The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 78

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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 78
“…Ah! Cheong-ah! Ryu-cheong!”
The voice drew steadily closer, then suddenly thundered like a tempest, jolting me back to consciousness.
“Namgung Ryu-cheong!”
Someone’s firm grip steadied my wavering body.
“Father?”
“Come to your senses.”
“Ah….”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes.”
“Phew.”
Namgung Wan exhaled deeply and spoke.
“What in the world were you doing in the middle of the Staircase? Isn’t that dangerous! If you’d tumbled down, it wouldn’t end with just broken limbs.”
“My apologies.”
Namgung Wan gripped Namgung Ryu-cheong’s shoulder firmly once more before ascending the Staircase.
Namgung Ryu-cheong followed in his wake.
Upon entering the Pavilion, Namgung Wan settled into a suitable seat. Namgung Ryu-cheong appeared lost in thought once again.
Namgung Wan regarded his son with concern.
He’d heard the boy was suffering greatly. Standing frozen on the Staircase was surely a manifestation of that burden. Yet this was not something he could remedy.
“Do not rush your heart. Manifesting sword energy at your age is extraordinary in itself.”
“….”
One glance at Namgung Ryu-cheong’s expression revealed that his father’s consolation had failed to touch his heart.
Namgung Wan sighed and gestured.
“Sit.”
He placed a teacup before Namgung Ryu-cheong, who merely glanced at it before speaking.
“What is the purpose of summoning me? If there is no particular business, I shall take my leave.”
“Sit.”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong settled quietly into his seat. His face was expressionless, yet a flicker of discontent gleamed in his eyes. Namgung Wan rubbed his face as if his head ached.
“I summoned you because there is something I must tell you, and something I must ask.”
“Yes.”
Namgung Wan paused briefly before continuing.
“Do you remember what you said to Yeon during your sparring match?”
“Which words do you refer to?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s brow furrowed slightly. Unlike usual, the exchange during that sparring session had been considerable. Particularly striking was that this was the first time he’d uttered such frivolous remarks—words utterly unhelpful to the match itself.
What lingered most vividly was “If you can catch me, then try!”…. Namgung Ryu-cheong unconsciously bit his lip at the memory.
Namgung Wan tapped the table to draw his attention.
“About the level of the Baek Family.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong searched his memory. Now that his father mentioned it, he recalled hurling such words at Baek Li-yeon during their first match, when she’d displayed such a laughably poor performance.
Namgung Wan exhaled heavily.
“Yeon didn’t grow up in the Baek Family. She was there for barely a year at most. She hardly learned swordsmanship from the Baek Family.”
“Pardon? Why is that?”
“…What does the reason matter? Just be more careful with your words going forward.”
“….”
“Fortunately, neither Ui-gang nor Yeon are the type to take your careless remarks to heart. From now on, be careful about mentioning the Baek Family in front of them—actually, just don’t mention it at all!”
Namgung Wan sighed and shook his head.
“Every time you open your mouth, it’s either sarcasm or thoughtlessness. I wonder who you take after….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong reflected on what he had said.
So to be precise….
“Even if you couldn’t use inner energy, you should have learned from the Baek Family since childhood. Then, is your level really only this much?”
And what had Baek Li-yeon answered?
“Not everyone is as fortunate as you.”
“….”
Suddenly, I realized I knew almost nothing about Baek Li-yeon.
‘I thought I’d seen her face for quite some time.’
It was surprising. It was always Baek Li-yeon who spoke first, asked questions, and joked around.
“Well, since you won’t see each other for a while anyway, just remember this for now.”
“Won’t see each other?”
Namgung Wan looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong with confusion.
“Aren’t you entering the Changung Pavilion?”
“Ah….”
“That’s precisely why I called you here. When will you enter the Changung Pavilion?”
“I haven’t given it much thought yet.”
“What?”
Namgung Wan frowned and looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Why are you reacting like that? When did you stop pestering me about closed-door training?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong seemed to be contemplating something. Namgung Wan waited, sipping his tea. Soon, Namgung Ryu-cheong met his father’s eyes.
“Father.”
“Speak.”
“Could I have another match with Miss Baek Li-yeon?”
“What?”
Namgung Wan was taken aback and set down his teacup.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.”
Namgung Wan stared at the ceiling before speaking.
“Ui-gang asked me not to let anyone know….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong tilted his head.
“After the match ended, Yeon went back and fell ill.”
“…What?”
* * *
After sparring with Namgung Ryu-cheong, I spent several days bedridden.
I really thought I was going to die. The muscle soreness was so severe that it felt like my entire body was being wrung out. For four days, I couldn’t even move properly.
I learned a valuable lesson.
‘Even if I draw upon natural energy, my physical body must be able to withstand it.’
If I’m going to suffer like this every time I use it once, I shouldn’t bother. I hadn’t even used that much, yet this is the result. If I had used as much as I could without restraint…
‘Exercise…! I need to exercise!’
Cheonsan Yeom-je clicked his tongue at me as if I were foolish.
“You’re only realizing this now? Your physical stamina is pathetic! You’re weaker than an ant crawling on the ground!”
I puffed out my cheeks and grumbled.
“…Well, then you should have told me to build up my stamina…”
“Do you think building stamina will change anything for you?”
“Won’t it?”
Cheonsan Yeom-je stroked his beard and looked down at me.
“Do you truly believe your body has fully recovered?”
Why my body?
I looked down at myself carefully.
“Isn’t this condition acceptable?”
Cheonsan Yeom-je clicked his tongue and picked up his teacup. The tea inside, which had been half-full, suddenly ignited in flames before vanishing entirely.
Sammaejinhwa?
It was a technique only those with exceptionally powerful inner energy could use—igniting fire through one’s own energy. As the flames disappeared, a sharp crack echoed through the teacup, and fine fractures spread across its surface.
Cheonsan Yeom-je set the teacup down on the table and gestured to me.
“Refill it with tea.”
“…?”
Though I didn’t understand his intention, it was clear I’d be struck if I didn’t obey, so I picked up the teapot as instructed.
I carefully poured the tea.
“Hm?”
The tea didn’t leak.
Goosebumps rose along my arms.
‘Truly one of the Top Eleven Masters of the World.’
He had applied force so precisely that the cup cracked only enough to prevent the tea from seeping through. The depth of his mastery was unfathomable.
Cheonsan Yeom-je pointed at the cracked teacup and spoke.
“That is your body.”
“Pardon?”
Then Cheonsan Yeom-je flicked the teacup lightly with his index finger. With a sharp crack, the cup split cleanly along the fracture lines, and tea spilled across the table.
“…”
“…”
The tea dripping from the table fell to the floor with soft pattering sounds.
Cheonsan Yeom-je shouted.
“Yalyu!”
Soon the door opened, and I heard footsteps approaching from behind.
“Did you call for me?”
“Clear this away.”
Yalyu, standing right beside me, looked down at the table, then at me.
“Yeon?”
“Oh, yes. You’re here?”
I turned to look at Yalyu, belatedly resuming the breath I’d been holding. When our eyes met, Yalyu’s brow twitched slightly. Then he turned toward Cheonsan Yeom-je with a sharp edge to his voice and asked a question.
“Why is Yeon acting like this?”
“Curious, are you?”
Yalyu nodded.
Cheonsan Yeom-je’s expression darkened with displeasure.
“Become my disciple, and I’ll tell you.”
“Ugh.”
I reflexively sighed, shuddered, and spoke.
“You’re really being childish!”
“Did you just call this old man childish!”
Cheonsan Yeom-je grabbed my ear without mercy and pulled.
“Ow! It hurts! Ahhhhh the cracked teacup will break!”
“Ha!”
With a half-laugh, half-sigh, the force pulling at my ear weakened. I seized the moment to slip free from Cheonsan Yeom-je’s grip.
Yalyu quickly hid me behind himself. Cheonsan Yeom-je’s beard trembled. He was clearly suppressing laughter.
“They say laughter brings good fortune.”
“Silence!”
….
“Infuriating! Absolutely infuriating. I’ve never seen a girl like you before.”
….
“Trying to trade jokes with this old man—are you truly mad? Do you know no fear?”
….
“Why aren’t you answering!”
Yalyu murmured softly.
“You told her to be quiet, though….”
“You…!”
Before he could say anything to Yalyu, I quickly opened my mouth.
“What is there to fear? What you just showed me—you did that because you were worried about me.”
Cheonsan Yeom-je shook his head with a grunt.
“Being around you makes me feel like I’m losing my mind.”
Cheonsan Yeom-je rose from his seat.
“Are you leaving already?”
“Why?”
“Oh, it’ll be evening soon, and I thought we could share a meal together…”
“It’s nothing.”
Cheonsan Yeom-je cut off my words with finality.
Before leaving the Hall, Cheonsan Yeom-je paused for a moment.
“You mustn’t take the words of an old man lightly. There is no power in this world without a price.”
“I understand that well. Please don’t worry.”
“No, you don’t understand. That ability may help you now, but if you wield such power beyond your limits like this again, it won’t end with merely taking to your sickbed. You must live cautiously for the rest of your life. Yet you… you don’t know how to spare yourself.”
Cheonsan Yeom-je’s words grew closer to muttering to himself.
“You don’t even realize those around you are burning away inside. You won’t live long either.”

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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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