The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 195

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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 195
A pale blade of light pointed toward Yalyu.
‘What am I supposed to do about this?’
It was clear that Yalyu had intended to use Namgung Ryu-cheong from the very beginning.
Even if he hadn’t meant to frame him… Yalyu had trampled upon Namgung Ryu-cheong’s kindness without hesitation, and that changed nothing.
‘I wondered why they were together, but now I see…’
My own brief hope felt foolish in retrospect, so I could only imagine the betrayal Namgung Ryu-cheong must be feeling.
Yalyu’s reaction, by contrast, was utterly indifferent.
“Don’t waste your strength on meaningless things.”
“….”
“Drawing a sword over something so trivial.”
An apology wouldn’t even begin to suffice…
I glanced at Yalyu for a moment before opening my mouth to intervene.
“You’re right. Ryu-cheong, why don’t you calm down for a moment? Let’s examine the full circumstances…”
“The full circumstances?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a hollow laugh.
“Do you know what that bastard told me?”
“…What did he say?”
“That Cheon Gwi-jo simply died while he was in the middle of talking.”
“….”
I was left speechless by that pathetic excuse.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“Right. Now that I hear your explanation, I understand. You’re correct. That bastard never intended to frame me. From the start, he wouldn’t have cared if it became known that he was the one who killed Cheon Gwi-jo.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze turned toward Yalyu.
“Because he deemed it worthless. Cheon Gwi-jo’s death held no value to him, and neither do I.”
“….”
“All you need to do is convince Yeon and the Baek Li Patriarch. What does it matter if anyone else complains or if I’m angry?”
“….”
A direct hit.
Yalyu’s expression soured slightly. Even though he hadn’t properly concealed his true intentions, he seemed displeased that Namgung Ryu-cheong had read him so accurately.
Just then, as the silence stretched too long, I noticed the warriors of the Baek Li Estate approaching. The time I had bought was running out.
I hurriedly closed the storage room door and unfurled my qi. Just as I was about to open my mouth to try to contain the situation, my eyes met Namgung Ryu-cheong’s.
The gaze of Namgung Ryu-cheong, sword in hand, was… unexpectedly composed. When I had first entered, his eyes had been blazing with fury, but now they were entirely different.
Of course, he still appeared angry, but there was something calm about him that suggested he hadn’t drawn his sword on impulse.
“….”
A certain resolve gleamed in those eyes. It seemed to say: trust me and watch.
I closed my mouth and stepped back slightly.
Yalyu tilted his head.
“Are you really going to draw a sword over something so trivial?”
“Yes. I’m formally challenging you to a duel.”
Yalyu exhaled with an expression of annoyance.
“I have no desire to fight you. Just consider it my loss.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, his teeth clenched, drew a deep breath as if trying to calm himself.
“If you win the martial contest, I’ll take responsibility for Cheon Gwi-jo’s death.”
“What?”
“Since this situation arose because I brought you here, I bear some responsibility for it.”
In other words, he was saying he would claim responsibility for this incident to the outside world and the Murim Alliance.
If it became known that Yalyu had killed him, there would be no major problem, but it would certainly create troublesome complications. This was also his way of preventing that.
After all, the people here were my father’s people and Uncle Namgung Wan’s people.
The Beggar Sect members were somewhat of a concern, but if we kept our mouths shut, it was entirely possible.
However, for Yalyu, who had never intended to hide the fact that he was the one who killed from the beginning, this wasn’t really necessary.
Yalyu’s still indifferent attitude made that clear.
“And if you win?”
“I’ll apologize sincerely.”
“….”
Yalyu’s eyes held an expression of disbelief.
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
Yalyu let out a long sigh.
Then, unexpectedly, words tumbled from Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lips.
“Yalyu, you’re my benefactor.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
For a moment, I couldn’t grasp what he meant, and the words slipped through my mind before I belatedly understood.
“That’s right. If we’re counting debts, I can simply overlook this matter.”
The Jianghu operates on the principle of favors owed.
Namgung Ryu-cheong was making this explicit.
“Using me was unpleasant, but as you said, Cheon Gwi-jo deserved to die. So strictly speaking, there’s nothing seriously wrong with this. You’re right.”
As Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke, he seemed to be organizing his thoughts.
“I would have killed him myself if I could have.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze turned toward Cheon Gwi-jo’s cold corpse.
Yalyu spoke as if satisfied.
“Then let’s just move past it.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong closed his eyes, then looked at Yalyu again.
“But no. I don’t want to use a debt of gratitude just to overlook something like this.”
“….”
“If we simply move past this without resolving this knot, I could turn a blind eye by counting what you’ve done for me.”
“….”
“But if we move past it like this, every time I’m with you from now on, I’ll doubt your sincerity. I’ll question whether your words have hidden meanings, and I won’t be able to trust any of your actions.”
“….”
“I don’t want that.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze was as straight and clear as a blade, directed toward Yalyu.
“….”
“….”
…That was so very Namgung Ryu-cheong of him.
Yes. If we simply let this pass without resolution, lingering resentment would inevitably fester between us.
Namgung Ryu-cheong despised that. Either trust completely or reject entirely. He wanted to settle it cleanly through martial combat—the way of the Martial World.
I saw Namgung Ryu-cheong in a new light. To think he could calmly examine the matter of honor and even anticipate how unresolved emotions might become a problem later.
I had only ever seen him as a child, yet somewhere along the way he had become a young man capable of understanding his own feelings clearly and expressing himself with logical precision.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“Then settle it the way of a martial artist.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at Yalyu as if offering him a choice.
By then, all expression had drained from Yalyu’s face.
Yalyu’s gaze, which had briefly rested on me, now fixed on Namgung Ryu-cheong with intensity.
“Fine.”
I exhaled in relief and spoke.
“Not now.”
Both Yalyu and Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me questioningly.
“Uncle Namgung Wan hasn’t even regained consciousness yet. Is this the time for you to draw your sword? Besides….”
I released the barrier of energy that had enveloped us. Immediately, I sensed several presences outside the storage room.
I opened the storage room door and stepped out.
The moment I emerged, my father was waiting. Behind him stood the martial artists of the Baek Li Estate whom I had encountered earlier.
Their expressions were grim, and when Namgung Ryu-cheong and even Yalyu emerged behind me, their faces darkened further.
I stopped before my father and spoke.
“Cheon Gwi-jo is dead.”
“What?!”
“No, that can’t be. He was definitely alive just moments ago. Why suddenly…? Could it be…?”
When my father turned to look back, the martial artist who had been speaking fell silent and began sweating profusely.
“Verify it.”
The martial artists rushed into the storage room in panic.
My father’s stern gaze fell upon me, Namgung Ryu-cheong, and Yalyu. He seemed about to say something, but kept his mouth firmly closed.
After confirming Cheon Gwi-jo’s death, my father spoke.
“All of you, follow me.”
* * *
“So Cheon Gwi-jo is dead, I hear.”
“Dead? Well, that’s convenient!”
“Keep your voice down! We had mountains of information to extract from him. This is hardly cause for celebration.”
“Hmph, I never agreed with keeping that Madu alive just for information in the first place.”
It was an inn no larger than a palm.
Baek Li-yeon, Namgung Ryu-cheong, Yalyu, and even Baek Li-ui-gang moving together—it could not be hidden.
Rumors were inevitable.
“Who killed him?”
“I’m not certain. The three of them were together before the Fourth Young Master summoned them.”
“Does it matter who killed him? Besides, we’re not even sure he was killed. He might have simply dropped dead on his own.”
Every martial artist at the Inn was fiercely loyal to their own clan and to the Unit Leader.
But martial artists weren’t the only ones present. The Beggar from the Beggar Sect who had been cooperating with Baek Li-ui-gang tried to slip out quietly the moment he learned of the incident—clearly intending to report it. But he had no chance. He was caught right at the door.
“Please wait here until the Unit Leader has something to say.”
“But….”
“Surely you can wait that long?”
The White Tiger Unit warrior who had seized the Beggar asked with gleaming eyes.
“You’re not suspecting the Unit Leader, are you?”
“Good heavens, of course not! The integrity of the Great Hero Baek Li is beyond question.”
The warrior’s eyes had long since stopped gleaming as he smiled warmly and spoke.
“Then let’s sit and wait.”

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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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