Early dawn.
Seolhwa visited the Red Dragon Squad’s training ground for the first time in a while. She arrived just at her usual training time, but shouting voices could already be heard from within the training ground.
It was Namgung Jipyeong and the members of the Red Dragon 11th Squad, who used to train with her at dawn before she entered the training grotto.
‘This is a bit unexpected.’
“Hnnngh…!”
“Grrrr….”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
They were diligently performing the training Seolhwa had told them about before she entered the training grotto. Seolhwa entered the training ground with light steps. Namgung Jipyeong, who was standing in front of the squad members, was the first to spot Seolhwa.
“Ah! It’s the master!”
At his pleased voice, the squad members also turned their heads.
“Esteemed Guest!”
“Master!”
“Great One!”
The squad members each welcomed Seolhwa in their own way. Seolhwa approached them.
“You're all working hard, I see. It looks like you've increased the weight a lot in just a few days.”
Even though increasing the weight couldn't have been easy, Namgung Jipyeong and the squad members were all carrying double the weight from when she first saw them. Their external training, which had been relatively lacking compared to their Inner Energy-supported bodies, had grown by leaps and bounds when combined with the intense training.
As they were members of the 11th squad, the highest among the Outer Hall's martial division, they were that much more talented. Their growth would slow once they reached a certain limit, but for a while, they would continue to show such rapid progress.
“The Heavenly Martial Tournament is now less than nine days away. The first selection is in seven days, so we must prepare with all our might.”
The promotion test for Inner Hall Warrior is divided into a first and second round. The first round is a sparring match held before the Unit Leaders of the Outer Hall's martial division, where the winner advances.
The second round is on the day of the Heavenly Martial Tournament, where those selected in the first round hold sparring matches in front of all the family members to be chosen. There were only seven days left until the first selection. Namgung Jipyeong pointed to the squad members and smiled brightly.
“They all say they have a good feeling this time. I didn't even have to tell them, they suggested coming out an hour early to train.”
“That's good.”
The Heavenly Martial Tournament. Come to think of it, she recalled the maidservants mentioning it in passing.
‘So it's already that time.’
“Um... Great One.”
“…?”
“If it's not too rude, may I ask you something?”
The eyes of the squad members standing behind Namgung Jipyeong were somehow sparkling.
“Yes. Go ahead.”
“Um… perhaps… Young… Lady…?”
“Yes?”
“I mean… your honorable name, Great One….”
“It's Seolhwa. Namgung Seolhwa.”
“Gasp…!”
Namgung Jipyeong was stunned. The squad members behind him were no different.
“Hup!”
“S-see! I told you I thought it was t-true…!”
“It's real…?”
Only then did Seolhwa realize she had never properly told them her identity. It was a situation brought about because she hadn't revealed it when they first met, as she hadn't yet been acknowledged as a child of Namgung. Namgung Jipyeong suddenly dropped to one knee with a thud! and clasped his fist in salute to Seolhwa.
“Namgung Jipyeong, Squad Leader of the Red Dragon 11th Squad! I greet Young Lady Seolhwa!”
Following him, the squad members also knelt on one knee just as he did.
“Namgung Gimun of the Red Dragon 11th Squad!”
“Namgung Hwang of the Red Dragon 11th Squad!”
“Namgung Seorin of the Red Dragon 11th Squad!”
“Namgung Baegwi of the Red Dragon 11th Squad!”
The four people shouted in unison.
“We greet Young Lady Seolhwa!”
It was the spirit of a warrior, with none of the playful and light atmosphere they had until now. The five people raised their heads and looked at Seolhwa. The looks on their faces were clearly moved and emotional.
“It is belated, but congratulations on your return. It is an honor to be able to see you in person like this, Young Lady.”
Namgung Jipyeong said in an excited voice.
“Congratulations on your return!”
The squad members' voices were also filled with joy.
“I knew you were no ordinary person, but to think you were our Young Lady!”
“It is an honor to be able to train under you, Young Lady!”
“You are beautiful! I've been thinking that for a while now!”
Wahaha, laughter erupted. The members of the 11th squad were purely delighted to be able to congratulate Seolhwa on her return in person. Seolhwa responded to their joy with a pleasant smile.
“Please, rise.”
Seolhwa took Namgung Jipyeong's hand, which was still in a clasped fist salute, and helped him up.
“So, as I told you. An opportunity will surely come.”
“Ah, Young Lady…!”
Understanding her meaning at once, Namgung Jipyeong's face colored with bewilderment.
“That wasn't why I asked for your honorable name, Young Lady. It's just that the period the esteemed guest stayed here coincided with the period the Young Lady returned. So, out of sheer admiration…!”
“I know.”
She might be dull when it came to emotions, but by now she could at least distinguish whether something came from the heart or was feigned. And Seolhwa did not doubt their sincerity.
“First, let me make it clear that I have no intention of doubting your sincerity. I hope you understand that what I am about to say is separate from that and something I have been planning for some time.”
Namgung Jipyeong and the squad members sensed something unusual in Seolhwa's words. Tension appeared on their faces.
“I intend to make you all Inner Hall warriors.”
“…!”
“Gasp….”
“Because you all are more than qualified.”
At the incredible words that flowed from her lips, the squad members froze in astonishment. They had heard the same words before, but the weight they carried for the five of them was different now. When she was a passing master, and when she is the Young Lady of Namgung.
If it were advice about martial arts, there would have been no difference, but when discussing the affairs of Namgung, the weight of her words was bound to be different.
“You said it yourself. That in the vast web of interests that is Namgung, skill isn't everything.”
“Th-that is….”
Namgung Jipyeong's face turned pale. He had, in effect, spoken ill of Namgung in front of the Namgung's Young Lady.
“…I was rash.”
“I'm not trying to scold you. It's the opposite.”
“…Pardon?”
“From now on, I intend to be your backer.”
“…!”
“And I intend to eliminate anything other than lack of skill that blocks your path.”
Seolhwa spread her arms shoulder-width apart toward the five people.
“You might be worried about what a young lady who has just returned to Namgung can do. But, just as I believe in you, I hope you will believe in me.”
It might seem laughable to ask them to believe in a child, but not one of the five people smiled. This was because they knew of her martial strength, and they were captivated by the power in her voice as she spoke.
“The only thing I cannot control is your will.”
The will to do it. The will not to give up. The will to succeed no matter what.
“For the next seven days, I want you to focus all your efforts on improving your skills. Make sure you don't stumble on the obstacle of lacking skill. If you do that, you will surely achieve good results in seven days.”
Seolhwa concluded with a gentle smile. Even after she finished speaking, the five men couldn't speak for a while, lost in the lingering impression of her words. In their eyes, Seolhwa was a single ray of light.
Namgung Jipyeong was the first to pound his chest with a thump! and shout.
“This Namgung Jipyeong! I will do my utmost!”
The squad members, not to be outdone, shouted after him.
“Me too! I'll work really hard!”
“I'll train until I drop!”
“I'll do it until I die!”
“What if you die doing that...? To hell with it, I'll die! So what! I'll give dying a shot! I'll die!”
Their resolutions, to the point of staking their lives, continued. Seolhwa nodded her head with a satisfied expression.
“Good. In that spirit, shall we have a sparring match today?”
Namgung Baegwi had already dashed to the weapon rack and brought back a wooden sword.
“Here you are!”
“Thank you. Now, who's first….”
“Of course, the Squad Leader should be first!”
Namgung Jipyeong, who had already brought a wooden sword of his own, swung it with a swoosh, swoosh. He had already faced Seolhwa once before, so he moved his bulging arms, bared his teeth, and grinned.
“This time will be different from the last!”
Perhaps because he had trained hard in external training, his frame seemed to have grown noticeably larger in the meantime. Seolhwa smiled, gripped her wooden sword, and took a ready stance. It was a perfectly clean and flawless stance.
“You'd better come at me as if your life depends on it.”
The corners of her mouth curved into a cool smile.
“Because I'm a bit different from last time, too.”
Hwook— Seolhwa's figure vanished in an instant. Immediately after, the sound of a sharp thwack—! and a scream of Aaaargh! echoed through the training ground. The sparring match between Seolhwa and the five men, filled with wild screams, only ended when all five of them had completely collapsed.
A space where a silence so deep flowed that the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects felt like the loudest noises. The pavilion where the elders of Namgung, who had retired from the front lines, resided was located in the most peaceful and quiet place in Namgung.
Cheongun raised his gaze to look at the old man sitting before him. His stick-thin body was covered in wrinkles, and his muscles and bones had lost their strength, making him look small and frail, yet a mysterious and profound strength flowed from the old man. The former Martial Studies Hall Master and the current Head of the Elder Council.
Namgung Punghak.
“So. What is it you have to say to me?”
Only after a quarter of an hour had passed did the question come, and Cheongun straightened his posture and answered.
“Please, lend me your support.”
Punghak looked at Cheongun. From his black pupils, covered by wrinkles, an unconcealable energy could be felt.
“You left the family for eight years, acting as if the family's affairs were no concern of yours. Do you finally covet that position now?”