The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 156

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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 156
‘Help me? As if that would ever happen.’
These people had never once visited me when I was ill.
I drew a deep breath and looked forward again.
“Yalyu, you’ve spent quite a long time with me. So, what do you think I’m going to do?”
“…No. It’s too dangerous.”
Seo Ha-ryeong hurried over to stand beside Yalyu.
“That’s right! It’s far too dangerous! Your uncle nearly fell into demonic cultivation himself! Instead… instead, let’s ask Baek Geom Danju. He’s reached a much higher realm than you…”
“Impossible.”
At the sudden voice, Seo Ha-ryeong spun around in surprise.
“Namgung Ryu-cheong?”
I had already sensed his approach, but Yalyu didn’t turn at the abrupt sound—his gaze remained fixed solely on me.
Seo Ha-ryeong protested.
“Why not? He’s the Danju of the Baek Li Family, so he’s far more capable than Yeon…!”
“Only someone who has learned the same cultivation method can intervene.”
“What?”
“When someone has fallen into demonic cultivation, only those who have learned the same cultivation method can safely intervene.”
Otherwise, it could accelerate the demonic cultivation or, in severe cases, cause the helper to fall into it as well.
Namgung Ryu-cheong approached slowly and continued.
“The inner cultivation methods taught to direct bloodline members of a clan differ in essence from those taught to outer disciples. The Baek Li Family is no exception. Therefore, even Baek Geom Danju, being a collateral branch, won’t be able to help Baek Li-myeong.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong was right.
The core cultivation methods of a family are taught only to direct descendants to prevent leakage. Some families even refuse to teach them to daughters who will marry out, or pass them only to the designated heir among the direct line.
And currently, excluding those who had left the family, only three people had learned the same cultivation method as Baek Li-myeong: my uncle, myself, and Baek Li-ri.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke in a cold voice.
“That Baek Li-myeong doesn’t sit well with me either.”
“So you’re opposed to this as well?”
I bit my lip in regret.
‘I should have discussed this with Li-ri alone from the start.’
The situation was becoming increasingly complicated.
Baek Li-ri stood there sniffling, at a loss for what to do.
Namgung Ryu-cheong exhaled with evident irritation.
“But to have the ability and yet refuse to act—that’s something only a petty coward would do.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong adjusted his grip on his sword hilt.
“Baek Li-yeon, take your sister and go.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong regarded Yalyu with an arrogant gaze.
“Besides, I’ve been curious about the abilities of that disciple of the Cheonsan Sect.”
At this unexpected support, my eyes widened.
Only then did Yalyu slowly turn to look at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“…”
All expression had drained from Yalyu’s face.
“What are you doing?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been pressing forward, suddenly twisted his body. Something whooshed past where he had been standing.
“You bastard! Don’t act so high and mighty!”
Seo Ha-ryeong had hurled a weapon that lay scattered on the ground.
“What in the—!”
“That’s right, you’re so great! We were only worried about Yeon! Who are you calling petty? Go! Let’s go! But we won’t let you go alone!”
* * *
Upon arrival, I understood precisely what it meant that Baek Li-ri had been told not to inform anyone outside.
The wall encircling the pavilion attached to the training ground—its inner gate, which was always left open, now stood firmly shut, guarded by warriors.
It was when Baek Li-ri tried to enter with me. A warrior raised his sword scabbard, blocking her path.
“What are you doing?”
Baek Li-ri flared up in anger.
“Move that aside this instant!”
“The Great Lady has forbidden entry.”
The warrior regarded me and my companions behind me with an unmoved expression.
“Only the young lady may enter.”
“My sister came to help!”
“That is not permitted.”
“Get out of the way!”
Baek Li-ri stamped her feet and screamed, throwing a tantrum, but the guards remained steadfast.
Then came a creaking sound, and the tightly locked door slid open slowly.
A middle-aged woman emerged through the gap.
Baek Li-ri’s face brightened.
“Nanny! You opened the door! Move aside at once!”
The one called nanny had, to be precise, raised Baek Li-ui-ran and the twin cousins.
However, when the twin cousins were exiled to Gogye Hermitage, she had taken charge of Baek Li-ri, but the nanny’s own mother passed away at that time, requiring her to observe three years of mourning.
When the twin cousins returned, their nanny returned as well, naturally resuming care of her original charges.
Gwak Eomeom embraced Baek Li-ri tightly, then pushed her back.
“Young lady, please enter quickly.”
Baek Li-ri, bewildered as she crossed the threshold, was seized by female servants who approached her.
“Attend to the young lady well.”
Before the nanny’s words finished, the door began to close.
Baek Li-ri’s cry came belatedly.
“What? You won’t let me? Sister!”
Baek Li-ri’s voice grew increasingly distant.
“I didn’t expect Gwak Eomeom to remain. Didn’t she go with my aunt?”
“What are you saying? I have been here all along.”
“…Is that so? Then so be it, but why are you blocking me? Did Grandmother abandon my brother? If not, it makes no sense to prevent the only person who can help.”
Gwak Eomeom cried out as if struck by guilt.
“Nonsense! What would I be trusting to let you inside?”
Seo Ha-ryeong’s voice rang out from behind.
“That’s too harsh! Yeon came here to help!”
“Help? Hmph!”
Gwak Eomeom let out a scornful laugh and began to shout.
“If the Great Lady said not to enter, then you shouldn’t enter. Are you now defying the Great Lady’s words? What unfilial behavior! Even the Four Young Masters wouldn’t dare go against the Great Lady, yet because the Family Head favors you, do you think you’ve become something special?”
Gwak Eomeom pointed a finger at me.
“You, of unknown bloodline, should be grateful that the Baek Family has accepted you!”
Gwak Eomeom had spent more time in this household than I had, serving as a devoted follower of my grandmother and aunt. She was confident she wouldn’t face any punishment for treating me this way.
Gwak Eomeom sneered as she looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong, Yalyu, and Seo Ha-ryeong behind me.
“Not content to stay quiet, you go around seducing people. Get out of here—ack!”
Crash—whoosh—
It happened in an instant.
Gwak Eomeom, seized by the throat by Yalyu, was slammed directly into the door frame, and at the same moment, Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong drew their blades against the warriors stationed at the entrance.
Just moments ago in the storage room, they seemed ready to draw swords and fight each other, yet their coordination was flawless.
‘Is this what they mean by quelling internal strife by creating an external enemy?’
As I entertained this idle thought, Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“Your family’s situation is quite remarkable.”
The warriors who had drawn their blades spoke in bewildered tones.
“What is the meaning of this!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong answered with composure.
“More importantly, do you have the confidence to lay hands on me?”
The warriors exchanged glances and broke into cold sweat.
The sole heir of the Namgung Clan.
To subdue him, they would have to do so without injury.
To inflict harm upon Namgung Ryu-cheong, who would become the future Namgung Family Head?
Even if Namgung Ryu-cheong had drawn his blade first, it would be a matter of staking one’s entire life.
“Young Master, this is contrary to propriety. What do you think of the Baek Li Family! To dare draw a blade within the Baek Li Estate and threaten us!”
“Right and wrong can be determined when the Baek Li Family Head returns. And if I’m in the wrong, what will you do about it? You insignificant fools.”
As Namgung Ryu-cheong swung his azure blade, the warriors hastily retreated.
Crash! The door panel shattered under Yalyu’s kick.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke without turning to look at me.
“I’m fine, so go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
I bit my lip and trampled over the fallen Gwak Eomeom as I passed.
* * *
I headed in the direction I had scouted beforehand.
With such a commotion, one would expect the female servants and attendants to emerge, yet the interior remained eerily silent.
Footsteps sounded from behind. Seo Ha-ryeong had caught up with me.
Seeing my gaze, Seo Ha-ryeong explained.
“Ryu-cheong said he could handle them alone, so he told me to follow you.”
Seo Ha-ryeong asked anxiously.
“But Yalyu, you didn’t kill that lady, did you?”
“….”
“Why aren’t you saying anything!”
I explained in his stead.
“No, I confirmed she was still breathing.”
“Why won’t you answer? You scared me half to death!”
Seo Ha-ryeong exhaled in relief before continuing.
“This is so strange. Why are you stopping someone who’s trying to help? Does the Great Lady of the Baek Li Estate really not care if her grandson dies?”
“She must have believed I couldn’t help.”
“Hah, who would have thought someone like her… ahem.”
“And if by some miracle Baek Li-myeong survives, she was probably planning to hide the fact that he fell into demonic cultivation.”
“What?”
“I survived too. As long as rumors don’t spread, as long as the family keeps quiet, she was planning to sweep it all under the rug somehow.”
“Is that even possible?”
“Why, we didn’t know anything about it until Baek Li-ri arrived.”
Whether Baek Li-myeong’s martial prowess could be hidden going forward was a secondary concern.
For now, the priority was to stop rumors from spreading and to think about what comes next after surviving the demonic cultivation.
‘And….’
“Speaking of which, how far has your sister been dragged away? Ah, there she is!”
In the distance, I could see Baek Li-ri being held by a female servant.
Whether they had been struggling continuously or not, both Baek Li-ri and the two female servants looked disheveled. The servants had learned some martial techniques, so Baek Li-ri couldn’t break free.
Baek Li-ri saw me and shouted with a flushed face.
“Sister!”
Taking advantage of the female servant’s moment of surprise, Baek Li-ri kicked one servant and slapped the other across the face.
“If you grab me one more time, I’ll break both your wrists!”
A ferocious aura radiated from her.
Seo Ha-ryeong, who had been running forward to help, came to a halt.
“She’s got quite the temperament too.”
The female servants, realizing they could no longer restrain her, quickly retreated.
“This way.”
I caught hold of Baek Li-ri.
“I know where we’re going. But first… there’s something you need to do.”
“Something I need to do?”
Baek Li-ri looked at me in confusion.

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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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