The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 118

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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 118
The Jegal Family Head continued with a smile.
“What are you brooding over?”
I exhaled deeply.
“You’re right. Your words are correct.”
Even though I knew there was only one answer, I found myself whimpering to the Jegal Family Head without realizing it. The Jegal Family Head, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly spoke.
“Fine. It’s your matter anyway.”
“Huh?”
“Watch over me for a moment.”
Before I could even grasp the context of his words, the Jegal Family Head sat down and closed his eyes.
“What are you—”
I closed my mouth without finishing. The Jegal Family Head had begun circulating his vital energy.
‘What? Could he be… cultivating right now?’
However, the flow of vital energy seemed concentrated in the upper dantian, which suggested something akin to cultivation. Either way, it appeared to be a cultivation-like state, so I observed my surroundings carefully, even cautious with my breathing.
‘At least there are guards nearby.’
I could sense the presence of Mu-yeong, the Jegal Family Head’s escort, not far away. After watching the Jegal Family Head for a moment, I closed my eyes as well. Since there was nothing else to do, I thought I might as well cultivate alongside him.
The advantage of cultivating Natural Qi was that it could be stopped at any time, unlike cultivation techniques that should not be interrupted carelessly.
‘What on earth am I doing in the middle of the night?’
Why was I suddenly cultivating here with the Jegal Family Head?
How much time had passed? I opened my eyes at the sound of the Jegal Family Head’s voice.
“Have you ever heard of the Moshan Sect?”
“The Moshan Sect?”
I paused to search my memory.
“Wasn’t that a sect that was destroyed long ago?”
Why was he suddenly bringing that up?
The Moshan Sect was a sect destroyed ages ago, but anyone who walked the Jianghu would have heard of it at least once. This was because the Moshan Sect had been extremely, extraordinarily famous for its sorcery techniques.
Many of the Moshan Sect’s sorcery techniques flowed into different sects and clans even after the Moshan Sect’s destruction, allowing their lineage to continue. Yet when you thought about it, that was rather absurd.
The Jegal Family Head asked.
“Do you know why they were destroyed?”
“I heard they conducted unethical experiments and made enemies of both Orthodox and Unorthodox sects alike, leading to their destruction.”
So they had destroyed the sect themselves through their unethical conduct, yet they were now researching and using that sect’s techniques. From the Moshan Sect’s perspective, it was something so infuriating they couldn’t even rest in peace in the afterlife.
But… who would care about the grievances of a destroyed sect?
The Jegal Family Head spoke.
“Half right, half wrong.”
I tilted my head.
The Jegal Family Head took a slight breath.
“Isn’t it strange? The Moshan Sect was certainly great in sorcery techniques, but what on earth did they do to make even enemies greater than rivals join hands against them?”
I had never thought about it before, but it was certainly odd.
“The Moshan Sect wasn’t destroyed because of their unethical sorcery techniques. It was because of a poison they invented.”
“A poison?”
The Jegal Family Head nodded, pressing his hand to his forehead.
“He created a poison—colorless, odorless—one that, once contracted, can never be cured. A qi-disruption poison.”
“…What did you just say?”
“Terrifying, isn’t it? Any martial artist would leap in horror at such a poison.”
Qi-disruption poison was a toxin that scattered one’s inner cultivation. It was the same poison that Namgung Wan and the members of the Kirin Society had suffered when facing Cheon Gwi-jo, and it was also the poison that the villains Namgung Ryu-cheong faced used whenever they felt like it.
What a convenient and wonderful poison—one that could render even a formidable protagonist helpless in an instant. Because of this, qi-disruption poison was treated as utterly contemptible in the Jianghu.
Manufacturing or using qi-disruption poison would mark one as a public enemy of the Martial World. Cheon Gwi-jo was already a public enemy, so he paid no mind to such things.
In any case, the saving grace was that qi-disruption poison naturally cured itself over time. If there was someone nearby to help circulate one’s qi, immediate recovery was possible. No aftereffects remained. Yet any martial artist trembled at the mere mention of it.
But…an incurable qi-disruption poison? To be rendered unable to use the inner cultivation one had spent a lifetime building?
Without thinking, I covered my mouth.
“Insane…”
“The moment we learned of its existence, the Orthodox and heterodox sects alike united to attack the Moshan Sect. Such an evil thing in this world! It should never exist! Don’t you agree?”
Of course. This was a poison that would undermine the very foundation of the Jianghu. And the reason the Jegal Family Head had brought this up.
“Could it be that my father’s ailment is…?”
The Jegal Family Head smiled faintly, his complexion ashen.
I shook my head.
“But you said they were exterminated? They couldn’t have left behind the formula, could they?”
They had been wiped out because of this poison—there was no way they would have left the manufacturing method behind.
“True. That’s right. But if someone knew such a thing existed, couldn’t they recreate it?”
“…Why?”
Why my father, of all people? My father was renowned as a master, but it wasn’t as though he was the type to fall victim to such a vicious poison. In the Jianghu, there were far more famous and threatening figures than him. I simply wanted to save my father and survive myself—why had this happened?
I wanted only to save my father and live. Why had this befallen us?
“Well. In any case, the closest match I’ve found so far…”
The Jegal Family Head trailed off, drawing a deep breath.
“You found it?”
Something about his tone seemed strange.
Now that I thought about it, he wasn’t speaking as though he already knew—he was speaking as though he had just remembered, as though he had just read it from a book.
“Yes. This story has been erased from history itself. Even your grandfather wouldn’t know.”
“…”
I grew even more puzzled. Then how did the Jegal Family Head know such a thing? At only eleven years old? Did inheriting the Jegal Clan mean hearing all such stories? But then why was he speaking as though he had just remembered?
Whether he knew of my suspicion or not, the Jegal Family Head looked at me with a smile.
“Do you know? That spell technique I placed on the White Cat—it was originally a technique of the Moshan Sect.”
I looked at the White Cat in surprise. It was the very day we had been discussing the Moshan Sect.
“Remarkable, isn’t it?”
“Meow!”
The White Cat, whose eyes met mine, let out a short cry.
“Don’t you feel it? Fate?”
“What?”
“Among all those countless stars, isn’t it fate that you inherited Man Shin-ui’s abilities? Just as it was fate that I met you.”
I gazed at the Jegal Family Head for a long moment before speaking.
“You… just now, you sounded like a charlatan sect leader.”
Jegal Family Head let out a hollow laugh, leaning against the tree behind him with a slight bow.
“Anyway… thank you.”
I was grateful for his nonsense. It felt as though he had pulled me up from the depths of my mind, where I had been sinking in helpless melancholy.
“Can I tell Grandfather about the Moshan Sect?”
“Do as you wish.”
“Understood. Then I’ll head back first.”
“Yeon.”
As I turned to look at him questioningly, Jegal Family Head’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I can’t walk. Carry me.”
“…”
I fell silent and looked Jegal Family Head up and down.
Though Jegal Family Head was frail due to his severed meridians, his height and build were quite well-developed. Unlike his pale and withered complexion, one might say he had grown quite sturdy compared to his peers.
In contrast, I had been poorly nourished and hadn’t grown as much as others my age. I could already envision my legs dragging if I barely managed to carry Jegal Family Head on my back.
“Wait. I’ll call an adult.”
Jegal Family Head’s lips curved slightly upward.
“You’re really decisive.”
I clicked my tongue and turned away.
Ah, right. Was there really a need to call an adult? If I just summoned the guards over there… I was thinking this when—
A heavy thud. The sound of something collapsing.
* * *
The Baek Li Estate, which I returned to after nearly a year, had not changed at all. Though I had experienced many things, the time I had been away was not that long.
Father and I headed straight to the Residence Quarter. As we crossed the wall surrounding it, the courtyard was filled with servants of the quarter, centered around Eon-du, who had come to greet us.
Eon-du spoke.
“Young Master! Miss! Welcome home!”
Father nodded silently.
I smiled and replied.
“It’s been a while.”
Eon-du approached me, his expression overflowing with emotion, and gently wiped the corners of his eyes.
“Thank goodness you’re safe… truly, thank goodness.”
“…Yes. I’ve caused everyone worry.”
It felt like ancient history to me, but seeing Grandfather and even Eon-du like this, I suddenly realized how much heartache I had truly caused so many.
“Your complexion has improved greatly, and you’ve grown a bit taller too.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Though you still don’t look quite seven yet.”
I pouted. My birthday had passed on the way back, and I was finally seven now.
“Must you continue to keep your eyes covered like that?”
“It’s just more comfortable this way.”
Then I introduced the person standing behind me.
“This is Geum-swe, a female servant who accompanied me on the journey.”
Eon-du wore a puzzled expression.
I introduced Geum-swe slowly, making sure everyone present could hear. I explained that we had lived together at the Namgung Clan and that So Bu-in had given her to me.
Already, several servants exchanged meaningful glances with one another.
“Geum-swe will help organize the luggage that the Changhung Piao Bureau sent.”
Geum-swe calmly produced a ledger she had prepared in advance.
“I have the inventory of the luggage, so I’ll inspect the young lady’s residence first and then organize everything right away.”
Upon hearing the explanation, Eon-du was overjoyed, practically bouncing with delight. Watching his bewildered expression, I felt a pang of sympathy at his words.
“Finally! I have someone to work with. Oh, thank goodness.”
I could easily imagine how much Eon-du must have struggled, managing the residence alone without a single trustworthy person to rely on.
Just then, a young girl’s voice cut through.
“…Young lady? What are you saying right now?”
It was Dang-geum. Hearing her voice, I truly felt that I had returned home. For better or worse.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well? Geum-swe, this is my maidservant, Dang-geum.”
Dang-geum looked bewildered as Geum-swe greeted her. Soon after, she opened her mouth as if to cry out something, but instead laughed awkwardly and bowed her head. She was watching Father’s expression from a distance.
Father, who had greeted Eon-du and gone to look around the residence, was approaching. I observed him carefully as well. Observing Father had become a habit now. And thankfully, truly thankfully.
Not once since that day had I witnessed the same phenomenon. The explanation that it was something that happened only occasionally seemed to be correct.

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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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