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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: 76화
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By the lake, as darkness settled.
Mucheon recalled his conversation with Seolhwa from earlier that day.
‘Grandfather, I need your help.’
Namgung Mucheon vividly remembered the moment, not long ago, when the child had first reached out to him, revealing the truth about the manipulation.
Following his fury over the manipulation, a surge of overwhelming gratitude had thrilled him, making his fingertips tremble, at the thought of the child relying on him.
Everyone he knew mostly sought to exploit his power and authority, but the child was different.
For such a child to finally break her stubborn habit of trying to handle everything alone and ask for help felt nothing short of a miracle.
‘Now, asking for favors seems… quite natural.’
Could it truly bring such joy for his granddaughter to simply state what she needed?
He felt as though he had finally become a true grandfather, and a proud smile naturally curved his lips.
“Patriarch.”
A figure approached from behind Mucheon.
It was Seop Mugwang, the Commander of the Bipunggeomdae.
“Have you uncovered the source of the rumors?”
“It seems to be from the Jeokryongdan Commander’s side, but we haven’t yet identified who is behind them. I will surely find out and make them kneel before you, Patriarch.”
“No. Not before me, but before Seolhwa.”
“Indeed. Damn them.”
Even if it was for a power struggle, they had gone too far. To dare target the Patriarch’s granddaughter, especially one who had returned after eight years.
‘Whoever it is, they’re a fool.’
They seemed to think the Patriarch was a benevolent man because the family had been quiet, but they were gravely mistaken.
The Sword Emperor he knew was never one to show mercy in the face of injustice.
‘They’ll be lucky to keep their lives…’
“The girl told me she wishes to learn the sword from you.”
Seop Mugwang’s expression instantly registered dismay.
After a moment of bewilderment, he hastily spoke.
“Brother, about that…”
“I told her to.”
Seop Mugwang looked up at Namgung Mucheon. Namgung Mucheon was also looking at him.
“Mugwang.”
“…”
“Please take good care of my granddaughter.”
Seop Mugwang’s gaze wavered.
It was the first time in a long while that he, who always maintained a confident, relaxed, and unwavering demeanor, showed such agitation.
“Are you truly permitting this?”
“I can trust my granddaughter to you.”
“Why? The little one’s achievements are far beyond any child her age. No, even among the Ten Great Masters, none had reached such a level at her age. She needs to be properly nurtured from now on…”
“There’s no need to teach Seolhwa the Namgung style of swordsmanship.”
“Brother.”
Seop Mugwang’s voice grew noticeably serious. His tone, too, shifted.
“Even if she was away from the family for eight years, she still carries the Namgung blood. Surely, you’re not refusing to teach her the Namgung sword because she learned martial arts outside the family?”
Namgung Mucheon shook his head.
“It’s not that I won’t teach her. It’s that there’s no need to. That child already knows all of the Namgung sword arts.”
“…What do you mean by that…?”
“Speaking of which, isn’t it about time Mugang arrived?”
“…He won’t arrive before the Cheonmuje. Even so, he’s someone who listens to you, Brother. No, more importantly, what do you mean?”
The little one knows all of the Namgung sword arts?
“In this Namgung family, there is no one who can defeat that child with the Namgung sword, save for me and Mugang.”
“…!”
“Even Mugang might concede the first exchange.”
“That… strong?”
Of course, that’s assuming no internal energy is used.
Within the Namgung family, there were two peerless masters: Namgung Mucheon and Namgung Mugang.
Namgung Mucheon was one of the Ten Great Masters of the world, and while Namgung Mugang wasn’t among the top ten, he was certainly among the top thirty in the world.
And Namgung Mugang would concede the first exchange?
“Honestly, I can’t believe it.”
“Hahaha!”
Namgung Mucheon let out a hearty laugh.
“You’ll see for yourself when Mugang returns later. Whether my words are true or not.”
“I’m not doubting your judgment, Brother, but…”
“What else is it but doubt, if it’s hard to believe?”
“Hmm…”
Right. He admitted it. It was unbelievable.
The idea of Namgung Mugang being pushed back in the first exchange, or the commanders of the Martial Force Division losing to the little one.
This time, he couldn’t agree with Mucheon’s assessment.
“Well… so, it’s fine then? Even if I teach the little one the sword?”
“Yes. That child, no matter what sword she learns or masters, will always pursue the essence of the Heavenly Sword.”
The Heavenly Sword was, in essence, the Namgung Sword.
Namgung Mucheon hadn’t given up on his granddaughter. Rather, he had chosen a path that would further elevate her achievements.
“Your sword is faster and more powerful than anyone else’s. You aren’t called the God of Wind and Thunder for nothing. Since thunder and lightning originate from the heavens, wouldn’t this be the most suitable swordsmanship?”
“Hmm…”
Seop Mugwang slowly nodded.
Namgung Mucheon’s influence had played a significant role in his martial arts taking on the form of thunder and lightning.
‘The little one was said to be skilled in sword arts focused on unpredictable changes and swiftness.’
The little one’s sword clearly had commonalities with both the Namgung style and his own.
Considering that, it wasn’t such a bad option for the little one to learn his sword arts.
Moreover, the child had stated she would find her own path.
‘He truly isn’t called the Sword Emperor for nothing.’
Seop Mugwang let out a small chuckle.
To be a grandfather who could assess all of this in such a short time and open the best path for his granddaughter. There could be no stronger ally than this.
Seop Mugwang performed a respectful clasped-fist salute towards him.
“As you have put your trust in me, I will do my utmost to teach her.”
“I look forward to it.”
Namgung Mucheon gazed up at the sky, vast and filled with stars.
“I wonder what kind of heavens that child will reveal.”
A serene smile had already spread across his lips.
***
It was evening when Illyong, Imoe, and Sambong contacted her.
Seolhwa, with Ryeon, concealed herself in the darkness and slipped out to the Outer Hall, secretly meeting them behind it.
The information the three had gathered was excellent.
“Turns out those commanders have been quite busy lining their pockets, eh? What we did, swindling a few merchants, was nothing compared to them.”
Sambong sneered.
“They routinely took money to promote people to Inner Hall warriors, accepted Heukdo members as warriors, and even sold Namgung family secrets. Honestly, they were worse than the Heukdo thugs themselves.”
The commanders of the Outer Hall’s Sword Guard had committed countless acts behind the family’s back, and the evidence was overwhelming.
“There are always these lunatics who think if they keep stealing without getting caught, it’s a talent. These guys, they’re openly having drinking parties with Heukdo sect leaders now, I hear.”
Sambong listed their crimes as if he himself found it more outrageous.
As he said, it was truly an ironic situation, making one wonder who the real Heukdo were.
“Well done. Ryeon.”
Ryeon pulled out the pouches she had brought and handed one to each of the three.
The faces of the three, receiving the pouches of gold, lit up as brightly as the gleaming metal.
“Is there anything else you need us to do?”
Sambong tucked his pouch away and subtly inquired.
With the generous reward and their newfound backing, if the tasks were always like this, he felt like seizing the opportunity to make a big score.
“Of course there is.”
Seolhwa, as if she had been waiting, gestured to Ryeon, who then produced three more pouches.
They were even plumper than the previous ones.
“This time, it’s an advance. Double the amount.”
“D-double…!”
The three men’s eyes widened.
Seolhwa, her voice sweet, asked them as they stared intently at the pouches.
“So, what do you say? Are you in?”
***
In the darkness, a man stumbled along the street.
A hum, unable to contain his excitement, escaped his lips.
“Heh heh… could things be any smoother?”
Namgung Suhak, Commander of the Jeokryongdan in the Outer Hall’s Martial Force Division.
He recalled the conversation from the drinking party that had just ended.
‘They said she was the Patriarch’s favored child, but she’s nothing special, is she? I was so nervous the rumors would be squashed before they even spread.’
‘Hahaha! When has the Patriarch ever openly favored his own children? They said he cleansed her body and mind! Guess that was the extent of it!’
‘I was tense when she started meddling with our Martial Force Division right after returning. But now, I can relax and enjoy the Cheonmuje.’
‘Aren’t you excited already? To see the look on Young Master Il’s face when his daughter is ridiculed in front of the entire family!’
Everything was going smoothly.
Tomorrow, the first selection round for Inner Hall warriors would be held.
At that festival, the Jeokryong Eleventh Squad, nurtured by Namgung Seolhwa, would be absent.
The Jeokryong Eleventh Squad was a stagnant group of those without backing. He couldn’t stand by and let those powerless, talentless nobodies obstruct ‘that person’s’ will.
‘They must have thought the Namgung Young Lady would have their back. Heh heh…’
But what power could a thirteen-year-old child, who had just returned to the family, possibly wield?
Thankfully, those idiotic Eleventh Squad members had immediately reacted to the provocation involving Namgung Seolhwa.
Thanks to them, he had one less thing to worry about.
He wondered what reward ‘that person’ would bestow upon him once they learned he had handled this matter properly.
“Eheheh, huff. Truly exciting. So exciting.”
“What’s so exciting?”
The Jeokryongdan Commander, who had been humming to himself, startled and pressed himself against the wall.
“Wh-who’s there?!”
He quickly scanned his surroundings, then fixed his gaze on a spot in the darkness.
From that darkness, a person emerged. No, a child appeared.
