Chapter 12 – The Blessings of the Clan

Chapter 12 – The Blessings of the Clan

“…For now, could I return to the annex first?”

The eyes held a subtle disappointment, perhaps because it was not the answer they had expected. It was not that I did not understand the meaning behind them, but right now, there was something more important than that.

It was time to feed my babies.

“Why is that?”

Martial Hidden Hall Leader Tang Tae-seon, who could not hide his disappointment, asked.

“It is a difficult matter to decide right now, and above all, it's feeding time for my babies… No, Torong and Yongyong.”

Upon hearing my response, Tang Tae-seon called the servant outside the door without hesitation. After quietly ordering the servant to do something, he turned back to me and spoke.

“This fellow will go to the annex in your stead, so tell him what is needed.”

“Ah, that… I must go there myself.”

It seemed he had ordered the servant to take care of Torong and Yongyong's meals instead of me. Indeed, how difficult could it be to feed animals, but there was still a reason why I had to go.

My cute babies were, truly…

Because they would only be pretty in my eyes.

But Tang Tae-seon asked again, showing a firm determination to get an answer today.

“Haha, you worry too much. Do you think the things you raise might get hurt? I have told him to be extra careful, so do not worry. I assume grass or grains will do?”

I was not worried about my babies, though…

The annex where I stayed was located deep inside the inner castle of the Tang Clan. Usually, the only people who came and went were me, Sawol, and Tang Hae-soo. Thus, almost no one knew of the existence of Torong and Yongyong.

As my gaze shifted to the servant standing beside us, Tang Hae-soo, who knew the situation, quietly added his support to my side.

“They behave fiercely toward anyone other than San-ho, so I will go. You do not need to send a servant separately.”

When Tang Hae-soo stepped forward, Tang Tae-seon asked back with a very puzzled expression.

“A rabbit is just a rabbit, so how fierce could they possibly be?”

“Hall Leader. Torong… and Yongyong are not rabbits, but the offspring of the Earth Dragon caught in the Yangtze River previously. Since they follow San-ho exceptionally well, we obtained the permission of the Ten Thousand Poisons Hall Leader to raise them in the annex.”

Perhaps because the names were embarrassing to speak with his own mouth, Tang Hae-soo hesitated as he answered.

At that moment, Ten Thousand Poisons Hall Leader Tang Yi-seon, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, let out a short "Ah" and looked at me.

“Indeed, you did take the eggs. I had temporarily forgotten about that.”

Tang Yi-seon continued, the corners of his mouth gradually rising.

“Family Head. As you know, only female Earth Dragons possess poison, do they not? Yet, this child suddenly took the eggs, saying he would make sure females hatched from them, and surprisingly, both of them were indeed born female. Furthermore, since they follow him like a mother, showing outstanding talent in venomous beast training… he can be said to be a talent fitting for the Ten Thousand Poisons Hall.”

Seeing Tang Yi-seon's proud expression, Tang Tae-seon and Tang Mu-seon repeated what they had said earlier and pressed for an answer again. Arguments began to heat up and go back and forth, claiming he was a talent to raise the Craftsmanship Hall, or that his destiny was set for the Martial Hidden Hall.

‘Do I have to choose just one? Given the test inside the library pavilion as well, it did not seem like affiliation was that important…’

Like a shrimp caught in a fight between whales, I, who was suddenly sandwiched between the Hall Leaders, could only roll my eyes.

At that moment, Craftsmanship Hall Leader Tang Mu-seon whipped his head around and changed the question.

“Hmm, then is there a secret manual that was memorable? Just tell us that one.”

“In my memory?”

“Yes. Before finding the hidden chest, you must have looked through the books on the shelves, did you not? If it is difficult to choose a Hall right now, you only need to tell us which book you selected from among them. The secret manuals of the Craftsmanship Hall are truly interest—… Ah, why are you glaring at me like that? Fine, I get it.”

As Tang Mu-seon's words grew longer, Martial Hidden Hall Leader Tang Tae-seon glared at him with sharp eyes.

Scratching the back of my head, I spoke awkwardly.

“Um… I didn't know what the correct answer was back then.”

Five pairs of eyes waiting for the next words shone, expressing their respective resolves. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and indeed it was so. Though the results they wanted might be different, those who desired the same thing seemed to be looking at a future of mine that even I did not know.

“I just learned all of them. Is that… not allowed?”

At that moment, the atmosphere, which had been heated to an overwhelming degree just a moment ago, instantly fell silent.

Everyone looked at me without making a single movement, to the point where it felt as if time had stopped.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Thinking I might have been too hasty since there were orders and qualifications even for learning martial arts, I stealthily gauged their reactions.

Family Head Tang Hwa-seon, who had been quietly observing the situation until now, spoke for the first time.

“…All the secret manuals inside the library pavilion?”

It was a brief question, but it carried an overwhelming pressure that no one could ignore.

“I have only memorized the principles, operational methods, and oral formulas. Since there are many precious teachings, I have not yet reached a profound depth.”

Since I could not take back the words I had already spoken, I responded honestly.

Tang Hwa-seon furrowed his brows slightly and asked again.

“There should have been hundreds of books inside the library pavilion. Can you take responsibility for the words you have just spoken?”

“If you are referring to the theory and not asking about my achievements, then yes.”

Since no one would have even thought of such a crazy thing, Tang Hwa-seon's doubt was fully understandable. Upon hearing my answer, Tang Hwa-seon pondered deeply for a moment and asked me several questions, all of which were related to the secret manuals inside the library pavilion.

‘I thought they might make me duel right away, but I can easily answer simple questions.’

Relieved, I recalled the martial arts clearly engraved in my mind.

As I continued to answer the pouring questions without hesitation, I felt Tang Hwa-seon's gaze, which had been packed with doubt, gradually change. By the time the last answer was coming to an end, I could read surprise and intense passion in his deeply shadowed eyes.

“………”

How much time had passed? Finally, with Tang Hwa-seon's nod, the truth of my words was proven, but only silence still lingered in the Family Head's Hall.

It was then.

“When I first saw that chest…”

It was Martial Hidden Hall Leader Tang Tae-seon who broke the quiet silence.

“I thought that recovering the family's treasure was a great blessing. However, a greater blessing is none other than this child. Family Head, I have made up my mind.”

The future aspiration situation, which had been so heated, thus resulted in an unexpected outcome.

“I, too, will align my will with the Martial Hidden Hall Leader.”

“I will follow without objection.”

This was because the wills of the three Hall Leaders had finally converged as one.

“We will instruct him together.”

Meaning that instead of having me belong to a single Hall, they would personally become my masters.

***

With the storm-like investigation into my future aspirations ending in obtaining three unprecedented masters, I was finally able to return to the annex after a full ten days.

‘I am mentally tired, but my body feels light. Is this the power of macro qi circulation…!’

The refreshed state, as if I had slept soundly and woken up, was satisfying.

Stepping out of the Family Head's Hall, I stretched thoroughly and checked my changed physical condition.

Just because I had learned a divine art did not mean I suddenly gained several cycles of internal energy or far surpassed my existing achievements, but I could feel the internal energy steadily circulating throughout my body and seeping into my dantian, increasing bit by bit.

Martial arts are truly fascinating.

In the beginning, it was just a single desire to get stronger. But the more I learned, the more fun it became, and the more I wanted to know.

Right now, I wanted to quickly go back and study the Ten Thousand Flows Return to the Source Divine Art further. Combined with the numerous martial arts I had learned inside the library pavilion, endless ways to utilize it came to mind. It was admirable that the ultimate heights of martial arts lay not in mere power, but in inner enlightenment.

‘First, I should feed Torong and Yongyong, and then tell Sawol. I did not expect it to take this long; he must have been waiting for a while.’

Thinking of the crocodile sisters and Sawol who would be waiting for me at the annex, I chuckled. The reason I was able to adapt to this unfamiliar world without difficulty was thanks to Sawol's devoted care and the cuteness of my babies.

Passing through several walls, my steps toward the annex were significantly lighter.

“Sawol! I'm back!”

Flinging open the gate of the annex, I shouted happily. However, contrary to expectations, it was quiet inside the annex.

“…Huh?”

When the fellow who would usually run out and chatter happily before I even opened the door was nowhere to be seen, my head tilted to the side in spite of myself.

Grrrrr!

Grr, grrrr.

Only Torong and Yongyong welcomed me after my ten-day outing.

“There, there, my babies! How long has it been? Oh, Torong, you rolled around in the dirt a lot. If you dirty my clothes any further, Sawol will scold me, so stop climbing on me, okay?”

The moment they saw me, they rushed over and rubbed their snouts against me. As I gently scratched beneath their chins, they purred like cats, making pleasant grunting sounds.

“Yes, yes, I missed you too.”

Dusting off my pants, which had become a mess because they rushed at me unable to hide their joy, I stepped inside.

‘Did he go to the Medical Hall?’

Even though I had regained my health, Sawol still treated me like a fragile glass marble at times. As part of that, he never forgot to fetch medicinal tea and healthy decoctions from the Medical Hall. Once, when I asked if he wasn't being a bit excessive, he poured out a torrent of nagging with eyes full of resentment.

He would vent his resentment for a long while, complaining about whether he would act like this if the young master took care of himself, or why I didn't understand his feelings, and then slink back to hand me the decoction bowl. Feeling grateful for his heart, I did not say aloud that it would be much faster for me to circulate my energy once in the time it took for him to brew the medicinal tea.

“Sawol, where are you~ Can you hear my voice?”

Searching for Sawol in a deliberately playful manner, I walked into the pavilion and saw him organizing the room. Intending to startle him, I suppressed my presence and crept up stealthily.

Tap!

Grabbing Sawol's shoulder from behind, I popped my face out and cried, "Wah!"

“Ah, Young Master! You startled me.”

“What were you focusing so hard on that you couldn't even hear me calling? I've been looking for you for a while.”

Sawol flinched in surprise, grabbing the shoulder where my hand had touched.

“I was just spacing out a bit… More importantly, you must be tired, right? I will head out now. I'll place some clean clothes in front, so please take them later.”

“Huh? You're leaving just like that?”

“Yes. Ah, please give me your outer robe now.”

I had expected him to pour out a barrage of questions about what I had been eating to survive for ten days, and what took me so long. Faced with Sawol's reaction, which felt somewhat unfamiliar, I fell into thought for a moment. Was he sulking? Was he being awkward because we hadn't seen each other in ten days? Was he tired?

“Sawol, is something wrong? Are you sick somewhere?”

Wondering if I was overreacting, I asked him directly. However, Sawol shook his head slightly and answered that it was just because he hadn't slept well. There was no way I would believe such a clumsy excuse, so I asked again.

“Don't lie. How could you lose sleep? I know very well that the moment your head touches the pillow, you sleep so soundly that you wouldn't notice even if someone carried you away.”

“I have times like that too, you know? You really don't know anything, Young Master.”

“Since I don't know, tell me quickly. What's wrong?”

“I told you nothing is wrong. When have I ever lied to you like that? Jeez, why don't you believe me?”

Sawol protested as if feeling extremely wronged, repeating the same excuse.

‘What is really wrong with him?’

Seeing Sawol behaving not just unlike his usual self but outright strangely, my brows furrowed of their own accord. Sawol had not made eye contact with me even once today.

Out of concern, I grabbed the wrist of Sawol, who was looking at the floor. When I did, his body trembled slightly, just like when I grabbed his shoulder.

…No way.

When I quickly rolled up the sleeve of the wrist I was holding, Sawol, who had been avoiding my gaze all along, looked at me in surprise. However, this time my gaze was directed downward, so our eyes still did not meet.

“…………”

“…Um, Young Master. That is…”

Sawol's trembling voice rang in my ears. I felt as if the blood in my entire body was running cold. Gritting my teeth, I spat out a question.

“Who was it?”

At the end of my gaze, Sawol's wrist was covered with dark blue bruises.

“Tell me, right now.”