The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 345

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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 15
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The brawl that Namgung Wan had initiated spiraled out of control as onlookers became entangled in the chaos, eventually escalating into a full-scale clash between martial families and sects.
And in the Murim Alliance Leader’s Chamber.
“How old are you exactly! What possessed you to start such a brawl! Do you have any idea how much trouble I’ve had cleaning up this mess!”
“Trouble? I’m sure it was just money.”
“What, what did you just say?”
“Father, you have plenty of money—don’t act like a petty man. How much could it possibly cost?”
Namgung Mu-cheol, the current Murim Alliance Leader and Family Head of the Namgung Clan, was momentarily rendered speechless by his son’s audacity.
After a brief pause, his face contorted and he bellowed.
“Over twenty people are injured! One lost an arm, another broke a leg! And you ask how much it cost!”
Unmoved by the outburst, Namgung Mu-cheol took a deep breath as if to compose himself, then lowered his voice.
“Today is the awards ceremony. How could you instigate a fight like this? What were you thinking?”
“I didn’t even win the tournament, so what does it have to do with me?”
Of course, his attempt to lower the temperature failed immediately.
“Right. You’re quite impressive! What does it have to do with you? The night before we’re supposed to demonstrate unity within the Orthodox Martial Arts Alliance, the son of the Murim Alliance Leader tramples disciples from minor sects underfoot—and you ask what it has to do with you? Are you just some street thug from a back alley? You didn’t even win the tournament, yet here you are brawling everywhere!”
Throughout his father’s tirade, Namgung Wan had maintained an indifferent expression, but the moment his father said “didn’t even win the tournament,” his face hardened with emotion.
Namgung Mu-cheol noticed his son’s reaction. He sighed inwardly and raised his voice again.
“Your sister has been looking forward to hearing about you, and instead she’ll hear that you’ve been causing trouble. I’m sure that will delight her!”
“….”
Only then did his son show a hint of regret.
Namgung Mu-cheol fell silent, exhaustion etched across his features. It wasn’t physical fatigue from raising his voice a few times, but rather a deep mental weariness.
When Namgung Wan was born, the Namgung Clan was in complete chaos.
Namgung Mu-cheol’s wife died not long after giving birth to Namgung Wan, for reasons unknown.
Before he could even properly grieve, Namgung Wan’s grandfather and Namgung Mu-cheol’s own father, the previous Family Head, also passed away in quick succession. It was a sudden death.
Namgung Mu-cheol was thrust into the position of Family Head before he could even finish the mourning period for his wife.
Suddenly inheriting the position of Family Head, he had to dedicate himself to martial training despite his inferior skills compared to his late father, all while suppressing the continuous chaos both within and outside the clan.
It was a time when he could trust no one.
He had no time to focus on anything but his children’s safety. The discipline of a child without a mother naturally fell to his older sister, Namgung Seo, who was five years his senior.
And Namgung Seo, the eldest daughter, was naturally gentle, kind, and without competitive spirit. Moreover, having lost her mother before even a hundred days had passed, she pitied her younger brother deeply. As a result, no matter what mischief Namgung Wan caused, she never raised her voice properly and only worked to keep it from reaching their father’s ears.
Namgung Mu-cheol realized the problem too late and attempted to discipline Namgung Wan directly, but by then it was already too late.
The only silver lining was that his son at least pretended to listen to his sister.
Namgung Mu-cheol spoke sternly, concealing his troubled heart.
“And regarding your companions—their character is questionable, so refrain from associating with them.”
Namgung Wan raised one eyebrow.
“We just drink together. Companions is hardly the word….”
“If they’re not even companions, then why associate with such people at all?”
While Namgung Wan had initiated the fight, the fact that people were seriously injured and it escalated into a major brawl was largely due to those who failed to stop it and instead fanned the flames from the sidelines.
There was even evidence that he had deliberately positioned himself at that pavilion to provoke fights with people he had disliked.
But he could not reveal this fact to his son. The moment he did, he could already foresee a future where his son would declare his intention to beat that person to death once more.
What was fortunate in this situation was that the testimony regarding the conversation that had sparked the initial fight was clear, and the Murim Alliance’s Law Bureau had determined that the victims’ words and actions were the primary problem.
Namgung Mu-cheol spoke.
“Apologize. They’ve agreed to apologize for what they said to you as well.”
Namgung Wan let out a hollow laugh. Then he continued as if it were absurd.
“Father, have you ever seen me apologize for something like that?”
“Namgung Wan.”
“I won’t.”
“Sit down!”
“No, Father. It’s not as if I’ve caused some massive, irredeemable disaster, is it? Surely the Murim Alliance Leader can handle a mere children’s squabble without difficulty?”
“You…! Is that truly what you have to say!”
At that moment, Namgung Wan suddenly asked.
“Father, do you prefer a son who listens well but has weak martial prowess, or one who is a reckless troublemaker but possesses high martial skill?”
“….”
“Since I am sufficiently meeting your expectations, please spare me the nagging.”
Namgung Wan held a sneer on his lips as if he had never intended to hear an answer in the first place, and brushed off his sleeve.
Namgung Mu-cheol, at a loss for words, contorted his face before he was about to shout.
“Alliance Leader, the Cheongryong Group Leader has returned.”
Maeng-won carefully reported from outside the door.
Namgung Wan smiled crookedly and spoke.
“You’ve kept the busy Alliance Leader occupied. Please tell him that neither of us needs insincere apologies.”
“Namgung Wan! Sit down this instant!”
Namgung Wan left the Leader’s Chamber without looking back.
In the end, Namgung Wan received an order to reflect and remain in confinement for one month.
At this, Namgung Wan scoffed. What was confinement? He’d simply focus on his training.
* * *
One month later.
On the day his confinement ended, Namgung Wan ignored the summons to visit the Leader’s Chamber and went out with friends who had come to see him.
He gambled heavily at a newly opened gambling den and drank all day at a pavilion.
He didn’t visit the Leader’s Chamber until past noon the next day.
Namgung Wan, who had woken late, reeked of alcohol as he headed toward the Murim Alliance Headquarters.
There was a guest in the Leader’s Chamber. It was Wi Ji-baek, the leader of the Cheongryong Group, the Murim Alliance’s rapid response unit.
“…and they sent word that support would be difficult.”
“How unsurprising. They’ve always been preoccupied with their own safety. Then….”
Namgung Mu-cheol was absorbed in discussion with Wi Ji-baek and surely knew his son had entered, yet he didn’t spare him a single glance.
Namgung Wan found an appropriate seat and sat down with practiced ease.
His childhood had always been filled with scenes like this. It had taken roughly ten years for the current Namgung Family Head to restore order within and outside the clan and establish the martial prestige needed so that the Namgung Clan would not be disrespected in the Jianghu.
During that time, if Namgung Wan saw his father’s face three or four times a year, that was considered frequent. Most of those occasions were spent receiving evaluations of his training in the Yeon Training Hall or receiving instruction on the clan’s seasonal rites.
After that, as the clan stabilized and the Family Head rose to the ranks of supreme masters, the Namgung Family Head became the Murim Alliance Leader and left the Main Family Estate.
“Are you listening?”
At Namgung Mu-cheol’s words, Namgung Wan nodded halfheartedly.
“Yes. Please speak.”
“Going forward, you must not stir up discord in your missions. You’re aware, aren’t you, that your name is being considered as the next Society Leader of the Kirin Society? If this continues, they’ll say you’re unfit for the position. Such talk is already circulating.”
Namgung Mu-cheol moistened his throat with tea and continued.
“How could I entrust you with the position of Society Leader when you not only fail to mediate, but actively incite conflict with the disciples of the Murim Alliance?”
“Then I simply won’t take it. I was getting tired of it anyway. Do you think I’d be disappointed? Have someone else take the position. I’m curious what kind of talented fellow will end up with it.”
His eyes gleamed with the look of someone who would never tolerate anyone weaker than himself taking the role.
Just as Namgung Mu-cheol, his face contorted, was about to speak, Wi Ji-baek, who had stepped out briefly and returned, spoke respectfully.
“Alliance Leader, it’s time for the meeting. Everyone has gathered except for the Jade Star Immortal and the Great Wood Immortal, who sent word of their absence.”
“Very well.”
Rising from his seat, Namgung Mu-cheol pointed to a densely packed shelf on one side of the Alliance Leader’s Chamber.
“On the fifth shelf, the rightmost section—there’s a letter Seo sent you. Take it with you.”
“Sister sent me a letter?”
Namgung Wan rose and headed straight for the shelf. Yet even after finding the letter, he hesitated, unable to pick it up.
Namgung Mu-cheol spoke.
“I made sure word of your blunder didn’t reach her ears.”
Namgung Wan’s eyes widened slightly before he bowed his head obediently.
“…Thank you.”
“Your sister will be married soon. Isn’t it time you matured as well?”
Namgung Wan barely managed to suppress a grimace before speaking.
“Father, the Cheongryong Group Leader over there is looking at you with such longing—shouldn’t you go see him? Isn’t this urgent?”
Wi Ji-baek spoke with a good-natured smile.
“He wasn’t quite that longing. Ha ha. Namgung Prince, I didn’t get to greet you properly earlier due to the circumstances.”
Namgung Wan gave a perfunctory nod in acknowledgment.
“The boy has no manners—my apologies. Step outside for a moment.”
“Of course. I’ll wait in the conference room then.”
After Wi Ji-baek left the Alliance Leader’s Chamber, Namgung Wan preempted Namgung Mu-cheol’s gaze, which seemed to want to say something.
“So what exactly is this mission you’re assigning me? Just explain it quickly and go.”
Namgung Mu-cheol picked up a scroll as if he wanted to throw it, then set it back down.
“Maeng-won, waiting outside, will explain. Originally, I meant to tell you yesterday to give you time to prepare, but tsk. It can’t be helped. Time is pressing, so there’s no separate preparation time.”
The moment Namgung Wan left the Alliance Leader’s Chamber with the letter tucked carefully in his robes, he met Maeng-won, who would guide him through the mission.
Maeng-won explained briefly as they walked.
“It’s not a difficult mission. It’s a simple investigation task, but the focus is on coordinating the team’s movements. Usually a team consists of four, but this time we’ve specially formed a group of five. They’re all people you know. Once you arrive, we’ll depart immediately, so they should be gathered… Ah, there they are.”
Four people were gathered in the shade of a large tree, apparently to escape the harsh autumn sun.
The tall woman at the front was a young lady of the Geom Family, quite renowned for her reputation. She was a rare woman who got along well with Namgung Wan despite his notoriously poor standing among women.
Beside her stood a renowned disciple of a famous martial sect and a monk bearing the dharma name Heo Jeong.
Namgung Wan clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘These Shaolin fellows are always tiresome.’
The type Namgung Wan despised most were those who affected righteousness.
And finally, a young man in jade-colored robes with not a single ornament, wearing only a white sword at his waist, turned as if sensing his presence. A youth with a clear, resolute gaze in a refined face.
It was Baek Li-ui-gang.
“Ah, have I lost my mind?”

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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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