As the elders of the clan cheered in joy, the warriors standing guard at the gates of Tangga Mountain—and those who had rushed out to greet us—shouted ecstatically as well.
“L-Lady Hwa-eun is with child!”
“Ooooh! A grand blessing upon the clan!”
“Waaaah!”
I frantically tried to explain that it was all a misunderstanding.
The misunderstanding was ballooning out of control.
“W-Wait, I think there’s a bit of a mix-up. Hwa-eun’s chest—no, I mean, her heart, that is...”
“Son-in-law, there’s no need to be shy. We’re not that old-fashioned, you know.”
“That’s right. We’re not upset. In fact, we’re delighted! Children are precious to the Tang Clan.”
“Har har. Well, you rascal, maybe don’t stir up trouble next time.”
But my explanation wasn’t getting through. Not at all.
And of course, just when I needed someone to help clear things up—Sister Seol and the Dragon Fangs had already slipped away to take a hot bath, leaving me alone after I introduced the spirit beasts to the family.
I looked toward Hwa-eun with a silent plea for help.
But instead, she only amplified the misunderstanding.
“So-ryong’s... baby...”
Her hands were placed on her belly, her entire body blushing crimson from head to toe in embarrassment.
Hwa-eun, who was still weak to anything remotely high-suggestiveness, seemed dazed just from imagining herself carrying my child.
At this rate, the misunderstanding was going to spread across the entire Tang Clan.
So I ushered the elders toward the main family quarters, the Sahap Garden used by the Tang’s direct lineage.
“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Grandfather—I think we really need to clear this up. Let’s talk inside, not out here like this.”
“What’s there to clear up? It’s fine.”
“Indeed.”
“No, it’s really not what you think!”
Heading indoors meant I’d have to explain in detail—and that meant confessing my preferences, too.
And so, in the living room of the Sahap Garden where the core Tang family resided, I sat them all down and explained everything.
It wasn’t pregnancy—it was a rebirth. And the reason Hwa-eun’s heart had grown was because I had partially enhanced her.
It was embarrassing to reveal my subtle preferences to the elders, but after I laid it all out...
The elders burst into laughter.
“Wahaha! We were a bit worried our son-in-law was only interested in venomous creatures—but seems we had nothing to worry about.”
“Exactly. He’s clearly a proper man!”
Now completely red to the tips of my ears from the shame of exposing my tastes, I pouted and expressed my hurt.
I, So-ryong, the man of righteous living—how could they think that of me?
“I-I mean... I am a man, after all. But really, how could you suspect me like that...? I’ve never done anything improper. Besides, didn’t you notice how different Hwa-eun looked? Not just her heart, but her entire presence? You should have noticed something was up...”
My father-in-law and mother-in-law scratched their heads sheepishly.
“Well... If she’d looked plain before, I suppose we’d have noticed the difference. But Hwa-eun’s always been beautiful, so it didn’t feel that drastic.”
“Exactly. When you said she went through a rebirth, we just assumed she was glowing because she was in love.”
Apparently, since Hwa-eun was already so lovely, her post-rebirth transformation hadn’t made a big visual impact. So all they’d noticed was... the size of her heart.
I suppose if someone goes from a beauty level of 10 to 110, the change is striking. But from 1000 to 1100? Not really noticeable.
Only someone who truly loved her—like me—would be sensitive to such subtle shifts.
Still, I couldn't help feeling a bit sulky. I pouted, and just then, Grandfather Tang Mu-seong spoke in his usual sly tone.
“So-ryong, didn’t this grandfather tell you once?”
“Tell me what?”
“That it was fine to ignore the rules and act accordingly. I mean... tsk. I got excited for nothing. I thought I was finally getting a great-grandchild.”
“Truly. Father.”
“I even thought I was becoming a grandmother! It was all so lovely... then gone in a puff.”
I was the one who felt wronged, but it was the elders who looked genuinely more disappointed.
Next to me, Hwa-eun gently nudged me in the ribs.
Her expression seemed to say, Maybe we should’ve gone all the way...
Was I supposed to have used the opportunity to actually give them a great-grandchild?
While I was wondering that, Grandfather’s tone turned serious.
“Anyway, congratulations on reaching the Flower Realm. Hwa-eun, this truly proves that So-ryong is a blessing to our Tang Clan.”
It began with congratulations for Hwa-eun, but ended in praise for me.
The mood softened.
Hwa-eun, with tears brimming in her eyes, looked at me and nodded.
“Thank you, Grandfather. Yes, you’re right. So-ryong is a blessing to both the Tang Clan and to me. Thank you, So-ryong. I’ll cherish you forever.”
“N-No need to go that far...”
More compliments, and my ears turned red all over again.
My father-in-law and mother-in-law soon followed up with their own thanks.
“Indeed. Father, it’s all thanks to our son-in-law. He saved a child who was bedridden and on the verge of qi deviation, and helped her reach the Flower Realm...
According to our Tang Clan teachings—Grudges are etched in blood, gratitude carved in stone. But for you, I shall carve this gratitude in blood. I will repay this debt even in the afterlife.”
“That’s right. Son-in-law, we’ll never forget this grace, not even in death.”
They were thanking me for saving their dying daughter and helping her ascend to a new realm through rebirth.
Their words made my nose sting.
After all, they took me in from the abandoned temple where I lived with nothing but my bizarre hobby—supported me financially and emotionally, and even gave me their daughter...
Even though I’d saved her life, I had nothing. And they still took me as their son-in-law.
Sure, I was kind of amazing, but still.
Trying to maintain composure, I waved my hand.
“There’s no need for that. We’re family. Between family, there's no need for thanks.”
Grandfather Tang Mu-seong walked over and patted my shoulder with a smile.
And then he said—
“By the way. We may have misunderstood earlier, but there’s no need to delay the wedding now, is there?”
He was referring to the earlier commotion—thinking Hwa-eun was pregnant, they’d wanted to rush the ceremony. But even if that turned out false, there was no reason to delay.
He’d even given the steward orders to speed up preparations.
Without a moment of hesitation, both I and Hwa-eun answered in unison.
“Of course, Grandfather.”
“Yes, Grandfather!”
And once again—laughter erupted.
“Hahaha! Look at these two, so eager! If you were in such a rush, you should’ve at least brought us a great-grandchild first!”
“Ahahaha, no kidding.”
“Hehe. Really now...”
“F-Father, please...”
“Ahem...”
But then, after the laughter died down, Grandfather said something... puzzling.
“Well, either way, we’ll have to hold the wedding twice, so it’s good to get the first one out of the way quickly.”
“Twice?”
“Twice!?”
Hwa-eun and I looked at each other in confusion.
Two weddings?
As we both echoed the question, Grandfather gave us a knowing look.
“You two haven’t even considered it, have you?”
“Considered what, Grandfather?”
“Your birth family, So-ryong.”
“My... birth family?”
I paused, wondering if I even had one worth mentioning—
—SMACK.
Not hard enough to hurt—just enough to startle.
Grandfather had clapped me on the back.
“Ack!”
“You fool! I meant the Beast Palace!”
“Oh... right.”
Come to think of it, my original household was the Beast Palace.
After all, I’d been adopted—so it was my official family now.
Even if I’d only visited once.
As I rubbed my stinging back, Hwa-eun suddenly asked:
“Wait... are you saying the Beast Palace won’t be able to come?”
“That’s right, Hwa-eun. Since the Beast Palace is the closest faction to the Five Venoms Sect, the Palace Lord—your father-in-law—can’t leave his post. It’s practically the front line now, isn’t it?”
“Ah, so what you’re saying is... we’ll be holding another ceremony there?”
“Exactly.”
If I were getting married, then the Beast Palace would need to send people and gifts.
Even though I’d been promised as their son-in-law long before I was adopted, the moment they declared themselves my birth family, protocol dictated they had to host their own wedding and send formal gifts.
But right now, the Beast Palace was holding the front line against the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect.
My adoptive father, the Palace Lord, couldn’t afford to step away—not when the Martial Alliance was spread thin across the entire border with Daewolguk.
They’d been cycling troops from the jungle to the central camp to avoid overexposure to the wilds, and the Beast Palace had become their primary staging ground.
There was no way he could leave for several months just to attend a wedding.
It took over two months just to travel from here to there.
So the plan was to hold the wedding here at the Tang Clan and then have Hwa-eun and me travel to the Beast Palace to hold a second ceremony.
Well, overseas weddings often had two ceremonies in my past life too... Guess this makes sense.
Technically, this was an international marriage.
By Central Plains standards, the Beast Palace was considered “beyond the borders,” so having two weddings wasn’t so strange. In fact, it had its upsides.
I realized it would actually be good for the kids.
Sichuan didn’t get bone-chillingly cold, but temperatures did drop to about 5°C in the heart of winter.
That alone was enough to severely limit most of the spirit creatures’ activity.
They were resilient, sure—but at 5 degrees, even spirit beasts would grow sluggish.
We had winter coats made from Yo-hwa’s thread, but those were really only good for brief outdoor outings.
So it would be best to hold the wedding here and then take the kids south to the Beast Palace for the rest of the winter.
We could come back in spring.
“The kids needed a warm place for the winter anyway. We’ll head south and return in spring.”
“That sounds perfect!” Hwa-eun beamed, clearly approving.
My father-in-law turned to the open courtyard and shouted,
“Since we must account for traveling guests, set the wedding date for exactly one month from now on an auspicious day. Notify Outer Chief Eun to send invitations to all factions across Sichuan!”
“Understood, Clan Head!”
So... the man named So-ryong really was getting married.
At that moment, something I'd forgotten hit me like a bolt.
“Father-in-law, earlier at the entrance gate, you and the elders spoke as if Hwa-eun were pregnant. I think the clan warriors probably misunderstood. Shouldn’t we clear that up?”
At the gates, they’d basically shouted that Hwa-eun was carrying my child. Every guard and warrior who welcomed us likely heard that and ran with it.
My concern was met with silence. Then the three elders exchanged looks...
...And grinned.
It was the kind of silent agreement that made your stomach turn.
“Yes, I suppose the clan’s warriors would be confused,” my father-in-law said with a smile.
“Exactly, right?”
“But if we want to clear it up, we’d have to summon all the guards—some of whom are already off on missions. The ones on duty would need to be called back after their shifts...”
“Then again, those who’ve left probably already spread the news far and wide, haven’t they? We’d probably have to summon everyone just to explain it’s a misunderstanding.”
He was right—rumors were surely flying through the entire estate by now.
Gathering everyone at once to explain would make sense.
I nodded, thinking we were getting somewhere.
Then my father-in-law said:
“Rather than bother the guards like that... let’s just go with it.”
“...Go with what?”
“Let’s just make it true—then there’s no need to explain anything.”
“...Excuse me?”
Hwa-eun and I froze.
We slowly turned to look at each other in shock.
***
Step. Step.
The sect leader of the Cheongseong Sect, Baek Heo-ja, was en route to the Tang Clan, accompanied by two elders and several disciples.
It was unthinkable for the Cheongseong Sect—Sichuan’s local martial authority—to miss the wedding of the Tang Clan’s only daughter, Tang Hwa-eun.
As they passed through the capital and entered the forested path toward Tangga Mountain...
Baek Heo-ja’s third disciple, the youngest of the Three Swords of Cheongseong, Gwak Seoryeon, spoke up.
“Master... are those spirit beasts really that amazing?”
Many disciples had encountered the Tang Clan’s beasts while hunting the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms in Sichuan.
Baek Heo-ja himself had seen them up close once, when he was served the famous Royal Jelly Mead that enhanced internal energy.
But Seoryeon had always stayed in the mountains, so now, as they neared the Tang estate, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity.
“You remember the incident where they wiped out hundreds of Blood Cultists in one blow, don’t you?”
“Oh, right! That was them, wasn’t it? They must look terrifying then?”
“Terrifying? Hm. I thought so at first, too... but when they’re with Young Lord So, they’re more cute than scary.”
“Whaaat!?”
Just then, shouting erupted from the front of the procession.
“What’s going on up there?” Baek Heo-ja asked.
A disciple from up front answered,
“Leader! There’s a man collapsed on the side of the road!”
“A man?”
“Yes!”
Seoryeon bowed with a hand over her fist. “Master, I’ll check it out.”
“Go ahead, then.”
Was it a merchant waylaid by bandits?
With suspicion in the air, they watched Seoryeon run toward the figure on the path.
She knelt down, placing a hand on the man’s shoulder—
“He’s alive! Sir, are you alright?”
CRACK!
“Khrrggh!”
A blackened hand burst through Seoryeon’s back, blood splattering everywhere.
“Seoryeon!”
Baek Heo-ja leapt forward, sword in hand.
But what he saw next turned his blood cold—
From the man’s body surged a jet-black magi aura.
