The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 119

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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 119
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“Come now, let us retire.”
I followed Father toward my residence quarter.
The quarters had indeed transformed since Eon-du’s arrival—the window frames gleamed without a speck of dust, and the desolate back garden now flourished with potted flowers, tended with meticulous care.
I found it satisfactory, but Geum-swe leaned close and whispered with an expression of disbelief.
“Is this truly… the Young Miss’s residence quarter?”
“Yes. I stay here with Father.”
“…”
Geum-swe bit her lip, suppressing words that threatened to spill forth, yet the pity in her gaze could not be concealed.
‘Well… I suppose it is understandable.’
It paled in comparison to Namgung Ryu-cheong’s childhood residence, which I had glimpsed by chance at the Namgung Clan—though the difference lay in that he was the sole heir with a brilliant future assured, while Father and I, as the youngest, could scarcely dream of succession.
Grandfather had suggested relocating my quarters on the journey here, but I had refused. The conversation had proceeded something like this.
“Now that I think of it, when we return, let us move your quarters. That place is far too remote.”
“Might I… refuse, Grandfather?”
“Why would you? It is far more spacious and pleasant than where you currently reside.”
“But I have earned no merit to warrant such a sudden elevation. What would others say?”
“No merit? Did you not bring back Man Shin-ui’s research texts? Those shall become the Baek Family’s greatest treasure!”
“Yet Grandfather, I have caused you and Father such heartache. I fear my transgressions outweigh any merit I might claim.”
“…”
“Besides, I have grown fond of this place. It is secluded—ideal for training away from prying eyes. The quarters are tucked away nicely. Hehe.”
“…”
I could still vividly see Grandfather’s whiskers trembling as he absorbed blow after blow without managing a single defensive stance.
My true reason for insisting on remaining here was to exploit his guilt. The longer I stayed, the more indelible would be his memory of initially rejecting me.
‘My apologies, Grandfather. Why did you chase me away to this place?’
Yet I genuinely cherished this residence. Being remote, I need not encounter relatives unless I deliberately sought them out.
I stepped through the threshold that Geum-swe held open and halted abruptly in my chamber.
“What is the matter? Oh my.”
Geum-swe, following behind, gasped upon seeing where my gaze had fallen. The White Cat had claimed my bed as its own.
“I wondered where it had gone…”
It was astonishing when it must have slipped into my chamber.
“How did you know this was my room?”
I exhaled softly and picked up a white flower petal that lay at the cat’s feet.
“Where is your master, and what brings you here?”
The cat merely licked its front paws with fervent dedication. The moment I removed my outer robe, Eon-du entered.
“Young Miss, what is that cat? Is it your pet?”
“No, it is not mine. I suppose you could say I am caring for it temporarily. It seems I shall be looking after it for some time.”
Eon-du appeared bewildered but did not press further, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
“What is its name?”
“…I do not know.”
“Pardon?”
“If I’d known it would come to this, I would have asked properly….”
“Pardon?”
“What’s that in your hand? Did you come to give me that?”
Eon-du, who had been blinking in confusion, regained his composure and handed over what he was holding. It was a letter.
“Yes, yes. It arrived for the young lady. And, um, myself and Geum-swe need to tell you some things for a moment….”
“Understood.”
Eon-du left with Geum-swe, his face beaming with delight.
Could it be from Yalyu? He had said he would send a letter before departing with the Cheonsan Yeom-je. I opened the letter with a flutter of anticipation.
My expectations were spectacularly wrong. The letter’s author was Seo Ha-ryeong.
‘What? Her letter arrived before mine!’
I recalled our last parting. Had the vitality elixir been properly absorbed? I also remembered the spirited members of the Suhyang Sect. With eager curiosity, I unfolded the letter. And my expression turned to shock.
[You wretched girl! How could you do such a thing!]
Seo Ha-ryeong had filled nearly an entire page with indignation over my silent departure. Her handwriting was so bold and vigorous that she had practically filled the page with just a few sentences.
[The Hundred-Day Elixir must have been premium grade. My inner strength increased far more than expected. I wanted to tell you about it….]
I could not suppress a quiet laugh at this part.
‘Ha-ryeong… wouldn’t it be better not to boast about increased inner strength to someone crippled by depleted cultivation?’
The rest was filled with laments about being unable to demonstrate how much her skills had improved. The letter also contained a brief update about Namgung Ryu-cheong.
[…Namgung Ryu-cheong has entered closed-door cultivation.]
So he finally did it. This has changed from before. In the original timeline, he did not enter closed-door cultivation at this point.
‘Is it because Father is not becoming his master?’
And when I unfolded the final page, something suddenly fell to the floor. It was a dried flower.
‘What is this?’
My first thought was that she had made a mistake in what she included. After all, when someone places a flower in a letter, they usually press and dry it carefully and beautifully before sending it, don’t they?
But this one was simply snapped off and stuffed inside, dried in such a haphazard manner that it took me a moment to recognize what kind of flower it was.
It was a peach blossom.
‘Could this possibly be… from Namgung Ryu-cheong?’
No matter how I thought about it, there was no reason for Seo Ha-ryeong to pluck a peach blossom and send it to me.
“Heh.”
A hollow laugh escaped me, and the corners of my mouth lifted. He did not come to say goodbye before leaving, saying we had already parted, yet here he was, thoughtfully sending something like this.
I set down the letter I had finished reading and stroked the White Cat that had climbed onto my lap.
‘What should I do about this…?’
The oddly withered peach blossom. Another hollow laugh burst forth.
I held the dried flower out toward the White Cat.
“Look at this. What does it remind you of?”
The White Cat’s golden eyes gazed upon the peach blossom. I held the stem of the flower before the White Cat and twirled it around.
I laughed softly and spoke.
“This is from Namgung Ryu-cheong, you know. It’s the same kind you bring back every time.”
The White Cat tilted its head in confusion.
“Isn’t it funny? How is it that a person is more incompetent than a cat….”
It happened in that instant.
“Gulp.”
With the sound, the flower bud vanished entirely.
I froze for a moment, then cried out urgently.
“Spit it out! Cat! What will happen if you eat that! Why did you eat it! I was just showing it to you!”
No, even if it was useless, it shouldn’t have gone into the cat’s belly like that…!
By the time I forced the cat’s mouth open, there was already no trace of it.
“Why on earth did you eat that? Huh!”
Shaking the cat didn’t make the flower reappear. I sighed and set the cat down.
Well… at least Namgung Ryu-cheong didn’t need to know about this. If he found out I’d used the flower he gave me as cat food… hmm, I wasn’t sure. What kind of reaction he’d have with that temperament of his.
“But wait, is it even safe for a cat to eat peach blossoms?”
I looked at the cat with concern. The cat stared back at me with an expression of complete innocence, as if asking why I was suddenly like this.
I spoke seriously.
“If I tickle a cat’s uvula, will it throw up?”
At that moment, the cat startled and leaped from my arms. It looked at me with eyes of disbelief, then nimbly vaulted through the window. It put even seasoned Martial World masters to shame.
I clicked my tongue and followed the cat out of the chamber. I walked through the Residence Quarter and headed toward the Inner Courtyard. Several servants, including Eon-du, bustled about busily in the Inner Courtyard.
I heard Geum-swe’s voice.
“Wait, don’t touch that! It needs to be handled carefully.”
“Oh, yes! Yes.”
Watching a female servant carefully set down the wooden chest she’d been holding, Dang-geum spoke curtly.
“What’s inside that you’re being so secretive? We should know what it is too, shouldn’t we? How are we supposed to manage it if only you know?”
“Oh! Young Miss! You’ve arrived at just the right moment.”
Geum-swe, who had been speaking, welcomed me upon seeing me. I scanned my surroundings in confusion.
“What is all this?”
There were far more belongings than I expected.
“Didn’t I only have three boxes of luggage?”
Why were six boxes laid out here?
“Hmm… Perhaps you’re misremembering, Young Miss?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
‘I remember clearly—it was three boxes.’
It was already frustrating enough that the luggage, which had been only one box when we first departed from the Baek Li Estate, had grown to this extent.
“…Give me the ledger.”
“But Young Miss, what should we do about this?”
I opened the wooden chest that Geum-swe offered. An elegantly decorated ornament was revealed. Dang-geum took interest.
“A jade bracelet? I’ve never seen this before?”
Geum-swe answered with a smile.
“Of course not. This was given to you by the Young Madam of the Namgung Clan. It was part of her trousseau, and from what I heard, it was a gift bestowed by the Imperial Court.”
“Geum-swe!”
Heat rushed to my face. I forced a smile and spoke.
“Why would you say such a thing?”
Geum-swe spoke to Dang-geum with a sly smile.
“Since it’s something precious, everyone should know its history. That way they’ll handle it with care, won’t they? It’s difficult for me to manage it alone.”
Dang-geum’s eyes widened in surprise, and the corners of her mouth trembled.
“…Oh, you’ve… brought back something truly wonderful. Ha, haha.”
The other servants who overheard our conversation also marveled at the bracelet, while those who hadn’t heard Geum-swe’s explanation asked the others what was happening.
Soon after, Eon-du waved his hand dismissively and spoke.
“Stop wasting time on trivial matters and get back to work!”
The servants scattered in all directions. As I watched this unfold with indifference, my eyes suddenly betrayed me.
“That person… who is that?”
I knew it was rude, yet I couldn’t stop myself from pointing.
Eon-du looked in the direction I was pointing and spoke.
“So Nok?”
So Nok, hearing her name mentioned, turned to look at us.
“Do you know the young lady, sir?”
“Know her?! Why is she here?”
Eon-du tilted his head in confusion.
“Well… the young master took her in. She’s quite skilled and works very well.”
“What did you say?!”
So Nok looked at me and simply laughed cheerfully in greeting.
I clenched my teeth and spoke.
“You… come here for a moment.”

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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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