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Chapter 3
I Thought the Youngest Daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family Was Hated
The fact that Gyogyo was learning martial arts—
That alone was proof that Father had abandoned me.
By family rules, daughters from collateral branches were forbidden from learning the Tang Family’s martial arts.
Unlike direct descendants, collateral daughters usually married out of the family.
The rule existed to prevent the family’s secret arts from leaking out, but…
What an outdated custom.
Still, the fact that she was staying in Jungwondang—the residence reserved for young direct descendants—and even learning martial arts…
There was only one conclusion.
Father had replaced me with Tang Gyogyo.
“From now on, you should come outside more often and greet your brothers first, alright? Just because your dantian is ruined doesn’t mean only bad things will happen.”
I silently smiled and nodded.
Right. Especially for you, Gyogyo, nothing could be better than my dantian being destroyed.
After all, it got her into Jungwondang.
“You’re still a precious young lady, so someday you might even marry into a prestigious family—”
“Who told you to give her that kind of advice?”
A cold voice cut her off sharply.
Tang Rim, who had remained silent until now, finally showed open irritation on his face.
“E-Excuse me? I was only worried about Yeon-ah.”
“Didn’t you hear her say she doesn’t need it?”
“Ah…”
Gyogyo lowered her head awkwardly.
“And you’re going to learn martial arts? You?”
Tang Rim scoffed, looking down at her as though she were insignificant.
“T-The Family Head said he’d give me a chance too!”
Gyogyo protested with a flushed face.
“If Yeon-ah can’t use martial arts anymore, shouldn’t someone else step up?”
“Really?”
Tang Rim’s voice sank lower.
Caught awkwardly between them, I cautiously watched his expression.
His face remained calm, but his fist slowly clenched.
Then he said something terrifying.
“Then on the day you marry out, I’ll personally sever all the tendons and meridians in your limbs.”
“…….”
Gyogyo’s face, red moments ago, instantly turned pale.
“Don’t overstep. You’re collateral family, nothing more.”
The heavy pressure in the air made my skin sting and breathing difficult.
“…Yes, Brother.”
Apparently sensing the killing intent too, Gyogyo obediently bowed her head.
“…Hic!”
A hiccup suddenly escaped me, and I hurriedly covered my mouth.
…I guess I’d gotten startled.
I never expected Tang Rim to become this furious.
Was he really this angry just because a collateral daughter wanted to learn martial arts?
What a petty jerk.
Gyogyo was annoying, but even I felt a little bad for her.
Tang Rim glanced at me covering my mouth, then jerked his chin toward Gyogyo.
“Get lost.”
Gyogyo tucked her tail and fled immediately.
Tang Rim glared at her retreating figure for a long time.
“Who said anything about marriage… honestly…”
I rolled my eyes at his muttering.
That’s the part he’s mad about?
Apparently the idea of a direct Tang daughter marrying out hurt his pride or something.
Not exactly petty.
Just arrogant.
“Hic! Ah!”
Another hiccup escaped me.
As I nervously looked around, my eyes met Tang Rim’s.
“……”
He frowned.
Then—
“…Tch!”
He looked away?
“You weren’t showing your face, so I thought you were dead.”
He muttered it quietly and so quickly that I almost missed it.
I clasped my hands together and bowed my head.
“I’m sorry, Brother.”
“What are you apologizing for—! …Sigh. Did someone force-feed you porridge or something?”
“Porridge?”
Tang Rim’s mouth opened and closed awkwardly.
“N-No. Medicine. Medicine! I heard you weren’t taking it! Not because I was eavesdropping or anything, just rumors…”
“Does something like that really become a rumor…?”
When I asked cautiously, Tang Rim immediately shut his mouth.
“Ah, damn it!”
He aggressively raked a hand through the back of his hair.
At this rate, his tied-up hairstyle was going to fall apart.
I quietly observed him.
Those furrowed brows.
Those restless hands.
The way he kept biting his lip.
Wait a second…
I tilted my head.
Was he… nervous?
“Hot. It’s hot. Someone bring cold water. …Two cups.”
Why was he acting so fidgety?
Seen through adult eyes, Tang Rim felt completely different from the brother I remembered.
The Tang Rim in my memories had always said things like—
“I can’t believe I share blood with something like her. So annoying!”
That was all he ever did.
“……”
As the contemptuous voice from my memories overlapped with the Tang Rim standing before me now, my chest tightened uncomfortably.
Now that I knew there had been Hallucination Grass in my room, I also knew I couldn’t fully trust my memories anymore.
But still…
I don’t know which parts were real and which were fake yet.
I hadn’t felt this strange while Gyogyo was here.
But now that I was alone with Tang Rim, everything felt off.
I bit my lip.
For now… for now…
Don’t think about it!
I needed to leave first.
Since I was already outside, I might as well search for more Hallucination Grass.
I even had a rough guess where it might be hidden.
“Well then… goodbye.”
The moment I turned around after saying farewell—
“Where are you going?!”
My wrist was suddenly grabbed, yanking me backward.
“Ow!”
Tang Rim immediately let go in alarm.
“T-That’s not—I mean…!”
His face turned deathly pale as he hurriedly examined my wrist.
“Did it bruise?”
Seeing the genuine worry on his face only made my thoughts more tangled.
“I’m fine. I-I’ll go now.”
I pulled my hand away and lowered my head.
“Where are you going?!”
Even as I quickened my pace, Tang Rim’s voice kept following me.
“Where are you going alone?! I’m coming too.”
Why would you come?!
Even if all those insults I remembered were hallucinations, it was still true that he never visited me for an entire year!
So why was he suddenly acting like this?
***
Tang Rim stubbornly followed me all the way.
He even asked where I wanted to go after noticing I didn’t know the roads well, then personally guided me there.
Inside Jungwondang, in front of the medicinal herb storage room.
The herbs used in Jungwondang were supplied beforehand by the Medicine Hall and stored here.
The Hallucination Grass had to be here.
There was nowhere else suitable.
Other places couldn’t conceal the scent properly, and even if they did, secretly transporting the herbs would be difficult.
Besides, this location made it easy to sneak the herbs into my room unnoticed.
“But why the herb storage room?”
Tang Rim peeked inside as though he intended to follow me right into the warehouse.
…Wait. Since things turned out this way…
Should I use him?
Thinking about it, that didn’t sound too bad.
I had no power within the family.
Tang Rim did.
And judging from that guilt-ridden expression on his face…
I wasn’t sure if he’d truly help me if I claimed someone had harmed me, but—
It’s worth trying, isn’t it?
“Brother.”
I turned to him.
“There’s something I need to find in the storage room.”
Tang Rim blinked, then immediately came to his own conclusion.
“So the medicine really tastes awful, huh? Wait here.”
He slipped a hand inside his robe and pulled out a small pouch.
His eyes gleamed faintly as he handed it to me.
“You can eat this with it. We can’t exactly change medicine personally prescribed by the Medicine Hall Master.”
Inside the pouch was a mountain of colorful sweets.
…That’s not what I wanted.
Gulp.
Even so, saliva pooled under my tongue.
Maybe it was because my body had become younger again.
Sweet things suddenly looked incredibly delicious.
“…Thank you.”
After hesitating, I popped one into my mouth.
Sweetness spread pleasantly across my tongue.
“It’s good.”
The words slipped out before I realized it.
I might’ve even smiled a little.
Tang Rim’s shoulders trembled at the sight.
Was he cold?
It was still spring.
“R-Right! Once you run out…”
Tang Rim spoke eagerly.
I nodded.
“Yes. I’ll buy the same kind myself later.”
Meaning: Don’t trouble yourself over it.
I had enough social awareness to imply that much!
“…….”
Apparently that wasn’t the response he wanted.
Tang Rim pressed his lips together tightly.
“So you’re done with the warehouse now?”
His tone had somehow become sullen.
“Mmm. Nope. Not yet.”
I shook my head while chewing.
Tang Rim’s eyebrow twitched.
“You still have business here? What is it?”
“Well…”
I swallowed the candy and casually made up an excuse.
“There was this incense my maid used to light for me. We ran out.”
Tang Rim frowned.
“Then have someone else get it. Why are you doing it yourself?”
