The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 187

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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 187
* * *
Despite the turmoil that had unfolded through the night, the morning in Ak-yang dawned peacefully the next day. The common folk who had ventured onto the streets early to work showed little difference from the day before.
A few people murmured with interest about the previous night’s commotion, yet none knew precisely what had transpired.
“I heard Mantong Express Station collapsed last night.”
“Mantong Express Station? Isn’t that where Beom and his father worked? What happened?”
“I don’t know either. From what I’ve heard, they apparently displeased some great family?”
“A great family? What great family exists here? Are you talking about Donghobang?”
“If it were Donghobang, they would have said so. Besides, Mantong Express Station had good relations with Donghobang. Doesn’t that seem strange?”
“They must have done something irritating.”
It was treated merely as a somewhat larger commotion among the usual disturbances.
The government troops had arrived but, recognizing it as a matter between martial artists, withdrew after cautioning against excessive noise.
And we were able to discover the Baekho Dan Vice-Leader in the underground of the Mantong Express Station manor after eliminating all the Demonic Cult members.
Fortunately, there were no severe injuries. However, because the blood point that induced unconsciousness had been pressed for far too long, it took considerable time for consciousness to return.
After the Vice-Leader awakened, we were able to locate where Uncle Namgung Wan and the others had been hiding.
The Namgung Clan and the Baekho Dan group were at Dongting Lake.
At the lake? I couldn’t help but wonder. To be precise, they had been hiding inside a large boat floating on Dongting Lake.
Numerous boats float upon Dongting Lake. Among them were many that remained unmoored, their occupants holding banquets aboard and indulging in drinking and entertainment for days on end, or fishing. They had been hiding while posing as one such vessel.
It was truly a place I could never have imagined.
‘…If Father had searched quietly in the back alleys instead of causing such a commotion… I might never have found them in my entire life?’
Originally, the plan had been to quietly slip away from Ak-yang aboard that boat.
However, there was a problem.
Simply setting sail would have been fine, but to escape Ak-yang, they would inevitably have to pass through Donghobang.
Donghobang was a Black Gang. They could harbor no goodwill toward the Murim Alliance organization Baekho Dan, nor toward the Namgung Clan. If discovered, the situation could become far more dire than before.
Consequently, they had been unable to reach land or escape Ak-yang.
In any case, we had managed to rescue the members of Baekho Dan and the Namgung Clan.
It should have been a situation for celebration.
Yet the atmosphere was unbearably heavy.
It was because of Uncle Namgung Wan.
He had lost consciousness after a brief conversation on the boat where he had been hiding. And he remained unconscious throughout the journey to the inn. His condition was that grave.
The atmosphere in the room was such that even breathing felt cautious.
I sat upon a round stool, gazing toward the direction obscured by the folding screen.
Father’s stern expression was faintly visible above the screen as he stood rigidly.
Beyond the screen, I could discern everything through my golden eyes.
Namgung Ryu-cheong knelt on one knee on the floor, while Uncle Namgung Wan lay receiving examination from the Physician.
I wished to enter behind the screen and see the wounds directly, but I had been driven out because it was an unrelated man’s bare body.
“Physician, how much longer will you merely examine him? Why does Father not regain consciousness?”
His voice carried a note of slight reproach.
Father called his name as if to stop him.
“Ryu-cheong.”
The Physician gestured as though reassuring us, then spoke.
“His condition is not good.”
The Physician exhaled a brief sigh before continuing.
“The right arm must be amputated.”
I bolted upright without thinking. Then I rushed frantically behind the folding screen. The people inside had no time to pay attention to me.
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked in return.
“Just now… what did you say?”
After a brief silence, my father spoke in a low, heavy voice.
“The right arm is as vital as a swordmaster’s life itself. Is there truly no other way?”
“Even if Hua Tuo himself were alive, he could not heal this.”
The Physician sighed and shook his head.
“The wound runs far too deep. The blood vessels and muscle nerves have all been damaged.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong murmured softly.
“…That cannot be.”
The Physician continued matter-of-factly.
“Truthfully, the fact that he has endured this long is only because he is a master of martial arts. Otherwise, the wound would have festered long ago. Regrettably, there is no alternative.”
“….”
“….”
I gazed at Namgung Wan.
His face, which resembled Namgung Ryu-cheong so closely and which I had once admired as ruggedly handsome, was now gaunt and drenched in cold sweat.
The wound was already covered with white cloth, so I could not see it. But I knew. I could not help but know. I had been in denial the entire journey here.
Namgung Wan’s right arm—the flow of true energy had already ceased. As though it had already been severed from his body.
Then a shout erupted from Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“You quack! Stop spouting nonsense and get out of here!”
* * *
I emerged from the room, pressing my head.
Emotionally, I understood. To tell a martial artist his arm must be amputated was no different than pronouncing a death sentence.
“Oh dear… even the Namgung Minor Family Head to suffer such a fate….”
As I stepped outside, Mak-gae was loitering near the door.
He had not driven anyone away or lowered his voice in conversation, so he must have heard everything that transpired inside.
Moreover, Mak-gae himself was the one who had brought the Physician.
My father offered no explanation and spoke directly.
“Could you find another physician? I do not doubt the skill of the one you brought. It is simply….”
“Ah, I understand what you mean. I do. This is not a decision to be made lightly. I will bring a physician of superior skill.”
As I observed the conversation between the two, I caught a glimpse of Yalyu peeking from below the staircase.
Yalyu asked silently with the shape of his lips.
“Is it over?”
I shook my head side to side.
“When will it be over?”
I shook my head side to side again, indicating I did not know.
Yalyu’s expression grew slightly dejected as he turned back downstairs.
I turned to look at Father and Mak-gae once more.
“…We should hurry and send word to the Namgung Family.”
“The Namgung Clan members are on the move as well, so I’m uncertain whether the messenger will arrive properly.”
“Still, please do your best to ensure it reaches them. Sigh… I seem to keep asking favors of you.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. We all help each other this way. Just leave it to me. If there’s anything else you need, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
The manner in which Mak-gae treated Father was remarkably attentive—almost bewilderingly so.
It was as though he regarded Father as a great benefactor.
I regarded Mak-gae with suspicion before asking the question that had troubled me moments earlier.
“But what do you mean by ‘even the Namgung Minor Family Head’?”
“Ah, when the Murim Alliance was attacked this time, quite a number of masters fell.”
Mak-gae released a deep sigh.
“Particularly, many of those destined to lead the next generation of the Orthodox Martial Arts Sects were lost… That’s why I said ‘even the Namgung Minor Family Head.’ Sigh… The Demonic Cult has withdrawn for now, but what lies ahead remains uncertain. Ah, Great Martial Master, what will you do about Cheon Gwi-jo?”
Cheon Gwi-jo had not managed to escape this time.
Since I had anticipated his flight from the beginning, pursuing him proved relatively effortless. I had believed that the moment circumstances turned even slightly disadvantageous, he would attempt to flee by whatever means necessary.
‘Though I never imagined he would flee without even crossing blades once with Father….’
And I, who had been observing the battle near Mantong Express Station, witnessed Cheon Gwi-jo slip away through an underground passage and immediately informed Father.
After that, we pursued him along the surface for roughly a hundred paces before apprehending him as he attempted to escape into a tavern’s storage room.
Since it was late and everyone slept with no obstructed paths, tracking Cheon Gwi-jo as he moved alone through the underground proved remarkably simple.
I did traverse several rooftops and move between buildings somewhat, but….
Mak-gae glanced at me sideways.
Mak-gae must have learned through the Beggar who accompanied me that I had pursued Cheon Gwi-jo relentlessly alongside Father.
As I recalled Cheon Gwi-jo, it seemed there was much Mak-gae wished to ask me.
I deliberately averted my gaze.
Father spoke.
“When will Lee Song-yong arrive at the Prison?”
“Well… there is no Murim Alliance branch in Ak-yang.”
Mak-gae, counting on his fingers, spoke with concern evident in his voice.
“I estimate it will take roughly four days. Great Martial Master, are you truly taking Cheon Gwi-jo all the way to Murim Alliance Headquarters?”
Father nodded with a hardened expression.
I too set my expression firmly.
“Hmm, this is troubling. Won’t it be dangerous? We did destroy Cheon Gwi-jo’s dantian… but if the Demonic Cult attempts a rescue…. Sigh, yet since there is information that must be extracted, we cannot simply execute him here….”
Father cut off Mak-gae’s words and spoke.
“This situation arose because I failed to finish things properly. I simply wish to see it through to the end myself.”
“Understood. The higher-ups have instructed that we spare no effort in supporting you, Great Martial Master. Should you require anything, please do not hesitate to speak.”
Father nodded and turned to look at me with a hardened expression.
“Yeon, come here for a moment. I need to speak with you.”
“M-me?”
Father proceeded ahead, gesturing for me to follow.
My heart sank with a sudden, heavy dread.
‘Did I do something wrong? What did I mess up?’
Of course, I had been planning to speak with Father briefly once my conversation with Mak-gae ended.
‘I was certain of that….’
Yet when Father asked to see me, I couldn’t fathom why I felt such dread.
I trembled as I followed Father.

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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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