The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 335

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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 5
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The Military Division Annex.
Soft conversation drifted through a chamber filled with the subtle fragrance of tea.
“The Acting Commander was probably planning to propose the position of Murim Alliance Leader to you.”
Baek Li-yeon, who had been reaching for her teacup, suddenly wore a dazed expression.
“…Who would agree to that? Are they out of their minds?”
“Why? I think it’s a reasonable proposal.”
“Consider my age.”
“But you defeated Cheon-ma, didn’t you?”
“That was merely a matter of good fortune….”
Jeggal Hwa-mu chuckled softly, as if amused.
“In this world, fortune is also skill.”
“No, but first… I’m not even among the supreme masters of the realm?”
“There’s no rule stating only the supreme masters can hold the position, and doesn’t defeating Cheon-ma prove you are one?”
Baek Li-yeon clutched her head and slumped onto the table. Namgung Ryu-cheong, seated beside her, held his teacup and spoke.
“Even so, with my master and my father both present, isn’t it too much of a leap to skip directly to Baek Li Young Lady’s turn?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu regarded Namgung Ryu-cheong as if observing a curious creature.
“Both the Baek Li Family Head and the Namgung Family Head declined.”
“Declined? Both my master and my father?”
“What? When? I had no idea!”
“Perhaps they simply didn’t tell you. The Namgung Minor Family Head would have known… So it’s true that you’ve lost your memories. How fascinating.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu made no attempt to hide his interest, his eyes gleaming as he examined Namgung Ryu-cheong from every angle. Namgung Ryu-cheong turned to Baek Li-yeon as if reluctant to engage further.
“Can this person be trusted?”
“The Minor Family Head’s trust isn’t particularly important. What matters is whether Yeon trusts him.”
Baek Li-yeon interjected with an expression suggesting this was becoming tiresome.
“Hwa-mu, don’t provoke him unnecessarily.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu placed a hand over his heart and spoke.
“I genuinely wish for my benefactor’s happiness. But that doesn’t mean I must suppress my present enjoyment, does it?”
“Try suppressing it anyway.”
“My benefactor’s happiness?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t remember that part.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s eyes turned as cold and sharp as frost. As he gripped the edge of the table to rise, his hand was gently stilled by a touch—a caress across his knuckles.
It was Baek Li-yeon. The gesture held no force, merely a delicate, butterfly-soft touch, yet its warmth alone dissolved any intention to move.
“I said stop. And Ryu-cheong, don’t fall for Hwa-mu’s provocations. Hwa-mu, you stop as well.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu shrugged and waved his fan languidly.
Having eased the tension, Baek Li-yeon returned to the original subject.
“So, do you have any idea why they declined?”
Jeggal Hwa-mu, who had been silently fanning himself, picked up the wooden token that Baek Li-yeon had placed on the table.
“Did you seal this?”
“Yes. We can’t have anyone else becoming strange if they happen to touch it.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu set down the wooden token and spoke.
“First, let me tell you something—while you were out searching for that token, the Demonic Cult showed unusual activity. It seems certain that this token was indeed a trap.”
Baek Li-yeon’s brow furrowed.
“I noticed the movements and thought things were unfolding strangely, but now I suspect they were trying to pin you down with this token while they handled something else entirely.”
“…We fell for it.”
“I’m sorry. I should have investigated more thoroughly.”
Baek Li-yeon shook her head.
“They already know what I’m searching for. Whether it was this trap or another, I was bound to fall into whatever snare they laid.”
“…”
Jeggal Hwa-mu regarded her with a look of regret. Then, as if to shift the conversation, he opened his mouth again.
“According to the Jegal Clan’s research records, there were others besides you who recalled past events. If we include those the Jegal Clan never found, there might be quite a few.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“It wasn’t important at the time. Besides, even when people do recall such things, the memories are usually hazy like dreams and fade quickly. That’s why they have no real impact on the present. Clear recollections like yours are extremely rare.”
Baek Li-yeon nodded in understanding.
Jeggal Hwa-mu continued.
“Then why do some recall and others forget? If time truly was reversed, shouldn’t no one remember anything at all?”
With this explanation, Baek Li-yeon could understand what Jeggal Hwa-mu was driving at. She had experienced receiving his memories before.
“Memories are stored in the soul, so even if Cheon-ma reversed time, the memories would remain in the soul?”
“Exactly. And perhaps that’s also why Cheon-ma eventually abandoned the regressions and moved on to the next generation.”
“Hmm.”
“The issues caused by heavenly secrets were certainly the greatest. But according to our ancestors’ theories, there was research suggesting that excessive memories accumulated in the soul might cause more people like you to recall the past.”
It was then that Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had remained silent since the early servant incident, finally spoke.
“So according to your logic, I’m a past memory carved into a soul?”
“Possibly?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong regarded Jeggal Hwa-mu with cold eyes.
Jeggal Hwa-mu smiled slightly at him, as if understanding what he was thinking.
Baek Li-yeon asked.
“Then what’s the method to restore his current memories?”
“Nothing comes to mind immediately. There are a few things that seem related, but… I’m not even sure if verification is possible, and even if it is, it will likely take considerable time.”
Baek Li-yeon let out a sigh.
Jeggal Hwa-mu looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong and spoke.
“In any case, he seems cooperative enough, so there’s no major problem, is there? He’s the same person after all.”
“Are you really saying that now…?”
At the look in Baek Li-yeon’s eyes, Jeggal Hwa-mu leaned back slightly. Then, with an apologetic expression, he continued.
“I’m not certain, but I think his memories will return naturally over time. Similar to ordinary amnesia. Memories carved into the soul aren’t easily erased.”
“…”
“Besides, if such a powerful and useful object existed, wouldn’t Cheon-ma have tried to use it as a trap long ago?”
“That’s true.”
A token that could erase present memories and replace them with past ones simply by touching it.
If she had suffered this technique before defeating Cheon-ma….
“But the fact that she hasn’t used it until now and left it alone means there must be some major weakness. Then it wasn’t that she didn’t use it, but that she couldn’t. For some reason.”
“You think it’s because it recovers easily?”
“Yes.”
Jeggal Hwa-mu spoke as if amused.
“Wouldn’t you have roughly anticipated that it would be fine?”
Baek Li-yeon fell silent before nodding.
I had lost most of my knowledge about Cheon-ma’s martial techniques, but there were still quite a few sensations and similar things remaining. So I could feel it to some degree—that Namgung Ryu-cheong’s current state wouldn’t last long. If it weren’t for that, I couldn’t have been this composed.
Jeggal Hwa-mu smiled broadly.
“Still, you’re so worried you can’t help it? You came all the way to the Murim Alliance without being able to wait.”
* * *
The conversation with Jeggal Hwa-mu continued for over an hour. However, it ended with only vague discussion, unable to reach any definite conclusion.
And the moment the conversation ended, Namgung Ryu-cheong shot up from his seat and left. Baek Li-yeon bid farewell to Jeggal Hwa-mu and hurriedly chased after Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Ryu-cheong!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been moving forward roughly, suddenly stopped and turned around. His expression was deeply twisted with displeasure.
“That man—he’s trustworthy, right? You said he brought the information about this token in the first place?”
“Well… regarding the Demonic Cult, at least.”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong stared intently at Baek Li-yeon.
“The Jegal Family Head—he’s never married until now, has he?”
At the sudden, unexpected topic, Baek Li-yeon tilted her head before nodding.
“That’s right.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong let out a hollow laugh with an expression of “I knew it.”
“That bastard definitely has feelings for you.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lips curled into a sneer.
“It’s absurd—he hasn’t married yet, and that man just lets him act like this?”
I could tell he was referring to Namgung Ryu-cheong after the regression.
“Well, this is the first time I’ve seen Hwa-mu’s face since after the marriage.”
Baek Li-yeon, who had been touching her lips and thinking for a moment, looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“And even if Hwa-mu does like me, why are you angry about it? You hate me anyway, don’t you?”
Baek Li-yeon’s words and tone were completely devoid of emotion, as if merely stating facts.
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s words caught in his throat, and he clamped his mouth shut.
Baek Li-yeon, who waited for him to speak, gave up and shrugged slightly before moving forward.
“…You.”
It was then that Namgung Ryu-cheong belatedly opened his mouth.
Baek Li-yeon looked not at Namgung Ryu-cheong but toward the Inner Gate where someone was entering the central area. Namgung Ryu-cheong also sensed some commotion. Someone was running toward their direction.
Soon a face came into view and a voice reached them clearly enough that Baek Li-yeon’s expression brightened.
“Seo…!”
The moment Baek Li-yeon opened her mouth, Seo Ha-ryeong, with her index finger pressed to her lips, passed right by them and disappeared behind the building.
“…What?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong also furrowed his brow in confusion as he watched Seo Ha-ryeong vanish, then turned his gaze toward me. I shook my head, equally bewildered by what was unfolding.
Moments later, both of us finally understood. A young man with an upright posture and refined, immaculate features stepped forward before us, steadying his breath.

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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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