The Ignored Granddaughter of a Murim Family - Chapter 97

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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 97
* * *
I climbed into the carriage in a daze.
Namgung Ryu-cheong snapped shut the book he’d been holding. As he put it away, I caught a glimpse of the title—it looked like a military treatise.
“Why are you so late?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”
“No, it’s just… you said you weren’t coming.”
“I changed my mind.”
Well, that’s that. What could I do about it?
Namgung Ryu-cheong spoke to So Bu-in, saying:
“Mother, please don’t play any strange tricks and just get in.”
Strange tricks?
As I looked at him in confusion, Namgung Ryu-cheong explained matter-of-factly.
“It’s Mother’s technique. She acts upset to clear her conscience and then does whatever she wants.”
My mouth fell open. Simultaneously, several thoughts crossed my mind.
‘So So Bu-in’s distressed expression was an act? But then, why would he expose that right in front of her?’
Whether his words held truth or not, So Bu-in showed a flicker of displeasure beneath her initial surprise.
But she quickly composed herself, and with a melancholic expression suggesting genuine sorrow, she spoke:
“Ryu-cheong, why must you speak of such things so bluntly? Yeon, it’s not like that at all.”
“Don’t be fooled.”
So Bu-in bit her lip gently.
No, this Namgung Ryu-cheong—he keeps doing this!
“Wait! Don’t make that pretty face frown!”
Namgung Ryu-cheong looked at me as though I were utterly absurd.
I smiled brightly and called out to So Bu-in:
“Come aboard!”
* * *
The journey to Cheon-am Temple was remarkably comfortable.
From the outside, the carriage appeared rather plain. Yet within, it was spacious enough for three people with room to spare, and multiple layers of cushions made it exceptionally plush.
There was even an ingeniously crafted brazier in the center of the carriage for ventilation. While I gazed out the window and chatted with So Bu-in, Namgung Ryu-cheong kept his nose buried in his book the entire way.
‘Why did he even come along if he was just going to read at home?’
I looked at Namgung Ryu-cheong and asked:
“Ryu-cheong, aren’t you getting motion sickness?”
“No.”
“I see.”
Lucky him. Reading in a carriage, no less. I suffered quite a bit from motion sickness.
After I picked up and consumed some spiritual elixir from Man Shin-ui’s Alchemy Chamber, the motion sickness nearly vanished, but even so, it wasn’t enough for me to read comfortably.
So Bu-in, who had been observing us, opened her mouth to speak:
“Now that I think about it, Yeon, you didn’t look well when you arrived. Did something happen?”
“When you arrived?”
“When you came from the Residence Quarter.”
“Oh! I got scolded by Father. He said I’m not keeping things organized.”
I couldn’t help but let a slight edge creep into my tone.
So Bu-in tilted her head slightly.
“Not keeping things organized?”
“Yes.”
“It seems the Female Servant isn’t doing her job properly. I’ll have her replaced with someone else.”
I startled and waved my hand urgently.
“No! No, please. She does a wonderful job. It’s just… we decided that everyone would organize their own chambers.”
“My, so the young master does such things…”
So Bu-in spoke with an air of fascination, her gaze drifting toward Namgung Ryu-cheong.
“My Cheong has probably never even ground ink himself.”
Cheong was the pet name So Bu-in used when calling Namgung Ryu-cheong—a name brimming with affection, yet she spoke of him doing not a single task himself.
‘A true picture of a wealthy young master from a rich household.’
No wonder he’d struggle when he eventually ventured into the Jianghu.
At my gaze, Namgung Ryu-cheong raised an eyebrow as if asking what I was looking at.
“I know how to grind ink. It’s simply not a task I need to do.”
“But… I didn’t say anything?”
“You’re staring like that anyway. Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Your perception is sharp, isn’t it…”
At my words, So Bu-in’s bright laughter filled the carriage. She covered her mouth and barely suppressed her amusement before speaking.
“You two really do get along well.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong glanced at So Bu-in before turning his attention back to his book. So Bu-in continued with a slightly playful smile.
“Ryu-cheong said at first he wouldn’t go. But when he heard today that you were going, he suddenly decided to come along.”
The fingers of Namgung Ryu-cheong, who had been absorbed in his book, twitched slightly.
Namgung Ryu-cheong kept his gaze fixed on the book as if the matter held no interest for him whatsoever.
* * *
Even to the nearest temple, in an era without carriages, the journey from the city to a temple deep in the mountains took over two hours.
I had been happily observing the scenery outside when, at some point, I began to nod off. My head swayed with the carriage’s movements and eventually came to rest against something.
After sleeping soundly for quite some time, I gradually regained consciousness.
I heard voices murmuring from outside the carriage. Since we’d rarely heard such sounds after entering the mountains, it seemed we had arrived at Cheon-am Temple.
“Wake up if you’re awake.”
A sharp voice came from near my head.
‘Huh? Near my head?’
I jolted awake and quickly sat up.
“I-I’m sorry!”
I had no recollection of when I’d laid my head on Namgung Ryu-cheong’s lap.
‘Please tell me I didn’t drool…’
Fortunately, nothing was smeared on my hand as I wiped my mouth.
“You woke up at just the right time. We’re almost there.”
No, So Bu-in, if I’m sleeping like this, you should have woken me up!
“I tried to wake you, but Ryu-cheong said to let you be.”
“Oh… thank you.”
Namgung Ryu-cheong clicked his tongue with a slight frown, smoothing out the wrinkles in his clothing.
As I stepped down from the carriage, the subtle scent of incense and a crisp wind brushed against my nose. The air was noticeably colder here.
I stretched my stiff body languidly and surveyed my surroundings. Cheon-am Temple was not a particularly large Buddhist Temple. There were people who had come to offer prayers, but their numbers were few enough that the atmosphere remained peaceful and unhurried.
A High-ranking Monk, apparently recognizing So Bu-in, came out personally to greet us. After exchanging brief pleasantries, we proceeded directly into the Main Hall.
Following So Bu-in, I watched Namgung Ryu-cheong offer incense with practiced ease. I had heard he was dragged here by So Bu-in two or three times a year against his will. Perhaps this was one of his only outings?
“Ryu-cheong, show Yeon around this place. I will stay longer. Be sure to bring the Female Servant and your guards with you.”
“Understood. Let’s go.”
I followed Namgung Ryu-cheong ahead but stopped near the entrance to the Main Hall. At my sudden pause, he turned back and looked in the direction my gaze had settled.
They were girls dressed in vibrant clothing.
Amid the incense that filled the Main Hall, a faint sweet fragrance drifted through. The girls each held a slender wooden stick inscribed with divination marks, chatting cheerfully among themselves.
Namgung Ryu-cheong observed this and asked.
“Are you thinking of trying it too?”
“Perhaps.”
The reason I had been watching was simply that the girls’ laughter sounded so joyful, and I was curious about its source.
But seeing Namgung Ryu-cheong, I became curious about his divination. After all, don’t I know roughly what his future holds? I wondered how the divination would interpret it.
‘Well, it might not be accurate anyway.’
After the girls departed, Namgung Ryu-cheong picked up a black bamboo tube containing the divination sticks.
“Go ahead, draw one.”
It would have been awkward for me to refuse here.
I simply smiled gratefully and accepted the tube from him.
The method here was to shake the tube and draw out one stick inscribed with divination marks. I shook it halfheartedly, and a stick tumbled out.
Namgung Ryu-cheong bent down to pick up the divination stick for me, but his expression seemed slightly odd.
“What is it? Is it bad?”
“You look at it.”
Examining the divination stick, I tilted my head and flipped it over. Both sides were completely blank, with nothing written on them.
“What is this? Was it placed in there by mistake?”
Why did I have to draw something like this of all things…
“Try again.”
Does drawing twice have any effect? Or did I shake it too carelessly?
This time, I bowed sincerely toward the statue of Avalokiteshvara before drawing again. Kneeling on the cushion, I shook the tube once more with genuine reverence.
But perhaps I put too much sincerity into it?
This time, two sticks fell onto my lap in succession.
“Oh, what!”
Thinking I had failed, I picked up the divination sticks and furrowed my brow.
Again, nothing was written on them.

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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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