Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Knock Knock! Coming In!
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It took me a full three days of fever before I finally came to my senses. The first face I saw upon opening my eyes was...
"Daddy...?"
It was Daddy.
"Star, you're awake at last?"
He really came and found me.
"I'll go fetch the doctor."
Even after I opened my eyes, Daddy must have still been worried about my condition, because he hurriedly rose to call the physician.
"Daddy."
Even in his distracted state, the moment I called out to him, Daddy immediately stopped in his tracks and turned back to me.
"Yes?"
"I did wrong."
"......"
"You told me not to leave the house until you got back from the market, but I promised and then went up the mountain on my own."
Daddy must have had such a hard time searching for me.
His face looked noticeably more gaunt than it had a few days ago.
"And thank you... for finding me."
No sooner had I finished speaking than Daddy strode back over and pulled me into his arms.
"Thank you too, for being safe. That's all Daddy needs."
Being held in his embrace finally made it real that I'd escaped that treacherous mountain and come home. Tears threatened to spill out.
"Alright, you've been bedridden for three whole days, so you need to eat something. What would our Star like?"
The one thing I crave most when I'm sick...
"I want the porridge you make, Daddy!"
"Good, I'll hurry to the kitchen and cook up your favorite porridge. Rest a bit more."
"Okay!"
Daddy's back as he left the room looked quite hurried.
Now I have family to make me porridge when I'm sick.
Just that fact alone made me feel like my illness was already healing.
A short while later, Daddy returned with the doctor, carrying steaming-hot porridge.
"The fever's almost gone, and her condition is much improved. Just make sure she takes her medicine after meals, and she'll recover in no time."
"Star, he says you need medicine after eating to get better, so let's have the porridge first."
But the medicine here is so bitter...
In my previous life, I could just swallow pills whole, but here the decoctions were hand-brewed extracts, each one horrifically bitter.
"Daddy, I feel totally fine now. I don't think I need the medicine..."
"Let me see."
Kong.
Before I could stop him, Daddy's forehead pressed against mine.
"You've still got a fever, so you're not fully recovered. You need the medicine to bring it down quicker."
"The decoction is too bitter."
"If you take the decoction, I'll give you your favorite sugar candies after."
That's sneaky! Tempting me with delicious sugar candies!
I knew his game, but I had no choice but to fall for it.
"Fine... I'll take it."
"That's our good girl, Star."
I was annoyed at falling for the bribe, but when Daddy warmly stroked my head, all those feelings melted away like ice.
"Now, let's eat the porridge. Ah!"
As if he'd been waiting, Daddy brought a spoonful of porridge right to my mouth.
I hadn't thought much of it before realizing this was my second life, but now it felt embarrassing to have Daddy spoon-feeding me.
"I-I can feed myself."
"Don't you like Daddy feeding you?"
For something so minor, Daddy looked incredibly hurt.
He'll cry if I don't eat it.
"No way, I love you so much, Daddy!"
At my words of affection, Daddy instantly reverted to his usual gentle expression.
"Alright then, inner power incoming! Knock knock, open wide!"
What? This is... totally the wuxia version of the airplane game for feeding kids!
I eyed the spoon playfully tapping my lips, then squeezed my eyes shut and opened my mouth.
Let's just get this over with.
"Aigoo, she's eating so well."
Daddy gazed at me fondly, assuming I was just hungry.
"Now that your daughter is awake, you should rest too, sir. You didn't even close your eyes for a whole hour while she slept, did you?"
"Daddy, really?"
At my worried question, Daddy shot the doctor a sharp glare.
"Don't say unnecessary things."
"Haha, I'll take my leave then. Please enjoy your meal."
As the doctor, unable to withstand Daddy's glare, opened the door to leave...
"Oh? Who left such a precious thing here...?"
"What's that about?"
At Daddy's question, the doctor carefully picked something up from the porch.
"A rare herb that's hard to obtain was left on the porch. It's called Immortal Herb, excellent for reducing fever and bolstering qi. It grows on the cliffs of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, maybe one per year if you're lucky. Who could have left it at the door?"
I happened to glance at the herb in the doctor's hand and jolted in surprise.
There's a feather stuck to the herb!
The feather was transparent, just like Pippi's, invisible to Daddy and the doctor.
Did Pippi bring the herb?
He must have visited every day while I was sick and learned of my condition.
Guess he's not a total jerk after all.
"Perfect, since it's great for your daughter's recovery. I'll brew a decoction with this today."
Thrilled at the rare find, the doctor rushed off to prepare it.
It was scary being stranded in the mountains, but since Pippi didn't mean to, this big-hearted girl of mine will forgive him.
But my goodwill toward Pippi didn't last long.
"Ugh... so bitter!"
The decoction from the Immortal Herb was far more vilely bitter than any ordinary one, and Pippi had left one at the door every single day while I was stuck inside unable to go out.
Staring at the freshly brewed bowl, I crawled on all fours to the porch like a zombie and wailed skyward.
"Stop bringing them!! I'll die at this rate!!"
The Immortal Herb's effects were incredible.
The doctor said it'd take at least a week to fully recover, but I was up in just four days. Bitter as hell, but it works.
But Pippi, the one who brought it, hadn't shown his face these past few days.
He must still feel guilty.
Now that I'm better, I really need to prepare to go to the Heavenly Demon Cult... but how do I buy time?
Since I got sick, Daddy hadn't gone to the market at all.
I dug my own grave.
Judging it impossible for the time being, I cleared my complicated mind by turning my attention to the vegetable garden in the yard.
"Daddy, the carrots have grown even bigger since yesterday!"
I shouted while looking at the carrots in the garden. Daddy came over from the porch, crouched down beside me, and peered in.
"They're ready to pull up and eat now."
"Then let's make carrot dishes for dinner!"
Daddy, who always did whatever I suggested without hesitation, fell silent for a long time.
"Sorry, but that won't work."
Daddy never refused me before. What's going on?
"Why?"
As he carefully wiped the dirt from my hands with a handkerchief, Daddy continued.
"Daddy has some business and needs to leave home for a while. You'll have to stay with Ik-seon in the meantime."
Wait, this plot twist! I've seen it before!
"How long?"
"I'll be back after you've slept seven nights."
"Seven nights... that's tight..."
Still, it was hopeful news for me.
"Being apart from Daddy for seven nights is too much, right?"
Hearing my murmur, Daddy asked worriedly.
"No, it's fine! Totally! I can be strong even without Daddy!"
I've been waiting for this day!
"...You sure you're okay?"
For some reason, Daddy didn't look okay.
"Of course I'll miss you, but since it's for work, I'll endure the seven nights. But when you get back, we have to make carrot dishes together!"
"Deal."
Only after I showed a hint of disappointment did Daddy relax. I turned my gaze to the spot under the porch.
It was where the pre-packed bundle waited.
Finally, the time had come.
"Everyone should be asleep by now, right?"
I double-checked Ik-seon sleeping right beside me.
Fortunately, she was in deep slumber, showing no signs of waking.
I quietly slung my pre-packed bundle onto my back and slipped outside.
As promised, Daddy had left me at Ik-seon's house.
He's probably taking his insomnia medicine and sleeping now.
In the original novel, Daddy's insomnia worsened over time until he needed stronger drugs just to function.
As the medicine grew harsher, his body needed recovery time.
So whenever he took it, he'd leave Seol Cheon-seong at Ik-seon's and sleep behind barriers for a while.
It bothers me that my illness might have worsened Daddy's condition, but there's no better time to sneak to the Heavenly Demon Cult while avoiding his eyes! I can find a cure for Daddy's illness later.
In the yard, true to my first rebellion in Seol Cheon-seong's life, I dramatically flung my robes and leaped for the wall...
But my short legs betrayed me, and it remained a fantasy.
Less grand than I imagined, but whatever.
"To the Heavenly Demon Cult!"
The moment I stepped out the gate with resolve...
I sensed a presence behind me.