After guiding the Small Heavenly Circulation through the Ren and Du meridians of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, the flow of energy spread along the Twelve Meridians throughout the body. The clear and refined energy was unlike the unrestrained force of Namgung Mucheon.
It slowly and carefully flowed into every corner of Seolhwa’s body, as if taking great care over a long period of time. It was Namgung Cheong-un’s consideration, so that Seolhwa could gain a deeper understanding of circulating Inner Energy.
‘Still not enough.’
Just as Cheong-un’s guidance was nearing its end, Seolhwa began to move her energy on her own. The Azure Sky Grand Evolution Divine Art was the first martial art of the Namgung family she had mastered in her past life, and she had already reached full comprehension of it. The important thing was simply to open the path.
‘Since I’ve seen it once, it counts as having learned it. I should be able to run wild with it now.’
Whoooom— “…!”
Namgung Cheong-un’s eyes widened in shock. He had been about to gather and settle the energy at the end of his guidance, but suddenly Seolhwa’s energy stirred violently, rampaging as if out of control.
‘No…!’
If one circulated Inner Energy without properly knowing the formula of the internal method or the correct pathways, it was all too easy to fall into Qi Deviation.
“Seolhwa, stop—!”
He hurriedly tried to stop her, but his face froze in astonishment.
“…!”
Her energy began to move fiercely and swiftly, like a raging bull. And yet— ‘This… this is the exact path I guided her through…!’ Seolhwa’s energy was flowing precisely along the route he had shown her.
As though she had already known this path, she circulated her Inner Energy without the slightest hesitation.
‘Kuh…!’
As if being sucked into her flow, Cheong-un felt his own energy being drawn in. Alarmed, he quickly pulled his hands away from her body. But Seolhwa’s energy did not stop.
It grew wilder, faster. Her energy rampaged without restraint.
Huuuuhhh…
As her energy gradually calmed, Seolhwa opened her eyes. Perhaps because it had been so long since she last circulated her energy, her body felt light and refreshed.
‘As expected of Namgung’s internal method.’
Even in her past life, she had known how outstanding Namgung’s internal method was. It was the martial art that had produced the Sword Sovereign. If one built a solid foundation, it was a top-tier martial art that could make one the greatest under heaven.
Moreover, as long as one never stopped cultivating, it was a martial art that could endlessly grow stronger. Though its growth was somewhat slow, its foundation was unshakable, and its potential limitless. That was the martial art of Namgung.
‘If not for the fact that I had to bring down Namgung in my past life, I would have wanted to learn their martial arts.’
The reason she had not practiced it, even though she knew it in her mind, was because of her Blood Energy. She had already cultivated Blood Arts, which directly conflicted with Namgung’s pure martial arts. If she had tried to practice both, her Inner Energy would have clashed dangerously.
But the more she studied Namgung’s martial arts, the more she could not help but acknowledge them.
‘So I finally get to learn the Absolute Martial Art now.’
She had wondered if there would be any effect in actually realizing what she had only known in her head. Fortunately, there was.
“It’s over, then.”
Seolhwa turned her head toward Namgung Cheong-un, who was sitting in a chair. Though he tried to keep a calm expression, his face still betrayed his astonishment.
“You already knew Namgung’s internal method?”
“Father, you showed me, didn’t you?”
“You mean you followed exactly what I showed you just once?”
Seolhwa nodded.
She knew all of Namgung’s martial arts, but she could not reveal the truth. At the same time, she had no intention of pretending ignorance or acting clumsy.
‘If I have to act, it’s better to act like a genius.’
With the memories of her past life, she could not help but be far beyond her peers anyway.
“Do you know how far you’ve raised your cultivation in this internal method I showed you only once?”
“Third Stage.”
Martial arts had twelve stages of achievement, from First to Twelfth. Reaching the Tenth Stage meant one had achieved perfection, called Extreme Completion. Reaching the Twelfth Stage meant one had fully made the martial art their own, called Great Completion.
“For an ordinary person, it takes at least one or two years to reach the Third Stage. And even then, they are called a genius.”
“Is that so?”
“You achieved it in just two hours.”
“I see.”
“…Hah.”
Namgung Cheong-un’s expression grew more and more dumbfounded. Even when told she had done something impossible, her reaction was so calm. Most would be leaping with joy, yet this child’s expression did not change at all.
‘This must be because her emotions are dulled.’
He felt both amazement and a trace of bitterness. But what parent could dislike hearing that their child was not just a genius, but a prodigy beyond genius?
“To think you possessed such extraordinary talent. Honestly, I want to rush out right now and announce it to the whole world.”
“Please endure it.”
“I intend to. I know you wouldn’t like it.”
Namgung Cheong-un smiled warmly at her. From his flushed face and voice, she could feel just how surprised and moved he was. Though it was thanks to her past life’s memories, seeing Cheong-un so delighted by her talent made her chest tingle softly.
Seolhwa’s lips curved into a gentle smile.
The soft glow of sunset slowly faded beyond the ridgeline, and early evening darkness began to descend. Namgung Mucheon stood with Namgung Hyuk, the Black Dragon Unit Leader, in the highest pavilion of Hwaeum County, overlooking the streets below.
“Ah, there it comes.”
At the end of their gaze, a splendid carriage dashed across the street toward the city gates. People stepped aside on both sides of the road, watching with curious eyes the carriage and the escorts surrounding it.
“Isn’t that Namgung’s carriage?”
“I heard the Young Lady they found is riding in it.”
“Then the one inside must be the child Namgung found after eight years.”
Through the veiled curtain, the outline of a small girl could be seen. Though her face was hidden, the silhouette was clearly that of a young girl.
“Look! It’s Namgung’s First Young Master!”
“Haha, so it’s true that Namgung’s Young Lady has returned!”
Lately, the rumor that Namgung had found their lost child had stirred all of the Central Plains. Now that the subject of that rumor appeared, the streets grew even more excited. At the head of the carriage, Namgung Cheong-un’s figure confirmed the truth of it.
Soon, the carriage passed through the gates of Hefei and sped toward the quieter outskirts of the city.
Meanwhile, at that same time, in the Inner Hall of the Namgung family, in Cloudrest Pavilion. Inside Seolhwa’s quarters, three people sat around a round table, leisurely enjoying tea and snacks. Sipping tea was the Medicine Hall Master, Choryeon.
Staring intently at Seolhwa with a sullen expression was Seop Mugwang, Leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit. And munching on candied fruit skewers with a crunch was the child, Seolhwa.
“Do you really think those people will show themselves just because you act as bait? What if the Family Head and your father are being sent on a wild chase for nothing?”
Seolhwa blinked her round eyes as she chewed. Seop Mugwang let out a short laugh.
“Don’t think that innocent look works on me, brat.”
His eyes narrowed. Draining his teacup in one gulp, he began questioning in earnest.
“Tell me honestly. You have some secret signal with them, don’t you? That’s why you’re so certain. That once you leave the city, they’ll appear?”
Seolhwa swallowed her candied fruit and shook her head.
“No. I’m only guessing.”
“Guessing? You moved the Family Head based on a mere guess?”
“Yes.”
Seolhwa bit into another skewer with a crisp crunch. Sweet juice instantly filled her mouth.
“…Hah.”
Seop Mugwang rubbed his chin, raising his brows. To move Namgung’s Family Head—the Sword Sovereign himself—with just a few words, and then to sit there so calmly… it was absurd. That the Family Head moved at the words of a child was astonishing enough, but— “Well, you told the Family Head—” It was then.
“…!”
His vision spun. Startled, Seop Mugwang staggered to his feet, hastily pressing his acupoints to stop the spread of poison. But he realized it was already too late.
A crushing drowsiness swept over him in an instant.
“Urgh…”
He clutched the table for support, his vision spinning. On the table lay the empty teacup he had just drained.
‘The tea…!’
Someone had poisoned the tea.
But who?
Across from him, the Medicine Hall Master Choryeon had collapsed face-down on the table, as if she too had drunk the poison. But one person remained. Seolhwa sat calmly, her expression unchanged.
She neatly placed the empty skewer stick on the table.
“You little…!”
“I’m sorry.”
Seop Mugwang’s eyes widened. Shock, betrayal, and desperate resistance filled his gaze as he looked at her. He did not know what she intended, but he instinctively felt it was dangerous.
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could finish, he collapsed onto the table. Seolhwa nudged his chair so that his body would not fall to the floor. Then she approached to check if he had truly lost consciousness, reaching to feel his pulse.
At that moment— “Oh my, do you not trust me?” A lilting voice whispered in her ear. Turning her gaze, she saw Choryeon sitting upright, resting her chin on her hand, perfectly fine.
“When it comes to medicine, you can trust me completely.”
She smiled at Seolhwa, her eyes curving playfully.