I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated - Chapter 78

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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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“…Father.”
“I’m not asking for callousness or cunning excuses.”
Father knelt down to meet my eyes at the same level.
As he gently caressed my cheek, Father spoke.
Father wasn’t angry simply because I’d violated the Family Clan’s rules.
“You could have been in real danger. To your father and your brothers, what matters most isn’t the Family Clan’s gain—it’s you. My dear child.”
He was angry because I’d put myself in danger.
Father spread both arms and pulled me into his embrace.
Releasing a deep sigh, Father spoke.
“Never again—never again put yourself in danger. Promise me.”
I couldn’t speak and only nodded my head.
I had to be useful to the Family Clan. I had to fight against our enemies.
Lately, that was all I could think about.
In doing so, I’d forgotten.
How much they loved me.
“…Sniff!”
Dang Lim, who’d been watching us, sniffled loudly.
Somewhere along the way, he’d begun to cry.
“Really… I can’t even be angry!”
Dang Lim sprang to his feet and strode toward me.
From behind, he wrapped his arms around me as I was held by Father, and he spoke.
“Are you an idiot? Were you worried we didn’t have a decent spy to use?”
Tears streaming down his face, he pressed his face against my head.
“Really… you’re an idiot. Do you know how frightened I was?”
Starting with Dang Lim, Gui-heon and Dang Eum also rose and approached me.
Held in my family’s embrace, I felt their emotions all the more keenly.
They’d been worried about me.
That’s why they were angry.
“I won’t do it again.”
I resolved that from now on, I’d be more careful for their sake.
Yet at the same time, my heart grew complicated.
‘I want to become stronger too. So my brothers and Father won’t have to worry.’
After the emergency Assembly Meeting ended at midday, my brothers led me by the hand back to my Quarters.
I was curious about what would happen to Jin Hwa, whom Dang Mu-seon had taken away, but it didn’t seem right to ask.
“Miss…”
I saw Gong Myo and Dang Dam standing in front of my Quarters.
Their dark expressions suggested they’d heard about what happened at the Merchant Guild.
‘They must be in quite a predicament too.’
They’d surely faced criticism for being negligent in attending to me.
“…I’m sorry, everyone.”
I approached them, bowed my head deeply, and spoke in a nasal, choked voice.
Gong Myo waved her hand dismissively and replied.
“Oh, no. Why would you apologize to us…!”
She met my gaze and gently wiped away the tear stains from my cheeks.
“You wanted to protect him that much. That young boy.”
Her thoughtful words only made me feel more apologetic.
“But still….”
The truth was, because I’d hidden Jin Hwa, they’d both gotten scolded.
Looking up at Gong Myo with downcast eyes, she smiled warmly at me.
“We were actually delighted. To serve such a kind-hearted young lady.”
“Rather, we were relieved.”
Dang Dam, who had been quietly observing us, approached and opened his mouth.
“You’ve been trying to go out alone so much lately that we thought you’d grown tired of us.”
“What?”
At Dang Dam’s unexpected remark, I shook my head vigorously.
“That’s nonsense! I love you both so much!”
Gong Myo giggled at my words and looked up at Dang Dam.
As their eyes met, the corners of Dang Dam’s mouth lifted slightly.
The two of them looked just like an affectionate married couple.
***
“From today on, this young man will become the young lady’s personal attendant.”
“Huh?!”
The next morning, I heard news that made me jump in surprise.
“W-what? Jin Hwa…?”
Jin Hwa had become my personal attendant.
I was so dumbfounded that words wouldn’t come.
Hadn’t Dang Mu-seon taken him away to accept him as a disciple?
“Suddenly a personal attendant?”
At my near-muttered question, Dang Dam nodded.
“It is the Elder’s decision. He says there is no way to teach anything without willingness.”
That much was true.
Drawing water, doing laundry, attending to every chore—only through such hardship can martial arts be transmitted.
I understood that.
But why did it have to be my attendant?
“Did he not explain why me…?”
I asked with a bewildered expression, and Dang Dam cleared his throat loudly before answering.
“He said there is a reason for everything, and if you are truly curious, you should come ask him.”
I blinked.
‘Is the Elder bored, perhaps.’
While I stood there dazed, Dang Dam placed his hand on Jin Hwa’s shoulder and spoke.
“Go on, greet her properly.”
Jin Hwa slowly opened his downcast eyes.
Now that I looked at him, his appearance had become far more refined than before.
Even his tattered clothes had been replaced with neat garments, and his feet were no longer bare.
Whether someone had soaked him in valley water and beaten him clean, he looked spotless and polished from head to toe.
“Didn’t you hear? I said to greet her.”
As Dang Dam urged him once more, Jin Hwa awkwardly brought his hands together and spoke.
“I… am… grateful. …Miss.”
Creak, creak. His voice was painfully stiff.
Dang Dam’s brow furrowed deeper, displeased with Jin Hwa’s tone.
“No matter how you ran about like a wild beast outside, none of that matters here. You will show nothing but sincerity and respect to the young lady. Do you understand?”
“…”
Jin Hwa clamped his mouth shut and lowered his head.
With a far more respectful posture than before, he offered his greeting.
“I am most grateful for your kindness, Miss.”
“Ah, yes! Thank you as well.”
I nodded and replied.
Whatever the reason, Dang Mu-seon wouldn’t have done this without purpose.
Besides, Jin Hwa didn’t seem entirely unwilling either…
Or was he?
When he raised his head, a faint smile lingered on his lips.
A cold smile. I could almost hear the true thoughts beneath it.
‘You’ve treated me like this? I swear I’ll have my revenge someday!’
That’s what he was clearly thinking.
“…”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
I had something to do today.
First, I needed to visit Dang Mu-seon.
“Well, well. Now you finally grace me with that precious face of yours.”
Dang Mu-seon, who had been sitting like an immortal in his Quarters at Jeungsan Peak, rose as soon as he saw me, as if he’d been waiting.
He tapped out his long pipe and shuffled over, leaning against the doorframe.
“You must be terribly busy, so what brings you here? Hmm? You throw nothing but poison at this idle old man, then disappear.”
He spoke in a drawling, sarcastic tone.
I looked up at him with a pouty face and muttered.
“I do visit often. It’s not like I never come…”
“Yes, yes. You ransacked my entire house looking for medicine for that boy, and the moment you found it, you bolted out the door, didn’t you?”
He really did seem hurt.
For Dang Mu-seon to spill words like that.
But could even the Family Clan’s most senior elder really sulk with a child like me?
“Then Grandfather could visit me too, you know.”
I narrowed my eyes and answered carefully.
He then gazed down at me quietly.
Then he nodded slowly and murmured.
“That’s true too.”
He turned around and flung open the large paper door.
In an instant, most of the inner wall was covered with the lush landscape of the Forest.
He waved his broad sleeves and drew the pale smoke outside.
“Why aren’t you coming in?”
At his casual summons, I promptly entered.
I plopped down on the spot where Dang Mu-seon had been sitting, and he followed suit.
Propping one knee up and resting his chin on it, he asked casually.
“Right. You must be curious about something, yes?”
I bit into the plum Dang Mu-seon offered me and nodded.
“Mm.”
I wiped the fruit juice from my lips and spoke.
“That attendant you assigned to me. Why did you do that? And as a servant, no less.”
“Why. Does it bother you?”
Dang Mu-seon narrowed his eyes and asked back.
“Well, it’s just….”
As I tilted my head and murmured vaguely, he clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“Tsk, tsk! A mere child already…. Just because his face is pretty doesn’t mean everything.”
He didn’t realize his own face was even prettier as he said that.
Jin Hwa was more handsome than merely pretty….
“He’s actually quite good-looking….”
“What?”
Did he hear my murmur?
Dang Mu-seon’s face transformed like a demon’s.
He began clicking his tongue even faster.
“Ha, good grief! So you’ve been keeping him alive so carefully because he’s good-looking. How very like Dang Seon-hwa’s daughter! Truly!”
Dang Mu-seon bounced his right leg and muttered bluntly.
‘…What on earth is he misunderstanding?’ He seemed to think I had feelings for the boy.
‘Me?’
I suppressed the hollow laugh threatening to escape.
‘Jin Hwa is just a child right now.’
I’m a child too, but….
“Anyway! The boy can’t stand me—his mouth hangs open like he despises me. I’m like a bed of nails to him.”
At my words, Dang Mu-seon stared at me as if exasperated.
“Why are you so concerned with what others think?”
“…What?”
With narrowed eyes, Dang Mu-seon tapped the floor and spoke.
“That man owes a debt to this Family Clan, to you. He still does. You are in a position to show magnanimity.”

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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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