Chapter 141: Stirring the Pot Again (6)
“...Is it alright if I come in?”
The Poison King looked at the young man who had risen to his feet and let out a quiet inward sigh.
The antidote had done its job, it seemed.
At the very least, there would be no resentment or hatred from his daughter.
...And unintentionally, he wouldn’t have harmed this young man either.
“Ugh...”
The man rolled his eyes, scanning his surroundings. The air was clearly hostile toward him.
And rightly so. Even setting aside the use of Black Extremity Powder, the Clan Leader had already sensed the subtle power struggle between them.
They both knew he was trying to ruin his daughter’s marriage prospects.
Subduing Jegal Yong with sheer guts had been impressive, but the Poison King had seen through the impure motives behind it. “There are probably ears listening.”
The Clan Leader once again indirectly requested to be let inside.
In the end, the young man nodded.
“Come in.”
Entering the room, he scanned the area.
No one was there.
The Clan Leader let out a long breath and immediately erected a barrier of qi around them.
“This is the third time we’ve met.”
The Clan Leader opened the conversation.
The first had been when he crawled out of Soran’s room.
The second during the daytime game.
The third now.
“I am Dang Jeokcheon of the Tang Clan of Sichuan.”
It was a belated self-introduction.
Han Seojin cupped his hands in response.
“I am Han Seojin.”
“Hmm.”
A brief silence followed before the Clan Leader spoke.
“How’s your body?”
“...Ah, yes. It’s fine.”
“You’re quite sturdy. Even with the antidote, you should’ve been bedridden for days.”
“...”
Han Seojin still looked confused.
The Clan Leader continued.
“There was a misunderstanding. The Black Extremity Powder... I didn’t use it to harm you.”
Even this drew a look from Han Seojin as if to say, why bother saying that?
“It’s fine. I’m the one who accepted the game knowing full well. I’m not blaming anyone.”
The Clan Leader swallowed a hollow laugh inwardly. What kind of guy is this?
“I thought you had taken the Detoxification Immortal Root.”
“...Ah.”
Only then did Han Seojin seem to understand, nodding his head.
And then silence.
He truly didn’t seem to harbor any resentment or seek an apology.
To wear such a clear expression even after surviving a brush with death.
The more the Clan Leader came to know this man, the more bewildering he found him.
As the long silence stretched on, Han Seojin rolled his eyes and spoke.
“Did you come here to say that?”
“...”
No, that wasn’t it. There was a far graver issue.
The Clan Leader steeled himself and looked straight at Han Seojin.
You’re a fine young man. A good one, but...
“I can’t accept you.”
“Pardon?”
“Exactly as I said.”
Han Seojin furrowed his brow, genuinely looking puzzled.
His demeanor up to now had been impressive enough, but this evasion was disappointing.
It would’ve been better if he’d admitted it straightforwardly like a man, as he had before.
“I don’t recall ever saying I wanted to become a retainer of the Tang Clan...”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“...?”
“I can’t give my Soran to you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Hm?”
“Ah.”
Han Seojin realized his slip of the tongue and shut his mouth.
But his shock was plainly evident.
He gauged the situation for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
Scratching his head, he said,
“Clan Leader. That’s not it.”
“It is. No more excuses. This conversation won’t end otherwise.”
“It really isn’t. It’s true I’m trying to sabotage the marriage... but I have no intention of getting together with Lady Soran.”
Trying to ruin the marriage but with no desire to be with Dang Soran.
Was he saying he’d just interfere because he couldn’t have her?
“...So you’ll just keep her from marrying for life?”
“No. That’s not—”
Han Seojin blinked for a moment, then seemed to steel himself as he met the Clan Leader’s gaze directly.
And then he spoke.
“Clan Leader. To be honest, I’m just trying to dissuade her because all the candidates you’ve chosen feel off.”
“Feel off?”
“If you pick someone else, I won’t say a word. But I’ll oppose these ones.”
“What right do you have to oppose?”
“...Fair point, but isn’t it human nature to warn a friend against marrying someone strange?”
“That may be, but people don’t risk their lives for meddling.”
Han Seojin averted his eyes instead of defending himself.
The Clan Leader didn’t press the point and moved to the next question.
“And what exactly feels off? They’re all fine men.”
“Well... for starters, isn’t Jegal Yong a coward?”
“He might be, but that’s no reason to block a marriage.”
“Do you really think that? It’s Lady Soran’s marriage.”
“...What about the others?”
Han Seojin couldn’t open his mouth. It wasn’t that he had nothing to say, but that he couldn’t say it.
His face twisted in distress, and in the end, he spoke.
“It’s just a feeling.”
“Hah, a feeling. What a convenient excuse.”
“...”
But even as the Clan Leader rebuked him, Dang Soran’s words lingered in his mind.
The one who had resolved her heart demon was this man.