Chapter 275: Receiving Guests (7)
“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”
Tang Kwan, who was quietly looking down at the empty glass, held out his glass.
“Give me another glass.”
Yeon Wi smiled and filled his glass.
Tang Kwan emptied his glass as soon as it was filled. He didn’t say anything, but it seemed he liked it quite a bit.
“Clan Head Yeon, please receive a glass too.”
Tang Kwan filled Yeon Wi’s glass.
Yeon Wi only emptied half the glass. Tang Kwan frowned.
“You said it was good alcohol, so why don’t you drink it all?”
“This person tends to divide it up to drink.”
“Hmph!”
Tang Kwan sneered.
“Are you doing that because you think I might have poisoned it?”
“The Clan Head Tang I see is quite a self-righteous person. However, you are also not a person who would do something like putting poison in a liquor glass.”
“You speak well.”
Tang Kwan looked out the window.
It was a scenery with nothing special. It seemed he also felt awkward in this kind of setting.
Yeon Wi filled his glass again and asked.
“So, have you worked things out well with your daughter?”
Even though it was a very sensitive topic, he asked so naturally.
Tang Kwan frowned.
“I didn’t come because of my daughter’s matter.”
“To a parent, their child’s matter is always the top priority. After this meeting ends today, have at least a meal with your daughter.”
“I will take care of it myself, so mind your own business.”
“Hahaha.”
Indeed, it wouldn’t be such an easy matter for Tang Kwan. He would move when he felt it was time to move, so just as he said, there would be no need to care anymore.
“Anyway, what brings you at this time…….”
“That wench.”
Although he cut off his words, Yeon Wi didn’t show any signs of displeasure.
“Who are you talking about?”
“I mean the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions.”
“Mmm.”
“I heard that wench’s medical skills are that outstanding.”
Yeon Wi nodded his head.
“This person also doesn’t know well, but according to the rumors, she combined the medical skills of the Western Regions and the Central Plains to create an outstanding secret transmission.”
Tang Kwan chuckled.
“No matter how amazing those smelly Western Region bastards’ medical skills are, how amazing could it be?”
“That is not something you should say. From what I heard, the medical skills of the Western Regions, unlike our Central Plains’ medical skills, are proficient in surgical treatment.”
“Surgical treatment…….”
“Was it called thoracotomy? I heard it is possible to temporarily put a person in a state of suspended animation, open the chest, and directly treat the organs.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes deepened.
“If that is true, she must have killed quite a lot of people.”
“Hm?”
“Thoracotomy is a method that our main family is also still testing. Moreover, in order to put a person in a state of suspended animation, anesthesia must be applied, but the time it takes to fall into anesthesia and wake up from it varies from person to person.”
It was knowledge that Yeon Wi had never encountered before. Because they handled poisons and medicines, the Tang Clan’s medical skills were also considered the best in Sichuan, so to become the Clan Head, top-tier training and study in all those areas would be essential.
No matter what anyone said, Tang Kwan was an amazing person. Yeon Wi could not help but admit that fact.
“In order to apply anesthesia, extremely meticulous pharmacological knowledge is needed. If it is even a little weak, they will wake up in the middle of the surgery and die from the shock, and if it is even a little strong, their muscles will stiffen or their nerves will become a mess.”
“Hmm.”
“Tens of thousands of people must have died just to figure out that exact amount.”
Yeon Wi sighed.
“As expected, medicine is a difficult study.”
“Unless they are half-crazy bastards, it is hard to achieve great success. Let alone if it is to the extent of being able to freely perform thoracotomy, she must have stained her hands with countless blood.”
Tang Kwan emptied his glass.
He turned his eyes to the window again.
“It is okay.”
Yeon Wi realized belatedly that it was an appreciation review for the taste of the alcohol.
“Anyway, why are you suddenly asking about the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”
Tang Kwan fiddled with his glass without answering.
Unlike him, he seemed hesitant. Yeon Wi waited patiently until he opened his mouth.
A moment later.
“I do not want to admit it, but I cannot deny that your son’s eloquence is quite top-notch.”
“Hm?”
“Since he went as the escort for that wench, as long as he doesn’t do anything foolish, they should form some level of friendship.”
Yeon Wi asked carefully.
“Do you want something in particular from the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions?”
Tang Kwan’s expression, with his eyes turned to the window, stiffened a bit.
“That is right. Of course, I cannot tell you what it is.”
“…….”
“……Please act as a bridge for us once in between.”
For Tang Kwan, it must be a quite pride-damaging moment.
Yeon Wi tilted his head in confusion.
“That wouldn’t be a difficult task, but is there a need to do that? When the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions comes, the Clan Head can personally…….”
“I cannot do that.”
“Why is that?”
Tang Kwan frowned.
“Murong Jun will be keeping an eye on me.”
“……!”
“Whether Murong Jun knows I am meeting with the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions or not, it does not matter much. However, I do not want to let that guy know either.”
“Mmm.”
“With that head that only knows how to doubt, he’ll just have useless delusions and provoke my nerves for no reason. I could smash him to pieces if he attacks first, but I do not want to make things unnecessarily noisy.”
It was bothersome for conflicts to arise. It was a matter that could be passed over comfortably if that side put in some effort once. Tang Kwan’s words meant exactly that.
Somehow, Yeon Wi felt like he understood Tang Kwan’s heart.
“May I ask you just one thing?”
“…….”
“The matter that requires the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions, it must naturally be a matter that requires medical knowledge.”
“Why do you ask when you know?”
“Acting as a bridge is not a problem, but it would be troubling if others suffer misfortune due to the benefits gained from it.”
Tang Kwan laughed coldly.
“How much help did you receive to obtain your current sword skills? Surely, you aren’t boasting that not a single drop of blood is stained on that sword?”
“You should know the meaning behind my words.”
“Hmph.”
“I do not know whether it is to improve poison, to make medicine, or for the completion of medical knowledge, but innocent people should not suffer harm because of it.”
“A saint has arrived. Even poison becomes medicine if used when necessary, and medicine also becomes poison if used excessively. Poison is also a double-edged blade like a sword.”
Yeon Wi narrowed his eyes.
“Whether it is for the Tang Clan or for an individual, I do not care. Trying to find out more about it would just be meddling.”
“…….”
“However, I must hear this answer. It should not be a matter where innocent people suffer harm.”
Tang Kwan frowned.
“Don’t you think you’re being excessively serious over something that is nothing special?”
“If you think it is something nothing special, I have nothing more to say either.”
Tang Kwan, who had been glaring at Yeon Wi quietly, turned his head to the window again.
“It is a matter for me.”
“…….”
“Unless I am certain they are an enemy, I do not put poison in their glass.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“I will take those words as a promise.”
“Hmph.”
Tang Kwan held out his glass.
“Pour me another glass.”
Yeon Wi filled his glass.
Tang Kwan, who emptied his glass refreshingly, filled Yeon Wi’s glass.
Yeon Wi, who was looking at Tang Kwan with a smile, lifted his glass.
“There’s something else too, isn’t there?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“I know you didn’t come here just because of the Divine Maiden of the Western Regions’s matter.”
“Do you also read fortunes?”
“Anyone could tell if they had even a little bit of tact.”
“It must be nice to have quick tact.”
“So, what is the matter you separately want to ask of this person?”
Tang Kwan did not answer.
This silence was quite long. It seemed it was a matter that was hard to answer easily even for him.
The silence continued for over two ke like that.
By the time the second bottle of Confucius Family Liquor was emptied, Tang Kwan opened his mouth.
“What did she say?”
“Hm?”
Tang Kwan spoke with a somewhat hesitant expression.
“You said you had a meal together back then.”
“……?”
“I mean Sang-ah.”
“Ah!”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“We did.”
“What did that child say about this person?”
“She didn’t say anything.”
“……?”
“She didn’t say a single word about you. And we also didn’t say anything. We just happily ate the meal while talking about this and that trivial things.”
Tang Kwan’s eyes deepened.
“You definitely said this before. You said Sang-ah felt frustrated, and that she showed signs of worrying about me a lot.”
“Of course I did.”
“Are you saying that was all a lie?”
“It was not a lie.”
Yeon Wi spoke with a serious face.
“You do not necessarily have to speak to know someone’s feelings. I just knew what had happened, and I merely felt those feelings by looking at Sang-ah’s face and voice at that time.”
“…….”
“The relationship between a parent and child is like that. There are things that are communicated even without needing to speak. However, in order to become a relationship that communicates without words, a lot of conversation is needed first.”
“…….”
“The Clan Head Tang asking me about your daughter, I think it is a good approach. However, there is nothing more I can help with beyond this.”
Yeon Wi spoke while filling Tang Kwan’s glass.
“Now go meet her yourself.”
Tang Kwan’s eyelids trembled slightly.
“……That child will not want to meet me.”
“If she won’t meet you, wait. And if you think she seems somewhat okay, try reaching out your hand again at that time.”
“…….”
“As I told you before, I believe that one should not stand on their pride with their child. Unless you truly intend to break ties with your daughter, if that is not the case, I think it is right for you, who are at least a little more mature, to approach her first.”
Yeon Wi smiled bitterly.
“I couldn’t do that. I even acted like that not too long ago.”
“…….”
“Isn’t there a good negative example? I hope you do not commit the mistake that I committed.”
Tang Kwan, who was quietly looking at Yeon Wi, asked as if tossing out a question.
“Why are you doing this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you treating me well? Do not give me reasons like it is for Sang-ah, or that I am not an enemy, or that it reminded you of yourself.”
Yeon Wi chuckled.
“I am sorry, but the reasons you just mentioned are everything. It is for Sang-ah’s sake, because you are not an enemy, and because I am reminded of my past.”
“That is absurd.”
“Of course, it is more for Sang-ah’s sake than for yours. Sang-ah is my son’s friend. If she is my son’s friend, she is a niece to me.”
“A niece.”
Tang Kwan’s lips twitched.
“You must know, right? What happened between your son and my son.”
“I know.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“The Clan Head Tang’s son made a huge mistake.”
“Hmph!”
“So, what about it?”
“Why don’t you say it with that hypocritical mouth. That my son is also a nephew.”
“He is not a nephew.”
“…….”
“Since my son does not think of your son as a friend, how can I take him as my nephew? Do not expect too much from me.”
Yeon Wi emptied his glass.
“However, if they could get along well with each other, that would also be a good thing. Just as the Clan Head Tang said, I also prefer harmony and smiles over conflict.”
Yeon Wi speaking honestly and confidently.
A faint, barely visible smile hung around the corners of Tang Kwan’s mouth as he looked at such Yeon Wi. What meaning that smile held, no one but he himself would know.
Yeon Wi spoke with a smile.
“With this much, haven’t I welcomed the guest passably well?”
“You are called the Judge Sword, but were you a person whose smiles were so cheap?”
“Hahaha!”
“Is there one more bottle?”
“Of course. Let us drink one more.”