The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 36

As the sun began to set, three figures in black martial robes entered the streets of Hefei.

Emblazoned boldly on the chest of their robes was the plum blossom emblem of the Mount Hua Sect.

“Master, is this Hefei?”

The youngest-looking of the three lifted his bamboo hat and looked out over the street.

He was Yu Gang, the first-generation disciple of Mount Hua.

Another man beside him, also wearing a bamboo hat, nodded as he lifted it slightly.

“Yes. This is Hefei, one of the largest cities in all of Zhongyuan.”

“Is this where the famous Namgoong Clan is located?”

“Indeed. It’s the city where the Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor resides—one of the Ten Great Masters under Heaven. That’s why we must be extremely careful not to offend the Namgoong Clan. Be mindful of your conduct, again and again—”

“Will we be able to meet the Sword Emperor?”

Yu Gang’s eyes lit up.

In contrast, the man watching him—his master—looked a little weary.

“Yu Gang, I’m telling you now—”

“Do you think I’ll get to see Namgoong’s sword?”

“We didn’t come here for—”

“Maybe even cross swords with someone?”

“We’re here to offer our congratulations to Namgoong—”

“Isn’t it like fetching water while you're already out taking a shit, Master?”

“That is absolutely not a phrase you should be using! Where on earth did you hear that?”

Yu Gang puffed out his chest proudly, and the man—his master—pressed down hard on his shoulder.

Why... why did the Sect Leader insist I bring Yu Gang of all people...

Recovering the lost Great Return Pill? That was fine.

Knowing that a Namgoong child had taken the pill and returned to the clan? Understandable.

Even the plan to visit Namgoong under the pretense of offering congratulations—rather than directly investigating the pill’s whereabouts—made sense.

But still.

Why... Why him?

“Take Yu Gang with you. Who knows? He might become close to the Namgoong girl and learn where the Great Return Pill ended up.”

“It’ll help avoid suspicion from Namgoong, too.”

Yu Gang had never once set foot in the martial world.

Though he had long since joined the Plum Blossom Sword Disciples, he was still too young to have taken on any proper missions.

This journey into the martial world was his very first time leaving the sect, his very first assignment.

Maybe that’s why he was so absurdly excited.

Letting out a deep sigh, the master firmly grabbed Yu Gang’s shoulders and looked at him with newfound seriousness.

“Remember this, Yu Gang. We’re here to celebrate Namgoong’s joyous occasion. You must not cause any disturbance.”

“Yes, Master! Leave it to me!”

You’re the one I’m most worried about.

Instead of replying, the master sighed and turned his gaze to the vibrant streets of Hefei.

Even with nightfall approaching, the city was alive with energy and color.

There was a certain chaos in the air, fitting for a place known as the central hub connecting the north and south of Zhongyuan.

“Let’s go. The sun’s about to set. We’ll stay at a nearby inn for the night, so let’s not dawdle.”

They soon vanished into the crowd of Hefei.

****

Seolhwa stepped outside, now dressed in black martial robes.

“Oh my! Our young lady looks stunning in dark colors too!”

Choryeon beamed as she handed Seolhwa a strip of black cloth.

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Seolhwa tied her hair back tightly, then wrapped the cloth around her lower face, covering it.

She now looked every bit the silent assassin—melting into the shadows, her movements cloaked in secrecy.

Choryeon’s eyes met Seolhwa’s, sharp and gleaming above the black cloth.

She swallowed dryly.

There was killing intent in that gaze.

The eyes of a predator that never lets its prey escape.

“...You’ll keep your promise, right? I’m not involved in this. I’m just going to fall asleep now, okay?”

Choryeon had only pretended to be unconscious to deceive Seop Mugwang.

She had helped Seolhwa at the risk of exposing her identity, but being dragged into this any further was just as dangerous.

Seolhwa nodded.

Unless she was reborn again and erased her past, she had no choice but to obey the Blood King’s poison.

If she was going to use someone, it was better no one knew—they could be useful for longer.

“Take care of yourself, young lady.”

Choryeon bowed deeply toward Seolhwa.

Seolhwa turned away from her and leapt through the window, slipping outside.

Tap, tap!

In the shadowed parts of the Namgoong Clan’s Inner Hall, where the slanting sunlight did not reach, a single figure moved swiftly.

As the voices of patrolling guards echoed nearby, she concealed herself in the darkness.

Once they passed, she moved again, faster this time.

Step! Tap!

The mechanisms and traps installed throughout the clan to guard against intruders were no obstacle to her.

She nimbly avoided them, leaping over the outer wall in the blink of an eye.

Rustle, crackle!

Once she left the Namgoong estate, Seolhwa avoided the main roads and exited the city entirely.

She headed in the opposite direction from where Namgoong Cheongun’s party had departed.

Her destination was a mountain overlooking both the streets of Hefei and the vast lake to the south—Lake Soho.

The only sound accompanying her was the rustling of grass and the swaying of trees.

She had chosen a path no one else would tread, but even as she ran, she kept glancing behind her.

To make sure he was still following.

After a long sprint, Seolhwa finally stopped deep in the forest, far removed from the city.

Rustle, crackle...

The underbrush swayed in the wind.

No—there was no wind.

Seolhwa placed a hand on the hilt of her sword.

One... two...

Her grip tightened.

Three.

Clang—!

Exactly three seconds later, a dagger flew from behind Seolhwa.

Swish— shhhk—

Starting with that first dagger, more blades began flying at her from all directions, almost as if it had been planned.

Clang! Ka-kang!

Without moving from her spot, Seolhwa turned in place, deflecting each dagger in the exact order they came.

Some she blocked with her sword. Others, she kicked away with precise strikes to the flat of the blade.

Shhk! Swish!

Clang! Clang!

She knocked the daggers away one after another. Then, as she swung her sword mid-motion, a glint passed through her eyes.

Kaang—!

Focusing her inner power, Seolhwa struck one of the daggers at a slant.

The blade shot back toward its origin with even greater speed than it had been thrown.

Swooooosh— CLANG!

“...Tch.”

A faint grunt echoed from the darkness.

Seolhwa pointed the tip of her sword toward the sound.

“Come out.”

A moment later, a man stepped slowly from the shadows.

Gripped between his fingers was a razor-sharp dagger the length of a palm.

“Hello, Pawol.”

The man called Pawol brushed his cheek with the back of his hand. Blood was trickling from a long cut across his face, likely from the rebounded dagger.

Seeing the red smear on his hand, the corners of his mouth curled upward.

“You’re still as barbaric as ever, aren’t you, Lord Sorou?”

“Didn’t expect a sendoff. I’d have been fine seeing myself out.”

“Why the sudden farewell without so much as a goodbye?”

“We’re not exactly the kind of people who need to exchange farewells, are we?”

“...Surely you don’t think I meant just a goodbye.”

Pawol let out a laugh as he sheathed the dagger and pulled a silver short sword from inside his coat.

Moonlight reflected off its blade, casting a sharp gleam.

Seolhwa calmly adjusted her grip on her sword, her eyes narrowing as a faint glint sparked within them.

“You really still haven’t figured out your place, have you? To think you'd actually consider picking a fight with me.”

Pawol’s grin stretched wide. The scar across his face twisted grotesquely along with it.

“When I heard you betrayed Lord Lu and ran off, I was so damn happy.”

A raw, visceral emotion passed across his face.

“Do you know why?”

“Not interested.”

“Because it means I finally get to kill you.”

His tone turned in an instant.

Seolhwa’s eyes darkened, dropping to a cold, focused stare.

Seeing her reaction only made Pawol smirk wider, as if amused.

“I never liked you from the start. You? Lord Sorou? You were never anything special. If Lord Lu hadn’t doted on you, you’d be nothing.”

He ran the edge of the dagger dangerously across his own temple.

“So I always wanted to go toe-to-toe with you. I was curious. If I killed the little Lord Sorou... maybe I could become °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Lord Sorou.”

His laughter, leaking from the shadows, was sickening. The teeth showing between his twisted lips were stained a vile, dark crimson.

With a low chuckle, Pawol raised the dagger and slashed it through the air horizontally. In his mind’s eye, that blade had already cut Seolhwa’s throat.

“How about it? If I bring your head to the Cult Master, do you think he’ll finally adore me?”

A thick wave of killing intent slowly began to rise from Pawol’s body.

The tension was sharp enough to suggest he might strike at her at any moment.

Even as that murderous intent surged toward her like a storm, Seolhwa’s face remained expressionless.

Mistaking her stillness for fear, Pawol’s smile deepened.

“From the moment you were licking that old man’s boots, I already knew.”

Beneath the black cloth, Seolhwa’s lips curled gently into a smile.

“You really are less than a dog, Pawol.”