“Bring it here.”
The moment they stepped into the study, Namgung Mucheon raised a barrier around the room before even greeting them. Soon after, Chief Steward Namgung Mun brought something over, resting it on a bamboo tray.
“Sit.”
Seolhwa and Namgung Cheongun sat down on the chairs. The Chief Steward placed the items he had brought in the center of the desk.
“Do you know what this is?”
Seolhwa leaned forward with a puzzled expression to look at the objects on the bamboo tray. The moment she confirmed what lay there, her expression instantly chilled.
‘A token…?’
On the bamboo tray lay a wooden plaque, about the size of an adult’s palm. But Seolhwa knew it was no ordinary plaque.
‘A Blood Token. The Blood Token of the Twelve Moons.’
The twelfth assassin among the Twelve Killers of the Blood Demon. It was the Blood Token of the Twelve Moons. Its size and shape were no different from an ordinary identity plaque, but instead of a name, her gaze was fixed on the crimson characters engraved upon it: 十二.
“So, you recognize it.”
“…Where did you get this?”
“It arrived for you this morning.”
“…!”
Namgung Cheongun shot to his feet in shock.
“For Seolhwa? But it has not even been a few hours since it was announced that Seolhwa is a child of Namgung. Are you certain it was meant for her?”
Namgung Mucheon’s reply was firm.
“It was for Seolhwa. Among those who came to collect grain, one left it behind as a gift.”
“Did you capture him?”
“We did. But he was not directly related to this. It seems he was paid along the way to deliver it.”
“We questioned him with a truth serum. It is certain,” the Chief Steward added, supporting Namgung Mucheon’s words.
“That is why I called you here. You recognize this, don’t you?”
Seolhwa stared at the engraved number twelve, then after a short silence, nodded.
“They are calling for me.”
In Fire Crow Pavilion, there were several unspoken rules. One of them was throwing one’s token at another. Its meaning was simple: a duel of life and death.
When someone threw their token, the atmosphere in the pavilion would ignite. Though such duels only ended when one person died, the crowd would cheer and place bets on who would live and who would die. The dead received no mourning.
Once the duel ended, the money was settled, and only the victor raised a cup in celebration. The Twelve Moons were inviting her into that gamble.
‘Is this the Blood Demon’s will?’
Was this a warning sent through the Twelve Moons? A message that betrayal could only be answered with death?
‘I must meet them. Myself.’
Seolhwa clenched her fist. The Twelve Moons were calling her. It was not the Blood Demon directly, but surely, behind them, the Blood Demon’s will lingered.
She had to go and uncover that will herself.
“I can handle this.”
“No.” Namgung Mucheon’s answer came without the slightest hesitation.
It was only natural. The child who had only just returned was now under threat, and to send her straight into danger again was unthinkable. At his resolute refusal, Seolhwa’s brows furrowed.
Rising to her feet, her voice grew heated.
“I must go. This has nothing to do with Namgung. This is something I must resolve…!”
“How can it have nothing to do with Namgung? You are a child of Namgung.”
“…!”
“Now that it has been declared, the family has the duty to protect you.”
“But…!”
“Enough.”
The weight of Namgung Mucheon’s voice, infused with his cultivation, forced Seolhwa into silence. She still felt she had to go, but Namgung Mucheon showed no sign of bending.
“Your only concern is your safety. The elders of the family will handle this matter.”
Seolhwa’s clenched hand tightened further. Perhaps meeting the Twelve Moons would give her a clue to unravel the hypnosis. Lately, she had hardly been able to sleep, fearing she might fall under its sway.
‘The Twelve Moons must know something about the hypnosis.’
That was why she had to go herself. As she bit her lip in frustration, Namgung Mucheon spoke again.
“Do not bring this up again. These things should not even have been shown to you. Chief Steward.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“…!”
The Chief Steward retrieved the items from the desk. As the objects were taken away from her sight, Seolhwa’s face darkened. Then, as if struck by a thought, she quickly spoke.
“I have a plan.”
“Seolhwa.”
“If I am not in danger, then there is no problem, right? I have a plan to capture the enemy. Please, just hear me out once.”
At her urgent tone, Namgung Mucheon and the Chief Steward exchanged glances.
“Please, Grandfather.”
Her expression was desperate. Seeing the earnestness in her eyes, Namgung Mucheon finally sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Very well. Let us hear it.”
Seolhwa paused, gathering her thoughts, then spoke calmly.
“We make it look as if I am frightened and fleeing, so the enemy will attack us. We set a trap and lure them in. First, we leave the crowded city, and then…”
As they left the Family Head’s Hall, Cheongun looked back at his daughter again and again, worry written all over his face. After enduring his gaze three times, Seolhwa finally stopped and turned to him.
“What is it, Father?”
Cheongun cleared his throat.
“I worry, that is all.”
“About me?”
“Yes. You may not be in direct danger, and I will not allow it to be so, but the fact that someone is targeting you is dangerous in itself.”
He hesitated, then asked carefully.
“Is it… them?”
When Seolhwa nodded, Namgung Cheongun let out a low sigh. He knew she bore a Forbidden Seal upon her body. Though it caused no immediate harm, as a father, he could not help but worry.
“I must find a way to resolve it.”
“With time, it will be resolved. There is no need to trouble yourself.”
“Even if it seems harmless now, who can say? I will search every corner of the Martial World for a way to undo it…”
“Father.”
Seolhwa took his hand.
“More than that, there is something I wish to learn.”
“Something you wish to learn?”
“Please teach me Namgung’s internal method.”
Now that the Blood Sect had begun to move, she could no longer delay learning Namgung’s martial arts. Her plan to lure the enemy would be carried out tonight. Before meeting the Twelve Moons, she needed to at least strengthen her Inner Energy.
“The internal method? But soon you will be learning martial arts from the leader of the Martial Force.”
“I want to learn it now. I have been looking forward to it even before I came to Namgung.”
Teaching her the basic internal method of Namgung was not difficult. Still, once her martial training began, she would spend half her days in practice anyway.
“Will you not teach me?”
Seolhwa shook his hand gently. Her eyes, gazing up at him, sparkled brighter than ever. Well, she would learn it eventually.
A little earlier would do no harm.
“…Very well. Let us go.”
Namgung Cheongun lifted Seolhwa into his arms. Using Lightness Skill, he swiftly carried her back to the pavilion.
Once back, they ordered the maidservants to forbid any visitors, then entered Seolhwa’s room. Namgung Cheongun seated Seolhwa on the bed, then sat cross-legged behind her.
“I know you have practiced martial arts, but I will guide you through the beginning.”
“Yes.”
“I will recite the formula of the internal method and guide your Inner Energy. Remember the flow well.”
He placed his hand on her back. At once, a clear and pure energy flowed into her body. It was not as vast and overwhelming as Namgung Mucheon’s energy, but it was refined, pure, and tinged with a vivid blue.
‘This is Father’s energy.’
It was incomparably clear and pure. Just receiving it felt refreshing, as though quenching a deep thirst. It was the same scent she felt when embraced in her father’s arms.
“The method I will show you is the foundation of all Namgung martial arts. It is the process of drawing in the energy of the vast, boundless sky and storing it within your body.”
‘Azure Sky Grand Evolution Divine Art.’
The energy of the blue heavens, of infinite change and harmony. It strengthened Namgung’s martial arts, imbuing every technique with the energy of the heavens. As the most basic, it was also the most important—the very essence of Namgung’s martial studies.
“Most people think the sky is only what lies above them. But that is wrong. The sky already fills the land we stand upon. The air we breathe, the wind we feel—all of it is the sky.”
Can one divide the boundaries of the sky? Because one must lift their head to see it, they think it distant. But in truth, the sky is already all around.
Everything that fills the world is the sky itself. Thus, Namgung’s energy was the energy that encompassed both heaven and earth.
“Feel the energy flowing through my meridians.”
Namgung Cheongun began to recite the formula of the internal method, circulating his energy.