After finishing her dawn training, Seolhwa immediately prepared and headed to the Celestial Tiger Hall with Namgung Cheongun. In front of the stairs leading up to the Celestial Tiger Hall, Seolhwa recalled her first day in Namgung. On that day, she had followed behind a warrior, but now, Namgung Cheongun was by her side.
“Shall I carry you?”
“I'm alright.”
“Then, let us hold hands.”
Seolhwa did not bother to refuse. No, she thought it was slightly better than being carried up. The two of them climbed the stairs of the Celestial Tiger Hall step by step, holding hands.
Cheongun's hand was soft and warm. She had known it since he had been willing to give his life for her, but her father was a soft-hearted person. Even last night, he had clutched her injured hand, whimpering that it was his fault, and she had barely managed to soothe him.
‘Come to think of it, the people of Namgung seem to make too much of a fuss.’
How many times did they have to break into a sweat over a slightly injured hand? As if he was the one who was nervous, Namgung Cheongun kept tightening his grip on Seolhwa's hand the entire way up the stairs. Seolhwa found it a little amusing and held his hand tightly.
Like that, they climbed the stairs and entered the Celestial Tiger Hall. Seolhwa quickly scanned the gathered people. Most were familiar faces.
There were those she had killed, and she could also see those who had been killed by the hands of the Six Blood Lords or the Twelve Moons. Among them, some looked at her with pleased expressions, while others needlessly coughed and avoided her gaze. Those who avoided her gaze were likely the ones displeased with her return.
‘It's not like everyone would welcome me.’
Namgung was a large sect, so there must be various entangled interests, and among them, there would be those who would benefit if she had not returned. It was something she had expected, so it was not very surprising. Receiving everyone's gazes, Seolhwa walked with Namgung Cheongun to stand before Namgung Mucheon.
Just like on the first day, Namgung Mucheon was looking down at her from the head seat of the Celestial Tiger Hall.
“I greet the Family Head.”
“Hello, Grandfather.”
At Seolhwa's greeting, Namgung Mucheon's eyebrows twitched strangely. Staring intently at Seolhwa, he soon burst out laughing, "Hahaha!"
“I finally hear you call me Grandfather. Before, you wouldn't call me that even when I asked you to.”
“I have heard that a handful of affection is more fearsome than a debt of a thousand gold. If by chance I was not a child of Namgung, I would have to leave this place. I was afraid that if I grew attached to you, Grandfather, I wouldn't want to leave, so I could not bring myself to call you that.”
Sighs erupted from all around. The gazes of the adults looking at Seolhwa were mixed with pity and admiration. Namgung Mucheon also had a bitter expression.
“But now that I have been acknowledged as your proper granddaughter, there is no reason not to call you that.”
Namgung Mucheon nodded with a pleased smile.
“Yes. Call me that often. It is good to hear.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
As Namgung Mucheon nodded again, Namgung Cheongun stepped forward and spoke.
“Father. I wish to have Seolhwa greet the family elders.”
“Go ahead.”
Namgung Cheongun led Seolhwa to where the people were seated. First was the right side of the Celestial Tiger Hall, a place where those who looked advanced in age were gathered.
“Offer your greetings. These are the esteemed elders of the family.”
Seolhwa bowed deeply towards them.
“It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time. My name is Seolhwa.”
Most of the grand elders of the Elder Council welcomed Seolhwa with benevolent smiles.
“You have suffered much. I hear you returned on your own?”
“I used to see you often when you were a baby. I am overjoyed that you have returned like this.”
“For such an intelligent child to have grown up and returned to us, it is a great fortune for the family.”
Each of them added a word or two and patted Seolhwa's head. There were also some who wiped away tears. Seeing them welcome her so sincerely, it seemed there was no one among them who was not happy about Seolhwa's return.
However, what is seen is not everything.
‘The term ‘old monster’ doesn't exist for nothing.’
The older one gets, the easier it is to hide one's emotions. To put it nicely, one becomes experienced; to put it badly, one becomes sinister. Of course, not everyone is like that.
Next were the current elders of the family.
“I am Namgung Gi-Baek, the Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall. It is a relief that you have returned safely. You should come visit the Law Enforcement Hall sometime.”
“I am Namgung So, the Hall Master of the Finance Hall. Thanks to the Young Lady returning on her own, Namgung was able to save 100 gold bars… Ack! Why did you hit me!”
“Because you're spouting nonsense!”
Ignoring the bickering Namgung Gi-Baek and Namgung So, the person next to them offered a greeting.
“I am Namgung Yeom, the Outer Hall Master. We have met before, have we not? Had I known you were Young Lady Seolhwa, I would have taken even better care of you when you were at the Heavenly Guest Room.”
“I am Choryeon, the Medicine Hall Master. We've already had a very thorough greeting, so I'll keep this short, shall I?”
She winked, closing and opening one eye. The figure of Namgung Mugang, the Master of the Martial Studies Hall and known as the second-in-command of Namgung, was nowhere to be seen. Following that, she greeted each of the elders who did not hold key positions.
There was no one who openly expressed their displeasure, but a few showed signs of being uncomfortable with Seolhwa. The greetings with her immediate family were omitted, as they had already had a separate meal together. After finishing the introductions with a brief greeting to the leaders of Namgung's five martial force units, Seolhwa stood before Namgung Mucheon once again.
Namgung Mucheon, who had been slowly looking over Seolhwa and the people in the Celestial Tiger Hall, curved the corners of his mouth and opened his lips. His low voice resounded majestically through the Celestial Tiger Hall.
“After eight long years, our Namgung has found its lost child. This is nothing less than a great joy for Namgung.”
His expression looked overjoyed. Seeing the Family Head's joy, the elders and the family's adults also wore pleasant smiles.
“Since we posted notices throughout the world searching for the child, we must also let the world know of the child's return.”
Namgung Mucheon raised a hand.
“Post notices in the Central Plains announcing the child's return, and open the granaries of the main and branch families to distribute grain to those who come to offer their congratulations! Give double the grain to those who spread the news, so that the child's return is widely known!”
The family elders all rose at once and cupped their fists.
“We obey!”
“We must make it clear to those who oppose Namgung! That behind this child they target, stands this Namgung family!”
Namgung Mucheon gripped the Heavenly Decree and rose from his seat.
“Never again shall we lose a child of Namgung!”
The Heavenly Decree struck the floor with a thud! A grand energy radiating from the tip of the Heavenly Decree momentarily shook the Celestial Tiger Hall.
“We must not forget the pain of the past eight years when we lost this child, and the joy of today!”
“We uphold the Family Head's will!”
“We uphold the Family Head's will!”
At Namgung Mucheon's declaration, everyone in the Celestial Tiger Hall rose, cupped their fists in unison, and responded to the Family Head's will. The thunderous sound once again shook the Celestial Tiger Hall. Namgung had formally announced the child's return.
The child's name was Namgung Seolhwa. It was the return of the child who would one day become the monster produced by the great Namgung family, and the sky of the Martial Alliance.