The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan

Episode 4

 

As Ren interpreted the sparkling eyes as he hoped, the aura of Danmokcheonki began to quietly ripple.

 

“Why are you pursing your lips like a duck while thinking about something?”

 

Ren was surprised and quickly covered her mouth with both hands.

 

But inside, she smiled a little. Even though he was her grandfather, he looked cute in his own way.

 

“Hmm. Will you come closer?”

 

Danmokcheonki spoke as if giving a difficult task, asking Ren to come closer.

 

But for Ren, it was a rather welcome invitation. She smiled internally and approached confidently.

 

Although Danmokcheonki had asked her to come closer, he seemed a bit surprised when she approached so boldly, despite telling her to do so.

 

“Well… Since you came here to greet me so sincerely, I can’t let you go empty-handed.”

 

After saying that, Danmokcheonki untied the jade-made pendant from his waist and offered it to the general standing beside him.

 

The general recognized the pendant and his eyes widened, then cautiously received the jade pendant made by Danmokcheonki.

 

“Thank you, Grandfather!”

 

The pendant was crafted from well-polished jade, emitting a refreshing energy, possibly due to Danmokcheonki’s meticulous care.

 

Ren promptly fastened the jade pendant around her waist without hesitation.

 

At that moment…

 

‘Huh?’

 

A peculiar sensation, like putting one’s hand into an empty basket, brushed through her mind. Simultaneously, characters appeared above the jade pendant.

 

[Top-tier Expert’s Long-held Yangji Jade: Spirit Power Index 14]

 

‘Spirit Power Index? What does that mean?’

Ren’s thoughts changed as the characters transformed smoothly.

 

Would you like to contain spiritual energy?

 

Help: Good stones accumulate spiritual energy. The better the quality of the stone, the more spiritual energy it can store.

 

‘I want to contain it! I want to!’

 

Spiritual Energy: 49/100 (14▼)

 

Simultaneously, she felt the spiritual energy leaving her fingertips, and in an instant, the red aura disappeared from the ‘Spiritual Energy’ category.

 

Perhaps thanks to this, her body felt much lighter.

 

‘Good stones can store spiritual energy?’

 

It was a piece of information she hadn’t known before. Ren looked down again at the jade pendant Danmokcheonki had given her.

 

‘Ah… in the past, due to the influence of the family’s energy, there were not many opportunities to touch such a gem…’

 

She had never been this close to her grandfather before either.

 

Suddenly, this jade looked more beautiful, sparkling more brightly than even a diamond.

 

And it was only natural that a radiant glow seemed to emanate from Danmokcheonki, who gave her this pendant.

 

As Ren’s face, gazing at the jade pendant, sparkled with joy, Danmokcheonki seemed somewhat taken aback.

 

“C-Cough… Do… do you like it?”

 

“Yes! Grandfather! I love it! I really appreciate it. It’s really… really…”

 

Overwhelmed with joy, Ren spoke, her voice choking halfway through.

 

While she had been struggling with how to bring down this damn spiritual energy below 50, it had been resolved in an instant!

 

“Well, well. If you like it, that’s all that matters. Why are you crying and making a fuss? Can’t the successor of the Siga be this surprised?”

 

“Oh, no! I’m not crying!”

 

Danmokcheonki coughed awkwardly while looking at his tearful granddaughter.

 

“Alright, that’s enough. Is there anything else you need?”

“Oh! Grandfather! I’m here!”

 

“Hmm. What is it? Stay still, my successor. If you’re the eldest granddaughter of the Siga, you should boldly express your desires.”

 

Ren’s exclamation seemed more like a confident expression than an improper outburst.

 

While Wu Jicheong wore a puzzled expression, he couldn’t scold Ren.

 

“Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts!”

 

However, as soon as she shouted, a chilly wind swept around Ren.

 

No one responded.

 

‘What… what’s going on?’

 

Ren, who expected a grand reception for expressing the desire to learn martial arts as the heir, found herself met with silence.

 

“Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts?”

 

“Yes, I’m already eight years old, but I still don’t know anything…”

 

Between Danmokcheonki’s pursed lips, Wu Jicheong tried to gracefully dismiss Ren’s request.

 

But Ren’s thoughts raced faster.

 

Isn’t there something urgent right now?

 

“Ah, Grandfather! I’m here!”

 

“Hmm. What is it? My successor, boldly express your desires with the dignity befitting the eldest granddaughter of the Siga.”

 

Ren’s exclamation seemed more like a confident expression than an improper outburst.

 

While Wu Jicheong wore a puzzled expression, he couldn’t scold Ren.

 

“Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts!”

 

However, as soon as she shouted, a chilly wind swept around Ren.

 

No one responded.

 

‘What… what’s going on?’

 

Ren, who expected a grand reception for expressing the desire to learn martial arts as the heir, found herself met with silence.

 

“Grandfather, I want to learn martial arts?”

 

“Yes, I’m already eight years old, but I still don’t know anything…”

 

Between Danmokcheonki’s pursed lips, Wu Jicheong tried to gracefully dismiss Ren’s request.

 

But Ren’s thoughts raced faster.

 

Isn’t there something urgent right now?

 

“No, Father. You’ve given Ren medicine, so…”

 

While Wu Jicheong gently tried to dismiss it with a smile, Ren’s thoughts flashed faster than that.

 

Isn’t there something urgent right now?

****

 

“The child walks quite well.”

 

“Well, Huh E-won mentioned that your health condition isn’t completely solid yet, and caution is needed due to the weakened strength. However, there are no other issues, and surprisingly, she’s very sharp-minded.”

 

General Kang Rip quickly relayed the information.

 

“For almost 8 years, what hardships have you been through, My Lord?”

 

General Kang Rip said this, his voice choked with emotion.

 

Being able to endure until now with an infant who doesn’t respond even when called, an infant who won’t cry despite pain, was all due to the efforts of Wiji-cheong, the mother.

 

Until Danmok-lyeon was born, she was weak, dependent on medicine for survival. But after giving birth to her child despite everyone’s opposition, she surprisingly became healthy. She poured everything into nursing her child.

 

“From the way you speak, it seems the child isn’t a fool.”

 

“Oh my, what are you talking about? Huh E-won was surprised at how sharp she is.”

 

“Well, from the looks of it, she isn’t a complete fool.”

 

Twenty-five years ago, facing the Hwara River, reversing their poison, and the scars left after receiving injuries that couldn’t be treated with anything, Danmok-cheonki left a huge scar.

 

Before that, he had a fierce appearance, but after obtaining scars and injuries that even he couldn’t look at properly, no one dared to look him straight in the eye.

 

“Is that so?”

 

“Even the young master was like that.”

 

“No, Sir…”

 

“Call me Lord!”

 

General Kang Rip hesitated, looking at Danmok-cheonki, who was comparing his dead son and the granddaughter who had just woken up a few months ago. He quickly lowered his eyes. Danmok-cheonki’s gaze was getting ominous.

 

“That may be true, but it was also the same with Hyun-seong.”

 

“No, My Lord…”

 

“No, it’s Lord!”

 

General Kang Rip responded with a bow. Danmok-cheonki glanced at him before quickly shifting his gaze outside. It was the direction his granddaughter and daughter-in-law had gone.

 

“Since you’re praising her for speaking well and walking well, what about that spirited girl in Hangju?”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

General Kang Rip’s words trailed off.

 

‘But the young lady has only recently awakened.’

 

Even so, Danmok-cheonki’s expression was a world of difference from before. It was all the more joyful because his granddaughter had awakened. After all, wasn’t she his own granddaughter?

 

“Regarding martial arts for Ren… we’ll decide after checking her condition. Ensure that no one brings up the topic of martial arts prematurely.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Kang Rip bowed and replied. Danmok-cheonki’s gaze turned toward the window. It was in the direction where his granddaughter and daughter-in-law had walked.

* * *

 

Jeon, a servant in the kitchen of Danmoksega, had not been working here for long, and there weren’t many people working in the kitchen. Therefore, he handled various tasks in the kitchen, such as checking and organizing the state of incoming ingredients every morning, cleaning inside and outside the kitchen, and harvesting fresh eggs daily from the small chicken coop set up in the backyard.

 

However, there was a flame burning in Jeon’s heart that he had nurtured for a long time. Although he was currently just a kitchen assistant in the declining Danmoksega, his grand dream was to become the best brewer in the world.

 

“Is it okay to mix it like this?”

 

‘But at this rate, won’t I burn out before becoming the best brewer in the world?’

 

It was before noon.

 

A little girl dressed in white appeared in front of the chicken coop Jeon was taking care of. Jeon recognized her immediately.

 

The pristine white garment, neatly finished from sleeve to hem, was a privilege granted only to the blood relatives of Danmoksega. It used to be a more luxurious outfit with silver embroidery on white silk, but now it had become more modest. Nevertheless, seeing someone in such white clothes was a rare sight.

 

Looking at the disheveled Jeon, the little girl spoke confidently.

 

“When are you going to give food to the chickens?”

 

In other words, she came here because she wanted to help with feeding the chickens.

 

From Jeon’s perspective, working on the chicken feed mixture with the Lord’s granddaughter seemed to make the future bleak.

 

The nurse who served this granddaughter felt somewhat similar, it seemed.