Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: We Are Namgung
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Late at night, the Namgung Family was in an uproar.
It was at the news that Namgung Hwa, thought to have died in the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions, had returned alive.
Namgung Hwa’s father and mother also came running in astonishment. But she had yet to regain consciousness, merely breathing, so they could only greet their daughter with endless tears.
And so, a day passed.
Everyone in the Namgung Family was on edge. Namgung Urin had told them everything.
He said that Namgung Hwa seemed to have lost her memory. He explained that she hadn't recognized him and didn't even know the origin of the martial arts she used.
Namgung Hwa’s father and mother beat the ground and wailed. But it was only for a moment. The mere fact that their daughter was alive, that she was alive and breathing, was enough to let them wipe away the waterfall of tears and calm their hearts.
They decided not to grieve even if their daughter didn't recognize them. They simply wished for her to live the rest of her life in happiness.
Another day passed.
Everyone in the Namgung Family waited with bated breath.
They rejoiced as if their own father, mother, daughter, son, sister, or brother had returned from the dead. They comforted one another, saying that she would regain her lost memories and help Namgung shine once more.
Was it because of everyone's earnest prayers?
Namgung Hwa finally opened her eyes.
“Father… Mother…”
“Hwa, my dear. Do you recognize us?”
“…This isn’t a dream, is it?”
She couldn't believe it.
The War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions felt like it was only yesterday.
When the demonic being’s sword pierced her body, she thought she would never see her father and mother again.
“No, it’s not. Do you recognize us?”
“Father! Mother!”
Namgung Hwa and her parents clung to each other, sobbing for a long time.
After a long while, once she had calmed down, Namgung Hwa exchanged happy greetings with the Family Head, Lady Yeonhwa, and Namgung Urin, who were also in the room.
In particular, her eyes met Namgung Urin’s for a moment, and she seemed very pleased to see him.
With that, her memories of the war, of how she ended up in the Black Moon Sect, and of her time there all came rushing back.
The Namgung Family held a feast on the day Namgung Hwa awoke. Everyone laughed and chattered like mad, only to break down in tears at times.
To return alive from the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions!
Everyone had thought her dead.
Though only Namgung Hwa had returned, the Namgung Family rejoiced as if everyone who had gone to the war had come back.
They had to hold a feast. Everyone’s face was flushed with excitement and joy as they celebrated.
And so, a day passed.
Namgung Hwa couldn't sleep. Her mind was too busy organizing the flood of thoughts.
When the sun rose, Namgung Hwa was waiting in front of the Family Head’s office, which Namgung Yul had not yet entered.
The Family Head she was waiting for soon appeared before his office.
“It’s early. You should be resting.”
“I came because I have something urgent to discuss with you.”
“Alright, let’s go inside.”
“Yes.”
Namgung Yul and Namgung Hwa sat facing each other in the Family Head's office.
“Well, I was curious myself about how you’ve been.”
He had heard from Namgung Urin that she had become an assassin and had come to kill him.
Namgung Hwa’s heart and lips both felt heavy. She had already made her choice, but no matter what, her decision would result in betraying one side.
“…Family Head.”
“Yes. Speak freely.”
Namgung Hwa steeled herself. As things stood, there was no way to have it both ways, so she decided the best course of action was to follow her heart. It was time to reveal her firm resolve.
“I… intend to leave Namgung again today. Please forgive me.”
Namgung Yul’s eyes widened, even at this early hour.
“…What do you mean by that?”
To Namgung Yul’s ears, it sounded like this was Namgung Hwa’s last day in the Namgung Family.
Namgung Yul spoke, flustered.
It had only been a day since she returned from the dead. She couldn't have had enough time to find peace of mind.
Furthermore, he wondered why Namgung Hwa would want to turn her back on Namgung.
“Does your father know? Your mother?”
“Not yet…”
“Hwa.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“I heard from Urin. You were an assassin, weren't you? Is that why?”
He thought she might be thinking that a body that had worked as an assassin had no right to remain in Namgung and call out the name of the Azure Sky.
Was she not a child born and raised in Namgung?
She was certainly a child who would think such thoughts.
“I am sorry, Family Head.”
“Haha. So you’re hiding something.”
“…Family Head.”
“I cannot permit it. Tell me everything you are hiding. If you do, I will consider it.”
“…Family Head…”
Namgung Hwa regretted that she had been an assassin, but she had no intention of dwelling on it now. And she was not ashamed of having to throw her life away to save her comrades, the other assassins.
Though they were assassins, they were all precious comrades to her.
In truth, Namgung Hwa had even considered secretly scaling the Namgung walls at dawn. No, she *had* to.
If she wanted to save her comrades, that is.
Namgung was a rigid clan that would never let Namgung Hwa go in order to save her fellow assassins. After all, did Namgung not despise those who killed for money?
Despise was putting it mildly. They would surely think of them as worse than trash. How could she possibly explain her thoughts and leave Namgung?
However, she didn't want to betray Namgung. No, it wasn't betrayal, but she didn't want to save her comrades by deceiving the family. A single wrongful act of hers could kill the passionate heart of Namgumg.
Namgung Hwa hated this moment, where her choice meant someone had to die. It was enough to make her wish her memories of Namgung had never returned.
She decided she had to persuade the Family Head, even if it meant risking her own arm.
In any case, even if she returned to the Black Moon Sect alone, she and her comrades were as good as dead. How could they survive when the Flying Shadow Brigade was waiting?
She had to head to the Black Moon Sect simply to ease the burden on her heart.
The Family Head, Namgung Yul, spoke again.
“It has only been a day since you returned to us alive. You have met your father and mother. Our Namgung Family has not vanished. Yet, you wish to leave after just one day. I am not trying to stop you, nor am I saying your intentions are wrong. I simply wish to hear what you are thinking. And if you truly wish to follow your heart, you must tell me everything. Besides, you never know. There might be a way for you and Namgung to do this together.”
She was grateful.
Grateful for the warm consideration of the Family Head, who thought of her this way.
He was treating her so gently, even though she would have had nothing to say if he had immediately reprimanded and scolded her.
The old Namgung had been a bit stiff, but it wasn't like that now, which made Namgung Hwa feel strangely at ease.
So, Namgung Hwa opened her mouth. She told the story of how she had come to be here from the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
Namgung Yul listened to her story with a very serious expression. In the middle of her tale, Namgung Hwa emphasized again and again that she absolutely had to return to the Black Moon Sect, no matter what punishment she might face.
The very serious Namgung Yul opened his mouth.
“So you’re saying you’re going there to die.”
“Yes, Family Head. Please, grant me your permission…”
“Hwa.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Your conviction is admirable. However, you are the only person from our family who returned alive from the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions. Do you think it makes sense for you to go off to die again? Are the people of Namgung not your comrades? Do you say such things knowing how your comrades here have fared?”
“Family Head… I…”
“I know. I fully understand your heart. But if you go there, you will die. Must you insist on going? Your presence will not change the situation. Your comrades there will die with you. They die if you go, and they die if you don’t.”
Did Namgung Hwa not know this?
Why wouldn't she want to remain in Namgung, with the people of Namgung, and seek vengeance for Namgung?
But.
“Family Head…”
“So you will not bend your will.”
It wasn't that she wouldn't bend her will; it was that this was the only way for her. Namgung Hwa couldn't just forget the past six years and live as if they had never happened.
She didn't have the confidence to live on as a member of Namgung after driving her comrades to their deaths.
“Family Head…”
“You haven’t changed. Not at all.”
The Namgung Hwasa who never broke a decision once she made it was still the same.
“Please…”
Just then, the Family Head, Namgung Yul, burst into loud laughter.
“Puhahaha!”
Namgung Yul laughed for a long time.
Namgung Hwa was bewildered by his laughter.
“Don’t think it strange.”
“…I won’t, Family Head.”
“Good. It was a laugh of admiration for you, who did not lose the conviction of Namgung even after losing your memory. And it was a laugh of admiration for your talent, for becoming a top assassin in just a few years.”
Even so, to laugh like that was a bit…
“…Yes.”
The words flowing from the Family Head’s mouth were the opposite of what Namgung Hwa had expected, leaving her slightly bewildered.
Shouldn't he be scolding her, questioning how Namgung could possibly defend assassins, let alone try to save them?
Namgung Yul spoke, his voice filled with power.
“Who are you?!”
“…I am of Namgung.”
“And at the same time, are you not the greatest talent Namgung has ever produced? Are you not Namgung Hwasa herself?!”
“…”
What in the world was he talking about…?
Namgung Hwa tilted her head.
‘The Family Head is acting strange…’
“If you’ve bitten down, you must see it through to the end. Yes, well done.”
“…”
Well done?
Me?
For what?
Had the Family Head misheard her? She was sure she had relayed everything exactly as it was.
Namgung Hwa was confused, unable to understand what was happening.
Namgung Yul’s voice boomed again at the bewildered Namgung Hwa.
“Who are we?”
Why is he really acting like this?
“…We are Namgung.”
“That’s right! We are Namgung. Did you think we would simply pass by a comrade who has fallen into a swamp?!”
No.
Namgung was rigid, but it was a family that always walked the righteous path. They would not turn a blind eye to a comrade in peril.
Still…
“This matter…”
Wasn't this about saving assassins? Moreover, the Martial Alliance was involved. A single misstep could plunge Namgung into danger again.
“Haha, even so! Do not worry. Are we not Namgung?”
Who said they weren't?
Namgung Yul suddenly shouted to the warrior outside.
“Bring me the Young Lord!”
At that moment, the door burst open.
“I’m right here.”
Namgung Urin appeared as if he had been waiting.
Namgung Yul’s eyes went wide. Namgung Hwa was no different.
You ghostly bastard.
No, worse than a ghost.
How did he know to appear so uncannily like this?
Namgung Yul asked his ghostly nephew.
“How did you know?”
You nephew who's worse than a ghost.
“I figured there must be a story. So I watched all night.”
“And you knew?”
“It wasn't that I knew. I just took a guess, uncle.”
“Same difference.”
“It’s different.”
“You crazy bastard.”
“An uncle with a crazy bastard for a nephew.”
“How can you not stand to lose even a single word?”
“I’d like to let you win, but you’re being too childish for me to lose.”
Namgung Hwa tilted her head again.
Wasn't this situation even more dreamlike than when she had regained her memories, opened her eyes in the Namgung estate, and saw her parents’ faces?
The Family Head, who was responsible for the family, and the Young Lord, who would one day be responsible, bickering like this—was this truly Namgung?
No.
Absolutely not.
Namgung Hwa knew that Namgung Urin had a sharp tongue, but this seemed different from his old self. Something about him had changed drastically.
He was so… lively.
Even so, to act like that with the Family Head…
Rumor had it that the ruined Namgung was rising again…
The shock of the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions must have been immense.
This was the only way Namgung Hwa could interpret the current situation. If she thought about it any further… Namgung had gone mad…
No, that couldn't be.
Namgung Yul, his eyebrow twitching slightly, spoke again.
“Then you must have heard from outside.”
“I did.”
“Then, do you know who the leader of the Flying Shadow Brigade is?”
“Isn’t it Moyong Hu? He was the leader of the Asura Sword Brigade.”
The true target of the Namgung Family’s vengeance was the Murong Family. More so than the Demonic Cult, which had killed Namgung Urin’s grandfather, killed his father, and killed his Namgung.