The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 63

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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 63

So Cheonrim watched until So Baekrim disappeared, then headed toward the main gate. His heart was urgent as he needed to find Shin Ah.

But this time, Dang Mihee stopped So Cheonrim.

She stood blocking So Cheonrim’s path, wearing a blue skirt with elaborate floral embroidery and a light purple jeogori.

“Young master, shall I help you?”

So Cheonrim, who had intended to just greet her and pass by, hesitated.

“It’s been a while, sister-in-law.”

Dang Mihee smiled brightly as she met So Cheonrim’s eyes.

“I heard your request for search team reinforcements was rejected. I’ll try requesting help from the Sacheon Dang Family.”

So Cheonrim quietly gazed at Dang Mihee.

Dang Mihee was So Baekrim’s person, and she had been displeased with the Secret Garden Pavilion’s household members.

Such a woman would speak to the Sacheon Dang Family to help Shin Ah, who didn’t share a drop of blood with them?

In this situation where Yuwongak was suspected of being deeply involved in Shin Ah’s disappearance?

It was suspicious.

“It seems you don’t need help.”

Could it be that the Sacheon Dang Family also lent their strength to Shin Ah’s disappearance?

If so, would receiving their help be a bad move or a good move?

“…Is there something you want?”

“As expected, our young master is truly clever. I’ll help you find Shin Ah. Whether it’s a hundred or two hundred people, I’ll lend you the Sacheon Dang Family’s resources for one year, even two years. In exchange.”

Dang Mihee looked around, then closed the distance with So Cheonrim. A thick musk scent stung So Cheonrim’s nose.

“You live as quiet as a dead mouse. Don’t show any interest in the Escort Agency’s affairs.”

How could a married couple have such different hearts?

Dang Mihee made a demand that was one hundred eighty degrees different from So Baekrim’s.

“Do you need time to think?”

When a person went missing, what determined life and death was the time it took to find them.

Dang Mihee surely had her own schemes, but that was something to gradually uncover after finding Shin Ah.

So Cheonrim clenched both fists and raised his head to accept Dang Mihee’s proposal.

“Good…”

Just then, with a creak, the Escort Agency’s door opened.

“Father!”

Shin Ah and Mugyeol had returned.

* * *

The Escort Agency he saw after so long was still the same.

The massive main gate that rivaled any government office, and the signboard hanging above it that carried the weight of years.

A thrill ran through Shin Ah’s body as she looked up at the signboard.

‘I’ve returned!’

Shin Ah’s heart pounded.

At the thought of seeing Father and her brothers, her nose already began to tingle.

In the Vermillion Bird’s Nest, she had been too focused on thoughts of survival to realize it, but Shin Ah had been missing her family terribly.

And Danmi and Ok Chifung too!

Shin Ah hurriedly grabbed Mugyeol’s hand and pulled him into the Escort Agency.

“My goodness, young miss! We heard you went missing…!”

The Escort Warriors guarding the gate widened their eyes as if they’d seen a ghost. Before they could even speak to her, Shin Ah ran inside following the familiar path.

So Cheonrim was at the training ground visible right beyond the main gate. As if he had been waiting, knowing Shin Ah would come.

“Father!”

So Cheonrim’s body froze.

Dilated pupils, parted lips—he watched Shin Ah running toward him without even breathing.

“Father, I’m here, it’s Shin Ah!”

Shin Ah came right up to him and bounced up and down.

Only then did So Cheonrim’s eyes tremble, and breath burst from his parted lips.

Was this a dream or reality?

If it was a dream, So Cheonrim’s eyes, hoping it wouldn’t end, wandered aimlessly over Shin Ah’s small, delicate body.

If it might be a dream and the child might disappear, he couldn’t even dare to touch her.

“What are you doing, Father! You should hurry and hug me.”

With a rush, Shin Ah threw herself into his arms.

The warm heat and feather-light but definite weight told him this was reality.

Shin Ah, Shin Ah, my daughter…!

“Shin Ah… Shin Ah!”

“Yes, Father. It’s Shin Ah, So Shin Ah!”

Shin Ah burrowed deeply into So Cheonrim’s embrace. So Cheonrim held the child with his arms full.

His hands holding Shin Ah trembled finely, and after a while, Shin Ah’s clothes became damp.

So Cheonrim was crying.

* * *

“Young master, you must eat.”

So Cheondo’s servant held a spoon and fretted anxiously.

“Take it away.”

“Young master, it’s already been a week since you stopped eating.”

“Do people die from starving for a week? Shin Ah… my sister…”

So Cheondo forcibly swallowed the surging grief. He didn’t even have the right to cry.

“Even before this, you barely ate. One meal a day, and even then just barely managing a Fasting Pill… This will lead to serious trouble.”

Serious trouble had already occurred. On that day when his precious sister went missing.

“Take it away. I don’t even want to smell it.”

At his firm tone, the servant had no choice but to hastily put the food back on the tray and take it out. Even while doing so, he looked back at So Cheondo several times, but he remained motionless with his eyes closed.

After the servant left the room, So Cheondo laboriously lifted his eyelids.

A month had passed since he last saw Shin Ah. During that time, So Cheondo had gradually withered away.

It wasn’t just about his outward appearance.

More dried up and ruined than his sunken cheeks, the dark shadows under his eyes, or his pale skin drained of color, was his inner self.

‘It’s because of me.’

He shouldn’t have left his position, leaving only Shin Ah and Mugyeol behind.

‘It’s all because of me.’

When he couldn’t find the supervisor, he should have returned straight to the cave instead of rushing to the Escort Agency.

‘If something happens to Shin Ah, it’s all my fault.’

Losing Shin Ah and failing to find her—it was all his fault.

No matter how much those around him said otherwise, it was useless.

That wasn’t all.

Even when they encountered the bandits trying to steal the package, he couldn’t protect Shin Ah.

‘If Father hadn’t appeared, she would have been seriously hurt.’

He lamented his own weakness. As time passed, he became more powerless and sank deeper into the swamp of guilt.

But he didn’t give up hope.

‘I’ll find Shin Ah.’

So Cheondo’s eyes flashed.

If he found Shin Ah, he would never lose her again. No matter what happened, he would protect the child.

‘I must become stronger.’

So Cheondo craved power for the first time in his life. However, before power or anything else, he had to find Shin Ah first.

“This isn’t the time for me to sit around in a daze.”

So Cheondo gripped his sword with his dry hands and stood up.

His head spun for a moment, but he put strength into both legs and endured to keep from falling.

His lips twisted in self-mockery.

To think his condition was this pathetic just from skipping a few meals—what a weak body he had.

Just as he was harshly cursing himself and grabbed the door handle, the door suddenly burst open.

“Young master! Young master!”

A servant covered in tears and snot cried out.

“Miss Shin Ah has returned!”

Before he could even process the meaning of those words, So Cheondo’s body moved.

He rushed out the door.

* * *

It really was Shin Ah.

So Cheondo froze as he saw Shin Ah entering through the gates of Biwongak.

Her round, cute features, her mischievous smile, and…

“Big brother!”

The small child who had struggled free from So Cheonrim’s embrace ran toward So Cheondo.

So Cheondo reflexively bent his knees and pulled the child into his arms. The soft fragrance and warm warmth were definitely Shin Ah’s.

Sob, tears burst forth without him realizing it.

“Big brother… are you crying?”

A flustered voice rang in his ears.

How much he had wanted to hear that voice.

“No, sob, no.”

“Hey, but you are crying?”

Shin Ah’s shoulder became damp. Hearing So Cheondo’s sounds as he tried to hold back his tears made Shin Ah’s heart ache too.

“I’m sorry, Shin Ah. Sob, because of me you… went through such hardship…”

She knew So Cheondo would be blaming himself.

Even if she said it wasn’t because of big brother, he wouldn’t hear it right now.

Shin Ah raised her tiny hand and stroked So Cheondo’s back. She could clearly feel his shoulder blades beneath the fabric, showing how much mental anguish he had endured.

Pat, pat.

At that small touch, So Cheondo’s dam burst.

He sobbed aloud, and tears welled up in Shin Ah’s eyes too.

Shin Ah sniffled and looked up at the sky.

‘I thought there’d be a feast when I returned…’

It was nothing but an ocean of tears.

Anyway, I need to feed our big brother first—at this rate he’ll get dehydrated.

Shin Ah glanced back at So Cheonrim. But…

‘Father is still crying?’

Though he covered his face with his sleeve, he couldn’t hide the trembling.

“Why is everyone crying?”

Shin Ah’s eyes also grew hot and her vision became blurry.

Finally, the tears that had been precariously gathered at the corners of Shin Ah’s eyes rolled down her cheeks.

That became the signal flare.

Those who had filled the courtyard of Biwongak shed tears celebrating Shin Ah’s return.

And Mugyeol, standing in a corner of the courtyard, was likewise being congratulated for his safe return.

“You rascal, come here.”

Ok Chifung lifted up Mugyeol, who was standing alone like an isolated island. Even the eyes of Ok Chifung, a peak master, were tinged red.

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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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