TYDOFC 37

Chapter 37

Was it suicide—or murder?

As soon as Dang Jin-hyeon found Jeong-gyeong’s body, he immediately said it was poison.

However—

That might not be the case here, even if it would be anywhere else.

This was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

It wasn’t unusual for careless servants or maids to die from mishandling poison.

Of course, it was hard to imagine that Jeong-gyeong, a disciple personally trained by an instructor, would make such a mistake.

Still… it couldn’t be completely ruled out.

When investigating a case, all possibilities must be kept open.

However—

“What do you mean, suicide? Have you ever seen a murderer kill themselves right after? Don’t be ridiculous!”

“Y-Young Master…”

“Someone killed him—and then silenced everyone else!”

Bang! Bang!

Dang Ho slammed his palm on the table, making Jang Baek flinch and squeeze his eyes shut.

Jang Baek—

He was the deputy commander of the Black Serpent Division, one of the Tang Clan’s martial units.

Under orders from the Clan Head to investigate the incident thoroughly, he had been examining the body.

But every time he tried to focus, Dang Ho kept interrupting with, “There’s no doubt it was murder!”—making it difficult to work.

Moreover, Dang Ho was famous for being completely uninterested in internal family affairs.

So why was he refusing to leave Jeong-gyeong’s corpse alone…?

Just as Jang Baek was wondering that—

“To think someone would try to kill an eight-year-old child… whoever did this must be utterly vile.”

At those words, Jang Baek blinked in surprise.

He had never heard that Dang Ho cared for the young miss, Dang Bi—but perhaps they had become close recently.

It seemed he was staying here out of concern for her, the victim of this tragedy.

Thinking so, Jang Baek couldn’t bring himself to ask him to move aside.

He turned his gaze back to Jeong-gyeong’s body.

In truth, he had been on somewhat friendly terms with the boy.

That only made the bitterness sharper.

Why did you do it?

He knew the entire Tang Clan was paying attention to Miss Dang Bi’s examination.

So why would he act like this?

If someone ordered him to…

Was there truly some reason he couldn’t refuse such a senseless command?

Jeong-gyeong’s eyes were still open.

As was often the case with those who died from poison, they stared wide in frozen agony.

“…Tsk.”

Jang Baek noted that the boy hadn’t been able to close his eyes even in death.

Then, gently, he shut them for him.

I was in my father’s arms, being carried somewhere.

Where are we going?

Most of the people we passed looked at me as if they’d seen a ghost.

Naturally so—

Just moments ago, I’d been little more than a corpse myself.

But neither Father nor Aunt seemed to care about their reactions.

Fortunately, no one dared to stare too long at members of the main family.

Still… even I, the one raising the “Ten Thousand-Blooded Serpent,” had no idea where it had gone.

How could Father know?

“It should be around here,” Father said.

I lifted my head to see where we were.

We had arrived at Unmuwon—the residence of the Tang Clan’s direct bloodline, currently used by Tang Yeong.

Why here?

“Would the Serpent really be here?” I asked.

“Yes. Look carefully,” Father replied.

I widened my eyes and scanned the area.

But there wasn’t even a shadow of a snake.

Is it really here? I wondered, just as—

“E-Eeeeek!”

A young scream came from inside Unmuwon.

Father and Aunt turned their heads toward the sound at once.

I gripped Father’s collar tightly, eyes wide.

“Father!”

“Yes.”

Holding me more securely, Father rushed into Unmuwon.

It was a small manor within the Tang estate, reserved for direct descendants.

By moonlight and mist, it was said to look like a celestial abode—beautiful, ethereal.

Now, it was chaos—like a scene straight out of hell.

Before a terrified Tang Yeong stood the clan’s internal guards, swords drawn.

Even they looked visibly tense.

I recognized that expression—it was the same look the guards had worn the day the Serpent appeared in my quarters, just before Father had arrived to stop them.

And sure enough—

Looking down, I saw it: the Ten Thousand-Blooded Serpent, head raised high, hissing menacingly at Tang Yeong.

“G-Get it away! Get it away now!” Tang Yeong shrieked.

The guards hesitated, then took cautious steps toward the serpent.

At that moment—

“Stand down.”

Father’s calm, low voice rang out.

“That serpent is not something you can handle. Fall back.”

The guards froze, startled by his command.

They’d been so tense they hadn’t even noticed our arrival.

Now, inside Unmuwon stood not just Father, Aunt, and me, but also the guards who had followed us.

When the guards recognized me, their expressions brightened.

“Young Master! Little Miss!”

They quickly pulled Tang Yeong back a few steps.

But—

“Hhhhissss…”

The serpent hissed horribly and slithered forward again, closing the distance Tang Yeong had tried to gain.

As if it refused to leave without sinking its fangs into him.

Terrified, Tang Yeong thrashed his arms and legs, pointing at me.

“Y-You! You can’t even control your own snake? Take it away! Now!”

He was trembling, his voice shaking.

“You think I’ll just let this slide? I’ll tell my father everything—”

“And what will you do then?”

It wasn’t me who spoke—it was Father.

Tang Yeong turned toward him, startled.

“I asked, what will you do after telling him?”

“U-Uncle…”

“Pathetic.”

Father snorted sharply, then gently set me down on the ground.

“Bi.”

“Yes!”

I quickly ran toward the serpent, sleeves spread wide.

“Come here.”

But the serpent didn’t move.

Even after waiting, it stayed still.

What’s wrong?

The serpent ignoring me made everyone tense—Tang Yeong, the guards, even Father.

“I said come here.”

But still it didn’t move.

It kept its head raised, eyes locked on Tang Yeong, as if it couldn’t leave until it bit him.

Ugh, what do I do now?

Just as I was about to reach out and grab it by force—

“Yeong-ah!”

A loud, grating voice rang out from somewhere nearby.

“Y-Young Master! Something terrible has happened!”

A maid ran up in a panic, bowing deeply.

Tang Pae-jin recognized her as one of the servants working at Unmuwon.

He frowned. “What is it?”

“A-A Ten Thousand-Blooded Serpent has appeared at Unmuwon!” she stammered, face pale.

At those words, Tang Pae-jin leapt to his feet.

“The Ten Thousand-Blooded Serpent?”

“Y-Yes! The Young Master is in danger! He told me to hurry and fetch you—”

Before she could finish, Tang Pae-jin was already striding toward Unmuwon.

The serpent—there?

His jaw clenched tight.

That venomous creature should have been securely sealed inside the Eight-Poison Jar!

And if not asleep, it should at least have been with someone capable of controlling it!

But in the hands of an eight-year-old child?

This disaster had been inevitable ever since the Clan Head decided, on his own, to entrust the serpent to a naïve little girl.

Tang Pae-jin swore to himself—if his son had been harmed, he would never forgive Dang Bi.

“Where is Jin-hyeon?” he demanded as he strode forward.

“I-I’m not sure where the Second Young Master is…” the maid stammered.

Tang Pae-jin glared sharply. “Then find him! Bring him here!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“And bring that girl too!”

Startled by his fury, the maid hurried off.

Tang Pae-jin quickened his pace toward Unmuwon.

And what he found there was—

“Father!”

His son, cornered like a poisoned rat—by the Ten Thousand-Blooded Serpent.