The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 87

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

Chapter 87
* * *
Father and Uncle Namgung Wan ate only dumplings before leaving immediately. Whether they truly departed or simply said they were leaving while following us remained unclear.
Upon returning safely to the Residence Quarter, I found no sign of Father.
I turned to the Female Servant with a question.
“Where is Father?”
“Master Baek Li-ui-gang returned around the Hour of the Sheep, then left again after half an hour.”
“Did he say when he’d return?”
“No, he did not.”
I told her to go about her duties and gathered my thoughts. There was something I needed to address while Father was away.
‘Yalyu.’
The boy Father had brought to the Namgung Estate Front Courtyard had used dark energy against an Orthodox Martial Arts Sects disciple.
One more step forward, and that nightmare would have become reality. The mere thought made my vision swim, and I couldn’t even fathom the consequences.
‘What on earth was he thinking….’
I needed answers. And I had to ensure such a thing never happened again.
I removed my outer robe and looked at Yalyu.
“Yalyu, there’s something I need to—”
Suddenly, Yalyu dropped to his knees before me.
“…!”
I was so startled my breath caught in my throat.
“I was wrong.”
Whatever I’d been about to say evaporated instantly. I blinked helplessly, then forced the words out as if wringing them from my chest.
“…Stand up.”
“I was truly wrong.”
“….”
I glanced around, confirming once more that we were alone, then studied Yalyu. My head throbbed. I bit my lip several times, steadying my racing heart before asking.
“First… how did you end up entangled with Cheon Gongja?”
I’d only learned that he’d cut in line; nothing else had reached my ears.
Yalyu bit his lip and continued.
“You and Seo So-jeo left, and I was standing in line when he suddenly pushed in.”
“And then?”
“I didn’t want to cause trouble, so I stayed quiet… but then he suddenly turned around and asked if I was unhappy about him cutting in. So I said no.”
As Yalyu recounted what happened, his expression remained calm—he showed no resentment or sorrow about the situation. The only person he was concerned about was me.
“Then he laughed and tapped my cheek, asking why my expression looked like that.”
I exhaled a deep sigh.
‘They were worse than I thought.’
Picking a fight with someone who’d done nothing. There was no real reason for it—probably just because he was alone and looked like an unremarkable young master from some minor household.
And I was struck by something.
‘Yalyu showed remarkable restraint.’
He endured the cutting in line, endured the provocation. Wasn’t it said that if you want to know someone’s true nature, give them power?
Restraining one’s inherent power is difficult. Especially when dealing with demonic arts.
When heightened emotions weaken self-control, demonic arts seep in through the cracks. The more one wields that power, the more self-control dissolves, reason crumbles, and before long, one becomes utterly indifferent to using demonic arts, transforming into an entirely different person who savors blood and slaughter.
That is the terror of demonic arts.
Yalyu must have realized only after regaining his senses that he had nearly resorted to demonic arts.
“From that point on, it unfolded as you witnessed.”
Yalyu continued, his crimson lips trembling slightly.
“I was trying to hold back, but then that bastard struck you. So… I just couldn’t contain my rage.”
He couldn’t bear to watch me being beaten?
I didn’t know what expression to wear. His gaze fixed solely on me, combined with his words, naturally stirred… compassion within me.
“….”
“….”
Silence filled the chamber after Yalyu finished speaking.
My plan had been straightforward: first, I would reproach Yalyu for his transgression. Then, to prevent such incidents in the future, I would persuade him that cultivating greater strength was essential if he wished to avoid such indignities—and suggest he become a disciple of Cheonsan Yeom-je.
Yes.
When this incident occurred, I had secretly rejoiced. An excuse had materialized to separate Yalyu from me. A perfect pretext to openly push him toward Cheonsan Yeom-je.
I didn’t even need to tell Yalyu directly. I could simply inform Father. Judging by how Father, who had been watching over me, didn’t intervene at that moment, he likely remained unaware that Yalyu had attempted to use the Devouring Demonic Art.
In truth, without my Golden Eyes, I might never have known either. Regardless, if I told Father that Yalyu had attempted to use the Devouring Demonic Art in the back alley, Father would react far more sensitively than I would.
And Yalyu had sensed my very thoughts.
“I was wrong. I swear it won’t happen again.”
“….”
“Huh? Don’t abandon me.”
“I….”
I swallowed hard and forced down the tremor in my voice.
“When did I ever say I’d abandon you?”
We both knew the truth, yet I spoke a lie.
How had he known? Had I been so obvious with my hints?
I looked at Yalyu kneeling before me.
No. He had simply sensed it. Children possess innate sensitivity.
Whether this person likes or dislikes them. Whether they hold interest or indifference. That is survival instinct. And Yalyu had intuitively perceived it—my intention to cast him aside.
“Sigh.”
“….”
A sigh escaped unbidden, and inexplicably, my anger began to mount.
‘Why am I so angry?’
My chest felt constricted, suffocating. Clenching my fists as I pondered, I understood.
Yalyu’s posture mirrored my own past—watching for approval, begging forgiveness, desperate to cling to anything to avoid being cast out, to avoid Father’s hatred.
I grasped Yalyu’s arm and pulled him up.
“Stand.”
I forced Yalyu to his feet despite his resistance.
“I won’t tell Father, and I won’t ask you to become a disciple of Cheonsan Yeom-je either.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Only then did Yalyu rise to his feet.
Even as I thought, *Who am I to pity him…?*, my hand reached out toward Yalyu’s head of its own accord. I stroked the warm, round crown while speaking.
“I’ll become stronger.”
“What?”
“Yes. I have to.”
The vow escaped my lips.
If I had been strong enough to strike down Namgung Ryu-cheong right then and there without waiting, if only I had been…
“If I’d been stronger, this never would have happened, would it? You wouldn’t have had to step in and protect me.”
“…”
“Your constitution is the problem, but… the world is vast. If we search, surely some method will present itself?”
My words grew hollow toward the end, but…
Still, knowing the future as I did, if I made the effort, I could surely protect at least Yalyu somehow.
…Probably.
“But this is the last time.”
I spoke with firm resolve.
“From now on, restrain yourself. No matter what happens ahead, even if I’m in danger, you must never use the Absorption Demonic Art again. Do you understand?”
Yalyu looked at me with eyes I couldn’t quite read.
I flashed the most confident smile I could muster.
“You don’t need to protect me anymore. I’ll protect you so you never have to face something like this again!”
* * *
The next morning, Cheonsan Yeom-je sought me out at the crack of dawn. I reflexively shielded my forehead and cried out.
“What’s the matter? It’s not even class time yet?”
“What in the world happened yesterday!”
“Pardon?”
Could it be… that the commotion from yesterday in the Back Alley with Cheon Gongja had reached Cheonsan Yeom-je’s ears? How?
Just as I was wondering where to begin my explanation, Cheonsan Yeom-je dropped a bombshell I never could have anticipated.
“Yalyu said he wants to become my disciple.”
“…Excuse me?”
“What, you didn’t know either?”
“No… I didn’t know. Yalyu really said that?”
But just yesterday…
I was utterly bewildered. Cheonsan Yeom-je narrowed his eyes as he observed my expression.
“You truly didn’t know.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Then you don’t know the condition he set either?”
“A condition?”
“Listen, I’m absolutely flabbergasted. Setting conditions to become the Master’s disciple! If it weren’t for his extreme yang constitution, I would have…”
As Cheonsan Yeom-je spoke, his tone grew sharp with anger.
“The one who loves more always loses.”
“….”
Cheonsan Yeom-je’s expression turned exasperated at my deliberately playful response.
I pressed further with my question.
“So what are the conditions?”
“I won’t tell you.”
“What? Please tell me!”
“I’m leaving.”
“Wait, where are you going! Tell me before you leave!”
“Since there’s no class today, remember that.”
In that instant, I saw a hand flying toward me.
I flinched and ducked my head to avoid it. When I looked up again, Cheonsan Yeom-je had vanished.
“What on earth…?”
He came, said only what he wanted to say, and disappeared.
I stood dazed, staring in the direction Cheonsan Yeom-je had gone… and suddenly, a wave of indignation washed over me.
I had given up on pushing Yalyu as Cheonsan Yeom-je’s disciple yesterday, yet today he suddenly becomes one? It’s good news, but… doesn’t that make all my anguish completely pointless?
After I made such a firm resolve and spoke those words! To have them turned into scraps of paper like that!
‘This is so unfair… so unfair!’
I sprang to my feet and rushed to Yalyu’s chamber. But it was empty.
“Where did he go!”
I changed direction and ran.
“Father!”
But Father’s chamber was also empty. Wait, where did everyone go except me! I didn’t even wake up late, so why is everyone gallivanting about since the crack of dawn!
Grumbling to myself as I trudged back through the Residence Quarter, I spotted a familiar servant approaching.
“Young Miss Baek, you’re awake.”
“What is it?”
“The Family Head is calling for you.”
I tilted my head in confusion.

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