I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 71

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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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I had just blurted out whatever came to mind, but it was also the truth.
After all, it had been a full month since I last saw him.
“I… I missed you so much. Why won’t you even greet me? Hmm?”
I leaned heavily against Dang Eum’s chest and lifted my head to look at him.
Pouting my lips and adopting a sullen expression, I felt Dang Eum’s footsteps halt.
He gazed down at me with emotionless eyes.
“Much?”
A brief question came in return.
I knew exactly how to respond to that calm voice.
“Yes!”
The foolproof method of an adorable affirmation!
“….”
Satisfaction flickered across Dang Eum’s eyes. He then lifted his head.
Dang Eum, who had been silently staring at the door, slowly turned around.
He spoke while stroking my head.
“Hide well.”
My lips twitched at his words.
“…Even though there’s no one around?”
I fidgeted with my hands hidden behind my back as I spoke.
“It doesn’t seem dangerous right now….”
Dang Eum responded matter-of-factly.
“Pretend you don’t know. For now.”
That’s what his words meant.
He knew someone was here, but he would simply overlook it and move on.
“Ha ha….”
It was a somewhat awkward response, but at least he let it slide—a relief.
As Dang Eum completely withdrew, the tension that had been coiling inside me gradually unwound.
‘Phew. That aged me ten years.’
I exhaled inwardly with relief and asked.
“So you came because you missed me? Right, older brother?”
If that wasn’t the case, I wondered if perhaps rumors had spread about me doing something strange in the Warehouse.
Instead of answering, Dang Eum withdrew something from his sleeve and handed it to me.
“What is this…?”
A small vial fit snugly into my palm.
The chill emanating from within the vial made my head tilt involuntarily.
I glanced up at Dang Eum, then carefully unstopped the vial.
Peering inside, I saw a single bead smaller than my pinky nail.
“You were looking for it.”
As I slowly pondered Dang Eum’s terse explanation, the identity of this bead began to dawn on me.
A biting cold so intense that even in the height of summer, my fingertips would grow numb.
A poison that transforms into toxin the moment the cold energy accumulated in the egg hatches, so it is dealt with exclusively in egg form.
‘Bing Han Hei Sa…!’
One of the ultimate poisons I had been searching for.
Moreover, it was one of the extremely rare poisons that didn’t even exist in the Poison Expert Branch.
There were exactly two ultimate poisons I didn’t possess: Namman Hun Gae and Bing Han Hei Sa.
I had entrusted Namman Hun Gae to the Poison Sect in Jungyeon, but Bing Han Hei Sa was in the Northern Sea, so there was no way to obtain it….
“H-how did you acquire this?”
“Well.”
As I asked with a bewildered expression, Dang Eum answered matter-of-factly.
‘This isn’t a poison that can be obtained just like that…?’
Could he have spent the entire month searching for this?
Is that why I could barely see his face all this time?
I wondered if someone of Dang Eum’s status should be doing such things.
‘And how did he even know I was searching for ultimate poisons?’
Well, it would be strange not to know.
I had used studying as a pretext to have Seong-ya gradually collect ultimate poisons from the Poison Expert Branch.
Since Seong-ya would have mentioned my name there, the news would have reached Dang Eum’s ears as well.
“Don’t you like it?”
Perhaps noticing my lukewarm reaction, Dang Eum blinked and asked.
I quickly shook my head and smiled brightly.
“No! I really love it!”
Fearing he might take it back, I quickly tucked the small bottle into the pouch at my waist.
A chilling cold energy tickled my abdomen.
“Am I the one you’re most grateful to?”
Dang Eum looked down at me intently before asking.
“Pardon?”
“More than the others?”
“Um, well….”
What kind of question was this?
I rolled my eyes for a moment, then nodded.
“Of course. I’m most grateful to you, brother!”
At my answer, Dang Eum seemed satisfied and turned to leave without another word.
As he walked away without any farewell, I waved and called out.
“Thank you so much, brother!”
Once he disappeared, I let out the sinister smile I had been holding back.
“Hehe…. I’ve got them all!”
Now that I had obtained Bing Han Hei Sa as well, I just needed to get Namman Hun Gae to possess all the ultimate poisons.
I never expected things to progress so smoothly.
“I’m certainly reaping the benefits of having such a capable brother!”
With a satisfied smile, I quickened my pace down the path.
My steps grew remarkably light as I ascended toward the Chilryeong Mountains.
After a day had passed, I finally understood the meaning behind Dang Eum’s casual question.
“Answer me honestly! Do you prefer mine, or do you prefer your brother’s?”
“No, you don’t have to be so honest. Dang Lim will get hurt feelings that way.”
Geuiheon and Dang Lim came to find me in broad daylight, each carrying an armful of paintings.
“Look, this one has scales in deep crimson! What do you think?”
“This spider’s web shimmers with five colors of light. How about it?”
“Five colors…!”
The two of them began competing right before me, each showcasing their paintings to see who had brought the more extraordinary one.
At the moment, Dang Lim appeared to be falling slightly behind.
“Five colors, no less…!”
Dang Lim muttered in frustration, wringing his head as though squeezing out ideas.
“Why not? I think the deep crimson is wonderful too!”
I patted his hand gently and smiled warmly at him.
Yet my dizzy mind was spinning rapidly beneath the surface.
‘So… all those poisons in those paintings are gifts for me?’
The two of them had arrived at my quarters a few minutes ago, grumbling that Dang Eum had beaten them to it, and presented me with rare gifts.
It seemed all three of them had been diligently preparing poisons to give me as gifts.
The two of them were so considerate that they brought paintings instead of the actual items.
After all, it wouldn’t do if they posed a threat to me.
‘And why are these paintings drawn so well?’
I sighed inwardly as I traced my fingers across the remarkably realistic paintings.
I had wondered why the gift offensive had quieted down recently.
It was clear that after hearing I collected poisons, they had taken a long time sourcing all manner of rare specimens.
“So, which one do you like best?”
“Yes. Whose gift pleases you the most?”
Dang Lim and Geuiheon asked in unison.
Both their eyes gleamed with competitive spirit, especially Dang Lim’s.
It was a mystery how a simple gift offensive born from affection had somehow transformed into a competition.
“Oh, I couldn’t possibly choose!”
I answered, clutching my head as though it were difficult.
I truly couldn’t select just one.
‘If I do, they’ll definitely sulk. What am I to do?’
“I love them both! Anything you brothers give me is precious to me.”
As I gathered all the paintings into my arms and beamed, Dang Lim’s lips twitched slightly.
“Hmph! How bland….”
He turned his head away with a mutter.
Geuiheon, as if he had anticipated my response, chuckled softly and rolled the paintings back up.
“I heard you’ve taken an interest in poisons lately, so I prepared these. Whichever you choose, they’re all yours—come collect them from the Merchant Guild whenever you wish.”
Geuiheon said this and took a seat beside me.
“Ugh! I lost my seat!”
Dang Lim hurried over and sat down beside me, reaching for the teacup on the table.
Gong Myo and Dang Dam began cheerfully clearing away the scrolls piled high on the floor like a mountain.
“By the way, you’ve been cooped up in the Chil-yeong Mountain Warehouse lately.”
Dang Lim spoke while gulping down his tea.
With narrowed eyes, he stared directly at me as he continued.
“When did you stop whining for your older brothers to play with you? Have you grown up already?”
His voice was filled with petulance.
Though his tone was sharp, I could see the disappointment in his eyes.
“….”
Seeing that Gui-heon also said nothing and merely sipped his tea, it seemed he was equally disappointed despite pretending otherwise.
‘I had a feeling this would happen.’
As if I’d been waiting for this, I set down my teacup and bowed my head deeply.
“It’s just that….”
I continued in a small, hesitant voice, pouting my lips.
“I thought you’d find me bothersome….”
“What?!”
At my words, Dang Lim shot up as if struck by lightning.
“Why would I—!”
His expression was colored with shock.
“Why would you think that? Huh?”
Gui-heon also placed his hand over mine and asked. He seemed quite surprised as well.
I looked up at Gui-heon and carefully opened my mouth.
“You’ve been incredibly busy lately. So I thought I shouldn’t bother you.”
“So you were hiding there because of that?”
At Gui-heon’s question, I nodded and slowly smiled.
“Playing with medicinal herbs is fun too. Hehe.”
As if my words didn’t reach him, Dang Lim let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha. Me, busy?”
He scoffed dismissively and continued.
“I’m not busy at all! Ha! I’m dying of boredom! Ha! This is ridiculous.”
Dang Lim, utterly flustered, set his teacup down on the table with a loud clink and cried out.
“Hey, I have nothing to do! I’m so bored I could die, so talk to me whenever you want. Got it?!”
I wanted to ask if the third son of the Dang Family could really have nothing to do, but I held my tongue.
Instead, I spoke with sparkling eyes.
“Wow, I’m so excited!”
At that, the corners of Dang Lim’s mouth twitched upward again.
“Ha, seriously. You like this older brother that much? You’re making such a fuss.”
Dang Lim spoke with a smug expression, ruffling the back of his head.
Soon after, with his cheeks raised to the heavens, Dang Lim gulped down his tea eagerly.
“Kyaa!”
He drained the cup completely and extended his hand toward me.
“You’re heading to Chilryeong Mountains again, aren’t you? Let’s go. Your older brother will take you there.”
At Dang Lim’s confident offer, words tumbled from my mouth before I could think.
“No! That’s quite all right!”
The moment I spoke, I knew I’d made a mistake.
I’d answered far too quickly.
‘Just like someone hiding something.’
Sure enough, Dang Lim’s eyebrows rose sharply.
Gui Heon also set down his teacup and looked at me.
“Why? Is there a reason I shouldn’t go?”

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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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