The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 79

The day before the Heavenly Martial Festival passed quietly without major disturbance.

The stewards, warriors, and elders of the clan were all busy preparing for the Heavenly Martial Festival.

Swoosh— swoosh— swoosh!

Seolhwa was training alone in the courtyard's martial arts hall.

Today, with no one visiting, she devoted herself entirely to sword practice for a very long time.

Only when her martial robe was drenched with sweat from swinging her sword did she finish her training and return to her room as the sun began to set.

After washing clean and changing her clothes, she returned to her room, where a welcome person was waiting for her.

"Seolhwa."

"...Father?"

Namgoong Cheongun's face brightened into a radiant smile as he spread his arms wide toward Seolhwa.

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Yet somehow, his expression also looked a little sorrowful.

"Let me hold you, my daughter."

Namgoong Cheongun embraced Seolhwa tightly.

A refreshing scent still lingered from him.

Cheongun hugged Seolhwa tightly, as if he never wanted to let go again.

"I'm sorry."

His voice, dampened with emotion, carried sorrow and regret.

'He must have heard the rumors.'

There was no way he hadn't; the rumors about her now rose constantly to the lips of everyone in the clan.

The fact that the Patriarch, Namgoong Mucheon, allowed the rumors to spread only encouraged the gossipers even more.

The rumor, which had begun merely with her presence at the pleasure house, was now twisted so far that even the Patriarch was said to have turned his back on her.

"I should not have entered seclusion leaving you alone. I should have stayed by your side. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Seolhwa."

After leaving his seclusion chamber, Cheongun had gone straight to the Patriarch’s hall upon hearing the rumors.

Overwhelmed with uncontrollable rage, he wanted to find and tear apart all those who had defiled his child, regardless of the Heavenly Martial Festival or anything else, but Namgoong Mucheon stopped him.

'It seemed he planned to exploit the rumors. I understand your anger, but do not let it blind you to the forest for the sake of the trees.'

That meant that the child was looking beyond the immediate tree to the whole forest.

'Seolhwa has always seen the forest.'

Being a clever child, she must surely have her reasons.

But that did not mean the wounds she suffered would disappear.

"Seolhwa."

Cheongun embraced the child even more tightly.

"This father will do anything to protect you.

If it will make you smile, I am prepared to give up everything, so tell me if you are struggling."

Cheongun leaned back slightly and smiled.

"If that time comes, let’s go live somewhere no one knows us.

It would be nice to farm leisurely, or perhaps to travel and see the world."

His gentle smile was filled with sincerity.

"Let’s do whatever you love, Seolhwa."

It was clear from his words that he was not joking.

Seolhwa stepped slightly away from Cheongun and gazed at him intently.

From Namgoong Cheongun emanated a powerful energy that she had not felt from him before his seclusion.

"You succeeded."

"It’s all thanks to you.

While I was in seclusion, I missed you so much.

That’s why I pushed myself to ascend to the Transcendent Peak Realm as fast as possible."

Even though he had used the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure, it was still uncertain whether he could reach the Transcendent Peak Realm within that time.

And yet, he had succeeded.

"And there’s something I want to give you, Seolhwa."

Namgoong Cheongun pulled something from his robes and held it out to her.

Seeing what it was, Seolhwa’s face filled with surprise.

"This is..."

What Cheongun handed her was the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure.

"You didn’t use it?"

He had reached the Transcendent Peak Realm without using it?

Cheongun smiled gently and brushed Seolhwa’s hair back.

"Did I not promise you that I would become a father who could support you?

A father who steals a precious treasure from his daughter cannot be a good father."

"But how..."

Was it truly time yet for Namgoong Cheongun to reach the Transcendent Peak Realm?

Her memories were blurry, but it didn’t feel like it should be this soon.

"I wanted to become a father you could be proud of.

That was the only thought that drove me to devote myself entirely to training."

Raising one’s realm was not something achievable through willpower alone.

That made his success all the more astonishing.

It could rightly be called a miracle.

"Am I a father you can be proud of now?"

In a sense, he had fulfilled his promise: that he would do anything for her, for his daughter.

Cheongun’s smile was astonishingly clear.

That smile was so pure and refreshing that Seolhwa could not bear to meet it and lowered her gaze.

He was the man who had given his life for her in her previous life.

And the man who, even in this life, would do anything for her.

She had always known it, but facing that truth so vividly made her throat tighten.

"Yes.

I am truly proud of you."

As if answering Cheongun’s effort, Seolhwa nodded quietly.

"You’re really... amazing, Dad."

The word "Dad," instead of "Father," struck Cheongun like a blow.

His trembling gaze was fixed solely on Seolhwa.

'...She opened her heart to me.'

Just that realization alone made his heart swell with joy, and he could not hide his smile.

"...Hahaha."

Cheongun pressed his forehead against his daughter’s and burst into laughter.

Even though Seolhwa awkwardly averted her eyes, that too was only endearing to him.

"Then, Seolhwa, could you now tell this dad what you are thinking?"

"...?"

"Let’s hear what thoughts are swirling in that little head of yours."

The hand that stroked her hair was as gentle as his smile.

That boundless affection was a warmth Seolhwa had never once felt in her previous life.

After a brief hesitation, Seolhwa nodded and began to speak.

Throughout her story, Cheongun kept meeting her gaze, quietly, silently, nodding along.

****

"We hereby commence the Heavenly Martial Festival!"

At Namgoong Mucheon’s proclamation, all those gathered in the main central martial arts hall of the Inner Courtyard burst into a unified cheer.

Ten squads of the Inner Courtyard Sword Brigade stood assembled, followed by ten squads of the Outer Courtyard Sword Corps.

Before them, five standard-bearers raised flags dyed in their respective colors.

The higher the flags fluttered toward the heavens, the louder the warriors' cheers became.

They shouted at the top of their lungs, as if to prove that their martial brigades were the stronger.

Atop the grand two-story pavilion surrounding the central martial arts hall, Namgoong Mucheon and the direct lineage members were seated at the center, flanked on both sides by the major figures of the Namgoong Clan.

Division leaders, elders, even the members of the Elder Council had gathered.

It was truly a magnificent event, with the full might of the Namgoong Clan assembled in one place.

Bwoo— bwoo—!

Boom— boom—!

The deep blare of horns and the resounding thrum of drums shook the air, announcing the start of the Heavenly Martial Festival.

The warriors’ cheers roared up to the heavens.

"We now begin the Inner Courtyard Warrior Selection Sparring!"

Namgoong Hyuk, Captain of the Black Dragon Corps and master of ceremonies, announced the beginning atop the sparring stage.

The first event to be held was the Inner Courtyard Warrior Selection Tournament.

Ten warriors from each martial division who had passed the first screening—fifty in total—were randomly assigned match numbers and began their one-on-one sparring matches.

Clang—! Claaang!

If there was a difference from before, it was the size of the crowd.

"Go, Black Dragon Corps!"

"Blue Dragon is the best!"

It wasn’t just larger—it was much larger.

"Black Dragon Thirteenth Squad, Gireung wins!"

"Yaaah!"

"Gireung! Gireung! Gireung!"

The warriors of Namgoong cheered passionately for the members of their divisions during the matches.

It was as if their comrades’ victories were their own; they reacted fervently to every swing, every clash, every outcome.

And it wasn’t only the warriors who were enjoying the sparring.

"This batch of riders seems to have many outstanding ones, doesn’t it?"

"I heard the Outer Courtyard has increased the intensity of their training. It seems their efforts are bearing fruit."

"Heh heh, even though peace makes one complacent, it seems the division leaders have stayed sharp. Namgoong’s future is bright indeed."

The central figures of Namgoong also watched the matches, each making their own comments.

On the second-floor pavilion overlooking the central sparring arena.

Watching the matches, Seolhwa thought to herself.

'Since the selection was based purely on skill this time, it’s only natural the quality is higher.'

With Namgoong Mucheon watching from behind, there was no chance for the division leaders to play favoritism.

Thanks to that, truly skilled warriors had risen to the fore and were freely demonstrating their abilities at this year’s Heavenly Martial Festival.

"Namgoong Jihyung of the Red Dragon Eleventh Squad, step onto the stage!"

At last, a familiar name was called.

Seolhwa smiled as she watched Jihyung make his way up to the sparring stage.

Even from a distance, his tension was plainly visible.

"Begin the match!"

At the Black Dragon Corps Captain’s shout, the drum boomed—boom!

Namgoong Jihyung’s opponent was a member of the Yellow Dragon Eleventh Squad.

The two of them faced each other, offered a formal greeting, and took their stances.

'One uses the Grand Vast Sword Art, the other the Heavenly Wind Sword Art.'

Namgoong Jihyung had chosen Namgoong Clan’s basic sword technique, while the Yellow Dragon Squad member had chosen an advanced sword art.

If judged by sword art alone, the Heavenly Wind Sword Art was a tier above.

'But just because it’s an advanced art doesn’t mean it’s stronger.'

The power of a sword art varied immensely depending on how deeply it was understood and mastered.

Kwaang—!

'Good. Just like that.'

As if answering Seolhwa’s thought, Namgoong Jihyung’s sword pressed down hard against the Yellow Dragon Squad member’s blade.

Namgoong Jihyung’s Grand Vast Sword Art ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) was at Eight Stars—a result of tirelessly training in it day and night after Seolhwa had demonstrated it.

It was not a bad choice.

Clang! Kwaang! Claaang!

The tremendous noise of swords clashing echoed through the arena, as if they were breaking the sparring stage itself, fueled by Jihyung’s brute strength added to the Eight-Star Grand Vast Sword Art.

The spectators forgot even to cheer, their mouths hanging open as they watched the match, and even the elders showed signs of surprise at Jihyung’s power.

"Is he really just a First-Class warrior? How can he have such strength?"

"The more astonishing thing is that those attacks aren’t even imbued with inner force."

"Heh heh... It seems the Outer Courtyard has birthed a monster."