Chapter 61
“Aunt….”
“Mm.”
“Are you perhaps trying to keep an eye on uncle…?”
Ah, no, right?
Still — they are a married couple.
“Hm? Was it that obvious?”
It really was.
She smiled brightly.
“It’s not like a single generation can produce several people with poisonous-line talent; anyone from the Dang family would covet such a talent.”
Dang Soyong tied my hair herself, then gently held my shoulder.
She whispered, “If you have to learn a skill anyway, it’s better under me. The Medicine Hall is headache-inducing and always has too much work. There, that’s done.”
I’d heard they were short on disciples.
But I didn’t expect there to be jockeying even between husband and wife…
At that moment, Dangrip scratched his cheek after seeing my expression and said, “You understand, Bi-ya. Both Mother and Father have been fretting for so long over disciple matters.”
“Oh my, why would you bring that up?”
“And when you eventually decide where you belong, the Dokryonggak should— uh!”
Thunk.
A hand fan that my aunt carried clapped over his mouth.
She silenced Dangrip with a look, then turned to me.
“Don’t mind this child’s words. Go and do well, dear.”
She smiled broadly and stroked my head.
Her touch was careful so as not to ruin the hair she’d just tied.
I returned her gentle touch with a small smile.
“Yes, Aunt! I’ll do my best!”
“All right, all right.”
She left with Dangrip, leaving me with the dok-in-jeop, an antidote pill that neutralizes its poison, and some honey to use as food.
I sank down and fastened the silk pouch containing the dok-in-jeop to my sash.
“This is really…”
This was huge.
Just counting the Dang family heirlooms currently inside my body, there were already three.
First: the family heirloom Manhyeolsa.
Second: Dang Cheongi’s Ilpabi Sword.
Third: Dang Soyong’s dok-in-jeop.
“C-Can I really take all this?”
Of course I knew: once a single exceptional late-stage talent appears, the clan’s entire support funnels to that one person.
To produce that single outstanding late-stage talent, families pull up roots and feed everything to their chosen prodigy.
But I’d only heard it spoken of.
“I never thought I’d have to go through that myself…”
I’d thought it was something that had nothing to do with me.
Until I gained the chance of regression.
But now it was my business.
I smoothed the silk pouch on my sash and nodded.
“Let’s do it this way.”
If I just follow this, I can live a life different from my past one.
I can bring about a different outcome.
This time I won’t let Dang Pae-jin ruin the Sa-cheon Dang family.
Never!
At that moment, Gayun, who had stepped back for a while, popped her head back in.
“Miss, may I come in now?”
Behind her, Yeongyeong was holding yet another ornate outer robe and her eyes were shining.
“May I come in?”
Seeing them, I smiled widely.
“Yes, come on in!”
“You’re so pretty today, my daughter.”
Father scooped me up.
I snuggled into his arms and smiled.
“Does it suit me?”
“It does. Your seamstresses have skill. The outfit suits you very well.”
Father stroked my hair.
I rubbed my face into his broad chest, then lifted my head and said, “I like it. The sleeves are wide, so it’s not uncomfortable even with the Manhyeolsa inside. This one seems to like it too.”
The clothes Yeongyeong and Gayun had dressed me in were made of fairly thick fabric so the Manhyeolsa didn’t show.
Father rubbed my sleeve and said, “Hmm, it’s definitely less noticeable.”
The Manhyeolsa, apparently annoyed at being jostled in Father’s hand, sneakily wriggled out toward the outside of the sleeve.
“No, go back in.”
But when told to go back, it obediently slipped back inside.
“We’re going far, so you must never leave my arms now.”
I nodded.
“If that happens, I might not be able to keep Yeongyeong with you. Understand?”
I nodded again.
The Manhyeolsa nodded like a person.
I was amazed all over again.
Spiritual creatures really are different — they understand words so well.
“Heave.”
Father put me in the carriage.
Grandfather was already waiting inside.
“Bi, have you come?”
“Grandfather! Why are you here so early?”
“You came late.”
“I came really early….”
“Whether late or early, don’t worry; sit here.”
Grandfather tapped the seat beside him.
I hurriedly sat.
He glanced at me and opened his mouth.
“That’s a dok-in-jeop, isn’t it.”
“How did you know?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? The sound of their wings flapping is this loud.”
Grandfather pointed at my sash.
“If Dangrip or Dangho had packed a dok-in-jeop, I would have told them to set it down immediately, but with you it’s fine.”
“Why?”
“Because I will be by your side, and even if the dok-in-jeop try to escape, they’ll be drawn back to your constitution.”
“Why not Dangho oppa…?”
“Do you think that boy would take good care of these little butterflies? He has no affinity with butterflies.”
“Haha…”
I remembered Dangho flustered, chasing after an escaped dok-in-jeop, and decided not to tell Grandfather that.
Judging by his reaction, it seemed I had packed them without his permission.
I do have that much loyalty.
Besides, Dangho oppa had sent me nice shoes and snacks; he’s a good person.
Betraying a good person would be wrong.
Sitting in the carriage talking idly with Grandfather, Father soon climbed in as well.
“Bi-ya.”
He habitually patted his knee.
“If you sit in the carriage for a long time your bottom will hurt, so come up here.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve got a soft cushion laid out, so don’t worry.”
“I like Father’s lap.”
“How long will you sit in my lap? I’m sitting beside Bi, so that’s fine.”
What is this pointless power play?
I hesitated a moment, then smiled at Father.
To show I’d stay put, I tapped the cushion I’d sat on.
“All right.”
Father smiled.
It was such a gentle smile it was hard to believe he’d been squabbling with Grandfather just now.
I watched Grandfather and Father chatting, then glanced out the window.
The carriage would head to the Namgung household.
After the business was done it would return the same way to the Sa-cheon Dang family.
We might change carriages midway or stay at an inn.
But—
“…we won’t go to Dangsan, right?”
No one would suddenly feel like visiting the ancestors while on their way to the Namgung patriarch’s eightieth birthday celebration.
I sighed.
If the traces of the lost Dokgangsi Daebeop were truly left at Dangsan Tombs,
“I’ll have to check before Dang Pae-jin does.”
But that was an unreasonable thought.
Dang Pae-jin was the eldest son of the Dang family who’d been in and out of Dangsan Tombs countless times.
And I was the youngest miss of the Dang family who had never been there even once.
Even if I could go alone, I’d surely get lost inside.
So if I had to go, I’d need a guide to lead me through…
I glanced at possible guides already in the carriage.
First: Grandfather.
If I said I wanted to go to Dangsan, he’d find it admirable.
But that would be it.
He’d probably refuse, saying “There’s no need to go now.”
Second: Father.
I’d hinted to Father beforehand about something related to Dokgangsi Daebeop, so maybe he’d take me in.
But!
“I can’t rummage through Dangsan in front of Father.”
It would be unthinkable to ransack the graves where the Dang ancestors were buried.
Who would feel pleased to have their own tomb searched?
“I’d hate that too, if I were them.”
But if the Dokgangsi Daebeop really did lie in Dangsan.
“That would mean Dang Pae-jin did it.”
He had searched every corner of Dangsan and gone out of his way to find and hide the Dokgangsi Daebeop.
I pictured my uncle rifling through the tomb and snorted.
Dang Pae-jin indeed lived up to his name.
