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Chapter 38
“Why are you all just standing there? Clean this up immediately!”
At Dang Pae-jin’s furious shout, the warriors all turned to look at me.
The Manhyeol snake was a venomous serpent with a master. Since my grandfather, the head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, had given it to me himself…
‘They can’t touch it recklessly.’
That’s why they were looking to me for help.
Dang Pae-jin whipped his head toward me and glared.
“Did you stage this nonsense just to scare my son?”
“What?”
“I asked if you did this just to enjoy seeing my son frightened!”
What…
‘Why would I?’
Why on earth would I do something like that just to see Dang Yeong tremble?
Sure, he’d tormented me endlessly before, but right now he was only twelve years old—
three years younger than I had been when I died.
And I wasn’t someone who picked fights with children.
I pulled my hand back from the Manhyeol snake and said flatly,
“Why would I do that?”
“If not, then either get rid of that snake or put it back in your pouch immediately!”
He barked again.
The edge of his sleeve flashed—he’d drawn a sharp throwing knife.
‘He’s going to kill it.’
If I didn’t take it away, he’d destroy it.
With his level of skill, catching or killing the Manhyeol snake wouldn’t be impossible.
But the snake was a spiritual creature, treated as a clan heirloom.
Besides—
‘Grandfather gave it to me himself.’
No matter how highly ranked Dang Pae-jin was, even he couldn’t destroy a sacred beast bestowed personally by the clan head.
Still, caution was best—especially now that he had drawn his blade.
I quickly stepped forward and grabbed the snake’s body.
“HISSSSS!”
The Manhyeol snake let out a sound I’d never heard before, thrashing violently.
Then—
“Whoa!”
—it slipped right out of my grasp.
I stared at it in disbelief.
That had never happened before. It always let me handle it obediently—
so why was it acting like this now?
The Manhyeol snake looked as if it had a desperate reason to attack Dang Yeong.
Just as I reached out again—
“Did you throw a blade at Bia?”
My father, who had been standing silently behind, stepped forward.
“Jin-hyeon, what are you saying—!”
“Brother, please stay out of this. Dang Yeong, I asked if you threw a dagger at Bia.”
There was certainty in Father’s tone.
I turned sharply to look at Dang Yeong.
He was trembling, his face pale as paper, unable to say a word.
“U-Uncle!”
“I asked first.”
“Dang Jin-hyeon!”
“Did you—” Father’s voice rose to a roar—
“Did you throw a blade at my daughter?”
Crushed beneath Father’s overwhelming aura, Dang Yeong stumbled back, trembling.
“Uh, uh…”
He didn’t answer.
But silence was as good as an admission.
If he were truly innocent, he would’ve shouted his denial immediately—
especially with his father, Dang Pae-jin, right there.
His speechless fear could only mean guilt.
“The Manhyeol snake bit Jeong-gyeong’s corpse,” Father said.
“He tampered with the mechanisms of the Dokryong Pavilion using the knowledge I taught him, and as a result, Dang Bi was injured.”
He stepped closer—
“One step, then another.”
In just two steps, Father was standing right before Dang Yeong.
“If the Manhyeol snake, a spiritual beast that chooses its own master, attacked Jeong-gyeong, it must be because he took part in harming its rightful owner. There are records of such cases.”
Another step.
“Then tell me, why do you think the Manhyeol snake came here?”
“S-Sir…”
“Isn’t it because you were involved as well?”
He was only twelve.
At Father’s level of intimidation, the boy might wet himself—
but strangely, I didn’t feel sorry for him at all.
I glanced down at the snake.
It was still staring directly at Dang Yeong.
I could tell instinctively—
if I gave the word, it would strike and kill him instantly.
“And someone saw you carrying that dagger before.”
“Jin-hyeon! There are plenty of similar daggers around!”
“Brother, that kind of blade is rare. Do you think anyone outside the Tang Clan’s main line could’ve possessed one?”
Father’s tone was cold.
“The Manhyeol snake chose you as its target. That alone proves your involvement.”
He was furious—
I had never seen him this angry before.
“So answer me.”
Father took a deep breath.
“Did you harm my daughter?”
He had never once raised his voice at me. Not once.
Dang Yeong was dragged away by Tang Clan guards and confined to his quarters.
Only then did the Manhyeol snake crawl quietly back into my sleeve, satisfied.
“U-Uncle! I was wrong! I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry, I was just scared of the snake!”
“Detain him.”
“Jin-hyeon, you can’t do this! Yeong is my son!”
“And he’s also the prime suspect in a case the clan head himself ordered me to investigate. Detain him until further instruction.”
I calmly sipped my warm medicinal tea.
“Are you all right, young miss? Shall I bring more?”
“Mhm.”
The tea’s warmth spread through my body, soothing and refreshing me.
‘Warm and nice.’
My stomach felt calm again, the burning pain gone.
Maybe it wasn’t just the tea—but it helped.
And, well…
‘Dang Yeong being locked up probably helped too.’
Yes, it was a bit satisfying.
It was natural to feel that way—
he had tormented me for years, even in my past life.
So his imprisonment didn’t feel trivial;
it felt like one of the many shadows that had weighed me down was finally sealed away.
And since Grandfather’s orders were required to release him,
not even Dang Pae-jin could free him.
‘He’ll hate me even more for this, but…’
He already hated me.
So it wasn’t that I’d earned his hatred—just that I’d drawn his attention.
Ever since I received the Manhyeol snake, this situation had been inevitable.
Avoiding it was never an option.
Better to bite first before I was cornered.
I took another sip of tea.
The pain had dulled to a faint throb—
the medicine’s effect was fading, but I didn’t mind.
The wound wasn’t that bad anyway.
‘Grandfather helped heal me before…’
Pfft!
I nearly spat out my tea.
‘That’s right!’
When I was stabbed, I’d felt that strange power inside me.
I had completely forgotten to tell Father about it—
too distracted by Dang Yeong and the Manhyeol snake!
A bit of tea dribbled down my chin.
Startled, my maid rushed over and dabbed my face with a cloth.
“Oh my! Are you all right, young lady?”
“Huh? Oh… yes, I’m fine.”
Ugh, I got startled and spilled some.
Still fine though.
‘I can tell Father now.’
Just then—click.
The door opened.
Father ducked under the lintel and stepped inside.
“Father!”
“Bia.”
His expression softened instantly when he saw me.
He smiled warmly, took the cloth from the maid, and dismissed her.
Click.
The door closed—just the two of us now.
Father looked between the teacup in my hand and the damp cloth.
“You missed a spot.”
He gently wiped my cheek and chin himself.
“Hehe…”
I giggled, basking in the tenderness of his touch.
Soft, warm, and full of concern.
After losing it once, I realized just how precious it really was.
“Father, did you come to see me?”
“Yes.”
He replied simply, then suddenly scooped me up.
“Eh?”
He sat me on his lap and brushed my messy hair back.
“It’s a bit untidy. I’ll have the maid redo it. Or should Father tie it for you himself?”
“I’d like that, Father… but not right now!”
I quickly turned my head away.
“Hm?”
He tilted his head, smiling brightly.
Resting my hands on his chest, I said with excitement,
“Father, I have something to tell you!”
