Chapter 37
The indifferent gaze made Dang Jinak realize that it was the truth. He reluctantly continued speaking.
“…Last year, my mother passed away.”
It was devastating news that his mother, who had gone out with his younger sibling, was involved in a major accident.
His younger sibling survived only because their mother shielded them.
“I didn’t even have time to grieve losing my mother before my maternal family crumbled, and my position started to shrink.”
Dang Jinak’s maternal family had been a well-known merchant family in Sichuan.
But as they say, bad things always come in a wave.
Not long after his mother passed, their family suffered a sudden bankruptcy, and they could never recover from it.
The Sacheon Dang Clan was a family that held bloodlines in high regard.
At first glance, they might seem like a close-knit group, rejecting outside influence, but inside, there were strict divisions based on who had which relatives, whose child they were, and which elder they were connected to.
The family was highly divided, and factions were carefully split.
After losing both his mother and the strong backing from his maternal family, Dang Jinak was abandoned by those who had supported him.
“I have many half-siblings. Some of them are eyeing the position of clan head.”
Then, one day, his older half-brother, Dang Jinyo, who had been mentioned as a leading candidate for the clan head alongside Dang Jinak, visited him.
He was one year older than Dang Jinak and the second of their twelve siblings.
“Jinak, you know the competition for the clan head position is coming soon. Honestly, don’t you think you’re a bit lacking to become the clan head now?”
“…What exactly are you trying to say, brother?”
“Give up the competition. If you do, I’ll use my power to protect Jinmyeong.”
“Although I lost my mother and my maternal family, I can still protect Jinmyeong.”
“Jinak, this is no longer just a competition between us brothers. It’s a competition between factions. I didn’t want to say this, but… do you really think your mother’s death was just an accident?”
What Dang Jinyo revealed was shocking.
One of his half-siblings had used their position to harm his mother and younger sibling in order to reduce Dang Jinak’s influence.
When Dang Jinak asked who the culprit was, Dang Jinyo shook his head, admitting that he hadn’t been able to uncover that part.
“I don’t want to fight dirty anymore. If I become the clan head and inherit the position, I’ll make sure nothing like this happens again. So I want you to lend me your power.”
Unlike other brothers who fought over their different mothers, Dang Jinyo had always gotten along well with the other siblings.
“Stop training and go out. The more you act like a wild man, the more people will think you’ve fallen into despair and won’t care about the competition anymore. Then the hostility towards you and Jinmyeong will naturally disappear.”
If he agreed, Dang Jinyo promised to protect Jinmyeong, so Dang Jinak decided to listen to him.
After hearing everything, Dok Go-ryong stared at Dang Jinak with a look of disdain.
“Do you really believe that? It’s obvious he’s trying to get rid of you because you’re a nuisance.”
“I know. I know my brother is cautious about me. But the truth is, I can’t compete for the clan head position anymore. The people who supported me are either gone or have joined other siblings. Now, I have someone I need to protect.”
If it was to protect his younger sibling, Dang Jinak was willing to play the part of a fool.
“Then why are you pushing that important younger sibling away?”
“Because… that’s the only way I can protect them.”
Dang Jinak frowned and recalled what Dang Jinyo had said.
“It’s better to keep your distance from Jinmyeong. If you’re seen as protecting him, it’ll reveal your weakness, and those who targeted your mother might try to harm him again. I’ll take good care of Jinmyeong from now on, so don’t worry.”
His tightly clenched fist trembled, and blood leaked from his clenched lips.
“To me, you seem like you’re lost in self-justification, ignoring reality.”
“…What?”
“Who are you trusting right now? The half-brother who gave you those pitiful orders?”
“I don’t trust anyone except Jinmyeong and Grandfather.”
“Then why are you listening to a fool like him?”
Dang Jinak’s hand twitched.
“Why are you handing over something so precious to someone you don’t even trust?”
“Because… compared to me, my brother is…”
“You’re not just a fool. You’re a top-level fool.”
Dang Jinak’s face flushed with embarrassment from the blatant mockery.
“Then what should I do? My mother is gone, and the forces that supported me have disappeared! I’m the only one who has to protect Jinmyeong from that huge family!”
“Just protect him.”
“It’s not that simple…!”
“If what you’re doing now isn’t inrang-ipsil (bringing the wolf into the house), then what is?”
Dang Jinak was momentarily overwhelmed by the sharp gaze of Dok Go-ryong.
“No matter what their reputation or trustworthiness is, you should never reveal your weakness to someone you can’t trust.”
“…”
“You’re supposed to be a talented person if you’re a candidate for the clan head. You should be thinking of getting stronger and protecting your younger sibling, not doing these pointless things.”
“That’s…”
“Have you ever considered that your brother might be the one who killed your mother?”
Dang Jinak’s eyes widened.
From the look on his face, it seemed he hadn’t even considered that possibility.
“Your brother… he’s not the type to do that. He’s always been kind to all the siblings, no matter their background!”
“Usually, those kinds of people are the ones who stab you in the back.”
“…”
“Do you really think it was an accident? It’s obvious. He either teamed up with the culprit or is the culprit himself.”
Dang Jinak’s lips trembled. He wanted to argue, but…
Dok Go-ryong’s words brought up suspicions that had never crossed his mind before.
Dang Jinak looked confused, but he was much more alive now than when he seemed defeated and listless earlier.
Seeing that Dok Go-ryong felt relieved, he sighed deeply.
‘Hmm?’
Suddenly, Dok Go-ryong sensed something unusual.
He heightened his senses and had already checked where the children were, ensuring they wouldn’t go far.
But now, while he was talking to Dang Jinak, the presence of the two children he had tracked had disappeared.
Feeling uneasy, he hurried to the last place he’d sensed them.
Meanwhile, Dang Jinak, unaware that Dok Go-ryong had left, fell into deep thought.
‘That annoying guy, but… he’s not wrong.’
As Dok Go-ryong said, the person who cared most for Jinmyeong in the Sacheon Dang Clan was him.
So why had he so blindly followed Dang Jinyo’s words?
‘…It must have been because I was anxious.’
The loneliness, pressure, and helplessness of being left alone had clouded his judgment.
Perhaps he had thought that Dang Jinyo’s kind gesture was his only remaining hope.
‘I just wanted to see my brother… Why doesn’t he want to see me?’
Jinmyeong, only five years old, had also lost his mother.
“Let’s apologize to Jinmyeong. And… from now on, I’ll protect him.”
After all, Dang Jinyo’s biggest worry was that he would compete for the clan head position.
He would make it clear that he had no interest in the clan head position and stay by his younger sibling’s side. Then, maybe he could go home…
Bang!
With a loud crash, a gust of wind blew through. Surprised, Dang Jinak turned his head.
Dok Go-ryong, who had disappeared earlier, was now standing at the door with an anxious expression.
“They’re gone.”
“…Gone?”
“The kids are gone.”
Dang Jinak, who had been getting up slowly, widened his eyes.
Clunk, clunk—bang!
The ground shook violently, and Eun Sowol regained her senses. She fluttered her eyelids open, clutching her throbbing head with a sharp headache.
“Ugh, where is this…?”
When she opened her eyes, she saw bars and thick cloth beyond them, with Dang Jinmyeong lying next to her.
Kidnapped…? Who the hell…
Eun Sowol observed Dang Jinmyeong carefully.
Thankfully, he was just asleep.
For a moment, relief washed over her, but then, suddenly, an overwhelming surge of emotion hit her.
“Wait, why the hell are they kidnapping people?!”
At first, she thought someone might be targeting her…
‘…But that wouldn’t make sense. What would they want with me?’
If anyone was targeted, it would be this kid, Dang Jinmyeong.
He was a member of the Sacheon Dang Clan.
‘…Still, this is strange. In Sichuan, of all places, who would kidnap a member of the Sacheon Dang Clan in the capital?’
They say when the Sacheon Dang Clan holds a grudge, it’s worse than a woman’s lingering resentment.
Could it be that Dang Jinmyeong’s family situation is complicated… and he got caught up in it?
