While she had been away at Mount Hua, the affairs of the clan had been divided among the Chief Steward and Namgoong Mugang, but matters requiring the Clan Head’s confirmation could only be put on hold.

Because she had departed for Mount Hua during a time when the clan was in turmoil both inside and out, the Clan Head’s duties had piled up like never before.

“...Hoo.”

Namgoong Mucheon set down the paper he had been reading and firmly rubbed at his eyes. The Chief Steward, who had been assisting him by his side, spoke with a sympathetic gaze.

“Please take a short rest. Have you not been overexerting yourself since your return from Mount Hua? At this rate, your health will suffer.”

“With the clan’s affairs stacked this high, I cannot afford to rest with peace of mind. I am fine.”

“Shall I at least bring you a cup of tea?”

“Just bring me a glass of cold water.”

Namgoong Mucheon suddenly paused in his movements and lifted his gaze toward the window.

The Chief Steward, following his gaze, turned to look out the window as well.

Only the full, round moon cast its silver light over the sky—there was nothing particularly noteworthy.

“Chief Steward.”

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“Go and bring Cheongun here.”

The First Young Lord? At this late hour?

Though puzzled, the Chief Steward replied and immediately stepped out to summon Namgoong Cheongun.

How much time had passed after the Chief Steward vacated his seat?

Fwooo—

A gentle breeze drifted in, making the candle flame flicker inside the room.

Namgoong Mucheon’s lips curved faintly.

“You have obtained a marvelous opportunity.”

His gaze turned toward the window, where a figure had appeared without notice.

It was Seolhwa, who had come to the Clan Head’s quarters while avoiding the eyes of the household.

She too smiled faintly and performed a martial greeting toward Namgoong Mucheon.

“I apologize for appearing so suddenly without notice, Grandfather.”

“It is fine. I had been expecting you to come.”

“...Is that so?”

“First, come in. You must have a moment to spare, do you not?”

Seolhwa’s eyes trembled slightly.

Namgoong Mucheon had not only anticipated such a visit. He also knew that she intended to leave the clan.

Namgoong Mucheon moved his qi and pulled out a chair for her.

Seolhwa briefly recalled their first meal together.

At the time, he had placed each of the various dishes laid out on the table in front of her with great care.

Back then, the gazes of the clan members who looked upon her were always filled with worry and pity.

Unaware of all that, she had been preoccupied with the idea of changing the clan, unable to take in her surroundings—and the memory of that made her laugh quietly.

After sitting in the chair Namgoong Mucheon had prepared for her, Seolhwa asked him,

“How did you know?”

“When you did not return even after time had passed, I thought this might come to pass. After your return to the main house, many things have happened, have they not?”

Hwarin was taken to the Suro Stronghold, the Bipung Division members had died, and the Mount Hua Sect had fallen into crisis.

“You, of all people, would feel responsible ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) for those events. You would try to take responsibility, and once you gained power, you would surely seek to leave the main house again.”

“...”

Namgoong Mucheon’s prediction had been accurate.

Hwarin had been captured to threaten her, and the deaths of the Bipung Division members had been to lure out Seop Mugwang.

What happened at Mount Hua had also occurred in her previous life, but the hypnosis technique had activated earlier than expected due to the Fifth Blood Lord’s scheme targeting her.

Just as Namgoong Mucheon had said, Seolhwa felt a heavy sense of responsibility for all those events.

And she realized—

‘It was not yet time to return to Namgoong.’

The Namgoong Clan was not yet prepared to confront the Blood Demon Cult head-on.

If she remained in the main house now, threats would continue to descend upon them, and the Namgoong Clan, as it was, lacked the strength to withstand them.

In that case, it would be better if she were not here.

“Seolhwa.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“That is not your fault.”

“...”

“It is not because you returned to the clan. It is the fault of us adults who could not protect a child.”

Namgoong Mucheon paused for a moment, then continued.

“Even so, must you still leave?”

His granddaughter, who was dearer to him than his own eyes, had returned after eight long years—only just returned.

And yet, she was saying she would leave again. It tore at his heart.

Though their first parting had been unwilling, this time it was a decision his granddaughter had made for the sake of the clan, and that made it all the more painful.

“Thank you for saying that.”

“Seolhwa.”

“I am sorry, Grandfather.”

Seolhwa raised her gaze, which had been fixed on her fingertips, to meet Namgoong Mucheon’s.

Through that unwavering gaze, Namgoong Mucheon was certain—she would leave.

“As you said, I did believe all of this happened because of me. But... leaving the clan is not for that reason alone.”

It was true she intended to leave in order to protect the clan, but the decision Seolhwa had made came from something else entirely.

“There is something I must do. Something very important.”

The unification of the dark path’s factions.

The destruction of the Blood Demon Cult’s foundation.

“Grandfather, you have seen the recent events, so you must already know. They are strong. Very strong.”

She had been saying as much ever since returning to Namgoong, that they were powerful.

But compared to when she first said it, her words now carried a different weight. She had experienced the Blood Demon Cult’s power firsthand.

“They will grow faster, stronger. Within five years, they will become a force that threatens all of Murim.”

Namgoong Mucheon’s expression grew grave.

Five years—long if long, but far too short if short.

“In order to confront them, preparations are necessary. That is why I am leaving the clan.”

To carry out what could not be done within Namgoong.

To unite the factions of the dark path and obstruct the Blood Demon Cult’s plans to expand their power aggressively in the future.

And in the meantime, for the Namgoong Clan to grow safely within a secure shelter—that was only a secondary consideration.

“I understand your concern, Grandfather. That is why I came to show you what kind of power I have gained.”

Srrrk—

From within Seolhwa’s sleeve, a small, slender snake emerged.

Namgoong Mucheon stared intently at the snake crawling up onto the table.

“So that is what it was.”

From the moment Seolhwa appeared, Namgoong Mucheon had sensed the presence of a powerful energy.

Its source had been Seolhwa, but there had been a strange dissonance that made it impossible to attribute it entirely to her.

“Is that the one lending you its power?”

“Yes. It may not look like it, but it is an Imoogi.”

“Hooh.”

The snake hissed, flicking out its tongue.

[‘May not look like it’? If I revealed my true form, a mere structure like this could not withstand it—I held back out of consideration! I am the great Imoogi!]

“He appears to be angry at the phrase ‘may not look like it.’”

“You can communicate with it?”

A look of interest spread across Namgoong Mucheon’s face.

Seolhwa nodded and returned the Imoogi to her sleeve.

“As you can see, I will not die easily.”

“That is fortunate.”

“My personal cultivation has not yet reached the Transcendent Peak Realm, so as promised, I will remain accompanied and protected.”

“That is fortunate as well.”

“I am sorry I could not share the details of my plan in advance.”

Not revealing her whereabouts to Namgoong was for the sake of the clan.

At times, knowing less brings greater safety and freedom for all.

Since what she intended to do differed from the clan’s path and was not something she would do under their name, it was better not to disclose it.

Namgoong Mucheon also understood her intentions.

“The only reason I tried to know everything you were doing was because you seemed so precarious.”

When she had returned alone after battling the Twelve Moons, he had feared not knowing when she might fall into danger again.

“But now, so much about you has changed.”

She had learned to control her killing intent, to avoid leaping headlong into danger, to consider her surroundings—and above all, to reflect on herself.

“There is no need to reveal everything to me. Whatever you do, I will trust you and respect your will.”

It was not that he had ever distrusted Seolhwa before.

If he had worried over her instability before, now he could trust her completely.

“If possible, send word from time to time. Publicly, I will say you have entered closed-door training.”

“...Thank you.”

Namgoong Mucheon had seen through her transformation in every detail.

Because she knew that came from love and care, Seolhwa could only be grateful—infinitely grateful—for his boundless trust.

“Grandfather, there is something I would like to ask of you.”

“Speak.”

“Do you know of the nine prestigious sects and five noble families of the Central Plains?”

“I do.”

“Please gather their strength.”

Even without naming them one by one, the Nine Sects and Five Families were few enough to count on one’s fingers.

At her request to unite their strength, Namgoong Mucheon’s expression turned grave.

“The Five Families may be possible, but the sects will not wish to cooperate.”

“Complete cooperation is not necessary. Even just creating an atmosphere where their strength can be gathered when the time comes will suffice.”

“You are asking me to serve as that axis, then?”

Seolhwa nodded.

In her previous life, the righteous path had eventually come together.

But only after many factions had been weakened to the point they could not recover on their own did they begin leaning on one another for support.

There had been many who needed help, but too few who could offer it—it had been nothing more than a futile struggle.

‘But this life will be different.’

If the Namgoong Clan could be the center of a united Murim alliance, it could become a solid shield in the war against the Blood Demon Cult.

Even if gathering everyone’s strength would not be easy—

‘If the alliance can be formed sooner.’

Then even war with the Blood Demon Cult would be worth undertaking.

“Please. You are the only one I can ask for this.”