The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 206

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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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The Fallen Clan’s Terminal Lifespan — Episode 206

‘Ah, ah, ah.’
The translucent Silver Bell Flower Ornament, carved thin from white jade, shimmered with an even deeper luminescence, and the hanging ornament shaped like a butterfly seemed poised to take flight and live in this very moment. The magnolia bud perched upon the hairpin looked as though it would bloom any instant.
Others spoke of his creations as though heaven and earth had placed their divine touch upon his fingertips, and though they came bearing mountains of gold and silver, begging for even a single hairpin or ornament, Nam Yu Pyeong had never once obliged.
And while others praised him for understanding integrity and honor, Nam Yu Pyeong could say with certainty that it was nothing of the sort.
There was but one person in this world who could complete his craftsmanship, and she had provided him an environment where he could craft to his heart’s content.
What reason, then, could there be to leave this place?
Several times a day he thought perhaps he should repay her kindness by selling ornaments outside the clan and using that fortune as gratitude, but when he saw those creations bloom with life beneath Dan Mok Ryeon’s touch, such thoughts dissolved into pale mist, and guilt bloomed in their stead.
He was merely living by the desire to complete something beautiful with his own hands.
He relied only on Dan Mok Ryeon’s words that this was enough.
“Goodness. How could he craft something like this…….”
“Nam Craftsman labored to make it for your coming-of-age celebration. The raw stones set in the ornament and hairpin were carefully selected by your uncle and entrusted to Nam Craftsman.”
The nursemaid Jang gazed upon them in wonder before fastening the hairpin, ornament, earrings, and bracelet upon Dan Mok Ryeon with reverent care.
Then Dan Mok Hyeon Yo cleared her throat before the Silver Bell Flower Ornament.
“The Sunstone Jade set in that Silver Bell Flower Ornament was sourced by Nam Craftsman himself through his own travels.”
“No, Nam Craftsman! I’m grateful enough that you’ve made them at all — what are you doing…….”
“I crafted them hoping to be even a small light and modest joy for today’s celebration. Whether you choose to wear them, I cannot say…….”
“Well, of course. Absolutely.”
At Dan Mok Ryeon’s words, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo standing beside her exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.
Why she had worried so became clear only after Dan Mok Ryeon left the room.

In a clan of this magnitude, one could not hide even a modest celebration from Dan Mok Ryeon.
And so the family members decided to begin the festivities with a small coming-of-age celebration, and then expand it grandly from there.
On the appointed day, the great gates of the estate swung open and people poured in like a tide.
Celebrated figures from Hang Zhou, friends from neighboring martial families, and distant relatives alike.
The winter’s cold air was driven back in a heartbeat, and the warmth of the crowds filled the estate to bursting.
“If I were to grow angry at such a grand celebration and walk right in, would that be it? Or did you dress me up from the first light of dawn because it would be a shame to waste all this finery?”
As Dan Mok Ryeon asked with a slight sideways glance, Dan Mok Seong kept her gaze forward, though her hair pinned high trembled slightly. Instead, Dan Mok Wan smiled and nodded.
“Yes, Miss!”
“As if I would do such a thing after everyone has gone to such trouble.”
“More that we feared you might not be pleased…….”
Seeing you hide any displeasure would weigh on our hearts, so we had you adorned with all manner of splendor — that was the reasoning.
“Of course I’m pleased. What sort of thoughts are those?”
Just as Dan Mok Ryeon spoke with mild embarrassment, Dan Mok Bi appeared swiftly, dressed far more splendidly than usual.
Her arms held all manner of flowers cultivated in the Dan Mok Estate’s greenhouse.
“Sister! Sister, sister!”
“Bi — I’m about to lose my breath.”
“You’re a martial artist, and running up here while calling a name doesn’t steal your breath.”
At Dan Mok Seong’s crisp remark, Dan Mok Bi shot her a glance, then thrust the flowers from her arms straight toward Dan Mok Ryeon.
“Sister! Happy birthday!”
“And you kept it secret from me too.”
Dan Mok Ryeon cradled the bouquet and breathed in its fragrance deeply. Though her words were reproachful, her face was bright with laughter.

Dan Mok Bi
Characteristics: Tendon Collector / Devoted / Inscribed / Quick-Witted / Neck Splint
Twelve Stars Falling Blade: 7-Star
Single Heaven Flying Sword: 3-Star
Infinite Footwork: 8-Star
Meteoric True Seal: 4-Star
Talent and Star Rating: Upper-Middle
Concern: Enjoying the celebration with sister / Interpreting sister’s sword technique manual

Though she seemed only to play with joy, Dan Mok Bi had grown up practicing diligently between Dan Mok Seong, who was always earnest, and her own unbreakable older sister, never slacking in her training.
‘The Neck Splint characteristic is not without worry, but…….’
In front of her, he was nothing but an endearing younger brother—yet where on earth did these moments emerge from?
Dan Mok Bi plucked a few flowers from the bouquet she’d given Ryeon and tucked them into her sister’s hair while offering an excuse.
“I’m still a baby, so I don’t really understand grown-up matters.”
Already a hand’s-breadth taller than Ryeon, with her eighteenth birthday not far off, Dan Mok Bi would shrink away claiming she was still just a child whenever the slightest difficulty arose.
“You’re only like this because Ryeon keeps saying you’re a baby.”
“But Bi really is still a baby…….”
Dan Mok Seong narrowed her eyes and studied Ryeon.
Dan Mok Bi would turn twenty in just a few years. During those difficult years when Ryeon had been ill, she’d endured the entire clan’s weight of expectation, and now she was becoming a pillar of the Dan Mok Family itself, growing by leaps and bounds with each passing day.
Outside these walls, she stood among people without shame as the youngest son of a prosperous house, with skill to match—yet in front of Ryeon, she spoke in nothing but endless, childish wheedling.
“The clan head from Geum Ga Jang has arrived.”
Just then, Jung Young, relaying a message from the gatekeeper, whispered it softly to Ryeon.
Dan Mok Bi, catching wind of Geum Ga Jang, glanced furtively about before opening her mouth.
“Shouldn’t we go greet Uncle before he arrives? What if Uncle gets upset again?”
In his youth, Geum Jeok Geol, the master of Geum Ga Jang, had tangled affairs with their father Dan Mok Hyeon Seong, but by now both houses had shed much of their old grudges.
What’s more, Geum Jeok Geol had taken it upon himself to be Ryeon’s uncle by marriage. But because of that, conflict had erupted with Dan Mok Hyeon U this very time.
When it came to matters of Ryeon’s uncle, Dan Mok Hyeon U was always exquisitely sensitive.
Ryeon gave Dan Mok Bi a sharp “Baby! Hush!” and then glided across the courtyard in bounding strides.
“Uncle, Aunt. You’ve come? Thank you so much for being here.”
“Ryeon, happy birthday.”
“Happy birthday. My, how perfectly those clothes suit you! The Moon Palace’s daughter from Hang Zhou is right here!”
“Aunt…….”
Where Geum Jeok Geol offered his congratulations with a somewhat gruff and understated manner, his wife Song Young Rang clasped Ryeon’s hands and laughed in quick succession.
“I was so worried we’d let your twentieth birthday pass without doing anything for you. Seeing such a grand celebration makes me so happy.”
“Ryeon! Happy birthday! After this, how about we have just one match—”
Crack!
“What are you saying to a child receiving birthday blessings?”
“B-but I was just remembering the bearing of a martial artist!”
Geum Jong Ha clutched at his shoulder where his mother had struck him, his face twisted in dismay. As Ryeon burst into laughter, Dan Mok Seong spoke in a stern voice.
“Aunt, Jong Ha is right.”
“Even if our son occasionally says something true, this isn’t the moment. None of you should dream of martial matches today.”
“Aw, why not?”
“Even if Ryeon beats everyone who challenges her, they’ll all just claim she only won because the birthday celebrant chose not to hurt their feelings—if we’re lucky.”
“Ah…….”
Geum Jong Ha trailed off and pouted, but the expression soon softened.
“Fine, fine then. Today we’ll just do some theoretical swordplay and celebrate Ryeon’s birthday, that’s all!”
Song Young Rang shook her head and gestured behind her.
Soon, trunks from Geum Ga Jang were stacked neatly throughout the estate.
“Nothing grand, but gifts to celebrate your birthday. Happy birthday to you, Ryeon.”
“Thank you so much, Aunt.”
After offering several more congratulations, Song Young Rang spotted Wi Ji Cheong and Dan Mok Hyeon Yo in the distance, waved at them enthusiastically, and bounded off in their direction.
In her wake, Geum Jeok Geol, left standing awkwardly, cleared his throat quietly.
“Ryeon, congratulations on turning twenty.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
After greeting him, Ryeon hesitated for a moment, then spoke to him directly.
“Uncle, as you said, I have turned twenty, and the Dan Mok Clan has recovered what was lost. Perhaps even more than that.”
A faint smile flickered across Geum Jeok Geol’s rough, taciturn features.
“You might never have lost it at all.”
“But…….”
“There would have been no need to recover it. If you had never lost it from the start.”
A brief silence fell between them. Geum Jeok Geol broke it.
“Had he lived, you would have taken banquets like this for granted. Your quarters would have been built from the finest ice-jade of Beijing, and your gardens would have bloomed with every flower under heaven. Every Treasure Sword

and Divine Armor

in the world would have been yours before you ever sought them.”
Having rambled thus far, Geum Jeok Geol hastily turned the conversation.
“I didn’t mean to say such things to you…… I’m sorry. Happy birthday.”
Before Ryeon could respond, Dan Mok Hyeon U appeared from a distance with great strides.
“Ryeon! Ryeon, where are you! Your uncle has brought a mountain of gifts to celebrate your birthday!”
At the resounding voice, Geum Jeok Geol withdrew with a gentle motion and nodded in acknowledgment.
“Go on. I’ve held the mistress of this joyful day far too long.”
Dan Mok Ryeon’s lips trembled for a moment before she bowed and turned away.

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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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