At last, the final event of the Heavenly Martial Tournament had arrived, the time for the direct descendants to showcase their martial arts. The first to step forward was Namgung Cheongsan, just as he had said during the meal.
“Hah!”
As Namgung Cheongsan threw a punch, the sound of the air bursting, pang, pang!, could be heard. Wind blew in all directions, and as the fist technique unfolded, fluttering their robes and hair, expressions of amazement colored the faces of the family members.
“Ooh. The Third Young Master’s spirit is as strong as ever.”
“The Third Young Master is undeniably stronger than the First and Second Young Masters. It was quite clever of him to choose a fist technique to show off his strengths.”
“Do you think it was the Third Young Master’s idea? Lady Moyong must have advised him.”
“Hahaha. The Third Young Master has found himself a fine wife.”
The influential figures of the family were deeply satisfied with Cheongsan’s fist technique. Although they had seen it during the warriors’ sparring matches, the power of the fist technique performed by the colossal Cheongsan was on another level. It was an outstanding achievement, worthy of Namgung Mucheon’s son.
“Oh, that was a fine display, Third Young Master.”
“What a magnificent fist technique!”
Namgung Cheongsan’s performance ended amidst satisfied applause. Cheongsan cupped his fists to all sides. Just as everyone thought he was about to descend from the sparring stage, Namgung Cheongsan took a deep breath.
He then shouted in a voice loud enough to make the entire sparring ground ring.
“My Hwarin’s talent is greater than mine, so you may look forward to it! I ask the elders to please watch her with fond eyes!”
It was a remark typical of Cheongsan, who was known for doting on his daughter. As laughter erupted, Seolhwa grabbed Cheong-un’s arm.
“Father.”
“Hm?”
“That kind of thing, I don’t need it.”
“…!”
Flinching, Cheong-un froze. Seolhwa looked back at him.
“Absolutely. I don’t want it.”
At the child’s cool gaze, Cheong-un swallowed his tears of disappointment and nodded.
“…Alright. I understand…”
Following Cheongsan, Hwarin ascended the sparring stage. In truth, no one expected anything from Hwarin. Hwarin resembled her mother, small and frail, and would have won everyone’s affection just by running around on the sparring stage.
‘When I saw her last time, she was very shy, so I didn’t think she would come out. This is unexpected.’
Seolhwa was already surprised just seeing Hwarin step onto the sparring stage. Hwarin came up holding something. A maidservant who came with her placed a target about five paces away from Hwarin.
Hwarin bowed deeply to the adults on the sparring stage. Supportive applause broke out, and without explaining what she had brought with her, Hwarin stood facing the target. Soon, a pang! sound echoed across the sparring ground.
It was the sound of the paper target tearing as if it had exploded.
‘That is…’
Seolhwa’s eyes sparkled.
‘A pellet crossbow?’
It was crude, but it was definitely a pellet crossbow. A new type of pellet crossbow, modified from the existing pellet bow, a weapon that uses stones instead of arrows unlike a regular bow.
While the original pellet bow worked by placing a stone instead of an arrow on the taut bowstring and pulling it to fire, the new version had a trigger mechanism, allowing a stone to be fired with a press of the trigger. Its power was weaker than an arrow’s, but its advantage was highlighting the pellet bow’s fast attack speed.
Seolhwa had seen a pellet crossbow in her previous life. During a battle against the Namgung family. When Namgung first brought out the pellet crossbow, the warriors of the Blood Sect had been utterly bewildered.
That day was a complete defeat for the Blood Sect.
‘And… Namgung Hwarin made that…?’
Namgung Hwarin.
She had only thought of her as a quiet child with no presence.
‘Was her talent in mechanics rather than martial arts?’
After firing a couple more shots, Hwarin put away the crossbow and timidly bowed to the adults. Her talent seemed to have been quite astonishing, as the family elders stared at the child, dumbfounded. Because of that, the applause was quiet, and Hwarin, taking it as a sign of embarrassment, was about to hurry off the sparring stage.
“Did you make that yourself?”
At Namgung Mucheon’s question, Hwarin nodded.
“Did you truly make it all by yourself?”
Hwarin nodded once more. The corners of Namgung Mucheon’s mouth curved deeply. His gaze was full of pride.
“A fine display. You are brilliant.”
Surprised for a moment by her grandfather’s unexpected praise, Hwarin soon broke into a bright smile. Then, as if in a good mood, she pattered down the sparring stage. As the youngest of the family nestled into the arms of Moyong Yeonhwa, who was waiting below the stage, flowers of laughter bloomed once again in the sparring ground.
Next was Namgung Cheonghae’s turn. Namgung Cheonghae demonstrated a sword technique. His realm, which had been merely at the peak of the Supreme Realm, had now reached the consummate Supreme Realm.
The sword technique he performed, clad in sword energy, was not particularly special. It was just enough to show that he had not been negligent in his training. But that was not all.
Following his sword technique, Namgung Cheonghae demonstrated a formation. The indifferent reactions from when he brought large rocks from somewhere and arranged them on the sparring ground floor changed when a warrior stepped onto the stage.
“Please watch carefully as this warrior ascends from the east side of the sparring stage and descends from the west.”
The warrior went up the stage by the eastern stairs as Cheonghae had said.
But…
“What? What is he doing?”
“He can’t find the stairs that are in plain sight?”
“Heo…”
The warrior who had stepped onto the sparring stage wandered around the small stage instead of heading west. It was as if the moment he stepped onto the stage, he was trapped in a different space all by himself.
“This is a formation that deceives the eyes and clouds judgment. Those who find it hard to believe may come down and see the formation for themselves.”
At Namgung Cheonghae’s words, a few elders came forward and stepped onto the sparring stage. Like the warrior, they wandered around the stage until they eventually had to be led out by Cheonghae’s hand. It was an incredible formation, created with just a few stones.
‘Did he cast some kind of spell on the stones?’
Though the method was unknown, Namgung Cheonghae’s true power was clearly revealed.
“As expected of the Second Young Master. Not only is he skilled in the sword, but he is also this proficient in formations. How can one not praise him?”
“Hahaha! One who is to carry the Namgung family must be at least that capable! He is most dependable!”
The elders who supported Namgung Cheonghae took this opportunity to praise him until their lips were dry. However, the praise was not undeserved. What Namgung Cheonghae had shown was more than worthy of it.
‘He prepared thoroughly.’
Namgung Cheonghae, aware that talk of the Young Family Head was beginning to circulate, must have prepared desperately for the Heavenly Martial Tournament. This was clearly an achievement he had earned.
“Father.”
Cheong-un, who had been clapping for his younger brother, turned to look at Seolhwa.
“I’ll go get ready now.”
Cheong-un nodded.
“Alright. Go on. The night is dark, so be careful not to fall.”
“Yes.”
Seolhwa smiled faintly.
“I’ll see you down below. I’ll be back before you go up on stage, Father.”
Cheong-un nodded.
A devoted trust emanated from his gaze.
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
Seolhwa instructed Ryeong to remain at the sparring ground and observe the situation, then left the area. When she arrived at the pavilion, Yeoyul, who had been pacing anxiously in the courtyard, spotted her and waved with a bright smile.
“Young Lady!”
“Are you ready?”
“Yes! I was just waiting for you to arrive, Young Lady! But… will you really be alright?”
“Yes. Of course.”
It was a firm reply, but Yeoyul still couldn’t erase her worry.
“Let’s go inside.”
Seolhwa and Yeoyul entered the pavilion. The sun had set, and the night was now filled with darkness that blanketed the ground. After finishing her preparations and returning to the sparring ground, Seolhwa headed straight for the first floor where the sparring stage was.
Ryeong, who spotted her walking behind the platform, ran over.
“Young Lady.”
“What about Father?”
“It is now the First Young Master’s turn.”
“What about the others before him?”
“Young Master Soryong injured his leg after falling while demonstrating the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword. He was carried off by his escort. Young Master Ung showed the Great Flame Sword Technique. He was at the fifth level of the Great Flame Sword Technique.”
The fifth level of the Great Flame Sword Technique at Ung’s age. It was an achievement that proved he was of true Namgung blood. And just as Ryeong said, in the distance, she could see the back of Cheong-un as he ascended the sparring stage.
“Let’s go. We have to cheer for Father.”
“Yes.”
Seolhwa moved to a spot with a good view of the sparring stage. The maidservants and warriors who saw her were surprised and made way for her. Since the adults on the platform above were watching Cheong-un ascend the stage, no one noticed her standing in the shadows below.
She could hear their conversation from above her head.
“The First Young Master’s martial strength has always been exceptional.”
“Haha, I wonder if there’s any change from the last Heavenly Martial Tournament. The First Young Master probably lacked time to train in martial arts…”
What was important in the Heavenly Martial Tournament was how much one had ‘grown’ in the past six months. In that regard, no one expected much from Cheong-un’s martial strength. He would not have been able to prepare at all, having wandered about in search of his daughter.
Amidst that lukewarm indifference, Cheong-un assumed the opening stance. The Namgung sword technique Cheong-un had chosen was the one Seolhwa had shown him on the peak of Mount Huangshan. It was the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword.
After assuming the opening stance, Cheong-un exhaled a long breath.
‘Let’s see if you can turn the elders’ hearts.
If you can turn thirty percent of their hearts, I will somehow manage the rest.’ The Head of the Elder Council had told him to turn thirty percent of their hearts. But Cheong-un’s thoughts were different.
‘Thirty percent is not enough.’
The hearts of the remaining grand elders, the elders and Hall Masters who support Cheonghae, and all of his father’s expectations.
‘I must seize it with my own strength.’
Not with anyone’s help, but with his power alone.
‘What Seolhwa wants is a Family Head with power.’
Not a Family Head who is swayed. A reigning Family Head, like his father now. To do that, he had to be acknowledged with dignity, without anyone’s help.
He had to make them submit with overwhelming power.
‘What I want is not to be the Young Family Head.’
Therefore.
‘I will wield the sword as the Family Head.’
Whooosh A clear, blue energy flickered around Cheong-un. The energy, which rose like a haze, began to gather around him. The condensed energy took on a deeper blue hue than before.
At that moment, the jaws of the indifferent onlookers dropped open without them realizing.
“Is that… sword aura…?!”
“Supreme master level…!”
Amidst the dense silence mixed with shock and tension.
Cheong-un, moved.