Chapter 63
The Namgung family estate located in Hapbi.
On the way there, it was easy to see leaves falling in various parts of Anhui.
It was a clear sign that summer had passed and autumn had arrived.
“How beautiful.”
The falling leaves looked different from the ones seen inside the Tang family compound.
After passing through that beautiful late-autumn scenery and going a little further, I saw a bustling crowd of people.
Seeing so many people, my eyes widened.
“There are so many people.”
“This isn’t even that many.”
“Huh?”
“This birthday celebration for the Eightieth Anniversary isn’t being held on a grand scale. Only those connected to the Sword Emperor were quietly invited.”
Even so, it was crowded like this. How much more crowded would it be if the feast were grand?
Inside the estate, there were even more people.
On one side, people who seemed to belong to the Namgung family were carrying grain-like items.
“What are those people doing?”
“Instead of holding a large feast, they are distributing grains to the nearby commoners.”
Father glanced at them and spoke quietly, barely audible.
“Yet, for the Sword Emperor’s Eightieth Anniversary, people’s expressions aren’t that cheerful.”
Indeed, even to me, that seemed to be true.
Despite it being a family celebration, there was no lively atmosphere.
“Perhaps there’s a reason they didn’t invite many people.”
Grandfather had been a longtime friend of the head of the Namgung family.
For a moment, a shadow seemed to pass over his face.
Was he worried something had happened to his friend?
I fiddled with the sleeve of his clothes.
Then his large, warm hand enveloped mine completely.
Holding grandfather’s hand, we entered the Namgung estate, and all eyes turned toward us.
People were staring directly at me.
Some were members of the Namgung family, while others seemed to be invited guests.
After all, anyone invited to the Sword Emperor’s Eightieth Anniversary would not be an ordinary person.
“Thinking that such people are looking at me…”
I gripped grandfather’s hand tighter.
For some reason, my hand became damp with sweat.
However—
“There’s nothing to be nervous about.”
As soon as I heard grandfather’s voice above my head, the tension in my hands melted away.
“Walk with your chest out, boldly and confidently. Inside your sleeve is my secret sword.”
If this were only for me, he could have whispered it directly.
Yet, grandfather said it here, in the Namgung estate, where everyone could hear.
The meaning was clear:
“He wants everyone to hear it.”
It was both a comfort to me and a message meant to be shared.
When grandfather finished speaking, I could feel the gazes that had been fixed on me shift slightly from curiosity.
Still, I tried not to shrink back and walked holding grandfather’s hand.
“Master of the house!”
At that moment, Namgung Taegang approached quickly, assumed a respectful stance, and spoke politely.
“You must be tired from your journey. Father is waiting for you.”
“You kept your promise, Sub-Master.”
Grandfather spoke, and Namgung Taegang smiled broadly and nodded.
“Yes, thank you. Please come inside; he is waiting for you.”
“Before that, could you prepare a place for my granddaughter to rest?”
“Of course. However, I heard that Jin-Hyeon and Bi accompanied you this time, and Father also wished to see the two of them together…”
“Bi?”
“Yes.”
Grandfather looked down at me.
I looked up at him.
But my confusion lasted only a moment.
Grandfather nodded.
“Very well. Show her the way.”
“You must be Tang Bi.”
Namgung Eryong, head of the Namgung family.
One of the Ten Great Masters of the world, unmatched in swordsmanship, earning him the title of Sword Emperor.
His first impression was intimidating.
“As scary as grandfather.”
Namgung Eryong exuded a formidable aura and presence.
Yet, I had no intention of hiding behind grandfather.
I greeted him politely.
“Tang Bi of the Sa-Cheon Tang family pays respects to the head of the Namgung family.”
“There’s no need for such formality. Ah, you are Jin-Hyeon’s daughter? I vaguely heard Jin-Hyeon had a daughter, but this is the first time I’m seeing her.”
As Tangpa Jin had said, the fact that father had a daughter was not widely known.
But the elderly man before me was grandfather’s close friend and the head of the Namgung family, Namgung Eryong.
He likely knew everything happening in the martial world. Probably.
“This is the first time seeing her in person, isn’t it?”
“Yes. I must give you a gift.”
Grandfather and Namgung Eryong spoke in a friendly, casual manner.
Inside the enclosed reception room of the Namgung family, the two men seemed like close friends rather than heads of their respective families.
Namgung Eryong gestured for me to come closer.
“Come here, Bi.”
I quickly approached and stood in front of him without needing to be told twice.
“Since I see such a pleasant face, I will give you a gift. Accept it.”
The gift Namgung Eryong handed me with a generous smile was—
“Huh?”
A small pouch containing medicinal pills.
“They’re not as rare as Daehwandan or Jasodan, but they’re still good for your health,” he said.
“I heard you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t come out. I give this to help, so don’t refuse it.”
I blinked, bewildered.
Even if it wasn’t extremely rare, these were medicinal pills personally given by the head of the Namgung family.
They had to be beneficial.
“Why is he giving this to me all of a sudden?”
Was it just because he was glad to see me?
Feeling flustered, I glanced at grandfather, who nodded.
“Accept it with thanks. Don’t worry; the gifts I brought are even more valuable than those medicinal pills.”
“Yes. When an elder gives something, you accept it gratefully, Bi,” Father added.
I nervously bowed and took the pouch of pills Namgung Eryong gave me.
“Thank you, Master of the house…!”
“I am giving this because you are like a granddaughter to me, so don’t feel pressured.”
Still, they are medicinal pills!
Do close friends normally give potent medicine to their friend’s granddaughter so freely? Or is there something special about their relationship?
Then, I heard Father’s voice in my mind.
[Did you see the crowd earlier? They all brought valuable medicinal pills and treasures far beyond the ones you received. So don’t hesitate to accept.]
Apparently, they were worried I might be too stiff.
Grandfather and Namgung Eryong seated me and had a brief conversation.
I heard that the head of the Namgung family insisted that grandfather “must come” to this Eightieth Anniversary celebration.
“Why would that be?”
From what I could see, they weren’t exchanging particularly special words.
Namgung Eryong would sometimes speak to Father, and Father responded naturally.
Occasionally, Namgung Taegang would join, but Father and the Sub-Master didn’t speak much.
And naturally, I had no role in this adult conversation.
I just listened attentively, occasionally glancing at the head of the Namgung family.
But—
“Is he unwell?”
He didn’t show signs of illness or lie like a patient.
Yet somehow, he seemed unwell.
“Is it just my imagination?”
Thinking of some of the Namgung family members whose expressions had seemed unpleasant upon arrival, I felt an odd sensation.
Amidst the bustling celebration of the Sword Emperor’s Eightieth Anniversary, a mysterious shadow seemed to hang over the grand Namgung estate.
But what it was—
“Of course, I don’t know…”
How could I know?
This was my first time leaving the Tang family compound.
Meeting people outside the family was also a first…
“Wait, that’s not entirely true.”
Now that I think about it, the Sub-Master Namgung Taegang and Namgung Cheonghyeon were present.
The first Namgung family members I saw were those two.
Then—
“It’s about time. Why aren’t they here yet?”
Namgung Eryong said with curiosity.
Namgung Taegang stood up and said,
“I will go bring them.”
“No, they’ll arrive soon enough.”
Bring them? Who?
At that moment, a familiar voice came from outside.
“Grandfather, Cheonghyeon is here.”
