Though he had just stepped into the Supreme Realm and his skills were not yet perfectly polished, his aura was no less than that of those who had reached a consummate level in the Supreme Realm. In the Namgung family, only three people had reached the Supreme Realm.
The Family Head, Namgung Mucheon, who had surpassed the supreme master level to reach the Transformation Realm; the Martial Studies Hall Master, Namgung Mugang, who was at the pinnacle of the Supreme Realm; and the Leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit, Seop Mugwang.
The difference between the Supreme Realm and the one below it was like that of the heavens and the earth. The gap was so vast that it was said warriors were divided into two kinds: those who had broken through the wall of the Supreme Realm and those who had not.
Even looking at the entire Martial World, the masters of the Supreme Realm were only those counted among the one hundred greatest masters under the heavens. His martial strength, as he wielded his sword technique while clad in sword energy, was enough to startle everyone in the family.
‘To have already reached the Supreme Realm at that age.’
‘I knew the First Young Master was talented in martial arts, but to this extent?’
‘He couldn't have had much time to train, yet he's at the supreme master level. If he dedicates himself to training from now on, in the future…’
The family members swallowed dryly without realizing it. They had wanted a Family Head who would devote himself to the family for the family's sake, which was why they had chosen Cheonghae over Cheong-un. However, they already knew through Namgung Mucheon.
That the family's name was elevated not by a Family Head who devoted himself to the family, but by one who reigned over the Central Plains with formidable martial strength. The Namgung of today was a family respected wherever it went. Simply for being an elder of the Namgung, one received the highest treatment, and many would bow their heads.
The reason behind this was that the Namgung was the 'family of the Sword Sovereign.'
‘If the First Young Master were to reach the same realm as the Family Head, and there was no one in the Central Plains who did not know his name…’
‘The glory of today might not end with the family of the Sword Sovereign, but be passed on to the son of the Sword Sovereign…’
‘If Namgung Cheonghae becomes the Family Head, the family might become solid inside and out, but.’
‘If Namgung Cheongun becomes the Family Head, the family will surely rise to even greater heights!’
The elders, who had consistently supported Namgung Cheonghae, furtively glanced at the Elder Council Leader. Their hearts, which had seemed unshakeable, were now severely wavering after witnessing Cheong-un's martial strength. Chwaaaak- “Ha… haa… ha…”
Cheong-un caught his ragged breath. After unleashing all seven forms of the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword while manifesting sword energy, he felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body. While he performed the sword technique, the atmosphere of the sparring ground had completely changed.
Cheong-un straightened his posture and cupped his fist towards Namgung Mucheon. Namgung Mucheon gave a short nod.
“Excellent. To achieve such a high level in such a short time. It is a great fortune for our family.”
Namgung Mucheon did not spare his praise.
“All of you, follow Cheong-un's example and do not be lazy in training your martial strength. The power of a martial family is the power of its members.”
The family members responded in unison to the Family Head's words. With the Family Head's praise concluded, Cheong-un descended from the sparring stage. A strange current flowed through the sparring ground after Cheong-un left.
The family members began to glance at each other, gauging the mood. It was because of the last child of the direct line who was to appear.
‘It's Seolhwa's turn.’
Namgung Mucheon slowly looked around the quieted sparring ground. They pretended otherwise, but the elders, the grand elders, and even the Hall Masters… the family members' throats were bobbing eagerly. They must have much they want to say.
From the rumors of her being a courtesan at a tavern to the Counter-Sword Technique. Perhaps some had even noticed Seolhwa's movements during the Inner Hall warriors' sparring match.
‘She is truly a child who is shaking the family to its core.’
Moreover, it was right after Cheong-un had displayed his outstanding martial strength. They would be busy calculating whether the existence of Namgung Seolhwa, Cheong-un's daughter, would be a benefit or a detriment to him. And the same was true for the Family Head, Namgung Mucheon.
Tak.
Namgung Mucheon set down his cup and gazed towards the stairs leading up to the sparring stage. From beneath the shadows, he could feel the child's energy.
‘Now, what will you show me, Seolhwa?’
As Cheong-un came down from the sparring stage, the fluttering hem of a skirt blocked his path.
“Father.”
Cheong-un's gaze followed the skirt hem upwards, and he froze on the spot. His pupils trembled slightly.
“Seolhwa.”
Cheong-un opened his mouth with an expression that said he had much to say. But he soon closed it again without a word. Placing a hand on the child's shoulder, he gave a slow nod.
“Show them.”
Seolhwa also nodded. Her gaze was confident, not the least bit intimidated.
“I'm proud of you, Father.”
“…”
“I, too, will become a daughter you can be proud of.”
With those words, Seolhwa passed Cheong-un and headed for the sparring stage. Cheong-un watched his daughter ascend the stage where he himself had just been running wild. Now, Seolhwa would be judged by all the family members.
The eyes of the family members, which had been lenient with the other children, would turn and judge Seolhwa's sparring with a sharpness keener than any other. Was it such a great sin for the child to return after eight years? Was it the child's fault that she had been away from the family?
‘How cruel.’
It was his own family, but in this moment, Cheong-un resented them so much that he gritted his teeth. Those who drove the child into a corner with dirty rumors, and those who were swept up by those rumors and demanded a higher standard from her. Even himself, who could not be of any strength to that child.
‘Seolhwa. I believe in you.’
If what the child told me is true, then the family members will realize today, in this very place. What it means to be a true Namgung person. So show them.
‘The path you say the Namgung must take.’
From the moment Seolhwa began to climb the stairs to the sparring stage, the sparring ground buzzed with murmurs.
“Th-th-that…”
Though they were pants, they were covered with a thin, fluttering fabric, making the splendid garment look like a skirt at a glance. Her hair, tied up high, was adorned with a glamorous hairpiece, and a white veil draped from her ears covered half her face.
“Isn't that the attire of a courtesan…?”
Seolhwa's attire was that of an entertainer. Shock spread across the faces of the family members who saw her appearance. And it was the same for the Family Head and the Hall Masters.
“Keuk, what a truly baffling kid.”
Seop Mugwang let out a bewildered laugh. He knew everything about Seolhwa's performance in the Heavenly Martial Tournament that had been going on since morning. He was sure she would show something in this place where the direct line's martial arts were being presented, and he had been looking forward to it, but.
‘To actually wear the clothes of a courtesan and climb the sparring stage while being misunderstood as a courtesan who grew up in a tavern.’
Wouldn't this only provoke the family members' opposition even more?
‘What on earth is she thinking?’
What was interesting was the child's confident gaze, even after pulling off such an absurd stunt. The child's expression, as calm and composed as ever, was filled with confidence, and it sparked a thrilling sense of anticipation. Seop Mugwang discreetly covered the corners of his mouth, which kept trying to curve into a smile.
For him, the excruciatingly boring Heavenly Martial Tournament had finally become interesting at the very end. Meanwhile, there was one other person who covered their mouth just like Seop Mugwang. It was Namgung Cheonghae's wife, Yeon Soran.
“Surely, that child isn't trying to mock us, is she?”
“Hah. A courtesan's attire on the sacred sparring stage. It seems she really intends to perform a sword dance.”
“My… even if she grew up outside, to not even know basic etiquette… No matter how little time there was, are you saying the First Young Master didn't even teach her such things?”
As the situation escalated into a volley of criticism, Yeon Soran couldn't hide her smile.
‘Is she clueless, or just stupid?’
As expected, even if she is clever, she's still just a child. I spread the rumors for a situation like this, but I never thought she'd reveal her childishness and dig her own grave. Should I be grateful for this?
The awful mood she was in after Soryong ruined his sparring match was instantly replaced with joy.
‘The child is tearing down the reputation her father built up.’
Amid the criticism, Seolhwa looked straight ahead, at the center of the platform where Namgung Mucheon was seated. Namgung Mucheon was watching Seolhwa with a hardened gaze. His eyes were asking for the reason.
Why she was going this far. What was the reason for deliberately sharpening the blades already aimed at her. Facing that question, Seolhwa raised her sword.
She held her sword aloft, towards the Namgung. A wind blew from somewhere, and energy stirred. A red energy gathered around Seolhwa.
It was red, yet immaculately clear—an energy of the heavens that shimmered like a heat haze around Seolhwa's sword. In that moment, the air grew chilly and settled. The family members, as if by silent agreement, closed their mouths and stared at the child on the sparring stage.
Under the darkening sky, the lights of the sparring ground brightly illuminated the stage. In that light, the silver blade gleamed. Seolhwa lowered her gaze.
‘What must I show them?’
I have thought long and hard about what I must show the Namgung of today. To this Namgung family, busy tearing down each other's reputations with baseless rumors, drunk on power struggles, and letting true warriors go to waste.
‘The Counter-Sword Technique. It would be perfect.’
With the Counter-Sword Technique, I could captivate the family members' hearts and silence the rumors in an instant. But, is an opportunity to gather all the family members and speak through the sword so common? Is it right to use this precious chance merely to quell rumors?
Seolhwa could not do that. Because Seolhwa had a far more important goal than such a trivial matter.
‘I have seen the Namgung.’
From now on, I. Will speak of the Namgung I have seen.