I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 56

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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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Mushrooms are toxins that spread far and wide.
That’s why they’ve taken root so extensively across this mountain.
‘And they work quickly on the body too.’
“Achoo!”
Handling the mushrooms sent me into a coughing fit.
At least I was only touching the non-poisonous ones, so it should be fine.
“Sniff! Snort!”
I wiped my nose and felt the damp soil beneath my fingers.
The scattered mushrooms visible here all contained the earth’s essence in their purest form.
‘This shouldn’t be it….’
“Huh?”
In the distance, a mushroom of a vivid color I’d never seen before suddenly caught my eye.
It was remarkable—a mushroom boldly radiating golden light in this dreary place.
For something like that to exist, it would require an extraordinarily stubborn nature….
‘Ah, yes. Stubbornness!’
The obstinate refusal to yield to nature—the kind that would smoothly preserve reversed vital energy.
An energy that never changes.
Nothing short of absolute, unyielding stubbornness could achieve such a thing.
“This is it…!”
The moment I reached out with certainty of my answer.
“Wait?!”
But before my hand could touch it, the mushroom was crushed.
Someone had stepped on it.
“Hey there. Who are you and where do you live?”
A shadow fell over me.
“Huh?”
At the rough voice, I lifted my head cautiously and saw the voice’s owner chewing on the golden mushroom.
Crunch! Munch! Munch!
That mushroom—the kind only a Maeng would eat.
A man dressed in black robes covering his neck and hands narrowed his eyes.
Then he posed a chilling question.
“Why are your limbs still intact?”
Goosebumps erupted across my skin.
“H-Hey, stop that!”
I clearly tried to run away.
But before I could even turn around, he grabbed me.
“Hey, hey. Stay still for a moment! With that temperament and face, I can easily guess whose daughter you are!”
He clamped his hand over my ear while holding me at his side.
“Aaaaah! Kidnapper!”
It was because I screamed so loudly!
“You madman! Grandfather! There’s a madman here!”
I thrashed about desperately, trying to escape his grip.
“Tch. Fine! Go fetch your grandfather then. Where exactly is he hiding?”
The man spouted nonsense before lowering his hand.
‘Now’s my chance!’
Crunch! I quickly bit down on his hand.
The glove was tough and thick, so my teeth couldn’t sink in properly.
“Ow?! Hey! Don’t tear the glove! Let go! Ow? Are you listening to me!”
Panicked, he shook me violently up and down.
‘Ugh, I think I’m going to be sick!’
But I had no intention of giving up.
Because I would become strong, just as Grandfather said.
So I wouldn’t be ashamed before Grandfather, even now….
“Dang Hee-yeon! So it really was you!”
Dang Mu-seon’s voice reached me from above.
“I clearly told you not to show your face around here! You really don’t listen, do you?”
He scolded me sternly, hands clasped behind his back, and flew toward us.
“Grandfather!”
I cried out with joy, forgetting to release my bite.
But Dang Mu-seon merely shook his head.
“Let go first, then speak. Did I not teach you that?”
“Mmph….”
I nodded obediently.
He said not to bite. Always.
“Sigh!”
Then, as if exasperated, he patted his chest and raised his voice.
“You should have said no, you foolish child!”
He snatched me from the man’s grasp and held me in his arms.
‘Wait… what?’
Only then did something seem odd about the situation.
‘Why isn’t Grandfather killing this man?’
And why isn’t this man attacking Grandfather?
Our eyes met for a moment.
When I glared at him fiercely, his long mouth curved into a smile.
“Really, he’s exactly like Dang Cheon-mu was as a child.”
Dang Cheon-mu.
My father’s name came from this man’s lips.
“Huh?”
I couldn’t hide my shock.
My mind went blank as I blinked, and Dang Mu-seon gently tapped my cheek and spoke.
“She takes more after her mother in appearance. But her personality is a spitting image of that bastard.”
I was even more shocked by Grandfather’s words.
‘Grandfather just… used formal speech…’
The excitement drained from me in an instant.
I stared at the man with a stiffened expression and asked.
“A-are you Grandfather’s close friend?”
The man then laughed mischievously and swept his bangs back.
“Close friend? I’m five years older than that bastard.”
“Hieek! Gasp!”
I was so startled that I covered my mouth.
With wide eyes, I looked back and forth between Grandfather and the man.
Grandfather. Except for the white streaks scattered through his hair, he was unmistakably youthful.
And this man. Judging by the martial robes covering his entire body, he was unmistakably youthful as well.
‘So both of them are older brothers compared to Yak-seon.’
And on top of that, one of them is a master, and the other is a close friend, and…
Ah, my head.
Overwhelmed by the shocking situation, I leaned my head against Dang Mu-seon’s chest.
“What’s this? Suddenly pretending to be sick?”
The man let out a hollow laugh as he spoke.
I glared at him sharply. Dang Mu-seon cupped my cheek and retorted fiercely.
“Did you think this girl was your peer?”
At the even greater shock, my vision went black.
‘Grandfather called him older brother too…’
***
Even after returning to the Thatched Cottage, I remained wilted with shock, cradled in Dang Mu-seon’s arms.
“Because of that pathetic problem you posed, this audacious girl crawled into the mountains!”
He patted my back while reproaching Yak-seon.
“Ah, dear me. I am deeply ashamed.”
Yak-seon lowered his head and continued.
“Seeing you sigh so much with worry, I thought to distract you, and so….”
“…Is that so?”
Dang Mu-seon’s fierce expression softened.
He looked down at me and tilted his head as he asked.
“Were you truly so worried about me?”
“Mm-hmm.”
I nodded. It was because of Seong-ya that I had sighed, but there was no need to speak the truth.
“Listen, child. The most useless worry is fretting over your grandfather. A man who can beat wild boars with a stick—what concern could there be?”
A man interjected, gulping down tea as if it were wine.
Then Yak-seon smiled gently and spoke.
“Ha, do you remember, Song Hyung? Back then?”
“Remember it well. That fellow should have been born into the Peng Family.”
I quietly observed the man chuckling as they shared old stories.
‘His name was… Song Hak, wasn’t it?’
Given how youthful he appeared despite his age, he was clearly a formidable master.
Since I was seeing him for the first time, it seemed he did not live here.
“But why did you come here? What else are you hiding?”
Song Hak asked.
“I would have no shame in doing so. It is another matter entirely.”
Dang Mu-seon replied, raising his eyebrows.
That’s right. Now that I thought about it, he had said we would continue the conversation once Song Hyung arrived.
It seemed we were about to resume the discussion about the Martial Arts Alliance that had been paused.
My briefly excited heart settled into calm.
‘Yes. The purpose of our coming here was….’
“Please cure my granddaughter.”
To cure me….
“Huh?”
That was not it at all.
“Grandfather?”
I blinked and looked up at him.
Dang Mu-seon’s gaze, as he stroked my head, remained fixed on Song Hak.
“This child is of direct Dang lineage, yet she is a cripple. It is because she cannot use martial arts.”
At his words, Song Hak nodded.
“Indeed, it is plain to see. Her complexion is pallid, and her limbs are like twigs.”
Song Hak gestured toward me while tilting his teacup.
Looking closer, it was alcohol.
“That’s why men have been eyeing her from all corners.”
Dang Mu-seon’s voice turned menacing as he clenched his fists so hard they cracked audibly.
“If I had my way, I’d castrate every man around Yeon-ah’s age….”
“Yes! Now that sounds entertaining!”
Song Hak’s eyes reddened as he agreed, and Dang Mu-seon looked at him with a pitying gaze.
“…In any case, I hope this child can protect herself. So that one day I can close my eyes in peace.”
Dang Mu-seon’s eyes looking down at me were more solemn than ever. They seemed almost sorrowful.
“Grandfather….”
No matter how I thought about it, Grandfather seemed likely to outlive me, but I held my tongue.
“Hmm.”
Song Hak, arms crossed, regarded me with an unexpectedly serious gaze.
“Yes. Even coveting Dang Cheon-mu’s position, I would want this girl.”
His eyes studying me grew quite intense.
“Elder brother, could you restore this child to her former state?”
My eyes widened at Dang Mu-seon’s question.
‘Restore me to my former state?’
That meant healing my lost dantian.
I thought that was something even an immortal—even an immortal grandfather—couldn’t do….
“Come, stand up.”
Before I could even process my shock, Song Hak lifted me to my feet.
Something stirred within his amber eyes.
He scanned me from head to toe, then clicked his tongue.
“Goodness. Raised in a noble household with meridians well-cultivated, yet fallen into such disrepair….”
As he muttered to himself, he caught sight of my expression and raised his eyebrows.
“You didn’t tell her about this?”
Song Hak asked Dang Mu-seon.
“If I had, would she have stayed still?”
Dang Mu-seon answered as though it were obvious.
“She would have tried to solve it herself somehow, only tangling her vital energy further. That’s why Dang Cheon-mu imposed strict silence on the household.”
“True. That’s the right call to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Their words didn’t fully register at first.
Slowly, word by word, I processed their meaning and reached a conclusion.
‘So I didn’t lose my dantian after all?’

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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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