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

Chapter 272

So-hwa faced Tang Ji-ha, who was sitting alone in Red Radiance Hall."Sit."

After offering a formal greeting, she sat down across from him.

As if an important conversation was about to take place, the walls of Red Radiance Hall—known for its beautiful waterside view—were tightly shut.

The Clan Head did not even wait for a quarter of an hour, nor did he give So-hwa time to drink her tea. He went straight to the point.

"A formal betrothal letter has arrived."

So-hwa froze, her hand stopping where it held the teacup. When she lifted her gaze, she saw Tang Ji-ha's brow deeply furrowed.

"I haven't received that many betrothal letters, but I do know the proper form. Yet what that fellow sent cannot possibly be called a betrothal letter. Instead of formally introducing his family or himself while proposing marriage, he rambled on like a man trying to coax someone into eloping in the dead of night. Yes, that was not a betrothal letter. It was a love letter."

The Clan Head let out a hollow laugh.

"Even the Namgung Clan Head didn't know what his second son had done. When he said he had never sent a betrothal letter, I was utterly taken aback. Still, Namgung An seems to know his place—he apologized and said he would send a proper betrothal letter formally."

Shaking his head in disbelief, the Clan Head continued,

"It's so absurd I'm at a loss for words. No matter how urgent his feelings may be, how could he dare discuss a marriage between clans on his own whim?"

The Clan Head's expression was dark. Rather than anger, bitterness colored his voice.

"And yet, that fellow has disappeared."

"What do you mean, disappeared?"

"How would I know? He sent this embarrassing letter that can hardly even be called a betrothal letter, then vanished. It seems he left a note with his elder brother saying he was going far away before disappearing. If he was going to do that anyway, why pull such a ridiculous stunt...... He really is still just a child."

After sighing, Tang Ji-ha studied So-hwa's expression and asked,

"I called you because I thought perhaps something had happened. You don't know anything either?"

After a brief pause, So-hwa answered in a calm voice,

"Yes, nothing happened."

Tang Ji-ha frowned as if he could not understand.

"Then how is it that someone who so desperately wanted marriage simply vanished? He couldn't have thought I would oppose it."

The Clan Head muttered as if talking to himself, truly unable to comprehend it.

So-hwa felt she understood the reason, but she could not say it aloud.

If Namgung Hyun had turned back time to maintain their bond, then in this life, he could not be connected to her.

He would know that better than anyone. There would be no reason for him to wait for a reply.

When So-hwa remained silent, the Clan Head cleared his throat.

He seemed to have misunderstood, thinking she had been hurt.

Trying to smooth things over, Tang Ji-ha offered an awkward smile.

"There's no need to rush. If you wish, you may wait for him longer. I, too, was raised seeing and hearing these things, so he must know what it means to become my son-in-law. He may have felt burdened and left for a while. At least when it comes to your marriage, I intend to respect your wishes, so don't worry too much."

At the Clan Head's consolation, So-hwa's brows lifted slightly.

He was looking at her with pity.

It seemed he believed there had been some sort of quarrel between them.

So-hwa did not correct his misunderstanding and remained silent.

The Clan Head, perhaps feeling awkward, asked after what she needed and then let it drop. There must have been much he wanted to ask, but he swallowed the questions he truly wished to voice and postponed the conversation.

After pressing Tang Hae-han, So-hwa learned what had happened in the meantime. Because of Tang Hae-han's tattling, the Clan Head had learned that she had secretly stored poison on the ninth floor. Thus, he had intended to forbid her access to the Nine Turns Pavilion, but it seemed the matter had been postponed because of Namgung Hyun's betrothal letter.

So-hwa, who had planned to ask for permission to enter the Nine Turns Pavilion at least until today, quietly listened to the Clan Head's words of comfort.

Seeing that she could not say anything, Tang Ji-ha seemed to feel sorry for her and pushed the betrothal letter lying on the table toward her.

"...... And take this with you. This doesn't seem like an official document that a Clan Head ought to keep."

Rising from her seat, So-hwa took the betrothal letter from the table and left the Red Radiance Hall.

She headed straight for the Medical Hall.

In any case, she had bought some time, and she planned to go directly to the Nine Turns Pavilion.

She tried to tuck the betrothal letter into her sleeve, then stopped.

Quietly, she unfolded the thick mulberry paper as she walked.

Neat handwriting filled her vision.

She read the entire letter, yet for a moment she could not bring herself to fold it back up.

Then, the paper rose upward on its own and vanished.

"So this is what they meant when they said a betrothal letter arrived?"

Min Haerak, dressed in a pale lavender robe, read the contents with an incredulous look.

"Hm? Isn't this a formal betrothal letter? It looks like it was sent to you, not the Clan Head."

"Give it back."

When So-hwa tried to take it, Haerak turned away and skimmed through it quickly.

"Sorcerers really do write love letters well. If I were a woman, I'd be completely taken in."

Saying that, Min Haerak slipped the mulberry paper into his sleeve.

"...... What are you doing?"

"If the Blood Demon is dead, shouldn't the next conversation be with me? Why are you receiving something like this from another man?"

He looked displeased, but did not continue speaking. Suddenly, he rolled his eyes and glanced toward the Medical Hall, then relaxed his frown into a smile.

A thin line appeared between So-hwa's pale brows.

She could not understand why his emotions were swinging wildly again, like a madman's.

Imitating the famously refined second son of a merchant head, Min Haerak, bowed his head demurely.

"Though it's difficult to accept, since Young Lady Tang has promised to meet again, it is only right that I wait."

"......."

Soon, So-hwa understood why he was acting so affected.

Physicians from the Medical Hall, rounding the wall, spotted them, whispered among themselves, and quickly changed direction.

Because Min Haerak had come as the Anguk Merchant Group Young Lord, he could not behave recklessly.

Matching his demeanor, So-hwa resumed walking and asked,

"You, Young Lord, must also have many matters to attend to. Don't we both need time?"

"Hm? Do I have something I need to do?"

"You don't seem to have decided yet whether you'll inherit the Merchant Group or return to the main sect."

Haerak closed his mouth, then curved his lips into a smile.

In truth, he had not yet decided whether to return to the Solar Palace or remain in the Central Plains as the Anguk Merchant Group Head.

He had thought she had no interest in him for a while, yet she had noticed his dilemma. Realizing that he still occupied a corner of her thoughts, Min Haerak felt his heart ease.

When So-hwa arrived in front of the Nine Turns Pavilion, she added,

"Only after the Young Lord makes his decision can I decide my own path, don't you think?"

While Haerak was caught off guard, So-hwa retrieved the mulberry paper from his sleeve.

"I need to know whether to treat you as a Palace Lord or as a Merchant Group Head, so I can choose whether to tell people the truth or continue lying."

Min Haerak seemed lost in thought.

Even as she entered the Nine Turns Pavilion, he did not stop her.

In a voice too quiet for others to hear, he whispered softly.

『I intend to make that decision with you. If you wish, I will remain in the Central Plains, and if you want me to settle in the Outer Regions, I will go to the Great Desert.』

A voice laced with laughter followed.

『Think it over carefully and come back. I'll be waiting in your quarters, so let's decide our direction today.』

So-hwa continued walking without replying, but she gave a small nod.

Tap.

Entering the Nine Turns Pavilion, So-hwa quietly climbed the stairs.

Since the Blood Demon's death, the Nine Turns Pavilion had grown even quieter than before.

With the Alliance Leader's seat now empty, the atmosphere at the Murim Alliance headquarters had changed. Hostility toward the Blood Sect had reached its peak, and with the need to fill the vacant position of Alliance Leader, tensions ran high. Other sects, while watching the headquarters carefully, were subtly vying with one another over the next Alliance Leader's seat. The Tang Clan was no different.

As a result, the organizations handling the external affairs for the Tang Clan became busier, while those dealing with internal matters returned to their routines and focused on their own work.

The Nine Turns Pavilion belonged to the latter.

Having climbed up to the ninth floor, she opened a stiff door that had not been oiled.

Dust that had accumulated over several days gave off a stale smell.

Even so, So-hwa closed the door and pried up the floor beneath the bookshelf.

Creeeak.

Inside were poisons and secret manuals she had not yet been able to discard. Opening the box, So-hwa took out a bottle from her sleeve.

She had intended to pour it directly over the poisons and manuals and burn them, but her hand stopped.

After hesitating for a long while, Tang So-hwa sat down on a chair, deciding to think it over once more.

Perhaps because she had grown sensitive, the dusty smell irritated her.

She opened the old window to air the room out. Because of the height, a breeze rushed in immediately.

Facing the cool early-autumn wind, So-hwa looked down at the scenery before her.

The Tang Clan estate spread out clearly beneath the blue sky.

The splendid halls, the greenery shading the spaces between them, the vast lake, and even the birds moving busily about—there was nothing that was not beautiful.

She had taken in the sight of the Tang Clan estate countless times before, yet this time, no anxiety stirred in her heart.

A world without the Blood Demon.

For the first time, it was true peace.

So-hwa took the mulberry paper from her sleeve.

Rustle.

She unfolded the paper left behind by the sorcerer.

She had never seen someone so meticulous, yet this was an utterly absurd betrothal letter.

Then again, knowing that he could never become her husband, there was no need for him to consider the Tang Clan Head's feelings and painstakingly send a proper letter.

As a sorcerer, Namgung Hyun had given up the heavens' favor and turned back time. Thus, he could not obtain what he desired.

If there was anything to admire, it was that he was a ruthless man capable of enduring decades, yet perhaps because he had accepted that the end was already decided, he did not waste time.

So-hwa reread the letter he had left and sank into thought.

Because she had known nothing of dark arts, in the moment of her death, she had not desperately wished for anything.

She had not even wished to restore the Tang Clan.

She had thought it impossible, and thus meaningless.

They said that once the punishment began, one returned to the time one desired. And when So-hwa first opened her eyes, she had returned to the day Tang Hak closed his heart.

Perhaps that was the period of the Tang Clan she had missed the most.

The days when everyone she loved was by her side, and when she naturally looked forward to the future.

So-hwa felt that the atmosphere of the Tang Clan she now beheld was no different from that day. And thus, she realized what it was she had wanted.

She had longed for that Tang Clan of a day she thought she would never see again.

And she had wanted to protect that moment forever.

'...... Just like now.'

In his love letter, Namgung Hyun had left advice disguised as consolation.

『If the heavens lay punishment upon you, I will bear it in your stead in this life, so please achieve what you desire. In this life, you may enjoy a peaceful existence beside those you love.』

Watching the Alliance Leader kill the Blood Demon, So-hwa confirmed that punishment was not eternal.

'Can I truly achieve what I want in this life?'

Setting the mulberry paper down on the side table, So-hwa opened the poison vial and tilted it into the box.

Ssssss.

The poisons and secret manuals caught fire.

The flames began to devour the precious items. Yet there was no trace of regret on So-hwa's face.

As long as she still lived, these were things that need not yet be revealed to the world.

So-hwa dropped even the advice Namgung Hyun had left into the box.

Whoosh.

Namgung Hyun had said that the heavens still needed her, but So-hwa did not believe those words.

What kind of time would come, or what the heavens desired—she, a mere human, could not know.

Thus, it was futile to presume the heavens' intentions.

Only one thing was certain: she had been given a little more time.

Crackle.

The flames soon died down, and ash scattered inside the box.

Even with the Blood Demon gone, danger still remained in this world.

They had not yet eliminated the Zhuge Clan Head and his remnants, and the Blood Sect members still roamed both the Outer Regions and the Central Plains.

Still, she believed that such dangers were well within the capacity of those who remained to deal with them.

So-hwa took the box now filled only with ash and walked to the railing.

The clear sky and the peaceful Tang Clan of Sichuan filled her vision.

Desire disguised as hope welled up within her.

Tang So-hwa quietly took out the ashes from the box.

The passing wind scattered the powder in an instant.

Saaaah.

With each movement of her hand, her secrets disappeared.

Whatever the heavens' will might be, she wanted to live this time.

Because there were still things left in this world that she could protect.

For as long as time allowed.

Until the day this life came to an end.

Tang So-hwa decided to protect everything she loved for a little while longer.

〈The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family〉 The End

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(T/N): Thank you Author-sama for this wonderful story.

Wow. I finally finished it at last. (There are still 10 side stories left). There were so many times I thought about giving up on this story because I really struggled to translate it. I don’t usually read wuxia or murim, and I know the terms ended up inconsistent, so I apologize for that. Then I even lost the motivation to keep translating since all my other novels got hit with DMCA, except for this one. But still, I told myself to push through and finish it because I wanted to know how Tang So-hwa’s life would end. So, thank you to all the readers who made it to the ending, and thank you so much for staying. *bow*