The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 110

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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 110
I had never seen Grandfather like this before. I stood there uncertainly, alternating my gaze between Grandfather and Father before finally lowering my head and responding.
“…I was wrong.”
“Then you won’t do such a thing again in the future?”
“…”
When I didn’t answer, Grandfather let out a sigh.
“What good is it to merely say you were wrong with your words?”
But… but…
I voiced my opinion quietly.
“If Father saved me, he couldn’t have saved the other one, could he?”
No matter how extraordinary Father’s lightness technique was, with only two arms, he couldn’t possibly carry the weight of three children and escape the landslide…
Grandfather spoke as if it were absurd.
“You’re only six years old. Why are you worrying about such things?”
“…”
Grandfather sighed again.
“Yeon, you mustn’t give up yet. Even if you never wield a sword, you remain my granddaughter. Do you understand?”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
Grandfather’s words… it was as though he believed I had thrown away my life because my dantian was destroyed…
‘That wasn’t it at all.’
Besides, though my dantian hadn’t recovered, I now possessed the ability Man Shin-ui had given me.
‘But Grandfather doesn’t know that yet.’
I found myself hesitating for a moment.
‘Should I tell him?’
Should I explain the Golden Eyes to Grandfather now?
Originally, Grandfather hadn’t been a consideration. Though he cherished Father, it was different from how he cherished me.
“Come here.”
As I approached hesitantly, Grandfather reached out and pulled me into an embrace.
“Oh, you little rabbit! How much you must have suffered in that tomb! Welcome home. You endured well.”
* * *
Grandfather told Father he had something to discuss and sent me out of the room.
I rubbed my forearms as I left the guest room. Many thoughts swirled through my mind. The way Father had stiffened the moment I mentioned the Palgwae Village landslide… Grandfather’s misunderstanding that I had abandoned my life…
But I couldn’t dwell on these thoughts for long. Someone was blocking my path.
“Yeon.”
“…Elder Brother.”
It was Baek Li-myeong. He appeared as though he had been waiting right there.
“It’s been a while, Elder Brother. You’ve grown so much taller!”
Baek Li-myeong had shot up in height over the past six months as if he’d hit a growth spurt.
“Have you been well? I heard you had a terrible accident and was worried. But seeing you now, I’m relieved you’re safe.”
Our relationship when we last parted hadn’t been particularly bad. But it seemed he wasn’t close enough to me to act this friendly. His true intentions were transparent.
I looked at Elder Brother with an expression of joy and spoke.
“Brother, what brings you here?”
“I pestered Grandfather to let me come along with you.”
I widened my eyes and tilted my head.
“Why? Wasn’t it difficult to come all this way?”
I couldn’t help but understand the reason.
Baek Li-myeong’s presence here served a single purpose: to demonstrate to Grandfather that he was a dutiful eldest grandson, looking after his younger sibling.
Baek Li-myeong cleared his throat before responding.
“Well, ahem, I was worried about how you were doing.”
Though Baek Li-myeong was someone who wore different faces for different occasions, he was still just a child. The awkwardness of feigning friendliness toward a cousin he’d inwardly dismissed was evident in his demeanor.
I pretended not to notice and smiled brightly.
“Really? Thank you so much!”
Then I inquired after Grandmother first, followed by Uncle and Aunt, before hesitating and asking with a sidelong glance.
“How is Aunt doing?”
….
Baek Li-myeong’s expression darkened.
“She’s… just the same as always.”
I’d naturally assumed So U-ak and Aunt would leave, but instead the Twin Cousins departed while Aunt remained.
I couldn’t discern the reason, but one thing was certain: what reaction Aunt would show when she learned that Baek Li-myeong had come to greet me.
She would undoubtedly have a fit. After all, Aunt was surely sharpening her blade against me over the matter of the Twin Cousins being sent away to Gogye Hermitage.
‘And yet he came to see me anyway.’
I was pondering what to do about this.
Gurgle.
Baek Li-myeong looked at me with a blank expression.
I drew in a sharp breath and gripped my shameless stomach. But perhaps because I’d tensed my abdomen too much, the sound only grew louder.
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle.
‘No, this is mortifying.’
Actually, no—it wasn’t. In fact, this worked out perfectly.
I quickly asked Baek Li-myeong.
“Brother, I haven’t eaten breakfast yet… Have you?”
“Huh? Oh, no.”
“Would you like to eat together?”
Baek Li-myeong’s expression brightened considerably as he nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go to the first floor!”
“Is that necessary? Let’s eat in that guest room over there.”
I blinked and looked at the room Baek Li-myeong indicated.
“Is that room empty?”
“The Baek Li Family has rented out this entire inn.”
“The entire inn?”
“Yes. We’ll stay one night and depart tomorrow.”
Admittedly, Seok Tae-ui did look exhausted. I tilted my head and glanced around the inn. The crowd that had filled the place seemed noticeably thinner.
“But… aren’t there people who were staying here originally?”
Baek Li-myeong spoke as if the question was absurd.
“We paid them to leave.”
“…How much?”
“I heard it was about ten times the lodging fee.”
“Ten times!”
Wow, the wealthy really are something else.
“Ah, then did the Jegal Family Head leave as well?”
Baek Li-myeong shook his head.
Tch…
* * *
Weathered, wrinkled hands lifted the teapot and filled a teacup. After passing it over, the figure poured tea into their own cup as well.
“How did you happen to meet the Jegal Family Head?”
“I encountered him collapsed on the way here. As I helped him, we ended up coming together.”
“Hm, the Jegal Family Head was collapsed?”
“Yes. An old ailment flared up temporarily.”
“I see.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk sipped his tea with a slight frown.
“Well, perhaps this meeting was fate.”
Baek Li-ui-gang tilted his head slightly.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk set down his teacup and spoke.
“The Jegal Family Head has requested protection from our family.”
“Pardon?”
It was unthinkable. A Family Head of a major clan, one worthy of the title “Jegal,” requesting protection from another family? It was an act that abandoned both dignity and honor.
Baek Li-ui-gang asked, bewildered.
“Why would the Jegal Clan request protection from us rather than the Murim Alliance? This is most unusual.”
Moreover, the Baek Li Family and the Jegal Clan had virtually no dealings with each other.
“Are you not aware that the Jegal Clan’s relationship with the Murim Alliance is no longer what it once was?”
“Even so, requesting our aid seems strange. And no matter how strained things have become, surely the Murim Alliance would not ignore the Jegal Family Head’s request?”
At Baek Li-ui-gang’s words, Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s eyes grew bitter.
“He has already made the request, I’m told. But the Murim Alliance Leader’s response was ambiguous.”
“Ambiguous?”
“Yes. I investigated through various channels. The Jegal Family Head did indeed request aid… and it is also true that the Murim Alliance Leader has no intention of helping him.”
“The Leader… why would he…? This makes no sense.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk stroked his beard and leaned back against the chair.
“There is sense to be made of it.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk continued, observing Baek Li-ui-gang’s troubled expression.
“There are rumors that the Jegal Family Head’s ailment is extremely severe this time. They say he will not even be able to leave an heir.”
“What does that have to do with… surely you don’t mean…?”
“Right. He figured there was little value in helping someone with so little time left.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s expression was genuinely shocked.
“It’s merely a conjecture.”
“….”
But this was a conjecture that Baek Li Pae-hyuk, the Baek Li Family Head, had deemed worthy of voicing aloud. It could hardly be wrong.
“So I decided to help.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s expression shifted to one of bewilderment. He asked carefully.
“Father, what is your reason for telling me this?”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk stroked his beard with evident satisfaction. Baek Li-ui-gang’s question had struck at the precise heart of the matter.
Ordinarily, one would ask why we were helping the Jegal Family Head at all, but Baek Li-ui-gang was different. He trusted his father’s judgment completely and instead questioned why he was being told these facts at all.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk regarded his son for a long moment before speaking.
“My son, I worry not only about Yeon, but about you as well.”
Baek Li-ui-gang lowered his gaze.
“I apologize for being a source of concern.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk struck the table with a sharp crack.
“That is not what I wish to hear!”
“…I apologize.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk exhaled heavily.
“The Jegal Family Head knows a way to alleviate your condition.”
“…!”

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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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