The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 90

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

Chapter 90
* * *
For a while, Seo Ha-ryeong remained oblivious to my arrival, diligently swinging the wooden sword as instructed. Then, at some point, she noticed I was there. After that, she became terribly distracted, earning several scoldings from Sa-jeo to focus, until she finally managed to secure an early break.
Seo Ha-ryeong rushed toward me without even wiping away her sweat.
“Yeon! What brings you here? This is your first time coming on your own!”
“Huh? I’ve been here before.”
“I brought you here! I’m the one who always goes to see you unless you ask me to come out! Every single day, I’m the one visiting you!”
“…Is that so?”
“Is that so?! You’re always cooped up in that gloomy, dreary Residence Quarter of yours!”
Thinking back at Seo Ha-ryeong’s words, I realized I truly had never visited her first except when preparing for the duel between Namgung Ryu-cheong and Seo Ha-ryeong. I had been too absorbed in training to control my Golden Eyes ability.
Wait, gloomy and dreary? But she said it was a place where sleep came easily—was that her true feelings? Well, she had a point that I’d been neglectful, so I offered a brief excuse.
“There are other people here besides you.”
Immediately, a youthful voice burst out from behind Seo Ha-ryeong.
“Please don’t mind us!”
Following that, the other disciples of the Suhyang Sect chimed in one after another.
“You’re always welcome, Miss Baek!”
“It’s been so long, Miss!”
“Miss, do you remember me? I greeted you last time.”
I was completely overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of voices. I was caught in the midst of this chaotic conversation when—
“Miss, is it true you made Jang Gongja’s nose bleed?”
“You m-made his nose bleed?”
I sound incredibly violent! How exactly did Seo Ha-ryeong explain this?
“When you kicked him, Jang Gongja flew this far, they say!”
“Show us how you did it!”
What are they asking me to show them?
My mind grew increasingly hazy.
“Anyway, I knew something like this would happen eventually. What a mess.”
“We all heard about it from our senior yesterday and couldn’t stop laughing.”
“They say Cheon Gongja ran away like his tail was on fire.”
“I wish I’d been there…”
It seemed the others at the Suhyang Sect had accumulated quite a bit of resentment over time.
“Hmph, the way Jang Gongja acts, no wonder Jang Family Head dislikes his own son.”
That was when I caught those words.
“Jang Gongja is disliked by Jang Family Head?”
Since he was a supporting character who kept tormenting Namgung Ryu-cheong, the protagonist, I found myself curious.
“Ah… it’s a well-known story.”
“Well, you wouldn’t know, Miss.”
“Don’t disregard Yeon!”
Seo Ha-ryeong shouted sharply.
At that, Young Master Park’s face flushed red in embarrassment.
“No, when did I ever do that…? Miss Seo, I wasn’t ignoring you. Absolutely not.”
“Ugh, you rotten kid. Ignoring Miss Baek. Won Cheon-i is ignoring Miss Baek!”
“I’m not!”
“You are!”
The boy shouting fled while the other boy, his face flushed red, chased after him.
After laughing boisterously, the oldest boy among them shrugged and spoke.
“It’s well known. The Jang Family Head favors the Second Illegitimate Prince, Jang Gongja’s younger brother, more. He takes the Second Illegitimate Prince with him instead of Jang Gongja wherever he goes.”
Even if a troublemaking child displeased him, to openly display such discrimination outside the household rather than discipline him within the family walls—it was remarkable.
‘His home environment is quite a mess too.’
There was a reason the boy had become so twisted.
Seo Ha-ryeong asked as if suddenly remembering something.
“Oh, that’s right—Yeon, what are you doing here?”
“Ah.”
I looked at the Suhyang Sect members gathered around us. They all had their eyes gleaming with keen interest.
Feeling quite burdened, I laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“Should we go somewhere quieter for a moment?”
“Huh? Why? I haven’t finished my training, so I can’t go far…”
As she said this, she glanced toward the Grand Training Hall. Her eyes held a subtle hope that someone would give her permission to leave.
Seo Ha-ryeong’s master smiled broadly and spoke.
“Don’t talk nonsense. You went out and played all day yesterday. Not today.”
Then he looked at me and bowed respectfully with clasped fists.
“My apologies, Miss. We’ve come this far.”
“No, it’s fine. I only came because I had something to give her. I had no intention of being a bother.”
Don’t use me as an excuse to play around!
Seo Ha-ryeong’s shoulders slumped as she spoke.
“Tch, fine. So what are you giving me? Is it that box you’re holding?”
I hesitated.
It felt awkward to speak about it with everyone watching…
The curious eyes of everyone around us focused entirely on the box I held. Faced with gazes so intense they seemed ready to pierce through it, I emptied my mind of hesitation.
‘Fine… what does it matter? It’s better if more people know.’
After all, I had come to gain the Suhyang Sect’s favor.
The future war with the Demonic Cult. When that full-scale battle erupted, I needed as many people as possible who would stand with me.
‘Though ideally, the war wouldn’t happen at all.’
But that was beyond my control. So while time remained, I would secure even one more person as a true ally.
That was my purpose in requesting this elixir. By giving a spiritual elixir to the future heir of the Suhyang Sect, I could gain their favor.
And later, when war with the Demonic Cult came, if Seo Ha-ryeong fighting beside Namgung Ryu-cheong grew stronger, it would benefit him as well.
‘Though… will she actually fight beside Namgung Ryu-cheong…?’
The plan seemed to be deviating slightly…
I extended the box toward Seo Ha-ryeong.
“It’s a spiritual elixir called the Hundred-Day Pill. Here, there’s also a certificate of authenticity from the Ju Clan Medicine School.”
“…Huh? Huh?”
Seo Ha-ryeong accepted the box with bewilderment and opened it. Inside lay a crimson pill tinged with brown, smaller than a walnut, finally revealed.
The young girl beside Seo Ha-ryeong hurriedly unfolded the certificate of authenticity.
“Gasp! Is this real?”
“It says right here! A Hundred-Day Elixir from the Ju Clan Medicine School!”
“Isn’t that something valuable?”
“Yes! It’s a premium spiritual medicine!”
True to her training as a disciple of the Suhyang Sect, she recognized the elixir immediately. Seo Ha-ryeong looked at me with trembling eyes.
“Why… why… are you giving this to me?”
“Huh? Just….”
I had originally planned to present it with proper fanfare. But there were far too many people here. Showing off in front of such a crowd would have required shamelessness beyond my capacity.
‘There’s no helping it.’
I spoke as casually as though it were nothing special.
“I happened to obtain it. I have no use for it anyway.”
I acted cool, composed, and utterly indifferent with every ounce of effort I could muster.
“You… you… are you really giving this to me?”
“That’s what I said.”
Seo Ha-ryeong’s eyes darted between me and the elixir, and soon tears began to well up.
I was startled.
“Why, why are you crying?”
“I don’t know… I don’t know… I’m just so happy….”
Seo Ha-ryeong clutched the elixir box tightly to her chest.
“Sniff, Yeon, thank you so much.”
“Huh? Oh, oh. It’s, it’s fine. Don’t cry.”
Why does she cry so easily!
As I patted her shoulder awkwardly, I hastily relayed Father’s instructions.
“Just to be safe, make sure to ask the Sect Leader when you return to the Suhyang Sect before taking it.”
Seo Ha-ryeong nodded. Whether she truly understood remained uncertain.
“I’m so jealous!”
“Ha-ryeong! If you won’t eat it, give it to me!”
“Get away from here!”
Of course, Seo Ha-ryeong’s serious tears didn’t last long.
“I want to be friends with Yeon too!”
“Back off! Yeon is mine!”
“Haha.”
Watching the children bicker brought peace to my heart. I was entertaining them as they chattered away noisily when suddenly one side of the gathering fell silent.
I lifted my head in confusion. The disciples of the Suhyang Sect parted with bewildered expressions, and at the end of the path they created stood a cold-faced young man.
“Namgung Ryu-cheong?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong raised an eyebrow and spoke.
“What are you doing here?”
“Hmm?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong’s cold expression swept across the Suhyang Sect members before his gaze lowered, and he offered a respectful bow. The Suhyang Sect members returned the greeting awkwardly.
After the pleasantries, Namgung Ryu-cheong turned directly to me.
“Miss, my mother wishes to see you for a moment.”
“So Bu-in?”
Today, two people were already seeking me out.
“Come along. We should go now.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong bid farewell to the Suhyang Sect members, pivoted sharply, and exited the Practice Hall.
Seo Ha-ryeong grabbed at him reluctantly.
“Already leaving?”
“Yes. You need to finish your training anyway. I’ve given you what I came to give, so I’ll stop interfering and take my leave.”
I bowed to Seo Ha-ryeong and the Suhyang Sect members, then hurried after Namgung Ryu-cheong. He waited outside the Practice Hall, and upon seeing me, began walking immediately. I quickened my pace slightly to match his stride and asked.
“What does So Bu-in want to see me about?”
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
I pouted.
“Of course I’ll find out when we get there. That’s why I’m asking—I want to know beforehand.”
But Namgung Ryu-cheong suddenly stopped walking and turned to face me sharply.
His thick brows were raised high.
‘What? Why does he look so angry?’
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
—————