Chapter 52
“But now that it’s awake, it should eat something.”
The Manhyeolsa didn’t bite or raise its tail even when my uncle touched it.
It only showed a slight sign of discomfort, which disappeared as soon as he withdrew his hand.
“It’s like a gentle puppy.”
“It’s a cute friend.”
“I never once imagined that the Manhyeolsa could become a cute pet…”
“I heard snakes eat frogs, fish, and small birds.”
Cheonghyeon stared intently at the Manhyeolsa and asked,
“Then will this one eat the same things?”
“Yes. But now that it’s no ordinary venomous snake but a spiritual creature, it lives off poisonous frogs, poisonous centipedes, and poisonous birds.”
“Where would we even find those?”
And… was I supposed to feed it myself?
I fell deep into thought, looking at the Manhyeolsa’s innocent eyes fixed on me.
“Hahaha, don’t worry!”
My uncle pressed down on my head, tousling my hair.
“If you let it loose, it’ll feed itself. Actually, it’d be best to ask the Sa-hwa-won to give you permission to use the Cheon-dok-lim.”
“The Cheon-dok-lim?”
“Yes. When there’s no one around, just release it there—it’ll eat and come back. People who raise snakes usually do that.”
“Or you could just ask the Sa-hwa-won to bring something suitable for the Manhyeolsa to eat… Anyway, before we go to the—”
Huh?
“Uncle, your voice got quiet. I didn’t catch that part. Where am I going?”
“You haven’t heard yet?”
“No.”
“How come…? Ah, that’s right!”
My uncle nodded as if suddenly remembering that my father had collapsed.
“Your father will tell you soon.”
“Am I… going outside Dangata?”
“Probably, yes.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Having finished absorbing all the Manhyeol Divine Poison, my uncle turned me around and said with a grin,
“The rest you’ll hear from your father himself. And tell him I’m sorry for spoiling the surprise.”
“Oh, just tell me now, Uncle!”
“No can do. No matter how cute you are—and believe me, sometimes I want to give in to all your little requests—this one’s a no.”
He was firm.
“Huuuuh…”
“Come on, should I take you to the Sa-hwa-won?”
“No, I’m fine.”
It was then—
—that a chilling, spine-tingling voice came from behind me.
My face stiffened slightly as I slowly turned around toward the source of the voice.
And there stood—
“I have business with Bi. I’ll take her.”
My uncle Dang Paejin.
The very man who, in my previous life, had brutally murdered me.
“With Bi…?”
“Yes, I need to see her for a moment. I’ll take her and return her to her quarters afterward,” said Dang Paejin.
Uncle Dang Sayuk looked troubled, glancing at me for help—but he didn’t have a choice.
If Dang Paejin said he was taking me, he had to let me go.
After all, Paejin was my father’s older brother and the First Prince of the Dang Clan.
And I, too, had no choice.
If he said he was taking me, I had to follow.
If my father, grandfather, or aunt had been present, things might have gone differently.
But—
‘They’re not here…’
We were in the Medical Hall. None of the three would be here.
Even if Sibi ran to inform them, it would take time.
‘By then, Uncle Paejin will have already taken me.’
What do I do? What should I do?
I was flustered, not knowing how to respond—
—when Namgung Cheonghyeon, who had been watching me quietly, placed his hand on my shoulder.
“If you don’t want to go, say so.”
It sounded like he was offering to protect me.
But realistically—
“Cheonghyeon can’t protect me either.”
Here, my uncle Paejin was the highest authority present.
Even the precious young master of the Namgung Clan was just an outsider in this place.
After a moment’s hesitation, I made up my mind.
And then—
“Yes, Uncle,” I said, standing up from my seat.
“I’ll come with you. But… why did you call for me? Are you going to give me something sweet?”
Since Uncle Paejin had already decided to take me, I couldn’t avoid it.
But I could still be careful.
“Just because it’s inside the Dang Clan’s walls doesn’t mean I’m safe.”
My father’s assassination, my own death—they had all happened right here inside these walls.
So I followed him, careful not to look too wary, while making sure to stay alert.
Namgung Cheonghyeon flinched, as if wanting to follow me.
But—
“This is a family matter. I’d appreciate it if the young master would give us some privacy,” Paejin said curtly.
Cheonghyeon froze as if his feet had sunk into the floor.
“All right, Cheonghyeon! I’ll be right back,” I said with a forced laugh.
“Your father seemed to be looking for you earlier,” Paejin added smoothly. “Why don’t you go see him?”
“…I will. Thank you,” said Cheonghyeon reluctantly.
“Let’s go, Bi.”
Paejin strode off.
He was tall, and his strides were long.
He walked so fast it was hard to keep up.
“Who walks that fast with a child next to them!”
Panting, I scrambled to follow, glaring daggers at the back of his head.
“What a bastard.”
Father always said that a person’s true character shows in their everyday behavior.
And the kind of person who wouldn’t even slow down for a child walking beside them—
“—is the worst.”
But I didn’t want to ask him to slow down.
I’d rather walk until my legs split than ask him for anything.
“Why are you walking so slowly?” he snapped.
That made my resolve crumble instantly.
“Why don’t you try walking with those long legs of yours, huh?”
I almost said it out loud—but barely held back.
I still had a shred of reason left.
So instead, I muttered,
“Your steps are just really big, Uncle…”
A tiny bit of backtalk—my small revenge.
In the Dang Clan, children didn’t talk back to elders. Ever.
Sure enough, I saw his eyebrows twitch.
But instead of scolding me, he kept walking.
That made me even more curious.
“Where is he taking me?”
I glanced back now and then, wondering if Choyo was following.
I couldn’t see her, but she was my bodyguard—she must be hiding somewhere nearby.
The thought calmed me a little.
Paejin led me to a pond.
I instinctively took a step back, staying a safe distance from the edge.
“…?”
“Why are you standing so far away?” he asked.
“I fell into a pond recently…” I answered.
At that, Paejin didn’t scold me further.
Instead, he looked down at me sharply and reached into his robes.
I tensed, watching closely.
Rustle—
“…A snack?”
It was a red-bean mooncake.
The same kind that Tang Yeong always had stuffed in her mouth.
I’d always wondered where she got so many. Turns out, Uncle Paejin was the one buying them for her.
I stared blankly as he unwrapped the mooncake.
Then—
“Eat,” he said.
“…Pardon?”
“Eat it.”
He fixed me with those piercing eyes, thrusting the pastry toward me.
Sweat began to bead on my forehead as I stared at the mooncake in his hand.
It looked delicious, sure.
But still—
“It came out of that pouch…”
How could I possibly eat something he gave me?
Yet he kept urging me, voice cold, to take it.
I felt sweat trickle down my back as I assessed the silk pouch he’d pulled it from.
“Does he have another one in there?”
No—it looked empty now, deflated after he’d taken out the pastry.
Which meant this was probably the last one.
“If that’s the case…”
