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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Namgung Sega Granddaughter's Return
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Cheongun’s sword was powerful.
Although he had only just reached the Peak Transcendence realm and his skills weren't perfectly refined, his momentum was no less than that of those who had fully mastered the Peak Transcendence realm.
Only three people in the Namgung family had reached the Peak Transcendence realm.
The family head, Namgung Mucheon, who had surpassed Peak Transcendence and reached the Hwagyeong realm; Namgung Mugang, the Martial Arts Hall Master, who remained at the pinnacle of Peak Transcendence; and Seop Mugwang, the Bipungdae Leader.
The difference between the Jeoljeong and Peak Transcendence realms was like heaven and earth.
The gap was so immense that there was a saying: martial artists were divided into those who had broken through the Peak Transcendence wall and those who had not.
Even looking at the entire Murim, experts of the Peak Transcendence realm were only among the top 100 masters in the world.
His martial prowess, as he enveloped himself in Gangi and unleashed his sword techniques, was enough to astonish everyone in the family.
‘To already be in the Peak Transcendence realm at that age.’
‘I knew the First Young Master had talent in martial arts, but was it this much?’
‘He wouldn’t have even had time to train, yet he’s at Peak Transcendence. If he dedicates himself to training from now on, then later….’
The family members unconsciously swallowed dryly.
They wanted a family head who would dedicate themselves to the family, which was why they chose Cheonghae, not Cheongun.
However, they already knew through Namgung Mucheon.
That the family’s name would be further elevated not by a family head dedicated to the family, but by one who reigned over Jungwon with formidable martial prowess.
The current Namgung family was treated with respect wherever they went.
Simply being an elder of Namgung granted them the highest treatment, and many bowed their heads.
The reason behind this was that Namgung was known as the ‘Sword Emperor’s Family’.
‘If the First Young Master were to reach the same realm as the Family Head, and his name became known throughout Jungwon…’
‘This current glory might not end with the Sword Emperor’s Family, but could be passed down to the Sword Emperor’s son…’
‘If Namgung Cheonghae becomes the family head, the family might become solid both internally and externally.’
‘If Namgung Cheongun becomes the family head, the family will ascend to even greater heights!’
The elders who had consistently supported Namgung Cheonghae glanced at the Elder Council Head, gauging his reaction.
Their hearts, which seemed unwavering, were now deeply shaken after witnessing Cheongun’s martial prowess.
*Whoosh—*
“Ha… Haa… Ha…”
Cheongun steadied his ragged breathing.
After unleashing all seven forms of the Changgungbiyeongeom while manifesting Gangi, he felt utterly drained.
As he performed his sword techniques, the atmosphere in the martial arena had profoundly changed.
Cheongun straightened his posture and performed a pokwon towards Namgung Mucheon.
Namgung Mucheon gave a brief nod.
“Excellent. Such high achievement in such a short time. It is a great blessing for our family.”
Namgung Mucheon did not hold back his praise.
“Let everyone take Cheongun as an example and not neglect their martial training. The family’s strength is the strength of its members.”
The family members responded in unison to the Family Head’s words.
With the Family Head’s praise concluded, Cheongun descended from the martial stage.
A strange current flowed through the martial arena after Cheongun descended. The family members began to glance at each other, gauging reactions.
It was because of the last direct descendant to appear.
‘It’s Seolhwa’s turn.’
Namgung Mucheon slowly surveyed the now quiet martial arena.
Though they pretended otherwise, even the elders and the heads of the Elder Council were visibly agitated.
They likely had much they wanted to say.
From the rumor of her being a gisaeng in a tavern to the Pahoeggeom. Perhaps some had even noticed Seolhwa’s movements during the inner hall martial artists’ sparring match.
‘She is, after all, a child who has truly shaken the family.’
Especially right after Cheongun had displayed his exceptional martial prowess.
They would be busy weighing whether the presence of Namgung Seolhwa, Cheongun’s daughter, would be an advantage or a disadvantage for Cheongun. And this was true for Namgung Mucheon, the Family Head, as well.
*Thud.*
Namgung Mucheon set down his wine cup and gazed towards the stairs leading up to the martial stage.
Beneath the shadows, the aura of a child could be felt.
‘Now, what will you show us, Seolhwa?’
Fluttering skirt hems blocked Cheongun’s path as he descended from the martial stage.
“Father.”
Cheongun, who had followed the skirt hems with his gaze, froze in place. His eyes trembled slightly.
“Seolhwa.”
Cheongun opened his mouth with an expression full of things he wanted to say. But then, unable to utter a word, he closed it again.
Placing a hand on the child’s shoulder, he nodded softly.
“Show them.”
Seolhwa also nodded. Her gaze was confident, not timid in the slightest.
“I’m proud of you, Father.”
“…”
“I’ll be a daughter you can be proud of too.”
With those words, Seolhwa passed Cheongun and headed for the martial stage.
Cheongun watched his daughter ascend the martial stage, the very stage where he had just displayed his prowess.
Now, Seolhwa would be judged by all the family members.
The eyes of the family members, who had been lenient with other children, would now sharpen, judging Seolhwa’s spar with a gaze more critical than anyone else’s.
Was the child’s return after eight years such a great sin?
Was it the child’s fault that she had been away from the family?
‘How cruel.’
Though it was his own family, Cheongun felt a bitter resentment towards them at that moment.
Both those who drove the child into a corner with dirty rumors and those who, swayed by those rumors, demanded a higher standard from her.
Even himself, who could offer no strength to that child.
‘Seolhwa. I believe in you.’
If what the child had told him was true, the family members would realize it here today.
What it truly meant to be a Namgung.
So, show them.
‘The path you speak of, the path Namgung should take.’
* * *
From the moment Seolhwa began to climb the martial stage stairs, the arena stirred.
“Th-that, that…”
A flamboyant outfit that, though pants, was covered with fluttering thin fabric, making it appear like a skirt at first glance.
Her hair, tied high, was adorned with elaborate ornaments, and a white veil draped over her ears covered half of her face.
“Isn’t that… a gisaeng’s attire?”
Seolhwa’s attire was that of a courtesan.
Shock spread across the faces of the family members who witnessed her appearance. And the same was true for the Family Head and the Hall Masters.
“Heh heh, what a truly outrageous little brat.”
Seop Mugwang chuckled, as if dumbfounded.
He knew all about Seolhwa’s performance during the Cheonmuje that had been ongoing since morning.
He had certainly thought she would show something during the direct descendants’ martial arts demonstration, and he had expected it, but…
‘To be misunderstood as having grown up in a tavern and been a gisaeng, and then actually climb the martial stage dressed as one.’
Wouldn’t this only further provoke the family members’ resentment?
‘What in the world is she thinking?’
What was amusing was the child’s confident gaze, even after pulling such an outrageous stunt.
The child’s expression, as calm as ever, was filled with confidence, and that instilled a thrilling sense of anticipation.
Seop Mugwang subtly covered the corners of his mouth, which kept wanting to curve into a smile. The utterly boring Cheonmuje had finally become interesting at its very end.
Meanwhile, there was another person covering their mouth like Seop Mugwang.
It was Namgung Cheonghae’s wife, Yeon Soran.
“Surely, that child isn’t trying to mock us now, is she?”
“Hmph. Gisaeng attire on a sacred martial stage. It truly looks like she intends to perform a sword dance.”
“Good heavens… Even if she grew up outside, to not even know basic etiquette… Even if there was no time, are you saying the First Young Master didn’t even teach her such things?”
As the situation escalated into increasingly fierce arrows of criticism, Yeon Soran could not hide her smile.
‘Is she oblivious, or just foolish?’
As expected, even if she’s clever, she’s still just a child.
Although she had spread rumors for just such a situation, to think the girl would act childishly in this moment and dig her own grave.
Should she be grateful for this?
The messy feeling from Soryong ruining his spar instantly turned into joy.
‘The child is destroying the reputation her father built up.’
Amidst the criticism, Seolhwa looked straight ahead, at the center of the platform where Namgung Mucheon was seated.
Namgung Mucheon watched Seolhwa with a stern gaze. His eyes were asking for a reason.
What was she doing this for?
Why was she deliberately sharpening the blade already pointed at herself?
With that question hanging in the air, Seolhwa raised her sword. She held her sword upright, pointing it towards Namgung.
From somewhere, wind blew, and energy surged. A crimson aura gathered around Seolhwa.
A crimson, yet incomparably clear, heavenly energy shimmered around Seolhwa’s sword like a heat haze.
At that moment, the air grew chillingly still.
As if on cue, the family members fell silent and watched the child on the martial stage.
* * *
Beneath the darkening sky, the martial arena’s lights brightly illuminated the stage. In that light, a silver sword blade gleamed.
Seolhwa lowered her gaze.
‘What should I show them?’
She had deliberated much on what to show the current Namgung family.
To this Namgung, which was busy tearing down each other’s reputations with baseless rumors, and, intoxicated by power struggles, was burying true martial artists.
‘The Pahoeggeom. It’s more than good enough.’
With the Pahoeggeom, she could captivate the family members’ hearts and instantly quell any rumors.
But was an opportunity to gather all the family members and speak through the sword a common one?
Was it right to use this precious opportunity merely to silence rumors?
Seolhwa could not do that. She had a goal far more important than such trivial matters.
‘I have seen Namgung.’
From now on, I will.
Speak of the Namgung I have seen.
