The return of the granddaughter of the Namgoong family

***

Recently, a peculiar undercurrent had begun to flow through the central regions of the continent, particularly around Shaanxi, Henan, and Hubei.

Villages disappearing overnight and the rise of criminal organizations were all ominous signs of impending danger.

Even the escort agency run by the Namgung family wasn’t spared. While passing through Henan, they were attacked by a black-market faction, suffering significant losses.

Namgung Mucheon tasked the Windblade Guard with investigating the matter, and during their inquiry, they uncovered information about a secret deal between Shaolin and Huashan.

“We couldn’t find out why Huashan and Shaolin entered into such a deal, but…”

Seop Mugwang scratched the bridge of his nose with a troubled expression.

“The Black Cloud Gang turned out to be less formidable than we thought. A mere kid was able to cause chaos for them. For them to have defeated Huashan’s elites and stolen the goods, there must’ve been some… external involvement.”

As he continued his report, Seop Mugwang suddenly fell silent.

Something felt off.

Despite the gravity of the report, Namgung Mucheon’s reaction was strangely indifferent.

“Master?”

Seop Mugwang waved his hand in front of Namgung Mucheon’s face.

“Are you listening?”

Namgung Mucheon, arms crossed, was staring ahead with a deeply serious expression.

“Hmm…”

He rubbed his rough, stubbled chin with his large hand.

There was a chilling sharpness in his expression, reminiscent of the moments just before cutting down an enemy.

Seop Mugwang and the head steward swallowed dryly.

‘It must be because this involves major factions in Shaanxi and Henan. He’s being cautious.’

‘Has he already figured something out from the report?!’

As those thoughts ran through their minds, their sweat-soaked fists clenched tightly.

And then—

“I used to hear people say that kid looked a lot like me from the day he was born.”

The words that came out of Namgung Mucheon’s mouth had nothing to do with Seop Mugwang’s report.

“Back then, I wondered what part of that tiny thing could possibly resemble me. But now that he’s grown, I see it.”

Seop Mugwang and the steward exchanged glances.

They didn’t need to speak to understand what Namgung Mucheon was talking about.

The steward smiled awkwardly and said, “Master, to be honest, I wouldn’t say he’s grown yet…”

Who in their right mind would call a thirteen-year-old fully grown?

Especially since he wasn’t even particularly large compared to other kids his age.

“Well, true. He’s even smaller than Cheonmyeong.”

Cheonmyeong was the name of Namgung Mucheon’s sword.

The sword was named Cheonmyeong because the heavens were said to cry each time it was swung.

“We’ll need to feed him well. He needs to grow taller than Cheonmyeong.”

“Of course, he should be taller than Cheonmyeong.”

Though Cheonmyeong was large, it was only about two hand spans taller than the child.

“If he ends up smaller than Cheonmyeong, that would be a problem. But more importantly…”

“More importantly?”

Namgung Mucheon raised an eyebrow and turned to the steward.

‘He doesn’t resemble you.’

…was what he wanted to say, but the steward kept his mouth shut, sensing the deadly aura in Namgung Mucheon’s gaze. It felt as though he’d be devoured on the spot.

Forcing a smile, the steward remained silent.

At that moment, Seop Mugwang tactfully changed the subject.

“Right, why not ask that kid about it?”

‘Thank you, Windblade.’

‘I wholeheartedly agree that they don’t resemble each other.’

Namgung Mucheon looked at Seop Mugwang.

“Ask him about what?”

“The Great Rejuvenation Pill. That kid was the young master of Hwaoru, wasn’t he? Surely he knows something about this matter.”

“Have you investigated this place, Hwaoru?”

“After dealing with the men chasing the boy, I immediately sent my subordinates to Yunnan. We should hear back soon.”

The ones pursuing the child had turned out to be assassins from Hwaoru.

After taking care of them, members of the Windblade Guard were dispatched to Yunnan. Five days had passed since then.

“Do you find the child’s words trustworthy?”

Namgung Mucheon’s question made Seop Mugwang pause briefly.

Trust was not something to be given or taken lightly, especially not with a child who had been the young master of an unknown faction.

Though the child claimed to have come to Namgung with the sole desire of returning home, who could say what intentions might lie hidden beneath?

Even if that child was the patriarch’s granddaughter.

It wasn’t a matter to take lightly.

“Giving up all the internal energy he had cultivated so far—it’s not an easy decision to make. Honestly, if I were that kid, I wouldn’t have been able to make such a choice.”

Mastery of internal energy was not something achieved overnight.

To relinquish power capable of dominating an entire region anywhere in the martial world was no small feat.

“For a child to forgo such power and choose Namgung—what other motive could there be?”

There wasn’t the slightest tremor in Seop Mugwang’s voice.

His conviction also implied that he would take full responsibility if the child betrayed the clan.

The steward, startled, asked, “Windblade, have you already grown attached to that child after traveling with them?”

“Attached? Not at all. Though I must admit, the way the kid acts, contrary to their appearance, is a bit endearing.”

“Hah…”

Seop Mugwang was well-known in Namgung for being someone who rarely opened his heart to anyone.

In terms of skill, he was capable of contending with the top ten martial artists in the world. The only reason he remained with Namgung was Namgung Mucheon himself.

In other words, he was a unique force, unaffiliated with any specific faction within Namgung, and someone everyone in the clan wanted to have on their side.

For someone like him to speak positively about a “granddaughter candidate” for the first time was nothing short of extraordinary.

“Life sure holds its surprises.”

“Hahaha…”

The steward chimed in, supporting Seop Mugwang’s sentiment.

“I agree that we should question the child about the Huashan affair. Besides, it is customary for the patriarch to host meals for guests of the Heavenly Guest Pavilion. This would be a perfect opportunity. Whether we trust the child or not can come after that.”

Hearing the two men’s suggestions, Namgung Mucheon nodded.

“A meal, huh.”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

***

Ilhwa coldly stared down at the kneeling captain of the Red Dragon Unit.

In her previous life, she had taken countless lives without purpose. With every life she claimed, enemies naturally multiplied.

Some of them sent assassins, others attempted to kill her themselves.

But she had survived all those attempts, no matter how numerous, so there was no reason to fear a second-rate martial artist wielding a wooden sword with no internal energy behind it.

“You’re welcome to continue. But this time, don’t underestimate me—use all your strength.”

With a light kick, Ilhwa sent the wooden sword lying on the ground sliding back toward him.

The captain of the Red Dragon Unit stared blankly at the wooden sword pushed toward him.

‘What is…’

What in the world was going on?

Why was he kneeling before this young child?

He hadn’t even seen the kid swing their sword properly. Worse yet, he hadn’t even realized he’d dropped his own weapon.

And it had all happened in just two seconds.

From a distance, the murmurs of onlookers reached his ears.

Some were his subordinates, reacting with surprise, while others were young trainees or lackeys who didn’t yet understand martial arts. To them, the sight of a grown man kneeling before a child was simply comical, and they burst out laughing.

The Red Dragon captain scowled deeply, picking up the wooden sword.

“Fine.”

He hadn’t seen it happen, so he couldn’t believe it.

If he couldn’t believe it, he’d have to confirm it for himself.

His pride wouldn’t allow things to end like this.

Standing up, the Red Dragon captain assumed a proper stance, facing Ilhwa.

“Alright then, let’s do this properly, you insolent little brat.”

The look in the Red Dragon captain’s eyes was entirely different from before.

He no longer underestimated the child.

It didn’t take a genius to recognize the truth now.

“Strong.”

This child was strong.

Their energy felt small, but the martial prowess they displayed far exceeded it.

Perhaps even more than his own.

This was not someone he could afford to take lightly.

Facing his renewed determination, Ilhwa also gripped her sword and assumed a proper stance.

If her opponent was going to fight with his full strength, there was no reason for her not to respond in kind.

‘Now that it’s come to this…’

She might as well humor him for a bit.

In truth, she was curious. Could she really change Namgung?

Namgung was powerful.

Because of that power, enemies rarely dared to challenge them.

But the true strength of Namgung lay only in the patriarch and a handful of elite martial artists. Not all Namgung warriors were strong.

In other words, the warriors of Namgung were shielded under the name of their clan.

‘With no enemies, there’s no need to fight.’

And without the need to fight, complacency was inevitable.

Long periods of complacency dull a blade. But what truly becomes dulled is not the sword itself—it is their resolve.

‘Can I really sharpen their resolve?’

Could she heat and hammer these warriors, who were already steeped in comfort, into sharpness once more?

Did they even have the will to change?

That was what intrigued her.

It was the reason she agreed to spar with the Red Dragon captain.

“Take this!”

The Red Dragon captain charged forward.

This was the child who had brought him to his knees twice in an instant. He had no room to hold back or underestimate her anymore.

Clack! Clatter! Clack!

Ilhwa deftly parried his rapid strikes one after another, not by directly opposing his strength but by deflecting his attacks, using his force against him.

‘What the…!’

In the flurry of exchanged blows, the Red Dragon captain grew flustered.

He was putting all his strength into his swings. He wasn’t holding back just because she was a child, nor was he underestimating her.

And yet, the child was effortlessly deflecting his sword.

How was this possible?

How could someone so young handle his strikes so easily?

Thwack!

“Hah!”

Just as the Red Dragon captain was drowning in confusion, Ilhwa’s wooden sword struck his wrist.

Nearly dropping his weapon again, the captain gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the sword.

“Focus.”

Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead.