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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Manjeon and the Cheonmuje
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“This is the inner training ground, reserved for direct family members. There are also private training rooms in the building inside, so please feel free to use them.”
“Thank you, Steward Grandfather.”
After bowing, Seolhwa immediately dashed into the training ground.
Her eagerness to try out the sword was palpable.
“Haha… she’s so delighted.”
The child who had remained indifferent even when showered with gold and jewels was now practically flying with just a single sword.
An ordinary child would have preferred sparkling treasures or accessories.
He was the one who had brought the gold and jewels, yet somehow, the sword, a gift from Seop Mugwang, seemed to have won her over more.
“No, that’s not right. That was the Patriarch’s gift. I haven’t given mine yet, it’s as good as nothing.”
What would be a good gift to give?
Though his pride was a little wounded, he found a clue in the sword's gift and walked away, deep in thought.
* * *
*Whoosh—swish! Whoosh!*
The sharp blade drew a blue sword path, cutting through the wind.
Seolhwa swung her sword without pause.
A blue flower bloomed around her, and soon its petals, filled with sword paths, formed a sphere.
At the center of that sphere was Seolhwa.
As Seolhwa thrust her sword deeply forward for the last time—.
A sharp burst of energy—!
In an instant, the energy, which had spread out like a small explosion, gently settled around her.
It was a sight like pure white snow falling under a scorching sun.
“Haa… haa….”
She straightened her posture and looked at the sword.
‘…Incredible.’
Not only the sword’s keen edge, but also its blade, sharp enough to cut through air, and its perfectly balanced, substantial weight.
The hilt, neither too thick nor too thin, fit perfectly in her hand as if it had been custom-made for her.
Thanks to this, power flowed into every joint of her fingers, and there was not the slightest impediment to swinging the sword.
With each swing, an inexplicable thrill resonated within her chest.
It was why she couldn’t stop swinging, even as she became breathless.
‘Was putting down a sword ever this difficult?’
She had stopped due to physical exhaustion, but she still felt a sense of longing.
She wanted to swing it more, to play with it more.
This was the first time she had ever felt such a sensation since she first picked up a sword, spanning her entire previous life.
She had always thought of a sword as merely a weapon to cut and kill opponents, but to think it could also bring joy.
Seolhwa swallowed dryly.
‘So the term ‘master sword’ isn’t just an empty phrase.’
What would it be like to perform sword arts with this blade? It would surely be even more refined, wouldn’t it?
Since she could wield the sword freely, the sword paths would undoubtedly unfold flawlessly, cleanly, and flexibly.
‘Just a little more.’
Just as she was about to resume her stance, still unsatisfied.
“Do you like it?”
Seop Mugwang’s voice, having approached without a sound, was suddenly right beside her.
Seolhwa relaxed her stance and turned around.
Seop Mugwang was approaching, arms crossed, a triumphant look on his face.
“Hah—it’s a truly fantastic sword, isn’t it? Wonder who gave it to you?”
He clapped, *clap, clap, clap*.
It was applause for himself.
“So, kid. What do you think after swinging it?”
His eyes sparkled.
Seop Mugwang had given so few gifts in his life that they could be counted on one hand.
Naturally, those who give gifts anticipate the recipient’s reaction.
He had specifically come to the training ground to check Seolhwa’s reaction after using the sword.
“It’s amazing, right? Huh?”
Despite his earlier confidence, a hint of anxiety crept into his voice as he glanced at her.
Seolhwa nodded without hesitation.
“It’s the best.”
“!”
“Among all the swords I’ve ever used, none compare to this one. It fits my hand perfectly, as if it were always meant to be mine.”
At her seamless reply, Seop Mugwang blinked. Then, feeling a bit awkward, he cleared his throat unnecessarily.
“Yes. That sword is quite remarkable, indeed!”
“Did this sword have a name, by any chance?”
“It did. But now that it’s yours, you can call it whatever you wish.”
“Please tell me.”
Seop Mugwang’s eyebrows arched.
The sword he had given Seolhwa was one he had used until he was twenty years old.
It was all the more precious to him because he had stumbled upon the steel by chance after nearly dying from a fall down a mountain while being chased by a tiger in his childhood.
The problem was that it had been forged to fit his youthful frame, making it a bit small once he had fully grown.
He had taken out the sword, which he had kept hidden away, unable to discard it or give it to anyone, and for the first time in a long while, sharpened its blade and re-wrapped its hilt with new leather.
All that effort had been for the child standing before him.
While tending to the sword, he had hoped the child would cherish it, but he hadn't expected her to ask for its name.
Seop Mugwang spoke the sword’s name aloud for the first time in a very long while.
“…It is called Manjeon.”
It felt like calling the name of a long-lost friend.
“What does it mean?”
“It’s the character for ‘ten thousand’ (萬) and ‘lightning’ (電). It means ‘ten thousand bolts of lightning.’”
Seop Mugwang’s moniker was Pungnoesin, the God of Wind and Thunder.
His sword art was reminiscent of lightning striking amidst a fierce wind, which was why he earned that moniker.
A look of satisfaction spread across Seolhwa’s face.
“That’s a wonderful name.”
‘Manjeon.’
It was a name that perfectly suited this sword, which cut through the air without restraint.
“I’ll also call this sword Manjeon. But instead of the character for ‘ten thousand’ (萬), I’ll use the character for ‘full’ (滿).”
“The character for ‘full’? Do you mean to fill it completely?”
“Yes. Enough to cover this entire world.”
Her words might have seemed a bit arrogant, but in Seop Mugwang’s eyes, only adoration dripped like honey.
Not only was she willing to use the same name for the sword he once wielded, but her ambition to wield his long-dormant blade and conquer the world was truly commendable.
“Alright.”
Seop Mugwang patted Seolhwa’s head with his thick hand.
“Then go on, run wild and live up to that name.”
“Thank you.”
Seolhwa expressed her gratitude once more, with heartfelt sincerity.
A proud smile spread across Seop Mugwang’s face.
Just then.
“Seolhwa!”
At the urgent call, both of them simultaneously turned around.
From the entrance of the training ground, Namgung Cheongun was rushing toward them, looking anxious.
“Father?”
What could be the matter?
Namgung Cheongun approached, gave a brief bow to Seop Mugwang, then gripped Seolhwa’s shoulder.
“The Patriarch is looking for you urgently. Let’s go to the Patriarch’s Hall right away.”
“Grandfather?”
Seolhwa and Seop Mugwang exchanged puzzled glances.
Since they hadn’t gone to the Patriarch’s Hall after leaving with the steward, Seop Mugwang also had no idea what the matter was.
However, it was extremely rare for Namgung Mucheon to call for someone so urgently.
“It seems urgent, so go quickly.”
Seop Mugwang gently pushed her back.
Seolhwa looked at the sword in her hand with a reluctant heart.
‘I’ll have to practice my sword arts later.’
But the greater the regret, the greater the joy of anticipating what’s to come.
“Yes. I understand.”
Seolhwa sheathed the sword, picked it up, and followed Namgung Cheongun.
* * *
*Crash—!*
With a sharp shattering sound, glass fragments scattered across the floor.
A slender hand, trembling with uncontrollable rage, had just thrown a bottle filled with expensive perfume.
That hand, adorned with two thick rings, soon clenched into a fist before calmly picking up a teacup as if nothing had happened.
“First the Beolmo-sesu, and now gold and jewels. Truly, so like Father-in-law.”
The one leisurely sipping tea was Yeon Soran, Namgung Cheonghae’s wife.
She was the woman in charge of managing the inner court’s affairs, due to the absence of the Namgung family’s Lady and the wife of the eldest son, Namgung Cheongun.
“It seems Father-in-law is quite fond of his returned granddaughter. Don’t you agree?”
Her sharp gaze shifted to the spot next to where she had thrown the perfume bottle.
Right next to the broken fragments stood a man in splendid martial attire.
The sash and collar adorning his martial robes were red, symbolizing the Jeokryongdan, one of the inner court’s martial units.
“Well, she is the young lady found after eight years, so naturally, she would be precious. Even eight years ago, the Patriarch was particularly fond of Young Lady Seolhwa…”
A sharp *thud* cut him off.
Namgung Jangyang, the leader of the Jeokryongdan, was slightly startled and, gauging her mood, changed the subject.
“Still, the Patriarch went a bit too far this time… Beolmo-sesu, of all things… If Young Master Soryong had received it instead, he would have become an unparalleled genius in the world…”
“Soryong is already a genius. Isn’t there no child in Namgung who can rival him?”
“Haha… you are absolutely right. Young Master Soryong has no equal, to the point where even the inner court members have to step in for his training…”
Namgung Jangyang, the leader of the Jeokryongdan, served as an instructor, gathering and teaching those from both the direct and collateral lines of the Namgung family who excelled in martial arts.
It was true that Namgung Soryong’s martial arts achievements surpassed those of his peers.
Though, of course, it wasn’t to the extent that actual unit members had to intervene.
“If our Soryong had received the Beolmo-sesu, it would have been perfect. But even without such a trivial Beolmo-sesu, he is more than enough. A worm doesn’t become a dragon just by receiving Beolmo-sesu once, does it?”
“You speak nothing but the truth.”
“And we will have to show them just that.”
“…Excuse me?”
As Namgung Jangyang stared blankly, failing to understand, Yeon Soran subtly furrowed her brow.
She pretended not to notice and raised her teacup.
“The Cheonmuje is in two weeks, I hear.”
“!”
The Cheonmuje is a major event held twice a year in the Namgung family, where the martial arts proficiency of all Namgung members is evaluated.
It serves as a stage for everything from the outer court warriors’ promotion exams to the inner court warriors’ martial arts tournaments, and a venue to confirm the martial achievements of direct descendants.
The Namgung family was a martial arts clan founded on the principles of martial prowess.
It was one of the family events personally overseen by the Patriarch, Namgung Mucheon, meant to encourage continuous effort and diligence in martial arts training.
“Two weeks is a short time, so a worm won’t become a dragon…”
Yeon Soran brought her teacup to her upturned lips. She spoke softly, a smile in her voice.
“However, you must ensure that no one ends up nurturing a worm.”
