Hypnosis is a type of Energy. It is the act of planting one’s Energy into a target’s body and controlling them by moving that Energy in a specific way at the desired moment.
To break the hypnosis, the only methods were for the caster to retrieve the Energy, or for the target to be controlled until the planted Energy was exhausted. Namgung Mucheon touched the Energy coiled in Seolhwa’s Baihui acupoint and made it rampage. All that remained was to deal with the child until the Energy disappeared.
“Alright. Let us play for a while.”
Namgung Mucheon raised Heavenly Decree. The sword was still in its sheath. A blue Energy also surged from his body.
Seolhwa flinched for a moment, but she did not retreat and instead radiated an even denser killing intent.
“Come.”
At the same time, Seolhwa’s sword rushed toward him with great speed. Namgung Mucheon, without drawing his sword, received her blade with only the handle.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
It was a surprising weight and speed, hard to believe from a child.
‘Quick Sword and Changing Sword.’
The Quick Sword, which overwhelmed an opponent with fast and refreshing attacks, and the Changing Sword, which confused the opponent with ever-changing sword paths. Though it lacked some power, it was a tricky sword style for an opponent skilled in wielding a blade.
‘She is compensating for the flaws from her lack of strength with speed.’
A shadow fell over Namgung Mucheon’s face.
‘Was this child truly raised as an assassin?’
The dense killing intent and the sword technique, which could be called essential for an assassin, contained her entire life.
‘Damn bastard.’
Rage welled up inside Namgung Mucheon. A vulgar curse was about to escape his lips, but since he was in front of his granddaughter, he only muttered it inwardly.
‘How dare he try to raise my granddaughter as an assassin?’
It had been eight years since the child disappeared. To have mastered such dense killing intent and sword skills in eight years, just how much had they pushed the child?
‘I will surely tear that bastard limb from limb.’
A bastard who deserved to have his limbs torn off and thrown to the dogs.
Whoosh—!
The blue Energy enveloping Namgung Mucheon erupted even more fiercely.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seolhwa’s sword also became faster and stronger. Surprisingly, with each clash of their swords, its power increased and its speed quickened.
‘Is she adapting?’
She was getting used to herself, just as a craftsman gets used to using a new tool for the first time. The way she applied her strength, the angle at which she swung the sword. The attacks that had seemed excessive at first were gradually being tailored to the child’s body.
‘How strange.’
Was it because he had driven out her previous inner energy? Even so, it was strange that she seemed to be adapting to her movements as well. In any case, it wasn’t bad to watch his granddaughter’s skills improve right before his eyes.
It was then. Seolhwa, who had been swinging her sword like a storm, momentarily paused and took a stance.
‘A sword technique.’
If her attacks until now had been random swings without any rules or order, then the real fight was about to begin.
‘What kind of sword will you show me?’
Seolhwa unfolded the forms as smoothly as flowing water. One form, then a second form, gathered to make a single move. Like that, one move.
Then a second move. Namgung Mucheon, who had been easily receiving the forms she displayed, saw his expression suddenly harden.
‘This is…!’
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Namgung Mucheon’s expression grew colder as he continued to clash swords with Seolhwa. It was because of the sword technique Seolhwa was continuously unfolding.
‘This time, it’s the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword.’
The sword techniques Seolhwa displayed were all composed of forms based on Namgung's sword arts. The problem was that their purpose was not to develop and utilize the Namgung sword arts.
Shwaaak— Kaang!
Seolhwa’s sword swept through the air and dug in. It was a sword path that precisely pierced the trajectory of the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword. And it wasn't just the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword.
Chwa-chwa-chwa-chak!
Twelve forms rushed in at high speed. It was as if she were using the sword forms to create a thick shield.
Ka-ka-ka-ka-kang!
Namgung Mucheon, parrying Seolhwa’s sword, opened his eyes wide.
‘Solitary Soul Single Sword!’
Starting with the Great Flame Sword Technique, the foundation of the Namgung sword arts, followed by the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword, the Solitary Soul Single Sword, the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique, and the Iron Calamity Ten Forms. Seolhwa’s sword technique was, in every aspect, a sword meant to neutralize the Namgung sword arts. Truly, a sword to oppose Namgung.
‘A Namgung-destroying martial art.’
She was not raised as an ordinary assassin. This child was raised as an assassin meant to oppose the Namgung. Namgung Mucheon groaned inwardly.
It was not that the Namgung sword arts had flaws. Each of the Namgung sword arts was a sword art of the heavens, possessing a power that none could dare face once mastered. However, how many in this Namgung family had truly mastered even one sword technique?
‘If the Elder Council or the Unit Leaders were to see this sword technique.’
This child would never have been accepted as a child of Namgung. Even if he himself had acknowledged her, they would have tried to drive her out of the main family in one way or another.
‘This… could be dangerous.’
A chaotic noise was approaching from the far side of the estate. Namgung Cheonghae, who was handling the affairs of the Inner Hall, put down his brush, rubbing his brow with a tired expression. Just as he straightened his posture and folded his hands, someone knocked roughly on the door.
“Young Master! Are you inside, Young Master!”
Cheonghae let out a low sigh and nodded to the maidservant by the door. Soon, the door opened and a group of people came rushing in. At their head was the leader of the Elder Council, and behind him, the Yellow Dragon Unit Leader and the Red Dragon Unit Leader were visible.
They were the key figures in the family who supported Namgung Cheonghae’s bid to become the Young Family Head. A crowd of elders followed behind them. Namgung Cheonghae rose from his seat, approached them, and paid his respects to the leader of the Elder Council.
“Uncle, what brings you all the way here?”
“Young Master! Is this a time to be sitting idly?”
“What is the matter?”
“The Family Head has entered the Celestial Comprehension Cave! And he took that rogue-like granddaughter of his with him!”
“…Pardon?”
Namgung Cheonghae’s expression went blank. His father had entered the training grotto? With that child?
“Do you not understand what this means?”
“…”
“He intends to force the Bone Marrow Cleansing! Ignoring the will of our Elder Council and the Sword Units!”
In the Namgung family, there were largely five factions. The Hall Masters, responsible for the family’s practical affairs. The direct descendants, few in number but influential.
The Elder Council, composed of members from branch families. The elders, made up of those who had retired from the front lines. The five Sword Units, the foundation of the Namgung martial family.
Among them, the Elder Council and three of the Sword Units supported Cheonghae, and while the elders had not actively voiced their opinions, they looked favorably upon Namgung Cheonghae, who had silently fulfilled his duties to the family for a long time.
Thus, for those who intended to install Namgung Cheonghae as the Young Family Head soon, Seolhwa’s return could not be welcome.
“It hasn’t even been a day since that child deceived the family! Bone Marrow Cleansing! This is not a matter to be taken lightly! On the day the Family Head returns, the Elder Council will definitely address this issue! So, Young Master, you too must follow our will!”
Namgung Cheonghae remained silent instead of answering.
“Young Master!”
Frustrated by Cheonghae’s silence, the leader of the Elder Council shouted, and only then did Cheonghae calmly open his mouth.
“The Family Head must have his reasons.”
“Are you truly…!”
“Even if I were to ascend to the position of Young Family Head by creating a rift with my father, what meaning would that have?”
“…!”
Namgung Cheonghae’s gaze settled calmly. The leader of the Elder Council and three Sword Units were on his side, but that was all. The elders had not actively expressed their will, and though it was three Sword Units, in reality, the Namgung family had six, so it was only half their support.
The Elder Council was the same. Though the leader of the Elder Council claimed he would rally their will, not all of them supported him. Moreover, no matter how many factions there were, wasn't the leadership of the family in the hands of Namgung Mucheon?
“The golden age of Namgung was built upon the glory of the Sword Sovereign. Therefore, now is not the time to oppose the Family Head’s will. It is the time to win the Family Head’s heart.”
The gathered people stared at Namgung Cheonghae as if mesmerized by his logical argument.
“You said you want to make me the Young Family Head. If so, bring me an opportunity.”
“An opportunity, you say…?”
“What does the Family Head treasure so dearly?”
“Honestly, right now it seems to be that rogue-like eldest granddaughter of his…”
Namgung Cheonghae shook his head firmly.
“It is only natural for him to be concerned about the granddaughter he found after eight years. But.”
Just as hot water freezes faster. The interest in his returned great-granddaughter would one day surely cool down. After that, the Family Head’s interest would return to its original place.
“The name ‘Namgung’.”
The family.
“You must seize the opportunity to elevate that name.”
Namgung Cheonghae clenched his fist tightly. The leader of the Elder Council and the Unit Leaders swallowed dryly as they watched him.
‘An opportunity to elevate the family’s name.’
‘A way for Namgung to take another step forward!’
‘The only way to change the Family Head’s mind!’
It was then.
“Young Master!”
A servant ran in with urgent steps and prostrated himself before them.
“A guest has arrived from Mount Hua…!”