Cheong-un was silent for a while. Cheong-un stared at the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure the child had brought out for a long time, then let out a chuckle as if he couldn't help himself.
“How on earth did you know? That I was worried about my Realm.”
“The whole family is buzzing about the Heavenly Martial Tournament. Father would be no different. With your narrow standing in the family, the only thing you can show is your martial arts, but you must have judged that your current Realm is not enough, right?”
Cheong-un's mouth fell open in a daze.
“…You're exactly right.”
It was something he had been thinking about since he went to find the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, no, even before that.
“My daughter… are you a sage? Anyone who didn't know would think you were an old master who has returned to their youth.”
To have such deep insight at only thirteen. It feels as if she's inside my head.
“I can't hide anything from you.”
Cheong-un laughed, "Haha," and stroked Seolhwa's head.
“Were you trying to hide it?”
“I wasn't trying to hide it. I just didn't think of getting help from you. After boasting to you that I would become the Family Head, what would happen to this father's pride if I asked for help?”
Namgung Cheongun smiled bitterly as he stroked the box containing the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.
“And yet, I've received your help again like this. It seems this father has shown you a rather unreliable side.”
“I know that you are someone who can reach the supreme master level even without an elixir like this.”
Cheong-un looked at Seolhwa with slightly surprised eyes.
“Is it only the supreme master level? Father, you are capable of even more.”
“Haha. Don't flatter me so much.”
Cheong-un waved his hand and laughed it off playfully. But Seolhwa was serious.
‘In my past life, Father's Realm just before he died was the Transformation Realm.’
Although he died by her own hands, their final sparring match had been his victory. If she hadn't spread false rumors about his daughter's whereabouts to delay his arrival, if he hadn't arrived after the Namgung had fallen to ruin.
‘That day, I would not have been able to bring down the Namgung.’
At that time, Namgung Cheongun's Realm had just reached the Transformation Realm, but considering he was not yet sixty, his talent was not inferior even when compared to the current ten great masters under the heavens.
“I know it's only a matter of time before you reach the supreme master level, Father. But we don't have time right now.”
There were only nine days left until the Heavenly Martial Tournament. Today has passed, so now only eight days remain. Cheong-un's Realm had reached the peak of the Supreme Realm, but it was hard to guarantee that he could ascend to the supreme master level in eight days.
“Elixirs can be obtained anytime. But opportunities don't come easily. This time, please accept the help of the elixir.”
“But, isn't this necessary for the deal with Mount Hua? What will you do if Mount Hua comes with the conditions you want?”
“I never intended to hand the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure to Mount Hua from the beginning. I have other ways, so don't worry too much.”
“But...”
Cheong-un frowned, looking troubled.
“Besides, this was originally yours, Father.”
“…”
Although Seolhwa had guided him, it was Cheong-un who had found the clue to the Heavenly Palace Turtle Head. Without Cheong-un's knowledge of formations, it could not have been discovered.
“Are you really sure? Even though this might be related to the ‘fragment’ of the Ten Thousand Li Divine Thief?”
The fragment of the jade plaque left behind by the Ten Thousand Li Divine Thief, discovered along with the elixir when the turtle statue's head was broken. Seolhwa also did not know what that fragment meant. As Namgung Cheongun said, the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure might be related to that fragment.
But.
“It's alright.”
“Seolhwa…”
“Even if a grand feast is waiting at the end of a three-day journey, to someone dying of thirst right now, nothing is more precious than a sip of water. Even if drinking the water means you can't have the feast, shouldn't one live first?”
Whatever treasure of the Ten Thousand Li Divine Thief she might obtain later could not fulfill her immediate needs. Right now, Cheong-un needed to solidify his position within the family. Nothing was more important than that.
“It's alright, Father.”
Seolhwa placed the box containing the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure into Cheong-un's hand. Cheong-un, who had been looking at it with a complicated gaze, finally gripped the box tightly.
He nodded.
“Alright. I will.”
His eyes were tinged with sadness.
“I won't be able to see you for a few days.”
“…”
“My daughter, let's have a hug.”
Cheong-un opened his arms toward her. After hesitating for a moment, Seolhwa awkwardly entrusted her body to his embrace. Cheong-un hugged Seolhwa tightly.
His hand slowly patted his daughter's back.
“I will surely return as a father you won't be ashamed of.”
Feeling the gentle patting and the warmth of his embrace, Seolhwa quietly nodded.
“Yes.”
Her chest felt ticklish. It was so ticklish she felt like she might sneeze. The next morning.
Cheong-un packed what he needed early in the morning and entered the Celestial Comprehension Cave. Even with consuming the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, eight days was far too short. To reach the supreme master level within that time, it wouldn't be enough even if he cut back on sleep day and night to focus on his training.
Seolhwa went out early at dawn to instruct the Red Dragon Squad members in their training, then immediately returned to help Cheong-un prepare. After seeing Cheong-un off, it was already time to go to the Inner Hall training.
“…”
She tilted her head back and looked up at the high sky. The vast sky enveloped the whole world like a mother's embrace. Two birds chirped as they swooped at each other in the sky and flew away.
They were like innocent children playing.
“Young Lady, it's time to go to the Training Ground!”
Yeoyul said in an excited voice. She was the one going to the Training Ground, so she couldn't understand why Yeoyul was so excited.
“Yes. I should go.”
“Are you going?”
Ryeong, who had been silently following behind her until now, asked Seolhwa a question for the first time. Seolhwa turned her indifferent gaze to look at her.
“Yes. I have to go.”
Ryeong's expression soured for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
“Yes.”
That was all. She knew all the insults Seolhwa had received at the Training Ground, but that short response was all she gave. It was a declaration of her will not to interfere in matters other than being an escort.
Seolhwa, having never felt the need for her help, also turned her head away indifferently.
“Hurry, Young Lady! You'll be late for the Training Ground at this rate!”
“Today, you can continue with the training you did yesterday.”
Namgung Jangyang pointed to the corner of the Training Ground as expected. Soryong and the other children snickered. Seolhwa looked at Namgung Jangyang.
His attitude was even more arrogant than yesterday. After ignoring Seolhwa at the Training Ground yesterday, Jangyang had worried all night that he might be summoned by the Family Head or the First Young Master and reprimanded. But what happened?
Not only did nothing happen, but hadn't the First Young Master even entered a training grotto this morning?
‘Is she stupid, or is her pride just too strong?’
For a so-called Namgung young lady, she neither spoke of yesterday's events nor did she run away. If she doesn't know she was being ignored, that's good, and if she's just trying to maintain her pride, that's even better.
‘Those with strong pride hate to be broken.’
It means she won't tattle no matter what I do.
“Now, hurry up and go practice the Three Talents Sword Technique. I have to teach the other Young Masters...”
“I've mastered it.”
“... Pardon?”
“I said I've mastered it. The Three Talents Sword Technique.”
Namgung Jangyang's brow furrowed. But a sneer soon appeared on his lips.
“A sword technique is not something that can be learned overnight. As I said yesterday, even simple movements contain the principles of the world, so are you saying that you, Young Lady, have comprehended those principles overnight?”
“Yes.”
It was a confident answer. Namgung Jangyang couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing. What principles of the world could possibly be contained in a third-rate, low-class martial art like the Three Talents Sword Technique, which you could find lying around in any marketplace?
It was just something he'd made up to sound plausible.
‘Comprehend? What is there to comprehend?’
There has to be something to comprehend in the first place, doesn't there?
“Kekekek... Ah, my, I apologize. This, phht... I've shown you a rude side of me. Keuh...”
He even wiped away tears as he snickered. He composed his laughter and shrugged.
“In that case, would you care to show me?”
His condescending gaze was truly arrogant.
“Enlightenment manifests through the sword. So, go ahead and perform the sword technique. Let me see what principles are contained in your sword, Young Lady.”
“Alright.”
Seolhwa gripped the wooden sword properly and took two steps back. Her eyebrows arched slightly.
“Not drawing your sword?”
Namgung Jangyang spread his arms and shrugged. He did not draw the real sword hanging at his waist.
“I'm only watching, so I don't need a sword.”
“Alright, then.”
Seolhwa took her stance. The children watched the situation from a short distance, snickering. Seolhwa held the wooden sword with both hands and slowly breathed in.
In her sight, the tip of the sword was aimed precisely at Namgung Jangyang's neck.
‘Three Talents Sword Technique, First Form. Horizontal Slash.’
Seolhwa slowly moved the sword. It was a movement so slow that every action, every breath, every motion was visible.
‘Hmm. So she has learned martial arts. Her posture is correct.’
Namgung Jangyang watched her movements askew, with his arms crossed.
‘But...’
Suddenly, he felt a sense of unease.
‘Did Namgung Seolhwa speak informally to me yesterday, too?’
At that moment. Shweek― Seolhwa's wooden sword slashed horizontally. Namgung Jangyang's neck was severed in a single strike.