I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 28

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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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Dang Lim hid behind the chair’s backrest, his face as though he were being chased by a ghost.
“Brother, what’s wrong? What is it?”
“That person followed me all the way here…! Ahhhhh!”
He glanced around frantically, then decided it was hopeless and kicked off the windowsill, leaping onto the roof.
‘What is this? Why is he acting like that?’
Was an actual ghost chasing him?
“I’m not here, understand? Got it?”
Dang Lim’s muffled voice drifted down.
“Who on earth is coming…?”
At that moment, the door opened.
Hm? A stranger.
‘I thought Dang Gui-heon was chasing him.’
Looking again, the stern-faced visitor seemed vaguely familiar.
“Young Lady Dang Hee-yeon. It has been a while.”
“Oh.”
Hearing his voice, I recognized him now—the Poison Expert Branch Master from the Family Council Meeting.
Right. If it were him, he would certainly come looking for Dang Lim.
After all, Dang Lim was the promising talent he was cultivating.
These days Dang Eum was putting him through special training too, and he seemed ready to collapse from the strain. Could he have skipped one of the Branch Master’s sessions?
‘If that’s the case, this younger brother of mine is being quite thorough…!’
“Brother is hiding on the roof.”
I betrayed him without hesitation.
Before my words even finished, a creaking sound echoed from the ceiling.
If he thought I would hide him, he was mistaken.
‘If our family faces the crisis of annihilation later, skipping training won’t help!’
Even knowing it would be incredibly fun to play together, I sent him away with tears in my heart.
But then…
“I did not come to capture the Third Young Master.”
The Branch Master shook his head calmly as he spoke.
“Huh? Then why…?”
“Dok-jon has summoned you.”
“Dok-jon?!”
A cry of anguish erupted from outside the window.
“Why are you taking Hee-yeon away? Why would Dok-jon…?!”
In an instant, Dang Lim burst back into the room.
But the Branch Master simply ignored Dang Lim and looked down at me.
“Follow me.”
“Huh? I…?”
With those words, the Branch Master swiftly left the room.
“What, what is this?”
Dang Lim stared at me with a dazed expression.
His eyes clearly demanded an explanation.
I pretended not to notice and spun around, bolting from the room as I called out.
“Brother, I’ll explain everything later!”
“Yeon! Hey, Dang Hee-yeon!”
Dang Lim’s voice grew distant as he called after me.
Fortunately, he didn’t follow.
It seemed Dang Lim was frightened of Dok-jon too.
The moment I rushed past the main gate with Dang Dam at my heels, the Poison Expert Branch Master was waiting for us.
“….”
Without a word, he guided us toward Jeungsan Peak.
I’d thought the path would feel familiar after visiting once, but it was completely different.
“Gasp, wheeze!”
Unlike the peaceful climb last time, ascending these stairs was pure torment.
The mechanical traps planted everywhere were functioning perfectly.
“What?!”
As dark projectiles shot up from beneath my feet, Dang Dam swiftly deflected them.
“Are you alright?”
“Y-yes, I’m fine. Thank you, Dang Dam.”
Sweat dripped steadily down Dang Dam’s temples.
“Do not stray from my side.”
The Poison Expert Branch Master spoke while keeping his gaze fixed ahead.
He led the way, deflecting the projectiles with practiced ease.
A thin barrier enveloped us, but it wasn’t sufficient.
The formidable power of the mechanical traps seemed to speak volumes.
Dok-jon had returned.
“Um, Master.”
“Yes.”
I moved closer to the Poison Expert Branch Master’s side and called out; he responded as if listening.
“Did Elder really summon me?”
“Upon his return, he gave the order. To bring the youngest young lady.”
Really?
My lips curved upward without my realizing it.
My legs, which had begun to ache, suddenly felt lighter.
“Hah… phew!”
Perhaps because of that.
We arrived at Dang Mu-seon’s quarters before I knew it.
I could see Dang Mu-seon standing like a pillar in front of his quarters.
“Elder!”
I greeted him with unbridled joy before I could stop myself.
He turned around slowly.
Gone was that look of exasperation he’d worn before, as though I were driving him to madness.
So this was what they meant by a rise in station.
“You’ve done well, Wi-yun.”
At Dang Mu-seon’s indifferent words, the clan master bowed his head.
Dok-jon gazed down at me intently, then approached with the fluidity of water.
I struggled to conceal my excitement as I met his gaze.
He slipped his hand inside his robes and withdrew a crumpled manuscript.
“Here, I return this to you.”
I accepted the manuscript respectfully.
“I searched everywhere—the Library, every corner of Sungdo—and found nothing. Apparently it’s treated as a forbidden text in certain places.”
“Pardon?”
“That legend you were so desperate to find.”
My eyes widened slightly.
‘So that means….’
Dang Mu-seon had made inquiries about the tale of the Sinkang fairy.
He hadn’t merely checked the Library—he’d spent all that time investigating the circumstances throughout Sungdo itself.
I felt ashamed of my earlier impatience.
I carefully traced the cover with my fingers and murmured.
“Why would it be forbidden? That’s strange….”
“Still attempting to deceive this old man, I see.”
His stern voice startled me, and I jerked my head up.
He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze piercing through me.
“….”
My mouth went dry in an instant.
Behind me, Dang Dam swallowed audibly.
He drew closer. His shadow fell across my head.
With narrowed eyes, he examined my face as though seeing through it.
“Your eyes hold no mere curiosity. Only desperation shines through.”
Had he truly peered into my very mind?
He’d grasped my thoughts in a single instant.
“Such composure—whether born of nature or cultivated through practice at concealing one’s heart, you’ve mastered it well.”
“I….”
Before I could even open my mouth, Dang Mu-seon struck again.
“I asked you before. I ask again now. What is your true purpose?”
A chill ran down the nape of my neck.
“It would be wise to speak honestly.”
Though goosebumps rose on my skin and my nerves tingled, I could not flee.
I found myself unable to look away from Dang Mu-seon’s eyes—as though he would not permit it otherwise.
‘I’ve made a mistake.’
I had to admit it.
Fabricating coincidences and leaking information to manipulate him—Dok-jon’s mind was far too sharp for such tactics.
“…Miss, you were simply…”
Dang Dam rushed to my defense, his voice cracking with urgency.
I moved my fingertips just enough to stop him.
A premonition struck me that Dang Dam would face the brunt of his anger.
‘I can’t keep silent like this.’
Otherwise, he wouldn’t let me leave, and if things escalated, he might interrogate me.
“…!”
Lost in deliberation, my vision suddenly darkened.
Dang Mu-seon had activated his technique.
A black curtain of energy completely enveloped Dang Mu-seon and me.
“Now, you can speak freely.”
Had Dang Mu-seon done this out of consideration? Perhaps he thought I’d be uncomfortable speaking before others.
‘As if you’re not the most uncomfortable part of this…!’
Since it had come to this, I had to say something.
I steadied my breathing and opened my mouth.
“The thing is… I already knew about the legend of the Sinkang Immortal.”
There was no need to lay bare everything—how I wanted to rally the family from within to protect a clan on the brink of ruin.
Looking at him, Dang Mu-seon would see through my lies in an instant.
‘So I’ll speak only the truth.’
Or rather, part of it.
“I simply wanted to inform others because I thought they should know.”
I dropped the pretense of kindness or naivety and continued.
‘It’s not as if I could look good anyway.’
Yet strangely, my heart felt lighter.
“Why should they know?”
Dang Mu-seon asked, unconvinced.
I lowered my head and answered.
“Because we need to find the headquarters of the Demon Cult Remnants. That way, even if Father leaves, he’ll be able to return quickly.”
“What does one have to do with the other?”
“I heard it before. The place where the Sinkang Immortal ascended to heaven was Shibwan…”
“Shibwan Mountain?”
Dang Mu-seon raised one eyebrow.
“You mean Shibwan Mountain, the main base of the Demon Cult Remnants?”
As I nodded, he crossed his arms and pressed further.
“When. Where did you hear this.”
“Someone read me that legend before. I don’t remember all of it, though.”
It wasn’t a lie.
In my past life, I had heard someone mention a notice board connecting the legend of the Sinkang Immortal to Shibwan Mountain.
Dang Mu-seon showed no surprise, his eyes blinking slowly.
“As the flesh perished, the Heavenly Demon spoke thus.”
His sharp lips parted.
“Upon the ten thousand white peaks lies the Heavenly Demon’s root.”
His gaze deepened as if recalling that distant time.
“In Namman stands Shibwan Mountain, and its peaks are eternally shrouded in white clouds. Thus everyone presumed that the Heavenly Demon’s origin and the Demonic Cult’s headquarters lay there.”
Mu-seon tilted his head and asked me.
“But that assumption was wrong, was it not?”
He seemed intrigued.
He didn’t appear displeased that decades of conjecture had proven false.
“Mm.”
I fidgeted with my fingers as if retrieving a memory.
“In that legend, the place where the celestial maiden ascended to heaven was called Shibwan Mountain. On a day when snow fell heavily, she transcended, it said.”
He drew a deep breath.
I continued with my shoulders deliberately sagging.
“So I wanted to search for it. I apologize for the deception, Elder.”
I lowered my head, my gaze fixed upon the ground.
Clasping my hands together in prayer to the Heavenly Emperor was merely an afterthought.
‘Please believe me. Please!’
Not long after, the silence broke.
Was the Heavenly Emperor answering my prayer?
“You’ve managed to ask three questions after all.”
…I’m never praying again.

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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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