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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Chapter 5. Guests from Hwasan
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“From Hwasan…?”
Everyone gathered was startled in unison.
Where was Hwasan?
It was the foremost sect in Shaanxi and one of the most renowned sects in all of Jungwon.
Naturally, proud sects often refused to acknowledge the martial arts of the martial families.
They believed that, unlike sects that gained fame solely through martial arts, families amassed wealth through business and commerce, and then seized regional power to gain their reputation.
In the eyes of the sects, the martial arts of the martial families were merely one of many top-tier martial arts, never the ultimate techniques they sought.
In short, they looked down on the families' martial arts.
Therefore, they would be reluctant to associate with a family.
“Are you referring to the Hwasanpa of Shaanxi?”
“Yes, yes. This humble one saw it directly. They were clearly wearing robes with a plum blossom emblem.”
At the servant's words, those gathered gasped in unison once more.
‘A chance! This is a chance!’
‘To think a chance would come just as I spoke of it!’
‘Heaven must be helping Young Master Yi! And the Family Head isn't even here!’
“Where are the guests?!”
The Elder Council Head asked urgently.
“Th-that is….”
“Speak at once!”
“Th-they are currently… in the Guest House… being received by the Steward and Young Master Il….”
“What did you say?”
Had the Steward and Young Master Il moved in the meantime?
“Young Master Yi!”
“Yes. Since guests have arrived, it is only proper that we meet them.”
Namgung Cheonghae’s eyes glinted.
* * *
“I had heard that the Sword Emperor had a son, but meeting you directly like this is surprising. It truly makes me realize once again that rumors are not to be trusted.”
“You flatter me. It is I who am honored to meet the renowned Maehwasingeom of Hwasan.”
Namgung Cheongun performed a pokwon towards the Hwasan swordsman, showing due respect.
‘Maehwasingeom Nohun.’
He was the leader who commanded Hwasan’s plum blossom swordsmen, known as Hwasan’s foremost swordsman, and one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, like Namgung Mucheon.
He was a man of no small influence, both within Hwasan and the Jungwon martial world.
‘Why would such a person come to Namgung….’
“Haha. You’re too kind. Allow me to introduce the children who came with me. Come, greet them.”
At Nohun's words, the Hwasan disciples sitting beside him bowed to Cheongun and Namgung Mun.
“This is Yupyo, a first-generation disciple of the Hwasanpa.”
“This is Yugang, a first-generation disciple of the Hwasanpa.”
A look of surprise flashed across Steward Namgung Mun’s face.
“Are you perhaps Maeyeongeom?”
Yupyo performed a pokwon again, bowing his head.
“It’s a rather embarrassing title, but yes.”
“I’ve heard much about Maeyeongeom. It’s said you beheaded the leader of a ferocious Heukdo gang in the Sichuan region.”
“I was merely fortunate.”
“Haha, and modest, too. However, may I ask why esteemed guests from Hwasan have traveled all this way to Namgung?”
Nohun smiled genially.
“Our sect leader sent us because we heard there was a joyous occasion in Namgung Sega.”
“A joyous occasion, you say….”
“We heard you found a child whose whereabouts had been unknown for a long time.”
“…!”
Namgung Mun and Cheongun exchanged surprised glances.
Even if they had instructed the branch families to spread the news, could it have reached such a deep mountain valley already?
And more importantly, would Hwasan, which had no prior contact with them, send people to celebrate this, and renowned masters at that?
― Steward.
― I share your thoughts.
A serious expression settled on both their faces.
They both knew that before Seolhwa arrived here, Hwasan had tried to obtain a Daehwandan from the Shaolin Temple, but it had been intercepted.
It was highly likely there was a reason why Hwasan, which normally wouldn't even care about such a joyous event, had sent such formidable masters.
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, might we meet the Family Head and offer our congratulations?”
Namgung Mun, hiding his suspicion, smiled and replied to Nohun.
“I know it is impolite to those who have traveled so far, but… our Family Head has temporarily entered secluded training.”
“Secluded training…?”
Nohun looked flustered.
“Then, perhaps we could briefly meet the child who was found….”
“The Young Lady has also entered with him.”
“…!”
Nohun’s dismay deepened.
He absolutely had to meet the child to find out the whereabouts of the Daehwandan.
And now, sudden secluded training!
“He said he would emerge within five days at the shortest, so it won’t take too long. If you have the leisure, how about staying in our guest house and recovering from your journey?”
Regardless of their intentions, they couldn’t simply turn away guests from Hwasan.
To uncover their true purpose, they had to keep them here until the Family Head emerged from his secluded training.
“Hmm….”
Five days.
The stay would be longer than expected, but Nohun, too, could not return empty-handed.
Nohun eventually accepted Namgung Mun’s proposal.
“Wonsicheonjon. Thank you for your consideration.”
“Please make yourselves comfortable.”
* * *
Two full days had passed since they entered Cheono-dong.
It had also been two days since Seolhwa’s Amsi had been pushed into a frenzy.
Even though two days and nights had passed without pause, their battle continued fiercely.
*Pa! Papapak! Paak!*
Namgung Mucheon, after observing all her sword techniques, shattered Seolhwa’s sword.
The child, having lost her sword, immediately began to unleash her fist techniques.
After her fist techniques were all blocked, she moved on to palm and finger techniques.
Not only that, even the basic movement technique, the footwork, was based on Namgung’s footwork.
At this point, it was no exaggeration to say that she had mastered all of Namgung’s martial arts.
*Papak! Paak!*
Namgung Mucheon’s expression was dark as he received the child’s palm techniques with one hand.
“At this rate, I might kill you.”
The child’s stamina had been exhausted long ago.
The problem was that, contrary to his expectation that she would soon lose consciousness, the child refused to give up.
The only reason she hadn’t collapsed was her sheer willpower.
‘Her willpower is tenacious and fierce, pushing herself to the brink without giving up.’
At any other time, he would have admired and praised her, but in the current situation, the longer Seolhwa endured, the more dangerous it became, making Namgung Mucheon anxious.
“Let’s end this.”
Namgung Mucheon, who had been dealing with her palm techniques with one hand, met Seolhwa’s hands with both of his.
It was a brief moment, before the child’s relentlessly moving hair had even settled.
Namgung Mucheon’s chest ached as he saw Seolhwa, consumed by killing intent and controlled by her unconscious.
What sin had this young one committed?
“I’m sorry.”
Namgung Mucheon channeled his qi into his palm and released it in one go.
*Pwoooong—!* With an explosive sound, the two people’s internal energies erupted and annihilated each other.
Seolhwa’s body slid backward.
“Cough….”
Seolhwa’s body, already utterly exhausted, couldn’t withstand Namgung Mucheon’s energy and vomited blood.
Namgung Mucheon closed his eyes, as if he couldn’t bear to witness the sight.
He wished not to harm his granddaughter’s body, but if he couldn’t exhaust her into collapsing, there was no other way but to inflict internal injuries to knock her unconscious.
*Sreung—*
Namgung Mucheon drew Cheonmyeong.
The deep blue energy of the Cheonmyeong, wielded, began to hum in his hand.
It was like the sorrowful cry of a young child.
“….”
A hint of sadness clouded Namgung Mucheon’s face.
Though he shed no tears, his heart wept along with Cheonmyeong.
“I have seen much from you, so it would only be fair for me to show you something in return.”
Namgung Mucheon took a stance.
As he adopted the starting posture of a sword technique he had practiced tens of thousands of times, the flow of qi shifted with a *thump—*
An incredibly dense energy, enough to take one’s breath away, instantly overwhelmed the surroundings.
“Watch closely. This is the true sword of Namgung, one that can never be broken.”
In Seolhwa’s vision, Namgung Mucheon’s presence began to grow larger and larger.
He wasn’t actually growing.
It was merely an illusion caused by his endlessly increasing might, making his presence appear immeasurably vast.
*Kugugugu….*
Namgung Mucheon’s momentum soared like a towering mountain.
No, surpassing a mountain.
*Guwoong—*
A colossal heavenly palace unfolded before Seolhwa.
It was the energy of a heavenly dragon, utterly beyond reach.
*Kugugugugu—*
As Namgung Mucheon raised his sword, the surrounding energy began to tremble as if it would explode.
Perhaps this was what a colossal dragon ascending to the heavens looked like.
The dragon, soaring higher and higher, finally looked down upon her with majestic dignity.
The sword technique Namgung Mucheon unleashed was the ultimate secret of Namgung, passed down only to the Family Head.
It was the first stance of the Jewanggeomhyeong.
*Hwoong—*
Namgung Mucheon brought his sword down.
One strike.
With that simple motion, the surrounding internal energy swirled into a vortex, and the ground and sky resonated.
*Kwooooh….*
Even without infusing internal energy, his aura overwhelmingly suppressed the surroundings, as if crushing one’s entire body.
It was truly the Emperor’s sword.
“…!”
Seolhwa instinctively raised her arms to protect herself.
*Pwahhhh!*
The gathered energy, following the sword, struck the floor of the training cave and spread throughout the entire cavern.
The power of the densely packed air exploding in an instant was truly immense.
It was overwhelming just to stand there, struggling not to fall.
*Hwooo….*
The diffused energy slowly dissipated with time.
After a moment of silence.
Seolhwa’s body swayed.
*Thud—*
Seolhwa collapsed into Namgung Mucheon’s arms, who had approached her.
Namgung Mucheon looked down at his unconscious granddaughter in his embrace and let out a long sigh.
“Rest well. We’ll have much to discuss when you wake.”
