The Granddaughter of the Manhyang Escort Agency Hides Her Magic - Chapter 33
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 33
Shin Ah had guessed wrong.
So Hyeokho’s anger stemmed from two things: first, his regret for not being able to care for Shin Ah and Biwongak, and second, it was a matter that damaged his dignity as the head of the So Family Estate.
A subordinate’s disrespect toward their superior was tantamount to destroying the hierarchical order of the family and escort agency.
And restoring such disrupted hierarchy required much time and expense.
Moreover, the So Family Estate operated Manhyang Express, and escort missions were sometimes dangerous enough to risk one’s life.
Due to the nature of this family business, hierarchical order was even more important.
Superiors must compassionately protect their subordinates with responsibility, while subordinates must respect and follow their superiors.
If that principle collapsed, escort missions would fail, the escort agency would collapse, and the family would be endangered.
‘It was rotting from within. So that’s why our escort agency was shaking.’
Hyeokho’s face darkened with this belated realization.
Meanwhile, Shin Ah witnessed every detail of his emotional changes from close up.
‘He looks depressed?’
Feeling a bit sorry for troubling the old man too much, Shin Ah quickly pulled out a ring from her clothes.
“Grandfather! I have a gift for you!”
At the cheerful voice that reached his ears, Hyeokho emerged from his worries and looked down at Shin Ah.
“You do?”
“Yes! I came here to give you this. I know you’re busy, but I thought you’d be happy to see it.”
Hyeokho, who had always given to his grandchildren but never received anything, wore a bewildered expression.
Even Cheondo, who was polite and knew how to respect elders, acted distant toward Hyeokho. This was despite Hyeokho particularly cherishing Cheondo among his grandsons.
Though that was all in the past.
But Shin Ah, who had only received cold treatment without even a glance from Hyeokho, was giving him a gift.
A sharp pain arose near Hyeokho’s solar plexus.
“Grandfather, quickly hold out your hand!”
Shin Ah completely forgot about her dirty clothes and wiggled her bottom. Each time she did, clouds of dust rose.
Hyeokho endured all that dust without even twitching an eyebrow and extended his hand.
Shin Ah looked down at Hyeokho’s hand, which was easily three times larger and thicker than her own.
‘Is this a hand or a pot lid?’
The large hand was quite rough. It testified to how hard he had lived.
‘Our grandfather has suffered a lot.’
Before dying as So Shin Ah, she had only felt resentment, but seeing him again, his life seemed pitiful too.
‘So let’s try to be good to each other in this life.’
So there would be no misunderstandings or hatred between them.
“What is it that you’re taking so long?”
Hyeokho shook his hand up and down, urging her.
“Don’t be too surprised.”
Hyeokho found himself anticipating the gift.
“Here!”
Shin Ah dropped the ring onto So Hyeokho’s hand.
The anticipation did not betray So Hyeokho.
“……!”
Hyeokho froze stiff as if he had been struck with a pressure point strike.
Eyes so wide they could have popped out, dilated pupils, and a gaping mouth.
He was extremely surprised and moved at the same time.
“This, where did you, how did you…….”
Hyeokho couldn’t even string his words together properly.
‘Does he love grandmother that much?’
Shin Ah wiped under her nose with her finger.
“This was something grandfather treasured. Father told me everything. He said you were very upset when you lost it.”
This was a lie.
Cheonrim had only said he was sad that his deceased mother’s relic had disappeared, without considering Hyeokho’s feelings, but Shin Ah appropriately embellished it.
“So?”
“I suddenly remembered that Ilbi had lost it while playing near Biwongak. So I searched hard for it.”
“So that’s why you look like this…….”
“Yes! I dug in the ground.”
Shin Ah proudly extended her dirt-covered hands toward Hyeokho.
Hyeokho gripped the ring tightly. His moved eyes trembled constantly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down greatly as he swallowed his emotions.
‘He’s not going to cry, is he?’
She had expected him to be happy, but his reaction was much bigger than anticipated.
Shin Ah felt proud. And at the same time, somewhat embarrassed.
‘Is that why my nose feels itchy?’
Shin Ah wiped her somehow moist nose area.
“Huh? Blood……”
She had a nosebleed.
As soon as she realized it, the sensation of blood flowing became vivid.
At the same time, her head became dizzy and her vision flashed white.
Her consciousness kept fading and returning.
In between, Shin Ah saw Hyeokho’s shocked face and heard him shouting loudly.
“Shin Ah, So Shin Ah! Jang Mu, Jang Muuuu! Call Doctor Ju! Shin Ah!”
Hyeokho’s face, which should have been laughing heartily after finding grandmother’s ring, was full of worry.
‘Damn it, grandfather, please smile.’
Shin Ah unconsciously reached out and pulled Hyeokho’s cheek to the side.
Dirt and blood got on Hyeokho’s cheek. Unaware of this, Shin Ah lost consciousness.
* * *
Upon hearing that Shin Ah had collapsed, Cheonrim rushed to Wolhwa Hall. Chifung, who had come to see him, also ran after him.
Cheonrim wondered why he was following, but had no time to shake off Chifung.
The gatekeeper and other servants and slaves stepped aside for Cheonrim as he rushed into Wolhwa Hall.
He headed straight to Hyeokho’s bedroom where Shin Ah was lying.
“Shin Ah!”
“Be quiet.”
It was Hyeokho who stopped Cheonrim from rushing to the bed.
Hyeokho put down the wet towel he had been using to wipe Shin Ah’s hands.
“Why is Shin Ah here? What happened?”
Cheonrim knelt beside the bed and looked at Shin Ah.
Fortunately, there seemed to be no major problems outwardly.
“Doctor Ju has been here. He said she just collapsed from overexertion, so don’t worry too much.”
Though he said that, Hyeokho’s insides were burning with anxiety.
He was even giving her tonic medicine, so why did she keep collapsing!
“Shin Ah overexerted herself?”
She hadn’t even started cultivation yet, so Cheonrim was puzzled about how she could have overexerted herself.
“Ask the child for details later. What kind of person are you?”
Hyeokho suddenly scolded Cheonrim.
Cheonrim, who had been stroking Shin Ah’s cheek, looked up at Hyeokho with confused eyes.
Anger blazed in Hyeokho’s eyes.
“How do you manage Biwongak that the child has to hear insults about her father?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Hyeokho briefly relayed what he had heard from Shin Ah.
Upon hearing those words, Cheonrim’s face turned red, then pale.
‘Shin Ah suffered emotionally because of her incompetent father.’
Cheonrim’s heart was torn in countless directions.
Meanwhile, Hyeokho’s feelings weren’t good either as he scolded his second son.
“From now on, take interest in the Escort Agency’s affairs as well. Don’t neglect teaching the children at Bogukgak either.”
“I will do so.”
A brief silence settled between the two.
Through this wordless time, they were diluting the resentment of the past.
Then Hyeokho frowned and spoke.
“Who is that person lurking around outside? Could it be Ok Chifung from the Huashan Sect, who they said was a guest of Biwongak?”
Since so many people came and went at Manhyang Express, normally they didn’t report every guest’s visit to Hyeokho or seek his permission.
However, Ok Chifung from the Huashan Sect was an exception. As soon as his identity became known, a report was sent up to Hyeokho.
Considering their relationship with Mount Hua, they should have properly exchanged greetings, but since he had come as a guest of Biwongak, they deliberately paid him no attention.
But now that he was hovering around Wolhwa Hall, they couldn’t help but ask.
“Yes, that’s him.”
“You must have called him. What’s the reason?”
“Ok Chifung will stay at Biwongak and teach Shin Ah and Cheondo.”
“You became an instructor at Bogukgak, yet he’s going to teach my grandchildren? Why?”
Cheonrim closed his mouth. He seemed to be pondering something deeply.
After a moment, he spoke with his voice lowered considerably.
“Chifung has discovered something about Shin Ah’s dantian.”
“……!”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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