Chapter 51
The Head of the Dang Family smiled gently.
“Looks like our Bi wants to go outside, hm?”
“Yes!”
I nodded eagerly.
“I’d like to visit the Daruga once Uncle finishes building it.”
“It’s still only in the planning stage, so it’ll take some time before it’s realized…”
He softly brushed my cheek.
“When the Head approves this project, I’ll be sure to take you with me.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I’m sure the Head will allow at least that much.”
“Wow, that’s great!”
As far as I knew, Uncle was a man who always kept his promises.
So there was a good chance he would really take me there someday.
Good. Then I can stop it when the time comes.
Before trouble happens, I can prevent it or fix it somehow.
Even though my body is eight years old, I still have a bit of my fifteen-year-old mind left.
It’ll work out somehow.
Just then—
“Master.”
One of the attendants of the medicine hall entered, bringing along Cheonghyeon.
He looked as neat and composed as he had in the morning.
“Cheonghyeon!”
When I called him, he turned toward me with a faint smile.
“This is Cheonghyeon. I heard you were looking for me.”
He spoke politely to Dang Sayuk.
Upon seeing him, my uncle rose from his seat with a warm smile.
“Oh, young master!”
“Yes, Master Dang.”
“I heard you planned to spend some time with our Bia today.”
“Yes, I promised Bia I would.”
“Good, I called you because Bia mentioned it as well. I thought you might find our medicine hall interesting.”
At that, Cheonghyeon nodded.
“Who wouldn’t be curious about Dang’s medicine hall? It’s always the talk of the world. I’ve heard so much about it that of course I’m interested.”
“I’ve heard Namgung’s medical division is excellent as well…”
“But when it comes to medicine, no one surpasses the Dang family. Compared to Dang’s reputation, Namgung still falls short.”
For a boy who was only ten years old, Namgung Cheonghyeon spoke with remarkable eloquence.
My uncle, clearly charmed by his politeness, smiled even wider.
“Conversations with such a well-mannered young man are truly delightful.”
“The honor is mine.”
“You’re free to play here as you like. There are a few things you mustn’t touch, but the attendant will make sure of that.”
My uncle placed his large hand on my head.
“Now, go enjoy your time with your friend.”
“What about you, Uncle?”
“I still have work to finish—much to oversee.”
With that, Uncle left with another attendant, vanishing as swiftly as he appeared.
I was left alone with Cheonghyeon inside the medicine hall.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Uncle said we can play however we want—so can we read books too?”
The attendant nodded.
“If there’s a book you’d like, I can fetch it for you. What kind do you want to read?”
“Hmm, something about poisonous herbs.”
“It’s harder to find books not about poisons here, you know! Just a moment.”
The attendant pulled out a book from a high shelf.
“This one has pictures, so it should be easier for the young miss to read.”
I opened the book.
Indeed, it was filled with hand-drawn illustrations.
Why would a book like this be in the medicine hall?
The physicians usually studied in another building, so a children’s-level book like this should’ve been there instead.
Cheonghyeon, apparently just as curious, leaned close and flipped through the pages beside me.
“Who wrote this book?”
“It was written by the head of the medicine hall himself—before he joined the Dang family. I heard the clan head allowed him to bring this one book when he entered.”
Normally, when someone from another clan joined the Dang family, they had to give up everything they owned—
their clothes, their possessions, even their surname.
But they allowed him to bring this book?
The moment I heard that, I quietly closed the book.
Then I handed it back to the attendant carefully.
“Th-then isn’t this book precious to Uncle? You can’t just take something like that off the shelf so casually…”
The attendant laughed softly.
“Oh, it’s all right, young miss. Don’t worry. It is a valuable book, but the Master specifically said anyone may read it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, even I can, if I want. Thanks to people like you who treat it carefully, it’s still in such good shape. We made copied versions to circulate so the original wouldn’t wear out.”
I turned to look at Cheonghyeon.
He shrugged lightly, as if everything now made sense.
“Your uncle is quite an unusual man.”
“I think so too.”
“And a good one, it seems.”
“I agree with that.”
I reopened the book that Uncle himself had written.
Knowing that made it feel completely different.
So Uncle drew these himself…
Uncle wasn’t known for having any skill in drawing—how did he manage this?
They say effort can surpass talent. Perhaps that wasn’t a lie after all.
Cheonghyeon leaned close, staring intently at the pages.
“What are you looking for?”
“A poisonous plant that looks like tea leaves.”
“…And why exactly?”
His tone carried a trace of suspicion.
I thought about it and realized my words could sound a little shady.
So I quickly tilted my head and explained,
“I’m not going to use it for anything bad…”
✦ ✦ ✦
“You’re saying you need more Manhyeol snake venom?”
“Yes. Can you help me collect some?”
Uncle handed me a small cup meant to receive the venom.
It looked like an ordinary porcelain cup, but it was actually made from a special metal that wouldn’t corrode under snake venom.
The top was covered with a soft silk cloth—perfect for a snake to sink its fangs into.
I glanced at Cheonghyeon.
He looked between Uncle and me, curious.
“This will be my first time seeing snake venom extracted.”
“Where else could you witness something like this, young master?”
“Well, that’s true.”
I reached into my sleeve and pulled out Manhyeolsa, my snake.
Now, I no longer had to call or tap to summon it—it came out by itself when needed.
I grasped its head gently and, just as Father had once taught me, pressed slightly behind its jaw.
“Hissss!”
Manhyeolsa opened its mouth wide and coiled its long body in agitation.
“!”
Cheonghyeon’s eyes widened in surprise.
Three sharp fangs gleamed.
Before it could accidentally bite anyone, I quickly brought the snake’s fangs to the cloth-covered cup.
A soft drip, drip sound followed as the venom fell into the cup.
“It’s best to collect Manhyeol venom whenever possible,” Uncle said.
“What about the venom you already gathered?”
“It’s in storage. This particular venom hasn’t been harvested in ages, so there are many requests for it. Of course, no one can use it without the Head’s permission.”
Manhyeolsa obediently released its venom.
But then—
“Huh?”
Last time, the venom had overflowed from the cup, but this time, not even a quarter of that amount came out.
Then, as if to say “that’s all,” the snake slipped back into my sleeve.
“Uncle, will this be enough?”
“It should be… but, Biya, has your Manhyeolsa been eating properly?”
I blinked.
“That’s what I was going to ask—does Manhyeolsa need to eat?”
“…?”
“It doesn’t eat anything and just stays in my sleeve all day…”
Uncle let out a soft ah, as if realizing something.
“Of course it needs to eat! Venomous creatures like that feed on other poisonous things—they absorb the toxins of what they eat and store them in their own venom glands.”
“Uh…?”
“But if they’ve stored enough venom, they can live a long time without food. Your Manhyeolsa is that kind of spirit beast. It survived fifty years in storage without eating a thing.”
