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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Chapter 51
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Namgung Cheonghae was entering the training ground.
…
Yugang lowered his sword and performed a Pokwon.
“Father!”
Namgung Cheonghae bellowed at Soryong, who came running with a face full of injustice.
“I told you to learn the sword from the young Taoist of Hwasanpa, so why is there such a ruckus?!”
“That’s not it! That jerk used the spar as an excuse to make fun of me!”
“Silence! Can’t you shut your mouth?!”
Soryong stopped in his tracks, startled.
“Your voice was so loud that your foolish words could be heard even outside the training ground! How dare you utter such outrageous remarks to someone who is a pillar of the Jianghu?!”
“Th-that’s not it…!”
“I did not teach you such things!”
Namgung Cheonghae turned from Soryong and respectfully performed a Pokwon towards Yugang.
“I apologize on behalf of my son. Please forgive his disrespect.”
Yugang returned the gesture and replied.
“Not at all. It is my own inadequacy for not being able to exchange blows harmoniously.”
If Yugang was at fault, it was for not properly controlling his strength.
The first clash of swords was a mishap, as he’d swung it while thinking of the young lady from the Namgung Sega he’d met last night. As for the second and third...
‘I didn’t realize he couldn’t even handle this much.’
From the start, his momentum had been so overwhelming that Yugang mistakenly believed he possessed exceptional martial prowess.
He should have considered that the boy was only thirteen.
“I also made a mistake, so please don’t scold him too much.”
“That’s right! That jerk kept knocking my sword away every time!”
Unless it was a spar meant to determine victory or defeat, it was considered impolite to knock an opponent’s sword away or render them unable to fight.
If one was strong, it was courteous to hold back; if one was weak, it was courteous to give their all in the exchange of blows.
“That jerk just wanted to disgrace me and the family…!”
“Shut your mouth! Have you still not realized your mistake?! Go back to your room and reflect! You are not to step one foot outside your room without my permission!”
“Father…!”
“Now!”
Namgung Soryong clutched his sword, an aggrieved expression on his face, as if he would burst into tears any moment.
However, Namgung Cheonghae did not relent his anger, as if he had no intention of showing leniency.
“…Yes.”
Soryong ultimately had to retreat.
Cheonghae watched Soryong shuffle out of the training ground with disheartened steps, then turned back to Yugang.
Yugang looked troubled, unsure of what to do.
“I truly am at fault in this matter. So…”
“Even so, disgracing the Hwasanpa is wrong. I intend to use this opportunity to properly guide him, so please don’t trouble yourself.”
Ugh.
Yugang scratched the back of his head.
It had been so long since he’d sparred with someone significantly weaker than himself that he found it difficult to adjust.
“I’ll do better next time.”
“I’m grateful simply for the fact that you’re willing to exchange blows with him again.”
Namgung Cheonghae responded to Yugang’s apology with a smiling face. But his true feelings were different.
‘How unpleasant.’
The young Taoist from Hwasanpa didn’t even consider Soryong an opponent.
What parent would happily accept an apology for not holding back enough?
‘I expected Soryong to lose, but…’
That’s why he had arranged a private spar instead of a public one. After all, he still had to preserve his son’s dignity.
Even so, he hadn’t expected such a vast difference.
He was only a couple of years older, yet Soryong, who was praised for his talent within the family, couldn’t even be considered an opponent.
‘As expected, Hwasanpa is Hwasanpa, it seems.’
That’s why he felt greedy.
If news of their connection with such a powerful sect spread, no other family would dare challenge the Namgung Sega.
“It seems right to formally apologize to Hwasanpa for this incident. I would like to briefly meet with Maehwasingeom.”
Yugang flinched and waved his hands.
“Oh, no! There’s no need to apologize to that extent…!”
“It is only right for the host to properly apologize when they have offended a guest. This matter also concerns the Namgung Sega’s prestige, so please understand.”
“Ugh…”
Yugang scratched the back of his head again.
If this matter reached his master’s ears, he would undoubtedly be scolded as well.
“Young Taoist.”
Yugang finally sighed and nodded.
“He’s probably in his room by now. I’ll guide you.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
Seop Mugwang’s gaze drifted to the right.
Then to the left again, then right, left, right, left, then right again…
“Ah, for heaven’s sake! It’s distracting, please just stand still for a moment!”
Cheongun, who had been pacing back and forth in front of Cheono-dong, wore a tearful expression.
Cheongun approached Seop Mugwang like a dog chased from its home.
“How can I remain still when my daughter’s and my father’s lives hang in the balance? It’s already been three days. Why is there no news?!”
“Wouldn’t news be more dangerous?”
“Ah…”
Right.
He had said it would take at least five days, so if there was news on the third day, it would surely be bad news.
Realizing this, Cheongun felt relieved and regained his composure.
Seop Mugwang quirked an eyebrow and looked at him.
“Why aren’t you going back?”
Didn’t you realize you came too early?
“Just in case, I’ll stay here.”
“I heard Hwasanpa came looking for you. Wouldn’t it be better to at least have another meal with them?”
“They seem determined not to leave until they meet Seolhwa or my father, so it should be fine.”
“What if that young master gets close to them in the meantime?”
“Then that would be a good thing.”
“Well. It might not be *only* good.”
Namgung Cheongun looked back at Seop Mugwang with a surprised expression.
Seop Mugwang cleared his throat, ‘Ahem! Ahem!’ and averted his gaze.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t interested in family matters? I recall you saying so before.”
When he gave Seolhwa a sword, Cheongun had asked him if he had any other intentions.
Giving his sword to Seolhwa could be seen as empowering Cheongun, the candidate for the young master position.
However, to that question, Seop Mugwang had said,
‘I merely gave it because I saw potential in her to wield my sword.’
…he had replied.
“But why do you care now?”
“…Well, I mean… even if I’m not *interested*, I can still be *curious*. Why, am I not allowed to be curious?”
“You certainly can be curious. I was just curious myself, which is why I asked.”
“Hmph.”
The conversation ceased, and a long silence followed.
At the end of the silence, Cheongun spoke in a heavy voice. It was an answer to Seop Mugwang’s curiosity.
“I… I am afraid.”
“Of what?”
“If I ascend to the position of family head, I will gain power, but I will also gain many enemies.”
…
“I fear I won’t be able to protect my daughter from those countless enemies. If that’s the case, I’d rather abandon the position of family head and only live for Seolhwa…”
It was then.
With a rumbling sound—*drr-drr-drr-drr*—Seop Mugwang and Cheongun turned around with startled gazes.
The door of Cheono-dong was opening.
…!
Seop Mugwang’s expression darkened.
Cheongun’s complexion also quickly paled.
As they had just discussed, the door opening earlier than the stated minimum of five days likely meant bad news.
The two watched the opening door with tense expressions.
Thump—
The large door opened just enough for one adult to pass through, then stopped.
Through the gap, only an abyssal darkness could be glimpsed.
Soon, a small child walked out from within the darkness.
“…Seolhwa!”
Cheongun rushed to her in a single stride.
Cheongun immediately knelt before her and checked the child’s condition.
He examined her face, shoulders, arms, and legs.
“Are you alright? Why did you come out so quickly? Did something go wrong? Didn’t they say at least five days?”
Seolhwa blinked.
Wrong?
Just as she was about to say that nothing was wrong, Seop Mugwang, who had approached without her noticing, looked behind her and asked urgently.
“Kid. Why are you coming out alone? What about the Family Head? Why isn’t the Family Head coming out?”
“Yes! What about Grandpa? Did something happen? Huh?”
Seolhwa pushed away Cheongun’s hands, which were gripping and shaking her shoulders, and took a step back.
Her furrowed brows slightly calmed their excitement.
“Don’t worry. The Beolmo-sesu ended successfully.”
“But why so quickly…?”
“Then, what about the Family Head?”
“Grandpa said he expended more internal energy than expected, so he’ll rest for a few more days before coming out. It will probably take about five days starting from today.”
As she explained in a calm voice, Cheongun and Seop Mugwang finally relaxed.
And only then did the two truly look at Seolhwa.
They felt the aura emanating from Seolhwa.
Normally, one would need to reach the peak of the Transcendence Realm to comprehend how to conceal one’s aura, but Seolhwa, having already realized it in her previous life, was able to control her own aura.
However, this time, she didn’t hide it. She freely released her aura.
Seolhwa’s realm was Jeoljeong.
Namgung Cheongun, who was also at the Jeoljeong Realm, and Seop Mugwang, who had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendence Realm, could clearly feel her intense aura.
“…Seolhwa, could it be…?”
“Kid, you… surely not….”
Seop Mugwang stared at Seolhwa as if unable to believe it.
“Have you reached the Jeoljeong Realm?”
Even when he first met Seolhwa, her realm was Jeoljeong.
However, Seop Mugwang also knew that her realm at that time was not normal.
But now it was different. A powerful and profound aura filled her Dantian.
“Have you truly reached the Jeoljeong Realm?”
Even as he asked, his gaze was filled with disbelief.
He couldn't believe it, even though he was seeing it with his own eyes.
Seolhwa met his gaze and calmly nodded her head.
“Yes.”
…!
“The Beolmo-sesu was successful.”
