The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 23

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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 23
Baek Li-ui-gang, whose eyes wavered with uncertainty as he examined the jade token, slowly lifted his gaze.
“This token… it’s not yours, is it?”
“As expected, your eyes miss nothing. You’re right. It belongs to my father.”
Namgung Wan’s father was Namgung Mu-cheol, the Family Head of the Namgung Clan and one of the Eleven Strongest under Heaven.
“Then…”
Namgung Wan raised his hand, cutting off Baek Li-ui-gang’s words.
“There’s no need to worry. I’ve already obtained my father’s permission.”
“…”
“After all, when Man Shin-ui concealed himself, I thought there would be no occasion to use this token. If this Man Shin-ui we’ve found hides himself again, when could I possibly use it?”
Namgung Wan leaned forward sharply toward the table.
“Li-ui-gang, this is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. I’ve instructed my subordinates to keep watch over Man Shin-ui, but who knows when he might conceal himself again?”
“…”
Namgung Wan exhaled a sigh and straightened in his seat.
“The choice is yours. I won’t force you.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s knuckles had turned white from how tightly he clenched his fist against the table.
“And I don’t intend to give this to you for nothing.”
Baek Li-ui-gang looked at Namgung Wan with questioning eyes.
“I have a request for you.”
“A request?”
Namgung Wan exhaled deeply and unconsciously pressed the tips of both eyebrows repeatedly.
“It concerns my son… Ryu Cheong.”
“Has something happened to your son?”
Baek Li-ui-gang asked in surprise.
“No, that’s not it. Rather, it’s a problem precisely because nothing has happened.”
Baek Li-ui-gang regarded him with even greater puzzlement.
It was then.
“Young Master, Young Master.”
At the voice from beyond the door, Baek Li-ui-gang’s face hardened as he asked.
“…What is the matter?”
“I apologize for the interruption, but… the Lady has sent someone.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s face turned rigid.
He had clearly instructed Eon-du to let no one through. Yet Eon-du was reporting this, which meant the visitor had been persistently stubborn and had forced their way in.
Baek Li-ui-gang rose to his feet and spoke.
“Tell them I’ll receive them outside. Have them wait.”
“Why go to such trouble?”
Namgung Wan, whose arrogant expression had returned at some point, tilted his head while leaning back in his seat.
“Let them in. Ha, I’m quite curious what she has to say.”
* * *
Children dressed in vibrant silk garments walked past with a rustling sound.
Everyone who encountered them quickly bowed their heads.
The children, accustomed to such surroundings, were too busy chattering among themselves.
“Ugh, I thought I’d die of boredom. Why does Grandfather insist we go to the Academy?”
“Grandfather said it’s for our own good.”
At Baek Li-myeong’s words, Baek Li Pyo cried out.
“But you didn’t want to go either!”
“Well, I don’t mind it so much.”
“What, you traitor! Myeong, what are we doing now? I’m so restless, let’s spar!”
For the past few days, the sparring schedule and frequency between the twins and the Baek Li Family disciples had been set. At first, they’d protested loudly about who decided this, but the moment they learned it was Baek Li-ui-gang’s decision, they immediately fell silent.
Baek Li-myeong smiled apologetically at the twins.
“I need to go see Li-ri, so I can’t.”
“Again? How much longer is she going to sulk?”
“Right? You must be frustrated too. I mean, making such a fuss over something so trivial for days? If it were me, I’d just—”
“Pyo.”
“Tch. Fine.”
“She’s your sister. Be kind to her.”
Baek Li-myeong, his expression tender, patted Baek Li Pyo’s shoulder. So U-ak chuckled, interlacing his fingers behind his head as he muttered.
“Though compared to her, Li-ri is pretty cute.”
“Why has Baek Li-yeon been so noticeable lately? It’s really annoying.”
“She acts like she’s a real member of the Baek Li Family. It’s ridiculous. She can’t even use martial arts—what’s a useless thing like her doing here?”
“Exactly! Why does she even come to the Academy? Is she out of her mind? I don’t want to be treated as part of the same family!”
“Pyo. Ak-i.”
Baek Li-myeong called out to the twins in warning. Then he glanced subtly around.
Baek Li Pyo, caught off guard, closed his mouth, and So U-ak opened his with a worried expression.
“Brother, the gatekeepers…”
“It’s fine.”
All the gatekeepers belonged to Grandmother.
At Baek Li-myeong’s answer, So U-ak visibly relaxed. Baek Li-myeong swallowed his contempt at the sight. Did they not even know whose people the gatekeepers were, yet they carried on like this?
After thinking for a moment, Baek Li-myeong suddenly asked as if remembering something.
“Do you know who that escort wearing the bamboo hat behind Yeon was?”
A single escort’s tattling wouldn’t cause major problems. He’d acted carefully enough that any rebuttal was possible.
But at this question to confirm, So U-ak answered.
“Not an escort.”
“Right, it wasn’t. Baek Li-yeon came to the Academy with just one servant and her uncle.”
“Really? Then is he just a guest?”
“Nothing remarkable about him, right?”
“Yeah. He seemed like he couldn’t even enter.”
“Right.”
Though he was just an unremarkable guest, it was still good to be cautious. Watching the twins run wild like reckless fools, Baek Li-myeong felt a fresh headache coming on.
“From now on, don’t do that in front of others. Understood?”
“If she doesn’t catch my eye.”
“Baek Li Pyo.”
Baek Li Pyo pouted and bolted away on his own, while So U-ak shouted after him.
“Hey, where are you going!”
Baek Li-myeong sighed and shook his head.
Baek Li-myeong extended his hand toward the servant behind them.
“Give that here.”
In the servant’s hand—the one carrying the twins’ book bags on his back—was a blackwood box inlaid with mother-of-pearl. It was the box Baek Li-yeon had given to Baek Li Pyo.
So U-ak intercepted the box just as the servant was about to hand it over. Baek Li-myeong frowned slightly as he regarded So U-ak.
So U-ak flinched and offered an explanation.
“No, why bother taking this trash? I’ll just go get some toys and bring them to Li-ri myself in a bit.”
“…Fine. I understand.”
Baek Li-myeong, who had never wanted to deliver it in the first place, smiled helplessly.
“Hey, go throw that away.”
Baek Li-myeong turned away after watching So U-ak toss the box to the servant following behind him.
We passed through the garden where crabapple and white peonies bloomed in profusion, crossed through the circular gate in the white wall, and a magnificent pavilion came into view. A servant who had been sweeping the stone steps of the pavilion quickly bowed upon seeing Baek Li-myeong.
“Where is Mother?”
“She has gone to see the Lady.”
“And Li-ri?”
“She is with her nursemaid and attendant.”
Baek Li-myeong nodded and entered the pavilion. Inside the chamber were a middle-aged woman and two young girls.
The young girl in fine clothes cradled in the woman’s arms was too busy playing with beads to even glance at the open door.
Only the middle-aged woman bowed respectfully, then spoke to the girl.
“Young Miss, your brother has arrived.”
“Li-ri.”
The moment Baek Li-myeong called her name, Baek Li-ri spun around abruptly.
Baek Li-myeong exhaled a sigh.
“Li-ri, my dear. Won’t you even look at your brother’s face? I just returned from the Academy.”
Baek Li-ri pouted and glanced at Baek Li-myeong for a moment before turning away again. Baek Li-myeong, now seated beside her, spoke gently.
“Li-ri, who did your brother see at the Academy today?”
“…”
“Hong and Young-young, and oh, Jo-a too.”
Baek Li-ri stole another glance at Baek Li-myeong.
“Especially Jo-a—she was sorry she didn’t see you.”
At the mention of Kang Jo-a, Baek Li-ri’s closest friend, her eyes wavered. But she soon puffed out her cheeks and muttered.
“S-still, I won’t go.”
Baek Li-ri had stubbornly refused to attend the Academy for days, weeping as though she would be gone forever. Baek Li-ui-muk regretted shouting that day and couldn’t be firm with her, nor could he make a scene.
If word reached Grandfather’s ears, wouldn’t it only make Baek Li-ri’s position more awkward?
Yet he couldn’t allow Baek Li-ri to keep skipping the Academy under the pretense of illness. If Baek Li-ri didn’t attend, wouldn’t Baek Li-yeon naturally gain prominence!
After classes ended, Baek Li-myeong had gathered with friends. They were all children of prestigious families. Several of them had already taken interest in Baek Li-yeon, whose reputation had been spreading.
Though Baek Li-yeon had become a cripple of little consequence, her uncle Baek Li-ui-gang was a figure of considerable renown, and such a situation could not be left unaddressed.
It was a matter that demanded attention.
It was while Baek Li-myeong had been consoling Li-ri for some time that the middle-aged woman who had briefly stepped away returned.
“Young Master, Miss—the Grand Lady requests your presence.”
“Grandmother?”
“Yes.”
When Baek Li-myeong turned to look at Baek Li-ri, she abruptly whipped her head away.
“I’m not going.”
“Li-ri.”
“I don’t want to. If I go, she’ll just tell me to go there again. I’m not going!”
Exhausted from having already spent considerable effort soothing her, Baek Li-myeong released a weary sigh and rose to his feet alone.
“Very well, I understand. We’ll speak later.”

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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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