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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: 29화
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In Namgung Mucheon's eyes, there was the pride of one who stood atop the world.
Seolhwa knew that pride was no arrogance. For Namgung Mucheon was the one who had rightfully claimed the title of Sword Emperor, holding the world beneath his feet.
The place where he stood was none other than Namgung. The Namgung of Changcheon.
"Do you know what Namgung is called?"
"Heaven."
"And do you know why it's called that?"
"Hmm..."
Seolhwa recalled the people of Namgung she had killed with her own hands in her previous life.
Though they had been defeated, their spirit could not be broken.
Seolhwa had always wondered about that.
'Why wouldn't they abandon the Namgung name, even at the moment of death?'
Those who did not bear the Namgung surname were persuaded, offered their lives if they abandoned their clan and joined the Blood Cult.
Yet, only a few low-ranking martial artists truly abandoned their clan. Even those who didn't bear the Namgung surname sacrificed their lives under the Namgung name.
Why?
Why were they so devoted to Namgung?
"Isn't it because the color of their inner force is blue, like the sky?"
When one cultivates Namgung's martial arts, their inner force turns blue. This is because it is an exceptionally pure and clear energy.
That's why people of Namgung often said that the deeper the blue, the stronger the inner force.
"That's not wrong, but it's not the answer I'm looking for."
Namgung Mucheon smiled with satisfaction.
"Then how would you explain those whose inner force doesn't turn blue?"
Indeed.
Just because they were Namgung people, or had cultivated Namgung's martial arts, didn't mean all their inner force was blue.
Occasionally, some would have an orange, black, or gray inner force.
"I don't know."
At Seolhwa's honest answer, Namgung Mucheon chuckled.
"The order is wrong."
"The order?"
"It's not that the inner force is blue because it's heaven; it's blue because it's the martial art of heaven."
Namgung Mucheon tapped his chest with a finger and said,
"Just because it's the same martial art doesn't mean it holds the same meaning. Depending on what kind of heaven one holds in their heart, the inner force may occasionally take on a special color."
Those who yearn for the sunset sky may have an orange hue, those who yearn for the night sky, black, and those who yearn for a cloudy sky, gray inner force.
His hand pointed towards the sky.
"But what's important is that what they gaze upon is heaven itself."
Every martial art has a starting point that brought it into existence.
Many martial arts began by imitating animal forms. Some were inspired by waves, or by blossoming trees.
In that sense, what Namgung represents is heaven.
"To live a clear and unyielding life, just as the azure sky looks down upon the world. To follow the righteous path in accordance with the laws of heaven. This is the chivalry that Namgung teaches."
Namgung never resorts to despicable methods, nor do they employ cowardly tricks.
Like the heaven that looks down upon the world, they do not easily bow their heads, and many of their martial arts are powerful, dominating through overwhelming strength.
"But..."
'I acknowledge Namgung's martial studies, which follow the spirit of heaven. I understand that Namgung Mucheon is a man like heaven. However...'
For Seolhwa, who had brought down Namgung in her previous life, Namgung's unwavering righteousness felt somewhat rigid.
"A straight tree is bound to break."
In her previous life, too, Namgung had crumbled under the Blood Cult's despicable schemes. Because they were too upright, they neither doubted others nor themselves.
There were countless dirty tactics: poisons, curses, gu, spies, betrayal, and more. Namgung eventually broke.
Could Namgung's principles still be considered right?
"A broken tree cannot stand again. Even if new sprouts emerge and grow, it takes far too long to become the same tree as before. Is that truly righteous?"
"It's important not to bend, even if you break."
"Even if a bending tree doesn't break easily?"
Isn't survival what truly matters, no matter what?
"What's important is the spirit."
Namgung Mucheon tapped his own head.
"A tree with roots remaining will eventually grow again. As you said, even if it takes a long time, it will surely revive. However, a bending tree is often uprooted entirely."
Bending implies that the trunk isn't thick and strong enough.
A tree with a weak trunk naturally has flimsy roots. Such a tree, even if it lives long, won't last more than a hundred years.
"If the spirit lives on, whether it's a clan or a sect, it will someday sprout anew and revive. This holds true for any righteous faction, not just Namgung."
Seolhwa agreed with that statement.
The idea that all righteous factions were upright.
'Because they all crumbled.'
But if asked whether the righteous factions that had fallen, as Namgung Mucheon said, had been completely annihilated, she couldn't answer.
For she couldn't know what happened after her death.
'Perhaps...'
Perhaps the sprouts she hadn't managed to cut down had grown, overthrown the Blood Cult, and restored the righteous martial world.
If she thought that way...
'His words are right.'
The words that if the spirit lives on, it will someday revive. Because a tree not pulled out by its roots is not dead.
'In my previous life, I hadn't truly brought down Namgung.'
Even though she had broken the great tree that was Namgung, she hadn't managed to break their spirit.
Even as they died, they protected their clan's secret techniques, protected Namgung's children, and protected their pride. They remained Namgung, even in death.
Seolhwa nodded.
"I think I understand a little now."
A gentle smile spread across Namgung Mucheon's lips.
He could tell just by her expression how his granddaughter felt about the spirit of Namgung.
"It might be difficult to accept now. But, as you live here in Namgung, you will naturally come to understand its meaning."
Seolhwa nodded.
"Our conversation has grown long. Let's return to the main point, and I'll ask you again."
Namgung Mucheon's gaze deepened.
It was a sharp gaze, as if reading her very thoughts.
"Will you live as a child of Namgung? If you wish, I can continue to hide your existence, just as it is now."
It was an unexpected proposal.
To think she didn't have to live as a child of Namgung if she didn't want to.
If she didn't live as a child of Namgung, she could achieve her resolved goals more secretly.
After all, she could move more freely as someone unknown, rather than as someone whose identity drew all eyes wherever she went or whatever she did.
Like an assassin, for instance.
But Seolhwa shook her head without a moment's hesitation.
"No. I am a child of Namgung."
She had already resolved it.
In this life, she would become a person of Namgung, a shield against the arrows aimed at them, and Namgung's sword, leading the charge to cut down their enemies.
As great as the sins she committed in her previous life were, in this life, she would live a life paying for them.
"I've decided to live that way."
A satisfied smile spread across Namgung Mucheon's lips at Seolhwa's answer.
"Very well."
He nodded, a smile gracing his face.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning at Cheonhojeon."
Everything was now ready.
The child's identity had been confirmed, and all procedures were prepared.
All that remained was the proclamation.
That a child of Namgung had returned.
That after eight years, Namgung had found its lost child.
***
"Hah...! Haaah!"
"I'm... I'm gonna die... I'm gonna die... I'm really gonna die like this...!"
The training ground of Cheongaekwon.
Four martial artists held a horse stance, heavy weights strapped to their arms and legs.
Their martial robes were already soaked with sweat, and their arms and legs had been trembling for a long time.
'I, I can't anymore...'
"Arm."
A wooden sword, appearing from somewhere, struck the elbow of a collapsing member with a *thwack*!
The member flinched in surprise, involuntarily correcting their posture.
"Not much left. Just hold on a little longer."
This was precisely the problem.
Just when they felt they were about to give up and collapse, the child's wooden sword would appear from somewhere and precisely tap the collapsing spot.
It didn't hurt much, but strangely, whenever the wooden sword hit them, they would flinch as if shocked by something, and their posture would automatically straighten.
'W-why am I listening so intently to a mere child...!'
As time passed, nearly two hours (one *sijin*) had gone by.
'Damn it...! I shouldn't have listened to the squad leader...!'
They had rushed here, even sacrificing precious sleep, because they were told they could receive lessons from a Peak Master!
They had expected incredible teachings, surely from an amazing master, since they were a VIP at Cheongaekwon!
'Is this teaching?! This is punishment!'
'Peak Master, my ass! What kind of Peak Master is that little brat?!'
Damn the squad leader! Idiot squad leader!
The members of Jeokryongdan's 11th squad glared at their squad leader, Namgung Jipyeong, with eyes full of resentment.
"Nine hundred ninety... five...! Nine hundred ninety... six...!"
His face was beet red, as if about to burst, as he frantically did push-ups in front of his squad members.
"Nine hundred ninety-nine...! One thousand!"
Having completed all thousand, Namgung Jipyeong collapsed with a *thud*!
At the same moment, *thud*! *thud*! *thud*! *thud*! the squad members also released their horse stances and slumped to the ground.
Only the sound of ragged breaths echoed through Cheongaekwon's training ground.
Small, light footsteps approached Namgung Jipyeong, who lay sprawled out.
