In that instant, the faces of two people turned deathly white. One was the Red Dragon Unit Leader, Namgung Jangyang, who was in charge of the family's training. The other was Yeon Soran, who had given the order to Namgung Jangyang.
Yeon Soran instantly wiped the flustered look from her face.
"What are you talking about, Soryong? What do you mean the Red Dragon Unit Leader didn't teach Seolhwa the sword technique?"
The Red Dragon Unit Leader stared at Yeon Soran with eyes as wide as lanterns. Yeon Soran hurriedly sent a mental transmission. -Don't even think about stepping forward. I have to survive first for you to have a chance, don't you think?
It was already over for the Red Dragon Unit Leader. Now that Soryong's words had revealed everything, there was no turning back. Knowing this, the Red Dragon Unit Leader suppressed his indignation and lowered his head.
He was furious at Yeon Soran's attitude of trying to save herself, but she was also the only one he could rely on.
"She only ever hit the striking posts! He didn't even teach her the Three Talents Sword Technique properly, so how could she know the Namgung's sword technique? This is all wrong… Huk!"
"What did you just say?"
Soryong could not continue. It was because a wave of rage flowing from Namgung Mucheon enveloped and pressed down on the entire sparring ground. Everyone in the sparring ground, including Soryong and Yeon Soran, trembled under the terrifying energy.
"Th-that is…"
Young Soryong could not withstand Namgung Mucheon's aura. Just looking at him was enough to fill him with fear, and he started to whimper, unable to speak. Yeon Soran quickly pulled Soryong into her arms.
"S-Soryong seems to be frightened, Father. As for what he just said, I will ask him for the full story once he calms down, so please, withdraw your anger for now."
Namgung Mucheon stared impassively at Soryong, who had burst into tears in his mother's arms, before turning his gaze to the Red Dragon Unit Leader. In that moment, the Unit Leaders sitting beside the Red Dragon Unit Leader felt their breath catch in their throats.
"Flying Wind Sword."
"Yes, Family Head."
Seop Mugwang stepped forward before Namgung Mucheon.
"Investigate this matter thoroughly and report back to me."
"As you command!"
"The Martial Studies Hall Master will assist the Leader of the Secret Wind Sword Unit."
Namgung Mugang quietly nodded his head. The matter Namgung Mucheon had ordered to be investigated was not limited to just the Red Dragon Unit Leader. He had ordered an investigation into the corruption within the martial force that had been going on since morning.
"Martial Studies Hall Master, do not let a single drop of liquor touch your lips until this whole affair is resolved. Do you understand?"
Namgung Mugang, a renowned lover of drink, flinched and hesitated to answer. However, he soon let out a regretful sigh and nodded.
"I understand."
He glared at the Red Dragon Unit Leader with blazing eyes, causing the man to be crushed by a suffocating energy once more.
"I was the one who taught Seolhwa her martial arts when she was in the training grotto."
In an instant, the sparring ground stirred. It was surprising enough that the Family Head had taught her personally, but the timing of when he taught her was even more shocking.
"You mean to say she learned that sword technique while in the training grotto?"
"Are you saying the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique can be mastered in a mere ten days?"
It was utterly unbelievable. No matter how outstanding the teacher, no matter how genius the student. 'This is impossible.'
Breaking through their disbelief, Namgung Mucheon's shocking words continued.
"Seolhwa is a child born with the Heavenly Martial Body. She understood and imitated the sword technique I showed her in a single glance. I showed her several other sword techniques as well. She performed them all splendidly."
'Heavenly Martial Body!' 'Understood the sword technique in a single glance!?' Namgung Mucheon gazed at Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa has excellent comprehension, and her bones and muscles are perfectly suited for learning martial arts. She is a talent more suited than anyone to our Namgung, who seek constant advancement."
Murmuring gazes turned toward Seolhwa. The Family Head would not lie, so everything he said must be true. The Heavenly Martial Body.
A prodigy of martial arts. 'A monster has been born in Namgung…!' 'To think the lost child had a Heavenly Martial Body!'
'Heo…
What a stroke of fortune.'
"Let me ask you one thing."
A gruff voice cut through the murmurs. Seolhwa turned her gaze to look at Namgung Mugang. His lips were curved into a smile of interest.
Namgung Mugang was also a warrior. Seeing Seolhwa's sword made his heart race for the first time in a long while. The fact that she had a Heavenly Martial Body was also very intriguing.
And so, he grew more curious.
"Why did you create the Counter-Sword Technique?"
At that question, the family members' gazes instantly focused on Seolhwa.
'That's right.
Why did she create the Counter-Sword Technique?' No one doubted the fact that the child had created the Counter-Sword Technique anymore. Seolhwa smiled brightly and answered.
"To supplement the sword techniques of Namgung."
"Supplement? Are you saying there are flaws in the Namgung's sword techniques? In the martial arts created by our founder, Heavenly Martial?"
The Heavenly Warrior. The founder of Namgung was the first in the history of the Martial World to become the greatest under heaven of his time from a family, not a sect.
No one could match him in the sword, and it was said that seeing his sword felt like gazing up at the heavens, which is why he was called Heavenly Martial.
"You must know how dangerous a statement that is, don't you?"
"When Heavenly Martial established the Namgung's sword techniques, he also founded the Martial Studies Hall. The purpose of the Martial Studies Hall is to research and advance martial studies. Isn't there a reason he established both of these together?"
Do not linger. Do not be complacent. Surpass the previous generation.
The times change, and as they do, martial studies must also evolve. He was the greatest under heaven of his time, but he knew. In future generations, martial talents greater than himself would appear, and to face them, the Namgung's sword techniques would also have to evolve.
"Martial studies are never complete."
"!"
"It's a phrase I happened to see while passing by the Martial Studies Hall."
In truth, she had seen it in her past life. Those were the words Heavenly Martial spoke when he founded the Martial Studies Hall.
"It's also the reason I came up with the Counter-Sword Technique."
As if that was a sufficient answer, Namgung Mugang simply nodded with a thoughtful expression and asked no more. Namgung Mucheon said she could step down, and Seolhwa bowed to the elders before descending from the sparring stage.
"Seolhwa!"
"Young Lady!"
Namgung Cheongun, who had been waiting, ran over and hugged Seolhwa tightly. After blinking her wide eyes a couple of times, Seolhwa hugged Cheongun back.
"How was I?"
"I was so proud. You were a very, very proud daughter."
He held Seolhwa tightly and stroked her head.
"I knew my daughter was a genius, but I never knew to this extent. The star of this Heavenly Martial Tournament is you, Seolhwa."
He took a step back to face Seolhwa. The rims of his eyes were moist.
"Now, no one will ever doubt you. No one will ever say you don't belong in Namgung. My daughter. Truly…"
Cheongun finally showed his tears.
"You've grown up so well…"
Watching Cheongun's tears stream down, Seolhwa felt a strange thirst in her throat. A feeling like she was so thirsty that her throat had closed up. Finding that feeling strange, she turned her gaze to where Yeoyul and Ryeong were.
Yeoyul was already sobbing at the sight of the father and daughter, and Ryeong's eyebrows were furrowed in emotion as well. '...
Family.'
She didn't know why that word came to mind at that moment. She just had the thought that maybe this is what family is. Always cheering for you from behind, waiting for you.
'Rejoicing together.'
Isn't this what family is?
"Let the banquet begin!"
With Seolhwa's part finished, the main events of the Heavenly Martial Tournament were all over. Alcohol and food were brought into the sparring ground, and the banquet signaling the end of the tournament began. Watching the maidservants carry in endless jars of liquor, Seolhwa couldn't believe her eyes.
The only one who couldn't rejoice was Namgung Mugang, who had just been banned from drinking. He writhed in agony and let out a scream at the sight of the liquor jars, then finally stormed out of the sparring ground, fuming. The banquet continued deep into the night, and the lights of Namgung shone brightly for a very long time.