The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 48

“Grampa! Grampa! Look at this! Today, I learned sword moves from Uncle Black Dragon!”

She had first picked up a wooden sword when she was around four years old.

She hadn’t even known how to hold it properly—he could still vividly remember her spinning in circles, tangled up with the sword.

Whenever she tripped and got hurt, she’d burst into tears.

And yet she’d always come running, begging him for a spar, saying how much she loved it.

Now, eight years later, the child who returned had become an assassin.

And not just any assassin—one trained to destroy the Namgoong Clan.

“I’m sorry this grandfather couldn’t find you sooner.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s expression was bitter as he gently brushed aside the hair of the granddaughter asleep in his arms.

Her martial ability had far exceeded his expectations. The thought of how much she must have suffered to attain it made his heart ache.

Even after returning to the Namgoong Clan, how much must she have struggled to hide her sword techniques?

Only now did he understand why the child had remained so anxious, even after coming home.

She had been raised as an assassin by a force that opposed the Namgoong Clan—of course she knew there were enemies watching her.

How frightened and on edge she must have been.

“Mmm...”

The girl frowned in her sleep and stirred in his arms.

Whatever she was dreaming, her face was tightly scrunched.

Namgoong Mucheon gently transferred some of his internal energy into her body.

As if by magic, her expression eased.

Before long, she blinked awake.

At first she looked dazed, eyes blinking slowly. But the moment she saw Namgoong Mucheon, her eyes shot wide open.

Thud.

She threw a punch. Mucheon caught it effortlessly with his palm.

“Did you sleep well?”

Her eyes widened even more.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right.”

Seolhwa sat up.

She was surprised to realize she had been lying in Namgoong Mucheon’s arms.

This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

The Azure Dragon...

In her dream, Seolhwa had been standing in a field soaked in blood, killing and killing again.

Faceless enemies swarmed from every direction, and no matter how many she cut down, they kept coming. The dead clung to her ankles as they fell.

Then, a massive azure dragon appeared from somewhere above.

The instant the dragon roared overhead, drowning the sky, the endless waves of foes, the souls clinging to her legs, and even the blood flooding the ground—all vanished without a trace.

Freed from the hell she couldn’t escape, Seolhwa looked up at the dragon.

And in that ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ moment, someone whispered in her ear.

“Kill.”

“That is your target.”

“Kill. Now.”

That cruel voice filled her mind entirely.

She had reacted on instinct and lashed out with her fist.

And now—

The moment she saw Namgoong Mucheon, the voices that had tormented her disappeared like mist.

My body feels light...

Just like the dream, where the dragon erased everything, her body now felt unburdened.

“The suggestion has been completely severed.”

Seolhwa turned to face Namgoong Mucheon.

“Try circulating your energy. I said I treated your internal injuries, but it would be best for you to confirm it yourself.”

Seolhwa nodded and sat down.

Just as she began to circulate her energy using the Namgoong Clan’s cultivation method—

...Should I tell him I learned the cultivation art from Father?

She started to raise her head, but Namgoong Mucheon spoke a beat sooner.

“You seem to know Namgoong martial arts quite well.”

“...!”

Seolhwa froze.

So I ended up using it after all...

The Namgoong-countering martial art she’d used had been something she had created in her previous life after studying their techniques extensively.

Though she hadn’t learned it in this life, her unconscious mind had drawn on it regardless.

“Were you raised to become Namgoong’s enemy?”

Seolhwa quietly nodded.

“Are there many who’ve learned that martial art?”

“No. I created it myself after studying Namgoong techniques. I’ve never shared it with anyone.”

There was a reason her previous title had been Heaven’s Bane Sword.

A sword that destroyed the heavens.

It was a name earned by developing a technique that dismantled the Namgoong martial system.

“That’s a relief.”

Namgoong Mucheon stroked his chin.

Then let out a hearty laugh.

“...?”

“Now I understand why they’re chasing you. They must be furious at losing someone so exceptional.”

Hahaha.

It was a laugh filled with satisfaction—and pride.

“Could your martial art be used to aid the Namgoong Clan?”

“To aid...?”

“Your technique exposes the flaws in Namgoong martial arts. That may not be an issue for those who’ve fully mastered our styles, but reaching true mastery of any technique is no easy task.”

Seolhwa nodded in agreement.

There were many who devoted their entire lives to mastering a single martial art.

“Your method could serve as a valuable stimulus for those still on that path.”

“...!”

A martial art created to break Namgoong techniques. But what if it were used as a mirror to reflect those flaws—so they could be patched and improved?

“If so, Namgoong martial arts could take another leap forward.”

Namgoong Mucheon looked at Seolhwa with a warm, approving gaze.

“What you said about restoring Namgoong’s roots—it might just become more solid than ever.”

Seolhwa was surprised at herself.

She had wanted to use her past-life knowledge to strengthen Namgoong, and yet somehow, she’d never thought of this.

She had been too focused on hiding the counter-technique to realize it could be used as a means of reinforcement.

In the end, it was the Mental Suggestion Curse planted by the Blood Demon that forced her to reveal her martial art to Namgoong Mucheon—and that very curse had turned out to be an unexpected blessing.

“All right.”

Seolhwa nodded repeatedly.

“Yes. I can do it.”

“Good. I’ll inform the Head of the Martial Academy. He’s a peculiar man, but... he’s sincere when it comes to martial arts. He’ll be pleased.”

The Head of the Martial Academy. Namgoong Mugang.

Seolhwa recalled the Namgoong Mugang she’d seen in her past life.

He was a man of large build, like Namgoong Cheongsan, the third son of Namgoong Mucheon—and also Mucheon’s younger brother.

He shared Cheongsan’s boisterous and combative nature, but with one key difference: he loved alcohol.

I remember his nose was always red whenever I saw him.

His martial level was comparable to—or perhaps slightly higher than—that of Seop Mugwang, a transcendent-level master.

Even within the same realm, skill could vary wildly. Among transcendent masters, Namgoong Mugang was famous for being one of the strongest.

In my previous life, people said that if it hadn’t been for the alcohol, he would’ve reached the Flowing Realm.

He had died by her hand.

On the day Namgoong Mucheon was killed by the Blood Demon, Namgoong Mugang drank wine laced with a scattered-energy poison.

Drunk with grief, he hadn’t noticed something was wrong with the liquor.

For Seolhwa, taking down someone who couldn’t bring out his full strength had been an easy task.

In this life, I’ll have to warn him to stay away from alcohol.

Every master was a vital asset to Namgoong. She couldn’t let one of their top three die so easily again.

“Also, say you developed that martial art after arriving here at Namgoong.”

Seolhwa tilted her head at Mucheon’s instruction.

“Will people really believe that?”

That she had studied and created a counter to Namgoong martial arts in such a short time?

“You’re my granddaughter.”

“...Right.”

Being Namgoong Mucheon’s granddaughter certainly had its advantages.

“Now, begin your energy circulation.”

“Yes.”

Seolhwa adjusted her posture and immediately began her breathing meditation.

Fwooo...

Clear energy from the training hall began to gather around her.

Namgoong Mucheon sat facing her, watching his granddaughter’s cultivation process carefully.

But when he saw the color of the energy surrounding her body, his expression subtly hardened.

Red energy...

Even though she was using the Namgoong cultivation method, the energy enveloping her was tinged red.

A blood-colored sky...

Countless members of the Namgoong Clan had trained in this same art, yet not once had any of them produced red-colored energy.

That the child’s energy appeared red could only mean one thing—death lingered in her heart.

An ominous color... but also a sky that inspires more fear than any other.

The clear blue sky, the overcast sky, the crimson dusk—they were all the same sky.

What mattered was that the child’s energy followed the path of the heavens.

Heavenly Vast Divine Art... five-star level already...

Namgoong Mucheon was genuinely astonished.

He had merely released her restraints, and yet the child’s cultivation had progressed to an astonishing degree.

Even if she already knew Namgoong martial arts, reaching five stars instantly?

Though her energy was red in color, it was perfectly pure and refined.

Fwooooo...

A short while later, Seolhwa finished her circulation and opened her eyes.

She looked down at her hands.

“I guess I can’t become a blue sky.”

“The color of your energy doesn’t matter. What matters is what you do with that power. Your will already rests in the sky—so don’t let it trouble you. How does your body feel?”

“Not bad.”

“Then let’s begin the Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing ritual.”

“All right.”

“Lie down.”

Seolhwa blinked.

“Lie down?”

Wasn’t this something done while sitting?

“The Bone Cleansing ritual puts tremendous strain on the body. It’s best to receive it in the most comfortable position.”

Bones would twist, meridians would be forcibly opened.

It wasn’t uncommon for people to pass out from the pain during the ritual. If that happened, it could be dangerous. That’s why it was not a process to be taken lightly.

I suppose it’s a good thing she’s dulled to pain.

Namgoong Mucheon sat down beside his granddaughter as she lay on the floor.

She looked up at him with bright, alert eyes from her position on her back, and he chuckled softly.

“Close your eyes, but don’t fall asleep.”

“Okay.”

Seolhwa closed her eyes.

Mucheon placed his thick palm on her lower abdomen—her dantian.

“If it hurts, don’t hold back. Scream if you must. If possible, try to feel the flow of energy.”

From his palm, energy began to rapidly surge into her.

And then—where his hand met her dantian, a deep, blue aura burst outward, spreading like a shockwave.