The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 34

“Bring it.”

As soon as they entered the study, Namgoong Mucheon spoke before anyone could even offer their greetings. He sealed off the room with an energy barrier.

Immediately, Chief Steward Namgoong Mun retrieved something placed on a bamboo tray from the corner of the study.

“Sit down.”

Seolhwa and Namgoong Cheongun took their seats.

The steward placed the object he brought at the center of the table.

“Do you recognize this?”

With a puzzled look, Seolhwa leaned forward slightly to examine what lay on the tray.

The moment she confirmed what it was, a chill swept across her expression.

‘A token...?’

What rested on the bamboo tray was a flat, wooden tag the size of an adult’s palm. But Seolhwa knew it wasn’t just any tag.

‘A Blood Token. One of the Twelve Moons.’

The Blood Token of the twelfth assassin among the Twelve Moons under the Blood Demon.

Its shape and size resembled a normal identity tablet, but her gaze was fixed on the dark red character engraved on it: 十二 — Twelve.

“So, you do recognize it.”

“...Where did it come from?”

“It arrived for you this morning.”

“...!”

Namgoong Cheongun stood up in shock.

“For Seolhwa?! But it hasn’t even been a few hours since her identity as a child of Namgoong was made public! Are you certain it was meant for her?”

Namgoong Mucheon’s reply was firm.

“It was. One of the men who came to receive rations left it as a gift.”

“Did you apprehend him?”

“We did. But he wasn’t directly connected to this. It seems someone paid him along the way to deliver the item.”

“We confirmed it under a truth serum,” the steward added, supporting Namgoong Mucheon’s words.

“That’s why I summoned you. You recognize it, don’t you?”

Seolhwa, who had been staring intently at the engraved number twelve, gave a small nod after a brief silence.

“They’re calling for me.”

In Huaoru Pavilion, there were a few unwritten rules.

One of them: throwing down your personal token before someone meant a life-and-death duel—a duel to the death.

When someone cast their token, the mood of Huaoru would instantly ignite.

Despite being a duel where only one person could live, spectators would cheer and place bets on who would survive.

No one mourned the dead.

Once the duel ended, the victor collected their winnings and drank in celebration.

The Twelve Moons were proposing that gamble to her.

‘Is this the will of the Blood Demon?’

Were they trying to issue a warning through the Twelve Moons?

To remind her that death is the only fate for traitors?

‘I have to meet them. In person.’

Seolhwa clenched her fist.

The Twelve Moons were calling to her.

It wasn’t a summons from the Blood Demon directly, but surely, the one behind it was him.

She had to go and discover his true intent herself.

“I can take care of it.”

“No.”

Namgoong Mucheon answered her without the slightest hesitation.

Of course he did.

This child had only just returned to them on her own two feet, and now her life was already being threatened? There was no way he’d send her back into danger.

At his resolute refusal, Seolhwa’s brow knit faintly. She rose to her feet, her voice rising ever so slightly.

“I have to go. This has nothing to do with the Namgoong Clan. It’s something I have to deal with—!”

“How can it have nothing to do with Namgoong? You are a child of Namgoong.”

“...!”

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“Now that your identity has been declared, the clan has a duty to protect you.”

“But—!”

“Enough.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s voice, reinforced with his cultivation, silenced her instantly.

She still felt the need to go, but it was clear Namgoong Mucheon had no intention of relenting.

“Your only concern should be your safety. The elders of the clan will handle this matter.”

Seolhwa clenched her fist tighter.

This might be the chance—she might learn something that could help unravel the Mental Suggestion Curse.

She hadn’t been sleeping properly lately, afraid of being overwhelmed by the curse.

‘The Twelve Moons must know something about the curse.’

That was why she had to go herself.

She bit hard on the inside of her lip in frustration.

“Do not bring this up again. You shouldn’t have even been shown these items. Chief Steward.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“...!”

Namgoong Mun stepped forward and collected the items he had laid out on the table.

Seolhwa’s face darkened as she watched the objects being taken away.

Then suddenly, something came to her.

“I have a plan.”

“Seolhwa—”

“If I’m not in danger, then it’s fine, isn’t it? I have a plan to catch the enemy. Please, just hear me out once.”

At her urgent voice, Chief Steward Namgoong Mun and Namgoong Mucheon, who had been walking away with the items in hand, exchanged glances.

“Please, Grandfather.”

The child’s expression was filled with earnest desperation.

Faced with those pleading eyes, Namgoong Mucheon eventually let out a sigh and rubbed his forehead.

“Very well. Let’s hear it.”

Seolhwa remained silent for a moment.

Gathering her thoughts from memory, she spoke in a calm voice.

“We make it look like I panicked and ran away. That way, they’ll come after us. We lure them in with a trap. First, we leave the city—someplace with fewer people...”

****

As they exited the Clan Head’s Hall, Cheongun looked back at his daughter several times with a worried gaze.

After tolerating it for the third time, Seolhwa stopped walking and turned around.

“What is it, Father?”

Cheongun cleared his throat and spoke.

“I’m worried, that’s all.”

“About me?”

“Yes. You won’t be in danger, and I won’t allow you to be. But even knowing someone is targeting you makes it dangerous, doesn’t it?”

Namgoong Cheongun asked cautiously.

“Is it... them?”

When Seolhwa nodded, Cheongun let out a low sigh.

He knew there was a Forbidden Seal placed on her body.

He also knew it posed no immediate danger. But as her father, he couldn’t help but worry.

“I’ll find a way to resolve it, no matter what.”

“It will resolve with time. There’s no need to trouble yourself.”

“Even if there’s no problem, you never know. I’ll search in every direction—ask everyone I can—until I find a way...”

“Father.”

Seolhwa took his hand.

“More than that, there’s something I want to learn.”

“Something you want to learn?”

“Please teach me Namgoong’s cultivation method.”

Now that the Blood Demon Cult was showing movement, she could no longer afford to delay learning Namgoong’s martial arts.

According to her plan, they would lure the enemy out tonight. She had to at least refine her internal energy before facing the ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ Twelve Moons.

“You mean the cultivation method? You’ll be learning martial arts from the unit commander soon.”

“I want to learn it now. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since before I came to Namgoong.”

Teaching her the Namgoong Clan’s foundational cultivation method wasn’t difficult.

It was just that soon, she would officially begin her martial arts training, and from then on, she would spend half her day in practice.

“Can’t you teach me now?”

Seolhwa gently shook the hand she was holding.

The eyes that looked up at him sparkled brighter than ever.

She’d have to learn it anyway—learning early was even better. Of course.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Namgoong Cheongun lifted Seolhwa into his arms.

He even used lightfoot techniques to rush back to their residence.

****

Once they returned to the residence, he instructed the attendants to bar all outsiders from entering. Then, he and Seolhwa entered her room.

After seating Seolhwa on the bed, Namgoong Cheongun sat behind her in a cross-legged position.

“I know you’ve already learned martial arts, but I’ll help guide you through the beginning.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll recite the incantation of the cultivation method and guide your internal energy. Memorize the flow carefully.”

Namgoong Cheongun placed his hand on her back.

At once, a clear, pure energy began to flow into her body.

It wasn’t as vast or forceful as Namgoong Mucheon’s energy, but it was sharply refined, with a distinct blue hue.

‘It suits Father.’

It was as clear and pure as he was.

Just receiving it felt like a thirst was quenched. It was refreshing.

The scent reminded her of the warmth and comfort she felt when embraced by him.

“The cultivation method I’m about to show you is the foundation for all of Namgoong’s martial arts. You’ll absorb the qi of the blue, boundless sky and store it within your body.”

Heavenly Vast Divine Art (蒼穹大衍神功)

The energy of the blue sky, infinite transformation, and harmonious balance.

This was Namgoong’s foundational cultivation method—one that amplified their martial arts by channeling the energy of the heavens into every technique.

Because it was the foundation, it was also the most important. The essence of Namgoong’s martial legacy.

“Most people think the sky is what covers the heavens above. But that’s a misconception. The sky is already full upon the earth we stand on. The breath we take, the breeze we feel—those are all the sky.”

Can the sky be divided?

People assume it is distant only because you must tilt your head to see it. But in truth, the sky already surrounds us, full and near.

Everything above the earth is part of the sky. Thus, Namgoong’s energy is the qi that embraces both heaven and earth.

“Feel the energy as it flows along your meridians.”

Namgoong Cheongun began reciting the incantation of the cultivation method and directed the flow of energy.