Chapter 17 : Chapter 17

Chapter 17. The Man Who Doesn't Know How to Give Up (1)

The Tang Clan Head watched the situation from afar, his heart in his throat.

Han Cheong-un had said he would save his daughter, but he hadn't actually heard the method.

He didn't ask either.

He had simply entrusted it to the slim hope that as long as his daughter could be saved, anything was fine.

But if he failed…….

‘Then I must do what I have to do.’

He steeled his resolve in preparation for the worst-case scenario. But…….

“Clan Head!”

“The poison energy is subsiding.”

At his subordinates’ report, the Clan Head clenched his fists.

‘He did it.’

He succeeded.

The fact that the poison energy was subsiding meant that Dang Seoyeon had reabsorbed the poison energy, which in other words, meant that his daughter was alive.

The Clan Head threw his body forward without delay.

He flew so fast that his followers couldn’t keep up, and what he saw when he arrived at the scene was…….

“Young Master! Young Master Han!”

It was the sight of his daughter, wailing as she embraced the horribly disfigured Han Cheong-un.

The Clan Head was horrified at the sight of his daughter clinging to Han Cheong-un and wailing.

“Seoyeon, you……”

He couldn't feel the poison energy that always faintly rose from his daughter’s body.

It was a poison energy that would seep out even if she had several layers of poison-repelling beads wrapped around her body.

Except for the fact that her hair had turned white, she looked no different from an ordinary girl.

The Clan Head brought his trembling hand to his daughter’s cheek. And…….

“Ah……”

For the first time in his life, he was able to caress his daughter’s bare skin.

To the Clan Head, who was immersed in emotion while caressing his soft and warm daughter’s cheek, Dang Seoyeon cried out.

“Father, because of me, the Young Master……. Sir Han Cheong-un……”

Looking at his daughter, who couldn't finish her sentence, the Clan Head looked at Han Cheong-un with a bitter gaze.

‘You really did it.’

The young master had saved his daughter just as he had promised. But as a price, he himself had died.

“He’s still alive. Father. Please, save the Young Master. Please……”

“Seoyeon……. He is already……”

Dang Seoyeon prostrated herself on the floor.

And she hit her forehead on the floor, bowed, and pleaded earnestly.

“Please, father. Please save the Young Master. Without him, I……”

Tears formed in Dang Seoyeon’s eyes and fell to the floor in drops. And Dang Seoyeon spoke the truth that she herself had only just realized.

“……cannot live.”

“……”

The Clan Head let out a deep sigh.

Although she said he was alive, that appearance was no different from being dead.

In this case, the only mercy would be to end his breath quickly and relieve his pain. But…….

‘It can’t be helped. I have no choice but to try…….’

Looking at his daughter’s expression, he couldn't bring himself to say that. The Clan Head carefully reached out and checked Han Cheong-un’s pulse. And…….

“Huh?”

There was a pulse. No, it was more than just a pulse; it was beating quite strongly.

Just looking at his appearance, it was a wonder he was alive, but his pulse was in a perfectly normal range.

‘What is this nonsense…….’

“F…… Father.”

Dang Seoyeon, who had noticed the seriousness in her father’s expression, asked urgently. And the Clan Head…….

“First…… we must move him to the Tang Clan. Let’s continue the treatment there.”

“Yes. Yes?”

“I think we can save him.”

“Ah……”

Only after hearing those words from her father could Dang Seoyeon smile brightly.

It was the first time the Clan Head had seen his daughter’s smile.

Although it was bitter to think that she was smiling for another man.

* * *

Han Cheong-un regained consciousness three days later.

“Ugh……”

“My lord!”

When Han Cheong-un regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was a woman looking at him with a worried gaze.

A woman with hair as white as snow and a flawless beauty, looking down at him with teary eyes.

It was a woman he was seeing for the first time, but her voice was familiar.

“Young Lady Dang?”

“Ah……. You’ve awakened.”

“Yes. Thanks to you……. Ugh……”

Han Cheong-un, who was wrapped in bandages all over his body, felt a sharp pain when he forced his body to move. To him, Dang Seoyeon said.

“You must not move. If there is anything you need, please tell this humble one.”

“Uh……. Uh……”

His body was certainly not in a normal state.

Seeing himself wrapped in bandages from head to toe, the first thought that came to his mind was…….

‘I’m lucky to be alive.’

Honestly, he thought he was going to die.

He couldn’t understand how he was alive and well(?). And another thing he couldn’t understand was…….

“My lord, first, you must soothe your stomach with some rice porridge.”

Yes, this was it.

Han Cheong-un said to Dang Seoyeon.

“Young Lady Dang?”

“Please speak.”

“Why has the way you address me changed?”

“Ah, that’s, uh……”

Dang Seoyeon, holding the porridge bowl, blushed and said.

“Is ‘my lord’ a bit strange, after all?”

“Well, it’s……”

Honestly, it was burdensome.

As if she knew Han Cheong-un’s feelings, Dang Seoyeon nodded and said.

“I understand. I was not thoughtful enough.”

“I’m glad you understand……”

“Then, Brother. Say ah.”

“……”

Han Cheong-un thought.

‘What happened while I was asleep?’

* * *

Han Cheong-un, who had regained consciousness, recovered his body quickly.

For a human whose skin on more than eighty percent of his body was peeled off and festering, whose five viscera and six bowels were seeped with deadly poison, and who had even lost his sight and hearing, his recovery was fast.

“Why is this healing?”

The physician who was taking care of Han Cheong-un said this, his recovery ability was that mysterious.

After about ten days, even the most severe skin wounds had healed cleanly, and he no longer needed bandages.

Seeing Han Cheong-un get up and move around just fine, the physician’s jaw dropped.

“Am I a quack? What is this nonsense……”

Regardless, Han Cheong-un went outside for the first time in a long while and twisted his body here and there to check his condition.

‘Good. It’s much better.’

His body was in top condition.

His muscles and bones were stronger than before, and his internal energy had also increased a little. His sight and hearing had also become much more sensitive than before. He didn't know the cause, but he had a guess.

‘This must be the cause.’

Han Cheong-un looked at the black tattoo engraved on his chest.

He had checked it when changing the bandages, but as expected, it was bigger.

This black tattoo, which was also proof of his regression.

After he had once again overcome a near-death experience, it had increased in size.

Looking closely, it seemed the shape had also changed a bit.

‘What on earth did that crazy old woman do to me?’

Han Cheong-un pondered.

Honestly, it had never harmed him.

On the contrary, it had given him a chance at a new life and helped him overcome near-death experiences.

But as long as he didn’t know the identity of this power, it was very unsettling to just let it go with a ‘what’s good is good’ attitude.

‘I’ll have to go to the northern regions sometime.’

As Han Cheong-un was thinking that, the Tang Clan Head’s voice came from behind him.

“How is your body?”

Han Cheong-un turned around, smiled brightly, and said with a cupped fist salute.

“Thanks to your concern, I have improved a lot.”

The Tang Clan Head looked at Han Cheong-un intently.

“What is it?”

“Truly an unbelievable recovery rate. It’s on a level of incomprehensibility.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Is the martial art you learned perhaps one specialized in recovery?”

“Well?”

The Tang Clan Head wanted to ask more to the vaguely answering Han Cheong-un, but…….

‘No, let’s stop.’

The opponent was the benefactor who had saved his daughter.

Of course, he was suspicious and full of incomprehensible points, but he didn't want to rudely interrogate the benefactor who had saved his daughter.

“It seems your body has fully recovered, how is your condition?”

“Perfect.”

“Yes. In that case……”

The Clan Head put one hand behind his back and extended the other forward, saying.

“Would you like to test how much you have recovered?”

The moment he heard those words, the corners of Han Cheong-un’s mouth went up.

“It would be an honor.”

* * *

A short while later.

Han Cheong-un held his spear and faced the Tang Clan Head.

He had wanted to check his newly changed body condition anyway.

If the opponent was the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, there was no way he would be lacking. Before his regression, he had passed away in vain, so he didn't know his skills.

But the martial might of the Tang Clan Head he actually faced was…….

‘Beyond my imagination.’

At this level, the Tang Clan Head’s martial might might be the second among the Five Great Families.

“Will an answer come from just looking?”

“……”

“Come at me.”

Given the nature of hidden weapons, it wouldn't be easy to concede the first move, but the Tang Clan Head leisurely conceded it. And…….

“In that case, excuse my impolitenes……s!”

The moment the word ‘s’ ended, Han Cheong-un’s body rapidly closed the distance.

Han Cheong-un, who used a spear, usually preferred to counter-attack when the opponent came in.

But this time, the opponent was a master of hidden weapon arts who was superior to him in terms of distance.

Unlike usual, he had to go in himself.

As he was doing so…….

“……!!”

Han Cheong-un hastily stopped his feet and swung his spear. At that…….

Kaaang!

A single dagger was deflected in mid-air.

The Tang Clan Head, in the same posture as before, spoke as if faintly impressed.

“Good senses.”

“I almost died, you know?”

“Would you die from something like that?”

“……”

What’s with this treatment?

It seemed that in the Tang Clan Head’s mind, Han Cheong-un was perceived as a monster who wouldn’t die even if he was killed.

‘I die when I’m stabbed with a sword too, you know.’

Still, his pride wouldn't allow him to ask him to go easy. On the contrary…….

‘This is just right.’

“Here I come.”

“Come.”

As soon as the words ended, Han Cheong-un moved forward again. Towards him, the Tang Clan Head again scattered hidden weapons that poured down like rain.

Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kang!

The Tang Clan Head, who appropriately mixed and threw daggers and flying needles.

It was known that it wasn't easy to handle two types of hidden weapons at the same time, but he nonchalantly solved that by using both hands.

He threw daggers with his right hand and scattered flying needles with his left, giving his opponent no room to breathe.

In the midst of that stormy onslaught, an ordinary opponent would have instantly become a hedgehog of hidden weapons, but…….

One Step of the Spirit Realm

The opponent was Han Cheong-un.

He deployed his Domain at dangerous moments and closed the distance with the Tang Clan Head.

And when he caught the distance where his spear could reach…….

“Hap!”

Paang!

He even launched a counter-attack.

The sharply extended spear strike grazed the Clan Head’s sleeve and inflicted a sharp wound on his wrist.

‘Hoh, look at this one?’

A young master who hadn't even reached his coming-of-age ceremony had drawn blood from the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

For a moment, rather than anger, the Tang Clan Head felt a surge of fighting spirit.

“Good. Try and take this as well.”

The Tang Clan Head shouted spiritedly and stepped back to create distance. At the same time, he waved his arm and scattered seven daggers into the air.

Woooooooooong.

Then, the seven daggers stopped like dewdrops hanging in the air and began to rotate.

‘That’s no joke.’

Han Cheong-un, who felt an unusual condensation of power, stopped his feet and took a stance.

He intended to receive it head-on.

At that sight, the corners of the Tang Clan Head’s mouth pulled up.

“Good.”

[ Tang Clan Dagger Arts: Ultimate Technique: Seven Stars Guidance ]

Not as much as A Sky Full of Flowers and Rain, but the ultimate technique of the Tang Clan's dagger arts, unleashed for the purpose of a fatal blow in a one-on-one situation.

It was about to unfold from the Tang Clan Head’s hands…….

“Kyaaak, Young Master!”

But someone blocked it.

It was Dang Seoyeon who intervened between the two with a tearing scream.

And she immediately ran to Han Cheong-un and checked his condition.

“My goodness……. Are you alright. Young Master?”

“I’m fine. The Clan Head went very easy on me……”

“He should have gone easier. Oh my, look at this torn cloth. You’re hurt, right? You’re hurt, aren't you?”

“I’m not hurt.”

“You are hurt. Look at this scratch here.”

Dang Seoyeon, with a tearful face, not knowing what to do.

Looking at his daughter, the Tang Clan Head sighed.

‘You can see your man’s torn clothes, but you can’t see the blood flowing from your father’s hand?’

Dang Seoyeon, meticulously checking Han Cheong-un’s body for any injuries.

Han Cheong-un himself was flustered.

“My lady, we are still in the middle of a spar.”

“Who spars with a patient, for heaven’s sake?”

“I’m all better……”

“Don’t lie!”

And Dang Seoyeon turned her head and glared at her father.

Behind her, Han Cheong-un scratched his head shyly and said.

“Um……. Will you continue?”

“Forget it. The mood is ruined.”

It seemed less like the mood was ruined and more like he was sulking.

It wasn't like the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, famous for his ruthlessness, but it was nice to see his human side.

‘At this rate, I might be able to ask for that favor.’

Han Cheong-un spoke to the Tang Clan Head with a polite and serious face.

“Clan Head. May I ask a favor of you?”

“A favor?”

“Yes. It is a favor that I would very much like you to grant.”

A gaze filled with serious resolve.

The moment he saw it, the Tang Clan Head guessed.

‘Ah……. In the end…….’

Yes, well, he understands.

Isn’t he a young man who loves his daughter so much that he would risk his life to save her?

Thanks to this young man risking his life to save her, his daughter’s life was saved, and she was able to escape the heavenly punishment of the Myriad Poisons Body and live a normal life.

On top of that, his daughter’s heart…….

“Ah……”

It was completely gone. Gone.

Look at that shy face full of expectation.

‘They say raising a daughter is just for another man’s benefit…….’

He understood, but it was also sad.

He wanted to spend a lot of time with his daughter, whom he hadn't been able to take care of properly until now, and make good memories, but…….

‘It must be a parent’s selfishness.’

In the end, the Tang Clan Head, who had given up, sighed and said.

“Speak.”

“You must promise to grant it.”

Does he need to get a firm answer?

“Alright. I will grant it. So speak.”

At the Tang Clan Head’s annoyed urging, Han Cheong-un knelt on one knee, cupped his fists politely, and said.

“Clan Head. To me……”

Hurry up and say it.

“Please give me your son!”

“What, you punk?!”

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