The Eldest Daughter of the Tang Clan of Sichuan Protects the Family-Chapter 170

Chapter 170. The Four Seat (四座)
So-hwa frowned slightly and parted her lips.
She had prepared only a small amount of detoxifying pills, enough to treat maybe two people at most—but the number of patients carried in was six.
Even after filling all the available sickbeds, there still wasn't enough space. They had to drag over tables to lay the wounded upon. The martial artists' bodies were far more damaged than she had expected.
With an apologetic expression, Bai Woon-Hyun spoke up.
"It hasn't even been a day since we took the rations, yet I find myself asking another favor... I'm ashamed of it, truly. Still, I must ask for your help."
So-hwa replied in a calm, steady tone meant to reassure him.
"Don't worry. I'll do my best."
Namgung Jin glanced at her briefly, his eyes faintly clouded, but So-hwa ignored him.
She began setting up poles around the sickbeds and draped cloth over them, creating a makeshift tent. Namgung Jin, understanding her intentions, stepped forward to help secure it.
So-hwa then placed bowls of water between the beds and dropped detoxifying pills into them. A pale mist soon rose, filling the tent.
"The steam works best in an enclosed space, so I covered the tent. They'll regain consciousness soon."
"I'll trust you."
Bai Woon-Hyun didn't doubt her—he had already heard how she treated patients before.
After washing her hands, So-hwa went over to the brazier to check the porridge. She stirred the softened grains and vegetables, then asked,
"By the way, Great Warrior."
The Leader, who had been watching the tent, turned his gaze toward her. So-hwa stirred the porridge as she spoke.
"Have you eaten?"
"......"
"It's all right. It's understandable you might not trust food from someone whose intentions you're unsure of."
"That's not it. I meant to eat, but as you can see, the situation got out of hand."
Namgung Jin looked at him sympathetically before suggesting,
"Then please, eat with us."
"Yes, we've made plenty."
Namgung Jin felt slightly uneasy at the idea that Tang So-hwa had prepared food in advance, but he smiled anyway.
"Thank you."
Bai Woon-Hyun hadn't planned to eat the porridge. Still, if poison was present, it was better for him to test it first. He accepted the bowl So-hwa handed him.
Since there were no tables, they all ate standing up.
So-hwa took a spoonful first. Only after she had eaten several mouthfuls did the Leader follow suit.
Strangely, even Namgung Jin, who had been idly stirring his porridge, only began to eat after seeing her do so.
"Once the others regain consciousness, I plan to have them eat right away. As you've probably guessed, their bodies are so weakened from hunger that even a small illness could take hold easily."
"... I'm aware."
"Good. When they wake, please help them eat."
The Leader raised his eyes toward Tang So-hwa, meeting her calm gaze.
So that's why she'd suddenly asked him to eat—it was to ease his doubts.
And perhaps, knowing he'd have to feed his subordinates soon, she wanted to put him at ease first.
He still wasn't fully convinced, but his wariness had softened by half.
"Ugh..."
Just then, one of the patients groaned awake.
So-hwa set down her bowl and went into the tent. She approached the newly conscious man and asked,
"How do you feel?"
"Like I'm dying."
"Your strength is nearly gone, so you should eat something first. Even if your stomach feels weak, try a little."
Namgung Jin, quick to notice, brought a fresh bowl of porridge and entered the tent.
"Th-thank you!"
The patient, clearly famished, downed the porridge in one go.
"Ahh..."
The northern sea martial artist looked as though he had come back to life. Namgung Jin took the empty bowl and asked,
"Would you like some more?"
"Yes, please!"
His determined expression said it all—he'd decided to eat even if it killed him.
Perhaps understanding that resolve, Namgung Jin scooped a larger portion this time.
"Eat plenty."
"Thank you!"
His booming voice startled the nearby patients awake one after another. So-hwa took their pulses and questioned them briefly.
Fortunately, none complained of headaches or nausea.
Of course—they'd only been exposed to a mild toxin, and through narrow cracks in the door at that. Within a day, it would purge itself naturally.
The patients, seemingly forgetting their earlier pain, were now distracted by the smell of food. They swallowed hard, eyes fixed on the bowls.
Whenever Namgung Jin or So-hwa offered porridge, they didn't hesitate. They drank it down greedily. Though So-hwa had made enough to last until evening, half was already gone.
She then brought out a warm tonic to replenish their energy and handed it around. The northern martial artists, now bright-faced and content, looked as if they'd reached paradise.
"Well, look at you. You all look positively alive now. Feels good to come back from the brink, doesn't it?"
The Leader teased as he entered the tent to check on things.
"Leader! You were here?"
The martial artists inside jumped in surprise.
So-hwa lifted the tent flap and offered a suggestion.
"It might be best if you stay the night. They've regained consciousness, but we should still keep an eye on them."
The Leader nodded, visibly more at ease.
"Very well, we'll do that."
So-hwa hesitated, about to say something, then froze as her eyes flicked toward the doorway.
The Leader's gaze followed hers—and he too stiffened.
The martial artists who had carried the patients in were drooling.
The broth made from beef bones, rice, and vegetables smelled divine. For men who hadn't eaten in days, it must have been sheer torture.
So-hwa quickly composed herself and said,
"... There's plenty of porridge, so if you'd like some, please go ahead."
At that, the martial artists' eyes sparkled. Yet the Leader, still half wary, hoped the uninjured ones wouldn't eat.
Given their situation, close to the island and still in potential danger, it wasn't wise to take risks.
If something went wrong, at least those few might still be able to escape.
So-hwa quietly gauged the mood.
Realizing the Leader still harbored suspicion toward her, she didn't press further and began tidying the sickbeds.
She wanted to ask again about how he had purged the Blood Demon's poison, but his demeanor made it clear—he hadn't yet made up his mind.
So-hwa didn't rush. She simply waited.
She hoped that, before anything unforeseen happened, he would reach a favorable decision.
* * *
Najin raised her head as she climbed the snowy mountain.
"Haa."
Through her hazy breath, she could see the sharply rising mountain of ice.
The mountains of the North Sea changed their appearance constantly.
A towering peak might vanish in an instant beneath an avalanche, while a once barren slope could become a gentle snowfield as snow piled upon it.
That was why the place was perfect for the Seven Seats to train. Even if they slashed at the mountains, released extreme yin energy, and froze the entire area, the soft snow would cover the traces of their cultivation.
Najin felt the yin energy flowing in from all directions.
Her blood vessels expanded, greedily drawing in the energy.
Instead of trying to control it, she let her body circulate the yin as it pleased.
The Extreme Yin Body, modified by the Blood Demon, had one fatal flaw—growth consumed life itself.
The faster she grew, the closer death approached.
Her master, the Fourth Seat, had forbidden the young Najin from practicing martial arts or even internal energy techniques to delay her growth as much as possible.
Fwump.
Najin wanted to run, but her legs sank into the snow up to her knees, making it hard to move quickly. Her impatience tripped her up, and her body toppled into a pile of snow.
"Ugh!"
Buried in the snow, Najin groaned.
'Ah, seriously... this is too hard.'
She was starving, and after the recent visit from the Central Plains people, she had been traveling nonstop for days, exhaustion piling up.
Najin lay still on the snow for a moment.
The soft, clean snow felt oddly comforting as it wrapped around her body.
They said that the sands of the Central Plains became hot under the sun and made the body feel languid when buried in them. Perhaps this was the same feeling they described.
As she thought of the couple from the Central Plains, Najin's eyes suddenly opened.
'... Ah, that face. I've definitely seen it somewhere before.'
The face of the woman, said to be a physician from the Yeonju Group, felt familiar. She couldn't remember where, but there was no mistaking that familiarity.
'Ugh, where did I see her?'
After pondering hard, Najin sighed and stood up.
"Now's not the time to be lying around like this."
She brushed the snow off her body and ran her fingers through her hair. The gray strands, washed by snow, revealed a white gleam. Her eyebrows and lashes were pure white as well.
But since she couldn't see herself, Najin walked on boldly, unaware.
Crunch.
As she stepped forward, Najin froze.
The snow here was very shallow.
She felt a fierce wind and twisted her body quickly.
Kwaaang!
In an instant, a mound of snow rose before her.
Startled, Najin stiffened and turned her head toward the direction where the Ice-White Divine Palm had struck.
Far away, on a cliff, stood her master—the Fourth Seat— looking down at her.
Najin immediately threw herself to the ground and bowed.
"I greet the Fourth Seat!"
At that distance, her voice shouldn't have reached him.
But the man she faced was far beyond the realm of ordinary.
Crunch...
White boots appeared before her eyes. Najin slowly raised her head, and when their eyes met, the Fourth Seat spoke.
"Have you run out of dye?"
At those words, Najin reached for her head.
The ashes she used to darken her hair had worn off—her hair was completely white. Her face turned pale, and before she could stammer a reply, her vision suddenly tilted upward.
Her arm was caught in the Fourth Seat's hand.
Like a man examining a rabbit, he held her dangling in front of him, studying her face.
"Why have you grown so thin?"
"Ah, that... well..."
"Has the First Leader lost his senses and started having you train?"
Startled by the sudden mention of the First Leader, Najin flailed her arms.
"N-no! That's not it! The curse of the Second Seat spread as far as Samdong, and we couldn't harvest the crops! Fortunately, Central Plains people brought us food, so we'll be fine this week... Ah! Master, I came to deliver a letter!"
Rambling in panic, Najin suddenly remembered her purpose and hurriedly pulled a letter from her robe.
The Fourth Seat set her down and took the letter.
He silently read the short message and unfolded the second sheet that had been enclosed.
Najin watched him carefully, but his face was unreadable as always.
'Can't tell if he's angry or fine with it...'
She kept glancing at him—and then froze.
Her gaze had stopped at the corner of his eye.
No, to be precise, at the small mole near his eye.
'That's it! She looked like the Fourth Seat!'
The woman's face—she had recognized it because her eyes resembled his.
The Fourth Seat was always expressionless and cold, so Najin never thought to connect him with that warm, smiling physician.
'Wow... how can they look so different and yet still alike?'
Her mouth fell open in shock, but when the Fourth Seat's gaze dropped to her, she quickly clamped it shut.
"Where is the Second Leader now?"
His voice was cold.
"He sent you instead of coming himself—he must have been called away for something."
Najin instantly sensed that her master was furious.
She stammered, trying to explain.
"T-the curse of the Second Seat spread further, and many of the Second Leader’s members collapsed! A physician from the Central Plains could cure it, so he took the wounded to meet that physician!"
Whether he believed her or not, the Fourth Seat's face remained unreadable.
After a long silence, the snow-white old man finally spoke.
"Do you know where this physician is?"
"Yes! They opened a clinic at the southernmost harbor!"
"Lead the way."
"Yes! Ah—yes?"
When Najin looked startled, the Fourth Seat tucked the letter into his robe.
It was a silent command—don't make me repeat myself.
Najin flinched and turned around reluctantly.
The Fourth Seat was leaving his cultivation grounds. The others wouldn't know about this.
And more importantly—
'Aagh! If the First Leader finds out I interrupted the Seven Seats' cultivation, he'll kill me!'
Realizing the gravity of what she had done, Najin's face went pale. The snow-white girl could only muster a damp, trembling voice.
"... I'll lead the way at once."