“Cough! This is disappointing. I was hoping to build camaraderie among men.”
As I continued to refuse his offers, Tang Hochang openly displayed his displeasure, but I couldn’t fall for such an obvious tactic.
It’s not like I hadn’t read web novels for a day or two; I knew it was a cliché for a doting grandfather or granddaughter character to have a grudge against their boyfriend and pull tricks on him.
Fortunately, this time Dokgorin quickly intervened, but I couldn’t rely on her help forever, so I had no choice but to navigate this situation myself.
Just as I was steeling myself, Dokgorin stepped in to mediate.
“Grandpa, please don’t bully Chilbongi too much. I understand it’s because you’re worrying about me, but if it continues, I won’t just stand by either.”
“Ugh, I get it.”
Perhaps thinking he couldn’t mess around any further after his granddaughter’s stern warning, Tang Hochang displayed a resigned expression.
After barely regaining peace at the table.
“Grandpa, please try this.”
While unexpectedly dining together, Tang Sosu offered various dishes, and Tang Hochang began eating with chopsticks.
Seeing that, I thought I should start eating as well, but everything on my plate was unfamiliar.
Noticing my hesitance, Tang Hochang chuckled and said, “One feature of Szechuan cuisine is called ‘Baekchae Baekmi,’ known for using various ingredients with diverse spices. It looks like you’re unsure of what to try first since they’re all unfamiliar to you.”
“Grandpa?”
As Dokgorin shot him a glare, Tang Hochang replied with an innocent expression, “No, I just wanted to explain the food this time.”
“If that’s the case…”
Despite a brief interruption from her intervention, Tang Hochang started pointing to the dishes and explaining.
“This is called Ahyanggaji—it’s a stir-fried dish made with fried eggplant seasoned with doubanjiang and chili oil. It’s moderately spicy and sweet, perfect for whetting the appetite. And this one is Kung Pao Chicken, a dish of fried chicken stir-fried with nuts. And this is Huiguo Rou, which is boiled pork with vegetables…”
Tang Hochang’s food descriptions went on for a while, and they were all informative, allowing me to enjoy the unfamiliar dishes without any reluctance.
As dinner ended and tea time began, Tang Hochang, contrasting sharply with the bumbling grandfather demeanor he had shown moments earlier, turned to Dokgorin with a calm gaze.
“Now, let’s talk. Rin, why are you in this city when you should be in Sangam?”
Saying this, he casually glanced at me.
“Please tell me this isn’t some ridiculous reason like having eloped for love?”
Clearly, to him, I still appeared as a scoundrel after his beloved granddaughter.
However, what was to be discussed from here on was anything but simple.
“Grandpa, please don’t be shocked, but listen carefully.”
“Sure.”
“Our Dokgo family has faced annihilation.”
“…What?”
Tang Hochang’s face froze at the shocking news.
“What do you mean, Rin? The Dokgo family has met with annihilation?”
“It means exactly that. Disguised as bandits, unidentified individuals attacked our Dokgo family en masse and killed all our household members and family. Currently, the only survivors are Chilbongi and me.”
“How could this happen…”
Looking greatly shocked, Tang Hochang staggered slightly, his body momentarily reeling.
“Grandpa!”
As Tang Sosu hurriedly helped him, he pushed her arm away and said, “Now’s not the time for this. Hurry and send someone to Sangam, Sosu.”
“Y-yes! Grandpa!”
Upon receiving his command, Tang Sosu rushed out of the dining room, and Tang Hochang asked Dokgorin with a serious expression.
“Rin, do you have any idea about the culprits behind this? How dare they lay a hand on the family of Dokwang Tang Hochang? They won’t live to regret it.”
The chilling aura he radiated left a strong impression on me, making my hairs stand on end.
However, that moment was brief.
“Wait, speaking of which, how could my dear friend Dokgojin, who is also a master like me, end up in this situation?”
As this completely reasonable question arose, Dokgorin calmly replied.
“The Ming Dynasty imperial family is involved behind this incident.”
“What?!”
Tang Hochang exclaimed in surprise upon hearing her words.
It was only natural for him to react this way. This meant that the tacit agreement regarding the non-interference between the officials and martial artists, upheld for centuries, had finally been broken.
Seeing the situation escalating seriously, I thought explaining would take quite some time, so I made an excuse to get some fresh air and escaped the stifling atmosphere.
*
Dokgorin recounted everything she knew to Tang Hochang.
“According to my second brother, what they’re after is a secret treasure known as the Gucheon Hyeon Geom. They likely pretended to be bandits to steal this. The information my brother discovered during his lifetime indicated that they have been operating in secrecy for several years now, and they would stop at nothing to get their hands on their desired treasure.”
Hearing Dokgorin’s explanation, Tang Hochang muttered as if he couldn’t understand.
“What could they possibly gain by doing such insane things? Surely, secret treasures must be piled high in the imperial family’s archives.”
Tang Hochang’s reasonable doubts prompted Dokgorin to respond with a bitter smile.
“I’m not exactly sure of their reason either. However, since there are imperial family people behind this, I suspect it has something to do with methods of prolonging life.”
Finishing her explanation, Dokgorin looked anxiously at Tang Hochang, knowing that his reaction would determine her future course of action.
Honestly, even if she swore revenge right now, it would be limited by what an individual could accomplish.
Thus, the path she chose was to seek refuge with the Szechuan Tang clan.
Fortunately, her grandfather, Dokwang Tang Hochang, cared for her greatly, and with the Szechuan Tang clan being significantly more powerful than the Dokgo family, even those disguised as bandits wouldn’t easily dare to touch her.
Thus, while spending time in the city, if she enrolled in Cheonmu Academy as planned, she could secure her safety for the time being.
During that time, Dokgorin intended to break through the barrier of her previous realm, “Hwa-gyeong.”
Considering that her enemies also likely had masters in the Hwa-gyeong realm, she felt she needed to reach at least that level to have a fighting chance against them.
Eventually, after deep in thought for a long while, Tang Hochang finally spoke up.
“Honestly, I’m not sure what to say to comfort you. However, no matter what I say, it won’t lessen your sorrow. So I promise you this: You are my granddaughter before you are Dokgorin. No matter how much the imperial family of this land tries, as long as I’m alive, they will not dare to lay a hand on you. I promise you that.”
“Grandpa…”
“You must be tired from your long journey. Now, go on and rest. I’ll take care of everything here.”
As Tang Hochang said this with a warm smile, Dokgorin held back tears that almost spilled over and quietly nodded in response.
*
When I returned after getting some fresh air to escape the tense atmosphere, I noticed an unusual vibe between Tang Hochang and Dokgorin.
It seemed they had shared a very important discussion while I was away.
As I cautiously approached to check on Dokgorin, Tang Hochang suddenly addressed me.
“You there.”
“Yes?”
As I replied instinctively, Tang Hochang’s demeanor softened compared to before.
“I’ve already heard from Rin. When the Dokgo family was in danger, you protected her without fleeing.”
“Y-yes.”
“Turns out, despite appearances, you’re quite courageous. I must apologize for being so harsh earlier, meeting you for the first time.”
As he said this, Tang Hochang extended his hand.
This time, I didn’t feel any malice as before, so after some hesitation, I grasped his hand.
After shaking hands, Tang Hochang suddenly grasped my forearm and said, “But tell me, don’t you think you’re too weak to protect my granddaughter?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Well, if you don’t mind, I, Tang Hochang, would like to teach you a thing or two.”
With that, Tang Hochang’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
At that moment, I realized something had gone wrong, but with my arm already caught, there was no escaping.
“Are you not interested in being my disciple?”
Tang Hochang said this with an expression that clearly would not accept refusal, pressing me firmly.
