Chapter 115
Chapter 115
"...To think there would be a brat trying to use this old one as an errand boy is a first."”
His reply, as if he was dumbfounded, made my voice shrink involuntarily. Even I thought it was an absurd request.
“I apologize if I sounded presumptuous. But I can’t return to Sichuan…….”
At my mumbling, Ghost Hands Divine Physician narrowed his eyes as if asking what I meant.
“What nonsense is this, that a daughter of the Tang Clan can’t return to Sichuan? It’s not like you’ve been expelled.”
“I have been expelled.”
“What is this……. Was the Poison King just watching?”
“I was expelled after he went into seclusion…….”
With that one sentence, Ghost Hands Divine Physician, having grasped my situation, clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk. No wonder you’re so scruffy for a Tang Clan’s daughter.”
Surprised, I checked my appearance, and saw the hems of my clothes covered in dirt and dust.
It seemed to be the stains from scraping against the stone wall when I jumped out of the pit.
Ghost Hands Divine Physician, watching me hastily dust off my clothes, spat out.
“This is a one-time thing. I’ll get the price for this from the Poison King.”
Having heard similar words before, I gave an awkward smile.
‘Tell the Im Clan that I’ll get the price from them too.’
He says he doesn’t like it, but the two of them seem like friends.
“Yes, Divine Physician. Thank you so much……!”
“If you’re done with your business, would the uninvited guest please leave? My head is throbbing. I need to rest.”
Ghost Hands Divine Physician, cutting off my greeting, took hold of the gourd and shook it lightly.
Then, the ground shook and the surrounding scenery twisted.
Blinded by the sudden burst of light, I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my face with the back of my hand.
At the same time, someone grabbed my shoulder.
“So-hye!”
“Yeon-ryang?”
It was Yeon-ryang.
His eyes were bloodshot as if he had stayed up all night, and he examined me.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Uh, uh, I’m okay. I’m not hurt.”
At my answer, Yeon-ryang wiped his eyes in relief, then poured out in an angry voice.
“You little troublemaking Young Miss! What do you mean by touching it as soon as I said it was warded with sorcery? You can’t just touch things like that! I searched for three days and nights and couldn’t find a single trace, I thought my heart was going to drop!”
I was bewildered by his words.
“Three days? Has it been three days?”
It hadn’t even been an hour since I parted with Yeon-ryang? Had that much time passed?
I looked up at the sky and saw the sun was at its zenith. I had entered the Hidden Cave around the time the moon was rising, so perhaps the flow of time inside the Hidden Cave was different from the outside.
“Yes. As soon as you disappeared, the Hidden Cave filled with water and I almost died. As soon as I got out, the Hidden Cave disappeared. Did you perhaps meet Ghost Hands Divine Physician? Was everything alright?”
“Uh……. Yeah. I did meet him, but nothing happened.”
I almost died, but I didn’t, so, well.
Muttering, I turned around and gaped.
It wasn’t the scenery of the lakeside I had seen before entering the Hidden Cave.
The field, which had been beautifully dyed yellow, was a mess, with potholes here and there, and the trees and rocks where small animals had lived were all smashed.
It looked like a typhoon had passed through.
“W-what is this? Why is the surroundings like this?”
“Ah. I wondered if there might be a medium for the formation among those.”
Yeon-ryang answered awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
His hands were covered with small scratches. He must have been trying to break the formation to re-enter the Hidden Cave.
I felt a little touched.
“Brother. I’m touched. You didn’t sleep for three days and looked for me?”
“How can I sleep when my sister disappeared! Your brother is really angry. So-hye, you’re going to be in big trouble. You cause an accident even if I take my eyes off you for a moment…….”
Yeon-ryang, who had been angry, frowned and plopped down on the ground. He seemed to have relaxed.
He muttered weakly.
“Forget it. It’s just a waste of my breath to scold you. It’s a relief that you survived without getting hurt.”
I smiled and lay down next to him. Whether it was because I had used all my energy dealing with Ghost Hands Divine Physician, I couldn’t put strength into my legs.
……It’s a relief. I wasn’t the only one who thought of us as family.
When I turned my head slightly, I couldn’t help but laugh at Yeon-ryang’s scruffy appearance.
“Ahaha, Brother, you look like a complete beggar right now. You look like someone who hasn’t washed for about fifteen days.”
“You’re not much better. What’s with your appearance, you’re not a snot-nosed kid? Did you roll around in a mud pit?”
“This is because you suddenly jumped into the pit and I got scraped, okay? What are you saying when you’re the one who made me roll around?”
As I scolded him and slapped Yeon-ryang, he chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah. Let’s say that’s the case. We should find an inn to get rid of this beggar look.”
“Kiee.”
Ju-ryeong, who had been slowly approaching, also climbed onto my stomach and acted like he knew me. I stroked him and whispered.
“Ju-ryeong. Did you……. take me there on purpose? Did you know that grandfather was there?”
“Kkyuu?”
Ju-ryeong scratched his ear with his hind paw as if he didn’t understand what I was saying.
Is that not it? I don’t know if he did it knowingly or if it was a coincidence.
“What are you talking about? Grandfather? You said the Poison King is in seclusion?”
“Um, it’s a secret.”
“My sister, you’re keeping more and more secrets from your brother. Is puberty coming?”
Yeon-ryang pretended to be sad and poked his dry eyes. I glared at him and wagged my index finger from side to side.
“Even if you say that, it’s a secret.”
Because this is a story that even grandfather would want to hide.
So, it seemed better to keep what happened in the Hidden Cave as my own secret.
