The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 21

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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 Declining Clan’s Timebound Covenant — Episode 21

“Well…….”
Ryun-a had taken to calling Gyeon Wi-hak “uncle,” and following Gyeon Eon-jo’s subsequent request to be called grandfather, she now addressed him as such. It was Gyeon Wi-un who stepped forward to explain, though she found herself in a situation where clarification fell rarely upon her shoulders—and now she spoke in a low voice, her expression caught between embarrassment and discomfort.
“My brother couldn’t accompany us to the Danmok Clan, and I worried that coming alone might invite misunderstanding. So my father—the company director—instructed me not to come.”
Ryun-a understood what misunderstanding he meant.
Gyeon Eon-jo had been concerned that Gyeon Wi-un might be mistaken for the clan’s heir.
“But as a member of the trading company, how could I possibly refrain from visiting the clan with whom we would conduct business? So I’ve come in this somewhat shameful guise.”
“Your brother—you mean Gyeon Wi-jeong? Why couldn’t he come?”
“…….”
“…….”
Gyeon Wi-un’s lips trembled slightly. Ryun-a, drawing on what she’d long known of Gyeon Wi-jeong’s nature, ventured a guess.
“Drinking? Gambling?”
The servant beside her jumped at that. Gyeon Wi-un lowered her eyes further still.
“How shameful.”
So the eldest had been prevented from coming by his weakness for drink, and to be fair (?), the second was also told not to come—yet he couldn’t bear to stay away, and so arrived in servant’s disguise.
‘I thought she was a cold person…….’
After being denied the inheritance of Mansong Trading Company, she had established her own venture and achieved success. Her reputation for ruthlessness and decisive action had spread so widely that even three-year-old children in Zhejiang Province knew of it.
‘I never imagined she’d be passionate enough to disguise herself as a man and sneak in like this.’
But then again, it was precisely this kind of passion that had allowed her to build success from nothing when she broke from her family.
“What do you think of our clan, Aunt Wi-un?”
“Pardon?”
Gyeon Wi-un flinched at being suddenly called “aunt.”
“Grandfather asked me to call Gyeon Wi-hak ‘uncle,’ which would make you my aunt, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah…… I suppose so.”
“Then please, speak freely.”
“W-well. Yes, then.”
From the way the servant’s eyes widened, it seemed that seeing Gyeon Wi-un flustered was a rare sight indeed.
Gyeon Wi-un drew a deep breath and continued.
“Your clan has…… a certain understated charm in not flaunting its power.”
She couldn’t very well tell a child that his house looked shabby and worn.
Watching Gyeon Wi-un, Ryun-a drew upon her inner sight. Light sparkled across her irises.
“Mm. Though it does seem a bit too lacking in authority, doesn’t it?”
“Oh? I suppose…….”
“Miss!”
The servant standing behind grabbed at Gyeon Wi-un’s collar in alarm. Gyeon Wi-un coughed awkwardly and denied it.
“No, no. That’s not it at all.”
“Still, if we renovated the manor and recruited more martial artists, wouldn’t it look better?”
“Well, that’s true enough. Honestly, right now it’s a bit…….”
“Eek!”
The servant’s lips pressed thin, calling out to Gyeon Wi-un. She looked on the verge of tears.
Ryun-a closed her eyes and smiled.
“That’s why we’re hoping to sell Blue Lotus Water this time and earn some funds. Have you heard about it?”
“I’ve heard of that too. It sounds as though we’ll soon be able to beautify the manor.”
Greed flickered across Gyeon Wi-un’s eyes. To her mind, Blue Lotus Water was indeed a commodity of value, and her gaze held the desire to manage it directly and profit from it.
Ryun-a smiled innocently, her expression guileless.
“So once we become wealthy, I want to take my family out and eat the most delicious food together.”
“That’s a fine thing to do.”
“Yes! And especially, I want to buy Ryun-a new clothes.”
“Ah? Um…….”
Though Ryun-a had suddenly begun speaking of a child whose name Gyeon Wi-un didn’t know, she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt, and simply nodded along, offering small sounds of acknowledgment.
“Only for her?”
“Yes! You see, Ryun-a is incredibly smart—she does everything well on her own.”
“I see.”

“But since he does everything so well on his own, even though he’s my younger brother, there’s nothing I can really do for him.”
“I see. He must be quite clever, then.”
“Yes! Remarkably so. That’s why I’m always falling short, but Ryun-a is always taking such good care of both me and Bi-a.”
“Is that so? A good child, indeed.”
“Now that I think about it, I feel sorry about that. I’m planning to buy new clothes just for Ryun-a.”
Gyeon Wi-un had been nodding absently with a vague smile, but her motion suddenly froze.
Ryun-a caught sight of Gyeon Wi-un staring down at her with wide eyes, smiled brightly with her own eyes closed, and waved her hand as she excused herself, saying she had to go teach her siblings their characters—leaving no time even for proper farewells.

* * *

“How old is Ryun-a now? Eight?”
“Yes. She rose from her sickbed last autumn, so she’ll be eight this year. Once we pass February next year, she’ll be nine.”
Inside the carriage as it rolled along, Gyeon Eon-jo rubbed his brow as he listened to his trusted aide.
He was turning over in his mind what his third son, Wi-hak, had been like at that age—a boy who had been frighteningly clever among his three children.

─ And though it has less efficacy than what I make myself, there’s also Blue Lotus Water that can be formulated more simply and cheaply. Could we perhaps sell this by the unit to medical clinics?

The same product, different grades, different prices. The expensive version would seem even more precious, and the cheaper one would be far more accessible—could there be any better strategy than this?
What struck him was that this small child had thought of it entirely on her own.
Even if she had received advice from someone, his admiration would not have diminished. The very fact that she had someone around her who would offer such counsel to a child seriously was itself a mark of ability.
“The Deputy Heaven Master is blessed in his twilight years…….”
Gyeon Eon-jo had hoped they would rise together as companions and soar as one, but while Danmok Cheon-gi bore the cost alone of saving the martial world, his eldest son had died young and his grandson was as good as a corpse—watching all this left Gyeon Eon-jo’s heart far from at ease.
It was for this reason that he had come running the moment he saw Blue Lotus Water, this curious thing.
If the Danmok Clan had the capacity to produce something new, if they were preparing to stand again, then he wanted to lend a hand.
“……But how is that rascal Wi-hak doing with his studies?”
His aide could not bring himself to answer and trailed off. Gyeon Eon-jo pressed his brow.
The youngest was currently studying at Jukrim Academy in Huizhou. The academy had been producing examination candidates in succession and was famous for having many children of the upper classes attending, so he had deliberately sent him there—yet every report that came back about his youngest contained not a single encouraging word, which was why his aide could not even speak.
“Still, sir, people say that the young master is the most merchant-like among the merchants of Huizhou…….”
“You mean that scoundrel goes to the tavern every single day!”
People spoke of Huizhou merchants as those who spared no silver when it came to official’s hats
(the headgear worn by those who had attained office)
and wine, music, and dance—they never learned to be frugal.
It meant that these merchants never failed when it came to obtaining official posts and spending their nights in taverns.
Since Gyeon Eon-jo was the one paying for Wi-hak’s official’s hat through his contributions to Jukrim Academy, if Wi-hak wanted to boast of his merchant nature in Huizhou…….
Gyeon Eon-jo let out a series of hot sighs, then drew out the Blue Lotus Water from his robes and rubbed it against his temples.
A cool sensation seeped in like translucent mist, and soon his headache faded, his mind becoming as clear as if he had returned to his twenties. It was truly a miraculous thing.
“Ryun-a gave me a new bottle, so I should send this to Wi-hak while mentioning that my niece is praying for his Top Scholar Distinction.”
Top Scholar Distinction—what a thought. Even placing at the bottom of the Regional Civil Service Exam would be fine, if only he would just pass…….
“And the eldest?”
“He rose in the afternoon, took his medicine, and then went out to look around the shops, or so they say.”
It was news from the main residence, though some distance away, but reports had come in long ago. Gyeon Eon-jo clicked his tongue.
“If he’s nursing a hangover from drinking, he should at least pretend to be ill…….”
While he understood that his eldest son’s drinking companions were not decent people, he could not bear down on Wi-jeong as if catching a rat, not when Wi-jeong committed no major errors and had his reputation to consider. His reputation made it all the more so.
He could only wait and hope that Wi-jeong would himself rid himself of such friends and cultivate more serious companionship while devoting himself earnestly to the company’s affairs.
Gyeon Eon-jo’s sigh scattered quietly.

* * *

“Oh, mistress. You’ve returned so early—what are you planning to do……?”
“Where is my brother?”
“He’s gone out to the shops. To see how they’re doing…….”
“Hmph, he’s probably gone gambling.”
Gyeon Wi-un spoke with a scoffing laugh, then her expression hardened. The servant beside her held her breath.
Gyeon Wi-un said nothing for a long time, then rubbed her brow before turning to look back at the servant.
This was a loyal woman who had attended to her since she was small.
“Send for a physician and have him prepare some medicine to cure a hangover in advance.”
“Yes? A hangover remedy……? Ah, very well.”
“And…….”
Gyeon Wi-un drew a deep breath and then quietly looked around her surroundings.
Because she understood how dearly her father held the Danmok Clan in his thoughts, and because she had learned martial arts at least to a shallow degree, she could sense the presence of those nearby.
Gyeon Wi-un waited for a passing servant to move out of earshot, then spoke quickly.
“I need to send a letter to Eun So-gang asking him to spare some men.”
“Pardon?”
The servant’s eyes widened. Eun So-gang was the Deputy Heaven Master of the Third Heaven among the Thirteen Heavens of the Black Heaven Alliance.
“What would you need the men for, if I may ask?”
“I have to drive off this rabble clinging to my brother. I need people who can teach them a lesson and keep their mouths shut about it. There’s no one like that to be found within Zhejiang Province.”
“You mean… you’re speaking of the young master’s… companions, aren’t you?”
“That’s right. Go at once!”
“Yes, yes, at once!”
The moment Gyeon Wi-un’s eyes flashed with steely resolve, the servant bolted as though struck, scrambling out in haste.

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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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