The day before the Heavenly Martial Tournament passed quietly, without any great disturbance. The maidservants, the warriors, and the family elders were all busy with preparations for the Heavenly Martial Tournament. Swish— Swiish— Swish!
Seolhwa trained alone in the pavilion's training ground. With no visitors today, she devoted herself to her sword practice for a very long time. She swung her sword until her martial arts uniform was soaked in sweat, only finishing her training and returning to her room as the sun began to set.
When she returned after washing up and changing her clothes, a welcome person was waiting for her.
“Seolhwa.”
“…Father?”
Namgung Cheongun's expression brightened. He opened his arms toward Seolhwa. Somehow, his expression seemed a little sad.
“Let me hold you. My daughter.”
Namgung Cheongun hugged Seolhwa tightly. He still carried a refreshing scent. Cheongun held Seolhwa tight.
As if he never wanted to let her go again, tight.
“I'm sorry.”
His voice, thick with emotion, was filled with apology and longing.
‘He must have heard the rumors.’
There was no way he hadn't. The rumors about her were now constantly on the lips of everyone in the family. The fact that the Family Head, Namgung Mucheon, left the rumors unchecked only encouraged those who loved to talk.
The rumor, which started with her being at a tavern, had become more and more distorted, now painting her as a child who even the Family Head had turned his back on.
“I shouldn't have left you alone to enter seclusion. I should have been by your side. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Seolhwa.”
After leaving the training grotto and hearing the rumors, Cheongun had gone straight to the Family Head's Hall. In an uncontrollable rage, he had wanted to forget the Heavenly Martial Tournament and everything else, find the ones who had insulted his child, and sever all their limbs, but Namgung Mucheon had stopped him.
‘It seemed he intended to let the rumors grow and use them to his advantage. I understand your anger, but do not be blinded by rage and lose sight of the forest.’
In other words, the child was looking at the forest, not just the trees.
‘Seolhwa always saw the forest.’
She was a clever child, so she must have a reason. But even so, did that make the hurt she felt disappear?
“Seolhwa.”
Cheongun held the child even tighter.
“This father will do anything to protect you. If it means you can smile, I am prepared to give up everything, so tell me if you are struggling.”
Cheongun stepped back slightly and smiled.
“When that time comes, let's go live somewhere no one knows us. It would be nice to farm peacefully, or perhaps travel beyond the borders.”
His gentle smile felt sincere.
“Let’s do whatever you like.”
That proved his words were not a lighthearted joke. Seolhwa took a small step back from Cheongun and stared at him. A powerful energy, one that hadn't been there before he entered seclusion, was flowing from Namgung Cheongun.
“You succeeded.”
“It is all thanks to you. When I entered seclusion, I found myself missing you, whom I had left behind. So, I strove to reach the Supreme Realm as quickly as possible.”
Even with the use of the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, it was uncertain if one could reach the Supreme Realm within that period. And yet, he had succeeded.
“And I have something to give you. Seolhwa.”
Namgung Cheongun took something from his robes and held it out to Seolhwa. Recognizing it, Seolhwa’s expression filled with surprise.
“This is…”
What Cheongun offered her was the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.
“You didn’t… use it?”
He reached the Supreme Realm even without using this? Cheongun smiled gently and stroked Seolhwa's hair.
“Didn't I promise to become a father who could be a source of strength for you? A father who takes away a precious item from his daughter cannot be a good father.”
“But how…”
Was this the time when Namgung Cheongun was supposed to reach the Supreme Realm? Her memory was hazy, but she felt it wasn't yet time.
“I wanted to be a father you could be proud of. I focused only on that and devoted myself to training.”
Reaching a new realm is not something that can be achieved through willpower alone. That is what made it all the more surprising. It could be called a miracle.
“This makes me a proud father, doesn't it?”
He had kept his promise. The promise that he would do anything for her, for his daughter. Cheongun’s smile was astonishingly clear.
His smile was so untainted, clear, and refreshing that Seolhwa could not meet his gaze and looked down. The person who had given his life for her in her past life. The person who would do anything for her in this life as well.
She had known it, but facing the reality of it so starkly made her throat feel tight.
“Yes. I’m truly proud.”
As if responding to Cheongun’s efforts, Seolhwa slowly nodded.
“You’re truly… amazing. Dad.”
Hearing the word ‘Dad’ for the first time, instead of ‘Father,’ Cheongun froze on the spot. His trembling gaze was fixed solely on Seolhwa.
‘…The child has opened her heart to me.’
That fact alone made his chest swell with emotion, and he couldn't hide his smile.
“…Hahaha.”
Cheongun touched his forehead to the child’s and burst out laughing. He could see Seolhwa awkwardly averting her gaze, but even that was just adorable to him.
“Well then, Seolhwa. Can you tell this dad what you're thinking now?”
“…?”
“Let’s hear what’s going on in that little head of yours this time.”
The hand stroking her head was as gentle as his smile. The touch, filled with boundless affection, held a warmth she had never once felt in her previous life. After a moment of hesitation, Seolhwa finally nodded and opened her mouth.
As Seolhwa’s story continued, Cheongun met her eyes and quietly, gently, nodded his head.
“Let the Heavenly Martial Tournament begin!”
At Namgung Mucheon’s cry, the people gathered in the Inner Hall's largest central training ground erupted in cheers. The ten squads of the Inner Hall's sword units and the ten squads of the Outer Hall's sword squads that followed them. In front of them, five standard-bearers waved flags dyed in their respective colors.
The higher the flags fluttered towards the sky, the louder the warriors’ cheers grew. They shouted at the top of their lungs, as if to prove that their martial force was the strongest.
On the balcony of the large, magnificent two-story pavilion surrounding the central training ground, Namgung Mucheon and his direct descendants sat in the center, flanked by the core figures of the Namgung family. The Hall Masters, the elders, and even the Elder Council.
It was truly a grand event where the immense power of the Namgung was gathered in one place. Bwooo— Bwoooo— Dung— Dung— The sound of great horns and the heart-pounding beat of drums announced the start of the Heavenly Martial Tournament. The warriors’ cheers echoed through the sky.
“The selection sparring for the Inner Hall warriors will now begin!”
The Black Dragon Unit Leader, Namgung Hyuk, who was in charge of the sparring matches, announced the start from atop the sparring stage. The first event was the selection match for the Inner Hall warriors.
Ten warriors who had passed the first round from each martial division, a total of fifty, were randomly assigned numbers to compete in one-on-one sparring matches.
Clang—! Kaang!
The only difference was that the audience had grown.
“Go, Black Dragon Squad!”
“Blue Dragon is the best!”
And it had grown by a lot.
“Black Dragon 13th Squad, Gi Ryeong, wins!”
“Waaaah!”
“Gi Ryeong! Gi Ryeong! Gi Ryeong!”
The Namgung warriors cheered for their squad members’ matches. They reacted passionately to their swordsmanship, the matches, and the outcomes, as if the victory of one was the victory of their entire sword unit. It wasn't just the warriors who were enjoying the sparring.
“Don’t you think there are many outstanding individuals in this year’s group?”
“I heard the Outer Hall increased the intensity of their training. It seems its true value is now being revealed.”
“Heh heh, with no battles, they could have grown complacent, but the Unit Leaders are sharp. The future of the Namgung is very bright.”
The central figures of the Namgung family also watched the sparring matches, each adding their own comments. On the second-floor balcony of the central pavilion of the sparring ground. Watching the match, Seolhwa thought.
‘This time, the selection was based solely on skill, so they’re bound to be better than before.’
With Namgung Mucheon watching from behind, the Unit Leaders wouldn't have dared to play any tricks. Thanks to that, skilled squad members were able to come up and display their full abilities in this Heavenly Martial Tournament.
“Red Dragon 11th Squad, Namgung Jipyeong, come up to the sparring stage!”
Finally, a familiar name was called. Seolhwa smiled as she watched Jipyeong ascend the sparring stage. Even from a distance, his nervousness was palpable.
“Begin the match!”
With the Black Dragon Unit Leader’s shout, a drum sounded with a boom. Namgung Jipyeong’s opponent was a member of the Yellow Dragon 11th Squad. The two bowed to each other respectfully before taking their stances.
‘One is using Great Flame, and the other is using Heavenly Wind.’
Namgung Jipyeong had chosen the Namgung’s basic sword technique, while the Yellow Dragon member had chosen a higher-tier sword technique than the Great Flame Sword Technique. Based on the sword techniques alone, the higher-tier Heavenly Wind Sword Technique could be said to have the upper hand, but.
‘A higher-tier sword technique isn't necessarily stronger.’
The power varies greatly depending on how well one has understood and mastered the technique.
Kwaang—!
‘Yes. Like this.’
As if in response to Seolhwa’s thoughts, Namgung Jipyeong’s sword slammed down on the Yellow Dragon member's sword. Namgung Jipyeong’s Great Flame Sword Technique was at the eighth level. It was the result of training day and night in the Great Flame Sword Technique after Seolhwa had shown it to him.
It was not a bad choice.
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwang!
The eighth level of the Great Flame Sword Technique, combined with Jipyeong’s monstrous strength, produced a series of roars that seemed to shatter the sparring stage. The squad members, forgetting even to cheer, watched the match with their mouths agape, and the elders, too, were astonished by Jipyeong’s martial strength.
“Is that really a first-rate warrior? How can he produce such power?”
“What’s more astonishing is that his attacks are not imbued with inner energy.”
“Heh heh… A monster has emerged from the Outer Hall.”