The Return of the Namgoong Clan’s Granddaughter - Chapter 139



Only Noblemtl

Episode 139

* * *

At Seolhwa’s request, the two children looked at each other with embarrassed expressions.

However, when Seolhwa asked again, a boy named Jinyeong opened his mouth while observing Jinye’s expression.

‘Yugang Sasuk was originally a child who wandered on the streets. He was a child who did not even know who his parents were. Then, by chance, he was noticed by Elder Nomun and became a disciple. Although he was young, he was the elder’s disciple and was considered a great disciple.’

‘How did you come to catch the eye of the Volcano Sect elder?’

‘Yugang Sasuk was using the martial arts in the text. When I asked him later, he said that he wanted to learn martial arts, so he beat up a kid who was attending the secular academy in the text and forced him to learn martial arts.’

‘Myung was a child wandering around alone, and by chance, he caught the sight of the elder in the text, and ended up at Hwasan. Did he do that because he was reminded of himself when he was younger? Yu Kang’s tutor takes special care of Myung. Myung also follows him well.’

Seol-hwa recalled the excuse that Yoo-gang had made to Maeng Deung-ho in Surochae.

I thought it was just a made-up story to boast about having the inner strength of a sect.

‘That was true.’

No one knows what pain lies behind the bright side.

I thought there would be no shadows because you were always smiling and bright. That happened when I was young too.

“Sorry, sorry! I’m too late!”

Seolhwa turned her head and looked at Yugang running from afar.

For some reason, his appearance overlapped that of his previous life.

“Have you been waiting long? What about the kids?”

“I heard there was a training session. I went.”

“Ah, this is… .”

Yoo Kang scratched the back of his head.

“Sorry. Myeong-i was a little upset. I had to let her go… Oh, and who is Myeong-i… .”

“I heard. From your friends.”

“okay?”

“Isn’t it true that when you were young, you stole martial arts from the children of the Volcano faction?”

“Huh, stealing? That’s not what I meant! I was just… curious… so…”

“How many people would learn martial arts that way? That too is a talent.”

He hadn’t even learned from a proper teacher and was only a child at best.

It is truly a talent to have learned martial arts without any proper instruction.

“Is that so?”

“Who brought this kid named Myeong?”

“Oh, Elder Noh Baek. He seemed hungry, so I gave him something to eat, but he kept following me around. That’s why I brought him here.”

“I see.”

Old man.

He is the head of the Hwasan faction and the current head of the school.

There was only one reason why Seolhwa cared about the child named Myeong.

‘Because the blood bridge is a place that even children use.’

He himself was only five years old when he was captured by the Blood Cult.

He was injected with blood energy from the Blood Demon, learned blood attacks, and was deployed on an actual mission when he was around ten years old.

Of course, there were many children who were thrown into missions at an even younger age.

‘It might be a contact.’

Children who haven’t learned martial arts are surprisingly good at hiding their presence.

Children who had not learned martial arts in their previous lives were often used as liaisons or to secretly add poison to the food of the unmanned.

‘The people hiding in the volcano will also need a way to communicate with each other.’

You’d better keep an eye on that kid and the old man who brought him there.

* * *

“It is a great honor that the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor has come to find the text.”

“There is no need for formalities.”

Namgung Mucheon looked around at the elders of Hwasan where they were gathered.

There were those with whom I fought enemies together during my youth, when I was wandering the world of martial arts and building my reputation, and there were also those with whom I had a brief relationship.

However, since they were all elders of the Volcano faction, there was no face they did not know, as they had met at least once.

It was a happy reunion on the one hand, and a somewhat bittersweet one on the other.

“Everyone is still the same.”

The tense atmosphere eased with Namgung Mucheon’s informal greeting, and soft smiles spread across the elders’ lips.

That’s what unmanned means.

Even though they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, they remembered the past and respected each other’s scholarship, so they couldn’t help but be happy to see each other again after a long time.

Those who had a deep connection with Namgung Mucheon responded as if they had been waiting for it.

“I’ve heard a lot of news from Senior Sword Emperor. I really wanted to see him again.”

“I’m glad you like it. Do you remember this junior?”

Namgung Mucheon is one of the top ten martial artists in the world. He is one of the top three among them.

Even before the welcome, the people’s respect for him was great.

“Haha, I remember. You, No-il, have always been quick at calculations. Did you end up taking the position of Jae-gyeong-gak-ju? You’ve aged a lot since I last saw you, No-seon. You, No-hyeon…”

Namgung Mucheon called out the names of his juniors one by one and greeted them in a friendly manner.

The atmosphere instantly became cheerful.

We spent a long time asking each other how we were doing and sharing stories from the past.

Namgung Mucheon said to No Baek, the long-serving deputy Muhak Gakju.

“Actually, I came here for another reason.”

Noh Baek met his gaze and answered.

“Can I ask why?”

“I heard that your eldest son is suffering from an unknown illness.”

For a moment, the room became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it. The elders’ gazes were filled with wariness.

Noh Baek answered after a short silence.

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Our chief priest has entered a closed-door training session.”

“A disciple of the Hwasan Sect told me that Jang Moon-in was trapped in a remote place and was dying. Do you know how he ended up leaving Hwasan?”

The elders, including Noh Baek, were unable to answer.

I thought it was strange that Yugang disappeared overnight without a trace, but I still haven’t asked why he came down the volcano.

But, is the reason because you knew Jang Moon-in’s situation?

“You have to find God,” he said.

“…!”

“How worried must the elder brother have been that the young rascal ran out of the temple to find the god whose whereabouts no one knows.”

Namgung Mucheon took a sip of the tea placed in front of him.

It was a legend that Yoo Kang came down from the volcano to find the god.

It was to protect Yoo Kang’s reputation and the secret of the person who sent him, while also creating an excuse to meet the person who was in the middle of closed-door training.

I accepted it because it was a good reason, but as expected, I was not used to lying.

Hororok.

“That’s why I came here in person. I need to see the Okmaegeom with my own eyes. I brought along the excellent doctors of the Namgung family, although they are not divine, so please let me meet the Okmaegeom.”

The elders of the volcano looked at each other with embarrassed expressions.

If he is a member of the Namgung Sega family, he must be a person with outstanding medical skills. And with the help of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor, he might be able to find the cause of the illness.

A long silence followed.

Namgung Mucheon knew that they were exchanging opinions through telephony.

Let’s wait quietly for a while while drinking tea.

Noh Baek opened his mouth.

“That is a question we cannot decide.”

“… .”

“I will explain to the elder brother.”

“Of course.”

“First of all, you must be tired because the road is long. Please rest. I have prepared a meal for you.”

Namgung Mucheon nodded briefly.

* * *

A grand meal was prepared at the volcano’s restaurant for long-awaited guests.

It was a splendid table setting, as if showing off that it was a great sect representing the Central Plains, even though it was located on top of a mountain.

The Black Dragon Corps of the Namgung Sega and the great disciples of Hwasan sat facing each other across the splendid table.

Black Dragon Lord looked at the food and exclaimed in admiration.

“I heard that the Hwasanpa eats mostly vegetables to cultivate frugal and pure internal energy, but looking at it today, I guess that’s not the case.”

Yu Baek, sitting across from him, answered with a laugh.

“It would be wrong to neglect to welcome an important guest. It may not be as good as the Namgung Se-ga, but I hope you have a satisfying meal.”

“What do you mean by lack? It is out of the question. I am grateful for your kind treatment.”

“Do you need to be so flattering? Just speak comfortably. Why are you pretending to be like this?”

The sarcastic voice came from the disciples of the Volcano Sect.

Everyone’s eyes, including Black Dragon Lord and Liu Baek, were focused on one person.

The one grumbling with a dissatisfied expression was Yoo Biao.

Liu Biao looked at the Black Dragon Lord with a bitter smile.

“Didn’t you say that all the way here? Those Moonpa guys are pathetic people who think they’re better than everyone else.”

The Black Dragon Lord’s expression hardened.

“When did I ever say that?”

Liu Baekdo was also embarrassed and tried to stop Liu Biao.

“You Biao, be careful with your words. Why would you say something that will cause discord when you are in a situation where you are not even able to share the harmony between Namgung Se and the main text?”

“Harmony? Did you say harmony?”

Yoo Biao snickered and laughed.

“How can a great swordsmanship sect like ours be in harmony with such low-quality people? The Namgung Sega family was only somewhat known because of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor, but can we say that all of them are excellent warriors just because they are from the same family as the Sword Emperor?”

“Yoo Pyo!”

“Don’t you all think so? Haven’t you always thought so? The martial arts world is just a force that moves in pursuit of its own family’s interests, not a true martial artist!”

A cold silence flowed in an instant after Liu Biao’s words. The atmosphere inside the restaurant became as cold as ice.

A strange current flowed between Namgung and Hwasan.

Black Dragon Lord Namgung Hyuk let out a low sigh and relayed the message.

– Do you really have to do it this way…?

Liu Biao glanced at the Black Dragon Lord and smiled bitterly.

– In the text, my usual appearance is like this. Well, isn’t this the perfect way to instigate a fight?