Chapter 10. Sichuan Tang Clan (2)
Before me was a table so heavily laden with dishes that its legs seemed ready to buckle under the weight. Seated at the head of the table, Tang Jincheon, the Poison King, spoke in a calm tone.
"Have a seat."
"Yes."
I responded briefly and took a seat in an appropriate spot. Following my lead, Tang Sowol sat beside me and began poking my thigh with her finger.
"Wow. So you do know how to speak politely. Who would've thought?"
"I don't know what you take me for, but I do understand basic etiquette when addressing my elders."
"Then why don't you ever speak to me that way? I'm five years older than you. Just thinking about how much I've been fooled by your casual speech still makes me speechless…"
"Five years isn't that much. It's enough to be considered peers, not 'elders.'"
"Peers? That's pushing it. There's a world of difference between someone in their mid-teens and someone in their early twenties." She raised her chin proudly. "From now on, you should address me with respect."
I chuckled lightly and shook my head at her smug expression.
"How about you just speak casually to me too? Then it won't be a problem."
"Ehh. I don't want to speak informally. I want you to respect me, not the other way around."
"Well, I feel the same way. I don't mind being polite to others, but somehow I just can't bring myself to do that with you."
"Why only me? What's that supposed to mean?"
Tang Sowol pursed her lips and gave me a sharp look. It was clear that being home made her feel much more at ease—her expressions had become noticeably livelier.
Under the table, she tried to lightly step on my foot, but I quickly avoided it and gently pinned her foot in return. She let out a small huff, but before our playful exchange could escalate further, Tang Jincheon's calm voice cut through the air.
"Master Jin, our head chef put great effort into today's meal. If you find the food lacking, more will be brought out, so enjoy to your heart's content."
"Wow! Now that you mention it, Father, it really does look delicious."
"Thank you," I replied.
At a glance, it seemed like a friendly offer, and indeed, Tang Sowol cheerfully picked up her chopsticks without a second thought.
But I had noticed something. There was a brief moment when Tang Jincheon's brow had furrowed slightly, and his aura, which had been calmly restrained, wavered ever so slightly, ready to surge forward at any moment.
Ah, so this is what she meant by overprotective.
I already knew that the Tang Clan cherished Sowol deeply, just as she held her clan dear. And it seemed that no one was more overprotective of her than her father, Tang Jincheon.
Understanding this, I gave a slight nod to myself and began eating as well. Though the food I'd been given during my stay at the Tang Clan wasn't lacking, I quickly realized that my younger body had a much stronger appetite than I was used to.
Back in my previous life, it was rare to have enough to eat. I had only recently come to understand what it was like to eat properly.
Opportunities like this didn't come often, so I decided to eat heartily. I continuously stuffed my mouth with whatever was within reach, barely pausing to breathe.
Not long after, Tang Jincheon let out a quiet laugh.
"Cheon Hwi, was it? You seem to be enjoying the food. I'm glad. Though at this rate, we may run out of food before you're full."
"I'm at a growing age, so I tend to eat a lot."
"Indeed. You must eat well to grow strong. But judging by your demeanor, it seems you've spent more time wielding a sword than eating meals."
"Well, the reason we fight is to live, right? The harder you train, the better food tastes, and the more of it you can eat."
"That's an interesting way to put it." Tang Jincheon nodded approvingly before continuing. "So, tell me—what would it take to truly satisfy you? The Tang Clan owes you a great debt for your assistance in this matter. Within reason, you may ask for anything, and we will do our best to grant it."
"Well… While it's true that I first picked up a sword because I was hungry, I doubt that increasing the quantity and quality of my meals alone would fill my hunger."
"Are you saying you intend to live the rest of your life in perpetual hunger?"
"No, that's not it. What I mean is…"
I set down my chopsticks for a moment and glanced at Tang Sowol, then met Tang Jincheon's gaze head-on.
"…as long as I have people to share meals with, that's enough for me."
"I see."
Tang Jincheon's tone softened as he nodded thoughtfully. He then turned to look at Tang Sowol.
"Sowol."
"Huh? What is it, Father?"
Still trying to process the sudden turn of the conversation, Tang Sowol blinked in confusion. Then, like a bolt from the blue, her father delivered an unexpected declaration.
"Become engaged to Master Cheon."
"W-What?! What are you talking about?!"
At the mention of an engagement, Tang Sowol's face turned blank with shock. She opened and closed her mouth several times, unable to form coherent words, alternating her gaze between her father and me.
Meanwhile, I continued calmly chewing on a piece of Braised pork, unfazed by the bombshell that had just been dropped.
"Excuse me, Cheon Hwi-da? Did you not hear what my father just said? He's talking about an engagement, and you're still eating?!"
"There's never a situation dire enough to make me lose my appetite. Besides, you heard our conversation earlier, didn't you? Why are you acting surprised?"
"I knew you two were talking, but I didn't understand what was being said!"
"To summarize, the Poison King asked if there was anything I wanted, and I replied that I wished to become part of the family."
"That's what you meant?!" Tang Sowol gawked, her mouth hanging open. Honestly, I wish she wouldn't do that while we're eating—it's unsightly.
I reached over and gently closed her mouth before more food could spill out. Seeing this, Tang Jincheon finally spoke again.
"Sowol, I'm not saying you have to marry him right away. Nor am I suggesting we hold a grand engagement ceremony and announce it to the world. All I'm saying is that, for now, we acknowledge Master Cheon as your fiancé and keep him by your side."
"But…"
"Frankly speaking, we owe him a great deal. He not only saved your life but also offered us the priceless Jahua Poison Bud, something even a thousand gold wouldn't be enough to buy. You know how valuable that will be to you."
"…Yes, that's true."
Still sounding reluctant, Tang Sowol pouted slightly. Tang Jincheon continued his explanation patiently.
"I admit that his methods were a bit extreme, but even so, Master Cheon has earned the right to ask to become part of our family. Wouldn't you agree?"
"…Yes."
"Good. That was my reasoning from the standpoint of our clan's values and principles. Now, I'll explain from a more practical perspective as the clan leader."
"There's more?"
"There's quite a bit more. Look at Master Cheon's martial prowess. At his age, he managed to defeat a Peak Realm master and cut down dozens of martial artists. Such feats suggest he possesses an extraordinary talent that rivals your own. And while there are some aspects I find curious, if we can bring him into the Tang Clan, it would be a great boon."
"…Hmm…"
"Furthermore, he has no existing ties to any other powerful faction, which makes him an ideal candidate for a live-in son-in-law."
"Is that something to be thankful for?"
"For us, it is. Perhaps not for him."
Tang Jincheon shot me a brief glance. I didn't particularly mind the conversation, so I gave him a small nod before picking up a piece of sweet-and-sour pork and popping it into my mouth. Its tangy sweetness was so delightful that it whetted my appetite even more, despite already feeling quite full.
The chef truly was exceptional.
As I involuntarily smiled at the taste, Tang Sowol, still looking conflicted, let out a long sigh.
"Great. I'm in turmoil, and here you are, looking perfectly content."
"Thanks for the compliment."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
Tang Sowol shot me a glare before turning back to her father.
"There must be another reason, right? Tell me, Father."
"Yes. The earlier reasons were about the benefits of bringing Master Cheon into our family. But now, I'll explain the problems that could arise if we don't."
"…I mean, Cheon Hwi-da may be a little strange, but he's not a bad person. He wouldn't cause trouble just because we turned him down."
"That's not what I meant. I'm referring to the fact that the two of you essentially lived together in that cave."
"W-We didn't 'live together'… But you were the only one who found us, so there shouldn't be any issues, right?"
Tang Sowol blushed furiously, either embarrassed by her misunderstanding or by the realization of how it might have appeared.
Tang Jincheon, his expression growing more serious, continued speaking.
"How do you think I managed to find you after you disappeared without a trace?"
"…The Tang Clan's tracking team?"
"That might have worked if you'd gone missing within Sichuan Province. But your trail was lost in Hubei Province, beyond our direct reach. Extending our influence that far would draw attention from Wudang and Zhuge Clan, making it difficult."
"Then… Ah! The Beggar's Sect!"
"Correct. We enlisted the help of the Beggar's Sect, which is how we located you."
"In other words, the Beggar's Sect knows enough about our whereabouts to deduce that we spent over a month together."
"Indeed. While the Beggar's Sect won't spread the information publicly, it's difficult to guarantee complete secrecy given the nature of their organization."
The Beggar's Sect was an alliance of beggars. Though its officially trained members were strictly regulated, it was impossible to fully control the countless ordinary beggars affiliated with it.
Inevitably, rumors would spread—rumors that Tang Sowol, the daughter of the Tang Clan, had traveled the martial world and ended up practically living with an unrelated man.
"If you're formally engaged, the rumors will die down quietly. But without that, the gossip could spread like wildfire, tarnishing not only the Tang Clan's reputation but also your future prospects for marriage."
"Father, you're overthinking this. I'm still young—I've only just reached my early twenties. Besides, our family background is strong, thanks to you."
"That would be true if you were an ordinary girl. But Sowol, you are a Toxin Spirit Physique. You were born with a body that others can only acquire after undergoing complete rebirth through mastering toxic arts."
"…Ah…"
"You know what that means. The Toxin Spirit Physique is both a blessing and a curse. Without training, your body will naturally accumulate more poison over time. Eventually, you may become incapable of bearing children. And now, you've even absorbed the Purple Flower Poison Enhancing Grass."
Tang Sowol lowered her head, her expression heavy with gloom. Seeing her like this, Tang Jincheon spoke gently but firmly.
"There's no need to rush into marriage. If you're fine with never having children, we won't pressure you. But if you have any intention of starting a family, you must remember that time is not on your side."
"…I understand, Father."
"I'm sorry, Sowol. But it seemed to me that you had taken a liking to Master Cheon, so I thought it was worth discussing seriously."
"I know you said that for my sake, Father. You don't need to apologize."
Tang Sowol smiled softly, shaking her head. The warm, sentimental atmosphere between the two made me feel strangely uneasy—like I was about to lose my appetite.
So, I set down my chopsticks and wiped my mouth.
"If that's the issue, I have a solution."
"…What?"
"What did you say?"
Both Tang Sowol and Tang Jincheon turned to me simultaneously, their gazes filled with disbelief. Tang Jincheon, in particular, exuded a palpable intensity, likely due to his advanced cultivation level.
Sensing the tension, I carefully revised my words.
"There is a solution."
"Enough with the suspense. Speak plainly. If you're lying, I won't forgive you, but if it's true…"
"It's simple. The problem stems from the excessive accumulation of poison in her body, correct? If we can control the flow of poison, the issue can be resolved."
This was a problem that Tang Sowol had struggled with deeply in my previous life.
In the end, she had never married, dedicating herself entirely to martial arts. But then, the Tang Clan had been annihilated…
As the last surviving member of the Tang bloodline, she bore the responsibility of reviving her clan.
Thus, she had spent a long time searching for a solution to this problem, and eventually, she found one.
I remembered it vividly because she had confided in me over drinks, sharing every little detail late into the night.
"I'll teach you a method to regulate the poison in your body."
Back then, I hadn't realized it, but in hindsight, it might have been her roundabout way of confessing.
There was no way to confirm that now, though.