The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 278

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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 278
‘Did Father manage to escape safely?’
At the very least, he hadn’t been captured. If the Demonic Cult had taken him, they would have used his life as leverage to bind me.
No news was as good as good news.
My thoughts drifted to something else entirely.
I let out a soft laugh and spoke.
“It’s a shame I slipped through the Heavenly Net.”
Yalyu tilted his head.
“Because I can’t see the Demonic Cult’s reaction to this news.”
The story of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault contained within the Cheonma Jibow was a secret no one else knew.
That’s why they were so desperate to capture me.
Ha. I would have loved to see their twisted faces! Being hunted like that was so irritating. It’s such a shame I can’t witness their despair.
“Indeed.”
Yalyu agreed while his expression suggested he disagreed entirely.
I found myself losing interest.
Sensing my dampened mood, Yalyu changed the subject and asked.
“So what’s your plan from here?”
[I’m going to the Murim Alliance.]
[Why there?]
I could read the unspoken question—why return to a place I’d just escaped from?
[The Murim Alliance is recruiting mercenaries, isn’t it? I’m going to apply.]
Yalyu’s expression showed genuine surprise—he hadn’t anticipated this.
I explained methodically.
[Now that the location of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault is known, everyone will be too preoccupied searching for it. Both sides will avoid direct conflict until they find it.]
[Ah, so the battlefield will shift to the front of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault?]
I grinned at Yalyu, impressed that he grasped it before I finished.
[Exactly. I’ll move alongside the Murim Alliance, hidden among their ranks.]
* * *
The rain poured down in sheets.
After days of clear skies, as we traveled south, rain began falling suddenly every other day before stopping just as abruptly.
The rain had come several times, transforming the weather into cool autumn, and the trees were turning crimson with fallen leaves. Yet as we journeyed further south, the heat welcomed us back, as if reversing the seasons themselves.
And heat wasn’t all that greeted us.
“Ahhh!”
A scream pierced through the downpour. From all directions came the clash of blades.
Clang! Clang!
Thud.
I was currently among the Murim Alliance’s mercenary unit.
“Gasp!”
Yalyu cut off the breath of the opponent attacking me in one swift motion.
I transmitted my voice to Yalyu.
[Hold back.]
I nodded at the transmitted message, though I wasn’t certain he truly understood.
When facing those who attacked me, he concealed his strength as though toying with them, dragging out the battles endlessly, yet those who came after me always fell swiftly beneath his blade.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly, hoping no one would grow suspicious of Yalyu’s inconsistent power.
Schwick!
In that moment, Yalyu severed another opponent.
Both Yalyu and I had assumed false identities and infiltrated the Murim Alliance.
The saying was apt—the darkest place lies beneath the lamp. This situation embodied it perfectly.
News of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault spread like wildfire in all directions before that night had even passed. By dawn the next morning, the map I had drawn had already left the hands of the Black Sect Branch.
In the Martial World, even a single elixir could spark bloodshed. But a map revealing the location of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault?
Upon hearing the rumors, Martial World experts descended in droves, and a great battle erupted.
Much of the attention that had been focused on me shifted toward the map of the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault. Most judged that obtaining the map would be far more profitable than capturing me.
Even if they captured me and turned me over, they would only receive a portion of the treasures that the Demonic Cult had already plundered from the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault.
But if they could reach the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault before the Demonic Cult?
Then the divine techniques, secret arts, and divine weapons within could all become theirs!
While they fought over the map, Yalyu and I made our way to the Gangseong branch located in Namchang of the Murim Alliance.
Both Yalyu and I possessed identities that could be forged as officials. Meticulous preparation was a habit we both shared. We applied to the Murim Alliance’s recruitment of wandering warriors under our false identities.
Meanwhile, the treasure map passed through many hands, and its location eventually became known.
The Heavenly Demon Grand Vault lay in the southern reaches of the continent—a place the Martial World called Namman.
The Martial World’s attention now focused on this remote wilderness, a place few had ever cared to acknowledge existed.
And from my perspective, it seemed as though every expert in the Martial World was rushing toward Namman.
The two greatest powers in the Martial World—the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult—were no exception.
They avoided direct confrontation with each other while dispatching massive forces toward Namman. They deemed finding the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault more urgent than engaging in immediate combat.
Yalyu and I moved among the Murim Alliance’s forces, repeatedly boarding and disembarking from boats along the waterways, safely reaching Namman.
No one suspected that we fugitives from the Murim Alliance were hidden within their ranks. Even as we moved alongside them, I could observe their continued search for me.
And as we drew closer to Namman, I felt an increasing surge of power—a sensation that the will contained within the Cheonma Jibow could finally be properly wielded.
Yet simultaneously, I understood that this power must not be used recklessly.
‘My body still cannot withstand it.’
But would a day ever come when it could?
Upon arriving in Namman, the Murim Alliance forces drove out those who had arrived earlier and prevented the rabble from approaching.
The pretext was that a great battle would soon occur and the area was dangerous. Of course, no one believed it.
Yet the Demonic Cult maintained the same stance as the Murim Alliance, as though they had reached an agreement.
“The enemies are fleeing!”
The battle ended in half an hour.
Our side sustained five wounded.
The Demonic Cult side suffered seven casualties—a decisive victory.
Though their numbers were considerable, their skill was truly pathetic.
“Ha, worthless rabble.”
The woman examining the corpses rose to her feet.
“Young Master An, something feels off about this. Why did they suddenly attack us? With such a gap in strength? Until now, they’ve only been hiding and fleeing….”
Two swords hung from the woman’s waist, swaying gently. One of them was an empty scabbard.
I studied the woman carefully.
The reversal technique that my father and I had created placed no strain on the body, but it was difficult to deceive the eyes of masters.
Masters could instinctively sense something unnatural. Fortunately, Yalyu and I had no reason to approach masters.
We were merely ronin of unclear origin, after all.
We were only meant to be used when the Demonic Cult clashed with the Black Gangs they recruited in the same manner.
I would never, absolutely never, meet masters of the caliber of my grandfather, Taego Jinperson, or Uncle Namgung Wan.
The ronin unit was work that moderately skilled late-stage martial artists could handle. Those at that level would not recognize the reversal technique.
As expected, a group of young late-stage martial artists—not masters—had been placed in command of the ronin unit.
Naturally, none of the late-stage martial artists recognized us. They did not scrutinize ronin like Yalyu and me.
The leader of the late-stage martial artists was An Jae-hong from a place called the Namyeong Sect. I had never heard his name before, but I had heard of the Namyeong Sect in passing—a modest mid-tier sect in the Gangseong region.
And among those late-stage martial artists, there was someone I knew very well.
It was Seo Ha-ryeong.
It was truly an unexpected encounter.
I started in surprise and focused on concealing the scabbard and hilt.
At first, I was astonished and delighted, but as time passed, I sensed something amiss.
Seo Ha-ryeong’s sect, the Suhyang Sect, was located in Anwhui Province. There was no reason for her to be in the same unit as late-stage martial artists from the Gangseong region.
If she could not travel with the Anwhui branch, it would have been more appropriate for her to move with the Murim Alliance’s main force. She would have been near Muuhan, where the Murim Alliance Headquarters was located.
‘And besides….’
A face came to mind reflexively.
How was he faring?
Just then, a sharp voice shattered my thoughts.
“…It’s far too dangerous!”
It was Seo Ha-ryeong.
“Besides, our mission right now is to prevent outsiders from entering, not to capture them!”
The mission of the ronin unit I was in was to prevent anyone from entering the mountain where the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault was said to be located.
But suddenly, those who had been hiding and fleeing for days gathered and attacked us.
Seo Ha-ryeong continued speaking.
“The commander said so himself. We must always report after assessing the surrounding situation….”
Another late-stage martial artist cut off Seo Ha-ryeong’s words and spoke.
“How are we supposed to report to the commander in this situation?”
“And the wounded…!”
“Are the wounded important right now? What matters is finding the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault as quickly as possible. How much longer are we going to stay here guarding?”
An Jae-hong spoke.
“You’re right. Miss, if you keep making weak excuses, why don’t you just go back?”
“But…!”
“And the decision-making authority of this unit rests with me. If you have complaints, why don’t you transfer to another unit? Ah, is that difficult without Miss Baek Li to back you up?”
As expected, Seo Ha-ryeong, being from Anwhui Province, was not fitting in well with the Gangseong late-stage martial artists.
They were constantly picking quarrels with her and treating her with contempt.
“Then let those who are uninjured get ready and follow. We will pursue those who fled. Miss Seo will stay with the wounded.”
“An Jae-hong!”
An Jae-hong turned away, ignoring Seo Ha-ryeong’s cry.
The wanderers who had been resting and watching the commotion from a distance began to stir, grumbling under their breath.
“The rain is pouring like this, and where are we going?”
“Tracking? They just want to find the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault themselves.”
The leader at the front glanced back at the discontented murmurs.
At that, those who had been grumbling fell silent. It was a pattern repeated throughout our journey here.
When the leader turned his gaze forward again, I opened my mouth.
“I’ll stay here.”
“What?”
At my sudden words, all the wanderers whirled around. An Jae-hong’s gaze in particular turned fierce.
Of course, I paid it no mind.

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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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