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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: 34화
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“Bring it here.”
As soon as he entered the office, Namgung Mucheon cast a qi barrier around the room before even receiving greetings.
Immediately after, the general manager, Namgung Mun, came from one side of the office, carrying something placed on a bamboo tray.
“Have a seat.”
Seolhwa and Namgung Cheongun sat on chairs.
The general manager placed the items he had brought onto the center of the office table.
“Do you know what this is?”
Seolhwa leaned forward slightly, her expression puzzled, to look at the object on the bamboo tray.
Upon confirming the items, a sudden chill enveloped Seolhwa’s face.
‘A tablet…?’
What lay on the bamboo tray was a droplet the size of an adult’s palm and a wooden tablet. But Seolhwa knew it was no ordinary tablet.
‘It’s a Blood Tablet. The Twelfth Moon’s Blood Tablet.’
The twelfth assassin among Hyeolma’s twelve assassins.
It was the Twelfth Moon’s Blood Tablet.
Its size and shape were identical to a common identity tag, but her gaze was fixed on the crimson characters ‘十二’ instead of a name.
“It seems you recognize it.”
“…Where did you get it?”
“It arrived for you this morning.”
“…!”
Namgung Cheongun rose abruptly from his seat, startled.
“For Seolhwa? It hasn’t been even a few *shijin* since we announced Seolhwa is a child of Namgung Sega. Is it truly meant for Seolhwa?”
Namgung Mucheon’s answer was firm.
“It came for Seolhwa. One of the people who came to receive grain left it behind as a gift.”
“Did you catch the person?”
“We did. But he wasn’t connected to this item. It seems he was paid by someone to run an errand on his way here.”
“We questioned him using truth serum, so it’s certain.”
The general manager corroborated Namgung Mucheon’s words.
“That’s why I called you here. Do you recognize this item?”
Seolhwa stared intently at the number twelve carved into the tablet, then, after a brief silence, nodded.
“It’s calling for me.”
There were a few unspoken rules within Hwaoru.
One of them was throwing one’s tablet at an opponent, which signified a ‘life-and-death duel’. In other words, a martial arts contest where lives were at stake.
When someone threw a tablet, the atmosphere in Hwaoru would become heated.
Even though it was a life-and-death duel that only ended with one person’s death, people would cheer and bet on who would live and who would die.
No one offered solace to the souls of those who died that way.
When the duel ended, the money was settled, and only the victor raised a toast.
The Twelfth Moon was inviting her to that gamble.
‘Is this Hyeolma’s will?’
Was he trying to warn her through the Twelfth Moon?
Was he trying to show that only death awaited a traitor?
‘I have to meet them. Myself.’
Seolhwa clenched her fists.
The Twelfth Moon was calling her.
Though it was a summons from the Twelfth Moon, not Hyeolma himself, Hyeolma was surely behind it.
She had to go and understand Hyeolma’s intentions.
“I can handle it.”
“No, you can’t.”
Namgung Mucheon replied without a moment’s hesitation to Seolhwa’s words.
It was only natural.
His child, who had just returned on her own accord, was now facing a threat to her life. To send her back into danger was unthinkable.
At the firm refusal, Seolhwa’s brow furrowed slightly. Seolhwa rose from her seat and spoke with a slightly agitated voice.
“I have to go. This has nothing to do with Namgung Sega. This is something I have to solve…!”
“How can it have nothing to do with Namgung Sega? You are a child of Namgung Sega.”
“…!”
“As long as you’ve been announced as a child of Namgung Sega, the family has a duty to protect you.”
“But…!”
“Enough.”
At Namgung Mucheon’s voice, imbued with his internal energy, Seolhwa finally had to close her mouth.
She still felt she had to go, but Namgung Mucheon also showed no sign of yielding.
“Just focus on your safety. The elders of the family will handle this matter.”
Seolhwa’s clenched hands tightened even more.
Perhaps, by meeting the Twelfth Moon, she could obtain a clue to break the *amsi*.
Fearing she might be swayed by the *amsi*, Seolhwa hadn’t been able to sleep properly recently.
‘The Twelfth Moon must know information about the *amsi*.’
So she absolutely had to go.
She was biting the inside of her lip in anxiety.
“Don’t bring this up again. I shouldn’t have even shown you these items. General Manager.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“…!”
The general manager retrieved the items he had placed on the table.
Seolhwa’s complexion darkened as she watched the items being removed from her sight.
Then, as if something occurred to her, she quickly spoke.
“I have a plan.”
“Seolhwa.”
“It’s fine as long as I’m not in danger, right? I have a plan to capture the enemy. Please, just listen to me once.”
At her urgent voice, the general manager, who had turned to walk away with the items, exchanged glances with Namgung Mucheon.
“Please, Grandfather.”
The child’s expression was earnest.
Seeing the desperation in her eyes, Namgung Mucheon finally sighed and massaged his forehead.
“Let’s hear it then.”
Seolhwa was silent for a moment.
Recalling her thoughts and organizing them, she began to speak in a calm voice.
“We pretend to be scared and fleeing, luring the enemies to attack us. We set a trap and draw them in. First, we leave the crowded city, then…”
* * *
Leaving the Patriarch’s residence, Cheongun looked back at his daughter several times with a worried gaze.
After enduring his gaze three times, Seolhwa stopped walking and turned to him.
“What is it, Father?”
Cheongun cleared his throat and said,
“I’m worried.”
“About me?”
“Yes. You won’t be in danger, and I won’t let you be, but isn’t it dangerous just knowing someone is targeting you?”
Namgung Cheongun asked cautiously,
“Is it… them?”
When Seolhwa nodded, Namgung Cheongun sighed softly.
He had heard that a restriction was placed on the child’s body.
He knew there was no immediate problem, but as a father, he couldn’t help but worry.
“I will find a solution somehow.”
“It’s something that will resolve with time. Is there really a need to go to such trouble?”
“Even if there’s no problem, you never know. I’ll search high and low for a way to break it, no matter what it takes…”
“Father.”
Seolhwa took his hand.
“More than that, there’s something I want to learn.”
“Something you want to learn?”
“Please teach me Namgung Sega’s cultivation method.”
Given the Hyeolgyo’s movements, she could no longer postpone learning Namgung Sega’s martial arts.
The plan she proposed to lure the enemy was for tonight. Before meeting the Twelfth Moon, she needed to at least solidify her internal energy.
“A cultivation method, you say? You’ll soon learn martial arts from the head of the martial arts division, won’t you?”
“I want to learn it right now. I’ve been looking forward to it since before I came to Namgung Sega.”
Teaching Namgung Sega’s basic cultivation method wasn’t difficult.
However, she would soon begin martial arts training. At that time, she would spend half her day on martial arts training.
“Can’t you teach me?”
Seolhwa gently shook the hand she held.
Her daughter’s eyes, looking up at her, were brighter than ever.
Anyway, if she was going to learn it, learning it a little earlier would be better. Indeed.
“Alright. Let’s go.”
Namgung Cheongun lifted Seolhwa into his arms.
He even used his light-body technique to return to the pavilion.
* * *
Upon returning to the pavilion, the two forbade the maidservant from allowing outsiders in, then entered Seolhwa’s room.
Namgung Cheongun sat Seolhwa on the bed, then took a cross-legged position behind her.
“I know you’ve already mastered martial arts, but I’ll help you with the beginning.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, I will recite the incantations of the cultivation method and guide your internal energy, so remember the flow well.”
Namgung Cheongun placed his hand on Seolhwa’s back.
Soon, a clear energy flowed into her body.
It wasn’t as vast and powerful as Namgung Mucheon’s energy, but it was a purified energy, distinctly blue.
‘It’s an energy just like Father.’
It felt incredibly pure and clear.
Just receiving the energy felt refreshing, like thirst being quenched.
It had the same scent as his natural scent when she was held in Namgung Cheongun’s arms.
“The cultivation method I’m about to show you is the foundation of all Namgung Sega’s martial arts. It’s the process of receiving the energy of the vast, endless blue sky and containing it within your body.”
‘Changgungdaeyeonsingong.’
The energy of the blue sky and infinite change and harmony.
It was Namgung Sega’s most fundamental cultivation method, which made Namgung Sega’s martial arts stronger and imbued all martial arts with the energy of the heavens.
As the most basic, it was also the most important, the very essence of Namgung Sega’s martial arts.
“Ordinary people think of the sky as that which covers above. However, that is wrong. The sky is already full on the ground we stand upon; therefore, our breathing and feeling the wind can all be said to be the sky.”
Can the boundaries of the sky be divided?
Although one might think the sky is infinitely far away because one must crane their neck to see it, in truth, the sky is already abundant all around.
Since everything that fills the ground can be called the sky, Namgung Sega’s energy was, ultimately, the energy that encompassed heaven and earth.
“Feel my energy flowing through your acupoints.”
Namgung Cheongun then began to circulate his energy while reciting the incantations of the cultivation method.
