IBTGONFTWC CH 04

‘Like Mount Tai.’

That was the feeling I had when I first saw my grandfather.

Grandfather sat atop a tiger pelt, dressed in glossy white silk adorned with jeweled ornaments.

A sturdy physique that exuded an overwhelming presence, sharp, gleaming eyes. His firm mouth revealed a stubborn temperament, and his raised brows showed clear displeasure. He did not look like a man past seventy at all.

On either side of him stood the elders of the family and his longtime subordinates.

My eldest uncle, Baekri Uimuk, and his son, my cousin and the eldest grandson, Baekri Myeong, were also present.

And then…

‘Father!’

My eyes widened.

Father was kneeling in the very center of the room.

‘I knew the atmosphere was bad, but… not like this…’

It was more shocking than what I had heard outside, more than I had imagined.

Father looked stunned.

I wanted to run over immediately and tell him there was no need for this, to pull him to his feet.

But at that moment—

“Uiran, what brings you here?”

Grandfather’s furious voice snapped me back to my senses.

My aunt swallowed dryly and forced a smile.

“Oh my, Father has returned, so as his daughter, of course I came to greet you.”

“To greet me?”

“Yes. Yeon, come, greet him.”

My aunt suddenly grabbed me and pulled me forward. It was obvious she was trying to divert Grandfather’s attention.

For now, I obediently greeted him along with her.

After finishing, my aunt naturally moved toward my eldest uncle.

But before she could take more than two steps, Grandfather spoke.

“You’ve seen my face, so leave.”

“E-excuse me?”

My aunt lifted her head in shock.

“Did you not hear me?”

“N-no, Father, why are you—?”

“Why?”

Grandfather scoffed and said coldly, without the slightest change in expression,

“Do you think you are qualified to be in this room?”

“F-Father…”

“Is that the attitude of one who bears the Baekri name?!”

At the thunderous rebuke, my aunt flinched and dropped to her knees.

“Father, I was wrong!”

But Grandfather only looked at her with cold eyes.

Her face gradually turned pale.

Grandfather hated repeating himself. It was famously said:

‘Baekri Paehyeok’s second words are a blade.’

Even family was no exception.

My aunt looked toward my eldest uncle for help. Unable to ignore his sister’s desperate gaze, he stepped forward.

“Father, I believe Uiran understands her mistake by now.”

“That’s right, Father, I was wrong—”

“Silence!”

It would have been better if he had not intervened at all.

In the end, my aunt bit her lip and stood up.

“…I will take my leave.”

“…”

“…”

The atmosphere in the room became even heavier and colder than before.

Honestly, even my own heart was pounding at Grandfather’s resolute attitude.

And I understood. If I said even a single wrong word, I would end up just like her.

I was standing on thin ice.

At that moment, my cousin Baekri Myeong spoke, as if trying to ease the tension.

“Are you alright? Should you really be walking around like this?”

“Thank you for your concern. I’m much better now.”

My eldest uncle and cousin had excellent reputations.

Baekri Uimuk was known for his kind nature and fair handling of matters, and Baekri Myeong, the eldest grandson, was said to resemble him greatly.

My uncle spoke gently.

“Yeon, come here.”

I forced my heavy feet to move despite the fatigue washing over me.

Father frowned slightly, worried, but said nothing.

And the place I walked toward was not my uncle, but my father.

Everyone looked at me in confusion.

Standing beside Father, I took a deep breath and knelt down.

“…!”

My uncle and cousin’s expressions stiffened noticeably.

On the other hand, Grandfather’s eyes gleamed with interest.

If I had gone to stand beside my uncle without thinking, Grandfather would have scolded me.

‘Just like my aunt, I would’ve been thrown out immediately.’

That was probably their intention. They acted kind and benevolent, but inside, they were no different from my aunt.

“Yeon, what is this…? Get up at once.”

Startled, Father grabbed me as I wavered.

My body was already weak, and on top of that, still that of a child. It was hard to maintain balance.

‘…I need to end this quickly.’

The floor was too cold.

Even with a thin rug, it was stone beneath. The chill seeping upward was intense. Knowing this, Father’s complexion worsened.

“Get up now! Father, Yeon is still not well—”

“Silence!”

Grandfather cut him off.

I held Father’s hand as if to reassure him and looked at Grandfather.

“Baekri Yeon, do you know why Uigang is kneeling before me?”

“No.”

“You don’t? Then why did you kneel?”

Lowering my eyes, I swallowed and said,

“I heard that before I came into his life, Father had never disappointed you. So this must be because of me.”

A few people in the room, who had indeed said such things before, coughed awkwardly, feeling ashamed.

Moreover, I was only six. A frail, pale child, visibly ill, kneeling unsteadily… it made the others feel even more guilty.

Though it seemed to have no effect on Grandfather.

“Hah, you speak well. Since you’ve come, I’ll ask you directly.”

Grandfather gestured behind him.

A servant, whose presence I hadn’t even noticed, stepped forward carrying a small box.

‘So that’s it.’

That small box was the cause of all this commotion.

The servant opened it before Grandfather. A golden pill with a radiant glow appeared, and gasps arose from all around.

“…That is!”

Grandfather said,

“The Cheonmyeong Geumhondan.”

At that moment, Baekri Myeong stepped forward.

“Grandfather, Yeon has only recently joined the family, so she may not know what the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan is. I will explain—”

Before Grandfather could respond, I spoke quickly.

“Thank you, Cousin, but it’s alright. I’ve heard of it. It’s the medicine that can bring even the dead back to life, isn’t it?”

Grandfather nodded, stroking his beard with satisfaction.

Baekri Myeong forced down an uneasy expression and said,

“…You know quite well.”

Grandfather gestured for him to step back and continued,

“That’s right. Even someone on the brink of death can be brought back with a single pill. The method of making it has been lost, and only a few remain in the world. Even with a thousand pieces of gold, you could not obtain it.”

The small box was closed again, and Grandfather slowly shut his eyes.

“Fortune was on our side.”

After a moment, when he opened them again, his gaze fell coldly upon me.

“And yet, Uigang asked me for this medicine. To treat you!”

That was right. Father had asked Grandfather for that incredibly precious medicine, solely to treat me.

Kneeling like this, being humiliated in front of everyone…

‘How foolish.’

What am I, even worth?

As if reading my thoughts, Grandfather shouted,

“Do you think you are worth that much?!”

The overwhelming pressure in his voice was enough to terrify any ordinary child into tears.

Father’s arm tensed, as if he might step in front of me at any moment.

Grandfather pressed on,

“I’m asking if you are worth as much as this Cheonmyeong Geumhondan!”

I gripped Father’s arm tightly to hold him back and met Grandfather’s gaze.

“Yes.”

“….”

A stunned murmur spread through the room.

A mocking smile touched Baekri Myeong’s lips.

Even Father looked slightly taken aback by my firm answer.

There was something I had learned from dying twice.

‘Belittling myself changes nothing.’

If I lowered myself, others would only look down on me as well.

‘And if I lower myself, it’s the same as lowering Father.’

Then Father would only suffer more trying to protect me. I hadn’t realized that before.

I continued without hesitation.

“But I don’t need it right now.”

“What?”

“Grandfather, may I ask everyone here one thing?”

“…Go ahead.”

Having received permission, I swept my gaze across them and asked,

“Can the Cheonmyeong Geumhondan heal my dantian?”