The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 176

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 176
“….”
I fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“You’re leaving because of me?”
“Yeah.”
Yalyu brushed his bangs aside and continued.
“I wouldn’t mind killing Cheon Gwi-jo if I could.”
His apathetic expression didn’t feel sincere in the slightest.
Then he spoke with a hint of petulance.
“Why do you keep bringing him up? Are you interested in Cheon Gwi-jo? Or is it you who wants to kill him?”
“….”
Yalyu’s nonchalance only confused me further.
Yalyu spoke seriously.
“That might be difficult, wouldn’t it? It’s dangerous for you to act directly. We’d need to capture Cheon Gwi-jo alive, but he’s famous for his elusive lightness technique. And Dongting Lake is so vast….”
What nonsense was he spouting so earnestly?
I waved my hand to stop Yalyu.
“No, that’s not it! I’m talking about you! You!”
“Me?”
“Yeah. You. Do you really have no feelings toward Cheon Gwi-jo?”
“Yeah.”
…That couldn’t be right.
He felt so little emotion toward Cheon Gwi-jo?
Then why did Namgung Ryu-cheong torment him so much in the novel?
Wasn’t it revenge for the incident when Namgung Wan dragged him to the Murim Alliance?
And wasn’t his toying with the Murim Alliance also an act rooted in hatred?
‘This is too strange….’
He felt little emotion toward someone who had even left me with trauma? Yalyu?
I broached the subject carefully.
“You really hate being in enclosed spaces with other people.”
“Ah… Did it show? Yeah, that’s right.”
Yalyu smiled awkwardly with his eyes.
Yalyu detested being close to others.
Whenever he found himself in an enclosed space—say, having to share a room with someone—he would open every window and door. Even that wasn’t enough; he would position himself right by the open windows or doors.
“I thought all of that stemmed from trauma caused by being held captive by Cheon Gwi-jo.”
“Trauma?”
“Well… you could call it psychological injury.”
“I see.”
“So… I thought you must hate Cheon Gwi-jo. Since he’s the person who wounded your life….”
I had almost said “ruined,” but managed to change it to “wounded” at the last moment.
Though I didn’t want to admit it, Yalyu’s methods when dealing with people were inherently cruel.
During sparring, I would casually deploy killing techniques, and the rumors circulating outside were equally brutal. Of course, there was no need for mercy when facing the Demonic Cult.
‘And when I was at the Namgung Clan, I even tried to kill someone on the street out of anger using martial power.’
The actions of a villain from a novel, combined with that past moment when I had tried to take my own life.
Could all these incidents have accumulated?
I thought Yalyu would seek revenge against Cheon Gwi-jo, that he would try to settle old scores.
“….”
I observed Yalyu, who seemed lost in thought.
Nothing remained of that corpse-like child I had first met—gaunt and hollow-eyed.
Now, perhaps because of the mole beneath his eye, there stood only a noble young man with an air of elegance tinged with melancholy.
‘…Yes, perhaps that was just my prejudice.’
Besides, my concern about Yalyu and Cheon Gwi-jo meeting face-to-face stemmed from worry that Yalyu might rush forward seeking revenge, so if he harbored no such feelings, it would be fine to let it pass.
“Let’s drop this subject. More importantly, where is Namgung Ryu-cheong?”
“I don’t know.”
“Weren’t you two preparing together?”
“We were, but he went out.”
As I turned to leave the pavilion, Yalyu caught my arm.
“Actually, I do know.”
“What? You lied?”
Yalyu laughed it off toward me, whose eyes had narrowed, and took the lead.
I followed behind him and suddenly asked.
“You must have had a hard time during your stay at the Namgung Clan?”
Back then, due to my sensitive eyes, I had kept all the windows shut and hung thick silk curtains over them.
In that dim room, Yalyu had remained constantly at my side, attending to my needs.
It must have been an incredibly difficult time for someone who disliked enclosed spaces, yet I had been completely unaware of it then.
“Not at all.”
Yalyu answered lightly.
“You were fine.”
“….”
Unexpectedly, I stopped in my tracks.
Yalyu turned around immediately.
Seeing my expression, Yalyu spoke as if making an excuse.
“Why? I’m serious. This time I’m not lying.”
“….”
“Um, what did I say wrong?”
As I continued to say nothing, anxiety flickered across his face.
At that sight, a thought I had buried long ago surfaced.
‘Why on earth does he follow me like this?’
What about me made that child so blindly devoted?
I knew I was incredibly special to Yalyu.
Back then, it had given me a strange, ticklish satisfaction—somewhat bittersweet yet oddly gratifying. There was something fascinating about having a child who clung to my existence, whose every action was swayed by my words.
But I didn’t think it would last long. It was something from childhood, after all. Besides, having grown distant while following Cheonsan Yeom-je, wouldn’t my memory fade from his mind?
‘Truly a pointless thought, but….’
When Yalyu and I met again, he hadn’t changed at all.
Even now, everything revolved around me. He followed me to meet Cheon Gwi-jo because of me, and he spoke of wanting to kill Cheon Gwi-jo because of me.
I spoke while wishing I had a mirror to see what expression I wore now.
“Aren’t you liking me a bit too much?”
“Why would that be?”
Blind devotion, viewed differently, was another word for obsession.
Was it truly a good thing to be so obsessed with one person? For now, Yalyu didn’t ask much of me, but….
“Thank you.”
Just then, a voice suddenly came from behind the building where I stood.
My senses sharpened. It was the voice of Namgung Ryu-cheong, whom I’d been searching for.
Yalyu had brought him properly. I’d been so distracted by Yalyu that I hadn’t noticed him approaching this close.
I heard the sound of fabric rustling as someone moved.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke again.
“I heard it was you who interrogated the Demonic Cult’s spy. Without you, it would have been difficult to learn this much so quickly.”
Typically, spies had not only blood poison but also sorcery placed on them to prevent disclosure. Sam-gae’s case was the same.
Even if you were fortunate enough to capture a spy, in most cases the blood poison would flare up while breaking the sorcery, and you’d learn nothing.
But here, there was Jeggal Hwa-mu. No one knew the Demonic Cult’s sorcery better than the Jegal Family.
Namgung Ryu-cheong continued.
“I shall repay this debt without fail in the future.”
“In the future, you say….”
It was Jeggal Hwa-mu’s voice. A face twisted with mockery immediately came to mind. Jeggal Hwa-mu always did that whenever the future came up. And besides.
‘That bastard Hwa-mu, his expression is definitely twisted right now.’
Thinking I should stop him before any unnecessary conflict arose, I took another step forward.
But whether he didn’t sense my presence or chose to ignore it, Jeggal Hwa-mu continued.
“I don’t need to wait until the future. There’s a favor I’d like to ask of you right now.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. It’s simple. Why that expression? Did you change your mind?”
I felt a slightly mocking tone. It was a clear provocation. And Namgung Ryu-cheong took the bait naturally.
“…That can’t be. Speak.”
“I heard marriage talks have come and gone between you and Yeon.”
“What? How did you… No, why is that coming up now?”
My feelings were exactly the same!
‘Why is that coming up now?’
Without thinking, I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at Yalyu. But Yalyu’s face was composed.
‘What? Did he know about this too?’
And Jeggal Hwa-mu’s words continued.
“That’s not the important part.”
“….”
“You and Yeon—reject the marriage proposal.”
“What?”
“I’d like Boeun to settle it that way. What do you think?”
“….”
‘No… what nonsense is he spouting right now!’
In a situation like this, he wanted to say something like that?
No, if it weren’t for Jeggal Hwa-mu, no one else would have dared to broach such a ridiculous topic.
I was so curious about what went on inside Jeggal Hwa-mu’s head that I wanted to peek inside. And what made it worse was how utterly childish it all was—I was embarrassed on his behalf.
The heat rising to my face was genuine embarrassment. And the most absurd part was….
I swallowed hard.
I was curious about what Namgung Ryu-cheong would answer!
Before I knew it, I had shifted into the posture of an eavesdropper.
A rather long silence followed.
“….”
“Ha ha, you said you’d repay the debt, but you have nothing to say?”
“….”
“Hmm, is this all the repayment you spoke of?”
“….”
“It seems the Namgung Minor Family Head’s life isn’t as important as you claimed.”
The moment I heard that, I stopped eavesdropping and burst out.
“Hwa-mu! What are you doing right now?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong spun around in surprise.
Jeggal Hwa-mu greeted me naturally, as if he’d already known I was there.
I lashed out immediately.
“Stop spouting sophistry. Yes, you’ve helped us greatly, but not enough to weigh Namgung Wan’s life in the balance. Anyone listening would think you’d already saved him.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong finally seemed to come to his senses, glaring at Jeggal Hwa-mu.
Jeggal Hwa-mu waved his fan slowly.
“Sigh… it was just getting interesting. How disappointing.”
“You’re playing games with someone whose heart is in turmoil over their father?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu shrugged.
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been silent with downcast eyes, looked at me with a darkened gaze.
“The marriage proposal… you knew about it too?”
“…Yes.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s jaw tightened, and after glancing once at Yalyu and once at Jeggal Hwa-mu, he brushed off his sleeves and left.
I couldn’t bring myself to chase after him.
Watching Namgung Ryu-cheong disappear into the distance, I turned to Jeggal Hwa-mu.
“What is this?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu tilted his head.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“When did I ever…!”
No, thinking about it now, that was what I wanted. For Namgung Ryu-cheong to refuse. I’m sure that was it.
I snapped back to my senses just before being completely swept away by the moment.
“Even so, what right do you have to meddle in this!”
In response to my words, Jeggal Hwa-mu said something entirely different.
“I’m going back to my family now.”
“…You’re leaving?”
Just like that, so suddenly?
Jeggal Hwa-mu smiled faintly.
“Will you miss me?”
“….”
“I’m going to miss you terribly.”
“We’ll see each other again anyway.”
“That’s why I wanted to be a bit mischievous one last time.”
“….”
This man had a natural talent for leaving people speechless.
And it wasn’t until much later that I realized it.
That Jeggal Hwa-mu had never actually answered when I said we would see each other again.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————