Just as I was inwardly admiring how fitting the nickname Heavenly Venom Beast Papa was—

Geum Gi-ryung’s voice came again.

“To think I’d meet Young Master So, the Heavenly Venom Beast Papa, in a place like this. It must be fate for us to form a good connection.

In fact, I was planning to visit you once this matter concluded. So this is rather convenient.

Young Master So, this may be sudden, but would you be willing to enter into a deal with me?”

“You mean me? And a deal, you say?”

“Yes, Young Master So. I believe it wouldn’t be a bad offer for you either...”

Geum Gi-ryung suddenly proposed a deal.

But before I could say anything in response, Hwa-eun cut him off coldly.

“I don’t believe the Tang Clan has much reason to deal with the Geumjeok Merchant Guild.”

A flat-out rejection, cold as stone.

Geum Gi-ryung let out a hearty laugh and scratched his head.

“Oh dear, I must’ve done something to earn your dislike.”

In response, Hwa-eun, sister Seol, and the other women present all looked even more dumbfounded.

In this old era, women were already treated like objects more often than not—but even so, openly using words like “goods” or “purchase” in front of them was bound to leave a bad impression.

Even if he hadn’t spoken directly to them, even if the subject wasn’t them, hearing such objectifying language as fellow women could only have made them furious.

After all, even if someone is treated like a thing, no one goes around actually calling them one to their face.

“Hmm... what to do?”

Geum Gi-ryung held his chin, lost in thought under the piercing cold gazes of Hwa-eun, sister Seol, and the others.

Then, as if something occurred to him, he brightened.

“Ah! Then how about this? If Young Master So agrees to help me resolve my problem through a deal, I’ll count the money I’ve already provided to the Ak Clan as a loan, to be repaid at your convenience with no interest.

Furthermore, the gifts I brought for the marriage proposal—I’ll offer them instead as your wedding gifts for Young Master Peng. What do you think?

Of course, I’ll also give you a proper reward—you won’t be left shortchanged.

How about it? Isn’t that a fair concession?”

At his proposal, both the Lord of the Ak Clan and hyung visibly flinched.

But both of them quickly shook their heads.

“There’s no need for you to do that on behalf of our Ak Clan.”

“Yes, So-ryong, you don’t need to go that far.”

It was a tempting offer, but they clearly didn’t want to burden me.

Still, I thought—maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to at least hear what the offer was.

‘We could at least hear what it is before turning it down, right?’

There was no reason to refuse outright. If it was something I could handle, it would ultimately help hyung.

And if there’s one thing I’m serious about—it’s stomping on scumbags.

If it helps hyung crush a scumbag, then of course I should help.

I nodded at Geum Gi-ryung’s proposal.

“I suppose there’s no harm in at least hearing what you have in mind.”

“As expected, I’d heard you were far more mature and exceptional than your age—turns out to be true.”

“So-ryong!”

‘So-ryong! Why even listen to someone like that?’

[Ryong! Don’t waste your time with that kind of man!]

Hyung, Hwa-eun, and sister Seol’s voices and thoughts reached me all at once, trying to stop me.

But I just smiled at them all.

“Well, it’s a deal, after all. If the terms don’t suit me, I’ll just say no—so don’t worry. And hyung, if things go well, you can think of it as a gift from your little brother for your wedding.”

“Th-that...”

‘Hyung, please go get married and start mass-producing children.’

In my heart, I sent hyung the best blessing a Venom Beast Dad could offer.

Then I turned to Geum Gi-ryung and spoke.

“Well then, shall we hear what you’ve got?”

“Would you care to move to my ship to talk? The fewer people accompanying you, the better.”

“Understood. I’ll bring only Hwa-eun and sister Seol with me.”

“As you wish.”

It definitely felt like this was going to be a secretive kind of proposal.

We started walking toward the harbor.

‘What kind of proposal could it be?’

We were just a few steps from his luxurious pleasure ship, which was moored beside ours, when I called out ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) to the kids in my mind.

『Cho-ya, bring Hyang with you and come outside.』

Since we were going to hear him out, it seemed wise to apply a little pressure.

If this turned out to be nonsense, he needed to understand that it wouldn’t be amusing.

Geum Gi-ryung didn’t exactly seem like a man of sterling character.

『

– Chrrt! (Okay, Daddy!)

– Chrrrt? (Daddy, what about me? Why am I excluded?!)

‘Bini, I was going to call you too, of course.’

– Chrrrr. (Yeah, right...) 』

I had only meant to summon Cho and Hyang, but Bini’s sulky protest made it clear I had no choice.

Once I called all three, I heard the sounds of their little feet skittering from our ship.

– Chrrr-rrrrr.

“What is that—gasp!”

At the sound, Geum Gi-ryung stumbled back, then fell on his ass at the sight of the kids.

I calmly stepped forward a few paces and spread my arms.

Immediately, Hyang—who had been riding on Cho—wrapped herself around my body like armor.

Cho flew into position, and Bini jumped down from the ship and tucked himself under my arms on both sides.

It was like pieces of a transforming robot locking into place on my body.

I smiled as I patted their heads.

“There we go. You missed Daddy, didn’t you?”

– Chrrrt?

– Chrrt.

They clearly wanted to ask what I meant, since I’d been the one to call them—but Geum Gi-ryung had no way of understanding.

Still on the ground, Geum Gi-ryung looked up at me, eyes wide with awe.

“T-this is why they call you Heavenly Venom Beast Papa!”

‘Maybe... maybe this guy isn’t so bad after all?’

His genuine amazement almost made me wonder.

***

The guest room was lavishly decorated, radiating a sense of refinement.

On top of a dark ebony table, tea was set, its gentle aroma wafting through the air.

“Please, have some tea as we talk. The Longjing tea isn’t bad.”

He said it as if it were nothing, but Hwa-eun’s mental voice came to me, tinged with curiosity.

‘That’s premium-grade Longjing, worth the same as its weight in gold.’

‘Th-this is?’

‘Yes, So-ryong.’

Coming from Hwa-eun, whose sense of smell was unmatched, there was no mistaking it.

Thinking I might as well taste something rare, I brought the cup to my lips—but sister Seol, Hwa-eun, and everyone else didn’t even reach for theirs.

Instead, Hwa-eun spoke coldly to Geum Gi-ryung.

“We came to hear your proposal, not to drink tea. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

At her words, Geum Gi-ryung sighed.

He gave a bitter smile.

“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I suppose I should clear that up first. This isn’t the right setting for a proposal, after all.”

“A misunderstanding? What kind of misunderstanding?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

As Hwa-eun shot him down with sharp words, Geum Gi-ryung turned his gaze from her to me and began speaking.

“It seems you all think I was trying to take advantage of the Ak Clan’s situation to purchase their daughter with money. That’s a misunderstanding.

The Ak Clan’s situation only worsened after I proposed the match. You can ask Lord Ak yourself.

Of course, the Ak Clan’s prestige—especially with their numerous positions in the Imperial Iron Cavalry—did influence my decision. But isn’t that normal?”

If what he said was true, then perhaps he hadn’t done anything particularly wrong.

Even in my past life, in the modern world, marrying for family connections hadn’t exactly vanished.

Still, sister Seol cut in with a sharp tone of her own.

“Regardless of the situation, what we dislike is referring to people like they’re objects to be bought.”

As an outsider to the Central Plains, her speech was direct and blunt.

At that, Geum Gi-ryung finally let his emotions show for the first time, breaking his polite facade.

He spoke with the tone of someone truly wronged.

“I have a lot to say about that.

Did I propose to the lady of the Ak Clan just because of their status? No.

I was genuinely interested in her.

I saw her at General Maeng Gyu-seong’s birthday banquet—he’s the commander of the Imperial Iron Cavalry—and I sent a letter to Lord Ak to confirm things.

He said she had no one in her heart, and he confirmed she had no betrothed, so we proceeded. I brought gifts, obtained permission for the marriage, and then suddenly, Young Master Peng appears and asks me to withdraw, saying there’s some situation.

Do you know how confusing that is for me?

People like me, who’ve piled up gold mountains, receive countless proposals—but almost all are just after my wealth. I thought martial artists wouldn’t be interested in riches, so I proceeded...

Yes, I did refer to her like an object. But I was desperate. That’s all I said, wasn’t it?

If anything, I should be the one feeling wronged. But you’ve all treated me too harshly.”

‘Wait... if all that’s true, then... he actually is the one who got screwed over?’

If everything he said was factual, Geum Gi-ryung was the one in a sorry state—left with nothing after hyung suddenly showed up.

Once his explanation ended, sister Seol and Hwa-eun flinched.

Sister Seol looked off into the distance awkwardly.

“Well... for someone supposedly heartbroken, you don’t seem very sad... I mean, you’re even trying to strike a deal...”

“I was taught that a merchant shouldn’t show emotion so easily. That’s why I only said that one line. And besides—being sad doesn’t earn you money, does it?

Anyway, if the misunderstanding’s cleared, let’s talk business.”

“Y-yes, let’s.”

“So, I first heard of you, Young Master So, from General Maeng Gyu-seong, back when I met the Ak Clan’s lady for the first time.”

“Oh, that man.”

General Maeng Gyu-seong had visited the Tang Clan before, enjoying what he called a full-course feast equal to Busan’s finest.

I nodded as Geum Gi-ryung continued.

“Yes, at his birthday banquet...”

***

At the birthday banquet of General Maeng Gyu-seong, commander of the Iron Cavalry.

He had recently returned from Sichuan, and his expression seemed lighter than usual.

Geum Gi-ryung asked,

“By the way, you look quite well, General.”

“Oh? You think so too?”

He had only asked out of courtesy, but Maeng Gyu-seong seemed delighted.

“Yes, General.”

“Haha. It’s because I received such special treatment at the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

“Special treatment, you say?”

“Yes. I was served a rare elixir, you see.”

“Elixir!?”

Geum Gi-ryung’s eyes widened.

Being served an elixir was unheard of. No matter how honored the guest, no one just gave those away.

“An elixir is quite valuable. They served that to a guest?”

“Well, it was a mid-tier one, and it was mixed into liquor. Just one drink, and it was excellent.”

“M-mixed into liquor?”

But what came next left Geum Gi-ryung even more shocked.

An elixir is something you take with care—not something you mix into liquor.

“And yes, liquor. Their son-in-law raises spirit beasts. One of them—he served us its gallbladder in the drink.”

“Spirit beast gallbladder?”

“It was the gall of a wasp the size of a human head. The flavor was sour and slightly sweet. Quite nice.”

“That’s amazing.”

“No, not even close. In their large rear garden with a pond, hundreds of those things were flying around. Even flying centipedes the size of twenty feet. It was unbelievable.”

“W-wait, you’re saying they raise such terrifying creatures?”

“Terrifying? That’s what I thought at first. But the ones he raises are different. Like... puppies? No, he even called the centipedes his daughters.”

“Daughters?”

“Yes. He was like a... a true Heavenly Venom Beast Papa.”

***

So that’s who gave me the nickname—General Maeng Gyu-seong of the Iron Cavalry.

I’d have to mix him a strong drink next time in gratitude, I thought, just as Geum Gi-ryung continued.

“At the time, the General spoke of you and gifted me a few Ji-dam Pills. He explained what they were and said you had deep knowledge not only of spirit beasts but also of insects.

The Tang Clan’s patriarch boasted that your talent with venomous creatures and insects was unmatched even in a thousand years.

I remembered all that, and now I find myself needing help—which is why I came to see you.”

“Ah, I see.”

That guy—I told him not to share those Ji-dam Pills, and he just handed them out at a birthday banquet?

Still, if he shared them, that was at least safer. No one would’ve taken too much at once.

‘At least that’s a relief.’

I figured the Tang Clan must be flooded with orders for Ji-dam Pills by now.

Geum Gi-ryung nodded and got to the heart of the matter.

“Yes, and now to my request. Our Geumjeok Merchant Guild trades grains based near Mount Tai. We transport rice from the south to the north, and wheat from the north to the south.

But recently, the heat has been extreme, and insects have infested the grains. We’ve tried sun-drying them, but it’s impossible to dry everything—and doing so cracks the grains, lowering their value...

I came to ask if you had any method to resolve this. And if so, would you sell it to me?”

“Ah, so to put it simply—you want a way to eliminate grain pests?”

“Yes, precisely, Young Master So.”

“Well, then. You’ve come to the right person. I’m an expert in that sort of thing.”

If it’s something like this, it’s as easy as pie.

I had methods to deal with weevils, flour moths, all that, in one go.

At this rate, my hyung’s mass reproduction future was practically guaranteed.