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Chapter 31
“Thank you… truly, thank you, Miss.”
With a face overflowing with emotion, Baek Buin deeply lowered her head.
The excessively respectful attitude was not because Geum Seolha was Geum Rin’s blood relative.
“I will never forget this kindness.”
It was courtesy and respect shown toward the benefactor who had saved her family.
Only then did Geum Seolha let out a sigh of relief.
“So the medicine I sent worked.”
“Yes. Originally, that child would spend half the day coughing up blood, and the other half delirious, doing nothing but groaning in pain.”
At Baek Buin’s explanation, Geum Seolha recalled the man who had been coughing up blood. No matter how she looked at him, he was hardly someone who fit the cute description of “child.”
“Even if he seemed comfortable for a brief moment, he would soon cough up blood again. But this time, he slept peacefully for two full hours.”
“…”
“Physician Yu said we should continue observing him, but he believes his condition will no longer worsen.”
Physician Yu was a cautious doctor. For him to say that no further deterioration would occur meant—
“He’s completely entered the recovery phase.”
“That is what I believe.”
A gentle smile appeared on the face that had long been shadowed by worry.
“It is all thanks to you, Miss.”
Geum Seolha curled the corner of her lips at the repeated gratitude.
“I merely proved my capabilities before a transaction.”
“…”
“But yes. If Baek Buin wishes to think of it that way, I won’t stop you.”
It was an incredibly clever way of reminding Baek Buin of the price she would have to pay in the transaction by tracing back to where everything had begun. At the same time, she was saying that if Baek Buin considered it a favor, she would not object.
Even though she immediately understood the meaning, Baek Buin’s expression did not change.
“If you had not been here, I would have lost that child again.”
“…”
“So regardless of the transaction, you are indeed my benefactor.”
The words fell with the decisiveness of a blade cutting through the air. Geum Seolha paused, then burst into a refreshing laugh.
‘I had hoped for it, but…’
She never expected Baek Buin to show her goodwill so openly.
Of all things in the world, the hardest is winning someone’s heart.
Through this transaction, Geum Seolha had gained the favor of Baek Buin, a woman who was intelligent, capable, and held considerable influence within Geum Rin. It was a greater harvest than she had anticipated.
“Hong Buin’s recent movements have been rather strange.”
“You already figured that out?”
Geum Seolha blinked.
Even for Baek Buin, it was an incredibly quick response and assessment. Geum Seolha hesitated and asked uncertainly,
“Don’t tell me you started moving before I even delivered the medicine?”
“That is my job.”
The calm affirmation left Geum Seolha flustered.
“But… I hadn’t properly proven anything yet.”
“I told you before, Miss.”
Baek Buin smiled bitterly.
“Though I stepped away from the affairs of the inner household due to personal reasons, there are still lines that should not be crossed.”
And Hong Buin had crossed that line.
There was a martial spirit hidden in Baek Buin’s stern expression.
“She crossed a line I could not ignore, so I took action.”
In other words, this was not payment for a transaction. She acted because it was her responsibility.
Realizing the meaning, Geum Seolha let out a breath through her lips.
It felt as though her own words had been returned to her.
“That was what I intended to request through our transaction.”
“Nothing changes. You may simply settle accounts as you originally intended.”
Geum Seolha looked troubled.
She had been fully prepared for a strategic battle from the beginning, but Baek Buin apparently had not. It left her with a strange feeling.
Baek Buin was far more favorable toward her than she had expected.
“The reason Hong Buin’s movements seem strange is probably because her source of funds has become unstable.”
“Hong Buin’s source of funds is in trouble?”
Blinking blankly, Geum Seolha cautiously asked,
“Was that your doing too, by any chance?”
As if affirming her words, Baek Buin’s eyes curved into crescents.
“I merely exchanged a few words with merchants I became acquainted with while handling the affairs of the inner household.”
Words from someone who had managed the Geum family’s inner affairs for many years could never be taken lightly.
Geum Seolha looked at Baek Buin with admiration.
‘I knew she was capable, but this is beyond anything I imagined.’
Now she finally understood.
If not for the man inside that building, neither Hong Buin nor Aunt Moyong would ever have been able to strip Baek Buin of her authority.
‘And from the looks of it, she didn’t give up all her power either.’
These were things that could only be done by someone who still saw everything happening internally and maintained a firm grip on matters.
“Besides cutting off Hong Buin’s finances, do you have anything else planned?”
“Well.”
“Then leave the next part to me.”
Geum Seolha’s eyes flared with determination.
Originally, she had intended to use the Jiangxi Branch Chief of Hao Sect to handle this part, but thanks to Baek Buin stepping in, her work had become much easier.
“Then how may I assist you?”
“A judgment.”
The word that sprang lightly from Geum Seolha’s lips caused Baek Buin to pause.
It was a term she had not expected.
“A judgment…?”
“I’m planning to stir up some trouble. But my dear grandfather is away on business, and there’s no telling when he’ll return.”
“…”
“And my uncles, who already dislike their young niece, certainly won’t take my side.”
Geum Seolha spoke with a cold smile.
She had not lived here for very long, but even she could easily tell that much.
“None of them are on my side.”
“But if what you desire is a judgment, perhaps you should seek someone else…”
“I want certainty.”
Geum Seolha shook her head.
A situation that could never be overturned, no matter what happened.
She needed a board where she had already created the correct answer and where no one could interfere.
“It won’t cause any harm to you, Baek Buin.”
“…”
“Though, yes. Aunt Moyong may come to dislike you even more. But the evidence will be undeniable, so no one will be able to claim you unfairly favored me.”
With her arms crossed, Geum Seolha lightly tapped her own arm with her fingertips.
“Shouldn’t you start reclaiming your rightful position soon?”
“But if I do that, that child could end up in danger…”
Looking at the hesitant Baek Buin, Geum Seolha smiled confidently.
“I told you, didn’t I? I’ll return that person to the place where he belongs.”
As long as that man was gone, nothing would remain to hold Baek Buin back.
After staring at Geum Seolha for a long moment, Baek Buin finally spoke.
“If you fail to break them properly, you may be the one who ends up broken instead.”
“I know. That’s why I came to find you.”
“Others may interpret this matter differently.”
The warning hinted that her uncles’ suspicion would immediately fall upon her.
Geum Seolha smiled.
“I don’t care. I just want to set a proper example.”
“…”
“That anyone who dares touch me will suffer losses far greater than what they inflict.”
Geum Seolha swallowed the harsher words that had almost escaped her lips.
Even if the opponents were her uncles, there would be no exceptions.
“Besides, losing battles aren’t really my style.”
She shrugged playfully.
Her behavior seemed lighthearted, but Baek Buin was not fooled.
“You said what you want from me is a judgment. Is there anything else I can help with?”
Geum Seolha welcomed the question.
It was because Baek Buin had proven herself to be far more capable and influential within the inner residence than expected.
“I want to know exactly where all the money Hong Buin embezzled went, how it was spent, and if possible, whether there’s anything that might still remain as evidence.”
Watching Baek Buin listen intently, Geum Seolha smiled brightly.
“But before that, shall we hide your weakness first?”
“Pardon?”
“If things go wrong, they’ll definitely start digging into your side. We should clean everything up beforehand so there’s nothing to find. Conveniently enough, I brought exactly the right person for the job.”
Geum Seolha winked and glanced toward Ha Dowoon, who had been quietly standing behind her the entire time.
Ha Dowoon let out a sigh, while Baek Buin, having understood Geum Seolha’s meaning, fell into thought.
“His condition has stabilized considerably, but he still hasn’t regained consciousness. Would it be alright to move him?”
At the cautious question, Geum Seolha paused to think.
‘He survived even without the neutralizing medicine, so he’ll probably be fine.’
Of course, saying that directly to Baek Buin would be problematic.
Geum Seolha stroked her chin and organized her thoughts.
“But we can’t afford to delay too long.”
“That’s true.”
“You knew he was a criminal, didn’t you? There are people searching for him.”
“…!”
Of course, those people had already returned after hearing the false information Geum Seolha had fed to Hao Sect.
But Baek Buin had no way of knowing that.
Shock and anxiety spread across her face.
