The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 354

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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 24
“Follow me.”
“Where to? Why would I follow you, Miss? Wait—surely you don’t mean you know where the Young Master is?”
“Be quiet.”
Eon-du suppressed his excitement and spoke.
“Is the Young Master all right? How did you find him, Miss?”
Cheon A-ran didn’t answer, merely glancing back before moving ahead. Eon-du hurried after her.
“Where are we going!”
The inn Eon-du followed Cheon A-ran to was a remote, seemingly abandoned establishment. Though a path existed, few travelers passed through—so desolate that it seemed inevitable the inn would fail. Even from outside the main gate, the sounds of combat echoed.
*Clang, crash!*
Eon-du flinched and looked at Cheon A-ran with questioning eyes, silently asking if they should enter. But Cheon A-ran, her expression hardened, didn’t even glance at him before striding into the inn.
Eon-du started in alarm and quickly followed. In the weedy backyard of the inn, he found the one he had searched for so desperately.
As Cheon A-ran entered the backyard, she immediately swept her hand forward, and Baek Li-ui-gang, who had been wielding his sword against the Black-Robed Attendant, suddenly flinched and dropped his blade.
“Young Master!”
Eon-du nearly stumbled forward toward Baek Li-ui-gang. At Cheon A-ran’s gesture, the Black-Robed Attendant withdrew silently from his exchange with Baek Li-ui-gang. Baek Li-ui-gang pulled a long needle from his forearm and let it fall. His voice was so hoarse from exhaustion it was barely audible.
“Cheon A-ran.”
“You still have the energy to act out in this situation.”
At his mocking tone, Eon-du was startled and looked at Cheon A-ran. Baek Li-ui-gang spoke with an impassive expression.
“It’s not too late even now.”
Cheon A-ran’s face was genuinely irritated and fed up.
Eon-du was shocked. It was the most vivid expression he had ever seen from her. What happened next, he could not witness. The Black-Robed Attendant dragged him out of the inn’s backyard.
Only after the Black-Robed Attendant released him could Eon-du return to the backyard, where he found only the unconscious Baek Li-ui-gang.
That was the last memory Eon-du had of Cheon A-ran.
* * *
The Young Master never spoke of it, but Eon-du could piece together the circumstances from various clues.
Cheon A-ran must have been connected to the Demonic Cult. The Young Master must have spotted her among the forces that had come to support the Cult. So when everyone retreated, he alone pursued Miss Cheon A-ran, didn’t he?
And what transpired between them afterward, Eon-du knew, would remain forever unknown to anyone but those involved. That’s why Eon-du nearly fainted when Baek Li-ui-gang brought Baek Li-yeon to him.
‘When on earth…?’
I felt a bitter resentment that the Young Master, whom I thought would eventually forget and make a fresh start, had been properly ensnared.
The child bore no fault, they say, but I still had no desire to care for her. So even knowing full well what treatment the child would receive in the Baek Li Family, I simply followed the Young Master. Of course, after that incident occurred, I later regretted that I should have remained attached to the family.
But Baek Li-yeon’s response to that regret was something else entirely.
“Would anything have changed if you were there? You’d just be throwing away another life for nothing.”
At the time, I thought she meant I hadn’t served properly, that she was concerned about my death as a mere servant. But later, when I reflected on it, I realized that wasn’t what she meant at all—she meant she would simply eliminate me. A chill ran down my spine.
Though she was an adorable and lovely child, sometimes when she displayed that chilling quality, I couldn’t help but think she resembled her biological mother.
“Eon-du.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s voice pulled Eon-du from his reverie. Eon-du quickly stepped back, and a middle-aged woman entered the office and bowed carefully. She was a woman who worked under So Nok.
“This morning, the items sent by the Alliance Leader arrived.”
“…Yeon sent them?”
“Yes. There are various things, and we’re currently organizing the inventory. Among them, she instructed us to bring this first.”
The middle-aged woman gestured to a young servant, who presented a letter along with a fur as white as snow.
“The Alliance Leader personally hunted that snow leopard hide. He sent word for it to be delivered directly to the Family Head.”
Baek Li-ui-gang’s rigid expression gradually softened as he read through the letter. Eon-du, observing him fold the letter closed with gentle eyes, asked a question.
“How is the Young Lady faring?”
“Well enough.”
“The hide has such a beautiful color and lustrous sheen. Why not have a new winter robe tailored from it now? The timing is perfect for making winter garments.”
“Now that you mention it, I did hear something similar.”
“As expected of the Young Lady. She’s always thinking of the Family Head.”
It was clear that Eon-du had hastily sent the middle-aged woman away the moment he confirmed the item, intending to lift Baek Li-ui-gang’s spirits—which had surely been dampened by the matter concerning Namgung Hee.
It was as the atmosphere had begun to ease that another visitor’s arrival was announced. The warrior who entered the office appeared to have rushed here; he was catching his breath and bore traces of perspiration on his brow.
Eon-du felt an ominous premonition wash over him instinctively.
“What is the matter?”
“Someone has come from a place called Pae Bo Bang.”
“Pae Bo Bang?”
Even for Eon-du, who had by now heard of many things, this was a name he had never encountered.
“Yes. You likely would not know of it. It is a merchant faction in the Haenam region that specializes primarily in the auction and distribution of rare treasures.”
“What possible business could a merchant faction from the Haenam region have that brings them all the way here?”
The Aide wiped the perspiration from his forehead repeatedly, as though finding the matter difficult to explain.
Merchant factions and martial sects always sought connections and patronage. Had he reported every such solicitation to Baek Li-ui-gang, there would scarcely be time to conduct any actual business. The fact that he had come to report this matter directly suggested something significant had occurred.
“It appears that the Young Lady took an item from an auction house operated by Pae Bo Bang.”
“What? Se-ran is in Haenam?”
Baek Li-ui-gang shot to his feet with such haste that drops of ink from the brush he had set down splattered onto his robes—though he seemed entirely oblivious to the fact.
And no wonder, for the Young Lady Baek Li Se-ran had left nothing but a brief note before departing on her travels immediately after her coming-of-age ceremony.
Unlike Baek Li-ui-gang, who had taken Eon-du with him, or Baek Li-yeon, who had taken Jin-jin, Baek Li Se-ran had departed entirely alone, without bringing a single companion.
But wait—she took an item from an auction house? That meant she had stolen it, did it not?
The Aide continued his report.
“Yes. Based on the last sighting and the trail traced by the family, Pae Bo Bang’s account appears quite credible. Fortunately, according to their account, the Young Lady appears to be in good health.”
Baek Li-ui-gang exhaled with some relief, and the Aide pressed on.
“It seems Pae Bo Bang came here believing the Young Lady was residing with you. They are demanding that either the tiger cub she took be returned or compensation be paid.”
“…A tiger cub?”
It was a word that made one doubt one’s own ears.
“Yes. The item the Young Lady allegedly took from the auction house is said to be a tiger cub.”
“Why on earth would she steal a tiger cub… No, what is the compensation they demand?”
“That is….”
Upon hearing the price the Aide quoted, Eon-du doubted his own ears. Baek Li-ui-gang too seemed momentarily at a loss for words. The Aide added an explanation.
“Pae Bo Bang claims the price reflects the fact that it is a spirit beast tiger cub.”
“A spirit beast…?”
“Spirit beast nonsense. How are we to know whether they simply captured some ordinary tiger cub and labeled it a spirit beast!”
This was undoubtedly a swindle.
However, the fact of Baek Li Se-ran’s departure had to remain secret. Eventually it would spread, but for now they were doing everything possible to suppress the rumors—to minimize any potential danger that might arise.
But if Pae Bo Bang began pressing the matter…the truth that Baek Li Se-ran was not present in the family would easily be exposed.
“For now, summon Go Chong-gwan.”
“Understood.”
In the end, the matter with Pae Bo Bang was settled quietly with a payment of silver.
After managing the commotion, Baek Li-ui-gang pressed his fingers to his temples again, his expression pained. Eon-du ventured to speak carefully.
“Family Head, at least we’ve confirmed that the young lady is safe. Surely that is a blessing.”
“…The sum spent on the two children just now equals an entire year’s revenue from a medium-sized manor.”
“….”
Eon-du simply poured soothing tea with careful hands.
Baek Li-ui-gang had barely emptied half his cup and returned to his documents before a servant’s voice announced a visitor from beyond the door.
“The eldest young lady wishes to see you. Has she come to visit the Family Head?”
“Let Hwa-a enter.”
At Baek Li-ui-gang’s words, the door opened and Baek Li Se-hwa stepped in with graceful strides, offering a respectful bow. Every movement, every gesture spoke of celestial elegance.
Whenever the eldest young lady ventured out on a pleasure boat, men would stumble and tumble into the water in droves.
“What brings you here?”
Unlike her younger peer Namgung Hee, Baek Li Se-hwa had grown up without a single scandal, never causing trouble or heartache. Save for her childhood disinterest in the sword, which had delayed her martial training, she was the very pride of the Baek Li Family—dignified and impeccable.
“I heard that at the Seomseong auction house, the musical scores of Lady Seol-rang, who was once of the Ak Family, will be displayed along with the seven-stringed zither she treasured.”
Baek Li Se-hwa’s hobby was collecting rare books and paintings, but instruments were her greatest passion. Eon-du recalled that a month prior, she had purchased a violet jade flute. And that flute—he had overheard Baek Li-ui-gang and Go Chong-gwan discussing how its price equaled that of a large manor.
Baek Li Se-hwa continued.
“I was thinking of going to purchase them. Grandfather, might I receive a budget for this?”
“….”
“….”
Eon-du caught sight of Baek Li-ui-gang’s expression, dark as storm clouds, and struggled to suppress his laughter.
Who could have foreseen it? The Young Master who once squandered the family fortune without care, claiming it was not his money anyway, now found himself wracked with worry over that very wealth. Ah, truly, no one can predict the turns of fate.
So he could only wish from the depths of his heart that these days would continue on.
【完結】

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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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