NOVEL NEXT WORLD I Will Raise It as the Best Family in the World
Chapter 29
“Phew, this was really tiring work.”
After finishing her training with her energy, Woonyeong let out a sigh. There were many things to do today. Meeting old friends of the Sword Demon was a pleasant experience. However, perhaps because she was the only one remembering the past, Woonyeong felt uneasy. To hide her emotions, she expended more mental effort than expected, which made her even more tired “Still, I’m glad we have the fragrant meat mushrooms.” Woonyeong had a lot of work to do in the future. The problem was that Woonyeong, being young and having lived only within the Seol residence, lacked freedom of movement. However, she couldn’t rely solely on Sogyo for external matters. “Since grandfather liked it, I should gradually handle more of the merchant affairs and expand our trading partners. I need to find a way to get out, no matter what.” Although she met Jegal Dam and Namgoong Hwi sooner than planned, it wasn’t a bad thing. She had a lot to discuss with them right away. “The smart guy is the problem…I didn’t expect that I’d end up in a battle of wits with him. Phew, what kind of situation is this?” For having dealt with things in a hurry, she had accomplished quite a lot. “I’m better at quick thinking than at handling military matters. Well, I did well today too, didn’t I?” She praised herself, saying, “Well done, well done.” She reflected on what she had done and started planning for the future. Even though she hadn’t finished organizing everything, her eyes gradually closed. ‘Damn body, I can’t even handle this…’ That was Woonyeong’s last thought before she fell asleep as if she had fainted. * * * In the deep night, before the moon had risen, an unfamiliar presence woke Woonyeong. There was someone else in the place where she should have been alone. ‘Night guest?’ Woonyeong’s body instinctively tensed, and her combat senses were awakened. If she had been the Woonyeong of her Sword Demon days, she would have attacked immediately. But there was no need for that now. An unfamiliar yet familiar aura. It was an aura that made Woonyeong feel more at ease than anything else. ‘Old Man Teng!’ A sigh of relief escaped from within her. The person she had been waiting for had finally come to see her. It was a bit more extreme than she had expected, but it didn’t matter. She was just glad. ‘Well. If he just does as I say, it’s not our Old Man Teng. The old man must be burning with curiosity about me by now.’ The corners of Woonyeong’s lips curved slightly. “Elder.” Still keeping her eyes closed, Woonyeong quietly called out to Old Man Teng. There was no response. Happiness, longing, regret, gratitude. An indescribable emotion surged within her. Suppressing the feeling of her throat tightening, she slowly began to speak. “Can I open my eyes?” Fortunately, a calm voice flowed out. She sensed Old Man Teng, who had been by her bedside, stepping back. It was an intentional presence. If he had wanted to conceal his presence, no one in this world would have noticed him. Knowing that revealing himself like this was a form of permission, Woonyeong cautiously opened her eyes. She wanted to turn on the light and see his face, but that wasn’t possible. The current Old Man Teng probably didn’t know Woonyeong. The feeling of sadness that came back. It would have been nice if she could simply be glad, as she would be when meeting her family. She shook her head slightly and then turned her gaze toward Old Man Teng. “You’re a child with good sense.” “I was waiting for you, Elder.” At the sound of a familiar voice, Woonyeong’s lips curved slightly. “You’re so young and fearless.” “I guess that’s true. There was someone who taught me not to be afraid even in the dark.” It was you, Old Man Teng. Old Man Teng was also at a loss for words, taken aback by Woonyeong’s calm demeanor, which was unusual for her age. “Could you please unfold the barrier?” The Seol Family has skilled masters. No one should discover that Old Man Teng is here. Though there was no response, Woonyeong, sensitive to the flow of energy, could feel that the barrier had been unfolded throughout the room. Now, no one would be able to know what was happening inside. Woonyeong slowly got up and then bowed her head in greeting. “I greet you. I am Woonyeong of the Seol Family.” Although she couldn’t see anything, Woonyeong knew that the other person was watching her greeting. “What a strange child.” “That could be true.” “You dared to steal my money. Do you know who it belongs to?” “I merely collected the payment for the information I provided to you, Elder.” “Payment for information?” “Yes. Information about something you don’t know, Elder.” “…What was that?” He asked her a question. Woonyeong clenched her fists tightly. While Woonyeong knew Old Man Teng’s personality well, she wasn’t familiar with what he was like during this time. She had been worried about Old Man Teng, who had not yet experienced a significant loss. However, judging by his reaction, it seemed she could proceed with the conversation as planned. “How about you take a seat?” “That’s enough. Answer quickly.” “The night is long, isn’t it? Let me tell you an interesting story, Elder.” “You’re talking nonsense. You don’t even realize you’re pressing for your own end.” “That can’t be true. My dream is to live longer than anyone else.” “Huh. You’re so reckless when you’re young.” It’s done. This meant permission. Woonyeong took a deep breath and opened her mouth again. To convince Old Man Teng, she needed to tell a rather long story. “There was a thief who wanted to steal the world. But how could one possibly steal the world? It’s an impossible task.” There was no answer. Woonyeong, who had caught her breath, continued. “That’s why the thief stole the things of those who moved the world.” “Hmm…” When she first met Old Man Teng, he didn’t speak about himself. However, given the time they had spent together, it was not difficult to infer his true identity. After some time had passed, she heard it directly from him. She had no choice but to tell him. “He was said to have stolen things that piqued his interest. There was nothing he couldn’t steal if he set his mind to it.” “What do you…” The current story is about the regrets he made. While she needed to choose her words carefully, it was also acceptable to speak a bit more boldly. “However, the precious things of those who move the world shouldn’t be released into the world. That’s why thieves have many enemies.” Shadowless Divine Thief, also known as Teng Chuchan. A legendary thief without a shadow. It was Old Man Teng’s true name, known to everyone but recognized by no one. “Being good at stealing is not the same as being good at keeping things. He was unable to protect the most precious thing. It might have been inevitable, as he probably didn’t even know the value of what was most important.” He could escape on his own. No one could find the Shadowless Divine Thief. But before he knew it, he was no longer alone. Because Old Man Teng had a daughter he didn’t even know existed. He only found his daughter shortly before her death. And his daughter left behind a newborn grandson. The current story is related to that grandson. “You brat.” A voice filled with anger came from Old Man Teng. It was natural for him to be angry. While his own secrets were important, his grandson was like his “reverse scale”—a critical point that should not be touched or angered. But she shouldn’t stop here. “Elder. How about listening a little more?” Even amidst the darkness, Woonyeong could clearly feel the piercing gaze. Despite this, she continued speaking without flinching. “The thief had someone who would protect what was precious in his place—a merchant who managed the thief’s belongings for many years. He was suitably greedy and suitably capable. Yes, he was quite a decent merchant.” Revealing his secrets openly was dangerous even for Woonyeong at present. However, nothing is gained without risk. Woonyeong didn’t reveal how she came to know these facts, but she had to risk a lot to move Old Man Teng. A murderous intent was directed at Woonyeong. He must have been very angry. ‘Old man, let’s do it moderately. Ugh. You’re so dirty.’ Under the intense pressure, Woonyeong clenched her trembling hand tightly and subtly adjusted her energy to protect her body. “It was a good deal. The thief thought there was no problem. The merchant was capable, having grown the finest silk business in Jiangnan with the thief’s resources. Plus, he took good care of the thief’s grandson.” The best thief in the world had many precious things. To him, gold and silver treasures were the most common. The merchant used the wealth to grow the silk business, and all of it belonged to Old Man Teng. After all, the true owner of the grand market was Old Man Teng’s grandson. “But merchants, no, people are like that. Even when they know something isn’t theirs, they still harbor a desire for it.” He chose to keep his distance for the sake of his grandson’s safety. He didn’t even tell his grandson the truth. “Wouldn’t the merchant have thought about it? The thief is old, and the grandson has no talent for business. Even if he gradually consumed the market, wouldn’t it go unnoticed?” No words came from Old Man Teng. “About half of the market, hmm. Perhaps even more than that has already passed into the merchant’s hands. Including people.” Woonyeong let out a small sigh. The words she had to say from now on were much heavier. “Wouldn’t the merchant have thought about it by now? The grandson…” Woonyeong paused for a moment, clenching her fist. “What if he disappears?”
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