Chapter 34
Eun Sowol struggled desperately to get away from Yu Yeoyeon. But…
“Ugh…! Waaah…!”
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t break free.
Though her arms were thin and seemed fragile enough to break with a single hit, she possessed strength comparable to Dok Go-ryong’s.
When she looked up, she saw Yu Yeoyeon smiling slyly. That’s when Eun Sowol recalled that Yu Yeoyeon was the chief of Hao Moon’s Sichuan branch.
“…I’ll stay still.”
“Good decision.”
Eun Sowol sighed deeply and sat on Yu Yeoyeon’s lap. But then,
softly, her hand began to fiddle with Eun Sowol’s cheek.
“Hehe, so soft.”
Feeling Yu Yeoyeon’s affectionate gaze, Eun Sowol obediently offered her cheek.
‘I hope uncle doesn’t cause trouble.’
Boom boom boom—
Suddenly, nervous footsteps sounded outside the door.
They resembled Dok Go-ryong’s steps, and Eun Sowol quickly lifted her head.
“Uncle! Why now…?”
“It’s broad daylight; you’re not refusing guests, right, Yeoyeon?”
A strange voice and unfamiliar face appeared.
A man, dressed in luxurious silk robes as if from a rich family, handsome enough to be called a “beauty,” stepped in.
‘No… could this be a spoiled nobleman?’
Eun Sowol’s gaze locked onto the bottle in the man’s hand.
His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were slightly glazed.
“Let’s get thoroughly drunk today… huh? What’s this kid?”
The drunken man staggered forward and leaned close to Eun Sowol, who was nestled in Yu Yeoyeon’s arms.
“Ugh! Smells like alcohol!”
Plugging her nose with a frown, the man squinted.
“Such a pretty kid. Who’s this? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you bring someone yourself before, even letting them sit on your lap.”
“This distinguished guest has gone out briefly and entrusted me with the child.”
“Distinguished guest? What kind of important guest leaves a kid at the pavilion during the day? Or did you leave the kid here because you’re too broke to care?”
Eun Sowol’s shoulders twitched slightly as she listened quietly.
“Tsk tsk, I don’t know what kind of scoundrel you are, but I’m a good catch. Kid, if you have nowhere to go, want to come with me?”
The man raised his torso and reached out his hand.
Eun Sowol raised her eyes sharply.
Then her sturdy forehead fiercely butted the man’s crotch.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
“Ah! Sowol!”
“Who are you to insult my uncle?!”
The man’s expression crumpled instantly, his whole body trembling.
“You… you bastard… my crotch…!”
The man trembled, reaching out to Eun Sowol but seemed too pained to raise his head.
Seeing this, Eun Sowol stuck out her tongue.
“Elder Dangpae does not meet just anyone! Step aside!”
“If you bother us one more time, you’ll regret it!”
At the firmly closed main gate stood the gatekeepers, wearing scary expressions.
They issued a prohibition order to the stubborn intruders.
A handsome man with his black hat tilted back looked up at the plaque above the gate:
Sacheon Dang Clan (四川唐家)
A prominent clan ruling Sichuan, one of the five great families.
Known for their skills in poisons and concealment, with superior night combat and medical arts compared to other clans.
‘Should I just barge in?’
If this were Dok Go’s clan, he might have charged in regardless of protests.
But here, the family tradition is to repay kindness twofold and grudges tenfold.
‘In other words, they’re petty and spiteful.’
Knowing the trouble with such people, Dok Go-ryong pressed his black hat down and quietly moved along the outer wall of the Sacheon Dang Clan.
“There must be a weak spot somewhere.”
Known as the undefeated fixer, Kwangryong had handled dirty jobs, difficult tasks, and situations like infiltrating grand mansions.
He had disguised himself as a servant or scaled walls before.
But first, scouting was essential—to find a safe escape route.
Focusing beyond the outer wall, he searched for any gaps in the guards’ watch.
At first, no openings appeared, but after moving a bit further, the presence of people lessened.
While slowly surveying, something caught his eye.
A child sneaking out through a small hole.
“Ah, no…!”
The child, as if having committed a grave mistake, began to tear up the moment their eyes met Dok Go-ryong’s.
“I, I wasn’t trying to come out! It’s just that Jin-hyuk hyung said there’s a hole here…”
Though dirty from the dirt, the child wore silk clothes unsuitable for commoners or servants and had a clean face without any grime.
Dok Go-ryong realized this child belonged to the Dang clan.
“Hey, what’s your name…”
“Who’s there!”
At that moment, a voice came from beyond the wall, seeming like someone had noticed the presence.
“Tsk.”
Fearing the unnecessary scolding they’d get if discovered, Dok Go-ryong quickly tried to leave.
But before leaving, the child grabbed the hem of Dok Go-ryong’s cloak tightly.
“Ah, no…! If Grandpa finds out, I’ll be in trouble…!”
The child cried bitterly, tears falling like rain.
Dok Go-ryong looked nervously back and forth between the approaching footsteps beyond the wall and the child.
He had no choice but to move the child elsewhere.
Sniff! Sniff! Snort!
Behind him came sounds of sniffling and nose blowing.
Dok Go-ryong tried to ignore it as he walked.
At first, thinking the child might help get inside since they belonged to the clan.
But the child remained silent to questions, reasons for coming out, or offers to guide her back.
Seeing no help, he offered to take the child to the gatekeepers.
The child freaked out and cried harder.
‘Maybe just a servant…’
Though not a commoner in appearance, her reluctance to return suggested she had done something seriously wrong.
‘Maybe she stole those clothes.’
With nothing gained, Dok Go-ryong had no choice but to return to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Yet, the child kept following him.
Tap tap tap—
Squelch squelch—
Tap tap—
Squelch—
“Hey, why do you keep following me?”
Dok Go-ryong looked back down at the child trailing him like an orphaned bird.
The tearful, snotty child looked up at him.
“U-uncle, please help me just once.”
“No use.”
Dok Go-ryong coldly ignored her and kept walking.
Startled, the child hurried to his side.
“I’m looking for my brother! If you help me, I’ll help you too!”
“You’re a tiny thing, who helps who? Go home. Or I’ll take you to Sacheon Dang Clan.”
“No way!”
The child shouted back.
Ignoring her, Dok Go-ryong retraced his steps toward the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The child realized Dok Go-ryong wouldn’t help and stopped in place.
Then hesitated to ask others for help.
Soon, a group approached her.
“Kid, why are you wandering alone?”
“I’m looking for my brother!”
“Oh? Well, this man knows where your brother is.”
“Really?”
“Shall we go with this man then?”
They kindly took her hand, and the innocent child followed them.
Dok Go-ryong, overhearing the conversation, frowned deeply.
Turning back, he strode through the crowd and laid a hand on the shoulder of the man holding the child’s hand.
“Let go if you don’t want your wrist cut off.”
“What’re you—!”
The man involuntarily shut his mouth.
His eyes beneath his black hat gleamed menacingly.
“Are you the brother of this kid?”
“Yeah?”
“…Yes?”
Dok Go-ryong nodded at the child’s wide-eyed gaze.
“Yes, I am that kid’s brother…”
“No… uh…”
“…I am.”
Before the child could babble nonsense, Dok Go-ryong quickly pulled him into his arms and silently covered his mouth.
The strange scene puzzled the men.
“Are you lying?”
“You’re the one lying, since you claimed you knew me.”
Recalling their own words, the men shuddered.
“If you want to avoid being reported as a child kidnapper, stand your ground.”
Hearing “government office,” the men clicked their tongues and fled.
Only after they disappeared did Dok Go-ryong lower his head.
The child’s eyes were wide open over the covered mouth.
“You foolish kid, you just believed someone who said he was your brother and blindly followed him. Did you know what kind of trouble you’d get into?”
“But he said he knew my brother…”
“Of course that’s a lie.”
The child froze as if hearing devastating news, sulking.
Seeing her cry, Dok Go-ryong sighed deeply.
“Let’s go. I’ll find your brother.”
At last, the child’s face brightened.
