Chapter 375
In any situation, there is a proper order to things, even when visiting the sick.
The news that the head of the Tang Clan, Tang Sado, had awakened spread quickly. All the members of the Tang Clan dropped everything and rushed to his side.
However, not all of the hundred or so members could visit Tang Sado immediately.
“Benefactor, when will we be able to see Grandfather Tang?”
“Well, the people who went in earlier have been there for a while, so they should be coming out soon.”
“Oh, I see.”
Cheongpung nodded at my answer. Wait a minute—Cheongpung?
“What the—when did you get here?”
“Just now.”
He joined in so naturally that I didn’t even notice. But what was he doing here?
As if reading my thoughts, Cheongpung pointed to his chest and answered.
“Mi-mi said she wanted to see him.”
…Did I just hear that right? Communicating with animals now? Is this kid secretly from Slytherin instead of the Mount Hua Sect?
Noticing my intense gaze, Cheongpung tilted his head.
“Why are you staring at my forehead? Is something on it?”
“No, I was just checking to see if you had a lightning-shaped scar.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing.”
Just then, the door to the medical room creaked open, and about ten people emerged.
They were some of the few remaining direct descendants of the Sichuan Tang Clan, including Tang Ho-ryong, who I recognized.
“Hoo…”
Tang Ho-ryong, his eyes bloodshot, looked up at the sky before walking towards us.
“The head of the clan wishes to see you.”
“We’ve been waiting.”
Jin Wi-kyung nodded and led the way, with Cheongpung and me following him into the medical room.
As we walked, the smell of medicinal herbs filled the air. After a short distance, we were finally face-to-face with some familiar faces.
*Cough* “You’ve come.”
Tang Sado’s condition was clearly dire, evident from his weak cough. His broken limbs and internal injuries left his energy unstable.
As he tried to raise his upper body, the doctor, who had exchanged a nod with us, stopped him.
“Head of the clan, I told you not to move.”
“I am a sinner. I have committed a crime deserving of death, and it is only right that I ask for punishment.”
With a pale face, Tang Sado shook his head and looked directly at me.
“I will not offer excuses. The reason the Western Demon Army found its way to the underground prison was because I told them.”
I crossed my arms, leaning slightly.
“Ah, I see.”
“Did you already know?”
Tang Sado asked with a startled expression.
“I didn’t know at first, of course. Things were too chaotic back then. But later, as I thought about it, I realized—how did that bastard know the location of the **Mandokji** (Ten Thousand Poison Cure) Pill?”
The number of people who knew the location of the **Mandokji** (Ten Thousand Poison Cure) Pill was extremely small. Cheongpung, though he appeared light as a flower petal, was as firm as a tree root and wouldn’t have said anything. The only person who could have revealed it was Tang Sado.
“Why did you do it?”
“They promised to preserve the clan’s legacy if I gave them the location.”
“And you believed them?”
“I was foolish. My judgment was clouded, and I did something unforgivable.”
“Well, at least you know that much.”
Tang Sado’s gaze trembled as he looked at me.
“I survived only because Heaven wanted me to live long enough to apologize and accept my punishment from you.”
“Then what punishment do you seek?”
The cold voice that interrupted was Jin Wi-kyung, who had been silently listening to our conversation.
“You must be the heir of the Taewonjin family.”
“Yes, and I also raised my two brothers as if they were my own sons.”
The deep anger in Jin Wi-kyung’s eyes was unmistakable.
“What you did is something no one who walks the righteous path should ever do.”
“I know. That’s why I’m asking for punishment.”
“What if I asked you to take your own life?”
“What?!”
Everyone, including myself, looked at Jin Wi-kyung in shock.
But one person, Tang Sado, was the exception. He opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“I have betrayed morality, but thanks to your sacrifice, the main branch of the clan can continue. If taking my life can serve as an apology, I will gladly do so.”
After a brief silence, Jin Wi-kyung let out a sigh.
“Hoo…”
He looked at Tang Sado with complicated emotions before turning to me.
“What do you want to do?”
“…What do you mean? Are you asking if I want him to take his life?”
“Anything you desire.”
The weight of the decision felt like a blade had been placed in my hands. And the blade’s edge held the life of the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
‘This atmosphere just got seriously heavy.’
Of course, this isn’t something to laugh off. I’m not some grand, noble hero. In fact, when I realized the full extent of the situation, I felt a surge of anger.
At that time, everyone’s life, not just mine, was on the line.
But…
“I’ll let it go. I don’t want to take it that far.”
I could understand Tang Sado’s position. If I were in his shoes, balancing the life of an outsider against the survival of my bloodline, I might have made the same choice.
‘Plus, I owe him one.’
Tang Sado had played a significant role in helping Jeok Cheon-Gang recover. Even though it was part of a deal, he had lent out a family treasure without telling anyone.
“So let’s call it even. Or rather, let’s say that the Sichuan Tang Clan owes us a significant debt for this incident.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Cheongpung and the doctor both voiced their agreement.
“Even though it’s Grandfather Tang’s fault that Benefactor was in danger… I’ll follow Benefactor’s wishes.”
“I’ve already forgotten about it. As a physician, my only wish is for the head of the clan to recover quickly. After all, there are still surviving members of the family.”
Jin Wi-kyung was the last to speak. Unlike before, there was no trace of anger in his voice.
In fact, he might have known what my answer would be from the beginning.
“That’s how it is. What do you think, head of the clan?”
Tang Sado’s eyes shook with emotion. After a moment of silence, his voice cracked as he spoke.
“My family, the Sichuan Tang Clan, owes you a great debt.”
Tang Sado bowed his head deeply, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.
At that moment, a series of notifications echoed in my mind.
—
**Ding. Ding. Ding.**
– Confessing one’s sins is difficult, but it requires even greater courage to forgive.
– You have successfully completed the Hidden Quest: [Atonement and Forgiveness]!
– [Lv.115 Tang Sado] expresses his deep gratitude for your kindness. He and the Sichuan Tang Clan will never forget today’s grace, and the members of the Tang Clan will always remember you as their benefactor!
– You have earned the title, [Benefactor of the Tang Clan]!
– You have gained a large amount of experience and reputation as a reward for completing the Hidden Quest!
– Level Up!
—
What is this? A Hidden Quest, out of nowhere?
As I was processing the sudden system notifications, I felt something cold brush past my leg.
*Whoosh, whoosh.*
“Mi-mi, you rascal…”
Watching Mi-mi reunite with Tang Sado reminded me of something I had almost forgotten.
“Oh, speaking of which, about the **Mandokji** (Ten Thousand Poison Cure) Pill. Luckily, I’ve kept it safe until now…”
“Is that so?”
Before I could finish my sentence, Tang Sado interrupted.
“Then continue to keep it.”
“Uh, alright, I’ll just keep… Wait, what?”
“I’m entrusting the family heirloom to you. As a token of my gratitude, please don’t refuse.”
—
**Ding.**
– By the owner’s will, the [**Mandokji** (Ten Thousand Poison Cure) Pill] has been transferred to you!
– A new item has become bound to you!
– Currently bound items: [Baekyeom], [**Mandokji** (Ten Thousand Poison Cure) Pill], [???].
– There is an unbound item that has yet to be named. Please assign a name to it.
—
What’s going on today?
This overwhelming generosity makes me wonder what kind of disasters are looming on the horizon.
Tang Sado noticed my stunned expression and smiled faintly.
“If there’s anything else you desire, just let me know. As long as it’s within the main branch’s capabilities, I’ll grant it.”
The doctor followed suit with a smile.
“My only wish is for the patients to recover as quickly as possible.”
“Huh.”
A very doctor-like answer. Or rather, I should call him Dong Bong now.
One thing was clear—he was indeed a divine physician.
“What about you? Is there anything you want?”
Cheongpung was startled by the sudden question.
“Me?”
When Tang Sado nodded, Cheongpung nervously twisted his fingers and answered.
“Um… I don’t really want anything.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I don’t think there’s anything.”
Hey, you idiot. Stop staring at Mi-mi and answer properly.
I wish I could show him a mirror. His eyes were filled with longing as he gazed at Mi-mi.
Just as I thought his obsession might burst through the snake’s skin, Tang S
ado spoke.
“This little one has been my longtime companion. For decades, it was the only one I could share my joys and sorrows with.”
Cheongpung looked at Tang Sado with pity.
“You don’t have any other friends, Grandfather Tang.”
“I didn’t make any. Being the head of the Tang Clan meant that…”
“So you don’t have any friends.”
“It’s not that I didn’t have them. I just chose not to…”
“You really have no friends. How sad.”
The doctor quickly grabbed Tang Sado’s shoulder.
“Head of the clan, calm down. Your breathing is too rapid!”
“Huff… Huff…”
“Take deep, slow breaths. Follow me: one, two…”
After a moment, Tang Sado finally calmed down from his near hypertensive episode and looked at Cheongpung.
“But I want to entrust Mi-mi to you…”
Cheongpung quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
“No, Grandfather Tang. I can’t take your only friend away.”
“…I didn’t say I was giving her to you yet.”
Oops.
Tang Sado let out a long sigh. He must have briefly questioned whether it was a good idea to entrust Mi-mi to someone like this.
“Well, as you suspected, I don’t know what the future holds for the main branch, so I would like to temporarily entrust Mi-mi to you. But it’s only temporary.”
“Wow!”
“Did you hear the last part? It’s temporary.”
“Wow!”
I bet my right wrist that he didn’t hear it.
Cheongpung was ecstatic at the thought of being Mi-mi’s temporary caretaker.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her!”
“Mi-mi seems to follow you well, but she’s usually picky and wary of strangers…”
“Mi-mi, do a spinning dance and then a twirl while greeting!”
*Whoosh, whoosh!*
“Holy—”
Cheongpung just had to show off a new skill right here.
Jin Wi-kyung, who was half-dazed by the spectacle, muttered absentmindedly.
“It seems there’s nothing for you to worry about, head of the clan.”
Tang Sado’s eyes quaked with emotion.
Tang Sado then requested a private conversation with Jin Wi-kyung, and Cheongpung and I left the room.
Well, there was one more person who joined us.
“Jin So-hyeop, could you spare a moment for this old man?”
“Me?”
The doctor nodded with a gentle smile.
“There’s something I’d like to ask of you before you leave.”
