The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 257

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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 257
The Pung Family Head seized me and leaped onto the highest nearby boulder, ensuring all could see us clearly. With that movement, I felt the Heavenly Silkworm thread wound around my neck dig deeper.
Namgung Wan’s complexion grew even more pallid.
“Do not worry. I have no intention of causing harm. However, all of you must withdraw from this place.”
“Such contemptible treachery…!”
If we retreated now, what would become of the ladies remaining in the cave was as obvious as fire.
“What could we possibly gain from fighting in earnest? Is not the Namgung Clan also an ally of the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“And yet you dare call this an alliance!”
“We harbor no desire to sever the bloodline of the Namgung Clan.”
“Pfft.”
At that moment, laughter rang out—utterly inappropriate to the situation. My laughter.
Part of it was genuine disbelief, but half was deliberate.
The Pung Family Head spoke as though exasperated.
“You find this amusing?”
“Ah, truly—who is the villain here?”
“…You’ve lost your mind. Do you think I’ll fall for such provocation?”
That was when it happened. With slight variations in timing, everyone’s gaze turned toward a single point.
And then.
Tap.
A man in white martial robes descended with light footsteps and came to a halt.
The Pung Family Head cried out in shock.
“The, the White Tiger Unit Master…!”
Though he was no longer the White Tiger Unit Master, the cry escaped his lips unbidden.
With my golden eyes, I could perceive Father approaching from afar. And the forces following behind him as well.
Soon after, the Baek Geom Disciples and former White Tiger Unit members following Father revealed themselves one after another.
“What manner of spectacle is this?”
Father’s face was frozen in an icy expression. I had never seen him so furious before.
“How, however you arrived, you are too late!”
Father spoke to me as though he had not heard those words.
“Are you unharmed?”
“Yes, I believe I can manage.”
“Good.”
With those words, Father closed his eyes tightly. For a brief moment, a look of anguish flickered across his gaze.
Without hesitation, Father leaped toward me.
“Ui-gang!”
“Dae-hyup!”
Cries of alarm came from Namgung Wan and Namgung Ryu-cheong.
The Pung Family Head also flinched and pulled the thread tightening around my neck.
“White Tiger Unit Master! Have you lost your mind? Your daughter…!”
The Pung Family Head, mid-shout, suddenly fell silent, his expression one of utter disbelief.
And my father’s blade pierced straight through Pung Family Head’s body.
Thud!
“…!”
Everyone froze at the sudden turn of events.
I felt the inner energy contained within the Heavenly Silkworm Technique gradually weakening. Soon, complete control of the technique transferred entirely to me.
The fierce and tense battle had reached its end.
The Heavenly Silkworm Technique loosened from my neck. I slipped free from Pung Family Head’s embrace.
Pung Family Head, breathing heavily, stammered as if whispering.
“Wait… just a moment.”
My father mercilessly drew his blade free.
“Gahhk!”
Red liquid stained the stone. My father raised his sword again.
The Hyeonmu Unit Master cried out.
“White Tiger Unit Master! That is enough. We have lost.”
My father did not stop and brought his blade down across Pung Family Head’s neck.
A sharp sound.
With that cold sound, my father’s voice followed.
“I do not spare those who lay hands upon my daughter.”
* * *
“Thank you.”
I offered my gratitude to Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“….”
Fortunately, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s wound was not particularly deep.
But his expression was troubled.
Namgung Ryu-cheong gazed quietly at my neck.
I explained.
“It’s fine. It’s not deep.”
Though I had a slight wound on my neck, it was shallow. With my protective inner energy, it was merely a surface scratch. Compared to Namgung Ryu-cheong’s injury, it was nothing.
“….”
But Namgung Ryu-cheong remained silent.
I watched as Namgung Ryu-cheong wrapped bandages around his wound, then stood to leave.
That was when Namgung Ryu-cheong suddenly grasped my hand.
“….”
And again, he said nothing.
His grip was so weak I could have easily pulled away….
I remembered the expression in his eyes as he looked at me. In the end, I could not bring myself to resist, and reluctantly sat beside him.
Shortly after, Uncle Namgung Wan, who had hurriedly left, returned. Having sustained internal injuries, he must have coughed up blood somewhere out of sight.
Uncle Namgung Wan asked my father.
“Ui-gang, how did you know to come here? Yeon said it would take quite some time for you to receive word.”
At that, my father’s gaze turned toward me.
I flinched in surprise and quickly ducked behind Namgung Ryu-cheong, poking only my head out to ask.
“That’s right. How on earth did you get here?”
Baek Li-ui-gang fixed me with a piercing gaze, then gestured toward someone.
Moments later, someone was dragged forward.
Namgung Wan spoke up.
“Is that… Byeok Family Head?”
The reason for the uncertain tone was that Byeok Family Head’s appearance was so thoroughly ruined it was barely recognizable. He looked as though he’d endured considerable suffering.
A White Tiger Unit member hurled Byeok Family Head to the ground as though discarding refuse.
“Gahhh!”
Byeok Family Head let out a grotesque cry as he crashed onto the floor.
He pushed himself up, shouting.
“This, this, this is too much!”
But the White Tiger Unit member merely spat on the ground with visible disgust before walking away.
‘What is this…?’
Everyone wore bewildered expressions.
“Baek Li Dae-hyup! Are you truly going to stand by and allow such treatment?”
My father, a man who rarely judged others hastily, regarded Byeok Family Head with unmistakable revulsion.
Byeok Family Head shrank back in alarm, hunching his shoulders.
My father opened his mouth.
“Byeok Family Head has been continuously offering women to Wi Alliance Leader all this time.”
“…!”
So the Byeok Family had been serving as the supplier.
My father learned of the Byeok Family’s conduct while investigating the disappearances occurring within the Murim Alliance.
As I suspected.
My father had been continuing his investigation into the missing persons cases all along.
The Byeok Family provided Wi Ji-baek with women he desired, while Wi Ji-baek protected the Byeok Family’s interests in return—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
However, my father said he had not yet gathered conclusive evidence sufficient for an accusation.
Then, suddenly, the Byeok Family Estate was annihilated.
My father continued.
“I reasoned that Wi Alliance Leader would find me of no further use and would never allow Byeok Family Head—who knew his secrets—to remain alive.”
And indeed, Wi Alliance Leader had attempted to dispose of Byeok Family Head in secret.
But my father, who had already been watching Byeok Family Head, rescued him.
Byeok Family Head would have had no choice but to cooperate with my father if he wished to preserve his life. Thus my father learned of this mountain manor’s existence and came to find it.
“I wondered why you suddenly mobilized the Hyeonmu Unit without proper understanding of the situation. It seems you’ve been in disarray because of this matter.”
The Hyeonmu Unit Master kept his mouth firmly shut.
The former White Tiger Unit members restraining the Hyeonmu Unit wore rather somber expressions. It was understandable—they were binding their former comrades.
Out of respect for the Hyeonmu Unit Master’s rank, they had merely sealed his acupoints to prevent him from using his inner energy, rather than binding him.
My father turned to the Hyeonmu Unit Master and asked.
“Why did you do this? Why did you… cooperate with such a thing?”
From the swordsmanship of the Baek Li Family woven into the Hyeonmu Unit Master’s blade technique, it was evident that he had undergone repeated sparring sessions with my father over a considerable period of time.
In other words, the two of them shared quite an intimate bond.
The Hyeonmu Unit Master answered curtly.
“I merely repaid the debt of gratitude I owed to the Alliance Leader.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Yes.”
My father’s expression remained unchanged as always, but I could see it. He was deeply wounded by this.
I couldn’t help but interject.
“Ah, so sharing stolen martial techniques that Saek-ma stole is what you call a debt of gratitude?”
As if I’d struck a nerve, the Hyeonmu Unit Master erupted.
“What would a brat like you know! Born with a silver spoon in your mouth!”
“Oh.”
Namgung Wan, who had been listening quietly, let out a sharp laugh.
“What are you laughing about!”
I smiled and replied.
“No, it’s just the first time someone’s told me I was born with a silver spoon.”
“What?”
I swept my damp hair back and continued.
“Everyone always says the opposite—that I don’t even know who my mother is, and that I became crippled in my inner energy, so my fate is cruel.”
“….”
The Hyeonmu Unit Master’s mouth clamped shut like a clam. His face flushed crimson.
And then I realized belatedly.
‘Wait, wait. My father is here too, isn’t he?’
I’d spoken without thinking.
I continued with a slight chuckle, as if that had been my intention all along.
“…Of course, I don’t think that way. Just having such a father is the greatest fortune I could ask for. Isn’t that right, Father?”
I looked up at him with the brightest, most innocent eyes I could muster.
“….”
My father had been slightly irritated with me ever since arriving here. Fortunately, at my words, he let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head in disbelief. He didn’t seem inclined to dwell on what I’d said earlier.
I turned back to the Hyeonmu Unit Master.
“So the Hyeonmu Unit Master arbitrarily kidnapped and oppressed those poor women… and when the truth threatened to come to light, you tried to silence them by killing them.”
“….”
“Is that what you trained your sword for?”
Even ten mouths wouldn’t have words enough.
“Do you know what people who live that way are usually called?”
“….”
“Demons. The very demons you all claim must be eliminated.”
Namgung Wan’s smile was deeply satisfied.
“It feels like a weight has been lifted from my chest.”

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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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