The last day at the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Even if I’d be able to reunite with Hwa-rin, even if the ti apart could be shortened depending on my Fa or her efforts, the unavoidable day of parting had arrived.
I hadn’t even brought much, so all I needed was a single horse and I could return—but the Tang Clan clearly had no intention of letting go like that.
The clan, like a grandmother trying to send off her grandchild during the holidays with as much as possible, prepared a carriage and insisted on packing with gifts.
I flatly refused because of my standing with the Tang Clan, but when they brought up my fake lineage and Hwa-rin, I had no choice but to nod in reluctant agreent.
Of course, the other reason was that the gift set they packed was too nice for to say sothing like, “Do you think you can bribe with this kind of present, sir!”
The Pavilion Head visited my room once I had finished preparing to leave.
“The carriage is ready. Let’s hur—... Elder First? Why are you here?”
I greeted the Pavilion Head together with the Elder First from the Elders’ Council—the very man who had so fervently opposed .
“Ahem. I had so business to take care of.”
He did have so business. A rather significant one.
Apparently not expecting to bump into the Pavilion Head during a brief visit to my room, Elder First let out an awkward cough and avoided eye contact.
“I’ve signed both Volus 1 and 2 of Storm of the Tang Clan.”
I handed the books to Elder First with an indifferent expression.
When he knocked on my door the day I was leaving, I thought he might be trying to assassinate . I never imagined he would show up because he wanted my autograph.
“Thanks.”
“Elder First?”
The Pavilion Head also looked dumbfounded as he turned to Elder First.
“What? Got a problem? My son’s been begging nonstop to get Storm of the Tang Clan signed, but I haven’t been able to et the author, so I ca in person!”
“You were so passionate in the Elders’ Council.”
My point exactly.
The Pavilion Head gave Elder First a look as if wondering whether his face had been hardened by poison too—he didn’t seem capable of sha.
“Don’t make it awkward! That’s just politics. There’s no such thing as eternal allies or enemies. Besides, now that Soga-ju has awakened and the successor issue is resolved, I have no reason to hold a grudge against Author Ho-pil.”
So calling “Author” instead of using my na must an he no longer considers a threat to the Tang Clan.
“Should I sign one for your grandson too?”
“Do it on this new book here. I had one of my n go fetch it.”
Elder First handed a fresh copy of Storm of the Tang Clan, crisp and unbent.
Is he planning to give it to his grandson as a New Year’s gift? A signed set of Storm of the Tang Clan, better than any ham gift box. Just imagining it made my chest swell with pride.
“Elder First.”
“I know I’ve got a thick skin, so don’t lower your voice like that! I’ll repay you sohow next ti, Author Ho-pil!”
“That’s not it—Elder First, isn’t your grandson still just learning to walk?”
“...I—I’ll be going now!”
Elder First bolted out of the room with his signed books, flustered beyond words.
Sichuan Tang Clan’s lightness skill sure is fast. I watched as Elder First disappeared from view even from the window and turned to the Pavilion Head.
“Thanks to that, I guess I won’t get harassed while I’m at Daseogak.”
“So that’s why you signed them?”
“There’s a saying in Joseon: Give an extra rice cake to the guy you hate.”
If you can offer a great favor with a small gesture, that’s a virtue in social life.
It’s easy to keep being cold to soone you don’t like, but once you’re in the world, you never know when that guy might end up holding the knife.
“Joseon has so good proverbs. Everything’s loaded, and an escort will accompany you to Yichang. Go say your goodbyes to that child, Hwa-rin.”
Surprisingly, he acknowledged the words of a barbarian without insult this ti.
“You seem eager to get rid of from the Tang Clan.”
I said with a light tone and a smile.
“...”
“I’m joking. Joking. If even you, Pavilion Head, start looking all guilty and uncomfortable, what am I supposed to say?”
“Soga-ju has awakened. Say your goodbyes to Hwa-rin and leave before more attention gathers.”
When Soga-ju woke up, the entire Tang Clan cheered in joy.
Illegitimate child of the clan head, Tang Geo-ho, Poisoned One, Demonic Sect, Soga-ju, internal purges... everything was being resolved, but things were still unsettled.
It was best for to leave before attention turned back toward .
“So the reason I decided to leave today must have been that. Anyway, I have sothing to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Hwa-rin. Did you already know she’d turn out like that?”
Even before she was cured, the Pavilion Head’s attitude had seed suspicious. I figured he must’ve known what would happen to Hwa-rin. Or maybe he just didn’t want the clan’s secret leaving the Tang Clan.
I looked at the Pavilion Head with a faint trace of suspicion in my eyes.
“...It was the poison of the Face-Skin Spider and Millennium Toad. The most likely outco was death. Even if I gave it my all, I didn’t think the result would be what the two of you hoped for.”
The Pavilion Head looked at with a guilty expression, perhaps because sothing he’d predicted but couldn’t speak of had co to pass.
“It’s fine. I know you did your best.”
So I was right after all. That’s enough.
He may have felt guilty, but he achieved the best result. Hwa-rin didn’t die, and she wasn’t dood to a life without normalcy forever either.
Ten years. And if my Fa increases, even that could be shortened—we’ll be able to be together again.
When I nodded calmly and consoled him openly, the Pavilion Head looked at in surprise, perhaps because I wasn’t angry with him.
“Are you planning to leave without eting the Tang Clan Head?”
“Now that the legitimate son has awakened, there’s no need to draw attention. The bastard child should quietly step aside.”
“Then go. That girl Hwa-rin is waiting for you.”
“Thanks for everything, and for all your ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) help.”
“No—I’m the one who should say sorry. You went through a lot.”
Unlike our strained first eting, we parted ways with clear words and a light heart.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
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How was I supposed to say goodbye?
I stood in front of Hwa-rin’s door, hesitating for a mont.
Once I opened that door, because of our mutual unfamiliarity with farewells, we’d probably start with an awkward greeting while trying to hide our sad faces.
A sorrowful silence would follow.
Should I crack a light joke to ease the tension? Or should we part in a sea of tears?
After a heavy pause, I opened the door.
“Hwa-rin! What the hell are you wearing?!”
All my worries shattered the mont I opened the door—thanks to the shockingly revealing outfit that hit in the face.
“D-Does it look weird?”
Luxurious purple clothes. A mini skirt. And the visible black lingerie straps over her shoulders made wonder if sothing that thin could even defy gravity and support any real weight.
Hwa-rin asked with a slightly flushed, embarrassed expression.
If I had to say, it wasn’t a weird outfit. On another woman, it might’ve just seed a little revealing. But depending on who’s wearing it, an outfit can beco sothing so astonishing it feels like a miracle.
She’s insane. The shop owner has gone completely mad.
My eyes were drawn, inevitably, to the overwhelming cleavage. That’s not a chest line—that’s not even a valley. If other won had “valleys,” she had a canyon.
She could win any chest-battle without contest, facing anyone in that colossal five-on-five battlefield.
“Isn’t that a bit too bold?”
I barely snapped out of it and managed to speak. Who told her to wear sothing like that? I ought to say sothing.
Just thinking about soone else getting to see that canyon I secretly admired after our nights together—it made feel weirdly ticked off.
“Hehe. I wore it because you’re coming. I wouldn’t wear this in front of anyone else.”
Noticing the way my face went from dumbstruck to disgruntled, Hwa-rin smiled and explained. If it was for , then I wholeheartedly welcod it.
“Well, in that case... good.”
“Co here.”
I walked over to the bed where Hwa-rin was sitting and sat down beside her. I naturally placed my hand on her waist and turned to face her.
There was nothing left to say. We had said it all already.
Only the goodbye remained. But once we said goodbye, we’d have to part.
When a man and a woman who had nothing left to say and didn’t want to be separated stared into each other’s eyes, reflected in each other’s pupils—there was only one thing left to do.
“Why... why are you so good at kissing?”
Hwa-rin looked at with a flushed face, a bit frustrated and suspicious all at once.
“You don’t like it?”
Yes, I’ve kissed two others. But I couldn’t say that, so all I could do was smile mischievously.
“Ugh... seriously. Do you need to ask that?”
Hwa-rin’s face leaned closer again.
“I’ll write you letters often.”
Clicking my tongue in regret, I said it softly, warmly.
“Mm. I’ll train hard too.”
“If you don’t, I’ll totally cheat on you. So you’d better give it your all.”
I teased her with a mischievous smile.
“...”
Hwa-rin didn’t respond. Her expression darkened.
“It’s a joke. Just a joke.”
Hwa-rin. I gave you so much reassurance. Don’t get shaken up over a single joke, please.
“Yun-ho.”
“Yeah. I know, that was a bad joke.”
“No, it’s not that. I just... before we part, there’s sothing I want to apologize for.”
“Huh? What for?”
What would Hwa-rin have to apologize for?
Sneaking snacks from the printing room behind my back during lunch? Oversleeping after promising to wake up in the morning? Trying to butt into the Storm of the Tang Clan erotic scenes I said I’d write solo?
I had a few things to apologize for, but Hwa-rin? I had no clue what she’d be sorry about.
Hwa-rin looked at for a mont with a sorrowful expression, then spoke as if confessing sothing she’d held in for a long ti.
“Your friend closer than a brother. The Tang Clan Lord’s illegitimate son...”
I couldn’t help but freeze in shock at the completely unexpected subject.
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