The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 342

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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 Episode 12
‘They say he has connections with the Imperial Court….’
Until now, Lee U had dismissed such rumors as mere gossip and ignored them, but now that he found himself actually entangled in the matter, even those whispers began to weigh on his mind.
And the girl who had startled Lee U tilted her head with perfect composure.
“Tiger hunting?”
“Yes. That’s why I summoned you here!”
“…?”
“Indeed! A tiger has descended from the mountain in recent days, devouring people and plunging the common folk into misery! An entire village has already vanished completely!”
The tiger was said to be clever enough to mock the hunters summoned by the County Magistrate, and extraordinarily vicious besides.
From children to adults of both sexes, the number of people killed and injured by the tiger exceeded three hundred. It was said the beast did not even kill for food—it killed merely for sport.
Certainly, the situation was grave.
This region was densely forested with villages scattered sparsely throughout.
The terrified people could not relocate to other villages, nor could they venture out to gather medicinal herbs or tend their fields. At this rate, it would warrant mobilizing the military for a large-scale extermination campaign.
It was then that the County Magistrate spoke.
“I shall grant you the opportunity to subjugate that tiger!”
“Pardon? Me?”
“What manner of response is that! Why do you think the Imperial Court turns a blind eye to those irreverent Jianghu warriors who wield their blades without authorization? Is it not precisely to handle matters such as these!”
* * *
Baek Li Se-ran was seized by government soldiers and led somewhere. In the distance, a large, dilapidated structure resembling a storage room came into view.
Then she sensed someone approaching them.
Turning her head, it was the soldier who had posed questions beside the County Magistrate earlier, his face drained of color. From what she had gathered, he held the rank of Training Commander.
The Training Commander, avoiding her gaze, spoke to the soldiers restraining her.
“I shall escort her from here. You men go and rest.”
“Oh, Commander, what brings this on?”
“Never mind. Go rest.”
“Well, that suits us fine! We were hungry anyway, so we’ll go grab some food!”
“Very well.”
The soldiers, seeming pleased with the arrangement, turned and departed. Once the Training Commander confirmed they had vanished completely from sight, his expression heavy, he spoke.
“Simply leave.”
“Pardon?”
“I shall feign ignorance. Slip away quietly while you can. With your skill, surely that presents no difficulty.”
Baek Li Se-ran’s brow furrowed as she turned to face him.
“Yet moments ago, you said I would be branded a criminal if I refused to cooperate in slaying the tiger?”
He had even threatened to execute the other Jianghu warriors currently detained if she did not assist in capturing the beast.
“That is… in any case, I shall handle the report to the County Magistrate myself, so simply depart.”
“What of the people currently being held? Will you release them as well?”
In that instant, the Training Commander’s expression hardened.
“You need not concern yourself with them.”
Which meant he would not release them.
Baek Li Se-ran tilted her head in puzzlement.
“Why am I being treated differently?”
“Because you’re still young, that’s why. Stop asking pointless questions. Are you going or not?”
The Training Commander barked at Baek Li Se-ran with pressure in his voice.
But Baek Li Se-ran showed no reaction whatsoever.
Rather, the Training Commander felt a chill run down his spine at her observant gaze.
‘What kind of look is that from a young girl…’
The moment he swallowed hard, Baek Li Se-ran let out a soft laugh and spoke.
“It’s not that, is it? You’re afraid of my backing. If age was the concern, you shouldn’t have brought me in the first place.”
“….”
At her blatant mockery, the Training Commander’s face flushed red.
“Fine! A small man like me is indeed afraid of your backing. Isn’t that natural? If one knows how to wield a sword, who wouldn’t know the reputation of your mother and father?”
The Training Commander, his fists clenched tight, continued in a strangled voice.
“Do you know how many Jianghu warriors have fallen to Mountain Tiger’s claws? That tiger isn’t just any beast. If something were to happen to you, the County Magistrate might find a way to escape, but people like us…”
The Training Commander suddenly stopped mid-sentence and let out a long sigh.
“In any case, now that you understand the situation, just leave quietly. I’m asking you.”
Baek Li Se-ran observed him for a moment before opening her mouth.
“And once I escape, you’ll just grab someone else to take my place, won’t you?”
“….”
“Fine then. Open that door over there.”
Baek Li Se-ran gestured with her chin toward the Storage Room door they had arrived at.
“You…!”
The Training Commander burst out in anger before forcing his mouth shut.
After huffing and puffing for a while, the Training Commander, as if remembering something, opened the Storage Room door that was locked with a thick wooden bar.
Inside the opened door, about twenty people were confined.
The people in various states of dress looked unmistakably like Jianghu warriors, and judging by their disheveled appearance from having been dragged here not long ago, some even wore shackles and manacles.
As Baek Li Se-ran’s gaze fell upon them, the Training Commander avoided her eyes and spoke as if making excuses.
“They tend to be violent, you see. A few of them caused trouble, so the County Magistrate…”
“Violent? Isn’t that the very strength you needed them for? And you treat them like this, then order them to face a man-eating tiger? I’m sure they’ll be absolutely sincere about it.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
His audacity was plain to read—if they didn’t want to become criminals hunted by the Government Military, they had no choice but to obey. Though there was a principle of non-interference with official matters, it didn’t extend to these petty affairs. Indeed, unless one was part of the truly reckless Black Gangs, most Jianghu warriors avoided antagonizing the Government Military. Doing so would make the rest of one’s life miserable.
The Training Commander spoke.
“As you can see, this is no place for someone like you.”
The Training Commander was confident. She was clearly a noblewoman raised in comfort—there was no way she would agree to stay among these people after seeing this.
“Surely you don’t mean to stay and mingle with these ruffians? Don’t be stubborn. Change your mind while you still can.”
And just before Baek Li Se-ran could answer, a young voice rang out from the deepest corner of the Storage Room, one that seemed utterly out of place.
“Mountain Tiger’s rage came because hunters captured his two cubs. They sold one and took the other hostage, hoping to get his hide, only to kill it right before his eyes.”
A boy who appeared to be around sixteen, having just come of age, possessed eyes with an unusual luminous quality.
The boy continued speaking.
“From the Mountain Village that was annihilated to the County Magistrate, to every hunter on this mountain—they’re all complicit.”
“From the annihilated Mountain Village to the County Magistrate, even the hunters of this Mountain—they’re all in cahoots.”
The Training Commander cried out in alarm.
“What, what nonsense is this!”
Young Master Park didn’t even turn his head, just stared at Baek Li Se-ran and muttered.
“…Not surprised at all.”
“Right. I expected it.”
The Training Commander spoke in shock.
“What, what? You knew all along?”
In that instant, Baek Li Se-ran’s hand shot out like lightning, striking the Training Commander’s neck.
Thwack!
The Training Commander collapsed without even a sound.
“What is this!”
The Gangho Warriors exclaimed in surprise, murmuring among themselves.
Baek Li Se-ran immediately drew a short blade from her robes. All weapons had been confiscated, but the Training Commander hadn’t searched her person thoroughly enough. Her blade, shimmering with light, cut through the iron chains and shackles as cleanly as slicing tofu.
“How?”
“Who, who exactly are you, miss?”
“The blade is simply of exceptional quality.”
This short blade originally belonged to her older brother—she’d secretly taken it when she left on her journey. It had proven remarkably useful.
Then the boy with those distinctive eyes spoke.
“Is that a blade forged from White Lotus Steel?”
“How did you know?”
Baek Li Se-ran twirled the blade in her hand.
The moment the Gangho Warriors in the storage room heard “White Lotus Steel,” their eyes gleamed with greed.
Only the boy continued speaking in an even tone.
“My master once told me there was a blade forged from White Lotus Steel in the Baek Li Family.”
“That’s right. Quite accurate.”
And the moment the Baek Li Family was mentioned, several of them drew sharp breaths and hastily concealed their greedy gazes.
This blade had been passed down through generations of the Namgung Clan, forged from White Lotus Steel. Her mother had received it from her grandfather and passed it to her older brother.
And she had secretly taken it when she left the family.
Being so precious, it was a blade her older brother treasured dearly. He must have seized her by the collar when he discovered it missing after her departure. It was her only regret—not witnessing her older brother’s frantic rage.
Baek Li Se-ran smiled brightly and offered the blade to the boy.
“Want to take a look?”
“If you’ll allow it.”
“Here.”
A weapon worthy of becoming a family heirloom was casually handed to the boy.
The boy examined the short blade carefully from every angle, then lightly returned it to her.
“Already finished looking?”
“Yes.”
“What do you think of it?”
“It appears quite ordinary on the surface.”
Baek Li Se-ran’s eyes widened slightly, then she laughed softly as if amused.
“How curious. Not many people know the story behind this short blade….”
Young Master Park’s reflection gleamed in Baek Li Se-ran’s clear eyes.
The boy who had returned the dagger twisted his wrist and shattered the shackles before Baek Li Se-ran could even offer her help.
Those standing nearby flinched in surprise, instinctively stepping back from him.
Though the chains were not of the finest quality, they were still beyond what most third-rate warriors imprisoned here could have broken.
Baek Li Se-ran’s eyes widened as she murmured.
“Ah, you’re turning out to be far more interesting than I thought.”

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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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