The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 86

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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 86
I had been so preoccupied that I completely forgot to pick up the iron coins that had flown toward Cheon Gongja’s hand after everything was over. I searched the area where they had fallen meticulously, but the dusty ground was only scattered with confused footprints.
“Ah, did someone already pick them up?”
If anyone had seen coins lying on the street, they would naturally have taken them. With lingering regret, I scanned the ground with reluctant eyes when suddenly a hand shot out from behind.
“Looking for this?”
The iron coin I had been searching for rested in Yalyu’s hand—I hadn’t even noticed when he had followed me.
“Huh? That’s it! When did you pick it up?”
“When you kicked Cheon Gongja just now.”
“Ahem.”
The way he said it made it sound as though I had committed one-sided violence.
I hesitated as I reached to take the iron coin and looked at Yalyu. His eyes remained gentle and docile as always.
‘But….’
During the confrontation with Cheon Gongja, his eyes had transformed in an instant, and he had attempted to use the Absorption Demonic Art. To the casual observer, it appeared he had simply extended his hand slowly before stopping. Yet through my golden eyes, I had seen his inner energy moving with crystalline clarity.
Of course, he ultimately refrained from using it and everything passed without incident. But….
I glanced around the street.
The long queue standing outside the inn.
People hurrying past.
To think he would unhesitatingly attempt to use demonic arts in such a crowded place. The thought sent a chill down my spine. If Yalyu had not stopped when I commanded him…. A horrifying scenario played out unbidden in my imagination.
‘I’ll address that when we return….’
I took the iron coin from his hand.
“Yalyu, go tell Seo Ha-ryeong to order one more serving of dumplings!”
I shouted at Yalyu and bolted into the street. Then I ran through the Back Alley, calling out.
“Father?”
“Father!”
“I’m certain I saw you. Father!”
When I had returned from going to buy incense earlier, I had glimpsed an aura similar in color to my father’s, but I had dismissed it as a mistake.
Because there were so many people, I had deliberately dampened my golden-eyed vision to its minimum. Otherwise, in such a crowded place, I would quickly become dizzy, and headaches and nausea would follow immediately.
Besides, there was no reason my father would be in this Back Alley. So I had assumed I was mistaken and ignored it.
But this iron coin. The iron coin that had struck my hand with perfect timing in that dangerous moment. I could not ignore it upon seeing it. Striking a moving person’s hand with an iron coin with such precision was beyond the capability of ordinary skill.
If not my father, then who could it be?
“Father!”
He must have been watching over me, yet he did not appear despite my cries.
‘So you intend to keep hiding?’
I looked around as if still searching for someone, moving deeper and deeper inward. My steps led unhesitatingly toward a street that looked desolate and dangerous even from a distance.
Occasionally calling out, “Faaather~?”
And just before I could enter that street, someone suddenly grabbed the back of my neck. A deep sigh followed, and I heard a familiar voice.
“How far were you planning to go?”
“Father!”
I spun around. My father was looking at me with an expression of exasperation.
“It really is you! I’ve been searching all this time!”
I bounced excitedly toward Father, eager to throw myself into his arms, but he stopped me by gently gripping my shoulders.
“Do you even know where that place is?”
“Hm? I was just walking and ended up there…”
“Don’t go down that street again from now on.”
Father spoke with unmistakable gravity.
Right at the doorstep of the Namgung Clan, poverty still festered in every corner, and where the destitute gathered, lawlessness inevitably followed.
That street was precisely the kind of place where someone dressed like me—especially a child—would be stripped of coin and clothing without hesitation.
I had never truly intended to venture in.
It was merely a small bait, so to speak, to draw Father out.
If Father was watching as I expected, would he really allow me to enter that street?
I answered with an innocent, beaming smile.
“Yes! I’ll be careful.”
“Then why did you go looking for me?”
“Oh!”
I exclaimed and rummaged through my robes. Cold metal brushed against my fingertips.
“Isn’t this what you threw, Father?”
I held out the iron coin to him.
“No.”
“Really…? Wait, you didn’t?”
I had naturally assumed it was Father and continued speaking, then froze in surprise at his denial.
‘Then who threw it?’
Could some wandering martial artist have passed by? Was this truly a martial arts world?
At that moment, another voice came from behind me.
“I threw it.”
I spun around in shock.
“Uncle Namgung Wan?”
“Ahem.”
Namgung Wan cleared his throat and turned his head away. I stood dumbfounded, my eyes darting between him and Father.
“But what are you both doing here?”
“I had business to attend to.”
“What kind of business?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“But what is it!”
“You don’t need to know!”
I narrowed my eyes and let out a scoff.
“Hmph! I know anyway.”
“Know what!”
“You followed me, didn’t you?”
“…”
“…”
Namgung Wan fell silent, his mouth closing as if words had abandoned him, while my father maintained his steady quiet.
I continued speaking.
“I know everything—you both followed me!”
Two grown adults had helplessly trailed behind me like ducklings.
It was utterly absurd. Namgung Wan, sharing my sentiment, looked at me with an expression of disbelief before turning to my father.
“Just one hit.”
“No way!”
I reflexively shielded my forehead.
My father spoke calmly.
“Yeon, you shouldn’t play pranks on adults.”
“Yes. I apologize.”
I clasped my hands together and bowed respectfully.
Just as Namgung Wan clicked his tongue, my father looked at him seriously.
“And you—reacting to a child’s prank like that? Show some dignity as an adult.”
“….”
I stifled my laughter, exhaling through my nose. Then something suddenly occurred to me.
“Oh, that’s right! What should we do? I only ordered dumplings for Father. I need to hurry and order some for you too!”
My father asked what I meant.
“Dumplings?”
“Yes! It’s supposed to be a great place! A dumpling specialty shop!”
“What do you mean you already ordered mine?”
“Since you’re here, I ordered ahead so we could eat together!”
My father looked at me with a mixture of appreciation and bewilderment.
“You came out to eat with your friends, didn’t you? I’ll pass.”
“Why not! We’ve run into each other like this—let’s all eat together! Food tastes better when we share it!”
“Yeon.”
I clung to my father’s arm.
“If we wait any longer, the others will worry. Let’s go quickly, yes? You come too!”
My father exhaled softly. Then he looked at Namgung Wan as if asking what to do.
Namgung Wan clicked his tongue and turned away.
“Let’s go.”
* * *
The moment we climbed to the second floor of the Dumpling Shop, Namgung Ryu-cheong, his expression deeply furrowed, jumped to his feet at the sight of me.
“Where on earth did you suddenly go…!”
Then he saw Namgung Wan following behind and stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening.
“…Father?”
Seo Ha-ryeong already had dumplings in her mouth and suddenly began coughing, searching frantically for water. I turned to my father and Namgung Wan, explaining.
“I thought I saw someone who looked like Father on the street earlier. I went out to search, just in case.”
“What?”
“Yes. We ran into each other.”
Namgung Wan burst out in exasperation.
“Baek Li-yeon, that’s enough.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong still wore a bewildered expression.
“I saw you were with Father, and since you mentioned it was a great restaurant, I thought it would be nice if you joined us for the meal….”
As I explained, I realized I had brought Father and him along without even asking for their opinion first.
“Would it be… alright if we ate together?”
No, wait—I’d already brought them here and now I was asking if we could eat together? That’s completely backwards! Just as that thought crossed my mind, Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke coldly.
“You’re already here, so what else is there to say? Father, Senior, please have a seat.”
In fact, there weren’t enough chairs, so Namgung Ryu-cheong stood and gave up his seat.
Father stared at me intently, and Namgung Wan spoke.
“You didn’t tell your friends about this?”
“Well… I didn’t know Father was actually here… haha.”
Namgung Wan interjected with a remark.
“But did you order extra food in advance?”
“Hahaha….”

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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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