The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 105
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I was grateful that Father was a genius. He had read every book in the collection and remembered exactly where each one was stored. When I searched through the luggage at the location he indicated, a text on Severed Meridian Syndrome appeared immediately.
Severed Meridian Syndrome—a condition where the eight meridian channels that circulate vital energy become narrowed and blocked, leading to premature death. It was a disease related to vital energy, yet presented symptoms entirely opposite to my own condition as a crippled dantian cultivator.
Because of this, I thought there might be something that could help me, so I read quite diligently. Father likely did the same.
While I reviewed the sections I needed, Father moved the large carriage containing the Jegal Family Head to a slightly wider space so others could pass through.
All of this took about two hours.
Inside the carriage, I gazed at the young-faced Jegal Family Head and grew troubled.
‘This is going to hurt quite a bit… I wonder if he can endure it?’
Upon examination, the meridian channels were so severely narrowed that circulating vital energy through them would likely cause considerable pain.
I turned to Mak-chu with a question.
“Um… is it alright to proceed as planned? The pain seems like it will be quite severe. Don’t you have any painkillers?”
Mak-chu, who had been worried throughout my preparations, looked at me with a slightly impressed expression.
“Indeed, you are the daughter of Baek Li-ui-gang. Yes, you are correct. The pain will be considerable, but… there is no choice but to proceed.”
“Why is that?”
“The Family Head has already developed tolerance to most painkillers.”
I looked at the young-faced Jegal Family Head with startled eyes.
Mak-chu continued.
“If we were to burn pain-relieving incense potent enough to affect the Family Head, the young lady could lose consciousness.”
“I see…”
Just then, the White Cat approached silently to my side and stared directly at me. Those golden eyes seemed to peer right through me.
“Mi-yang.”
The cat rubbed its head against my arm.
While cats could be cute, this one made me uneasy. I tried to push it away gently, but the cat didn’t budge an inch.
“Go away. You’re in the way.”
“Meow.”
Just then, Father, who had been surveying the surroundings, re-entered the carriage.
“Father, now that… wait?”
As I turned to face Father, I paused. The flow of vital energy emanating from him felt somehow unnatural.
I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what or how it differed. It was like noticing something had subtly changed after seeing the same thing every day, yet being unable to identify precisely what—that kind of elusive difference.
While my attention was drawn to Father’s vital energy flow, he crossed his legs in a seated position and placed his sword, still in its scabbard, across his thigh, ready to draw at any moment.
“Yeon, are you prepared?”
“…”
“Yeon.”
“…”
“Baek Li-yeon!”
I jumped in surprise and answered.
“Oh! Yes. Did you call me?”
“Yes. Where is your mind wandering? Begin at once.”
Even at his words, I kept glancing at Father rather than the Jegal Family Head.
“Yeon, you need to focus.”
“Young Lady, please proceed.”
Mak-chu gazed at me desperately, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Father.
Father’s stern voice rebuked me.
“Baek Li-yeon, this is a matter of life and death. Are you backing out now?”
Seeing Father’s piercing gaze, I shrank my shoulders.
“N-no. That’s not it. It’s just….”
It had been so long since I’d seen that look, and I had no resistance to it. Unable to help myself, I bit my lip and fixed my gaze on the Jegal Family Head.
‘I can verify again after this is done. For now, let me focus on finishing what’s in front of me.’
I took a deep breath in and out.
Father had positively received my proposal because my abilities were quite suitable for reviving patients with Severed Meridian Syndrome. By infusing a small amount of natural qi with healing properties, I could reduce the body’s energy expenditure.
And with my ability to manipulate the surrounding qi, I could move another person’s inner energy—specifically, the Jegal Family Head’s dantian qi. This placed far less strain on the body than forcing the Jegal Family Head’s qi circulation with Father’s own inner energy.
I placed my hand on the lower dantian of the reclining Jegal Family Head.
‘Despite having Severed Meridian Syndrome, he possesses this much inner energy.’
Whether it was the Jegal Clan’s hidden reserves or the body’s struggle to survive, I couldn’t tell. With that inner energy, he must have been circulating qi while preventing his meridians from narrowing and becoming blocked.
I infused natural qi bit by bit. Shortly after, the Jegal Family Head’s breathing became slightly more at ease.
Thinking this was enough, I attempted to move the inner energy gathered in the Jegal Family Head’s dantian. Then I felt a resistance far greater than when manipulating natural qi.
‘If you don’t want to kill your master, move when I ask nicely. If the master dies, you all disappear too. Got it?’
I earnestly pleaded with and threatened the inner energy. Whether it worked or not, the Jegal Family Head’s inner energy began to harmonize with the natural qi, gradually following my guidance through the narrow meridians.
“….”
How much time had passed? After barely completing one full circulation of the Microcosmic Orbit through the body, I withdrew my hand.
My back was already drenched with sweat.
“It’s done.”
I examined the Jegal Family Head’s complexion. As the qi began circulating properly, his lips—which had been pallid as a corpse—finally looked somewhat human again.
After confirming that much, I immediately turned to Father.
‘What?’
But Father’s qi flow was completely normal, as if he’d merely been dreaming.
Even when I opened my eyes wide to examine him, it was the same.
“What is this!”
My inner thoughts spilled out unbidden.
Father and Mak-chu were startled and looked at me. I was equally startled and covered my mouth with one hand.
Father shook his head, then checked the Jegal Family Head’s wrist to examine his meridians.
In the meantime, I scrutinized Father thoroughly. I drew my Golden Eyes to their maximum and examined him meticulously from the crown of his head to the tips of his toes and all the subtle meridians. Father’s previous displeasure at such inspection was no longer a consideration.
After examining him for quite some time… truly, absolutely nothing abnormal could be found.
Only then did the tension drain from my entire body. Father finished examining the Jegal Family Head and was now staring intently at my actions. And Mak-chu, having received confirmation from Father that the Jegal Family Head had been properly treated, kept bowing repeatedly to me.
“Young Lady, thank you! Thank you! How can I ever repay this debt?”
He wiped the corners of his wrinkled eyes with the back of his hand.
“Then, I shall prepare medicine for the Family Head to take upon awakening. Please watch over him for a moment.”
Before Mak-chu left, Father spoke.
“As I said before the treatment, let it be known that this was done by me, not by Yeon.”
“Of course. I will never breathe a word of this!”
Mak-chu left the carriage, and Father opened his mouth.
“Yeon, have you examined your father’s body thoroughly?”
“Yes….”
He had seemed displeased at being examined—would I be scolded?
I chewed my lip anxiously and hunched my shoulders.
But Father simply placed his hand gently on my head.
“What did you find?”
“Father?”
“What is your assessment?”
I blinked in confusion before speaking.
“I… found… nothing amiss.”
He was the very picture of health. Both his inner energy and its flow were stable. The vital force circulating through his entire body brimmed with vitality.
It truly seemed as though I had merely glimpsed an illusion.
“Good. Do not be afraid. As long as you do not examine me in secret, all is well.”
“Yes.”
I answered while thinking to myself.
‘Next time, I’ll be more careful.’
Yet unease compelled me to ask.
“Father, is there perhaps something wrong with your health?”
“Do not worry.”
His answer brought me no comfort. An inexplicable, unsettling feeling gnawed at me. Yet I could grasp nothing concrete.
‘Surely… Father never mentioned any illness before he passed away.’
I grasped Father’s arm and spoke.
“Father, you must stay healthy and remain by my side for a long time.”
Father smiled faintly.
“Man proposes, Heaven disposes. If Heaven watches over us, we shall be together for many years to come.”
Father! What are you saying? That’s not the answer I want to hear!
Father looked at my ashen face and spoke.
“Rather, is there not something else you should be concerned about?”
“Father?”
“Your abilities. Did you not say you did not wish the world to know of them?”
“Ah….”
I fidgeted with my fingers before speaking.
“But since we’ve already agreed to attribute it to what you did, does it really matter?”
Father shook his head with a serious expression.
“No. If you truly wished to conceal your abilities, you should never have involved yourself in this matter.”
“Father?”
“Each time you use that ability, traces remain, and someone will grow suspicious. There is no such thing as an eternal secret.”
“….”
I bit my lip. Had I overstepped? But… Father hadn’t objected either. Why was he saying this all of a sudden?
And yet, I felt an inexplicable sadness wash over me.
I had worked so hard to save someone’s life, and now I was being scolded for it. Did that mean I shouldn’t have helped? If this was how it would be, then perhaps… such thoughts began to creep in.
“But Yeon, is that how you wish to live?”
“Pardon?”
“If you turn a blind eye, avert your gaze, and refrain from stepping in no matter what unfolds—then yes, you could hide things as you desire.”
…
“But if you cannot do that, then follow your heart.”
Father’s face broke into a radiant smile.
“I am truly proud that you came forward to save a life without any ulterior calculation.”
The gentle starlight in his gaze, the tender affection in his praise—all the sorrow I had felt moments before scattered like dust, and I could only stare at him in a daze.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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