Under the roof of this Namgung, there was not a single person who would not recognize the Family Head. No, even if they had never seen the Family Head's face, the overwhelming presence was so immense they would know by instinct.
A commanding pressure that dominated the air just by entering the space, making one's head bow instinctively even without him releasing any energy. The faces of the five Unit Leaders darkened in an instant.
‘Wh-why is the Family Head… here…’
‘Even the Leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit…!’
This can't be. The Celestial Tiger Hall has never shown any particular interest in the first round of selections, right? Why is the Family Head here?
“The balance between his external training and Inner Energy is excellent. To think I would see such a talent here. Seolhwa, it was a good thing I came as you said. Hoho.”
Only then did the five Unit Leaders see the small child standing behind Namgung Mucheon. A child less than half the size of Namgung Mucheon.
‘Namgung Seolhwa!’
At that moment, the Red Dragon Squad Leader's eyes met with Namgung Seolhwa's. Recalling the events of last night, the Red Dragon Squad Leader gasped and averted his gaze. Seolhwa smiled and held Namgung Mucheon's hand.
“But, Grandfather. Didn't they just say 'disqualified' a moment ago?”
“Hm? Did they?”
“From what I saw, that warrior over there seemed much stronger. Did I see wrong?”
“How could that be? I saw it that way too.”
Namgung Mucheon looked back at the five Unit Leaders. That heavy gaze alone caused cold sweat to stream down the Unit Leaders' bodies.
“Red Dragon Squad Leader.”
“Ye-yes, Family Head...!”
“What was the result?”
“...!”
The five Unit Leaders held their breath. At the Red Dragon Squad Leader's strong insistence, the five Unit Leaders had promised to disqualify Namgung Jipyeong. Since Namgung Jipyeong's opponent was someone pre-selected by 'that person', it should have been a natural course of action.
“I asked what the result was.”
“O-of course...”
As frightening as that person was, he was not more frightening than the Family Head before him. The Red Dragon Squad Leader squeezed his eyes shut.
“Red Dragon… 11th Squad… Namgung Jipyeong… is the victor.”
Namgung Jipyeong's face quickly brightened.
I won. Finally.
This invisible wall that I couldn't break.
Has crumbled. Finally.
“Ha... haha...?”
The situation was so sudden and unbelievable that only laughter escaped him.
‘Young Lady…’
Jipyeong's eyes had become moist. He looked at Seolhwa with that gaze. Seolhwa was also looking at him and smiling.
That smile reaffirmed his victory once more.
“Haha...! Hahahaha! I won...! I won!”
Namgung Jipyeong let out a belated roar.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Watching him shout loud enough to shake the sparring ground, Namgung Mucheon chuckled, “Hoho.”
“Is that the child you taught, Seolhwa?”
“No.” “No?”
“I only brushed off the dirt. That person was already a complete warrior.”
Even if buried deep in the ground, gold is still gold. Namgung Jipyeong was originally a talented individual, and though it was very late, he was only now seeing the light.
‘And now, he will soar freely.’
Both Namgung Jipyeong and the other buried gems that will be revealed through this opportunity.
“The sparring match seems to be just starting. Shall we sit, Grandfather?”
“Hahaha, yes. Let's do that. I'm already looking forward to seeing what other gems will appear. Hoho!”
Seop Mugwang ordered the Unit Leaders to bring chairs, and they flawlessly prepared seats for the Family Head and Seolhwa. Only then did the first round of selections properly begin.
“Wahahahaha! We passed! We all passed!”
“We did it! We really did it!”
“Long live the Young Lady! Long live our master!”
All five members, including Namgung Jipyeong, passed the first selection. It was a smooth victory.
“Hey, how can there be such a skill difference between members of the same squad?”
“Really! It was super easy, right? It was just swish! Swish! And it was over!”
“Did the Family Head clap for you? He even laughed for me! Hahaha!”
“He called me a talent, you know?”
Even after they had all passed, Namgung Mucheon remained at the first selection event. Thanks to him, the skilled individuals passed the first round, and the second round was scheduled to be held at the Heavenly Martial Tournament.
‘Honestly, I didn't think he would go that far.’
She recalled the look in Namgung Mucheon's eyes as he watched the sparring of the Outer Hall warriors. How they twinkled. Those eyes, filled not with the dignity of a Family Head but with the curiosity and interest of a warrior, were somewhat surprising to Seolhwa.
She thought someone of Namgung Mucheon's level would be bored by the trivial sparring of Outer Hall warriors.
‘He truly is a real warrior, I suppose.’
And that he genuinely loves the Namgung. Thanks to that sight, Seolhwa too could strengthen her resolve to protect this Namgung.
“There are two days left.”
Seolhwa strode forward to the squad members, who were boisterously excited with joy. The squad members quickly put on serious faces and looked at Seolhwa.
“I'm sure you all know this isn't the end. The Heavenly Martial Tournament is an excellent opportunity to showcase your martial strength in front of the family elders who are the pillars of Namgung.”
The squad members' eyes filled with determination.
“You have two days left. I hope you prepare well during that time and achieve a good result until the very end.”
“We will never let the grace given by the Young Lady go to waste!”
“We will do our best!”
“We will become people who can be of help to the Young Lady!”
In two days, the selection sparring will be held in front of the Hall Masters, the Elder Council, the elders, the Family Head, and the direct lineage. There, they will receive offers to join from the Unit Leaders, and those who receive offers will become official Inner Hall warriors. Although it's unknown which Unit Leader's offer they will receive.
‘They will surely do well. If it's them.’
Watching the five warriors, hardened with the resolve to become Inner Hall warriors at all costs, Seolhwa gently curved the corners of her lips.
“Let's eat together today. I know a delicious restaurant.”
The expressions of the five warriors brightened in an instant.
“No way...! Is the Young Lady treating us?”
“Really? Are we going, today!”
Seolhwa nodded her head.
“Yes. Let's eat until our stomachs burst. After all, you have to eat well to gain strength, don't you?”
“Wahaha! Awesome!”
“I'm going to eat 'til I burst!”
The five warriors jumped up and down with joy. It was an evening where the setting sun pleasantly shone upon their smiling faces.
Clang― The teacup shattered into pieces. A rough breath escaped from between Yeon Soran's lips.
“All of them… were eliminated….”
Her clenched fist trembled. The Heavenly Martial Tournament is held only twice a year. Hundreds of Outer Hall warriors dream of becoming Inner Hall warriors and train like mad for half a year, but the number promoted to Inner Hall warriors during those two events is limited.
Among them, the number Yeon Soran could intervene to promote was at most five.
“Are you saying… all five of them were defeated by the warriors Namgung Seolhwa was teaching…?”
Through strands of hair, a sharp gaze glared at the Red Dragon Unit Leader. The Red Dragon Unit Leader answered in a tense voice.
“Be-because the Family Head came in person…”
“You call that an excuse!”
As she slammed the table, the teacups on it rattled.
“I told you from the start to make sure those five that Namgung Seolhwa was looking after absolutely, absolutely did not appear at the promotion test!”
“Th-that is… the Red Dragon… Squad Leader…”
Namgung Jangyang squeezed his eyes shut. Now that things had come to this, he had no choice but to relay what he heard from the Red Dragon Squad Leader.
‘That Namgung Seolhwa threatened me! She's the cunning one who did this to my leg! She said she would kill me if I didn't let the Red Dragon 11th Squad members take the test!’
When he heard those words from the Red Dragon Squad Leader, he doubted his ears. Does it make sense to have one's ankle broken and be threatened by a mere child? By a thirteen-year-old who just returned to Namgung, no matter if she's from the direct line!
“That child, didn't you say she was second-rate?”
Namgung Jangyang nodded.
“Yes. That is certain. I confirmed it myself.”
Although something felt strange when she performed the Three Talents Sword Technique.
‘I must have been oversensitive then.’
Even after seeing the sword technique, he continued to watch her, but Namgung Seolhwa's energy was indeed only that of a second-rate. Nothing had changed. Yeon Soran's expression turned chillingly cold.
“So. You're saying you were threatened by a mere second-rate and ignored my orders.”
“Th-that is...”
“Deal with it yourself.”
“The Red Dragon Squad Leader… you mean?”
“I have no need for such an incompetent man. Banish him. And among the five who failed to be promoted this time, make sure the son from the merchant caravan side is placed in that position. Things will get complicated if we become enemies with the merchant caravan.”
Namgung Jangyang swallowed dryly. To think she would immediately discard the Red Dragon Squad Leader now that he's useless and order another to be seated in the Squad Leader position.
‘This time it may be the Red Dragon Squad Leader, but the next person to be expelled could be me.’
It was not something to be happy about, just because he got off easy this time.
“I understand.”
“That child, it's certain she hasn't learned Namgung's martial arts, correct?”
“... Of course. All she has learned is the Three Talents Sword Technique… At the Heavenly Martial Tournament, all that child will be able to show is just swinging a sword a bit.”
The rumors about Namgung Seolhwa are reaching their peak. Now, everyone in the family gossips about Namgung Seolhwa's vulgarity. They seem to be hushing up out of deference to the Family Head, but quiet rumors are inherently the scariest kind.
“The protagonists of this Heavenly Martial Tournament will be the Second Young Master and Young Master Soryong.”
Namgung Jangyang bowed toward Yeon Soran. Yeon Soran's face, which had been stiff the entire time, finally colored with a benevolent smile.