Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Suddenly Gaining a Little Sister
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Put me down! I’m not going. It stinks too much. I don’t want to!”
“Why is this girl so bratty! Be quiet before I hit you! I’ll feed you and put you to bed.”
“No! You smell like poop. I don’t want to.”
“What! You’re really asking to die!”
The girl’s and the man’s voices echoed through the alleyway. But no one spared them a glance.
Not that anyone would pay attention to an alley lined with people dressed in rags.
“You’re getting one hit!”
The girl grabbed a tree with her free right hand, trying to wrench her left hand free from his grasp. The man raised a hand as big as a pot lid.
“Put that down!”
I called out as I stepped into the alley. The rag-clad man snorted derisively.
“Hmph! Now even Scholar Cheon is interfering with our business. What’s the world coming to?”
“Exactly. What’s the world coming to when people try to kidnap someone in broad daylight?”
“Kidnap? We’re just offering food and shelter to an orphan with no home or rice paddy.”
“Now beggars are providing food and shelter to orphans, are they? And who said she’s an orphan? This girl is my little sister.”
“Little sister? Hahaha! What nonsense.”
“He’s my big brother.”
The girl shouted as she looked at me.
“See? She says so herself. So let go of her hand.”
“Who do these punks think they’re fooling? Hey, take that bastard down.”
The beggars approached me, exuding a sinister aura.
“Take a whiff. It’s not just poop—it reeks of rotting corpses.”
For someone with my heightened sense of smell, it was unbearable.
The rag-clad leader barked.
“Beat that bastard until he shits himself.”
One charged at me.
I stuck out my foot and nudged his toe, throwing off his balance. With my sharpened vision, his movements seemed glacially slow.
“Urk!”
I kicked his staggering rear end hard.
“Guh!”
He tumbled forward and flew out of the alley, smashing his face into the ground.
The rag-clad leader yelled.
“Looks like you’ve learned a trick or two, but no one’s immune to a beating. Walk away now, and we’ll call it even.”
Realizing I wasn’t easy prey, he made a pathetic offer.
That was when someone entered the alley.
“What’s this?”
It was Dusik, the blocky-headed boss of the Dusik Gang. He’d seen the beggar fly out and came to investigate.
“Scholar! What are you doing back there?”
Dusik waved at me.
“Oh? Dusik? Just some guys trying to kidnap my little sister, so we’re having a scuffle.”
“Pardon?”
Dusik stepped into the alley and scanned the beggars.
“I heard beggars have been flooding the northern district lately and was worried. Turns out they’re up to this. They’ve been causing trouble, so I’ve roughed them up a few times already.”
“You must be too lenient, Dusik. If you’d beaten them properly, they wouldn’t dare kidnap anyone.”
“Aigoo, Scholar. That’s a misunderstanding.”
Killing intent flashed in Dusik’s eyes.
The rag-clad leader scoffed as he overheard us.
“This place is full of lunatics. Scholar punk mouthing off without fear, local thugs strutting around. You think you can take us alone? Ballsy idiot.”
“Scholar, I think it’s time these guys learn how ruthless the northern district can be.”
“You handle it? No need for me to pitch in?”
“Aigoo, Scholar. You’d just stink if you touched these turds.”
The rag-clad leader shouted.
“Hey, what are you waiting for! Take them both down!”
As the beggars lunged, Dusik’s underlings poured into the alley.
“Who do these bastards think this place is?”
The burly men shoved their way in, forcing the beggars back.
Each one was twice the beggars’ size, so they were instantly cowed.
“Boys! Show them the northern district’s justice.”
At Dusik’s command, the burly men surged into the alley.
I tossed some silver coins to Dusik.
“When you’re done, take the boys for a bowl of noodles each.”
“Aigoo, thank you, Scholar.”
Dusik’s face lit up upon checking the amount—enough for noodles and meat sides.
“Boys, Scholar’s covering dinner. Give them a proper lesson.”
“Yes, boss.”
From then on, thuds and groans echoed from the alley.
I gazed at the girl, lost in thought.
She really is pitiful. Nowhere to go.
The problem was, even in rough hemp clothes like those worn by mountain folk, she couldn’t hide her beauty.
It was obvious what would happen to a girl like her wandering the streets alone.
“Want to stay with me until your memories come back?”
She looked at me and nodded.
“Big brother doesn’t smell like poop. I like that.”
I gave a wry smile.
Only a major power like the Nangong Family could provide unlimited water for bathing, keeping me odor-free.
And frequent laundry.
My residence had empty rooms, so housing her wouldn’t be hard.
The issue was how to introduce her.
Claiming I’d taken in an orphan girl would draw suspicion.
“If anyone asks, say I’m your cousin big brother. You lost your memory in an accident while coming to find me. Got it?”
“Yeah. You want me to lie. I’m good at lying.”
“Right. A lie just between us. Understand?”
She nodded.
“Yeah.”
She glanced at people passing by on the street, then grabbed my hand.
“Huh?”
“I saw little sisters holding their big brothers’ hands.”
It’d be awkward to shake her off, so I held her hand.
“Alright. And we need a name. As my cousin little sister, you should take my surname—how about Cheon Yeoseol?”
“Cheon Yeoseol?”
“Just made it up. Like it?”
“Pretty name. It’s good. But big brother’s hand is warm.”
Her hand was so cold, chilling aura crept up my arm.
Probably from poor nutrition and thin clothes lowering her body temperature.
Need to give her some blood-nourishing medicine.
I took Cheon Yeoseol toward the Nangong Family.
Jong Sobin muttered as she watched the scholar and Cheon Yeoseol enter the Nangong Family.
“Unbelievable. How is she with Scholar Cheon?”
“He must have bought her noodles while she wandered hungry.”
“Does the Ice Sacred Body naturally lack wariness toward others?”
Hwayeong sensed thorns in the Little Palace Lord’s words.
The Ice Sacred Body they’d desperately sought had absurdly vanished into the Nangong Family with the scholar.
“Ice Sacred Bodies typically retain only childhood memories, so she likely followed the one who treated her kindly.”
Hwayeong said, gauging the Little Palace Lord’s mood.
“Should we kidnap her when she steps out?”
The Little Palace Lord shook her head.
“No. Perhaps not, Third Protector.”
Jong Sobin continued, glaring at the Nangong Family.
“That’s probably the safest place right now. Is there anywhere in Hefei safer than the Nangong Family? With the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult even coming to Hefei for the Ice Sacred Body.”
“Yes. And Elder Yu is here too.”
“If we can’t fend them off with our forces, leaving her in the Nangong Family is safest.”
“But Elder Yu can detect her. She carries the aura of the Ice Crystal.”
“That’s why, Third Protector. Use this.”
Jong Sobin pulled a leather pouch from her bosom.
“That’s…”
Jong Sobin took out a white orb the size of a child’s fist.
“This Ice Crystal should fool Elder Yu. Is there a child we can give it to?”
Hwayeong read her intent and replied.
“Yes. We have a disciple from the main palace around thirteen or fourteen. Giving it to her should pass as an Ice Sacred Body.”
“Good. Give it to that child.”
“But without it, Little Palace Lord… You haven’t absorbed the Solar Meridian’s energy yet, and losing the Ice Crystal’s aura will shorten your lifespan even more.”
“Third Protector, we must put out the fire on our feet first. The Demonic Cult, Blood Cult, or Elder Yu could snatch the Ice Sacred Body tonight. Don’t underestimate them.”
Hwayeong sighed inwardly at the Little Palace Lord’s resolve.
Nothing mattered more to her than the Little Palace Lord’s well-being.
She was her protector, after all.
But she couldn’t defy her command.
“Understood. I’ll prepare the fake Ice Sacred Body.”
Jong Sobin smiled faintly at Hwayeong’s irritated tone.
“Thank you, Third Protector.”
Hwayeong turned away from her suddenly warm voice.
“Wow!”
Cheon Yeoseol gasped in awe at the massive stone walls like a fortress, the grand main gate, and the pavilions visible beyond.
“It’s huge. Is this big brother’s house?”
“No. I’m just staying here temporarily.”
As we approached the gate, a guard asked about Cheon Yeoseol.
“Who’s this?”
“My cousin little sister.”
“I see.”
Whatever Nangong Hak had told them, the guard didn’t question it.
“She’ll be staying with me from now on.”
“Understood.”
“Yeoseol, say hello.”
“Hi.”
She greeted brightly with a smile, drawing exclamations from the guards.
“Well, Scholar Cheon is one thing, but your sister is stunningly beautiful too.”
Cheon Yeoseol bowed her head again.
“Thank you.”
“My little sister lost her memory in an accident on her way to Hefei. Forgive her if she seems rude.”
“Oh my, that’s awful. The world’s so dangerous these days… No need to worry; she won’t offend anyone looking like that.”
Her looks helped a lot.
“Remember the way from the main gate to my place well.”
The Nangong Family was so vast, it was easy to get lost.
“Yeah.”
“Don’t go anywhere else—head straight to big brother’s house.”
“Yeah.”
I explained in detail on the way from the gate to my residence, so she could return alone.
My place was an annex at Nangong Mubaek’s residence. As we entered, Cheon Yeoseol beamed.
“Big brother, the house is nice. Smells good too.”
I gathered Eunbi, the maids, and servants working nearby.
“This is my cousin little sister, Cheon Yeoseol. She lost her memory in an accident coming to Hefei, so bear with her if her speech or behavior seems off.”
I’d grown close enough to speak casually to the staff now.
Treating their families a few times had helped.
“Hi. I’m Cheon Yeoseol.”
Eunbi’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Miss, you’re such a beauty. When you grow up, you’ll steal every man’s heart.”
“Sorry, but Eunbi, please bathe Yeoseol and get her some fitting clothes. Buy them in my name.”
The Nangong Family had its own tailoring workshop where you could buy directly.
“Ho ho ho, don’t worry. Just mentioning Scholar Cheon’s name gets everything approved here. The Family Head ordered that anything you want be granted.”
I felt grateful to Nangong Hak.
It was unprecedented compared to my Murim Alliance days.
I gave Eunbi a few silver coins.
“Anyway, clothes, blankets—whatever costs money. Use this. And she treats everyone casually since losing her memory, so understand.”
“Oh dear, how pitiful… Understood, Scholar.”
Eunbi accepted without refusal, knowing half was for them.
I led Yeoseol into the annex.
“Yeoseol, you’ll stay in that room. My room’s right in front, so tell me if there’s any problem.”
“Yeah.”
“Let me check your pulse. Need to know your constitution for the right medicine.”
I sat in the main hall chair and took Yeoseol’s pulse.
I’d only meant to diagnose and prescribe, but the moment I infused qi, I was utterly shocked.