Chapter 137
137
Dang Geunmyeong, who was blinking at me as I held a spoon, contorted his face.
“You!”
“Uncle? What are you doing here?”
“Dang So-hye! You wicked brat! How could you leave like that without a single word? What do you expect the rest of us to do?”
“Pardon?”
“Where in the world have you been hiding? Do you know how shocked we were when the Murim Alliance came looking for you? I badgered the Patriarch and rushed all the way to the main branch of the Tang Clan, only to hear what? That you used the Beneficence Jade of the Peng Clan and ran away?”
“Ahaha, well, there were circumstances…”
“Are you laughing now? Are you planning to kill everyone waiting for your news by drying them up? I feel like my lifespan has been shortened by ten years because of you! You should have at least sent a letter to Woon to let him know you were safe!”
“Uncle? Calm down…”
“Running away because you were afraid of being taken into custody is understandable! But what about your brother’s identity plaque? Are you going to boil it in soup and eat it? You should have taken it to the Beggars' Sect and asked for their help! I spent every night tossing and turning, wondering what could have happened! Do you think I should be losing sleep at my age, worrying my heart out?”
You never told me that. I need to know how to use the identity plaque to use it.
I stared at Dang Geunmyeong, who was scolding me while sweating profusely.
Was Dang Geunmyeong always such a talkative person?
His appearance, so excited and raising his voice, was unfamiliar.
Peng Jiyun, who had been watching him rattle on without taking a breath, suppressed a laugh and asked.
“Tang Clan Elder, shall I give you some space?”
“Please do.”
“Ehehe, kid. You deserved to be scolded. Apologize sincerely.”
Peng Jiyun, who waved at me as if to cheer me on, soon pushed Jin-sung’s back and left the reception room.
I put down the spoon and awkwardly stood up. I found it difficult to understand why he was acting like this.
In my memory, we had always been distant.
Whether he was conveying Grandfather’s words, overseeing my training in Grandfather’s stead, or helping me escape from Chengdu, Dang Geunmyeong had never said more than was necessary.
Strange. I didn’t think this person liked me that much.
I watched Dang Geunmyeong, who had his eyes wide open, and asked.
“Were you… worried about me?”
“What kind of question is that? Of course, I was worried!”
Dang Geunmyeong shouted and flicked my forehead.
“Ouch!”
“You brat, adults are there to ask for help when you can’t handle things on your own!”
“Ugh, Uncle. That hurts.”
Dang Geunmyeong didn’t soften his expression even at my exaggeration.
“If the Elder was away, you should have asked me for help! What’s the point of stubbornly running away on your own? Do you know how close you came to a major incident? Really, if you had been seriously injured or died…!”
He shuddered as if he didn’t want to imagine it and rubbed his face roughly.
…I should keep the fact that I almost died while running away a secret forever. He’d faint if he knew.
I felt a little sorry looking at Dang Geunmyeong’s worried face.
I obediently lowered my eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
When I put my hands together politely and pretended to reflect, Dang Geunmyeong sighed and rubbed his eyes.
After choosing his words for a long time, he slowly placed his hand on my head.
“…It’s alright. What do you have to be sorry for?”
Dang Geunmyeong gave a bitter smile and lowered himself to meet my gaze. Guilt flashed in his dark eyes.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let you go like that.”
“Pardon?”
“I realized later that you had never even been outside Chengdu, let alone Sichuan. You’ve always done well on your own… So I thought you would do well this time too. How foolish of me.”
“Uncle…”
“Are you hurt anywhere? Have you been eating well?”
“Of course. I’ve been doing well, Uncle.”
When I smiled brightly and nodded, Dang Geunmyeong slowly withdrew his hand.
“I doubt you’ve been doing well. Still… I’m glad you’re safe.”
He replied weakly and relaxed his eyes, then scanned me up and down before frowning again.
“What is this state of the Tang Clan’s direct descendant? The Elder will collapse from anger if he sees you like this. Wash up and change your clothes first.”
“Here? That’s a bit… I’ll wash up later.”
How can I trust the Murim Alliance and let my guard down?
When I showed reluctance, Dang Geunmyeong said soothingly.
“There’s nothing to worry about. With a Tang Clan Elder watching over you with his eyes wide open, who would dare lay a hand on a child of the Tang Clan?”
“Ahaha, it’s not that I don’t trust you, Uncle. It’s just that I don’t feel comfortable here.”
Sadness flickered in Dang Geunmyeong’s eyes at my answer. He gestured outside with a troubled expression.
“I understand. Let’s go out and find an inn right now.”
“No. I have companions with me, Uncle. I have to wait until my companions come out.”
“Companions?”
Dang Geunmyeong’s eyes narrowed. He blinked as if asking what I meant, then slowly let out an exclamation.
“Ah, you mean the Wanderer who escaped the encirclement with you. Have you been together ever since?”
“Yes. I received a lot of help.”
“A benefactor of the main family, then. We must repay him. I understand. Let’s wait.”
Dang Geunmyeong muttered while stroking his chin. I stuck out my tongue and smiled awkwardly.
Even if Dang Geunmyeong offered to repay him, Yeon-ryang wouldn’t accept it. He’s not the kind of person who would want that.
What should I tell Uncle about Yeon-ryang? Can I tell him about his birth mother?
While I was lost in thought, Dang Geunmyeong, who had composed himself, took out a small bundle from his sleeve and held it out to me.
“Take this. Cho-hee made it for you.”
“Cho-hee Unnie did?”
“She was worried that you would run out of Hidden Weapons. They’re not something you can buy just anywhere.”
I was impressed by the unexpected consideration. It was perfect timing since I was having trouble with the number of Hidden Weapons I had left.
‘If someone offers you Poison, don’t be a fool and accept it, just stab them in the face with a Flying Dagger.’
Remembering Dang Cho-hui from some time ago, who had given me Flying Daggers while worrying, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Please tell Unnie I said thank you.”
“You should thank her in person. Anyway, open it.”
Dang Geunmyeong, who replied sullenly, seemed to think that I would naturally return to the Tang Clan.
What would he do if I said I wasn’t going back to the family? I didn’t know how to bring it up.
After hesitating, I shut my mouth and opened the bundle.
Inside the bundle were thin, elaborate Flying Daggers and Hidden Weapons. Dang Cho-hui seemed to have improved her skills while I hadn’t seen her.
As I rummaged through the bundle, gaping at the high-quality Hidden Weapons, I saw a plain hairpin without any patterns.
Its appearance was the same as the ordinary hairpins sold in the Market street, but it was strangely unbalanced.
Puzzled, I picked up the hairpin and heard a rattling sound from inside. Something was inside the hollow pillar.
“Is this also a Hidden Weapon?”
“That’s what I heard. She told me to tell you to turn it towards the ground.”
He pointed to the groove in the hairpin as if telling me to turn it.
The moment I turned the groove in the hairpin, star-shaped darts the size of a pinky nail rained down on the floor with a sharp whistling sound.
Wow, this is cool.
I couldn’t help but exclaim. I picked up the star-shaped darts with shining eyes and quickly stuck the hairpin in my hair.
Dang Geunmyeong, who had slightly raised the corners of his lips and lowered them again as he watched me like it, held out something else.
“Take this too. The Elder prepared this for you. It’s only now that I’m giving it to you.”
“This is…”
The moment I checked the item he handed me, my nose tingled.
It was a leather glove worn by Tang Clan Martial Artists.
“Gloves…”
“Gloves made from the leather of Mooklin Bloodsilk. It’s been a long time, so I don’t know if it will fit your hand.”
I tightly gripped the softly tanned leather gloves. My throat was choked up, and my voice didn’t come out well.
Grandfather, who had smiled and breathed on my hands when I complained that my hands were cold, flashed before my eyes.
‘I should see if there’s any leather to make gloves. Our granddaughter shouldn’t have cold hands.’
There was a time like that.
Not knowing his heart that was anxious as if I would fly away if he blew on me, or break if he held me, I was just innocently bright.
I didn’t know what it meant to not be threatened even if I fell asleep defenselessly. I didn’t know why he made me do such harsh training, or with what heart he performed Thrusting Palace Acupressure after training.
I understand now why Grandfather did that. I now know that he didn’t just pretend to be harsh and took care of even my trivial complaints.
I know now how affectionate he was, how much love he gave me…
Even if I want to return that heart, he is in a place I can’t reach.
I was upset that all I could do was regret that I should have done better, and my heart ached.
I bit my lip and slipped my hand into the gloves. The gloves, which fit my hand perfectly without being too big or too small, were as comfortable as if I wasn’t wearing them.
The warmth that gently wrapped around the back of my hand felt just like Grandfather’s body temperature.
I don’t even feel that my hands are cold anymore. I’m fine even if I sleep outside on the bare ground in the middle of winter.
My vision blurred.
I missed Grandfather.
“…Hic.”
“Why, why are you doing this?”
Dang Geunmyeong, who was flustered by my distorted face, stammered. I tried to swallow my tears, but it wasn’t easy.
The emotions that I had been suppressing flowed out like a collapsed dam.
“Heeuhng!”
“Hey, hey. Why all of a sudden…?”
Peng Jiyun, who was startled by my crying that leaked out of the door, burst into the room.
“No, Elder! How much did you get on her case for her to be wailing like this? She walked out of the interrogation room without even batting an eye!”
“N-no. I didn’t do anything…”
“You didn’t do anything! I heard you shouting! Move aside, you old man.”
Peng Jiyun pushed Dang Geunmyeong away and began to pat my back to comfort me.
“There, there. Cry. Cry. Do you feel relieved to meet a family elder? You’re finally acting your age.”
“Heoeong, Unnie… I miss Grandfather…”
He chuckled and roughly wiped away my tears.
“Uh-huh. Poison King Elder must miss you too. Don’t keep it all to yourself, cry more. It’s okay, let it all out.”
Tears poured out at the simple comfort.
The moment I nodded and sniffled, Beopgong’s voice was heard.
“Kid. I brought your brother… What’s this? What’s with the atmosphere?”
“So-hye!”
Startled by the urgent call, I turned around and saw Yeon-ryang running towards me, pale as a sheet.
I was relieved to see Yeon-ryang looking well, but I wanted to hide in a hole because I had suddenly become a crying child in front of everyone.
Ah, why now. I’m going crazy.
