The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 65

Cheongun didn’t speak for a while.

He stared silently at the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure that his daughter had brought him. After a long pause, he let out a quiet chuckle, as if surrendering.

“How did you know? That I’ve been struggling with my cultivation?”

“The whole clan is buzzing about the Celestial Martial Tournament. You’re no exception, are you? Given your position in the clan, Father, your best answer is martial strength. But perhaps you realized that your current level wouldn’t be enough.”

Cheongun’s mouth fell slightly open.

“...You’re {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} exactly right.”

He had been thinking about it ever since she left to retrieve the elixir—no, even before that.

“My daughter... are you a celestial being? Anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re an old master reborn.”

To have such insight at only thirteen—it was like she had stepped inside his head.

“There’s no point in hiding anything from you, is there?”

With a light laugh, Cheongun reached out and gently ruffled Seolhwa’s hair.

“Were you trying to hide it?”

“It wasn’t about hiding it. I just never considered asking you for help. After loudly declaring that I would become clan head myself, how could I turn around and ask my daughter for assistance? What would happen to my pride?”

Cheongun smiled bitterly as he brushed his fingers along the box containing the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.

“And yet, here I am—receiving your help again. It seems this father of yours can’t help but show his inadequacy.”

“I know that you’re more than capable of reaching the Transcendent Peak without relying on any elixir.”

Cheongun looked at her, surprised by her unwavering voice.

“Not just the Transcendent Peak. You’re someone who could go even further.”

“Hah. Now you’re just flattering me,” he said, waving his hand playfully.

But Seolhwa wasn’t joking.

‘In my previous life, Father had already reached the Flowing Realm when he died.’

Though he’d died by her own hand, the final duel between them had been his victory.

If she hadn’t spread false rumors about her whereabouts—if she hadn’t delayed him—if he hadn’t arrived only after the Namgoong Clan was already in ruins...

‘Then I wouldn’t have been able to destroy the clan that day.’

He had only just reached the Flowing Realm back then, but considering he hadn’t even turned sixty, his talent was undeniable. Even among today’s Ten Great Masters, his potential would’ve stood out.

“I know it’s only a matter of time before you reach the Transcendent Peak. But the problem is... we don’t have time, do we?”

There were only nine days left until the Celestial Martial Tournament.

Today was already over—eight days remained.

Cheongun had fully refined his Peak Realm, but reaching the next level in just eight days? It was a gamble.

“Elixirs can be found again. But opportunities like this? They don’t come twice. Just this once—let the elixir help you.”

“...But isn’t this what you intended to use as leverage with Mount Hua? What if they agree to your conditions and come looking for it?”

“I never planned to give the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure to Mount Hua. I have another plan. Don’t worry.”

“...Still...”

Cheongun furrowed his brow, clearly torn.

“And besides, it was yours to begin with.”

“...”

Even if she had guided the process, it had been Cheongun who discovered the trail leading to the Celestial Bow Turtle Head.

Without his deep knowledge of formations, they never would have found it.

“Are you truly okay with this? That elixir might be connected to a fragment of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Journey.”

When they shattered the turtle statue’s head, they found both the elixir and a jade fragment—a piece left behind by the creator of the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Journey.

Seolhwa didn’t know what the fragment meant either.

It was possible, just as Cheongun had said, that the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure was somehow tied to that mysterious piece. But—

“I’m okay with it.”

“Seolhwa...”

“Even if there’s a banquet of delicacies waiting at the end of a three-day journey, to someone dying of thirst right now, a single sip of water is more precious. Even if that water means missing the banquet—you have to survive first, right?”

Whatever treasures the Ten-Thousand-Mile Divine Journey might bring later, they wouldn’t help them here and now.

What mattered most was that Cheongun had to solidify his standing within the clan. Nothing else came close in importance.

“It’s okay, Father.”

Seolhwa placed the box containing the elixir into Cheongun’s hand.

He stared at it with a conflicted gaze, then finally, his hand closed tightly around it.

He gave a slow, firm nod.

“...Alright. I’ll accept it.”

But his eyes softened with sorrow.

“I won’t be able to see you for a few days.”

“...”

“Come here, my daughter. Let me hold you once.”

He opened his arms to her.

Seolhwa hesitated, then slowly stepped into his embrace.

Cheongun held her tightly, one hand gently patting her back.

“I promise—I’ll return to you as a man worthy of being your father.”

As she felt the warmth of his arms and the soft rhythm of his hand, Seolhwa nodded silently.

“Yes.”

A ticklish warmth bubbled up in her chest.

It was so ticklish, she thought she might sneeze.

****

The next morning.

Cheongun left early, carrying the supplies he needed, and entered Cheonodong Pavilion to begin seclusion.

Even with the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, eight days was too short.

To ascend to the Transcendent Peak in that time, he would have to give up sleep and throw himself into relentless training.

Seolhwa, having woken before dawn, gave instructions to the Red Dragon Division’s trainees, then immediately returned to assist Cheongun with his preparations.

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Once she saw him off, she barely had time to catch her breath before she had to leave for her own internal training.

“...”

She tilted her head back and looked up at the high, boundless sky.

It stretched endlessly, embracing the world like a mother’s arms.

Two birds chirped as they collided midair, then soared away again.

They looked like children playing without a care in the world.

“Young miss! It’s time for the training grounds!”

Yeoyul’s bright voice rang out.

Seolhwa had no idea why Yeoyul sounded so happy when she was the one who had to go.

“...Right. I should go.”

“You will, then?”

It was the first time Ryeong had spoken up, after silently following behind her all this time.

Seolhwa turned her calm gaze toward her.

“Yes. I will.”

Ryeong’s expression twitched for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

“...Understood.”

That was the end of it.

Even though she had witnessed all the humiliation Seolhwa endured at the training ground, Ryeong’s silence was her only response.

A silent declaration: she had no intention of interfering in anything beyond her duty as an escort.

And Seolhwa, for her part, had never needed her help anyway. She turned her head indifferently.

“Welcome, my lady! At this rate, you’ll be late for training!”

****

“Today, you’ll continue with the same drills as yesterday.”

As always, Namgoong Jangyang pointed to a far corner of the training ground. Soryong and the others giggled nearby.

Seolhwa stared at Jangyang.

He looked even more arrogant than he had the day before.

After publicly humiliating Seolhwa yesterday, Jangyang had spent the whole night worrying that he might be summoned by the Clan Lord or the First Young Master to answer for his actions.

And yet—what happened?

Not only did nothing come of it, the First Young Master had even gone into closed-door training early this morning.

‘Is she clueless, or just too proud?’

Whether it was ignorance or pride, the result was the same. She didn’t report the incident, nor did she try to escape.

If she didn’t realize she’d been disrespected, that was ideal. And if it was pride keeping her silent, even better.

‘The proud ones are the easiest to break.’

No matter what you do, they never complain.

“Well then, go on and practice the Three Elements Sword Style. I have to attend to the other young masters—”

“I’ve already mastered it.”

“...Excuse me?”

“I said I’ve already mastered the Three Elements Sword Style.”

Namgoong Jangyang’s face twisted with annoyance.

But then a mocking smile spread across his lips.

“Swordsmanship isn’t something you can master in a single day. As I said yesterday, even the simplest forms contain the profound truths of the world. Are you saying you grasped those truths overnight, my lady?”

“Yep.”

Her answer was confident and unapologetic.

Jangyang couldn’t hold back. He burst into laughter.

The Three Elements Sword Style? That third-rate, beginner-level technique sold on every back alley martial scroll stand? What “profound truths” could possibly be hidden in that?

It was nonsense—a convenient phrase people used to sound wise.

‘Realization? What realization?’

There had to be something to realize first.

“Heh... Haha! Oh dear, forgive me. That was quite rude of me—pfft...”

He even wiped away tears of laughter as he composed himself, shoulders shaking.

“Well then, would you care to demonstrate?”

The arrogance in his tone was palpable.

“After all, enlightenment must show itself through the blade. Let’s see this truth of yours in action, shall we?”

“Sure.”

Seolhwa took two steps back, wooden sword in hand.

Her brows curved slightly in amusement.

“Aren’t you drawing your sword?”

Jangyang spread his arms, shrugging. Though a real blade hung at his waist, he didn’t reach for it.

“There’s no need. I’m only here to watch.”

“Alright then.”

Seolhwa adjusted her stance.

The boys nearby continued giggling as they watched the scene unfold from a distance.

With both hands on the wooden sword, Seolhwa drew a slow, deliberate breath.

Her blade-point, calm and unwavering, aligned perfectly with Namgoong Jangyang’s throat.

Three Elements Sword Style, First Form: Horizontal Slash.

Seolhwa began to move. Her sword traced through the air at a glacial pace, slow enough for every breath and muscle to be seen.

‘Hmm. She said she mastered it, but... at least the form looks decent.’

Jangyang crossed his arms, tilting his head as he observed.

‘But wait...’

A flicker of unease passed through him.

‘Did Namgoong Seolhwa talk down to me yesterday too?’

And in that moment—

Shhhk—

Seolhwa’s wooden blade cut across in a clean, level arc.

Namgoong Jangyang’s head was severed in a single stroke.