The Lord of Hao Clan doubted his own eyes.

She had always assumed there must be an unspeakable reason why the Leader of the Sado Union wore a mask.

There was even a time when she had secretly attempted to investigate his identity behind that mask.

After he helped her find her daughter, however, she had decided to give him her complete loyalty and had ceased all such inquiries.

That did not mean she had never wondered what lay beneath the mask.

But still, even so...

‘...A woman...?’

And one who looked this young...?

As the Lord of Hao Clan failed to respond, unable to form words, a pair of black, graceful brows curved gently.

The woman lowered her hand from her nape and gestured toward one of the chairs.

“Please, sit down for now.”

The Lord of Hao Clan sat as if entranced.

Behind the woman, upon the bed, a familiar black snake lay coiled.

It was the same fat snake raised by the Sado Union Leader.

‘Is this woman really...’

Steam gently rose from the teacup placed before the Lord of Hao Clan.

The woman also sat across from her, pouring tea into her own cup.

“...”

Trickle...

“If you keep staring, you might burn a hole through my face.”

Seolhwa set the zisha teapot down with a faint smile and looked directly at the Lord of Hao Clan.

“Are you surprised?”

“...It would seem so.”

Of course she was.

There was no answer more fitting.

“I thought perhaps you might already know my identity, Lord.”

“How could I possibly know that?”

“You did investigate me, did you not?”

“!”

The Lord of Hao Clan’s gaze trembled slightly.

She had gone to great lengths to conduct that investigation as discreetly as possible. She had been certain he would never know.

Yet she knew?

And not only that—she had never let it show?

“I do not mean to reproach you. It simply means that I trust the intelligence capabilities of the Hao Clan to that degree.”

“...I apologize.”

“There is no need. I understand that you required certainty.”

As she watched Seolhwa leisurely drink her tea, the Lord of Hao Clan swallowed dryly.

Just a few words exchanged were enough to confirm it.

This woman was truly the Sado Union Leader.

And she realized how easily one could be misled by appearances alone.

The reason why the Leader wore a mask... she now understood that too.

“May I tell you something even more surprising?”

“My mind is already reeling.”

Seolhwa gave a light chuckle at the Lord of Hao Clan’s jest and pulled something from her robes, placing it on the table.

When the Lord of Hao Clan saw it, her eyes widened as far as they could go.

“S-Surely not... That is not real, is it? A false identity...?”

“In all of the Central Plains, who would dare use the name of the Namgoong Clan as a false identity? Let alone the name of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor’s granddaughter.”

Namgoong Seolhwa.

That was the name written clearly on the identification plaque she had placed.

Even so, the Lord of Hao Clan rubbed her eyes and checked it again.

Her jaw dropped.

“You seem to have many questions.”

“H-How could...”

Where should she even begin?

Why was the young lady of the great Namgoong Clan—a renowned orthodox martial noble family—serving as the leader of the Sado Union, a black-path alliance?

Why did she possess a cultivation power that leaned closer to darkness, rather than the Namgoong Clan’s techniques?

No.

“Does the Heavenly Dragon Sword Emperor know about this?”

“He does not.”

“If it is not too forward... Might I ask, are you estranged from your grandfather...?”

“I am not. As you know, the goals pursued by the Sado Union are vastly different in nature from those of my household, so I simply chose not to inform him.”

If her grandfather—pillar of the orthodox path—were to learn that she was the master of the Sado Union, it would cause friction in every direction.

It would be problematic if he came to oppose the Union—but it would also be problematic if, because of her, he did not.

Should a rumor spread that the Namgoong Clan was colluding with the black path, it would not end with mere finger-pointing.

“I cannot explain the full reasons, but aside from the fact that I am the Sado Union Leader, there is no connection between the Namgoong Clan and the Sado Union.”

“I... I see.”

That the daughter of the Namgoong Clan was the Sado Union Leader was already an intimate connection in itself, but the Lord of Hao Clan nodded regardless.

Given what she had seen of the Sado Union Leader up to now, there was no way the daughter of the Namgoong Clan would do such a thing without reason.

Her martial prowess and leadership were beyond question.

The important thing now was not why she had done all this.

“By telling me this... Are you perhaps planning to return to your family?”

“As expected of you, Lord.”

She had wondered, but it was true.

Just as the Sado Union was about to rise as the overlord of the Central Plains’ black path, she intended to return to her family.

“However, do not worry. I will not neglect my responsibilities as the Sado Union Leader.”

“If that is your will, then I can only trust and follow. But... Was it not said that the eldest granddaughter of the Namgoong Clan is in closed-door training? If you return, then...”

Seolhwa gave a small laugh and nodded.

“I plan to bring that closed-door training to an end.”

“Ah...”

Information long held in the Lord of Hao Clan’s memory rapidly began connecting in her mind.

The inexplicable incident that had occurred four years ago on Mount Hua—shrouded in mystery—and the disappearance of the Plum Blossom Divine Sword.

The alliance between Mount Hua and the Namgoong Clan.

The eldest granddaughter said to be in closed-door cultivation.

No—before that.

‘The Namgoong Clan’s returned child.’

The eldest granddaughter of the Namgoong Clan was unmistakably the very child whom the clan had searched for over eight years.

The news that she had returned of her own accord had once sent ripples through the entire Central Plains.

‘Then this person is truly that—’

Even seeing her with her own eyes, it felt unreal.

She was right there in front of her, and still, it was hard to believe.

But if there was one truth that could justify belief—

That this woman was the Sado Union Leader.

That alone was reason enough to trust her.

“What would you have me do?”

“As expected, Lord of Hao Clan, you do not waste time.”

“I shall assist you to the best of my ability. Did I not once swear as much?”

Even if the Sado Union Leader turned out to be a young lady of the Namgoong Clan, her oath remained unchanged.

“Give your orders.”

“It is nothing difficult. Only, when I return to my household, I hope not to be blind.”

“You wish to remain fully informed of the Sado Union’s affairs even while you reside in the Namgoong Clan?”

“Yes. While I am there, it will be more difficult to respond swiftly to incidents within the Union.”

Should a major issue arise, a rapid communication and intelligence network was essential.

And there was no one more suited to that task than the Hao Clan.

“Understood. I will embed a liaison within the Anhui branch. Any urgent matters shall be conveyed through them.”

“Thank you.”

“Is there anything else you require?”

“As you surely understand, you must keep the fact that I am the Sado Union Leader strictly confidential.”

“Of course.”

The Lord of Hao Clan’s brows curved softly.

“It does make one curious. If it were to become known that the precious daughter of the Namgoong Clan is the leader of the black-path alliance... I wonder how the Central Plains would react.”

Seolhwa let out a light laugh.

The Lord of Hao Clan returned it with a smile of her own.

“As long as the Hao Clan stands beside you, you shall be able to see across the entire world even from within your household. Please, take care of yourself once you return.”

The Lord of Hao Clan lowered her head slightly.

It was an expression of respect, acknowledging Namgoong Seolhwa wholly as the Sado Union Leader.

A faint smile rose to Seolhwa’s lips.

Preparations were complete.

The Sado Union had entered a period of stability, and she had secured a dependable ally.

Let us return.

To the Namgoong Clan.

Part  2, Chapter 2. Let Us Return, to Namgoong

Somewhere along the ridgeline of Mount Huangshan, overlooking a bustling city street.

Seolhwa inhaled the air of the deep forest.

The thick scent of grass and earth.

The damp energy rising from soil that had yet to fully dry.

And then, a moment later, a sweet fragrance brushed the tip of her nose.

With a faint smile, Seolhwa turned around.

“I have returned.” 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Standing behind her, dressed in the uniform of the Namgoong Clan’s Black Dragon Division, was Ryeong.

In her arms, she held a paper bag.

“I bought all the kinds you requested.”

“Thank you.”

Seolhwa accepted the paper bag Ryeong handed over.

As she unfolded the top of the bag, the sweet aroma rose even more thickly.

Inside, the bag was filled with tanghulu of various kinds.

“Come. Let us eat together.”

Seolhwa and Ryeong sat atop a rock overlooking the distant city below.

Seolhwa divided the tanghulu between Ryeong and the Imoogi.

To her right sat Ryeong, and to her left, the Imoogi, holding a tanghulu skewer with its tail.

Ryeong, who was not fond of sweets, watched Seolhwa munching the tanghulu with curious eyes.

“Did you desire this so much?”

“Yes.”

“It is just ordinary tanghulu, though.”

Had she not eaten it plenty of times before?

When she had said she wanted to eat it as soon as they arrived in Anhui, Ryeong had thought the tanghulu here must be special.

But it was just normal tanghulu.

“I just... I wanted to do this, here.”

She remembered the sweet scent of tanghulu when she was cradled in Seop Mugwang’s arms on the day she returned to the Namgoong Clan.

She simply ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) wanted to feel that memory again before returning.

Even back then, when she had barely begun to feel anything after returning to the past, she had known that the sensation was a good one.

Perhaps that was why it felt so much more precious now.

“So you are finally going back.”

“You have gone through much because of me. You were away from the household for four years, Ryeong.”

“It was not your fault, Union Leader. It was my choice. Ah, I suppose I must now call you 'young lady.' I shall have to be careful not to slip.”

“It may be uncomfortable, but I ask for your help.”

“Worry not.”

There was no need to worry.

When it came to matters like these, Ryeong was the most reliable of all.

That was why Seolhwa had chosen her—and trusted her enough to keep her by her side.

“It is exciting, returning to the household after so long.”

“For me too.”

Ryeong looked at Seolhwa.

The young lady, once sealed behind a wall of dried-up emotion, had begun to change.

Now and then, her emotions showed—joy was visible as joy, distaste as distaste.

The changes were so subtle that few would notice, but Ryeong, who had watched her closer than anyone else, could see it clearly.

And Ryeong rejoiced more than anyone at those slow but positive changes.

Just like now.

“Is there something on my face? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“No. It is just...”

“?”

Ryeong pointed behind Seolhwa.

“Is it truly all right to leave that as it is?”

A rustling sound came from below the rock where the paper bag of remaining tanghulu had fallen.

Seolhwa’s gaze lowered as she looked at the tail of the snake wagging excitedly from within the bag’s opening.