The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 58

The last surviving predecessor of Mount Hua.

That man was none other than Yu Gang, Mount Hua’s First Disciple and the youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman.

In her previous life, Mount Hua perished before Namgoong. No—before any other faction.

Even before the Blood Demon Cult emerged into the world.

“By now... it’s probably already begun to rot away.”

Mount Hua likely thought of themselves as being in full bloom right now. And in a way, they were right.

But a flower in full bloom is destined to fall. Flowers fall, and fall again.

In the end, only a single plum blossom will remain.

“I’m going to do my best.”

Over the face of the boy gripping his sword, Seolhwa saw the image of the man who once called himself the last plum blossom.

Seolhwa, too, took up her sword and stood before him.

“Just a moment ago, you looked like you were ready to die. Now you feel like giving it a shot?”

The man who had stood tall and alone, preserving Mount Hua’s legacy, shook his head firmly.

“No. I still don’t think I can win against you. Honestly, I didn’t understand half of what you and Master were talking about either.”

It seemed he hadn’t been told about the Great Return Pill in advance.

“But I do know that the name of my sect is at stake.”

Yu Gang tapped his chest with his hand—thump.

“So I have to give it everything I’ve got.”

“That’s why I’ll do everything I can to cut you down. I’ll cut you down, survive again, and carry on Mount Hua’s legacy. Even if it’s a dying old tree, so long as life remains, the plum blossom will bloom again one day.”

In both past life and present... /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ he truly was someone who loved the plum blossom.

“Yeah. That’s a lot better than just giving up.”

He hadn’t kept that promise in their previous lives. But this time, Seolhwa hoped he would.

Just—not today.

“I plan to give it everything I’ve got too.”

Yu Gang’s face stiffened.

“Can’t you go easy on me?”

“Nope.”

“Because of the elixir?”

“No. That’s just a minor reason.”

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

“Then what are you doing your best for?”

“Who knows... Let’s just say it’s for your sake.”

He didn’t know that the future of Mount Hua was riding on this duel.

He said he’d fight with all his might to protect Mount Hua’s name, but he didn’t realize—losing this duel was what would actually protect that name.

“For... me?”

Yu Gang let out a sigh like he finally understood.

“Haha. You’re right. If I’m going to lose, I might as well lose in the coolest way possible.”

It seemed he thought her refusal to go easy on him was actually a gesture of respect—for his pride.

Behind his playful smile, the tension was clear. Yu Gang gripped his sword and gave a martial bow.

“Yu Gang, First Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. I formally request a duel with Lady Namgoong.”

Seolhwa stood upright, returning the bow with equal formality.

“Namgoong Seolhwa of the Namgoong Clan. I accept your duel.”

For a brief moment, the two locked eyes.

Tap—!

Yu Gang made the first move, charging toward Seolhwa.

The last remaining warrior of Mount Hua charged at her.

Clang! Clang!

Yu Gang’s sword, true to Mount Hua’s techniques, sought speed and change.

His rapidly shifting sword forms bloomed like budding flowers.

“So this is Mount Hua, after all.”

What a truly beautiful sword.

To blossom such beauty from the blade, one had to swing without pause. That meant firm external martial arts had to support it.

The more one swung, the more stamina was required to maintain breathing and control.

That’s why, in every past life, whenever Seolhwa faced Mount Hua’s swordsmen, she always thought:

“They’re relentless.”

Their unmatched beauty was soaked in sweat and effort. The richer the plum blossom their swords painted, the stronger the fragrance—that fragrance was the fruit of blood and labor.

Clang! Clang!

But there was a different reason Yu Gang’s sword was called the finest among them.

“It’s rough.”

Yu Gang’s sword carried the subtlety of danger.

“He was already this rough at that age...”

Mount Hua, one of the Five Great Peaks of Zhongyuan, was known for its steep and jagged cliffs.

A sword reflects the life of its wielder.

So it was only natural that the swords of Mount Hua would carry the essence of the rugged terrain they called home.

Fast, ever-changing—but rough swordsmanship.

Yu Gang, at such a young age, had already realized the truth hidden beneath its beauty—something easily missed if one were too mesmerized by the elegance.

Clang—! Claaang—!

Seolhwa deflected Yu Gang’s blade.

A swordsman truly is different with a sword in hand.

Unlike the time they first met and exchanged fists, he was utterly serious now.

From his body, the energy of plum blossoms began to rise like a shimmering heat haze.

A fully-fledged First-Class martial artist.

At this age, he was already standing at the boundary between First-Class and Peak Realm.

“A genius... he really is one too.”

No wonder. In her past life, he had caused quite a lot of trouble for the Blood Demon Cult.

Claiming he was Mount Hua’s last plum blossom, he had stormed the battlefields they held with such righteous arrogance.

Even Seolhwa, who usually dealt with Namgoong’s affairs, had encountered him several times.

True to his boldness, he survived again and again, preserving Mount Hua’s name—rushing into chaos with nothing but that name to protect him.

And in the end...

Clang—! Clang!

Seolhwa was enjoying this.

It was rare, getting to witness the past of someone who had once been her equal.

Unknowingly, a smile formed at the edge of her lips.

The more she received Yu Gang’s sword, the more she craved it—and the wider her smile grew.

Claaang—!

“...!”

The sound of Seolhwa deflecting Yu Gang’s sword rang across the training courtyard of the Celestial Guest Courtyard.

Yu Gang barely managed to hold onto his sword, but his breathing was already ragged, and his hands throbbed.

“Haa... haah... ha...”

I can’t see her sword path at all.

Yu Gang was disoriented.

He had known he wouldn’t be a match for her—but he hadn’t thought he’d feel this powerless.

Just as he said he would, he had done his best and swung his sword with all his might.

Lady Namgoong hadn’t even launched a proper attack. All she had done was parry his strikes.

And yet—

I’m the one being pushed back. Why?

His breathing, which had grown rough, soon settled into a steady rhythm.

Seolhwa waited patiently while he caught his breath.

His gaze grew calm.

Focused solely on the sword.

“Fuuuu...”

Yu Gang took a preparatory stance.

It was a declaration—the formal beginning of a sword technique.

So he's using the Young Purity Sword.

Huuuuuuung—

A soft, pink glow began to rise like heat haze around Yu Gang’s blade.

It was Sword Qi, something only those in the Peak Realm or above could wield.

He’s planning to pour everything into this strike.

Since he had yet to truly reach Peak Realm, he could only manifest Sword Qi for the briefest moment.

And to prove that, the instant the energy surged to life—Yu Gang charged forward.

Too hasty.

It was impressive that a First-Class martial artist could manifest Sword Qi, but in doing so, he’d exposed a flaw.

On top of that, he’d chosen the wrong sword style. Of all the techniques Mount Hua had to offer, he picked the Young Purity Sword?

A sword of complete clarity, without even a shred of greed or stray thought.

It was a form more suited to Daoist swordsmanship.

But when it comes to clarity and honesty—Namgoong has the upper hand.

Sword meets sword.

To match Yu Gang’s stance, Seolhwa also assumed her own.

Her form was none other than one of the foundational sword techniques of the Namgoong Clan.

A sword technique vast and high as the sky.

The Grand Vast Sword Art.

The second move of the final three forms of the Grand Vast Sword Art.

A crimson haze began to rise around Seolhwa’s body, shimmering like heat waves.

Exactly the same as Yu Gang’s. A perfect match to the strength of his final strike.

Grand Vast Heavenly Net.

In that moment, Yu Gang felt as if the sky itself had become a colossal net closing in over him.

If there were such a thing as a predator among sword techniques—he thought—it would be this one Seolhwa now wielded.

Yu Gang grit his teeth and swung his blade.

Like a rabbit caught in the jaws of a beast, he flailed even as he knew it was futile.

Even knowing he’d lose, he pushed forward—completing his technique to the very end.

And at last, sword met sword.

Technique met technique.

Path met path.

Chwaaak—! Kaga-gang—!

Dust blew up from the floor of the training courtyard as their blades clashed.

No one watching the duel could bring themselves to speak.

Because for a battle between a thirteen- and fifteen-year-old—it was utterly incomprehensible in its weight.

Click—

In the silence that followed, Seolhwa sheathed her sword.

Yu Gang remained frozen in the final stance of his technique.

But his hand no longer held a sword.

Seolhwa picked up Yu Gang’s sword, which had fallen nearby, and approached him.

As she held it out, Yu Gang—his head bowed—lifted his gaze.

Exhaustion was written all over his face, drained from expending every last bit of his internal energy. Yet, he smiled brightly.

“You’re seriously unreal... crazy strong...”

“You were pretty good, too.”

“‘Pretty’? I’m the strongest in my age group at Mount Hua.”

Seolhwa’s eyebrows curved into a curious shape.

“Why are you comparing yourself to people your age?”

“Huh?”

“That’s why you’re not getting anywhere.”

She shoved the sword back into his hand with a firm thunk—then turned away without hesitation.

“Come back when you’re stronger.”

Rumble...

At the front of the Celestial Guest Courtyard, Namgoong Hyuk of the Black Dragon Unit and Chief Steward Namgoong Mun both turned toward the courtyard gate at the same time.

“...Chief Steward. You said this was just a duel between children, didn’t you?”

“Hmph. Seems like Young Master Il and Mount Hua’s First Disciple are crossing swords.”

“Ah.”

Well, that made sense too.

Namgoong Hyuk’s fingers twitched.

A Mount Hua sword, huh...

“I’d like to cross blades with it myself.”

Plum Reflection Sword Yu Pyo.

His name had recently been stirring all of Zhongyuan into a frenzy.

He had killed the leader of one of the unorthodox groups listed among the Hundred Martial Masters of Sichuan, earning a spot among the Hundred himself.

To exchange blades with someone like that...

“The Mount Hua sword... I’m truly curious.”

Frustrated, Namgoong Hyuk clenched and unclenched his fists.

“Huuuh...”

“...?”

At the sound of a sigh from Namgoong Mun, who was looking off into the distance, Namgoong Hyuk also turned his eyes in that direction.

And immediately frowned.

From afar, a group of Elders and Branch Heads were approaching.

At their head was Namgoong Cheonghae—and beside him was Namgoong Cheongsan.

“Well, with all this commotion, it’d be strange not to show up. Ah... who would’ve thought I’d miss the Clan Head this much...”

Namgoong Mun murmured quietly to himself—and Namgoong Hyuk found himself agreeing, deeply and wholeheartedly.