The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 87

In that instant, both faces turned pale.

One belonged to Namgoong Jangyang, Commander of the Red Dragon Division and supervisor of the clan’s martial training. The other was Yun Solran, the one who had instructed him from behind the scenes.

Yun Solran quickly wiped the panic from her expression.

“What are you saying, Soryong? That the Red Dragon Commander never taught Seolhwa our swordsmanship?”

The Commander stared at Yun Solran with eyes wide as lanterns.

She hastily sent a voice transmission.

— Don’t even think of stepping forward. I need to survive this first—only then can you hope to.

But it was too late for the Red Dragon Commander. With Soryong’s slip, the truth was out—and there was no undoing it now.

Realizing this, he lowered his head, swallowing back the fury rising in his chest.

He burned with rage at Yun Solran’s shameless bid to save herself alone. But even now, she was the only ally he had left.

“She only trained on the striking dummies! She never even learned the Threefold Sword Forms! How could she possibly know the Namgoong sword techniques? There’s... there’s got to be a mistake—huh!”

“What did you just say?”

Soryong fell silent.

The aura radiating from Namgoong Mucheon swept across the entire martial arena, pressing down like the weight of a mountain.

Everyone—Soryong, Yun Solran, and the rest—froze under the crushing pressure.

“I... I...”

The young Soryong couldn’t withstand Namgoong Mucheon’s presence. Even though he was merely being watched, fear overtook him. His lips quivered as tears welled up.

Yun Solran quickly pulled him into her arms.

“Soryong must be frightened, Father-in-law. Once he calms down, I’ll ask him what he meant. So please... restrain your fury, just for now.”

Namgoong Mucheon, who had been watching the weeping Soryong without the slightest hint of emotion, turned his gaze upon the Red Dragon Commander.

At that moment, all the Division Commanders seated nearby felt a tight grip around their lungs, as if they could no longer breathe.

“Bipung Commander.”

“Yes, Clan Lord.”

Seop Mugwang stepped forward.

“Investigate every detail of this matter and report to me.”

“As you command.”

“The Martial Academy Head will assist the Bipung Commander.”

Namgoong Mugang gave a silent nod.

But Namgoong Mucheon’s order extended far beyond the Red Dragon Commander. It was a directive to uncover the corruption that had plagued the Enforcement Division since morning.

“Until this matter is fully resolved, the Martial Academy Head is forbidden from touching a drop of liquor. Understood?”

Known throughout the clan for his love of drink, Namgoong Mugang flinched. He hesitated—then sighed in resignation and bowed his head.

“I understand.”

The glare he threw at the Red Dragon Commander could’ve set the man ablaze. Again, the commander felt as though the air around him was being squeezed tight.

“Seolhwa’s martial arts were taught by me, during her time in the training hall.”

The arena stirred.

It wasn’t just surprising that the Clan Lord himself had instructed her. What shocked everyone even more was when he had done so.

“She learned that sword art... while still in the training hall?”

“She mastered the Heavenly Wind Sword Art in just ten days?!”

It sounded utterly impossible. No matter how skilled the teacher, no matter how gifted the student—

This defied all logic.

And then came Namgoong Mucheon’s next words—words that shattered doubt like glass.

“Seolhwa was born with the Heavenly Martial Body. She comprehended and replicated my swordsmanship after seeing it only once. I showed her several techniques—she grasped them all without fail.”

The Heavenly Martial Body?!

She mastered them on the spot...?!

Namgoong Mucheon fixed his gaze on Seolhwa.

“She possesses exceptional talent and a physique ideally suited for the martial path. Among all who carry the Namgoong name, none are more fitting to inherit our legacy.”

All eyes turned toward Seolhwa.

The Clan Lord would never utter such words lightly. That meant... every word was true.

The Heavenly Martial Body. A prodigy of the highest order.

A monster has emerged from the Namgoong Clan...!

The lost child possessed the Heavenly Martial Body?!

What divine fortune is this...?

A rough voice cut through the murmurs.

“Let me ask just one thing.”

Seolhwa turned her eyes toward Namgoong Mugang. An amused smile played at the corner of his lips.

He was a martial artist, too—and her sword had stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt in years. The Heavenly Martial Body intrigued him deeply.

Which only made him more curious.

“Why did you create the Counter-Destroying Sword?”

Every gaze fell upon Seolhwa.

That’s right. Why did she create it?

By now, no one doubted that the technique was hers.

Seolhwa answered with a faint smile.

“To supplement the Namgoong sword style.”

“To supplement it? Are you suggesting there’s a flaw in our swordsmanship? In the martial art founded by our ancestor, the great Heavenly Martial?”

Heaven’s own warrior. The founder of the Namgoong Clan—recognized as the first supreme martial master to emerge from a noble house rather than a sect.

No one had ever matched his sword. His technique was said to lift hearts skyward, and so he was called Heavenly Martial.

“Do you even understand how dangerous your words are?”

“Heavenly Martial not only established the Namgoong sword style, but also founded the Martial Academy Hall. The Hall exists to research and refine martial disciplines. Don’t you think there’s a reason he created them both together?”

Do not remain stagnant.

Do not grow complacent.

Surpass the past.

As the world changes, martial arts must evolve alongside it.

Though he was the greatest martial artist of his time, Heavenly Martial understood this truth well.

He knew that those born in future generations would eventually surpass even him—and to ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ face such prodigies, the Namgoong sword style would need to continue growing.

“Martial arts are not yet complete.”

“!”

“It was a phrase I happened to see once, inscribed near the Martial Academy Hall.”

In truth, she had seen it in her past life.

Those were the words spoken by Heavenly Martial himself at the founding of the Academy.

“They were the reason I conceived the Counter-Destroying Sword.”

Whether her answer was sufficient or not, Namgoong Mugang gave a thoughtful nod. He didn’t ask any further.

Namgoong Mucheon then gave his permission for her to step down. Seolhwa bowed to the elders and left the demonstration platform.

“Seolhwa!”

“My lady!”

Namgoong Cheongun rushed forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Blinking a few times in surprise, Seolhwa gently returned the hug.

“How did I do?”

“I was proud. So very proud of you, my daughter.”

He held her close and gently stroked her hair.

“I always knew you were gifted—but I never imagined it was to this extent. This Heavenly Martial Festival belongs to you, Seolhwa.”

He stepped back, meeting her gaze. His eyes glistened with tears.

“No one will ever doubt you again. No one will ever dare say you don’t belong to the Namgoong Clan. My daughter... truly...”

At last, Cheongun began to cry.

“You’ve grown up... so well.”

As his tears fell freely down his cheeks, Seolhwa felt her throat dry out.

It was such a strange, stifling feeling—so dry, it almost hurt.

She turned her eyes away without knowing why, and saw Yeoyul and Ryeong standing nearby.

Yeoyul was already sobbing at the sight of the father and daughter, and Ryeong’s brows had softened into a trembling arc.

...Family.

She didn’t know why the word came to mind just then.

Perhaps... this is what family means. People who support you, who wait for you from behind.

People who celebrate your joy as if it were their own.

Isn’t that what family is?

“Let the banquet begin!”

With Seolhwa’s demonstration, the main events of the Heavenly Martial Festival had come to an end.

Wine and food began flowing into the martial arena, and the final banquet commenced—marking the close of the festival.

Seolhwa blinked in disbelief at the endless stream of servants carrying massive jars of liquor.

The only one who didn’t seem happy was Namgoong Mugang, who had just been placed under an alcohol ban.

Twisting his body in visible agony, wailing at the sight of the wine, he finally stormed out of the arena, fuming with frustration.

The banquet lasted long into the night, and the lights of the Namgoong Clan glowed brightly for many hours to come.