I Forgot to Pick Up the Iron Coin That Flew to Cheon Gongja's Hand
I forgot to pick up the iron coin that had flown straight at Cheon Gongja's hand after everything wrapped up—too caught up in the moment.
I scoured the spot where it had fallen, but the dusty ground was littered only with chaotic footprints.
"Ah, did someone already snag it?"
A coin lying in the street? Anyone who spotted it would've pocketed it without a second thought.
Scanning the ground with lingering regret, a hand suddenly thrust out from behind me.
"Looking for this?"
In Yahul's hand—who must've trailed me without a sound—was the very iron coin I'd been hunting.
"Huh? Yeah! When'd you grab it?"
"Back when you kicked Cheon Gongja's foot."
"Ahem."
The way he put it made me sound like the one doling out one-sided violence.
I paused mid-reach for the coin and eyed Yahul.
He gazed back with his usual mild, docile eyes.
But...
During that clash with Cheon Gongja, his eyes had flipped in an instant—he'd been on the verge of unleashing the Bloodsucking Demonic Art.
It looked like he'd reached out slowly and stopped, but my golden eyes had caught his internal energy surging crystal clear.
Sure, he held back in the end, and it all blew over peacefully.
But...
I glanced around the bustling street.
The long line snaking out from the inn. People hustling by in droves.
In a crowd like this, he'd nearly deployed a demonic art without batting an eye.
The thought sent a chill crawling up my nape.
What if he hadn't listened and actually gone through with it...?
I'll grill him about that later...
I snatched the iron coin.
"Yahul, tell Ha-ryeong to order one more serving of dumplings!"
Yelling that at him, I bolted into the street.
Dashing through the market, I shouted,
"Father?"
"Father!"
"I know I saw him. Father!"
Earlier, heading out for perfume and looping back, I'd glimpsed an aura the same shade as Father's—but I'd brushed it off as a mistake.
With so many people around, I'd dialed back my golden eyes' vision to the max. Otherwise, the overload in a packed place like this would've triggered a headache and nausea in no time.
But on the way back from buying the perfume, that familiar hue had flickered past again.
Not crystal clear, though—hard to swear on it.
Besides, what would Father be doing in a market like this?
So I'd ignored it.
But this iron coin. The one that'd nailed the guy's hand at the perfect moment when I was in real danger.
How could I not connect the dots?
Hitting a moving hand dead-on with a coin like that? No average joe could pull it off.
If not Father, then who?
"Father!"
He had to be watching me somewhere, but my calls went unanswered.
Gonna keep hiding, huh?
Pretending to search the crowd, I veered deeper, deeper in—toward a side street that looked deserted even from afar, with barely a soul around.
Every so often, I'd call out, "Father~?"
Right as I neared the entrance to that alley, someone grabbed my nape firm.
A deep sigh followed, then a familiar voice.
"Where exactly do you think you're headed?"
"Father!"
I whipped around.
There he was, staring at me with a look of utter exasperation.
"It is you! I've been looking everywhere!"
I bounced on my toes, lunging for a hug, but he caught my shoulders, holding me at arm's length.
"Do you even know what that place is?"
"Huh? I was just wandering and...?"
"Don't set foot down that road ahead. Ever."
Father's tone was dead serious.
The Namgung Clan was right nearby—no outright bandits, but poor folks lurked everywhere.
And where they gathered, security went south fast.
That street? Perfect spot for someone dressed like me—even a kid—to get robbed blind, clothes and all.
I'd never planned to actually go in.
Just a little... bait, to lure him out.
If he was watching like I figured, would he let me stroll into that?
Grinning innocently like I was clueless, I replied,
"Got it! I'll be careful."
"So why were you hollering for me?"
"Ah!"
I rummaged in my pocket with a gasp.
Cold metal met my fingers.
"This was you, right?"
I held out the iron coin.
"Wasn't me."
"Of course it... Wait, what? Not you?"
I'd assumed it was him for sure—froze mid-sentence and gawked.
Then who threw it?
Some passerby swordsman? Is this really the wuxia world?
That's when another voice piped up from behind.
"I threw it."
I spun around in shock.
"Uncle Wan?"
"Ahem."
Namgung Wan cleared his throat awkwardly, turning his head.
I blinked back and forth between him and Father, dazed.
"But... why are you two even here?"
"Out on business."
"What kind?"
"None of your concern."
"What is it?!"
"Doesn't matter!"
I narrowed my eyes and snorted.
"Hmph! I know what you're up to."
"Up to what?!"
"You followed me, didn't you?"
"......"
"......"
Namgung Wan clamped his mouth shut like he'd been caught flat-footed; Father stayed silent as ever.
I pressed on.
"I figured it all out! You two were tailing me!"
Two grown men skulking after me like lost puppies? Utterly ridiculous.
Uncle Wan looked equally dumbfounded, shooting Father a glance.
"Lemme just smack her once."
"Nooo!"
I reflexively shielded my forehead.
Father said calmly,
"Ri-yeon, you can't tease adults like that."
"Yes, sir. My bad."
I clasped my hands and bowed politely.
As Namgung Wan tsked his tongue, Father turned to him, deadpan serious.
"And you—reacting like that to a kid's prank? Act your age."
"......"
I stifled a laugh through my nose.
Then it hit me.
"Oh, right. What now? I only ordered for Father... Gotta rush back and get some for Uncle Wan too!"
Father blinked, baffled.
"Dumplings?"
"Yeah! It's a famous spot! Dumpling heaven!"
"Hold on—what do you mean you ordered mine already?!"
"Figured you'd show, so I got ahead of it!"
He stared at me, a mix of pride and bewilderment flickering across his face.
"Weren't you out eating with your friends? I'm good."
"Why not? We ran into each other like this—let's eat together! Way tastier that way!"
"Ri-yeon."
I clung to his arm.
"Kids'll worry if we're late. C'mon! Uncle Wan too!"
Father let out a faint sigh.
Then glanced at Namgung Wan, like what now?
The man tsked again and turned.
"Fine, let's go."
We all headed back to the shop together.
The moment we hit the second floor, Namgung Ryu-cheong—who'd been scowling fiercely—shot to his feet at the sight of me.
"Where the hell did you—?!"
He cut off, eyes bulging as he spotted Namgung Wan behind me.
"......Father?"
Seo Ha-ryeong, mid-bite on a dumpling, choked suddenly and groped for water.
I turned to Father and Uncle Wan, explaining,
"Earlier in the street, I thought I saw someone like Father. So I went looking, just in case."
"What?"
"Yeah. And boom, ran right into him."
Namgung Wan snapped irritably,
"Baek Ri-yeon, enough."
Namgung Ryu-cheong still looked lost.
"Uncle Wan was with him too. Figured since it's a great spot, might as well eat together..."
Explaining it out loud, I realized I'd dragged them here without asking.
"Is... it okay if we join?"
Wait, I'd already brought them—asking now was peak do-what-I-want-then-ask-permission.
Right then, Namgung Ryu-cheong said coolly,
"They're already here—what am I supposed to do? Have a seat, Senior."
He even stood and offered his chair.
Father eyed me steadily as Namgung Wan grumbled,
"You didn't even tell your friends?"
"Well... I wasn't sure if Father was really there... haha."
Namgung Wan cut in,
"But you pre-ordered extra food?"
"Hahaha......"