“Now. Say it. Where did this grandfather tell you the numbing points are?”
“The shoulder is the Large Bone Point, the back of the neck is the Celestial Pillar Point, and the arm is the Upper Arm Point.”
“Good. And?”
“The palm is the Tiger’s Mouth Point, the back of the knee is the Crook Center Point. Um... the foot is the Grandfather-Grandson Point?”
“That’s right. You won’t be able to strike the exact points yet, so if soone bothers you, kick the numbing points with all the strength you have. After that, this grandfather will handle it.”
If I kick with all the strength I have, wouldn’t an ordinary person be in serious trouble?
Today, I shattered soone’s wrist.
After calmly saying sothing outrageous, Tang Jung patted with a much gentler face. Scolding must have soothed him.
“That’s enough. You must have been startled, so don’t go back to the evening banquet. Geunmyeong will take care of it.”
“Aren’t you going, Grandfather?”
“What would an old man do, going to banquets again and again? I showed my face for a few days—that’s enough. Now it’s annoying.”
Tang Jung spoke with a furrowed brow.
Honestly, even having him greet guests in the first place had been unusual. He wasn’t an active Elder—he was a Grand Elder who’d already stepped away from the front lines.
And judging by how no other clan seed to have visited with a Grand Elder Clan Head or Grand Elder, I figured it was the sa everywhere, not just here.
When you looked at him, he did everything he needed to do—then acted like he couldn’t care less.
Tang Jung stared at with a sulky face, then muttered.
“Co to think of it, that should be sowhere.”
“That?”
“Yeah. That.”
What that.
“With that, you won’t go around getting hit.”
I hit them too, and you’re still on about getting hit.
Tang Jung left without a single explanation. I heard rustling from the side room, like he was searching for sothing.
A mont later, he returned and held out his palm.
“Hand.”
The tone was like he was training a puppy, so a laugh slipped out of . I obediently set my hand on his, and he slid sothing onto my wrist.
A milky white jade bracelet.
“Grandfather? What is this?”
“You’ll know when you see.”
After answering, Tang Jung grabbed my arm and twisted the bracelet.
A needle shot out of it, flying into the air.
“This is how you use it. Well? What do you think?”
Tang Jung retrieved the needle with Void-Grasp and slotted it back into the bracelet, then looked at with bright, expectant eyes.
He was absolutely waiting for my reaction.
But I didn’t know what reaction I was supposed to have. I blinked awkwardly.
Tang Jung had given snacks before. He’d even made sure I had writing tools.
But this—handing over sothing like this—was the first ti.
A white jade bracelet with a hidden needle weapon inside it.
I didn’t know the exact price, but it felt like it could buy a small house.
When I stayed silent, Tang Jung scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
“...Ahem. It doesn’t please you? It’s mutton-fat white jade, though.”
“Uh... well, it’s just...”
“Even so, take it. This grandfather will look for an even prettier one.”
Tang Jung patted my empty head and soothed in a gentle voice.
Sothing had changed.
If it were before, he would’ve acted like I should be grateful for whatever he tossed .
Today, he was watching my mood.
Like he was my guardian, or sothing.
I drew in a deep breath and forced my voice out.
“No, I like it. I just... I was just surprised. Thank you, Grandfather.”
Tang Jung cleared his throat and answered, prim as ever.
“Ahem. Then that’s fine.”
The relief on his face made it real.
We’d gotten a little closer.
We’d started to actually see each other.
When the corners of my mouth rose without aning to, Tang Jung added with a satisfied face.
“It’s only a light poison, so it won’t kill them, but it’ll be a warning not to act carelessly. Keep it on you at all tis.”
That’s not a warning—that’s going to be an express train to the underworld.
Still, the performance would be undeniable.
I did wonder whether a re maid could walk around wearing a white jade bracelet, but I didn’t want to say sothing unnecessary in front of Tang Jung while he was glowing like that.
I’ll quietly take it off later.
“Do you want to eat dinner before you go?”
“Of course. I’m hungry, Grandfather.”
At my shaless sweetness, Tang Jung snorted a laugh and jerked his chin toward the outside.
“Do you want to call in that child outside too? He’s been lurking around for a while.”
“That child?”
“The Namgung child. If he’s going to co in, tell him to co in. He’s irritating.”
“What? Just a mont—I’ll go out.”
Why is Namgung Hwi here?
Startled, I hurried outside—and sure enough, the young lord was standing by the gate. When he spotted , Namgung Hwi raised his voice.
“Sohae!”
“Young Clan Head? Why are you here?”
“I thought if I ca here, you’d be here. You said you’d co right away, but you didn’t. I was worried sothing happened...”
He spilled his words in a rush as he ran toward —then his eyes went huge.
“Are you... are you okay? You have a cut on your face!”
“It’s nothing. Grandfather—ah, Tang Jung told to co in. Do you want to have dinner with us?”
“I-I’m fine.”
Namgung Hwi shook his head frantically. His face went pale, so it looked like he very much did not want to share a table with Tang Jung.
“Then let’s go. I’ll escort you back to the guest quarters.”
“No. I can go alone. I know the way now. More importantly... do you want to go to the night market together tomorrow?”
“? The night market?”
“I heard the biggest night market in Sichuan opens in Chengdu. Before I go back to Anhui, I want to see it.”
As Namgung Hwi explained, fidgeting, he swallowed hard.
So that was why he’d asked what I was doing tomorrow.
But I couldn’t answer yes right away. If nothing else, after today’s incident, I felt like I should keep my head down.
I dodged the answer.
“Um. I’d have to get permission...”
“Go.”
Ack—scared .
I snapped my head around at the reply that ca from right beside .
Tang Jung was standing there, appearing without a sound.
Namgung Hwi hadn’t realized he was approaching either—he sucked in a sharp breath.
“Grandfather?”
“Go. You need ti to catch your breath too. Tomorrow, you can play.”
Then he stepped in naturally and slid between and Namgung Hwi, splitting us apart. He shot Namgung Hwi a look and issued an unmistakable order to leave.
“If you’re done, go. I need to feed Sohae.”
“Yes? Y-yes, I understand, sir.”
Flustered, Namgung Hwi broke into a sweat and backed away in little shuffles.
Wait—sir. We have to set a ti.
I grabbed the hem of Namgung Hwi’s robe as he retreated.
“Dog double-hour! Tomorrow, should we et in front of the outer estate?”
“Okay. Then we’ll et at Dog double-hour tomorrow. What are you going to wear? I’m—”
“Ahem!”
At Tang Jung’s glare, Namgung Hwi clamped his mouth shut.
“...No. It was nothing. Hurry and go eat dinner. I’ll take my leave, sir.”
“Mm.”
“Yes. Then tomorrow—”
“The food will get cold. Co in.”
Tang Jung cut off and shoved inside the hall.
Right in front of Namgung Hwi, he slamd the door with a THUMP and grumbled.
“Look at those eyes. Those eyes. That little brat already knows to notice how pretty soone else’s grandchild is...”
Um, sir. I don’t think that’s what that was.
Letting Tang Jung’s muttering roll right past , I found myself wondering what Namgung Hwi had been about to say.
Was he going to tell not to show up in maid clothes because it would be embarrassing to walk with ?
But I didn’t have anything else.
I’d probably have to ask Songji if I could borrow her clothes for tomorrow.
*****
A bluish dawn was breaking.
At the sound of ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) birds chirping, Tang Jung lifted his head and stared at the lamp with a blank face. The wick, which had burned all night, was now worn down short.
With a small flick of his hand, he extinguished the light, then lowered his gaze back to the book he’d been reading.
Maybe about a quarter-hour passed.
Soone approached with quiet footsteps.
“Sir. May I co in.”
“Co.”
Tang Jung didn’t even lift his head as he turned a page.
The door opened without a sound, and Tang Geunmyeong ca closer, clasping his fists in a formal salute.
“I’ve completed everything you ordered.”
“Good. Did you clean up the aftermath neatly?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve told you again and again—there is no rcy for those who challenge the Tang Clan’s authority. Make it so they won’t be at peace even in death.”
At the blade-sharp voice, Tang Geunmyeong lowered his body.
“Yes. The maid called Simyang, and her entire household, have all been dealt with. Her parents were no better. They were using the Tang Clan’s na to fill their own greedy pockets.”
“Using the Tang Clan’s na? How dare they.”
Anger edged Tang Jung’s voice.
He lifted his eyes from the book and looked at Tang Geunmyeong as if demanding more.
“The bribes her mother took from the servants—saying she would get them work in the Tang Clan—amounted to over two hundred nyang of silver. They claim to be a distant branch line.”
“Tch. When the Clan Head does nonsense, the servants’ discipline collapses too. Make that household a public example—”
Tang Jung frowned and shook his head.
“No. Say they got scared and ran in the dead of night. Make sure no word reaches Sohae’s ears. Keep everyone’s mouths shut. The child might be startled. For a bloodline of the Tang Clan to be that fainthearted—honestly.”
Even as he muttered, tongue-clicking like he was worried, the lines around Tang Jung’s eyes softened when he said my na.
Tang Geunmyeong’s brow lifted.
In more than twenty years of serving Tang Jung, he had never once seen him pay this much attention to anyone.
Tang Geunmyeong pictured a small maid who didn’t even reach his chest. The maid whose status as the Clan Head’s illegitimate child had only been revealed late—and who had beco Tang Jung’s greatest concern these days.
Was the child truly that special?
Tang Geunmyeong couldn’t understand Tang Jung’s favoritism.
Of course, it wasn’t sothing Tang Geunmyeong could dare interfere with. He showed nothing and bowed.
“Yes, sir.”
“You may go. You should rest too. Ah—and on your way, tell the Elder Council Master to pry that heavy backside off his seat.”
“Yes? That ans...”
“Hiding isn’t always the answer.”
“You an to bring the child into the open.”
“Yes. I’m going to redraw the board. This old man will step in personally.”
Tang Jung answered in a flat voice as he crossed one leg over the other.
His narrowed eyes glead like a predator—cold, unsettling, and sharp.
TL Note — “Dog double-hour” (술시, 戌時)
In this setting, ti is divided into 12 “double-hours,” each lasting about two hours.
Dog double-hour = the double-hour around 7–9 PM (approximately 19:00–21:00).
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