Chapter 364

Chapter 364
## Chapter 364. Invisible Torrent (4)

—

A crisp, biting breeze swept across the deserted courtyard.

Namgung-seon-hwa stood motionless at its center.

Though the chill might have made others shiver, she kept her eyes closed and gripped her weapon, finding a strange sense of clarity in the cold air.

It slowly dried the beads of perspiration that had gathered along her brow.

After a prolonged silence, the moment she felt her focus crystallize, she unleashed her blade.

*Bu-ung.*

It was the signature swordplay of the Namgung Family—swift, weightless, and piercing.

Firmament Boundless (*Chang-gung-mu-ae*).

An intense, azure sword-qi instantly dominated the courtyard.

The wind was already frosty, but the moment Namgung-seon-hwa executed her strike—

*Swaaaa—*

It seemed as though the temperature in the courtyard plummeted to freezing.

The edge of her blade danced wildly through the air, carving through the wind itself.

It was a display that demonstrated an undeniably high level of mastery, yet Namgung-seon-hwa bit her lower lip in apparent dissatisfaction.

“Tsk.”

She raised her weapon back into a guarding stance.

Wiping away all traces of her previous movements, she shut her eyes once more and sank into deep concentration.

Moments later, when her eyelids snapped open.

*Flash.*

A crimson glint flared within her gaze.

Immediately following that flash, her sword lashed out.

*Chwa-reureureureureu.*

The form bore a resemblance to the Firmament Boundless Sword Art, yet the underlying aura was fundamentally altered.

Firmament Cloud-Weaving (*Chang-gung-un-wi*).

This technique was forged by the Emperor of the Firmament Divine Sword—the undisputed apex master of the era and the current patriarch of the Namgung Family. He had refined and elevated the foundational Firmament Boundless Sword Art of their clan to create it.

It stripped away every superfluous movement, maximizing pure lethality.

Moreover, the reality that this style served as the absolute counter to the Namgung Family’s own foundational Firmament Boundless Sword Art was a secret guarded heavily, shared only with the direct bloodline and a select few outer relatives.

True to its design of absolute pragmatism, its sheer cutting force rivaled even the deadly techniques of the Black Way.

*Chwa-reureureureureuk.*

The vibrant blue energy no longer radiated a simple chill.

Instead of coldness, a bone-deep, terrifying sharpness bled into the air.

A savage aura that threatened to shred flesh at the slightest brush tore through the immediate area.

*Chwa-reureureureureuk.*

It sliced through empty space, sliced through the rushing wind, and gouged the solid marble beneath her feet.

*Chwa-ak, chwa-aa-ak, chwa-aa-ak.*

Faint, needle-thin scores were left behind everywhere the azure light flickered.

Those dense, razor-thin lines multiplied rapidly, enveloping Namgung-seon-hwa like a protective silkworm cocoon.

*Chwa-aa-ak, chwa-aa-ak, chwa-aa-ak.*

The immediate perimeter was utterly dissected.

It left no opening for any approaching foe or incoming blade.

Slowly, the radius of her strikes expanded outward.

*Chwa-aa-ak, chwa-aa-ak, chwa-aa-ak.*

With each widening loop, the tightly woven web of sword-tracks grew slightly more spaced and unraveled.

Namgung-seon-hwa then shifted her weight backward, gliding as smoothly as if she were stepping on clouds.

*Chwa-reureureureureuk.*

*Chwa-aa-ak!*

The Firmament Cloud-Weaving Sword Art, which had unfurled like a blossoming flower, suddenly snapped back into a tight bud.

The suffocating murderous intent that had saturated the grounds dissolved instantly, and the biting wind that had been kept at bay rushed in to fill the void.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

With her internal heat spiking from the exertion, plumes of white vapor escaped Namgung-seon-hwa’s lips.

Neglecting to wipe away her sweat, she closely inspected the gouges scored into the ground around her.

As Namgung-seon-hwa frowned at her handiwork and raised a hand to her brow—

“An extraordinary display of martial skill.”

“……!”

A familiar, genial voice cut through the quiet.

“Who goes……”

Namgung-seon-hwa’s eyes widened in startle as she spun around toward the source of the sound.

“……*Dae-ju* Gang?”

The figure stepping into view was none other than Gang-seo-pyo.

“*Dae-ju* nim!!!”

Namgung-seon-hwa rushed forward eagerly, grasping his hand in unvarnished delight.

Gang-seo-pyo clasped her hand warmly, matching her happiness.

“How did you get here? What brings you all this way? Do you happen to have matters to attend to with the Murim Alliance……”

“Young Lady!”

“……Ah, I got carried away talking about myself, didn’t I? Forgive me.”

Gang-seo-pyo’s expression turned solemn for a brief second before cracking into a wide, playful grin.

“I am no longer a Squad Leader. I am a Hall Master now.”

“What?!”

“Haha! You are looking at the youngest Hall Master within the entire Namgung Family.”

The pair quickly caught up on the news they had missed during their time apart.

Once the initial pleasantries subsided, Gang-seo-pyo turned his gaze to the massive, circular patterns carved into the ground by Namgung-seon-hwa’s blade.

“Your edge has grown much sharper.”

Gang-seo-pyo spoke with genuine admiration.

There was usually a clear ceiling to what practitioners of Namgung-seon-hwa’s age could accomplish.

Though he was well aware that her capabilities were vast enough to grant her entry into the academy entirely on her own merits, the sequence she had just executed undeniably marked her as a true genius (*Gijae*) or a phenomenal talent (*Yeongjae*).

“……I still fall far short.”

Yet, the prodigy merely lowered her gaze instead of taking pride in her prowess.

“With mastery like this, you could hold your head high anywhere, couldn’t you?”

“…….”

He had received word that she was struggling, but witnessing Namgung-seon-hwa’s current state firsthand left a heavy feeling in his chest.

She kept her head bowed, looking exactly like a soldier carrying the shame of a failed mission.

“I was…… utterly useless. People were losing their lives, and yet…… there was absolutely nothing I could do.”

The words lacked context, but Gang-seo-pyo, fully aware of the background, understood her grief perfectly.

The incident concerning the Silent Forest had already reverberated across the lands, reaching all the way through Anhui.

Even during his journey to the Murim Alliance, the tale had been repeated endlessly at every tavern and roadside inn he encountered.

He knew that if even half of those dark rumors held truth, it must have been an incredibly harrowing ordeal.

At the same time, he recognized what an immense miracle it was that Namgung-seon-hwa had managed to escape with her life.

Yet, this admirable young lady was consumed by self-reproach.

“Forget my own inadequate strength, even invoking the name of the Namgung Family offered no salvation.”

On his way to locate Namgung-seon-hwa, he had walked past several other training areas within the campus.

The academy, which normally would be relaxed and buoyant with end-of-term excitement, was instead gripped by an unnerving, rigid tension, like a cord pulled to its breaking point.

Every student occupying the fields was swinging their weapons with frantic desperation, as if practicing for their impending survival.

He had also encountered several heavily intoxicated students at a tavern near the grounds where he spent the previous night.

He knew that the internal state of those driving themselves on the training grounds and those drowning their sorrows in wine was fundamentally identical to Namgung-seon-hwa’s state.

To train fiercely, or to lose oneself in drink.

Those were the only two paths available to a martial artist trying to escape a living nightmare.

It was a harsh awakening that could not be bypassed by children raised like delicate flowers inside a greenhouse.

It was also a weight that Gang-seo-pyo could not shoulder on her behalf, regardless of how deeply he cared for her well-being.

“The Patriarch…… left a message for me to pass along, should the Young Lady be found practicing her swordplay.”

“……Grandfather did?”

Namgung-seon-hwa, whose posture had been utterly defeated, snapped her head up.

Gang-seo-pyo cleared his throat deliberately and adopted a stern tone, mimicking the booming presence of Namgung-tae-ha.

“‘Take another step forward in the time you spend hiding away, and execute another strike in the time you spend hanging your head. That alone is the true ethos of the Namgung Family!’ That is what he commanded me to tell you.”

“……!”

“Knowing that mortality is a shadow that can never be detached from the path of a martial artist, he must have offered those words……”

“I know. I understand completely.”

Namgung-seon-hwa offered a faint nod.

“I understand. It is a lesson that has been hammered into me since my earliest childhood. When gripped by terror. When desperately wanting to flee. I was told until my ears burned that I must take one more step forward.”

Namgung-seon-hwa let out a melancholic smile.

“Because no sanctuary exists in the places to which we retreat.”

“Precisely, Young Lady.”

Moving past this would not happen overnight.

Ultimately, it required the steady passage of time for such traumatic memories to lose their edge.

As the days bled forward, the memories would dim, her martial prowess would expand, and the burden would lessen.

She would simply strive harder to ensure she was never caught helpless again.

Was that not the very mechanism by which humans evolved?

“……But what were the alternative instructions?”

“Excuse me? Which ones……”

“You said…… ‘should I be found practicing,’ didn’t you?”

“Ah, that?”

Gang-seo-pyo chuckled.

“He stated that if you were found drinking, I was to leave extra funds for the tavern bill and walk away, and if you were found weeping…… to simply bring you home.”

“…….”

“He remarked that in such a case, there would be a path far better suited to you than the way of the blade.”

Namgung-seon-hwa felt a strange sensation, realizing she had been subtly evaluated without even knowing it.

“Ah, that reminds me, how is that young master faring these days?”

Gang-seo-pyo inquired, as if the thought had suddenly struck him.

“Young master? Do you mean *Oppa* Gi-pyo?”

“No. I am referring to Young Master Jin.”

“Ah……. Yes. Well, he is managing…….”

Namgung-seon-hwa’s voice trailed off, her expression faltering alongside her words.

She tacked on a final remark rather heavily.

“……Though he appears incredibly occupied traveling back and forth lately.”

“Oh?”

Gang-seo-pyo noted her muted reaction with curiosity.

“Could it be that Young Master Jin has taken a romantic interest?”

“What on earth are you suggesting……”

“Or perhaps, has another suitor caught the Young Lady’s eye?”

“Wh-what?!”

Namgung-seon-hwa’s thoughts reeled at the direct thrust aimed squarely at her composure.

“W-what are you suddenly talking about right now???”

“Well, given that the Young Lady harbors deep feelings for Young Master Jin……”

“Aaaaah!!!!! Hall Master Gang!!!”

Gang-seo-pyo flinched back slightly at her outburst, though the amused smirk never left his face.

“Young Lady Seon-hwa, I have been by your side since your childhood days. I cannot simply turn a blind eye, even if I wanted to.”

“…….”

Namgung-seon-hwa’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

“Besides, exceptional young men like Young Master Jin naturally attract the attention of many contenders.”

“I-it isn’t like that. It’s just…… I have been feeling quite conflicted recently.”

“Conflicted?”

“It’s simply, how should I put it…… it feels as though he has drifted to a place far beyond my reach.”

Throughout their flight from the Silent Forest, Namgung-seon-hwa had done nothing but run while staring at Jin-so-un’s back.

He had always been someone she depended on, but inside that grim forest, Jin-so-un had seemed immense and unreachable.

Like an ancient, immovable tree weathered against any storm, he had pushed onward and onward with absolute resolve.

With every stride Jin-so-un took, burning away his very vitality to forge a path, Namgung-seon-hwa felt the gap between them widening exponentially.

She had instinctively reached out toward him, but with every attempt, he remained a step further ahead.

Like a wisp of vapor dissolving into thin air.

She had even been gripped by a sudden panic that he might vanish entirely one day.

Gang-seo-pyo listened intently before nodding in quiet comprehension.

“I see. Your affection for him has only deepened.”

“……Hall Master. Are you actually paying attention to what I am saying?”

“Am I not?”

“…….”

Namgung-seon-hwa found herself devoid of an answer.

To be completely honest, she could not even unravel her own internal chaos.

“It’s just…… I simply do not know. That man feels like someone destined to face even harsher tribulations ahead, someone bound to shoulder far greater agony and torment……”

“And that makes your heart ache for him all the more.”

“…….”

Though it was her own heart, she lacked the vocabulary to define it.

She had never encountered an emotion quite like this before.

Observing the young lady navigating the growing pains of a budding sentiment, Gang-seo-pyo offered a gentle, sympathetic smile.

“If he is carrying such pain, should you not be the one to step forward and offer him solace?”

“Solace?”

In comparison to his vast strength, could her own fragile, insignificant self truly offer any real comfort?

Would he even have any need for her comfort……

“Did you not mention previously that Young Master Jin possesses a memory far more vivid than ordinary people?”

“That is true.”

“If that is the case, would not the person suffering the most acute pain right now be Young Master Jin himself?”

“……!”

Namgung-seon-hwa felt as though she had been struck by a physical blow.

The realization had completely eluded her.

Blinded by her own internal sorrow, she had merely hidden behind the rationale that he was simply too busy.

“To my eyes, Young Master Jin carried himself with immense fortitude. Yet…… he also seemed to possess a spirit that was profoundly fragile.”

“…….”

“If you are still struggling to decipher your own heart, why not simply extend your comfort first? The nature of your feelings…… that can be sorted out at a later time.”

The nature of her feelings could be sorted out later.

Those words from Gang-seo-pyo lingered heavily in Namgung-seon-hwa’s mind long after their conversation ended.

“Phew.”

Halting before the entrance, Namgung-seon-hwa exhaled a ragged breath.

She had assumed she would wait until more time had passed before facing Jin-so-un again. Yet, almost unconsciously, her steps had guided her here.

‘Is this really a good idea?’

The doubts swirling in her mind remained unresolved, causing her anxiety to spike.

Just as Namgung-seon-hwa contemplated turning on her heel to leave, the reminder that Jin-so-un was likely the one in the greatest pain spurred her forward. Steeling her resolve, she rapped against the wood.

*Knock, knock.*

Silence met her gesture.

*Knock, knock.*

When she repeated the knock, the door swung inward with a soft creak.

However, the individual standing on the other side was completely outside her expectations.

“What brings you by?”

“……Why are you here, *Sunbae* Dang? Wait…… did I mistake the room?”

“Who is it you are looking for?”

“Young Master Jin.”

“Then you have the correct room.”

“…….”

No, the real question is, why are you occupying it?

Dang-seo-hui turned and strolled back inside as if she owned the space, reclaiming her seat at the table and continuing to munch contentedly on a plate of confections.

“…… Bors.”

The sight of her stuffing her mouth until her cheeks puffed out made her look precisely like a foraging squirrel.

Noticing the intense gaze fixed upon her, Dang-seo-hui’s eyes flickered with a sudden, defensive hesitation.

Then, with visible reluctance, she pushed the platter forward slightly.

“You, you can have some if you want.”

“…….”

Was it genuinely safe to take one?

It certainly did not feel that way. Judging by the fierce look in her eyes, accepting would likely earn her an enduring grudge.

“I am alright.”

“If you say so.”

Dang-seo-hui snatched the plate back instantly. For some reason, the speed at which she devoured the remaining treats slowed to a crawl.

“…….”

“…… Bors.”

A thick, heavy silence settled over the room.

Namgung-seon-hwa had rehearsed a myriad of conversations to initiate with Jin-so-un, but she had failed to account for the possibility of encountering Dang-seo-hui inside his quarters.

After enduring the suffocating atmosphere for a while longer, Namgung-seon-hwa finally broke the silence.

She could tell that if she didn’t speak, the quiet would stretch on indefinitely.

“Where has Young Master Jin gone?”

“They requested his presence for a strategy meeting over at the Thousand Eyes Pavilion, so he headed there.”

“Then why are you remaining here, *Sunbae* Dang?”

“I arrived because I have an inquiry to make. But Jin-so-un remains preoccupied day in and day out.”

What kind of urgent inquiry could possibly warrant her waiting around inside Jin-so-un’s private living quarters for days on end?

Namgung-seon-hwa voiced her thought with caution.

“What exactly is it that you intend to ask him?”

She expected that it might be a confidential clan matter and that she would be rebuffed, but Dang-seo-hui answered without the slightest hesitation.

And—

“I came to ask whether it is absolutely mandatory for Jin-so-un to inherit the leadership of the Tae-eul-mun.”

An inquiry she could have never fathomed pierced the air.

Namgung-seon-hwa was so utterly jarred that a cry escaped her lips before she could stop it.

“What?!”

Dang-seo-hui, looking as though she were granting a massive concession, offered a direct clarification while continuing to chew her sweet.

“Ah! To be entirely precise, I came to ascertain whether he would be amenable to entering a marriage where he marries into the bride’s household (*deril-sawi*).”

“…….”

Namgung-seon-hwa felt exactly as though she had been struck squarely on the back of her head with a heavy club.