TYDOFC 44

Chapter 44

Namgung Taegang’s eyes sparkled.

“Our Cheonghyeon is about the same age as you, then. The two of you could become good friends.”

He looked fondly at Namgung Cheonghyeon as he spoke.

Cheonghyeon nodded.

“We’ve already decided to be good friends.”

“Already? They say children get along quickly, and it seems that’s true.”

Namgung Taegang laughed heartily and patted Cheonghyeon’s head.

He said,

“Your father, Jinhyeon, and I have been close friends for a long time — many years. I hope the two of you will become that kind of friends as well.”

“You were my father’s friend!”

“Yes. I’ve often heard about you, but you never showed your face…”

Then he asked,

“Are you feeling better now?”

I opened my mouth slightly in surprise and nodded.

‘So he knows that I wasn’t allowed to leave my chambers before. Since he’s my father’s friend, that makes sense.’

And if no new word had leaked out since then,

it was only natural that he still thought of me as a sickly child.

“I’m fine now. Thanks to my father’s care, I’ve gotten better.”

I said no more than that — just that I was fine.

For now, the rumors about me were still confined within the Tang family manor.

There was no reason to mention them and risk them spreading faster.

Namgung Taegang smiled warmly and nodded.

“That’s a relief. Your father was terribly worried. I’m sure Jinhyeon’s face must have brightened now!”

The affection in his tone when he spoke of my father was unmistakable.

Because of that, I was able to relax a little and meet his eyes.

“Go and see Jinhyeon. He’s probably in the medicine hall right now.”

My grandfather lifted me easily into his arms and said,

“You should have time to talk with him before dinner. You must have much to say after such a long time apart, so I won’t get in the way.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I’ll go see Jinhyeon, then. Cheonghyeon, come with me.”

Namgung Taegang beckoned to Cheonghyeon.

At that moment, Cheonghyeon’s gaze turned toward me.

‘Hm?’

But he quickly looked away and obediently followed behind Namgung Taegang.

In my grandfather’s arms, I watched the two of them walk away.

“If you’d like to see your father too, I can take you there.”

“I do miss him, but I like being with you, Grandfather.”

At my words, the wrinkles on his aged face seemed to soften slightly.

“Bia, you’re already considerate enough to care for your grandfather’s feelings.”

“I’ll see Father at dinner anyway.”

I wrapped my arms around his thick neck and chattered on.

“Aunt showed me around the Flower Garden today.”

“How was it?”

“It was amazing. So many beautiful things, and it smelled sweet. And I saw the poison chamber!”

“You saw the poison chamber?”

My grandfather frowned in mild surprise.

“The poison chamber is where Soyong keeps her poisonous creatures — she doesn’t show them to just anyone. She hardly even shows them to me. She must have taken quite a liking to you.”

“Yes, she even asked if I wanted to learn to work in the Flower Garden later.”

“She knows you’re supposed to learn martial arts from me.”

“Yes…”

He nodded.

“I suppose that’s just like her. Soyong always has to get whatever she wants.”

He smiled and patted my back.

“She must have taken a liking to you. She’s never taken a disciple, and she’ll soon become the head of the Flower Garden. It’s a problem that she still doesn’t have a successor.”

“But doesn’t the head of the Medicine Hall also not have a disciple yet?”

“True, but the chief physician has plenty of medical apprentices. The Flower Garden doesn’t have any young ones…”

My grandfather looked at me.

“Did you like it there?”

“It was nice, but I still prefer learning from you, Grandfather.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because… isn’t learning from the clan head the best thing!?”

Was that too materialistic a response?

Fortunately, my answer seemed to please him, and he burst out laughing.

“That’s right. Learning from the clan head is the best. Becoming my direct disciple isn’t an opportunity that comes often.”

I knew that well enough.

Being personally taught by the clan head meant a high chance of succeeding him —

an almost impossible opportunity for a girl born into the Tang family.

“Jinhyeon!”

“Taegang, I heard you’d arrived.”

“Yes, I just finished talking with the clan head.”

He stood beside Tang Jinhyeon as the man came out of the medicine hall.

Jinhyeon naturally led Namgung Taegang toward the reception hall.

It was the same place Taegang and Tang Cheongi had spoken earlier, but Taegang didn’t seem to mind.

“Your daughter — I heard she’s recovered? That’s wonderful news!”

“You met Bia?”

“Yes, she was playing with Cheonghyeon. She looks just like you.”

At those words, Tang Jinhyeon’s gaze moved to the small boy standing behind Namgung Taegang.

“So you’re Cheonghyeon.”

“Namgung Cheonghyeon greets the Poison Master.”

“I’ve seen you before — when you were just a baby. You’ve grown so much.”

Cheonghyeon looked a little shy at that, glancing away.

Watching him, Jinhyeon smiled and asked,

“Cheonghyeon, did you meet Bia?”

“Yes.”

“What did you think of her?”

“She’s a good child — intelligent and polite.”

Hearing that, Tang Jinhyeon nodded with satisfaction.

“She is, indeed. Clever, kindhearted, and talented. You’ll be good friends.”

“Yes.”

Cheonghyeon replied.

“Like you and me,” Namgung Taegang added.

“Indeed.”

Jinhyeon agreed readily, not displeased.

Taegang studied him quietly for a moment, then gestured for Cheonghyeon to leave.

“Cheonghyeon, step outside for a bit. You can go back to Bia if you like.”

“Yes, Father.”

After Cheonghyeon left, Namgung Taegang looked at Tang Jinhyeon and said,

“You’re looking much healthier.”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes. You used to look a bit pale, but now you seem much better.”

“It’s thanks to my daughter.”

Jinhyeon replied with a faint smile as he stepped into the reception hall.

“She’s been worrying me and making me happy in equal measure lately.”

“Worrying you? I heard the clan head himself decided to teach her martial arts — that’s something to celebrate, isn’t it?”

“It certainly is.”

“Has any girl in the Tang family ever become the clan head’s direct disciple?”

“Bia is the first.”

“Then she should be your pride, not your worry.”

At that, Jinhyeon turned to look at him.

“Of course, Bia is my pride.”

“Then what troubles you?”

“I’m afraid that because she’s a girl, life will be difficult for her…”

Though he hadn’t told Bia, there were elders — even among the highest ranks — who disapproved of her.

Her natural constitution should have been valued regardless of her gender,

but this was the Tang family of Sichuan — a place that did not teach poison arts to women.

Her talent was being undervalued because of that.

Jinhyeon looked quietly at Namgung Taegang before him.

‘Originally, I had planned to marry her to Taegang’s son…’

If Bia was to be safe, her constitution had to remain hidden, and she had to stay away from poisons.

The best solution was for her to live quietly within the Tang manor, without learning poison techniques, until she married a good man.

But because of her innate nature, that was no longer possible.

He recalled Namgung Cheonghyeon’s face from earlier.

The boy was intelligent and without flaw — he reminded Jinhyeon of the fiery youth Taegang had once been.

Bia and he would have made a fine pair.

But Cheonghyeon was the son of Namgung Taegang, heir to the Namgung clan.

Naturally, that meant he would become the next young master — and Namgung would never send him away as a son-in-law.

“Hm.”

“What are you thinking about?”

“Just that it’s a pity.”

“What is?”

“You don’t need to know.”

Having thought that far, Tang Jinhyeon let out a quiet sigh and set his regrets aside.

The idea of marrying Bia to Cheonghyeon had been part of an old plan — one that could no longer be fulfilled.

Now he needed to focus on the present.

And in truth, there was no absolute need to marry her off.

If there were no suitable man to take as a son-in-law, Jinhyeon could simply live his life with Bia by his side forever.