The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 229

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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 229
“So Namgung Ryu-cheong quarreled with you, did he?”
“That boy wouldn’t say such things. I simply happened to overhear it.”
It was only natural that Namgung Wan heard about it through official channels, since I had formally returned the gift.
“That gift was far too extravagant for a birthday present.”
After a brief silence, Namgung Wan spoke.
“It’s not as precious as it appears. It’s merely a decoration.”
Namgung Wan hesitated before continuing.
“Ryu-cheong drew the design himself and commissioned a master craftsman to create it. He gave it considerable thought.”
“He personally drew the design and commissioned a master craftsman, yet you say it’s not precious?”
The logic didn’t add up at all!
“…Ahem, well, regardless, if I say it’s so, then it is.”
But even without Namgung Wan’s words, I could tell the moment I saw the decoration. This was something Namgung Ryu-cheong had personally commissioned from a master craftsman.
‘When I was at the Namgung Clan, he said we’d see each other again when the peach blossoms bloomed…’
I gazed at Namgung Wan and offered a faint smile.
“If you wish for me to accept it, Uncle, then I shall.”
Not for Namgung Ryu-cheong’s sake, but for Namgung Wan’s sake, I could accept it.
But there was no way Namgung Wan could have missed the meaning behind my words.
“…No. If you truly don’t wish it, then so be it.”
I nodded and changed the subject.
“By the way, Uncle, you underwent closed-door cultivation for three years, didn’t you?”
I regarded him with a subtle smile.
“Congratulations.”
For someone of his generation, it was typically impossible to undertake closed-door cultivation lasting one or two years.
Given his position, there were inevitably many family matters demanding his attention.
Under normal circumstances, even closed-door cultivation rarely exceeded two or three months at most.
Yet Namgung Wan had spent a full two years in seclusion, then emerged briefly before entering another year of closed-door cultivation. This led to rumors questioning whether Namgung Wan’s arm was truly intact.
“Can you discern such things with your own eyes?”
“That too, but…rumors are already spreading. They say the Namgung Minor Family Head has entered the Flame Realm.”
Namgung Wan sipped his wine as though it were of no consequence, though he couldn’t quite hide the slight upward curve of his lips.
To simply categorize the martial realms, there were first, second, and third-rate warriors, followed by what was called the Peak Realm.
The Peak Realm was generally considered the stage where one could wield sword energy freely, and from this point onward, one was treated as a true master. Beyond that came the Transcendent Peak, and then the Flame Realm.
This was the realm Namgung Wan was now known to have reached. Should he advance one step further from the Flame Realm to the Celestial Realm, he would join the ranks of absolute masters like my grandfather and the Namgung Family Head.
For a long time, both my father and Namgung Wan had been the subject of public interest regarding who would first break through the Transcendent Peak barrier.
That competition had ended in Namgung Wan’s victory. He had surpassed the Transcendent Peak and entered the Flame Realm.
My father had also reached the Transcendent Peak, but…
I clenched my sleeve tightly.
It was unavoidable. With my father’s incomplete internal energy state, merely maintaining his current condition was already a burden.
Proper cultivation was impossible. And on top of that, he had to care for me, who had fallen into demonic possession.
Facing Namgung Wan, who had now entered the Flame Realm, my congratulations were sincere, yet I couldn’t help but feel a faint jealousy mixed with bitterness. And ultimately, one thought emerged.
‘Am I truly the problem? If only I hadn’t existed….’
Cheon-ma’s words echoed in my mind. That I was holding my father back.
A voice pulled me from my thoughts—Namgung Wan’s.
“That experience, when I nearly couldn’t wield a sword again… it helped me tremendously.”
Namgung Wan gazed at his right hand.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
Then he looked at me with sincere eyes.
“Whatever choice you make, I already regard you as my own daughter.”
“….”
“So if there’s anything you need my help with, come to me anytime without hesitation.”
I bit my lips firmly and lowered my head. My eyes stung unexpectedly.
* * *
The next day, I prepared early and sought out my uncle. And I apologized to him on behalf of Namgung Wan.
Though I hastily sent the servants away, the rumors had already spread far and wide.
He was a servant, but not of our family—he belonged to the Murim Alliance.
I couldn’t silence all their tongues, and besides, this lodging was provided by the Murim Alliance. No matter how spacious, it was separated from the other pavilions where others stayed by merely a stone wall.
“I’ll inform Grandfather later and have him lodge a formal protest.”
Well. Would Grandfather actually hear of this and lodge a formal protest with the Namgung Clan? More likely, he’d scold me for not conducting myself properly at the Murim Alliance.
Of course, my uncle understood this too. His chest heaved as if his blood were boiling, and he clicked his tongue irritably.
“Enough! I’ve long known that you hold the Namgung Minor Family Head far closer than you do me. Yet we share blood, you and I. Would I truly treat you so coldly! I’m simply exasperated!”
Before I could say anything, my uncle struck the table heavily, again and again.
“And why are you apologizing? If anyone should apologize, it’s him! No, wait—he’ll rush to me claiming you said this to him. Enough. You should just go. What could I possibly say to you!”
I righted the overturned teacup and picked up the teapot.
“Uncle, please calm yourself first and hear me out for just a moment. If you think about it carefully, this incident isn’t entirely a bad thing.”
My uncle’s face darkened as he struck the table again, his voice rising. The tea I’d carefully poured spilled over once more.
“Don’t speak so lightly of words you didn’t hear yourself!”
“That’s not it… Uncle, please, just listen once. Just once.”
I calmly refilled the teacup.
The decorative rim of the table kept the water from spilling over. But if he struck it even once more, it wouldn’t be the table that suffered.
My uncle glared at me with fierce eyes, as if demanding I speak and leave.
I spoke calmly.
“This is the Murim Alliance, after all.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“If rumors spread of discord between the Baek Li Family and the Namgung Clan, who would be most pleased?”
“Hmm?”
My uncle’s irritable expression softened slightly, interest kindling in his eyes.
I spoke deliberately.
“There is one person, a very particular person, who would be quite pleased.”
The Murim Alliance Leader, Wi Ji-baek.
My uncle, who possessed some wit, fell silent before quickly grasping my meaning.
“So you’re saying I should pretend there’s discord between the Baek Li Family and the Namgung Clan?”
“As expected, Uncle, I knew you would understand my intentions immediately.”
If the two families appeared to be at odds, the Wi Alliance Leader’s faction would surely make a move.
“But would they believe it, even if something happened last night?”
Baek Li-ui-muk’s expression grew suspicious.
“They wouldn’t believe it easily. But they won’t be able to ignore it either. That’s why your convincing performance is crucial, Uncle.”
“Hmm.”
Baek Li-ui-muk stroked his chin thoughtfully before speaking as if a realization had struck him.
“So you’re saying the Namgung Minor Family Head intended from the start to spread this as discord between us? If so, he should have told me beforehand!”
“That’s… not it.”
“What? Then did you coordinate your story yesterday?”
“That’s not it either.”
Baek Li-ui-muk looked at me as if asking what on earth was going on.
“I didn’t tell Namgung Wan about this. He doesn’t know about this plan.”
“What? Why not?”
I could have told him yesterday—there was ample opportunity.
But I didn’t.
‘Because… Namgung Wan is terrible at acting.’
I said something entirely different from what I was thinking.
“You are the center of this matter, Uncle. Why would I need to tell Namgung Wan about it?”
At the words “center of this matter,” Baek Li-ui-muk’s eyebrows twitched.
He would accept this situation. It was a reasonably good plan, after all.
First reason.
My grandfather had sent Baek Li-ui-muk to the position of elder in the Murim Alliance as consolation for stepping down from the Family Head position.
But my grandfather would not keep someone without ability sitting as an elder in the Murim Alliance. He needed to see some accomplishment.
Baek Li-ui-muk, who had been contemplating, asked worriedly.
“But even if they believe there’s discord between the two families, would the Wi Alliance Leader’s faction really approach us?”
“Then would they approach the Namgung Clan instead?”
“Well, that’s true…”
Baek Li-ui-muk trailed off.
Second reason.
If the Wi Alliance Leader had to reach out to one of the two families, it would absolutely be ours.
Baek Li-ui-muk had never directly clashed with the Wi Alliance Leader until now. But Namgung Wan was different. The relationship between Namgung Wan and the Wi Alliance Leader was already irreversible.
Those who knew about the Baek Li Family’s internal affairs would know. The fact that Uncle and my father had not been on good terms in the past.
“And even if they don’t approach us, we have nothing to lose. After all, the two families will never actually fall into discord, and we can spread the word that the Baek Li Family now has equal standing with the Namgung Clan.”
If the Wi Alliance Leader truly had no lingering feelings about their past conflicts and didn’t approach us, that would actually be better.
It would mean the Wi Alliance Leader still possessed the capacity for thought and was a force we could still manage.
But if he showed no reflection whatsoever and only cared about power struggles within the Murim Alliance…
There was no telling when or what schemes the Demonic Cult would employ with the Cheonma Jibow.
In such circumstances, I could not leave someone whose allegiance was uncertain as the leader.
I gave Baek Li-ui-muk’s hesitant back another gentle push forward.
“And wouldn’t it be best to simply tell Grandfather that you’ve devised this plan? I’m certain he’ll agree it’s a brilliant idea.”
In other words, this entire scheme wasn’t my conception but rather something Baek Li-ui-muk had conceived himself. I was deferring all the credit to him.
Baek Li-ui-muk’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

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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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