The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 150

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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 150
“Where are you going?”
Why was he being so brazen about it? Had he been caught following me without my knowledge?
I was so taken aback that words momentarily escaped me.
“I’m just stepping out for a moment. How did you follow me?”
“I just saw you and followed.”
“….”
Was he mimicking my words?
I narrowed my eyes and regarded him before speaking.
“Don’t follow me.”
“Why?”
“…People shouldn’t follow others without permission.”
Did I really have to teach him this?
When he was younger, I could excuse his trailing after me as innocent ignorance, but continuing it now was improper.
‘And the way he appeared right after I left suggests he’s been lingering around my residence regularly….’
This didn’t seem like something that had happened just once or twice.
‘What was that phenomenon called again—when a chick hatches and follows the first bird it sees, thinking it’s its mother?’
Yalyu nodded and spoke with sparkling eyes.
“Then give me permission.”
“….”
“Hmm?”
“…I can’t. I’m sneaking out.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Are you saying you’ll tell if I don’t give permission?”
“Hmm?”
Yalyu looked at me as if to say how could I suggest such a thing.
‘What is this? How did I become the villain here?’
Yalyu gazed at me quietly before lowering his head. Then he asked in a hesitant voice.
“Really… I can’t come?”
“….”
At that sight, I suddenly recalled the image of him waiting for me in the courtyard during my time at the Namgung Clan. Yalyu had waited like that every single day for my return.
Just as I was about to open my mouth.
Cough! Cough!
I looked toward the source of the sudden sound. It was Gyeol-i coughing.
When I looked at her, Gyeol-i flicked her tail against the ground in displeasure and stood up as if to say let’s go already.
“…Just this once.”
Yalyu beamed and took his place beside me.
“Don’t get too close. You stand out too much, so hide and follow like you did before.”
* * *
After walking a short distance, the servant I had bribed in advance appeared.
He was startled to hear that Yalyu would be leaving with me, but he quietly smuggled us both out through a side gate.
Of course, Yalyu had to hastily change into servant’s attire to avoid drawing attention. As he adjusted his sleeves, Yalyu looked at me and asked.
“Why are you smiling?”
“I’ve thought about it for a while now—you really don’t suit servant’s clothes.”
“Is that bad?”
“Yeah.”
Yalyu’s eyes dimmed.
I panicked and added hastily.
“No, I mean ‘doesn’t suit’ in the sense that you look like some young nobleman who’s sneaked out on an adventure or something.”
“You’re saying I look like a nobleman?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Yalyu didn’t seem to fully understand, but he simply smiled at me.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Just because seeing you smile makes me happy.”
“…”
Yalyu and I climbed into the carriage that had been waiting outside the manor.
After riding for quite some time, the carriage came to a halt and the driver opened the door for us.
As I stepped out of the carriage, the scent of grass filled my nostrils. A forest path stretched ahead.
‘We didn’t seem to travel that far, but where on earth are we…?’
In the quiet, between the whisper of leaves brushing in the wind, I could faintly hear the sound of water. Then I began to have a rough idea of where we were.
The driver handed me a lantern, and together with Yalyu, I followed the only path upward.
Sure enough, a familiar dock came into view—the small pier I had visited before with Seok Ga-yak and the other young ladies. A pleasure boat was moored there.
A pale hand lifted the canopy, and the young man grinned broadly.
“Welcome, Yeon.”
Then his gaze shifted to behind me.
“But… you brought extra baggage?”
“It just happened that way.”
“I caught a glimpse of it through Gyeol-i’s eyes.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu extended his hand as if inviting me aboard. The moment I grasped his cold hand, a powerful force yanked me forward.
“Oh!”
I tumbled into Jeggal Hwa-mu’s embrace and onto the boat, which immediately set off. I scrambled to regain my balance on the rocking vessel and pushed myself upright.
“You startled me!”
Then I turned to look back.
Black-Robed Attendants suddenly appeared and blocked Yalyu’s path as he tried to follow me.
“But he cannot come.”
I hardened my expression and stared at Jeggal Hwa-mu.
“You could have just told me.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu blinked.
“If you’d listened to words, would you have come with me?”
“…”
That’s… true enough.
Just then, with a sudden splash, I turned to see one of the people blocking Yalyu tumble into the water before surfacing.
“Don’t touch my body.”
For someone who had just fallen into the water, his voice was oddly devoid of emotion or strain.
I urgently sent a telepathic message to Yalyu.
[Don’t fight. Just wait a moment! I’ll be back soon!]
Only then did Yalyu’s frenzied movements finally cease.
Jeggal Hwa-mu, having caught sight of my expression, asked with genuine bewilderment.
“You feel sorry for that guy?”
I didn’t answer, only furrowed my brow. Jeggal Hwa-mu stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“That’s quite a unique sentiment.”
“What’s unique about it?”
“Did you know that Yalyu and the Cheonsan Yeom-je annihilated an entire Black Sword Faction branch six months ago?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu spoke in an almost lyrical tone.
“Screams and agonized moans echoed through the manor all night, and once silence fell completely, flames erupted across the grounds…”
“Why are you telling me this now?”
“As a warning.”
“…”
“A person’s true nature doesn’t change easily. When his cruelty is directed at others, that’s fine—but if it ever turns toward you, it will be equally devastating.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu continued calmly.
“I simply hope you never come to harm.”
“…”
Breaking my silence, I changed the subject.
“So what did you call me here for?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu gestured for me to sit. As I took my seat, a Servant set a plate on the table.
“It’s a new pastry from Chuo Hall.”
It was from a place I loved, but though delicious, Chuo Hall was too distant to visit often. I sighed and took a bite, my eyes widening.
“There’s tea here too.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu naturally poured the tea and handed it to me.
Ah, truly Jeggal Hwa-mu’s taste.
The tea and pastry paired exquisitely together.
“Aren’t you eating?”
“No, I’m fine.”
The pleasure boat swayed gently as it moved toward the center of the river. Several other boats out for evening entertainment were scattered sparsely across the water.
With the cool breeze and the delicious refreshments and tea, the irritation I’d felt being dragged onto this boat melted away. Yet I felt a pang of regret.
“…I wish he could have eaten this with us.”
By now we had drifted far enough that Yalyu’s figure on the riverbank was no longer visible.
As I reached for another pastry, Jeggal Hwa-mu leaned forward and snatched it from my hands.
I stared at him in disbelief.
Jeggal Hwa-mu’s eyes widened as he laughed.
“Mm, it tastes better because you gave it to me.”
I opened my mouth to say something, then sighed and shook my head.
“Why did you call me out at this hour? You didn’t invite me just for a boat ride, did you?”
“Just wait a moment.”
Following Jeggal Hwa-mu’s words, I waited in silence.
Shortly after, the boatman extinguished all the lights on our vessel. Then a medium-sized boat approached from across the river.
As I casually examined the boat, my eyes widened in disbelief.
‘…Baek Li-ui-ran?’
What was she doing here? Had she come out for a night excursion? No, wait—hadn’t she gone to Sogajang with the Twin Cousins? I scanned the surroundings, but the Twin Cousins were nowhere to be seen. Instead, I noticed others who appeared to possess martial cultivation. None of them seemed to be from the Baek Li Family.
‘Who is she with?’
I naturally heightened my hearing.
Buried beneath the sound of the river, it was barely audible at first, but as the boats drew closer, the voices became clearer.
“…Yunnan… Guizhou… the trail went cold.”
“Over ten years… that monk suddenly took off on some whim… keep pursuing him. Understood? Forget about that—what about that medicine? Can it be made?”
“…Word came back that it cannot be determined with their abilities, so they’re returning it.”
Clang!
I grimaced sharply.
With my hearing concentrated, I thought my eardrums would burst. Baek Li-ui-ran was radiating fury, hurling everything in the boat as she screamed.
“They can’t figure it out either? The continent’s greatest pharmacist? Find out by any means necessary! Search for someone else!”
“My apologies.”
“Dear.”
Dear?
“My lady, please compose yourself.”
My lady?
It was a voice I recognized. It was Uncle, the So Ga-ju of Sogajang.
“We have no choice in this matter. You know well that your father-in-law has many eyes watching, do you not? As do others. We must be as cautious as possible.”
Baek Li-ui-ran spoke as if weeping.
“That stubborn old fool has such a long life. How dare he send my sons to Gogye Hermitage. From the beginning, I should never have trusted Mother, or my brother.”
I turned to look back.
In the darkness, Jeggal Hwa-mu smiled faintly, pressing his index finger to his lips.

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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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