The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 60

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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 60
I turned back again. Namgung Ryu-cheong’s rigid face opened as if to speak, then closed firmly once more.
After waiting a moment, I tilted my head and asked.
“Why did you call me?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lips moved several times as if he had something to say, then suddenly he spun around.
“Young Master?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s robes fluttered as he hastily retreated from me.
‘What? He called me just to leave like that?’
Though he seemed to have distanced himself from me, my eyes that perceive energy told a different story. Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been walking quickly, stopped beyond the wooden wall behind the Pavilion. He hesitated, then turned as if to return.
That was when Yalyu spoke.
“Who is that?”
“Oh, you haven’t met him before. The young master of the Namgung Clan. His name is Namgung Ryu-cheong, son of Namgung Wan.”
“Ah, that bastard.”
I nearly jumped from my seat in shock.
Namgung Ryu-cheong hadn’t left yet!
‘Could he have heard? It’s just a wooden wall—of course he heard!’
I bit my lip hard and spoke.
“Ha. Ha. Ha. He’s not a bad child. It seems he’s just a bit upset with me.”
Yalyu spoke indifferently.
“You take me everywhere too. He must have made a mistake.”
….
I was so grateful for his trust that tears nearly came to my eyes.
The moment Yalyu opened his mouth, the energy that had been standing still abruptly moved away from the Pavilion. If I had to describe it, it felt angry… or was that just my imagination?
I soothed my aching heart while looking at Yalyu’s innocent face.
Right. What would Yalyu know? He was just speaking from what he heard.
But I couldn’t let it pass. I scolded Yalyu.
“Where did you learn to speak like that? You can’t talk to people that way.”
And the sight of a small child reproaching a larger one was simply amusing and endearing to watch.
* * *
Once Namgung Ryu-cheong finished his punishment and left the Family Shrine, he said that training with Seo Ha-ryeong would resume. The long practice was finally about to bear fruit.
Seo Ha-ryeong seemed noticeably tense since the day before.
‘It’s just a sparring match—why is she so nervous?’
Sensing her fatigue, I casually asked and learned she hadn’t slept well the night before.
Seo Ha-ryeong said to me.
“I’m going to win for sure.”
“Yes. You can do it. But don’t push yourself too hard. It’s fine even if you lose.”
My assistance to Seo Ha-ryeong was also to verify the level of my eye’s ability. Even just flustering Namgung Ryu-cheong without necessarily winning would be enough.
Seo Ha-ryeong clenched her fists and her eyes gleamed.
“No! You’ve helped me this much—I’m definitely going to win!”
…Yes.
Given how earnest he is about this, I hope I haven’t taught him poorly, or that the technique isn’t flawed in some way.
Even my usually carefree mind began to worry.
As I stepped into the Practice Hall, I saw Namgung Ryu-cheong, who appeared to have finished all his preparations. And this time, there were quite a few people in the Practice Hall.
Some looked like warriors of the Namgung Clan, and there were Namgung Ryu-cheong’s servants as well. Even my and Seo Ha-ryeong’s female servants had followed us inside.
‘It must be because of what happened last time.’
Namgung Ryu-cheong, his face rigid and stern, looked me over from head to toe and spoke.
“Why is Miss Baek here?”
“I brought her.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong frowned and shouted.
“Bringing an outsider to a training session!”
“No, Yeon isn’t an outsider! I invited her!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong snorted and spoke.
“It looks like you’re training alone here, aren’t you?”
….
There was nothing wrong with what Namgung Ryu-cheong said.
Generally, unless one was quite intimate with another, people didn’t show each other their training. It was as good as exposing the clan’s sword techniques and secret methods.
If an adult came to watch someone else’s training like this, they’d be treated as a thief come to steal sword techniques—and rightfully deserve a blade through the chest.
Moreover, this was a joint training session. If it were just Seo Ha-ryeong alone, it might be different, but since Namgung Ryu-cheong was also training, naturally his consent had to be obtained first.
Seo Ha-ryeong spoke with a pout.
“But she’s a guest of the Namgung Clan! What’s wrong with training together!”
“Together?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me.
I had no wooden sword, and I wasn’t even dressed in training clothes.
“She’s just watching.”
….
“I have no intention of making my training a spectacle.”
Seo Ha-ryeong bit her lip tightly.
“But Yeon….”
I cut off Seo Ha-ryeong’s words and stepped forward.
“The Young Master is right.”
“Yeon….”
Seo Ha-ryeong gripped my sleeve as though she would never let it go.
I smiled reassuringly and spoke.
“I already received permission from Uncle Namgung Wan.”
Seo Ha-ryeong brightened, and Namgung Ryu-cheong glared at me.
“…Do as you wish.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong turned sharply away.
Seo Ha-ryeong let out a relieved breath.
“Thank goodness. Phew, but Yeon, when did you ask him about that?”
“Yesterday. And the Young Master was right about everything. Be more careful from now on.”
“I understand…”
As the daughter of the Suhyang Sect Master, she could act however she pleased within the sect. But the same could not be tolerated within the Namgung Clan.
I spoke with a gentle smile.
“That’s right. Go on now. You can do this!”
I watched Seo Ha-ryeong disappear into the distance before settling into a suitable spot in the Practice Hall.
The Female Servant following behind me lowered her voice.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Young Master Namgung pushed back like this.”
I turned around in confusion, and the Female Servant continued with a smile in her eyes.
“Our young master, well… in any case, none of his peers have ever managed to hold their own against him.”
That made sense—he was like an old soul trapped in a child’s body, so it was natural that ordinary peers couldn’t match him. I had regressed, but Namgung Ryu-cheong hadn’t, yet he was remarkable in so many ways.
Seo Ha-ryeong, her wrists carefully wrapped in protective guards, approached the center of the Practice Hall with a tense expression.
The weakness I had taught her was nothing major. Both were still too young to wield sword energy like Baek Li-ui-gang or Namgung Wan, or to move fast enough to be difficult to follow with the eye.
They could only rely purely on basic techniques. And I had shown her the opening that briefly appeared when Namgung Ryu-cheong used certain basic techniques in succession.
The reason Namgung Ryu-cheong kept repeating the same basic techniques was partly due to Seo Ha-ryeong’s skill level. In other words, her ability was so far below his that he could handle her even while using only the same techniques, without needing to employ new ones.
‘Still, it’s impressive that he dominates Seo Ha-ryeong like this.’
There was a reason Namgung Ryu-cheong found training with Seo Ha-ryeong tedious.
He had nothing to learn from her.
But that didn’t mean he should speak so rudely and dismiss her. After all, I had wagered on this match.
Since he had been ignoring Seo Ha-ryeong and using only the same techniques, if she simply waited until he used the technique with the weakness I had taught her, she would have a chance to win.
Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong gripped their wooden swords and took their stances. They performed a simple sword salute and the match began immediately.
And I was taken aback.
‘What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?’
Until now, Namgung Ryu-cheong had faced Seo Ha-ryeong using no more than ten techniques.
What’s ten techniques? Most of the time it was three.
But suddenly—how should I put it—he began fighting while giving her consideration. Seo Ha-ryeong seemed flustered too, as the tip of her sword wavered for a moment.
In that instant, a thrust aimed at Seo Ha-ryeong’s throat came in, which she barely managed to block.
“What are you doing?”
His sharp gaze was urging her to focus.
Seo Ha-ryeong, flustered, lowered her sword and apologized.
“I-I’m sorry.”
I was shocked again.
The usual Namgung Ryu-cheong would have mercilessly struck her down the moment she wavered. Dropping the sword was more shameful for a swordsman than having it pointed at his throat in defeat.
But to be so docile, to give her consideration while helping her regain her focus?
‘Is that really Namgung Ryu-cheong?’
At that moment, as Namgung Ryu-cheong and I caught each other’s eyes while catching our breath at a distance, he clicked his tongue and turned his head away.
His expression of obvious displeasure left me speechless.
“…”
I heard the Female Servant’s bewildered voice from behind.
“Miss Baek, um, well, please don’t be too disheartened.”
“Hahaha.”
As I suspected, this must be what Yalyu told me.
Fortunately, Seo Ha-ryeong quickly adapted to Namgung Ryu-cheong’s consideration(?) and exchanged blows with him.
When Seo Ha-ryeong first arrived at the Practice Hall, she was so tense that her complexion looked almost pallid, but as they exchanged strikes, her face flushed with growing excitement and enthusiasm.
However, with this turn of events, all the techniques I had practiced went unused.
‘Well… I’m not sure what changed his mind, but if Namgung Ryu-cheong has decided to turn over a new leaf and get along better, that’s all the better. Should I head back now?’
From Namgung Ryu-cheong’s reaction, it seemed my continued presence would only irritate him further.
That was when Namgung Ryu-cheong demonstrated that technique.
Just as I had noticed, Seo Ha-ryeong noticed it too. In that fleeting instant when the sword being swung diagonally upward reached about two-thirds of its arc, there was a subtle gap between the shoulder and the nape of the neck.
Seo Ha-ryeong’s wooden sword, which she had practiced for this moment countless times, thrust into that opening with all her might.
“…!”
And I was startled by the force contained in Seo Ha-ryeong’s wooden sword.
‘Even with a wooden sword, if she struck the nape with that much force…!’
Perhaps because he was so focused, I could see very clearly how Namgung Ryu-cheong’s eyes widened in surprise at Seo Ha-ryeong’s attack.
And that was the moment.
A peculiar movement caught my eye. Inner energy surged violently within Namgung Ryu-cheong’s body as his eyes widened. In an instant, it flowed from his dantian to his arms, and a pale golden aura extended toward the wooden sword he held.
‘Surely not…!’
Just before the wooden sword could strike his neck, in that precarious moment, Namgung Ryu-cheong’s wooden sword, infused with inner energy, flashed out like lightning and knocked away Seo Ha-ryeong’s sword.
As Seo Ha-ryeong’s wooden sword glanced past Namgung Ryu-cheong’s tightly clenched jaw, an ominous sound echoed.
Crack! The wooden sword, unable to withstand the inner energy, shattered.
And of all places, it hurtled toward me!
‘Why is it coming this way?’
An alarmed cry from someone rang out.
“Young lady!”
“Young lady Baek!”
Fortunately, the trajectory of the wooden sword was clear to me. I could avoid it by just tilting my head slightly….
‘Oh no! The Female Servant!’
The Female Servant was standing behind me.
My body reacted before my mind could think.
Drawing in the surrounding energy with my hands as I had practiced, I leaped toward the incoming wooden sword.
Thud! With a dull sound, I caught the wooden sword and landed on the floor with a tap.
“…!”
Everyone around me widened their eyes in astonishment.
I was shocked too.
‘This actually works?’
I thought merely deflecting it would be a success, but I actually caught it. Of course, the strain was evident—my palms burned as if they were splitting open.
Behind me, the Female Servant’s legs gave way, and I heard her collapse to the ground.

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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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