Chapter 83
“Ugh, seriously, you’re so persistent. So persistent!”
I finally managed to kick Jeok I-geon out after we ran out of ingredients, despite his stubborn insistence on eating more.
“How can a person even eat that much?”
Jeok I-geon was one thing, but Cheon Gang and Seo Ryeon’s appetites were also no joke. I had expected martial artists to eat more than average, but this was seriously too much.
Is my cooking that cost-effective?
It was a relief that Uncle Gong Pae-cheon and the Elder of the Medical Wing had left first. If they’d stayed, I might have begged them to leave out of desperation.
Running a restaurant is as hard as martial arts training!
I looked at Grandma, who finally sat down beside me and tapped her arm. On her unfamiliar face, I saw a familiar smile.
Even with a different face, she’s definitely still my grandma.
“Grandma, wasn’t it hard making all those dumplings?”
“This ain’t nothing. I’ve done it all my life, so it’s fine.”
“Fine? What do you mean fine! You went through such a terrible ordeal today!”
I snapped without meaning to at Grandma’s casual response. If this were Korea, she’d definitely need psychological treatment after something that traumatic.
If the Martial Alliance found out that one of their top experts had been hiding in the Demonic Cult for 17 years, the cult wouldn’t take it lying down.
Thankfully, the Heavenly Demon stepped in to resolve things. Otherwise, I felt like my whole world would’ve come crashing down.
“I’m more worried about you than myself. You learned so much at once… are you really okay?”
“…Me?”
“Yeah. Learning that I’m not your real grandmother, and that you’re the granddaughter of the Hyunma Tak Family—doesn’t that bother you?”
Ah… was I acting too calm?
Should I have been more emotional or shaken up? But I just didn’t feel that way, so I guess it looked strange to Grandma.
At this point, I decided to be even more cheerful.
“It’s all in the past. They say raising is more important than birthing. Honestly, as long as I have you, I’m good.”
“What about the Tak Family?”
“The Tak Family, well… I haven’t really thought about them.”
Would anything really change just because I’m from the Tak Family?
I already gained high status as the disciple of the Heavenly Demon.
If you add the prestige of the Tak Family on top of that, sure, I’d get another fancy title—but I didn’t really need it.
“Grandma, more than that, I’m curious about something.”
“Curious?”
“Yeah. How did you end up raising me?”
What happened that day 17 years ago that led to me being raised by the Thousand-Hand Fragrant Poison Tang Hye-woon? I wanted to know the hidden story.
“Well, that’s…”
Grandma took a big gulp of water before starting her story.
It must be a long one—not something she could just blurt out without preparation.
I widened my eyes and focused on her lips.
“What? Someone tried to kill Tak Seon-hwa?”
As she talked about meeting my mom on Cheonsan, I was so shocked I yelled.
“Hey! What does ‘Tak Seon-hwa’ mean, she’s your mother! Did I raise you like this?”
“Grandma, that’s not the point! The Heavenly Demon—no, Master—killed my mom! Because he was blinded by jealousy!”
Wow, I got literal chills.
He chased after the woman who rejected him and ended up killing her?
Is that something a Heavenly Demon can just do?
No wonder Jeok I-geon turned into a psychopath.
There’s even a theory that antisocial personality disorders are largely hereditary.
The whole Jeok family clearly has issues.
‘So that’s why the Heavenly Demon and the Tak Family were on bad terms.’
It was fascinating to learn something that was glossed over in the original story like this.
Poor Grandpa Tak though.
He raised the Heavenly Demon as his lord, only to have that very man kill his only daughter.
How must that have felt?
Suddenly, I recalled the look in his eyes when he saw me in Yeo Family territory.
The daughter of her daughter he hadn’t even known existed.
‘I must’ve seemed incredibly precious to him.’
I shouldn’t treat him while thinking only of my own feelings.
He came all the way to the Yeo Family with the Hundred Souls Hyeonma Corps to save me and Grandma.
If I were human, I should at least express my thanks.
‘I should go greet him as soon as I wake up tomorrow.’
It’d be really awkward, but I thought it was the right thing to do.
“Actually, I also feel sorry to your mother.”
“Out of nowhere—what are you talking about?”
“I begged for my life from the very man who killed my savior. What kind of cursed life is this…?”
Wrinkles creased the beautiful brow of my grandma.
Seeing one of the Three Beauties of the Central Plains looking so sorrowful almost made me tear up too.
“Grandma! That’s totally not it!”
I understood what she was feeling, but my perspective was different.
“Even while her own life was in danger, she saved you. That just proves she was a really good person, right?”
“You bum.”
“Would someone like that be upset Grandma’s still alive? No way. If it were Mom, she’d probably say she was relieved.”
“…Really?”
“You had me! If it weren’t for Lady Shin Geum, I’d be dead. Isn’t it obvious?”
“Ah, that’s true. You’re right.”
Grandma, who had briefly forgotten me due to her guilt toward her savior, finally smiled brightly.
“Thinking of the past, I forgot I had the most precious child right here!”
“Don’t keep forgetting me! I’m hurt!”
I playfully rolled my eyes, and Grandma gently stroked my cheek with her delicate hand.
The rough touch of the past was gone, but the affection was just the same.
“My poor Grandma must’ve had it so hard.”
Seeing her youthful face up close reminded me of how difficult things must have been for her 17 years ago.
“It must’ve been frustrating to be falsely accused and forced to run. And on top of that, you raised a newborn. Even if I was your savior’s child, no one would’ve blamed you for abandoning me.”
“Why would I abandon you? There are things you just don’t say, child!”
Her fingers on my cheek suddenly tightened.
“Grandma! Loosen your grip! It hurts!”
She finally eased up when I cried out.
“I survived because of you. If not for you, I’d have long gone to the next world. You hear me?”
“Really?”
She gently caressed my face again, her touch filled with more love than I’d imagined.
“Of course! You’re the only reason I held on all this time. I gave up everything—my family, everything—to live alone, and then you appeared.”
Tears welled up in her eyes.
“When you first called me ‘Grandma,’ I can’t even describe how happy I was. You never gave me trouble as you grew, and you’ve become such a wonderful girl. I’m the one who should be thankful.”
“Then why are you crying? You should be smiling!”
“No… it’s just… I keep thinking about the old days.”
“…You miss your family, don’t you?”
At my words, she flinched as she wiped away her tears.
“If I hadn’t seen them in 17 years, I’d miss them like crazy too. Can’t you go back now?”
“…If I could, I would’ve already. I don’t think I’ll ever return—not even till the day I die.”
“What happened? Tell your granddaughter, at least. I’ll listen to everything.”
I already knew most of it from the novel, but I couldn’t just say that outright.
And I might learn something new hearing it directly from her.
Grandma sighed bitterly, drank another cup of water, and began a long story.
—
The next morning.
My eyes were swollen as I greeted customers at the crack of dawn.
“What brings you here so early, Young Master?”
Jeok I-geon, the same guy I kicked out last night, showed up again.
Don’t tell me… you’re here for dumplings at this hour?
“…Why are your eyes like that?”
“Oh, this…”
I quickly covered my face with my hand, embarrassed, avoiding his gaze.
But then he gently grabbed my wrist and lowered it.
“Can you see properly?”
“Of course. Swollen eyes don’t make me blind, you know.”
“It looks like a lump is stuck to your eyeballs.”
“I know, I know it looks terrible.”
Even I was shocked when I looked in the mirror.
“I cried a bit last night.”
Listening to Grandma’s story made me so angry that I couldn’t stop crying.
If I’d known I’d look like this today, I would’ve held it in somehow.
“But really, what brings you here? Grandma said she wouldn’t be working for a few days.”
No matter how many times I told her to take a break, Lady Shin Geum never listened. But she finally decided on a break.
Right now, she had gone to meet Uncle Gong Pae-cheon for something.
“…Should I kill him for you?”
“…Huh?”
“I’m still lacking in skill, but if I ambush him, I might succeed.”
Ambush? Succeed?
I tilted my head, completely lost, and Jeok I-geon whispered softly,
“You said your mom was killed by my father. If you want, I’ll get revenge for you.”
W-what is this psycho even saying right now?!
Why is he saying something so terrifying in such a kind tone?!
Wait!
Hold on a second.
Isn’t this the start of the novel?
In the original, the story begins when Jeok I-geon kills his own father.
‘No! Not yet!’
“P-please don’t! Absolutely don’t! I’m really fine, okay? I don’t want you turning into a parricide, Young Master!”
Panicking that he might actually go through with it, I started babbling nonsense.
At that moment, I was ready to say anything to calm down this lunatic.
—
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