The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 65

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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 65

The time spent eating, crying, sleeping, and laughing while rejoicing in each other’s well-being passed in an instant.

There were mountains of things to confirm, like what happened with the Heir Selection Test and whether they caught the person who poisoned the valley, but Shin Ah rested for now.

Guests came endlessly, making it impossible for her to step even one foot out of Biwongak.

Most people in the escort agency were desperate to meet Shin Ah.

‘How on earth did you survive and return from those treacherous mountains? They say you have mysterious abilities—is that really true?’

People’s curiosity reached the heavens.

So Cheonrim told her not to meet everyone who came but to filter and meet them appropriately, but Shin Ah met as many people as possible to show off her safety.

She desperately hoped that news of her healthy and happy life would reach someone’s ears.

‘The bastard who tried to harm me will have his insides turned upside down when he hears about me.’

This was Shin Ah’s small revenge.

‘The big revenge needs to be done properly by catching them directly.’

But among all those many guests coming and going, the person Shin Ah was waiting for was nowhere to be heard from.

“Big brother isn’t coming.”

Shin Ah, who had dealt with guests all morning, put a sweet in her mouth. Her expression was sulky as she chewed the sweet.

Since the passionate embrace on the first day of returning to the escort agency, So Cheondo was nowhere to be seen.

‘I thought big brother would ask the most questions about everything.’

Given So Cheondo’s personality, he was obviously blaming himself, so she needed to clear up the misunderstanding.

But she had to see his face to do anything!

“Danmi, do you know where big brother is?”

“……I don’t know.”

Danmi slightly avoided Shin Ah’s gaze.

Hmm, Shin Ah made a nasal sound and poked Danmi’s side.

“Tell me.”

Danmi pressed her lips together tightly.

“What did you get from big brother?”

“I didn’t get anything!”

Danmi waved her hands in denial.

“You did receive a request though. Big brother told you not to tell, didn’t he?”

Danmi’s eyes widened as she inadvertently nodded.

Having fallen for Shin Ah’s leading interrogation without realizing it, Danmi resented her loose tongue and clenched both hands tightly, bowing her head deeply.

“He told me absolutely not to tell the young miss.”

“Where is he?”

Shin Ah jumped up from her chair as if she would chase after him immediately.

“Well, you see……”

When Danmi’s explanation that began like that ended, tears welled up in Shin Ah’s eyes.

So Cheondo had left.

He couldn’t overcome the guilt of failing to protect Shin Ah and the self-loathing of his own inadequacy.

‘I wish to undergo closed-door training, grandfather.’

Closed-door training was something only done by large sects like Mount Hua or great families.

Manhyang Express also had a closed-door training ground, but it was practically useless. It had been neglected since So Cheonrim used it decades ago.

In such a place, cut off from the world, eating only Fasting Pills and devoting himself solely to cultivation?

“I really don’t know where he went. He told me to take good care of the young miss, and said that once he got permission from the Biwongak Master, he would leave immediately after getting permission from the agency master. He left just a single letter for the Biwongak Master saying he would return stronger, without even saying goodbye.”

Shin Ah let out a deep sigh.

‘Father sometimes sighs while looking into the distance……’

How heartbroken So Cheonrim must be, with his son leaving just a letter behind as soon as his daughter returned.

Shin Ah’s heart wasn’t good either.

What happened during the Heir Selection Test was absolutely not So Cheondo’s fault. She really wanted to tell him that.

And she had something to give him too.

Shin Ah glanced at the wardrobe. Deep inside the wardrobe was the Fire Heart Fruit that Vermillion Bird had prepared for her just before parting.

It was a spirit medicine that wasn’t needed by Shin Ah and Mugyeol who had eaten the Ten Thousand Year Extreme Blood Treasure, but would be of great help to So Cheondo.

She had been counting the days to give it to him.

‘I never thought big brother would leave without even saying goodbye.’

Feeling hurt and sorry, the pit of Shin Ah’s stomach stung sharply.

‘I can’t even go find him.’

She could easily find out the location of his closed-door training if she investigated, but if she visited before the cultivator came out first, the person involved might suffer qi deviation.

‘I have no choice but to wait.’

When would big brother return?

It was just as Shin Ah was idly swinging her feet with nothing to do.

“Miss Shin Ah, the agency master is looking for you.”

Finally, So Hyeokho called for Shin Ah.

* * *

In the midst of not hearing even a single breath as if the whole world had fallen into deep sleep, a light was lit in the Biwongak Master’s private quarters.

So Cheonrim got up from bed and took out documents hidden deep in the wardrobe. They were his organized notes about what happened during the Heir Selection Test.

So Cheonrim spread the papers on the table and fell into deep thought with his arms crossed.

Then, the candlelight flickered and shortly after, a shadow swayed over the table.

“Ok Chifung, have you come?”

“How are you not even surprised?”

Ok Chifung grumbled for no reason, though he hadn’t even seriously hidden his presence.

So Cheonrim smiled lightly.

“How did the investigation go?”

“Hmm, things got a bit complicated.”

Ok Chifung frowned deeply.

Ok Chifung was investigating the bastards who attacked Shin Ah at So Cheonrim’s request, and pursuing leads about the corpses that fell below the cliff.

“Both of them?”

Deep wrinkles formed on Ok Chifung’s brow.

“You heard that the bandits escaped, didn’t you?”

On the day Ok Chifung received permission from So Hyeokho to investigate the bandits, they disappeared like ghosts.

Upon investigation, the person in charge of locking up that day had apparently dropped the keys. The gatekeeper suffered greatly and was kicked out, but there were suspicious aspects.

“Strange, isn’t it? Why would a gatekeeper who had never lost his keys even once in 10 years drop them on that particular day?”

“Indeed.”

“Anyway, I chased after those bastards.”

From here was a story So Cheonrim didn’t know. So Cheonrim straightened his posture and concentrated.

“I put in tremendous effort to find them faster than the Yuwongak Master. But their whereabouts were mysteriously unclear.”

While chasing the assassins disguised as bandits, Ok Chifung had a strong premonition that someone was protecting them.

“So?”

So Cheonrim urged for an answer.

“Who am I? I caught them.”

“Good. Now if we interrogate them to reveal who’s behind this……”

“No, that’s not possible.”

Ok Chifung said firmly.

So Cheonrim raised his eyebrows crookedly.

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said. We can no longer question them or get any answers.”

“Don’t tell me… they’re dead?”

“Yes. And from a terrible poison at that.”

Cheonrim squeezed his eyes shut. His lips trembled.

Not because their deaths were regrettable, but because important witnesses who could reveal the truth behind Shin Ah and Mugyeol’s disappearance had vanished.

“So that’s how it turned out.”

Chifung’s voice was bitter. This failure was particularly painful for him too.

To think they couldn’t properly handle something done by mere bandits, no, assassins.

‘Was I too complacent?’

Cheonrim lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly.

Though regretting it now wouldn’t change anything, a cold assessment of the situation was essential.

“Then, what about the corpse found at the cliff?”

Cheonrim asked after catching his breath.

“We need to investigate that further.”

Having said that, Chifung subtly changed the subject.

“More importantly, how did your investigation go?”

“I couldn’t find who poisoned the valley. However, there is someone I suspect.”

Cheonrim smoothly presented a report. Chifung glanced through the report and frowned.

A name familiar to both of them was written there.

“You suspect Dang Jugong?”

“Isn’t the timing of his appearance quite convenient?”

Cheonrim put down the report he was holding. His face was full of fatigue.

For the past few days, he had been living a life of leaving before sunrise and returning to Biwongak close to midnight.

What he was doing was undoubtedly tracking down whoever had put Shin Ah in danger.

But it wasn’t as easy as expected.

The witness they had captured was dead, and there was no evidence.

“How did the investigation of the valley go?”

Chifung said.

“Didn’t heavy rain fall right after the Heir Selection Test ended? The poison wasn’t detected, probably all diluted then.”

“Someone might have poured antidote in the middle. More importantly, why do you think Dang Jugong targeted Shin Ah?”

“Well, because he would have considered Shin Ah an obstacle to Mando.”

“What is this boy Mando? And what connection does he have with Dang Jugong?”

Cheonrim crossed his arms and looked at Chifung.

There was no way he wouldn’t know about Mando’s maternal family, Baekrim’s son, so there must be a reason for asking like that.

What on earth was he trying to say by asking such questions?

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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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