I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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His epithet was none other than Dok-jon.
If such a person existed in the Murim, even woodcutters living deep in the mountains would know of his existence….
‘Why don’t I know of him?’
It was an epithet I had never even heard before.
He appeared only as a villain’s epithet in storybooks—I never imagined an actual person was called by such a name.
“Dok-jon?”
Gong Myo nodded her head vigorously.
“He is a hero. A war hero who even stood against the Heavenly Demon himself…!”
She explained Dok-jon with passionate enthusiasm.
Dok-jon, Dang Mu-seon.
A living legend—one of the principal figures who ended the long, protracted war against the Demonic Cult thirty years ago.
‘Ah, now I understand!’
I struck my knee inwardly in admiration.
How could I not know of one of the greatest war heroes of our time?
Dok-jon—in the Martial Arts Alliance, he was called the Four Kings.
He was said to be a man who wielded extreme poison and committed sinister deeds, yet he was of our family.
‘So the Dang Family had a war hero all along?’
Within the Dang Family, he was called Dok-jon.
But what terrible deeds must he have committed for them to diminish a hero with such a title?
“Can we meet him?”
Dang Dam shook his head.
“He currently remains in strict seclusion.”
Dang Dam’s gaze turned toward the mountain beyond the Castle Walls. Could he be living there?
Strict seclusion—to achieve such great accomplishments and yet remain confined to the household, as if he too had been poisoned like me.
“Yeon-ah?”
Lost in thought, a familiar voice reached me from behind.
I suppose I should say I’m tired of this by now.
When I turned my head, Gyo-gyo was standing not far away.
“Here you are! So you’ve truly recovered now.”
Gyo-gyo clapped her hands and smiled pitifully.
A new hairpin I had never seen before was elegantly fastened in her hair.
I remained silent and still.
‘I was certain she would continue playing the wronged victim….’
Yet she could approach like this instead.
As if nothing had ever happened, with innocent naivety.
Her shamelessness exceeded my expectations.
As I stared blankly into her eyes, Gyo-gyo’s expression crumpled slightly.
‘Did she think I would come down from her shoulder and greet her?’
Eventually, Gyo-gyo walked toward me. The ornamental hairpin on her head bounced with each step.
That must be a gift from Dang Seo-o.
I craned my neck to confirm the path Gong Myo had taken.
‘She came from that direction….’
A narrow side path that branched right from the right fork, then veered right again.
From atop Dang Dam’s shoulders, I could just barely see the end of the side path.
‘There’s nothing there?’
Nothing except the Abandoned Watchtower, which appeared to have been neglected for quite some time.
“Put me down.”
When I tugged lightly at Dang Dam’s sideburns, he carefully set me on the ground.
As I brushed the wrinkles from my skirt and looked up, Gong Myo had already drawn near.
The moment she took three steps forward, Dang Dam positioned himself in front of me.
“Eek?”
Gong Myo startled and retreated, lifting her head.
“How dare you block my path…!”
Gong Myo’s eyes widened as she was about to rage at the escort for daring to obstruct her.
Like me, Gong Myo seemed to find Dang Dam’s expression terrifying, for she could not easily close her mouth.
“Miss Gong Myo cannot approach any further.”
Dang Dam spoke in a flat, emotionless tone.
“Why?”
Gong Myo tilted her head and met my eyes.
Then, as if remembering something, she let out a scornful laugh.
“Ha ha. You still believe that delusion is real? That I deliberately poisoned you?”
“It’s not just me who believes it.”
I answered with wide eyes, and Gong Myo’s face crumpled.
“Right. Even my older brothers… they’ve been poking around everywhere.”
Hmph, she speaks as though my older brothers don’t frighten her at all.
Yet when she was with Gui-heon, she nearly fainted.
“But didn’t Grandfather say he found nothing?”
As if she had never worn a displeased expression, Gong Myo became smug once more.
Gong Myo stepped closer and whispered near my ear.
“How could such a brilliant person be mistaken? It must be because I’m truly innocent.”
Just as I was trying not to frown, a familiar scent emanated from Gong Myo’s malicious smile.
‘Hm?’
“Miss. Do not approach any further.”
Dang Dam blocked the space between us once more.
Gong Myo retreated and glared sharply at Dang Dam.
‘Fine. I may not have Grandfather, but I have my own escort!’
I deliberately smiled brightly and opened my mouth.
“I really do hope my older sister is truly innocent.”
“…Why?”
Gong Myo asked in an irritated tone.
“That way, Father won’t scold me when he arrives.”
I spoke with genuine concern in my voice.
But Gyo-gyo simply tilted her head as if unbothered.
“The Patriarch is coming? But Grandfather said he wouldn’t come for certain?”
“That’s precisely why Sister—”
“And you think the Patriarch’s arrival is good for you? Really?”
Gyo-gyo cut me off, her eyes gleaming.
“I think something good might happen for me?”
I immediately grasped what Gyo-gyo was implying.
That she would take my place.
Whatever delusion had taken root, Gyo-gyo truly believed it.
‘I suppose I once believed the same thing…’
But not anymore.
Though vivid memories planted unease in my heart, still.
‘I want to trust Father a little more.’
I steeled my resolve and looked at Gyo-gyo.
Then I let my shoulders droop as if dejected.
“You’re right. Father… abandoned me and left….”
Seeing the reaction she’d hoped for, Gyo-gyo’s lips curled upward with delight.
I continued, feigning a broken spirit.
“Sister is so favored…. You even wipe your mouth so it doesn’t smell like feces.”
“This…! I told you it doesn’t smell!”
“Is it today? Let me take a whiff myself. Sniff—!”
I leaned in close and inhaled sharply. Yes, that scent.
Dried peach blossoms and cnidium.
“Wow, that’s a lovely fragrance?”
At my words, Gyo-gyo’s face stiffened instantly. Panic was written all over it.
I grinned, and Gyo-gyo’s eyes began to tremble.
!
I immediately bolted past Gyo-gyo and began to run.
Gyo-gyo, who had turned with startled eyes, saw the direction I was heading and only then gasped before chasing after me.
‘There it is. She hid it there.’
As Dang Gui-heon’s investigation grew longer, she must have grown anxious and wanted to move the hallucinogenic herb to a new hiding place.
With the workers creating chaos and my own busy schedule today, it was the perfect opportunity for her.
“Catch her! Hurry and catch her!”
Gyo-gyo shouted with a pale face. The Maids came rushing with their skirts gathered.
But I had Dang Dam with me.
Gong Myo and Dang Dam followed close behind me without knowing my thoughts.
Gong Myo seemed to think it was a game, while I couldn’t tell what Dang Dam was thinking.
“Stop right there!”
As I began to fall behind, Dang Dam lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
Held in his grasp, I pointed toward the Abandoned Watchtower.
“There!”
Without a doubt. That’s where it was hidden.
The moment Dang Dam pushed off the ground, we arrived before the Abandoned Watchtower in an instant.
“Where is Gong Myo?”
“Oh.”
I had forgotten.
It was fine. Retrieving both would have taken too long anyway.
As I reached for the closed door, Dang Dam asked me a question.
“It is a dilapidated place. Are you certain you must enter?”
“Yes. I have to.”
I answered with conviction, and Dang Dam stared at me intently.
Was my expression too grim for someone my age?
“My older sister Gong Myo hid something in there. It might be a poison antidote!”
“…I shall enter first.”
Perhaps I had persuaded him. Dang Dam opened the door ahead of me.
Dust rose up, and I covered my nose with my sleeve.
As I carefully stepped inside, I heard a rustling sound.
It was the sound of rats and insects scurrying away from the light.
‘Ugh, this is unsettling…’
Suppressing the urge to flee immediately, I glanced around nervously.
Dang Dam examined the straw scattered across the floor and the beams spanning between the pillars.
Nothing. At least not on this level.
I tilted my head upward, gazing toward the top of the Abandoned Watchtower.
Countless beams and pillars stretched upward. There were plenty of corners where something could be hidden.
“Could we check up there?”
I pointed upward and asked. Dang Dam assessed the height for a moment, then nodded.
“It is dangerous, so I shall go alone.”
“Ah…”
I could not respond immediately.
How could I let him go alone when it was dangerous?
“Please remain here.”
But before I could protest, Dang Dam pushed off the ground and ascended.
Wind swept through as the straw scattered about.
‘I’m worried…’
I looked up at Dang Dam, who had become smaller than a dot.
The sunlight caused my eyes to narrow involuntarily.
“Are you trying to kill your escort?”
A deep voice echoed down.
“Wh—what?!”
Someone materialized before me without warning.
‘Where did they come from?’
I hadn’t heard a sound, hadn’t felt the slightest disturbance in the air.
Even Dang Dam stirred the wind when he moved.
I stumbled backward, retreating step by step.
‘I couldn’t sense them, but Dang Dam must have.’
A master of his caliber couldn’t possibly have missed someone approaching me.
Surely he would have heard our voices exchanging words.
“Did you smear honey all over this crumbling Abandoned Watchtower?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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