The Baengri Clan's Unwanted Granddaughter

Chapter 5

***

For a long moment, no one said a word. Then all at once, the room broke out in chatter.

“Come to think of it, I’ve never heard of it curing a qi center.”

“But surely the Divine Decree Suppression Pill could...?”

“If it can bring the dead back to life, it can fix a qi center.”

“But that’s comparing apples to oranges.”

They continued to debate, their opinions clashing. But the truth was, no one knew for certain. It had never been attempted before. From the expression on both my father and grandfather’s faces, they didn’t know the answer either.

Of course, the Divine Decree Suppression Pill’s reputation was legendary. But bringing back the dead and fixing a shattered qi center are two completely different matters.

Without a qi center, I would never be able to learn martial arts.

But was that a death sentence?

No. No, it wasn’t.

In actuality, anyone who gave it more thought would’ve begun to question its efficacy, but the Divine Decree Suppression Pill’s reputation deluded people into thinking it was a cure-all. And so...

Hope makes such fools of us all.

How difficult it is to give up when you have even the slightest of hopes.

“A medicine should only be used for its intended purpose. I don’t need it.”

In my past life, Father had finally managed to receive the pill from Grandfather and had given it to me. But despite my father’s hopes, my energy core never recovered.

Of course, it wasn’t completely useless.

My qi deviation-induced injuries had fully healed, and my sickly constitution went with them. But as long as my qi center remained shattered, from the perspective of a martial artist, I would never amount to anything.

That priceless treasure...

If it could fix my qi center, I would’ve wanted it more than anyone. But I knew better now. There was no need for me to consume something so rare and precious, especially when others would despise me for it.

Besides, the hero would need that pill later in the novel.

Since I’m not taking it this time, they’ll have one less reason to hate me.

I turned to look at my father and said, “Father, I’m all right, really. I’m just happy I can be here with you.”

His eyes started to fill with tears. Others in the room began to nod, touched by my words. I felt a great burden lift from my shoulders.

Grandfather, who had slowly been stroking his beard, sank into thought once more.

Can this all finally be over? I held back a cough so as not to ruin the moment.

Finally, my grandfather turned to his kneeling son.

“Euigang,” he said, “what do you think after hearing all this?”

Father squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. He turned to me, smiling almost apologetically, and took my hand.

No... A chill ran down my spine.

“My opinion hasn’t changed,” he said calmly. “What kind of father would I be to give up when even a single shred of hope still remains?”

F-Father!

Why did he have to be so stubborn? I wanted to leap up from where I kneeled, so startled was I by his response, but instead I shrank back in anticipation of my grandfather’s rage. However… the room remained silent.

I looked warily up at Grandfather. His expression did not seem angry, but he had clearly had enough of my father.

“It’s like talking to a brick wall,” he said, then clicked his tongue in acknowledgement. “Get up, both of you.”

Father remained in place. I thought he would stay where he was until Grandfather assured him that the pill was his, but after meeting my gaze, he rose resignedly to his feet and reached out to help me stand.

“Huh?”

The moment I got to my feet, everything went blurry, and my head went numb. I grabbed onto my father instinctively.

“Yeon?”

Father’s voice felt distant, as though a wall had been placed between us. I tried to tell him I was fine, but nothing came out but short puffs of air. My face suddenly felt unbearably ticklish. I rubbed my face and found myself horrified at the sight of my hands.

Blood...?

My trembling hands were covered in scarlet.

The moment I saw the blood, the dizziness worsened. I felt someone leap up immediately, but I didn’t have enough strength left to lift my head. Through the haze of my vision, I could see drops of blood falling onto the carpet.

What’s happening?

That was the last thought I had before I completely fainted.

“Yeon!”

* * *

“Is your name Yeon?”

The man was wearing an ivory-colored robe. His only accessory was the jade ornament hanging from the hilt of the sword strapped to his side, and yet his bearing betrayed his nobility.

Even someone as clueless as me was able to see it. This man did not belong here, and he had no reason to show any interest in me.

I stepped back in fear.

“Who... are you?”

He lowered himself to one knee and stretched his hands out to me with a face that seemed to be suppressing a great deal of sorrow.

“I’ve come to take you home. I... am your father.”

His hands were large and calloused. When I tucked my fingers into his, at first I was just afraid, then afraid that it was all a dream, and then couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. The moment I crossed through the giant doors of this house, ecstasy washed over me. I finally had a home, a family. Things were finally starting to turn around for me.

But the moment I stepped over the threshold, the scene shifted. I was greeted by a sofa riddled with holes, cigarette-stained wallpapers, and a new TV that seemed clearly out of place in the dilapidated house. The sound of laughter rang out from the TV.

My heart sank.

W-why am I here?

Smack!

My head snapped to the side, and I felt a stinging in my cheek.

“You thought you could escape?”

A man grabbed me by the collar and shook me like a doll, the stench of alcohol heavy on his breath. Empty bottles rolled across the floor, my body tumbling among them as he flung me onto the floor.

“You know how much I’ve spent raising you?” he screamed.

That was when I realized where I was, and who this man was.

“F-Father, wh-why am I— No, I, I’m sorry!”

I panted in fear and tried to get up, but slipped on one of the bottles and fell back onto the floor.

“You ungrateful b*tch! You think you can just walk out on your own father?”

He was going to hit me again. I reflexively raised my hands, trying to hide myself behind them as best as I could. His inescapable shadow advanced upon me...

I gasped, and opened my eyes.

My stomach was churning, and my head throbbed as though someone had tried to crack it open. My body was drenched in cold sweat.

It’s just a nightmare.

I hadn’t dreamed of my former life in a long time. I tried to collect myself as I looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling.

After my doctor’s visit, Father wasn’t there, so I went to the main hall... and Grandfather... Oh.

The last thing I could remember was getting a nosebleed in front of Grandfather. I must have fainted, and...

Where am I now?

There was a damp cloth in the basin by my bedside, as though someone had been taking care of me until just moments before, but the room itself was unfamiliar. It was incomparable to the house from my dreams.

What a beautiful room.

While my living quarters were nice as well—they were part of the Baengri clan compound, after all—they were still nothing compared to where the other direct descendants lived. The room I was in now was sophisticated and well furnished, a reflection of the owner’s refined tastes.

I could hear bits and pieces of a conversation from beyond the door.

“When will... What a relief... but Imperial Physician Seok... reported.”

Another voice chimed in. “The clan head... The fourth young master...”

I could barely hear a word that they were saying, but it was clear that the voices belonged to my father and grandfather’s aides. I tried to sit up, but my arms shook like a leaf in the wind.

Just then, someone shoved the door blinds roughly aside to enter the room.

“Yeon!” My father rushed to my bedside and placed his hand against my back to help me sit up.

“Father, where am—”

“Don’t move!” he said. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine,” I said reflexively. Then, in case he didn’t believe me, I added, “My head just aches a bit.”

But he didn’t respond. After a long silence, I glanced up at him, and found him furious.

“What were you thinking?” he shouted.

“F-Father?”

“I told you a thousand times to be careful and yet...”

I had never heard my father yell so loudly. Fear swept over me. My vision blurred, my breath shortened, and my mind went completely blank.

Without thinking, I blurted, “F-f-forgive me!”

At that moment, another voice interjected.

“For what, exactly?”

I turned around and froze.

Grandfather!

At the sight of my grandfather, it was as though someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over my head. His fearsome eyes shot straight through me.