The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 172

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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 172
Father still appeared unconvinced.
“What on earth could be the reason the Demonic Cult hasn’t made a move?”
“We’ll need to investigate that starting now.”
The existence of this poison wouldn’t be revealed until the latter half of events.
‘If it were a poison easy to use, they wouldn’t have stopped at Father—they would have used it against Namgung Ryu-cheong instead, but they didn’t.’
There had to be a reason.
Moreover, Father already had internal energy problems from this poison, so why would they try to use Baek Li-ui-ran to push Father into demonic possession as well?
‘It’s unlikely, but… the Demonic Cult might not know Father is addicted to this poison.’
There simply wasn’t enough information.
The Murim Alliance was a troublesome organization in every way. It couldn’t disappear, yet it couldn’t be trusted either. At least the Demonic Cult was consistently villainous, but the Murim Alliance pretended to help while stabbing people in the back, making it far worse.
‘And the Murim Alliance Leader Wi Ji-baek is someone to watch closely.’
Wi Ji-baek was a hypocritical man. Though he was twice Namgung Ryu-cheong’s age, he’d been quick to obstruct him the moment Namgung Ryu-cheong’s reputation rose.
‘In the novel, he was a villain who pretended to be on the same team before stabbing everyone in the back.’
The reason his relationship with Father was currently good was because Father didn’t yet know of Wi Ji-baek’s hypocritical nature, and Father’s position as commander of the White Tiger Unit helped Wi Ji-baek’s consolidation of power.
What if such a man learned of what was happening in the Baek Li Estate?
Rather than help, he would be the type to scheme about how to exploit the Baek Li Estate.
“Besides, Grandfather and Father have been searching for a long time for someone with symptoms similar to Father’s and a treatment method, haven’t they? Yet there’s been no progress so far. If the Demonic Cult had used this poison on multiple people, wouldn’t we have heard something by now?”
“….”
“Yeon speaks rightly. If there were someone with symptoms similar to yours, we should have heard of it. But we haven’t, have we? Do you doubt the information network of the Baek Li Estate?”
“It’s not just the Baek Li Estate—the Namgung Clan helped too, and the Jegal Clan also assisted.”
Father raised his hand to stop me.
“Enough, enough. I understand well that your thoughts and Yeon’s are nearly identical.”
Grandfather let out a scoffing laugh.
“Hmph, are you jealous?”
“Grandfather, what are you saying? Father wouldn’t be jealous over something like this.”
“Kkhahaha, that’s right. Of course. Indeed!”
Even Seok Tae-ui kept his mouth firmly shut, his expression suggesting he was suppressing laughter.
I pouted my lips and regained my composure.
“Father. I’m so worried. And it’s not just the Demonic Cult—so many other villains are targeting you. If they learn that Father has weakened, they will certainly… they will target Father…”
I lowered my head and fidgeted with my hands.
“If anything were to happen to Father, I… I…”
It would be perfect if I could shed tears right now, but I hadn’t prepared an onion-juice handkerchief since I didn’t expect to cry today.
With my head bowed, I pinched my thigh hard enough to bring tears to my eyes. I felt the pain bring moisture welling up.
“…Yeon.”
With tears threatening to spill, I looked toward Seok Tae-ui.
“Tae-ui, you haven’t found a way to detoxify or treat it, have you?”
Seok Tae-ui, whose eyes had been smiling, quickly composed himself and spoke in a bitter tone.
“It was beyond my abilities.”
Father opened his mouth slightly, then exhaled softly and closed it.
* * *
Father was seeing Seok Tae-ui off, and I was about to follow when Grandfather spoke.
Grandfather said to me.
“Yeon, come speak with me for a moment.”
I followed Grandfather’s footsteps.
After we’d walked through the garden for some time, Grandfather finally spoke.
“You’ve had quite the burden persuading your father.”
“We persuaded him together, though.”
Grandfather glanced at me sideways and resumed walking.
“If you spoke, he listened. Do you think he would have listened if I had spoken?”
“Yes. I believe you would have been heard.”
Grandfather stopped in his tracks and turned to face me abruptly.
“…Indeed.”
A faint smile graced his lips before vanishing in an instant. When he smiled, Grandfather truly resembled Father.
Grandfather turned back and began walking slowly once more.
“What are your plans going forward?”
“Plans?”
“Yes. You didn’t prevent the Alliance from being informed, did you?”
His tone suggested he naturally expected there to be a next step.
I scratched my head slightly.
“For now… I thought I might contact the Sichuan Dang Family.”
“The Dang Family? None surpass them in knowledge of medicine, but the Dang Family is reclusive. It will be difficult to obtain their aid easily.”
“Father once saved Dang So-yong in the past. I was thinking of calling in that debt of gratitude.”
“By Dang So-yong, you mean the young lady of the Dang Family?”
“Yes.”
When I encountered Cheon Gwi-jo, if Father hadn’t been there, I would have died. She said that whenever I needed help, I should seek her out.
After hesitating briefly, I gathered my courage and asked.
“What about you, Grandfather?”
Grandfather looked at me for a moment, then resumed walking.
“Baek Li-ui-ran’s punishment will proceed tomorrow.”
I looked up at Grandfather in surprise.
Since he appeared so composed, I had never expected him to broach this subject.
Grandfather continued without pause.
“She will be removed from the Baek Li Family registry, her dantian will be sealed, and she will be sent to a rural village owned by the family. There, she will spend the rest of her days in the family shrine.”
“….”
“The Matriarch will be confined to a quiet chamber in the back garden. From now on, she will find it difficult to leave, so she cannot interfere in family matters. In any case, she spent half her life as the family matriarch of the Baek Li Family, so we must allow her to at least die within the family.”
“….”
“Now only the children remain.”
Grandfather, hands clasped behind his back, gazed into the distance and released a deep sigh.
“Yeon, what would you have me do with So U-ak and Baek Li Pyo—those twin cousins?”
I had deliberately avoided thinking about the Twin Cousins all this time.
The So Family Estate was as good as ruined now. We had barely avoided an outright war between families, but in its place came astronomical reparations that had to be paid.
With my father’s family collapsing and my mother becoming a hollow shell before being cast out, losing the backing of my grandmother and parents who had supported them meant they would never wield influence again.
I spoke calmly.
“I will follow your wishes, Grandfather.”
“…Very well.”
Grandfather continued as if he had been waiting for my response.
“So U-ak will be struck from the Baek Family Estate’s records and sent to the So Family Estate. As for Baek Li Pyo, there is a temple called Baekdam Temple. I will have him take the monastic vows there.”
I blinked in surprise.
‘To that extent…?’
Though the words differed, both amounted to the same thing—expulsion from the family.
Not some renowned place like Shaolin, but Baekdam Temple.
It was a place where monks truly indifferent to the secular world quietly cultivated the Buddhist path.
“Our family has made substantial donations to Baekdam Temple every year, so Pyo should have no difficulty living there.”
Seeing my expression, Grandfather asked how I interpreted his decision.
“Do you think those children will reflect on their actions?”
“…No.”
No matter how much I deliberated, the answer remained no.
“Precisely. They will refuse to acknowledge their parents’ wrongdoings and instead resent you, sharpening their blades. I cannot allow the family to harbor a hidden blade, ready to strike at any moment.”
Grandfather closed his eyes firmly, then opened them as he spoke.
“This is the right course. When one settles accounts, one must do so cleanly and completely.”
“…”
Strictly speaking, the Twin Cousins were innocent in this affair. They had lost their parents like a bolt from the blue and been cast out from the family through no fault of their own.
From one perspective, it seemed excessive. The reason Grandfather was going to such lengths was…
“You are twelve years old now.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
My birthday had passed without fanfare.
Grandfather placed a gentle hand on my head.
“You matured far too early.”
“Ha ha…”
I laughed awkwardly.
Strictly speaking, this was my third life, so it was difficult to say I had matured early.
Unaware of this, Grandfather continued.
“I found that admirable.”
“R-really?”
“Now I understand. You matured not out of natural growth, but to protect yourself.”
“…”
“I am sorry to you.”
Grandfather offered his apology without any excuse or justification.
I heard only the quiet sound of foliage swaying in the wind.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk spoke again.
“I intend to elevate you to the position of So Ga-ju.”
“Pardon?”
What in the world was he saying?
* * *
Baek Li Pae-hyuk was a man of his word. At dawn the next day, Baek Li-ui-ran was quietly led away, her dantian sealed. The Twin Cousins met the same fate.
Geum-swe spoke carefully, gauging my reaction.
“The Fourth Young Master personally sealed her dantian, they say.”
“Father did?”
“Yes.”
I gazed down at the floor with a darkened expression.
Father had sealed Baek Li-ui-ran’s dantian and departed with her on the journey to the rural manor of the Baek Li Estate where she would reside.
Baek Li-ui-ran would spend the remainder of her life in the Family Shrine, atoning for her transgressions.
Lost in thought as I walked, I found myself at the pond’s edge before I realized it. In my childhood, I used to feed the carp here with Father.
‘Then I saw the Twin Cousins beyond the stone wall and stopped coming.’
And now, beyond that stone wall, all was profoundly silent.
For some reason, my feet carried me in that direction.
The place that once rang with laughter now stood empty. It felt desolate, whether from reality or mere fancy.
Several wooden practice swords used for sparring were lined up in a row. I grasped one of suitable length.
‘I’ve been neglecting my training lately.’
I began to wield the sword.
Indeed, nothing cleared the mind quite like the blade.
How long had I been at it? At some point, I sensed a presence nearby. I caught my breath and stilled my sword.
“Want to spar with me?”
A shadow emerged from beyond the stone wall. It was Yalyu.

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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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