The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 303

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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 303
I rose from the desk where letters had accumulated and moved to Namgung Ryu-cheong’s side. In his hands, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, he held an embroidery frame and needle.
Within the frame, a majestic blue pine tree stood nearly complete.
“Wow, you’re almost done?”
I had originally suggested a dragon or tiger, only to receive a look of disdain from Namgung Ryu-cheong. After compromise, we settled on a design depicting a blue pine and clouds.
Namgung Ryu-cheong took the pine tree while I claimed the clouds. And as expected, the disparity in skill between the pine and clouds was glaringly obvious.
“How are you so skilled at this? You said you hadn’t done it even once since then?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask you. Are those supposed to be clouds?”
“Aren’t they cute?”
“Hardly.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong was terribly prickly when embroidering. He didn’t complain since I had offered to help, but even while doing well, he would suddenly vent his dissatisfaction like this. He was about to start nagging about my cloud embroidery again.
But I had a very effective way to silence him.
“Oh my, is rain coming? My palm is throbbing.”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong immediately closed his mouth and resumed stitching.
That had happened years ago, but whenever I brought it up, he would clamp his mouth shut. And no matter how many times I repeated it, he never grew annoyed or angry.
Perhaps that’s why his tightly sealed lips looked so adorable.
I extended my right hand and spoke.
“I think it won’t hurt if you hold my hand.”
Just then, Geum-swe entered the room, her footsteps echoing in the hall.
“Miss, please stop tormenting the Young Master who works so diligently.”
“When have I ever tormented him?”
“His palms, which haven’t ached in ten years, hurt every time he embroiders. That’s tormenting him.”
“Geum-swe, weren’t you my person?”
“That’s exactly why I brought these refreshments. They’re new candies made at Chuo Hall. Jin-jin bought them on his way back from an outing.”
“Oh.”
Geum-swe set down a colorful bowl of candies on the table. Then she admired the embroidery frame Namgung Ryu-cheong held, remarking that it was nearly finished.
“Young Master, if you ever need help, please let me know.”
“I’ll help him, so Geum-swe, you don’t need to worry about that! Ryu-cheong, your neck must be sore. Should I massage it?”
“…Don’t touch me.”
“Miss!”
With a shrug, I picked up a candy and popped it into Namgung Ryu-cheong’s mouth.
“How is it?”
“…Sweet.”
With one cheek puffed out, Namgung Ryu-cheong looked far more adorable than before.
As I was filling his teacup and feeding him candies while we idled away the time together.
Once again, I sensed someone approaching the room. I thought it was Geum-swe, but this time it was Eon-du, my father’s servant.
“Miss, the Fourth Young Master is looking for you.”
* * *
A spacious office.
Father was surrounded by documents stacked like a mountain. Standing beside him, the Jang Vice-Commander continued their conversation, and he appeared frantically occupied even now.
After my regression, I’d occasionally seen Father assist Grandfather with his duties and handle paperwork. But seeing him work so earnestly like this felt strangely unfamiliar. Was it because of his white hair?
I carefully opened my mouth.
“Father, if you’re busy, I can come back another time?”
“Ah, you’ve arrived?”
“Welcome, Miss. Young Master, shall we take a brief rest?”
“Very well.”
The Jang Vice-Commander left the office, and Father exhaled deeply, pressing his fingers to his temples.
“You seem troubled?”
“Sigh. Wielding a sword is far simpler than this.”
Father rose from his seat and gestured for me to follow. Then he glanced around as if searching for something.
I tilted my head curiously, watching him.
Soon Father retrieved an elongated box from beneath the pile of documents. Its length felt familiar.
“Take it.”
When I opened the box, a sword lay inside, as I’d expected.
“It was custom-made to fit your frame. Grandfather had placed the order before your blade broke, and it’s finally been completed.”
The new sword was noticeably heavier and longer than my previous one.
“You’ve been sitting for so long—I’d like you to loosen your body a bit. The Physician mentioned you can handle a sword again now.”
“Yes. I’ve been gradually picking up my blade again for the past few days.”
“Then bring that and follow me.”
True to its martial heritage, the Baek Li Estate had training grounds scattered throughout. The area near Father’s office was no exception. Everything was prepared so one could practice sword forms with ease.
Father walked to the center of the training ground, drew his sword, and turned to face me.
Between Father and me, no special preparation was necessary.
We immediately began our match, and I launched the first strike.
Father was rapidly rebuilding his inner energy, yet it still hadn’t reached half of what he’d possessed before losing it. Confident that even he would now be a worthy opponent, I clashed blades—and was utterly shocked.
Clang!
The power contained in his sword was entirely different from before. The impact resonated from my palm gripping the hilt all the way through my shoulder, tingling sharply.
My eyes widened.
‘What on earth… how is this possible?’
Father’s sword didn’t contain any particularly dense inner energy.
Compared to his blade, my sword held several times more vital force. Yet I was pushed back helplessly.
Father had always been the most refined in his manipulation of inner energy among everyone I knew. I’d learned extensively from him even while possessing the Golden Eye.
But at some point, I had surpassed Father. Now, however, I couldn’t follow his control ability at all.
He infused his blade with inner energy only in that brief instant our swords met, consuming almost nothing in the process.
Moreover, somehow all the recoil from my energy-laden blade was redirected back to me.
“Your mind wanders too much.”
The match ended in my defeat, anticlimactically swift.
Father’s blade rested against the nape of my neck as I knelt on the ground.
I looked up at Father with confusion written across my face.
“When did you become this strong…?”
“It’s because of the inner demon poison.”
“Pardon?”
Baek Li-ui-gang continued his explanation slowly.
The inner demon poison had made it impossible for him to circulate his energy at times. I had only been concerned with those moments, but the truth was that even when energy circulation wasn’t impossible, his body wasn’t in perfect condition.
Even under normal circumstances, controlling his true energy had been difficult, and he’d had to exert tremendous effort to overcome it.
And now, having detoxified the inner demon poison and rebuilt a far purer inner energy, my father—completely liberated—had achieved a level of true energy control that was nothing short of the highest realm.
“Who could have known such an experience would prove so beneficial?”
I stared blankly at my father.
After finishing his explanation, my father spoke to me coldly.
“And yet, with merely this level of skill, you truly defeated Cheon-ma?”
Merely? But I couldn’t even protest—I had just suffered such a hollow defeat.
“Well… I said I was lucky. It wasn’t my own strength.”
“Then why did you claim you defeated Cheon-ma?”
“It was the truth… I just didn’t think about the aftermath. Hehe.”
“Already so many have rushed forward trying to defeat you and raise their own reputation.”
“I can just say I exhausted my energy fighting Cheon-ma and couldn’t perform at my usual level. It’s not a lie, is it?”
“Do you think people will fall for that?”
“…”
My father slowly sheathed his sword.
“I know you haven’t used the power of Cheonma Jibow.”
I flinched in surprise.
“Are you planning never to use it?”
“…”
“Cheon-ma is dead anyway. It’s yours now. Who would dare say anything to you?”
“…”
My father, watching my silence, spoke again.
“Your grandfather will be returning soon.”
“Ah… Grandfather is coming? Has he finished with the Murim Alliance matters?”
“And he intends to raise your father to the position of So Ga-ju.”
The reason Grandfather hadn’t recognized my father as So Ga-ju was the poison whose timing and nature were uncertain. Now that it had been detoxified, there was nothing standing in the way.
It had been nearly a year since Grandmother passed, so there was no reason not to hold a celebration.
“Father, congratulations.”
But my father’s expression at my words was not particularly joyful.
“You don’t seem pleased?”
“…I’m not sure.”
I looked at my father for a moment before speaking.
“Father, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Mother—the Five Moon Palace—has become independent and founded a new sect.”
“I know.”
I hesitated for a long while before speaking.
“…Are you alright with that?”
I could only say such things.
My father, who had been gazing into the void, spoke quietly.
“Everything has its season and its time.”
“Father….”
“So do not make the same choice I did.”
“What?”
“As I have said before, I tell you again. Choose according to what your heart desires.”
“….”
What did I truly wish to do going forward?
The question Jeggal Hwa-mu had posed to me… was equally valid for myself.
“Your father will be here so that you may return whenever you wish. This is your home.”
My father extended his hand to me.
I stared blankly at that hand before grasping it in return. The moment I felt our hands clasp, I found myself suddenly pulled to my feet.
“Father.”
“Yes.”
“I….”
Many thoughts rushed through my mind. Unable to organize them at all, I spoke with a tangled head.
“I wish to enter closed-door cultivation training.”
“Very well.”

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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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