The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 85

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

Chapter 85
The gang members hesitated, exchanging glances with one another. One of them suddenly bolted toward Cheon Wi-eung in a panic.
“Brother!”
“Ugh… ack.”
Cheon Wi-eung had taken the full brunt of the blow. He rolled across the ground, drooling profusely. The spectators, who had fallen silent as if by prior agreement, resumed their murmuring.
“Tch…”
“Oh my.”
“Did you see that? I couldn’t even tell how he attacked.”
“How did that little one take down someone twice his size like that…!”
“He’s the young master of the Namgung Clan, isn’t he? Living up to his reputation. Those bastards had it coming.”
Though Cheon Wi-eung’s state might have warranted sympathy, no one in the crowd felt any.
‘He must have made quite the impression with his behavior.’
Moreover, the sight of such a large boy charging in to fight was utterly pathetic, which only hardened the crowd’s indifference. Seo Ha-ryeong quietly grabbed my arm and whispered near my ear.
“I think the young master of the Namgung Clan was being considerate of me.”
“Seems like it.”
Seo Ha-ryeong shuddered as she looked down at Cheon Wi-eung. Rolling around on the ground like that was far less restrained than simply retrieving a fallen sword.
I continued, as if explaining.
“Besides, the young master of the Cheon Clan underestimated the young master of the Namgung Clan.”
“Really? His sword had so much force behind it. I don’t think I could have blocked it.”
Cheon Wi-eung’s sword technique seemed properly trained, with considerable power behind each strike, but the person wielding it lacked focus.
I continued speaking.
“He was swinging carelessly, convinced he’d win anyway—that’s basically asking to be hit.”
“So that’s why the young master of the Namgung Clan got angry?”
“Probably… not just because of that.”
“Ah, true. He’s always angry about something.”
“Pfft.”
I bit down hard on my lip to stifle the laughter threatening to burst out.
Just then, one of the other boys who hadn’t rushed to Cheon Wi-eung’s aid suddenly flared up.
“That was too much!”
I turned to look at the one who’d shouted.
He was the same boy who had egged things on from behind, cheering and encouraging whenever Cheon Wi-eung stepped forward or Jang Cheol spouted nonsense, never once trying to stop them.
A scoff escaped me naturally.
“That’s rich. You all had swords hanging from your waists, didn’t you? Yalyu and I didn’t even have swords. But when I suggested a match, you were all for it—then you drew your real blades. Too much? Really?”
If they had simply suggested fighting barehanded instead, I would have held back and let Namgung Ryu-cheong off easy.
But they didn’t. They exchanged gleeful glances as if to say, ‘What are you going to do about it? We have real swords,’ and they seemed to relish the advantage.
The boy who’d cried out fell silent, as if his lips had been sealed with glue.
‘He has nothing to say. Because I’m right.’
I continued.
“If I’d been cut or stabbed by your swords and gotten hurt, would you have said something then?”
At my words, Seo Ha-ryeong’s eyes widened. She seemed to have never considered that possibility and looked genuinely shocked.
And then….
Namgung Ryu-cheong showed no particular reaction.
‘Or perhaps he had already figured it out.’
The moment I turned around, my eyes met Namgung Ryu-cheong’s.
‘Yes, he definitely knew.’
Was that why his strikes against Cheon Wi-eung had been so merciless? Of course, it was merely my speculation.
I continued to press my words.
“Since you’ve drawn your blade, be grateful it ended here. Without at least that much sense, you’re just a fool.”
Then Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been watching me quietly, spoke.
“Baek Li-yeon.”
“Yes. What… huh?”
I answered reflexively, then belatedly startled.
Namgung Ryu-cheong had called me by my name! Not “Miss,” but my actual name!
Namgung Ryu-cheong continued.
“Be quiet.”
….
Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had silenced me with a single blow, spoke coldly.
“So who’s next?”
Everyone’s eyes rolled around frantically. Having witnessed Namgung Ryu-cheong’s skill firsthand, stepping forward would mean becoming that pathetic sight themselves.
In that sudden silence, Jang Cheol abruptly turned and fled. I, who had been subtly watching him, immediately gave chase.
“Hey! He’s running away!”
Ignoring Seo Ha-ryeong’s cry, I caught up to Jang Cheol and kicked his back as he shoved through the crowd. With a thud, Jang Cheol tumbled forward. I stomped on his back once more.
Jang Cheol, trying to rise, fell flat again.
“Ugh!”
“Where do you think you’re going? You’re apologizing before you leave.”
* * *
“Puhahahaha. Ah, I thought I’d die holding in my laughter. Ahahaha.”
Young Master Jang, whose face had been planted in the ground, lifted his head with blood streaming from both nostrils.
“When we get back, puhehe, I, I have to tell Sa-jeo and the older brothers about this, khekhehe, I have to. Puhaha Young Master Jang, Young Master Jang with a nosebleed!”
Seo Ha-ryeong was somewhat willful, but she wasn’t the type to take pleasure in others’ misfortune.
I tilted my head and asked.
“Why are you so happy about it? Did you know him before?”
“Yeah! Puhahahaha. Heu, heu. Sometimes when I’d go to gatherings following Mother, I’d run into him, and he was really awful.”
Since her mother was the Suhyang Munju, she must have encountered him while attending meetings between Orthodox Martial Arts Sects and various clans.
“What was he like?”
“Especially that Young Master Cheon—he’d just strut around whenever they gathered, always picking fights with weaker kids.”
Just as the saying goes, what leaks from inside leaks outside too. There was no way they were only acting like this here.
Seo Ha-ryeong had much pent up, so she spoke freely.
“He’d boss around kids from smaller sects like they were his servants! He’d follow them around asking to play, being incredibly annoying. When they said no, he’d bully my Sa-jeo!”
“He followed them around asking to play?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Seo Ha-ryeong’s healthy, radiant face.
Though her cheeks still held the softness of youth, her sharp, high nose and eyebrows drawn with precision lacked any childish quality. Her slightly upturned eyes beneath them possessed a feline loveliness.
With the bearing of a future lady, her appearance already promised much to anticipate. Suddenly, worries flooded through me like a tidal wave. I spoke to Seo Ha-ryeong with utmost seriousness.
“You must never get close to those kinds of people. Birds of a feather flock together—if you spend time with ink, you’ll become stained yourself!”
“I like ink.”
“…What?”
“I hate studying….”
“Oh…. I like ink too….”
I steadied my bewildered heart and exhaled deeply. Seo Ha-ryeong tilted her head curiously and grasped my hand.
“Yeon, why are you trembling like that?”
I had tried my best to hide it, but it seemed I hadn’t succeeded.
“…I suppose I was nervous.”
“Nervous?”
I withdrew my hand from wide-eyed Seo Ha-ryeong and turned to look at Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“Young Master, thank you for helping. You arrived at just the right moment.”
“….”
Namgung Ryu-cheong gave only a slight nod. He lowered his eyes briefly, then spoke again.
“I didn’t expect you to accept the match so readily.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, his brow furrowing slightly.
“Weren’t you ill?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Take care of yourself.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong was actually concerned about me? So all our encounters until now hadn’t been entirely meaningless.
‘Is this what being moved feels like?’
I smiled contentedly, savoring the pleasant feeling.
“Thank you for worrying about me.”
“You need to spar with me.”
“…Huh?”
That sounded like something that would deflate my warm feelings….
‘Let me pretend I didn’t hear that.’
I quickly averted my gaze from Namgung Ryu-cheong. My eyes fell on Yalyu, whose expression hadn’t improved even after receiving an apology from Cheon Wi-eung’s group. And….
“Oh no! What do I do! Wahhh.”
My face crumpled into an expression of distress.
At my whimpering cry, Namgung Ryu-cheong looked up in alarm.
“…Why, what’s wrong?”
“Wahhh. What do I do? The dumplings… the line… our turn already passed….”
In all that commotion, our place in line had already passed. Namgung Ryu-cheong clenched his teeth and spoke.
“Ugh, seriously. You startled me.”
“But! We have to get back in line from the beginning!”
“What does it matter if we can’t have dumplings….”
That was when a young man approached with quick steps, wiping his hands on a towel tucked at his waist. It was Jeom So-i, who had been bustling about carrying food at the Dumpling Shop.
“Oh my, what elegant and adorable young ladies and gentlemen. Please come this way. I’ve reserved a table for you.”
“Really?”
“Of course. After all, you’ve given us quite the show.”
As he said this, Jeom So-i glanced at Namgung Ryu-cheong. There was no way he hadn’t heard the rumors about the young master of the Namgung Clan.
I pretended not to notice his obvious gaze and smiled.
“Wow! Thank you so much.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong seemed to have felt that gaze too, his expression turning slightly stiff. I linked my arm through his and dragged him along. But before we’d even taken five steps, Namgung Ryu-cheong pulled his arm free.
“I can walk on my own. Let go.”
“Fine!”
“Come with me!”
Seo Ha-ryeong extended her arm. I linked both Seo Ha-ryeong and Yalyu to my sides and followed Jeom So-i up the stairs.
Halfway up the second-floor staircase, I suddenly stopped and cried out.
“Oh, that’s right!”
“What now?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong raised his eyebrows. His sharp, glaring gaze made it clear he wouldn’t tolerate anything trivial. Instead of explaining, I unlinked my arms and bolted back down the stairs.
“Wait a moment! Go ahead and sit down!”
I rushed back the way I’d come. I ran all the way to where I’d been arguing with Cheon Wi-eung and his group, and searched the ground carefully.
‘Jang Cheol! Where did Jang Cheol go!’

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