By the lakeside on a night shrouded in darkness. Mucheon recalled the conversation he had with Seolhwa during the day.
‘I need your help, Grandfather.’
Not long ago, when the child revealed the hypnosis and reached out to him for the first time, Namgung Mucheon vividly remembered the feeling of that moment. Following his anger at the existence of the hypnosis, he was so overjoyed that the child was relying on him that his fingertips trembled with overwhelming emotion.
Most everyone who knew him tried to use his power and authority, but the child was different. It felt like a miracle that such a child, who always tried to solve everything on her own, had for the first time broken her stubbornness and asked for help.
‘Now, asking for favors seems… quite natural.’
Who knew it would bring such joy to hear his granddaughter say she needed something. He felt as if he had finally become a true grandfather, and a proud smile naturally curved his lips.
“Family Head.”
A figure approached Mucheon from behind. It was the Leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit, Seop Mugwang.
“Have you found the source of the rumors?”
“It seems to be from the Red Dragon Unit Leader’s side, but I have yet to find out who is behind the Red Dragon Unit Leader. I will be sure to find them and make them kneel before you, Family Head.”
“No. It is not before me they should kneel, but before Seolhwa.”
“Indeed. Damned bastards.”
Even if it was due to a power struggle, they had crossed the line. To touch the Family Head’s granddaughter, and a granddaughter who had returned after eight years at that.
‘Whoever it is, they’re a fool.’
Perhaps because the family has been quiet, they think the Family Head is a benevolent man, but they are gravely mistaken. The Sword Sovereign he knew was not one to show mercy in the face of injustice.
‘They’ll be lucky to keep their lives…’
“The child said she wants to learn the sword from you.”
For a moment, Seop Mugwang’s expression was colored with bewilderment. After a brief moment of confusion, he quickly opened his mouth.
“Brother, that is…”
“I told her she could.”
Seop Mugwang lifted his head and looked at Namgung Mucheon. Namgung Mucheon was also looking back at him.
“Mugwang.”
“…”
“I’m entrusting my granddaughter to you.”
Seop Mugwang’s gaze wavered. It was the first time in a very long while that he, who always maintained a confident and composed demeanor, had shown any agitation.
“Are you truly allowing this?”
“With you, I can trust and entrust my granddaughter.”
“Why? The kid’s achievements are higher than any other child her age. No, not even the ten great masters achieved that much at her age. She needs to be properly nurtured from now…”
“There is no need to teach Seolhwa the sword of Namgung.”
“Brother.”
Seop Mugwang’s voice became serious. His manner of speaking also changed.
“Even if she was away from the family for eight years, she is of Namgung blood. Surely, you are not refusing to teach her the sword of Namgung just because the kid learned martial arts outside the family?”
Namgung Mucheon shook his head.
“It is not that I will not teach her. It is that there is no need to. That child already knows all of Namgung’s sword.”
“…What do you mean by that…?”
“Speaking of which, isn’t it about time for Mugang to arrive?”
“…He won’t arrive before the Heavenly Martial Tournament. He still listens to you, after all. No, more importantly, what do you mean by that?”
The kid knows all of Namgung’s sword?
“In this Namgung, aside from myself and Mugang, there is no one who can defeat that child with the sword of Namgung.”
“…!”
“Mugang might even give up the first exchange.”
“She’s… that good?”
Of course, that was a story for when Inner Energy was not used. In Namgung, there were two unrivaled masters, Namgung Mucheon and Namgung Mugang.
Namgung Mucheon was one of the ten great masters under the heavens, and while Namgung Mugang wasn’t one of the ten great masters, he was skilled enough to be ranked within the top thirty under the heavens. And that Namgung Mugang would give up the first exchange?
“Honestly, I don’t believe it.”
“Hahaha!”
Namgung Mucheon burst into hearty laughter.
“When Mugang returns later, you can see for yourself. See if I am right or wrong.”
“I am not doubting your eye, brother, but…”
“What is finding it hard to believe, if not doubt?”
“Mm…”
Right.
He admitted it. He couldn’t believe it. That Namgung Mugang would be pushed back in the first exchange, or that the unit leaders of the martial force would lose to the kid.
This time, he could not agree with Mucheon’s will.
“Well… anyway, are you saying it’s fine? For me to teach the kid the sword.”
“Yes. That one, no matter what sword she learns and masters, her essence will pursue the sword of the heavens.”
The sword of the heavens was the sword of Namgung. Namgung Mucheon had not given up on his granddaughter. Rather, he had chosen a path to further enhance her achievements.
“Your sword is faster and more powerful than anyone else’s. You are not called the Storm Thunder God for nothing. Since thunder and lightning originate from the heavens, could there be a more fitting sword art?”
“Hmm…”
Seop Mugwang slowly nodded his head. Namgung Mucheon’s influence had not been insignificant in his martial arts taking on the form of thunder and lightning.
‘She said the kid is skilled in sword techniques centered on variation and speed.’
The kid’s sword certainly had aspects that aligned with both Namgung’s sword and his own. Thinking about it that way, the kid learning his sword was not such a bad option. Moreover, the child had said she would find her own path.
‘As expected, he’s not the Sword Sovereign for nothing.’
Seop Mugwang let out a short laugh. A grandfather who could judge all this in such a short time and open the best path for his granddaughter. There could be no more reliable an ally.
Seop Mugwang performed a disciplined cupped fist salute towards him.
“As much as you have trusted me, I will do my best to teach her.”
“I look forward to it.”
Namgung Mucheon stared blankly up at the sky, filled with stars.
“I wonder what kind of sky that child will show me.”
A cool smile had already spread across his lips. It was around evening when Ilryong, Imwoe, and Sambong contacted her. Seolhwa, along with Ryeong, hid their bodies in the darkness and went out to the Outer Hall, secretly meeting them behind it.
The information the three had gathered was excellent.
“Looking into it, those guys called Unit Leaders have been getting away with quite a lot, haven’t they? The few times we scammed some merchants was nothing compared to this.”
Sambong sneered.
“Taking money to promote people to Inner Hall warriors was a common occurrence, they accepted Unorthodox faction members as warriors, and even sold Namgung’s information. What is this? They’re worse than the Unorthodox faction guys.”
There was also plenty of evidence of how many things the unit leaders of the Outer Hall’s sword units had been doing behind the family’s back.
“There are crazy bastards who think thievery is a talent if they keep getting away with it. I heard these guys now openly have drinking parties with the leaders of Unorthodox Path Sects.”
Sambong recited their crimes as if he were the one more dumbfounded. As he said, it was a truly paradoxical situation to tell which side was the Unorthodox faction.
“Good work. Ryeong.”
Ryeong took out a pouch she had brought from her sleeve and threw one to each of the three men. The faces of the three men who received the gold-filled pouches brightened, shining as much as the gold.
“Is there anything else you need us to do?”
Sambong asked slyly as he pocketed the pouch. The reward was good, and their backing was solid. If the jobs were like this, he felt like making a real score this time.
“Of course, there is.”
As if she had been waiting, Seolhwa gestured to Ryeong, who then took out three more pouches. They were even fuller than the previous ones.
“This time, it’s an advance. Double the amount.”
“D-double…!”
The three men’s eyes widened. Towards them, who were staring intently at the pouches, Seolhwa asked in a sweet voice.
“So, will you do it?”
A man staggered down the street in the darkness. A tune he couldn’t contain hummed from between his lips.
“Kekek… how can things be going so smoothly?”
Namgung Suhak, a Unit Leader of the Outer Hall's martial division Red Dragon Squad. He recalled the conversation from the drinking party that had just taken place.
‘They said she was a child the Family Head cherishes, but she’s nothing special, is she? I was so worried the rumor would be squashed before it even spread.’
‘Gahaha! When has the Family Head ever openly supported his children? They said he gave her the Bone Marrow Cleansing! I guess that was the end of it!’
‘I was nervous when she started meddling with our martial division as soon as she returned. Now we can just relax and watch the Heavenly Martial Tournament.’
‘Aren’t you excited already? What kind of face will the First Young Master make when his daughter is ridiculed in front of the whole family!’
Everything was proceeding smoothly. Tomorrow, the first selection for Inner Hall warriors would be held. The Red Dragon 11th Squad, which Namgung Seolhwa had nurtured, was not part of that festival.
The Red Dragon 11th Squad was a squad where those without backing stagnated. He could not stand by and watch those without power or ability interfere with ‘that person’s’ will.
‘They must have thought the Namgung young lady would have their backs. Kekek…’
But what power could a thirteen-year-old girl who had just returned to the family possibly have? Thankfully, the stupid members of the 11th squad had reacted immediately to the provocation involving Namgung Seolhwa. Thanks to them, he had one less thing to worry about.
He wondered what kind of reward ‘that person’ would give him for handling this matter so well.
“Hehehe, hoo. I’m really looking forward to it. So looking forward to it.”
“What are you looking forward to so much?”
The humming Red Dragon Squad Leader jumped in surprise and pressed himself against a wall.
“Wh-who’s there!”
After quickly glancing around, he soon stared at one spot in the darkness. From within that darkness, a person emerged. No, a child appeared.