Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 50

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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 50
The days stretched on, one after another, each bringing the same Herbal Medicine Lessons for Dang-un.
Atractylodes, mica, poria, acorus, magnetite……
By the time I returned to Byeol-dang, muttering the names of herbs I’d never heard before in my life, the afternoon had grown late.
“Oh, Miss……! You’re b-back…… ! I’ve p-prepared some…… snacks…… for you…….”
Gyeong-a bounded toward me with eager waves, thrusting forward a basket filled with Yu-gwa that still radiated warmth from the fryer.
“Thank you, Gyeong-a. Deok-ju, you should eat one too.”
“That’s not nec-necessary…….”
“Go on, I’ve already touched mine — let’s both eat. Open wide, Gyeong-a.”
I placed a Yu-gwa in each of their mouths, then chewed through my own.
Gyeong-a giggled and swallowed hers with a gulp, her expression turning bright and cheerful.
“You sh-should eat a lot…… because you n-need your strength…… You haven’t p-practiced throwing the Yeop-jeon…… yet today…….”
With that, she pressed a bundle of Yeop-jeon into my hands.
……I’d been hoping to skip this today, but somehow she knew.
I managed a hollow smile and headed toward the pond.
The small water’s surface held colorful carp that Dang-geun-myeong had stocked, gliding serenely through the water.
Broken light danced softly across the pond.
I gripped a Yeop-jeon lightly, backed away twenty paces from the pond’s edge, and drew a deep breath.
Holding my breath, I hurled the coin — it cut through the air, pierced the surface, and struck the carp squarely on the head.
Direct hit?
The excitement was short-lived; the Yeop-jeon pinged off with a sharp sound and bounced back out of the water. Gyeong-a let out a dismayed murmur.
“H-hard head…… isn’t it…….”
“The fish must have an incredibly thick skull. It just bounced right off.”
Deok-ju offered a consoling word in response to my grumbling.
“Compared to your first attempts, you’ve improved considerably. Hitting from twenty paces away is no small feat.”
Remembering the days when I couldn’t strike fish at arm’s length, the progress was indeed remarkable.
Yet I had no wish to be satisfied with merely this.
Against the level Dang-jung had demonstrated, my skill was barely that of an infant taking its first steps.
Right. Let me keep practicing.
I steadied my resolve and drew out a fresh Yeop-jeon; Gyeong-a, who’d been watching, tilted her head with curiosity.
“U-um…… Miss…… do you r-really…… have to…… g-grip it…… that way……?”
“Hmm? Is there another method?”
“Oh y-yes…… Would you l-like me…… to show you……?”
“Yeah. Show me.”
My curiosity bloomed at Gyeong-a’s confident demeanor.
Could Gyeong-a throw Amki as well? Or was there a different way to use Yeop-jeon?
Seeing my interest, Gyeong-a smiled and fished something from her pocket.
“Th-this will…… work…….”
“What is it?”
“Sapium sebiferum…… berries…… If you…… do it l-like this…….”
Gyeong-a crushed the berries against a rock and flung the pulp into the pond.
Immediately, the fish in the water flipped belly-up and began floating to the surface.
“W-wait…… huh…….”
Quite a lot of them were floating up.
Gyeong-a’s face flushed red with alarm.
“Gyeong-a. All the fish are dead.”
“I p-put…… too much…… in…….”
Gyeong-a whimpered nervously, her fingers fidgeting.
……Grandfather’s going to be furious when he finds out.
I clicked my tongue.
“The effect is certainly thorough. Thanks for showing me. What’s the berry called again?”
“S-sapium sebiferum…….”
“The fish won’t come back to life, will they?”
“They appear to be dead instantly.”
“Yeah, that’s how it looks. Should we clean them up?”
“A n-net…… I’ll g-go get one……!”
Gyeong-a hopped anxiously and bolted toward the Heotgan in a flurry.
Crouching by the pond, I fell into a dilemma.
How am I going to explain this? Maybe I should sneak in some new fish to replace them.
As I scratched my head and exchanged a glance with Deok-ju, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“Tired of Amki training? I told you not to take shortcuts, and here you are using Yong-dok-sul.”
“Grandfather?”
It was Dang-jung.
My body moved before my mind could catch up at the sight of his welcoming face. I sprang to my feet and rushed toward him, throwing my arms around him and bouncing up and down.
“Grandfather! When did you arrive? Did you just get here?”
My fervent reaction drew a dry laugh from Dang-jung.
“Goodness, anyone watching would think the old man had died and come back to life. What’s all this fuss over a few days away?”
“A few days feels like a year sometimes. Truly, I’ve missed you so much.”
I’d realized that in this household, Grandfather was the only one who seemed halfway sane. Everyone else was out of their minds.
“What? Aha, Yonseok, your whining just keeps growing.”
Dang-jung chuckled as if I were spouting nonsense, ruffling my hair affectionately.
I quickly examined his appearance. The Nok-po embroidered with gold thread was as immaculate as always, and his face bore not a single scratch.
Seeing him unharmed, my heart settled.
Thank goodness. It seems there was nothing to worry about after all.
I released my grip on Dang-jung with relief when he suddenly exclaimed as if he’d almost forgotten something.
“Oh yes, I brought you a gift.”
“A gift?”
“That’s right. I tucked it in here somewhere…”
Dang-jung muttered to himself as he reached into his sleeve and rummaged about. His wide Jang-po rippled, then a lustrous black marten was suddenly pulled forth.
“Kyuu!”
The marten let out a sharp cry and thrashed its limbs wildly.
…A marten as a gift?
Bewildered, I blinked, and Dang-jung thrust the creature closer to me as if to ensure I got a good look.
“What do you think? According to Imga, girls your age wish to keep animals. Since she said you’d dislike snakes or spiders, I brought you a furry one.”
“Kee! Kee-eek!”
“Hold still now. Should I fashion you into a neck scarf?”
Annoyed, Dang-jung gripped the marten firmly. The creature immediately grew docile, curling itself into a ball and adopting a pitiful expression.
“Um… Grandfather? Am I supposed to raise this one?”
“Yes. It understands human speech, so keeping it with you will make your days less lonely.”
“Ah…”
So I’m to raise a marten now. Very well, I suppose I’ll raise it. Yes, I’ll raise it.
Sensing my hesitation, Dang-jung hastily continued.
“Ahem, this is no ordinary marten. It’s a Spirit Beast trained to track Man-ri Chujong-hyang.”
“What is Man-ri Chujong-hyang?”
“It’s a compound medicine made from substances with scents undetectable to humans. Once applied to an enemy, you can track them for at least four months.”
“I see. Understood.”
Like GPS tracking, I suppose. Though I doubt I’ll ever have need of it.
“Even if the scent gets on you, this creature will detect it. Ask it to find a path, and it will. It will also serve the role of a Bi-dok-ju.”
“A Bi-dok-ju?”
“Yes. You won’t need it since you possess Man-dok-bul-chim, but the creature will absorb and neutralize toxins in its vicinity. It’s fond of consuming poison, you see. So in urgent circumstances, you can use the creature’s inner core…”
“Kyuu! Kyuu-uuu!”
The marten cried out as if to protest Dang-jung’s words, tears streaming down its face.
I marveled aloud.
“This creature really does understand what you’re saying.”
“Indeed it does.”
Whether the marten wept or not, Dang-jung paid it no mind and handed the creature to me. I accepted it carefully.
It sniffed my hand, smelling me, then scurried up my arm and settled upon my shoulder. Its soft tail tickled the nape of my neck.
“Stop, stop. That tickles. Don’t move your tail.”
“Kyuk.”
The marten fidgeted for some time as if searching for a comfortable position, then finally rested its front paws on the crown of my head and sagged against me.
Where our heads touched was warm, as if I were wearing a fur hat.
“Grandfather, it’s like a stuffed animal.”
“Don’t be fooled by its docile appearance. A marten is a savage beast. Even ordinary martens hunt wild boar in packs—vicious creatures, they are. This one being a Spirit Beast, it could easily match a Third-rank Martial Master on its own.”
“Truly? What if it turns on me?”
“I’ve already established the hierarchy.”
At Dang-jung’s words, the marten trembled. It seemed there had been much that transpired since it came to the Dang Family.
Dang-jung dismissed my concern with a wave of his hand and folded his arms.
“By its very nature, it will have no choice but to love you. Since it’s drawn to poison, your Nae-gong will feel to it like a sweetly scented sachet. In any case, give it a name. It’s yours now, after all.”
A name, then…
I murmured as I ran my fingers gently through the marten’s fur.
“Its fur is jet black, so Blackie wouldn’t be right, would it? What about Darkpaw?”
“That sounds like a dog’s name.”
Dang-jung shot back without hesitation, shaking his head.
“Then Sooty?”
“Do you always have to work the color into the name?”
Dang-jung furrowed his brow as he asked. The mink seemed to dislike the naming attempt as well, yanking hard on my hair.
“Hey. Don’t pull. Let me give you a proper name.”
“Chirp!”
I tapped the mink’s foreleg gently and fell into deep thought. After a long moment of deliberation, a name came to me—Ju-ryeong.
“Ju-ryeong. How does that sound?”
“A walking staff?”
“Yes. Since it’s said to find the way, it would be helpful like a staff when we travel long distances.”
Dang-jung nodded as if he found nothing objectionable about it.
“A fitting name. So it shall be.”
“What do you think? Does it suit you?”
“Chirrup.”
The mink seemed pleased with the new name, rubbing its face against my cheek.
The ticklish fur nearly made me sneeze. I pushed Ju-ryeong away, rubbing my nose.
“Ugh, you’re like a feather duster. It tickles. Give me some space.”
“Squeak!”
Despite my complaint, Ju-ryeong clung to me without running away.
Dang-jung watched our playful bickering with a warm smile on his face.
“Raise it well then. Ah, don’t worry about the pond. Dang-geun-myeong will clean it up.”
Before the words had even finished, Dang-geun-myeong appeared and took the dipping net from Gyeong-a with an impassive expression.
Neither Dang-jung nor Dang-geun-myeong seemed bothered, but I felt awkward anyway.
Gyeong-a and I exchanged glances and awkwardly rolled our eyes at each other.
…I’m sorry. Sir.
I offered a silent apology, sealing my lips shut.

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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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