Namgung Soryong.
Seolhwa did not have many memories of him.
‘When the Namgung family was annihilated, there was one who abandoned Namgung and hid with his maternal family.’
Because he had hidden so wretchedly, she had personally gone to kill him, and what had he said then? Was it that he had abandoned the Namgung surname long ago? Of course, even so, she had no intention of letting a man who carried Namgung blood live, and she remembered finishing him with a single strike.
That was Seolhwa’s memory of Namgung Soryong.
“You… you crazy bastard!”
Namgung Soryong, his face flushed red, shouted furiously.
“Who do you think you are, crawling in here after rolling around like a beggar somewhere! I grace you with my time, and you don't even know to be grateful, you thing!”
“B-brother!”
Namgung Ung, flustered, tried to stop Namgung Soryong, who had suddenly flared up and started shouting. However, Namgung Soryong violently shook off his brother’s arm.
“Let go of me! You know how much I have pent up against her!”
Seolhwa tilted her head. Had I ever met this kid separately before?
‘I haven’t.’ So it was possible to have a lot pent up against someone without ever having spoken to them.
“Didn’t Father tell you to treat Sister Seolhwa well when you meet her!”
“Are you crazy! Why would I get along with her? With this filthy beggar girl!”
“Brother!”
Namgung Soryong pointed a finger at Seolhwa.
“You! Just because Grandfather performed the Bone Marrow Cleansing for you, you think you’ve become something special! Don't even dream of it! The one who will carry the future of the family is me!”
‘Aha, so this is why he hates me.’
He must have felt it was unfair that she received the Bone Marrow Cleansing he couldn’t, and was acknowledged as the eldest granddaughter overnight. But to Seolhwa, it was just laughable.
“The way I see it, you look like the type to abandon the family.”
“You, you filthy beggar! What do you know to be spouting such nonsense! Do you want to die?”
“Kill me. If you can.”
“Eek…!”
Namgung Soryong’s face turned red and purple. He looked mortified to be losing a war of words in front of the children who revered him.
“I’ll kill you!”
In the end, Namgung Soryong drew his sword. Just as Seolhwa was about to grip the hilt of her own sword.
“Stop!”
At the voice, laden with Inner Energy, that pierced her ears, Seolhwa frowned, while the other children covered their ears.
“Uwaaah!”
“Ugh…”
Seolhwa relaxed her posture from trying to grab her sword and looked at the person entering the Training Ground. It was the Red Dragon Unit Leader, Namgung Jangyang.
“What in the world is going on here! Those of the direct line should be setting an example, how can you be fighting like this!”
The Red Dragon Unit Leader strode forward, separating Seolhwa and Soryong and standing between them.
“Young Lady, you should not show such an uncooperative attitude from your very first day! The training hasn't even begun, what are we to do if you are already like this!”
The Red Dragon Unit Leader openly rebuked Seolhwa. Although it was Soryong who had started the argument and drawn his sword first, he had already positioned himself to protect Soryong.
‘I see how it is.’
The Red Dragon Unit Leader must be one of Namgung Soryong’s people. She had no intention of complaining about it. Soryong was likely the leading candidate for the next Young Family Head until she arrived.
Seolhwa obediently cupped her fist.
“I apologize for causing a disturbance.”
Namgung Jangyang looked down at her, who was readily admitting her fault, with a triumphant expression.
‘I was worried because they said she was audacious, but she’s nothing special, is she?’
To think she would admit her fault so obediently, when he expected her to argue back fiercely. It was obvious without even looking into it that the incident just now was a disturbance caused by Namgung Soryong. After all, ninety-nine out of a hundred incidents that occurred in the Training Ground were because of Namgung Soryong.
Knowing this, he had reprimanded her as a way to seize the initiative. It was an attempt to intimidate the untamed colt so she wouldn’t even think of acting out in the first place.
‘I thought she would be arrogant after becoming the Namgung young lady, but it seems that's not the case.’
To be so obedient must mean she knew where the power in this place was leaning.
“Please be careful in the future.”
“Yes.”
Namgung Jangyang let out a smirk and said to the children.
“Hurry and prepare for training!”
At his words, the children, including Namgung Soryong, flocked to the weapon rack. As she watched them take their wooden swords and stand in their spots, Seolhwa was about to move as well.
“Wait.”
Namgung Jangyang blocked Seolhwa’s path.
“Young Lady, you must go over there.”
Namgung Jangyang pointed behind him. It was a corner of the Training Ground where only a striking post stood alone.
“Isn’t this your first day, Young Lady? It is still too much for you to learn the sword technique.”
“I have learned martial arts. Have you not heard?”
“No matter where or what martial art you have learned, the fundamentals of Namgung's martial arts are different. Therefore, you must build up again from the basics, step by step.”
Something felt strange, but he wasn’t wrong.
“So what are these basics?”
“First, let us start with the Three Talents Sword Technique, the most basic of all martial arts.”
Seolhwa’s expression faintly soured. The Three Talents Sword Technique consisted of just three forms: a horizontal slash, a vertical slash, and a thrust. It was, quite literally, the most basic of all sword techniques.
No, it was more of a basic movement than a sword technique. The problem was that it wasn't so much a Namgung fundamental as it was a basic that anyone picking up a sword for the first time would learn.
“Didn’t you say I should build up Namgung’s fundamentals?”
“Hoh. Are you looking down on the Three Talents Sword Technique now? The Great Flame Sword Technique, Namgung's basic art, was also created based on the Three Talents Sword Technique.”
That was also correct. The first three forms of the Great Flame Sword Technique were martial arts created by incorporating Namgung’s profound principles into the basic movements of the sword.
“Even in what seem to be simple movements, the principles of the world reside. If you treat even such basic things so carelessly, you are not qualified to hold a sword. Is that not so?”
He was speaking plausibly, but in the end, the point was this.
‘Go and hit the striking post.’
From the beginning, Namgung Jangyang had no intention of teaching Seolhwa any sword techniques. Namgung Jangyang recalled the words of the Second Young Master’s wife, Yeon Soran.
‘You must not, by any chance, raise an earthworm.’
He remembered her chilling gaze when she said those words.
‘At least until the Heavenly Martial Tournament, you must not teach this child anything.’
A rumor that the eldest granddaughter was sharp and skilled in martial arts was already spreading openly within Namgung. As the news of her victory in the recent sparring match with Mount Hua spread, her somewhat negative reputation was turning positive. Because of that, Lady Yeon’s mood was also extremely unpleasant.
‘If this child shows even a hint of something at the Heavenly Martial Tournament, my head will fly!’
Therefore, the bud must not be allowed to grow in the first place. Even if it was just for nine days.
“Now. Hurry and go practice the sword technique.”
The sound of snickering could be heard. The sound of someone muttering ‘beggar brat’ could also be heard. Seolhwa didn't reply further and picked up a wooden sword from the weapon rack, heading toward the striking post.
While she swung her sword at the striking post, the spirited shouts of the children practicing their sword techniques echoed powerfully across the Training Ground.
“How was your training? Was it manageable?”
Namgung Cheong-un asked during dinner. Seolhwa, who had been eating silently, nodded her head.
“Yes. It was good. Although the kids were a little annoying.”
“Annoying? Surely, they didn't bully you?”
At Cheong-un's question, Seolhwa paused to think. Could that be called bullying? It didn’t feel like she was the one who suffered.
Hmm.
“It wasn't bullying.”
Seolhwa shrugged.
“Just a bit of messing around? Oh, the Unit Leader who teaches the training turned out to be an interesting person.”
“Haha. The Red Dragon Unit Leader is a talented man, skilled in nurturing the next generation. I heard he once taught children at a Martial Studies Hall.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It wasn't in Anhui, but in a small city.”
Although the number of direct descendants was small, those with the Namgung surname were spread throughout the Central Plains. If one were to count all the in-laws and distant cousins, the number was enormous. So, it wasn't strange for someone with the Namgung surname to be working as an instructor at a regional Martial Studies Hall.
No, perhaps he was able to become an instructor at the Martial Studies Hall simply because of his ‘Namgung’ surname.
“How did such a person become a martial unit leader of Namgung?”
“Cheonghae happened to meet him, recognized his talent, and suggested he become a warrior of Namgung. He started as an Outer Hall Warrior, was selected as an Inner Hall Warrior at the Heavenly Martial Tournament that year, and has since risen to his current position. He is a remarkable person.”
Seolhwa nodded.
I wonder why that remarkable person is acting so petty. After finishing their meal, Seolhwa leisurely drank tea with Cheong-un. But Cheong-un's state was a bit strange.
He had shown signs of it during the meal, and now he was just staring blankly at the tea, lost in thought.
“Has the Mount Hua Sect left?”
“Hmm? Ah, yes. They left the guest quarters early in the morning.”
“I see.”
Cheong-un would only answer briefly when Seolhwa asked something, and he remained absent-minded. Watching him, Seolhwa let out a soft sigh. She soon got down from her chair and pattered over to a drawer.
Taking something out of the drawer, she returned to the table where the tea and refreshments were laid out.
Thud!
Seolhwa placed something down in front of Cheong-un.
“…?”
Cheong-un’s eyes, which had been looking with curiosity at what Seolhwa brought, narrowed slightly.
“Why did you bring this?”
What Seolhwa had brought was the elixir that Mount Hua had coveted so much, the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.
“Use this.”
At her abrupt words, Cheong-un asked back.
“Use this? What do you mean by that…?”
“If you use this, you can reach the Supreme Realm, can’t you?”
Cheong-un's gaze wavered slightly. It was also mixed with the surprise of ‘how did you know?’ Facing the conflict dwelling within that wavering, Seolhwa willingly set a direction for his choice.
“Ascend to the Supreme Realm. Father.”