The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 50

“Heavenly Martial Body.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s voice echoed low like a rumble through the chamber.

“It seems you were born with the Heavenly Martial Body.”

“Heavenly Martial Body...?”

Me?

‘Heavenly Martial Body, he said?’

Heavenly Martial Body.

Just as the name implied—a body bestowed by the heavens for martial arts.

In other words, it meant a body possessing the most flawless possible conditions for learning martial arts.

Perfectly balanced bones and muscles, the ability to sense energy instinctively, meridians that were naturally open and unobstructed, and extraordinary comprehension required to grasp martial techniques.

Because of this, even a small amount of training would result in explosive internal energy growth, exceptional martial progress, and the natural harmony of energy flow.

A person born with every necessary trait for mastering martial arts from the start—it was truly a gift from the heavens.

“The Heavenly Martial Body is especially suited for martial arts of ascent. And the Namgoong style pursues higher realms more than any other.”

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

While it's said that the heavens reside beneath us, Namgoong martial arts were known to aspire to the farthest heights.

At its core, it was a style that sought to reign above all, a martial art that relentlessly pursued the highest realm—an ultimate art of ascent.

‘But... in my past life, I wasn’t that strong.’

If she had possessed a body that appeared only once in centuries, shouldn’t she have become the strongest in the world?

In her previous life, she had never slacked in martial training, nor had she been satisfied with her level.

She had pushed herself to grow endlessly in order to destroy the Namgoong Clan.

“I didn’t open your minor meridians. They were already open. It was the tainted energy from incompatible internal energy that had blocked their paths. Your meridians were already ready to accept internal energy.”

In other words, the blood energy implanted by the Blood Demon had been what obstructed her natural talent.

The Blood Demon Cult’s martial art wasn’t meant to seek high realms. It was an art of destruction—to kill, tear, and annihilate.

It was inevitable that such a martial art would be in direct opposition to her body.

Even so, the fact that she reached a high realm in her past life was likely only possible because of the body she had been born with.

‘So that’s it... I really did have the Heavenly Martial Body.’

Heavenly Martial Body...

Before returning to Namgoong, she had thought her return would become a blessing—a fortuitous opportunity—for the clan. That she would make it so.

But now that she had come back, she understood.

‘Fortune.’

The truth was that this—her return to Namgoong—was the greatest fortune of her own life.

Hummmm....

The energy gathered in her dantian vibrated in resonance, as if answering her thoughts.

Though her energy still held a crimson hue, her body was absorbing and mastering the Namgoong energy faster than anyone else.

Some would say a blood-colored sky was ominous. Others would scoff and ask if red skies were even skies at all.

They might even accuse her of being so consumed by killing intent that even the heavens turned bloodstained.

But Namgoong Mucheon had said:

‘The color of energy doesn’t matter. What matters is what you do with that power.’

Be it a sky of blood or a sky of crystal blue—

If your will resided in the heavens, then that alone was Namgoong.

Seolhwa’s will was already aligned with the heavens. That was why nothing else mattered now.

Only the sky.

****

At the Celestial Tiger Pavilion, a family council was in full swing.

Aside from the absent head of the clan, all five major factions had assembled for the emergency gathering.

The reason for the sudden meeting was singular.

“It’s already the third day since the Plum Blossom Divine Sword arrived! He’s the foremost sword of Mount Hua! He’s not someone you can just meet whenever you please! And yet, this kind of neglect? Are we trying to disgrace the Namgoong name?”

“I agree. Mount Hua is one of the most prestigious orthodox sects. We must seize this chance to form ties with them at any cost.”

“Didn’t they say they came to celebrate Namgoong’s recent success? So when exactly are the clan head and the young lady coming out of the Cave of Divine Insight?”

Chief Steward Namgoong Mun looked troubled.

The elders’ protests had reached a peak.

It had already been tense when the clan head entered the training cave without a word—but for a guest from Mount Hua to arrive during that time?

Thankfully, they had bought five days of leeway by asking the guests to wait in understanding, but as the elders said—it was still disrespectful to treat such honored visitors this way.

‘Of course, they likely have other motives...’

Just then—

“Ahem, ahem!”

Someone loudly cleared their throat, drawing the entire room’s attention.

‘The Head Elder?’

The elder in charge of the council, a man with a gentle expression, opened his mouth with a soft smile.

“There’s no need for such worry. Just last evening, this young lord here shared a meal with the Plum Blossom Divine Sword himself.”

All eyes naturally turned to Namgoong Cheonghae, who had been sitting quietly the whole time.

With a satisfied look, the Head Elder addressed him directly.

“Young lord. I’ve heard the young swordsman from Mount Hua, whom the Plum Blossom Divine Sword brought along, is to engage in a spar with young master Soryong. Is that true?”

“What? Young master Soryong is sparring with a boy from Mount Hua?”

“Is that really happening? Did Mount Hua accept the match?”

As murmurs rippled through the hall, Namgoong Cheonghae offered a calm smile.

“There’s no need to be so surprised. It’s merely a light-hearted exchange between children.”

“A light-hearted exchange? Mount Hua is known for looking down on family styles. If they accepted a spar, doesn’t that mean they’re acknowledging Namgoong?”

“The Plum Blossom Divine Sword does not belittle Namgoong’s martial arts, I assure you. Nor do the ones he brought with him.”

‘Though... that might not be true for all of them.’

Namgoong Cheonghae thought of Yu Pyo, the man from Mount Hua.

The way he responded when invited to dinner—with a look of clear disdain, saying he’d first have to ask the Plum Blossom Divine Sword.

That arrogant, condescending gaze—as if a bothersome insect had latched onto him.

‘He didn’t speak a single word during dinner either.’

His demeanor made it blatantly obvious he resented even being there.

‘That young brat wasn’t very polite either.’

In truth, the only one who had shown even a semblance of goodwill was the Plum Blossom Divine Sword himself.

No—more accurately, the only one who knew how to hide his true feelings was him.

“Weren’t they the ones who came to celebrate our clan’s good fortune? If they looked down on Namgoong, would they have extended their hand first?”

And just then—

—Young lord. I’ve found out.

A low, private voice pierced the noise and whispered into Namgoong Cheonghae’s ear.

His gaze settled into a calm stillness.

But only for a moment—Namgoong Cheonghae [N O V E L I G H T] soon smiled again as he looked around at those gathered.

“It’s just about time for Soryong and the young master from Mount Hua to begin their sparring match. My apologies, but I’ll have to take my leave.”

With a crisp bow of his clasped fists to the room, he exited gracefully.

The meeting had yet to officially adjourn, but not a single person stopped him as he walked out of the Celestial Tiger Pavilion.

Behind him, just as he stepped past the threshold, the voice of the Head Elder sounded again, low and amused.

“Hah... While the first young master seems to care little for Mount Hua’s guests, this young lord truly has his family’s interests at heart.”

Namgoong Mun shot the elder a sharp glare and retorted.

“The first young master is attending to the Clan Head and the young lady in the training cave, isn’t he?”

“Didn’t the Clan Head say it would take at least five days? Today is only the third. Is there really a need to be there so early? Don’t you agree?”

When the Head Elder turned the question to the rest of the council, several elders chimed in to support his point.

“That’s true.”

“The first young master has always doted on his daughter, hasn’t he?”

“Still, this is Mount Hua we’re talking about... In the absence of the Clan Head, shouldn’t he be here to represent us?”

“Tsk, tsk. What can we do if all he sees is his daughter? This young lord, after all, has always thought first of the clan...”

Public opinion naturally began to tilt in Namgoong Cheonghae’s favor, painting him as the dutiful one and casting Namgoong Cheongun in a poor light.

The Chief Steward and house masters couldn’t interject.

If they were being honest, the elders’ criticisms weren’t exactly wrong—so they had no choice but to remain silent.

‘If the Clan Head were here, they wouldn’t dare utter a word... Like they say, when the dragon’s away, even a lesser serpent pretends to be king.’

Namgoong Mun clenched his fists, swallowing his frustration.

****

CLACK—!

A wooden sword spun through the air, whirling with a sharp wind-cutting sound before crashing to the ground.

Namgoong Soryong stared in shock at the wooden sword that had flown far from him.

“Ah! Oh no! I’m so sorry! I meant to control my strength, but...”

Grit.

Namgoong Soryong ground his teeth.

He forced his stiff neck to turn, glaring at Yu Gang, who was awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

It was the third time the wooden sword had been sent flying.

And the third time Yu Gang had said it was an accident.

By now, it was obvious that there was malice hidden behind that excuse.

“You rude bastard who doesn’t even know basic etiquette!”

Unable to hold it in any longer, Namgoong Soryong shouted.

Yu Gang, who had looked full of remorse just moments before, now visibly stiffened.

“...Excuse me? What do you mean...?”

“Don’t give me that crap about controlling your strength! You just wanted to mock me from the start, didn’t you?!”

“...What are you talking about? Why would I mock you or the Namgoong Clan?”

“Everyone knows what’s in the heads of arrogant sect brats like you! You all look down on family martial arts and can’t wait to sneer at us—so now you’re pulling stunts like this!”

Yu Gang’s face turned even colder.

“I’m not sure I understand what young master Soryong is accusing me of. But if anyone just disrespected someone’s sect—it was you, not me.”

‘Arrogant sect brats,’ he said.

Yu Gang had never once made fun of Soryong’s weak martial skills.

On the contrary—it was Soryong who had mocked Yu Gang and his sect.

“If I’ve done something wrong, I’ll apologize for that. But I don’t believe I’ve done anything to disgrace my sect’s name.”

“You... you idiot! You just flung my sword on purpose again just now...!”

At that moment—

“What is all this commotion?!”

A booming voice rang out from the entrance of the sparring grounds.