Chapter 222
Chapter 222. Unfounded Anxiety
So-hwa always kept the Medical Hall windows open, and when night fell, she would pretend to be working there while waiting for the Blood Sect members.
Once the sun set and people's eyes grew dull in the dark, the Blood Sect members would come seeking her at the Tang Clan residence.
But today, a different person arrived.
"Young Lady."
At Han-won's voice, So-hwa turned her head toward the door. There stood Han-won, his face full of displeasure. With his brows deeply furrowed, he said,
"The Second Young Lord of the Namgung Clan has requested a meeting."
"Bring him here."
Normally, she would receive guests in the reception hall, but since she had moved the sound-sealing formation to the Medical Hall, So-hwa summoned Namgung Hyun here instead.
However, Han-won did not move and replied,
"There is also the option of issuing a dismissal order and telling him to come back during the day."
So-hwa ignored Han-won's advice. For someone like Namgung Hyun to disregard others' eyes and come at night meant that something was amiss.
Since arriving at the headquarters, Namgung Hyun had not sought So-hwa out even once.
He knew she had gone to the North Sea and had even personally created a passage for her, yet he had pretended not to know her.
So-hwa guessed that, with so many eyes on Namgung Hyun, he had grown cautious.
That was why she could not easily brush off the fact that he had come to see her at this hour.
When Han-won reluctantly went out to fetch Namgung Hyun, So-hwa closed the window.
Not long after, she sensed a presence at the doorway. Before he could announce himself, So-hwa spoke first.
"Please, come in."
Namgung Hyun entered the Medical Hall and silently looked at her.
Perhaps because the silence dragged on, a strange atmosphere settled in. Thus, So-hwa quietly waited for him to speak first.
After a long while, Namgung Hyun finally opened his mouth.
"I am relieved that you have returned safely."
"Yes, it is all thanks to you, young warrior."
Namgung Hyun let out a dry chuckle.
Unable to understand his reaction, So-hwa asked,
"Given how late it is, it seems you have something urgent to say. Is everything all right?"
"I heard that you sealed all the passages in the North Sea."
"Yes."
"That matter greatly angered the Blood Demon."
The Blood Demon's temper was none of her concern.
When So-hwa remained silent, Namgung Hyun continued.
"The Blood Sect members keep coming to me, asking for the reconstruction of the passages. They know the headquarters is on edge, yet they still move at an ill-timed moment. That's how precious the passages have become."
Namgung Hyun's voice darkened.
"Because of that, matters concerning Jin Yin Mountain tend to reach me rather quickly."
He carefully brought the main point to his lips.
"Jin Yin Mountain is aware of the antidote that Young Lady Tang created."
"Yes, it was something they would learn eventually."
"No. It is far too fast."
Namgung Hyun spoke in a cold, warning tone, as if this were not something to gloss over.
"There is the time it takes to travel to and from Jin Yin Mountain, and also the time a Blood Sect member must waste to approach me. It has not been long since you demonstrated it, yet already word has reached my ears that the Blood Demon has recognized the antidote. That means Jin Yin Mountain noticed it quite some time ago."
So-hwa fell silent.
If the Blood Demon had learned of the antidote's existence, and that news had reached Namgung Hyun's ears, then in truth it should have affected So-hwa.
Yet the Blood Sect members who came to see her merely had the Gu poison afflicting their bodies removed and left, without any threatening behavior.
Expecting that the Blood Demon would fly into a rage upon learning of the antidote, So-hwa found his lack of response unsettling.
However, hiding that thought, she asked again in an indifferent voice,
"So you came to warn me?"
Namgung Hyun lowered his gaze to the table.
"I know you have been luring the Blood Sect members to your residence. However, from now on, you must be careful."
So-hwa nodded.
"Yes, thank you for the advice."
Namgung Hyun seemed to have finished what he had to say.
Yet he did not move, standing still in that spot.
"Um...."
He rolled his eyes like someone searching for words to say and then raised his head.
"I heard you went to the North Sea with my elder brother."
"Yes."
At So-hwa's answer, Namgung Hyun's face twitched. Only then did Tang So-hwa understand what he was trying to ask.
"The Four Directions Hall Lord was also with us."
Namgung Hyun bit his lip briefly, then spoke again.
"I also...."
A small voice was added.
"I can help you."
Though it did not sound difficult to say, Namgung Hyun spoke with effort.
"I have already received more help than I deserve. If not for you, young warrior, I would not have been able to go to the North Sea. By now, I would have been trapped in Jin Yin Mountain."
"Even so, is there not more that I can do to help?"
Namgung Hyun was a sorcerer even the Blood Demon held in high regard.
Whether sincere or not, there was no need to refuse his goodwill outright.
"The help I have received thus far is already excessive. However, should the time come when I need your assistance, I will shamelessly ask for it."
"Yes, please do so."
Though saying she would ask him later was hardly pleasant-sounding, Namgung Hyun's face brightened.
"I mean it. Please, be sure to tell me first...."
After saying "first."
Namgung Hyun cleared his throat. So-hwa understood what he wanted.
He was conscious of Namgung Jin.
Instead of explaining that nothing had happened with Namgung Jin, So-hwa decided to use the sorcerer's unease.
Turning her gaze toward the closed window, she said,
"However, it is quite late. When Young Lord Namgung Jin visited before, my father and the Grand Elder were extremely angry."
As if worried about Namgung Hyun, she issued a dismissal order.
"They may become very angry with you as well, so it would be best for you to return now."
As Namgung Hyun was about to say something, So-hwa added,
"I was scolded severely that day too, so I am a little afraid."
Namgung Hyun could no longer insist on staying.
"I am staying at the Namgung residence, so please come find me anytime. No, if that is inconvenient, send someone. I will come to you."
"Yes, I will do so."
Namgung Hyun showed a brief, regretful smile and then left.
Once he disappeared, So-hwa opened the window again. The scentless night breeze flowed inside.
It seemed no Blood Sect member would come tonight.
Perhaps because of the warning Namgung Hyun had left behind, So-hwa felt an anxiety she could not explain.
* * *
The Tang Clan of Sichuan was so peaceful it bordered on silence. With not only the Clan Head and the Young Lord absent, but also most of their maximum fighting strength away from the main estate, those who remained felt a strange mood settle in.
On one hand, they were anxious—if someone were to attack at a time like this, it would be disastrous. On the other hand, because major matters that required the Clan Head's decision had been pushed back, their tension loosened, as if they had been granted an unexpected holiday.
Tang Hae-han of the Nine Turns Pavilion also felt those opposing emotions several times a day, as though being plunged alternately into cold and hot water.
Tang Hae-han gathered his journal and went out to the outer courtyard. With more than half the inner courtyard's personnel gone, the stillness of the Nine Turns Pavilion sat poorly with him.
And if he stayed in the outer courtyard, he might be able to pick up news in passing, so he took a seat right in the middle of a road with frequent foot traffic.
Tang Hae-han scribbled with his brush once, then jerked his head up; he fluttered the pages as if to dry the ink, then sharply turned his gaze, repeating the motions.
But the Tang Clan members passing by did not react to his behavior. Such antics might draw attention once or twice, but when strange actions became habitual, people grew used to them.
Thus, peaceful and tedious days went on.
"Brother Hae-han."
A choking, tearful voice pierced his eardrums.
Tang Hae-han quickly turned toward the sound. The twins were standing behind him. It seemed the sisters had come out from the inner courtyard as well.
Yu-hwa, covering her mouth with her sleeve, looked at Tang Hae-han as if she were about to burst into tears.
"Why are you out here again?"
The younger cousin spoke while holding his arm, as if to comfort him. Ye-hwa pulled Yu-hwa's arm away and scolded her.
"Why ask for a reason? Didn't the Medical Hall Lord say to ignore him because he’s acting that way after injuring his head so badly? Why do you always ask when you already know? It’s like you’re mocking him.”
Yu-hwa placed a small finger to her lips, signaling her to be quiet.
“Why do you say everything you know out loud? Don't you know what comfort is? Why did you even follow me if you were going to be like this?”
"What are you talking about? I came to see Brother Hae-han. You're the one who followed me."
As if remembering something, Ye-hwa turned her head toward Tang Hae-han.
"Oh, right, brother. Um, what was it? The Medical Hall Lord said to stop making a spectacle of yourself, and if you have nothing to do, go refine the new medicinal ingredients the Medical Hall just brought in."
"A spectacle? When did the Hall Lord ever say something like that?"
“Hey, saying that someone is acting strangely because their heart is wounded is just a roundabout way of saying they're acting foolishly. Why is it that your inability to understand what people mean is just like Brother Hak?”
Clicking her tongue, Ye-hwa added,
"If you were going to resemble him, why not resemble his fighting skills instead of that? Tsk. How are you going to live like this? I feel like you'll get caught by some weird guy later and have your marrow sucked dry."
"What reason would I ever have to meet someone strange. I'll get along just fine with the person Father and Mother arrange for me to meet......."
As Yu-hwa trailed off hesitantly, Ye-hwa turned her head toward Tang Hae-han, as if it wasn't worth hearing more.
"Anyway, brother. The Medical Hall Lord told me to have you come to the Medical Hall."
Tang Hae-han looked at the twins with dull eyes and asked,
“But why were you looking for me? It seems you went to see the Hall Lord just to meet me.”
"Oh, the Hall Lord brought some minerals into the Medical Hall this time, right? They say he swept up all the Red Ochre. Slip me just one sack of it."
"Red Ochre? What would you use that for?"
"They say it's good for bathing. I want to try it once, and if it's nice, sell it."
"...... I know the Clan Head gives you plenty of money, so why do you live like this?"
"If you put it that way, brother, you get a fair bit of money too. So why do you live acting like a medicine peddler?”
"A medicine peddler?!"
When Tang Hae-han barked back, Yu-hwa, who had been beside him, cautiously cut in.
"Wouldn't poison peddler be more accurate? Even if the Nine Turns Pavilion belongs to the Medical Hall, it makes poison, not medicine, right?"
"You halfwit, don't butt in if you don't understand. Do you think I'm really calling Brother a medicine peddler? I'm being sarcastic. Ugh, Yu-hwa, if you just stay quiet, you'll at least seem halfway sensible.”
At that moment, Tang Hae-han deeply understood why Tang So-hwa avoided the twins.
They hadn't talked for very long, yet his head already hurt.
It felt like being stuck between Hak, who couldn't fight, and Hak, who talked too much.
Tang Hae-han folded his journal and tried to flee, but then sat back down and asked,
"But did you say the Medical Hall Lord is gathering Red Ochre?"
"Yeah."
"That's strange. There should already be plenty of Red Ochre. Why would he procure more? He isn't someone who wastes medicinal ingredients."
Just as Tang Hae-han narrowed his eyes—
"Right? It's weird. He didn't just sweep up the Red Ochre. He took all the Magnetite, too."
"Magnetite as well?"
"Yeah, yeah. He says he's using something that precious as medicine! It's not like he's trying to achieve immortality, so why use that as medicine?"
"...... But how do you know that?"
"The Chief Steward knows everything."
"You got close with the Chief Steward?"
“Well, it’s not like the Chief Steward is the only one in the steward's office.”
Though the Grand Lady's family was one of the foremost merchant houses, Tang Hae-han wondered if the temperament of a merchant was something one was born with. He couldn't understand how a child so young could have such a keen eye for wealth and the ways of the world.
Looking at Yu-hwa, who had the exact opposite disposition, Tang Hae-han thought to himself,
'Yes. It might actually be easier to live in this world by taking after the Grand Lady rather than the Clan Head.'
He soon thought of Tang So-hwa. He had heard that back when the Clan Head's temperament was weak, he had been drawn to a maid who was his opposite and had tried to abandon his position as the Young Lord.
He saw none of the Clan Head's gentleness in So-hwa. She must have inherited the maid’s temperament entirely; suddenly, he grew curious about what kind of person that maid had been.
The Grand Lady was open-hearted yet flexible at the same time. Like Ye-hwa, she knew how to communicate with various groups and didn't fuss over small rights or wrongs.
A normal person might have ignored a child left by a former wife—especially one who was a maid—but the Grand Lady treated Tang So-hwa like her own child, and in fact, Tang So-hwa grew up without facing discrimination.
No matter how much the Clan Head cherished her, there were certainly areas his gaze didn't reach, yet So-hwa was recognized everywhere as the eldest daughter of the Tang Clan.
On the other hand, it was hard to say that Tang So-hwa was magnanimous. Rather, she bore grudges even over small matters. When Tang Hae-han was young, he had teased Tang So-hwa a few times and ended up poisoned with something strange, spending the entire day clinging to a chamber pot.
Unlike the Grand Lady, Tang So-hwa was tenacious and thorough.
'Just what kind of person was Tang So-hwa's birth mother.......'
Lost in thought, Tang Hae-han lifted his head high. A massive bird flew overhead.
Piiii.
Turning his gaze to follow the direction the bird flew, Tang Hae-han flinched. The massive bird was heading toward the Black Tiger Unit's hall.