Chapter 58
“Should we take her to the Serpent Garden?”
“That would be best… No, wait. That won’t be necessary.”
“Huh?”
“Look over there.”
I followed the direction my father was pointing.
“Biya!”
It was Dang Ho–my older brother–running toward us in a fluster.
“Brother?”
“Haah, haah… I was just about to ask Mother for a few Poison Insects for antidote testing, and the little things suddenly escaped!”
When he opened the silk pouch he was carrying, the poison insects flew right back into it as if hypnotized.
“Are you alright?”
“I took an antidote pill. I’m fine.”
His pouch was different from the one Dang Soyong carried. He fastened it back onto his belt, then looked between Father and me.
“What are you two doing here?”
“It’s the day Taegang is leaving, so we came to see him off. And you? You look like you’re headed somewhere.”
“Ah, yes. Something came up, and the Clan Leader asked me to investigate.”
“So that’s why you needed the poison insects?”
“You never know what might happen.”
Dang Ho grinned broadly.
“Biya, I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, listen to Father and Brother, alright?”
“When will you be back?”
“Hmm… at least seven days and nights, maybe longer…”
“Then I might not be here anymore.”
“What? Why!”
“I’m going to visit the Namgung family. I guess you haven’t heard yet.”
“What?! Bi is going to Namgung?!”
Dang Ho’s eyes widened in shock.
“She just left her quarters! Isn’t that too far to take her?”
“It’s the Clan Leader’s decision. Bi agreed as well.”
“Biya, isn’t that too far? Huh? I’m worried about you making such a long trip with that tiny body of yours…”
He held my hand tightly, his eyes glistening like he was about to cry.
“I-I’ll be fine! Probably.”
“No, that won’t do. I’ll come with you! I’ll finish my errand quickly and—”
“Didn’t you say you were ordered to do something by the Clan Leader?” Father cut him off, lightly tapping the silk pouch at his waist. The poison insects inside fluttered noisily.
“Well, yes, but still—!”
“My daughter is under my care. If you’re so desperate to look after someone, go look after your older brother.”
“Why would I? He’s a grown man—dark, gloomy, and not even a little cute!”
“My daughter may be small and cute, but she doesn’t need your protection.”
Neither of them would yield an inch.
Father easily pried Dang Ho’s hands off me.
“Now, off you go, busy man.”
“I’m not busy!”
“Oh? Says the man who’s never around because he’s so busy?”
“That’s—!”
“Come now, Biya. Say goodbye to Ho, tell him you’ll see him after his trip to Anhui.”
Father took my hand and waved it energetically.
Following his lead, I looked at my brother and said clearly,
“Brother Ho! Have a safe trip, and let’s meet again when I return!”
“Biya!”
“Alright, let’s go. Let’s go.”
✦✦✦
Father took me to the dining hall for lunch.
Before long, the kitchen maids came out one after another, serving a table full of food.
“Do you like it?”
Just as we began eating, Grandfather arrived—having heard we were eating together.
“Yes,” I replied, blowing on the hot noodles and eating them eagerly.
They weren’t spicy, perfectly suited for a child’s taste. Maybe a bit bland, but still delicious.
‘The kitchen maids really are skilled,’ I thought as I slurped happily.
But this would only last until I turned ten.
That year, the head cook would retire.
I knew because after that, the noodles never tasted quite the same.
So I decided to eat as much as I could while they still tasted good.
Then—
“Grandfather, aren’t you eating?”
Grandfather was sitting across from me, just watching intently while I ate.
Father frowned at him.
“Must you stare holes into her while she eats? You’re making her uncomfortable.”
“She’s my granddaughter. I’ll watch her if I want to. You, just finish your meal.”
I stopped eating for a moment and looked up at him.
“Grandfather.”
“Hmm?”
“If you’d like to eat too, I can ask the kitchen to bring you another bowl of noodles. The mild kind.”
I was quite serious.
And I was also sure he was staring because he wanted some.
Otherwise, why would he be watching so intently?
‘At this rate, you’ll burn a hole right through my face,’ I thought.
Grandfather’s face twitched, as if he was suppressing laughter.
“…?”
Why was he doing that?
Then suddenly—
“Ahahahaha! No, no. If I get hungry, I’ll eat later. You just eat plenty, alright? You’ll need strength for your martial training.”
“Mmph…”
“Once you learn a bit more, I’ll even find you a sparring partner.”
“Someone my age?”
“There should be disciples around your age among the students.”
“That sounds great!”
I mumbled through a mouthful of noodles.
Grandfather smiled and gently wiped my mouth with a handkerchief.
“And before that, I have something else for you.”
“You already gave me the Manhyulsa and the Ilpabido—you have another gift for me?”
“Yes.”
“What is it? You already gave me poison and a weapon, so maybe this time it’s an elixir…?”
My eyes sparkled. I hadn’t forgotten the “elixir” he mentioned once before.
Grandfather let out a hearty laugh.
“Hahaha, not an elixir. But something even better for you.”
“Really?”
“Yes. So finish your meal quickly.”
Encouraged, I emptied the bowl of noodles in record time, even drank the warm tea Father poured for me, then jumped up.
“Grandfather, I’m done! Let’s go!”
“Haha, are you that excited?”
“Who doesn’t love gifts?”
“My gifts always come with a price, you know.”
“You didn’t ask for anything in return when you gave me the Manhyulsa.”
“That’s because I didn’t give it to you. The Manhyulsa chose you itself. There was no debt between us in that case.”
As if on cue, Manhyulsa poked its head out from my sleeve.
“So it really is a spiritual creature… Can it understand speech too?”
“It’s very smart—it seems to understand almost everything.”
“‘Walls have ears,’ they say, but in your case it’s snakes who hear everything—day and night alike.”
Manhyulsa stared at him for a moment, then slipped back into my sleeve.
“Isn’t your sleeve too tight? Should I have a wider outfit made?”
“Um, that would be nice. The sleeves are a bit narrow.”
“Then I’ll have one made.”
Grandfather helped me down from my chair.
I landed lightly on the floor and looked at Father, who was still eating.
“Father, should I wait for you to finish?”
“I know you’re excited. Go on with your grandfather.”
He said it in the kindest, gentlest voice imaginable—though his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked up at Grandfather.
“You’ve been taking my daughter out quite often lately.”
“You fool, she’s my disciple, isn’t she?”
“She’s also my daughter.”
“You brat… You hid her from me for seven years! I didn’t even get to see a single strand of my granddaughter’s hair!”
“Hmph. Biya, go along now.”
Father took my hand and gave it a few gentle shakes.
I looked between the two of them and nodded.
“Okay! Grandfather, let’s go!”
“Ungrateful son.”
“Don’t say that to Father.”
“So you’re taking his side now?”
“Well, whose side should I take if not my father’s?”
Grandfather grumbled a little but then lifted me up in his arms and started walking.
I nestled comfortably against him, curious where we were headed.
On the way, we passed Dang Sayuk hurrying somewhere, so I smiled brightly and waved.
“…”
Then I spotted Dang Paejin walking briskly down another corridor—
and I quickly pretended to be asleep.
Thankfully, he didn’t come over to greet us.
He must have learned by now that talking to me only made him more frustrated.
