The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 347

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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 17
Similar incidents repeated themselves several more times after that.
Once word of that affair spread widely, people sought out Baek Li-ui-gang whenever they suffered injustice, and he never hesitated to help them.
His reputation grew day by day, and people spoke of Baek Li-ui-gang as noble and righteous. Yet to some, he became an eyesore they could not tolerate.
Watching this unfold, Namgung Wan thought to himself: tsk, he won’t last long at this rate.
In any case, the Orthodox Path factions cared about their public image, so they couldn’t move openly against Baek Li-ui-gang. Instead, they schemed in the shadows, devising countless traps to humiliate him by any means necessary.
And….
It was Namgung Wan who found himself falling into a trap first.
As his vision blurred, Namgung Wan thought bitterly: that bastard was right.
* * *
This matter required going back several days.
Namgung Wan and the members of the Kirin Society had been assigned a task by the Murim Alliance: investigating and eliminating a cult group in Shandong Province.
This cult group had appeared suddenly and grew stronger each day, with martial artists continuously disappearing in the surrounding areas. It had even reached the point where all the disciples of a small Taoist sect nearby vanished without a trace overnight.
Concerned by this, the Orthodox Path forces launched a suppression campaign against the cult group under the pretext of protecting the people. But instead, they were all captured.
The families and sects of the victims then requested assistance from the Murim Alliance, which dispatched members of the Kirin Society along with twenty Alliance warriors.
And since Geom Seo-jeo, the original team leader, had returned to her family, this was Namgung Wan’s first mission as the new team leader.
Namgung Wan, pulling his collar tight against the cold weather, suddenly grew irritated.
“Wait, isn’t the Ak Family right here in their own backyard? What are they doing about this?”
“They must have their reasons. Please lower your voice.”
“Reasons? If they’re going to act like this, they should hand over Shandong.”
Namgung Wan looked at Heo Jeong, a team member and Buddhist monk, as if questioning what he meant, then spoke as if suddenly understanding.
“Come to think of it, I heard the victims were mostly Taoist priests and monks. Do you know anything? Could there be some old grudge?”
Heo Jeong’s expression became uncomfortable, and Yang Jin-so, the new team member who had replaced Geom Seo-jeo, hurriedly interjected.
“It must be coincidence. Besides, Shaolin rarely concerns itself with worldly affairs, so what grudge could there be?”
“They don’t concern themselves with the world, yet they accept so many donations….”
At that moment, Baek Li-ui-gang cut off Namgung Wan’s words by setting down his teacup and speaking.
“They’ve arrived.”
The door to the tea house, their meeting place, opened and someone entered.
Could he be fifteen? The child wore a red robe and carried a spear on his back that appeared twice his height, and he still bore the unmistakable air of youth.
The child glanced around the tea house before greeting them.
“Hello! You’re the people from the Murim Alliance, right? Wow, you’re just as impressive as I heard! Oh, I should introduce myself first. I’m Ak Jung-hae from the Ak Family of Shandong!”
Everyone fell silent for a moment. Namgung Wan was the first to speak.
“What is this snot-nosed brat?”
“Snot-nosed?! I’ve already come of age!”
Baek Li-ui-gang greeted the chattering Ak Jung-hae politely.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Baek Li-ui-gang.”
“I’ve heard so much about you! Please, speak comfortably with me, senior!”
Namgung Wan interjected again.
“Wait, didn’t the Ak Family of Shandong collapse? Is a little squirt like you all they have left to send? I thought they had plenty of people?”
Ak Jung-hae’s expression visibly hardened.
At that moment, Namgung Wan heard Yang Jin-so’s voice transmission.
[The Ak Family is currently in chaos due to succession disputes. There were no participants from them in this Martial Arts Tournament either. There’s no point in pressing the matter.]
Namgung Wan spoke.
“Ha, the Ak Family in Shandong must be a complete mess for at least ten years.”
Ak Jung-hae’s expression grew dejected.
“S-Senior.”
When Yang Jin-so and Heo Jeong looked at Namgung Wan with expressions of dismay, Baek Li-ui-gang spoke.
“Prince Ak, I heard the Ak Family said they would share what they’ve investigated regarding the cult group.”
“Ah, yes! While our family cannot spare many hands to assist, we have already completed our investigation into the cult group.”
Namgung Wan smirked.
“Of course you investigated. You need to know what force has appeared in your own backyard.”
“….”
Ak Jung-hae’s expression grew dejected once more.
Seeing Yang Jin-so’s expression of resentment, Namgung Wan raised both hands and retreated.
With Baek Li-ui-gang’s encouragement, Ak Jung-hae resumed his explanation.
‘Quick to understand.’
Wasn’t this the Ak Family’s way of asking the Murim Alliance to handle it instead, since they were preoccupied with internal power struggles and didn’t want to divert their forces elsewhere?
“…That cult group employed a peculiar form of hypnosis, which was why the previous suppression failed and most were captured. Based on testimonies and investigation, it appears to be powerful enough that ordinary willpower cannot break it.”
“Hypnosis?”
“Yes. During combat, the cult members behaved strangely—as if they only engaged with predetermined opponents.”
“Predetermined opponents. I understand what you mean. With sorcery that interferes with the mind, the more limited the target, the greater the effect. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes, exactly. After our investigation, our family concluded that the method of selecting hypnosis targets is based on gender. Therefore, the countermeasure our family discovered is… the countermeasure is….”
Ak Jung-hae suddenly trailed off, growing anxious.
Namgung Wan was preoccupied wondering if he knew of similar hypnosis techniques and paid little attention to Ak Jung-hae.
Baek Li-ui-gang spoke.
“If the hypnosis method differs by gender, then wouldn’t disguising one’s gender work?”
“…Y-yes, that’s correct.”
Now Yang Jin-so and Heo Jeong’s expressions became strange. Then Baek Li-ui-gang spoke calmly, as if it were obvious.
“Then the Namgung Prince and I should cross-dress and infiltrate first.”
“….”
“….”
A chilling silence hung in the air, and seeing his colleagues’ expressions of shock, Namgung Wan realized he had heard correctly.
Namgung Wan opened his mouth.
“Are you… insane?”
Baek Li-ui-gang looked at Namgung Wan with a surprised expression.
That expression infuriated him even more. He had just said something, so what was this? A surprised look? Surprised about what?
“Wait, you’re telling me… to cross-dress?”
His resolve to never speak first had long since vanished from his mind.
“Didn’t I explain earlier? The cult group appears to use peculiar hypnosis. Since the hypnosis seems ineffective based on gender, if we disguise our gender and infiltrate, we should be able to do so easily.”
“….”
“I can hardly ask Buddhist Monk Heo Jeong or the youngest, Ak Jung-hae, to do this. And Yang Jin-so still lacks the experience to infiltrate the main headquarters.”
Namgung Wan’s lips twitched slightly.
He drew in a long breath, then unleashed a ferocious aura gathered from his dantian.
“Get out!”
* * *
And now, Namgung Wan awoke to a splitting headache.
“Senior! Senior! Wake up!”
Groaning in pain, Namgung Wan tried to press his head but realized his hands were bound.
He attempted to circulate his energy, but whether his meridians had been sealed or not, his vital force wouldn’t flow, and he couldn’t even muster strength in his body.
As his vision slowly returned, he saw the interior of a building that resembled a storage room. And gradually, he recalled why he was here.
He had flatly rejected Baek Li-ui-gang’s mediocre proposal, and after discussing an alternative approach at the inn, he had lost consciousness to a sudden attack by a cult group.
Then someone had spoken.
“Namgung Prince! Is it really you, Namgung Prince? Have you been captured as well?”
A disgustingly filthy, rotund young man acted as though he knew him.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Byeok Ki-mun!”
“Byeok Ki-mun? Who’s that?”
“You… you don’t know me?”
“How would I know a pig like you?”
“….”
Ak Jung-hae, whose hands were also bound, wriggled closer and spoke.
“He’s one of those captured when we raided the cult group before.”
At those words, Byeok Ki-mun burst into tears.
“Yes, yes. That’s right. Sob… sniff, sniff. You’ve finally come to rescue me!”
Already plagued by a headache that felt like his skull would split, watching this man whimper and squeeze out tears only fueled his rage at this entire situation.
“Stop crying! Does this look like a rescue to you?”
“Isn’t it?”
“Use your eyes if you have them. We’re captured too!”
“That… that can’t be….”
Ak Jung-hae spoke to the despairing man in a soothing tone.
“Byeok Prince. Don’t worry. There are still comrades outside. They will come to rescue us!”
Namgung Wan spoke with a look of contempt.
“We drove them away with that nonsense—would you come rescue us if you were them?”
“It wasn’t us, Senior. You drove them away.”
“Shut up.”
“….”
Byeok Ki-mun began to whimper and sniffle again.
Namgung Wan scanned the storage room with an annoyed expression and nudged Byeok Ki-mun with his foot.
“Tell me, why is only you here? I heard there were about ten of you.”
“That’s… well, since we were first captured, they’ve been dragging one person away every two or three days.”
“Dragged away? And after that?”
“After that, I… I didn’t see. B-but from what I overheard, it devours people.”
“Is that actually true?”
Byeok Ki-mun burst into tears.
“Yes, yes. Ah, and before that, they perform some kind of… union ritual.”
Namgung Wan’s expression turned vacant, and Ak Jung-hae pressed further.
“A… union?”
“That’s right. And apparently it doesn’t discriminate by gender. Not just men and women, but even men with men…”
“Ugh! Stop spouting nonsense! Don’t let such filthy words reach my ears!”
Byeok Ki-mun continued to whimper and sniffle, until Namgung Wan, unable to bear it any longer, kicked him hard enough to knock him unconscious and silence him.

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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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