The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 52

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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 52
* * *
The chamber the Namgung Clan had prepared for me exuded meticulous care and consideration. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to notice it.
I ran my fingers through my hair and sank into the chair by the window.
‘Everything has shifted again.’
In the past timeline, only Namgung Wan had been at the Namgung Clan. The Clan Head Namgung Mu-cheol—one of the world’s Eleven Strongest—had been absent, and with Namgung Ryu-cheong and his mother away, Seo Ha-ryeong naturally hadn’t been here either.
When Namgung Wan returned from searching for me in Palgwae Village, I’d thought it only natural—a family couldn’t leave its seat unguarded. But now I discovered that not only was Clan Head Namgung Mu-cheol present, but Namgung Ryu-cheong was here as well.
‘Where did the influence originate from…’
“Ow!”
A sudden cry shattered my train of thought.
“What’s happening?”
I leaped to my feet and surveyed my surroundings.
“Ugh, you—what strength! Let go! Ow! It hurts!”
The voice came from just beyond the window beside my chair. Leaning out through the open frame, I spotted Yalyu with his grip on someone’s wrist—Seo Ha-ryeong was there too.
I asked with a bewildered expression.
“What are you two doing?”
“She was peeking through the window like a rat.”
Seo Ha-ryeong cried out indignantly.
“A rat?! I was merely curious, ow!”
As Yalyu twisted her wrist further, I exclaimed in alarm.
“Wait, gently—no, just let her go.”
Yalyu released his grip at my gaze. Seo Ha-ryeong stumbled backward several paces and glared at him with a huff.
I looked between Seo Ha-ryeong and Yalyu, who was wiping his palm on his sleeve, before speaking.
“We greeted each other earlier, didn’t we? Miss Seo, your wrist should be—”
Before I could finish, Seo Ha-ryeong kicked Yalyu and bolted away. I stood speechless as Yalyu turned to me and asked.
“Shall I pursue her?”
“What? No, there’s no need. More importantly, are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Miss Seo studies the blade—you shouldn’t twist her wrist like that.”
“I understand.”
The Suhyang Sect is quite a prominent school in this region, and its Sect Master is renowned. Seo Ha-ryeong is the Sect Master’s daughter.”
“I understand.”
He kept responding with acknowledgments, but was he actually comprehending?
I exhaled softly and said.
“Come inside for now. Let me apply medicine to your leg.”
That was when it happened.
“Before that, let me attend to my business first.”
Both Yalyu and I spun around at the voice that came from beside us, startled.
‘There was no presence at all—when did he arrive?’
The elderly man of compact stature had long white brows, and beneath them, his eyes gleamed with formidable intensity. Though I’d sensed nothing moments before, the presence he radiated now filled the entire chamber and overflowed beyond it.
The aura of qi in the old man’s dantian was the largest I had ever seen among anyone I’d encountered. Even larger than Namgung Wan’s.
‘A powerful master.’
Extraordinarily so.
I asked as calmly as I could manage.
“Who are you?”
But the old man paid me no mind whatsoever, instead tilting his head repeatedly as he studied Yalyu.
“Hmm, who is this?”
The moment Yalyu’s brow furrowed slightly and he began to rise from his seat—
“Who gave you permission to move!”
Suddenly the old man struck Yalyu’s pressure points with rapid taps, then placed his palm against his chest.
“What are you doing!”
I cried out in shock. Driven by urgency, I kicked off the table and launched myself through the window.
The old man never removed his hand from Yalyu, nor did he even turn his head as he extended his arm toward me with the speed of lightning.
‘What—?’
And I could perceive where the old man was aiming. More precisely, I could see it with these eyes.
But the old man’s hand moved at a speed no amount of perception could evade. When I twisted my body slightly, his fingers pierced the area near my collarbone.
“Agh!”
I screamed and collapsed. The crushing pain in my chest made it impossible to breathe.
“What? You dodged that?”
The old man above me muttered in apparent surprise. Then he lifted me to my feet and jabbed his fingers at various points across my body.
The pain in my chest was so overwhelming that I could barely feel anything else.
“Hold still, hold still! I struck a death acupoint—if I don’t release it immediately, you’ll die!”
What? A death acupoint?
A death acupoint was a vital pressure point that could kill a person with a single needle strike.
As my breathing grew ragged, the old man’s voice grew distant. Was this how my second life would end? So pathetically?
At the edge of my fading vision, I saw Yalyu’s face, drained of all color.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling and wisps of qi dancing above. At least it wasn’t the afterlife.
‘So I died and came back to life.’
My entire body was drenched in cold sweat, and the crushing pain in my chest had subsided. Yet the memory of it lingered, causing a dull ache.
“Now that you’re awake, get up quickly.”
At the old man’s voice, I immediately pushed myself upright.
“Are you all right?”
Yalyu, who had been beside me, immediately supported me and asked. The image of the old man’s hand pressed against Yalyu’s chest flashed through my mind.
I quickly examined Yalyu.
‘It’s… not exposed, is it?’
Releasing a silent breath of relief, I smiled reassuringly at Yalyu before turning to face the old man.
“I saved your life, yet you show such disrespectful eyes. Have you no gratitude?”
“….”
Never mind that he was the one who struck the death acupoint and nearly sent me to my grave.
I gazed at the fist-sized orb of light residing in the old man’s dantian and spoke.
“Thank you for your kindness, sir.”
“Yes, yes.”
The old man nodded brazenly while stroking his beard.
“So who are you, sir?”
“Who do you think this old man is?”
“Pardon?”
“Which elder can freely roam the halls of this residence?”
….
Was he asking me to guess?
“Surely I’ve given you enough clues. You still can’t figure it out?”
I fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“Could you be… the Namgung Clan Head?”
“Hmm.”
The old man stroked his beard with a satisfied expression.
As I rose to bow, the old man spoke.
“That’s enough. Sit comfortably.”
I hesitated before opening my mouth.
“What brings you here, sir?”
….
The Namgung Clan Head lifted his chin and swept his gaze across the chamber before speaking.
“Hand over the Gongcheongseok Jade to me.”
!
The absurdity left my mind completely blank.
The Namgung Clan Head spoke to my speechless form.
“Don’t even think of denying it. I already know everything!”
Escape seemed impossible.
“Even if I did possess it, why should I give it to you?”
The Namgung Clan Head spoke casually while stroking his beard.
“It would be wise to hand it over while I’m asking nicely.”
A thug? Was the Namgung Clan Head truly this sort of person? No, he was nothing like this in the novel.
The Namgung Clan Head continued.
“After all, you stole it from Man Shin-ui, didn’t you?”
“No, I received permission from Man Shin-ui.”
Since I received this ability from Man Shin-ui, wasn’t I essentially his successor?
‘So it’s all mine anyway, right?’
Man Shin-ui was dead—who would ever know the truth?
But the Namgung Clan Head burst into laughter at my words.
“Ha! Hahahaha! Man Shin-ui gave that to you? Hahahaha!”
After laughing for a long while, the Namgung Clan Head’s eyes widened and he struck the floor.
“You’ve got some nerve! Not only did you bring someone trained in demonic arts to the Namgung Clan, but you dare try to deceive me?”
My heart plummeted, and I realized the moment I’d been dreading had finally arrived.
‘As expected, I’ve been discovered.’
There was no way he wouldn’t have found out.
The Namgung Clan’s Family Head bellowed at me.
“Hand him over while I’m still asking nicely!”
I bit my lip and spoke.
“Yalyu isn’t a member of the Demonic Cult. He simply had no choice but to learn demonic arts….”
“I don’t care!”
I felt Yalyu’s grip on my arm tighten.
“There’s no excuse that will save you! Even if this old man tears both of you to shreds right here, no one would dare speak against it!”
I pulled Yalyu behind me.
“Are you prepared to wage war against the Baek Li Family?”
“Hmph, do you think I’m unaware that you receive no proper treatment from the Baek Li Family?”
“….”
I was speechless. My grandfather would be enraged by my death—I remembered how kindly he had treated me before my departure.
But would that rage be enough to make him willing to go to war with the Namgung Clan?
I couldn’t be certain.

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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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