The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 344

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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 14
Side Story 6. A Certain Time.
If someone were to evaluate Namgung Wan’s life, they would undoubtedly call it blessed. He agreed with that assessment.
His father was the Family Head of the Namgung Clan, which stood at the forefront when counting the great families of the Martial World, and the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, the Orthodox Martial Arts Sects. His mother had passed away early, but in her stead, he grew up freely and without restraint under the care of his devoted twin sister.
Blessed with innate talent in martial arts and receiving unstinting support to nurture it, he became heir without experiencing the conflicts and competitions that typically plagued great families.
A smooth path through life. An existence without obstacles. He had raced forward without a single hindrance, never stumbling over a stone.
And now—
“Victory to Baek Li-ui-gang of the Baek Li Family!”
Namgung Wan tasted his first bitter defeat at the World’s Greatest Martial Arts Tournament.
Waaaaaaah—!
The roar of the crowd thundered through the Tournament Arena.
It was an upset no one had foreseen. That Namgung Wan, who had earned his reputation as a prodigy from birth, had been eliminated in the semifinals.
Of course, some could make excuses.
“The previous match was the problem!”
“Right. He fought a bloody battle for over two hundred exchanges without backing down, didn’t he? The exhaustion was inevitable.”
Perhaps they could say it this way too.
“Who would have thought Baek Li-ui-gang would become the champion of the World’s Greatest Martial Arts Tournament!”
“He showed his mettle when he defeated Namgung Prince in the semifinals.”
Losing to the champion was no shame, they would say.
But for Namgung Wan, it was absolutely shameful.
“Hahaha! What a joyous day, truly joyous!”
“Hahaha! Did you see that bastard’s face? Always walking around with his head held high like victory was already his, and hahaha, he got what he deserved!”
In the spacious inner chamber at the top of the pavilion.
The gazes of a dozen or so people gathered in one place as they sat at the table.
Someone hastily picked up a wine bottle and poured, speaking as they did.
“Prince Namgung, don’t let such talk upset you.”
“Right. Anyone with discerning eyes can see the matchups were unfavorable for you…”
Thud. Wine spilled from the cup he had slammed down, wetting the back of Namgung Wan’s hand.
The young man beside him hurriedly placed a soothing hand on his shoulder.
“Prince, Prince. Calm yourself. Haha.”
Namgung Wan raised his eyebrows and sharply brushed away the hand trying to comfort his shoulder.
“Remove your hand.”
The young man, rendered speechless, rubbed the back of his hand as it flushed red.
Then someone spoke with a snicker.
“Why get so angry? Your performance is still the best at this table, no, in this entire pavilion!”
“Really, how can we even be compared to that Namgung bastard? That’s not even worth saying.”
Another person asked with curiosity.
“Why did we decide to gather at this pavilion anyway? It ruins the appetite. Do we have to see those bastards’ faces here?”
Those on the lower floor mocking Namgung Wan and conversing were lackeys serving minor and mid-tier sects, even among the renowned great schools.
Conversely, those gathered in the inner chamber were notorious as prodigal sons of the prestigious families, with Namgung Wan at their head.
They growled at each other like dogs and cats whenever they encountered those pompous elites from the prestigious major sects, and their relationship with the lower-ranking lackeys who served those major sects had deteriorated to the point where they’d already come to blows several times.
Someone clicked their tongue and answered.
“Why else? Because Peng Prince smashed up the entire Manjak Pavilion yesterday. Everywhere else is fully booked, so this was the only place with seats available. If you want to complain, go take it up with Peng Prince.”
“Wait, why Peng Prince? Is it because of So-hyang?”
“The reason doesn’t matter. The problem is that we got kicked out of here because of the Prince.”
“Ah—so that’s why Peng Prince wasn’t here today.”
“Right? I keep telling you to eat slowly.”
As the drinking gathering grew lively again, Namgung Wan silently raised his cup.
But no matter how hard he tried not to pay attention, he couldn’t block out the voices drifting up from the lower floor of the pavilion, which had virtually no soundproofing whatsoever.
Especially with Namgung Wan’s sharp perception, their voices came through crystal clear.
“…You simply don’t know. Baek Li-ui-gang was originally a prodigy!”
“Then why wasn’t his name known?”
“He was already famous in the Shaanxi region. He gained a high reputation by caring for the weak and showing benevolence.”
Namgung Wan’s brow furrowed.
‘Isn’t the Baek Li Family based in Hunan Province? Yet he made a name for himself in Shaanxi Province instead of Hunan?’
Why would he make a name for himself in a distant region that wasn’t even his hometown? That’s why I thought he was just a branch member of the unknown Baek Li Family!
Gulp, gulp.
“Aren’t you drinking a bit too fast?”
Namgung Wan held out his empty cup as if to say never mind, just pour more wine.
“I asked a friend of mine from Hunan Province, and he said Baek Li-ui-gang is an illegitimate son of the Baek Li Family. Apparently, he hasn’t been seen once since his mother’s death.”
“You mean he left the family?”
“That’s not certain. But tell me, has anyone here heard of the legitimate sons of the Baek Li Family? Have you heard of them? You? What about you?”
Namgung Wan also thought to himself that he’d never heard of them either.
Until now, he’d thought the Baek Li Family was an unremarkable clan except for Baek Li Pae-hyuk, who suddenly appeared as a supreme master.
Such sects and families were common. A person with exceptional talent would gain fame, but it wouldn’t extend to their children or disciples.
In fact, most ended up that way.
That’s why families and sects that produced masters generation after generation were called prestigious major sects and clans.
“Right. Nobody’s heard of them, have they?”
“Come to think of it, didn’t they not participate in this tournament either?”
“Exactly! That’s what I’m saying. They didn’t participate in the tournament, and they haven’t shown their faces at the Kirin Society either, so it’s pretty obvious what’s going on.”
The Kirin Society was one of the organizations within the Murim Alliance, composed of young prodigies, and those who belonged to it were regarded as the representative faces of their families’ and sects’ futures.
Therefore, prestigious major sects carefully selected and only sent the most talented individuals to the Kirin Society.
Moreover, since it was such a valuable networking venue, most sects and families tried to get their members into the Kirin Society by any means necessary. But the fact that no one could find a member of the Baek Li Family there meant….
“How unremarkable must the illegitimate sons be? With the current Baek Li Family Head’s reputation, he wouldn’t have even needed to take an entrance exam!”
“Come to think of it, the Alliance would definitely recommend Baek Li-ui-gang for Kirin Society membership, right?”
“Of course! He’s the champion!”
Someone at the table in the inner chamber, which had grown quiet again, muttered under their breath.
“An illegitimate son, no less…. Tsk, doesn’t even know his place.”
Unlike sects, which were composed of master-disciple relationships, families were built on blood ties, and naturally they distinguished between legitimate and illegitimate children.
If a legitimate son possessed talent, there was nothing better. But if an illegitimate son had greater talent than a legitimate son? Then that’s when discord began to arise.
Bloody conspiracies and violent conflicts erupted with tiresome regularity, and it was not uncommon to witness entire families destroyed by attacks from rival powers in the region. Naturally, everyone became sensitive to such matters.
Generally, legitimate heirs fared better than illegitimate ones. They received the family’s unlimited support, so it was an inevitable outcome. But occasionally, cases like the Baek Li Family occurred.
And the legitimate heirs, who had believed from birth that their position was theirs alone, harbored intense hatred toward such threats.
“The Baek Li Family raised a tiger cub too. It’ll end badly like this.”
At that moment, Namgung Wan smiled coldly and swirled the wine cup in his hand.
“Of course a tiger cub is a tiger. Born a tiger cub yet unable to become even a wolf—why does such a creature have so much to say?”
“Prince? Why are you suddenly like this?”
“Because it’s pathetic. Whether legitimate or illegitimate means nothing, so all they can boast of is bloodline. They don’t train their swordsmanship and just follow women around—they’re not even wolf cubs, just cats in heat.”
Someone bristled at the chilling atmosphere and spoke up.
“Prince Namgung, isn’t that going too far?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Of course the Prince wouldn’t know. Raised in a household where you were precious, you’ve never had to worry about such things, have you?”
“….”
“….”
Namgung Wan let out a hollow laugh and rose from his seat.
Someone startled cried out “Why, why are you doing this! Over such a trivial remark!” and grabbed Namgung Wan, while another hastily urged the other man to apologize.
The man urged to apologize lowered his head.
“My words were too harsh. I apologize.”
Namgung Wan, his expression darkening, sat back down as if deflated.
“….”
“….”
As the inner chamber fell into oppressive silence, the conversation from the floor below became even more audible.
“…so he was acquainted with Myeong-jin of Huashan?”
“She turned out unfortunate. Her sword strikes were remarkable. I could almost see plum blossoms before my eyes. Had she entered the sect just a little earlier, this championship would have been hers for certain.”
The people in the inner chamber turned their attention toward the direction of the conversation with displeasure.
“Of course. Still, haha, those Sega fools were so full of themselves saying this Prince Namgung would compete. As if he’s the one winning! Hahaha.”
The sound of wine cups clinking together in agreement was heard.
“But isn’t Baek Li-ui-gang also from a Sega family?”
“That’s what makes it interesting! Haha, defeated by a mere illegitimate who fled the family—the Namgung Clan has nothing left to show for itself now.”
“Say, I heard there was another direct descendant in the Namgung Clan, wasn’t there?”
“Ah, Namgung Sister?”
The moment Namgung Wan’s sister was mentioned, everyone in the inner chamber held their breath.
It was also the reason for the hasty apology moments before. Whenever Namgung Wan’s sister was mentioned—whether favorably or unfavorably—he became like a madman….
“I saw her from a distance once. Her appearance is certainly unrivaled under heaven.”
“Then what? I heard her martial prowess is merely average.”
“Average in the Namgung Clan? She must have lacked talent considerably. Haha, but if she excels at one thing, isn’t that enough! For a woman, that would be sufficient….”
Crash—!
Suddenly, someone from the upper floor fell over a table.
“Wh, what——! Namgung—”
They couldn’t even finish their words.
Crack! Thud thud thud thud!
“Ahhhhh!”
“What in the—Ugh! Argh! Hack!”
“Nooooo!”
Screams erupted throughout the pavilion in an instant.

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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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