The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 96

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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 96
Father’s face was utterly bewildered. He opened his mouth several times, only to close it again without speaking.
I smiled and continued.
“What if the Baek Li Family returns to the Murim Alliance Headquarters? You have quarters there anyway, don’t you?”
“You….”
Father trailed off mid-sentence.
After taking several deep breaths, he spoke as though exhaling a sigh.
“Sometimes I cannot fathom what you’re thinking.”
I flinched momentarily. It could have been a casual remark without deeper meaning—merely an observation that he didn’t quite understand my surface-level thoughts.
But I instinctively grasped the true intention behind his words. He was alluding to how drastically I had changed.
“….”
“….”
And Father fell silent, saying nothing more.
Perhaps it was a relief? Father seemed to have no intention of pressing further.
Was he not curious?
No—he refrained from asking precisely because he trusted me. He believed that if I wished to speak, I would do so in my own time.
‘Ah, truly….’
I spoke to Father.
“There are many times when I don’t understand you either, Father.”
“Hmm?”
Father’s brow furrowed slightly.
“But that’s what family is—living together despite it all.”
“…Yes.”
Father stroked my head and gently pulled me into an embrace.
“Indeed. To have gained a daughter with so many secrets—that too is my fortune.”
The strength of his embrace gradually intensified, then suddenly released.
I lifted my head from his chest and looked up at him.
“You speak wisely. Let us return to the Baek Li Family Residence.”
“Yes!”
“You surpass me.”
His voice was deeply weary.
I stepped back from his embrace and spoke with deliberate brightness.
“That’s because I trust you to protect me! Besides, it’s natural to worry once something becomes precious to you.”
Father’s expression became enigmatic.
If I had to interpret it, it was something like: what exactly does she know when she says such things, and who taught her to speak this way…
“So please be careful with yourself. Yes? Don’t go around fighting like you did when escorting the supplies from Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Lab.”
“There was truly nothing of consequence.”
“How could you possibly fight again in the meantime? Doesn’t it weigh on you that I’ve been waiting for you at the Namgung Clan with bated breath?”
“….”
Father’s expression turned speechless.
When I first heard that explanation, I thought he was truly considerate—using even travel time to help others during the escort. But as time passed, a creeping sense of disappointment began to settle in.
How could he leave me here alone without rushing to come back?
He went all the way to Palgwae Village before returning to the Namgung Clan. If he’d come straight to the Namgung Clan, he would have arrived so much sooner!
Not that his actions were wrong, exactly. It was just that I felt a little—a tiny, minuscule, infinitesimal bit—disappointed.
I continued my reproach.
“Don’t wander alone anymore! When you went from Palgwae Village to the Baek Li Estate, you just left on your own because it was more convenient, didn’t you?”
“That was….”
“You said you’d protect Yalyu, then you abandoned him! How confused must he have been left alone there?”
“No, that’s….”
Father blinked in confusion, then cleared his throat before speaking.
“Well, Yeon. Shouldn’t we start preparing to head to Cheon-am Temple soon?”
Changing the subject, how typical.
Whether young or old, no one enjoyed being lectured.
Father had no excuse for abandoning Yalyu and going to the Baek Li Estate. Still, it was about time I left anyway.
“Then I’ll be going!”
Father stopped me as I turned to leave.
“That….”
“Yes?”
Father hesitated, then spoke while avoiding my gaze.
“The reason I stopped by Palgwae Village wasn’t because I wasn’t worried about you….”
“I know! It was because of Man Shin-ui’s research journal, right?”
Father’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
If this had happened before my regression, I would have buried myself in the foolish thought that Father didn’t want to see me. But now things were different. Father must have intended to help the Namgung Clan while also protecting Man Shin-ui’s research journal. Perhaps there might be a cure for my condition in there.
Father must have been thinking the same thing—helping the Namgung Clan while safeguarding Man Shin-ui’s research journal, just in case my treatment was documented there.
“So I’m just letting it go! You understand, right?”
At my words, Father clenched his teeth—as if he were forcibly suppressing laughter threatening to burst out.
Why! What was so funny!
“Yes. I understand. Thank you very much.”
Suppressing his laughter, Father suddenly lifted me into his arms. I gasped in surprise and wrapped my arms around his neck.
‘Is he taking me to So Bu-in?’
That’s what I thought, but Father’s steps led toward my chamber.
‘No, this won’t do!’
When we reached my chamber, I struggled and jumped down from Father’s embrace.
“What’s wrong?”
I hastily blocked Father’s path and spoke.
“Why… why my chamber?”
“Aren’t you going to Cheon-am Temple?”
“Yes! So my chamber….”
Father spoke with a gentle expression.
“Cheon-am Temple is deep in the mountains, so it will be much colder than here. I thought you should bring warmer clothes.”
“Ah… yes, I’ll go change into something appropriate!”
Father looked at me strangely and immediately reached out his hand. There was little I could do to stop him given my height. The door swung open at once, and Father sighed without even stepping inside the room.
“Your room…”
Father peered inside with widened eyes.
“I’d believe it if you told me a thief had broken in.”
I laughed awkwardly.
My room was… utterly chaotic. The bedding on my unmade bed was bunched into one corner, and discarded clothes lay scattered about like shed skin.
“Well, it’s not usually this messy. I was just hurrying to find something to change into…”
Father’s voice carried a note of exasperation. He turned toward the chest where I’d apparently rummaged through in my search for outdoor clothes.
Along the path, the inkstone and brush I’d left out for practicing calligraphy sat carelessly on a table, with ink-stained paper scattered across the floor beneath them.
“Brushes should be hung up properly. If you leave them like this, they’ll be ruined.”
“…”
“And when did you leave this teacup here? There’s tea residue at the bottom…”
Father dragged his hand across his face.
“Yalyu has truly looked after you well all this time.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Only now, with Yalyu’s absence, did I truly realize how diligently he’d been cleaning up after me all along.
“I suppose the saying goes: I know where things are scattered, but not where they’re put away.”
“Where do you pick up such strange sayings?”
Father turned to me and spoke with stern authority.
“You should be able to tidy your own room…”
Mid-sentence, Father pressed his fingers to his forehead and seemed to take a moment to compose himself.
“Very well. You’re still young, so tidying may be difficult for you. Let’s assign another female servant. One isn’t enough to manage this entire residence quarter.”
“Ha ha, I will, I will! I’ll clean it up when I return.”
To reiterate: nobody—adult or child—enjoys being lectured.
* * *
After being scolded by Father, I approached So Bu-in with wide eyes. The departure preparations appeared complete, and everyone present seemed to be traveling together, but I was astounded by their sheer number.
‘Escort warriors, servants, and all these people are going to a temple outing together?’
Nearly thirty, perhaps approaching forty people had gathered. When So Bu-in noticed me, she approached swiftly without losing her dignified composure.
“You look a bit chilled.”
“Pardon?”
So Bu-in, having prepared in advance, wrapped me in a white fox fur stole, placed a hat on my head, and pulled on gloves.
‘Anyone seeing me like this would think it was snowing!’
Here at the Namgung Clan, the weather was so mild throughout winter that one rarely saw frozen water.
The clothes Father had selected were already cumbersome with their heavy fur trim, and at this rate, I looked ready to roll away.
I fidgeted with the gloves and spoke.
“I’m… feeling a bit stifled…”
So Bu-in’s eyebrows drooped as she spoke with concern.
“You have a delicate constitution. If you catch even a slight cold, my heart will break.”
“…”
Right. There’s no harm in being careful.
“Yes, that’s true. Since we’re burning charcoal in the carriage, you can remove your gloves. I didn’t think about your discomfort.”
So Bu-in removed my gloves with slumped shoulders, and the sight of it broke my heart.
“No, it’s fine. I’ll keep them on!”
“No. It’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? I wasn’t thinking of your comfort.”
“Really, it’s okay!”
“No. I…”
Just then, the carriage door suddenly opened roughly, and an angry voice rang out.
“Stop that and get in.”
My eyes widened in surprise.
“Ryu-cheong?”
Namgung Ryu-cheong gestured for me to climb aboard quickly.
‘Wait, didn’t you say you weren’t coming? Why are you here?’

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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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