The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 233

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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 233
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The Law Council was occupied by one of the Wi Alliance Leader’s men. The moment we stepped into the Law Council, it was as good as handing control of this entire affair to the Wi Alliance Leader.
Moreover, this would cease to be a mere dispute between Namgung Ryu-cheong and Hwangbo Chan—it would become a power struggle between the Wi Alliance Leader and the Namgung Clan.
‘And the Hwangbo Family would undoubtedly side with the Wi Alliance Leader as well.’
Even if the Council of Elders tried to unite, their own son had been thoroughly humiliated because of Namgung Ryu-cheong. With their relationship already strained, they would see this as convenient and offer no assistance.
I could be so certain of this because the exact same situation had unfolded in the past.
Moreover, at that time, it was before the Murim Alliance had suffered the Demonic Cult’s assault, so the Council of Elders had refrained from interfering in the Namgung Clan’s affairs.
Namgung Ryu-cheong would somehow manage to participate safely in the Martial Arts Tournament. However, this incident would significantly diminish the Namgung Clan’s influence within the Murim Alliance. That was precisely why Namgung Ryu-cheong could not be allowed to go to the Law Council.
Conversely, the Security Force’s objective was to drag Namgung Ryu-cheong to the Law Council by whatever pretext necessary.
It was at that moment.
“Just a moment, please.”
The voice was gentle yet resonant and clear.
I had heard a voice like this only twice before—one that suggested beauty merely by its sound. One belonged to Namgung Ryu-cheong’s mother, and this was the second time.
And I knew exactly who owned this voice.
The warrior with her lips pressed firmly together murmured.
“Miss Gongsun.”
Gongsun Wol—the daughter of Chong Gun-sa, the Chief Commander of the Murim Alliance.
If Seo Ha-ryeong possessed the radiant beauty of brilliant sunlight, then Gongsun Wol embodied an intellectual and elegant grace.
Gongsun Wol’s eyes met mine, and she offered me a subtle nod before turning her attention to the warrior.
“Kang Dae-hyup, I appreciate your diligence.”
Gongsun Wol, who seemed to know the warrior already, cupped her fists respectfully and continued in a composed voice.
“Baek Li Dae-hyup was merely attempting to stop the quarrel between the Namgung Prince and the Hwangbo Prince.”
Despite the clamor of the gathered crowd, Gongsun Wol’s voice reached my ears with crystalline clarity. I could sense the subtle inner energy woven through her words.
“If someone must go to the Law Council, it should be me.”
Kang Dae-hyup spoke with a troubled expression.
“…Miss Gongsun, you shouldn’t speak so carelessly.”
“No. If I don’t step forward now, I have no face to show Namgung Ryu-cheong. He only intervened because of what the Hwangbo Prince said to me.”
“…”
Kang Dae-hyup’s expression grew pained.
Gongsun Wol’s father was Chong Gun-sa, the Chief Commander of the Murim Alliance. He could not treat her carelessly.
Moreover, her testimony could not be ignored. If she testified in Namgung Ryu-cheong’s favor at the Law Council, the situation would only become more complicated. That was why Kang Dae-hyup wore such a troubled expression.
Gongsun Wol, her delicate face touched with melancholy, smiled softly as she looked toward Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Did you see that smile?”
“Truly, seeing is believing.”
Murmurs of admiration for Gongsun Wol’s beauty rippled through the crowd.
Namgung Ryu-cheong slightly furrowed his brow and averted his gaze from Gongsun Wol.
I observed the entire exchange unfold before me.
“Hmm…”
A soft rustling sound.
For some reason, my grip on Namgung Ryu-cheong’s arm loosened of its own accord.
I felt him flinch as if to catch me, then barely manage to stop himself.
I glanced at this and opened my mouth.
“I understand Gongsun Wol’s intentions. But for now….”
I turned my body and approached Hwangbo Chan.
Everyone watched my sudden action without understanding what was happening.
Using my natural energy, I gently pushed aside the young man supporting Hwangbo Chan and took his place instead. The displaced youth stared at his own hands with a bewildered expression.
I ignored this and asked.
“Prince, are you badly injured?”
“….”
Hwangbo Chan’s expression was absurdly vacant. He seemed not to have understood my words at all.
“Prince Hwangbo?”
When I called out again with a slight tilt of my head, Hwangbo Chan startled and responded.
“W-what is it?”
I smiled and asked.
“I was just wondering if you were alright.”
Despite taking such a beating, Hwangbo Chan showed no visible injuries beyond the split in his lips.
‘Good, this works out well! His skin must be quite thick.’
When I examined him with my golden eyes, he had sustained some internal injuries, but they were the sort that would heal quickly with rest.
Hwangbo Chan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and jumped to his feet.
“I’m not going to forfeit over something like this!”
I nodded as if relieved and asked.
“Prince Hwangbo, so you have no intention of forfeiting?”
Hwangbo Chan bounced in place and shouted.
“What? Why would I!”
“That’s fortunate.”
Then I turned to look at Kang Dae-hyup.
“You heard that, Kang Dae-hyup? The Namgung Prince and Gongsun Wol won’t need to visit the Law Council after all.”
Kang Dae-hyup, who had been watching, burst out loudly.
“What in the world are you talking about!”
“Kang Dae-hyup, why are you angry?”
I tilted my head with a puzzled expression.
Kang Dae-hyup spoke with a scoff.
“Does Baek Li not know the rule that tournament participants must not engage in private disputes?”
“Ah, of course I know.”
“Then why are you defending the Namgung Prince? I didn’t think you were like this—I’m disappointed!”
I smiled faintly and spoke.
“Haha, it seems Kang Dae-hyup is the one who doesn’t understand.”
“What?”
I looked at Kang Dae-hyup as he shouted fiercely, and I adjusted my voice slightly. Then, infusing it with natural energy so my voice would carry far, I opened my mouth.
“The Murim Alliance established that rule because participants in the Martial Arts Tournament kept suffering serious injuries or forfeiting due to private disputes outside the Tournament Arena, and this became a recurring problem.”
As I continued, my voice grew more resolute.
“In other words, it applies when an opponent sustains an injury and is forced to forfeit. Am I mistaken?”
Kang Dae-hyup’s mouth fell open.
If laws could be interpreted in various ways, then surely rules could be interpreted similarly as well?
Moreover, his logic wasn’t entirely unreasonable. The rule had originally been created precisely because people kept forfeiting.
Could one truly tell the people of Jianghu—who resolved every dispute through martial prowess—not to fight? The intent was simply that they shouldn’t injure themselves or cause harm to others.
Those watching nodded in agreement as they listened to my words.
“Ah, truly the daughter of Baek Li Dae-hyup. You certainly know the Murim Alliance rules well.”
“How can one tell martial artists not to fight? Just yesterday, an entire inn was thrown into chaos.”
And then unexpected support arrived.
“The young lady’s words are correct.”
It was Gongsun Wol.
“That rule was established seven tournaments ago when a fight between participants outside the Tournament Arena escalated into a massive brawl, resulting in more than half of the Round of 16 competitors forfeiting.”
I was impressed. She remembered such details so precisely?
I pressed forward with the momentum.
“Are you suggesting, Kang Dae-hyup, that main tournament participants shouldn’t even spar with one another? This place gathers countless martial artists who exchange techniques through sparring every single day. By your logic, shouldn’t you be dragging every participant who’s sparred within the Alliance to the Law Council?”
“….”
Kang Dae-hyup clenched his teeth so hard his jaw seemed ready to break.
If he agreed here, it would escalate into a matter involving every participant in the Murim Alliance, and if he disagreed, he had no choice but to back down.
“She’s right, isn’t she? As long as there’s no blood, what’s the problem? No one was injured and the parties involved are fine. So who’s really causing the disturbance here?”
“Exactly. Why keep dragging up something that’s already finished? It’s not even entertaining. Tsk.”
“Let’s move on. We’ll be late starting the preliminaries at this rate.”
Kang Dae-hyup’s face flushed red and then pale.
Glancing around and seeing that most seemed to agree with me, he shouted as if refusing to concede.
“Deceiving people with such nonsense!”
I frowned with displeasure and spoke.
“Do you think the people gathered here are fools, Kang Dae-hyup?”
Instantly, the eyes of those assembled turned fierce.
Kang Dae-hyup flinched in surprise.
“I, I never said such a thing!”
“Weren’t you saying they were deceived by a few words from me? If that wasn’t your meaning, then I understand.”
“….”
Kang Dae-hyup, who had been muttering, clenched his teeth and shouted.
“Young lady Baek Li, this isn’t even your matter—why do you keep interfering? Are you overstepping the Security Force’s authority? Even Baek Li Dae-hyup always cooperated with other officers!”
So he’s going to bring up my father now?
“That’s rather strange, isn’t it?”
I tilted my head with a puzzled expression, tucking my hair behind my ear with a cold smile.
“Just moments ago, you tried to take me away simply because I was standing with Namgung Ryu-cheong, but now you’re saying I should stay out because it’s unrelated?”
“….”
It was an undeniable victory for me.
‘So why did they drag me into this from the beginning?’

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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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