Namgung Cheonghae was stepping into the Training Ground.
“…”
Yu Kang lowered his sword and clasped his fist in a salute.
“Father!”
Namgung Cheonghae bellowed at Soryong, who was running toward him with a face full of grievance.
“I told you to learn the sword from the young Daoist of Mount Hua, so why is there such a commotion!”
“That's not it! That bastard used the sparring match as an excuse to mock me!”
“Silence! Will you not shut that mouth!”
Soryong stopped in his tracks, surprised.
“Your voice is so loud that your foolish words could be heard even outside the Training Ground! How could you spout such nonsense to one who is a cornerstone of the Martial World!”
“Th-that's not it…!”
“That is not how I raised you!”
Namgung Cheonghae left Soryong behind and politely clasped his fist in a salute toward Yu Kang.
“I apologize on behalf of my son. Please forgive his rudeness.”
Yu Kang returned the salute and replied, “Not at all. It is my fault for lacking the skill to exchange blows harmoniously.” If Yu Kang was at fault for anything, it was for not controlling his strength properly.
The first clash of swords was a disaster because he had swung while thinking of the Namgung young lady he met last night, and the second, and third…
‘I didn't know he couldn't even handle this much.’
His spirited demeanor from the start made me mistake him for someone of great martial strength. I should have considered his age of thirteen.
“I made a mistake as well, so please don't scold him too harshly.”
“That's right! That bastard sent my sword flying every single time!”
Unless it was a sparring match to determine a winner and loser, knocking away an opponent's sword or rendering them unable to fight was a breach of etiquette. If one was strong, they should hold back a step; if one was weak, they should do their best to exchange blows. That was proper courtesy to an opponent.
“That bastard just wanted to humiliate me and the family…!”
“Shut that mouth! Have you still not realized your mistake! Return to your room and reflect on what you have done! You are not to take a single step outside your room without my permission!”
“Father…!”
“Go!”
Namgung Soryong clutched his sword, his face etched with grievance, looking as though he might burst into tears at any moment. However, Namgung Cheonghae showed no signs of relenting, his anger unabated.
“…Yes.”
In the end, Soryong had to retreat. Cheonghae watched Soryong trudge out of the Training Ground with heavy steps before turning back to Yu Kang. Yu Kang wore a troubled expression, unsure of what to do.
“I truly am also at fault for what happened. So…”
“Even so, it is wrong to insult the young Daoist’s sect. I intend to use this opportunity to guide him properly, so please do not trouble yourself over it.”
Heaving a sigh, Yu Kang scratched the back of his head. It had been so long since he had sparred with someone so much weaker than him that he found it difficult to control his strength.
“I’ll do better next time.”
“I am grateful enough that you are willing to exchange blows again in the future.”
Namgung Cheonghae responded to Yu Kang’s apology with a smile. But his heart felt differently.
‘How unpleasant.’
The young Daoist of Mount Hua did not even consider Soryong a worthy opponent. What parent would be happy to accept an apology for not holding back enough?
‘I expected Soryong to lose, but…’
That was why he had arranged a private sparring match instead of a public one. He had to protect his son’s dignity, after all. Even so, he never imagined the gap would be this wide.
Though he was only a couple of years older, Soryong, who was praised for his talent within the family, was no match for him at all.
‘I suppose Mount Hua is Mount Hua, after all.’
That was why he was so greedy. If news spread that they were forming a relationship with such a powerful sect, no other family would dare to look down on the Namgung.
“I believe it is only right to offer a formal apology to Mount Hua for this incident. I would like to have a moment with the Plum Blossom Divine Sword.”
Yu Kang was startled and waved his hands in refusal.
“Ah, no! There’s no need to apologize to that extent…!”
“The host has been rude to the guest, so it is right to apologize properly. This is a matter of Namgung’s honor as well, so I ask for your understanding.”
“Ugh…”
Yu Kang scratched the back of his head again. If his master heard about this, he would surely get a scolding too.
“Young Daoist.”
Yu Kang finally let out a sigh and nodded.
“He should be in his room by now. I will guide you.”
“Thank you.”
Seop Mugwang's eyes darted to the right. Then to the left, then right again, left, right, left, then right again…
“Ah, for goodness' sake! You're making me dizzy, please just stay still!”
Cheongun, who had been pacing back and forth in front of the Celestial Comprehension Cave, looked crestfallen. Like a dog kicked out of its home, Cheongun approached Seop Mugwang.
“How can I possibly stay still when my daughter’s and my father’s lives are on the line? It’s already been three days. Why hasn’t there been any word?”
“Wouldn’t it be more dangerous if there was word?”
“Ah…”
That was true. They had said it would take at least five days. If word came on the third day, it would most certainly be bad news.
Realizing this, Cheongun calmed down and regained his composure. Seop Mugwang raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
“Why haven’t you gone back?”
Didn’t you just realize you came too early?
“I will stay here, just in case.”
“I heard some people from Mount Hua came to visit. Wouldn’t it be better to have another meal with them?”
“They seem determined not to leave until they meet Seolhwa or my father, so it should be fine.”
“What will you do if that young master befriends them in the meantime?”
“Then that would be a good thing.”
“I don't know. I doubt it would be only good.”
Namgung Cheongun turned to look at Seop Mugwang with a surprised expression. Seop Mugwang cleared his throat with a hmph hmph! and averted his gaze.
“Weren’t you uninterested in the family’s affairs? I seem to recall you saying as much before.”
When he had given Seolhwa his sword, Cheongun had asked him if he had some other motive. Giving his sword to Seolhwa could be seen as lending his support to Cheongun, a candidate for Young Family Head. But to that question, Seop Mugwang had replied…
‘I just gave it to her because I saw she had the potential to be entrusted with my sword, that’s all.’ …or so he had said.
“So why do you care now?”
“…Well… I may not be interested, but I can still be curious. What, am I not allowed to be curious?”
“You are certainly allowed to be curious. I was just asking because I was curious myself.”
“Hmph.”
The conversation died down, and a long silence followed. At the end of the silence, Cheongun spoke in a heavy voice. It was an answer to Seop Mugwang’s curiosity.
“I… am afraid.”
“Of what?”
“If I become the Family Head, I will gain power, but I will also gain just as many enemies.”
“…”
“I am afraid that I will not be able to protect my daughter from those countless enemies. If that's the case, I would rather give up the position of Family Head and live only for Seolhwa…”
It was then. With a rumbling sound, Seop Mugwang and Cheongun turned around, their gazes startled. The door of the Celestial Comprehension Cave was opening.
“...!”
Seop Mugwang's expression sank. The color quickly drained from Cheongun's face as well. As they had just discussed, the door opening earlier than the minimum five days was, in all likelihood, a sign of bad news.
The two men stared at the opening door with tense expressions. Thud— The large door opened just wide enough for one adult to pass through and then stopped. Through the gap, only a vast darkness could be seen.
Presently, a small child walked out from within the darkness.
“…Seolhwa!”
Cheongun rushed to her in a single bound. He immediately knelt before her and examined the child’s condition. He checked the child’s face, shoulders, arms, and legs.
“Are you alright? Why did you come out so early? Did something go wrong? Didn’t they say at least five days?”
Seolhwa blinked her eyes.
A problem?
She was about to say that there was no problem at all when Seop Mugwang, who had approached them, looked past her and asked urgently.
“Hey, kid. Why did you come out alone? Where’s the Family Head? Why didn’t the Family Head come out?”
“That’s right! What about Grandfather? Did something happen to him? Huh?”
Seolhwa pushed away Cheongun’s hands, which were gripping and shaking her shoulders, and took a step back. The furrow of her brow slightly calmed the two men’s agitation.
“Don't worry. The Bone Marrow Cleansing was a success.”
“But why so early…”
“Then, what about the Family Head?”
“Grandfather used up more Inner Energy than expected, so he said he will recuperate for a few more days before coming out. It will probably take about five days from today.”
As she explained in a calm voice, Cheongun and Seop Mugwang were finally relieved. And it was only then that the two men truly saw Seolhwa. They felt the energy emanating from Seolhwa.
Normally, concealing one’s energy is an enlightenment one only reaches at the level of a supreme master, but Seolhwa had already learned how in her past life, so she was able to contain her energy. But just for this moment, she did not hide it. She released her energy freely.
Seolhwa’s realm was the Supreme Realm. Namgung Cheongun, who was at the same Supreme Realm, and Seop Mugwang, who was at the peak of the supreme master level, could clearly feel that intense energy.
“…Seolhwa, could it be…”
“Kid, you… don’t tell me…”
Seop Mugwang looked at Seolhwa as if he could not believe it.
“Have you stepped into the Supreme Realm?”
When he first met Seolhwa, her realm had also been the Supreme Realm. However, Seop Mugwang also knew that her realm at that time was not normal. But now, it was different.
A powerful and sublime energy filled her Dantian.
“Have you truly reached the Supreme Realm?”
Even as he asked, his eyes were filled with disbelief. He could not believe it even though he was seeing it with his own eyes. Seolhwa met his gaze and gave a quiet nod.
“Yes.”
“…!”
“The Bone Marrow Cleansing was a success.”