The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 332

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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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Special Side Story: Chapter 2
* * *
It was a situation I had never even imagined. I watched Namgung Ryu-cheong with his head in his hands. His demeanor, his posture, his expression—everything was exactly as I remembered him.
But the memories of Namgung Ryu-cheong now that his eyes were open were frozen at a point before the regression. More precisely, at the moment when I had been grasping at his heels like some foolish antagonistic supporting character.
‘Should I call this… amnesia?’
Yet the current Namgung Ryu-cheong was recalling things he supposedly couldn’t remember?
‘Then does that mean this isn’t the current Namgung Ryu-cheong, but the past version?’
But weren’t they the same person to begin with?
“This is driving me insane.”
“That’s my line.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, gripping his head as if plagued by a headache, growled out the words.
How had things come to this? How was I supposed to make sense of this situation?
If there was one suspicious thing that could explain such bizarre circumstances, it was this.
I placed the wooden token I had obtained yesterday onto the table with a soft tap.
“I’m fairly certain this is the culprit.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s cold gaze swept over it as if asking what it was.
I opened my mouth.
“A fragment left behind by Cheon-ma… or so I thought. Yesterday, you broke the seal on this object and extracted it.”
“I did?”
“Yes.”
“I have no memory of such a thing.”
“…”
I wiped my lips, overwhelmed by the helplessness of not knowing where or how to begin explaining. Just then, Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been examining the token, set it down with an audible clink and glared at me.
“And if this token is truly a fragment of Cheon-ma’s power as you claim, you didn’t actually follow me to search for it, did you?”
“Yes. We searched for it together.”
“Yes? Yes?! Haven’t I told you countless times not to follow me to dangerous places?”
“…”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked utterly fed up.
“Do you find my words amusing? How could you—!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong turned his head away as if restraining his anger, his fists clenching tightly.
“Sigh… no. This isn’t what’s important right now, so there’s no point in pressing further. Let’s just say that according to you, this world has undergone regression multiple times, and I’ve currently lost my present memories while recalling those from before the regression.”
A cold smirk settled at the corners of Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lips.
“But why am I waking up in this state in the same bed as you?”
I knew this question was coming.
How should I answer? Should I brush it off? But there was no telling when or how this situation might reverse. Besides, I hadn’t done anything wrong enough to warrant lying.
Yet I still hesitated. That gaze. Was it because it had been so long that I had no resistance to it? Every time I met those cold, emotionless eyes, my lips refused to move.
‘It’s not like I committed a crime.’
A slight surge of indignation rose within me.
After closing my eyes briefly, I lifted my head and met Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze directly.
“Because I’m your wife.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a hollow laugh as if the notion were absurd.
“Me, your husband?”
“Yes.”
“Really, I….”
“I’m serious. We have two children together.”
“Stop spouting nonsense. Actually, it was my mistake trying to have a conversation with you in the first place.”
I had anticipated his dismissive reaction—after all, it was difficult to believe. Yet seeing him actually disregard me like this left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“It’s been so long, and you’ve become even more disagreeable.”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, did I say that out loud?”
“Hah!”
With an exasperated sigh, Namgung Ryu-cheong suddenly drew his sword.
The blade sang as it left the scabbard.
He strode forward with heavy steps, and I hardened my expression as I grasped the sword beside the sleeping quarters.
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke.
“I’m sick of this. Wasn’t it said that Cheon-ma is dead? Of course, I can’t believe it since you won’t tell me how you defeated him.”
“His remnants still exist. Though recently they’ve been quiet and haven’t shown themselves. But a brazen attack in broad daylight like this? It’s as if they’re certain something has happened to you.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me as though I were something incomprehensible, then spoke.
“You…. In any case, don’t do anything reckless and stay here quietly.”
Crash!
Namgung Ryu-cheong burst from the building as if to shatter the door itself.
Boom-crash-crash!
A torrent of powerful internal energy erupted, followed by explosive sounds. Then came the eerie ring of steel and the clash of weapons colliding.
Through my golden eyes, I could see his movements beyond the wall. Even the way he wielded his sword was different from before.
“What on earth is happening?”
Soon after, my sword shattered through the window and flew to intercept an arrow aimed at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“…!”
The blade circled around and returned to my hand as I stepped through the open doorway. I spoke to Namgung Ryu-cheong, whose gaze was both familiar and strange.
“There’s one thing you should know—I didn’t follow you on this mission. You followed me.”
* * *
The rain poured down in torrents.
Beneath the deafening sound of the downpour.
“There’s only one guest room left, you say?”
“You mentioned two people, yes? The room itself is a double, so there should be no inconvenience in staying together.”
“I see….”
“Besides, it’s just been vacated, so it will take some time to prepare.”
“Mm.”
I gazed out the window with a troubled expression.
Rain streamed down from the dark sky, clattering noisily against the wooden shutters.
Jeom So-i watched carefully, then pressed the matter as if prompting an answer.
“What would you like to do? Should we wait?”
At that moment, Namgung Ryu-cheong removed his straw hat and shook out his hair as he approached. Water droplets scattered from his hair as he took off the hat.
“Wait, you say?”
“The room isn’t ready yet, so we’ll have to wait.”
“Then we simply wait, don’t we?”
“There’s only one double room available.”
“….”
“Should we perhaps look elsewhere after all?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s brow furrowed slightly. Just then, the door burst open and a guest rushed in with the sound of pouring rain, shouting.
“Jeom So-i! I need a room!”
“One moment! Guest, what will you do?”
His urging gaze made it clear he would immediately offer the room to the next customer if refused. Namgung Ryu-cheong nodded toward Jeom So-i.
“Give us the room.”
“Yes, understood!”
Jeom So-i hurried to the next guest, and I could hear him explaining that all rooms were taken. Baek Li-yeon turned to Namgung Ryu-cheong and asked.
“Are you sure about this?”
“With rain pouring down like this, other places will be in the same situation. Finding a decent stable would take even longer.”
“I suppose that’s true….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong finished wringing out his clothes and took a seat at an empty spot. With the downpour drawing crowds, Jeom So-i and the others moved about busily.
After observing Jeom So-i for a moment, Namgung Ryu-cheong turned back to Baek Li-yeon and continued.
“You said we’re husband and wife? What’s the problem? Or were all your words up until now lies?”
I could feel suspicion settling in his sharp gaze. He still didn’t fully believe everything she said.
“It’s not a lie—it’s because of you. You hated the idea so much that day. I should be the one asking, really. Are you truly okay with this?”
“…It’s more that I was surprised.”
He didn’t seem merely surprised, but he said nothing more. Namgung Ryu-cheong continued with eyes still sharp.
“If I’m fine with it, why should you care? You said you retain all your memories from before the regression, didn’t you? Then isn’t this person the same whether I remember the past or the present?”
“That’s… true.”
“If you can’t accept it, just say so. Don’t force yourself to agree.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just strange hearing you say such things.”
“Strange?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong narrowed his eyes.
Just then, the busy Jeom So-i finally approached the table to take their order. Namgung Ryu-cheong stopped speaking and ordered immediately.
“Two bowls of thin noodles, stir-fried chicken, dumplings, and steamed freshwater fish as well.”
“What about alcohol?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Understood.”
As Jeom So-i moved away, Namgung Ryu-cheong, seeming to gather his thoughts, opened his mouth.
“At this point in time, I’m aware of the regression, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re aware that I remember all of your past selves as well?”
“Yes.”
“So, did I claim that the past me and the present me are different people?”
Baek Li-yeon’s eyes widened. Her expression alone was answer enough.
“How did you…?”
“The me after regression is also the current me, so naturally I know my own thoughts better than anyone, don’t I?”
“Ah.”
Well, it was only natural when you thought about it.
‘Wait, but if that’s the case…’
Just then, someone approached them and spoke carefully.
“Excuse me, guests.”
When I turned my head, I saw Jeom So-i, who had taken the order and withdrawn, and a Gangho Warrior with somewhat damp clothing.
“We’re short on tables—would you mind sharing your table?”
The First Floor Dining Hall had filled with guests seeking shelter from the rain. Baek Li-yeon nodded as if it was fine, and Namgung Ryu-cheong gave his consent.
“It’s no trouble.”
The Gangho Warriors thanked them and took the adjacent seats. It was a common occurrence when traveling.
They exchanged brief greetings while waiting for their food to arrive.
They said they lived as ordinary wanderers, taking commissions from merchants and various places that needed martial strength. However, they lamented that as the conflicts between the Demonic Cult and the Murim Alliance had recently diminished, their work had been drying up.
Namgung Ryu-cheong muttered with an unreadable expression.
“Is it really true that Cheon-ma is dead?”
“Did you just emerge from training in some cave?”
A man who found the remark amusing laughed heartily and offered Namgung Ryu-cheong a drink.
“Do you know how he died?”
Baek Li-yeon remained silent, lifting her cup to wet her lips.
“Really living in a cave! Baek Li Dae-hyup brought him down!”
“By Baek Li Dae-hyup, do you mean Baek Li-ui-gang?”
“No, not him—his daughter! Baek Li-yeon!”
“…”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s gaze turned toward Baek Li-yeon. And that was when it happened.
“Agh!”
Baek Li-yeon seized the wrist of the man sitting beside her and twisted it. A silk pouch fell from his hand to the floor.

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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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