The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 40

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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 40
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It wasn’t until I had rambled on for nearly an hour that I remembered why I had come to this place.
“Oh, but what did you call me here for?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
Ma Hye-hyang helped Ak Jung-hae, who was struggling to rise, back into his seat. Leaning against the backrest, Ak Jung-hae bowed his head to me.
I froze in surprise, a peanut from the dish halfway to my mouth.
“Thank you. I wanted to say this to you. I should have come to you myself, but I’m still unable to move.”
“…It wasn’t me who saved you. It was my father.”
“I heard all about it. You sent Ui-gang because of a dream, and when you still couldn’t rest easy, you brought a doctor. Oh yes, did the senior scold you harshly?”
I shook my head.
“No. He didn’t scold me.”
“Really? The senior just let it slide?”
“Yes.”
To follow my father and bring the doctor, I had deceived Shim Bu-gwan by telling him that my father had ordered me to bring the doctor.
The situation was urgent, and Shim Bu-gwan and the other martial artists, not expecting a child to tell such a bold lie, believed me completely.
I had even rubbed onions in my eyes and cried dramatically—what couldn’t I do?
My intention was to act first and face the consequences later. But contrary to Ak Jung-hae’s expectations, I wasn’t scolded.
“That’s strange. The senior didn’t say much about the doctor being taken away.”
“That’s… wait, taken away?!”
“Hmm? Wasn’t the doctor taken away?”
“No!”
I had properly obtained the doctor’s consent!
Though I had barged into the doctor’s house late at night, and the doctor seemed quite frightened when those who clearly looked like martial artists suddenly appeared at dawn requesting his company…
“Haha, I’m just joking. Look at your face.”
Ak Jung-hae reached out and pinched my cheek.
I pushed his hand away and jumped down from my chair, bowing respectfully.
“Well, it seems you’ve said what you needed to say, so I’ll be going now.”
“What, already?”
“Yes! Is there anything else you wanted to say?”
“Not really, but…”
It was clear that the thanks were just an excuse and he had called me because lying in bed was boring. Just then, one of the inn’s employees entered carefully.
“Young master, here is what you requested.”
“Why did it take so long?”
“Hasn’t that kidnapper finally been caught? The streets and shops are crowded with people.”
The kidnapper had escaped, not been caught, but rumors had spread nonetheless. As the employee passed by my side, a sweet fragrance wafted over. Without thinking, my head turned to follow the servant.
Ak Jung-hae and Ma Hye-hyang chuckled softly at this.
“What is that?”
“Yongsu-dang.”
Yongsu-dang was a sweet confection made by stretching taffy dough into thin threads and winding them together, resembling a ball of yarn.
Ak Jung-hae spoke with a mischievous grin.
“I heard the yongsu-dang pastries from the confectionery here are famous. I bought them for you to eat, but… if you’re leaving, I suppose there’s nothing to be done. Sigh, though I’m not particularly fond of sweets myself. What should I do with these?”
I sat back down in my chair as if I had never intended to leave.
“I think I can go a little later.”
Ma Hye-hyang and Ak Jung-hae burst into laughter.
Just as I was about to place a yongsu-dang pastry in my mouth, commotion erupted outside. Shortly after, a disciple from Yeongjonmun, with whom we were cooperating, brought news.
“The Great Hero Baek has returned.”
“Father?”
I sprang to my feet, leaped over the threshold, and rushed down the inn stairs almost tumbling. I ran toward my father as he walked through the entrance.
“Father, you’re back!”
My father, his expression stern, grabbed my shoulder as I rushed toward him.
“You’re covered in dust.”
Ma Hye-hyang, who had followed behind me, spoke.
“Senior, you’ve returned early. Has something gone wrong?”
There was reason for Ma Hye-hyang to ask such a question. Namgung Wan was nowhere to be seen. Dang So-yong and the other Namgung Clan warriors who had departed with them were also absent—only Shim Bu-gwan followed behind my father.
When I looked beside Shim Bu-gwan, my eyes widened. My father gestured with his eyes and spoke.
“I came down first because of this child.”
Ma Hye-hyang spoke with a note of joy.
“A survivor?”
I was about to think, “Of course not,” when I saw my father nodding, and my mouth fell open.
‘A survivor? But there was no one there at that time?’
The child bore the unmistakable marks of hardship—a disheveled, grimy appearance.
Tangled hair hung over half the child’s face, and ill-fitting clothes torn in places only emphasized the child’s gaunt frame.
Yet despite such filthy appearance, the child’s striking features could not be hidden. At that moment, the child’s glass-like black eyes fixed upon me.
My heart suddenly sank.
‘…What is this?’
My heart pounded uncomfortably.
As I observed the child, I noticed something strange.
‘Wasn’t this supposed to be a kidnapping victim?’
Yet the child seemed oddly composed for a kidnapping victim. More precisely, the child showed no expression whatsoever.
Shouldn’t this situation inspire fear and bewilderment?
At that moment, my father asked me.
“Yeon, what are you holding?”
“Oh, this is a snack that Ak Jung-hae bought for me. I was about to share it, but you arrived, Father. Would you like some?”
The moment I unwrapped the package, the sweet aroma wafted out, and my father’s brow furrowed.
“…No, thank you.”
I laughed and turned to offer the pastry to the child instead.
“Hello, would you like some too?”
“…”
The child did not accept the pastry and simply stared at me blankly.
I continued speaking with composure.
“It’s a famous snack from around here. Try some.”
“….”
I pressed the pastry into the child’s hands despite their neither affirming nor refusing.
“I’m Baek Li-yeon. What’s your name?”
“….”
The child glanced up at Baek Li-ui-gang.
Baek Li-ui-gang regarded the child with his usual expression. That meant the atmosphere was one where I couldn’t easily strike up conversation.
The child lowered their eyes again. I stood there, lost in thought.
‘Wait, why are the eyelashes so long and full?’
In that moment of such musings….
I caught sight of a beauty mark beneath the child’s left eye.
‘…What?’
I stood there with my mouth agape.
I realized where I had seen this child before. How could I forget? The lips curling up asymmetrically and the eyes narrowing delicately in that moment as my neck was severed.
The moment my throat was cut remained vivid still. And beneath those lips that moved in perfect confirmation of my suspicions, a small voice flowed out, piercing my ears like a blade.
“…Yalyu.”
The pastry tumbled from my weakened hand and fell to the floor.
* * *
Yalyu. The hidden mastermind of this novel—his true form was revealed much later in the story. Even then, I didn’t know he was the mastermind at first. All that was known was that he was strong, serving as the leader of the Cheonsal-dan, the notorious Demonic Cult.
The mastermind who concealed his identity in such a manner, Yalyu—I still hadn’t discovered why he risked exposure to kill me directly. And Yalyu’s true identity was only gradually revealed past the midpoint of the novel.
He was originally from an Orthodox Sect family of the Martial World. But for some crime, he was cast into a place called Evil Person Valley at a young age.
Evil Person Valley. It was like a prison where the Martial Arts Alliance confined criminals of grave offenses. There was no need for guards there. Those who fell into that place never returned to the world again.
It was a place of such notorious infamy. Yet somehow, Yalyu escaped from there… and burned with hatred for the Martial Arts Alliance.
Namgung Ryu-cheong had even tried to investigate what crime Yalyu had committed to be imprisoned there. But there was nothing more to uncover. Not a single soul remained who knew of Yalyu’s childhood. There was no point in asking who had done it.
Which meant….
‘Shouldn’t he still be in Evil Person Valley?’
Besides, there were definitely no survivors last time?
When I came to my senses from the shock, I had somehow returned to the room and was holding a teacup quietly in my hand.
‘I need to talk to Father about this.’
I headed toward the adjacent room where Baek Li-ui-gang was staying. But the room was empty.
I stopped a passing servant and asked.
“Have you seen my father by any chance?”
“Ah, that young master left the inn a while ago.”
What? He left again? And he just dropped a bombshell and walked out!
“Thank you.”
I bowed to the servant and stood there for a moment before moving forward.

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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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