Chapter 66. A Meeting Where Coincidence Disappeared
So-hwa’s gaze settled on a particular spot. At the end of that gaze sat a martial artist of the Namgung Clan. His face, reminiscent of a courtesan, was utterly displeasing to her.
Tang Ji-ha soon realized that the young man was Namgung An’s illegitimate child.
‘That bastard dares...!’
Tang Ji-ha unconsciously revealed his anger on his face. The man’s gaze was incredibly lewd—sticky, clinging eyes fixed on So-hwa.
As if everyone felt the same, a deep silence fell over Red Radiance Hall.
Tang Ji-ha suddenly furrowed his brow.
‘But So-hwa... why are you...?’
Strangely, his eldest daughter did not avoid that unpleasant gaze.
Then something unbelievable happened.
So-hwa lowered her gaze and smiled. Had it been Yu-hwa, he would have understood—but he had never imagined So-hwa could wear such an expression. Tang Ji-ha froze in place.
“Ah, Father, I think I just saw something strange…”
Beside him, Tang Hak muttered in disbelief.
It was a shocking scene for the Tang Clan members, but to those who didn’t know So-hwa, it simply looked like a young lady smitten at first sight.
“Haha, looks like we’ll be hearing good news from those two before long.”
“What a wonderful time it is. Don’t they make a fitting pair?”
“Their backgrounds are quite similar, too. Nothing for them to feel ashamed of with each other.”
When someone carelessly added that last remark, Tang Ji-ha snapped his head around and glared. The Hwang Bo elder averted his eyes as though he hadn’t said anything.
“Let’s stop here. If you get so worked up already, your mouths will be sore by the end of the gathering.”
Namgung An, in a low voice, brought the commotion to order. At that, laughter came from beside him.
The Zhuge Clan Head raised his cup to his lips and asked,
“Why? Is the Namgung Clan Head displeased by such teasing?”
“Not at all. I should be worried whether the Tang Clan Head might be displeased.”
“...That’s exactly what I was saying.”
“Pardon? What did you say, Tang Clan Head?”
"I didn't say anything."
Tang Ji-ha unconsciously muttered to himself before closing his mouth. But he meant it.
‘I’m not the same as that man! I’ve raised So-hwa so preciously—how could anyone dare to pair her with some worthless bastard cast off by the Namgung Clan!’
But it was his own doing.
For the first time, the Tang Clan Head regretted letting the rumors about So-hwa spread unchecked.
Some say rumors are meaningless, but the world is full of people who judge others based on them.
To soothe his aching gut, Tang Ji-ha downed a glass of strong liquor in one go.
As he looked at So-hwa’s back, he thought he would need to speak with her privately tomorrow.
***
Tang So-hwa had heard many things over the past few days.
The twins had asked whether Namgung Hyun was her type, and Tang Hak had explained with a serious face how illegitimate children were treated in the Namgung Clan. Even this morning, she had been summoned by her father and received an unexpected scolding, asking what she was thinking.
There was only one reason for such reactions.
It was because she had seemed interested in Namgung Hyun.
And so, Namgung Hyun—who was quick-witted—surely must have noticed.
‘He should be coming soon.’
Shhhink.
So-hwa pulled back the screen hanging over the window. The dim study brightened.
Dozens of brushes hung on one wall, and on the opposite side was a bookshelf where various papers were sorted and arranged. This was the room where Tang So-hwa practiced calligraphy.
The outer courtyard was noisy due to the many guests staying there. This study was likely the only quiet place within the outer courtyard.
So-hwa did not enjoy calligraphy. In both her previous and current lives, this dull hobby had never brought her joy—not even once. Even so, after returning to the age of seventeen, she had devoted herself to refining her handwriting.
This was a taste not her own, but someone else’s.
A hobby of a man who had lived his life in pretense—yet had shown rare sincerity only through this.
So-hwa pushed the round window fully open. So that the interior would be clearly visible from outside.
Sunlight finally streamed in, reaching the ceiling. The hanging papers reflected the light with their whole bodies.
Although the ink had dried long ago, So-hwa left them hanging. The large table was also covered with paper mimicking the strokes of a master calligrapher—as if to be shown to someone.
Once her preparations were complete, Tang So-hwa sat at the desk by the window.
She had been waiting here for Namgung Hyun for several days now.
In the past, she had stayed in the Medical Hall during the gathering. Since Nine Turns Pavilion had temporarily closed, she helped Tang Hae-han organize medicinal ingredients in the Medical Hall and planned experiments. It was there that she met Namgung Hyun.
Namgung Hyun had said it was a coincidence. At the time, she had believed that too.
But now, she no longer believed in coincidences.
Namgung Hyun had clearly known she was there and had come to find her. And so, this time, before the Alliance of Noble Clans ended, he would come to this study.
Scritch, scratch.
The sound of grinding ink filled the quiet study. Once the dark ink was ready, So-hwa picked up a fine brush.
Letter by letter, she wrote across the large sheet of paper. When about half the page was filled, the brush came to a stop.
A scent she had known for over ten years. The faint pine resin aroma gave her goosebumps.
It was subtly different from the Namgung clan’s usual internal energy—a foreign smell.
So-hwa slowly raised her head and looked toward the source of the scent.
Even after making eye contact, the young martial artist did not avert his gaze. Nor did he seem flustered. He simply looked at her with that characteristically gentle expression.
Namgung Hyun smiled and spoke.
“I apologize. I was on my way to the Medical Hall and lost my way, ending up here.”
For a moment, it felt as if all sound vanished.
So-hwa felt her face stiffen. And she knew well how her expressionless face appeared to others. She wasn’t considerate enough to care how others perceived her, but this time, she smiled—because she knew her expression wasn’t to the taste of the man standing before her.
In a voice laced with a hint of laughter, So-hwa replied.
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s not a restricted area.”
Namgung Hyun’s gaze shifted past her, toward the room behind.
“This must be a study.”
“Yes, the weather’s nice, so I’m airing out the ink smell.”
A brief trace of bitterness passed through Namgung Hyun’s eyes.
“Even from far away, they look impressive. Is this Lady Tang’s private study?”
“No. A private study wouldn’t be this nice. I share it with my siblings.”
So-hwa smiled and added,
“But since my younger siblings aren’t interested in calligraphy, and the Young Lord went off to the mountains for about two years to focus on training, I’ve been using it like my private study lately.”
“I envy you.”
“There’s no need. I’m sure the Namgung clan’s study is nice too—what’s there to envy?”
Namgung Hyun didn’t reply. He merely curled his lips slightly. As silence settled in, So-hwa dropped her gaze as though she had said something wrong. Then, as if trying to force a new topic, she abruptly spoke.
“If you don’t mind, would you like me to show you around the study?”
Namgung Hyun’s eyes curved in a smile.
“It would be an honor.”
So-hwa leaned slightly out the window and pointed to the side.
“If you go to the left, there’s a door. You can come in that way.”
When she turned her gaze forward again, Namgung Hyun was still standing in the same spot, unmoving. Wondering what he was hesitating about, So-hwa asked quietly,
“Is something wrong, Young warrior?”
Namgung Hyun gave a faint, unreadable smile.
“It’s nothing. You said I should go this way, correct?”
So-hwa put on a friendly expression, hoping he would come in. Namgung Hyun slightly curled his lips in return, then silently moved in the direction So-hwa had indicated.
***
A loud voice rang out from the guest residence. After some time, the door opened, and Namgung Gangchang stepped out looking dejected.
“Brother Gangchang! Are you all right?!”
Namgung Gangchang's followers frantically rushed up the stairs. Seeing his followers, tears seemed to well up from sorrow, and Namgung Gangchang rubbed his eyes vigorously with the back of his hand.
“You all go to the boat ride tomorrow without me.”
“…So, you weren’t granted permission after all?”
"He told me not to make him repeat himself. He scolded me to behave myself in my quarters until the day we leave.”
"You endured the Elder's anger for a full ilgak! (about 15 minutes) Is your heart alright, Brother?"
“No, I don’t think it is. Call a physician…”
Namgung Gangchang clutched his chest, voice trembling as if about to cry.
Passing by the residence, Namgung Hyun witnessed the scene and let out a faint, mocking laugh.
He’d always thought that expending emotion on trivial things was a waste—but seeing that pitiful display, he was surprised to find himself in a good mood.
Was this why people sought revenge?
As punishment for the incident during lunch, Namgung Gangchang had been ordered to remain confined to his quarters until the end of the Alliance of Noble Clans. For someone who had gone so far as to commision a new robe to pursue a match, it was a crushing blow.
Namgung Hyun thought of the young lady who had orchestrated this outcome.
He had heard rumors claiming she was inscrutable, even sharp-tempered, but the Tang So-hwa he met was nothing like the young lady described in the intelligence sent by Profound Emptiness Pavilion.
As he strolled past the guest residence, Namgung Hyun looked up at the flowers blooming along the path. The sight of the lush white blossoms naturally brought Tang So-hwa to mind.
A pristine impression, just like the magnolias.
Soon, the contrast of her jet-black hair and dark eyes, the elegant arch of her eyebrows, and the small mole near her eye all surfaced in his memory.
Black and white.
No combination drew Namgung Hyun’s focus more than that. Like graceful characters written on crisp white paper.
Naturally, his thoughts about Tang So-hwa began to take shape in the form of calligraphy.
As he followed his train of thought, the sudden sound of birds chirping interrupted him. It was the sound made by those who had come along for the Alliance of Noble Clans.
‘She went to the study again today.’
Well, it made sense. They said the secret manuals created by Tang So-hwa were filling Nine Turns Pavilion at a frightening pace—surely she had much to do there. For someone who was writing manuals that would be passed down through generations, it was only natural to refine her calligraphy.
Namgung Hyun, regardless of the Blood Demon’s proposal, had begun to feel a personal curiosity toward Tang So-hwa.
She had a look and presence that didn’t match. Upright on the surface, yet subtly twisted in some unplaceable way.
What kind of script would someone like that have?
He had considered sneaking out a medical text, but with Nine Turns Pavilion’s security tighter than ever, Namgung Hyun hadn’t been able to catch even a glimpse of Tang So-hwa’s handwriting.
So, Namgung Hyun waited.
Listening to the bird’s song bringing him updates, he imagined her sitting by the window every day, transcribing medical texts. And when the ink had surely dried, he would leave his quarters.
Tang So-hwa’s study was on the opposite side of the lake. Since most attendees of the alliance were out enjoying boat rides and festivities by the water, the forest surrounding the study was quiet.
The thick trees that nearly blocked the sky and the red pavilion nestled among them formed a picturesque scene.
Namgung Hyun enjoyed the scent of grass that filled the wooded path and the soft sound of his footsteps on the ground.
Immersed in the calm atmosphere, he soon spotted the woman he had come to find.