The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 251

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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 251
I spoke to Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate.
“Did Gong-sun send you here to kill me?”
Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate flinched in alarm and denied it.
“Absolutely not!”
Gongsun Wol harbored feelings for Namgung Ryu-cheong.
‘And Namgung Ryu-cheong cares for me.’
As fury surged to the crown of my head, the situation paradoxically became crystalline in its clarity.
If I died because of Gongsun Wol, her relationship with Namgung Ryu-cheong would shatter irreparably. Besides, she was not the sort to harbor murderous thoughts toward a rival.
Furthermore.
“If I vanished after meeting Gong-sun and then turned up dead, it would spark war between the Gongsun Family and the Baek Li Family.”
Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate’s complexion drained to ashen.
“I would stake my life to protect her.”
The Guard glared at Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate as though he might tear him to shreds.
“Do you truly believe your wretched life compares to the young lady’s?”
The Guard pointed an accusatory finger at Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate.
“Your clan served as generals of the Murim Alliance for years—how could you fail to grasp something so obvious? And if you knew of this matter, why didn’t Gong-sun step forward herself instead of pushing the young lady into harm’s way?”
Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate merely bowed his head, his face darkened as though drained of life.
‘Ah, I see now.’
Another realization crystallized.
The reason Gongsun Wol had revealed this to me.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips unbidden.
“Ha… so the Gongsun Family Head already knows of this matter?”
“….”
Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate fell silent—unable to bring himself to speak ill of his own Family Head.
“Gong-sun must have tried numerous approaches already. But none bore fruit, correct?”
The Guard muttered a quiet curse beside me.
Was it only the Gongsun Family? Surely several other sects knew of this truth as well. Yet none had stepped forward.
Why?
The reason became abundantly clear.
Because there was no profit in it.
The general—the Gongsun Family Head—had determined it more advantageous to bury this matter and keep Wi Ji-baek as the Murim Alliance Leader.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
So this was how I came to agree with Yalyu’s words about there being far too much garbage in this world.
‘Did Yalyu know of this as well?’
He may or may not have, but Cheon-ma surely did.
How absurd it all was.
The Orthodox Path followers who revered such a wretch as their leader.
And the fools who turned a blind eye to the leader’s crimes while singing his praises.
* * *
A garden shrouded in pitch darkness.
This was no ordinary mountain manor. It was a mountain manor rigged with mechanical traps throughout. Had I entered without caution, I would have become a pincushion before taking more than a few steps.
Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate, who had been leading the way, stepped on a trap and nearly fell to his death. His clothes were already tattered from encountering traps multiple times on the way here.
After witnessing such a sight twice, I offered to take the lead. He initially refused, questioning how such a thing was possible, but when he saw the trap activation rate drop dramatically once I moved ahead, he relented.
I paused briefly before stepping into the garden.
“There are traps here too. From this point on, only step where I step.”
“How are you able to discern the traps?”
That was thanks to my Golden Eyes.
Wherever mechanisms had been set, the flow of natural energy inevitably became distorted. And beyond that—
“I learned some things from Jegal Hwa-mu, the Jegal Family Head, back then.”
This too was the truth.
He had taught me even the secret martial arts of the Jegal Clan without hesitation.
“If I’m going to die anyway, what does it matter if it’s a secret technique? It will disappear regardless.”
“I’d rather you remember it instead.”
These were not techniques that could be passed to just anyone.
The upper dantian’s power was crucial, and for someone like me who operated natural energy through the upper dantian alone without a lower dantian, these techniques were actually perfectly suited.
Without him, my progress would have been far slower.
Step. Step.
As I moved cautiously forward, I suddenly sensed an odd disturbance in the natural energy.
Screech! Clang!
The blade I had already drawn intercepted the incoming projectile. And the trap that had just activated was—
A Guard with only his eyes visible beneath a masked face bowed his head.
“My apologies.”
“We should bring torches after all.”
The garden was at least somewhat illuminated by stone lanterns spaced at intervals.
But inside the buildings, even moonlight barely penetrated, making it nearly impossible to see ahead.
“But if we light a fire—”
“Wouldn’t that be better than making more mistakes? After all—”
I glanced around the surroundings.
It was silent.
“There’s no one here.”
“That’s what troubles me. Why is it so quiet? We haven’t seen a single person this entire time.”
A group of Black-Robed Attendants had definitely entered the formation, yet there was no trace of them.
Was this mountain manor not their true objective?
“Where could all the women have gone?”
The residences we had passed showed signs of hasty departure.
I spoke coldly, preparing for the worst scenario.
“They may have taken them all and killed them.”
“What? Such madness—!”
“What wouldn’t someone capable of such madness as kidnapping innocent women be willing to do?”
“….”
We continued deeper into the Mountain Manor.
Creak.
“Someone’s already ransacked this place.”
The Guard illuminated the chamber with his torch.
Even I, whose tastes had grown considerably refined, was startled by the sheer opulence of the room.
It resembled the chamber of a nouveau riche who had gathered every conceivable means of displaying wealth—garish without a trace of elegance. Now, the room lay in complete disarray, as though a tempest had swept through it. Furniture was scattered haphazardly, and valuables lay strewn across the floor.
“There don’t appear to be any triggered traps.”
I entered the chamber cautiously.
‘No matter how I look at it, Wi Ji-baek couldn’t have built this Mountain Manor.’
It was inconceivable that Wi Ji-baek possessed such capability.
As I surveyed the room, I moved toward an enormous bed large enough to accommodate ten people.
After standing there for some time, the Guard asked.
“Is there something there?”
I nodded and tapped the wall deliberately.
Thump, thump.
The sound was unusual—it resonated as though there were hollow space beyond.
‘There must be a hidden door here.’
I simply couldn’t determine how to open it.
As I was thoroughly searching near the bed, I spotted figures approaching the building with their presence concealed through my golden eyes.
The moment I turned in alarm, I realized escape was already impossible.
Already six or seven people had surrounded the Pavilion.
‘…Damn.’
I had been so focused on the mechanical mechanisms that I’d neglected to monitor my surroundings.
I gestured toward the Guard and Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate.
‘Where did they suddenly come from?’
The fact that I hadn’t detected their approach until I confirmed it with my golden eyes suggested they were formidable fighters.
They, too, realized we had already noticed them and immediately burst into the building.
The door shattered open as blades came flying.
Clang!
They were Black-Robed Attendants dressed identically to us, with only their eyes exposed.
Clang! Crash! Boom!
The torch tumbled to the floor, nearly extinguishing.
My Guard was among the elite of the Baek Geom Unit, and Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate was a secret bodyguard whom the Gongsun Family had raised for her since childhood.
Despite both being elite of their respective families, they struggled against the Black-Robed Attendants.
However, I did not engage them alongside my companions and continued examining the mechanical mechanisms.
‘So that’s it. As expected.’
I transmitted my voice alternately to them.
[Everyone, when I signal, jump onto the bed where I am. One, two, three!]
As I called out three, I pressed down firmly on the sculpture attached to the bed.
In that instant, the ceiling burst open and blades rained down like a torrential downpour.
“Damn!”
“Everyone, take cover!”
The startled Black-Robed Attendants scrambled to flee the chamber, but it was already too late.
The moment the mechanism activated, the door slammed shut with an iron finality.
That was when it happened.
Crash—! Screeeech!
The door exploded inward as someone burst through like lightning, unleashing a tremendous sword wind against the descending blades.
Clang clang clang clang!
The blades caught in the sword wind lost their trajectory, snapped, and scattered toward us.
I lunged forward, spinning to deflect the incoming blades away.
In that same breath, the intruder drew their sword toward me. Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate moved to intercept.
Clang! Crash!
In merely two exchanges, Gongsun Wol’s Subordinate was driven back, slamming against the wall. I positioned myself to shield her, blocking the Black-Robed Attendant’s advance.
Crash!
The force was enough to numb my wrists.
My eyes widened.
Watching the opponent’s attacks flow like water, I murmured.
“Ryu-cheong?”
The blade aimed at my throat froze mid-strike.
“…Baek Li-yeon?”
Beneath our masks, our eyes—the only features visible—met. Those eyes were as familiar as their swordwork.

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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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