The Tang Clan (2)

That night, Tang Jin-hyeon formally introduced Gyeong Hang and the smiths to Seol Hong-baek.

Unexpectedly, Gyeong Hang was deeply courteous toward Seol Hong-baek. He too was well aware of the White Sword Seol Clan’s reputation, and he had met the Patriarch of the previous generation a few times as well.

Seol Hong-baek was flustered and told him to speak comfortably, but Gyeong Hang was firm. He said that later, if a personal friendship formed between them, that might be different, but he could not speak casually to the head of a clan and his grandson’s benefactor merely because he was older.

From that attitude of Gyeong Hang’s, Seol Hong-baek felt sincerely relieved.

He trusted Tang Jin-hyeon enough that even giving his life would not feel regrettable, but when he watched him, there were times when he could not help thinking the man seemed precarious. It was because of the unconventional conduct he sometimes showed.

But if such an elder was by his side, it seemed Tang Jin-hyeon’s extreme words, actions, and mistakes could be corrected as much as needed.

The night deepened.

The smiths poured and drank with great gusto, but they were fast asleep before midnight. Since they were people who rose extremely early at dawn, it was only natural.

Gyeong Hang also said he was tired and went in first to seek sleep, and because they couldn’t leave the clan empty for long, the Seol Clan warriors returned as well.

In the end, those who remained were Seol Hong-baek, Seol So-ha and Do Min, who had arrived two hours earlier, and Tang Jin-hyeon, Han Cheol-sang, Im Yeo-wol, and Do Il-gang.

Seol So-ha bowed her head politely.

“I sincerely congratulate the Tang Clan on its entry into Kangho.”

They had already exchanged greetings earlier, but because they had been looking after the warriors, only now did they have a chance to sit together.

Tang Jin-hyeon smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, Lady Seol.”

Seol Hong-baek subtly cut in.

“It is not necessarily because you have become the head of a clan, Patriarch, but considering the relationship you have shared until now, and since you acted as her teacher for a short while as well, how about using more comfortable forms of address now?”

Tang Jin-hyeon did not bother refusing.

“Then I will address you more comfortably from now on.”

A small smile appeared on her still-expressionless face.

“I will also call you Brother comfortably.”

“Do that.”

Seol Hong-baek cleared his throat slightly.

“Do so only in private.”

Because Tang Jin-hyeon’s position was what it was, it seemed awkward for him as a father. Seol So-ha smiled and answered that she would.

Han Cheol-sang carefully cut in.

“Somehow, Lady Seol’s martial arts seem to have developed even further in the meantime.”

Seol Hong-baek’s expression brightened at once.

“You can see it too, Steward Han?”

“Yes. Even during the Radiant Sword Festival, it was stiff and awkward, but that rough qi presence from back then has completely vanished. It would not be an exaggeration to call her a proper master of the Kangho now.”

“Heh heh, So-ha worked very hard.”

He pretended otherwise, but he seemed proud of his daughter. They say that as one grows old, one lives for the pleasure of boasting about one’s children, and among those, boasting about a daughter is said to be a father’s joy in life.

“Since she has come all this way, why not have her rest here for a few days before leaving? The Patriarch must teach her quite well, but they say learning also comes from studying what one never expected in a different environment.”

“I wonder if that would be a burden to Patriarch Tang and the Steward.”

“Please don’t say that. It may be called a clan, but it is an idle clan without even a proper martial force.”

At Han Cheol-sang’s words, Tang Jin-hyeon grumbled.

“That hurts, Steward Han.”

“It’s true, is it not?”

“The side dishes are gone.”

Han Cheol-sang looked at Im Yeo-wol and spoke.

“Yeo-wol, could you make us a stir-fried meat dish?”

Im Yeo-wol immediately stood.

“Please wait a quarter-hour.”

Tang Jin-hyeon looked back and forth between the two of them with a baffled expression.

“What is this? Why is Steward Han not going? Since when did Yeo-wol cook?”

“She asked me to teach her, so I did, and she learned it quickly. Her martial talent is one thing, but her talent for cooking is considerable too.”

Im Yeo-wol smiled slightly and entered the kitchen. Tang Jin-hyeon let out an uncomfortable groan.

“Now I will have to single her out and put her to work.”

“Do you enjoy seeing me uncomfortable that much?”

“Yeah.”

“When you first asked me to become a clan member, you coaxed me gently, saying you would treat me wonderfully. So people really are different going into the privy and coming out, is that it?”

“Even when you shit, you should shit in moderation.”

“Don’t talk about shit in front of food.”

At the conversation between the two, Seol Hong-baek burst into hearty laughter. Do Il-gang also covered his face and laughed quietly.

“It is truly a good sight to see.”

Tang Jin-hyeon smacked his lips.

“I had no intention of strutting around with my belly stuck out, but I still think this is a bit too much toward the Patriarch.”

Han Cheol-sang shrugged.

“Then go ahead and establish a clear hierarchy now. I won’t make a peep.”

“No. You would leave then.”

“I can leave now if I want to. Don’t you remember the contract terms?”

“You don’t lose even a single exchange.”

“It seems to be a trait of this clan. Refusing to lose, I mean. You’re the same, Patriarch.”

“That is true.”

The way they spoke while grumbling made them truly seem like friends or brothers.

Tang Jin-hyeon smiled and pointed at Han Cheol-sang with his thumb.

“Stay here for a few days. Steward Han will make the meals. Steward Han will look after your martial arts too. Steward Han will do everything for you.”

Seol So-ha looked at Han Cheol-sang with an awkward face.

Han Cheol-sang, who had been about to firmly protest and ask what nonsense that was, swallowed his groan when he saw Seol So-ha’s expression. After seeing that face, he could never ask why he had to do even that.

Seol Hong-baek, who had been chuckling, suddenly looked at Do Min.

Do Min was extremely nervous. She was holding her chopsticks as if holding a teacup, and at a glance, it almost looked as if she were offering incense.

“Why are you not eating?”

At Seol Hong-baek’s gentle question, Do Min jumped in surprise and shouted.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Not eating food is not something to apologize for, but still, out of respect for the sincerity of those who prepared it, have a few pieces.”

Han Cheol-sang waved his hand.

“If it does not suit her taste, it cannot be helped. It is all right.”

At those words, Do Min’s face instead turned pale.

“It’s absolutely not that it doesn’t suit my taste. I just…”

Do Min hesitated, then eventually ate a few remaining pieces of vegetables. Even as she chewed, her face was filled with discomfort.

To begin with, she had never sat at the same table as Seol Hong-baek. On top of that, Tang Jin-hyeon, with whom she had been so close, had even become the head of a clan. Looking at the faces gathered here right now, there was not a single person who wasn’t a master. Naturally, she couldn’t help shrinking back.

But it wasn’t simply because of that.

Tang Jin-hyeon spoke mischievously.

“Why are you watching everyone’s reactions? From now on, Patriarch Seol is just the neighborhood uncle, is he not? Live without walking on eggshells.”

Seol Hong-baek laughed loudly.

“Yes, from now on, be more comfortable…”

He couldn’t finish speaking. Do Min was shedding fat tears, drop by drop.

In truth, Do Min was currently at a loss from guilt. The fact that, despite being a maid, she had turned her back on the grace of the Seol Clan, which had treated her like family for so long, and come to the Tang Clan.

She knew the Seol father and daughter were not hurt by it at all, but feeling sorry was still feeling sorry. That was the biggest reason this seat was uncomfortable for her.

Han Cheol-sang tapped Tang Jin-hyeon’s thigh with his knee.

‘This is because of you, Patriarch. Do something about it.’

Tang Jin-hyeon looked toward the distant mountains. Han Cheol-sang even used his elbow to shake him, but he didn’t budge.

Seol So-ha awkwardly stroked Do Min’s shoulder. Tears streamed from Do Min’s lowered eyes.

Surprisingly, the one who broke through the unbearably awkward atmosphere was Do Il-gang.

“Only oneself can know how to use one’s own life.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Do Il-gang.

Do Il-gang spoke with no trace of embarrassment.

“Before I met the Patriarch, I was no different from floating duckweed. I had only come out into the Kangho, and had never properly thought about how I should live. But the Patriarch took me in.”

Under Do Il-gang’s gaze, Tang Jin-hyeon looked even farther toward the distant mountains.

“My master may not have wanted me to be the way I am now. But I am not sorry to my master. I believe that while I must not forget his grace, it is right for me to find my own life.”

Do Il-gang naturally turned his gaze to Seol Hong-baek, and his eyes were so clear and pure. It seemed that if Do Il-gang experienced the storms of Kangho, grew older, and came to build a clan, he would become someone like Seol Hong-baek.

“If Patriarch Seol had no intention of letting you go, this gathering would never have happened. Miss, you have nothing to feel sorry for and only need to be grateful. I think you only need to carry Patriarch Seol’s grace for allowing you to face this moment, and live diligently here.”

He was not especially eloquent, but because every word was filled with sincerity, it was more persuasive than the words of a skilled debater.

Before anyone knew it, Do Min, who had been staring blankly at Do Il-gang, stood and bowed her head to Seol Hong-baek.

“I will not forget, even after death, the grace you have shown by treating someone as lacking as me like family all this time.”

Seol Hong-baek burst into hearty laughter.

“You little thing, if you say it like that, does it not sound as if we will never see each other again?”

“…”

“Young Hero Do here is right. One’s own life is something one decides for oneself. It is true that you are still lacking in many ways, but if you learn greatly under Patriarch Tang, then someday, when you find your own place and leave, Patriarch Tang will never stop you.”

Only then did Tang Jin-hyeon turn his gaze away from the distant mountains and shrug.

“That is a misunderstanding. I won’t let her go. Hey, if a man you like asks you to elope, tell him to shut up and live here. I will look after that bastard too.”

Only then did Do Min give a small giggle. Much of the burden in her heart had disappeared.

Seol Hong-baek spoke to Do Il-gang.

“By the way, Young Hero Do’s heart is truly upright. I knew you were a sound young man, but I did not know you were someone with such depth inside.”

Do Il-gang bowed his head deeply.

“She seemed like me from a few months ago, so I needlessly cut in. I apologize for stepping forward beyond my place.”

“As if our own standing is so grand that you need to say such a thing?”

The seat, which had almost turned gloomy, became warm and cheerful again.

Before anyone knew it, Im Yeo-wol seemed to have finished cooking and brought out two enormous plates. It was enough to feed at least ten people until they were full.

Han Cheol-sang grumbled.

“I told you to use a moderate amount of meat. Everyone says they’re full, so you should have made just enough. Now I have to go buy more tomorrow.”

“You said fresh ingredients are the beginning and end of cooking.”

“Ah, she’s talking back already.”

“I merely didn’t forget your teaching.”

In that way, their drinking gathering continued until the hour of the Ox.

Seol Hong-baek had also decided to stay the night here before leaving, so he enjoyed the gathering without burden.

Once the gathering broke up and even the cleanup was finished, Seol Hong-baek approached Tang Jin-hyeon.

“You worked hard because of us.”

“Why say something so distant? I had fun thanks to you. You may stay for several more months if you wish.”

“Heh heh, I cannot do that. Sleep well, and let us meet again later.”

“Let us do that. I should sleep now as well.”

“But do you not still have something left to do, Patriarch?”

Tang Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh.

“Yes. Somehow, you know what I must do better than I do.”

“One person I was supposed to be introduced to was not present, so I naturally thought so.”

Seol Hong-baek entered his room.

Tang Jin-hyeon looked at his room for a long while, then walked to a place where he could see the riverside below the hill. It was the place where the White Tiger Unit had rested before leaving.

There, pale smoke was rising.

“Old Master Oh.”