The Return of the Namgoong Clan's Granddaughter-Chapter 26

Tinkle— tinkle—

From beyond the fog-laden haze, the sound of a bell echoed.

Sticky and clinging, like coagulated blood, the sound coiled around her feet and dragged her down.

It felt like she was about to be swallowed by that sound, like a frog sinking into a bog.

Her hands and feet bound tight, unable to move, Ilhwa seized hold of it.

In that moment, she woke.

“Ha... haa...”

A cool breeze drifted in through the open window. Soft hues of sunset blanketed the room, loosening her gaze with a dreamlike haze.

She looked down at her hand, damp with something wet.

Blood was seeping from her small palm.

...Damn it.

Ilhwa glanced at the shattered vase at her feet. And then came the sound of hurried footsteps rushing toward her.

“My lady! I heard a loud crash—are you all right? Did something happen?”

The voice of a young maid, breathless with worry.

Ilhwa, still staring at her bleeding hand, hastily wrapped it in a cloth from nearby and opened the door.

“Oh my...!”

The maid quickly took in the scene.

A shattered vase, bloodstains nearby, and the crimson-streaked cloth in the girl’s hand—her breath caught.

“I broke the vase by accident.”

“I-I’ll go get the Medicine Hall Master right away!”

The maid turned to bolt—but Ilhwa stopped her.

“Where’s my father?”

She didn’t want him to see the mess.

He would worry. And if she kept getting injured like this, he might start to wonder.

“The First Young Lord was summoned by the Clan Head and went to the Celestial Tiger Pavilion! I’ll send word to him too—!”

“No. Don’t tell him.”

“...Pardon?”

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Ilhwa scanned the messy room.

“Did he say when he’d be back?”

“He said he’d return before dinner...”

“All right. Then help me clean up ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) before he gets back.”

“But...”

He’ll be worried...

This wasn’t just a scratch—blood was still dripping. Was it really okay not to tell him?

I can see it all over her face.

Come to think of it, when she’d injured her arm before, the one who cried wasn’t Ilhwa—it was this girl.

She’d also eagerly explained what the dishes were at their first meal together.

She’s a deeply emotional child.

So different from herself—so sensitive to feelings.

Far too interested in other people’s affairs for a maid, perhaps—but it wasn’t unpleasant.

“What are you doing? I’m bleeding.”

“Ah! Yes! I’ll be right back!”

The maid, still hesitating with worry, finally scrambled out the door at Ilhwa’s impatient prompt.

Watching her retreat, Ilhwa let out a quiet chuckle and sat in a chair to wait for the Medicine Hall Master.

The teacup on the table was still warm.

Namgoong Cheongun must not have left long ago.

When did I fall asleep?

She remembered chatting idly with Cheongun after returning from their outing... and then, at some point, she must have dozed off.

Perhaps it was the child’s body. Or perhaps ever since realizing the Mental Suggestion Curse was still active, her sleep had become light and fragmented.

This child’s body... more troublesome than I expected.

“You really can’t keep going like this, my lady.”

The stern voice belonged to Choryeon, as she finished wrapping the clean cloth around Ilhwa’s palm.

She sounded firm.

“I’ve kept the Suggestion Curse hidden as you asked, but... if you keep getting injured like this, I’ll have no choice but to report it.”

“Then I’ll speak up too.”

—Blood King’s Poison.

“My lady!”

Startled, Choryeon flinched and darted her eyes around, then whispered frantically:

“What if someone hears you?!”

“That’s why I said it using sound transmission.”

“...You did?”

It had sounded so natural, Choryeon hadn’t even realized it.

Tilting her head, she tried to regain composure and put on a stern face.

“Really... I have no idea what’s going on in that little head of yours. Are you a stray kitten, or a tiger cub?”

“Who knows? You won’t find out until I grow up.”

Kitten or tiger?

As Ilhwa smiled faintly, Choryeon let out a resigned sigh.

“Sometimes, you really don’t seem like a child at all. I’m not the kind of person who usually lets herself get pushed around like this...”

Just then, the treatment was finished.

“There. All done. Be careful not to reopen it, all right?”

“Thank you.”

“...More importantly—how long are you planning to keep hiding it?”

Ilhwa, who had been examining the tightly wrapped cloth, turned to look at her.

Her face betrayed no emotion—making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

Choryeon hesitated under that blank gaze but spoke again.

“Why don’t you talk to the Clan Head about it? If it’s him... he might know how to break the curse...”

“He probably does.”

If it’s him... he might know.

He was one of the Ten Great Masters under Heaven.

A master of the Flowing Realm, of which there were only a handful in the world. Even if he didn’t know the method, he might be able to overpower the Mental Suggestion Curse with sheer strength alone.

It wasn’t a thought she hadn’t considered.

However—

The curse is a burden I must carry myself.

It was a karmic chain, a bitter fate tied to her entanglement with the Blood Demon Cult—a bond that should’ve been severed before she ever returned to the Namgoong Clan.

She knew that if she asked, Namgoong Mucheon would agree without hesitation. But she had already declared she would live for the clan. To turn around and admit that she couldn’t even cut ties with her past, that she was still being manipulated—she couldn’t bear to show him such weakness.

This, at least... I have to resolve myself.

“Oh right, I have good news.”

Choryeon, sensing Ilhwa’s increasingly somber expression, hurriedly changed the subject. Ilhwa blinked and looked at her, pulled from her thoughts.

In a more excited voice, Choryeon continued:

“The Clan Head has decided to perform Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing for you.”

“...Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing?”

“He noticed something was wrong with your meridians and must have been quite concerned. He even checked with me earlier today to make sure you were healthy enough for it. You’re really loved, you know?”

Choryeon let out a soft laugh.

Ilhwa was surprised.

Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing—a powerful internal cultivation technique where a high-level martial artist channels their own qi into someone else’s body to expel impurities and open blocked meridians.

In short, the master forcibly purifies and reshapes the recipient’s body into one more suited for martial cultivation.

But even for top-level masters, this technique consumed a tremendous amount of internal energy. Few dared to attempt it lightly.

Done carelessly, it could result in Qi Deviation for both parties—or leave the master unable to recover their strength.

It also required immense precision in qi control. In the martial world, receiving Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing was considered a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of Heaven’s Luck—a rare and precious fateful encounter.

They say when performed on children, it’s more effective than any elixir.

A body still growing would be completely remade into one suitable for a martial artist. The potential for future mastery was limitless.

And if the one performing it was a blood relative, the effect was even greater.

Ilhwa met both conditions.

Her heart pounded of its own accord. She cautiously placed a hand on her chest.

For the first time since returning to the past, she understood what this feeling was.

Anticipation.

It was Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing... and not by just anyone—by the Celestial Dragon Sword Emperor himself.

Compared to the effects of the Great Return Pill, which she had used to flush out the Blood Energy, this would cleanse her meridians to a whole new degree.

It was possible that her currently second-rate internal energy could leap into first-rate in one fell swoop. And if her body was fully refined through Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing...

She might grow even stronger than she had been in her past life.

Ilhwa recalled the fleeting moment when she had brushed against Namgoong Mucheon’s energy during dinner.

It was like a massive azure dragon flowing through her meridians. Wherever that energy passed, it left behind clarity and refreshment.

It had only lasted an instant, but it was an aura one could only admire—a peak master’s energy.

“You’re really excited, huh? Just now, you looked like you didn’t want help at all.”

Choryeon giggled, watching Ilhwa’s eyes shine wide with awe.

“For a tiger cub, you’re kinda cute.”

It was hard to believe this adorable child was the same person who manipulated and cornered others with such precision.

****

Namgoong Cheongun didn’t return before dinner.

Instead, a group of maids suddenly arrived in a flurry.

They said the Clan Head had arranged a formal dinner and immediately began preparing Ilhwa.

She didn’t understand why a simple dinner required such elaborate preparations, but she didn’t resist.

She let them wash her thoroughly, brush her hair smooth, adorn it with delicate ornaments, and dress her in a ceremonial robe.

It was the first time she’d ever worn a skirt—and definitely the first time she’d worn something in such vivid colors. It felt... strange.

The silk brushed against her skin like clouds—soft and luxurious.

The skirt reached just past her ankles, yet it was surprisingly comfortable.

“Oh my goodness... You’re so beautiful, my lady!”

The young maid actually teared up with emotion.

Ilhwa had no standard by which to judge “beauty,” so she couldn’t tell if the compliment was genuine or not.

“Thank you. Is Father there too?”

“Yes! The First Young Lord is already there.”

Perfect.

She had planned to bring up learning the Namgoong Clan’s martial arts. At the very least, she wanted to study a core cultivation technique before receiving Bone Cleansing and Marrow Washing, to better prepare her meridians.

“Oh, and also...”

Just as she was about to say “let’s go,” the maid added:

“Not just the First Young Lord—your direct family members will all be attending as well.”