The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 140

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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 140
* * *
Eyes so sharply focused they seemed to pierce through me stared down with an intensity that made my breath catch.
I fumbled with the sweet rice cake for a long moment before I could finally swallow and open my mouth.
“…Namgung Ryu-cheong?”
At that, one of the boy’s eyebrows arched upward.
It was a gesture Namgung Ryu-cheong always made when something displeased him.
‘Wow, it really is Namgung Ryu-cheong!’
His aura had transformed so completely I’d nearly failed to recognize him. The energy radiating from him felt far more solid and formidable than the last time I’d seen him. Though it seemed he hadn’t yet fully mastered its control.
Dressed in a blue martial robe with a deep indigo outer coat draped over it, Namgung Ryu-cheong had shed his boyish appearance entirely, now bearing the unmistakable grace of a young man in his prime.
In his dark brows and sharp gaze, his high nose bridge and firm lips, I could see traces of his uncle Namgung Wan. Yet in those long lashes and the gentle depths of his eyes, I glimpsed So Bu-in’s delicate features.
Just then, a young girl leaned her face forward from beside Namgung Ryu-cheong. Long hair cascaded down over her pale pink martial robe.
“I’m here too!”
I tilted my head in confusion. Though she hadn’t entirely shed her youthful charm, she was the kind of beauty that would make nine out of ten passersby turn to look. Moreover, the stable and refined aura she emanated suggested considerable martial skill.
At my silence, the girl’s lips drooped slightly.
“What, did you forget about me?”
Only after hearing her voice once more did recognition dawn.
“Could it be…Seo Ha-ryeong?”
“That’s right! It’s been so long!”
The girl beamed and leaped down from her horse, then rushed over and pulled me into an embrace.
I awkwardly returned Seo Ha-ryeong’s hug.
No…no…no?
‘Is this really Seo Ha-ryeong?’
It was insane. This was no joke. Namgung Ryu-cheong had grown extraordinarily handsome, but he’d always been exceptional even as a child.
Seo Ha-ryeong had been quite pretty, but she’d always been so unkempt that seeing her dressed up like this now felt like a complete transformation of heaven and earth. Only four years had passed—how could a person change this much?
At that moment, Seok Ga-yak spoke.
“Oh, is that her?”
“Ah, yes.”
I pushed Seo Ha-ryeong away and turned to look beside me. Seok Ga-yak offered a respectful bow to Seo Ha-ryeong, whose eyes had met his, then continued speaking to me.
“So you won’t be able to come today?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Today was supposed to be the day I went to study medicine with Seok Tae-ui. It was also the reason I’d left the boat excursion early.
“Please tell Tae-ui I apologize.”
Seok Ga-yak mounted his horse and spoke lightly.
“Sure. See you next time.”
“Yes. Safe travels.”
“Oh, eat all of these.”
Seok Ga-yak handed me a pouch containing sweet rice cakes and pulled on the reins. As I turned my gaze away from the departing Seok Ga-yak, a familiar voice reached my ears.
“Young Miss, it has been a long time.”
I shifted my gaze to the space behind Namgung Ryu-cheong and smiled warmly.
“Your beard is absolutely magnificent!”
“Is that so?”
Shim Bu-gwan stroked his impressive beard—one he’d apparently cultivated over the past four years—with evident satisfaction.
Seo Ha-ryeong asked from beside me.
“But who is that person?”
“A close friend from the same Academy.”
At my explanation, Seo Ha-ryeong tilted her head curiously, watching in the direction Seok Ga-yak had departed.
“Really? That’s interesting.”
“What is?”
“That you know who Ryu-cheong is.”
“Of course I do.”
“But he just left like that.”
“Ah…!”
Normally, if someone knew he was a young master of the Namgung Clan, they wouldn’t depart so cleanly.
‘At the very least, they’d attempt some form of courtesy.’
I shook my head and spoke.
“He’s always been like that.”
He was the same way even with our grandfather…
“And he didn’t even bat an eye when he saw me.”
“…”
This confidence… what is it? After a moment of bewilderment, I glanced at Seo Ha-ryeong, then turned to Namgung Ryu-cheong, who hadn’t spoken a word until now. “Wasn’t your father supposed to come?”
“Father had something come up.”
“Is that so?”
That’s strange. In my previous life, Uncle Namgung Wan came, and there were no issues.
I set aside my questions and turned back to Seo Ha-ryeong. She hadn’t come last time either. In my previous life, I had virtually no interaction with her.
“How did you end up coming?”
“I followed him! But what did he give you? Candy? I want some too!”
* * *
The area before the Main Gate of the Baek Li Estate was in such chaos it resembled a marketplace. Countless carriages and horses crowded together in utter disorder. They were all guests attending Grandfather’s birthday celebration. This scene had continued for several days now, so I’d grown accustomed to it.
A long line stretched out as well—people standing to have their identities verified before entering the Baek Li Estate.
With me at the lead, our group passed through that line. Our appearance was more than enough to capture the attention of those waiting.
“My goodness, my goodness, look over there.”
“Heavens, who is that strikingly handsome young man?”
“He’s no less impressive than Young Master Seok, is he? Where could he be from?”
The women’s gazes fixed upon Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“In just a few years, she’ll become an absolutely stunning beauty! Where on earth did such a young lady come from?”
“Judging by the sword at her waist, she appears to be from a martial family.”
The men were busy marveling at Seo Ha-ryeong.
Seo Ha-ryeong, as if accustomed to it, didn’t even turn around and spoke to me.
Seo Ha-ryeong spoke to me without even turning around, as if it were second nature to her.
“I’m glad I ran into you. Otherwise, I’d have been standing in that line.”
“That wouldn’t have happened.”
“Oh, that’s right. Remember? We used to line up at the Dumpling Shop back then.”
“I remember.”
And only then did people notice me.
“Hm? Isn’t that Miss Baek Li?”
“Which miss? There are two Miss Baek Lis, aren’t there?”
“She’s the elder miss, the only daughter of the Fourth Master.”
“Why is the elder miss with those people?”
Even if my face wasn’t well-known, that would only apply to people from other regions.
Those who recognized me began to whisper among themselves.
The Gatekeeper also bowed respectfully upon seeing me.
“Welcome, Miss. And these companions of yours are…?”
I glanced back. Behind Namgung Ryu-cheong, who kept his mouth firmly shut, Shim Bu-gwan stepped forward and presented a letter of introduction.
The Gatekeeper’s eyes widened immediately.
“So you are the Young Master of the Namgung Clan! We received word of your arrival. Please, come in.”
In that instant, I heard startled gasps from all around. We left the commotion behind and entered through the Main Gate. With the Namgung Clan’s status, my grandfather would have sent a personal invitation, so there would have been no need to wait in line even without me.
I dismissed the servant who had come to guide us and led them to the Reception Hall myself.
“Rest here for now.”
You’ll need to unpack your things anyway.
‘I’ll see you again this evening.’
As I turned to leave, Seo Ha-ryeong came rushing out of the hall.
“Where are you going? I want to see your Residence Quarter!”
“What? Wouldn’t it be better to rest? Wash up and change clothes…”
Seo Ha-ryeong widened her eyes.
“I’m clean! I washed up at the Inn before coming!”
“No, I wasn’t saying you’re dirty. I was worried you might be tired.”
“I’m fine! Let’s go!”
I was grabbed by Seo Ha-ryeong and dragged out of the Reception Hall.
‘Is it only me who finds this awkward after four years?’
As I was being pulled along, I spoke in exasperation.
“Do you even know where my Residence Quarter is?”
“I don’t!”
“It’s this way.”
Then I turned around and faced Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been following silently the entire time without saying a word.
“Are you coming too?”
He continued to follow.
“You’ve already seen it anyway.”
“…Did I?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong glared at me.
I scratched my cheek and moved forward.
“Follow me.”
Rather than heading directly to my Residence Quarter, I wandered through the Baek Li Estate and gave a simple tour. I explained which areas were off-limits and which were accessible, showed the layout, and even took them to Ihwa Garden, the most famous garden in the Baek Family Estate.
Seo Ha-ryeong, who had been marveling at the sights, spoke.
“There’s no one here.”
“Right, not just anyone can enter here.”
“Is that so?”
It was then that Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke softly.
“Then is that person coming over there someone you know?”
“Huh?”
From the direction Namgung Ryu-cheong was looking, I sensed a faint light and a presence.
Soon, the source of that presence emerged from between the trees. Though I already knew who it was with my golden eyes, I still gasped in surprise.
“Baek Li-ri?”
Baek Li-ri was soaking wet. She too seemed startled upon seeing us, her eyes widening.
“What on earth happened to you?”
Alarmed, I removed my outer robe and approached Baek Li-ri. Though it was spring, the weather was absolutely not warm enough to be wandering around drenched like this.
I draped my robe over her trembling shoulders and asked, “Where did your servant go? Are you alone? What happened?”
Baek Li-ri bit her pale, colorless lips tightly and lowered her head. Her plump hands gripped the hem of the robe I had given her.
I glanced back at the other two. Seo Ha-ryeong’s eyes were wide with shock, but Namgung Ryu-cheong… his expression remained exactly the same before and after seeing Baek Li-ri. He alone remained composed in this moment.
I was just thinking I should ask them to step away for a moment.
Baek Li-ri suddenly burst out loudly.
“It’s because of you, sister!”
“What?”
Having shouted, Baek Li-ri kicked off the ground and ran away.
“…”
I stared blankly after her.
‘What on earth is going on?’
Namgung Ryu-cheong opened his mouth.
“Your cousin?”
“Yes. My uncle’s daughter, a year younger than me.”
“Your younger sister, yet she lacks manners.”
“…”
“…”
Namgung Ryu-cheong was lecturing about manners?
In that instant, my eyes met Seo Ha-ryeong’s. Her expression said she found it amusing that he would say such a thing. In other words, she wore the same expression I did.
The moment I realized that, laughter burst forth. It swelled in an instant.
“Pfft! Hahaha!”
From that laughter onward, I was able to dispel all the awkwardness I had been holding toward Seo Ha-ryeong. By the time I barely stopped laughing, Namgung Ryu-cheong was watching us with his arms crossed and a displeased expression.
“Are you both finished laughing?”
“Did everyone laugh?”
“Ha ha. No. Puh-ha-ha-ha-ha.”
“Stop it now.”
“Ah, fine. Hm, hm.”
I stifled my laughter, exhaling through my nose.
Seo Ha-ryeong, who had recovered first, spoke up.
“But what’s wrong with him? Did he fall into something?”
“Right?”
I glanced back at Seo Ha-ryeong and Namgung Ryu-cheong as I continued.
“You two stay here and look around for a moment. I need to check on my younger brother.”
I wanted to ignore it, but my conscience as an adult insisted I couldn’t leave a child in such a state.
Besides, there were so many guests—if others saw him like that…
“Wait.”
I was about to turn around at the voice calling me back.
Something light settled on my shoulder. When I lowered my head, I saw the hem of a deep indigo robe. It was Namgung Ryu-cheong’s outer garment.
I looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong in surprise.
“What are you doing? You said you were going after your brother?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong narrowed his brows and gestured with his eyes for me to go.

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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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