Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 122

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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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Chapter 122
A short while later, Beop Gong and Yeon Liang returned looking much as they always did.
“Are you alright, brother?”
“Nothing serious. I’m fine. The sun’s up—let’s go eat. I’m famished.”
But his voice trembled faintly.
It wasn’t anger—maybe something I’d said had stirred an unpleasant memory. His condition was always rough after bad dreams.
I sidled up to Yeon Liang and hooked my arm through his, and he laughed weakly, brushing a hand over my hair. I forced brightness into my voice.
“Brother, you were up all night—don’t you want meat? You love roasted duck, don’t you? How about some duck for breakfast?”
My boldness softened the lines of his eyes.
“Yes. Let’s have duck.”
“Ah, look at that bond. Those without a sister must find life miserable indeed.”
Beop Gong snorted and grumbled. I pretended not to hear, looking up at him with a question.
“But sir, is it alright to leave them like that?”
“Them? Those Gwireung Gok dogs?”
“Yes. Won’t the rest of their group come looking for revenge?”
Beop Gong shook his head as though such a thing were impossible.
“Not a chance. You think those wretches know the meaning of fellowship?”
“They… don’t?”
“Evil Sect rabble are no different from beasts, child. They band together only to improve their odds of survival—no rank, no hierarchy. Left to their own devices, they’ll fall apart soon enough.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. You tangled with them yourself, so you know—every last one of them was pathetic street trash. Like a school of fish puffing themselves up with illusion, bloated in numbers but hollow inside. That’s the nature of Evil Sects.”
Beop Gong spoke coldly, then absently scratched his ear and flicked off the earwax with a soft whistle.
“The truly strong never travel in packs. They roam alone, like your brother. Though if we’re talking about high-ranking officers under Chae Hong Gyo’s command, that’d be another matter.”
“Who is Chae Hong Gyo?”
“The leader of Sadoryeon. Chae Hong Gyo—goes by ‘Killer’ now. You’ve never heard that name? Well, you haven’t. Best you never do. Child, keep your distance from that madwoman at all costs.”
“Her name is ‘Rainbow’?”
“Yes. One she chose for herself. The rumors say she loves painting rainbows across the sky with human blood on fine days……”
“Beop Gong. Stop spoiling the appetite.”
Yeon Liang cut him off with a sharp elbow jab.
Beop Gong, catching sight of my expression, seemed to realize he’d gone too far and fell silent.
“In any case, don’t fret. They’ve collected plenty of grudges over the years—they’ll meet an end befitting their karma. The townsfolk won’t let them rest.”
I nodded slowly. Beop Gong had sealed their Dantian, but they wouldn’t choke on their last breath anytime soon.
If they’ve drawn a blade against the weak and wrung blood-tears from their eyes, then they deserve to pay in kind.
…… Yes. This was right.
I pushed down the discomfort and swept away the troubling thoughts. The warmth of Yeon Liang’s presence was enough to restore my composure.
What became of the Evil Sect wretches was none of my concern. For now, the best thing seemed to be getting food into this lanky man beside me.
* * *
After breakfast, Yeon Liang entrusted me to Beop Gong.
“I can’t take you with me, so I’m leaving you in his care—though I’m not sure I trust him with it.”
“Stop your worrying. I’ll treat her like my own daughter, no, I’ll look after her properly.”
“You just said ‘treat her like,’ didn’t you?”
“Did I? You must’ve misheard.”
At his shameless lie, Yeon Liang’s face twisted with distrust.
Even the one handing me over didn’t seem confident, but it wasn’t as though he could drag me to Hao Gate.
Yeon Liang gave Beop Gong a sideways look and spoke.
“I’ll be back soon. Sohye, stay close to him just in case. You’ll come to no harm at his side.”
“All right. Come back quickly, brother. Oh—and about that medicine he’s supposed to take, just pretend to feed it to him and bring the packet back. I want to see what’s in the antidote.”
“Understood. I’ll bring it back. Beop Gong, I’m counting on you.”
“Stop worrying, will you. Just hurry back. Time’s running short. We sail at dusk.”
“Right.”
Pressed by Beop Gong, Yeon Liang swallowed a sigh and turned to leave. The moment he disappeared, Beop Gong’s mouth curved into a grin.
“Well now, child. It’s just the two of us, is it?”
At that ominous smile, I jumped back from Beop Gong. Catching the wariness in my eyes, he chuckled.
“You tense up because it’s just us two? I’m not going to hit you.”
“Sir? Were you planning to?”
“I said I’m not. How could I hit a little thing like you? Now those sweaty ruffians from the Hao Gate—that’s different.”
Yet he’d struck us plenty just moments ago.
I shot him a look and fidgeted awkwardly with my hands. Being alone with this man who’d wrestled with us for half a day was nothing but uncomfortable.
……
……
Beop Gong seemed equally uncomfortable, falling silent for a long moment.
He rested his chin on his hand, tapping the table thoughtfully, before calling over Jeom So-i as he passed.
“Jeom So-i! Bring some hot water and a fresh tea set, would you?”
“Yes!”
“Little one. Do you like sweet things? Shall I make you a cup of sugar water?”
“Sugar water? You carry sugar around with you?”
“I do. Try it. It’s good for lifting your spirits.”
Beop Gong reached into his robes and produced a small jar the size of his fist. When he lifted the lid, it was packed full of rock sugar crystals of various sizes.
Remarkable. Such an expensive thing—I’d never even seen it outside the Dang Clan. Sorim has its merits, I’ll admit.
When Jeom So-i returned with a fresh tea set, Beop Gong poured hot water into the teapot and dumped in several pieces of rock sugar.
He then dropped in a cinnamon stick and stirred it in lazy circles, dissolving the sugar. The fragrant sweetness of cinnamon-infused sugar water tickled my nose.
“Drink.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
I accepted the cup from Beop Gong and sipped slowly at the sugar water. The sweetness, a rare treat, made my lips curve up of their own accord.
Beop Gong chuckled softly and spoke.
“Once your brother returns, we’ll take a boat. By water, it’s quick—if the wind holds, we might make it in half a day or less.”
“All right.”
“Little one. Don’t you have a face veil?”
“I don’t, no.”
“Get yourself one. It hardly matters here in this quiet corner, but once you step into Wuhan, there’ll be trouble. The Sword Sage’s disciple made such a spectacle that there’s hardly a soul in the rivers and lakes who doesn’t know your face. You’re famous now.”
Blast it. I’m starting to resent Jin Seong’s dojo.
As a deep furrow carved itself between my brows, Beop Gong flicked my forehead with a sharp tap.
“Scowl like that and you’ll wrinkle before your time, little thing.”
“Ow! That hurt! You said you wouldn’t hit me! What kind of monk leads with his fists instead of his words?”
I cradled my forehead, grumbling, and Beop Gong let out a hearty laugh before summoning Jeom So-i again.
“Jeom So-i! Find a decent face veil for this little one, would you?”
“Yes!”
Jeom So-i snatched up the silver coin Beop Gong tossed to him, and his eyes lit up. He vanished and returned with a face veil faster than the wind.
After Beop Gong fitted the veil over my face, he stroked his chin and made a thoughtful sound.
“Hmm, now that’s curious.”
“What is?”
“You, little one. No matter how I look at you, the Dang bloodline shows through clearly enough. But your eyes—they’re different. The way your eye corners taper down so gently… you have Yeon Liang’s eyes exactly.”
“Of all the things you’ve said until now, I like that best. I hate being told I look like I carry Dang Clan blood. I’d much rather look like Yeon Liang.”
“As for temperament—is it because your brother isn’t here that you’re so sharp-tongued?”
Beop Gong grinned as he adjusted the cloth of the veil for me.
“Tell me, little one—how did you come to be born a bastard?”
“Why ask such a thing? That’s rude.”
“Curiosity. I’m a bastard myself.”
“You are, sir?”
“I am. My biological father was a high official in Geumneung. My mother was his legitimate wife’s handmaid. When I turned five, he simply threw me into Sorim and never looked back. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Oh.”
This man’s life has been no smooth path either, then.
When I blinked at him in surprise, Beop Gong let out a snort.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not pitiful. Thanks to it all, I had the fortune of being taught personally by the abbot. Lucky, really.”
“Ah, yes. Of all the people I’ve met, you have the most inflated sense of self I’ve ever encountered.”
“As it should be. Born a man, one must harbor grand ambitions.”
“Yet you’re still just a monk. You can’t even grow your hair the way you want—what ambitions are those?”
“Hush now.”
Beop Gong raised a finger to his lips, his expression turning stern. I shook my head gently and asked quietly.
“Did you… do you know how it was for Yeon Liang?”
“You never asked me. Haven’t you asked him?”
“How could I? If I brought up the past… the memories would hurt him.”
“You’re a thoughtful little thing.”
Beop Gong shrugged and waved his hand toward the door behind me.
“There! Yeon Liang!”
I spun around in surprise and saw Yeon Liang entering the inn. I jumped to my feet and hurried toward him.
“Brother! You’re back already? Everything went well?”
“I hurried so you wouldn’t have to wait. Why are you wearing a face veil?”
Yeon Liang blinked and reached out to fold me into his embrace. I matched his pace as we walked and answered.
“The monk told me to.”
“Hey, am I invisible? There’s a person here too.”
“Right. Why are you calling me? Monk.”
“Are you a bastard too?”
I opened my mouth wide at the utterly tactless question.
He just asks things like that?
“What? I told you to keep an eye on the child—did you drink during the day?”
Unlike my shock, Yeon Liang took it in stride. Beop Gong’s nonsense seemed familiar to him.
“Or never mind. Do you at least remember who your parents were?”
“How could I? I was kidnapped when I was four. And how would a child born in a pleasure house know his father?”
“Ah, so you’re a courtesan’s son? This one’s also a bastard. Little thing. You’re a courtesan’s daughter, aren’t you? That’s what I heard.”
Beop Gong clapped as though he’d discovered a common thread.
I rubbed my forehead with a sour expression.
“My birth mother was indeed a courtesan. But did you have to announce it so loudly?”
“What does it matter? Does speaking softly make someone not a bastard?”
“That’s enough. I’d rather talk to a wall than have a conversation with a monk.”
At my sullen reply, Yeon Liang chuckled and patted my shoulder.
“You can’t expect common sense from him. Sister.”
“Yeah. I’m learning that the hard way. But listen—can I ask you more about when you were young?”
“Ha, why not? Before I was kidnapped, I lived in Sichuan. My mother was a young courtesan in Seongdo.”
“A courtesan in Seongdo? You mean Wol Hyang Ru?”
“You know of Wol Hyang Ru? Well, how could you not? It’s the largest pleasure house in Seongdo.”
Yeon Liang answered his own question and scratched his cheek.
“I don’t know if my mother is still alive. I’ve never gone back to find out. I don’t even want to see her as an old woman. And I don’t have the confidence to step forward as her son.”
“If you’d like, I could ask around for you. I know someone at Wol Hyang Ru.”
A courtesan who worked there thirty years ago—Chae Hong Gyo would surely know about her, so I could at least find out whether she was alive or dead.
Yeon Liang slowly nodded.
“That wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Do you remember your mother’s name?”
“Ryeon.”
“Is that so. Ryeon… Wait. Wait a moment. Who did you say?”
In my confusion, I let out a sharp cry.
Ryeon of Wol Hyang Ru?
Cho-ryeon?

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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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