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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Namgung Sega Granddaughter's Return
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Cheongun was silent for a while.
He gazed at the Geumryongokyeolbo the child had brought out for a long time before letting out a helpless chuckle.
"How in the world did you know? That I was agonizing over my realm."
"The entire family is abuzz with talk of the Cheonmuje. Father, you wouldn't be any different, would you? Your standing within the family is precarious, and the only thing you can showcase is your martial arts. Didn't you judge your current realm to be insufficient?"
Cheongun's mouth hung open in a daze.
"...You're spot on."
He had been thinking about it since before he went to find the Geumryongokyeolbo, even.
"My daughter... is she a celestial being? Anyone who didn't know would think she was an old master who had undergone rejuvenation."
To have such deep insight at only thirteen. It felt as if she had peered directly into his mind.
"I suppose I can't hide anything from you."
Cheongun chuckled and stroked Seolhwa's head.
"Were you trying to hide something?"
"It's not that I was trying to hide it. I just didn't think of asking for your help. What kind of face would your father have if he boasted about becoming the family head and then asked for your assistance?"
Namgung Cheongun chuckled bitterly, stroking the box containing the Geumryongokyeolbo.
"Yet here I am, receiving help again. It seems your father isn't as reliable as he should be."
"I know you're someone who can reach the Choeojeoljeong realm even without such a spiritual elixir, Father."
Cheongun looked at Seolhwa with slightly surprised eyes.
"Choejeoljeong isn't your limit, is it? You're capable of even more, Father."
"Haha. Don't flatter me so much."
Cheongun waved his hand, playfully dismissing it with a laugh.
But Seolhwa was serious.
'In my previous life, Father's realm just before he died was Hwagyeong.'
Although he died by her hand, their final duel was his victory.
If she hadn't spread false rumors about her daughter's whereabouts to delay his arrival, if he hadn't arrived after the Namgung had already become ruins...
'I wouldn't have been able to destroy the Namgung that day.'
Namgung Cheongun's realm at that time, though he had just reached Hwagyeong, considering he hadn't even reached sixty years of age, his talent was by no means inferior even when compared to the current top ten masters of the world.
"I know it's only a matter of time until you reach the Choeojeoljeong realm, Father. But we don't have time right now, do we?"
Only nine days remained until the Cheonmuje.
With today already passed, only eight days were left.
Cheongun's realm had reached the peak of Jeoljeong, but it was hard to guarantee he could ascend to the Choeojeoljeong realm within eight days.
"Spiritual elixirs can be obtained at any time. But opportunities don't come easily. This time, please accept the help of the elixir."
"But isn't this needed for the transaction with Hwasanpa? What will you do if Hwasanpa comes with the conditions you want?"
"I never intended to hand the Geumryongokyeolbo over to Hwasanpa in the first place. There's another way, so don't worry too much."
"But..."
Cheongun frowned, looking troubled.
"And besides, this was originally yours, Father."
"..."
Although Seolhwa had guided him, it was Cheongun who had found the clue to the Cheongunggwidu.
It couldn't have been discovered without Cheongun's knowledge of formations.
"Are you really sure? Even if this might be related to Manrisintu's 'fragment'?"
The fragment of the jade pendant left by Manrisintu, found along with the spiritual elixir when the turtle statue's head was broken.
Seolhwa herself didn't know what that fragment signified.
As Namgung Cheongun said, the Geumryongokyeolbo might indeed be related to that fragment. But.
"It's fine."
"Seolhwa..."
"Even if a feast awaits at the end of a three-day journey, for someone dying of thirst right now, nothing is more precious than a sip of water, is it? Even if drinking the water means missing out on the feast, shouldn't one prioritize survival first?"
Whatever treasure Manrisintu's legacy might hold in the future, it couldn't fulfill their immediate needs.
Right now, Cheongun needed to solidify his standing within the family. Nothing was more important than that.
"It's truly fine, Father."
Seolhwa placed the box containing the Geumryongokyeolbo into Cheongun's hand.
Cheongun, who had been looking at it with a complicated gaze, finally gripped the box tightly.
He nodded.
"Alright. I'll do it."
A hint of sadness colored his eyes.
"I won't be able to see you for a few days."
"..."
"My daughter, let me give you a hug."
Cheongun opened his arms towards her.
Seolhwa hesitated for a moment before awkwardly leaning into his embrace.
Cheongun hugged Seolhwa tightly. His hand slowly patted his daughter's back.
"I will definitely return in a way that you won't be ashamed of."
Feeling the gentle pats and the warmth of his embrace, Seolhwa quietly nodded.
"Yes."
Her chest felt ticklish.
It was so ticklish she felt like she might sneeze.
The next morning.
Cheongun gathered what he needed early in the morning and entered Cheono-dong.
Although he would take the Geumryongokyeolbo, eight days was still too short a time.
To reach the Choeojeoljeong realm within that time, even dedicating himself to training day and night, sacrificing sleep, wouldn't be enough.
Seolhwa went out early at dawn to instruct the Jeokryongdan members in their training, then immediately returned to help Cheongun prepare.
After seeing Cheongun off and returning, it was already time to go for her inner-hall training.
"..."
She tilted her head back and gazed at the high sky.
The vast sky enveloped the entire world like a mother's embrace.
Two birds chirped, brushing against each other in the sky before flying away.
They were like cheerful children playing.
"Young Miss, it's time to go to the training grounds!"
Yeoyul said with an excited voice.
Seolhwa couldn't understand why Yeoyul was so excited when it was Seolhwa herself who had to go to the training grounds.
"Yes. I have to go."
"Are you going?"
Ryeon, who had silently followed behind her until now, asked Seolhwa a question for the first time.
Seolhwa turned her indifferent gaze to look at her.
"Yes. I have to."
Ryeon's expression crumpled slightly before quickly reverting.
"Understood."
That was the extent of it.
She knew all the humiliation Seolhwa had endured at the training grounds, yet that brief reaction was all she showed.
It was a declaration of her intent not to interfere in matters outside of her bodyguard duties.
Seolhwa, who had never felt the need for her help either, indifferently turned her head.
"Welcome, Young Miss! You'll be late for the training grounds at this rate!"
* * *
"Today, you may continue the training you did yesterday."
Namgung Jangyang, as expected, pointed to a corner of the training grounds. Namgung Soryong and the other children snickered.
Seolhwa looked at Namgung Jangyang.
He had an even more arrogant attitude than yesterday.
After ignoring Seolhwa at the training grounds yesterday, Jangyang had worried all night that he might be summoned by the Family Head or the First Young Master and reprimanded.
But what was this?
Not only was there no trouble, but the First Young Master even entered the training hall this morning, didn't he?
'Is she foolish, or just too proud?'
For a Namgung Young Miss, she neither reported yesterday's incident nor ran away.
If she didn't realize she was being ignored, that was good; if she was just trying to save face, that was even better.
'Proud ones don't like to be broken.'
Meaning, she wouldn't complain no matter what he did.
"Now then, hurry and go practice the Samjaegeombeop. I need to teach the other young masters, so..."
"I've mastered it."
"...Pardon?"
"I said I've mastered it. The Samjaegeombeop."
Namgung Jangyang frowned.
But a sneer quickly appeared on his lips.
"Sword arts are not something one can master overnight. As I told you yesterday, even simple movements contain the principles of the world. Are you saying the Young Miss has comprehended those principles in a single day?"
"Yes."
It was a confident reply.
Namgung Jangyang couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
What worldly principles could possibly be contained within the Samjaegeombeop, a third-rate, low-level martial art found even in street markets?
It was just a plausible-sounding fabrication.
'Comprehend? What is there to comprehend?'
One would need something to comprehend in order to comprehend it, wouldn't one?
"Heheheh... Oh, my, I apologize. This, *pfft*... I've shown an impolite side. *Cough*..."
He even wiped away tears while giggling.
He collected himself, shrugging his shoulders.
"Then, would you care to demonstrate it for me?"
His condescending gaze was truly arrogant.
"Comprehension manifests through the sword. So, please, demonstrate your sword art. Let me see what principles are contained within the Young Miss's sword."
"Alright."
Seolhwa held her wooden sword properly and took two steps back.
Her eyebrows slightly arched.
"Aren't you drawing your sword?"
Namgung Jangyang spread his arms and shrugged. He didn't draw the real sword at his waist.
"I'm merely observing, so a sword isn't necessary."
"Alright, then."
Seolhwa took her stance.
The children, a little distance away, snickered as they watched the situation.
Seolhwa slowly inhaled, holding the wooden sword with both hands.
In her gaze, the tip of her sword pointed precisely at Namgung Jangyang's neck.
'Samjaegeombeop, First Form. Hoeng (Horizontal) Cut.'
Seolhwa slowly moved her sword. Her movements were so slow that every action, every breath, every motion was visible.
'Hmm. She said she'd learned martial arts. Her posture is correct.'
Namgung Jangyang watched her movements askance, arms crossed.
'But...'
A sudden sense of unease washed over him.
'Did Namgung Seolhwa also speak informally to me yesterday?'
At that moment. *Whoosh*—
Seolhwa's wooden sword cut horizontally.
Namgung Jangyang's neck was perfectly 'taken' with a single stroke.
