Chapter 149: The Gray Cat
At the Tang Family Clinic, there’s a gray cat that roams around. It’s not exactly a pet, but it does a decent job of keeping the mice away from the herbs.
Though it comes and goes as it pleases, the gray cat has an uncanny knack for returning just in time for meals. It doesn’t have a name, but it’s diligent enough to catch a mouse every three days or so. Each time it does, Tang Jeseon rewards it with some cheap cuts of meat from the butcher.
After its meal, the cat curls up in a sunny spot at the edge of the yard and dozes off. Among the residents of the clinic, it’s the only one that naps before sunset.
Recently, however, the gray cat has found a companion.
That companion is none other than Dan Seol-young.
Though it wasn’t even noon yet, Dan Seol-young was already nodding off in the shade.
Known for her diligence, Dan Seol-young had become unusually sleepy over the past two weeks. She’d nap after breakfast and again after lunch, yet she wasn’t staying up late or sneaking out at night. As soon as the sun set, she would retreat to her quarters and not emerge until morning.
To an outsider, it might seem like a lazy lifestyle, but no one criticized her for it. In fact, Tang Jeseon went out of his way to prepare nourishing herbal tonics for her, and her meals grew more lavish by the day. It was as if she were a cherished daughter, doted on in her later years.
No one openly discussed the reasons behind this change, but everyone seemed to understand. The visitors to the clinic accepted it as a natural development.
What puzzled people, however, was Tang Jeseon’s newfound warmth towards Sam An-bul. No one knew the exact reason for this change.
Tang Mujin approached Sam An-bul with curiosity.
“Sir, has something happened between you and my father?”
“Nothing at all. Why do you ask?”
“Well, my father seems to be quite fond of you these days.”
“Perhaps he’s realized that the enlightenment of Shaolin far surpasses that of the Emei Sect.”
Sam An-bul’s cryptic response left Tang Mujin scratching his head.
Dan Seol-young and Tang Mujin were contemplating marriage, with Tang Jeseon also lending his thoughts.
For the gentry, a wedding involves six elaborate ceremonies, often taking months to prepare. If the families live far apart, it can take even longer, sometimes spanning over a year.
But for ordinary folks, weddings are much simpler.
The families usually meet directly to discuss the details, skipping intermediaries, and proceed to the final ceremony of the six, the “Chinyeong,” where the bride is brought to the groom’s home in a palanquin.
The wedding concludes with a feast for the villagers and a modest celebration.
However, the wedding of Tang Mujin and Dan Seol-young was set to be even simpler.
As an orphan with no family to negotiate with, there was no need for a palanquin procession. They could complete the ceremony with just a bowl of water, and no one would bat an eye.
“Is this really okay for a wedding?” Tang Mujin wondered aloud, feeling something was amiss. He asked Dan Seol-young directly, but her response was straightforward.
“Do the formalities really matter? It’s the outcome that’s important.”
Practical as ever, Dan Seol-young’s answer was typical of her. Yet both Tang Mujin and Tang Jeseon felt that such a simple wedding lacked something.
It was a significant event, after all—an only son getting married and welcoming a precious daughter-in-law. It couldn’t just pass by unnoticed.
Tang Mujin eventually came up with an idea.
“Even if we skip the elaborate rituals, we should at least invite some friends.”
He began to think of people to invite—those he met near the Shaolin Temple in Henan, or acquaintances from his time in Luoyang.
Perhaps the carpenter who helped with Namgung Myung’s prosthetic hand, or the people from Gwisong Clinic who had once offered him shelter.
Inviting just a few of them would make the wedding feel more festive.
Typically, guests come from nearby villages, but if people from Henan or Luoyang traveled all the way to Sichuan, it would certainly be the talk of the town.
Moreover, if they spread the story of Dan Seol-young and Tang Mujin upon returning home, it would be even better.
“Financially, we’re doing well enough to cover travel expenses for a few guests,” Tang Mujin thought, planning to invite them without Dan Seol-young finding out.
As he busied himself with wedding preparations, Dan Seol-young put a stop to it.
“A wedding? Sure, it’s important. But there’s something you need to do first.”
“Huh?”
“You have unfinished business, remember? Or have you forgotten?”
“Of course not.”
Dan Seol-young was referring to the matter of avenging Gwi-ui.
Both the revenge and the wedding were things Tang Mujin couldn’t give up.
Sitting beside him, Dan Seol-young spoke softly.
“Take care of that first, before the wedding. It’s better to deal with misfortune before celebrating. You know that, right?”
Tang Mujin muttered in response.
“Misfortune, huh? It’s not something to worry about. We can have the wedding first.”
“Are you planning to leave your new bride right after the wedding? Either give up or finish it first. Choose one.”
Dan Seol-young knew Tang Mujin couldn’t abandon his quest for revenge. They had traveled together long enough for her to understand.
By bringing it up now, she was urging him to set aside the wedding burden and focus on resolving his unfinished business. It was a gesture of rough yet thoughtful care, typical of Dan Seol-young.
Understanding her intention, Tang Mujin felt a surge of emotion and almost embraced her in front of everyone. Dan Seol-young, however, leaned back and playfully slapped his hand.
But that wasn’t all she had to say.
“And don’t go alone.”
“Huh?”
“I heard you plan to handle the revenge by yourself. Is that true?”
“Well, yes.”
“Don’t let pride lead you down a dangerous path.”
“But a perfect revenge…”
When Tang Mujin hesitated, Dan Seol-young glared at him.
“Are you planning to make someone a widow? Take someone who can help. I won’t back down on this.”
Sam An-bul, who had been sitting a little distance away, approached them. It seemed he had been eavesdropping on their conversation.
“I agree with Dan Seol-young. If you go alone to face Salmak, there’s an eight out of ten chance you’ll die.”
“Then, are you offering to help, sir?”
Dan Seol-young’s face lit up. With the renowned Sam An-bul on their side, Salmak wouldn’t stand a chance.
But Sam An-bul shook his head.
“No, it’s better if I don’t go.”
Tang Mujin understood his reasoning. Sam An-bul was a powerful figure, but he also attracted trouble and enemies wherever he went.
Even if no one opposed Sam An-bul, his presence would overshadow the mission. It would no longer be Tang Mujin’s revenge but Sam An-bul’s battle, with Tang Mujin merely assisting.
Tang Mujin pondered. He needed someone with enough strength, someone he could trust, and someone with a personal connection to Gwi-ui. Someone who would help out of genuine desire, not obligation.
There were only two people who fit the bill: Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae.
“Looks like it’s down to those two.”
When Tang Mujin nodded, Dan Seol-young squeezed his hand.
“Get rid of all the misfortune and come back. Only good things should follow. Got it?”
“Got it.”
Tang Mujin replied, holding her hand firmly.
Dan Seol-young, her eyes heavy with sleep, spoke again.
“Take a little over a month if you need to, but just come back safe. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Tang Mujin’s plan was simple: finish the task and return within a month.
There were several reasons for the tight schedule.
Most importantly, even if Dan Seol-young were pregnant, it wouldn’t show for a couple of months. Until then, they could proceed with the wedding without raising any eyebrows.
But if the timeline dragged on, it would become problematic for both Dan Seol-young and Tang Mujin, so they set a one-month deadline.
It wasn’t an overly ambitious timeline.
Hubei’s Yangyang wasn’t too far away—about half the distance to Luoyang.
For most people, it was a place they’d never visit in their lifetime, but Tang Mujin was accustomed to long journeys.
Moreover, everyone in the group was skilled in martial arts, so they could reach Yangyang in Hubei within a week. Even if they fought the likes of Heukjeop for days, they could return within a month.
Shortly after setting out, Hong Geolgae grumbled.
“I feel like a fish’s tail, just following wherever you go.”
“So, do you not want to come?”
“Not really.”
Hong Geolgae preferred a life of freedom over being tied down. Though life at the Tang Family Clinic was comfortable, it was starting to feel monotonous.
Besides, there was something else weighing on Hong Geolgae’s mind lately.
Every time Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung crossed paths, it felt as if their eyes whispered the word “elite.” No matter how much he pondered, Hong Geolgae was convinced it wasn’t just his imagination.
Inwardly, Hong Geolgae made a resolution.
“There will definitely be a chance to fight. This time, I’ll surpass the pinnacle. Once I return, I’ll roam all over Chengdu, looking down on other elites to my heart’s content.”
For a martial artist at the peak, looking down on the elite was a given. With dreams of a brilliant future, Hong Geolgae’s steps were light.
To get from Sichuan to Yangyang, they had to pass through Chongqing and Mount Luojun. The distance was just right, and the route was immensely satisfying.
Dang Mujin had his own thoughts.
“First, I should meet with Hwayeon Shinni in Chongqing. I need to tell her about my upcoming marriage to Dan Seolyeong.”
Hwayeon Shinni was a formidable figure. Even if they skipped all the formalities and rituals, her mere presence would make the wedding grand.
“People in Chengdu might not know Hwayeon Shinni, but at least Elder Hwangryeongja will be impressed.”
After that, they planned to pass through Mount Luojun, greet people, and collect the poisons that had been gathered. The thought of how much poison might have accumulated made his heart race.
As soon as they entered Chongqing, the three naturally made their way to Deungseonru.
“Welcome!”
The owner of Deungseonru rushed out to greet them, and the patrons drinking inside looked on with curiosity as the three young men were led to the best seats. The third floor of Deungseonru was a place even wealthy merchants and renowned martial artists were sometimes denied.
People whispered among themselves, speculating about the identity of Dang Mujin’s group. But the trio paid no mind to the murmurs or guesses.
Unlike Dang Mujin and Namgung Myung, who had visited Deungseonru several times, it had been a long time since Hong Geolgae had been there. He gazed out with a satisfied expression. Born a beggar, being naturally led to the top floor of such an expensive inn felt like a dream.
“I’ve done quite well for myself.”
Faces of the beggars passing under the bridge flashed in his mind, along with the vivid images of the child and father captured by bandits.
“Before leaving, I should meet with So Samgu and So Seondo.”
Leaning back in his chair, Hong Geolgae asked Dang Mujin, “So if we wait here, we’ll meet Hwayeon Shinni?”
“Yes.”
“I should also thank her for her help last time. I was too flustered to properly express my gratitude then.”
With that, Hong Geolgae busily picked up his chopsticks and began eating, as did Namgung Myung. However, Dang Mujin found it hard to touch his food.
Everything had been fine until they entered Deungseonru, but an inexplicable unease lingered in his mind.
“Did I do something wrong?”
Nothing came to mind. Yet, he was certain he was missing something.
With a furrowed brow, Dang Mujin slowly moved his chopsticks.
Then, footsteps were heard ascending to the third floor.
There were four sets of footsteps. The owner of Deungseonru, Hwayeon Shinni, and the other two were likely Hongmyeon Nogae and Hyun Jang Sangchaeju.
Dang Mujin, Namgung Myung, and even Hong Geolgae paused, looking towards the stairs.
At that moment, Dang Mujin realized what he had been overlooking.
“Hong Geolgae and Hongmyeon Nogae.”
The former deputy chief of the Central Beggars’ Sect was Hong Geolgae’s father, Yubonggae Hongjeong.
And the current deputy chief was Hongmyeon Nogae.
The important thing was that Hongmyeon Nogae’s appointment as deputy chief hadn’t been smooth.
“Ah…”
The four figures appeared at the top of the stairs, just as expected.
Dang Mujin stiffly turned his head to the side.
Hong Geolgae was staring intently at the beggar with the unusually red face.