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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: The Truth Revealed
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At that moment, the faces of two people drained of color.
One was Namgung Jangyang, the Jeokryongdan Leader in charge of the family's training. The other was Yeon Soran, who had given Namgung Jangyang that order.
Yeon Soran instantly erased the look of panic from her face.
"What are you saying, Soryong? The Jeokryongdan Leader didn't teach Seolhwa sword techniques?"
The Jeokryongdan Leader stared at Yeon Soran with eyes wide in shock.
Yeon Soran hastily sent a mental message.
"Don't even think of stepping forward. If I survive, won't you survive too?"
The Jeokryongdan Leader was already doomed. Now that everything was exposed by Soryong's words, it was irreversible.
Knowing that fact, the Jeokryongdan Leader suppressed his anger and lowered his head.
He was furious at Yeon Soran's attitude of trying to save herself, but she was the only one he could still rely on.
"She only hit the dummies! He didn't even properly teach her Samjaegeombeop, so how would she know Namgung's sword techniques? Something's wrong... ugh!"
"What did you say?"
Soryong couldn't speak.
This was because the fury emanating from Namgung Mucheon enveloped and crushed the entire arena.
Everyone in the arena, including Soryong and Yeon Soran, trembled under the oppressive aura.
"Th-that..."
Young Soryong couldn't withstand Namgung Mucheon's imposing aura. Even just looking at him, he was so terrified that he couldn't speak and began to whimper.
Yeon Soran quickly embraced Soryong.
"S-Soryong seems to be scared, Father. I'll ask him the full story once he calms down, so please, Father, put away your anger for now."
Namgung Mucheon, who had been indifferently watching Soryong burst into tears in his mother's arms, turned his gaze to stare at the Jeokryongdan Leader.
At that moment, the Jeokryongdan Leader and the other leaders sitting nearby felt their breaths catch in their throats.
"Bipunggeom."
"Yes, Family Head."
Seop Mugwang stepped forward before Namgung Mucheon.
"Uncover the truth of this matter in detail and report it to me."
"Understood!"
"Martial Arts Hall Master, assist the Bipungdae Leader."
Namgung Mugang quietly nodded his head.
The investigation Namgung Mucheon ordered was not limited to the Jeokryongdan Leader's matter alone. He was ordering an investigation into the corruption of the martial forces that had been ongoing since the morning.
"Martial Arts Hall Master, don't touch a drop of alcohol until you've resolved this entire matter. Do you understand?"
Namgung Mugang, a renowned heavy drinker, flinched and hesitated to answer. But soon, he sighed regretfully and nodded.
"I understand."
Because he glared at the Jeokryongdan Leader with fiery eyes, the Jeokryongdan Leader was once again crushed by an suffocating aura.
"Seolhwa's martial arts were taught by me when she was in the training hall."
Suddenly, the arena buzzed with murmurs.
It was surprising enough that the Family Head personally taught martial arts, but the timing of the teaching was even more shocking.
"That sword technique just now was learned when she was in the training hall?"
"Are you saying Cheonpunggeombeop is a sword technique that can be mastered in just ten days?"
It was an unbelievable statement. No matter how excellent the teacher, no matter how much of a genius the student.
'This is impossible.'
Breaking through their disbelief, Namgung Mucheon's shocking words continued.
"Seolhwa is a child born with Cheonmujiche. She grasped the sword techniques I showed her instantly and followed them. I showed her various other sword techniques as well. She did well with all of them."
'Cheonmujiche!'
'Sword techniques instantly!?'
Namgung Mucheon gazed at Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa has exceptional perception and a physique suitable for learning martial arts. She is a talent more fitting for our Namgung, which pursues advancement, than anyone else."
Whispering gazes turned toward Seolhwa. The Family Head would not lie, so all these words must be true.
Cheonmujiche. A martial arts prodigy.
'A monster has emerged from Namgung...!'
'The lost child was Cheonmujiche!'
'Oh... What kind of fortunate encounter is this?'
"Let me ask you one thing."
Amidst the murmurs, a husky voice was heard.
Seolhwa turned her gaze to Namgung Mugang. His lips held a smile full of interest.
Namgung Mugang was also a martial artist. Watching Seolhwa's sword, his heart pounded for the first time in a very long while. The fact that she possessed Cheonmujiche was also very interesting.
Thus, he grew even more curious.
"Why did you create the Pahegeom?"
At that question, the gazes of the family members instantly focused on Seolhwa.
'Indeed. Why did she create the Pahegeom?'
Now, no one doubted that the child had created the Pahegeom.
Seolhwa smiled faintly and replied.
"To supplement Namgung's sword techniques."
"Supplement? Are you saying Namgung's sword techniques have flaws? The martial arts created by Cheonmu (天武), the founder of Namgung?"
The Sky Warrior. The founder of Namgung was the first person in martial arts history to be the foremost master of his time, emerging not from a sect but from a family.
With his sword, no one could contend against him, and it was said that observing his sword felt like looking up at the heavens, hence he was called Cheonmu.
"You know how dangerous those words are, don't you?"
"Cheonmu established Namgung's sword techniques while simultaneously founding the Martial Arts Hall. The purpose of the Martial Arts Hall is to research and develop martial arts. Don't you think there's a reason he established these two together?"
Do not stagnate.
Do not settle.
Surpass the predecessors.
Times change, and as times change, martial arts must develop.
He was the foremost master of his time, but he knew.
That in future generations, martial talents superior to himself would appear, and to contend with them, Namgung's sword techniques must also continue to evolve.
"Martial arts are not complete."
"!"
"It was a phrase I happened to see while passing by the Martial Arts Hall."
Though, in truth, she had seen it in her previous life.
Those were the words Cheonmu spoke when he established the Martial Arts Hall.
"It's also why I came up with the Pahegeom."
As if it was a sufficient answer, Namgung Mugang merely nodded with a thoughtful expression and did not ask further questions.
Namgung Mucheon told her she could descend, and Seolhwa bowed to the adults before stepping down from the arena.
"Seolhwa!"
"Young Miss!"
Namgung Cheongun, who had been waiting, ran over and hugged Seolhwa tightly.
Seolhwa, blinking her wide eyes a few times, hugged Cheongun back.
"How was it?"
"I was proud. A very, very proud daughter."
He held Seolhwa tightly and stroked her head.
"I knew my daughter was a genius, but I didn't know she was this much. The protagonist of this Cheonmuje is you, Seolhwa."
He took a step back and looked at Seolhwa. His eyes were moist.
"Now no one will be able to doubt you. No one will be able to say you don't belong in Namgung. My daughter. Truly..."
Cheongun finally shed tears.
"You've grown up so well..."
As Cheongun's tears streamed down, Seolhwa's throat felt tight, as if she were parched.
That feeling was strange, so she turned her gaze and saw Yeoyul and Ryeon.
Yeoyul was already weeping profusely at the sight of the father and daughter, and Ryeon's eyebrows were also deeply furrowed.
'...Family.'
She didn't know why that word came to mind at that moment.
She just thought, 'Isn't this what family is?' Always supporting you from behind, waiting for you.
'Rejoicing together.'
Isn't this what family is?
"Begin the banquet!"
With Seolhwa's performance, all the main events of the Cheonmuje concluded.
Alcohol and food were brought into the arena, and the banquet marking the end of the Cheonmuje began.
Seolhwa doubted her eyes as she watched the endless stream of alcohol jars being carried in by the servants.
The only one who couldn't rejoice was Namgung Mugang, who had just received the ban on alcohol.
He squirmed uncomfortably and let out a groan as he looked at the alcohol jars, then huffed and puffed and left the arena.
The banquet continued deep into the night, and the Namgung's lights shone brightly for a very long time.
