Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 72

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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 72
18. Expulsion
It was my first time locked in Lei Prison.
In truth, it was my first time even knowing Lei Prison existed. I’d assumed the Dang Family kept a dungeon somewhere, but I’d never thought it would concern me.
The windowless cell reeked of stale dust. I sat motionless in the darkness, turning over the events in my mind.
How had it come to this?
Gu Gyeong Cheon was dead—I couldn’t make sense of it. And I couldn’t fathom why they’d thrown me into Lei Prison without so much as an explanation.
The fact that they hadn’t bound my limbs suggested the situation wasn’t desperate, but then again, who could say for certain?
If it were nothing serious, they wouldn’t have imprisoned me in the first place.
All I could do was guess that they were treating me roughly because they thought no one was watching.
When I realized my position—a kite with its string cut—a hollow laugh escaped me.
I’d known danger would come when Dang Jung stepped away, but I hadn’t expected them to act so quickly.
The people in this household truly have no warmth in their hearts.
With their patriarch’s protector gone, now was the perfect moment to eliminate an eyesore.
Still…
‘Listen. Get out of here fast.’
I hadn’t expected Dang Se Ho to worry about me. He must have heard something and come running. He puts his eldest brother to shame.
I rubbed my forehead, thinking hard.
Could Grandfather get me out of Lei Prison?
I considered it, but the answer was no.
They say that once a martial cultivator enters Closed-Door Cultivation, a mere year passes like nothing. With someone of Dang Jung’s caliber, it could take five years or more.
I didn’t know where Dang Jung was in Closed-Door Cultivation, and even if I did, I couldn’t go to him. Calling out a cultivator during seclusion was forbidden.
Those who fall into a State of No-Self amplify even the smallest disturbance tenfold, a hundredfold.
The moment I broke Grandfather’s flow, he could suffer Qi Deviation—or worse, death.
I couldn’t injure my grandfather just to save myself, could I?
I was the one who’d insisted to Dang Jung that I could fend for myself. I couldn’t rely on his help now.
I swallowed a sigh and pressed my eyes. I ran through every face I knew, but there was no one I could turn to.
With Dang Jung away, I was adrift—and Dang Un Jeong was in the same position.
Ever since Dang Un lost his sight, he’d been completely sidelined from the Succession Structure.
The Poison Sovereign Dang Un Jeong may have taken an interest in me, but he wouldn’t defy the patriarch to help. If the patriarch had a hand in this, Dang Un Jeong would look the other way.
The Medicine Sovereign Dang Sim Hong kept to himself, so he’d stay out of it.
Dang Ju Hui? I’d be lucky if she merely stayed out of my way.
So I had no choice but to solve this alone.
Clang!
The iron door of Lei Prison swung open. A faint glow flickered—then someone rushed toward me carrying a lamp.
“Miss!”
My heart eased at the familiar voice. It was Song Ji.
“Song Ji? How did you get in here?”
“Miss, have you eaten? Here, try these dumplings.”
Song Ji pressed a bundle of dumplings into my hands, her voice wavering. They were still warm from the steamer.
“I bribed the guard with silver to get in. I can only stay a moment. Miss, there’s chaos over Master Gu’s death. They’re saying it was poison.”
“He was fine when I left him. When did he poison himself?”
“That’s why you’re locked up. They’re saying you did it.”
“Why would I kill Master Gu?”
“Exactly!”
Song Ji’s outburst made her lower her voice.
“I… do you think the Third Lady arranged it? Like with Gyeong A…”
“Don’t speak of it, even if you think it. Song Ji.”
I shook my head, though my own suspicions aligned with hers. The Third Lady always believed I stole the attention that should have gone to Dang Hwa Yeop.
For her, eliminating me would be worth far more than one death.
“Are you all right? Nothing’s happened to you?”
“Deok Ju fought hard to protect you and was badly wounded. The Heugyun Faction Leader took her away, but after that, I couldn’t…”
Oh no. Deok Ju. How could she stand against the Grand Elder?
Still, it relieved me that Dang Bu Gyeong had taken her. If the Heugyun Faction Leader was looking after her personally, no one would dare lay a hand on her.
Song Ji gripped my hand tightly, her nose reddening.
“The elders are gathered at Juyi Hall now, having a meeting. The Seventh Elder went too—they’re deliberating your punishment. What if they sentence you harshly?”
“With Grandfather here, they won’t execute me. Don’t worry. Stop crying.”
“Sniff… Miss… I have to go now. I’ll come back if I can. Eat the dumplings before they get cold.”
“All right. It’ll be fine. Hurry—and look after Gyeong A.”
Song Ji lingered, tears streaming down her face as she kept glancing back at me.
I smiled brightly and waved at her. For all her worrying—how she’d fuss if I didn’t appear even for a single night—nothing had changed from those early days.
Once Song Ji left, silence settled over the room. I stared blankly at the place where her light had lingered, then popped the dumpling she’d left behind into my mouth. The thick skin was so dry my throat constricted.
Yes. It was the dumpling that made my throat tighten. Absolutely not fear.
* * *
How long had I been in Lei Prison?
The dew on the damp wall had dried once and formed again—so at least a day had passed. Was it daytime now? Night?
Without any light, there was no way to tell.
I stared blankly into empty space. Never did I imagine I’d live to be treated as a murderer.
How could I escape this situation? No matter how hard I tried to think rationally, no solution came to mind.
Not everyone in the Dang Family uses the same poison. Even poisons with identical names have subtly different properties depending on who makes them.
The poison that killed Gu Gyeong Cheon would certainly bear someone’s particular signature. Yet seeing them push the blame onto me regardless—it could only mean everyone who examined the corpse was in on it.
Even if I broke out of this prison, all it would do was give credence to claims that I was the culprit.
……Could it be they’re hoping I’ll try to escape?
They hadn’t even bound my pressure points, let alone confined my limbs. Knowing full well that I’m a martial cultivator capable of slipping out of Lei Prison if I wished, they left me unfettered anyway.
They didn’t so much as watch me. They didn’t even provide food. And at some point, the guard martial artist stationed at the entrance simply vanished.
As if they were urging me to flee.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. I had no intention of playing along with such a transparent scheme.
Besides, I still hadn’t fully absorbed the essence of the Ten Thousand Poisons Pill. Might as well use this chance to do some Closed-Door Cultivation, then.
I swallowed a sneer and was just settling into a cross-legged position when someone opened the prison door.
“Come out.”
“The Family Head?”
It was Dang Mu Hyuk.
That the Family Head himself had come for me made it abundantly clear the situation was dire.
I furrowed my brow and looked up at Dang Mu Hyuk. Behind him lay a world swallowed in darkness.
It was a moonless night.
Dang Mu Hyuk seemed displeased by my gaze and turned sharply on his heel. Watching his retreating figure, I hurried up the stairs after him.
“About the matter with the young master…”
“The truth matters little. What matters is that young master Gu died after meeting you, and someone must be held accountable.”
Dang Mu Hyuk cut me off as though he had no interest in hearing excuses.
‘Someone must be held accountable’—the meaning was simple. I was to take responsibility for Gu Gyeong Cheon’s death.
Even though I had nothing to do with it.
A bitter smile twisted at my lips. I stopped in my tracks and asked coldly.
“What would you have me do?”
“So you’re not entirely stupid.”
Dang Mu Hyuk turned to face me. Just as on the day we first met, his expression was filled with revulsion—as if he were looking at something filthy.
“Leave the Dang Family.”
“……You mean to expel me?”
“Expel? How absurd. I have never once thought of you as my daughter. I never will. You are not my daughter, so how could you be a member of the Dang Family?”
His voice was chillingly devoid of emotion. I let out a bitter laugh, my words dripping with scorn.
“I knew you were skilled in Special Martial Arts, but I didn’t know your tongue carried poison too.”
“You are not my daughter, so there is nothing to withdraw. Therefore, there is nothing to close off.”
Dang Mu Hyuk swept aside my mockery and continued speaking. Blinking in confusion at his cryptic words, I grasped their meaning.
He would not seal my dantian or sever my meridians.
Nausea rose at such meager mercy. But when one’s life is spared, there was no reason to refuse.
“I am grateful for the Family Head’s clemency.”
“I need not your gratitude.”
Dang Mu Hyuk hurled something toward me. A small pouch fell at my feet.
“Take that and leave now. Never set foot in Sichuan again.”
“I won’t take it.”
“Don’t be stubborn. I’ve never given you a choice.”
Irritating bastard.
Grinding my teeth, I snatched up the pouch tumbling on the ground. Between the dirt-stained cloth, a worn wooden box peeked through.
A faint fragrance seeped out—apparently he meant to assuage his guilt by tossing me some cheap Spirit Pill.
“……Ha.”
I laughed, baring my fangs. My eyes were streaked with red.
To send me out naked into the world when he knew my martial prowess was no different from telling me to drop dead on the roadside.
“Farewell, Father.”
At my coldly spoken words, the Family Head’s eyes flickered.
Calling him father was a small act of spite.
No matter how much he denied it, Dang So Hye remained his daughter—a truth that would never change.
I turned my back on Dang Mu Hyuk with cold finality, my gaze having lingered on him with barely concealed contempt.

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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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