Episode 144: The Guests of the Tang Family Clinic
Tang Mujin’s mind was screaming at him to run towards Dan Seol-young, but his instincts held him back. It felt as if roots had grown from his feet, making it impossible to move.
It was a fear he couldn’t quite place, similar to the feeling of facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent.
‘What is this?’
While Tang Mujin hesitated, Dan Seol-young rushed over and threw her arms around him.
It was a bold move, as if she’d forgotten they were surrounded by onlookers.
Dan Seol-young naturally expected Tang Mujin to embrace her in return. However, his reaction was a bit off.
“Ugh.”
Tang Mujin let out a small groan and leaned back slightly. Dan Seol-young’s face was a picture of shock.
“What… what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. I think I broke a rib during the fight.”
Tang Mujin tugged at his shirt to show her. A faint bruise peeked out from beneath the fabric.
“Oh…!”
Dan Seol-young was worried but also relieved. Her expression brightened visibly.
“Do you know how worried I was? When I saw that guy, Sam An-bul, taking you away…”
As she spoke, the surroundings fell silent.
Only then did Dan Seol-young notice Sam An-bul standing beside Tang Mujin.
”…!”
Sam An-bul was hard to miss, but Dan Seol-young had been so focused on Tang Mujin that she hadn’t paid attention to those around him. It was a significant oversight.
Sam An-bul waved a hand dismissively.
“So, you’re the young lady I saw back then. No need to worry about me. You weren’t wrong.”
Dan Seol-young tried to wrap her head around the situation but couldn’t understand why the infamous martial artist Sam An-bul was with Tang Mujin. There wasn’t even a hint of tension between them; they seemed almost friendly.
After a moment of observing Sam An-bul, Dan Seol-young returned to the main topic.
“Anyway, I was worried about you.”
“Sorry. I didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”
“Well, at least you’re safe now. Though, not entirely unscathed.”
Dan Seol-young trailed off, then got to the point.
“Who’s that behind you?”
Her question brought a hush over the crowd.
Behind Tang Mujin stood Mok Wan-ah. Having been abruptly taken from the familiar cave, the only place that felt remotely safe was behind Tang Mujin.
At Dan Seol-young’s question, Mok Wan-ah shrank back further, hiding behind Tang Mujin.
But Tang Mujin introduced her with a bright smile.
“This is Mok Wan-ah. I met her in the Demon Sect.”
“Met… as in, you got close? Explain.”
Dan Seol-young’s voice was on the verge of rising. Hong Geol-gae and Namgung Myung tensed up.
Yet, the others couldn’t hide their curiosity. Even Sam An-bul’s eyes sparkled with interest.
Among them, the one most engrossed in the unfolding drama was Hwa Yeon-shin.
Having walked the path of a monk, Hwa Yeon-shin had lived a life devoid of romantic entanglements. But when it came to others’ stories, it was a different matter.
Hwa Yeon-shin had read the romance novel “Hui Jin Gi” at least a hundred times and enjoyed eavesdropping on love stories from the courtesans at the tavern.
Though she founded the Hao Moon to help those in need, her most rewarding moments were hearing the tantalizing tales of love from her network of informants.
While she lacked personal experience, her indirect knowledge was unmatched, and she often gave advice to young couples.
Now, the situation before her exceeded her expectations.
The story of Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young was intriguing enough, but a tale involving three people was even more captivating. Hwa Yeon-shin’s small palms were damp with excitement.
Meanwhile, Tang Mujin was clueless as to why the atmosphere had become so charged.
“I needed to research poisons in the Demon Sect, and Mok Wan-ah was the only one who could help. We naturally grew close.”
“You must have spent a lot of time together?”
“We were stuck in a cave with no visitors.”
Silence. Not even a breath could be heard. Everyone’s imagination ran wild. What had happened in that cave?
Dan Seol-young’s face was devoid of even a faint smile. Her fists trembled.
“So, you brought her back with you?”
Tang Mujin was oblivious to the nuances of the situation and had no idea how others might perceive it.
However, he had faced life-threatening situations enough to sense that simply nodding and moving on could lead to serious trouble. He explained as thoroughly as he could.
“Leaving Mok Wan-ah in the Demon Sect would have meant certain death for her. I had no choice but to bring her.”
“So, you like Mok Wan-ah?”
“Of course. She showed incredible loyalty.”
“Loyalty?”
Loyalty? Was that an excuse even a neighborhood dog would believe?
Yet, Tang Mujin’s voice was steady, without a hint of shame.
Dan Seol-young stared at Tang Mujin. He didn’t avoid her gaze. She was confused.
‘Is he serious? Did he bring her because of loyalty?’
From what Dan Seol-young had observed, Tang Mujin wasn’t the type to have messy relationships or lie about such matters.
He didn’t even seem to grasp the gravity of what he’d done.
“What kind of loyalty?”
“She drank poison, vowing not to reveal my whereabouts. She would have died if I hadn’t intervened.”
Tang Mujin’s voice was filled with admiration.
Dan Seol-young felt relieved. It seemed Tang Mujin wasn’t infatuated with this Mok Wan-ah.
But the issue was Mok Wan-ah. Did she follow Tang Mujin purely out of loyalty?
Dan Seol-young tilted her head slightly, peering at Mok Wan-ah hiding behind Tang Mujin.
Tang Mujin noticed and asked, “Why? Is something wrong?”
“Step aside for a moment.”
Tang Mujin obediently moved aside.
With Tang Mujin no longer shielding her, Mok Wan-ah tensed up like a mouse before a cat. The tension in the room was palpable. Someone swallowed audibly. Gulp.
Dan Seol-young’s eyes flashed as she looked at Mok Wan-ah, whose gaze naturally fell to the ground.
Tang Mujin, sensing the silence was unnatural, interjected.
“Mok Wan-ah is very shy. She didn’t interact with others even within the Demon Sect.”
A conversation between Dan Seol-young and Mok Wan-ah was slow to start. After a pause, Dan Seol-young spoke.
“Miss Mok?”
“Y-yes?”
“Do you have anything to say?”
“No…”
Dan Seol-young crossed her arms. Her response was awkward.
‘She seems to have feelings for Mujin.’
Though uncertain, it wasn’t a topic to address openly in front of everyone, so Dan Seol-young refrained from pressing further.
However, one thing was clear. Mok Wan-ah’s demeanor indicated that Dan Seol-young held the upper hand. It wasn’t just a matter of a settled stone versus a rolling one. Mok Wan-ah seemed inherently timid.
Dan Seol-young assessed the situation rationally.
‘Even if I don’t like her, I can’t send her back to the Demon Sect. It’s wiser to establish boundaries and ensure she doesn’t overstep.’
A timid cat won’t climb onto the stove.
Dan Seol-young glanced at Mok Wan-ah.
She considered herself quite attractive, but Mok Wan-ah was also pretty. That was fine.
However, Mok Wan-ah’s fair skin was bothersome.
Dan Seol-young discreetly compared her own arm to Mok Wan-ah’s.
Unlike Dan Seol-young, who had tanned from working outdoors since childhood, Mok Wan-ah’s pale face and arms looked as if they were dusted with powder.
But Dan Seol-young remained confident.
‘Since leaving Mount Song, I’ve become paler from less sun exposure. With proper care, I won’t lose out.’
Dan Seol-young addressed Mok Wan-ah.
“I’m Dan Seol-young. I’m Tang Mujin’s partner.”
Mok Wan-ah thought.
If she’s Tang Mujin’s partner, then Dan Seol-young must be the daughter-in-law of the renowned Sichuan Tang Clan.
Mok Wan-ah was clumsy in many ways, but her survival instincts were sharp.
Whether she liked it or not, she had to rely on the Sichuan Tang Clan. Like a puppy with its tail between its legs, Mok Wan-ah watched Dan Seol-young and spoke.
“Should I call you Young Madam?”
Dan Seol-young was taken aback by the unexpected title.
Young Madam? It felt like she was being elevated to a position far grander than a mere daughter-in-law of a small clinic.
Moreover, Mok Wan-ah’s respectful address suggested she had no intention of challenging Dan Seol-young’s position.
Dan Seol-young’s lips curled into a slight smile. Whatever the future might hold, for now, there was no threat.
“Oh, there’s no need for formalities. Just call me Dan Seol-young.”
“Oh, uh, sure.”
Standing beside Mok Wan-ah, Dan Seol-young whispered in a satisfied tone, “Now that we’ve met, let’s get along. But don’t get too ambitious, alright?”
Mok Wan-ah didn’t quite grasp what “too ambitious” meant, but nodded along to match the mood.
A few days later.
Jin Song, the head instructor of Cheongseong Sect’s Seongdobunta, awoke to the sound of magpies chirping.
“Could it be a sign of a welcome guest?”
Jin Song was well-connected and had a knack for maintaining good relationships. There were many people he would be glad to see.
However, if he had to choose just one person he truly wished to meet, it would undoubtedly be Dang Mu-jin.
It had been over a year since Dang Mu-jin promised to craft a sword for Jin Song. But with Dang Mu-jin constantly on the move, Jin Song had yet to receive it.
After a brief morning training session, Jin Song wandered around the vicinity of Dang’s clinic. He had a feeling he might run into Dang Mu-jin today.
The townspeople, seeing the renowned martial artist Jin Song loitering near the clinic, were reminded of the clinic’s prestige. If someone of his caliber was hanging around, it must indeed be the best clinic in Seongdo.
Jin Song, momentarily forgetting his original purpose, enjoyed the attention.
Even the local thugs, who usually strutted around with bravado, lowered their heads in his presence. Some even changed their paths to avoid crossing him.
Whether he would one day surpass his master and break through the ultimate barrier was uncertain.
But Jin Song wasn’t anxious. In his late twenties, being a top-tier martial artist meant he was ahead of most, not lagging behind.
As Jin Song continued to linger near the clinic, a stranger emerged from the alley.
“A martial artist. Could he be from out of town?”
The man had a sword at his waist, and his sharp demeanor and steady gait suggested he wasn’t just pretending to be a martial artist. At a glance, he seemed to be on par with Jin Song.
“Why is he here? Does he have business with Cheongseong Sect?”
But Jin Song’s gaze quickly shifted as more than twenty martial artists appeared behind the man.
Not a single one looked like an amateur. Some even seemed to have surpassed the ultimate barrier.
Jin Song felt a twinge of tension. This was no ordinary situation.
Just as he was about to discreetly retreat, a particularly striking figure appeared.
He was a head taller than the others, a monk covered in scars, with ashen skin that seemed almost inhuman.
For a moment, Jin Song’s breath caught. The monk was famous enough that even street gossipers would recognize him.
“Sam An-bul!”
Jin Song’s knees trembled. Why had the notorious master of the Demonic Sect appeared here?
The first thought was the Demonic Sect’s aggression.
But why they had come to Cheongseong Sect, and not even the main branch but Seongdobunta, was beyond him.
The idea of fighting back didn’t even cross his mind. Even if he sought his master’s help, this wasn’t a situation that could be resolved easily.
To fend off such a group, his master would need to call for aid from the main branch of Cheongseong Sect.
Yet his legs refused to move. Jin Song stood frozen beside the clinic’s gate.
The Demonic Sect’s group halted in front of him.
It felt as if Sam An-bul’s fist might fly at any moment. The thought of dying made Jin Song’s mind go blank.
But then, a familiar face appeared among the group. Dang Mu-jin and his companions, looking remarkably at ease.
Dang Mu-jin addressed the group, “We don’t have enough rooms, but for now, we’ll clear out a corner room and the storage. Please bear with us for a few days while we find suitable accommodations nearby.”
The Demonic Sect members nodded and filed into the clinic. The street suddenly felt deserted.
Only then did Dang Mu-jin seem to notice Jin Song and approached him with a greeting.
“It’s been a while.”
“Uh… why are those people here?”
“They’re guests.”
“Oh… I see.”
Jin Song pondered. Guests. Guests, indeed.
It wasn’t like they were some grand family, yet here were over twenty guests at a local clinic.
And the composition of these “guests” was far from ordinary.
“Oh, by the way, I’ll get started on your sword soon. It’s been delayed far too long.”
“Is that so? No need to rush.”
Jin Song, saying things he didn’t mean, slowly backed away.
As Dang Mu-jin disappeared into the clinic, Jin Song sprinted off to find Hwang Ryeong-ja.
He didn’t know what was going on, but he had to inform his master of the situation.