146 – The Tang in Tang Clan Means Sugar (#6)
Xiao Xiao spoke to me.
Would I not consider staying in China with her?
“Haildo, I feel that I can become a little better when I know you’re around.”
Xiao Xiao’s face was exceptionally serious, and her cheeks were flushed. Swish-. Her hand, extended towards me, was trembling slightly.
Was it because I hesitated and didn’t reply immediately?
Xiao Xiao then quickly added, like a skilled salesperson enticing a customer.
“Haildo, I like you. I haven’t forgotten you for a single day since that day. This is me confessing my feelings to you!”
The word “confession” snapped me back to reality.
And she hadn’t forgotten me since that day?
“Did you like me since elementary school?”
“Yes!”
I recalled Aunt Tang Yingying saying that the women of the Tang family were especially assertive. They were resilient and liked taking the lead in various matters.
That seemed to be the case.
The current Xiao Xiao was like a valiant hero.
The Xiao Xiao I knew—clumsy with Korean and seemed a little meek—was nowhere to be seen.
It was only natural.
Xiao Xiao, an S-Rank Awakened from China, had certainly gone through much. She had built her own foundation and surpassed even the need for me to protect or give her special attention—her foundation was even stronger than mine.
The Xiao Xiao I knew and the Xiao Xiao now were entirely different people.
And it was likely the same for Xiao Xiao’s perception of Haildo.
“Haildo, the person you knew in the past and the me you see now might as well be two different people. It hasn’t even been a month since we met again. I think confessions should be made with more consideration.”
“…”
Xiao Xiao bit her lips.
And then she murmured softly, for only me to hear.
“Is it because of other girls? Haildo, is there someone else you like? I can be better than her, I can surpass her!”
The way she was glaring with readiness to throw a tantrum flustered me.
Upon reflection, Xiao Xiao was not shy because of her lack of Korean skills but rather very proactive and unrelenting in her nature.
I clearly remembered how she left bruise marks on the faces of Gong Juyoung and her followers!
“It’s not because of other women. It’s a personal issue. It’s not because I dislike you or because I like someone else—Tsukki’s confession, I rejected it the same way.”
“Tsukki from that Japanese kabuki party? She confessed to you?”
Xiao Xiao’s brow furrowed even more.
Crack.
The lollipop in Xiao Xiao’s hand shattered with a strange sound.
“Haildo, all this time, I only held you in my heart. But you, it seems, did not. Now that I think about it, the you I knew and this you now are indeed different. Of course, ten years have passed. This candy has also passed its expiration date.”
Whisk-!
Xiao Xiao turned her head and hopped away in the distance. However, she came back and handed me something.
“This is medicine that can cure my mother completely. Illinois and Tairrenol collaborated on making it. Please give it to my mother. Also, I’ve felt this since before, but there are too many women around you.”
Whisk-!
After saying that, Xiao Xiao really left.
Was she hurt because her confession was rejected?
Simultaneously, I felt deep regret for many reasons.
It was the same with Tsukki’s instance; if I were the lover of an S-Rank Awakened, T-Rank Rifts would be as easy as taking a bus, and I could effortlessly obtain rare items or opportunities to elevate my level.
I had once again foolishly turned down an opportunity that couldn’t be bought with money.
Haildo, you fool!
Even as I scolded myself, I felt dizzy at the thought that every night since Tsukki’s confession, this moment might haunt my dreams.
# # #
Xiao Xiao headed towards Limbo Forest.
Limbo Forest, which had been eroded by toxins, had become purer due to the efforts of the medicinal Nymph and the poison Nymph working together to cleanse the trees, now exuding an air that was clearer than ever.
It was like a forest where fairies lived.
A place where immortals wandered.
In such a place, one could cultivate by simply breathing, potentially reaching transcendent realms or even achieving legendary “feathering and ascending to immortality.”
“Huff-.”
Xiao Xiao sat cross-legged on the grass of the forest and lost herself in thought.
Recollections of Haildo, which were quite idealized in her imagination, came trickling back.
“The Haildo I used to like and the Haildo now are different?”
People are bound to change.
Xiao Xiao was clearly realizing this as she observed the present Haildo.
‘My Haildo is no longer anywhere in this world. But… but… he’s become even better…!’
Haildo had become much better than Xiao Xiao’s idealized memories.
He was a man of great capacity with excellent execution skills.
He still chose to tackle difficult situations head-on, a trait Xiao Xiao admired while they were in elementary school, and now, it shone even brighter than before, more refined and dazzling.
‘Haildo is destined to become a great man.’
Based on Xiao Xiao’s judgment, he could even become a legendary hero.
The only problem was the many women entangled with the shining Haildo. In both the past and present, this fact remained unchanged.
It was only natural for women to be drawn to capable men.
“I must appear inferior to him beside him, right? If I were to become the absolute strongest, other women would be scared off. What I need is overwhelming power.”
Strong women naturally attract strong men.
This was a universal truth that Xiao Xiao was fully aware of.
Recalling the day she pulled Gong Juyoung’s hair and beat her face, causing her to say: “Okay, I get it! I’ll give up on Haildo!” Xiao Xiao realized this fact.
“I need to strengthen myself. Overwhelming power-”
Xiao Xiao resolved to become the strongest.
It was a path similar to Tsukki’s after her confession was rejected, who said, “I will cultivate supreme femininity,” though Xiao Xiao herself was unaware of the parallels.
Swish swish-.
As Xiao Xiao began the practice of circulating her mana through her body, the flowers and leaves of the fairy-infused Limbo Forest swayed violently as if caught in the wind.
On this day,
Xiao Xiao reached the third stage of the Nymph’s Poison Technique.
# # #
“Are you really suggesting that we jointly study this Hydra’s head?”
The Tang family members were greatly amazed.
The Hydra.
It was a beast so powerful that it could scarcely be described as merely a spiritual creature.
Western Ye-rim’s suggestion to leave the severed Hydra’s head in China for study was met with admiration and appreciation.
Western Ye-rim explained:
“It appeared in China’s rift; if we claim ownership, there could be complicated international issues. Let’s research it together.”
There were also discussions about Telos Corporation and Sichuan Tang Clan teaming up to create a “Telos Tang Pharmaceuticals,” but such corporate matters went over my head and weren’t particularly interesting to me.
What was striking was the astronomical amount of money involved and the high potential profits, which made my head spin.
“Haildo, may your name live forever!”
“Not only have you saved us from the toxic despotism of Rimbo’s poison, but you’ve opened economic pathways for us! Haildo, you are our benefactor!”
“In our Tang family, the name Haildo will be passed down through generations, and henceforth, those with the H family name will always be served food for free!”
The Tang family held a grand party for us and gave a large amount of herbs as a gesture of gratitude.
━Hiyooong…! Hiooong…!
━Meeooong…! Miooong…!
“Wow, it’s still fascinating. The spiders are singing and dancing. Is this what a utopia where immortals wander is like?”
“Look at this honey ant! It singlehandedly prepared meals enough for over thirty people! Its golden shimmering body is impressive! It’s called the Emperor?”
In the midst of the bustling celebration,
There were still solemn faces here and there.
“Taerenol, did you author this book?”
Tang So-hae held the “Tang Family Secret Manual” and asked Taerenol how to read it, as it seemed that mastering the techniques in this book might allow her to become S-Rank.
“Muheheh… This Tang Family Secret Manual was enthusiastically created by Taerenul…! Extremely important secrets of the world are written here…! It’s not easy for anyone to read it…!”
“Why does Sister Taerenol suddenly use such distasteful language? I don’t remember her talking this way before…!”
Taerenol swiftly pulled out something from her pocket.
It was fake Qingstone oil.
This was Taerenol’s attempt to create authentic Qingstone oil, but it was imperfect, making it both a medicine and a poison.
“This is poison (毒) but reading (讀) poison as well…! Consuming this can improve eyesight, making the characters legible…! Note: Antidotes can be made by Sister Illinois…!”
“Of course…! All antidotes for Taerenol’s poisons can be made by Nymph Illinois…! Have you considered the cost…?”
At Illinois’s statement about being able to create an antidote, Tang So-hae was greatly surprised.
“With an antidote available…!”
Glug glug-.
Tang So-hae drank the fake Qingstone oil.
After unfolding the Tang Family Secret Manual, her eyes darted around the blank pages as if something were written on them.
“Pluck strawberries and dry them on wooden skewers… Boil sugar and glucose syrup in a pot until the right consistency is reached… Huh? What is this? There’s no martial art written here!”
“Muheheh… This book contains the secret method to make a Nymph-friendly Tanghulu…! The Tang in Sichuan Tang refers to sugar!”
The Tang family was originally a group of people who made and distributed sugar to nymphs.
Sugar.
Eating too much of it can be more dangerous than any poison.
It was a very shocking truth, and Tang So-hae appeared shocked as she slumped.
“So… does this mean my cultivation progress…? Breaking through the highest martial arts to become not a honey bee Tang So-hae but a poisonous bee Tang So-hae? I… I don’t understand…!”
Wail wail-.
Tang So-hae burst into tears like a spoiled child, and adorable pumpkin bees flew around her, their bodies pressing close to comfort her.
It was a scene fitting of “Honey Bee Tang So-hae,” and the Tang family members marvelled at how cute the young master was.
Still, Taerenol’s lecture wasn’t over.
“Is there no understanding while observing the process of making Tanghulu? It holds a powerful secret within it…! The grandmaster who crafted Tanghulu, Tang Gong Shan, was also known as the Supreme One of Martial Arts, the Toxic Sugar Emperor!”
Making nymph-friendly Tanghulu was an arduous process requiring great discipline and cultivation.
Tang So-hae examined the manual carefully again, exclaiming, “There’s indeed profound martial principles in the act of stirring sugar!”
Though I didn’t fully understand, it seemed that diligent Tanghulu making could significantly improve one’s skills.
Honestly, I couldn’t tell what was going on anymore.
Still, I thought it was a good thing.
“Tang So-hae, it’s going well.”
Startled!
At my call, Tang So-hae jumped and seemed rather awkward while checking her surroundings before speaking softly.
“Haildo, I didn’t volunteer to jump into the toxic basement that time because I am someone precious. I’m the legitimate young lady of the Tang family… Plus, if I died, my father would be heartbroken…”
“That’s reasonable.”
Tang So-hae appeared ashamed of not stepping forward when the basement was covered in the Hydra’s poison, but soon regained confidence.
“I think it’s not shameful to fear danger. I believe those who muster the courage in such dangerous and fearful situations deserve praise. Haildo, you really are an impressive person.”
“Is that so?”
To me, receiving such direct compliments from people was almost as embarrassing as being afraid. While I was flustered, Tang So-hae spoke.
“Our family head Tanghulu’s real name is actually Lee Seo-mun. He changed his name after marrying my mother and joining the Tang family. The Tang family takes in son-in-laws. And….”
Hesitating.
For a while, Tang So-hae hesitated.
When I asked “And?” she hid her red face with a bee and said,
“I think Haildo is pretty good! If I overcome So So-hui and become the truly unique and legitimate successor, I’ll host a competition to choose a son-in-law! Please participate!”
Wham bam bam-!
After saying that, Tang So-hae disappeared with her bees.
Watching her go, Illinois shook her head and said,
“Rather peculiar Core indeed…! Nevertheless, it seems she has gained some insight from this experience, which will undoubtedly make her more excellent…!”
That’s true.
Everyone was progressing.
And it was the same for me.
Swish swish-.
I circulated my mana throughout my body.
The C-Rank awakening level was the point at which one could invest their mana into external substances and control them, wasn’t it?
━Kkungkkung…!
The fur of Kkungkkungi, infused with my mana, shone eerily.
I transmitted my intent to Kkungkkungi, who then moved left and right.
━Kkungkkung…!
The B-Rank level was where one could manifest “special abilities” based on cultivated mana. In my case, an animal manipulator, it meant controlling animals to an extent. If I were to name this ability, “Animal Manipulation” would suffice.
Honestly, I’m still pondering what to call my ability.
What about the A-Rank level, then?
From what I’ve heard, A-Rank Awakeneds not only become better at the skills they’ve previously mastered but also acquire unique qualities. This varies for each Awakened, and can’t be strictly defined. I was very excited to see what I might achieve.
I’ve even thought of some abilities I’d like to gain, hoping they’ll come true!
“Whichever way you look at it, the amount of mana has definitely increased.”
Though detailed examination is necessary, the amount of mana I had seemed to have increased approximately 1.5 times since leaving Korea and arriving in China.
The area I could deploy my mana had also expanded quite significantly to about 200 meters.
With this, the number of strategies and tactics involving animal companions I could employ would increase exponentially.
I felt glad.
A-Rank.
A term denoting, without a doubt, the top-tier Awakeneds, just below the celestial-level S-Ranks.
“This is the air of A-Rank. How refreshing!”
“It’s actually Illinois who sprinkled deodorizer in the air…! With everyone grilling meat everywhere, the smell was atrocious…!”
Ah, I see.
Anyway, the tiring and eventful journey in China was mostly over.
Around the same time, my phone, which was out of order due to the basement’s toxins, was repaired.
Ding ding ding-.
Once I turned the phone on, a massive number of piled-up TelTalk messages appeared.
“Hey, Haildo. There’s someone you should meet. She’s astonishing.”
“Senior, I didn’t want to say this, but I have a favor to ask…!”
About twenty messages were from Lee Jin-a,
and over fifty from Yoo Ara.
“What could have prompted all these messages?”
