“From Mount Hua…?”
The gathered people were all surprised at once. What kind of place was Mount Hua? Was it not the foremost sect in Shaanxi, and a renowned sect recognized throughout the Central Plains?
Originally, the highly proud sects did not acknowledge the martial arts of the martial families. This was because, unlike the sects that made their name through martial arts alone, they believed that the families accumulated wealth through business and commerce, and further gained fame by seizing regional power.
In the eyes of the sects, the martial arts of a martial family were merely one of many first-rate martial arts. They believed it could never become the ultimate art they pursued. In short, they looked down on the martial arts of the families.
Therefore, they would be reluctant to interact with the families.
“Are you certain you mean the Mount Hua Sect of Shaanxi?”
“Yes, yes. I saw it with my own eyes. They were definitely wearing martial robes with a plum blossom crest.”
At the servant’s words, the gathered people once again drew a collective breath.
‘This is a chance! This is an opportunity!’
‘For an opportunity to arrive as soon as we spoke of it!’
‘The heavens are helping the Second Young Master! And the Family Head happens to be away!’
“Where are the guests!” the leader of the Elder Council asked urgently.
“Th-that is…”
“Will you not speak at once!”
“Cu-currently… in the Cloud Guest Hall, the Chief Steward and the First Young Master… are receiving them…”
“What did you say?”
The Chief Steward and the First Young Master had already made their move?
“Second Young Master!”
“Yes. Since guests have arrived, it is only proper that I go and meet them.”
Namgung Cheonghae’s eyes gleamed.
“I had heard that the Sword Sovereign had a son, but to meet you in person like this is quite surprising. I have realized once again that rumors are not to be trusted.”
“You are too kind. It is an honor for me to meet the famous Plum Blossom Divine Sword of Mount Hua.”
Namgung Cheongun cupped his fist in a salute to the swordsman from Mount Hua, showing his respect.
‘The Plum Blossom Divine Sword, No Mun.’
The leader of Mount Hua’s representative Plum Blossom Sword Masters and the one called the number one sword of Mount Hua, one of the ten great masters under the heavens, just like Namgung Mucheon. A man who held no small influence in Mount Hua, and in the Central Plains Martial World.
‘Why would such a person come to Namgung…’
“Haha. You flatter me. Let me introduce the children who came with me. Come, greet him.”
At No Mun’s words, the disciples of Mount Hua sitting beside him bowed to Cheongun and Namgung Mun.
“I am Yu Pyo, a first disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“I am Yu Kang, a first disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
A look of surprise crossed Chief Steward Namgung Mun’s face.
“Could you be the Plum Shadow Sword?”
Yu Pyo cupped his fist again and bowed his head.
“It is embarrassing, but I do hold such a title.”
“I have heard many rumors of the Plum Shadow Sword. They say you took the head of a notoriously vicious Unorthodox faction leader in the Sichuan region.”
“I was merely lucky.”
“Haha, and humble too. But why have the esteemed guests of Mount Hua come all this way to Namgung?”
No Mun smiled brightly.
“Our Sect Leader sent us upon hearing of a joyous occasion in the Namgung family.”
“A joyous occasion, you say…”
“I heard that you found a child whose whereabouts were unknown for a long time.”
“…!”
Namgung Mun and Cheongun exchanged surprised glances. Even though they had ordered the news to be spread to the branch families, had the rumor already reached that deep mountain valley? Not only that, but Mount Hua, with whom they had no relations whatsoever, had sent people to congratulate them? —Chief Steward Elder. —I am thinking the same thing.
The gazes of the two men grew serious. Both of them knew that before Seolhwa came here, she had intercepted the Great Rebirth Pill that Mount Hua had been trying to obtain from Shaolin.
Normally, Mount Hua would not have even cared about such a happy event, but for them to visit, sending such prominent masters, there had to be a reason.
“If it is not too much of an imposition, may we meet the Family Head and offer our congratulations?”
Namgung Mun erased his suspicious expression and replied to No Mun with a smile.
“I know it is not proper etiquette for those who have traveled a long way… but the Family Head has just entered secluded training.”
“Secluded training…?”
No Mun showed a look of bewilderment.
“In that case, could we perhaps briefly meet the child that was found…”
“The Young Lady has also entered seclusion with him.”
“…!”
No Mun’s bewilderment deepened. He had to meet the child, if only to find out the whereabouts of the Great Rebirth Pill. And now, a sudden secluded training!
“He said he would be out within five days at the latest, so it will not be long. If you have the time, why not stay in our guest quarters and relieve your travel fatigue?”
Whatever their intentions, he could not easily turn away guests from Mount Hua. He had to keep them here until the Family Head came out of seclusion, if only to discover their true intentions.
“Hmm…”
Five days.
The stay would be longer than expected, but No Mun was in a position where he could not return empty-handed either. In the end, No Mun accepted Namgung Mun’s offer.
“Primordial Celestial Venerable. I thank you for your consideration.”
“Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Two full days had passed since they entered the Celestial Comprehension Cave. It had also been two days since Seolhwa’s hypnosis had been sent into a frenzy. Though two days and nights had passed without rest, the battle between the two continued fiercely.
Pa! Papapak! Pak!
After checking all of her sword techniques, Namgung Mucheon broke Seolhwa’s sword. Then, the child, having lost her sword, immediately began to unleash fist techniques. After her fist techniques were all blocked, came palm techniques and finger techniques.
Was that all? Even her footwork, the foundation of martial arts, was based on the Namgung family’s footwork. At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say she had mastered all of Namgung’s martial arts.
Papak! Pak!
Blocking the child’s palm techniques with one hand, Namgung Mucheon’s expression was dark.
“At this rate, I might end up killing you.”
The child’s stamina had run out long ago. The problem was that, contrary to his expectation that she would soon lose consciousness, the child was not letting go of her mind. The only reason she did not collapse was due to her mental strength.
‘A mental strength so tenacious and fierce that she pushes herself to the brink without giving up.’
At any other time, he would have admired and praised her, but in the current situation, the longer Seolhwa held on, the more dangerous it became, so Namgung Mucheon’s heart grew anxious.
“Let us end this now.”
Namgung Mucheon, who had been dealing with her palm techniques with only one hand, met Seolhwa’s hands with both of his. It was a brief moment, one in which the child’s wildly moving hair had not even settled. Seeing Seolhwa engulfed in killing intent and dominated by her subconscious, Namgung Mucheon’s heart ached.
What sin had this young child committed?
“I am sorry.”
Namgung Mucheon channeled energy into his palms and released it in a single burst. With a thunderous boom, the two’s inner energy exploded and annihilated each other. Seolhwa’s body slid backward.
“Cough…”
Her body, already completely drained of stamina, could not withstand Namgung Mucheon’s energy and she ended up spitting blood. Namgung Mucheon closed his eyes, as if he could not bear to watch.
He wanted to avoid injuring his granddaughter’s body as much as possible, but if he could not tire her out to the point of collapse, the only other way was to injure her internally and force her to faint. Srrrng— Namgung Mucheon drew Heavenly Decree. The deep blue energy-wielding Heavenly Decree began to hum in his hand.
It was like the sad cry of a small child.
“…”
Sorrow also clouded Namgung Mucheon’s face. Though no tears fell, his heart was weeping along with Heavenly Decree.
“Since I have seen so much from you, it is only fair that I show you one thing in return.”
Namgung Mucheon took his stance. As he assumed the initial form of the sword technique he had practiced more than ten thousand times, the flow of energy shifted with a thudding sensation. An energy so dense it made it hard to breathe instantly overwhelmed the surroundings.
“Watch carefully. This is the true sword of Namgung, which can never be broken.”
In Seolhwa’s vision, Namgung Mucheon’s presence began to grow larger and larger. He was not actually growing larger. Rather, his endlessly growing might created the illusion that his existence was becoming immeasurably vast.
Kugugugu…
Namgung Mucheon’s presence soared like Mount Tai. No, it surpassed Mount Tai. Guung— A giant celestial palace unfolded before Seolhwa.
It was the aura of a Heavenly Dragon, an aura one would not dare to challenge. Kugugugugu— As Namgung Mucheon raised his sword, the surrounding energy began to tremble as if it would explode. Perhaps this was what a great dragon ascending to the heavens looked like.
The dragon, which had soared and soared, finally looked down upon her with majesty. The sword technique Namgung Mucheon unleashed was the ultimate principle of Namgung, passed down only to the Family Head. It was the first form of the Emperor's Sword Form.
Hwoong— Namgung Mucheon swung his sword downward. A single strike. With that simple motion, the surrounding inner energy swirled into a vortex, and the earth and sky trembled.
Kuuuuuu….
Even without infusing it with inner energy, his aura was overwhelmingly oppressive, dominating the surroundings. It was truly the sword of an Emperor.
“…!”
Seolhwa instinctively raised her arms to protect herself.
Phwaaaak!
The gathered energy followed the sword, striking the floor of the training grotto before spreading throughout the entire cave. The power of the densely packed air exploding in an instant was truly immense. It was a struggle just to remain standing without falling over.
Huuuu…
The energy that had spread out slowly began to disperse over time. For a moment, after a period of silence. Seolhwa’s body staggered.
Thud— Seolhwa collapsed into the arms of Namgung Mucheon, who had approached her side at some point. Namgung Mucheon looked down at his granddaughter who had lost consciousness in his arms and let out a long sigh.
“Rest well. We will have much to talk about when you wake.”