The next day.
I headed to the Tang Clan’s estate.
Originally, I planned to first visit the salt retailers in charge of Sichuan and begin my inspection there.
But thanks to the Clan Lord’s overwhelming persistence, the plan changed and we were headed to the Tang Clan first.
Sitting in the carriage, I glanced at the Clan Lord of the Tang Clan sitting across from me.
Honestly, it was pretty uncomfortable and burdensome.
It wasn’t just anyone. I was traveling in the same carriage as the Clan Lord himself.
This was my first time meeting the Clan Lord of the Tang Clan.
Not just in this life. Even in my previous life, I’d never met him.
Then why… does he feel somewhat familiar?
After traveling all day, we finally arrived in front of a massive building with red-tiled roofs.
A large plaque with bold, red calligraphy greeted us.
Tang Clan of Sichuan (四川之唐本家).
This was the Tang Clan’s estate.
So… I’ve ended up coming here again.
I’d brought Tang Jo-ung here directly when I rescued him before.
Our carriage entered through the side gate next to the main entrance.
“We’ve arrived.”
“Yes.”
We got off the carriage.
“Young Hero!”
At that moment, a young boy came running toward me.
I smiled brightly when I saw him.
It was Tang Jo-ung.
Typical of a growing boy, he was much taller and sturdier than before.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, Young Hero.”
“I told you, you don’t need to call me Young Hero yet.”
“No, you are a Young Hero to me.”
Tang Jo-ung’s eyes sparkled as he spoke.
“How old are you now?”
“I just turned eleven.”
“I see.”
His head reached my chest. At this rate, he’d probably be taller than me when he came of age.
“Hahaha, this boy has been looking forward to seeing you again.”
“I’m starting to feel guilty.”
“It was just bad timing before. We didn’t have the chance.”
“But… there’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“How did you know that I was the one who saved Young Master Tang Jo-ung? I never gave my name back then.”
Tang Gyu-jeong smiled as he answered.
“Jo-ung remembered.”
“Ah, I see.”
Come to think of it… I did mention my name back then to reassure Jo-ung.
It was just a passing comment, yet he remembered.
“Now, let me show you to where you’ll be staying.”
The place the Clan Lord personally guided me to was a separate annex deep within the estate.
Giving me an entire annex meant they were treating me as an exceptionally honored guest.
“Get plenty of rest. I’ll send someone around lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
As soon as the Clan Lord and Tang Jo-ung left the annex, Palgap exclaimed,
“Wow! This place is amazing. They call this an annex? How can this possibly be an annex?”
I nodded in agreement.
“It’s huge for an annex.”
Deputy Yeo had stayed back at the Sichuan branch, so my group consisted of Palgap and four escorts.
I turned to Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am and Escort Guard Lee Pil.
“First… I want to thank you both. It’s thanks to you that we’re being treated so well by the Tang Clan.”
“It’s nothing.”
“We just…”
“You were just following orders, right? Still, I’m grateful. You carried out my request.”
I continued.
“Now then, let’s go inside and rest.”
“Understood.”
Everyone picked their rooms and went in. During that, I glanced at Escort Guard Lee Pil.
I’d noticed the Tang Clan members sneaking glances at Lee Pil earlier…
What’s that about?
Do they know each other?
Once inside my room, I tried to lay down on the bed… but couldn’t.
Tap.
Palgap grabbed my shoulder.
“Sir, it’s not proper to lie on the bed with all that dust on your clothes.”
“…W-What are you talking about? I was totally about to wash up before lying down.”
Palgap replied to my excuse.
“Then why aren’t you heading to the washroom?”
“I was… uh…”
“Yes?”
“I was going to train.”
Yes. I still had training left to do.
Tap.
Escort Guard Lee Pil closed the door behind him and entered his room.
The room was spacious enough that everyone got their own.
After all, this was the Tang Clan.
Usually, escorts paired up when lodging. That way, they could respond better if anything happened.
But in the Tang Clan… the idea of harming the benefactor of the Tang Clan was unthinkable.
There was no need for two escorts to share a room.
He knew very well how safe this place was.
Lee Pil sat on the chair by the tea table and let out a long sigh.
“So… I’ve ended up back here after all.”
Now that he’d abandoned his former identity to serve as Eun Seo-ho’s escort, it didn’t feel suffocating anymore.
‘Back then, this place felt like a prison.’
Still, there were quite a few people here who would recognize his face.
Soon enough, Eun Seo-ho would learn about him too.
But he wasn’t too worried.
Because after spending all this time together, he knew exactly what kind of person Eun Seo-ho was.
Around lunchtime the next day.
A man came to the annex where we were staying.
It was the Clan Lord’s deputy.
“I’ve been ordered by the Clan Lord to escort you to the banquet hall.”
“Understood. Please give us a moment to prepare.”
We quickly finished getting ready and followed the deputy to the banquet hall.
“It was really difficult trying to track you down, Lord Eun. You travel so unpredictably.”
“Hahaha. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks to that, though, we’re completely certain that you weren’t involved with the kidnappers who tried to take Young Master Jo-ung.”
“…”
“If that offended you, I apologize. But please take it as a sign of how seriously we trust you.”
“It’s fine. A clan like the Tang Clan can’t afford to trust someone easily.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Though… it is rather sad that the world has come to this, where we must doubt everyone.”
“You’ve said exactly what I was thinking.”
Honestly, I had no desire to be treated like some great benefactor by the Tang Clan.
That’s why I never stuck around one place and wandered all over the Central Plains.
Hearing that my behavior somehow earned their trust… gave me a strange feeling.
Still, it made it easier for me to enter the Tang Clan like this.
Life really is unpredictable.
“The Tang Clan has seven banquet halls in total. Each one has a name. The largest is the Wood Hall (木色會場), which is big enough for the entire Tang Clan to gather.”
“That must be quite large.”
“It is. But to be honest, it’s only used a few times a year. Hahaha.”
The deputy continued.
“The place you’ll be going is the Yellow Hall (黃色會場), reserved exclusively for distinguished guests.”
Soon, we arrived at the Yellow Hall. And I immediately understood why it was named that.
The entire hall was practically covered in gold.
Wow… Even the tables are gold.
“Welcome, welcome.”
“Thank you for inviting us to such an honorable place.”
“Why say something so cold? If not you, then who else would deserve to be here?”
The Clan Lord seated us at the center table.
Joining us at the banquet were the Clan Lord himself, Tang Jo-ung, and Lady Hongri, the Clan Lord’s third wife and Tang Jo-ung’s mother.
As soon as we sat, a variety of dishes began to fill the table.
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from the food. Sichuan cuisine is quite different from Hubei’s.
But the dishes placed in front of me… felt strangely familiar.
“Could it be… there are Hubei dishes too?”
At that, Lady Hongri spoke.
“Since you all are from Hubei, we figured Sichuan food might not suit your taste, so we specially brought a chef from Hubei.”
Such thoughtfulness…
“When the Tang Clan hosts important guests, we always make sure to do it properly. Hahaha!”
At the Clan Lord’s words, I cupped my fists.
“I’m touched to the point I nearly shed tears.”
“Hahaha! Hearing that makes bringing the chef worth it. Now, dig in.”
“Thank you for the meal.”
I picked up my chopsticks and tasted the food.
“Wow…”
What is this? Why is it so good?
“This is insanely delicious.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
At Tang Jo-ung’s words, I nodded.
“It’s really amazing. Eat lots too.”
“Yes, Young Hero.”
As we happily ate, the Clan Lord grinned with satisfaction.
“Seeing you eat so well puts me in a good mood.”
“The food’s so good I’m a bit embarrassed I might be overeating.”
“Not at all. It’s rare to see guests eat this well when visiting the Tang Clan.”
“Ah…”
I immediately understood the meaning behind that.
The Tang Clan… is a clan that deals with poison.
Most people are too scared to eat properly, fearing the food might be poisoned.
“It seems there are quite a few people who feel guilty standing before the Tang Clan.”
At my comment, the Clan Lord burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahahahahaha!”
He laughed so boldly it startled those around him.
Wiping tears from his eyes from laughing too much, the Clan Lord said,
“You really are someone I like! That’s right! Only those with guilty consciences would think that way.”
“It’s quite a pity that some people can’t even enjoy such delicious food properly.”
At my words, Palgap and the four escorts all nodded.
That’s how good the food was.
“So you mean… you stand proudly before the Tang Clan.”
“That’s correct.”
“Did it not cross your mind that the food could accidentally be poisoned?”
“Is the Tang Clan sloppy enough to make such a rookie mistake?”
“Of course not.”
“Then… is the Clan Lord’s ability so lacking that he wouldn’t be able to detoxify it?”
“There’s nothing made in the Tang Clan that we cannot detoxify.”
“Then… what’s the problem? What’s there to worry about?”
At my rebuttal, the Clan Lord burst out laughing again. Then he turned to Tang Jo-ung and said,
“Jo-ung, you’ve truly met a great man.”
Tang Jo-ung cupped his fists and responded.
“I think so too.”
With that, the meal wrapped up, and tea and refreshments were brought out.
I lifted the teacup and took a sip.
“Do you know what tea this is?”
“Judging by the clear color and fresh, crisp taste… I’d say it’s tea harvested from the highlands of Mount Emei.”
“Correct. As expected from the Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group, renowned for its tea.”
“You flatter my humble skills.”
“But there’s something… I still don’t fully understand about the day Jo-ung was rescued. Forgive me, but could you explain what happened back then?”
I nodded.
“Of course. That won’t be a problem.”
I thought I’d already explained this to Lady Hongri before.
Or… maybe not?
Either way, explaining it again costs me nothing. And the Clan Lord, being Tang Jo-ung’s father, certainly deserves to hear it.
Starting from when I entered Sichuan, I recounted everything that happened.
“…And that’s how I subdued the kidnappers and brought them here by wagon.”
“I see. I, Tang Gyu-jeong, express my deepest gratitude to Eun Seo-ho and the two escorts who acted with him.”
He stood from his seat and cupped his fists.
We hurriedly stood as well and returned the gesture.
“We’re grateful we were able to help, even if only a little.”
We all sat back down.
The Clan Lord looked at us with a serious expression.
“The Tang Clan… never forgets a grudge, but we also never forget a favor. This is a rule that every member of the Tang Clan must uphold.”
“…”
“Therefore, would you allow me the chance to repay this favor?”
“Truthfully… I didn’t save Jo-ung expecting anything in return. I simply saw kidnappers and a child in danger and acted. I would’ve done the same even if it were another child.”
At my words, both Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am and Escort Guard Lee Pil nodded in agreement.
“But… if I keep refusing this, it’ll only burden the Tang Clan further. So I’ll accept the Clan Lord’s offer.”
I continued.
“However, I don’t have anything I need right now. But I do have one thing in mind for the future.”
“What is it?”
“I’d like a written document from the Tang Clan. A guarantee that… if a situation arises where the Tang Clan suffers no loss and it’s something the Tang Clan is capable of helping with… you will assist.”
The Clan Lord smiled.
“You really are thoughtful. Asking for a written guarantee with not one, but two conditions.”
“I’m embarrassed.”
“Very well. I shall issue a formal document of guarantee to Eun Seo-ho and the two escorts.”
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt