Chapter 205

Tang Geunmyeong gave the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician a slight bow, then looked at me with concern.

“Child. Are you all right?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

But Tang Geunmyeong’s eyes darted around for a long moment as though he had no idea what to say before he quietly looked away.

I must have looked so awful that he could barely bring himself to meet my eyes.

...I need to get back on my feet quickly. I have to put Grandpa’s mind at ease before I can go look for Yeon Ryang.

Steeling myself, I bit the tender flesh inside my mouth and smiled at him.

Perhaps the smile looked too forced, because Tang Geunmyeong’s expression stiffened.

Still, he deliberately refrained from saying anything more.

He waited in silence until I had finished bathing and the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician carried me back out. Then he gave her a respectful clasped-hands salute.

“Elder, may I speak with the child for a moment?”

“What a thing to ask. Afraid I’m going to eat her? Take her.”

“Thank you, Elder. Child, would you like some tea?”

“No. No tea. Don’t even think about feeding her anything. Send her straight back when you’re done.”

“Yes, Elder.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician cut him off flatly and jerked her chin. Tang Geunmyeong answered respectfully, then came over and helped me along.

When I glanced back, the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician had already vanished.

After seating me on a wooden platform, Tang Geunmyeong bent down until our eyes were level. His troubled lips moved several times before he finally whispered,

“Child. I don’t want to burden you after everything you’ve been through, but I think this is something you need to know.”

Something Grandpa and the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician would not tell me, but that I needed to know.

I asked calmly,

“What happened?”

“Quite a few things happened while you were bedridden. Don’t be too shocked when you hear this. The... Grand Elder Tang Gak is dead.”

“...What?”

Tang Gak? How?

My eyes widened, and Tang Geunmyeong hurried on.

“The old master was furious over what happened to you... and that was the result. The Clan Head was also badly injured. He spent a long time recuperating and only began showing himself again last month.”

“A-Are you saying Grandpa did it himself?”

“Yes. No matter how angry he became, he had never once laid hands on his own blood before... Everyone was shocked. The atmosphere back at the main clan is still unsettled.”

My mouth went dry at the unbelievable news.

But I could not bring myself to mourn Tang Gak’s death.

Hadn’t he wanted me dead and driven me into mortal danger himself?

Grandpa had personally disposed of an enemy who threatened me. If anything, I should have been grateful.

When I nodded to show that I understood, Tang Geunmyeong cautiously added,

“They won’t dare show it openly with the old master watching, but there will certainly be people who resent you for it. You did nothing wrong, of course, but... people’s hearts aren’t always reasonable.”

He opened and closed his mouth several times, apparently trying to choose his words, then buried his face in one hand and sighed.

“What I mean is... when you return to Sichuan, whatever happens, don’t let it hurt you too deeply.”

His voice was thick with worry.

I smiled.

“Yes. Thank you for telling me, Uncle. I won’t take it to heart.”

“And your brother... No. Never mind. I won’t ask. Focus on recovering first. The old master has suffered terribly over you.”

The moment my smile cracked, Tang Geunmyeong swallowed whatever he had been about to say and quickly changed the subject.

His words made my insides ache as though someone were driving thorns into them.

If both the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician and Tang Geunmyeong were saying the same thing, Grandpa must truly have suffered beyond anything I could imagine.

I looked down at my left arm, trembling faintly.

...I have to get better quickly. I can’t make Grandpa suffer any more.

And then... Yeon Ryang...

The moment I remembered that idiot, drenched in blood and smiling at me until the very end, bile surged up my throat.

I hurriedly covered my mouth, and the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician appeared from nowhere and held a bowl beneath my lips.

“Don’t swallow it. Throw it up. Forcing it back down won’t do you any good.”

My vision blurred.

Tears and snot streamed down my face.

I grabbed an arm—I did not even know whether it belonged to the Ghost-Hand Divine Physician or Tang Geunmyeong—and retched for what felt like forever. The nausea simply would not stop.

When I finally managed to raise my head, I found both of them looking at me with pity.

Their sympathetic gazes made my jaw clench.

If even those two thought I looked this wretched, I could not begin to imagine what Grandpa would feel if he saw me like this.

No matter how hard it was, I could not let Grandpa see me this way.

So I had to be fine.

No.

I had to be fine.

I wiped the moisture from my eyes with the back of my hand and forced strength into my gaze.

“Divine Physician, when do you think I can start training—”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You can barely walk. What training do you think you’re going to do? And until your master returns, you’re forbidden from circulating your inner force as well. Understand?”

“But—”

“Don’t argue. You know perfectly well there’s nothing more irritating than a patient who argues with their physician, don’t you? If I tell you not to do something, don’t do it.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician snapped at me irritably, muttered something under her breath, and pulled out a small wooden bead before placing it in my hand.

“If you’re that restless, sit there and roll this around. You’ll need to get the fine muscles working again before you can even think about handling concealed weapons.”

“...All right.”

“Honestly. I went to all that trouble washing you, and now look at you. Your whole family has been a handful for generations.”

She grumbled for a while longer, then gently lifted me into her arms.

Her touch was far softer than her surly tone.

Unfortunately, she did not take me back to my room.

“Um, Divine Physician? Why are we back here...?”

“Were you planning to crawl into bed looking like that?”

Her sharp reply killed any thought of resistance.

I obediently shut my mouth.

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician snorted and began stripping off my clothes.

And so I ended up soaking in the bath twice in one day.

*****

Grandpa returned to the safe house exactly three days later.

He vaulted over the wall with his face utterly expressionless, then froze the moment he saw me sitting on the wooden platform, rolling the bead between my fingers.

“...Little one?”

“You’re back?”

I smiled and rose from the platform.

Grandpa’s face twisted.

In a single stride, he was beside me, crushing me tightly against his chest.

But his throat seemed too choked for him to speak.

He simply held me there, listening to my heartbeat.

More than fifteen minutes passed before he finally let go.

He met my eyes and forced the words out in a hoarse voice.

“Little one... the wind is cold. Why are you sitting outside...?”

Countless emotions passed through Grandpa’s eyes as he gently stroked my cheek.

“Let me look at you, my little pup. Have you been eating properly? Sleeping well?”

“Of course. I’ve been eating well and sleeping well too.”

“Nothing especially painful? What about your left arm?”

“My arm is fine too. See? It moves perfectly well.”

Even after my answer, Grandpa scrutinized my left arm, still unable to relax.

“You’ve lost so much muscle. And you’ve gotten terribly thin. We need to put some weight back on you quickly.”

“What sort of accusation is that? Do you think I’ve been starving the child? I’ve taken perfectly good care of her.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician had appeared at some point and was glaring at Grandpa with a snort.

Grandpa ignored her completely, too busy examining me from head to toe.

“Stop pawing at her. She’s a grown young woman.”

“Grown? Nonsense. My little pup has a long way to go before she’s grown. She isn’t even twenty yet.”

“...I can’t tell whether your madness has flared up again or your doting-grandfather sickness has. Maybe both.”

The Ghost-Hand Divine Physician rubbed her forehead in disbelief, waved a hand dismissively, and turned away.

“When you’re done, bring me the inner core.”

She vanished before Grandpa even had a chance to reply.

Inner core? What inner core?

Had he been away because he went to find one?

I blinked at the strange remark, but Grandpa spoke as if to tell me not to worry about it.

“It’s nothing. This old man simply wanted to brew his little pup a good restorative tonic. Come. Let’s go inside too.”

Then he gently lifted me into his arms.

Back in the old days, he had hauled me around tucked under one arm like a sack of luggage. Now he handled me as delicately as though I were precious porcelain.

I couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

“Ahaha! I can walk, Grandpa.”

“You little rascal. Your whole body is trembling, and you think you can fool anyone? You don’t need to push yourself in front of your grandpa. Stay still.”

As though my suggestion were absurd, Grandpa pinched my cheek and carefully carried me into the room.

He lowered me onto the bed.

“Are you hungry? Would you like some rice gruel?”

I wasn’t hungry, but Grandpa would probably feel better if I at least made an effort to eat.

I slowly nodded.

Grandpa turned toward the door.

“Geunmyeong. Bring a bowl of rice gruel.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Uncle Geunmyeong hurried toward the kitchen and soon returned carrying a bowl.

Grandpa took it from him, personally scooped up a spoonful, blew on it until it cooled, and held it to my lips.

“Here. Open wide.”

“What? Grandpa, give me the spoon. I can eat by myself.”

“Ah-ah. Open.”

He deliberately put on a stern voice and tapped the side of the bowl with the spoon, but his eyes were brimming with affection.

Suppressing a laugh, I slowly opened my mouth.