The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 178

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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 178
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The forces were divided into two contingents.
A support division heading to reinforce the Murim Alliance, and a pursuit unit tasked with locating Namgung Wan.
The pursuit unit searching for Namgung Wan consisted entirely of Baek Li Family forces.
Several family elders voiced their objections.
Why should the Baek Li Family divide its military strength to search for a single member of the Namgung Minor Family?
There had even been an incident where the Mudang Sect, while supporting the Murim Alliance, suffered an ambush. The elders’ concerns were entirely justified.
Fortunately, my grandfather silenced all such complaints. In doing so, however, he bound himself firmly to the estate. It was as though he alone bore the responsibility of protecting the Baek Li Family.
Thus, the Murim Alliance support division departed, avoiding Ak-yang, while the pursuit unit headed directly toward it.
My father was originally supposed to accompany the support division to wherever the main Murim Alliance forces had retreated.
Instead, my father decided to head to Ak-yang with the pursuit unit and rejoin the support division a step behind schedule.
Since both forces were traveling in similar directions—northward—this arrangement was feasible.
Yet even so, my father could only remain in Ak-yang for four days at most.
The day after my father’s arrival, just past noon, the main search contingent—myself and Namgung Ryu-cheong included—arrived in Ak-yang.
Though not quite as fresh as my father, everyone was utterly exhausted from the relentless pace of travel. The increasingly sweltering weather had drained our stamina considerably.
Fortunately, those who had arrived earlier had already secured an entire inn. It was an ordinary three-story structure arranged in a traditional courtyard layout.
Apart from the staff left behind to receive us, my father and the others were away conducting their search.
We decided to rest briefly until everyone returned.
After depositing our belongings upstairs and descending, I saw a spacious central garden through the open doors.
“Hmm?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong was crossing through it toward me.
‘But that leads outside…’
Namgung Ryu-cheong also paused upon seeing me. The midday sun beat down upon his rigid expression.
“Where have you been?”
“I took a moment to examine the streets surrounding the inn. Nothing seemed amiss.”
“Ah, I see. Thank you for your diligence.”
With those words, we fell silent.
“….”
“….”
The awkwardness was suffocating.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time we’ve spoken alone since that day, isn’t it?’
We had been busy, and during our travels, we were always surrounded by others. Since that day, it had weighed on my mind, but lacking a proper opportunity, I had kept my words bottled up. Now I spoke them.
“I’ll apologize on behalf of what Hwa-mu said that day. I’m sorry.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s brow furrowed.
Jeggal Hwa-mu had returned to his family. Just before our departure, an urgent report arrived—the Demonic Cult had attacked the Jegal Clan.
The clan’s ancient treasure vault and library had burned entirely, and in the conflagration, Hwa-mu’s mother had been gravely injured.
Namgung Ryu-cheong, his expression darkening, spoke.
“Forget it. In circumstances where we can barely spare the time to depart, the fact that you showed that much concern for my father is something I should be grateful for, hmph.”
Wait, are you really sure about that?
My true feelings must have shown on my face, because Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke again with firm conviction.
“Really, it’s fine. It wasn’t for my sake anyway—it was for yours.”
“….”
“Still, the fact that I received help doesn’t change.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong crossed his arms and twisted his mouth.
“This leaves a bad taste.”
As if shaking off the feeling, Namgung Ryu-cheong shook his head.
“Forget it. You said you won’t live long anyway, right? That must feel unfair.”
“Unfair?”
“Not being able to dream of a future.”
“….”
Jeggal Hwa-mu declared that he loved me, then acted as though that alone was sufficient.
At the time, I was flustered and thought it was a relief, but this was certainly strange.
How could someone love another without expecting anything in return?
Isn’t emotion meant to be reciprocated?
‘Well, I’m not some celebrity you’d only see on television.’
And I was certainly no sage content with merely watching Jeggal Hwa-mu from afar.
There was no need to dwell deeply on why he acted that way.
He was saying he wouldn’t expect an answer from me because he wouldn’t live long.
“He has no choice but to remain unattached.”
“Oh….”
“What’s with that reaction?”
“No, it’s just rare to hear you say something sensible.”
He even displayed unexpected compassion toward the sick.
‘I had him pegged as a brawler who’d bark at a sick person to draw their sword and fight.’
Compared to how he’d hurled insults at our first meeting after my regression, this was certainly a more mature response.
“You’ve really grown so much.”
“What?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a hollow laugh as if exasperated.
“I’ve always found it strange, but why do you treat me like a child? If we’re talking age, I’m older than you. You should call me older brother….”
“Wait, hold on!”
“What? What’s wrong?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression hardened as he cautiously placed his hand on his sword hilt.
“I have an allergy to the word ‘older brother.'”
“An allergy to what?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong twisted his face as if I were spouting nonsense again.
“What are you going on about now? Don’t joke around.”
“No, listen. When you call me older brother, I think of Baek Li-myeong, Baek Li Pyo, and So U-ak.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“So when you call me older brother, I somehow lose affection for that person.”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression was clouded with lingering doubt.
I couldn’t simply dismiss his concerns as nonsense—he had witnessed enough peculiar occurrences during his stay at the Baek Li Estate to warrant caution.
I spoke with utmost solemnity.
“I’m serious.”
“You….”
“If you truly wish for me to address you as older brother, I can oblige, but understand this: the word ‘older brother’ leaves me with rather unpleasant associations….”
“Fine. Don’t call me that. I won’t ask.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong shook his head in frustration.
A relief.
Even before my regression, I had never called him older brother—only “sir,” endlessly “sir.” And now, after returning, to call him older brother?
Ugh, that’s rather unsettling.
‘By mental age, I’m the elder here!’
Moreover…
‘In the novel, Baek Li-yeon followed Namgung Ryu-cheong around, calling him older brother, older brother…!’
As I shook my head, our eyes met.
We burst into laughter as though we had never been awkward at all.
“Sigh, talking with you really….”
“Really what?”
“….”
“Really what? Why did you stop mid-sentence?”
“It feels like I’m being disarmed.”
A faint smile bloomed at the corner of Namgung Ryu-cheong’s mouth, as though he had resigned himself to it.
It had been so long since I’d seen him smile.
He was never one to laugh freely, but lately, I’d seen only his stern expression, making his smile feel almost unfamiliar.
Yet that smile faded quickly. The hardness returned to his features, and with it came a melancholic atmosphere. He bore this situation with mature composure, but the pain was undeniable.
“It will be fine.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze, which had drifted into empty space, returned to me.
“Your father will survive. He is not someone who will fall here.”
“…That’s obvious.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong answered with his chin held high, then took another step forward.
As he approached me, something seemed to occur to him, and he spoke.
“Right. Why are you apologizing on behalf of the Jegal Family Head?”
“Wasn’t that conversation finished? Obsessive types aren’t particularly appealing.”
“Obsessive types? Do you even have anything you like?”
“Of course! My father.”
“Sigh.”
“Don’t change the subject.”
I scratched my face, attempting to brush past the matter.
Namgung Ryu-cheong continued with firm resolve.
“You’re not in a position where you need to apologize on behalf of the Jegal Family Head, are you?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“I could apologize on his behalf. It happened in our house anyway… and he’s my friend.”
“If you’re close enough to apologize on someone’s behalf, isn’t that relationship far too intimate to simply call friendship?”
“Well….”
Now that I thought about it, Namgung Ryu-cheong wasn’t wrong. There was no real need for me to apologize in his stead.
But… what Jeggal Hwa-mu had said also aligned with what I was thinking.
Yes. I had wanted to use Jeggal Hwa-mu as a means to apologize to Namgung Ryu-cheong on my behalf.
Namgung Ryu-cheong opened his mouth at my silence.
“You….”
But he didn’t finish his words, instead letting out a sigh and nodding his head.
Following the direction of Namgung Ryu-cheong’s nod, I saw Yalyu, who had arrived at some point without my notice.
Yalyu approached me and handed me a cup from the table.
“Here’s some cool water.”
“Ah, thank you.”
It seemed he had remembered that I’d wanted to drink something before entering the inn.
As I reached for the cup to drink, I felt Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze and looked back at him.
“What? Do you want some too?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong sighed and spoke.
“Never mind. Rest here. When the Baek Li Master arrives, I’ll send someone.”
I turned my body and watched Namgung Ryu-cheong’s retreating figure as he swiftly rose from his seat, then looked back at Yalyu. And I froze. The gaze Yalyu directed at the departing Namgung Ryu-cheong was so cold it cut like frost.
I already knew that the relationship between Namgung Ryu-cheong and Yalyu couldn’t be called good. But it had been more of an indifferent disdain, as if regarding a mere chicken—nothing like this.
“…Yalyu?”
At my call, Yalyu turned back with a serene expression, as if he hadn’t just been staring at Namgung Ryu-cheong that way.

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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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