Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 274

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

Tang Gwan, who had been quietly staring at his empty glass, held it out.

“Give me another drink.”

Yeon-wi smiled and refilled his glass.

Tang Gwan emptied his glass as soon as it was filled. He didn’t say much, but he seemed quite pleased.

“Yeon-gaju [Head of the Yeon Family], you should have a drink too.”

Tang Gwan filled Yeon-wi’s glass.

Yeon-wi only emptied half of his glass. Tang Gwan frowned.

“They said it was good liquor, why aren’t you drinking it all?”

“I prefer to drink in small portions.”

“Hmph!”

Tang Gwan snorted.

“Are you worried I might have poisoned it?”

“The Tang Gaju [Head of the Tang Family] I see is quite opinionated. But you’re not the type to poison a drink.”

“You’re good with words.”

Tang Gwan looked out the window.

It was nothing special. It seemed he was also awkward in this setting.

Yeon-wi refilled his glass and asked.

“So, did you resolve things with your daughter?”

It was a very sensitive topic, yet he asked so naturally.

Tang Gwan frowned.

“I didn’t come here because of my daughter.”

“Parents always prioritize their children. After this meeting, have a meal with your daughter.”

“I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry about it.”

“Hahaha.”

Indeed, it wouldn’t be easy for Tang Gwan. He would move when he felt the time was right, so as he said, there was no need to worry about it anymore.

“By the way, what brings you here at this hour…”

“It’s about that girl.”

He interrupted him, but Yeon-wi didn’t show any displeasure.

“Who are you referring to?”

“The Western Divine Woman.”

“Hmm.”

“I heard her medical skills are quite outstanding.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“I don’t know much about it, but according to rumors, she combined the medical skills of the West and the Central Plains to create an exceptional vision.”

Tang Gwan chuckled.

“How great could the medical skills of those smelly Westerners be?”

“You shouldn’t say that. I’ve heard that Western medicine is skilled in surgical treatments, unlike our Central Plains medicine.”

“Surgical treatments…”

“They call it open-chest surgery? They can temporarily put a person in a state of suspended animation and open the chest to directly treat organs.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

“If that’s true, they must have killed quite a few people.”

“Hmm?”

“Open-chest surgery is still being tested by our clan. Moreover, to put a person in suspended animation, they need to be anesthetized, and the time it takes for each person to fall asleep and wake up varies.”

It was knowledge that Yeon-wi had never encountered. As someone who dealt with poisons and medicines, the Tang Clan’s medical skills were considered the best in Sichuan, and to become the head of the family, one had to be highly trained and knowledgeable in all areas.

No matter what, Tang Gwan was an impressive person. Yeon-wi couldn’t help but acknowledge that fact.

“To administer anesthesia, extremely meticulous pharmacological knowledge is required. If it’s too weak, the person will wake up during surgery and die from shock, and if it’s too strong, the muscles will stiffen or the nerves will be damaged.”

“Hmm.”

“Just figuring out the right amount would have killed tens of thousands of people.”

Yeon-wi sighed.

“Indeed, medicine is a difficult field of study.”

“It’s hard to achieve greatness unless you’re half-mad. Furthermore, if you can perform open-chest surgery freely, you must have stained your hands with countless blood.”

Tang Gwan emptied his glass.

He turned his gaze back to the window.

“It’s good.”

Yeon-wi realized belatedly that it was a comment about the taste of the liquor.

“By the way, why did you suddenly ask about the Western Divine Woman?”

Tang Gwan fiddled with his glass without answering.

He seemed uncharacteristically hesitant. Yeon-wi patiently waited for him to speak.

After a while.

“I don’t want to admit it, but I can’t deny that your son’s way with words is quite impressive.”

“Hmm?”

“Since he went as that girl’s escort, if he doesn’t do anything foolish, he might develop some kind of friendship.”

Yeon-wi cautiously asked.

“Do you want something from the Western Divine Woman?”

Tang Gwan’s expression stiffened as he looked out the window.

“Yes. Of course, I can’t tell you what it is.”

“…”

“…Please act as a bridge for me.”

It must have been a moment that hurt Tang Gwan’s pride.

Yeon-wi tilted his head.

“It’s not a difficult task, but is it really necessary? When the Western Divine Woman comes, the Gaju [Head of the Family] can directly…”

“I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Moyong Gun will be watching me.”

“…!

“Whether Moyong Gun knows I’m meeting the Western Divine Woman or not, it doesn’t really matter. But I don’t want to let that guy know.”

“Hmm.”

“With his suspicious mind, he’ll just make useless assumptions and annoy me. If he attacks first, I can crush him, but I don’t want to make a fuss.”

He didn’t want to cause trouble. If the other side could help, it would be easier. That was what Tang Gwan meant.

Yeon-wi somehow understood Tang Gwan’s feelings.

“May I ask you one thing?”

“…”

“The reason you need the Western Divine Woman, it must be something that requires medical knowledge.”

“Why ask if you already know?”

“Acting as a bridge is not a problem, but I would be troubled if others suffer because of the benefits you gain.”

Tang Gwan smiled coldly.

“How much help did you receive to achieve your current swordsmanship? Surely, you can’t claim that your sword has never been stained with blood?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Hmph.”

“Whether you’re trying to improve poison, make medicine, or complete your medical knowledge, no innocent people should suffer because of it.”

“You’re acting like a saint. Poison can be medicine when needed, and medicine can be poison when used excessively. Poison is like a double-edged sword.”

Yeon-wi narrowed his eyes.

“Whether it’s for the Tang Clan or for personal reasons, I don’t care. Trying to learn more about it would be meddling.”

“…”

“But I must hear this answer. No innocent people should suffer.”

Tang Gwan frowned.

“Don’t you think you’re being overly serious about something trivial?”

“If you think it’s trivial, then I have nothing more to say.”

Tang Gwan, who had been staring at Yeon-wi, turned his head back to the window.

“It’s for my own sake.”

“…”

“I don’t poison the glass of an enemy unless I’m sure they’re an enemy.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“I’ll take that as a promise.”

“Hmph.”

Tang Gwan held out his glass.

“Pour me another drink.”

Yeon-wi refilled his glass.

Tang Gwan emptied his glass and refilled Yeon-wi’s glass.

Yeon-wi, who was smiling at Tang Gwan, raised his glass.

“Isn’t there something else?”

“What are you talking about out of the blue?”

“I know you didn’t come just for the Western Divine Woman.”

“Do you also tell fortunes?”

“Anyone with a little sense can tell.”

“Good for you for being so perceptive.”

“So, what else do you want to ask me?”

Tang Gwan didn’t answer.

This silence was quite long. It seemed like it was something difficult for him to answer.

The silence continued for more than two quarters of an hour [roughly 30 minutes].

When the second bottle of Gongbu liquor was almost empty, Tang-wi opened his mouth.

“What did she say?”

“Hmm?”

Tang Gwan spoke with a slightly hesitant expression.

“You said you had a meal together back then.”

“…?”

“I’m talking about Sang-ah.”

“Ah!”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“That’s right.”

“What did that girl say about me?”

“She didn’t say anything.”

“…?”

“She didn’t say a word about you. And we didn’t say anything either. We just had a pleasant meal while talking about various trivial things.”

Tang Gwan’s eyes deepened.

“You clearly said before that Sang-ah was frustrated and seemed very worried about me.”

“Of course, I did.”

“Was that all a lie?”

“It wasn’t a lie.”

Yeon-wi said with a serious face.

“You don’t have to speak to know someone’s feelings. I just knew what had happened, and I felt Sang-ah’s emotions by looking at her face and hearing her voice.”

“…”

“The relationship between parents and children is like that. There are things that you understand without having to say them. But to have a silent understanding, you need a lot of conversation first.”

“…”

“The fact that Tang Gaju is asking me about your daughter, I think it’s a good approach. But there’s nothing more I can do to help.”

Yeon-wi refilled Tang Gwan’s glass and said.

“Now, meet her yourself.”

Tang Gwan’s eyelids fluttered.

“…She won’t want to meet me.”

“If she doesn’t want to meet you, wait. And when you think it’s okay, reach out to her again.”

“…”

“As I said before, I don’t think you should assert your pride with your children. Unless you truly intend to cut ties with your daughter, I think it’s right for you, as the more mature one, to approach her first.”

Yeon-wi smiled bitterly.

“I couldn’t do that. Even recently.”

“…”

“There’s a good negative example, isn’t there? I hope you don’t make the same mistakes I did.”

Tang Gwan, who had been quietly looking at Yeon-wi, asked as if throwing a question.

“Why are you doing this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you being so nice to me? Don’t say it’s for Sang-ah, or because I’m not an enemy, or because it reminds you of your own past.”

Yeon-wi chuckled.

“I’m sorry, but the reasons you just mentioned are all true. It’s for Sang-ah, because you’re not an enemy, and because it reminds me of my past.”

“That’s absurd.”

“Of course, it’s more for Sang-ah than for you. Sang-ah is my son’s friend. If she’s my son’s friend, then she’s my niece.”

“Niece.”

Tang Gwan’s lips twitched.

“You know, don’t you? What happened between your son and my son.”

“I know.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Your son made a big mistake.”

“Hmph!”

“So, what about it?”

“Try saying it with that hypocritical mouth. That my son is also your nephew.”

“He’s not my nephew.”

“…”

“Since my son doesn’t consider your son a friend, how can I make him my nephew? Don’t expect too much from me.”

Yeon-wi emptied his glass.

“However, if you can get along well with each other, that would be a good thing too. As you said, I also prefer harmony and laughter to conflict.”

Yeon-wi spoke honestly and confidently.

A faint smile appeared on Tang Gwan’s lips as he looked at Yeon-wi. What that smile meant, no one but himself could know.

Yeon-wi smiled and said.

“I think I’ve done a decent job of welcoming a guest, don’t you?”

“You’re called the Judge’s Sword, but you’re quite free with your smiles?”

“Hahaha!”

“Is there another bottle?”

“Of course. Let’s have another one.”