The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 32

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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 32
“It’s been a while.”
Baek Li-myeong stood before me, visibly gaunt.
During my absence, Aunt Baek Li-ui-ran, Baek Li Pyo, and So U-ak had been wailing daily as though the world might end, relentlessly pestering Uncle Baek Li-ui-muk and Grandmother. With the Residence Quarter so close to Uncle’s quarters, Baek Li-myeong couldn’t have escaped the commotion either.
As he surveyed the modest carriage, his eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment.
‘What’s this about?’
The answer came swiftly.
“I heard you’re heading to the Namgung Clan.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Isn’t Senior Namgung Wan traveling with you?”
So he’d been looking for Namgung Wan.
‘Ah, so that’s why Namgung Wan insisted we meet outside.’
I could sense troublesome complications brewing.
“I’m not entirely sure myself.”
“I see. Your uncle will look after things, but do be careful regardless. If you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Baek Li-myeong, who had been playing the role of a benevolent older brother, finally revealed his true purpose for coming here.
“And there’s one thing I’d like to ask of you…”
Baek Li-myeong circled around the matter at length, but his meaning was unmistakable.
‘Give me a chance to save face with Namgung Wan.’
After elaborating on this request, Baek Li-myeong pressed something into my hand.
“Father asked me to give this to you.”
It was a silver token.
Bribing a six-year-old with money!
My eyes widened in astonishment as I clutched it tightly and spoke.
“Of course! I’ll speak well of you!”
Though whether Uncle Namgung Wan would listen to me was another matter entirely.
* * *
The Baek Li Estate gradually receded beyond the carriage window.
‘We’re finally going.’
Namgung Wan and his men, who had been waiting outside the city, joined us, and the formalities were completed. After gazing out the window for some time, I opened the sewing kit I’d prepared beforehand, steeling myself with ambitious resolve.
‘I’ll finish this before we arrive!’
Sightseeing would only occupy an hour or two, but the long journey ahead meant I’d be sitting alone in this carriage with nothing but boredom. My goal was to complete the sachet I planned to give Uncle Namgung Wan during that time.
Kill the tedium of the journey and fulfill my promise—two birds with one stone!
Half a day after steeling myself with such determination, a pitiful whimper escaped my lips.
‘This wretched body!’
I’d abandoned my needle and thread, sprawling flat across the carriage floor. I’d grown stronger as I aged, and I’d ridden horses regularly as an adult, but I’d completely forgotten what it was like to travel by carriage.
‘I should have asked Seok Ga-yak for motion sickness medicine!’
Medicine to restore my vitality?
What good was that if I couldn’t keep it down?
The carriage rattled along the uneven, rutted road—a far cry from a motorcar. Yet I couldn’t afford to slow our pace for my sake. With Man Shin-ui’s whereabouts in that village uncertain, we had to move as quickly as possible.
Thus began a long journey not unlike being transported in an ambulance stretcher. I fell into a deep sleep and awoke to find Father, who had been riding on horseback, now seated in the carriage beside me.
“Father? Why are you here?”
“…Don’t worry about it. Just rest.”
Father, his expression troubled, gently coaxed me back down onto the cushions.
I regained consciousness only briefly before melting back into Father’s embrace. Later, I learned I had repeated that same question—”Why are you here?”—five or six times over. Yet I retained no memory of it.
The carriage pressed on without pause. As time elapsed, my body gradually accepted reality and began to adapt.
The endless swaying finally ceased, and I felt someone carefully lift me into their arms.
When I opened my eyes, instead of the carriage ceiling I had grown accustomed to, pale yellow bed curtains greeted me. And my wrist tingled with a warm sensation.
Turning my head, I saw Father sitting with his eyes closed, his hand resting upon my wrist. He was channeling his inner energy into me, replenishing the vitality my body had lost.
Father noticed I had awakened, and our eyes met. His expressionless face broke into a faint smile.
In that instant, the inner energy flowing through my wrist abruptly ceased, and Father’s smile vanished as though it had been nothing but my imagination.
“Now that you’re awake, let’s have dinner. I’ll have them bring it to your chamber.”
“No! I’d like to eat downstairs.”
The first floor of the Inn typically served as the dining hall.
“Why not eat comfortably in your room?”
“I’ve been cooped up in the carriage for so long. I’d like some fresh air.”
“Very well.”
Father naturally lifted me into his arms. As I wrapped my arms around his neck and we emerged into the corridor, the view opened before us, revealing the dining hall below.
The warriors of the Namgung Clan, whose faces had become familiar during our journey, occupied tables throughout the hall. Having already finished their meal, they nursed cups of wine.
Shim Ji-pyeong, Namgung Wan’s adjutant, was the first to notice our descent, his flushed face breaking into recognition.
“Young Master Baek Li, you’ve arrived! Oh, and the young lady has awakened as well. Will you be dining here? Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes! I’m much better!”
“Ha! What resilience!”
Father settled us at a table some distance from the Namgung Clan’s warriors.
I glanced around and asked a question.
“Where is Namgung Wan?”
“He’s gone out.”
“Where to?”
“That’s not your concern.”
At Father’s curt words, I noticed Shim Ji-pyeong, seated at the distant table, blink in apparent bewilderment. Had I been my former self, I surely would have felt hurt, but now I understood that this was simply Father’s manner of speaking, devoid of any malice.
Just then, Jeom So-i, the innkeeper, approached us.
“What may I bring you?”
“Something light for me. The child’s stomach is unsettled—do you have rice porridge?”
Porridge again?
“Of course, sir.”
As the server turned to leave, I tugged at Father’s sleeve.
“What is it?”
“I’d like those dumplings instead…”
The dumplings on the Namgung Clan warriors’ table steamed invitingly, their aroma promising deliciousness.
“Absolutely not.”
“I’m hungry…”
“…Bring some dumplings as well.”
“Hehe.”
A moment later, Jeom So-i returned with a tray of food and spoke with easy familiarity.
“Shall I place these before the young lady?”
Father nodded silently.
“My, I thought the young lady was suffering from some grave illness. Her complexion was so pallid when she arrived!”
After setting the remaining dishes on the table, Jeom So-i lingered and continued speaking.
“Judging by the young master’s sword, you must be someone of considerable renown in the martial world?”
Sensing he had something to say, I answered quickly.
“That’s right! Father is impressive, isn’t he? You’d recognize his name if you heard it!”
“Yeon.”
Father rebuked me, but Jeom So-i continued with practiced ease.
“Someone of such fame would certainly be skilled with a blade, wouldn’t they?”
“Of course!”
“Then there’s nothing to worry about. You have quite the entourage as well. Still, hmm… with the young lady present…”
At the mention of me, Father finally showed interest in Jeom So-i’s words. Sensing Father’s silent urging to continue, Jeom So-i lowered his voice.
“There have been frequent disappearances of children in this area lately. Be careful.”
“Disappearances?”
“Disappearances?”
Father questioned him while I feigned shock.
“Well, kidnapping might be the better word. In any case, human trafficking has been rampant. Children vanish the moment you take your eyes off them. Cursed villains, snatching innocent commoner children like that. Tsk, tsk.”
“…I’d appreciate a more detailed explanation.”
Delighted by Father’s interest, Jeom So-i continued eagerly.
“Of course. At first, it was young beggars who went missing.”
Father’s expression visibly hardened.
“Young beggars who were panhandling disappeared one by one, but who would pay attention to beggars? Since they usually vanish and reappear, people assumed they’d simply moved to places with better alms or had died.”
I nodded inwardly while Father’s expression grew cold beyond mere rigidity.
“But then, at some point, children from respectable families with living parents began disappearing as well! Only then did people realize something was amiss. When they inquired, they discovered the young beggars hadn’t left—they’d vanished. No one has seen those children again. Not a trace.”
Jeom So-i, his throat parched, drank from the tea on the table with practiced discretion before continuing.
“Now, every household with children locks their doors at dusk and keeps them confined. It’s been well over a year now.”
Jeom So-i exhaled deeply.
“Even with parents keeping such strict watch, children continue to vanish as if by sorcery. Young master, you must be careful as well.”
“What does the magistrate say?”
If commoners were involved, the authorities should have intervened.
“The magistrate? Ah, it’s hopeless. They merely told people not to make a fuss over a few missing children. When some grieving parents caused an uproar, the magistrate had them beaten with rods and sent away.”
Jeom So-i shook his head in disapproval.
‘As I suspected…’
The same incident was unfolding again. Had I remained in my chamber, I would have known nothing of it—just as in my previous life.
‘I’m glad I forced myself down to the dining hall despite my exhaustion.’
From this moment forward, I had to keep my wits sharp. Hearing only this, my connection to the disappearance case seemed nonexistent. Yet this incident would become the greatest obstacle preventing me from receiving treatment from Man Shin-ui.

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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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