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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: 77
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Seolhwa calmly gazed at the Jeokryongdan leader's startled face.
She quite liked the expression that showed he hadn't expected her to come at all.
"N-Namgung Seolhwa...?"
"You should call me 'Young Lady.' How dare you."
Seolhwa's eyes glinted with killing intent in the dim light.
The thick killing intent flowed like a snake, coiling around the Jeokryongdan leader's neck.
The Jeokryongdan leader's legs gave out, and he instinctively stumbled backward. But he soon hit the wall and slumped to the ground.
"W-What brings you...?"
"You've been up to some interesting things."
Seolhwa slowly walked towards the slumped Jeokryongdan leader.
As she drew closer, the killing intent intensified, choking him until the Jeokryongdan leader began to gasp for air.
The Jeokryongdan leader frantically reached out his hand and cried,
"I-Is this about the Jeokryong 11th Platoon? T-That was unavoidable! How could members engage in a power struggle within the clan?! It wasn't a duel, and such actions must be properly punished to maintain order in the combat units...!"
Seolhwa's lips curled into a sneer.
"Do you think I came to see you just for that?"
At this hour of the night. And so secretly, too.
As Seolhwa's figure fully emerged from the shadows, the red aura shimmering around her seemed even more pronounced.
Seolhwa recited the crimes of the Jeokryongdan leader that the three brothers from the Outer Hall had investigated.
"You exploited merchants traveling through Hefei by using Heukdo factions, and not only did you take those Heukdo scoundrels you used and make them Namgung members, but you also took bribes to arbitrarily evaluate members' skill levels."
"...!"
"There's more, too. Should I list them all?"
"T-That's... I-I don't know anything about that!"
"For someone who doesn't know, you certainly look terrified."
Seolhwa grabbed the Jeokryongdan leader's chin and lifted it.
His eyes flickered like a lamp in the wind.
"W-What do you want from me...?"
"What I want... Well..."
If she had to say, she wanted fear. But that was something she sought only when she was in the Hyeolgyo.
"You'll have to figure that out yourself."
In Namgung, there would be a method befitting Namgung.
"Jeokryongdan leader. Namgung Suhark. He's a cousin to Namgung Jangyang, the Jeokryong Commander. And since Namgung Jangyang is twelve degrees removed from me in kinship. That makes you and me..."
Seolhwa shrugged her shoulders.
"As good as strangers, aren't we?"
Seolhwa intensified her killing intent.
The Jeokryongdan leader's teeth clattered. Though he was a commander of the Outer Hall's combat units, he had never encountered such thick, suffocating killing intent in his life.
"If I kill you here, who will remember you?"
He had only ever lorded over his members as a combat unit commander; the Outer Hall's combat units never undertook dangerous missions.
Logically, a young lady of Namgung couldn't just commit murder on a whim, but such basic judgment was impossible for his fear-paralyzed mind.
"...P-Please, s-save me..."
"I can save you, of course. After all, we share the same surname."
Seolhwa gently stepped on the Namgung leader's ankle.
"But you know."
As she put pressure on her foot, the Jeokryongdan leader turned pale.
"N-No...!"
Seolhwa pressed his Ahyeol.
Tears streamed down the Jeokryongdan leader's terror-stricken eyes.
"Don't worry about an ankle when you've broken someone else's wings."
Seolhwa's lips curved into a faint smile.
"...!"
* * *
"Young Lady!"
The person who filled the early morning with commotion was not Yeoyul, but Ryeon.
Today was the day of the first selection for Inner Hall members.
After finishing her dawn training in her private training ground instead of with the members, Seolhwa, who was washing and dressing, turned towards the door.
After a moment of clattering sounds from beyond the door, Ryeon's agitated voice was heard.
"Young Lady! It's been lifted! They've allowed him to apply for the selection!"
It was a voice filled with emotion. Seolhwa, who was tidying her clothes, smiled.
The Cheonmuje had begun.
* * *
Clang—!
A vein throbbed on Namgung Jipyeong's forehead.
"Ugh..."
As he pushed his sword with force, a look of bewilderment appeared on his opponent's face.
The opponent's eyes darted between Namgung Jipyeong's face and legs.
'W-What monstrous strength...!'
No Jeokryongdan member was unaware of what the Jeokryong 11th Platoon was.
They were individuals whose martial prowess was strong, but who remained stagnant, unable to climb higher due to a lack of backing.
Some tried a few times to reach higher, but upon realizing the invisible wall, they would leave Namgung on their own accord. That was the purpose of their platoon.
Among them, Namgung Jipyeong was stagnant, even rotten. Many had seen the Jeokryongdan leader troubled by him for not leaving on his own even after realizing the situation.
'I heard he hasn't even been training properly lately...!'
This promotion was an important opportunity not only for himself but also for his merchant guild, which wished to form ties with Namgung.
How much money had he spent for this!
He was supposed to be internally designated for promotion this time...!
He had even taken elixirs for it...!
'And yet I'm being pushed back? My strength...?'
His sword was pushed back. He could no longer withstand Namgung Jipyeong's power.
'I can't let this happen!'
Wham—!
The 12th Platoon Jeokryongdan member, in a moment of desperation, stomped on Namgung Jipyeong's foot. However.
"A hundred geun! A hundred geun! A hundred geun! A hundred geun! A total of four hundred geun!"
"...?"
What was he saying?
"I endured four hundred geun, and you think I can't endure your little foot trick?!"
Thud.
The strength that had endured four hundred geun settled in Namgung Jipyeong's legs.
At that moment, the 12th Platoon member mistakenly thought his body had turned into a hard rock. And simultaneously.
"Aaaargh!"
"Aargh!"
Whoosh—
The 12th Platoon member's body flew through the air.
He didn't just fall from the force of the clashing swords and the stomped foot; he was thrown.
With sounds of thud! thud! thud!, the 12th Platoon member's body tumbled across the training ground.
He soon trembled from the impact, letting out painful groans.
"Ha... Haah... Ha..."
Namgung Jipyeong, catching his breath as he watched the gasping 12th Platoon member, suddenly felt a thrilling sensation.
'...I won.'
And so easily, too.
He had won against opponents in the first selection before, but never so easily, so overwhelmingly. His head tingled with excitement.
This, this victory was truly...
'Too easy...!'
It felt as if all his past training was being instantly rewarded.
Just as Namgung Jipyeong was about to let out a triumphant roar, overwhelmed by an uncontrollable surge of emotion.
"Namgung Jipyeong. Disqualified."
"...!"
A thunderbolt-like judgment struck his ears.
Namgung Jipyeong, who had his hands clenched and raised as if to celebrate, stared blankly at the judging panel.
At that moment, he instinctively knew that his victory was once again being thrown to the ground.
"Jeokryong 11th Platoon's Namgung Jipyeong. We told you to exchange swords, not to show off your strength, did we?"
The Jeokryongdan leader's voice was full of mockery as he spoke.
The indifferent expressions of the five commanders were also clearly visible.
"When exactly will you show us proper swordsmanship? It seems you've been stuck in the 11th Platoon for quite some time."
"Heh heh, indeed. No wonder his face looked familiar. Is this what they call a beggar's tenacity?"
"My dear man, a beggar's tenacity? What kind of talk is that for someone trying their best? Well, he does seem a bit foolish, though."
The commanders chuckled, exchanging disparaging remarks about Namgung Jipyeong.
The one most amused by their laughter was none other than the commander of the Jeokryongdan, to which Jipyeong belonged.
With a thick bandage wrapped tightly around one leg, he mocked Namgung Jipyeong with the most despicable expression of all.
'Even if she's a young lady of Namgung, she has no power within this training ground.'
He had been forced by Seolhwa's threat to lift the suspension placed on the Jeokryong 11th Platoon. However, he couldn't just easily hand over a position as an Inner Hall warrior.
'If the wrong person gets into the Inner Hall, how would I face that person?'
If he fell out of favor with that person, it wouldn't end with just a broken leg.
Not only would he be expelled from his commander position, but he might also be secretly killed for knowing too many secrets.
'First, I need to save myself.'
The Jeokryongdan leader immediately changed the first selection duel to a private one, limiting entry to only the five commanders and the two warriors participating in the duel.
Even a direct descendant of Namgung couldn't easily intrude on a private duel.
'Unless the Clan Head comes, the results of the duels happening in this training ground are in our hands!'
"Know your place! No, well, some people do take a long time to realize their place, yes! Those without skill are naturally persistent, yes! Hahahaha!"
Every word the commanders exchanged in laughter tore at Jipyeong's heart.
Though he had used sheer force at the end, he hadn't entirely failed to exchange swords.
And this duel was meant to judge strength and weakness, not solely 'swordsmanship.'
'Again.'
Jipyeong's hand, gripping his sword, tightened so much that veins bulged.
This time, he had tried so hard he felt like spitting blood, he was confident, and the result was overwhelming.
'As expected, it's impossible. I...'
The Young Lady had used her influence to lift the ban on his application, yet the result was the same this time.
Jipyeong just felt sorry for Seolhwa, who had believed in him and helped him grow steadily.
'This time, I'll definitely leave Namgung.'
There was no longer any reason to stay here.
Just then. From somewhere, a clapping sound, 'Clap, clap, clap,' was heard.
Namgung Jipyeong, the commanders, and even the 12th Platoon member lying on the training ground floor, all looked towards the source of the sound.
'Who is it? No one should be able to enter, should they?'
The Jeokryongdan leader also turned his head, feeling a chill.
"There was a remarkable talent hidden in the Outer Hall."
They all gasped in unison, rising from their seats and performing a Pokwon.
"We greet the Clan Head!"
