The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 279

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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 279
“What in the world are you doing?”
“So you’re leaving Seo So-jeo alone with the wounded?”
I regarded him with a look that said I couldn’t believe such garbage existed.
“I…!”
An Jae-hong opened his mouth, then closed it again as he felt the gazes of the others upon him.
I shrugged and added further.
“Since I’ve opened my mouth, let me say one more thing. This is madness. You heard it on the way here, didn’t you? That this place is dangerous—once you enter, you cannot leave.”
The dense forest stretched endlessly before us, untouched by human footsteps.
The bottomless gorges and cloud-shrouded mountains in this region were treated as sacred by the locals. Conversely, the Martial World knew them as one of the Four Forbidden Zones—a place from which none who entered could escape.
Of course, at this very moment, disciples of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect and members of the Murim Alliance were pouring into that forbidden place.
I continued speaking.
“You don’t even know the geography of that mountain, and you’re planning to venture into a dense forest teeming with remnants of the Demonic Cult? With only this many people? And with rain falling like this, you’ll lose their trail in no time anyway.”
“Silence! What would you know!”
As An Jae-hong burst out shouting, Seo Ha-ryeong shielded me and stepped back, speaking.
“Young Master An, she spoke no falsehood. Why raise your voice like that?”
At that moment, another young man beside An Jae-hong spoke.
“Young Master An, let’s just overlook this. We’ll truly lose them at this rate. Miss Seo, about four people including this woman should suffice, yes?”
Seo Ha-ryeong nodded her head.
As they were selecting who would remain, An Jae-hong’s expression suddenly turned sinister. Then he pointed precisely at Yalyu, who had been standing beside me.
“This woman stays here, but you come with us.”
Everyone here knew that Yalyu and I were traveling together. We had been inseparable throughout our journey here.
Yalyu’s eyes grew cold as he glared at An Jae-hong.
“What, do you have objections too? Is your concern for Miss Seo and danger merely an excuse? Are you truly trying to defy my orders?”
An Jae-hong seized upon the opportunity to pick a quarrel.
‘Does this fool wish to meet the underworld so soon?’
Though truthfully, he didn’t have many days left to live anyway.
I transmitted my voice to Yalyu before he could act.
[Just go along with him, then slip away when the moment is right. I’ll escape immediately as well.]
This had been the original plan—to move about disguised as part of the Murim Alliance contingent, then slip away at an opportune moment.
In truth, I should have escaped long ago. I shouldn’t have lingered like this.
Yalyu, who had been staring at the ground for a moment, reluctantly stepped forward.
I myself knew only the approximate region where the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault was located, not its exact position.
This was one reason why the Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult were searching this place so thoroughly.
It was also why those ordered to guard this place, including An Jae-hong, harbored such greed.
Who could say? Perhaps they would be the first to discover the Heavenly Demon Grand Vault.
The group, led by Hu Ki-ji-su, disappeared into the dense forest.
After confirming that Yalyu had receded into the distance, I turned to look at Seo Ha-ryeong.
At that very moment, she turned to look at me, and our eyes met.
“….”
Seo Ha-ryeong regarded me with narrowed eyes.
I opened my mouth.
“There’s something I’m curious about.”
Seo Ha-ryeong dismissed my words with a sharp turn of her body toward the wounded.
I followed her and continued speaking.
“Why aren’t you with Namgung Ryu-cheong?”
Seo Ha-ryeong stopped abruptly and looked at me as though I were mad.
I myself was bewildered by the question I’d asked.
That wasn’t what I’d originally intended to ask.
“What I meant was, why is Seo So-jeo in the Gangseong Province branch? You don’t have the skill to warrant such treatment from those fools, and I heard you usually travel with Namgung Ryu-cheong. That’s in Anwhui Province, isn’t it?”
Yet somehow, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s name had tumbled from my lips unbidden.
Seo Ha-ryeong furrowed her brow, gestured for the other two wanderers to attend to the wounded, then fired her words like arrows.
“Is Namgung Ryu-cheong your friend? Do you know him? What gives you the right to call him by name? And why do you care?”
I wiped away the rain streaming down my face and composed my expression.
“I can’t help but be curious.”
“I sensed it before, but you’re completely mad. Can’t you tell what should and shouldn’t be said?”
“But I helped you back there, didn’t I? Think of this as repayment.”
She opened her mouth as if to retort, then clamped it shut with an irritated expression. That fierce look stirred a memory of Seo Ha-ryeong from long ago.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. Is Ryu-cheong your friend? What are you to call him by his given name? Honestly, you’re so foolish.”
“Ryu-cheong only looks out for you because you’re your master’s daughter. The way you strut about now as Baek Li Dae-hyup’s daughter is….”
“If you lack ability, at least have some sense. I only pity Baek Li Dae-hyup. If he knew his daughter was exploiting his honor in such a manner, could he rest easy even in the afterlife?”
Back then, she couldn’t stand the sight of me.
That was when Seo Ha-ryeong had said it.
“Yeon was last sighted near Namchang.”
“Ah.”
So that was it. She was searching for me.
I had last been sighted near Namchang, which fell under the jurisdiction of the Gangseong Province branch.
And Seo Ha-ryeong had reasoned that if any news of me surfaced again, the Gangseong Province branch would hear of it first.
As overwhelming emotion swelled within me and my chest tingled with warmth, Seo Ha-ryeong spoke.
“Ugh, these fools keep appearing like bamboo shoots—endlessly irritating.”
I tilted my head.
“Stop it. Namgung Ryu-cheong already has someone he admires. And do you know how terrible his personality is? I’ve seen plenty of women like you—squealing over a handsome face.”
“…I think you’ve misunderstood.”
“I told you, I’ve seen plenty like you.”
“….”
At my silence, Seo Ha-ryeong scoffed as if to say, “See?”
I protested, feeling somewhat wronged.
“His character doesn’t seem that bad. He’s righteous, keeps his word, and many say his gravity is admirable.”
“Ah! Believe what you want—I don’t care—so will you please shut your mouth?”
Seo Ha-ryeong’s philtrum twitched as she shouted.
I let out a soft chuckle at the sight and spoke.
“But what does it matter if Namgung Prince harbors feelings for Baek Li-yeon? They say she’s the blood of sworn enemies.”
My tongue felt bitter as I uttered those final words.
Seo Ha-ryeong scoffed.
“I don’t believe it. There’s no way Yeon could be the bloodline of such trash.”
“Namgung Prince thinks the same way, apparently?”
“Ugh, that traitor’s son….”
“A traitor?”
I couldn’t discern the exact situation, but it was clear that a disagreement had arisen between them, causing Seo Ha-ryeong and Namgung Ryu-cheong to act separately.
‘If they’re moving completely apart now… then who’s beside Namgung Ryu-cheong?’
Compared to the past, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s allies had dwindled considerably. It was all because of me.
‘What can I do about feeling sorry?’
Still, since Uncle Namgung Wan remained unharmed, I supposed I should let it go rather than have Namgung Ryu-cheong suffer rolling about here and there.
I spoke to Seo Ha-ryeong, who had lowered her head.
“Then what if—what if it were true? What would you do?”
“Well…!”
Seo Ha-ryeong, who had been about to answer, suddenly seemed to come to her senses, her expression suggesting she couldn’t fathom why she was having this conversation with me. Then, without hiding her irritation, she shot back.
“How long are you going to loiter? Go check on the wounded. You have no time for such pointless questions.”
“Can’t I just think about it?”
“Hah, fine. Even if you do think about it, why should I tell you?”
“Because I’m Baek Li-yeon.”
….
“Thanks for the sword.”
I extended the blade toward Seo Ha-ryeong, offering it by the hilt while it remained wrapped in cloth.
Seo Ha-ryeong reflexively accepted the sword.
“What, what…?”
Though the cloth hadn’t yet been unwrapped, the moment she gripped the hilt, I could see her eyes widen considerably.
It was a blade she had wielded hundreds, thousands of times—the grip alone would have told her it was hers. Her already large eyes seemed ready to roll right out of their sockets.
“Really…? But surely the face was different… wait? The face is changing again….”
The reverse technique my father and I had developed placed no strain on the body, but it would dissolve immediately if one’s vital energy was circulated intensely.
I continued with what I had been saying.
“Those who entered there chasing after the Demonic Cult Members will have a hard time returning alive. So you should stay here tending to the wounded and then retreat.”
“No, wait. Wait, what are you saying? Hard time returning alive?”
Perhaps because it concerned survival, Seo Ha-ryeong snapped to attention immediately.
“On a rainy day like this, those hiding suddenly attacked us. And only with weak ones at that. Would they have attacked if they were foolish?”
We were ambushed without proper preparation, yet it was the attackers themselves who suffered greatly and fled.
Seo Ha-ryeong seemed aware of this point as well, her expression turning skeptical.
“Right. It was bait. They wanted us to follow them. They’re tired of just guarding this place, and they want to earn some merit, even if it’s just one.”
“And you let them do it?!”
I grabbed Seo Ha-ryeong’s arm as she tried to spring to her feet and leave.
“I’ve already warned you once.”
“But…!”
“Besides, you wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop you. Those who would die next time, I’ve already prevented from dying this time.”
“….”
“Once the rain stops, set off firecrackers to signal. If anyone survived, gather them and rejoin the main force. And you said the Suhyang Sect is with the main force? Good. Stay with the Sect Leader. Even better if you can return home.”
“….”
“Don’t get deeply involved in this conflict. There’s no need. Don’t get hurt—just live healthy and happy.”
Seo Ha-ryeong spoke with a slightly dazed expression.
“You… why are you speaking like that?”
I tilted my head.
Seo Ha-ryeong murmured.
“As if… as if….”
But she couldn’t finish her words properly. It seemed she couldn’t adequately explain what she was feeling.
I released my grip on Seo Ha-ryeong’s arm and spoke.
“Remember what I said.”
I took one last look at Seo Ha-ryeong before stepping backward.

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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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