The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 164

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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 164
Baek Li-ui-muk asked with suspicion in his voice.
“Baek Li-ui-ran, why did Gwak Eomeom sneak off to find you at that particular moment?”
“That, well….”
My aunt glared at me, her eyes demanding to know why I would ask such a question.
I tilted my head as though equally puzzled.
My aunt bit her lip and pressed Gwak Eomeom for answers.
“I don’t know either! Gwak Eomeom, say something!”
“….”
Gwak Eomeom looked at my aunt with a somewhat aggrieved expression, then clenched her teeth before responding.
“Before taking my leave, I recalled hearing that the young lady was staying at Lady U’s Residence, so I went to visit you there.”
“R-right! Ah! I did mention to Gwak Eomeom before giving her time off that I was going to Lady U’s house. So she wasn’t alarmed by some calamity that befell the family and came looking for me….”
I felt a laugh escape me unbidden and hastily composed my expression.
Baek Li-ui-muk cut off my aunt’s words with a shout.
“Do you take me for a fool!”
“O-older brother.”
“If you knew I was staying at Lady U’s Residence, you should have come looking for me long ago!”
Baek Li-ui-muk pointed an accusing finger at Gwak Eomeom.
“You didn’t come looking for me when Myeong-i was dying, but the moment a way to save him appeared, you came to find me—how am I supposed to make sense of that!”
I turned my gaze away as I watched my face contort with the sting of betrayal.
My father’s lips were pressed firmly shut, his complexion pallid and etched with anguish. It was clear he too had never imagined my aunt would go to such lengths.
Then I turned to look at Baek Li Pae-hyuk. I was startled. My grandfather was not watching my aunt, my grandmother, or Baek Li-ui-muk—he was watching me.
How long had he been observing me?
In that instant, our eyes met. His complexion and expression were utterly unchanged from usual, yet somehow incongruous with the gravity of the moment. But for some reason, the gaze he fixed upon me seemed suffused with profound sorrow.
I lowered my eyes once more.
Baek Li-ui-muk, unsteady on his feet, seized my aunt by her collar.
“How could you… you…!”
Baek Li-ui-muk, stammering, roared.
“Myeong-i is your nephew. How could you do such a thing to him!”
“This… let go!”
My aunt grabbed Baek Li-ui-muk’s wrist and wrenched herself free.
Having nearly fallen into demonic delusion and endured both physical and mental torment, Baek Li-ui-muk’s body was in no condition to resist. He was pushed back easily, and my aunt cried out.
“I said it wasn’t me!”
Baek Li-ui-muk stared at her incredulously.
“You deny it even now, when the situation speaks for itself?”
“What situation? Do you have any proof that I did this?”
My aunt irritably adjusted her garments.
“I merely arranged to meet Gwak Eomeom at Lady U’s Residence. How was I to know she would do such a thing?”
“What, what?”
Baek Family Grandmother spoke to Baek Li-ui-muk, who had been rendered speechless by such brazen denial.
“Baek Li-ui-muk, come to your senses. There is no evidence that Baek Li-ui-ran did this.”
“…Mother? What are you saying at a time like this!”
“It merely feels that way based on circumstance. It couldn’t possibly be Baek Li-ui-ran, could it?”
“Mother…. Right now… right now… surely you don’t mean…?”
Baek Li-ui-muk stared at Baek Family Grandmother in disbelief before bursting into laughter as though he had lost his mind.
“Ha, haha. Hahaha! Mother, from the very beginning… you knew from the start, didn’t you? So you knew, and that’s why you’ve been taking Baek Li-ui-ran’s side all this time….”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Baek Family Grandmother regarded Baek Li-ui-muk with concern.
“Isn’t the shock too great for you? I’ll handle matters here, so you go rest.”
She was the very picture of maternal tenderness.
“This is quite the spectacle.”
A calm voice rang out.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk looked at Baek Li-ui-ran.
“Baek Li-ui-ran, all circumstances point clearly to you. Yet is that all the excuse you have?”
Baek Li-ui-ran pressed her lips firmly shut and lowered her head, then suddenly jerked it up and cried out.
“You never liked me from the start, Father. No matter what I say, you’ll suspect me anyway! Even if you are my father, as long as my mother exists, you cannot do anything to me without evidence! I will never admit to it!”
As the situation spiraled, fear seemed to have vanished—Baek Li-ui-ran’s eyes glinted with a sharp, icy blue as she glared at Baek Li Pae-hyuk.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk smiled and looked at Baek Family Grandmother.
“I wondered what gave her the courage to attempt such a thing, and it turns out it was because of you, madam?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Baek Family Grandmother answered with composure.
“I’ve been curious about one thing all along. Whether you were involved in this affair, or whether Baek Li-ui-ran acted alone. But that’s not what matters.”
“Patriarch, what are you saying? Please refrain from speaking as though you suspect someone without any evidence.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk looked at Baek Li-ui-ran and Baek Family Grandmother, then turned to Baek Li-ui-muk.
“Baek Li-ui-muk, what will you do?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked what you will do. Will you not seek out the culprit who has brought your son to this state? I entrusted the family to you and departed, yet how long will you remain like this!”
Only then did Baek Li-ui-muk seem to regain some composure, his expression growing stern.
“I… what am I supposed to do? I… I…. Father, please help me….”
By the end, his voice was nearly a sob.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk clicked his tongue and spoke.
“Do you expect me to step forward?”
“Of course… of course you must step forward! Myeong-i is your grandson as well! Who else but you… please, reveal the truth of this injustice.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk exhaled deeply.
“Very well.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk spoke to Baek Li-ui-muk, whose expression had brightened somewhat.
“But I am not the one who can resolve this matter.”
“Pardon?”
“Fool! From the beginning, there has been only one person who could make this perfectly clear! Do you still not understand!”
“What do you mean…?”
“The person you should be asking for help is not me—it’s Baek Li-yeon!”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk turned his gaze toward me.
His deeply sunken eyes seemed to gleam with an intense light.
“Baek Li-yeon! You orchestrated this entire affair. Then you must possess all the evidence as well!”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk exhaled deeply.
“Go ahead and do as you wish. I will take responsibility for it.”
“….”
So this was truly Grandfather’s way—he had known from the beginning that I understood all the facts.
While my aunt, grandmother, and uncle created such a commotion, I had wondered why he remained silent….
“How did you… What do you know…?”
“Elder Brother, simply observe.”
I gazed steadily at my father, then bowed my head slightly.
My aunt let out a scoffing laugh and muttered.
“It seems Father has reached the age where he should rest. What is he entrusting to that girl?”
I ignored her and walked toward Gwak Eomeom.
“Your aunt’s attendants were not limited to just you, and you alone could not have managed all these affairs, could you?”
Gwak Eomeom did not even look at me. I continued without waiting for a response.
“For instance… the matter of visiting a pharmacist named Gwan-song.”
Gwak Eomeom’s eyes widened sharply.
A sharp intake of breath sounded from behind.
“About two months ago, one of your aunt’s attendants sought out a certain Gwan-song, a highly renowned pharmacist. Gwan-song possessed exceptional skill, but had committed various crimes, so ordinary people did not seek him out. Yet why would an attendant of your aunt—a member of the prestigious Orthodox Sect’s Baek Family—visit such a pharmacist? Do you know?”
“….”
“Your aunt’s attendant requested that he create a particular drug—one capable of driving the consumer into demonic possession.”
Now I turned my gaze toward my uncle and aunt.
“Initially, Gwan-song refused. When the rejected attendant was turned away, she changed her approach. She produced an unknown drug and asked him to replicate it.”
Renowned pharmacists from prestigious medical schools or physicians of note would never involve themselves in the creation of such sinister concoctions.
It was clearly a complicated matter. If caught, one would needlessly invite disaster.
Yet one could not entrust such work to just anyone. After careful selection, Gwan-song was the chosen one….
“Intrigued by the unfamiliar drug, Gwan-song accepted the request to replicate it. But he ultimately failed.”
I withdrew paper and a small wrapped package from my sleeve.
“Here is Gwan-song’s statement. And since Jang Vice-Commander has Gwan-song in custody, you can verify this at any time.”
I then presented the small wrapped package.
“This is a portion of the drug your aunt commissioned. Finding the drug quite remarkable, Gwan-song did not return all of it to your aunt—he kept some for himself. By comparing it with the remaining Seolbing Bojoo, you can determine whether it is the same drug.”
I spoke with mockery.
“Aunt, what happens when you trust a pharmacist who has committed crimes?”

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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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