The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 28

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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 Doomed Legacy of a Fallen Family — Episode 28

“Once I become skilled at the flute, you’ll play the pipa for me, won’t you?”
“The pipa — I’m the finest player in this household, my dear.”
Dan Mok Hyun Woo had barely finished speaking before he launched into an elaborate account of how he’d celebrate Dan Mok Ryeon’s birthday next year, and Seol Gwan Hee eagerly joined in the planning.
They would summon the finest chef in Zhejiang Province, hire musicians — though Dan Mok Hyun Woo would personally play the pipa — keep her gift a secret until the day itself, and affix paper flowers cut from every lantern so that the night blazed with light.
Dan Mok Ryeon’s lips trembled.
During all the years she had not broken, no one in the Se Family had ever held a birthday celebration.
Little Dan Mok Bi had never even seen one — her elder sister couldn’t arrange such a thing. And Dan Mok Hyun Woo, once vivacious and full of spirit, had spent those years in darkness and silence.
Yet now he stood laughing, promising to personally cut paper flowers for his niece’s lanterns.
If only she could cut a thousand, ten thousand flowers for him in return — but Dan Mok Hyun Woo, unaware of her longing, closed his eyes and smiled, lifting her high into the air.
The flute nearly slipped from her grasp, and the tears that had been gathering in her eyes suddenly vanished.
“Wooo-ahhh!”
“W-wooo-ahhh!”

* * *

Gyeon Wi Un had been silent all evening, leaving her servant Jong to speak for her at nearly every turn.
From his opening gasp to his final “Heavens!” hundreds of thousands of words had poured out, yet Gyeon Wi Un had barely uttered a syllable.
But Jong harbored no resentment. He’d had no time to feel slighted.
“My word! In all my years, I never dreamed I’d lay eyes on a Top Scholar! I thought such honors descended only from Heaven itself.”
‘How did Dan Mok Ryeon know? Could it have been mere chance?’
“Young Master has been feigning idleness this whole time, hasn’t he? And here I thought the master would fret himself to pieces — but he’s achieved Top Scholar with such brilliance!”
‘Is such coincidence even possible? That little girl gave me that veiled counsel, and I staked everything on Dan Mok Hak’s success at the examination. And now he’s truly passed as Top Scholar… Can all of this be mere chance?’
A chill ran down her spine.
“Miss, but sending the Fragrant Jade Item — wasn’t that excessive? It’s no ordinary treasure. If the master were to learn—”
Gyeon Wi Un finally replied.
“What would Father say if he knew? That I was pleased with my brother’s success and showed proper affection. He’d commend my virtue.”
“That… does seem likely, miss.”
The servant acknowledged this with some embarrassment.
Not long ago, Gyeon Wi Jeong and all his gambling companions had been beaten senseless by street ruffians and ended up in a physician’s care.
They’d borrowed money from those thugs to gamble, apparently. The warning had been dire — one more brush with dice or wine, and they’d lose their hands. Several of his cronies’ parents had vowed to hunt down those ruffians and kill them; others had grieved openly while secretly rejoicing. The beatings had been thorough enough that the sight of dice now sent them into tremors.
Gyeon Wi Jeong hadn’t escaped entirely unscathed — he bore bruises and had confined himself to bed, and with his gambling friends scattered in flight, he had no companions left to idle away the hours with. He’d been whiling away time at home.
Seeing his son’s pitiful state, Gyeon Eon Jo had sighed once, then transferred complete authority over the Trading House to Gyeon Wi Un — duties she had been managing provisionally until then. Gyeon Wi Jeong had held those responsibilities originally.
‘This too has unfolded just as that child said it would.’
When Gyeon Eon Jo realized that his usually rational, cold-hearted second child had deliberately taken action out of concern for her elder brother’s future, he found himself moved despite his complex feelings.
“How did the master discern at once that it was you, miss?”
“It’s harder to hide something from Father within the Trading House than it is to let him know about it.”
Jong chuckled, nodding in agreement.
“The master must be overjoyed, miss.”
“I saw with my own eyes — a man can be so happy he nearly falls backward.”
When his trusted retainer had brought news of the results, Gyeon Eon Jo’s eyes had widened in disbelief so profound he’d nearly toppled backward.
Now the manor grounds were laid out for celebration, so that the household servants could enjoy the festivities.
But Gyeon Eon Jo himself had locked himself away in his quarters, saying his heart was racing far too fast. According to the servants, he did nothing but stare at the proclamation bearing the words “Top Scholar,” over and over.
“First, I must have a fine Silk Robe tailored and sent to my brother, and procure new Writing Materials to send to the Bamboo Forest Academy. That academy has given my brother his companions and teachers — such gratitude is only proper.”
Gyeon Wi Un spoke with a cool, measured tone. Jong finally collected himself and bowed deeply.
Gyeon Wi Un’s eyes swept across the elated mood of her household. While everyone else chattered in high spirits, she alone gazed into the future with cold, calculating eyes.
“And adjust the sales volume of Blue Lotus Water. Recall all the premium grade currently on the market at once.”

Dan Mok Cheon Ki, who had been seized by sudden inspiration, was deepening his Enlightenment through repeated practice of the Breath Circulation Technique, channeling the Se Family Secret Heart Formula.
She could feel the air being drawn into Wol Yeong Jae through her skin, so she strolled the perimeter, gently infusing Spiritual Qi into each current of air.

Every time this power brushed against Dan Mok Cheon Ki’s Dantian, she prayed it would heal his wounds completely and restore his strength.
“Young lady, I heard you called for me.”
Today she had summoned Gang Rip during her walk. The Qi Flow surrounding Wol Yeong Jae told her it was time—soon Dan Mok Cheon Ki would emerge from his Deep Meditation State, his Enlightenment sealed within.
Gang Rip approached her cautiously, holding his breath to avoid disturbing the aura within the residence.
She had paused mid-step, staring down at the duckling on the pond with a scowl.
“Look at this, Gang Rip. It’s ugly, isn’t it…….”
“Ah, well, young lady, the ducks here at Wol Yeong Jae are mallards, you see. And I’d say it’s less a matter of being ugly than having varied coloring, wouldn’t you say?”
Gang Rip, who had come with her, hastened to offer a defense. He knew that Dan Mok Cheon Ki often teased her by calling her a duckling.
“It’s ugly!”
“…… Well…… they say that when you’re small, you must pretend to be homely so the spirits won’t carry you away. And the patriarch cares for you so deeply—he watches over even the smallest thing…….”
“Grandfather would kill the spirits too if they came.”
“That’s…… well, people’s hearts don’t always work that way…… do they.”
She pouted stubbornly, her lower lip thrust out, then sprang up from the pond’s edge. The ducklings, oblivious to her displeasure, waddled toward her with soft quacking, until the water’s margin was crowded with them.
She reached out her hand toward the mallards. Gang Rip beside her started in alarm and tried to stop her.
“Oh my, young lady, even though they’re only fed by the pond and not truly tame, they’re fierce creatures…….”
“Hmm?”
The mallard bent its neck and nuzzled its head against her hand, cooing affectionately. Gang Rip’s eyes widened. These same ducks, which had always been fierce when he fed them, were now acting as docile as lambs.
The mallard pushed its ducklings toward her as if introducing them. The mottled chicks waddled over in a cluster toward her hand.
She played with them, resigned to the situation, when suddenly her head lifted and her gaze fixed on empty air.
“…… Grandfather’s awake. Let’s go.”

Dan Mok Cheon Ki sat quietly before the table where he had eaten with her, his eyes closed. His hair had grown more translucent white at the ends, but his complexion was bright, and the Spiritual Qi radiating from him filled the empty room.
“Grandfather!”
As the small girl burst through the opening door, Dan Mok Cheon Ki’s eyes snapped wide. His gaze blazed with clarity.
“Ryeon.”
“How is your body feeling?”
Gang Rip, his soul seeming to have left him, set down lukewarm tea and rice gruel before Dan Mok Cheon Ki, his eyes darting nervously.
Normally, when someone emerged from Enlightenment, one waited for them to leave their chamber before the household bowed in formal salute and offered congratulations—but she had thrown open the door without a moment’s hesitation, nearly stopping his heart.
“You were sitting with your eyes closed for so many days. Have some tea, Grandfather.”
Dan Mok Cheon Ki gazed quietly at the small teacup she offered, then slowly brought it to his lips.
He felt the clear, vital energy beginning at his mouth and slowly spreading down through his body, unmistakably present.
That same energy gently caressing the old wound scar on his left side.
All the things he had dimly sensed before now became perfectly clear.
The endless blooming and fading within the small girl before his eyes, the frail and tender flesh holding it all, and those star-bright eyes encompassing everything—all of it crystalline and sharp.

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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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