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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Namgung Sega Granddaughter's Return
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Recently, a strange current had been flowing through the Central Plains of the continent, centered around the Shaanxi, Henan, and Hubei regions.
Villages vanished overnight, and Heukdo forces grew—all were signs of impending danger.
Even the escort agency operated by the Namgung suffered an attack by a Heukdo faction while passing through Henan, sustaining losses.
Namgung Mucheon had the Bipunggeomdae investigate this matter, and in doing so, they acquired information about a secret transaction between Shaolin Temple and Hwasanpa.
“We couldn’t ascertain why Hwasanpa and Shaolin Temple made such a deal, but…”
Seop Mugwang scratched the bridge of his nose, letting out a groan.
“The organization called Heugunbang turned out to be less formidable than we thought. The little one alone was enough to turn them upside down. There must have been other involvement for them to defeat Hwasanpa’s elites and steal the goods…”
Seop Mugwang, who had been continuing his report, suddenly stopped speaking.
Something felt off.
Despite it being a report on a major issue, Namgung Mucheon’s reaction was surprisingly nonchalant.
“Family Head?”
Seop Mugwang waved a hand in front of Namgung Mucheon’s eyes.
“Are you listening?”
Namgung Mucheon stood with his arms crossed, gazing forward with an intensely serious expression.
“Hmm…”
Namgung Mucheon stroked his bristly chin with a thick hand.
A chilling sharpness emanated from his grave expression.
It was akin to the look he wore just before striking down an enemy.
Seop Mugwang and the Steward swallowed dryly.
‘It’s a matter between major powers in Shaanxi and Henan, so he’s being cautious, I suppose.’
‘Has he already deduced something from the report?’
It was at that moment, clutching their sweat-dampened fists with such thoughts, that he spoke.
“I’ve heard quite often that the child resembled me ever since she was born.”
The words that came from Namgung Mucheon’s mouth were completely unrelated to Seop Mugwang’s report.
“Back then, I wondered how that palm-sized thing could resemble me. But now that I see her grown, I understand.”
Seop Mugwang and the Steward exchanged glances.
Without needing to say a word, they both knew what Namgung Mucheon was talking about.
The Steward chuckled awkwardly and said,
“Family Head, frankly, she isn’t quite ‘grown’ yet…”
Who would call a thirteen-year-old ‘grown’?
She wasn’t even particularly big compared to other thirteen-year-olds.
“True. She was even smaller than Cheonmyeong.”
Cheonmyeong was the name of Namgung Mucheon’s sword.
It was named thus because the heavens were said to weep whenever he wielded it.
“We’ll have to feed her well. She needs to be taller than Cheonmyeong.”
“Of course, she should be taller than Cheonmyeong.”
Even if Cheonmyeong was a sizable sword, it was only about two spans taller than the child, wasn’t it?
“It would be a serious problem if she were smaller than Cheonmyeong. But more importantly…”
“More importantly?”
Namgung Mucheon raised an eyebrow and turned to the Steward.
‘She doesn’t resemble you at all.’
…was what he wanted to say, but the terrifying gaze made him feel as if he’d be devoured any moment.
The Steward smiled and clamped his mouth shut.
Just then, Seop Mugwang changed the subject.
“Right. How about we ask the little one?”
‘Thank you, Bipunggeom.’
‘I agree that she doesn’t resemble him.’
Namgung Mucheon looked at Seop Mugwang.
“Ask what?”
“Didn’t she take the Daehwandan? Since the little one was the Soruju of Hwaoru, wouldn’t she know something about this incident?”
“Have you investigated Hwaoru?”
“After dealing with those who were tracking the little one, I immediately sent subordinates to Yunnan. We should receive news soon.”
The ones pursuing the child were assassins from Hwaoru.
It had been five days since they dealt with them and sent some Bipunggeomdae members to Yunnan.
“Is the child’s word trustworthy?”
At Namgung Mucheon’s question, Seop Mugwang fell silent for a moment.
Trust was not something to be given or received lightly. Especially when it concerned a child who had been the Soruju of a faction whose true identity remained unknown.
Returning to her hometown was the child’s stated reason for coming to the Namgung, but who knew what hidden motives lay within her?
Even if she was the Family Head’s granddaughter.
Therefore, it was not something to be easily certain about, yet…
“Giving up the internal energy she had cultivated until now is not an easy decision. Frankly, even if I were that little one, I wouldn’t have thought of doing such a thing.”
Internal energy at the Jeoljeong realm isn't accumulated overnight.
How easy could it be to abandon a power strong enough to dominate a region anywhere in Jungwon?
“Since that little one chose the Namgung even at the cost of abandoning that power, what other motive could she possibly have?”
There was not a tremor in Seop Mugwang’s voice.
That assurance also implied that he would take responsibility if the child ever betrayed the family.
The Steward asked with a surprised expression,
“Bipunggeom, have you already grown fond of the child from traveling with her?”
“Fondness? Nonsense. It’s just that she acts rather cute, despite her appearance.”
“Hah…”
Seop Mugwang was renowned in the Namgung for not easily opening his heart to anyone.
A man whose skill rivaled that of the Ten Great Masters of the world, his sole reason for being in the Namgung was Family Head Namgung Mucheon.
This meant he possessed unparalleled power, belonging to no particular faction within the Namgung, and everyone in the Namgung wished to have him on their side.
It was the first time he had spoken so favorably about any of the numerous ‘granddaughter candidates’.
“Well, I’ll be. I’ve lived long enough to see this.”
“Hahaha…”
The Steward supported Seop Mugwang’s suggestion.
“I also agree with asking the child about the Hwasanpa matter. It’s customary for the Family Head to host a meal for guests at the Cheongaekwon, so wouldn’t this be a good opportunity? Whether to trust her or not can be decided afterward.”
At their words, Namgung Mucheon nodded.
“A meal, you say.”
A faint smile touched the corner of his lips.
* * *
Ilhwa looked down at the kneeling Jeokryong leader with a cold gaze.
In her previous life, she had killed without purpose. As the number of her killings increased, so did her enemies.
Among them, some occasionally sent assassins or attempted assassinations themselves.
She had survived countless attacks; why would she fear a wooden sword from a second-rate martial artist, one that didn't even carry internal energy?
“You can keep going. But this time, don’t underestimate me; you’ll have to give it your all.”
Ilhwa nudged the wooden sword lying on the ground with her foot, pushing it towards him.
The Jeokryong leader stared blankly at the wooden sword that had been pushed towards him.
‘What is this…’
What in the world just happened?
Why was he kneeling before this child?
He hadn’t even properly seen the child swing her sword. What was even more infuriating was that he hadn’t even realized he’d dropped his own sword.
And all in just two short seconds.
From a distance, the murmuring of spectators could be heard.
The unit members reacted with a mix of surprise, but the young trainees and servants, still ignorant of martial arts, simply burst into laughter, not understanding the situation.
To them, a large adult kneeling before a child was simply comical.
The Jeokryong leader crumpled his face and picked up the wooden sword.
“Alright, then.”
He hadn’t seen it, so he couldn’t believe it.
Since he couldn’t believe it, he had to properly confirm it.
His pride wouldn’t allow him to end it like this.
Rising to his feet, the Jeokryong leader took a proper stance facing Ilhwa.
“Let’s see you try that properly now, you arrogant little brat.”
His gaze was distinctly different from a moment ago.
He no longer underestimated her as a child.
Unless he was a fool, he could tell now.
‘She’s strong.’
This child is strong.
Though the aura he felt was small, she possessed martial prowess superior to that.
Perhaps even more than his own.
She was an opponent not to be taken lightly, under any circumstances.
Matching his newfound seriousness, Ilhwa also gripped her sword and assumed a proper stance.
If her opponent was giving his all, there was no reason for Ilhwa not to do the same.
‘Since it’s come to this.’
Perhaps I should humor him a little.
In truth, she was a little curious. Could she truly change the Namgung?
The Namgung is strong.
Because of its strength, no enemies dared to challenge it carelessly.
However, only the Family Head and a few absolute masters were truly strong; not all martial artists of the Namgung were.
This meant that the Namgung’s martial artists were protected under the Namgung’s name.
‘No enemies, so no need to fight.’
With no need to fight, they inevitably grew complacent.
Long-standing complacency dulls the sword. But what truly dulls is not the sword, but their mindset.
‘Can I truly sharpen their resolve?’
Could she forge and temper those already steeped in peace, making them sharp?
Did they truly possess the will to change?
That was what she wondered.
That was why Ilhwa accepted the Jeokryong leader’s challenge.
“Hup!”
The Jeokryong leader charged first.
This was the child who had made him kneel twice in an instant. He was in no position to hold back.
Thwack! Clack! Thwack!
Ilhwa lightly parried his rapidly incoming sword strikes, one after another. Rather than meeting them head-on, she deflected his attacks by redirecting his own force.
‘What the…!’
Amidst the exchanged sword strikes, the Jeokryong leader grew flustered.
He had clearly put his full strength into his swings. He hadn’t thought of holding back for a child, nor had he taken it easy.
Yet, the child was parrying his sword with incredible ease.
Was this even possible?
For a child this young to parry his sword so effortlessly?
Thwack—!
“Gah!”
Just as the Jeokryong leader was falling into bewilderment, Ilhwa’s sword struck his wrist.
The Jeokryong leader, who had nearly made the embarrassing mistake of dropping his sword again, gripped the hilt even tighter.
“Focus.”
Beads of sweat had already formed on his forehead.
