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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Chapter 60
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More than twenty years ago, when Namgung Mucheon and Nohun were still wandering the Jianghu, building their reputations.
Nohun had once challenged Namgung Mucheon.
He was intoxicated by his pride as an elite swordsman of a Great Sect, and he found the sword-wielders who swaggered around under the name of a Martial Arts Family utterly distasteful.
He had been waiting for an opportunity to properly teach them what the sword truly was, and so he provoked the Young Master of the Namgung Sega.
‘Righteous, upholding justice and courtesy, my foot.’
He got hit.
He was beaten, quite literally, until the dust flew on a rainy day. Namgung Mucheon beat him like a dog, claiming he needed to fix the rotten mindset of those sect fellows.
He was thrashed so severely that he wanted to find and kill whoever those "rude sect fellows" Namgung Mucheon was shouting about while beating him were.
From that day on, Nohun never went near a family estate again.
‘I heard that after he got older and became a Family Head, he mellowed out and became more dignified!’
He’d come trusting that very rumor!
“...Namgung Senior, please calm your anger. I merely wished to test the Namgung child’s astonishing martial prowess…”
“Who’s your senior?”
“...Sword Emperor…”
“...”
“Sword Emperor, sir.”
“Worthless bastard.”
Namgung Mucheon clicked his tongue in displeasure.
His gaze shifted towards the two rising stars of Hwasanpa standing at one side of the Training Ground.
One of them had a terrified look in his eyes, while the other…
‘Oh?’
He was fearful, yet sharp. His posture suggested he would pounce instantly if even a hair on his senior’s head were touched.
His display of baring his claws was audacious, but his spirit wasn't bad at all.
After all, a tiger must know how to show its claws.
“So, you old fool, you’re dragging around juniors now too.”
“...They are my junior brother and my disciple. As you said, I too have aged somewhat, so perhaps Namgung Senior could grant me a little face…”
“Disciple, you say.”
That audacious one was his disciple.
“You’ve got one good disciple.”
Namgung Mucheon turned his indifferent gaze to Seolhwa.
Seolhwa met his eyes and looked back at him.
“What do you wish me to do? I can break an arm or a leg for you.”
Seolhwa glanced at Yugang and Nohun once each before replying.
“There’s also a Hwasanpa disciple here, and I don’t think there’s a need to tarnish Hwasanpa’s reputation in front of everyone.”
“Then?”
“Please forgive him just this once.”
She had released her inner qi, but she had not revealed any killing intent.
That was why Seolhwa had dared to confront Nohun, and why she was now forgiving him.
“Hahahahaha!”
Namgung Mucheon’s hearty laughter made the three Hwasanpa members flinch and tremble.
Namgung Mucheon spoke to Nohun.
“You are alive thanks to my granddaughter’s exceptional character. Don’t forget that.”
Namgung Mucheon’s eyes gleamed.
Nohun hastily nodded his head.
“...Yes. I won’t forget.”
After Namgung Mucheon appeared, the situation was quickly resolved.
Nohun, who had tried to intimidate them into giving him elixirs, ultimately gained nothing and had to tuck his tail between his legs.
The family’s opinion that they should foster relations with Hwasanpa completely vanished, and the Elders and Hall Masters clamored that Hwasanpa should be demanded compensation for the damages.
“This is an insult to the Namgung! No matter how great a sect they are, such arrogance is unacceptable!”
“That’s right! If the Family Head hadn’t come out of the Training Cave early, they would have been intent on killing all of us!”
“Hmph. Is that truly one of the Ten Great Masters? His title, 'Maehwasingeom', is wasted on him. Tsk, tsk.”
The public sentiment, which had been preparing to protest the Beolmo-sesu when the Family Head emerged from the Training Cave, also naturally dissipated.
It was only natural, as Namgung Mucheon had helped reduce their losses.
“What do you intend to do, Family Head?”
Chief Steward Namgung Mun asked Namgung Mucheon.
The family members, who had been full of indignation, held their breath and looked at the Family Head.
Namgung Mucheon, who had his eyes closed, slowly lifted his gaze and surveyed the meeting hall. His eyes rested on his two sons.
“Cheonghae.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“You tried to establish relations with Hwasanpa, didn’t you?”
“...Yes.”
That was before Nohun displayed his arrogant attitude. Until then, he had been searching for elixirs to meet Nohun’s demands.
The Council of Elders was also aware of this, but the Head Elder cleared his throat and avoided eye contact.
Cheonghae, who had given him a brief glance, bowed his head to Namgung Mucheon.
“My judgment was lacking.”
“What went wrong?”
Cheonghae couldn’t answer.
If it hadn't been for Nohun’s incident, relations with Hwasanpa would surely have benefited the Namgung.
If there was a mistake, it was…
‘...Not knowing that someone called Maehwasingeom would act so carelessly.’
And a Hwasanpa Elder at that.
“Cheongun.”
“Yes, Father.”
“What are your thoughts?”
The gazes of the Elders and Hall Masters all turned towards Cheongun.
While Namgung Cheonghae had been bustling about trying to forge ties with Hwasanpa, Cheongun had done nothing.
In fact, what thoughts could someone who was busy only looking after his daughter possibly have?
There wasn't a shred of expectation in the eyes that looked at him.
A brief silence fell, and Namgung Cheongun slowly spoke.
“I don’t understand why the Namgung should need Hwasanpa’s name in the first place.”
“...!”
A flicker of surprise crossed Namgung Mucheon’s stern gaze.
“Speak more.”
“Is the Namgung so weak that it must be lacking Hwasanpa’s strength? I do not believe so.”
Cheongun lifted his gaze and slowly surveyed the Hall Masters and Elders.
“For eight years, wandering the world away from the family, I felt the immense power of the Namgung name firsthand. Just uttering the Namgung name made mountain bandits clear the path and ruffians lay down their weapons.”
Because no Heukdo wanted to antagonize a powerful and influential family like the Namgung.
“Some say this power of the Namgung comes from the Family Head, but I do not think so.”
Namgung Cheongun looked at Namgung Mucheon.
“The Namgung is never weak. Although Hwasanpa is called the foremost sword sect of Jungwon, I believe there is no need to bow our heads to gain a friendly relationship with them.”
A faint smile curved Namgung Mucheon’s lips.
His face clearly showed satisfaction.
“Those words are correct.”
He acknowledged Cheongun’s words with a nod.
“What makes the Namgung strong is power. It is never obtained through the hands of others, nor through relationships with other sects or families.”
He clenched his fist tightly. Even with just that, qi surged around him as if exploding.
“Today’s incident is not Hwasanpa’s fault. If you wish to blame something, blame your own weakness. Blame your inability to possess the strength to protect the family.”
If there had been just ten Peak Masters, Nohun would not have been able to rampage as he did today.
The situation has come to this because you became Elders, or were busy with Hall Master duties, neglected your cultivation, and remained stagnant at the Jeoljeong realm.
“Did you seek to gain Hwasanpa’s power? Did you wish to elevate the family’s name? Are you enraged and feel wronged by today’s events?”
Namgung Mucheon’s voice, quiet yet distinct, echoed through Cheonho Hall.
“If so, then cultivate your strength.”
His words resonated in the hearts of the Hall Masters and Elders.
“Cultivate your strength and prove the might of the Namgung. Before blaming others, look within yourselves.”
It was a reprimand—.
“If you gain power that no one can covet, the world’s attention will naturally gather, and if you possess the power to rule the world, any force will naturally bow its head.”
It was the inspiration from one who had already walked that path.
“Make the Namgung such a family.”
Those gathered in Cheonho Hall stiffened with tension.
No, it was a certain degree of awe.
The fading flame of the martial artist ignited a fire in their chests.
Their competitive spirit, dulled by long years of peace, rang an alarm.
Seeing them taut with tension, Namgung Mucheon nodded with satisfaction.
“The Cheonmuje is something to look forward to.”
The Namgung’s greatest event, which verified their martial arts prowess.
The Cheonmuje was now ten days away.
* * *
Deep in the night.
In the pervasive silence, someone knocked on Nohun’s door.
“Come in.”
Nohun, who already knew who was behind the door, replied, and the door opened.
“Your disciple Yugang greets you, Master.”
Nohun nodded, acknowledging the greeting.
“What brings you here at this hour?”
“I have an unresolved question, Master, and though I know it’s late, I came.”
“Ask.”
Yugang raised his gaze and met Nohun’s eyes.
“One is about the Daehwandan.”
“...”
“Your disciple has not heard any mention of the Daehwandan. May I presume to ask if our reason for coming to the Namgung was to retrieve the Daehwandan?”
“Yes.”
Yugang swallowed dryly.
“Then, may I ask why Hwasanpa would seek Shaolin Temple’s secret treasure?”
“I forbid it. That is not for you to know.”
“Understood.”
At Nohun’s sharp reply, Yugang asked no further questions.
He hadn’t expected to hear everything when he came to Nohun.
“Then, I have another question.”
“Ask.”
“Why did you entrust me with the sparring match against the Young Lady of Namgung?”
Yugang once again raised his gaze and met Nohun’s eyes.
“That I was no match for the Young Lady of Namgung…”
Nohun’s expression remained as calm as before.
“You already knew, Master, didn’t you?”
