chapter 30
“It’s the **Jikchobo-ui (織草寶衣).”
“Huh?”
Surprise flickered in Namgung On’s eyes.
Jikchobo-ui.
At first glance, it looked like a rough, tattered piece of cloth, but it was an artifact capable of protecting its wearer from any weapon attack—at least once.
“Why… is that child wearing such an artifact?”
“Well…”
Namgung On was astonished after hearing about Hong Seol and Namgung Jongwoo’s martial duel results, as well as the gift from Elder Namgung Mooyoung.
“I can’t believe it.”
“Although that man is sly, he wouldn’t give just anyone a gift of rags.”
“Hm… even so, the Jikchobo-ui… no, more importantly, are you saying that such a small child actually unleashed the Thunder God Technique?”
“Yes.”
“What method did you use?”
“Originally, Seol-ah’s body could not use internal energy. That’s why her parents drove her toward death.”
For a moment, the only sound in the reception room was the sipping of tea.
Namgung On fell into thought.
A child unable to use internal energy… I feel like I’ve heard this somewhere before…
Gasp! Could it be…
“Is she a Myo-gajang?!”
Namgung On jumped to his feet.
Namgung Ho, wetting his lips with tea, replied abruptly.
“Yes. Seol-ah is a cat demi-human of the Myo-gajang.”
A sense of foreboding proved true, and Namgung On sighed as he sat back down.
“Even so… how did a cat demi-human enter the Namgung family?”
Namgung Ho stroked his chin and spoke gravely.
“The child suffers from Yin-Yang Vein Disorder. Thanks to it, she was able to showcase the Thunder God Technique without proper training.”
“If she has Yin-Yang Vein Disorder…”
Namgung On gripped the edge of the table so tightly that his fingers left dents in the wooden corner.
“Yes. Once the illness is cured, she will be able to master the Yin-Yang Divine Skill. As you know, she is currently in the Namgung family…”
Namgung Ho corrected himself mid-sentence, considering that the elders might have different opinions.
“No, she is an essential presence for our family.”
He continued with a bitter expression.
“Of course, we cannot force Seol-ah down that path.”
In Namgung On’s mind, a small child appeared—the kind so tiny that it was hard to believe she was eight years old.
A child who, instead of wearing the silk garment given to her, donned rags and cried uncontrollably.
Namgung Ho ended heavily:
“All we can do is wait, while nurturing the children before our eyes.”
Late at night, Namgung On walked alone toward the training ground.
He was preparing for a duel with his younger sibling in a few days.
And a small shadow followed him.
The shadow only caught up when they reached the Namgung family’s exclusive training ground.
“L-Lord Namgung!”
It was Hong Seol, her youthful voice trembling.
Having received permission to remain at Changcheon Pavilion, she wanted to express her gratitude, watching for the right moment to approach him.
Strange… ever since coming here, I’ve found courage to approach others.
She didn’t realize this courage came from the warmth she had received from the Namgung family.
She simply moved forward little by little, as if trying not to extinguish the flickering candle.
Even now, it was the same.
Seeing Namgung On’s shadow emerging from the lord’s hall, Hong Seol hurried over.
Seeing her hurried steps, Namgung On’s expression hardened.
“Why aren’t you sleeping? You’ll stunt your growth wandering around like this.”
In the past, Hong Seol would have shrunk away at such words, but not anymore.
“I thought you couldn’t sleep… um, maybe you need this?”
Hong Seol suddenly held out her palm, showing a small, round incense pellet, emitting a sharp scent of Morning Sun Herb.
Ah, this must be the sleep incense my father always burns.
He appreciated her concern and the effort she made to follow him.
But he was not an insomniac. Namgung On shook his head, his expression softening.
“No, I’m not suffering from insomnia.”
“Then why are you wandering alone at night…?”
He sighed, looking around. Being the middle of the night, there was no one in sight.
Perhaps because it was night, he felt the urge to confide somewhere.
He hadn’t expected the listener to be a cat demi-human.
“I’ll tell you the reason. Follow me.”
The Namgung-exclusive training ground they reached was clean and spacious.
“Wow…”
Hong Seol looked around in admiration.
Most impressive was the roof—high enough to prevent anyone outside from peeking at his training.
“From now on, I’ll demonstrate the Changgung Great Sword Technique. Watch carefully.”
“Yes!”
Hong Seol crouched in the corner, intently observing.
As time passed, however, she felt increasingly disheartened.
Everything is clean and precise, but compared to Lord Changcheon, it still falls a bit short…
Even to Hong Seol, who had little martial arts experience, it was clear.
With his skill, it would be difficult to defeat Namgung Yeol from the branch family.
After completing all forms, Namgung On panted heavily and asked,
“Haah… haah… what do you think?”
“Well…”
“You see, I’ve never been outstanding from childhood.”
Hong Seol nodded heavily.
Ah, that’s why he built a roof for the training ground, and why he trains at night… so no one sees how lacking the lord’s martial skill really is.
No one must know the lord’s inadequacy—it would be dangerous if that information leaked.
Though the former Supreme Lord Namgung Ho still lived, who knew what would happen after he passed?
Hong Seol understood Namgung On’s feelings better than anyone.
It doesn’t feel like someone else’s story.
She felt ashamed of her own inability to use internal energy.
Being from a martial family, one inevitably feels inferior if martial skill falls short. Everything there is determined by strength.
She understood this logic well—so well that it hurt.
“But there must be a reason why you have risen to this position, Lord. I heard you even disciplined Soojeok recently.”
“Of course. My strategies and formations surpass anyone in this family.”
“Formations?”
She remembered hearing about it from Namgung Eui-gyeol, Lord Changcheon.
If you arrange wood and stones in a certain way, you can manipulate anyone who enters it—make them see illusions, lose their way…
“With my strategies and formations, I am confident I could face even the direct descendants of the Jegal family and not lose.”
“Wow…”
Hong Seol couldn’t help but be impressed by the confidence radiating from Namgung On.
“Ah!”
A bright idea struck her.
Her face lighting up, Hong Seol jumped to her feet.
“Then why not use formations during the duel too?!”
Namgung On chuckled softly.
“I wish I could, but look…”
He gestured, and Hong Seol looked around the training ground.
It was completely empty.
“To set up a formation, I need surrounding objects. There’s nothing on the duel stage, is there?”
Really… nothing at all?
As Hong Seol pondered, Namgung On continued,
“Besides, my younger sibling is fast. I often fall victim to the first strike. If I could block the opening move, I might be able to respond…”
That thought sparked an idea in Hong Seol’s mind.
The Jikchobo-ui!
The gift from Elder Namgung Mooyoung.
According to the letter left by Mooyoung, it could block any weapon attack at least once.
Moreover, it fit perfectly on any body—fat or tall, no exceptions.
If he wears it, the lord could get a chance to counterattack!
“Lord!”
Hong Seol’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“D-Do you remember the outfit I wore last time?”
It was actually the Jikchobo-ui. If he wore it…!
She mixed gestures with words, explaining eagerly.
“I refuse.”
“Huh?”
Surprised, Hong Seol blinked.
“That garment was a gift from the elder to you. Such a precious item, effective only once, I cannot use it.”
Namgung On smiled deliberately and tousled her hair.
“It’s fine. At worst, my defeat will just be recorded in the duel ledger again.”
“But…”
“It’s fine, I said.”
Not fine at all…!
Hong Seol puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
She wanted, by any means, to empower this kind lord.
…The duel is in a week, right?
She would figure out a way before then. Hong Seol clenched her tiny fists tightly.
