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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Namgung Sega Granddaughter's Return
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* * *
Cheonghae greeted the dawn from where he sat.
Cheonghae, who disliked alcohol and boisterous gatherings, quietly excused himself from the banquet after the Cheonmuje once it had reached its peak.
Normally, as the family's representative, he would have stayed until the very end, but yesterday's banquet wasn't about him.
The true stars of yesterday's banquet were his elder brother, Cheongun. No, rather, it was his brother's daughter, Seolhwa.
Cheonghae had prepared meticulously for this Cheonmuje.
With discussions about the Young Master position beginning, this was an opportunity to earn recognition from all the family elders gathered.
Despite his best efforts, he had been defeated. He had showcased the family's 'peace,' while his elder brother had displayed its 'glory.'
Even if they had retired from the front lines, all the family elders were martial artists. Naturally, a martial artist would be drawn more to glory than to peace.
Cheonghae accepted the outcome. As a younger brother, he was genuinely happy that Cheongun had ascended to the realm of a Grand Master.
However, he wasn't magnanimous enough to sit there laughing and joking. Having given his utmost, his disappointment was profound.
Tap. Tap.
Cheonghae gazed at the small, palm-sized box resting on his desk.
He recalled the words of the child who had sought him out last night.
* * *
"Seolhwa, what brings you here?"
Cheonghae, who had returned to his study and was pacing by his desk, looked at the child with surprise.
"Hello, Uncle. I just stopped by on my way back to the pavilion."
"Where is your father, my brother?"
"Father is still at the banquet."
"Then, did you come alone?"
"Yes. There's something I need to tell you, Uncle."
What could a young niece possibly have to say, coming alone at this hour?
Though puzzled, Cheonghae invited Seolhwa inside.
"Come in first. I'll get you some tea."
"Thank you, but I'll decline the tea. I won't be staying long."
"...Alright. Have a seat."
Instead of tea, Cheonghae poured water and placed it before the child. The two sat facing each other across the table.
"What is it you wish to say? Given that you specifically came at this late hour, it must be urgent."
Seolhwa smiled and placed the small box in front of Cheonghae.
"What is this?"
"They're medicinal pills."
"Pills?"
Cheonghae took the box and opened the lid, and a strong scent of medicinal herbs wafted out.
Inside the box, just as Seolhwa had said, were small pills, about the size of a pinky fingernail.
"Pills, indeed. What kind of medicine is this?"
"Take them when your chest feels heavy and your mind is foggy. These pills will alleviate your symptoms, Uncle."
"So, they're for fatigue. Thank you."
"Uncle, who do you think is behind this incident?"
"?"
Cheonghae's hand, which had been closing the box to put it away, paused.
He placed the box back on the table and asked,
"What are you talking about?"
"The incident with the Martial Force Group. You don't actually believe the Jeokryong Commander orchestrated all of it, do you?"
"Hmm... Are you suggesting I ordered the Jeokryong Commander to do those things?"
"No."
Seolhwa met Cheonghae's gaze steadily.
"Not you, Uncle, but Auntie."
"!"
Cheonghae's face hardened.
Seolhwa watched his rigid expression for a moment, then pointed at the box Cheonghae had set back down.
"Those pills are an antidote."
"!"
"And the symptoms I mentioned earlier are signs of poisoning."
"...What?"
"Even if it's not immediately, if those symptoms appear someday, take those pills. You've likely been slowly poisoned, so by the time symptoms show, you'll have ingested a considerable amount of the poison. But that antidote will be enough..."
"Wait..."
"I haven't mixed anything strange in them. You can have a trustworthy physician verify the antidote if you wish."
"Wait, wait... Give me a moment to think..."
Cheonghae pressed a hand to his throbbing forehead and exhaled a long sigh.
His expression, as he stared at the box, was complex.
After a long time, he collected himself, breathing deeply, then asked with a confused face,
"So... you're saying... your aunt is trying to... poison me?"
"Yes."
Because you died that way in the previous life too.
Cheongun, who gave up the family head position to find his daughter, and Cheonghae, who died prematurely, poisoned by his wife.
That was why the third brother, Cheongsan, became the head of Namgung in the previous life.
"That's absurd. Why would my wife do that to me?"
"I don't think that's the first question you should be asking."
"What...?"
"Why aren't you asking for the reason behind my statement that Auntie is behind this incident?"
"!"
"You already knew, didn't you, Uncle? That it was Auntie who ordered the Jeokryong Commander to mobilize the Sword Guard."
Namgung Cheonghae did not answer. However, his silence served as an affirmation.
"Auntie wants to hold Namgung in her hands. Just as she tried to wield the Sword Guard, she wants to control Namgung. That's likely why she chose to marry you, Uncle."
Yeon Soran was the daughter of a prominent merchant guild.
Namgung Cheonghae and Yeon Soran chose marriage not out of love for each other, but for the mutual benefits they could gain.
It was, in essence, a political marriage desired by both.
"But what if you, Uncle, seem unlikely to become the family head?"
"...She would incur a debt to the family, even if it meant killing me. That way, it would be advantageous when placing Soryong in the position of family head."
Precisely.
Even with just a few hints about the situation, Namgung Cheonghae had accurately grasped his predicament.
'It's a good thing I investigated Namgung Cheonghae's death in the previous life.'
Originally, the plan was to ambush Namgung Cheonghae when he embarked on a long journey, but absurdly, he died during that journey.
Tracing the reason led to discovering some very interesting facts about Yeon Soran.
"How... how do you know all these things?"
"The place I was affiliated with before was skilled in information gathering."
"...I see."
Since she had mentioned being involved with a tavern, he probably assumed it was something like the Haomun.
There was no need to be more precise.
"I have no intention of revealing that Auntie is behind this incident."
"...Why not?"
"Because that's what you would want, Uncle."
Namgung Cheonghae was turning a blind eye to Yeon Soran's actions, even though he knew.
It wasn't because he loved Yeon Soran.
If her involvement in this matter were revealed, Cheonghae's reputation would be tarnished, moving him a step further away from the Young Master position.
"I hope, Uncle, that you will compete fairly and honorably with my father."
Namgung Cheonghae was intelligent. And capable.
While his martial arts might lag behind Cheongun's, he was strong in formations and adept at family affairs.
If he lived and assisted Cheongun, Namgung would become undeniably stronger, both internally and externally.
For that to happen, Namgung Cheonghae needed to lose as honorably as possible.
He needed to fight his best, lose, accept it, and thereby yield.
If he were to face a defeat he couldn't accept himself, he would surely withdraw from the front lines and quietly devote himself to reading.
'On that note, should I tell him one more thing?'
She was also curious how Namgung Cheonghae would react if he learned 'that.'
"And... there's something else Auntie is hiding."
"...What?"
Namgung Cheonghae looked completely unaware. However, she had no intention of telling him this directly.
"You should find that out yourself, Uncle. That's not something for me to interfere with."
"...?"
"It's getting late. I'll take my leave now."
Seolhwa rose from her seat and performed a pokwon towards Cheonghae.
After a polite bow, the child quickly exited the room.
Even after the child had left, Cheonghae remained rooted to his spot, staring blankly at the door.
'Thirteen... she said?'
The same age as his son, Soryong.
She was born a few months before Soryong, but it was only a few months. How could there be such a vast difference?
Did different upbringings create such a significant disparity?
'No. That child is simply exceptionally clever.'
Seolhwa was only thirteen in age, but she was not like a thirteen-year-old.
Throughout their conversation, he had tried to read her thoughts, but each time, she would utter something shocking that unsettled him.
As if telling him not to try and understand her.
Her cunning was too profound to fathom. So much so that it was impossible to believe she was only thirteen.
Tap. Tap.
At the sound of a careful knock on the door, Namgung Cheonghae, who had been lost in thought, lifted his gaze.
"Who is it?"
"Father, it's Ung."
His second son's voice came from beyond the door.
Only then did Cheonghae realize that dawn had already broken and it was morning.
Rubbing his tired eyes, Cheonghae tidied his disheveled appearance from the night before, then replied,
"Come in."
With a soft slide, the door opened, and Namgung Ung entered.
"!"
Namgung Cheonghae's face was filled with horror at the sight of him entering the room.
His clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and he was drenched in sweat.
Namgung Ung's appearance was far from normal.
Namgung Cheonghae rushed to Namgung Ung in a single stride.
"What on earth happened to you? What kind of state is this?"
As he turned the boy's body this way and that to check him, Namgung Ung spoke in a calm voice.
"I'm not hurt, so please don't worry. This is just what happens when I train diligently."
"Is that truly so?"
"Yes."
Only then did Namgung Cheonghae breathe a sigh of relief.
He had appeared in such a mess early in the morning that Cheonghae had thought he'd been beaten somewhere, but thankfully, that didn't seem to be the case.
"How on earth can training lead to this? You didn't undertake any dangerous training, did you?"
"No, I didn't. More importantly, Father, there's something I need to ask you."
