten.
"Oh, right, I brought you a gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes. I brought it in here…"
Dang Jung mumbled, reaching into his sleeve and rummaging around. The wide Long robe rustled, and soon a sleek, glossy sable was pulled out.
"Kyuu!"
The sable, letting out a sharp cry, flailed its limbs.
…A sable is the gift?
As I blinked in confusion, Dang Jung held the sable out in front of me as if to show it off.
"What do you think? Imga said that children your age want to raise animals. I figured you wouldn't like snakes or spiders, so I brought you a furry animal."
"Kii. Kiiik!"
"Stay still. Should I make you into a scarf?"
Dang Jung, annoyed, flicked the sable. The sable quieted down, curling up and making a pitiful face.
"Um… Grandfather? Am I raising this?"
"Yes. It's said to understand human speech, so it will be less lonely when you take it around."
"Ah…"
A sable out of nowhere. If I'm told to raise it, I have to raise it. Yeah. I have to raise it.
Dang Jung, flustered by my lukewarm reaction, quickly added,
"Ahem, this is no ordinary sable. It's a mystical creature trained to track the scent of Myriad League Tracking Incense."
"What's Myriad League Tracking Incense?"
"It's a medicine made by combining substances that emit a scent undetectable to humans. If you apply it to an enemy, you can track them for at least four months."
"Ah. Okay."
It's like GPS tracking. I don't think I'll ever need to use it.
"Even if you get the Tracking Incense on you, this one will let you know. It'll find its way well even if you tell it to find a path. It'll also act as an antidote."
"An antidote?"
"Yes. So-hye, you're immune to all Poison, so you don't need it, but that one will absorb and neutralize the Poison around you. It likes eating Poison, you see. So, in an emergency, you can use its Inner Energy…"
"Kyu! Kyuuuuuu!"
The sable cried out as if asking what he was talking about, tears streaming down its face.
I was impressed.
"It really understands what you're saying."
"I told you it does."
Whether the sable cried or not, Dang Jung handed it to me without a care. I carefully took the sable.
It sniffed my hand, then scurried up my arm and sat on my shoulder. Its soft tail tickled my neck.
"Hey, hey. It's ticklish. Don't move your tail."
"Kyuk."
The sable, as if trying to find a comfortable position, fidgeted for a while before placing its front paws on the crown of my head and drooping.
The warmth of its head against mine felt like wearing a fur hat.
"Grandfather. It's like a doll."
"Don't underestimate it just because it looks docile. Sables are ferocious beasts. Even ordinary sables are vicious creatures that hunt wild boars in packs. That one is a mystical creature, so it can easily handle a third-rate Martial Artist on its own."
"Really? What if it attacks me?"
"I already established the hierarchy."
At Dang Jung's words, the sable trembled. It seemed like a lot had happened on the way to the Tang Clan.
Dang Jung waved his hand as if to say not to worry, and crossed his arms.
"That one is destined to like you. It's drawn to Poison, so your Inner Energy will feel like a sweet fragrance to it. Anyway, give it a name. It's yours now, isn't it?"
A name…
I stroked the sable's fur and said,
"Its fur is black, so Blackie… that name is a bit much, isn't it? How about Heukgu?"
"That sounds like a dog's name."
Dang Jung retorted mercilessly and shook his head.
"Then Kkami?"
"Does it have to include the color?"
Dang Jung asked, furrowing his brow. The sable also seemed to dislike the naming, pulling on my hair.
"Hey. Don't pull. I'll give you a new one."
"Kii!"
I tapped the sable's front paws and fell deep in thought. After a long deliberation, the name Ju-ryeong came to mind.
"Ju-ryeong. How about Ju-ryeong?"
"Like a staff?"
"Yes. It said it would help me find my way. Like a staff, it will be helpful when going on long journeys."
Dang Jung nodded as if it wasn't bad.
"That's a good name. Do that."
"How about you? Do you like it?"
"Kuruk."
The sable, as if liking its new name, rubbed its face against my cheek.
The ticklish fur made me feel like I was going to sneeze. I rubbed my nose and pushed Ju-ryeong away.
"Ugh, you're like a duster. It's ticklish. Move away a bit."
"Kii!"
Despite my scolding, Ju-ryeong didn't run away and clung to me.
Dang Jung, watching me bickering with Ju-ryeong, smiled contentedly.
"Raise it well. Oh, don't worry about the pond. Geun-myeong will take care of it."
No sooner had he spoken than Dang Geunmyeong appeared and wordlessly took the net from Kyung-ah.
Dang Jung and Dang Geunmyeong didn't seem to care, but I felt uneasy.
Kyung-ah and I exchanged glances and awkwardly rolled our eyes.
…I'm sorry. Mister.
I clicked my tongue, offering an apology that couldn't be heard.
