The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 145

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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 145
“Even if I stayed at the Byeok Family Estate, I don’t remember anything. I was locked away.”
“Locked away…?”
I asked reflexively before closing my mouth.
“Yes. It was like a storage room, maybe half the size of this chamber.”
Yalyu glanced around the room. His expression remained composed as he spoke. When our eyes met, he even offered a slight smile.
“Ah, my mother was there, but she fell ill and passed away. That’s when they locked me away.”
“…”
“While I was locked up like that, I overheard them saying they would kill me. So I ran away.”
I didn’t know what to say. When I first met Yalyu, he was only nine years old. Even if he had managed to escape outside safely, there was nothing a nine-year-old child could have done.
‘He must have had no choice but to wander the streets. Just like I did after my nursemaid, who cared for me, passed away.’
Such a wandering child would have made excellent prey for Cheon Gwi-jo.
I remained silent for a moment before asking carefully.
“Do you know why they wanted to… kill you?”
“No.”
“…”
“They just said they disliked me.”
I swallowed hard.
‘So that’s why.’
In the novel, Namgung Ryu-cheong discovers that Yalyu originally came from an Orthodox Sect family and learns about his past. However, Yalyu’s family had already been exterminated, and he learns nothing more.
‘It was the Byeok Family!’
I asked carefully.
“…So what do you intend to do now?”
“About what?”
“Just… going forward from here…”
I couldn’t bring myself to ask if he planned to exterminate the family. I was worried about provoking him unnecessarily.
‘But I can’t exactly tell him not to seek revenge either…’
What he had suffered was no light matter.
However, since he hadn’t fallen into Evil Person Valley this time, perhaps he wouldn’t go as far as exterminating the family.
“Hmm…”
Yalyu lowered his gaze.
“I said I was too bothered to care about such things, but my master told me this would be good for me.”
“Hm?”
“He said that if I’m going to hide my face for the rest of my life anyway, someone will recognize me if they see my face, and eventually word will reach the Byeok Family.”
“That… would be the case, wouldn’t it?”
Even with Sansu Yeon, there were those who recognized him immediately. It was only a matter of time before news reached the Byeok Family.
‘Now that I think about it, in the novel he always wore a mask.’
Yalyu always concealed his face with a mask. I had simply assumed it was because he was part of the Demonic Cult and wanted to hide his identity as much as possible…
‘But what if the real reason was to hide the truth about his biological mother?’
Yalyu continued speaking.
“Rather than that, it would be better to reveal myself in many places, especially where people from the Byeok Family are present.”
The Byeok Prince, who had been in the Banquet Hall, ultimately left without uttering a word. And that Byeok Prince was Byeok Ki-hyeon’s sibling.
Though they shared no blood as adoptive siblings, it was utterly strange that he would react this way when the long-missing sister’s son had suddenly appeared.
Normally, one would be shocked—”My sister had a son!”—or deny it outright—”That can’t possibly be my sister’s son!”—and demand answers. And one would ask what had happened to the sister.
But he could not do any of that.
‘Cheonsan Yeom-je.’
The Cheonsan Yeom-je stood before him like the grim reaper itself.
‘A master usually knows his disciple’s circumstances.’
Before one of the Top Eleven Masters of the World who knew of the Byeok Family’s dark secret—the confinement and attempted murder of a child—the Byeok Prince could not brazenly maintain his act. And so, with a sickly pale face, he had no choice but to hastily abandon his seat.
And in that same moment, everyone attending the celebration could discern that something was amiss between Yalyu and the Byeok Family!
As I pondered this, I identified something peculiar.
“Wouldn’t it be more effective to reveal yourself at the Murim Alliance martial tournament rather than at Grandfather’s celebration?”
A friendly martial tournament held once every five years by the Murim Alliance, open only to rising talents. Many martial artists from the Jianghu eager to make names for themselves flocked there, and spectators gathered like clouds to witness it—the greatest event in the Martial World.
It would have been far more dramatic and easier to become known if you had claimed victory there and revealed your identity.
Yalyu spoke with resolve.
“That tournament is two years away.”
“So what?”
“Then I wouldn’t be able to see you for even longer.”
“Ha. You wanted to see me? Yet you didn’t send a single letter all this time!”
Yalyu’s expression grew dejected.
“I don’t know. The old man wouldn’t let me send any.”
“Calling your master ‘the old man’…”
I sighed and fixed Yalyu with a sharp glare.
“You need to apologize to my grandfather later.”
“Why?”
“Why? You’ve turned his celebration into a spectacle!”
I understood the circumstances, but what kind of commotion was this at someone else’s banquet?
From Grandfather’s perspective, both the Byeok Family and Yalyu had simply dragged him into an unexpected affair. On a day meant for celebration…
I’m truly sorry, Grandfather.
“Do you like your grandfather?”
“What are you suddenly saying?”
“You said it yourself—that you weren’t treated well in the Baek Family.”
I searched my memory carefully.
Now that I thought about it, I had said something like that. It was long ago, in the carriage heading to the Namgung Clan. At that time, I had believed Yalyu would be going to the Baek Family with me, so I mentioned it to give him advance warning.
“I did say something like that. So what does that have to do with this situation?”
“So I thought you…… hated him.”
“Huh?”
I froze for a moment before speaking.
“Wait, so you were planning to ruin the celebration?”
“Not to that extent, just…”
“Just what?”
I pressed Yalyu to speak plainly instead of dancing around the subject.
Yalyu’s voice grew progressively smaller.
“Even if a little commotion breaks out… it’s fine…?”
“….”
I was so flabbergasted I couldn’t find words. Seeing my expression, Yalyu quickly added.
“I’ll apologize.”
“Fine.”
His dejected face softened my resolve, and I added.
“Since what’s done is done, Grandfather won’t make a fuss about it.”
Probably.
“Okay.”
Yalyu smiled sheepishly. For some reason, that smile only deepened my unease.
‘Is it really supposed to end this easily?’
If the Byeok Family had any sense, they wouldn’t dare touch Yalyu, a disciple of Cheonsan Yeom-je. But… but… was it truly ending like this?
All of it—Yalyu’s devotion to the Demonic Cult, the Byeok Family’s annihilation, the Murim Alliance’s collapse—was it all concluding so effortlessly?
Something felt incomplete. It felt as though everything hadn’t truly ended yet…
I stared at Yalyu for a moment, then gently pulled him closer.
From my seated position, he appeared much taller. I bent him forward and placed my hand on his back, patting it several times. The gesture was awkward at best.
Not knowing how to comfort him properly, I spoke briefly.
“You lived well.”
“….”
The hand that had almost embraced Baek Li-yeon hovered uncertainly before returning to its place.
* * *
The servants of Baek Li-ui-ran’s quarters locked the inner gate firmly, allowing no one to approach. Those who had been close to Baek Li-ui-ran—acquaintances and relatives alike—came to see her after hearing the banquet had ended, only to turn back.
Behind that locked gate, raised voices echoed back and forth.
“Why does Ui-gang come looking the moment we leave the banquet hall? With Cheonsan Yeom-je present, no less! What was he trying to do!”
“What do you mean why! He should have fallen to his knees and apologized to me immediately! If my brother hadn’t held him back…! I should have received his apology right there. Now everyone thinks…”
Baek Li-ui-ran bit her lip. Throughout the banquet, no one had been willing to speak with her willingly. Any attempt at conversation met only with lukewarm replies.
And that coldness extended to her sons as well. While Baek Li-myeong and Baek Li-yeon laughed merrily, her own sons had to keep their heads bowed!
Baek Li-ui-muk attempted to soothe her with a measured tone.
“Ui-ran, if you continue like this, it will be problematic. Your behavior reflects poorly on me…”
“My dignity! My children’s dignity! My poor children—their only uncle won’t look after them, their cousins won’t look after them! And Baek Li-myeong, that wretch! How could he fawn over that lowborn girl while completely ignoring our sons!”
“When did he fawn over her? And how could you expect Myeong to look after your children when things are as they are between you two? Why would he want to care for Pyo and Ak-i?”
“So he deliberately ignored them? You’re saying you just stood by while that base creature acted like she owned the place!”
“How was I supposed to stop Ui-gang from speaking with his own subordinate!”
“Why couldn’t you? You’re the So Ga-ju!”
“Ha!”
Baek Li-ui-muk placed his hand on his waist and looked up at the ceiling. His son’s words came to mind unbidden—that without his aunt, he would have been recognized as So Ga-ju long ago.
Honestly, there wasn’t a word of falsehood in it.
Father always said the same thing whenever the discussion of So Ga-ju came up: “How do you expect to lead the family when you can’t even handle Baek Li-ui-ran properly? You’re not ready yet.”
“Please, get a hold of yourself! Pyo and Ak-i just came home, so don’t cause trouble and get yourself banished again!”
“Are you really threatening me with my own children?”
“That’s enough. There’s no point talking to you!”
“Brother!”
Baek Li-ui-muk shook off Baek Li-ui-ran’s grasping hand and left the room. A female servant who had just returned from outside moments earlier witnessed this and bowed so deeply her head nearly touched the floor. Soon after, the sound of several pieces of furniture breaking echoed from within the chamber.
The female servant stood frozen before the door, trembling with fear, unable to enter.
“When is Mother coming home!”
The female servant at the door spoke in a voice quavering with dread.
“The Great Lady… she said she cannot leave her post because there are so many guests…”
She couldn’t bring herself to tell him not to cause a commotion when there were already numerous guests in the residence.
Though the Great Lady had always sheltered Baek Li-ui-ran, she was growing older with each passing day. Since her recent severe illness, her strength had diminished considerably, and she could no longer protect Baek Li-ui-ran as she once had.
Crash! At the sound of something else breaking, the female servant flinched and hurriedly fled the spot. After raging for a long while, Baek Li-ui-ran lay face-down on her sleeping quarters and muttered to herself.
“This won’t do… this simply won’t do.”

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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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