The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 33

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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 33
Jeom So-i continued speaking.
“The young master will likely stay only one night before departing, so there’s no need for excessive worry. However, I mention this simply as a precaution.”
When neither my father nor I picked up our utensils, Jeom So-i urged us to eat.
“The food will grow cold. Please, eat while it’s hot. Have I frightened the young lady too much?”
I smiled and picked up my utensils.
“No, I’m not scared because Father is here! He’ll protect me. Isn’t that right, Father?”
My father nodded calmly. Jeom So-i clapped his hands in delight.
“Well, what a touching bond between father and daughter! It’s truly a pleasure to witness!”
Just then, a sharp click of the tongue cut through the pleasant atmosphere like a blade. A hand suddenly appeared, dragging the chair beside me and speaking.
“Bring me a bowl as well.”
“You’ve arrived?”
Namgung Wan nodded and settled into the chair, speaking as he did.
“Since I’ve already heard everything, there’s no need to explain again—how convenient. Just as he said, over forty children have gone missing, and if we include the beggars, who knows how many more there are.”
“Human trafficking?”
“Likely so. It’s becoming increasingly rampant.”
The two of them had sensed something amiss in the city’s atmosphere on their way here and began investigating the moment they secured lodgings.
“What shall we do? To learn more, we’ll need to locate a branch of the Beggar Sect.”
Namgung Wan stroked his chin and gave me a meaningful glance. It meant I should consider my own situation. If I thought only of myself, I shouldn’t involve myself in this matter.
‘If we could catch the kidnappers within a day or two, that would be fortunate. But if this drags on….’
My plan to reach Man Shin-ui as quickly as possible would fall apart.
However, my father’s nature made it difficult to ignore such a matter. Namgung Wan, understanding my father’s heart, spoke.
“Ui-gang, we cannot afford to waste time.”
My father seemed to deliberate for a moment, then turned to me and said.
“Yeon, you should go upstairs now. I’ll have your meal sent up.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
‘He’s dismissing me just like that?’
I’d come down to learn how things would unfold! If I returned now, all my carefully laid plans would crumble.
“Ah, well… you see. That is….”
Think, Baek Li-yeon. Come up with some excuse.
‘Ah, that’s it!’
I suddenly cried out.
“I’m scared to be alone!”
At that very moment, Namgung Wan’s hand trembled as he was pouring tea into a cup, spilling it across the table.
“Tsk.”
Namgung Wan clicked his tongue in irritation and set down the teapot, then looked at me and spoke.
“Just a moment ago you said you weren’t scared?”
“No, I am scared.”
“Kid, if you’re going to make excuses, at least make them convincing.”
I pouted and cried out as if I truly meant it.
“Well, Father and Uncle Namgung Wan were right beside me, so of course I wasn’t scared!”
“What?”
“Uncle, listen. If you heard a story like that and were alone in your room, wouldn’t you be terrified? Wouldn’t you?”
Since Father seemed unmoved by reason, I grabbed Uncle Namgung Wan’s arm beside me and shook it.
Father looked at me with a stern expression.
“Baek Li-yeon, let go of that hand. Who told you to behave like that? Where did you learn such rudeness?”
Namgung Wan interjected with a dry cough.
“Now, there’s no need to call it rude. How much can a child really shake an arm? A feather would do better than that.”
“Now….”
Father, with his characteristically blunt expression, was about to continue speaking.
“Senior Wan!”
An excited shout from someone cut off Father’s words.
‘Senior Wan? Could that be Uncle Namgung Wan?’
I turned toward the direction of the voice. A young man with a large, imposing build stood at the inn’s entrance. The bronze-skinned youth with a refreshing impression carried a spear wrapped in cloth on his back.
Namgung Wan’s brow furrowed.
“Ak Jung-hae?”
“Yes, sir! Senior!”
That person is Ak Jung-hae?
The young man approached with a bright, cheerful smile.
The second son of the Ak Family from Shandong, one of the Ten Great Families renowned for their spearmanship—Ak Jung-hae. At this point in time, he was quite a notable rising star.
However, when Namgung Ryu-cheong, the protagonist of this novel, became active, few remembered the name Ak Jung-hae.
“I heard that I might have seen Senior So-yong. I searched around just in case, and to think I’d meet you here! How have you been….”
Ak Jung-hae paused, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Senior Ui-gang? You were here too!”
From the entrance, only Father’s back was visible, so he had only just recognized him.
Ak Jung-hae made quite a fuss.
“Senior! It’s been so long! I thought myself lucky just to meet Senior Wan, but to have Senior Ui-gang here as well! What brings you both to this place? And together, no less!”
Namgung Wan’s and Father’s gazes turned toward me.
Only then noticing me, Ak Jung-hae paused again, blinking rapidly.
“Who is this adorable child?”
Father spoke plainly.
“She is my daughter.”
“Your d-daughter?”
“Greet him, Yeon.”
I bowed toward Ak Jung-hae, who was staring at me with a vacant expression.
“Hello. I’m Baek Li-yeon of the Baek Li Family.”
Ak Jung-hae, who had been gaping, quickly came to his senses.
“Oh, oh, oh, you’re so tiny! How adorable! How old are you? Ah, that’s right. I’m Ak Jung-hae of the Ak Family. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”
Speaking with such exuberant energy that it bordered on excessive, Ak Jung-hae reached out and ruffled my hair vigorously.
His hands were so large that they were nearly the size of a pot lid, and he could almost cover my entire head with a single palm.
Ak Jung-hae merely patted my head, yet I swayed back and forth like a tree battered by wind and rain.
“Take your hand away. Are you petting me or tormenting me?”
Namgung Wan flicked Ak Jung-hae’s arm away.
“No, senior, you didn’t bring such a young child out, did you? How old is she? Three? Four?”
“…Six years old.”
“What? Six?”
Ak Jung-hae, startled, looked between me and my father alternately before crying out.
“Why is she so small—wait, senior! I’m truly disappointed! You didn’t even inform us, and you already have a daughter like this! When exactly did you marry?”
“….”
“….”
In the heavy silence, Ak Jung-hae looked between them one by one and scratched his face.
“Uh… Did I say something wrong?”
* * *
“Cough, cough.”
At my cough, my father adjusted my clothes with one hand.
“Wouldn’t it be better to rest at an inn?”
I shook my head and buried my face in my father’s neck. My father, as if resigned, resumed walking.
I lifted my head slightly to observe the street.
‘It’s rather desolate.’
Though the sun was beginning to set, there were unusually few people. The empty street held only merchants sitting listlessly at their stalls, and they openly stared at our strange group—three large men with swords and spears, and one child.
Ak Jung-hae spoke without concern.
“Seniors, have you heard of a temple called Sohae Temple? You haven’t? Well, it’s not a place with connections to the Martial World. It’s natural you haven’t heard of it. This is my first time hearing of it too. But at that Sohae Temple….”
Summarizing Ak Jung-hae’s endless chatter, it amounted to this.
There was a large temple called Sohae Temple in this region. Three months ago, another child went missing, and that child’s mother was a major benefactor of Sohae Temple. The woman, devastated by the loss of her child, took to her bed. Consequently, the abbot of Sohae Temple contacted a high-ranking ambassador of the Murim Alliance with whom he had connections, requesting that the children be found.
“So the Murim Alliance dispatched us from the Kirin Society.”
My father explained to me.
“The Kirin Society is one of the organizations under the Murim Alliance. Most of its members are talented individuals representing their families and sects.”
I looked at Ak Jung-hae with eyes of admiration as if I didn’t know this.
“So you’re also part of the Kirin Society?”
“Of course!”
“You must be very strong!”
The Kirin Society, an organization under the Murim Alliance, was composed of young promising talents. Since each member was regarded as the face representing their own family and sect, only the most exceptional individuals were selected and sent.
However, there was currently no one from the Baek Li Family. In three years, when Baek Li-myeong underwent his coming-of-age ceremony at fifteen, he would be at the perfect age to join. He would gain experience and connections within the Orthodox Sect, so ordinarily he would have been more than eligible to enter….
Baek Li-myeong never managed to join. The same was true for the twins. Grandfather had not permitted it.
Ak Jung-hae, who was currently active in the Kirin Society, was certainly worthy of pride. Namgung Wan, seeing Ak Jung-hae’s chin lift, spoke up.
“Don’t get cocky over something so trivial! It’s pathetic.”
At Namgung Wan’s words, Ak Jung-hae’s expression fell.
Both my father and Namgung Wan had once been members of the Kirin Society. Namgung Wan had even served as its leader.
I asked Ak Jung-hae as if I didn’t know.
“Did you come alone?”
“No. Dispatch missions typically operate in teams of four. You’ll be able to see the others soon enough!”
I hesitated at Ak Jung-hae’s words, about to ask who had come with him.
“But Senior Ui-gang usually traveled alone!”
My father straightened me up as he spoke.
“Why dredge up old matters?”
Namgung Wan clicked his tongue in disapproval.
“You still talk far too much for no reason.”
“For no reason, sir?”
Despite Namgung Wan’s rebuke, Ak Jung-hae remained undeterred.
“Oh, by the way, have you seen that inn over there? That building on the right! I had lunch there today and their pork dishes were….”
It was almost a talent, the way he could chatter so freely to my father and Namgung Wan, both men of few words. Their expressions were familiar enough. Though I could see irritation beginning to creep across Namgung Wan’s face….
Just as Namgung Wan was about to say something, unable to hold back any longer.
“Ak Jung-hae, shut your….”
“Oh! Seniors, please wait just a moment!”
Suddenly, Ak Jung-hae dashed off somewhere.

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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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