The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 165

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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 165
My aunt’s expression twisted gradually.
Diverting commissioned medicine—it was something most people couldn’t even imagine. Now I understood why someone so skilled would flee and hide. She was clearly a person of questionable character.
I hadn’t even kidnapped or coerced Gwan-song. He’d simply failed to produce the medicine, yet he spoke with such confidence. When I offered him substantial payment, he spilled everything without hesitation.
Client confidentiality? No such thing existed for him.
I handed the statement to Baek Li Pae-hyuk.
After reading through it completely, my grandfather’s eyes shut tight.
My uncle, who had been watching carefully, hastily took the statement from my grandfather.
My grandfather’s throat trembled slightly near his larynx—whether he was transmitting a message through sound transmission—and a warrior silently slipped out of the Blue Hall.
My uncle, having finished reading, waved the statement and shouted.
“This vicious creature… How can you be so vicious… Why do you say nothing! Why don’t you try to excuse yourself and claim this wasn’t your doing!”
My aunt looked desperately toward Baek Family Grandmother.
My uncle let out a derisive snort.
“What good will looking at Mother do? With evidence this clear, do you think Mother can protect you!”
My uncle extended the statement toward Baek Family Grandmother.
“Mother, please read this yourself!”
“….”
Watching this unfold, I turned my gaze back to Gwak Eomeom.
“Eomeom, I’ll ask you once more. Are you truly certain this was done by you alone?”
Gwak Eomeom’s lips trembled violently.
I spoke slowly.
“You should think very carefully before answering. If you wish to protect your family.”
Someone with a mind as sharp as Gwak Eomeom’s would understand.
Could Baek Family Grandmother, who couldn’t even protect my aunt, truly protect Gwak Eomeom’s family?
I looked toward the warriors and spoke.
“Take her away.”
Gwak Eomeom was no longer needed.
With both arms seized, Gwak Eomeom seemed to lack the strength to struggle further. She was led away quietly.
“Baek Li-ui-ran, do you have anything to say?”
“….”
My grandfather spoke.
“Take Baek Li-ui-ran away and confine her as well.”
“Gasp!”
My aunt, startled, drew in a sharp breath, and warriors appeared in an instant, seizing both her arms.
My aunt thrashed in shock.
“Release me! How dare you lay hands on me!”
Baek Family Grandmother cried out in horror.
“What are you doing!”
“Mother, please save me! Mother! Mother!”
Baek Family Grandmother shouted toward my grandfather.
“What are you trying to do by dragging Baek Li-ui-ran away like this!”
“I won’t do anything to her immediately.”
Uncle asked urgently.
“Father, what do you mean by ‘immediately’?”
Grandfather seemed worried that he might take my aunt’s side.
Grandfather regarded Uncle with contempt.
“However, if it is certain that Baek Li-ui-ran committed assault against a family member….”
Uncle swallowed hard.
“Baek Li-ui-ran will be removed from the family registry, and her inner power will also be sealed.”
“Grandfather!”
“No!”
A scream-like cry pierced the air.
Uncle, who had been holding his breath, spoke in a trembling voice.
“F-Father… my… my inner power will be destroyed?”
Grandfather asked sharply.
“What else?”
“Ah… yes… I understand.”
Though he had wanted to receive punishment, this seemed cruelly harsh to him.
“L-Let go! Mother! Mother!”
Then Father suddenly raised his hand to stop the warriors.
“Release her for a moment.”
Everyone looked at Father with confusion.
“Ui… Ui-gang.”
In contrast, my aunt looked at Father with hopeful eyes.
“I knew you would help….”
“Sister, I have just one question.”
“What is it?”
“If you already had the poison, why did you request that another one be made?”
“….”
At Father’s question, Uncle suddenly wore a bewildered expression as if asking what he meant. Then, as if realizing something, he looked at me.
Father spoke coldly.
“What were you planning to do with another poison?”
“… That is… well….”
My aunt bit her lips repeatedly.
“Surely… you weren’t planning to use the poison on Yeon as well?”
“T-That’s not it!”
My aunt denied it, but… no one in this room would have believed her words.
Father seemed to grow increasingly furious.
“I have one final question.”
Father did not continue immediately, but remained silent for quite some time.
“Did Yeon experience a demonic possession right after entering the Baek Li Estate… and is that also connected to my sister?”
At that moment, Baek Family Grandmother’s voice erupted like thunder.
“Ui-gang! Now that this incident has occurred, you dare pin ancient history on Baek Li-ui-ran!”
“If that’s not the case, then I’m relieved.”
My father regarded Baek Family Grandmother with a cold, piercing gaze.
“I merely harbored some suspicion.”
I wrapped my hand over my father’s clenched fist like a blanket. I looked up at him.
I wished he wouldn’t be hurt by this. Though that was probably impossible.
I spoke to those around us.
“As I investigated Gwan-song, there was something that troubled me.”
Baek Family Grandmother glared at me with bloodshot eyes, clearly desperate to silence me but unable to do so, her frustration evident.
“Isn’t it strange? The medicine my aunt possessed.”
Baek Family Grandmother barked out.
“What are you trying to say!”
“Rather than asking Gwan-song to create the same medicine, wouldn’t it have been simpler if my aunt had obtained an extra dose from the beginning?”
My uncle finally seemed to grasp the oddity, nodding slowly.
“Indeed, that is peculiar.”
“There’s a simple explanation for why she had to commission another apothecary.”
“And what would that be?”
My uncle now appeared completely absorbed in my words.
“She couldn’t obtain more from the place where she originally acquired it.”
I turned to look at my aunt.
“Before you sought out the apothecary, you visited the Eastern Mountain Monk, didn’t you? Not long after, that monk suddenly vanished from the temple. You sent people to pursue him. Aunt, why did you chase after that monk?”
My aunt’s complexion cycled between ashen and deathly pale.
“Why should I speak of such things? What does this have to do with the current matter!”
“How is it unrelated? Aunt, that medicine you possessed—you obtained it from the monk. Five years ago, after I entered the Baek Li Estate.”
“….”
“You obtained two doses then. But why did one disappear and only one remain?”
I couldn’t tell whether my hands trembled or if it was my father’s hands trembling in my grip.
One thing was certain: I had waited an eternity—an absolute eternity—to speak these words.
I cried out, as though purging myself of anguish.
“One was used on me. On a six-year-old child who had just entered the Baek Li Estate and was consuming a spiritual elixir for the very first time!”
* * *
Drip.
Ink fell from the brush and spread across the paper.
I exhaled deeply and set the brush down on the inkstone.
On the day I finally revealed the truth I had long awaited, my father held me and wept.
I remained composed instead, and I held him to offer comfort.
I naturally expected my aunt to target me again. So I deliberately let slip information about the type of spiritual elixir and the fact that I consumed it.
I never imagined she would suddenly change her aim and target Baek Li-myeong.
Had there been no antidote remaining, I would have found myself in quite a predicament.
Though it would have been possible to prove it with the apothecary and the monk who provided the poison.
Through the open window came the sound of weeping carried on the warm breeze—my grandmother pleading desperately with my uncle.
“…I thought it necessary to conceal it. Look at this—knowing full well they would wield such merciless law, how could I have revealed everything from the start! Ui-muk.”
“Mother, the punishment I imposed is not of my own authority.”
“Then ask Father to reconsider. If you forgive her, wouldn’t that suffice?”
“….”
“She deserves punishment, yes. But to be cast out from the family with her inner energy sealed? That is no different than condemning Baek Li-ui-ran to death! She is still your sister by blood! How can you demand she pay with her life!”
It seemed she had been released today after being confined to the Residence Quarter all this time.
I was now in Subaekdang, my grandfather’s private quarters. This chamber was one I had briefly occupied years ago when I fell ill.
After the interrogation in the Blue Hall was concluded that day, my grandfather had instructed me to remain here.
And he was methodically uncovering the truth, one piece at a time, and setting the family’s affairs in order.
Seok Tae-ui quickly revealed that the poison the apothecary possessed was identical to the one mixed into the ice drink.
Once that thread was pulled, everything unraveled in succession.
The testimony of the female servant who visited the apothecary, the groom who accompanied her, the guards—it all became irrefutable proof that my aunt was responsible.
It also came to light that So Ga-jang had conspired with my aunt in this foolish scheme. There was no need to ponder deeply why So Ga-jang would involve himself in such stupidity.
They believed that if Baek Li-myeong were eliminated, Baek Li Pyo would become the heir to the Baek Li Family. For such hollow ambitions, So Ga-jang now stood on the brink of ruin.
As I closed the window and turned around, an unexpected visitor stood before the door.

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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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