Chapter 213
213
Even after the two of them left, the visitors kept coming.
“Wow, Sister. I heard you were back, and it’s true.”
Dang Juyeop was the first to show his fox-like face before leaving.
“So-hye! Our niece is here!”
“Oh, Aunt, you’ve come. How have you been, Uncle?”
“Yes. I hope my nephew-in-law has been well too…”
Dang Onjeong and his wife, Dang Mong, also stopped by and gifted her high-quality Poison Powder.
“You must have suffered on your long journey.”
The Chief of Medicine, Dang Simhong, who had only met her a few times, also slipped her a few pills good for boosting Qi.
Seeing even the elders, whom she had rarely seen, coming and going and acting familiar, it seemed everyone was watching Grandfather’s every move.
However, she wasn’t happy at all with the outpouring of welcome.
She was disgusted and sickened by the hypocrisy of those who had stood by during her expulsion.
People who would swallow if it was sweet and spit it out if it was bitter.
People who would pretend they never treated her well if they had nothing to gain from her.
“Young Miss. The Elder has asked you to come for dinner…”
“Has it already gotten that late? I should go out.”
As she rubbed her throbbing forehead and prepared to go out, she sensed someone lingering beyond the wall.
“Songji. Can you go see? Someone else has come.”
“Yes, Young Miss.”
Songji opened the door at her words and let out a shrill cry.
“Oh my, Bodyguard!”
“I, I heard the Young Miss has returned…!”
The eyes of the person who met her gaze widened. A smile naturally formed on her face at the welcoming face.
“Deokju.”
“Young Miss…!”
Deokju’s face, who shouted in a trembling voice, was a mess.
It seemed like he was holding back his anger, or perhaps holding back tears.
Deokju, whose lips were trembling, asked with difficulty.
“Are you… unharmed?”
“Of course. That’s why I came home. Have you been well?”
Deokju bowed his head deeply instead of answering. Songji, who was watching, also had tears welling up in her eyes.
“Oh my. You two, what’s wrong?”
She tried to soothe the two criers in a fluster, but once the tears started, there was no sign of them stopping.
She had no choice but to hold the two crybabies tightly until they calmed down.
\ \ \
After visiting the Soul Slaughter Unit, Deokju came all the way to Grandfather’s residence and volunteered to be her Bodyguard.
Grandfather asked as if he expected it.
“You prefer the child you knew?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. Do as you wish.”
As soon as Grandfather’s permission was granted, Deokju bowed politely with joy.
She smiled slightly at Deokju’s display of emotion, which was unlike him.
It was good up to that point…
“Deokju. I told you not to follow me to the outhouse.”
She was sweating from the burden of Deokju following her around without leaving her side for even a moment.
This Young Miss hasn’t changed at all.
But looking at his eyes, which were full of energy, it was difficult to say anything.
Deokju seemed to want to make up for the moment when he helplessly watched her being dragged away.
Seeing that Dang Seho was also shocked that day, it seemed Dang Gak hadn’t treated her kindly.
…Should I just turn a blind eye for a few days?
She sighed and tried to laugh off Deokju’s overprotection.
But when night came, it was difficult to endure Deokju’s presence.
Lying on the bed and tossing and turning for a long time, she opened her mouth quietly.
“Deokju. I’m sorry, but can you go back now?”
“I am sorry. Young Miss, if there is anything I have not served you adequately…”
“It’s not that. It’s not that you did anything wrong… I keep sensing your presence. Can you come again in the morning?”
Even with her eyes closed, she could see Deokju’s movements.
The sound of his footsteps, full of strength. The sound of his sleeves fluttering every time he readjusted his weapon.
The sound of his Adam’s apple bobbing every time he swallowed to hide his tension.
Sounds that she wouldn’t have even noticed before were bothering her, and she couldn’t sleep at all.
“Ah… I understand. Young Miss.”
After hesitating for a moment, Deokju answered politely and left the room.
The nerves that had been on edge gradually calmed down only after Deokju left.
But even after the silence settled, she couldn’t fall asleep.
She curled up and pulled the blanket tighter.
\ \ \
The nightmares were truly diverse.
A body that collapsed and couldn’t move, Yeon-ryang who smiled sadly, the fear of death and miserable powerlessness…
When she woke up from the nightmare where everything was intertwined and suffocating her, Songji was watching her, trembling.
“Ah, Young Miss…”
“Ah… Sorry, Songji. Are you okay?”
She hurriedly apologized as she put away the Flying Dagger, but Songji, who was terrified, stepped back, not allowing her to come closer.
“I’m really sorry. I won’t touch you. Go get treatment quickly.”
“Yes…”
The wound from the Flying Dagger was clear on Songji’s neck as she forced herself to answer.
“…Don’t wake me up when I sleep now. It’s dangerous. You’ll get a scar on your neck. Go quickly.”
Songji, who nodded while holding back her tears, ran out of her room as if fleeing.
A clear drop of blood was left where Songji had been standing.
She quietly rubbed her eyes.
Damn it.
Her body, which had become extremely wary upon returning to the Tang Clan, rejected everyone.
Songji, Deokju, and even Grandfather were no exception.
As soon as she felt someone approaching, her body would grab a Flying Dagger and attack the person.
She couldn’t sleep unless she hid a weapon under her pillow, and even if she managed to fall asleep, she would wake up quickly at the slightest sound.
It was as if she had become a beast with only instincts left, not a person.
…Maybe she was a beast with only instincts left.
Because she had started to rush in, aiming for the other person’s throat first.
Grandfather said that Martial Artists should be like that and told her not to worry, but he seemed inwardly troubled.
That was evident from the fact that he kept trying to take her out.
“So-hye. Before it gets hotter, shall we go to Hebei with Grandfather? Paengrak asked how you were doing.”
“It hasn’t been long since I returned home. I want to stay home.”
“Then isn’t there anyone you want to invite to the Tang Clan? You can’t just train all day. You need to take a break sometimes.”
“Ahaha, it’s okay.”
Seeing Grandfather, who would have urged her to train before, constantly telling her to rest, it seemed her condition wasn’t very good.
Watching his mood, she carefully opened her mouth.
“Um… rather than that, I want to go into Closed Training. Grandfather.”
“No.”
“But…”
“I said no.”
Grandfather, who cut her off with a single word, made a stern expression.
“So-hye.”
“…Yes.”
“Do you really not know why Grandfather is saying no?”
“I don’t really know.”
“Follow me.”
Then he put his hands behind his back and started walking ahead. After hesitating, she followed Grandfather.
Grandfather, who stopped in front of the pond, handed her a small pouch.
It was fish food.
“Grandfather, why is this…”
“Sprinkle it.”
“Yes?”
“Quickly.”
At his gaze, which seemed to say, ‘What are you doing, not giving it quickly?’, she awkwardly approached the pond.
But the moment her shadow fell on the pond, the fish fled from her in droves.
…Huh?
Puzzled, she tried scattering the food, but nothing changed.
The carp didn’t come near her or covet the food.
Grandfather, who was watching with his arms crossed, sighed.
“Do you understand now?”
When she was flustered and couldn’t answer, Grandfather softened his voice.
“So-hye, you can’t control your Qi at all right now. Your mind is so disturbed that even insignificant creatures are startled and hide, so how can you enter Closed Training?”
“……”
“Pushing blindly isn’t always the answer. Clear your head.”
At Grandfather’s words, she dropped her head. There was no room for excuses.
“…Yes.”
“Come here. Let’s go have tea with Grandfather today. Geun-myeong said a good tea house has opened.”
Grandfather’s gaze, which called her kindly, darkened.
She pretended not to notice and followed Grandfather.
\ \ *
Contrary to her expectation that she would be able to live quietly after a few days, the detached residence was noisy every day.
Dang Juhee came every morning to challenge her to a sparring match.
Dang Cho-hui was tormented by Dang Juhee’s chatter, but she still drank tea with her every day, and Dang Seho also came to the front door often and yelled.
“Hey, I’m buying you meat. I’m telling you to go out with me!”
“You go, Brother. I said I don’t want to.”
“How long are you going to stay cooped up in your residence? You have to show them you’re fine so people will stop gossiping!”
At his annoyance, she realized why Dang Seho kept nagging her to go out.
He seemed to want to quell the bad rumors circulating about her.
“…Okay. Wait a little.”
“Then you’re going out with me? Should I send someone to the restaurant?”
“Yeah. Send them.”
“No take-backs! Come to the main gate in half an hour!”
Dang Seho, who smiled at her answer, turned around and ran out in a hurry.
He said he would send someone, so why is he running himself?
She chuckled, but she didn’t want to say anything unpleasant to him, who was trying to take care of her in his own way.
There’s no time to be bored. Should I be happy or hate it…?
At that moment, a loud noise was heard from outside.
Judging by the continuous sound of wheels, it seemed like they were carrying things by cart.
She blinked listlessly, thinking that someone had bought a lot of collectibles, when Songji called her.
“Young Miss, I think you should come out for a moment.”
At her bewildered voice, she looked outside the door and frowned.
What is this?
