In Hubei Province, Daeheung County, passing through Yichang to Shaanxi Province.
Tang Geoh chased after his experiment through the long road.
When he met Hwa-rin again, she would be surprised but would welcome him. Keeping his own story to himself and simply listening to Lady Tang’s stories would surely make the girl happy.
When the atmosphere was just right, he could dangle the bait of being a formal member of the Tang Family in front of her to present the poisonous substance. Since she was always craving affection, she would swallow it up quickly with just a little coaxing.
If Lady Tang became a poisoner, it would finally prove that he could create poisoners with his own strength. If the poisoner experiment failed, it would be regrettable for his efforts so far, but he could just erase the traces of the experiment and start again.
Would his ten years of experimentation succeed or fail?
Tang Geoh knocked on the door of the mansion in Shaanxi Province with a racing heart.
“What do you mean, you left her behind?”
The girl who should have rushed out barefoot upon hearing he had arrived did not come out. Just that alone made Tang Geoh realize something was going wrong.
But, left behind?
“Hahaha. What does that mean…?”
Lady Tang’s mother forced a smile to avoid Tang Geoh’s wrath.
“Is that girl even human?”
To save her own skin, she abandoned her daughter. A daughter who couldn’t even move due to pain.
“Hahaha. Big Brother, she is an adult now. She can take care of herself.”
“Dammit…”
Tang Geoh couldn’t contain his anger and stomped towards Lady Tang’s mother.
“Protect the lady!”
As it began to seem like the situation might become serious, the guards and servants started to surround Tang Geoh.
“Bunch of bugs.”
Tang Geoh lightly waved his hand in the air, swatting away the annoying insects.
Thud!
Gasp!
It was instantaneous: everyone in the mansion fell to the ground as the poison Tang Geoh dispersed took effect. He didn’t care about the fallen people and instead looked at Lady Tang’s mother, who was trembling in fear.
“I’ve handled countless poisons in my life, but I’ve never encountered a filthy and ugly viper like you.”
“Hhahaha. Big Brother Tang, let’s not linger here. Let’s talk in the bedroom.”
A middle-aged beauty, appearing in her early thirties despite being in her forties, seduced men in order to survive.
“I deal with poisons. Not with vipers.”
Tang Geoh grabbed the white neck of the viper-like woman with one hand and lifted her up.
Choke!
“Even though I find you repugnant, you have helped in the experiment to turn Hwa-rin into a poisoner.”
The poison that had poisoned the head of the Seong Family—was provided by Tang Geoh himself.
“I want to turn you into a pile of blood right now, but for Hwa-rin’s sake, I’ll keep you alive for now.”
The child had always despised her mother.
Their relationship had surely crossed an irreversible river with this incident. If he allowed Lady Tang to reunite with her mother, he could easily make her consume the poison.
Tang Geoh stuffed the poison he had taken from his pocket into the wide-open mouth of Lady Tang’s mother, who was struggling for breath. Immediately, she lost consciousness.
“Big Brother Tang! While it’s true that your wife has committed a wrongdoing, this isn’t something you should be doing as a righteous man! The world will point fingers at you!”
One of the guards, who had been watching the whole situation, shouted at Tang Geoh.
“…You’re right.”
Tang Geoh glanced around at the guard’s words and nodded slowly.
“Big Brother Tang.”
Had he calmed his rage? The guard thought that Big Brother Tang had fortunately managed to suppress his anger.
“There should be no witnesses.”
That was the guard’s last thought in this world.
Cough!
Tang Geoh used the extreme poison in his possession against everyone in the mansion.
If there were no witnesses, there would be no one to point fingers at him. It was a reason why Tang Geoh, who possessed a treacherous nature like a viper, could still be known as a ‘Big Brother.’
“Hwa-rin. Where are you?”
Tang Geoh left the mansion, carrying the unconscious Lady Tang with him.
She wasn’t in Yichang. She wasn’t in Shaanxi Province. It would be nice if she was at the inn she mentioned leaving her at, but that seemed highly unlikely.
With his abilities, he couldn’t find the experiment anywhere in the vast Central Plains. Should he give up on the experiment at this stage, having only to take a single step forward?
“Looks like I have no choice but to borrow force.”
The madness burning in Tang Geoh’s eyes showed no sign of giving up.
*
The popularity vote was successful.
“Two sets of Seongjeong tea, please.”
“Three sets of Hyang-a coffee, please.”
Their passion, which had nowhere else to go, had been directed towards the popularity vote. Because of that, the commotion within the Tea Bookstore had reduced significantly.
“Are you serious? The top delicacy of Sichuan is being overshadowed by merely a courtesan?”
“Isn’t that only natural?”
“This guy!”
Cough.
Of course, it wasn’t completely over, but even the Tea and Book Club was wary and engaging in a Succession Battle.
“This manager is giving off vibes. We better keep quiet if we don’t want to get kicked out.”
The members of the Tea and Book Club glanced at me and, bowing their heads, said cautiously.
“Tsk. I guess I’ll have to order the Seongjeong tea set.”
“Let’s order the Hyang-a coffee too.”
The two factions of the Tea and Book Club began to consume the sets named after the women they supported. Please, let’s stop causing commotion. If a fight were to break out, we might as well order the special set instead.
“The Seongjeong tea really is delightful. Just one sip brings back memories of the radiant beauty of the top delicacy of Sichuan.”
The man from the Seongjeong group critiqued the tea as if he were a judge tasting the heavenly delicacies in a cooking comic.
Of course, Seongjeong tea was made from ordinary tea leaves.
“Ridiculous. This Hyang-a coffee, with its harmonious blend of sour and bitter, makes you feel exactly the charm of Du Eung-hyang.”
That too was made from ordinary beans.
“How about the snacks? The sweetness brings back memories of the top delicacy of Sichuan’s face.”
“This side’s snacks evoke the sweet voice of Du Eung-hyang.”
Both were just snacks sourced from the same supplier, differing only in color.
“If you try the Seongjeong tea set, I assure you, it’s tastier than that coffee.”
The man pushed the plate of the Seongjeong tea set forward.
“I’d prefer that, so try the coffee and snacks first.”
“Let’s not. I see through your scheme to finish quickly and order another.”
“Who would say such a thing?”
If both factions exchanged and tasted each other’s offerings, they would immediately realize the other’s evaluations were incorrect, but that would take a long time.
————–
While conducting the popularity vote, amusing situations sometimes unfolded.
“Ah, Hwang Seong has arrived. Would you like the Seongjeong tea set?”
Hwang Seong, who had been of great help as a member of the Tea and Book Club, visited the Tea Bookstore. He looked particularly unwell today. Why was he unable to make eye contact?
“The Seongjeong tea set is fine, thanks.”
Hwang Seong shook his head and declined the Seongjeong tea set. Was his financial situation tight?
“Then how about an iced Americano?”
“Not that, I want the Hyang-a coffee set.”
For a moment, I didn’t understand what he said.
“Hwang Seong, are you perhaps defecting?”
Who was Hwang Seong? He was a passionate member of the Seongjeong group who would jump into matchmaking directly in this realm if the Tang Jung and top delicacies of Sichuan really existed.
“Shh! Don’t say that. Speak quietly.”
Hwang Seong startledly glanced around, clearly trying to keep his voice down. He really did want to order the Hyang-a coffee. Could it be he had changed his allegiance? This was truly surprising news.
“Yes, I’ll brew just one for you.”
I added another stroke to the letter ‘정’ on the chalkboard before starting to prepare the Hyang-a coffee set.
“Brother! What on earth are you doing here?”
As I made the coffee, an outraged voice came from behind.
“Little brother, how did you get here?”
Turning around, I found the astonished Hwang Seong looking at another man who looked just like him. Must be his biological brother.
“I’ve heard rumors saying you’re neglecting your studies because you’re mingling with a group called the Tea and Book Club, so I secretly followed you here. Brother, how can you, who should be preparing for the exams, be wandering around with such lowly people? This little brother finds it disheartening.”
Hwang Seong’s brother looked despondent, as if he had found his brother playing games at a PC bang when he should be studying for the exam.
By the way, exams?
“Hwang Seong. You’re not just a common scholar; you’re a top student.”
To take the exams in this realm, one must pass a local exam to gain the qualification.
Passing this exam grants a student the status of ‘saengwon,’ which is regarded as elite, and just getting that qualification is enough for students to be considered top-notch geniuses in Yichang.
Of course, the further exams needed to become an official are much more challenging and intense.
By that time, even a genius, no matter how remarkable, would find it as tough as getting a date with a female idol, which would leave many ‘saengwon’ students satisfied with their current status.
“Little brother, this is just a regular reading group. It’s nothing to scold a scholar for.”
Hwang Seong gave an awkward excuse, suggesting that there’s nothing wrong with a scholar participating in a reading club.
“What books they’re reading also matters. What they read are merely erotic works! How can you wallow in such lowly novels? If you keep reading such novels, your intelligent mind will rot. A gentleman should…”
Hwang Seong’s brother began to lecture about the dangers of pornography like an expert from a daytime program.
Haven’t seen my novel bashed like that in a while. I caught a whiff of hometown trolls from this unfamiliar guy.
“Even if it’s you, I can’t let you speak poorly of Author Ho Pil. Besides, you’ve never even read The Rise of the Tang Family.”
“I don’t need to read it to know. Those trashy novels always follow the same storylines. I don’t understand why you would read such garbage, which is nothing but trash for the brain.”
“How dare you call The Rise of the Tang Family a trashy novel? Are you insulting Author Ho Pil right now?”
Hwang Seong’s good-natured face seemed close to bursting. I was fine, though.
Not everyone can be satisfied by popularity. Having faced much criticism, I felt no wounds from this.
Let’s not let this escalate into a fight between siblings.
“Two sets of Hyang-a coffee are here!”
I interjected to calm Hwang Seong, who was about to explode at hearing insults about his beloved work.
“I only ordered one.”
“It’s complimentary. Enjoy it with your brother.”
“Th-thank you.”
Hwang Seong had done so much for me that I didn’t expect him to be this grateful.
“And this is a service for your brother.”
I handed a copy of The Rise of the Tang Family Volume 1 to the younger brother, who was glaring unpleasingly at his sibling. If only he would realize the beauty of this novel! Hey! Try it! Try it!
“I don’t need that. Recommending such a lowly erotic novel to me shows me the level of this bookstore.”
Hwang Seong’s brother turned away in rejection. If you’re going to refuse, at least say it politely. If Hwa-rin saw you, it wouldn’t have ended well for you.
Keep that face in check. In service, managing one’s expression is essential.
“Little brother!”
“Confucius said that if one becomes trapped in prejudice and does not study, they would lead to the poisons of wisdom. How can a diligent scholar slander what their brother enjoys without even reading it?”
With a serious face, I quoted Confucius to encourage the younger brother to read it.
“Why does a barbarian even talk about Confucius?”
The younger brother looked at me in shock. What? Do you think a black-haired barbarian would live in the Bronze Age?
This is exactly why people from the Central Plains are a problem.
“Even that barbarian knows and executes these words. You wouldn’t dare not read it, would you?”
If even a black-haired barbarian knows such wisdom and you, a scholar, don’t act upon it, you’ll be worse off than the barbarian.
I was subtly belittling him.
“Tch! I’m part of the Yichang Literary Association. If this novel turns out to be the trash I expect, I’ll rain down curses on it in the association’s name.”
The Yichang Literary Association is an organization researching novels? So this guy was among the literati of the Central Plains. Still, read it. I’m confident in it.
The younger brother took my book and headed to a corner.
“Manager Kang, did you perhaps study in the past?”
Hwang Seong asked, surprised at the scene.
“I’ve just picked up bits and pieces from the Four Books and Five Classics. It’s nothing worthy of boasting like you, Sir Hwang.”
Kang Yoon-ho from Joseon, to say nothing of a ‘saengwon’ or being taught by top scorers of exams—of course, I didn’t study seriously.
“Even being modest has its reasons, you certainly have a way with words, since it’s clear why you’re Author Ho Pil’s confidant. Anyway, thank you. Here is your set price.”
“One cup price is all I need, thank you.”
“Please, take it all.”
“It’s fine.”
Despite being told it was complimentary, Hwang Seong kept trying to pay.
What is going on?
As I continued to refuse, Hwang Seong finally spoke with an apologetic expression.
“Well, I’ve… I just saw you add another stroke to the ‘정’ from two sets given earlier, so can you write two strokes for me?”
Hwang Seong leaned in and whispered quietly as if afraid of anyone else overhearing him.
Ah, so that’s why he wanted to pay for two sets.
“Sure, I’ll do that.”
I was genuinely surprised that Hwang Seong had indeed changed allegiances and drew an extra stroke on the chalkboard.
*
“Phew. This is troubling.”
Returning home, Hwang Seong sighed deeply in his room.
His younger brother considered him a heavenly figure. He used to brag about how proud he was to have become a ‘saengwon’ at such a young age.
In reality, he wasn’t that impressive of an older sibling.
“I might end up being a disgrace to Author Ho Pil.”
The contents of The Rise of the Tang Family were simply captivating. Still, his younger brother was a member of the Yichang Literary Association. He despised popular novels and enjoyed classic works.
While The Rise of the Tang Family was indeed entertaining, what if he publicly criticized it, claiming it didn’t suit his tastes? He would lose face with Author Ho Pil, and he could no longer hold his head high within the Tea and Book Club.
“Should I go see my brother now?”
No matter how unfitting his tastes were, he still needed to prevent those words from coming out.
Just as Hwang Seong rushed to his brother’s room, he heard a voice.
“Brother.”
His younger brother made his presence known at the door.
“Come in.”
“Y-Younger brother.”
“What’s the matter?”
Hwang Seong noticed something was off with his brother, who had entered the room.
He appeared shocked initially as he walked in, but dropped his gaze and could not meet his brother’s eyes.
“…What’s going on?”
Hwang Seong, surprised at his younger brother’s unusual behavior, asked again. Had something happened to the family? But his younger brother’s next words were entirely unexpected.
“Brother. I’m sorry, but… do you have Volume 2 of the top courtesan in Hubei?”
