Free Web NovelThe guest quarters where the Namgung Clan’s guests were staying were in the opposite direction from Tang Jung’s residence.
It was far enough that I had to wonder what on earth Namgung Hwi had been doing to end up all the way at Tang Jung’s place.
I pressed my lips together and fixed my gaze on the teacup given to me. The legs I had tucked under me were numb, but I didn’t dare move.
Because the Namgung Clan Head’s presence was terrifying.
In the lukewarm tea, my reflected face looked pitiful, like a frightened rabbit.
I really looked pathetic. I should just keep my head down.
“Raise your head.”
“Yes.”
Hm. I take that back.
At his ice-cold voice, I snapped my head up. The Namgung Clan Head was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
As soon as I dropped my gaze again, he let out a sigh. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
“So then... you’re saying you want to take this child to the Namgung Clan.”
“Yes, Father.”
At Namgung Hwi’s prompt reply, the Namgung Clan Head rubbed his forehead, looking like he had a headache.
“What made you think that?”
“She’s clever. I want her by my side.”
“She hasn’t done anything that would require you to keep her by your side, has she?”
“Pardon? Something that would require me to keep her by my side?”
When Namgung Hwi blinked in confusion, the middle-aged man’s gaze stabbed into me. I shook my head quickly.
I didn’t know what exactly he was imagining, but nothing had happened. He’s thirteen, what would he even know? Someone’s suspicious nature is working overtime.
Only then did the Clan Head’s expression ease.
“No, never mind. This foolish father let his thoughts run away with him. The tea will go completely cold. Drink first.”
He even chuckled heartily, face suddenly refreshed, as he urged me to drink.
When I fidgeted with my fingers, gauging the mood, the Namgung Clan Head urged me again.
“Go on, drink.”
Could you get tea down your throat in this atmosphere? I was dumbfounded, but it wasn’t like I had the right to refuse.
I picked up the teacup with difficulty. I couldn’t even tell if the tea was going in through my mouth or my nose.
Unlike me, whose soul had basically left my body, the Namgung Clan Head sipped gracefully, savoring the scent of the leaves as he spoke.
“Hwi, I’ll ask this first. Did you ask this child what she wants?”
“I haven’t asked yet. But she’ll like it.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because Anhui is a good place.”
What are you even talking about, you brat.
My nape went stiff at his answer. Because he likes it, of course I’ll like it too—very much the thought process of a Young Master who thinks he’s the center of the world.
Even the Namgung Clan Head seemed taken aback by that answer; he awkwardly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Looking at me with complicated eyes, the Clan Head asked,
“What is your name?”
“Sohae.”
“No family name?”
“None.”
“Parents?”
“I’m an orphan.”
His questions were perfectly proper, but I couldn’t help feeling irritated.
Dad, I want to keep this puppy. All right, what breed is the puppy?—that was the only tone I could hear.
And I was the puppy. Ha.
“I see. All right. What do you think?”
“Pardon?”
“If you were told to go to the Namgung Clan, would you be willing to go?”
I forced the corners of my mouth up. I had the same feeling of déjà vu as when Tang Jung had told me to learn martial arts.
That sense of crisis that if I gave the wrong answer, my head might go flying.
Swallowing hard, I opened my mouth.
“It is a humbling honor to answer, but...”
“What? Ahahaha, you don’t need to be that formal. I’m not of the imperial family. You only speak that way when you’re reporting to an emperor or a king.”
Oh. Not this one?
At his hearty laugh, my face burned. I hurriedly corrected myself.
“Yes. Forgive me, but I am someone who is under the instruction of Poison King Tang Jung, Grand Elder. This is not a matter I can dare decide on my own.”
Grand Elder. I’m leaving the aftermath to you.
As soon as I dropped Tang Jung’s name, there was an immediate reaction. The Namgung Clan Head’s expression turned awkward.
“...Grand Elder Tang Jung, you mean?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
His complexion darkening, he scratched his cheek and tried to dissuade Namgung Hwi.
“Hwi. This won’t do.”
“Why not?”
“Did you not hear? She is under the instruction of Poison King, Grand Elder. If you step forward saying you’re going to take this child to the Namgung Clan, the Tang Clan will sever the tendons and meridians in her arms and legs and abolish her martial arts.”
“What?”
The cry of shock didn’t come from Namgung Hwi’s mouth but mine.
What was he saying? Cut what? Tendons and meridians? In my arms and legs?
Even at my reaction, the Clan Head only lifted his shoulders and didn’t blame me for being rude. If anything, he looked at me with pity.
“Did you not know? That is what it means when a martial artist leaves their sect. And we’re not talking about just anywhere, but the Tang Clan. If you leave the Tang Clan, your life will be worse than death.”
I had absolutely no idea. Excuse me, Grand Elder, you promised to let me eat lots of meat, but you never mentioned anything like this.
Cold goosebumps rippled over my whole body. I’d worried about maybe getting poisoned, but I’d never imagined not being able to use my limbs.
Namgung Hwi’s face also went pale; he spoke heavily.
“I don’t quite understand. It’s not as if she knows any secret techniques passed down only among [N O V E L I G H T] the direct line.”
“The Tang Clan is different from the Namgung Clan. Our branch families can still establish martial halls under the Namgung name. The Tang Clan is not like that. As a rule, all of the Tang Clan’s martial arts must exist only within the Tang Clan. They cannot be allowed to leak outside.”
“But this child doesn’t even have a dantian yet and has only learned a bit of external training...!”
“Enough. Hwi. What cannot be done, cannot be done. This is another clan’s internal matter.”
When he stopped him, Namgung Hwi clenched his fists. He seemed very frustrated that he couldn’t take me.
But the one who was really getting the short end of the stick here was me.
I’d become Tang Jung’s disciple without knowing what it meant to learn the Tang Clan’s martial arts.
I had guessed my future would be tangled up badly with the Tang Clan. I just hadn’t realized it would be so bad I’d have to bury my bones here.
Grand Elder. This is a scam contract.
I suddenly wanted to go kick down the damned Tang Clan signboard.
*****
I opened and closed my mouth soundlessly and clutched my teacup. It felt like I needed to swallow something, anything, to calm down. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
When I tossed the tea back in one gulp, my mind snapped into focus. I remembered a conversation I’d once had with my Manager.
“‘Severing the tendons and meridians is a punishment worse than death. It means they’re cutting off your life as a martial artist.’”
“‘Ugh, isn’t that way too cruel? Do they really need to cut the tendons in their hands and feet on top of kicking them out?’”
“‘They say it’s the punishment when a disciple who’s committed a grave crime is expelled. You’re supposed to leave behind everything you received from your sect, and the only way to give up the martial arts engraved into your body is to abolish your martial arts, right?’”
“‘Then what happens to that disciple? They wouldn’t be able to walk; where would they even go?’”
“‘Usually they crawl around and die, or the Demonic Sect picks them up.’”
“‘...In that case, it’d be kinder to just kill them painlessly. If it were me, I’d rather bite my tongue and die than crawl around for the rest of my life.’”
Manager. You said it was the punishment for committing a grave crime. These lunatics say they’ll do it just for leaving the clan.
Let’s just say everything that’s happened up to now was a dream and call it even. Please just send me home.
I rubbed my stinging nose and took a moment to look back on how my maid life had gotten this twisted.
More importantly, how was I supposed to get out of here?
I was watching for an opening to retreat when someone hopped clean over the guest hall wall.
With movements as light as a flying squirrel, he drew everyone’s gaze.
At the familiar face, a smile slipped out on its own.
It was Tang Jung.
“It’s been a long time. Sang—no, Clan Head.”
He waved lightly, as if he were on familiar terms with the Namgung Clan Head. So the Clan Head’s name must be Sang.
Namgung Sang rose to his feet at the sight of Tang Jung and cupped his fists.
“Isn’t this Poison King, Grand Elder. It has been too long.”
“No need to stand on such ceremony. You’re a Clan Head now too; I should still keep the proper courtesies myself.”
“I can only be grateful you put it that way. But what brings you here?”
“I heard the child this old man is looking after was here. There she is. Sohae.”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know how she ended up all the way here. I’m in your debt. May I take her back?”
“Of course.”
“My thanks. Sohae. Come out here.”
At Tang Jung’s call, I tried to spring to my feet. I would have, if my legs hadn’t cramped.
When I stretched out legs that hadn’t had blood flow for a good while, a sharp jolt shot through them and my eyes prickled with tears.
When I froze in an awkward half-risen pose, Tang Jung asked in puzzlement.
“What’s wrong?”
“Grand Elder, my legs are numb.”
When I pointed at my unmoving legs with a tearful face, he snorted.
“You little thing. Now you’re going to use me as a palanquin, are you.”
“Come on, Grand Elder.”
When I wheedled in a cutesy tone, he approached with a blunt expression. With a sigh, Tang Jung slung me over his shoulder.
At his less-than-delicate touch, a scream burst out of me.
“Ow! Ow! Wait, Grand Elder! My legs, my legs! Aaagh!”
“You’re noisy. I clearly told you not to leave the pavilion, and you still managed to cause trouble in that short time.”
“There were circumstances... oww! That stings!”
“Stop exaggerating.”
It really did sting. My legs were popping like popping candy.
When I squirmed and lifted my head, Namgung Sang was staring at me and Tang Jung with a dumbfounded face. He seemed surprised at how familiar I looked with Tang Jung.
“Then I’ll be off. No, we’ll be off.”
“Please take care on your way, Grand Elder.”
Namgung Sang quickly smoothed his expression and bowed to Tang Jung. Hanging over Tang Jung’s shoulder, I also dipped my head to him.
Just as Tang Jung turned his back, Namgung Hwi shouted loudly.
“Hey, Sohae!”
“What— I mean, yes?”
I looked at Namgung Hwi. His face was flushed red as he twisted his sleeves in his hands.
“The money from the market street. I’ll pay you back tomorrow.”
No. You don’t need to pay me back. Don’t come.
I shook my head to decline, but Namgung Hwi seemed to take it as a sign of agreement and beamed.
“I’ll give you back double. See you tomorrow.”
See me for what. I said it’s fine.
At his bright voice, Tang Jung furrowed his brows.
“Did you lend that Namgung boy money?”
“No, Grand Elder. Please don’t look back and just hurry, I’m begging you.”
“You brat, I must seem easy to you now.”
Grumbling at my urging, Tang Jung vaulted over the wall.
