The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 36

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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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Chapter 36
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My father, who had stepped away, finally obtained Namgung Wan’s consent to remain here.
By then, I was already nodding off. After rolling around in the carriage all day, dealing with everyone from children to adults—and even Namgung Wan, who spewed fire indiscriminately—both body and mind were utterly exhausted.
Thus I collapsed into sleep the moment I reached the guest chamber provided by Yeongjonmun. Not long after, a commotion stirred me partially awake.
As I mumbled and tried to drift back to sleep, I remembered this was Yeongjonmun and opened my eyes.
“…Father?”
The chamber was silent. Even with the lamp lit, the room remained dim.
‘It doesn’t seem like much time has passed.’
I threw off the bedding and rose, rubbing my eyes as I left the chamber. In the courtyard, illuminated by torches, Yeongjonmun disciples were rushing about in chaos. It seemed every single disciple of Yeongjonmun had gathered.
‘What on earth is happening?’
My father, standing before the Yeongjonmun disciples, turned to look at me.
“Why are you awake already?”
I yawned widely again and rubbed my eyes.
“What, yawn, what’s going on?”
“It’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”
“Um, what time is it now?”
“About an hour has passed since you fell asleep.”
So it must be close to midnight—what was all this commotion about?
Something had clearly gone wrong. I straightened my clothes and spoke hesitantly.
“I’m going to the privy.”
“Go carefully.”
I had visited the privy during the day before. I headed in that direction but naturally veered off onto a different path. The chaotic estate concealed my movements.
‘Who should I ask?’
I had come looking for someone who could explain the situation, but honestly, I was far too drowsy. I had merely closed my eyes for a moment, yet I had fallen asleep again. I nearly stumbled and quickly grabbed the railing to steady myself.
At that moment, I heard sobbing from somewhere.
“It can’t be, it can’t be true! Bok-cheon is dead.”
“Master Bu Moon-ju is investigating with the Namgung Master and the Kirin Society seniors, so please calm down. All right?”
“It’s so strange, so strange. Bok-cheon was the most skilled among us….”
It appeared a Yeongjonmun disciple named Bok-cheon had died. My drowsiness vanished instantly.
‘This couldn’t have happened on this day—a Yeongjonmun disciple couldn’t be dead.’
If that were the case, my father and Namgung Wan would never have left.
This was certainly something that hadn’t occurred before. To kill a disciple of a sect, however small—how could they manage the aftermath?
‘Could it be that Madu?’
There couldn’t be another person in this region with enough audacity—no, with such brazen gall—to murder a Yeongjonmun disciple where the Kirin Society was staying.
‘But… why?’
Why would he suddenly kill a Yeongjonmun disciple instead of targeting the Kirin Society?
The only change from before was that my father and Namgung Wan had agreed to remain at Yeongjonmun to help. And they had only just decided to stay here less than a day ago.
What was a single day?
‘Not even half a day….’
That’s right—it hadn’t even been half a day.
I rushed out in a panic.
‘This is a trap!’
* * *
Namgung Wan, Bu Moon-ju, and the Kirin Society members arrived at a desolate clearing deep within a forest far removed from the city. There, several people sat gathered around a corpse, examining it.
“Death was instantaneous.”
The corpse was a disciple of Yeongjonmun, a young man in his prime. Dang So-yong gently closed the dead man’s eyes.
“It’s not a sword wound. Neither a blunt weapon nor any conventional blade was used. I’m not sure how to describe it… but it appears a sharp object pierced straight through the heart in a single strike. The diameter is roughly the size of an adult man’s fist, and the assailant appears to be about my height.”
Since poison and medicine were separated by the thinnest of lines, the people of the Sacheon Dang Family naturally possessed deep knowledge of medicine as well. To Dang So-yong’s discerning eye, several details seemed unnatural.
“Moreover, there are no marks of a weapon being drawn.”
“So he didn’t even realize he was being attacked before he died!”
Byeok Seong-yul’s words made Dang So-yong shake her head.
“That’s not quite it. The attack came from the front.”
“Ah…”
It was strange that someone trained in martial arts couldn’t even draw their sword against an attack coming from the front.
The first person to discover this corpse was a fellow disciple who had been moving in pairs with the dead man. When the disciple who had gone to gather medicinal herbs didn’t return even after two hours had passed, an extensive search was conducted, and eventually, a cold corpse was found about two kilometers away from where they had separated.
At that time, the blood hadn’t even cooled yet. He was able to find the body so quickly because it hadn’t been hidden at all.
This clearing, artificially created among dense undergrowth, was a place where herb gatherers and hunters would rest. Ordinarily, one would never know such a place existed in the forest.
However, if someone deliberately searched the surroundings, the empty clearing would be immediately visible. And the bloodstains soaking the ground and vegetation indicated that he had been murdered at this very spot.
That was the mystery.
“Why did he come here?”
There were no signs of being dragged or coerced. He had come to this clearing of his own volition. The sound of footsteps parting through the undergrowth could be heard approaching.
“After searching the area, we found no traces of other people or anything unusual nearby. It’s just an ordinary forest.”
It was Ak Jung-hae and Ma Hye-hyang.
Ak Jung-hae, holding a torch, shook his head as he spoke.
“It’s possible we missed something in the darkness, but for now, there seemed to be no reason worth keeping secret from his fellow disciples.”
Bu Moon-ju, kneeling beside the corpse, struck the ground.
“Who in the world could have done such a thing…!”
“Let me take a look.”
Namgung Wan approached the corpse. Ak Jung-hae brought the torch he was holding closer, and Dang So-yong spread the disciple’s clothing wider for better visibility.
Namgung Wan examined it intently, then stroked his chin as he spoke.
“This wound… I feel like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”
“Where have you seen it, sir?”
Ak Jung-hae lowered his head to examine the corpse again.
He could discern nothing beyond the fact that something sharp had pierced him.
“Yes. I’ve definitely seen a wound shaped like this somewhere… I’m certain of it…”
That was the moment.
Dang So-yong was yanked backward by a hand grabbing her nape. By the narrowest margin, something sharp grazed past her head. Had she remained still… she thought, and a chill ran down her spine.
“Dang So-yong! Fall back!”
It was Namgung Wan who had pulled her by the nape.
Before anyone could react, Ak Jung-hae hurled his torch aside and drew his sword to block the attacker targeting Dang So-yong.
Clang!
A sound that seemed impossible—bare hand meeting blade—echoed through the air.
Dang So-yong quickly retreated and cried out.
“Bu Moon-ju! What are you doing!”
“What is the meaning of this…!”
Ting! Ting! Ting! Despite their shock, Byeok Seong-yul and Ma Hye-hyang swiftly aimed their blades at Bu Moon-ju. Without hesitation, Bu Moon-ju launched an assault directly at Namgung Wan.
Namgung Wan, abandoning Dang So-yong, drew his own sword. When Bu Moon-ju’s hand collided with Namgung Wan’s blade, a thunderous sound erupted—Boom! Crash!—as if lightning itself had struck.
This was the hallmark of the Namgung Clan’s swordsmanship: the Changgunmuwae Sword Technique, also known as the Emperor’s Blade.
Yet within mere exchanges, the sound of combat began to fade. Then, suddenly, Namgung Wan was driven backward.
“Senior!”
Namgung Wan dropped to one knee, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Dang So-yong quickly thrust her blade at Bu Moon-ju. Bu Moon-ju sidestepped her attack with ease and retreated. Noticing her allies were not moving to intercept him, Dang So-yong shouted.
“What are you all doing!”
Ma Hye-hyang spoke, her voice trembling.
“So-yong, I cannot use my inner energy.”
“What? What do you mean…!”
Dang So-yong looked toward Ak Jung-hae. Ak Jung-hae, his lips pressed thin, gave a slight nod.
“You too?”
Byeok Seong-yul, his complexion ashen, needed no words—his blade aimed at Bu Moon-ju trembled visibly in his grip.
Dang So-yong furrowed her brow as she spoke.
“I’m fine, but surely not you as well, Senior?”
Namgung Wan, spitting blood-tinged saliva, rose using his sword as a crutch and spoke.
“Sanhgong poison.”
“Sanhgong poison! When on earth…!”
Sanhgong poison left no visible symptoms on the body, yet it disrupted one’s inner energy entirely.
“Hahaha! Did you not all drink a cup of water on the way here?”
As soon as their parched mouths from riding dried out, they had each taken a single sip of water. It was Bu Moon-ju who had offered it to them.
Ak Jung-hae ground his teeth as he spoke.
“I thought the evening meal was unusually salty today.”

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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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