The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 160

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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 160
Jang Seok-ryang, who had spotted me, shot to his feet.
“Miss Baek?”
“Good morning.”
Jang Seok-ryang gestured to the others in the office with a darkened expression.
“Everyone, take a brief respite outside.”
Once all had withdrawn and silence settled over the office, Jang Seok-ryang clasped his hands together.
“Thanks to you, Miss Baek, I have my life back.”
That life was Baek Li-myeong’s life, and it was also Jang Seok-ryang’s life.
Jang Seok-ryang smiled bitterly.
“I should offer my gratitude, yet my mind is in such turmoil… No, I must express my thanks now.”
Jang Seok-ryang bowed deeply, his clasped hands held before him. Had I not hastily stopped him, he would have knelt before me.
“Thanks to you, Miss Baek, I believe I can withdraw while preserving my honor.”
I lifted my gaze to meet Jang Seok-ryang’s eyes.
“You said you were grateful to me, did you not?”
“Indeed.”
“Then there is something I would ask of you—a matter in which you might assist me.”
“Assist you?”
Jang Seok-ryang regarded me with a puzzled expression.
I offered a slight smile.
“Of course, it would be to your benefit as well, Vice-Commander Jang.”
“Benefit? What use is benefit to me now?”
Jang Seok-ryang’s tone was laden with bitterness.
I spoke without hesitation.
“You do not truly wish to withdraw like this, do you?”
“….”
“I know of the devotion you have shown the Baek Li Family all these years.”
After that, we spoke entirely through transmission of sound.
As Jang Seok-ryang heard the entirety of my request, his expression grew grave.
“Miss Baek, why would you ask such a thing….”
Jang Seok-ryang’s words trailed off as comprehension dawned upon him. His complexion drained of color, and cold sweat beaded upon his brow. A man of his caliber could not fail to grasp the true meaning woven into my request.
I held my head high and met his gaze steadily.
“I wish to tell Grandfather myself.”
It was a plea for him to keep the secret of my request.
Jang Seok-ryang, who had been silent, lowered his head.
“Understood. I shall assist you with my full commitment.”
* * *
And the next dawn.
I awoke from sleep at the sound of commotion outside.
The door burst open.
“Yeon!”
The moment I pushed myself upright, Father rushed toward me as if flying and pulled me into his embrace.
“F… Father?”
Right?
I had never seen Father looking so haggard before. I examined him in bewilderment.
“Father, how did you arrive so quickly?”
It had been only six days since Yalyu departed.
‘I thought it would take at least ten days…’
Father looked me over carefully, then exhaled a breath of relief.
“How could I come slowly when you were doing something so dangerous!”
From Father’s explanation, I learned that Grandfather and Father had returned first with only a small escort.
The small group had ridden hard by switching horses, and at the end, they had traveled the entire day using lightness martial arts.
Before I could ask, Father spoke first.
“Yalyu will arrive with the rest of the party. After arriving, he was… very exhausted.”
“Exhausted?”
Father nodded.
“Without that boy, we could not have come this quickly.”
I felt both gratitude and guilt toward Yalyu. He had been so reluctant to go…
Father sighed deeply.
“I am truly relieved you are safe.”
He said that on the way here, he had already met a messenger sent by Jang Vice-Commander and learned of the entire situation.
“Did Baek Li-myeong truly lose all his inner strength?”
I nodded.
Father’s complexion turned pale. His eyes were bitter and anguished.
“This tragedy repeats itself again… Why does such a thing happen?”
Father held me tightly. Since I had experienced something similar, Father, who was naturally compassionate, understood all the more.
“I wonder if my elder brother will be… all right.”
I gazed at Father with concern.
* * *
Father washed quickly, changed into clean clothes, and immediately went to check on Baek Li-myeong. I also finished my preparations around the time Grandfather had grasped the situation, then headed toward him.
As I arrived before Subaekdang in the morning sunlight, an affluent-looking middle-aged lady walked out from within.
Jang Seok-ryang, who followed behind her, greeted the lady, but she dismissed his greeting with a cold expression.
‘Who is she?’
The female servants beside the lady were all dressed neatly in fine fabrics. From the sight of the servants adorned with elaborate ornaments as if to show them off, I could discern the family’s wealth.
Soon after, I spotted Jung So-yeo among the female servants, maintaining an upright posture.
Jung So-yeo spoke toward the cold-faced lady.
“Mother.”
The middle-aged lady was Jung Lady—the biological mother of Jung So-yeo, who had been betrothed to Baek Li-myeong.
‘Now that I see her, they do resemble each other somewhat.’
Jung Lady spoke.
“You need not concern yourself. My opinion remains unchanged, so do not worry.”
At those words, Jung So-yeo smiled with evident joy and bowed her head.
“I am merely sorry for troubling you, Mother.”
“What are you saying? It is not as though you have done anything wrong. Hmph, there are limits to how much our family will tolerate being looked down upon. Now that we need not hold back any longer, this is actually for the best.”
As Jung So-yeo lifted her head, she noticed me.
“Miss Baek Li-yeon.”
“Miss Jung So-yeo, Lady Jung.”
We exchanged light greetings, and Jung So-yeo clasped her hands together respectfully.
“I have imposed upon your kindness greatly. I wish you well.”
Jung So-yeo, along with Lady Jung and her attendants, rose and departed together.
The retreating footsteps of Jung So-yeo seemed remarkably light and unburdened.
I approached Jang Seok-ryang, who had witnessed this alongside me, and spoke in a hushed whisper.
“Did Jung So-yeo request to break the engagement?”
“…There is no deceiving you. Yes, she did.”
In this situation, there was only one reason why a marriage that had been progressing smoothly would suddenly fall through.
The Jung Family had discovered Baek Li-myeong’s condition. Since he had lost all his inner strength, they deemed him worthless and requested the engagement be broken.
‘How cold.’
Since it had been nearly finalized, breaking the engagement in this manner would certainly damage Jung So-yeo’s reputation.
Yet they seemed to prioritize profit over reputation. Moreover, once Baek Li-myeong’s condition became known to the world, everyone would consider the broken engagement justified.
‘The positions have completely reversed now.’
At first, Baek Li-myeong had been reluctant about this marriage.
But now that he had lost his inner strength, it was Baek Li-myeong who would need to cling to Jung So-yeo’s sleeve. The very person who had fluttered about like a bat, following profit, now faced the same treatment.
Seeing this….
“This is what they call receiving punishment.”
“Pardon?”
“It is nothing. Let us go inside now.”
I shook my head and entered Subaekdang.
‘Everyone has gathered.’
I could discern forms of light of varying sizes. Focusing my hearing, I could eavesdrop on their conversation within.
“…Is there nothing? Explain yourself. How did that boy Yalyu arrive before the family’s messenger?”
Since I had heard this from Father at dawn, it was not surprising news.
The messenger the Baek Li Family had sent to Grandfather had arrived much later than Yalyu. Thus, Grandfather and Father had encountered him on the way back to the Baek Li Estate.
“In any case…even if I had contacted Father, there would be little he could do, so I attempted to resolve the matter as quietly as possible….”
A scoffing sound was heard, followed by Grandfather’s voice.
“Enough. It was not your intention anyway. Wife, do you have nothing to say?”
“It was for Myeong’s sake.”
“For Myeong’s sake?”
“Even in death, one must preserve one’s honor. What would become of our family’s reputation if it were said that someone died from obsession with demonic cultivation?”
“Very well done. You did right. But it seems it is already too late. Seeing how Lady Jung has departed.”
“That girl Baek Li-yeon must have spread the word. At her age, one wishes to boast of one’s abilities, does one not? Seeing how she flaunts her power in the Baek Family using another house as her backing, it is hardly surprising.”
A sharp sound of something striking down echoed through the room, accompanied by a low, rumbling voice.
“Lady, mind your dignity. I spared your life, and this is how you repay me with slander? Come in.”
Even without the servant announcing me, Grandfather would have sensed my approach long ago.
The servant opened the door at once, and I stepped inside across the silk flooring. As I had observed from outside, Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle Baek Li-ui-muk, Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran, and Father were all gathered together.
The moment I bowed to Grandfather, Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran furrowed her brow and spoke.
“What brings you here?”
“I have something to report.”
“You?”
Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran raised her eyebrows and burst out loudly.
“How arrogant you’ve become, thinking Father favors you a little! Adults are discussing important matters, and you dare insert yourself uninvited!”
“Silence.”
At the low, measured command, Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran’s shoulders flinched.
Grandfather, who had silenced her, turned to me and spoke.
“So what is it you wish to say?”
I withdrew a porcelain bottle from my sleeve. Grandfather, whose attention was fixed on my movements, gestured and asked.
“What is that?”
“It is the Snowflake Elixir that my brother left behind after consuming some.”
A cry like a scream erupted from the left side.
“That’s impossible!”
Puzzled gazes turned toward Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran.
Her complexion had turned ashen. Father, in stark contrast to her, asked in a calm voice.
“Why would that be impossible?”
“That… that is…”
I too tilted my head in confusion and asked.
“Aunt, why do you say it’s impossible?”

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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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