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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Chapter 43
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Leaving Seolhwa's residence, Namgung Mucheon abruptly stopped and gazed at a certain spot.
A moment later, someone rushed from the direction he was looking.
It was her father, Namgung Cheongun, who had searched for Seolhwa beyond Hefei all night.
Cheongun, pale with worry, stopped before Namgung Mucheon.
He had rushed so quickly that even after using Gyeonggong, his breath was ragged.
"Father."
"Seolhwa is inside. I've told her to rest, so make sure she doesn't leave her quarters today."
Cheongun lowered his head.
The guilt of failing to prevent the child from disappearing once again weighed heavily on his heart.
"Seolhwa told me. She said if she's told to starve, she'll starve, and if she's told to be beaten, she'll be beaten."
"...Pardon?"
"She's a child who says such things without a second thought. It's hard to even fathom how she survived the past eight years."
Cheongun clenched his fists.
Namgung Mucheon placed a hand on Cheongun's shoulder.
"But, how long will you live regretting the past? Seolhwa has returned and is now by our side, so from now on, you must look forward."
Eight years was a long time, but the time remaining is long enough to erase those eight years and more.
Even if memories cannot be completely erased, they can be covered with good ones.
"Seolhwa is already looking forward."
Fortunately, the child is not bound by the past.
No, she even seems impatient to move forward.
Seolhwa's gaze was always fixed on the distant future, and that was why Namgung Mucheon trusted her.
"It's time for you to inherit the position of Head."
"...Father!"
"Only by becoming the Head can you lend some strength to the path the child walks."
Cheongun was surprised.
Namgung Mucheon mentioning the succession of the Head on his own was practically the first time in the eight years since Seolhwa disappeared.
Although rumors circulated within the family that they were waiting to give the position of Young Master to the eldest son, this was the first time he had voiced that intention.
"Why me?"
Cheongun had never coveted the position of Young Master. That's why he was curious.
"Don't you know Cheonghae's wishes?"
Why him, and not the second son who desired to be the Young Master?
"Hae is too greedy."
"...Pardon?"
"Excessive greed clouds one's judgment, and clouded judgment prevents one from having a broad vision."
"Then, what about Cheongsan? Cheongsan cherishes family, so surely..."
Namgung Mucheon's eyebrows arched, as if asking if he was serious.
Under that gaze, Cheongun changed his mind before he could even finish speaking.
"Cheongsan does have a somewhat aggressive side."
"Aggressive? The problem is his temper. If I were to give the Head position to that fellow who can't control his temper, do you think the family would survive?"
"...But Father, by your own words, I lack decisiveness to become the Head."
"Indeed. Your weakness is your soft heart."
Even now. He's being offered the position of Young Master, yet he's worrying about his other brothers first.
"However, a soft heart can become strong. You may have a soft heart, but isn't it true that you'd do anything for your family?"
"But... I..."
Cheongun merely lowered his head, his expression grim.
"If you had power, you could have stopped today's rumors, couldn't you?"
"..."
Cheongun had also heard the rumors about Seolhwa circulating in the family on his way here.
The rumors were designed to make the child's actions appear more malicious.
He knew it was an attempt to use the child to tarnish his own reputation, but Cheongun, who had been away from the family for eight years, had no way to quell the rumors.
"Just by looking at today's events, you must have realized your situation."
"...Yes."
"I'll give you half a year."
"!"
"In half a year, I will arrange a ceremony to appoint the Young Master. Gain everyone's recognition at that event. If, after half a year, your situation is still the same as now, I intend to pass the Head position to Hae."
"Why half a year, specifically?"
Namgung Mucheon let out a soft laugh at Namgung Cheongun's question.
However, the sentiment behind that laugh was far from light.
"I must transmit the family's martial arts while I'm still strong."
Within the Sega, there exist secret martial arts manuals passed down only to the Head. The Namgung also had unique martial arts for the Head, containing the Namgung's profound secrets.
Originally, the Young Master should have been appointed and the martial arts transmitted years ago.
Namgung Mucheon was still vigorous, and his three sons were thriving, so it wasn't too late yet, but dragging it out further was not good.
"Remember this. Half a year from now, the one who earns everyone's recognition will lead the family."
"...I will bear that in mind."
Cheongun performed a Pokwon towards Namgung Mucheon.
"Tomorrow morning, I will enter Cheono-dong with Seolhwa, so make good preparations."
"Cheono-dong... did you say?"
Cheono-dong, meaning 'Cave of Heavenly Enlightenment', was the name for the Namgung's secluded training cave.
"Surely..."
Is he truly going to perform Beolmo-sesu for her?
A look of delight spread across Namgung Cheongun's face. But his expression quickly darkened.
"...I am sorry, Father. This unworthy son, due to his filial impiety, cannot bring himself to dissuade you."
"Enough. It's better than empty words. Don't worry, doing it once won't kill anyone."
Namgung Mucheon waved his hand dismissively.
"Go quickly and take good care of Seolhwa. I'll take my leave now."
With those words, Namgung Mucheon departed the residence with indifferent steps.
Namgung Cheongun stood rooted to the spot until his father's receding back was no longer visible.
* * *
Namgung Cheongun returned not long after Namgung Mucheon left, but he said nothing special.
He personally applied the wound medicine brought by the maid, and even subtly infused some internal energy into Seolhwa's body to help her fall asleep easily.
Thanks to that, Seolhwa fell into a comfortable sleep for the first time in a long while, and she thought.
She had prepared herself to starve for a few days for what she had done, but this was unexpected.
Was the Orthodox Murim always this lenient?
To think she had dared to deceive the Sword Emperor, one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, and climbed over a wall in the middle of the night, yet received no punishment.
It was a night that made returning to the family feel just a little bit better.
* * *
The lakeside of the Head's Residence was not dark, even on a night shrouded in gloom.
With the brilliant moon in the sky and its reflection in the lake illuminating the surroundings, it was an exceptionally clear and bright night.
As Namgung Mucheon gazed at the moon on the lake from beneath the long, drooping willow branches, a breeze from somewhere made his robes flutter.
Namgung Mucheon, his face serene, opened his mouth.
"It seems news has arrived."
Behind him, beneath the shadow of the willow, the Leader of the Bipunggeomdae, Seop Mugwang, had appeared at some point.
He gave a slight nod towards Namgung Mucheon before replying.
"We met with the Beggar's Sect branch leader in Yunnan, but they claim to have obtained no significant information. On the surface, it appears to be nothing more than a disreputable tavern... It seems they leave no traces whatsoever."
"What about the Beggar's Sect's movements?"
"Those sly fellows haven't said anything special. But it seems they genuinely have no information either."
Seop Mugwang stroked his chin.
"Could it be that the little one is mistaken about something?"
Is it possible they're barking up the wrong tree, trying to find something significant in a trivial place?
"As long as the Beggar's Sect is hiding something, it means there's something there."
"That's true, but... *Tsk*... how can there be absolutely no trace? Is this even possible?"
"It's possible. All one has to do is erase all traces."
"!"
Namgung Mucheon's gaze deepened further.
The child's eyes, as she clasped his hand and asked for help, were precarious.
'I'm under an Amsi. I don't know when this Amsi will go out of control. Please help me.'
It was the first time he had seen such vulnerability from the child, who had always shown an unyielding demeanor.
The moment he heard those words, Namgung Mucheon felt his blood run cold, but because he was in front of the child, he controlled his emotions.
That was also the reason he said he would perform Beolmo-sesu for her tomorrow.
"I need to call Mugang."
"...Mugang... you mean Brother Mugang?"
Seop Mugwang asked back in a startled voice.
Namgung Mugang.
Namgung Mucheon's younger brother, and the person with the second strongest martial prowess after Namgung Mucheon himself.
He was the head of the Martial Arts Hall, overseeing the Namgung's martial forces and researching martial arts, but he was currently away from the Namgung.
"Will Brother Mugang come?"
"If I tell him to come, he'll come. What choice does he have?"
"True..."
He's hot-headed and acts on his whims, but he's not one to defy the family's will.
Rather...
"Calling Brother Mugang... does that mean you intend to wage war?"
At Seop Mugwang's question, Namgung Mucheon's face darkened. A chilling premonition swirled in his eyes as he gazed at the crescent moon reflected in the lake.
"If it must be so, then so it shall be."
