Chapter 40
“Dang Yeong.”
Dang Cheongi called his name in a furious voice.
Before him, Dang Yeong, head bowed, trembled as he answered.
“Y-yes, Grandfather…”
“……”
When Dang Cheongi gave no response, Dang Yeong cautiously raised his eyes and stammered again.
“N-no, Patriarch, sir…”
“Do you even understand what you’ve done?”
Dang Yeong nodded vigorously.
He had to say yes.
Even if he didn’t understand, he had to pretend he did.
His instincts screamed at him to do so.
Like a mouse trembling before a cat, he quivered, staring at Dang Cheongi’s feet.
Watching him silently, Dang Cheongi turned toward Dang Paejin.
“……”
“Paejin, do you have anything to say?”
At those words, Dang Paejin’s gaze turned to his son.
He looked at Dang Yeong coldly, then shook his head.
“…No, I do not.”
Dang Yeong jerked his head up as if struck by lightning.
But his father did not meet his eyes—
he didn’t even look at his son.
“Then this will be quick.”
The Patriarch of the Great Sichuan Tang Clan,
one of the Ten Great Masters of the Martial World,
the man called “Dokjon,” the Venomous Sovereign—Dang Cheongi.
His overwhelming aura poured down like a waterfall onto the small figure of Dang Yeong.
“Hik…!”
“For the crime of interrupting and attempting to kill Bi during the test of the Venom Dragon Pavilion!”
“P-Patriarch!”
“For the crime of feeling no remorse and trying to conceal your wrongdoing! You deserve death!”
When Dang Cheongi’s voice thundered, everyone nearby flinched.
No one was an exception—Paejin, the warriors, even passing servants were frozen with fear.
They had never seen him so enraged before.
“Therefore, though you should rightfully pay with your life, taking into account your young age, I sentence you to be stripped of all privileges and confined to your quarters for five years.”
At those words, Paejin finally raised his head.
“Patriarch, sir!”
“For five years, you will not leave your quarters, not speak to anyone, not eat fine food, not wear good clothes, and not enjoy any of the privileges you had merely because you were my grandson.”
It was the harshest punishment that could be given to a twelve-year-old child.
The others could not even imagine how furious Dang Cheongi truly was.
“U-ugh…”
Dang Yeong trembled, biting his nails as he listened.
Then he hastily fell to his knees and prostrated himself before his grandfather.
“G-Grandfather! Please forgive me just this once!”
“……”
“I deeply regret what I’ve done! I will never do it again! It was truly a mistake…!”
“When you threw the blade, did such a thought cross your mind?”
His voice was like ice.
“When you schemed your vicious plan, did you even once think that?”
“……!”
“A concealed weapon is not like other weapons. Once thrown, it cannot be taken back.”
“Grandfather…”
“What you did is the same.”
Coldly uttering those words, Dang Cheongi turned away, leaving the kneeling boy behind.
The warriors followed him out.
“Patriarch, you have a visitor.”
At the steward’s report, Dang Cheongi turned sharply.
“A visitor?”
“Yes, sir. From the Namgung clan. I’ve escorted the two guests to Baekro Pavilion.”
A faint crease formed between his brows.
Now that he thought about it, he had received a letter earlier saying that someone from the Namgung clan would visit.
So much had happened since then that he had completely forgotten.
“I’ll go now.”
“Yes, Patriarch. I’ll accompany you.”
He went straight toward Baekro Pavilion, where the guests awaited.
It was the building reserved for entertaining distinguished visitors of the Tang Clan.
Beside it lay a deep pond where white egrets often wandered—hence the name, Baekro (White Egret Pavilion).
When Dang Cheongi arrived, the inner guards notified the guests of his presence.
He waited a moment, then entered.
“You’ve arrived.”
As he stepped into the pavilion, a man in white robes with a blue outer coat rose to his feet.
Behind him, a boy dressed similarly also stood up.
Both wore blue headdresses embroidered with clouds—the emblem of Namgung’s direct lineage.
“I am Namgung Taegang of the Namgung Clan, and I greet the Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Namgung Taegang—
the eldest son of the current Namgung Patriarch, the Sword Emperor Namgung Eu-ryong,
and the heir to the Namgung Clan.
Normally, he would not come in person,
but he had often visited the Tang Clan since youth to deliver messages between the two great houses.
The Namgung and Tang Clans had long shared cordial relations,
so this visit was not unusual.
Besides, when visiting the head of the Tang Clan,
it was only proper for the heir of the Namgung Clan to come himself.
Receiving Taegang’s greeting, Dang Cheongi nodded.
“Is the Sword Emperor in good health?”
“Thanks to your concern, he is well. Ah, and this here is…”
Namgung Taegang turned to the boy beside him.
Naturally, Dang Cheongi’s gaze followed.
A young boy in the same attire, looking somewhat nervous but not timid.
“This is my son. He has grown quite a bit. I brought him along so he might greet you properly. Cheonghyeon, greet the Patriarch.”
At his father’s firm tone, the boy spoke clearly.
“I am Namgung Cheonghyeon of the Namgung Clan. It is an honor to meet you, Patriarch of the Tang Clan.”
“Cheonghyeon, is it? I remember seeing you once when you were very young. You’ve grown so much.”
Cheonghyeon lowered his head bashfully.
“How old are you now?”
“I am ten this year, sir.”
“Then you’re about the same age as my youngest granddaughter.”
As soon as he thought of Tang Bi, Dang Cheongi’s expression softened slightly.
“I would have introduced you to her, but she is currently unwell and resting.”
“I see…”
“But there are other grandchildren you may meet. Feel free to go see them.”
Cheonghyeon glanced up at his father for permission.
Understanding Dang Cheongi’s intention, Taegang nodded.
“Stay nearby, don’t go far. I’ll come get you once we finish talking.”
“Yes, Father.”
Answering energetically, Namgung Cheonghyeon followed a servant outside.
Dang Cheongi watched him go, then turned back to Taegang.
“He resembles you greatly.”
“I hear that often, though in truth, he takes after my father more than me.”
“The Sword Emperor?”
“Yes. He says Cheonghyeon reminds him of his younger days and keeps the boy close, doting on him.”
Taegang smiled—a proud father’s smile.
“Today’s visit is for another reason… I came to deliver this.”
He took out a letter and a small wooden box from his robes.
Dang Cheongi’s eyes went first to the box.
“It’s what we discussed earlier,” Taegang said, offering it to him.
But Dang Cheongi didn’t open it right away.
Instead, he waited for the letter.
“This…” Taegang handed it over. “This is what our Patriarch requests in exchange for returning that item.”
Dang Cheongi accepted the letter.
“Please, take your time reading it. I’ll wait.”
Why won’t it fly away?
My fingers were starting to go numb.
I could no longer offer the butterfly a place to rest, so I slowly moved my hand away.
But—
Flutter.
Instead of flying off, the butterfly landed on the bridge of my nose.
“Ah—achoo!”
The powder from its wings made my nose itch.
“Sniff…”
I rubbed my nose and tried to shoo it away.
Flutter.
Yet it didn’t fly far—just landed nearby.
What’s with this butterfly?
I glanced toward Manhyeolsa, who was sprawled across the veranda, but he showed no reaction.
He didn’t try to eat or attack it.
I quietly looked at the butterfly again and tapped it lightly.
“Do you… like me or something?”
Of course, there was no reply.
It couldn’t talk.
But—
Flutter.
It spread its large, beautiful wings and kept circling around me.
Then suddenly—
a soft breeze.
Two or three more butterflies appeared, riding the wind.
Now there were three of them.
They fluttered around me for a moment, then began to drift off somewhere.
And I, as if spellbound, picked up Manhyeolsa and followed after them—
as though the butterflies were leading me somewhere.
