Chapter 89

### Bathhouse (洗浴閣)

Daeju's face turned flustered at my outburst.

In Zhongyuan, it's a matter of face not to give someone a side job in front of others, but this time it was really troublesome.

So, I thought it was necessary to set things straight while the elders of the Tang family were around.

Now that I'm a direct descendant of the Tang family, I can say such things.

'How dare he treat me, who doesn't know martial arts, with such disdain?! Even if I don't know martial arts, I'm still a respected member of the Tang family!'

As my anger rose, Daeju's repeated excuses followed.

"Everyone here has their reasons... If you hear my story..."

Daeju, flustered and stammering, tried to explain his behavior, which had been pointed out as selfish in front of the elders of the Tang family, but there was no reason to listen.

If he treated me with such disregard from the start in a group setting, just because I don't know martial arts, the rest of the journey would be difficult.

So, I had to speak firmly.

"No. I won't listen to your excuses. We need to address this while the elders of the Tang family are here."

"Master, if you hear my story..."

Daeju, who seemed at a loss, but I couldn't just let it go.

I had to sternly reprimand him...

"No! Hear my story first."

I preemptively cut off Daeju's flustered excuses and pointed at Budaeju, who was standing behind him.

Then, Daeju slumped to the ground.

'What? Does the Tang family select their Daeju based on acting skills? Did he just mess up and now he's trying to save face?'

He reacted as if the sky had fallen just because I pointed out his mistake, and he was putting on a Hollywood act to save face.

I glanced at Daeju and quickly spoke to the two.

"I clearly told you both that you need to carry the food supplies behind Budaeju, didn't I? I'm already carrying the food supplies and the iron pot. Are you ignoring me, a mere cook who doesn't know martial arts, and telling me to carry that too?!"

Daeju and Budaeju, who had only ever been treated well, were really troublesome.

They seemed to have only ever bossed around those who didn't know martial arts, so they naturally treated me, a mere cook, with disdain.

I had saved the Tang family's patriarch and Youngyoung, yet they treated me so carelessly.

My anger couldn't help but rise.

Especially because they were being so blatant about it.

"Huh?!"

Daeju looked at me with a flustered expression.

He looked at me as if a junior soldier would look at a senior soldier who was scolding him, saying, "I didn't hear you clearly."

But I already knew what he was going to say.

Normally, if you say, "Did you stuff your ears with $#@# and listen to [email protected]#?" the things they forgot would automatically come back to them, but I couldn't go that far.

However, despite my strong words, Daeju didn't budge, which made me frown even more.

'What is it? Is he going to stick to his guns? Is he going to pretend he didn't hear me?'

As I thought about what to say to Daeju's conscienceless behavior, Budaeju, who seemed to have a bit more conscience, quickly moved to bring the two food containers and handed one to Daeju, nudging him to tie it up.

Then a voice came.

"Qingyun, Daeju didn't mean to ignore you; he must have just forgotten. He's not that heartless, so don't scold him too much."

Auntie, who was beautiful and kind, tried to cover for Daeju.

Daeju, looking embarrassed and moved to tears, replied.

"Yes, Auntie. I must have been a bit sensitive."

I didn't want to make a big deal out of it. I just wanted to address the slight to my dignity and ensure everyone did their part, so I decided to wrap it up.

"Since Auntie has spoken, I won't say more. Let's get going."

Despite my suggestion to start, Daeju, with an embarrassed look, stared at Auntie and, in a daze, received the food container without moving. After a moment, he was dragged away by Budaeju, looking lost.

'This trip is going to be a tough one.'

To think I have to rely on such a person to find the Nanman Beast Palace. I might as well trust my wife's railgun.

And a thought came to mind.

He might have forgotten because he was in a hurry to use the bathroom, but why did he think about saving face at that moment?

And it seemed like a ringing in my ears.

'Lv Qingyun's localization patch progress: 50%+...'

'Damn!'

I felt a bit sad.

***

We reached the entrance of the Tang family, leaving the elders behind, and there was someone waiting to welcome us. It was...

Our mascot, Deokgu.

Deokgu, who hadn't seen his owner in a while, ran up and wagged his tail.

After petting Deokgu's head, I told him.

"Deokgu, I'll be gone for a while, so wait for me. Gyeolryeoni and the maids will take care of your food, so don't worry, okay?"

"Hehehehe"

Our Deokgu, a Chow Chow, is a squinty-eyed character.

If you say he's like a big brother in the dog world, would that be accurate?

With squinty eyes, it's hard to tell if he's angry, happy, understood, or just being friendly.

I don't know if he understood, but Deokgu, who had received plenty of affection from my wife and me, seemed satisfied and didn't move. Thinking he might have fallen asleep, I left him there and set off.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Master. I will serve you well."

We decided to ride in a carriage for as long as it could go, so we set off with the carriage driver and a few Tang family warriors who would return with the carriage later.

However, just as we were about to load the luggage and get into the carriage with my wife, another flustered incident occurred.

Budaeju tried to get into the carriage.

I grabbed the edge of Budaeju's bamboo hat as he was about to board and said.

"Budaeju? This isn't your place, is it?"

I pointed to the ground beside the carriage with my chin.

Budaeju, who seemed a bit flustered by my action, was soon led away by Daeju, who had rushed over.

With a slightly resentful tone.

"Tch..."

'Why is he doing this? Is he trying to take turns?'

Thinking about it, both the Tang family's Daeju and Budaeju seemed to be a bit scatterbrained.

'I need to stay alert.'

With the two, who seemed to have only strength and agility but below-average intelligence, our journey to find the Nanman Beast Palace began.

***

- *Squish squish*

- *Whirr whirr whirr*

In the evening, as the sun set and night fell.

Daeju, the leader of the Tang family's most powerful martial arts group, the Poison Blood Corps, was practicing martial arts, something he hadn't done since he joined the Tang family at fifteen.

Since he joined the Tang family at fifteen, he had never taken a break from martial arts practice.

Every time his fist extended and his foot sliced through the air, the wind was torn apart.

As he was deeply immersed in his martial arts practice, a voice reached his ears.

"Daeju?"

He turned his head to see a maid looking at him.

"Who are you?"

"I am Jia Hua, a maid to Youngyoung Miss."

He recognized her face, a maid who served Youngyoung Miss.

There was no reason for her to seek him out at such a late hour, so Daeju asked to confirm.

"Why are you here so late at night?"

"Youngyoung Miss wants to see you and has something to say."

"Youngyoung Miss?"

A few days ago, she had thrown a tantrum to the Poison King, saying she would follow Master Liu to Yunnan, and was told to stay in her room. Now, she seemed to have regained her composure and was looking for him.

He wondered if she was going to make an awkward request and asked the maid.

"Can I go to her quarters?"

"No. She wants to meet you behind the Bathhouse."

"Behind the Bathhouse? I understand."

He dismissed the maid who had come to deliver the message and quickly headed to the Bathhouse.

The Bathhouse was a pavilion located between Youngyoung Miss's and Huayun Miss's quarters.

It was where the direct descendants of the Tang family bathed.

He passed through the pavilions and arrived at the Bathhouse, wondering why she wanted to meet him behind it for some secret conversation.

The night was noisy with the sounds of owls and insects.

When he arrived at the agreed meeting place behind the Bathhouse, he didn't see Youngyoung Miss.

'Has she not arrived yet? Did I come too early?'

He looked around, waiting for Youngyoung Miss, when he heard a soft humming from somewhere.

"Hmm... lala..."

'What is it? Is someone using the Bathhouse today?'

If someone was using the Bathhouse, it would be awkward to be here.

Especially if it was a woman.

It could lead to misunderstandings.

Just as Fanjin was about to leave, a voice reached his ears.

"Ah... I definitely took the Cordyceps sinensis, so why doesn't it seem to be working? Should I ask Qingyun?"

'Huh? Hua, Huaen?'

- *Swallow*

Fanjin's throat made a gulping sound.

Huaen, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in the Tang family, who had shocked him when he joined at fifteen.

Her voice was coming from inside the Bathhouse.

For twenty-five years, he had pined for her.

The sound of her voice made him stop in his tracks.

But only for a moment.

'What are you thinking, Fanjin! How could you even consider secretly watching the woman you love? What a wretch!'

Fanjin, who had momentarily considered peeking at Huaen bathing, scolded himself and quickly moved his feet.

Toward the slightly open window at the back of the Bathhouse...

And before he knew it, he was peering through the window.

'Well... it's just a matter of time before she becomes my wife. Seeing a little bit now won't be a sin...'

He tried to justify his actions in his mind and found the source of the voice through the open window.

The inside of the Bathhouse was brightly lit by several lamps. As he looked around, he saw a woman's back, partially hidden and revealed by the misty steam.

He boosted his inner strength to enhance his vision, and finally, he saw the back of a woman sitting in a large tub, her shoulders exposed.

The back of the woman he had longed for.

- *Swallow*

Huaen, sitting in the tub, was pouring water over her shoulders, filling Fanjin's field of vision.

He couldn't think of anything.

He just stared blankly.

And then.

A voice reached his ears.

"Oh, what is our Daeju doing here? If Auntie finds out, she'll 'despise' you."

Fanjin's body trembled at the voice.

He turned his head to see Youngyoung Miss, who was looking at him with a sly smile.

He had been so focused that he didn't even notice her approach, a significant mistake.

"That... that's..."

He tried to make an excuse, but he couldn't think of anything at that moment.

He hadn't been this tense even when he drank poison to practice his poison skills or when he caught venomous insects in the Yunnan jungle...

He couldn't think of anything at all.

And then, Huaen's voice came, pushing him into a desperate situation.

"Who's there?"

A bead of sweat ran down his spine.

He glared at Youngyoung Miss, who whispered.

"How should I tell Auntie?"

Fanjin, who was already trembling, shook his head violently.

Then Youngyoung Miss, seeing his reaction, proposed.

"Will you do what I ask, Daeju?"

Fanjin, who had been trembling, nodded violently.

Then Youngyoung Miss immediately spoke to Huaen.

"Auntie, it's me, Youngyoung."

"What are you doing there?"

"Just admiring the moon."

"You... You must have come out because you were upset after being scolded by Grandfather. The night air is cold, so come inside quickly. Qingyun said you're fully recovered, but you haven't been out of bed for long."

"Yes, Auntie."

The next morning, Fanjin was subduing Budaeju and laying him on the bed.

"I'm sorry, Budaeju! Please forgive my weakness..."

Fanjin, facing the distrust in Budaeju's eyes, spoke sorrowfully.

But the young lady who had ordered this seemed cold and heartless, instructing Fanjin.

"Now, we need to change clothes, so Daeju, please step outside. Understand?"

"Ah... Young lady, if this continues, I'll be killed by the Poison King..."

"If I tell Auntie Huaen about what happened yesterday, won't you be killed by Auntie Huaen instead?"

Faced with the young lady's words, Fanjin couldn't help but choose to die at the hands of the Poison King rather than be despised by the woman he loved.

This venomous butterfly would use him until she got what she wanted.

***

In Dechang, not far from Yunnan.

The disciples of the Dianchang Sect surrounded us, swords drawn.

"Southman Beast Palace! The enemy of our fellow disciples! Quickly inform the elders!"

One of the disciples ran off, and the situation kept getting more misunderstood.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding. We are from the Tang family and the Zhuge family..."

The situation kept getting more complicated.