The Eldest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Clan Protects Her Family

Chapter 9: Suspicion

Yeon-a retrieved her fallen sword, as if nothing had happened.
Tang Min’s lips curled into a sly smile. “Quite the fiery temperament.”
A torn piece of fabric, impaled by the throwing knife, remained stuck to the tree. With a flick of his wrist, Tang Min retrieved the knife. He examined it, his gaze fixed on Yeon-a, a spark of amusement in his eyes.

“I understand what you meant when you said no one taught you. You can replicate anything after seeing it just once.”
As he finished speaking, a small knife appeared between his fingers, poised and ready.
Tang Hak’s breath hitched. “Oh, no…”

Sohwa wholeheartedly agreed. The look in Tang Min’s eyes was serious now, a look that promised unrestrained mayhem. She had to stop him. If she wanted to bring Yeon-a back to the Tang Clan, she couldn't afford to antagonize the Divine Physician’s troupe. No one, not even the most benevolent saint, would tolerate their disciple being beaten to a pulp. Even Confucius himself would unleash a torrent of insults upon Tang Min if his beloved disciple, Yan Hui, returned half-dead.
She hadn’t wanted to resort to this.
Cursing Tang Min inwardly, Sohwa bit her tongue hard, then covered her mouth with her sleeve, feigning a coughing fit.

“Cough, cough.”
“N-Noona, are you alright?” Tang Hak’s worried cry drew the attention of the Black Tiger Unit warriors.
“Ha…” Sohwa lowered her sleeve, revealing her bloodstained lips and hand.

“Noona! Why are you coughing up blood?!” Tang Hak shrieked, his voice laced with panic.
The commotion drew the attention of both Yeon-a and Tang Min, who had been locked in a tense standoff. Yeon-a’s eyes widened in surprise, clearly visible even from a distance.
Meeting her startled gaze, Sohwa felt a wave of mortification wash over her. But she had no choice. Better her own blood than Yeon-a's. She had to stop Tang Min’s madness before things escalated further.

‘This is why I wanted to take the palanquin…’ She swallowed her regret, forcing out another cough.
The Divine Physician’s troupe was said to be compassionate, treating all those in need. She had hoped that arriving in a palanquin, feigning illness, would lower their guard and grant them entry. She had devised several strategies to gain their trust, but Tang Min was actively dismantling all her efforts.
This was a disaster.

Sohwa closed her eyes, unable to bear looking at Tang Min. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth, and she gagged involuntarily.
“Cough, cough!” This cough sounded far more convincing.
“Uwaaa, Noona, what’s happening?! We shouldn't have come! Heueueu, we should have stayed home. Heuk, I should have listened to Father!”
Tang Hak, his face pale with fright, sank to his knees beside her, sobbing uncontrollably. At fifteen, he was prone to dramatic outbursts, easily overwhelmed by his emotions.

His reaction, combined with Sohwa’s seemingly dire condition, caused widespread confusion and concern among the group.
Yeon-a flinched at the sight of the girl, eyes closed, seemingly coughing up blood. ‘How much pain must she be in to be unable to even open her eyes?’ The young girl, caught in a web of misunderstanding, bit her lip.
Physician Jincheol always stressed the importance of a calm and peaceful environment for patients. Seeing such a commotion must have aggravated the girl’s condition, causing her to cough up blood.

Yeon-a’s gaze swept over the siblings and their guards. …They had seemed dangerous, but now, they looked more like escorts protecting a seriously ill patient.
If that were the case, she had made a mistake, and Grandfather Jincheol would scold her. But she couldn't simply allow strangers into their hidden sanctuary.
As Yeon-a wrestled with her dilemma, Sohwa slowly opened her eyes. Her pale eyelashes fluttered open, and Yeon-a instinctively recoiled.

The girl’s face was ashen, her eyes languid, as if drained of energy, her lips stained with blood, yet curved into a faint smile. Beside her, her younger brother sobbed uncontrollably, on the verge of collapse.
It was a sight that would move even the most hardened heart.
Sohwa parted her bloodstained lips and asked softly, “Miss, is this where the Divine Physician’s troupe resides?”

Yeon-a almost blurted out the truth.
Hesitating, Sohwa coughed again. “Cough, cough.”
Tang Min looked at the deputy leader, his expression asking, ‘What is wrong with her?’ The deputy leader carefully avoided his gaze. He had no idea. Only Tang Hak, who would weep at the sight of a stray animal in distress, seemed to understand, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Heueueueu, Noona, what’s happening to you?”
He fumbled with a clean cloth, wiping the blood from his sister’s lips, his eyes brimming with tears. Tang Min watched them, his gaze clouded with suspicion, then sighed. Whatever it was, he decided to let the cunning girl play her game. Not because he believed her, but because the sight of the Tang Clan’s most venomous member feigning frailty and coughing demurely was so cringeworthy that he couldn't bear to interfere.
Sohwa spoke softly, her voice laced with apology. “I’m sorry if I seemed rude, Miss. My body is weak, and I’m quite sensitive, so…”

“What? Who’s sensitive?”
“Cough.”
As Tang Min interjected, Sohwa turned away, covering her face with her sleeve, feigning another cough. For a fleeting moment, Tang Min caught a glimpse of her cold, piercing gaze.

‘…See? She’s perfectly fine.’ He clicked his tongue inwardly.
A worried voice interrupted his thoughts. “Are you… truly ill?” Yeon-a asked, scrutinizing Sohwa’s pale face.
Tang Hak, his voice thick with emotion, retorted, “How can you even ask that, seeing her like this?!”

“…Hak-ah, be quiet.” Sohwa’s cheeks flushed slightly. To a stranger, she might have seemed feverish. To those who knew her, it was a clear sign of embarrassment.
Tang Min clicked his tongue again, while Tang Hak burst into fresh tears.
“Noona! How can you endure such an insult?! How dare she accuse the Jewel of the Great Sichuan Tang Clan of lying… Euk!”

Thwack.
Tang Min, appearing out of nowhere, smacked Tang Hak across the mouth.
“You blabbermouth!”

“Euk! W-wait! Elder Tang Min, wait! Uh!”
Thwack, thwack, thwack.
Tang Min delivered several more swift blows to Tang Hak's lips, then scowled. For the first time in her life, Sohwa found herself agreeing with him.

Hak was a disaster waiting to happen. Revealing their identity so readily to a complete stranger… She only tolerated his behavior because she knew Yeon-a’s true nature. If she hadn't, she would have gladly joined Tang Min in throttling him.
Then, an unexpected reaction came from Yeon-a. “S-Sichuan Tang Clan? You’re from the Tang Clan?”
The sheer joy in her voice startled both Tang Min and Tang Sohwa.

The two elders turned to look at Yeon-a, their movements stiff and jerky. Then, they froze again. Yeon-a’s eyes, now brimming with tears, were crinkled in a bright smile.
“The Sichuan Tang Clan? The rulers of Sichuan! Masters of poison and hidden weapons! One of the most powerful clans in the world?!”
Though technically true, it felt strange to confirm such accolades themselves.

Silence.
Yeon-a, as if demanding an answer, clenched her fists and raised her voice. “The most formidable sect in the martial world, untouchable and invincible! Right?”
“…”

“No! I’m right, aren't I? To challenge the Sichuan Tang Clan is to risk one’s life!”
“…”
“Why aren't you answering? ‘Never make an enemy of one who wears green!’ Even I, living in this secluded mountain, know that terrifying saying!” She beamed, her smile radiant, despite uttering such ominous words.

Tang Min muttered under his breath, “…This child… There’s something wrong with her.”
Sohwa didn't want to agree, but she couldn't deny it. Could this really be Yeon-a? She scrutinized the girl’s face, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Despite her youthful appearance, her features were exactly as she remembered.
Delicate features, as if sculpted from the finest jade, bright, sparkling eyes, and lips curved into a perfect crescent moon. Her face radiated a pure, untainted joy that was strangely infectious. Even her worn clothing couldn't diminish her beauty.

“…” Gazing at her bright, cheerful smile, Sohwa was momentarily speechless.
In her past life, she had only learned about Namgung Hyeon and Yeon-a’s relationship after arriving at the Namgung estate. She had initially felt betrayed, then grateful for Yeon-a’s sacrifice for the Tang Clan. Despite knowing her for years, those were the only emotions she had ever associated with her: resentment and gratitude.
Now, without Namgung Hyeon between them, facing Yeon-a felt strange. This woman, her husband’s lover and her own savior…

Yeon-a, untouched by the Namgung and Tang Clan conflict, was a completely different person. The stoic warrior, whose face rarely betrayed any emotion, was now a cheerful, innocent girl, her joy unrestrained and infectious.
What had transformed her into the cold-blooded killer she had become?
It was a question she couldn’t answer now. And preventing that transformation was the very reason she had come to the Divine Physician’s troupe.

Sohwa forced a warm smile, hoping to ease Yeon-a’s suspicion.
“…Wipe that ridiculous expression off your face before I lose my patience.” Ignoring Tang Min’s veiled threat, Sohwa spoke gently. “I believe you’ve misunderstood, Miss.” Wiping her lips with the cloth Tang Hak had given her, she straightened her posture. “My father, concerned for my safety, sent guards and protective items with me. But I have no intention of harming anyone in the Divine Physician’s troupe. If you wish, I can enter alone.”
“No.” The objection came from Tang Min. “This is the kind of place that raises ill-mannered brats. You’re not going anywhere alone.”

“That’s right! Absolutely not, Noona.”
Her family’s unhelpful interjections nearly brought her to tears, but thankfully, Yeon-a’s next words dispelled her anxieties. “Nonsense! You can all come in! In fact, don’t leave anyone behind! The Tang Clan’s poisons are renowned weapons! And bring all your guards too! Oh, do you have any carrier pigeons? I need to inform them of your arrival and your location. You might need reinforcements from your main estate.”
“…Reinforcements?”

Sohwa frowned slightly, and Yeon-a, a strained smile plastered on her face, began to sweat profusely. “Oh, um, no, I just meant… it’s always better to be safe. Don’t mind me.”
Yeon-a fidgeted, then turned abruptly. “Th-this way. I’ll open the formation for you.”
Her sudden change in demeanor was suspicious.

Tang Min, sensing this as well, asked, his voice laced with suspicion, “Why is she acting like that?”
Tang Sohwa couldn't answer. Despite knowing the future, she had no idea what was happening here.
Suddenly, Yeon-a leaped onto a nearby tree, scaling it with surprising agility. The sound of cracking branches filled the air, and the dense forest before them vanished.

“W-what?!” Tang Hak gasped, his mouth agape.
In place of the forest was a sheer cliff face, a small cave entrance nestled within its crevices. It was barely a cave, more like a narrow crevice just wide enough for two people to squeeze through.
Yeon-a, having jumped down from the cliff, beckoned them from the entrance. “Hurry! The formation will reactivate in half an hour.”

Sohwa started towards the entrance, but the deputy leader, ever vigilant, blocked her path. “We’ll go first.”
The Black Tiger Unit warriors entered the cave. Though not exactly as planned, Tang Sohwa and her companions had gained entry to the Divine Physician’s troupe, invited by Yeon-a herself.