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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Chapter 50
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“Cheonmujiche.”
Namgung Mucheon’s voice resonated low in the cave.
“It seems you were born with a Cheonmujiche body.”
“Cheonmujiche…?”
Me?
‘Cheonmujiche?’
Cheonmujiche.
Literally, a warrior’s body bestowed by the heavens.
In other words, a body with the most perfect conditions for cultivating martial arts.
Balanced physique, the ability to awaken qi, unblocked meridians, and even excellent comprehension (悟性, the ability to discern) necessary for understanding martial arts.
Thanks to this, even a little training leads to a rapid increase in internal energy, outstanding martial arts achievements, and a naturally harmonious circulation of qi.
Since one is born with everything needed to cultivate martial arts, it was truly a blessing bestowed by the heavens.
“A Cheonmujiche body is especially suited for cultivating advanced martial arts. And Namgung’s martial arts pursue a higher realm than any other.”
Though the heavens lie as its foundation, it is widely accepted that Namgung’s martial arts pursue an infinitely high realm.
As martial arts that fundamentally seek to reign supreme, Namgung’s techniques were ultimate-tier advanced martial arts that endlessly pursued higher realms.
‘But in my previous life, I wasn’t that strong?’
If I had a body that appeared once every few centuries, shouldn’t I have become the strongest in the world?
Her past self neither neglected martial arts nor rested on her laurels.
She had strived endlessly to become stronger to bring down Namgung.
“I didn’t open your meridians. They were already open. The turbid qi accumulated from internal energy incompatible with you merely blocked their paths. Your meridians were already prepared to accept internal force.”
In other words, the blood qi infused by Hyeolma had obstructed her talent.
Blood arts are not martial arts that pursue high realms; they are instead hegemonic techniques meant to kill, wound, and destroy others.
Thus, it was bound to be antithetical to Seolhwa’s body.
Nevertheless, the fact that she could reach high realms in her previous life could be attributed to her innate physique.
‘So that’s it. I was a Cheonmujiche.’
Cheonmujiche…
Before returning to Namgung, she had thought her return would be a fortuitous encounter for the family. She had wanted to make it so.
But now that she had returned, she understood.
‘Fortuitous encounter (奇緣).’
This Namgung, the choice to return to Namgung,
was an unparalleled fortuitous encounter in her life.
Whoosh…
The qi gathered in her dantian roared as if responding to her.
Although the qi’s color was red, her body was assimilating Namgung’s qi faster than anyone else.
Someone might call a blood-red sky ominous. They might scoff, asking if a red sky could even be called a sky.
They might even accuse her, asking how much murderous intent one must harbor for even the heavens to be covered in killing intent.
But Namgung Mucheon had said.
‘The color of the qi doesn’t matter. What matters is what you do with that power.’
Be it a sky of blood, or a clear blue sky.
If one’s will was set on the heavens, then that was Namgung.
Seolhwa’s will was already in the heavens. Because of that, nothing else mattered to her now.
Only the heavens.
* * *
In the Cheonho Hall, a family meeting was in full swing.
It was a grand council where all five factions had gathered, excluding the absent family head.
There was only one reason for the emergency meeting.
“It’s already been three days since Maehwasingeom arrived! Maehwasingeom is none other than Hwasan’s foremost sword master! He’s not someone you can just meet whenever you want! Yet, such a cold reception! Are you trying to tarnish Namgung’s name?”
“I agree. Hwasan is one of the greatest sects, isn’t it? We must find a way to forge a relationship with Hwasan through this opportunity.”
“Didn’t they say they came to congratulate Namgung on its joyous occasion? When exactly are the family head and young lady coming out of Cheono-dong?”
Steward Namgung Mun was in a difficult position.
The elders’ opposition had reached its peak.
The family head entering the training cave without a word was already precarious, but then a guest from a place like Hwasan arrived in the meantime.
Fortunately, they had obtained a grace period of five days by agreeing to understand the family head’s absence and wait, but as the elders said, it was disrespectful to such a distinguished guest.
‘Of course, it’s highly likely they have other intentions…’
Just then.
“Ahem, ahem!”
Someone cleared their throat loudly, capturing the attention of everyone present.
‘Elder Council Head?’
The Elder Council Head, with a benevolent expression, opened his mouth with a gentle smile.
“There’s no need to worry so much. Didn’t Young Master Yi share a meal with Maehwasingeom just last night?”
Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to Namgung Cheonghae, who had been quietly keeping his seat.
The Elder Council Head pointedly asked him.
“Young Master Yi. I hear that the young swordsman from Hwasan, brought by Maehwasingeom, is having a spar with Young Master Soryong. Is that true?”
“What? Young Master Soryong and a child from Hwasan?”
“Is it true? Hwasan accepted that?”
Amidst the murmuring council hall, Namgung Cheonghae smiled gently.
“There’s no need to be so surprised. It’s merely a light interaction between young people.”
“A light interaction, you say! They say sects look down on family martial arts, so accepting a spar means they acknowledge our Namgung, doesn’t it?”
“Maehwasingeom did not disregard Namgung’s martial arts as much as the elders seem to think. The people Maehwasingeom brought along didn’t either.”
‘Though perhaps not one of them.’
Namgung Cheonghae recalled Yupyo, the person who came from Hwasan.
When he asked for dinner, the look in his eyes as he answered that he would ask Maehwasingeom clearly contained disdain.
An arrogant and impudent gaze, as if a bothersome insect were clinging to him.
‘He was silent throughout dinner too.’
He clearly conveyed the feeling that even being there was a nuisance, so it was impossible not to notice.
‘That young lad wasn’t very courteous either.’
So, in fact, the only one who showed a more compliant attitude than expected was Maehwasingeom. No, to be more precise, Maehwasingeom was the only one who knew how to hide his true feelings.
“Weren’t they originally here to celebrate a joyous occasion for Namgung? If they looked down on Namgung, why would they come forward and extend a hand first?”
Just then.
— Young Master Yi. I found out.
A low telepathic message pierced through the din and reached Namgung Cheonghae’s ear.
Namgung Cheonghae’s eyes settled calmly.
But that was only for a moment; Namgung Cheonghae smiled again and looked around at those gathered.
“It seems it’s time for Soryong and the young Hwasan Taoist to spar. I apologize, but I must take my leave.”
He bowed respectfully with a pokwon towards the assembly and then left his seat.
The meeting hadn’t even concluded, yet no one stopped him as he left Cheonho Hall.
As Namgung Cheonghae passed through the doors of Cheonho Hall, the Elder Council Head’s low words were heard from behind.
“Haha. Young Master Il truly has no interest in the Hwasan guests, but Young Master Yi, as expected, has a deep heart for the family.”
Namgung Mun glared sharply at the Elder Council Head and retorted.
“Young Master Il is in the training cave, waiting for the family head and young lady, isn’t he?”
“Didn’t the family head say at least five days? It’s only the third day today, so is there really a need to be there already? Isn’t that right?”
When the Elder Council Head asked the other elders, several of them supported his stance.
“That’s true.”
“Young Master Il is inherently someone who dotes on his daughter, isn’t he?”
“Still, no matter what, it’s Hwasan… With the family head absent, isn’t it right to hold the fort?”
“Tsk tsk. What can you do when Young Master Il only sees his daughter? Young Master Yi, however, has always had a deep concern for the family…”
Public opinion naturally shifted to elevating Namgung Cheonghae and undermining Namgung Cheongun.
The steward and faction leaders had no chance to interject.
If they wanted to argue, the elders’ opinions were also factual, so they couldn’t add anything.
‘These people who wouldn’t dare say a word if the family head were here… When the dragon is absent, even serpents play king.’
Namgung Mun merely clenched his fists, suppressing his frustrated emotions.
* * *
Clang!
The wooden sword spun in the air—whoosh, whoosh—and fell to the ground.
Namgung Soryong looked back at his wooden sword, which had flown far away, with a horrified expression.
“Oh! My! I’m so sorry! I was trying to control my strength, but I just…”
*Grind.*
Namgung Soryong gnashed his teeth.
He forced his stiff neck to turn and looked at Yugang, who was scratching the back of his head.
This was already the third time his wooden sword had been sent flying. And that excuse of “mistake” was also the third time.
By this point, the malice hidden behind the word “mistake” was evident.
“You scoundrel who doesn’t even know basic manners!”
Namgung Soryong could no longer hold back and roared.
Yugang, who had been full of feigned apology, also subtly hardened his expression.
“…Huh? What do you mean…?”
“Control your strength, my foot! You just wanted to mock me from the very beginning!”
“…What are you talking about? Why would I mock Young Master and Namgung?”
“It’s obvious what goes on in the minds of you arrogant sect members! You’re so desperate to disregard and mock family martial arts that you’d use this method!”
Yugang’s face grew even colder.
“I don’t understand what Young Master Soryong is saying. However, weren’t you the one who just disrespected my sect?”
“Arrogant sect members.”
Despite Soryong’s low martial arts level, Yugang hadn’t said a single word to mock him.
On the contrary, it was Soryong who had mocked Yugang and his sect.
“If I did something wrong, I would apologize, but I don’t recall doing anything to tarnish my sect’s name.”
“You… you idiotic fool! You deliberately knocked my sword away just now…!”
Just then.
“What is all this commotion?!”
A commanding voice was heard from the entrance of the training grounds.
