The Return of the Namgoong Clan’s Granddaughter - Chapter 164



Only Noblemtl

Episode 164

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While he was on the volcano, the household affairs were divided among the governor and Namgung Mu-gang, but any matters that required the head of the household had to be put on hold.

As the family was in turmoil both internally and externally, the head of the household’s affairs were piled up more heavily than ever before due to his departure for Hwasan.

“after….”

Namgung Mucheon put down the paper he was reading and rubbed his eyes. The general who was assisting him next to him spoke with a pitiful look.

“Please take a rest. Haven’t you been overdoing it since you came back from the volcano? You’ll ruin your health if you keep doing this.”

“I can’t rest easy when the family business is piling up. It’s okay.”

“Shall I bring you a cup of tea?”

“Please give me a glass of cold water.”

Namgung Mucheon suddenly stopped moving, looked up, and looked out the window.

The general followed him and looked out the window.

There was nothing special about it; only the bright moon lit up the sky silvery.

“General.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Go and call Cheongun.”

What about work? At this late hour?

Although he was puzzled, the general answered and immediately left the room to call Namgung Cheong-un.

How much time had passed since the governor left his post?

Hooooo-

A gentle breeze blew in, flickering the candles lit in the room.

Namgung Mucheon’s lips formed a curve.

“You have been given a wonderful opportunity.”

Where his gaze turned, there was a figure by the window.

It was a story of a man who went to visit Gajujeon to avoid the gaze of his family.

Seolhwa also smiled faintly and took the lottery ticket towards Namgung Mucheon.

“I’m sorry for coming here without notice, Grandfather.”

“It’s okay. I was thinking of coming here.”

“…Is that so?”

“Come in first. Do you have some time?”

Seolhwa’s eyes shook slightly.

This kind of visit wasn’t the only thing Namgung Mucheon had been expecting. He also knew that he was planning to leave his family.

Namgung Mucheon moved his energy and pulled out the chair.

Seolhwa briefly recalled her first meal with him.

At that time, they used to move all kinds of food on the table in front of me with a knives.

At that time, the gazes of the family members looking at him were always filled with worry and pity.

I laughed as I recalled how I had been so focused on changing my family name without even knowing it that I had not even looked around.

Seolhwa sat down on the chair that Namgung Mucheon had given her and asked him.

“How did you know?”

“When you didn’t come back even after some time had passed, I thought that maybe this was what would happen. Didn’t a lot happen when you returned to your hometown?”

Hwarin was captured by Surochae, the members of Bipoongdae were killed, and the Hwasan faction was in trouble.

“I thought you would feel responsible for those things. You would want to take responsibility for them, and when you gained power, you would probably want to leave your home again.”

“… .”

Namgung Mucheon’s prediction was accurate.

Hwarin was captured to threaten him, and the deaths of the Bipoongdae members were also intended to draw out Seopmu Gwang.

The volcano incident had happened in a previous life, but the hypnosis was triggered sooner than expected, which was a scheme by the Five Blood Lords aimed at him.

As Namgung Mucheon said, Seolhwa felt a heavy sense of responsibility for all of those things.

And then I realized.

‘It wasn’t time to return to Namgung yet.’

Namgung is not yet ready to confront the Blood Cult head-on.

If he remained in the family now, his family would face constant threats, and Namgung was currently lacking the strength to face those threats.

In that case, it would be better for you not to remain here.

“Snow flower.”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“… .”

“It’s not because you returned to your family. It’s the fault of these adults who failed to protect you when you were young.”

Namgung Mucheon paused for a moment and then continued.

“Should I still leave then?”

My granddaughter, whom I would never mind putting in my eye, came back after 8 years, but she’s finally back now.

It broke my heart to think about leaving again.

At first it was an unwanted separation, but now it was even more so because it was a decision the granddaughter made on her own for the sake of the family.

“Thank you for saying so.”

“Snow flower.”

“I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

Seolhwa looked up from her fingertips and faced Namgung Mucheon.

Through that straight gaze, Namgung Mucheon was certain that she would eventually leave.

“I thought it was because of me, just like Grandfather said. But… that’s not the only reason I’m leaving the family.”

It is true that she wanted to leave to protect her family, but Seolhwa made her decision for another reason.

“I have work to do. It’s very important work.”

The unification of the dark forces.

The work of destroying the foundation of the blood sect.

“As you can see from recent events, Grandfather, they are strong. Very strong.”

Their strength was something that Seol-hwa had been saying ever since she returned to Namgung.

But compared to the beginning, the words I speak now have different weight. This is because I have experienced the power of the Blood Cult.

“They will grow faster and stronger. Within five years, they will become a threat to the Central Plains martial arts world.”

Namgung Mucheon’s expression became serious.

5 years. If it’s long, it’s long, and if it’s short, it’s a very short time.

“We need to be prepared to face them. That’s why I’m leaving the family.”

To accomplish things that Namgung couldn’t do.

To unite the Black Powers and disrupt the Blood Cult’s plans to attack the forces in the future.

In the meantime, leaving Namgung Se-ga to grow up smoothly within a safe fence is only a secondary matter.

“I know how worried you must be, Grandpa. That’s why I came to show you what kind of strength I have gained.”

Slurp-

A small, thin snake emerged from within Seolhwa’s sleeve.

Namgung Mucheon stared at the snake crawling up onto the table.

“That was it.”

From the moment the snow flower appeared, Namgung Mucheon felt the movement of a strong energy.

The source of that energy was a fairy tale, but it felt strangely out of place to say that it was all the energy of a fairy tale.

“Is that what gives you strength?”

“Yes. This is also a snake.”

“Hoo.”

The snake flicked its tongue, making a hissing sound.

[‘This is how it is’. If you reveal your true nature, this kind of building won’t be able to withstand it, so please be considerate! I am the great Imoogi!]

“I get angry at the word ‘Bbaedo’.”

“Is communication possible?”

An expression of interest spread across Namgung Mucheon’s face.

Seolhwa nodded and brought the snake back into her sleeve.

“As you can see, I won’t die easily.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“I haven’t reached my peak yet, so I will go with an escort as I promised my grandfather.”

“That’s also fortunate.”

“I’m sorry I can’t tell you in detail about my plans in advance.”

It is for the sake of the family that he does not tell Namgung about his whereabouts.

Sometimes, not knowing is more important than knowing, and that makes us safer and freer.

Since what he was going to do was different in nature from Namgung’s will and he was not moving in the name of the family, it was better not to let anyone know.

Namgung Mucheon also understood Seolhwa’s intention.

“I wanted to tell you everything you were going to do because you seemed to be in danger.”

When I went out alone and fought against December and came back, I was anxious because I didn’t know when this child would become dangerous again.

“One, you are different now in many ways.”

I learned how to govern my life, not to rush into danger blindly, to be mindful of my surroundings, and above all, to look after myself.

“You don’t have to tell me everything you want. Whatever you do, I trust you and respect your wishes.”

It’s not that I didn’t believe in the story before.

If I had only worried about the instability of the story, I could now trust her completely.

“If possible, communicate often. Tell the outside world that you have entered closed-door training.”

“…thank you.”

Namgung Mucheon was aware of his own changes in detail.

Knowing that it was now a matter of love and concern, Sulwha was simply grateful for his endless trust.

“I have a favor to ask of you, Grandpa.”

“Speak.”

“Did you know that there are nine sects and five families in the Central Plains?”

“I know.”

“Please gather their strength.”

There are nine schools and five generations that are so well-known that you can count them on one hand without having to name them one by one.

Namgung Mucheon’s expression became serious at the request to gather their strength.

“I don’t know about the Sega, but the sects will not cooperate.”

“It doesn’t have to be full cooperation. It’s just that we need to create an atmosphere where we can join forces whenever the time is right.”

“Are you asking me to be the center of gravity?”

Seolhwa nodded.

In his previous life, Baekdo gathered his strength.

However, it was only when many forces lost their strength and were unable to recover on their own that they came together to rely on each other’s strength.

There were many who needed help, but few who could help, so it was just a futile struggle.

‘But this life will be different.’

The alliance of the Central Plains martial arts world, centered around Namgung Se-ga, will be able to serve as a strong shield in the fight against the Blood Cult.

Although it won’t be easy to gather everyone’s strength.

‘If only we could bring forward the union.’

It’s also worth trying to wage war against the Blood Cult.

“Please. There is no one else I can ask of you for this job but you, grandfather.”