Chapter 9

In front of the burning Namgung family's patriarch hall, Namgung Mun, his meridians blocked and kneeling, did not quell his killing intent even with one arm severed.

'Even if my limbs are torn apart, I will not betray the Namgung family! Rather, kill me! I will seek revenge even in hell!'

Flames flickered in his eyes.

Those flames were not only burning the Namgung family but also the blade of revenge aimed at Il-hwa.

Il-hwa, who met his gaze, thought that Namgung Mun's final resistance was truly a futile waste.

Everything was burning, and everything was over.

Yet, he still burned with the fire of revenge until the end.

That day, Il-hwa cut off Namgung Mun's limbs.

Even then, he did not reveal where the Namgung family's secret manual was.

And he never reined in his killing intent towards Il-hwa.

Even in a situation where his meridians were blocked and his limbs were severed, leaving him unable to do anything.

Even as he bled to death, drying up.

"..."

Il-hwa opened her eyes.

Namgung Mun's face, glaring at her until the end, vividly came to mind.

It wasn't just that.

Namgung Yeom, the outer hall master, who had his head cut off in one stroke, did not close his eyes even in death.

His wide-open eyes were filled with anger and resentment towards his enemy.

Could the strange feeling of a stone pressing on her chest, which she felt from the moment she entered the Namgung family, be because of this?

Is it because it is uncomfortable to face them and have a conversation as if nothing happened?

Il-hwa stretched her hand towards the ceiling.

Whenever she felt that returning to a child's body was unreal, she would look at her hands, which had become a habit.

The habit of seeing her small hands made everything from her previous life feel like a dream.

Gripping and releasing her hand, which looked weak even when holding a sword, Il-hwa murmured to herself.

'It's something that didn't happen.'

She recited it softly, like a spell for herself.

'Nothing, it's something that didn't happen.'

* * *

After lying on the bed for a while, the attendants soon came to inform her that it was mealtime.

The lunch served was all high-end dishes.

Dishes like a soup made with lamb and stir-fried duck meat with seasonings and nuts...

Most of these dishes were rare and she had never seen them in her previous life.

As Il-hwa examined the table, she tilted her head at one dish.

'How do I eat this?'

On a wide plate, it was wrapped tightly in long, green leaves, making it impossible to see what was inside.

It seemed like she needed to peel off the leaves, but the careful wrapping made it hard to touch.

As Il-hwa was about to poke the leaves with her chopsticks, a young attendant who had served the dishes stopped and looked at her.

After observing Il-hwa's actions for a moment, the young attendant approached cautiously.

"May I help you for a moment?"

Il-hwa nodded and put down her chopsticks, and the attendant picked them up with a bright smile.

The attendant deftly removed the leaves surrounding the dish.

"This dish is a boiled seafood dish. It tastes very good when eaten with blanched bamboo shoots."

"Why is it wrapped in leaves like grass?"

"These are bamboo leaves. They infuse the dish with the scent of bamboo and preserve its flavor."

"I see."

It must be delicious.

It probably has a refreshing taste.

The aroma of the dish, released as the bamboo leaves were peeled off, made her mouth water.

"In the Namgung family, we prepare the best meals for the distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall at every meal. We prioritize the distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall more than other guests..."

"Uh-huh."

Even as the attendant continued talking, Il-hwa's gaze was fixed on the dish.

The young attendant couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"...?"

"Ah, I'm sorry!"

The young attendant bowed hurriedly.

"You're just so, so cute, I couldn't help it!"

Il-hwa's eyebrows arched.

Cute? Me?

Is there anything less fitting to say to an assassin?

'I didn't expect to hear such words from a Namgung family attendant.'

Whatever she was laughing at, it was a ridiculous excuse.

"It's fine. You can go now."

The young attendant bowed and fled the room. Il-hwa continued her meal without a care.

The food in the Namgung family was truly perfect.

* * *

After the meal, the attendants quickly cleared away the dishes and food.

Their movements were smooth and silent, suggesting that they were also trained in martial arts.

After everyone left, Il-hwa sat cross-legged on the bed and began to circulate her inner energy.

She had felt this before in the cave, but the pure inner energy made her meridians clearer and her body more refreshed as she circulated it.

It was different from the explosive power of the blood energy, which made her want to smell blood and act recklessly.

Even if the amount of inner energy didn't increase easily, it was easier to control, making it more useful.

'Now, I'm just at the second-class level.'

In her previous life, just before she died, Il-hwa's martial arts were at the Fire Stage.

About the same level as the current Namgung Muteon.

Or perhaps, she had more inner energy than Namgung Muteon.

'But it wasn't very strong because it was obtained through abnormal methods.'

However, the mindset of someone who has experienced it and someone who hasn't is bound to be different.

Of course, this time she decided to follow the righteous path, so it will take longer to advance, but the realization that she has come back from the dead won't disappear.

'At least, I can reach the Fire Stage faster than in my previous life.'

No, I must.

On the right path, quickly.

"..."

As Il-hwa naturally circulated her inner energy, she suddenly stopped.

The inner energy gathering in her dantian dispersed like smoke, unable to fully settle.

'They will find it strange if my inner energy increases.'

She hasn't learned the Namgung family's inner energy cultivation method yet.

Although she already knows the Namgung family's inner energy cultivation method, she can't use it without officially learning it.

'At least the three people I met today at the Thousand Guest Hall will notice if my inner energy increases.'

No matter how impatient and anxious she is, she can't break the trust before earning it.

She must hide that she has learned the Namgung family's martial arts until she officially learns them.

'But I can't slack off in my training.'

Scratching her cheek in thought, Il-hwa got up from her seat.

If she can't cultivate her inner energy, she thought about training her external skills.

When she stepped outside the room, an attendant was standing about a yard (about 3 meters) away from the door.

The attendant approached the door as soon as she noticed Il-hwa's gaze.

"Is there something you need?"

"Is there a training ground I can use?"

"There is a private training ground prepared for the distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall. Shall I take you there?"

If she trains alone, she will inevitably draw attention. Even if it's just external skill training, she doesn't want to show her training.

"Instead of a private training ground, is there another place?"

"The distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall can freely use any training ground of the outer hall. I will take you to a nearby training ground."

In the outer hall's training ground, the outer hall warriors' training would be in full swing.

While the family's martial arts are generally not shown to outsiders, the distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall are an exception.

The distinguished guests of the Thousand Guest Hall are usually royalty or high-ranking elders of other families or sects.

Showing them the family's training is a way to show respect.

Of course, it is also possible because the outer hall warriors, who are low-ranking members of the Namgung family, only learn basic sword techniques, not the family's secret manuals.

In fact, there are few distinguished guests who deliberately seek out training grounds with many observers.

However, for the current Il-hwa, it is the best place to train while blending in with the trainees.

"It's fine. I'll go alone."

Il-hwa dismissed the attendant and left the Thousand Guest Hall alone.

As expected, she felt someone following her.

Pretending to look around, Il-hwa wandered through the outer hall and turned towards the training ground at an appropriate time.

When she showed her Thousand Guest Hall access token, the gatekeeper, surprised, alternated his gaze between her and the token before hurriedly letting her through.

The sun had already passed its zenith.

* * *

"You found a training ground?"

Namgung Yeom, the outer hall master, raised an eyebrow at the report from the Thousand Guest Hall attendant.

"You mean she went to the sword team's training ground, not a private one?"

"Yes. I informed her about the private training ground within the guest hall, but she declined."

"Hmm..."

Usually, people don't want others to see their training.

Especially for a distinguished guest who can open the Thousand Guest Hall, their martial arts level must be extremely high.

When I met her, she didn't seem to have deep inner energy, but it's hard to judge just by looking.

Since she is a distinguished guest of the Thousand Guest Hall, it's also possible that she is at a higher level than me and I couldn't recognize it.

However, such people usually avoid showing their martial arts and don't want to be disturbed during training.

'She deliberately sought out a training ground with many people.'

"Did anyone find it strange?"

"Since she is dressed plainly and looks like a child, no one found it strange."

"That's a relief."

Since the news of the Thousand Guest Hall opening, people have been constantly asking about the distinguished guest's identity.

Not only the second and third princes of the Namgung family, but also the elders and hall masters have persistently sent people.

Of course, I haven't given any answers.

'No one will expect it. A distinguished guest of the Thousand Guest Hall wandering the outer hall without an attendant.'

Namgung Yeom, naturally thinking about the distinguished guest, chuckled as he recalled her determined expression.

He is just as curious about the distinguished guest's identity as anyone else.

However, he is not a fool to try to uncover her identity just because he is curious.

"Th... "

The attendant suddenly hesitated and stuttered.