The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 192

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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 192
“Yalyu took Namgung Ryu-cheong away with him.”
“What?”
“When I woke you and went to check on Namgung Wan, that boy asked Namgung Ryu-cheong if he could spare a moment.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong had refused, but my father told him to go ahead since he would keep watch at Namgung Wan’s side.
It was truly unexpected.
‘Wow, so their relationship has improved a bit?’
“But Father, shouldn’t you be staying by Uncle Namgung Wan’s side? Namgung Ryu-cheong hasn’t even returned yet.”
“Ah, I was so absorbed in our conversation that I forgot. Go on up.”
I had spoken without much thought, but now I was inadvertently sending my father away without even a meal.
I grabbed the hem of my father’s robe.
“No, Father. Please stay. What could possibly happen?”
“No. I made a promise, and I must keep it. Since things have come to this, tell Namgung Ryu-cheong to have his meal here before coming up. He hasn’t eaten yet either.”
My father seemed concerned about Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been confined to his room all day.
I watched my father’s retreating figure as he climbed the stairs with a dejected gaze.
After his form completely disappeared, I sighed and rose to my feet.
“Are you going to find the young master?”
The voice came from the direction of the warriors at the opposite table—the ones who had stood up to greet my father and me when we came down, and also the ones whose conversation I had inadvertently overheard while passing through the corridor earlier.
Just as I had heard their conversation, they had apparently heard mine and my father’s as well.
“Yes.”
One of them, who had bandages wrapped around his arm like a cast, pointed in one direction with his uninjured hand.
“The young master went that way.”
“Thank you.”
I thanked them and walked away, but then turned back once more.
“Uncle Namgung Wan should be waking up soon, so please don’t worry too much.”
Both of them widened their eyes in surprise.
* * *
Namgung Ryu-cheong stared at Yalyu’s back as he walked ahead, then glanced behind him.
The tall inn building came into view. However, the room where his biological father was staying could not be seen from this direction.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“How far are you planning to go?”
Yalyu, who had been leading the way, stopped and turned around.
Namgung Ryu-cheong urged him on.
“If this isn’t something important, I’d like to get back quickly.”
Among the young men Namgung Ryu-cheong knew, Yalyu was one with whom he had spent considerable time. Excluding even his few relatives, he could be counted on one hand.
But it was merely the length of time spent together. In terms of actual relationship, he was even less significant than Jang Cheol of the Jang Family.
An unpleasant fellow.
That was Namgung Ryu-cheong’s assessment of Yalyu.
From the first time he saw him in childhood, he had felt an inexplicable displeasure. Whenever they met, hostility would surge forth without reason.
Moreover, that fellow would occasionally emit an unrefined killing intent whenever they encountered each other. There was no choice but to dislike him.
Still, perhaps due to his age, he showed restraint now—a carefully maintained facade.
‘Or perhaps he simply wants to make a good impression on Baek Li-yeon.’
Yet I could never fail to sense the killing intent directed at me. Because of it, whenever we sparred, I found myself holding back against him. Instinctively, I concealed my true strength and kept him at bay. It was a matter of survival.
And he did the same. Even as we both hid our abilities, I could tell from the clash of our blades—our skills were evenly matched.
If we fought with everything we had, there was no way to know who would emerge victorious.
For him, this was deeply wounding to his pride. It was absurd, really. A disciple of Cheonsan Yeom-je, yet his abilities were equal to someone of unclear origins and questionable foundation.
And what infuriated him most was watching this nobody cling to Baek Li-yeon’s side all day as though he were someone of importance.
How much longer would he keep up this charade of closeness?
As Namgung Ryu-cheong stared coldly at Yalyu, he suddenly spoke in a tone that made one wonder if he was about to challenge him to a duel.
“Thank you for helping me find my father this time.”
Yalyu gazed at Namgung Ryu-cheong intently.
“I’ve been so preoccupied that I haven’t expressed my gratitude until now.”
This man—whose strength rivaled his own, who clung to Baek Li-yeon’s side, whose handsome face irritated him—everything about him from head to toe displeased him. And yet, he had helped save his father.
Of course, he had done it for Baek Li-yeon, not for him. But the fact remained that he had received help.
It was Yeon who had identified the spy, but he had heard that without this man’s presence, they would have missed it entirely.
If his father had suffered as he did—poisoned with Mountain Toxin and attacked by Cheon Gwi-jo and the Demonic Cult’s forces—
Even if they had found his father eventually, his arm would have been beyond saving, beyond even discussion.
He truly did not want to acknowledge that he owed this man a debt.
Yet with his father’s arm hanging in the balance between recovery and permanent loss, he found himself wanting to maintain flawless conduct. It felt as though only then would his father’s recovery proceed without complication.
Namgung Ryu-cheong continued.
“The situation is difficult now, but I will repay your assistance as fully as I can in the future.”
Yalyu, who had been listening quietly, suddenly let out a soft laugh.
At this, Namgung Ryu-cheong felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine.
Toward Namgung Ryu-cheong, who was watching him with unease, Yalyu spoke.
“I have a request.”
“A request?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong asked in disbelief.
“Of me?”
Yalyu nodded lightly.
“…What is it?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke, his suspicion undiminished.
Yalyu glanced around briefly before opening his mouth.
“I’d like you to arrange a meeting with Cheon Gwi-jo.”
“What?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s brow furrowed.
He had braced himself for some enormous request, only for this?
“If you want to meet him, why not just go and meet him yourself?”
“I can’t. The Great Swordmaster Baek ordered those under his protection to prevent me from meeting him.”
“The Great Swordmaster forbade it? Why?”
“Because my relationship with Cheon Gwi-jo isn’t good.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a scoff.
“How could any person possibly get along with that vicious Madu?”
Yalyu turned his gaze slightly away before speaking.
“I was captured by Cheon Gwi-jo when I was a child.”
“….”
Only then did it come back to me—Cheon Gwi-jo had kidnapped children, and Yalyu was the sole survivor among them.
Even as we continued discussing Cheon Gwi-jo, I had completely forgotten that Yalyu shared a bitter history with him.
Yalyu spoke.
“If he’s dragged away to the Murim Alliance like this, I’ll never get to meet him again.”
“That may be true, but why….”
I stopped mid-question, unable to ask why he wanted to meet him.
It was hardly a pleasant personal matter. If I were in his position, I wouldn’t want to speak of it either.
Namgung Ryu-cheong furrowed his brow as he spoke.
“The Great Martial Master forbade it, so how am I supposed to help you?”
“That is….”
* * *
Cheon Gwi-jo was confined in a storage room set apart within the inn. With no Murim Alliance branch in this remote place, there was nowhere suitable to hold him.
His dantian had been shattered, scattering all his inner energy, and the tendons in his limbs had been severed.
Given that he was provided only enough water and food to survive, and his hands and feet were bound, there was no need for iron bars.
Still, there were guards stationed to watch the storage room.
A warrior of the Baek Li Family looked at the approaching figure with puzzlement.
“Young Master Namgung? What brings you here?”
“….”
Before the warriors, Namgung Ryu-cheong kept his mouth firmly shut, saying nothing.
As the Baek Li Family warriors, puzzled by the silence, were about to speak again, Namgung Ryu-cheong finally opened his mouth.
“I, have, something, to, discuss, with, Cheon Gwi-jo.”
“Young Master?”
“Yes.”
His expression was stiffly rigid to the point of awkwardness, his face flushed, his manner of speech peculiar. The warriors exchanged glances at this obviously strange behavior.
“Hmm… Is something the matter?”
“Nothing is the matter.”
“But what business do you have with Cheon Gwi-jo….”
Just then, one of the warriors suddenly elbowed the speaking guard in the ribs, cutting him off, and spoke himself.
“Please, go ahead inside.”
The guard who had been blocking the way turned in surprise to look at his companion.
“What…? Ah, well, understood. Be careful. He’s bound so he can’t do anything, but it’s not a pleasant sight.”
Even though the warriors stepped aside as if to let him pass, Namgung Ryu-cheong did not move. It was then that the Baek Li Family warriors exchanged glances and tilted their heads.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“Could you, perhaps, also step away for a moment?”
“Pardon? That is….”
“Yes. I’ll take a walk around and return. Please rest comfortably.”
“No, you….”
“Ah, just come with me for now.”
“Thank you.”
The warriors bickered as they moved away from the storage room.
Soon, a warrior’s voice could be heard.
“I heard from a Baek Geom Disciple that it was Cheon Gwi-jo who did that to the Namgung Minor Family Head….”
They seemed to have whispered, thinking they were far enough away that it wouldn’t be heard, but unfortunately, Namgung Ryu-cheong heard every word.
It seemed he believed Namgung Ryu-cheong had come to learn something from Cheon Gwi-jo regarding his father’s matter.
Even after the warriors vacated the area, Namgung Ryu-cheong remained standing in front of the storage room without entering.
Soon, a figure approached the storage room.
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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