The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 56

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 56
* * *
The Old Servant led me to the Two-Story Pavilion Near the Lake.
“Welcome, welcome! Come, sit here.”
The warmth of Namgung Mu-cheol’s reception far exceeded what I had experienced during my last visit, and I was inwardly astonished.
Namgung Mu-cheol continued with a smile.
“Had I known the hour would grow so late, I would have suggested we meet tomorrow instead. To think you’ve already grown so close to Miss Seo. Hehehehe.”
“I had no idea you were waiting for me.”
“Never mind, never mind. I found the spectacle quite entertaining.”
Entertaining spectacle? I tilted my head in confusion, and my gaze drifted absently toward the folding screen behind Namgung Mu-cheol—then I froze.
‘What is that?’
But I could not pursue the question further. Namgung Mu-cheol’s inner energy—a shimmering, coral-hued aura—washed over me. This was the first time I had experienced such a thing.
‘Is this something even one of the Top Eleven Masters of the World can accomplish?’
I marveled inwardly while feigning indifference, observing how the aura moved. The energy enveloping me probed near my dantian.
Namgung Mu-cheol, who had grown slightly more serious, picked up the teacup the Old Servant had brought.
“Are you well? Is there anywhere you feel discomfort?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Namgung Clan’s examination, I’m fine.”
Namgung Mu-cheol continued to inquire quite carefully about my physical condition.
‘Could he have summoned me merely to ask about my health?’
Just as this thought crossed my mind, Namgung Mu-cheol finally broached the main subject.
“Wan told me you handed over the Gongcheong Stone Jade that you discovered in Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber.”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t it pain you to part with it?”
“Of course it does!”
“Hmm?”
“But you’re more important to me than that.”
I smiled brightly as I spoke.
“And you were the one who took me to Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber in the first place, weren’t you? Without you, there would have been no Gongcheong Stone Jade at all. So naturally, you should have it too!”
Now that Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber had been discovered, it would inevitably be opened someday.
When that happened, the fact that a Gongcheong Stone Jade had existed within it would be revealed.
But what if only the Gongcheong Stone Jade had vanished? And what if I was the sole survivor to emerge from that place?
All eyes would inevitably turn toward me. And if I, from the Baek Li Family, had greedily consumed all the Gongcheong Stone Jade from Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber, there would certainly be those who resented me and seized upon the matter.
Of course, the Baek Li Family possessed the power to suppress such controversy entirely.
Yet someone would undoubtedly curse my father, claiming he had allowed his daughter to monopolize all the Gongcheong Stone Jade.
‘But what if I had shared it with the Namgung Clan?’
The public’s gaze would be divided, and no one would possess the audacity to make enemies of both families simultaneously.
Moreover, suppose I brought two Gongcheong Stone Jades to the Baek Li Family, plus the one I had hidden—three in total.
Would my grandmother, my uncle, and my aunt remain silent? They would certainly demand one for themselves.
An ordinary person would never share such treasure out of greed. But my father….
‘He would give it away and still have plenty left over.’
I shuddered at the mere thought of it. Such incidents had occurred more than once. Rather than let them seize it, sharing it with Uncle Namgung Wan was far preferable.
Namgung Mu-cheol regarded me, then spoke again.
“Wan didn’t bring you to Man Shin-ui for your sake. Yet you harbor no regrets?”
I tilted my head quizzically once more.
“But that doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been kind to me, does it?”
I had known from the beginning that Uncle Namgung Wan came bearing Man Shin-ui’s token for one reason: to request instruction for Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Regardless of the reason, I was taught that one must repay kindness. So I have no regrets!”
Namgung Mu-cheol sighed. With his eyes closed, he stroked his beard several times before speaking.
“There is something I must tell you.”
Namgung Mu-cheol paused briefly, then continued.
“Very few know of this matter, so you too must keep it secret.”
If that’s the case… I’d rather not know.
‘Must I really learn this?’
My eyes darting nervously, I spoke with caution.
“Surely the secret you’re about to share isn’t one of those dangerous ones where learning it would put my life in jeopardy, is it?”
“What?”
“Well, there are some things better left unknown, aren’t there?”
Namgung Mu-cheol’s silver brows rose, and he burst into hearty laughter.
“Where does a child like this come from? Hmm?”
He reached out and patted my head.
“Where did that bold little one go just moments ago?”
“Hehe.”
I picked up my teacup and laughed childishly. I had no desire to learn secrets of the Top Eleven Masters of the World only to be hunted by unsavory characters.
Namgung Mu-cheol spoke, his voice still tinged with amusement.
“It is not a secret that would endanger your life.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
I glanced at the folding screen behind Namgung Mu-cheol and felt reassured.
‘Well, it shouldn’t be truly dangerous then.’
Namgung Mu-cheol gazed at me with affection.
“Ui-gang is truly blessed.”
“Yes?”
“To gain such a precious daughter all at once. Ah, when will my son give me such a lovely granddaughter? I wonder if such fortune is written in my fate.”
I concealed my bewilderment and glanced at the folding screen.
“And from now on, call me grandfather. What is this ‘Family Head’? Wan calls me uncle, doesn’t he?”
“Ah… is that truly acceptable?”
“I have permitted it—who would dare object?”
“Then, yes! Grandfather!”
Namgung Mu-cheol, who had been continuously patting my head, suddenly cleared his throat and regained his composure. Yet the atmosphere had grown considerably lighter than before.
“Ahem, what I wished to tell you concerns my sworn brother.”
“Your sworn brother?”
“Yes.”
I let shock cross my face—genuine, not feigned.
‘So this is the secret Namgung Mu-cheol wanted to tell me?’
Namgung Mu-cheol regarded me with grave eyes.
“You’ve surely heard the name: Cheonsan Yeomje Gu Hong-ma.”
Namgung Mu-cheol exhaled deeply before continuing.
“It was Cheonsan Yeomje who seized your Gongcheong Stone Jade.”
Suddenly, the folding screen rattled. I started in alarm, but Namgung Mu-cheol spoke with perfect composure.
“The wind grows fierce.”
I simply blinked at him.
“….”
The window stood open, yet not a breath of wind stirred.
Namgung Mu-cheol continued.
“My brother, Cheonsan Yeomje, may be stubborn by nature, but he is no lawless fool. Yet this time… I can only offer my apologies.”
Namgung Mu-cheol sighed heavily and spoke.
“If there is something you desire, speak it.”
So Namgung Mu-cheol meant to compensate me in place of the stolen Gongcheong Stone Jade?
I gripped the teacup before me.
“Is there compensation that could equal the Gongcheong Stone Jade?”
As if he had planned this from the start, Namgung Mu-cheol withdrew a small porcelain vial from his sleeve.
“This is what I return to you.”
“Did I give this to you, Uncle?”
“Yes. From Cheonsan Yeomje… it cannot be recovered.”
Had he already consumed it?
Well, I had never expected to retrieve it anyway, so it mattered little.
The small porcelain vial in Namgung Mu-cheol’s calloused, massive hand looked almost like a toy.
I opened my mouth slowly.
“As I mentioned before, I do not regret what I gave to you, Uncle.”
Besides, I had made promises to Cheonsan Yeomje and Yalyu. I could not accept it back here. Yet this was also an opportunity for me.
I chose my words with care.
“And truthfully… even if I kept it, it could be stolen again, could it not?”
“So you have no need for it?”
I gazed down at my teacup with a dejected expression.
“Without the strength to protect something, it will be taken. I intend to learn from this ordeal.”
Namgung Mu-cheol fell silent.
Sensing his hesitation, I waited a moment before speaking.
“Instead, I have one request.”
“Speak.”
“I heard that Man Shin-ui’s Gak Pae originally belonged to the Family Head—to Grandfather.”
“That is so.”
Originally, it had belonged to Namgung Mu-cheol, and Namgung Wan had brought it with him. If that were the case, then Namgung Mu-cheol must have been deeply entangled with Man Shin-ui in the past.
Otherwise, there was no way Namgung Mu-cheol could have possessed Man Shin-ui’s token.
I continued speaking.
“When I was in Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber, I witnessed Man Shin-ui conducting martial arts research. It seemed he abandoned it partway through. Do you happen to know anything about this?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————