The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 268

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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 268
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The awards ceremony should have begun immediately. But with part of the spectator stands collapsed, there was no way the podium near the Tournament Arena remained intact.
The Alliance members took some time to organize and restore order.
The damage to the spectator stands was less severe than expected. Before Yalyu’s energy erupted, my grandfather and Taego Jinperson had mitigated the impact reaching the stands.
However, there was still some damage, and a number of injured spectators required treatment from the physicians who had been standing by to treat the martial artists.
Somehow, within half an hour, both I and the podium managed to look barely presentable.
Throughout this time, most of the spectators remained in their seats rather than leaving. In fact, it seemed the crowd had grown even larger.
Gongson Chong-sa ascended the hastily restored platform.
“The Murim Alliance’s martial arts tournament has finally arrived at this day to crown its champion.”
Originally, Taego Jinperson was meant to take that position.
I heard that though he was reluctant, he had stepped forward as the representative since displaying a supreme martial master looked good for the Alliance.
But suddenly, my grandfather insisted on doing it himself.
Taego Jinperson had also been reluctant when he first accepted, but it was a responsibility he had already committed to.
Yet when a rolling stone suddenly tries to dislodge a stone already set in place, wouldn’t anyone feel displeased?
Since both were beyond considerations of rank, the decision ultimately fell to Gongson Bang’s Chief Strategist.
Despite the abrupt decision, his years of experience as a strategist showed—his words flowed with eloquence.
In summary, he spoke of the incidents and accidents that occurred during the tournament, but how this opportunity demonstrated a unified Murim Alliance, and how the brilliant futures of the younger generation promised a radiant path ahead for the Orthodox Way.
After his lengthy closing remarks, Gongson Chong-sa proclaimed loudly:
“The champion of this martial arts tournament… Baek Li-yeon of the Baek Li Estate!”
Uooooooooooo!
A roar that seemed to shake the heavens erupted once more.
From below the platform, I first spotted my father.
My father still looked worried, yet there was unmistakable joy in his expression.
When Uncle Namgung Wan, who had been applauding enthusiastically beside him, said something, Father smiled faintly and began clapping with careful restraint.
Seeing Uncle Namgung Wan urge him on again, I couldn’t help but laugh.
I could see my grandfather as well.
My grandfather was beaming with such a broad smile, clapping his hands, that his eyes had nearly disappeared into crescents.
I hadn’t expected him to come.
I could see people from other martial sects offering congratulations to my grandfather.
The unwanted child of the Baek Li Estate—I never imagined I would become this.
The tournament had always belonged to others.
An indescribable exhilaration wrapped around me. Even my exhausted body, which moments ago yearned for rest, felt remarkably well.
Gongson Chong-sa spoke:
“We shall now present the prizes to the champion.”
An Alliance member who had been waiting nearby handed me an ornate rectangular chest that had been roughly a foot in width, depth, and height.
It was lighter than I expected.
I could tell it contained various prize documents and certificates of rights, including monetary rewards.
At that moment, Taego Jinperson ascended the platform.
Taego Jinperson spoke calmly:
“Congratulations on your victory.”
When Gongson Chong-sa gestured to Maeng-won, he came forward to receive the chest from my hands.
I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but I freed my hands and performed a fist salute, bowing my head respectfully.
“Thank you.”
“Your resourcefulness was remarkable. Had you not sent it skyward, who knows what would have transpired.”
“I deserve no credit. If Taego Jinperson and my grandfather hadn’t made the decision to protect the spectators in that moment, this wouldn’t have ended so cleanly.”
Taego Jinperson smiled faintly and withdrew a black wooden box from within his robes.
“This is the final prize.”
I didn’t need to be told what it was.
Cheonma Jibow.
The plain black wooden box bore the deep marks of countless years.
I wasn’t the only one who recognized it.
“That’s the Cheonma Jibow!”
“Not yet, not yet—it’s merely a box, is it not?”
“To think the divine techniques of the Heavenly Demon are contained in such a shabby box. I can scarcely believe it.”
“Move aside! Let me see it too!”
In that moment, I felt the crowd stir with excitement.
The fact that the spectators hadn’t left despite the Tournament Arena’s ruined state could largely be attributed to this.
Everyone rose onto their toes and craned their necks, desperate to catch a better glimpse.
‘Ah, so that’s how it was.’
I suddenly understood why Taego Jinperson had appeared.
If Taego Jinperson had continued to safeguard the Cheonma Jibow, then even the Demonic Cult would have had no way to obtain it except by winning the Martial Arts Tournament.
But if that were the case…
‘Would the Demonic Cult, would Cheon-ma, truly surrender the Cheonma Jibow so easily?’
Hadn’t they said Yalyu had dispatched many Demonic Cult Members here besides himself?
They would simply abandon it because Yalyu failed to achieve victory?
Of course, considering the techniques Yalyu had displayed, it was difficult to imagine his defeat. Moreover, I’d heard there had been movements from Xinjiang’s Ten Thousand Great Mountains where the Makyoung Headquarters was located.
But unlike last time, Muuhan’s defenses this time had been impeccable. The moment they deployed warriors at the battalion level, they would be caught immediately.
Taego Jinperson, unaware of my concerns, continued speaking.
“Given the importance of this object, I’ve kept it in separate custody. Here, take it.”
Taego Jinperson handed me the wooden box.
It was indeed a peculiar box. It felt as light as if it contained nothing at all. And strangely, I couldn’t sense its interior even with my golden eyes.
Normally, through the flow of natural qi, I could discern the shape of even inanimate objects to some degree, but this box was impossible to perceive.
‘It feels as though it’s sealed…’
I looked toward Taego Jinperson.
Understanding my question, he spoke.
“Open it.”
I slowly opened the box. A dark leather wrapping was bound with what appeared to be an old cord.
‘This is the Cheonma Jibow?’
Then a voice transmission reached my ears.
[Bindu also gained enlightenment here.]
I opened my eyes slightly wider and gazed at Taego Jinperson.
Taego Jinperson harbored an even more intense hatred for the Demonic Cult than Namgung Wan did.
It would have been strange for the sect leader of a faction fighting the Demonic Cult relentlessly on the front lines not to become a hater of the Demonic Cult.
[It seems surprising that Bindu used Cheon-ma’s Jibow. Well, I suppose.]
Taego Jinperson transmitted his voice through qi with a benevolent smile, speaking words that contradicted that very expression.
[If their strength allows them to kill even one more of those insects, would that not be justified?]
Perhaps because it was transmitted through qi, the emotions within those calm words felt deeply resonant. It carried a different quality than that of an ordinary Daoist.
[It may be difficult to gain enlightenment from just one viewing, so if you wish to see the Cheonma Jibow again, feel free to seek me out anytime before leaving the Murim Alliance…]
It was the moment I carefully began to retrieve the Cheonma Jibow while listening to Taego Jinperson’s transmission.
Whoosh!
Suddenly the Cheonma Jibow erupted into platinum-colored flames.
“…!”
Flames hovering alone in empty space. It was an unreal sight.
Everyone failed to react properly.
That was the moment. A sensation of brilliant light flashing through my mind. My gaze was captured by the golden flames before my eyes.
“…!”
Indefinable things were being etched into my consciousness.
The martial techniques and intentions that could be called Cheon-ma’s divine skills and supreme learning.
A tremendous force crashed down into my body.
Every sense throughout my entire being awakened acutely.
The midday sun pouring down on my crown, the grains of sand beneath my feet treading the platform, even the single strand of wind brushing the fine hairs on my cheeks—everything became vivid and clear.
Suddenly I realized this was what was called the Heavenly Eye.
The blowing wind was me, the trampled earth was me, the pouring sunlight was me—nature itself was me.
Without even trying to discern, I felt every circumstance. Beyond the expressions of shock, Yeon’s voice stretched out in an incomprehensible tone.
I felt distinctly where and how Gyeol-i was watching me. And where the gaze of Jeggal Hwa-mu, connected to Gyeol-i, was directed. Even the sorrow and regret he felt.
I could transcend time and space at will.
Yet that too was merely a fleeting fragment of countless sensations.
Among the many senses, there was also a formidable aura approaching the Tournament Arena.
The moment I wondered why the author was here, I could discern who accompanied him as well.
‘Why are both of them…!’
And that was all.
The flames of the Cheonma Jibow that had been floating gently subsided.
“Gasp!”
I drew in the breath I had held suspended. It felt as though my consciousness had dimmed and returned. And the Cheonma Jibow before my eyes had simply…disappeared. Not even ash remained.
“….”
“….”
Silence descended upon the Tournament Arena.
The silence created by nearly a thousand people was heavy enough to suffocate.
My insides churned. My mind was completely jumbled. I stood at a boundary where even where I was and who I was became hazy.
One thing was certain. Every function contained within the Cheonma Jibow had been… absorbed into me.

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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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