The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 208

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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 208
“…!”
Clang—!
Crash—!
It happened in an instant.
“Protect the Young Master!”
“So Ga-ju!”
I cried out in panic.
“You said you had no intention of killing him…!”
Cheon-ma spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“Surely I must collect payment for the Third Young Master’s life, no?”
“What do you mean… Don’t tell me?”
Could it be that the Third Young Master wasn’t originally meant to die at this time?
As the celestial mechanism grew more distorted, he said he could twist even the predetermined fate.
Then if the Third Young Master wasn’t originally meant to die yet?
‘Moreover….’
In truth, during the martial contest, Uncle Namgung Wan could have defeated the Third Young Master without killing him. But the moment he seized the opportunity, he drove his blade through without mercy.
It was only natural. These were the ones who had slain his family.
And if the Third Young Master wouldn’t honor his promise, it would be cleaner to eliminate him here and make escape easier—such calculations must have crossed his mind as well.
In the end, Uncle Namgung Wan had achieved his revenge.
And it had become a tired old tale. That revenge begets revenge.
If Uncle Namgung Wan hadn’t killed the Third Young Master, would Cheon-ma have withdrawn?
‘No, there’s no point dwelling on it now.’
Uncle Namgung Wan suddenly pulled me into his embrace. I clung to him tightly in return.
Whoosh—.
The moment we burst from the inn, torrential rain drenched us completely in an instant.
The one saving grace was that Cheon-ma had merely issued orders and wasn’t moving directly himself. Moreover, the troops that had surrounded us outside seemed to have withdrawn and were nowhere to be seen. Only those who had come with the Cult Leader were attacking us.
We were being pushed back by the difference in skill, but since their numbers weren’t overwhelming, we were managing to hold our ground somehow. The beggars from the Beggar Sect weren’t much help in battle, but Dae-gae, contrary to his usual gentle demeanor, proved to be formidable once the fighting began.
And Namgung Ryu-cheong and Yalyu… their coordination was surprisingly excellent.
‘Was it the effect of the martial contest?’
Now that I thought about it, their duel felt like it had happened days ago, distant and hazy.
Then it happened.
Jingle-jingle. Through the sound of rain, a faint bell chime echoed from somewhere. Suddenly, mist began to swirl densely around us. It was an anomaly.
Uncle Namgung Wan muttered.
“He’s even deploying a formation.”
There was no other way to explain this phenomenon.
‘He said we’d settle this later, but he’s clearly been planning this all along!’
Strangely, I could sense Cheon-ma’s true intentions. It felt as though the heavens themselves were revealing it to me.
If I were to die here, it would be unfortunate, but that would simply be the end, he seemed to think.
The same applied to Uncle Namgung Wan’s death. If I truly was his destined adversary or whatever, I should be able to overcome this much. And if worst came to worst, I could always return.
‘I should have asked how to return instead.’
Did those strange lines appear from repeated regressions? Or when I tried to change the future? Do I have them too?
If anything, meeting Cheon-ma only multiplied my questions.
In that instant, I drew a short blade from my bosom and hurled it.
Whack!
A Demonic Cult Member targeting Namgung Ryu-cheong’s back hastily deflected my blade.
The moment he focused on my blade, Yalyu’s palm struck the Demonic Cult Member’s chest. He flew backward with his chest caved inward.
Wisps of steam rose from around Yalyu’s hand, and he was the one burning through stamina fastest among us.
This downpour. The weather itself was disadvantageous for him, whose constitution thrived in extreme heat. It forced him to expend more vital energy. And he’d already fought Namgung Ryu-cheong before this.
Had Yalyu been at full strength, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s back would never have been exposed.
Before my blade could embed itself in the muddy water after the Demonic Cult Member deflected it, Namgung Ryu-cheong kicked it back with his heel.
I caught the blade as it flew toward me.
‘How on earth do I escape this situation?’
Won’t the heavens teach me that? Why reveal Cheon-ma’s inner thoughts instead…!
Then the steady tinkling of bells diminished by one. Soon another fell silent.
Those fighting frantically hadn’t noticed yet. And something dropped from the sky.
Crash!
Part of the Inn collapsed, sweeping away several Demonic Cult Members in that direction. Everyone stopped fighting, startled by the sudden destruction.
The fighting paused momentarily, and through the rain and pale mist, a figure emerged from the direction of the collapsed Inn.
Cheon-ma spoke.
“Tianshan Flame Emperor.”
“…”
Tianshan Flame Emperor dropped something he’d been gripping in his hand. It was a copper fragment, so warped that its original shape was nearly unrecognizable.
I couldn’t even think to wipe the rainwater streaming down my face as I blinked.
“Sir? How did you…?”
I looked at Yalyu.
My eyes met Yalyu’s, whose brow was furrowed, and he shook his head. He too seemed to have had no idea Tianshan Flame Emperor would come.
Tianshan Flame Emperor walked through the downpour toward us.
“I received a letter from the Jegal Family Head.”
My eyes widened.
“A letter from Hwa-mu?”
“Yes. He told me to come without alerting anyone and to be discreet. Unless I wanted my only disciple dead.”
The madman. He threatened Tianshan Flame Emperor?
In any case, it was true that Yalyu had been in mortal danger.
But…
Tianshan Flame Emperor regarded Yalyu briefly. Yalyu simply stared back at him with an expressionless face.
Though hidden by his beard, Tianshan Flame Emperor seemed to smile faintly.
Tianshan Flame Emperor spoke.
“So on my way here, I saw Namgung Clan Warriors fighting some unknown ruffians, and I’ve been helping them out…”
Uncle Namgung Wan’s eyes widened.
She was clearly referring to the Namgung Clan members who had been escorting Namgung Wan. Since the Third Young Master had mentioned an attack by the Demonic Cult, the situation aligned perfectly. If Cheonsan Yeom-je had assisted them, the casualties might have been minimal.
At that moment, Cheonsan Yeom-je lifted something up.
“This creature suddenly appeared, and thanks to it, we managed to find our way here without getting lost.”
Through the curtain of rain, brilliant golden eyes gleamed clearly.
“Gyeol-i!”
Gyeol-i, who had escaped at some point without my knowing, dangled limply from Cheonsan Yeom-je’s grip on her scruff.
No, you’re not supposed to hold a cat like that…!
Cheonsan Yeom-je suddenly tossed the cat toward me.
“Oof—!”
I gasped in surprise and tried to catch her.
Normally, I would have caught her easily. But my catching motion and Gyeol-i’s landing trajectory misaligned, and her front paw smacked across my nose bridge with a sharp crack.
“….”
Gyeol-i landed on the ground, her eyes wide and round as she stared at me. I rubbed my nose bridge.
Cheonsan Yeom-je clicked his tongue.
It was unfair. It wasn’t my fault—Gyeol-i was practically a semi-spiritual creature…!
“Hahaha.”
Unexpected laughter rang out. It was Cheon-ma. There was no way Cheon-ma was laughing at Gyeol-i and me. Sure enough, the words that followed were incomprehensible to anyone but me.
“Right. I knew it would come to this. Should I say she used her head quite well, or is this also… the will of heaven?”
Cheon-ma murmured with a hint of amusement in her voice, then smiled at me. Suddenly, her expression hardened, and she fixed her gaze on Cheonsan Yeom-je.
Cheonsan Yeom-je also turned to face Cheon-ma.
Two supreme masters locked eyes. The aura emanating from them caused the surroundings to shimmer visibly.
“….”
“….”
A tension as if needles were pricking my skin. I couldn’t even swallow.
Cheonsan Yeom-je spoke without turning to look at us.
“Go.”
I cried out in alarm.
“…Sir!”
Even if we fought together, it wouldn’t be enough, and yet he was telling us to leave…?
Namgung Wan bowed his head slightly toward Cheonsan Yeom-je in gratitude.
Cheon-ma muttered.
“A dying old man.”
“And you, compared to your reputation, are less impressive than expected. You can barely control that body of yours. What’s that form? A walking corpse would look better.”
A walking corpse? Barely controlling his body? What did that mean…?
But I couldn’t verify the answer.
Kwaaaaaaang—!
After that, I could barely perceive anything with my eyes.
The moment the two collided, a tremendous tempest erupted. The raindrops vanished instantaneously in the clash between them. For a moment, sound ceased as if my eardrums had burst.
Shortly after, the sound of rain resumed, and several voices echoed from a distance.
“Run!”
“Chase them down!”
Boom— thud, crash!
“Aaaaagh!”
Whether caught in the fray or unable to escape, someone’s scream pierced through the downpour, echoing long and harrowing.
I gripped Namgung Wan’s neck tightly.
Tianshan Flame Emperor was at the end of his years. He had already deteriorated completely. In his current state, he could never defeat Cheon-ma.
He knew this better than anyone else.

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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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