The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 215

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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 215
Even as I thought, “Surely you’re aware that your combined ages exceed one hundred?” I spoke with practiced ease.
“With Father present, why must Grandfather personally intervene? Father was trained directly by Grandfather himself, so Father’s involvement is no different from Grandfather’s involvement!”
I could not praise only Grandfather or only Father in this situation.
Only by maintaining balance between the two and alternating my praise could I end their childish quarrel.
After persisting in this manner for some time, both of them finally seemed to regain their senses and let out awkward coughs.
But it was already too late. Dae-gae stood with his mouth agape in utter bewilderment, having witnessed the entire spectacle.
Observing his expression, I thought to myself.
‘Hmm, if the Beggar Sect had a registry of notable figures, wouldn’t they rank like this? Baek Li Pae-hyuk, Baek Li-ui-gang. Sometimes they don’t act their age….’
Dae-gae, having regained his composure, then asked.
“Miss, what will you do going forward?”
I too emerged from my wandering thoughts, lowering my gaze as I pondered.
“What does the Beggar Sect wish to do?”
Dae-gae spoke naturally, as though he had been waiting for this very question.
“With the Donghobang Master in such a state, won’t there be significant upheaval in the Ak-yang forces? Wouldn’t this be an opportune moment for the Orthodox Martial Arts Sects to establish a foothold?”
In other words, he was suggesting we expand Orthodox forces into Ak-yang.
Though Ak-yang was considered Black Gang territory, such a large city was not entirely devoid of Orthodox sects. They had simply struggled to survive under constant oppression.
“Moreover, wouldn’t it be a waste for the Baek Li Family to simply withdraw now?”
I looked toward Grandfather. He appeared to have already discussed this matter with Dae-gae to some extent.
I felt slightly relieved. So Grandfather had not come all the way to Ak-yang without purpose.
“I was planning to stay a while longer to observe how the Donghobang develops.”
Grandfather spoke as though he had been waiting for my response.
“Good. Then I entrust these matters to you. I will leave behind the Baek Geom Unit and personnel to handle affairs, so you need not worry overmuch.”
It was then that Father spoke.
“I will remain a while longer as well.”
Grandfather raised his eyebrows.
“For what purpose? Are you not aware that those who harbor enmity toward you are watching for an opportunity?”
Since Father’s sudden episode before the Murim Alliance, his seizures had been occurring with increasing frequency.
Fortunately, there had been no public display of his condition since the Murim Alliance incident, making rumors of problems with his martial prowess increasingly questionable.
Yet should he display such symptoms even once more, it would be nearly impossible to suppress the spreading rumors.
Father spoke with composure.
“You said you would leave the Baek Geom Unit behind for Yeon’s sake, did you not? What danger could possibly arise?”
Grandfather’s whiskers twitched.
He likely wanted to say, “The Baek Geom Unit was left behind for Yeon’s sake!” But his pride would not permit such petty-sounding words.
Moreover, he could not say before Dae-gae, “Your body is the problem!”
Grandfather looked between Father and me with a disgruntled expression, then let out a scoff.
“Fine, do as you wish.”
I smiled and spoke.
“Then Grandfather, you’ll be leaving right away?”
“Of course. Why, do you wish for me to leave quickly?”
I nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“The family members are all waiting with bated breath for Grandfather, so you really should go see them soon. But if we have a bit of time before that, I was hoping we might share a meal together, even if it’s a bit early.”
“A meal?”
“Yes. I’ve heard there’s a famous restaurant in Ak-yang!”
Both Grandfather and Father looked at me as though I’d lost my mind.
Grandfather spoke in a tone of utter exasperation.
“After all that commotion you caused, you’re thinking about food?”
“Isn’t everything we do ultimately for sustenance?”
I pouted indignantly as I spoke.
“Besides, if it were just me, I could eat anywhere without complaint! But since Grandfather has come all this way, I wanted to treat him to something delicious—and you’re dismissing my sincere feelings like that! I’m hurt!”
* * *
Once I removed the cloth that had covered my eyes and even altered my bearing, no one on the street recognized me.
Palxiangju was situated near the lake, overlooking the beautiful scenery of Dongting Lake. Fortunately, since we’d arrived outside the main dining hours, there were tables available.
“During meal times, you apparently need a reservation to eat here.”
“Palxiangju—I’ve heard of it. They say the cuisine there is unparalleled under heaven. I’ve always thought I should try it someday, but never had the opportunity. Thanks to Yeon, I finally get to taste it.”
Even as I smiled, I couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet pang in my heart.
It was Yalyu who had discovered Palxiangju, the famous restaurant in Ak-yang. He’d eaten there while following Tianshan Flame Emperor and said the food was quite good, suggesting we go together whenever I had time.
But ever since we found Namgung Wan, one crisis after another had descended upon us, and ultimately…
I shook my head, dispelling the thought that had surfaced.
Father asked me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Seeing our refined appearance, Jeom So-i guided us to the finest seat by the window on the upper floor.
The breeze that drifted in was slightly cool, but the view overlooking the lake from the window made such a minor discomfort irrelevant.
The moment I squinted slightly at the sunlight reflecting off the lake, Father asked.
“Are your eyes alright?”
“Ha. Yes, this is fine.”
“Let’s change seats.”
No, really, it’s fine…
In the end, I switched seats at Father’s insistence.
In the meantime, Grandfather had asked Jeom So-i for a suitable wine recommendation and placed an order.
After Jeom So-i withdrew with a beaming smile, I transmitted my voice to Father.
[No matter how I look at it, he just recommended the most expensive wine, didn’t he?]
When I’d observed him earlier, a different wine had seemed to be the recommended choice. Since we looked like outsiders, it seemed we’d been overcharged…
Father glanced at Grandfather, then transmitted his voice to me.
[…Pretend you didn’t notice.]
Grandfather was enjoying himself far too much.
I lowered my eyes in understanding.
‘Well, money isn’t something we lack.’
I could always place an additional order when Jeom So-i returned.
As I was thinking such thoughts, Grandfather spoke as if he had just remembered something.
“Ah, Li-ri’s marriage has been decided. We’re selecting an auspicious date, so it will take place either this summer at the earliest, or this autumn at the latest.”
“What?”
Father’s expression suggested he already knew.
I asked urgently.
“Who is the groom?”
“The second son of the Myeongho Sect Master.”
“Ah….”
The Myeongho Sect was one of the largest martial sects in the vicinity of the Baek Li Estate. I understood them to be relatives through Grandmother’s side of the family.
If he was the second son of the Myeongho Sect, I recalled seeing him several times at the coming-of-age gatherings that Grandfather and my older brother Baek Li-myeong had hosted in the past. I remembered him as not particularly bad.
“Isn’t she still too young to marry?”
“It’s already been two years since she underwent her coming-of-age ceremony. What do you mean by too young?”
“….”
In truth, seventeen was the perfect age for marriage in this world. Martial families were somewhat different, often delaying marriage to allow focus on cultivation….
As the saying goes, one is startled by a child grown tall, then startled again by a pot lid.
Grandfather must have deeply pondered where things had gone wrong with Father. And this was the result of that contemplation.
Better to marry her off early.
For reference, my older brother Baek Li-myeong also married in the year I underwent my coming-of-age ceremony and left home.
Strangely enough—or rather, it was no longer strange to notice—
Baek Li-myeong married the same person he had married before the regression in this life as well.
Grandfather drank his tea and spoke.
“And it is your grandmother’s wish.”
Grandmother, who had collapsed from the shock of what happened with my aunt, had her chronic illness flare up.
As time passed, her condition worsened, and recently she spent more time lying down than sitting up.
From what I heard, the physician said she wouldn’t last much longer.
“I agreed as well. Li-ri will never achieve greatness anyway. Hmph, cultivation is a battle with oneself, yet we raised her so indulgently that she can’t….”
“Father.”
Father interrupted Grandfather’s words.
“Children that age naturally enjoy playing. Li-ri simply got distracted for a moment, that’s all.”
“You and Yeon were never like that.”
Well, that’s because Father and I are different sorts.
Grandfather continued in a dissatisfied tone.
“That boy Myeong-i was always diligent in cultivation, day and night! He couldn’t even keep up with his own older brother. Enough! There’s no need to defend her! Tsk.”
So… Baek Li-ri lacked firm resolve and was easily swayed.
When a friend came to the house and pestered her to stop training and play, she wouldn’t firmly refuse—she’d hesitate and follow along instead… she was simply an ordinary child of that age who loved to play.
After watching her play here and there every day, Grandfather, who had endured it all, ordered her into closed-door cultivation the moment she underwent her coming-of-age ceremony.
Baek Li-ri, who had never done closed-door cultivation before, entered the Baek Young-yu Cave—where Baek Li Family disciples conducted their closed-door training—confident that it couldn’t be that difficult.
‘And… she fled after just two months, saying she couldn’t do it.’
Honestly, I understood Baek Li-ri.
Unless one had experienced death like me, or was a mutant like Namgung Ryu-cheong, how could anyone enjoy waking at dawn every day, concentrating on breathing exercises for hours, and swinging a sword under the blazing sun?
It required an extraordinarily resolute will.
‘…Come to think of it, how is Namgung Ryu-cheong faring these days?’
The matter of my marriage to Namgung Ryu-cheong had been left to fade away. My grandfather had intended for me to carry on the family line. He had made his wishes known to me as well.
It was only natural that a marriage with Namgung Ryu-cheong, the sole heir of the Namgung Clan, would be difficult to arrange.
For reasons I could not quite explain, I pushed aside the bitter feelings that had welled up within me.

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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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