Chapter 53. The Sword Demon Witnesses a Harmonious Scene 

Baek Woneui was in a terrible mood.

His allowance had recently been cut off, so he hadn’t been able to visit the pleasure quarters in days.
And today, some young lady from the Yuk An family showed up, saying that his father wanted him to marry her.

Her looks weren’t bad, but for someone who had once dreamed of becoming the son-in-law of the Namgung Clan or a prince consort, she was simply beneath him.

‘Still, I was going to be polite and at least have tea with her before sending her away…!’

He even had someone queue up early at the most famous teahouse in Hapbi lately, called Dangdangdang.

And yet now they were telling him there were no seats on the third floor?

Did they think Baek Woneui, heir of the Baek Merchant Guild, was a joke?

“Sir, let’s just go somewhere else,” said Yuk Yeoran cautiously.

“Hmph, wait here! I’ll teach these people a lesson!”

When Yeoran tried to dissuade him with a worried expression, Baek Woneui ordered his guards more forcefully.

“Clear the way! I’ll go up to the third floor myself and see if there really are no seats!”

“Yes, sir!”

The two guards, swords at their waists, stepped forward. The teahouse staff looked flustered and helpless.

Just then—

“Oh dear, Young Master!”

The floor manager came rushing down from the third floor, panting.

“Please calm down, sir. I’ll escort you upstairs!”

“Hah! See? There were seats after all.”

“Uh… Actually, there are truly no seats.”

“What?”

“But! When the guests heard it was Young Master Baek Woneui, they gladly offered to give up their seats!”

Baek Woneui, now in a better mood, turned to Yeoran with a smug look.

“Ha ha! Looks like someone upstairs knows me.”

“…Yes.”

“Let’s go up. I’ll introduce you.”

He assumed it would be the usual flunkies from Hapbi who were always buttering him up.

But once he got to the third floor—he met someone entirely unexpected.

“What the…!”

There were five men and women seated by the window, but his eyes locked onto just one person—
A beautiful woman with a sharp expression dressed in blue martial robes.

“Ha ha ha! Lady Sang-ah, did you offer me your seat?”

As soon as her name left Baek Woneui’s lips, Namgung Sang-ah furrowed her brow.

But not wanting to create a scene, she nodded politely.

“Yes, we were just about to leave.”

“What a shame, we haven’t talked in ages. Where have you been? Haven’t seen you around.”

“…I had business in Sichuan.”

Sang-ah replied reluctantly as she stood.

“Looks like we’re both entertaining guests. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Guests?”

Only then did Baek Woneui glance at the others at the table.

One was her younger brother Namgung Hoyeon, and beside him sat a brat with unsettling blue eyes.

Across from them, he saw a large man in golden clothes and a skinny fellow in green martial robes.

‘Tch! These lowborn fools dare to…’

Having tea with Sang-ah?

He’d never heard of her associating with such men. Could they be people she met in Sichuan?

‘These country bumpkins don’t know their place…!’

Baek Woneui boiled with anger.

How dare they flirt with a woman he had set his eyes on?

‘Looks like some son of a nouveau riche and a countryside martial officer.’

Basing their status on their clothing, he sneered.

“Sichuan, huh. What could you possibly have had to do in that backwater?”

—Thud!

As Baek Woneui spoke, Tang Segi, who had been sipping his Tieguanyin tea, paused mid-air.

“That’s rude! Sichuan is a lively and lovely place.”

“Ha, I doubt that. The men from there are known to be uncultured, with fiery tempers—probably from eating spicy food all the time.”

Sang-ah shouted in protest, her face pale, but Baek Woneui kept mocking them.

Then Yuk Yeoran, clearly panicking, tried to stop him.

“Sir, please stop! Let’s just leave!”

“What?”

Baek Woneui frowned at her as she tried to pull him away.

Just a while ago, he had found her attractive—but compared to Sang-ah, she now looked hideous.

Smack!

“Get lost! Since when was I your master?”

“Kyaa!”

He shoved her away, and she tumbled toward the staircase.

“Gasp!”

“Oh no!”

“Kyaaah!”

The commotion drew gasps and screams from other patrons—

—Until suddenly,

Thud!

“Ugh!”

“You alright?”

Tang Segi appeared behind Yeoran, supporting her gently as she tightly shut her eyes.

“Ah…”

She opened her eyes and looked up—to see him calmly sipping his tea.

Despite moving swiftly to catch her, not a single drop had spilled from his cup.

‘A master…’

‘No way!’

‘Such flawless footwork…’

Anyone with even slight martial knowledge could tell he wasn’t ordinary.

But Baek Woneui, ignorant in martial arts, just sneered and muttered:

“Pft. What a perfect pair—
A country guard’s son and some lowborn girl.”

“You…!”

Sip.

As Yeoran swallowed her tears, Segi quietly sipped his tea again.

‘This is bad.’

Sanggwan Hae knew then: Segi was angry.

Usually quiet and disinterested in conflict, there was one exception that made Tang Segi truly terrifying—

And it was now.

“You’re not entirely wrong. I lack refinement. Love spicy food. People say I have a temper.”

“Ha! So even your pride’s lacking. Guards, remove him!”

Baek Woneui smirked and gave orders.

His guards were top-ranked mercenaries—far beyond the ability of any rural martial officer.

“I know only one thing—恩倍而報 怨十復還.
‘Grace repaid twice, resentment returned tenfold.’”

As Segi smiled, the guards froze in place, eyes wide.

“What are you doing? Grab him!”

“…Sir, may we ask your name?”

“Could it be…?”

Despite Woneui repeating the order, the guards didn’t move.

Segi took a final sip and calmly said:

“Hoorok. I am Tang Segi, eldest son of the Tang Family in Sichuan.
My friends call me ‘Poison-Hearted Hand.’”

“Gasp!”

“Th-The Tang Clan?!”

Everyone in the teahouse, including the guards, gasped in horror.

There’s a saying in the martial world:

與世結怨 莫與堂結怨—
You may make enemies of the world, but never with the Tang Clan.

The Tang Clan was known for relentless revenge—even for the smallest grudge.

“S-Sichuan Tang Clan?!”

Even Baek Woneui was stunned—but it was too late.

“Insulting Sichuan is insulting the Tang Clan.
We rose to power by repaying kindness doubly—and revenge tenfold.”

“B-Block him!”

“You can’t. It’s already too late.”

“What?! Hic!”

Baek Woneui’s eyes widened—

And then, hiccup!—he burst into wild, uncontrollable laughter.

“Uhuhuhu! Hahahaha!”

“What the…?”

“Why is he laughing?”

“Did he go mad?”

Everyone watched him laugh maniacally, clutching his belly.

“Hahahaha!”

“I used the spores of Orange Madcap Mushroom. Fun stuff. Happy now?”

“Kehehe! Wahahaha!”

“Your laughter cheers me up, too. Keep going.”

Though he laughed, tears and mucus ran down Baek Woneui’s face in misery.

Segi nodded with satisfaction and added a friendly warning.

“It’ll last about one tea’s time—fifteen minutes. Since you’re in a teahouse, you should at least stay for a cup.”

“Puhuhuhu!”

“Life’s short. Smile more. You seem too angry all the time.”

“Ahahaha!”

Crash!

Face beet red, Baek Woneui shoved his guards away and fled the teahouse.

“Puhaha! Serves him right!”

“He finally met his match.”

“Laugh and good fortune follows. Keke.”

The teahouse guests only laughed. No one sympathized.

Everyone in Hapbi knew about Baek Woneui’s arrogant tyranny.

As Segi returned to his seat, Sanggwan Hae sighed.

“Segi, wasn’t that a bit much? Using poison on a civilian?”

“This was holding back. Besides, it wasn’t poison—I gave him laughter.”

Tap.

Segi shrugged as he set down his empty cup.

“Tang-hyung, I’ve gained new respect for you.”

“Pff! Ahem.”

Hoyeon gave him a thumbs-up, and Sang-ah barely suppressed a laugh.

Segi grinned.

“What? A perfect chance to reaffirm my identity.”

“Huh?”

“Lately so much weird stuff has been happening around me, I almost thought I was the normal one.”

“…?”

Hoyeon tilted his head in confusion, but Segi just sat back, satisfied.

“Ladies and gentlemen! I apologize for the commotion.
To make it up, I—Sanggwan Hae—will pay for everyone’s bill today. I ask for your forgiveness!”

Sanggwan Hae bowed to the guests, covering for his friend’s outburst.

Gasps rose around the teahouse.

“Sanggwan Hae?! The son of the Sanggwan family?”

“No wonder he looked dignified.”

“Heir to one of the Ten Great Merchant Guilds!”

“Haha! Got free tea and a good show. Best day ever!”

“As expected of the Namgung girl. Friends with the Tang Clan and Sanggwan family heirs…”

Everyone left content, feeling lucky to have witnessed something rare.

Amid the settling crowd, Hoyeon leaned toward Moyong Yul, who was still giggling.

“Yul.”

“Pffft! Yes?”

“Do me a favor.”

“…!”

Eyes widening in joy, Yul nodded eagerly.

“You want me to follow him and kill him?”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

* * *

“Arghhhh!”

Crash! Smash!

Baek Woneui was trashing his room, smashing everything.

Priceless vases shattered, and his fists bled—but he didn’t stop.

“I’ll kill him! I’ll kill him for sure!”

Just thinking about what happened made his blood boil.

What kind of disgrace was that—before everyone’s eyes?

How was he supposed to show his face in Hapbi now?

“DAMN YOU, TANG SEGI!”

But what stung more—

Was the fact that he couldn’t do a thing to someone of that status.

‘How can I kill him? Hire an assassin? How much would that cost…?’

In a world where money solved everything—

‘Impossible’ only meant ‘not enough money.’

‘Money, money, more money!’

Gnash!

Grinding his teeth like a madman possessed by greed—

A voice called from outside.

“Young Master. It’s Chief Steward Woo.”

“What is it?!”

“The Guild Master is calling for you.”

“…My father?”

Baek Woneui scowled.

“Damn it, is this because of that woman, Yeoran? What did the Yuk An family say?!”

“It’s not about that.”

“…It’s not?”

“It’s a much more important matter. Please get ready quickly.”

Hearing the unusual tone in Steward Woo’s voice, Baek Woneui frowned but began to dress.

Unbeknownst to him—

A small creature was watching from the rafters.

A red-furred mouse, gnawing at the wood with sharp teeth—

It was Jeokseo.

Squeak!

As Baek Woneui left the room, Jeokseo twitched its nose—

And dashed off.

“Chiririk! Squeak squeak!”