The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family

Chapter 270

Her hand brushed against the small flame inside the lamp.Ssszz.

The moment the spark caught on the poison smoke, a pungent stench spread.

So-hwa placed the poison smoke on a dish and waited for the room to fill with it.

Soon, she felt her body slacken.

Once poisoned, regenerative ability vanished for a quarter of an hour. After detoxification, it was difficult to be poisoned again immediately, so to induce poisoning once more, she would have to wait for a period shorter than a quarter of an hour.

Thus, So-hwa decided to time everything to the Blood Demon.

She filled the room with smoke, planning to administer fresh poison smoke when he could be poisoned again.

Her gaze briefly drifted to the closed window.

So-hwa lit the large lamp before it as well.

Knowing who would come, she wanted to show that person that she was in this room.

Not long after, the door moved.

Creeeak.

Namgung Hyun entered, but So-hwa kept her eyes on the smoke, wary that the poison smoke might thin from the draft.

Fortunately, he closed the door at once, and the acrid stench remained thick.

Click.

At the sound of a poison tube opening, one of So-hwa's eyebrows lifted.

Turning her head, she looked at Namgung Hyun with a startled gaze.

"What are you doing?"

Seated on the floor, Namgung Hyun was spreading out the writing tools he had prepared. Dipping a fine brush into a black jar, he spoke in a calm voice.

"I heard it from the Clan Head. You said you wanted to send this pavilion to the headquarters and retrieve the study."

Rustle.

As Namgung Hyun began writing characters, So-hwa hurried over to stop him.

"Stop."

"It seems you have not come looking for the study in a long time. Why do you wish to retrieve it now, of all times?"

Namgung Hyun's sunken gaze lifted.

So-hwa sensed something was wrong.

Namgung Hyun's eyes were different from a few days ago. There was no confusion or fear. If she had to read the emotion within, it seemed closer to anger.

"You merely needed an excuse to lure me here, did you not? If you tried to kill me, the Blood Demon would come within range of your poisoning."

Namgung Hyun lowered his gaze again and continued writing the formation.

"I will do as you wish, so do not worry. I will not move until the Blood Demon is poisoned."

A chill ran down So-hwa's neck. Just as she was about to question the suspicion that flashed through her mind, her head turned toward the window.

The atmosphere outside had changed.

It was not a presence.

There had not been the slightest breeze indoors, yet the lamps suddenly went out.

Breathing became difficult, and her entire body grew heavy.

The unpleasant sensation of vitality being drained grew stronger by the moment.

There was no mistaking who carried such a loathsome sensation.

All of So-hwa's senses focused on the Blood Demon outside the window.

Soon, a faint shadow fell across it.

Hair fluttering in the wind and long fingers settled lightly on the window frame.

Tap. Tap.

The sound of fingers tapping the lattice split the silence.

For such an overwhelming existence, the gesture was careful—almost teasing.

Creeeak.

The slowly tilting window revealed the Blood Demon's face. From beyond the frame came a voice tinged with amusement.

"So you were here."

So-hwa met his gaze, hiding her fear.

As if putting on a show of composure, she asked casually,

"You must have come a long way. Shall I at least offer you some tea?"

"So you knew I would come."

The Blood Demon shifted his dark crimson eyes to the table behind So-hwa.

"What are you scheming, taking even a hostage?"

It seemed he had sensed Namgung Hyun's presence concealed behind the table. Whether Namgung Hyun was frightened or still writing the formation on the floor, he did not reveal himself.

Then suddenly, the Blood Demon inhaled deeply, exhaled, and closed his eyes.

As if savoring something, he murmured in a languid voice,

"You're a child far removed from laziness. Not everyone with innate talent sees it bloom, but with such diligence, your talent will surely reach full bloom one day, just like your name.”

At those words, So-hwa realized that the Blood Demon had been poisoned by the smoke. She understood that the poison smoke produced an effect similar to Blood Jade.

Carefully, So-hwa moved her hand and emptied the water from the cup.

Quarter of an hour.

A quarter of an hour. For the next quarter of an hour, the poisoning would persist.

Seeing the drops fall from the cup, So-hwa swallowed her dry saliva.

Something felt off.

Even after realizing he was poisoned, the Blood Demon did not pull back from the window, nor did he hold his breath. He did not even try to disperse the poison smoke.

The moment the intense stench surged, So-hwa understood why the Blood Demon was in such a good mood.

She twisted her body quickly.

She tried to take Namgung Hyun and leave the room, but he was sitting peacefully on the floor. As if he had not heard the conversation at all, he focused solely on his work, not even lifting his head.

Snap.

It was the moment So-hwa grabbed Namgung Hyun's wrist and forcibly pulled him up.

Shaaah.

So-hwa felt the air change.

The wind rushing in from behind pushed away the thick poison smoke.

At the same time, the energy that had been surging toward the Blood Demon's palm vanished as if it had been a lie.

So-hwa's gaze shifted to the window.

What she saw outside was not the forest of the Tang Clan estate.

A pavilion bathed in quiet moonlight—one she knew well.

Pushing So-hwa's hand away, Namgung Hyun gathered the writing tools on the floor. His voice was as calm as his movements.

"This is what the Clan Head requested. He asked that the pavilion be moved to the headquarters and that the study be brought back to the Tang Clan. Right now, gaining the Clan Head's favor is more important to me than Young Lady Tang, so please understand."

He added evenly,

"I presented the formal betrothal letter to the Clan Head today."

So-hwa, barely suppressing her confusion, asked,

“Did I hear you correctly just now?”

Namgung Hyun nodded.

"In this life, what matters most to me is making Young Lady Tang my woman again. Therefore, at present, the Clan Head's command is more important than Young Lady Tang's intentions."

"What in the—!"

So-hwa, about to shout in outrage, closed her mouth.

Soon, she asked again in a cold voice,

"...... Did you say 'again'?"

Namgung Hyun let the question pass in silence.

So-hwa closed her eyes and pushed all thoughts aside.

What mattered now was not an argument with the sorcerer.

The Blood Demon was rampaging in the Tang Clan estate.

"I understand. For now, send me back to the Tang Clan estate."

“I will.”

Straightening his posture, Namgung Hyun met her gaze.

"After a quarter of an hour."

He spoke boldly, as if he knew everything.

"The Alliance Leader went to the Tang Clan in our stead. I understand your anxiety, Young Lady Tang, but try trusting the Alliance Leader."

Sohwa’s face contorted. It was a face cleared of frustration, as if she had realized the truth.

At the same time, she was seized by uncontrollable fury.

"I must go to the Tang Clan estate. I do not know what you heard from the Alliance Leader, but......."

As her voice rose, So-hwa closed her mouth for a moment to calm herself.

She was deeply disheartened by this completely unforeseen variable.

But now was not the time to be disappointed. Somehow, she had to placate that sorcerer and return.

Her heart burned with anxiety, knowing that after all her careful planning for today, she now had to rely entirely on his will.

As if unaware of that turmoil, Namgung Hyun's lips curved. From between those slanted lips, incomprehensible words slipped out.

"It would be faster for the Alliance Leader to pour the Gu poison antidote over the Blood Demon's wounds than for you to inject blood into him."

So-hwa's expression stiffened.

"...... How do you know that?"

Namgung Hyun replied calmly.

"The Grand Elder was rather loose-lipped. On the day you were imprisoned in the dungeon, your words—that if you told the Grand Elder, he would believe you and come—were true."

"......."

"When I told him, before he departed, that we intended to save you and eliminate the Blood Demon, he told me about the Gu poison antidote. Combining that with a few things I already knew, I learned quite a lot about you."

So-hwa was no fool.

At this point, she could ask him directly.

"Did you commit suicide?"

"Yes. Thanks to the Three-Breath Poison you gave me, I returned without pain."

So-hwa's voice turned icy.

"Is this the last chance?"

"That's right."

Tang So-hwa ran a hand through her hair. She seemed to be trying to calm herself, but it did not look effective.

In a low voice, she said,

"Send me to the Tang Clan estate immediately."

"No. Wait until your body can endure it."

“Do you not realize what a profitable bargain it is to eliminate the Blood Demon at the cost of my life alone?”

Namgung Hyun answered in a solemn voice.

"No. This all ends only if you live."

At those incomprehensible words, So-hwa pressed her lips together for a moment.

Without waiting for her, Namgung Hyun continued.

"In this life, I went to the Alliance Leader and asked for help. When I told him about the sorcerer called mutual support, he readily chose to trust me."

Mutual support.

At the strange name, So-hwa narrowed one eye, but she did not interrupt.

Namgung Hyun suddenly asked something out of the blue.

"Do you remember the painting paper I gave you?"

"The painting paper?"

"It had written on it a birthdate calculated in reverse, wishing that your life would be filled with auspicious days. The fate I deemed auspicious is called Yearly Pillar Mutual Support. It creates a flow in which all things mutually support one another, and is thus auspicious for humans as well."

Namgung Hyun placed his hand on the large table between them.

Though he spoke calmly, his legs seemed to have lost strength. He appeared unsteady, as if leaning on the table with both arms. Lowering his gaze, he closed his eyes.

"A sorcerer's arts borrow the power of the Five Elements to allow humans, positioned between Heaven and Earth, to wield their skills upon the land and ultimately seek Heaven's permission. The Five Elements are nature itself, and when humans wield their skills, that flow is sometimes distorted."

They sounded familiar, yet were still difficult to understand.

So-hwa had no choice but to cling to the promise that she would be sent back once her body recovered.

Thus, she did not stop his words and listened. She wished, even a little, to shorten that time.

"There is always change in the world. Sorcerers explain it through various elements such as Yin and Yang, Heaven–Earth–Human, and the Five Elements."

Drawing a deep breath, Namgung Hyun said,

"The North Sea Ice Palace and the Great Desert Solar Palace have regained their freedom, and Zhuge In-hwi—who alone among the Heaven–Earth–Human brothers had been isolated from the Blood Sect—now stands at the forefront, saving people from the Blood Sect's mental domination. In the language of a sorcerer, this is expressed as follows."

The sorcerer's gaze slowly lifted.

"The Yin–Yang energies suppressed by the Blood Sect are being restored, and ignorant humans between Heaven and Earth are recognizing the truth, changing the world."

"......."

"Furthermore, the Five Elements that compose all things. They change according to Yin–Yang energies and influence human lives situated between Heaven and Earth. Sorcery is the act of reversing that cycle. Sorcerers distort all things and defy time."

Letting out a self-mocking breath, he said,

"Now that Heaven has withdrawn the sorcerer's power, all things will return to their proper places and follow the natural cycle."

After a brief pause, Namgung Hyun spoke to the silent So-hwa.

"All change toward the natural order began because of you. Therefore, this world cannot do without you."

He glanced once at the black sky beyond the window.

"If all of this is a predetermined course, then it means the world still needs you. Seeing that I made it here unharmed...... it is impossible to deny that Heaven needs you."

The sorcerer said to Tang So-hwa, who offered no reply,

"Of course, I could be wrong, or I could be right. We will soon return and see what has become of the Blood Demon, so please wait just a little longer."

So-hwa did not understand the sorcerer's words.

However, she understood what he was trying to say.

He was trying to shift all responsibility onto fate.

Though he had changed the situation, he seemed afraid that this choice might bring about a dreadful outcome.

Lowering her gaze to look at him, So-hwa realized that she could no longer persuade him with words.

From within her sleeve, a silvery flying dagger slid out and cut a long gash across the back of her hand.

Shaaak.

Namgung Hyun's brow twitched.

Showing him the back of her hand, blood dripping down, Tang So-hwa said,

"You said you know what the Gu poison antidote is, so I trust you understand what this means."

"......."

“I was poisoned faster than the Blood Demon, and I will be detoxified faster than him. Therefore, there is no need to wait a quarter of an hour after the Blood Demon appeared. If you are going to send me back to confirm, watch the time properly.”

Tang So-hwa used her elbow to nudge the water cup on the windowsill.

Clatter.

The water vessel that marked the time collapsed.

Namgung Hyun seemed flustered, but on the other hand, his expression looked lighter.

Shouldering the bamboo tube, he opened the door and said,

“Yes. I intend to leave the pavilion at the headquarters as it is, so let us go outside.”