183

Chapter 183 - The Poison Master - Part 4

'I guess I'll have to see Dang Ga Ju at least one more time.'

The prospect of a reunion with Dang Ga Ju was anticipated. It would indeed be odd not to meet again after more than 20 years, especially since the child appeared, and we just had a brief encounter in a public space.

I don't know what Dang Baek Ho will say when he calls for me, but I also have things to gain from meeting Dang Ga Ju again.

'I need to get permission for the next volume of Dang Ga Pung Uun to be published.'

Achieving the first objective of obtaining the poison from the Many-faced Land Owner now gives me the leeway to focus on my reputable work.

Even if I safely return to Ui Chang, people in the literary society won't just nod in agreement if suddenly it's declared, 'Dang Ga Pung Uun publication has ended.' They'd likely go 'Eh? For real?'.

From that day forth, Daso Gak might go up in flames, and the pen name Ho Pil might have to be discarded and erased.

No matter what happens, I must get permission to publish Dang Ga Pung Uun.

If I can just get permission from Dang Ga Ju, the model for Dang Administration, then there'd be no reason for Sacheon Dang Ga to raise any issue over this entangled book.

"Let's go."

I left the room with the messenger sent by Dang Ga Ju.

-------------

"You need to tidy up before meeting Dang Ga Ju. I will guide you to the bathhouse. You can change into new clothes after you bathe."

I was expecting to meet Dang Ga Ju immediately, but it wasn't the case. The servants, as if forewarned, respectfully told me their directive.

"Just a glance at the face would do, not exactly going to meet my woman. What's with this bath and new clothes?"

"It is Dang Ga Ju's commandment."

As I attempted to push through them to get to the building where Dang Ga Ju was, the servants surrounded me, blocking my path.

Is it necessary to look prim and proper when meeting one's superior? I considered forcing my way through, but they all seemed too determined.

"Let's go, then."

-------

"I will assist you with your bath."

"What?"

The word caught me off guard and I asked back. Assist with my bath? Isn't that a luxury reserved for nobility or the wealthy?

Ah! But of course, this is indeed the richest household in Sacheon.

"While you soak in the bath, everything will be prepared."

The middle-aged servant didn't answer my stunned question but instead started giving orders to others, busy with the coordination.

I looked around, but there was no traditional scrubber in sight. While receiving bathing assistance could be enjoyable, it wasn't convenient at the moment.

The ones who came in under the pretext of bathing assistance, were all women. The only middle-aged servant was there, and calling her an 'ajumma' might qualify as an insult.

Moreover, the humidity in the steamy bath clung to the clothes of the servants, progressively accentuating their figures. It might be a feast for the eyes, but for someone like me, who had to be cautious about his actions, this was problematic.

"It's fine. I can manage on my own."

I shook off my embarrassment and spoke with a firm voice.

"Dang Ga Ju's command..."

"I came here to take a bath as instructed. I'm from Joseon. Such bathing service is uncomfortable for me."

"I'll make sure you're comfortable without any inconvenience."

"It's not about doubting your skills, but it's mentally uncomfortable for me. I haven't even shown my bare body to my woman. The idea of showing it to other women is repulsive. It would not be proper towards my woman who is currently struggling between life and death."

I was certain that the talk I had during the meeting had spread secretly within Sacheon Dang Ga. Especially the well-informed servants must know.

I came here for love's sake, unwilling to display my body to foreign women. It would serve as a good excuse.

".... Then, I'll be waiting outside."

"Thank you."

The servants retreated from the bath after appearing to accept my explanation. Only after they had all left did I comfortably sink into the bath.

The warmth of the bath is nice.

Though I regularly showered, it's been a long time since I immersed myself in a warm bath. The sensation was so enjoyable that, were it not for the meeting with Dang Ga Ju, I might have wished to sleep right there.

"Did you just hear that?"

As the warmth made my thoughts a tad hazy, wondering if the herbs in the bath were having a positive effect, I heard a giggling laugh from the women outside.

"He really is as the rumors say, a man of love."

"To not want to show his body for his woman. I wish my man would take note."

Was it really a good excuse?

"Just now though, that covered by the towel. Did you see its size?"

"That, that thing? It wasn't an arm, was it?"

"Is she saying that arms are usually attached above, not below?"

"No way?! Is it really...?"

"They say once a woman goes to the man with black hair, she never returns."

"Lucky Miss Hwarin."

"What are you talking about!"

"I can hear everything." I tried to shake off both the embarrassment and pridefulness surging towards me by standing and pouring cold water over myself.

"This is a garment made from Shu silk. Once you have dressed, I will apply fragrance oil."

After washing away the grime and embarrassment, a new set of clothes was prepared for me.

The prepared garment was stunning silk attire. Shu silk [蜀錦], a renowned specialty of Sacheon. A real luxury, not just empty fame, as evidenced by its quality, often traded for its weight in gold.

"I'm not sure if I should be wearing such fine clothes."

"It's a gift from our master. You're under no obligation to return it even once you've gone back to your room."

The color of the silk and the embroidery with its ornate designs spoke of its exquisite quality among luxury items.

"You look as if you're a young Dang Ga Ju."

An older steward entered and, after examining my fully-dressed self from head to toe, uttered an admiring comment.

I appreciate the compliment, but I'm not exactly on good terms with my father, you know. As I had to maintain my role as a son who detested his father, I only nodded slightly with a displeased look.

Pleased with my reluctant yet affirming response, the steward laughed contentedly and then took me to Dang Ga Ju.

"Yoon Ho is here."

"Invite him in."

---------------

"Take a seat."

Dang Ga Ju glanced at my transformed appearance with a trace of surprise, then quickly returned to the book he was reading.

What is he reading? I looked closer, and it seemed like Dang Ga Pung Uun.

"I'll bring some tea. What would you like to have?"

"Any kind of coffee will do."

"It seems coffee wouldn't be a good choice since it's close to bedtime. I'll have chamomile tea, and serve ginseng tea to the young one."

"We happen to have some fine ginseng from the Mo Yong Family, I'll bring it right out."

I appreciated the consideration, but why chamomile and ginseng tea? Instead of something that seems to come straight out of a wuxia dating-sim, why not offer some expensive Longjing tea or the like?

Of course, in this world, ginseng tea is a luxury akin to drinking an elixir, so it's quite extravagant, although I've had ginseng tea in the modern world too.

Dang Ga Ju remained silent, continuing to read Dang Ga Pung Uun until the tea arrived, and then he began to speak.

"My fiancée may not be called the greatest beauty in Sacheon, but she was indeed beautiful. However, not quite as much as your mother."

Was he initiating the conversation with praise for my mother?

"Is that so?"

I cut him off, deliberately showing disinterest. He seemed to want to talk about Hwang Ah, but I had no intention of giving him what he wanted from the get-go.

The lack of interest in my tone led to a brief silence.

"Do you have nothing you wish to say to me?"

Could I ask if there's honey to sweeten the ginseng tea?

"I once again express my gratitude for bestowing Dang Ga's treasures upon my woman."

I stood up and offered a polite bow of thanks to Dang Ga Ju. Even though I'm playing the role of a prickly son, I need to maintain the concept of being kind to my woman.

"Is that all you have to say?"

Since Dang Ga Ju seemed to be looking for something more, he inquired again.

Perhaps he had called me not with a specific message, but the desire to have a conversation between father and son. I had expected something more profound.

"I wish to return quickly since I do not know when Hwarin will wake up."

I am not supposed to be here. She could awaken at any moment.

"I shall keep you informed about her condition as soon as I receive any news. There's no need to fret."

"I understand. Then, I shall take my leave."

-----------------------

Another long silence ensued.

Truthfully, even a brief encounter was enough to be fatal in our uncomfortable relationship.

For Dang Ga Ju, calling me without a particular reason, and continuing to attempt conversation, must have required considerable courage.

'Given how he brought up Hwang Ah, I must assume he still harbors lingering affections.'

I must delve into the subject of Hwang Ah to get permission for Dang Ga Pung Uun.

Having achieved success as an author, I harbor not the slightest desire to hold the title of a yearly writer or to erase my pen name and start anew as Ji Woo (紙友).

'I've crafted the concept of a bitter illegitimate son who is displeased with his father. I have to use this concept to secure the continuation of Dang Ga Pung Uun.'

A sullen bastard son and a father at a loss for what to do with him. However, there exists a method for them to grow closer—Hwang Ah, or rather, Masa, is the shared woman between them.

Now that I've deflected once, it's time to pull.

Without looking at Dang Ga Ju, I turned towards the window and started speaking as if talking to myself.

"You see, I grew up hearing stories about heroes of the central plains from my mother when I was young."

I waited for Dang Ga Ju's reaction, taking a sip of the bitter ginseng tea. It's strong. Ginseng tea needs to be well-steeped in honey. The raw essence is too overpowering.

"A hero?"

"One who does not yield to injustice, who stands against evil, who sacrifices everything for the woman he loves. My mother spoke of such heroes as if she had seen them herself, telling me stories of the central plains' heroes."

I'm talking about you. Yes, you. If you're perceptive enough, you'd understand right away, right?

At my words, Dang Ga Ju's expression darkened as expected. Internally rejoicing at his reaction, I continued speaking with a look of nostalgic reminiscence.

"When I was a child, I would pester my mother to tell me stories of these heroes whenever she had time. Each time, she'd seem a little happy, a little sad as she told the stories. Back then, I wondered why she had such an expression when discussing these great heroes."

I laced my words with the same bitterness as the ginseng tea.

"...."

A woman he had abandoned recounted his stories to their son. How about that? You can't maintain your composure now, can you? I caught a brief tremble in Dang Ga Ju's cheek.

"As I grew older and understood love, I realized that look was one of longing for someone. The hero of the central plains from my childhood was in fact based on a man from Sacheon Province."

With a firm tone, as if branding Dang Ga Ju's wounds with a hot iron, I affirmed my claim.

"You're saying... Hwang Ah mentioned that..."

A look of sadness and yearning flickered in Dang Ga Ju's eyes.

"I have heard that you told the Poison Master the reason you wrote Dang Ga Pung Uun."

"I was told it was to ask for help."

"That's correct. But there is also another reason."

"Another reason?"

I looked at Dang Ga Ju in silence.

The characters in Dang Ga Pung Uun are fictitious. However, the secret history of Dang Ga is not.

Make it so that someone from Dang Ga Ju's inner circle, who knows the secret history of Dang Ga, seeks me out. That will ensure the safety of Hwarin, whom Dang Go Ho is after.

The purpose of writing Dang Ga Pung Uun that I disclosed to the Poison Master. But if it ends with that purpose, I can't continue the publication of Dang Ga Pung Uun.

Because the reason for its serialization would no longer exist. Moreover, Dang Ga itself contains secrets, so they might prevent me from continuing the seriali

zation.

So, what is to be done?

It's time to repackage it.

"I wanted to embed in Dang Ga Pung Uun the hero my mother spoke of."

The weakness of the Sacheon Dang Ga Ju.

Let's embed in Dang Ga Pung Uun the will of Hwang Ah, whom the Dang Ga Ju loved.