The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 173

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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 173
After parting ways with Yalyu in front of Jeggal Hwa-mu that last time, we met again, apologized, and cleared the air between us. But we couldn’t afford to linger in conversation.
“No.”
“I didn’t mean to intrude.”
“You’re not intruding.”
I lowered my sword back to its resting place. The moment my body stilled, a fresh wave of thoughts crashed over me.
This time, the subject was different.
‘Why is the Demonic Cult staying silent?’
These were the same people who had plotted to use my aunt long ago. They must have noticed her strange behavior by now. Yet they took no action and simply let it be.
‘Why, exactly?’
Did they have something else demanding their attention?
This newly revealed truth kept unsettling me.
“Sigh…”
The sighs kept escaping me.
It was then that Yalyu’s voice pierced through my thoughts.
“What are you thinking about?”
Ah, I’d been lost in my own mind while standing right in front of him.
“Nothing… it’s nothing.”
Yalyu, who had been watching me intently, tilted his head slightly.
“Is it about the Fourth Young Master?”
“Hmm?”
“I heard he’s going to become the Family Head.”
I exhaled a sigh and responded with a wry laugh.
“You’ve heard about that too?”
“I’m always interested in your affairs.”
I gazed down at the floor at an angle. Would sharing this burden with someone ease this anxiety and frustration, even a little?
Soon, I opened my mouth.
“Grandfather is going to appoint me as So Ga-ju.”
“I see.”
That’s it? That’s all he has to say?
As I looked at him expectantly, Yalyu rolled his eyes for a moment before adding,
“Congratulations. You’ll do well.”
“Yes… thank you very much.”
It felt like I’d confided in the wrong person.
Then Yalyu asked,
“If you’re going to become the Family Head, you’ll need to stay at the Baek Li Estate, won’t you?”
“I’m not even So Ga-ju yet. Don’t jinx it.”
“Either way, you’ll be staying here, right? Not going anywhere else?”
“Why would I go anywhere else?”
“Right. Yes. That’s wonderful.”
Muttering to myself, I suddenly closed my eyes and broke into a bright smile. Then I stepped closer and asked.
“So when you become the Family Head later, I want to stay here.”
“You mean as a guest warrior of the Baek Family?”
Those who weren’t part of the Baek Li Family but stayed and helped when extra hands were needed were called by that title.
“Yeah.”
“Well… I suppose I can arrange a place for someone like you.”
“Then promise me.”
“But I’m still nothing right now…”
“Doesn’t matter.”
We arrived at the Residence Quarter while exchanging such pointless banter.
The moment a servant standing at the gate of the stone wall surrounding the Residence Quarter saw us, he hurriedly rushed inside. Then I noticed something odd.
“Why are they here?”
“Who?”
“Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong are at my residence?”
“They are?”
Yalyu tilted his head slightly and urged me forward.
“Let’s go in.”
What is this…?
I regarded Yalyu with suspicion. Normally, the moment he learned those two were around, he’d suggest we go elsewhere.
Yalyu was deeply uncomfortable being around other people. It wasn’t just those two. He seemed unable to bear being with people at all. He’d even instructed servants not to approach his assigned chamber.
I suspected it stemmed from his memories of being captured by Cheon Gwi-jo. At best, I could say he tolerated those children because of me.
‘But what are they doing in a residence without a master?’
Father had stepped out, and I’d been at Subaekdang…
And it wasn’t just Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong—I could see Jin-jin and several Baek Geom Disciples who got along with me.
Eager to find out what was happening, I crossed through the gate into the Residence Quarter and my eyes widened at the sight spread across the courtyard.
“What is this?”
Tables were arranged in a square formation across the wide courtyard, and servants bustled about carrying food.
“Yeon!”
“Sister!”
Seo Ha-ryeong and Jin-jin scurried over, grabbed both my arms, and dragged me along as if escorting me somewhere.
“This way, this way!”
“What’s going on? What are you all doing? What is all this?”
I was seated at what appeared to be the central position.
“Happy birthday celebration!”
“Huh?”
“Your birthday was a few days ago! You seemed busy, so we couldn’t celebrate properly… so we decided to have a light celebration among ourselves!”
“I… when did you even…?”
I looked around in a daze.
Namgung Ryu-cheong slightly furrowed his brow and avoided my gaze. His rigid expression wasn’t so much angry as awkward and embarrassed. The other Baek Geom Disciples gleamed with mischievous delight in their eyes.
Geum-swe, standing to one side, spoke with a bright expression.
“Don’t worry, Miss. I received permission from the Fourth Young Master!”
“You received permission from Father?”
“Yes!”
I bit my lip hard. For some reason, something surged up from the depths of my chest.
“Then… where is So Nok?”
I asked, finding it strange that she wasn’t present.
I saw Seo Ha-ryeong and one of the Baek Geom Disciples exchanging a silent transmission.
Soon after, So Nok appeared.
So Nok was holding a large platter, and at the sight of it, I couldn’t help but cover my mouth in disbelief.
‘What on earth is that…?’
Steamed buns stacked three layers high with thick candles stuck in them. At that bizarre and grotesque sight, the emotion that had been welling up in my chest evaporated in an instant.
“You did this for my birthday, remember? You said people from your region celebrate like this, didn’t you? But when I mentioned it, nobody here had ever heard of it?”
“…”
“They all asked when they had ever celebrated like this.”
Of course they wouldn’t know…!
When I was staying at the Namgung Clan, it was Seo Ha-ryeong’s birthday.
At the time, I didn’t have a proper gift to give her, so I just celebrated her simply like that. Back then, I vaguely made up some excuse about how people from my region do it…
“I was so embarrassed! They all looked at me strangely, asking why I was looking for fireworks when it wasn’t even the New Year!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke as if I were pathetic.
“I told you from the start. You were deceived.”
“…”
I bit my lip hard, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Pfft! Ahahaha!”
If I hadn’t been sitting in a chair, I might have rolled on the ground clutching my belly.
I laughed while tapping the table, finally managed to stop, and lifted my head.
“F-fireworks… where are the fireworks? Hurry and set them off.”
Seo Ha-ryeong cried out with an angry face.
“I didn’t bring any!”
“Why not—do it—!”
While we were bickering like that, a gentle voice was heard.
“Have you already started?”
Seo Ha-ryeong’s head snapped around.
“Hmm, I’m a bit late.”
“Why are you only coming now? The Jegal Family Head was supposed to bring Yeon! Since you weren’t coming, Yalyu went to fetch her!”
“I apologize.”
When Jeggal Hwa-mu apologized so readily, Seo Ha-ryeong couldn’t say anything more and closed her mouth.
I smiled and spoke.
“What? So you were originally supposed to bring me?”
“So I’ve heard.”
“I guess you seemed like someone who’d be good at lying.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu’s face fell into a sorrowful expression.
“How unfair. I’ve always been sincere with you.”
I quickly steered the conversation away before Jeggal Hwa-mu could say anything unnecessary.
“Thank you all so much.”
The restless anxiety that had been gnawing at me vanished in an instant.
I smiled as I gazed at the gathered crowd.
It was the first time I had ever been celebrated by so many people in one place.
For some reason, my eyes stung and my throat tightened with emotion.
In this life, I truly have made an effort. I have changed the relationships around me.
Seo Ha-ryeong opened her eyes wide and asked.
“Yeon, are you crying?”
Jin-jin chided with a laugh.
“Ha-ryeong, you don’t ask someone if they’re crying while they’re crying.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint your expectations, but I wasn’t actually crying…”
“Come on, enough of that. Blow out the candles!”
I closed my eyes, made a wish, and blew out the candles on the comically shaped three-tiered steamed bun.
“Happy birthday, Yeon!”
“Happy birthday, Miss!”
After that, they presented me with gifts one by one.
Seo Ha-ryeong, the children from the Baek Geom Dan around my age, and gifts from other friends that Jin-jin had brought on behalf of those who couldn’t attend due to their duties—I received them all, and finally it was Namgung Ryu-cheong’s turn.
I looked at the curious eyes around me and spoke.
“Everyone seems to be wondering what kind of gift you’ve prepared.”
“There’s much to anticipate.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong handed me a wooden box that looked quite elegant.
I had no idea what could be inside it.
‘No wonder everyone is curious.’
It was just as I was about to unlock the wooden box.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
Someone shouted urgently and came rushing into the courtyard.
The one who had rushed in was Namgung Ryu-cheong’s servant who had come with him from the Namgung Clan.
The servant’s face was deathly pale, as though he had been running hard for some time and gasping for breath—as if he had been chased by a ghost itself.
Just as Namgung Ryu-cheong was about to say something with a furrowed brow, the gasping servant cried out again.
“The Murim Alliance Infinite Headquarters has been attacked by the Demonic Cult!”
“…”
Everyone stared at the servant with wide eyes, forgetting even how to speak.
Namgung Ryu-cheong was the first to regain his composure.
“My father? What has become of my father?”
“So Ga-ju was also at the headquarters… The headquarters is now… nearly completely annihilated, they say.”
In that moment, I found myself looking at Jeggal Hwa-mu without thinking.
I desperately hoped he would say it wasn’t true.
But when Jeggal Hwa-mu’s eyes met mine, he exhaled a weary sigh and gave a slight nod.
The wooden box slipped from my weakened grasp and tumbled across the floor.

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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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