The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 122

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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 122
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Baek Li-myeong had long since established his independence, maintaining his own residence. As I made my way toward Baek Li-myeong’s Residence, I realized something: counting both before and after my regression, this was my first visit to his quarters.
True to his station as the eldest grandson, Baek Li-myeong’s Residence boasted an excellent location with generous proportions and spacious grounds.
And I was somewhat taken aback.
‘Why does the atmosphere feel so oppressive?’
The servants who noticed me were startled, and several cast hostile glances my way. One even slipped cautiously out of the residence. Where they were headed was obvious.
Then a middle-aged woman emerged from within the residence. I was startled again—an unexpected person indeed.
“You should leave.”
Bangsi Eomeom. The Baek Family Grandmother’s attendant and close aide.
She was also a martial escort. She rarely left the Grandmother’s side unless absolutely necessary—and yet here she was.
‘What is she doing here?’
Among the Grandmother’s retinue, none harbored affection for me, but Bangsi Eomeom was particularly memorable for the contempt in her gaze whenever she looked upon me—as though regarding an insect.
“The Young Master is not in a condition to receive visitors.”
Bangsi Eomeom spoke with a chilling expression.
‘His condition is that grave?’
I harbored doubt, then understanding dawned. If his condition were truly so dire that he could not receive visitors, the Baek Family Estate would not be this quiet.
‘She simply wishes to prevent me from seeing him.’
I immediately let out a loud cry of alarm.
“Is my brother’s condition truly so critical!”
Bangsi Eomeom startled, her face contorting.
“Lower your voice!”
Why should I? I ignored Bangsi Eomeom’s words and continued my commotion. As the disturbance grew, not only the servants of Baek Li-myeong’s Residence but others began to peer about curiously.
Within the hour, rumors would surely spread throughout the estate—that I had come to inquire after Baek Li-myeong’s health but had been turned away without seeing him. Bangsi Eomeom’s face bore the frustration of one unable to silence me. Yet as she glanced toward something, her expression shifted entirely, and she bowed respectfully.
“It cannot be helped. Please, come inside.”
…What? She relents so suddenly? This was not a woman to yield so easily…
Her demeanor seemed highly suspicious. Yet I could hardly turn back now. I entered cautiously, remaining alert.
The door slid open. Upon entering the chamber suffused with the mingled scents of medicinal salve and herbal decoction, I understood: as fortune would have it, Ha Ui-won, the physician I had encountered at noon, appeared to be examining Baek Li-myeong.
Bangsi Eomeom, for the first time, offered something resembling a smile as she spoke.
“Since you have come this far, the Young Miss should receive an examination as well.”
“…”
Baek Li-myeong regarded us both with a puzzled expression and spoke.
“Eomeom? What are you saying so suddenly? Yeon, it has been a while. Come, sit here.”
As he spoke, he continued with a murmur loud enough for all to hear, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
“What is this about, Eomeom? You seemed determined to keep Yeon from entering—what wind has changed your mind?”
“Young Master, you must mind your words and conduct.”
Bangsi Eomeom treated Baek Li-myeong as though he were merely being petulant. As expected. Bangsi Eomeom was a supervisor placed by the Grandmother—tasked with preventing any impropriety, which is to say, preventing me from growing intimate with him.
Baek Li-myeong, who had been chuckling softly, suddenly grimaced and clutched his left shoulder. Bandages wound from his left hand to his elbow.
‘The wound must be quite severe.’
I took the seat Baek Li-myeong indicated, and only then did I notice: Shim So-cheong and Lady Shim were present beside him.
She was so quiet and unobtrusive that I had only just recognized her. Her melancholic face bore eyes that darted about nervously, as though unsettled. She was truly a timid woman—wholly unsuited to the role of a noble household’s lady.
‘They must have deliberately chosen someone like that.’
During my time at the Baek Li Estate, I had seen Lady Shim only a handful of times. Moreover, I had scarcely heard any stories about her.
She lived so quietly, as though she barely existed at all.
“Ha Ui-won, before you examine the eldest young master, would you not examine the young miss first? I beseech you.”
Ha Ui-won appeared flustered for a moment before his eyes brightened. Baek Li-myeong spoke with a tone of slight irritation.
“Bangsi Eomeom, what are you saying? Why would Yeon need to be examined here?”
“Young master, you must not have heard. At noon today, Ha Ui-won went to treat the young miss, but she refused, so he returned.”
“What do you mean?”
Baek Li-myeong’s brow furrowed slightly. I gently tugged at his sleeve.
“Older brother, you saw it all when you came with me—Seok Tae-ui’s examination.”
Baek Li-myeong, who had seemed to hesitate for a moment, took my side.
“…That’s right. Yes, that’s true. But Bangsi Eomeom, Seok Tae-ui examined me on the way here and prescribed everything already. What need is there for Ha Ui-won to examine me further?”
Bangsi Eomeom spoke with an unbending demeanor.
“The young miss is of the Baek Family, so naturally the Baek Family’s physician should examine her, should they not?”
Baek Li-myeong sighed as though exasperated and spoke.
“Ah…. Seok Tae-ui is the physician Grandfather brought, so what exactly….”
Bangsi Eomeom lowered her eyes and spoke with unwavering composure.
“Young master, it was the Grand Lady who sent Ha Ui-won to examine Baek Li-yeon.”
Baek Li-myeong paused and asked in return.
“…Grandmother sent him?”
Bangsi Eomeom continued calmly.
“Yes. Is it not natural that the Grand Lady, as the matriarch of the Baek Li Family, should concern herself with Baek Li-yeon, who is of the family’s blood?”
Baek Li-myeong’s expression became one of utter dismay. At that moment, Lady Shim, who had remained silent until now, carefully ventured to speak.
“Myeong, it is Grandmother’s wish….”
She meant not to defy Grandmother. Baek Li-myeong bit his lip and looked between me and Bangsi Eomeom alternately.
Soon after, he spoke as though resigned.
“Yeon. Just submit to it once. After all… it is not something you should refuse like this, is it?”
A faint smile of victory played at the corners of Bangsi Eomeom’s lips. I clenched my fists against my knees and slowly lowered my head.
Baek Li-myeong sighed and called to me soothingly.
“Sigh, Yeon.”
I gently dabbed the corners of my eyes with my handkerchief and lifted my head.
Baek Li-myeong started in surprise and looked at me.
“Why, why are you like this?”
Tears glistened at the rims of my reddened eyes before falling silently.
“Ha Ui-won… Ha Ui-won always… whenever he came to treat me, Father said he was doing something pointless… that he was being a nuisance.”
I spoke in a deliberately more childlike tone.
“I am afraid of Ha Ui-won….”
I sniffled and glanced at Ha Ui-won, hoping to appear frightened. Ha Ui-won, his mouth agape, looked as though he might clutch the back of his neck and collapse at any moment.
I stammered as I spoke.
“I don’t understand why you keep insisting on examining me. And you’ll just say it’s pointless anyway.”
I wiped my eyes with the handkerchief I’d been clutching, then burst into tears.
‘Ow! Miss, ah, it burns!’
The handkerchief was soaked with onion juice. I’d originally brought it to play the role of a delicate and sincere younger sister. I’d intended to use it when seeing Baek Li-myeong’s wounds, to cry convincingly—but now here we were.
Well, regardless, it was serving its purpose well enough.
Tears fell naturally, one after another.
“You’re looking down on me because I’m a crippled cultivator.”
Ha Ui-won’s mouth fell open.
Baek Li-myeong’s expression darkened sharply.
“…Ha Ui-won, is that true?”
“That is… I have never done such a thing!”
“So then Yeon is lying? Ha Ui-won, I didn’t think you were the type to mock our Baek Family bloodline so carelessly!”
Baek Li-myeong had transformed into a passionate guardian of family honor. He’d calculated that siding with Ha Ui-won now would make facing me later unbearable. His attitude was truly that of a bat—shifting with the wind.
But he would scold Ha Ui-won like this, and then comfort me afterward. He’d promise to be more careful going forward and urge me to set aside my grievances and accept the pulse examination. Then I couldn’t continue refusing. If I did, my resistance would be recast as childish petulance.
I lifted my lowered head and spoke.
“Very well.”
I bit my lip hard and looked at Ha Ui-won and Bangsi Eomeom. My tears wouldn’t stop, and my vision blurred.
“You want to know if my dantian has recovered, don’t you?”
Neither Bangsi Eomeom nor Ha Ui-won could deny or confirm. At their hesitation, Baek Li-myeong gazed at them with barely concealed contempt before quickly composing himself.
“It’s fine if my brother checks.”
“What?”
Baek Li-myeong froze mid-laugh. Then, looking flustered, he pointed to himself.
“You’re asking me to check?”
“Yes.”
I shed tears steadily, gripped my sleeve tightly, and spoke softly.
“Because I trust you, brother.”
“…”
Baek Li-myeong appeared somewhat moved, yet bewildered.
‘I’m sorry, that’s a lie.’
Or perhaps not entirely a lie? I had faith in Baek Li-myeong’s opportunistic nature.
For someone caught between not wanting to displease me and not wanting to defy Grandmother, my proposal would be perfectly satisfactory.
And he couldn’t possibly dislike such sweet words of trust—especially not at his age, still so young.
Baek Li-myeong, looking pleased, patted my shoulder like a caring older brother and spoke.
“Right. I’ll check. Bangsi Eomeom, is this acceptable?”
Bangsi Eomeom, her expression rigid, replied.
“Please don’t. Perhaps another physician instead of the Young Master…”
Baek Li-myeong cut off Bangsi Eomeom’s words and shouted harshly.
“Another physician? That’s enough!”
Baek Li-myeong, who had paused briefly, glared and spoke.
“Or are you saying you don’t trust me?”
“…No, that is not the case.”
Bangsi Eomeom had no choice but to bow her head. I watched her form through tears that streamed down my face.
I alone knew of Baek Li-myeong’s opportunistic nature. Yet he would still be trusted for now—after all, they had spent years together.
But what if, in time, I were to reveal my mastery of inner energy…? Baek Li-myeong would be suspected of concealing my recovery. He would claim his innocence, insist he had spoken only truth, that he was wronged….
And then, who would believe his words?

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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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