Chapter 59
59
At my spaced-out reaction, Dang Ju-hee scratched her head.
"What is it, maknae? Didn't you hear anything? I thought you knew."
"I don't know anything, so please explain. What's this about a coming-of-age ceremony, and what's this about affiliations?"
"The main family has a rule that when you come of age, you have to fulfill your responsibilities as a member of the family. You choose a place to belong and stay in the family, or you join the martial force and become active."
I thought things were just rolling along, but there were rules. Well, it is a Martial Sect, even if it looks like this.
"Do I have to choose an affiliation no matter what?"
"Of course. We raised you until you came of age, so you have to earn your keep. If you play around without an affiliation, how are you any different from a freeloader?"
Dang Ju-hee retorted sharply.
...Freeloader is a bit harsh.
I understood why the rule was made. If you want to run this vast estate with only blood relatives, every pair of hands is precious.
Dang Ju-hee, who was watching my expression, whispered kindly.
"Grandfather Jonghyun also told you to help with the Medicine Hall's work, right? He's probably thinking of sending you to the Medicine Hall."
I don't think so.
I pretended not to hear and brushed the wood dust off my clothes.
"Can I stop trimming now?"
"Yes. I think you've paid for the medicine."
You beat me up, so you can't make me pay.
I was speechless at the brazen answer, but I didn't have the energy to argue. I grumbled and put down the dagger.
The Chief of Medicine Hall, who had finished his work, also called Deokju.
"Come here and lie down. Let me check your pulse."
After checking Deokju's pulse, he shrugged as if it was nothing.
"Your Qi is just blocked. It's not serious, so I'll just give you some acupuncture."
"What about his face? He's got a bad bruise."
"What's the big deal about a Martial Artist getting a bruise?"
The Chief of Medicine Hall retorted and stuck large needles into Deokju's body. Deokju, who instantly became a hedgehog, trembled.
...That must hurt.
I tried not to look at the large needles and said again.
"Still. It's his face, of all places. What if it leaves a scar?"
Our kid is stubborn and won't even apply medicine.
"If you're so worried, I'll prescribe a decoction to reduce the swelling. Feed it to him before you leave."
The Chief of Medicine Hall, with cloudy eyes as if I was being a nuisance, gestured behind him. Then Dang Ju-hee handed over a medicine pot as if she had been waiting.
"Here. Brew it."
...The medicine is self-service?
I chuckled and took the medicine pot.
* * *
Dang Ju-hee did not forget Dang Jung's request to send me back before Shinshi. He pushed me on the back exactly when Mishi was ending.
"Okay, maknae, you go now. Grandfather Jonghyun will come after you."
Unlike Dang Ju-hee, who sent me off neatly, the Chief of Medicine Hall seemed reluctant to see me go.
He followed me to the front gate to see me off.
"You've worked hard. I hope you'll come and work hard tomorrow too."
What kind of greeting is that?
Dang Ju-hee also chimed in.
"Yeah. Are you coming tomorrow too? It's about time to organize the old medicinal herbs. If you help, I'll teach you how to mix them. Don't you want to know how to make Detoxification Pills?"
The Chief of Medicine Hall, nodding as if to say yes, had sparkling eyes as if he had studded them with stars.
"If I have time. I'll be going now. Deokju, let's go."
I mumbled an answer and slowly moved my feet. My back tingled from the burdensome gaze.
Someone please put someone in the Medicine Hall.
Thanks to the acupuncture that the Chief of Medicine Hall had given him, Deokju's bruise had faded a lot.
"Deokju. Are you okay? The swelling has gone down a lot."
"I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Young Miss."
Deokju answered with a faint smile. I widened my eyes at Deokju's smile, which I was seeing for the first time.
"Oh, Deokju, did you just smile?"
"......"
"You smiled, didn't you? Right?"
At my fuss, Deokju erased the expression from his face.
Hey. I saw you smile.
"Our Deokju can smile now too. You've grown up so much."
"......"
I teased Deokju and headed to Dang Jung's residence.
Contrary to my expectation that Dang-un would be waiting, only Dang Jung was in the building.
Sitting in front of a desk that was in a mess, he was holding a brush.
He was frowning and scribbling something, as if he was writing an important letter.
The room has become a pigsty. I should clean it up tomorrow.
Just as I was about to turn around and leave quietly so as not to disturb him, Dang Jung called me.
"Don't just stand there, come and sit down."
His gaze was still on the tip of the brush. How did he know without even looking? I wondered and asked.
"How did you know it was me?"
"You're the only one who strolls into this old man's residence as if you're taking a walk. How could I not know?"
I don't think that's a compliment.
I smacked my lips and pulled a chair next to Dang Jung and sat down. Dang Jung, who put down the brush, looked at me and asked.
"So. How was the Medicine Hall?"
"They seemed short-handed. When I helped with the medicinal herbs, the Chief of Medicine Hall was very happy."
"Everyone ran away because of Ju-hee's nagging. She's not usually that bad-tempered."
...It was true that they ran away because of Dang Ju-hee. Shouldn't they send Dang Ju-hee out if it's that bad?
"Was it okay to handle the medicinal herbs?"
"So-so."
Dang Jung chuckled at my answer.
"You must have trimmed them properly since you didn't get scolded. If you're bored, stop by from time to time and learn how to handle medicinal herbs. It will be helpful."
"The Chief of Medicine Hall told me to come and work hard tomorrow too."
"Shim Hong-i? Haha, that guy is a good joker."
It wasn't a joke. He looked like he wanted to lock me up in the Medicine Hall.
As I rubbed my goosebumped shoulders, something strange caught my eye.
A large bird was sitting in the corner of the desk, quenching its thirst.
"Grandfather. What is this? A hawk? An eagle?"
"It's a messenger hawk. It's been trained to bring back replies, so it's been squatting here all this time."
It was a hawk. I've seen a lot of strange animals since I came here.
After listening to Dang Jung's words, I saw a thin bamboo tube tied to the hawk's ankle. It seemed to return when a letter was put in that tube.
"Anyway, that guy Wiji-gok is such a pain in the neck. He's always pecking at this old man."
Dang Jung, who was annoyed, ruffled his hair and glared at the letter he was writing.
Then the hawk, clacking its beak, cried sharply.
"Karrr!"
"Now even the flying beasts are tormenting this old man. Don't rush me. I'm writing, aren't I?"
As Dang Jung snapped and picked up the brush, the hawk flinched and cowered.
If it was a letter to the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, it probably wasn't ordinary. I asked cautiously.
"Grandfather, it seems like an important letter, should I leave?"
"It's just a prescription, so it's okay to look at it. I've almost finished writing, so wait and have dinner before you go."
It's a long time until dinner. That means it's going to take a long time.
I pulled the chair closer and peeked at the desk. The names of familiar medicinal herbs were densely written on the letter.
It was all a combination of medicinal herbs that I had learned to make antidotes.
Only then did I realize the purpose of the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance's visit. He seemed to have come to Dang Jung seeking an antidote to a potent Poison.
Dang Jung, who was writing down the prescription, stopped and groaned, as if there was something he didn't like.
He jumped up and rummaged through the medicinal herbs scattered around the room, then looked at me.
"Child. Run an errand for this grandfather."
"Yes. Where should I go?"
"Go to the Poison King Hall and get some castor seeds from Onjeong-i. Take this pass."
"Onjeong-i?"
"The Chief of Poison King Hall. Your aunt."
Ah. I have an aunt too.
Well, I have seven siblings, so there's no way my father wouldn't have siblings.
"Yes. I'll go."
I, who was about to go on an errand obediently, stopped abruptly.
"But where is the Poison King Hall?"
"...Deokju will know."
Dang Jung sighed and answered.
* * *
The Tang Clan is a Martial Sect that specializes in Poison and Hidden Weapons. Naturally, Poison research is also actively conducted.
However, they couldn't just stir up and fry Poison anywhere. The number of people who could withstand the Tang Clan's proud potent Poison was very small even within the family.
Therefore, the Tang Clan created a Poison research institute on the mountain behind the estate and restricted access.
"That's the Poison King Hall?"
"Yes."
"So, to go on an errand, I have to climb that mountain?"
"Yes, Young Miss."
Deokju answered slowly.
Looking at the passage that was secretly connected to the back mountain, I couldn't help but laugh.
I thought there might be a warehouse to store Poison, but I never imagined they would hide Poison in the mountains.
I heard they only make Poison deep inside the inner sanctum. Since when did the back mountain become the inner sanctum?
I smacked my lips and started climbing the back mountain with Deokju.
The entrance to the mountain was a field. The fields, which were made by cutting the mountain in a terraced fashion, were neatly divided into sections and planted with poisonous plants.
When we reached the middle of the mountain, a fork appeared in the road. The left led to the Poison King Hall building, and the right seemed to lead to the forest.
In front of the forest, which had an eerie atmosphere, a black flag prohibiting entry was planted.
As I glanced at the forest, Deokju blocked my way as if it was not allowed.
"The Heavenly Poison Forest is a forbidden area. Young Miss. You must not enter."
"Really? What's inside?"
"I don't know what's inside either. I heard that it's a place where you can't enter without the Patriarch's permission."
Why is it a forbidden area? I haven't heard any stories about mythical creatures living in the Tang Clan. Did they hide a closed training ground?
I awkwardly scratched my cheek and turned to the left.
Thanks to the stairs that led straight to the building, it was easy to climb to the middle of the mountain.
But something was strange. A suspiciously bright yellow smoke was spreading around the Poison King Hall.
There was also a musty smell, like a pile of rotten leaves. It wasn't a pleasant smell.
"Deokju. That's probably Poison smoke... Oh my. Are you okay?"
I was flustered when I spoke to Deokju without thinking. Deokju, whose eyes were bloodshot, was silently shedding tears and snot.
If something is wrong with your body, you should say something. Why are you foolishly enduring it alone?
I pushed our foolish Young Miss behind me.
"This won't do. Deokju, stay here. No. Go down there."
"No, Young Miss. I'll go with you..."
"Are you going to wait outside? Or are you going to make me carry you out after you've been poisoned? We just went to the Medicine Hall, are you going to go to the Medicine Hall again?"
"......"
"You're going to wait down there, right?"
"......"
"You. Are. Going. To. Wait?"
Deokju, who was looking at me, slowly nodded.
"I'll wait. Young Miss. If the situation is not good, you must come out immediately."
"Yeah. Don't worry."
I'm immune to all Poisons.
I waved to Deokju and stepped towards the mustard-colored Poison fog.
