I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 33

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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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Ssshhh. Ssshhhhh….
It had been less than a day and night since the welcoming banquet ended.
Outside, the cleanup from the festivities was still in full swing.
…So I thought the sound was someone sweeping.
Ssshhh. Ssshhh….
Until I realized the sound was coming from right beside my ear.
“Huh?”
I opened my eyes, thinking Gong Myo must have left the window open while sweeping.
What I saw instead was nothing but gleaming scales.
“….”
Scales moving with a chilling sound.
Goosebumps erupted across my entire body in an instant.
I bolted upright from the bed and faced….
“Gasp.”
A long snake as thick as my torso.
I stood frozen, unable even to scream.
As I cautiously stepped backward, the snake slowly traced an elegant curve, watching me in return.
My mind raced.
‘What on earth is this doing here?’
Could it have escaped from Dang Mu-seon’s snake pit?
No. Even if it got out, there’s no way it could have entered this room.
‘I didn’t even open the window….’
Or was this some new form of harassment?
But there shouldn’t be anyone left in the Jungwon Guild who would bother tormenting me….
“Ah!”
A face suddenly flashed through my mind.
Dang Eum.
I realized this might be why he watched me with such sinister eyes during the welcoming banquet.
I finally understood why I’d felt that inexplicable dread.
There was one anecdote about Dang Eum that Dang Lim and Gwi-heon had told me that came to mind.
“You probably don’t remember, but your older brother used to make you cry all the time.”
“That’s right. He just shoved a snake at you out of nowhere and you cried so hard.”
Mother had apparently scolded him severely for that….
‘Of course. Only that madman Dang Eum would pull something like this.’
This was unmistakably his signature harassment method.
But I wasn’t about to take this lying down.
I swallowed hard and fixed my gaze on the snake.
Its triangular head and jet-black scales—unmistakably a viper.
One wrong move and I’d be dead.
The best approach would be to pin its head down with a long rod, but I had nothing like that nearby.
Hisssss!
I turned my head, apparently provoking the creature.
The snake drew closer, its jet-black tongue flicking in and out.
“Huh?”
Wait. Did I see that correctly?
Hisssss!
No, the snake’s tongue was definitely pitch-black.
“That means….”
I felt I could identify what this snake truly was.
‘There’s only one way to confirm it!’
I eagerly extended my hand.
The snake’s jaw snapped open in response.
Gulp.
In an instant, it happened. The snake swallowed my palm whole.
“!”
…Good heavens.
‘It’s incredibly moist!’
The inside of its mouth, far more humid than I’d anticipated, enveloped my hand.
Gulp. Munch munch.
The snake’s smooth mouth playfully gnawed at my hand with gentle pressure.
My suspicion was correct.
“Just as I thought—no fangs.”
Moreover, it rubbed its forehead against my fingertips as if being affectionate.
A jet-black snake with a jet-black tongue. A Black Shadow Serpent.
Its triangular head often caused it to be mistaken for a venomous species, but it was actually a precious medicinal creature.
Its scales were used as medicine, and they were exceptionally effective for elderly individuals with heart ailments or martial artists whose blood circulation was compromised.
Its temperament was gentle, and it took readily to people, making it easy to handle.
The snake climbed onto my shoulder and rubbed its forehead against my cheek.
“Haha.”
I chuckled softly and scratched beneath its jaw.
Now I understood why Dang Eum had released the Black Shadow Serpent in my quarters.
It was harmless and docile, yet appeared far more terrifying than any ordinary venomous snake—perfect for the sole purpose of frightening me.
‘Using something this precious just to scare someone.’
I briefly pondered how to retaliate.
Dang Eum probably hoped I’d cry and wet myself, but I had no intention of obliging.
‘They’re probably watching from somewhere nearby.’
Conscious of hidden eyes, I flashed a bright smile.
“You’re so adorable!”
I pulled the snake into an embrace, and its tail swayed gently.
A sign that it was content.
“Where did you come from? Will you stay with me?”
As I stroked its scales, the serpent wound gently around my shoulder.
That was when it happened.
Something flickered in the shadowed corner, then moved swiftly to the center of the room.
It was Dang Eum in black martial robes.
“Huh? Older brother?”
Moonlight illuminated his long, straight hair and eyes dark as pitch, devoid of any light.
He stared down at the serpent cradled in my arms.
“This little one… could it be a gift from you, older brother?”
I asked with certainty, even knowing it was impossible.
At that, Dang Eum blinked his large eyes.
I chuckled inwardly, mocking him.
‘Ha ha. He must be in trouble. He will be in trouble!’
He had tried to trick me, only to lose his precious medicinal creature.
Probably his plan was to let me cry and run away, then slip off with the Black Shadow Snake alone.
That’s what I thought I would do…
“Yeah.”
Dang Eum nodded.
‘…Yeah?’
Did he just say “yeah”? Really?
“W-wow. Thank you so much!”
I hugged the Black Shadow Snake again, trying to hide my bewilderment.
‘This isn’t right.’
I had thought Dang Eum would be the one flustered, but he wasn’t at all.
Instead, his eyes sparkled with delight.
“Do you like it?”
I reluctantly nodded at his excited question.
“Yes. I love it so much.”
“Next time, I’ll give you something even better.”
His promise stirred an unexpected doubt in me.
‘…Could this actually be a real gift?’
His composed expression despite losing a precious medicinal creature, combined with my innocent reaction, made his bright eyes look exactly like someone who had just given a gift.
“Yeon-ah.”
“Yes?”
“Me too.”
Dang Eum called to me, then slowly opened his arms.
He gestured with his chin and wiggled his fingers, as if telling me to set aside the Black Shadow Snake in my arms.
Was he really asking me to hold him instead of the serpent?
“…”
That seemed to be exactly what he meant.
I carefully descended from the bed and approached Dang Eum, who lifted me into his arms as effortlessly as pulling a radish from soil.
When our eyes met at the same level, I could finally see his face clearly—though what thoughts occupied his mind remained a mystery.
His eyes were even more inscrutable.
‘This truly is an abyss. A genuine abyss.’
I couldn’t tell whether I was peering into that abyss or if it was peering into me.
“Did you miss me?”
Dang Eum asked quietly.
For a moment, longing flickered across his pupils.
Only then could I sense Dang Eum’s sincerity.
That enormous serpent truly was a gift. A reunion gift, no less.
Then, when he had given me that snake before—had that also been a gesture of pure goodwill?
Thinking what a peculiar person he was, I answered.
“Of course. I was worried about you.”
Though there had been a brief misunderstanding, my concern during that time had been genuine.
“Do you like me?”
Dang Eum asked.
“Yes.”
I nodded. My conscience pricked slightly, given that I’d just been cursing him thoroughly as a madman.
“More than Dang Lim or Gwi-heon?”
“Well… yes.”
I nodded again, and satisfaction bloomed across Dang Eum’s expression.
His lips remained firm, showing no hint of a smile.
‘…So it wasn’t harassment after all.’
I had been terribly anxious that someone else might dislike me, so this was a relief.
I had merely confirmed that my eldest brother was somewhat of an unusual person.
“Mm…”
As my tension dissolved, my eyes grew heavy once more.
“Brother, I’m sleepy.”
I rubbed my eyes as I spoke—a clear signal for him to put me down.
But instead, Dang Eum gently pressed the back of my head.
“Sleep.”
I found myself with my head buried against his shoulder.
“Hush now… hush now…”
He began to soothe me slowly, gently patting my back in rhythm.
“…Snore.”
Though sleep never truly came, I closed my eyes and feigned the sound of slumber.
Matching his gentle cadence, I remained cradled in his embrace until dawn broke.
Of course, I never actually fell asleep.
After daylight came, Dang Eum waited for his two younger siblings at the Training Ground.
“Yawn.”
Dang Lim entered with a yawn, dressed in plain clothes.
Gui Heon followed behind and bowed his head to Dang Eum.
“You’ve grown close.”
Instead of asking how he slept, this was the first thing Dang Eum said.
“Pardon?”
“With Yeon Arang.”
“Ah….”
Gui Heon and Dang Lim exchanged glances.
They seemed quite surprised that he’d grown close to her in less than a day.
Neither Dang Lim nor Gui Heon had been able to win Hee Yeon’s heart completely overnight.
“How did you manage it?”
Gui Heon asked for the secret.
Dang Lim also stared at Dang Eum with an expression of burning curiosity.
“Just… she likes me.”
Saying so, Dang Eum turned his head away, evading their gazes.
“More than you two.”
“….”
At Dang Eum’s following words, they blinked slowly.
“What?!”
Dang Lim reacted sharply and strode toward Dang Eum.
“Why? Why does she like you more than us?”
“I don’t know.”
Dang Eum shook his head calmly.
He smoothly concealed his hands within his sleeves as he spoke.
“Let’s begin.”
At that moment, a hidden projectile flew toward Dang Lim.
It was the dart that signaled the start of training.
“Tch! Changing the subject, are we!”
Dang Lim dodged lightly and launched himself into the air, pushing off the ground.
Gui Heon, too, seemed to have grown serious for the first time in a while, letting his long sleeves drape as he rushed toward Dang Eum.
For a long while, only the sound of blades clashing, heavy with emotion, echoed through the Training Ground.

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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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