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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Chapter 63
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"Yes."
Cheongun answered without hesitation.
It was Seolhwa who showed ambition, but Seolhwa's will quickly became Cheongun's.
Having decided to risk his life, Cheongun had no intention of backing down.
At his resolute answer, Punghak's eyes sparkled.
"Indeed. What you showed yesterday at the Cheonho Hall was quite impressive. Some of the elders seemed to think so too."
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
"However, do not think you can bridge an eight-year gap in one go. That would be over-ambition."
"I don't think that way. That's precisely why I came to see you, Head Elder."
"Hmm."
Punghak's gaze sharpened.
If he had to be honest, Punghak was rather sympathetic towards Cheongun.
He had locked himself in his room for nearly a month, dying like a recluse, tormented by the guilt of failing to protect his wife and daughter, who he had lost before his very eyes.
What brought him back to his feet was the faint possibility that his daughter might still be alive.
Even that possibility was a slim one, stemming only from the fact that his daughter's body had not been found, but clinging to that remote hope, he had frantically searched for her.
For eight long years.
Everyone had assumed she was dead, considering his efforts futile. But Cheongun had not given up. His daughter's existence was what kept him alive, so no one could stop him.
And so, eight years passed. After eight years, his daughter truly returned alive, so what father could push his daughter aside?
"Just five days ago, you seemed to have no interest in the position of family head. How did you steel your resolve? Is it perhaps because of your daughter?"
"I cannot say it's not."
"Hahahaha!"
"Honesty is good, but there are times when you should know how to say no."
"I will learn."
"Haha. I can somewhat understand why Mucheon cares so much for you."
Punghak gently stroked his beard.
"The older one gets, the less one should speak. However, old people are inherently more talkative. As they gain more knowledge, they see more, and seeing more makes their mouths itch, making it impossible to hold back."
"Is that so?"
"Most of the elders support Cheonghae."
Cheongun's lips tightened.
It was a fact he already knew, but hearing it from the Head Elder's mouth felt like another burden.
"Just because I, as the Head Elder, remain silent, doesn't mean they haven't expressed their intentions. The elders' hearts are already set on Cheonghae; it's no different from their decision being final."
Cheongun raised his direct gaze and met Punghak's.
There must be a reason why he, who had asked for support, was told such a thing.
"Even as the Head Elder, I cannot simply disregard the elders' will. Silence and disregard are completely different meanings."
"Yes."
"So, you try to change the elders' minds."
Punghak spread three fingers.
"Thirty percent. If you can turn 30% of their minds, I'll figure out the rest."
Thirty percent.
The human heart, by nature, is steadfast and not easily swayed, even when one tries to change it. Especially if it has been solidified over eight years.
However, it is also the human heart that can change swiftly for even the smallest reason.
"Prove your worth at this Cheonmuje. If you truly appear capable of bearing the weight of this Namgung, then 30% will quickly turn to your side."
"I will try."
"You're quite confident. Do you have a hidden plan?"
Cheongun shook his head.
A faint smile played on his lips. It was a smile that resembled Seolhwa's.
"I plan to find it now."
* * *
After finishing her training, Seolhwa returned to her residence to find both familiar and unfamiliar faces waiting for her.
"Young Lady!"
One was the maidservant who had been kind to Seolhwa at the Guest Pavilion, and the other was...
'A Jeoljeong expert.'
Her long hair was tied back tightly, and her eyes were narrow with slightly upturned corners, giving her a stern yet sharp warrior's impression.
From her attire, she appeared to be a member of the Black Dragon Unit.
The Black Dragon Unit member approached Seolhwa, performed a Pokwon, and bowed deeply.
"Namgung Ryeon of the Black Dragon First Unit. I greet Young Lady Seolhwa."
"Gasp!"
The one surprised was the young maidservant standing beside her.
She had actually been standing there with Namgung Ryeon, waiting for Seolhwa, but the aura was so intimidating that she hadn't dared to utter a single word.
She knew Namgung Ryeon was a Black Dragon Unit member, but...
"F-First Unit...!"
The Black Dragon First Unit. They were known within the Namgung as the unit comprising the strongest members, second only to the Bipunggeomdae.
Each and every one of them was a Jeoljeong expert, known as the core military force of the Namgung! To meet such a person directly!
'The Young Lady must be very surprised too, right?'
With that thought, she looked back at Seolhwa, but to her surprise, Seolhwa's expression was utterly calm, making the maidservant feel rather deflated herself.
Seolhwa, unaware of her thoughts, spoke to Namgung Ryeon.
"Are you the one Grandfather sent?"
"Yes. I have received orders to be Young Lady Seolhwa's escort starting today."
"I see."
Seolhwa calmly nodded. She didn't even say a single word of "please take care of me."
The maidservant beside them unconsciously glanced back and forth between the Black Dragon Unit member and Seolhwa, trying to gauge the situation.
In the chilling atmosphere that felt like it could freeze ice, the maidservant hastily introduced herself.
"I-I also! I'm also going to serve the Young Lady starting today!"
Seolhwa's gaze turned to her.
"My name is Namgung Yeoyul. Please take care of me, Young Lady Seolhwa."
At her beaming smile, Seolhwa suddenly thought of Yugang.
Had he left the Namgung by now?
She quickly dismissed the thought and asked the maidservant.
"Aren't you a maidservant from the Guest Pavilion?"
"When I heard they were choosing a new maidservant for the Young Lady, I quickly applied. Hehe. I missed you so much after you left the Guest Pavilion, Young Lady."
Though she seemed a bit clumsy, being a maidservant at the Guest Pavilion in the Namgung meant she was highly skilled among maidservants.
Yeoyul looked only a couple of years older than Seolhwa at most.
Becoming a maidservant at the Guest Pavilion at such a young age meant she was highly recognized, and thus, it was highly likely she was selected as Seolhwa's maidservant for that reason.
"Please take care of me from now on."
Seolhwa greeted Yeoyul with a smile.
"Yes..."
Yeoyul, seeing a completely different reaction from Namgung Ryeon just moments ago, found herself unconsciously glancing at Ryeon.
"Oh... ah, that's right! Young Lady, you're starting sword training today, aren't you?"
"Yes."
Starting today, Seolhwa decided to officially participate in the Namgung's sword training.
Saying she learned from Namgung Mucheon had its limits, so she planned to use the excuse that she learned from general sword training.
She was also curious about the training composed of the Namgung's direct lineage and outstanding collateral branches.
"Hurry and get ready! It's the first day, you can't be late!"
Yeoyul urged Seolhwa.
Seolhwa looked at Yeoyul, who seemed more excited than herself, with a curious gaze, then followed her into the residence.
Namgung Ryeon, watching the two, let out a long sigh.
* * *
Yeoyul had hurried so much that Seolhwa was the first to arrive at the training ground.
The training ground, where the training took place, was the largest and most lavishly decorated area in the inner compound.
She couldn't understand why a training ground needed to be lavish, but it felt as if energy was heavily concentrated there, similar to the training hall, suggesting it was built with a special formation.
Upon entering the training ground, Ryeon went to one side and stood still. Her expression had been calm and emotionless ever since Seolhwa first saw her.
"Well, well, look who it is!"
"…?"
At the noisy sound, Seolhwa looked towards the entrance of the training ground.
A group of about a dozen people, led by Namgung Soryong, entered the training ground.
"Big Sister!"
Namgung Ung waved his hand cheerfully towards Seolhwa. But then.
"Who's 'Big Sister'?! I told you not to acknowledge her!"
"Ow! That hurts! Big Brother!"
Soryong hit Ung on the back of the head.
Soryong, who had been huffing and puffing at his younger brother, soon approached Seolhwa with a sneer.
The other children followed behind him.
'Except for Soryong and Ung, they're all children from the collateral branches.'
Namgung Hwarin was nowhere to be seen, suggesting she was still too young to train with them.
As she roughly assessed the children's age range, Namgung Soryong scoffed and spoke.
"Hey, what are you doing crawling in here? They don't take beggars like you around here, you know?"
Seolhwa tilted her head.
"Beggar? Am I a beggar?"
"Yeah. Is there any other beggar besides you here? Ugh, what a stench. Where did you even crawl out from after eight years?"
Soryong wrinkled his nose, making a disgusted face.
At Namgung Soryong's thoroughly mocking words, the children from the collateral branches all giggled, as if they were used to it.
'So they lord over the collateral branches just because they're from the direct lineage.'
There were some children who seemed stronger than Soryong at a glance, yet all of them were playing along with Soryong's childish antics.
In a clan society, the direct lineage's power is great, so it can't be helped, but...
'How foolish.'
The person they should really be trying to impress is someone else entirely.
Seolhwa's gaze went to Namgung Ung, who was fidgeting nervously to one side.
He was the only child among those gathered who did not participate in Soryong's game.
Seolhwa's eyes read the pure and potent energy flowing from Namgung Ung.
One can know a martial artist by their aura.
Namgung Ung was the child most suited to the Namgung's aura among all these children.
"Are you ignoring me?"
When Seolhwa didn't react, Soryong shoved her shoulder and shouted. But Soryong immediately became flustered.
'W-what?!'
Why... why isn't she budging...?
He definitely pushed with enough force to make her fall, didn't he? She's not moving an inch!
It felt as if he was pushing against a boulder.
"You, you...!"
"You said I smelled rotten?"
Seolhwa took a bold step closer to him.
"You have a good nose, don't you?"
"W-what...!"
"How about this?"
At her face suddenly coming close, Soryong unconsciously stumbled back, step by step.
She was clearly smiling, but an inexplicable pressure squeezed Soryong's throat.
"Doesn't it smell like a rotting corpse?"
