The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 28
“Tomorrow, I intend to announce Seolhwa’s return at the Elder Council. But before that, I wanted to introduce her to all of you. Treat her with the respect she deserves.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Of course! Naturally! She’s my niece, after all! This uncle will give her piggyback rides anytime she wants! Even if she pulls out all my hair—ouch...!”
Namgoong Cheongsan once again clutched his side.
Moyong Yeonhwa remained serenely smiling.
The returned granddaughter of the Namgoong Clan was warmly welcomed by all. Thanks to that, pleasant chatter filled the room in a harmonious atmosphere.
It was during that peaceful meal that—
“I intend to perform Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing for Seolhwa.”
Namgoong Mucheon dropped the words as if tossing a stone into still water.
The table froze, the warmth vanishing like breath in the cold.
Only Namgoong Hwarin, unaware of what Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing meant, tugged at her mother’s sleeve asking for more food.
A silence settled over the room.
Namgoong Cheongun slowly set down his chopsticks and asked in a calm voice.
“Do you mean the Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing I think you mean?”
“Are there other kinds I should be aware of?”
“So I heard correctly.”
“Unless your ears are clogged, you heard just fine.”
Namgoong Cheongun said no more.
The Medicine Hall Master said there were issues with her meridians.
That had to be the reason.
The reason Father was choosing to perform Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing on Seolhwa himself.
He knew full well how delicate and dangerous that technique was, even for someone of Namgoong Mucheon’s caliber.
As a son, he should try to stop him. But knowing it was for his daughter’s sake, the words refused to form.
Namgoong Cheonghae stepped in, seeing Cheongun falter.
“Father... isn’t that too dangerous?”
Namgoong Mucheon’s face darkened as he slammed his chopsticks down on the table.
“Dangerous? Are you doubting my ability?”
“That’s not what I meant—”
Namgoong Cheonghae cast a quick, anxious glance at Cheongun.
“Father, you are the pillar of the Namgoong Clan. If anything were to go wrong, if your body were harmed—”
“If that’s not doubting my ability, then what is?”
“Father...”
“Enough! Not another word! My decision is made. I will not hear another objection.”
Namgoong Cheonghae sensed that nothing he said would change his father’s mind.
Namgoong Mucheon was a man who always followed through once he set his mind to something. He hadn’t brought up Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing to hear opinions. This was merely a formal declaration of his already-made decision.
In that case...
Namgoong Cheonghae looked toward his son, Soryong.
Ever since the words “Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing” had been spoken, Soryong had sat with his head bowed and fists clenched.
He had inherited his grandfather’s stubbornness.
Ambitious in martial cultivation, he had achieved more than his peers—but he didn’t have the kind of temperament to accept being second to anyone.
Since childhood, he had spoken of himself as the next Deputy Clan Head.
And now, a cousin he’d never met suddenly appeared—called his older sister, no less—and was to receive Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing, a rite he himself had never been offered.
How bitter that must feel.
Still, he should learn to control himself.
Next to him, Namgoong Woong anxiously watched his brother’s trembling fists.
They were brothers, but such different children.
Does this mean Father has chosen Cheongun as the next Deputy Clan Head?
If he was going so far as to personally grant such a rare gift to his long-lost granddaughter, it was a fair conclusion to draw.
And it left Namgoong Cheonghae with a bitter taste in his mouth as well.
“...Isn’t that a bit much for a welcome gift after eight years? You don’t even know if the child wants it.”
When Cheonghae backed down, Cheongsan took over.
Faced with continued objections from his sons, Namgoong Mucheon’s expression twisted into a scowl.
“A bit much? It’s been eight years! You think it’s too much to offer a little comfort to my granddaughter, who’s suffered all that time? You’ve got the bulk of a mountain and a heart the size of a pebble.”
“Ah, I— That’s not what I—!”
Cheongsan faltered under his father’s tiger-like glare, but that didn’t mean he would retreat.
“How can you say ‘just’ Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing! You know how rare it is—how people call it Heaven’s Luck, a Fortuitous Encounter!”
“Oh? You jealous? Coveting your niece’s fortune at your age?”
“No! That’s not it—!”
Namgoong Cheongsan’s face turned bright red.
His father had struck at the truth.
And with his feelings exposed, there was no point in hiding them. He shouted without restraint.
“Yes! I’m jealous! Can’t I be?! Is that so wrong, huh?!”
“Hmph?”
“You know what Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing means to a martial artist! If you can do it, do it for me! Or at least for Hwarin—!”
“Hah!”
That last part was what he meant most.
“You foolish brat! Have you no thought for your father’s well-being?”
“That’s not what I—!”
Seeing his grown son throwing a tantrum was exhausting.
Namgoong Mucheon clicked his tongue, rubbed his forehead, and said sternly:
“Don’t even dream of it!”
“F-Father!”
“If I say no, it’s no! If you’re finished eating, then everyone leave now. I need to rest!”
It was a clear dismissal.
And just as clearly, it was a declaration that he would not entertain another word from either of his sons.
Before his sons could even rise, Namgoong Mucheon pushed his chair back and stood.
“Raising children is pointless! Useless, the lot of them!”
“Father!”
“Seolhwa, come with me!”
Namgoong Cheongsan called out urgently, but Namgoong Mucheon didn’t spare him a glance. He called only for Seolhwa.
She had been sitting silently, knowing full well the commotion was because of her. She immediately hopped down from her seat.
“You don’t need to come.”
Namgoong Cheongun, who had been rising to follow, froze mid-motion.
Without another word, Namgoong Mucheon turned and strode out of the room. Seolhwa gave a brief bow to everyone present and followed him out.
“Faaatheerrr!”
The door closed with Namgoong Cheongsan’s anguished cry behind it.
****
“One doesn’t even care about his father! One just schemes and calculates! One’s spewing nonsense like a fool! Useless, every last one of them!”
Even after returning to his chambers, Namgoong Mucheon vented his fury for quite some time.
Even Seolhwa, who rarely grasped emotions well, could see it clearly—he was angry.
What was strange was that, despite standing beside the furious Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor, she felt no fear.
Not long ago, she might have worried he’d kill her in a fit of rage. But now, such thoughts didn’t even cross her mind.
It must mean we've grown closer.
She now understood—Namgoong Mucheon cherished her enough to risk performing Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing.
In her past life, she wouldn’t have dared exchange a single ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) word with the Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor.
And now, he cared for her.
Because I’m his granddaughter.
Seolhwa stood quietly in one corner of the room, waiting for Namgoong Mucheon’s anger to subside.
But sparks fly when fire rages—and she was not exempt from being burned.
“You’re always getting hurt!”
The sudden scolding snapped her eyes wide.
“Do you think your body is worthless? Why do you treat it so carelessly?!”
She thought to offer an excuse—but then recalled what Seop Mugwang had said.
Whatever she said, she’d be scolded anyway.
“I didn’t realize I was hurt.”
Better to be honest.
“What?”
“I couldn’t feel it. It was wet, so I looked—and I was already injured.”
She hadn’t noticed. The pain simply hadn’t registered.
She figured he wouldn’t understand why—but it wasn’t a lie.
“Then why would you touch the shards? You knew it was dangerous, didn’t you?!”
Hmm...
Saying she had been cleaning broken pieces was a lie from the start. So honesty wouldn’t magically make it true.
Still, she decided to answer truthfully—as much as she could.
“I expected to be punished.”
That was the most likely assumption if she’d broken something belonging to the Blood Demon in her past life.
“I wanted to clean it up before you arrived.”
That seemed to be the answer he’d been waiting for.
Namgoong Mucheon’s face remained stern, but the fire in his voice died down.
Instead, he let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead.
“...Fine. That’s enough.”
So honesty really did work.
“Still, even so—avoid danger next time. Not realizing you were hurt is no small matter.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s leave that topic behind.”
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Namgoong Mucheon’s voice shifted. Now it was time for something serious.
“I called you here to ask your will—before I announce your return at tomorrow morning’s Elder Council.”
Seolhwa tilted her head.
“My will?”
Was her consent really needed to announce that she was a child of Namgoong?
“The moment you are officially acknowledged as a member of the Namgoong Clan, many things will change.”
“What kinds of things?”
“You’ll gain much—but lose just as much. The Namgoong Clan searched for you for many years. Now that you’ve returned, there will be eyes on you from all directions.”
“...”
“Every one of your actions will be scrutinized. A single word may return as a storm of criticism. But—”
Namgoong Mucheon’s voice lowered.
“You’ll also gain the power and honor to trample all of that beneath your feet.”
