Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 100

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 100
24. Rid Him of the Poison
Having resolved to cure Yeon Liang of his poison, the first thing I did was find a place to work with toxins.
After four days of searching for a spot far enough not to affect the Hermitage yet close enough to reach easily by Lightness Skill, I discovered a hidden cave in the cliff face opposite the temple.
With its entrance concealed by dense brush, high ceiling, and good ventilation, the cave was ideal for working with fire.
When I positioned Ju Ryeong at the entrance, she absorbed the poison Qi steadily on her own, leaving no worry that toxic fumes would escape outside.
“Tasty?”
“Squee!”
After gorging on Poison Qi these past few days, the creature’s fur gleamed with a lustrous sheen.
I chopped a Poison Mushroom into pieces as I spoke.
“Want one of these too?”
“Chirrup!”
Delighted, Ju Ryeong accepted a fragment of the mushroom.
Watching her chew, I pressed my hand to my lower back and collapsed onto the ground with a heavy sigh.
I’d spoken confidently about eliminating the poison, but crafting an actual cure proved far less simple than I’d imagined.
I couldn’t use toxic solutions as freely as I had within the Dang Clan, and I had no sense of how to combine ingredients to achieve the desired effect.
‘I needed a poison potent enough to kill the poison, yet one that wouldn’t inflict permanent damage to his body.’
……Where on earth could such a poison exist? Damn it.
“Ju Ryeong. Can’t you gather your Poison Qi and pour it out? Just kill the poison in Yeon Liang’s body—can’t you just do that, swoosh?”
“Tsk.”
At my words, Ju Ryeong whipped her tail against the ground as if to say I was talking nonsense.
That creature’s way of expressing herself was becoming clearer by the day.
I smacked my lips and extended my hand toward Ju Ryeong.
“Let’s go for today. I need to think about how much poison to use.”
“Squee.”
Shaking the residual Poison Qi from my body, I trudged back to the Hermitage.
As I climbed the stone steps one by one, I spotted Yeon Liang surrounded by piles of straw.
Sensing my presence, Yeon Liang waved a hand toward his back.
“You’re here?”
“What are you doing?”
“The baskets they use in the Kitchen have gotten pretty worn. Lying around was boring, so I thought I’d weave a new one.”
“Wow. You can do this too?”
“Who did you think wove that Carrying Sack you carry around?”
“Really, is there anything you can’t do? Brother, all you need now is to get married.”
“Wherever I go, I’m a first-rate husband prospect.”
“Disqualified—you’re Demonic Cult.”
……
I patted Yeon Liang’s dejected back and crouched beside him.
The way he wove the straw with those enormous hands was oddly fascinating.
With fingers that thick, you’d think the straw would crumble in his grip, yet somehow a shape emerged.
As Yeon Liang wove, he asked, “Any progress?”
“None. I’m completely lost. I have no sense of direction.”
“Just give up.”
“I can’t give up. You said I have to kill the poison when your body grows weak. If it’s not now, there might never be another chance.”
At my firm response, he let out a quiet laugh.
“You’ve got a rebellious streak, don’t you?”
I sighed without answering.
I knew all too well how he’d wither away if I left the poison alone—there was no way I could give up.
I never wanted to see that broad-shouldered man reduced to skin and bones, struggling through each day.
Just then, I felt someone approaching. We both fell silent and slowly turned around.
“I found you both here.”
It was the Deposed Queen.
I rose from my seat and greeted her.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better thanks to you. Thank you, truly.”
The Deposed Queen approached with light, graceful steps, her cheeks full and flushed with health.
Her recovery was becoming visibly apparent.
She’d begun leaving her room more often, and she spoke more freely. She seemed to enjoy hearing stories of the Martial World and often sought my company for conversation.
“I’d like to have tea with you. Would you join me for some Lotus Fragrance Tea?”

So it’s the same today.
I nodded without refusing.
“Of course, Your Highness. Let’s eat together. What about Yeon Liang?”
“I have work left to do. I’ll be back.”
Yeon Liang held up the half-finished basket and shook his head. I waved my hand in understanding and followed the Deposed Queen out.
The Deposed Queen’s footsteps down the moss-covered stone steps were light as down.
She chased butterflies fluttering about like a girl, and sometimes hummed softly while savoring the fragrance of summer flowers.
Then, as if the effort tired her, she wiped the sweat from her brow and asked me.
“Shall we rest a moment?”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
The Deposed Queen collapsed onto the stone floor and looked up at the sky.
“I love this place.”
“I do too.”
“The sky in the Imperial Palace is always just a square box trapped by walls. But the sky here….”
The Deposed Queen’s voice trailed off, and she broke into a bright smile. I looked up to join her.
The brilliant blue sky, as if watercolor had been washed across it, seemed close enough to touch. The pouring sunlight carried the unmistakable fragrance of summer.
As we tilted our heads back to gaze at the sky, Seol Jae quietly approached and set down a tray holding a teapot and cups, then withdrew.
“Oh, thank you, monk.”
I pressed my palms together in gratitude as the Deposed Queen, with graceful hands, poured the tea.
“Please, have some.”
She filled her own cup and took a sip.
Even in her simple monastic robes, the dignity ingrained in her could not be hidden—even sitting on stone, she drank tea with a refined air.
Straightening my own posture self-consciously, I brought the cup to my lips.
The tea leaves, steeped overnight with unopened white lotus buds, exhaled a sweet floral fragrance.
“What is Yeon Liang doing?”
“Oh, he was weaving a basket for the kitchen. But Your Highness, if you need anything, just say so. My brother has quite the hand for craftsmanship.”
“His cooking skills are remarkable enough, but he’s skilled at more than just that? Your brother is quite the versatile person. Are all those from the Martial World like that?”
“Oh, you flatter us. The food suits your taste, I hope? If your stomach ever feels uneasy, just let me know and I’ll perform acupuncture for you anytime.”
“I’ll remember that. These days, mealtimes have become a joy thanks to you two siblings. Thank you, truly.”
The Deposed Queen smiled, covering her mouth, and continued.
“It’s wonderful to see how you rely on each other. I never had a brother, so I was always envious of friends who did.”
“I see.”
“You two even look so alike, don’t you? I’m curious what it must feel like to have someone with a face like yours to draw strength from.”
“Do we really look alike?”
“Of course. Anyone can see you’re siblings.”
The Deposed Queen tilted her head as if asking how I could not have known. I opened my eyes wide in shock.
Alike to that door-faced man who intimidates everyone who sees him? What kind of horrible thing was that to say?
Spending months at his side must have rubbed off on my expression.
As I touched my face in disbelief, the Deposed Queen burst out laughing.
“Ah, I don’t mean you look frightening. It’s rather the way your eyes crinkle when you smile, and the shape of your mouth—those are alike. If it weren’t for the scars on his face, Yeon Liang would be considered quite handsome.”
Yeon Liang—handsome? Handsome? I suppose he has pleasant features. When I first met him, I thought so too, but now I couldn’t quite remember why.
Faced with her praise, I began to worry whether the men in the Imperial Palace were so hideously ugly that the Deposed Queen’s standards of beauty had somehow become warped.
I wanted to bring Dang Un here and say, “This is what a truly handsome man looks like!” He was the perfect standard—someone blessed with both striking beauty and sharp wit.
The moment I thought of Dang Un, his pale face from our last parting flickered before my eyes.
I hope Dang Un’s body is holding up. I hope this summer isn’t as harsh on him as others have been.
As my expression darkened, the Deposed Queen seized my hand in alarm.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d dislike being compared to your brother.”
“No? Ah, no, Your Highness. I was just thinking of something else for a moment.”
“I’m truly sorry. You don’t look like your brother at all. Really, you don’t.”
The Deposed Queen, desperate to take back her words, looked almost frantic.
“It’s fine, Your Highness. Don’t worry about it. You haven’t offended me.”
While I awkwardly tried to comfort her, a memory surfaced—words an old man had spoken long ago.
“Are you two siblings? You do look alike.”
…Wait. Wasn’t that something I’d heard before?
Do I really look like Yeon Liang?
* * *
Once the doubt had taken root, it would not easily fade.
I watched Yeon Liang’s face intently as he sat with his eyes closed, focusing on his Internal Cultivation.
No matter how I examined it, I couldn’t see what was supposedly alike.
His eyes weren’t particularly sharp, and his bone structure was heavier than mine. No matter how I looked at it, there was no trace of Dang Clan blood.
“Sohye.”
“Mm?”
“How long are you planning to stare like that? You’re making it impossible for me to concentrate.”
“Just ignore me and keep cultivating your internal power.”
“I can’t help but notice. Your gaze is so intense my skin prickles. Are you standing guard, or are you trying to assassinate me?”
Yeon Liang opened his eyes with a grumble.
I watched the crimson hue fade from his pupils before I spoke.
“Yeon Liang.”
“I’m listening.”
“Do you have a secret about your birth?”
“Where is this coming from?”
“Never mind.”
“Bland question.”
Yeon Liang scratched the back of his neck as if to say he’d heard every strange remark there was.
True enough—if the Demonic Cult had any sense, they wouldn’t resort to kidnapping a child of clear bloodline from a respectable martial family.
Orphans and children sold for a few coins were hardly in short supply in this world.
Above all, Yeon Liang’s face was not the kind that could come from the Dang Clan.
Even Dang Un, who was foreign in every way from head to toe, bore the Dang family’s distinctive sharp gaze whenever he furrowed his brow—but Yeon Liang did not.
I’d entertained an unnecessary thought.
I shook off the useless speculation and asked him, “Is your internal power gathering better?”
“Better than before, but my meridians are damaged. There are places where I’ve lost all sensation. It should improve with time.”
“No sensation? That’s troubling. Bone broth alone wasn’t enough to restore the body. We’d need something like a rare creature from the forest depths.”
“Such opportunities of fate don’t present themselves easily.”
Yeon Liang’s expression, which had been smiling, turned serious. He met my eyes and spoke in a grave voice.
“But there’s one problem. Sister.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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