Chapter 76: Cho, Hyang, Bin (1)
Translator: bjgoofy
There was a concern that Taehwa Sect might become suspicious about the man's sudden death, but the matter was buried faster than expected.
Taehwa Sect retrieved the body without conducting even the most basic investigation.
They didn’t even send someone to examine the situation at the time, nor did they carry out any superficial investigations like questioning witnesses.
As a murim sect, there’s always the possibility of making enemies or being targeted, so when someone dies, it's standard to investigate for poison or look into the surrounding circumstances. Yet, even though it was the third son of the Family Head who had died, that process was skipped entirely.
Later, the cause of death that leaked from Taehwa Sect was simply sudden death.
According to the old man Hwang Geon, their Young Master quickly covered up the matter.
Though it wasn't made public, the Elder mentioned that since the fellow frequented gambling dens every few days, he was probably disowned by his family.
Or perhaps his erratic behavior had already been somewhat known internally.
Because of that, rather than suspecting us, Taehwa Sect instead sent us gifts and gratitude.
Saying they had heard we had tried to save their son.
‘It feels a bit wrong to receive gifts after killing someone, doesn’t it?’
Thus ended a rather satisfying revenge, and a few days later.
We departed from Sichuan’s Tang Family in Chengdu, heading toward Song Family Village, accompanied by Na-ok.
Given the nature of the Tang Family, once inside, she wouldn’t be able to contact the outside for a while, so we were making a stop at her younger sister’s grave.
Nunim had said she could send someone to take care of the grave or even move it, so that decision was up to Na-ok.
As we rode the carriage into Song Family Village, a small farming village on the outskirts of Chengdu, people began to gather.
And leading the group was a man who looked like the village head, asking the purpose of our visit.
“What brings you from Sichuan's Tang Family to our Song Family Village? Hm? Na-ok!?”
The village head was surprised to see the woman who stepped out of the carriage.
“It’s been a while, Elder.”
"How are you with people from the Tang Family?"
“I’ll be placing myself under their care from now on, Elder.”
“You’re going to the Tang Family!? What, what a blessing this is!”
“Na-ok is going to Sichuan’s Tang Family!?”
The Tang Family was a respected household even in this region, so even though ordinary people who entered became no more than servants, people still congratulated her.
After brief greetings, we followed Na-ok’s paternal uncle and aunt up a gently sloping hill behind the village.
In a corner of what looked like a communal graveyard crowded with numerous graves stood a shabby wooden tombstone.
Grave of Song Na-eun.
The writing on the worn wooden marker indicated that the grave belonged to Na-ok’s younger sister.
“Na-eun...”
The woman gently stroked the sparsely overgrown grave, full of sorrow.
Behind her, her paternal uncle spoke with a pained expression.
“Na-ok, I don’t know how you came to join the Tang Family, but still, forget about revenge and find happiness there. Wouldn’t your sister want that?”
Since the fact that she had avenged her sister had been kept hidden, they must have thought she had given up on revenge.
He continued with a plea.
“Young Miss, this may be presumptuous, but please take good care of our Na-ok. She lost her parents young and raised her younger sister on her own, and then that child suffered such a terrible fate....”
I had heard he was like a father to her, and his words revealed just how much he cared for the woman named Na-ok.
“Yes, she is now part of our Tang Family, so there is no need to worry.”
As our conversation came to an end, the woman took a faded scented pouch from her bosom and hung it on the tombstone.
When the pouch hanging on the marker swayed in the breeze from somewhere, the woman could no longer hold back and burst into heavy sobs.
"Hic.... hic hic.... I should have arrived earlier that day...."
She seemed unable to erase the lingering regret.
And then, as if in response to her words, a sorrowful cricket’s cry began to echo from the grass growing around the grave.
-Chirr chirr.
She had said that the cricket sounds reminded her of her sister's voice. I wondered what her sister might be saying to her now.
Like her uncle had said, hopefully, she was telling her to forget everything and just be happy.
***
In a back alley of Chengdu in Sichuan, dark despite being daytime due to large trees and walls on both sides.
Beneath the shadow of one such tree, an old beggar in shabby clothes fumbled around in the pouch on his waist and took something out.
What he pulled out was a dried-up, shriveled insect.
The old man examined the insect from various angles, then with an incredulous expression, quickly popped it into his mouth.
A contented smile slowly spread across his face.
"Despite its appearance, this is quite savory and delicious?"
What the old man had taken from his pouch was a larva of the yellow powder insect he had received as a gift from the children of the Tang Family.
Though he was told he could come back for more if he ran out, that would be embarrassing for Hwang Geon's dignity, so he put the larva carefully into his mouth while promising himself to savor it.
-Crunch.
As he chewed the larva, a rich, nutty flavor filled his mouth.
A smile appeared on Hwang Geon’s face.
“A savory revenge....”
As the pleasant taste lingered in his mouth and he recalled the child who had gifted him this yellow powder insect and brought him such rare amusement.
A presence was felt in the tree above.
Hwang Geon looked up at the tree and asked,
“Why’re you hiding like a thief, peeking around? What brings you here anyway?”
Then came an angry shout from above.
With that shout, two figures leaped down from the tree and landed before Hwang Geon.
“Hey, Hyung-nim, a thief? You're doing this again!”
The person who appeared before his eyes was none other than Gal Ji-heung, known as Divine Thief, the Stealing Emperor, one of the Five Emperors among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the Central Plains’ murim.
“You fool. Then what should I call a thief if not a thief?”
“I mean, I have a nice nickname, Divine Thief, after all....”
“Divine Thief, my ass. You say you’re called Divine Thief because you’re good at stealing, then should I be called Divine Beggar because I’m good at begging? Should I go to the Murim Alliance and ask them to change my title to Divine Beggar starting tomorrow?”
“Ah come on, we finally meet after so long and you’re already starting again.”
Gal Ji-heung scratched his head, resigned to the usual argument that always broke out whenever they met.
As Hwang Geon popped another yellow powder insect into his mouth, he asked,
“So, what brings you to Sichuan? Ah, that’s a pointless question, isn’t it? Came to steal something again?”
“Come on, Hyung-nim, I even brought my disciple. Please, save my face a little.”
After grumbling, Gal Ji-heung seemed to give up and started pleading.
When Hwang Geon looked beside Divine Thief, a pretty young girl bowed her head and greeted him.
“Nice to meet you, Elder Hwang Geon. I am Young-ryeon, disciple of Master Divine Thief.”
It seemed that his sworn brother had taken a disciple without him knowing.
Hwang Geon looked pained as he muttered,
“Gal, just dealing with you is headache enough, and now there’s a disciple too.... The future of murim looks bleak.”
“Hyung-nim!”
“Yeah, yeah, fine, I got it! Anyway, it's good to see you. And don’t just stand up there, both of you sit down, my neck hurts.”
When he urged them to sit on the pile of straw because his neck was stiff from looking up, the two of them casually took their seats.
Though Hwang Geon teased him by calling him a thief, he inwardly smiled at the fact that neither his sworn brother nor his disciple complained about the dirty floor.
"So, how did you know I was here and find me?"
Normally, the reason would be that he needed some information for a theft, but since it had been a while, he asked just to hear the story.
Divine Thief answered with a grin.
“Just like how Hyung-nim sits in alleys like this and knows all the rumors of the world, I’ve got a knack for finding where you’re hiding, wherever it may be.”
Though Divine Thief boasted, Hwang Geon suspected that the last time they met, the guy had secretly applied ten-thousand-mile tracking incense on him.
"Ha, showing off again. Must’ve smeared me with some ten-thousand-mile tracking incense or something. Come on, skip the nonsense and just tell me how you found me.”
“Ah, Hyung-nim, really. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. Let’s save that talk for later and go eat first. Let’s head to a nice restaurant....”
His sworn brother suggested eating at a good restaurant.
But as he looked Hwang Geon up and down again, he scratched his head and added,
“No, wait. Hyung-nim wouldn’t be allowed inside a restaurant, would you.
Alright, Yeong-ryeon, go and buy us something to eat. Get some duck meat, some skewers, and pick up some liquor too.”
"Yes, Master."
Seeing him change his mind and ask for his favorite duck meat and alcohol, it seemed he really did have a favor to ask.
Hwang Geon, now lying on the straw, popped another yellow powder insect larva into his mouth and asked,
“So, what are you trying to steal this time, stalling like that?”
At that, Divine Thief waved both hands and replied seriously.
“Oh come now, Hyung-nim. Do you really think I visit you every time just to plan another theft? This time, I’ve come to you for a different reason.”
“Something else?”
It was unusual for this fellow who rarely visited unless he needed information about a house to rob, to come for something else.
As Hwang Geon gave him a skeptical look, Divine Thief answered.
“Yes, I came to ask if you could tell me who knows the most about silkworms in the Central Plains.”
“Silkworms?”
If it was about silkworms, then he meant actual silkworms.
Hwang Geon tilted his head, wondering why a thief would need someone knowledgeable about silkworms. Then, Divine Thief held up his arm and said,
“You know my divine item, this Heavenly Silkworm Thread, right?”
"Yes, I know about the Heavenly Silkworm Thread."
The Heavenly Silkworm Thread was both the divine item and the symbol of Divine Thief.
Thinner than silk thread and nearly invisible, it was incredibly strong. When used sharply, it could cut through a person’s limbs or even neck with ease.
As Hwang Geon nodded, Divine Thief stroked the thread wrapped around his arm and said,
“I thought it would last for thousands of years, but apparently, even this has a lifespan. Not long ago, it snapped.”
“It snapped?”
Heavenly Silkworm Thread couldn't even be cut with a treasured sword; only with strong qi could it be barely severed. So hearing that it had broken made Hwang Geon's eyes widen.
He might call the guy a thief in jest, but that thread was the man’s livelihood. It was no different than his own begging bowl being smashed, this was serious.
“Yes, I think its life has come to an end.”
“Huh. Heavenly Silkworm Thread has a lifespan?”
"Yes, Hyung-nim may not know, but traditionally when a disciple completes their training, the previous Divine Thief passes down the Heavenly Silkworm Thread to the next generation. But I can't pass this on as it is, so I'm looking for someone knowledgeable about silkworms."
“Silkworms. Silkworms, huh....”
Those who knew silkworms well would likely be silk artisans or those who supplied silk to the royal family.
Hearing that he needed information for his disciple rather than for theft, Hwang Geon nodded approvingly.
“Well, if it’s for that kind of matter, I absolutely must help.”
“Thank you, Hyung-nim!”
“I’ll ask the children in Sichuan to look into it for you, so wait here in Sichuan for now. And don’t go stirring up trouble by stealing things again in the meantime, got it?”
As he shot a sharp glance to warn him not to cause a ruckus in Sichuan again, the disciple who had gone to fetch food returned, arms full of delicious dishes, and soon enough, a humble feast between a thief and a beggar began right there in the alley.
***
The day after we accepted Na-ok into the family.
She became a member of Venomous Creature Squad.
Since she needed access to the Venomous Creatures Garden, she couldn’t just be a servant or helper. As a result, she had no choice but to officially become part of the squad.
Though she was far too old to start learning martial arts, since she was now a member of the Venomous Creature Squad, Squad Leader Gu Pae agreed to teach her martial arts.
Squad Leader Gu Pae seemed to feel a sense of kinship with her and had been taking good care of her ever since she was brought to Sichuan’s Tang Family.
So I brought her to the Venomous Creatures Garden to introduce her to her workplace.
Pointing inside, I explained.
“This is the Venomous Creatures Garden.”
"Ah, so this is where I'll be working?"
“Yes. Would you like to take a look around first? Over there is where we raise crickets. And there, we raise pinkies. That area is for yellow powder insects.
These are bred as feed for the venomous creatures.”
“Then, I’ll be raising crickets, yellow powder insects, and that pinkies as well?”
“Well, yes, that’s correct. But... will that be alright with you?”
I asked with concern about whether the cricket sounds would be okay, but she smiled.
Her previously gloomy expression had brightened somewhat compared to before.
"Yes, it's fine. I don't hear my sister's voice anymore. Perhaps she's telling me to repay my debt of gratitude to the Young Master for the rest of my life."
It was a grateful statement, but since she probably wasn't completely healed, I nodded, deciding to ask Squad Leader Gu Pae to keep a close watch on her.
"I understand."
It seemed better for her to work and interact with others than to remain idle and alone in a daze.
As we finished viewing the inside and were walking out, Na-ok's voice reached me.
“By the way, what kind of venomous creatures do you raise here?”
She seemed curious about what she’d be raising going forward. Perhaps she didn’t remember the time I had brought out the kids while she was mentally unstable.
I quickly took out Cho, who had been hidden in my sleeve.
-Tsurur.
"These are the kind of venomous creatures we raise."
"A centipede!?"
Na-ok blinked in surprise at the large Cho.
I made Cho look at Na-ok and said.
“Aigo, my Cho, you should say hello?"
Then, as if greeting her, Cho gave a little nod of her head.
“Aigo, my Cho even has manners.”
I gave a light kiss to the Cho’s forehead as she responded on command.
And as I was introducing Na-ok to the centipedes and walking out, Na-ok's cautious voice reached me.
“Y-Young Master Soryong... do you, by any chance, also ha-have someone you want to take revenge on?”
“?”
'What does she mean?'
At this unexpected question, I thought carefully and realized that in Na-ok's eyes, I must appear to be half-crazed with thoughts of revenge, just like her.
*****
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