The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 109

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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 109
Father swept me into his arms and rushed through the backyard, past the inn, toward its main entrance.
In the distance, clusters of light flickered. From one of them, I sensed an extraordinarily powerful aura. Until now, only two people had ever emanated such formidable spiritual presence.
Cheonsan Yeom-je and the Namgung Family Head.
And now there were three.
My grandfather, Baek Li Pae-hyuk.
Despite the early hour, onlookers began trickling out to witness the commotion.
“The Baek Li Family Head?”
“What in the world brings the Baek Li Family Head to this place?”
Behind Grandfather stood the Baek Geom Unit, the Baek Li Family’s elite guard, arranged in perfect formation. Among their formidable ranks stood an unexpected figure—my cousin, Baek Li-myeong, whose jawline had grown sharper over the past six months.
‘Why has he come…?’
Our eyes met in that instant. Baek Li-myeong offered a warm, affectionate smile as though he were a doting older brother. I nearly lost composure.
Beyond the Baek Geom Unit, an ornate carriage with a dark blue roof came into view. As its door opened, an elderly man descended with a groan—more akin to tumbling out. A Baek Geom Unit warrior hastily steadied him.
I watched the entire scene with wide, unblinking eyes.
“Oh my, oh dear. What torment this is. Ow, my back.”
It was Seok Tae-ui.
Father hurriedly straightened his robes and performed a respectful bow.
“I offer my greetings to the Family Head.”
I followed Father’s lead and bowed as well. Grandfather leaped lightly from his massive black horse. Father lifted his head and spoke with evident bewilderment.
“Father, how did you come to be here…?”
“If I hadn’t come now, I wouldn’t see your face until next year!”
His thunderous declaration was so commanding that even the bustling crowd fell into sudden silence, awed by Grandfather and the Baek Geom Unit.
* * *
After that, I lost all sense of what was happening. When my mind finally cleared amidst the whirlwind of events, I found myself in the inn’s largest and finest guest chamber, undergoing an examination by Seok Tae-ui.
‘Wasn’t someone else staying in this room…?’
Seok Tae-ui, who had been keeping his eyes closed, withdrew his fingers from my wrist and opened them.
“There are no major abnormalities in your body. The wounds to your meridians have nearly healed entirely… it appears you are recovering smoothly.”
Seok Tae-ui examined my eyes and performed several checks before continuing.
“I cannot determine why your eyes are as they are. However, since there is no impairment to your vision, do not worry excessively—simply avoid intense light.”
Grandfather nodded repeatedly as he spoke.
“Seok Tae-ui, my gratitude.”
Seok Tae-ui rubbed his back and rose to his feet.
“Think nothing of it. Just drive the carriage gently on the return journey, if you please.”
“Ahem. The return journey shall not be rushed, so you need not worry.”
“Goodness, my joints still ache—such a rough carriage ride at my age….”
At Seok Tae-ui’s subtle pressure, Grandfather let out a series of awkward coughs. The way he deferred to Seok Tae-ui revealed the formidable authority of one who had served the Imperial Court as a physician for so long.
Before Seok Tae-ui departed the guest chamber, he turned to look at me as I saw him off.
“Young lady, I came here not only at the request of the Baek Li Family Head, but also because Seok Ga-yak asked me to.”
“…Seok Ga-yak?”
“Indeed.”
“Ah, is Seok Ga-yak doing well?”
“Indeed. He’s been counting the days for your return.”
I fidgeted with my fingers and lowered my gaze slightly.
‘Counting the days, no less.’
To be honest, I was startled when I received a letter from Seok Ga-yak. Until then, I had assumed he would forget about me quickly.
A single day in childhood passes swiftly, and it’s only natural to forget a peer met just once or twice, isn’t it?
“I was also surprised and delighted to receive a letter from Seok Ga-yak.”
Separate from my own forgetfulness of Seok Ga-yak, the fact that someone had remembered me and waited, that there was someone who would send me a letter—this brought me a small measure of joy.
“Oh, and the medicine Seok Tae-ui gave me was incredibly effective! I’m truly grateful once more.”
Seok Tae-ui chuckled heartily and lowered his voice.
“Truth be told, that medicine is an Imperial Court secret remedy. Seok Ga-yak pestered me relentlessly until I gave it to him.”
“….”
With all this talk of Seok Ga-yak, Seok Tae-ui was beginning to feel like a debt collector coming to demand repayment.
“I’ll give you more next time.”
“Oh, no. You said it was an Imperial Court secret remedy?”
“Never mind. Once you return to the Baek Li Estate, be sure to stop by.”
Haha, I saw Seok Tae-ui off, savoring the feeling of being a debtor who hadn’t repaid her loan.
The moment I returned, Grandfather gestured toward me.
“Baek Li-yeon, come here.”
Since Father was also beside Grandfather, I approached without hesitation. Grandfather reached out and pressed firmly along my arm.
“I heard it was broken, but it seems the injury wasn’t severe.”
Even though Seok Tae-ui had already examined it, Grandfather carefully pressed along my arm to verify for himself.
“It wasn’t broken, just a small fracture.”
That too was completely healed once I inherited Man Shin-ui’s eyes. Grandfather nodded with a stern expression.
“You’ve grown taller as well.”
He placed his hand on my shoulder and scrutinized me from my toes to the crown of my head. It felt somewhat like being searched with his gaze.
“Your complexion has improved considerably.”
Grandfather’s expression softened into a benevolent smile as he asked.
“It seems the Namgung Clan suited you well.”
“….”
In that instant, I recalled the trap card.
A warning alarm blared in my mind—a sharp, intense feeling that answering yes here would be a grave mistake. I opened my mouth.
“That couldn’t be….”
As I hesitated, Father stepped in and answered for me.
“Yes. The Namgung Clan took excellent care of Yeon.”
“….”
At Father’s words, fire flashed in Grandfather’s eyes.
I tugged at Father’s sleeve. He turned to me with an affectionate gaze, as if asking why.
‘Father, I hate to say this, but… couldn’t you read the room?’
Immediately, a sharp command erupted from Grandfather.
“I cared for you so well, and you repay me by letting your palms end up like this? Don’t you understand how crucial hands are for someone who wields a sword!”
Grandfather flipped my hand over to examine my palm, and I heard his teeth click sharply together.
I answered hastily.
“My palm has completely healed now. And, and I was glad I got to visit Changung Pavilion.”
“If you had any conscience, you would have let them in without question! What’s the big deal about that!”
Grandfather scoffed at the empty air, then tapped the armrest of his chair and shouted.
“The Namgung Family Head sent me a letter. Do you know what he said?”
“…What was written in it?”
“He said Yeon has caught his eye and he wants to teach her well, so he asked me to let her stay with the Namgung Clan! How dare he speak of my granddaughter as if she’s something he ‘likes’ or doesn’t! The old fool has nothing left to gain, yet he wants my granddaughter…! He should focus on teaching his own grandson properly! I thought the senile old man had challenged us to a martial duel out of confusion!”
This was completely news to me.
Father also seemed slightly surprised, as if he hadn’t heard of this. And for some reason, I sensed a faint pride in him as well.
“Father, even so, your words to the Namgung Family Head were perhaps too harsh….”
I suddenly grabbed Father’s sleeve and pulled hard. Father looked at me in surprise. I conveyed my meaning urgently through my eyes.
Please… don’t say another word! One word from you will turn into ten!
“….”
Understanding the meaning in my gaze, Father closed his mouth with a reluctant expression. Seeing this, Grandfather let out a scoff that made his whiskers tremble.
“You two are so devoted to each other! Your grandfather right before your eyes doesn’t even matter!”
I laughed awkwardly and pressed close to Father.
“Haha, that’s not true at all.”
Grandfather twisted his mouth and glared at me.
“Baek Li-yeon, you’re the problem, not your father!”
“Me?”
I was genuinely startled. Me being the problem, more than Father? That seemed rather unfair. Grandfather stroked his whiskers as if collecting himself, then spoke.
“When the landslide occurred in Palgwae Village, you pushed the other children toward your father and were swept away alone to save them, didn’t you?”
“….”
At those words, Father’s face suddenly drained of all color. Grandfather continued without paying any attention to Father’s reaction.
“When I heard that story, I was so flabbergasted! The very heavens seemed to pale!”
Grandfather brought his hand down hard on the armrest.
“How could you have such a thought!”
I flinched at his words, and Father stepped forward in front of me, positioning himself between Grandfather and me.
“Father, Yeon was also severely injured in that incident. It is all my fault for not teaching her properly. Please do not blame Yeon.”
Grandfather twisted his mouth.
“If your failure to teach Yeon properly is your fault, then is my failure to teach you properly my fault? Are you now blaming me?”
“…That is not what I meant.”
“What’s the difference! If my wrongs are my father’s fault, then Baek Li-yeon being like this means the Baek Family ancestors made mistakes, is that what you’re saying!”
“….”
His logical leap was remarkably effective at shutting down conversation.
‘How can I possibly refute something like that…?’
Both Father and I stood speechless, staring only at our feet.
“Ui-gang, step aside!”
Grandfather waved his hand dismissively and continued speaking.
“Let me see this child you saved—the one supposedly more precious than your own life! Just how remarkable must this person be for you to sacrifice your life to save them?”
His demeanor suggested he wanted them brought before him immediately.
I silently offered my gratitude to Cheonsan Yeom-je and replied.
“They’re not here right now.”
“What? Weren’t you keeping them with you all this time?”
“Well, that is… they went somewhere good.”
Grandfather seemed slightly taken aback as he pressed further.
“You mean they’re dead?”
“No, no! They… they became a disciple under an excellent master.”
“After receiving the Baek Li Family’s kindness, they went elsewhere?”
What was I supposed to do about this…?
‘Just moments ago he acted as though he wouldn’t let them go if they met…’
As I grumbled inwardly, Grandfather exhaled a long sigh and settled back into his seat, which he had partially risen from. He then rubbed his face, which appeared utterly exhausted.
At certain levels of cultivation, aging slows considerably. There was no reason Grandfather, one of the supreme masters, should have aged in merely half a year. Yet somehow, wrinkles seemed to have suddenly multiplied across his face.
Grandfather spoke in a voice that had grown heavy and subdued.
“I’m certain your father said nothing about this, so I’ll speak in his stead.”
I glanced at Father. He too seemed uncertain about what Grandfather was about to say.
“Yes, saving other children in a landslide where everyone might have perished—that was a righteous act indeed.”
Grandfather gazed at me with solemn eyes.
“But Yeon, have you not considered your father’s suffering—the pain of losing you before his very eyes?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if you truly understand how much anguish your father endured, losing you right in front of him.”
Father neither agreed nor disagreed, simply listening to Grandfather’s words in silence.
Grandfather continued, his voice tinged with bitterness.
“When I emerged from my secluded training and heard the news, a thought struck me—perhaps that was the last time I would ever see you.”
With those words, Grandfather sighed and pressed his hand to the corner of his eye.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”

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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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