The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 27

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 27
* * *
The bandit suppression expedition launched from the Baek Li Estate was scheduled to last over two weeks. In other words, the Family Head was expected to be away for more than two weeks.
However, he returned just three days after his departure. It was absolutely not a good sign. The servants of Subaekdang were always cautious by nature, but today they were especially careful, even holding their breath as they moved about.
In the main hall of Subaekdang sat Baek Li Pae-hyuk with his eyes closed. Beside him stood Baek Li-ui-gang with an unreadable expression, and Jang Seok-ryang, who had already knelt once before, stood with his head bowed.
Soon people filed in one after another. In order came Baek Li-ui-muk, Baek Li-ui-ran, Baek Li-myeong, and then Baek Li Pyo and So U-ak. Without opening his eyes, Baek Li Pae-hyuk confirmed that everyone had arrived and spoke to Jang Seok-ryang.
“You may leave now.”
Jang Seok-ryang bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Baek Li-ui-muk and Baek Li-myeong knelt immediately upon entering, reading the atmosphere. The twins, looking bewildered, followed suit and knelt as well.
However, Baek Li-ui-ran held her neck stiffly upright, her eyes blazing with indignation instead. Baek Li Pae-hyuk remained silent with his eyes closed for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Baek Li-ui-ran, it seems you have much to say. If you have something to tell me, speak.”
Baek Li-ui-muk reached back and tugged at Baek Li-ui-ran’s sleeve from behind, as if to restrain her. But she ignored this and lifted her head higher.
“Namgung Wan of the Namgung Clan—that disrespectful man must not be left unpunished, Father.”
Baek Li-ui-gang, who had been looking down at the floor until now, turned his gaze toward Baek Li-ui-ran. At that look, she let out a scoff and continued speaking.
“How can Namgung Wan be so utterly rude! He dared to belittle and mock my sons, who carry the blood of the Baek Li Family, right here in the Baek Li Estate!”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk asked slowly, his eyes still closed.
“He belittled and mocked your sons?”
“Yes!”
“How so?”
“He told Baek Li Pyo and So U-ak that since they cannot even wield a sword, they should never be seen again! The children were so hurt!”
Only then did Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s eyes snap open. His piercing gaze swept across the twins.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk spoke slowly.
“Then why do you think Namgung Wan said such a thing to the children?”
“How should I know! Why would Namgung Wan suddenly say such a thing!”
Baek Li-ui-ran, whose eyes had met Baek Li-ui-gang’s, lifted her head even more stiffly.
After all, the gatekeepers were all her mother’s people, already bought and paid for. The only witnesses were Namgung Wan and Baek Li-yeon. In terms of numbers, she had Baek Li-myeong, the twins, and the gatekeepers on her side.
If she denied it, what could that fool Baek Li-ui-gang do about it? She could simply insist that Namgung Wan and Baek Li-yeon had conspired together.
Baek Li-ui-muk spoke in frustration.
“Baek Li-ui-ran. Please, stop this.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk, observing the scene, turned his gaze to the twins.
“Baek Li Pyo, So U-ak. What do you think of your mother’s words?”
“….”
“….”
The twins hesitated, reading the atmosphere, and could not easily open their mouths.
“Very well. Since you seem reluctant to speak, I shall ask instead. What is this matter about the peonies?”
The twins started in shock, and Baek Li-ui-ran clenched her teeth. It was clear that either Baek Li-yeon or Namgung Wan had reported everything like a tattletale.
Baek Li-ui-ran cried out.
“Father, what does a mere peony matter! Ask the gatekeepers! Baek Li-yeon was the one who said she would give it to the children first!”
Baek Li-ui-ran continued with an aggrieved tone.
“The children merely played a prank, and yet Namgung Wan dares to interfere in Baek Li Family affairs! This is nothing but the Namgung Clan looking down on us! How can you call such an uncouth man a close friend, Baek Li-ui-gang? You also…”
“Silence your mouth!”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s hand trembled as he gripped the armrest of his chair.
Baek Li-ui-ran flinched at her father’s roar, but the moment she caught sight of her son beside her, memories of his humiliation flooded back, and she could no longer contain herself.
Baek Li-ui-muk hastily covered his wife’s mouth as she prepared to argue further, bowing his head in apology.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s voice thundered through the chamber.
“Who is this person who lacks all courtesy, all sense, all shame, all discernment!”
Unable to restrain himself, Baek Li Pae-hyuk repeatedly struck the armrest of his chair.
“Ask the gatekeepers? Those fools spilled everything to Jang Seok-ryang before I even questioned them!”
Baek Li-ui-ran’s face drained of all color. The twins hastily lowered their heads.
“I sent you to study at the Academy, and yet you torment your ailing younger brother with such pettiness—and conduct yourselves so shamefully before the Namgung Clan’s young master!”
No, it was perhaps fortunate that Namgung Wan witnessed it.
As Baek Li-ui-gang’s friend, he would surely consider his companion’s honor and not spread word of this disgrace.
“Leave Namgung Wan alone? How far do you intend to drag the Baek Li Family’s reputation through the mud!”
After his outburst, Baek Li Pae-hyuk drew a sharp breath.
Where had everything gone wrong?
Baek Li Pae-hyuk gazed down at Baek Li-ui-ran, who still showed no sign of acknowledging her own fault, her lips pressed in a thin line.
Baek Li-ui-ran had grown up constantly compared to Baek Li-ui-gang. Had the age gap been as great as it was with Baek Li-ui-muk, it might have been different. But the two, being of similar age, had been measured against each other from the moment they first drew their swords.
For Baek Li-ui-ran, Baek Li-ui-gang was an insurmountable wall, and this had planted a deep inferiority within her.
A lifetime of comparison as a martial artist, never once achieving victory—a helplessness that gnawed at her soul.
How could Baek Li Pae-hyuk, who had lived his entire life with a sword in hand, not understand such anguish? So he had turned a blind eye to her outbursts, merely scolding her lightly.
But he had never imagined that his compassion would bear such bitter fruit.
As Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s gaze fell upon the twins beside Baek Li-ui-ran, his eyes grew dark and grave. He could not allow his grandchildren’s futures to be destroyed as well.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk spoke with absolute finality.
“There is no need for lengthy words. I can no longer entrust the children to your care.”
Baek Li-ui-ran’s eyes widened in disbelief as she repeated his words.
“Father? What do you mean by—”
“I offer you three choices.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk cut off her question and continued.
“So U-ak carries Baek Li blood, yet he is a child of the So Family, whom I cannot simply command. Send So U-ak to Sogajang where your husband resides, and send Baek Li Pyo to Gogye Hermitage. Then you may remain at the Baek Li Estate if you wish.”
Baek Li-ui-ran’s eyes widened in shock, her body going rigid.
Gogye Hermitage was no ordinary temple. It was a strict sanctuary where every moment was regulated—the hour of sleep, the hour of waking, mealtimes, rest periods, and even the time for personal needs.
No servants were permitted. Each person cooked their own meals, did their own laundry, arranged their own bedding, and engaged in their own spiritual practice. It was the place where families of prominence typically sent those who had committed grave transgressions for reformation.
“The second choice is that you and So U-ak depart together for Sogajang, while Baek Li Pyo remains here. However, you cannot return to the Baek Li Estate until Baek Li Pyo reaches adulthood.”
“Wait, please—”
“I have not finished!”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk cut off Baek Li-ui-ran’s words, pointing at the twins as he continued his pronouncement.
“And finally—take all the children and leave. I will ensure you never lack for sustenance. But if you depart, neither you nor your children will ever see my face again.”
At Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s final words, Baek Li-ui-ran’s expression suggested she could not believe what she had heard.
“I… Father. Surely you jest? This cannot be real.”
“If you wish to decide now, you may speak further to me!”
Baek Li-ui-ran trembled visibly, her face streaked with tears as she looked at Baek Li-ui-muk. Yet there was no solution to offer. She could only bow her head deeply in apology.
“No, no, this can’t be. How could I… how could I be separated from my children?”
Baek Li-ui-ran wept as she embraced the twins. The frightened children, who had been cowering, began to hiccup and beg forgiveness the moment they were held in their mother’s arms.
But Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s expression remained utterly unmoved.
After holding and rocking the children for some time, Baek Li-ui-ran suddenly lifted her head. Then, as if grasping a lifeline, she seized Baek Li-ui-gang’s sleeve.
“Ui-gang. Ui-gang. I was wrong. I was so wrong. Please, just say one word to Father for me.”
Baek Li-ui-gang, who had maintained his silence throughout this entire ordeal, turned his gaze toward the sobbing twins.
They were children who differed from his own daughter by merely a year. Yet before he could even deliberate, Baek Li Pae-hyuk’s voice thundered out.
“If you possessed any shame, you would not expect Ui-gang to speak on your behalf! My resolve will not waver, no matter what he says!”
Crack! The armrest of the chair, struck repeatedly, finally shattered and fell away.
“So U-ak, Baek Li Pyo. This is not merely about this incident.”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk regarded the twins with cold severity.
“Your uncle offered to spare precious time from caring for his ailing daughter to spar with you, to oversee your training. What did you do? Did you ever once visit him?”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s expression grew grave.
“You sought out only the disciples of the Baek Li Family, those whose favor you could curry, using sparring as a pretense while making no progress in martial arts! And what is this—Formless Divine Force, third tier?”
Baek Li Pae-hyuk let out a hollow laugh of exasperation.
“You ignore your uncle and seize every opportunity to torment him, yet you think such conduct is acceptable? Absurd! How could you possibly learn anything with such an attitude? I shall correct your behavior this very moment!”
Baek Li-ui-gang lowered his eyes. In the end, his lips remained sealed. Baek Li-ui-ran released her grip on his sleeve weakly and collapsed to the floor, sobbing.
Baek Li Pae-hyuk regarded her coldly from above, then turned his gaze to Baek Li-myeong as if it were his turn next.
Baek Li-myeong, drenched in cold sweat at the unfolding situation, quickly bowed his head.
“Baek Li-myeong, I held great expectations for you.”
“My grandson has failed you, Grandfather.”
“Do you understand what you have failed in?”
Just as Baek Li-myeong was about to speak the words he had rehearsed countless times in his mind—
A servant’s voice rang out from beyond the hall’s entrance.
“Family Head, Miss Baek Li-yeon has arrived.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————