The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 78

Under the roof of Namgoong,

there was not a single soul who could fail to recognize the Patriarch.

Even those who had never laid eyes upon him would know instinctively—such was the overwhelming force of his presence.

Simply entering the space caused the air itself to become heavy; even without unleashing a trace of inner energy, the sheer pressure alone forced heads to bow.

The faces of the five Division Leaders darkened instantly.

'W-why would the Patriarch... come here...?'

'A-and even the Lord of the Flying Wind Division...!'

It made no sense.

At the last Grand Martial Festival, the Patriarch had shown no particular interest in the first round of selections.

Why had he come here now?

"Your balance between external and internal martial arts is impressive.

To think a talent like this would be found in the Outer Courtyard.

It was good that I listened to you, Seolhwa. Hahaha."

Only then did the five Division Leaders notice the small child standing quietly behind Namgoong Mucheon.

A figure barely half his size—

'Namgoong Seolhwa!'

At that moment, the Red Dragon Division Leader met Seolhwa’s eyes.

He flinched, gasping for breath as memories of last night’s encounter flashed through his mind.

He quickly averted his gaze.

Seolhwa smiled and lightly tugged at Namgoong Mucheon's hand.

"But, Grandfather, didn’t they just say ‘disqualified’?"

"Hm? Did they now?"

"From what I could see, that warrior over there seemed much stronger.

Was I mistaken?"

"Not at all. I saw it the same way."

Namgoong Mucheon turned his gaze upon the Division Leaders.

Under that heavy, silent stare, cold sweat broke out across their bodies.

"Red Dragon Division Leader."

"Y-yes, Patriarch!"

"And what was the outcome?"

“...!”

The five Division Leaders sucked in a breath.

They had already promised, under pressure from the Red Dragon Division Leader, to disqualify Namgoong Jihyung.

After all, Jihyung’s opponent was someone pre-selected by him.

"I asked," Namgoong Mucheon repeated, his voice soft yet inexorable,

"what was the result?"

"O-of course..."

No matter how frightening he was, no one standing here feared him more «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» than they feared the Patriarch.

The Division Leader clenched his eyes shut.

"Namgoong Jihyung... of the Eleventh Unit... is victorious."

Light flooded Namgoong Jihyung’s face.

He had won. At last.

The invisible wall he had never been able to break through—

It had crumbled.

Finally.

"H-ha... hahahaha...?"

The situation was so sudden and unbelievable that laughter spilled out of him unconsciously.

'My lady...'

Tears welled up in Jihyung’s eyes as he turned toward Seolhwa.

She, too, was smiling at him.

That smile reaffirmed his victory.

"Hahahaha! I won!

I really won!"

Namgoong Jihyung let out a belated roar of triumph.

"Uwaaaaaah!"

The entire arena seemed to shake from his voice.

Namgoong Mucheon let out a hearty chuckle as he watched.

"Is that young man someone you taught, Seolhwa?"

"No," Seolhwa replied calmly.

"No?"

"I merely brushed the dirt off of him.

He was already a complete martial artist on his own."

Even if buried deep underground, gold remained gold.

Namgoong Jihyung had always been a man of innate talent.

It was just that his brilliance had finally been unearthed.

'And now... he will soar.'

Not just Jihyung,

but all the other hidden gems that would reveal themselves through this opportunity.

"The matches are just beginning. Shall we sit down, Grandfather?"

"Hahaha, indeed. I look forward to seeing what other treasures emerge. Hahaha!"

At his command, Seop Mugwang instructed the Division Leaders to bring out chairs.

The Division Leaders scrambled to prepare seats for the Patriarch and Seolhwa.

Only then did the first round of the selections truly begin.

****

"Wahahaha!

We passed! We all passed!"

"We did it!

We really did it!"

"Long live the Young Lady! Long live our lord!"

All five members, including Namgoong Jihyung, had passed the first selection.

It was a smooth, overwhelming victory.

"Man, is it even possible for comrades to have such a difference in skill?"

"Right? It was super easy! Just swoosh! Swoosh! And it was over!"

"Did the Patriarch actually clap for you?

I swear he even smiled at me! Hahaha!"

"He told me I was a ‘remarkable talent!’"

Even after their victories, Namgoong Mucheon remained at the selection grounds.

Because of that, those truly worthy had passed the first round,

and the second would be held at the Grand Heavenly Martial Festival.

'Honestly, I didn’t expect him to go that far.'

Seolhwa recalled the way Namgoong Mucheon had watched the Outer Courtyard warriors spar.

How brightly his eyes had shone.

There had been no airs of a Patriarch,

only the pure curiosity and excitement of a true martial artist.

It was almost... endearing.

Someone like Namgoong Mucheon should have found such meager duels boring.

'But that's the proof.

He truly is a martial artist.'

And that he truly loved Namgoong Clan.

Because of that, Seolhwa, too, found her own resolve to protect this family strengthening.

"Two days remain."

Seolhwa strode forward, her steps cutting through the noise and excitement.

The warriors quickly straightened up, their faces growing serious.

"I trust you understand that it isn't over yet," Seolhwa said.

"The Heavenly Martial Festival is a rare chance to display your martial prowess before the elders and direct descendants of the Namgoong Clan."

Their eyes gleamed with determination.

"You have two days left.

Prepare well—

and make sure you achieve a result you can be proud of."

"We will not waste the grace you've shown us, Young Lady!"

"We will give it everything we have!"

"We will become warriors worthy of standing by your side!"

In just two days, before the Family Lords, the Elders’ Council, and the Patriarch himself, the final selection duels would be held.

Those who received invitations from the Division Lords would become formal Inner Hall warriors.

Who would receive which invitation remained to be seen.

'But I believe in them.'

Seolhwa smiled softly as she looked at the five warriors, their hearts set ablaze with conviction.

"Tonight," she said,

"let’s eat together.

I know a good place."

The faces of the five warriors lit up at once.

"Wait...! Are you really treating us, Young Lady?"

The source of this c𝓸ntent is frёeweɓηovel.coɱ.

"Truly? We're going today?!"

Seolhwa nodded calmly.

"Yes. Let’s eat until we burst. After all, isn’t strength born from a full belly?"

"Wahaha! That’s amazing!"

"We’ll eat until we can't move!"

The five warriors cheered, practically bouncing on their feet in joy.

The setting sun cast a warm light over their smiling faces,

ushering in a beautiful, peaceful evening.

****

Clatter—!

A teacup shattered into pieces.

Rough, ragged breaths escaped from between Yun Solran’s trembling lips.

"All of them...

All of them lost?"

Her clenched fist shook uncontrollably.

The Heavenly Martial Festival was held only twice a year.

Hundreds of Outer Courtyard warriors spent half a year bleeding themselves dry in preparation, all dreaming of promotion to the Inner Hall.

Yet the number of warriors promoted each time was strictly limited.

Among them, Yun Solran had influence over a precious handful—only five candidates.

"And you’re telling me," she seethed,

"that every single one of them lost to warriors under Namgoong Seolhwa’s tutelage?"

Her sharp glare sliced through the strands of her hair, aiming at the Red Dragon Corps Commander.

The Commander answered in a tense, stammering voice.

"I-it was because... the Patriarch himself... appeared...."

"And that’s supposed to be an excuse?!"

Bam!

She slammed the table, causing the remaining teacups to rattle violently.

"I made it very clear!

Those five under Namgoong Seolhwa—under no circumstances were they to even appear in the selection matches!"

"T-the thing is... the Red Dragon Division Leader...."

Namgoong Jangyang shut his eyes tightly.

There was no avoiding it now. He would have to repeat the absurd tale he had heard.

'Namgoong Seolhwa threatened me! She’s the one who broke my leg! That wicked brat said she would kill me if I didn’t lift the restrictions on the Eleventh Unit warriors!'

When he had first heard it, he had thought it madness.

To think a single child could break a man's ankle and threaten him into submission?

Even if she was a direct descendant, she had only just returned to the Namgoong Clan—and she was barely thirteen!

"Wasn’t that child confirmed to be only at the First-Class realm?" Yun Solran asked coldly.

Namgoong Jangyang nodded.

"Yes. I confirmed it myself."

There had been something odd when she performed the Three Elements Sword Style, but—

'At the time, I must have been imagining things.'

Even afterward, monitoring her closely, Namgoong Seolhwa’s qi remained firmly at the First-Class level.

There had been no change.

Yun Solran’s face grew icy.

"Then you’re telling me...

that you ignored my direct orders because you were threatened by a mere First-Class child."

"T-that’s...."

"Handle it," Yun Solran commanded coolly.

"You mean the Red Dragon Division Leader?"

"I have no use for incompetents.

Dismiss him.

And among the candidates who failed to promote, select a merchant guild scion to replace him.

We can't afford to alienate the guilds."

Namgoong Jangyang swallowed dryly.

To discard the Division Leader the instant he became useless—and replace him with a pawn from the merchant factions...

'This time it's the Red Dragon Division Leader, but next time, it might be me.'

Just because he survived today's purge didn’t mean he could relax.

"Understood."

"And that child—she hasn’t truly learned the Namgoong martial arts, correct?"

"Of course.

The only thing she’s studied is the Three Elements Sword Style.

During the Heavenly Martial Festival, all she can possibly show is a bit of sword-waving."

Namgoong Seolhwa’s rumors had already reached a fever pitch.

The entire clan whispered about her vulgarity and incompetence.

Though most kept silent out of fear of the Patriarch, the whispers spread like wildfire—

and such quiet, persistent rumors were the most dangerous of all.

"This year's Heavenly Martial Festival," Yun Solran said sweetly,

"will belong to my son and Young Master Soryong."

Namgoong Jangyang bowed deeply toward her.

At last, Yun Solran’s frozen expression melted into a gentle, benevolent smile.