It didn’t take long to walk.

A small hut came into view not far away.

Its exterior looked ordinary, something seen anywhere. However, upon closer inspection, Namgoong Sein’s eyes gleamed faintly. Though humble in appearance, its foundation was solid enough to withstand any storm.

Beside the hut was a modest vegetable garden. Traces of cultivated vegetables remained here and there.

“Father… this place?”

Namgoong Cheonghae asked cautiously. Though not as brilliant as his twin sister Seolhwa, he was a genius in Anhui Province, second to none.

He had realized the vast energy this seemingly ordinary land held.

“Look at that. It’s not even fully grown, yet it harbors such energy.”

“Is this some secret elixir field passed down only to the clan’s direct line?”

Their hushed whispers continued, voices lowered deliberately. Though Namgoong Sein had warned against private chatter earlier, the twins’ youthful banter couldn’t be easily quelled.

“It must be under the Medical Hall Leader’s care. I’ve been so deferential all this time, and he kept this hidden.”

“He saw through your lecherous intentions long ago.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re the one who started the conversation, you idiot brother.”

“Brother? You were born later than me.”

As always, light bickering ensued.

Until Namgoong Sein stopped them.

– Look over there. Don’t make a fuss.

Namgoong Sein’s transmission voice flowed into their ears. At the thunderous words, both flinched.

Namgoong Seolhwa reacted first. She immediately turned her gaze in the direction he indicated.

A woman with hair like peach blossoms was sweeping a yard full of fallen leaves.

Her face was veiled in plain cloth, hiding her features, but it was clear no single garment could conceal her beauty.

She could tell just from her foolish brother standing there with his mouth agape.

‘How rude…’

Namgoong Seolhwa clicked her tongue inwardly. No matter how stunning her appearance, how could he gawk like that in front of a woman?

The heavens are indifferent. For such a fool to be the next patriarch.

‘But it’s not under the Medical Hall Leader’s care. I’ve never seen her before.’

Seolhwa quickly scanned her mental roster of names. Through exchanges with Martial Alliance seniors, she knew most martial artists, but she could confidently say this woman wasn’t among them.

If she had such striking pink hair, rumors would have spread in some form.

Father wouldn’t entrust this to just anyone; she must have some outstanding quality. Yet her energy seemed no different from an ordinary person’s.

‘Is she from the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace?’

She recalled the white tiger she had seen earlier.

Just then, the woman’s fingertips moved gently.

The broom traced a graceful curve as it swept the yard.

In the mountains, even a small breeze scattered dust and leaves everywhere. At a glance, it seemed pointless. The swept areas soon had leaves and dirt settling again.

Swish—

But the woman paid no mind. Even the scattering felt orderly, as if part of nature itself. Amid it, the broom showed no tremor.

Even on flat wooden floors, there would be slight shakes, yet this was incomprehensible.

Namgoong Seolhwa gathered her inner energy. She was using her insight technique.

Only then did she see it.

Inner energy flowed from the broom to the ground.

It adjusted to the terrain’s contours, maintaining balance. In this way, depressions would fill slowly, and protrusions would be smoothed gently.

It wouldn’t take long for the rough soil to transform into a smooth, even surface like glass.

Namgoong Seolhwa soon realized.

‘That’s…’

Deep cultivation.

A profound art worthy of being called a divine technique.

Though her level was too low to grasp the deeper mysteries, it was easy to infer that this woman was an extraordinary master.

Typically, deep cultivation was done in a seated meditation posture. Even at advanced realms, one could perform it without posture restrictions, but few could. The seated position was the most stable.

Yet this woman, while walking and moving, wielded inner energy with precision beyond words—merely holding a broom, she freely displayed a divine ultimate technique.

Without the slightest disruption.

Namgoong Seolhwa swallowed.

‘The martial world has many hidden hermits, they say…’

To think such a master had been residing right at the doorstep of the Namgoong Clan.

– Father, who is she?

– I don’t know.

“……?”

Namgoong Seolhwa blinked. She stared at her father quietly.

Namgoong Sein didn’t answer. He quietly averted his gaze from his daughter, who, like her mother, tried to read his intentions.

His mindset as a martial artist overrode his feelings as a father.

His eyes remained fixed on the woman with the pink hair all the while.

It was a profoundly orthodox martial art. Buddhist? No, upon second look, it resembled Daoist energy. The ambiguity piqued Namgoong Sein’s interest.

Supreme masters read opponents’ blood flow without touch and sword paths without clashing blades.

But this woman was unreadable.

Peerless.

She had reached that supreme realm as well.

At minimum.

Though Namgoong Seolhwa couldn’t discern it, Namgoong Sein’s eyes saw clearly. The energy condensed in her body was immense, comparable to the ancient monsters of Mount Wudang.

Her body was in perfect unity with the broom. The leaves underfoot supported her weight without crumbling, standing firm. It was the harmony of great step arts.

Inner and outer energies intersected harmoniously, binding qi, blood, bones, and footing completely.

And that wasn’t all. Her delicate, jade-like fingertips held faint but clear natural energy. The air began to dance in response to her sweeping, as evidence.

Wind, earth, leaves, and energy traced elegant orbits around her.

The rotations held the harmony of Wudang’s Taiji, the straight lines the indestructibility of Shaolin’s unyielding arts.

Harmony and resilience, softness and sharpness coexisted in perfect balance.

Any martial artist with discernment couldn’t dismiss it as mere sweeping.

Every movement was a peerless technique, the crystallization of honed martial intent.

Such a master couldn’t fail to sense their presence. So, she knew and was showing them anyway.

Even ultimate techniques are hidden from parent and child, yet this was the demeanor of a true grandmaster.

Soon, the woman’s movements stopped. She slowly turned her head and looked at Namgoong Sein.

“Are you from the Namgoong Clan?”

Namgoong Sein politely cupped his hands and replied.

“I am Namgoong Sein. These are my children.”

At his words, Namgoong Cheonghae and Namgoong Seolhwa carefully bowed their heads.

“I am Namgoong Cheonghae.”

“I am Namgoong Seolhwa.”

Seoyeon nodded calmly. Having lived secluded in the mountains for over a decade, she didn’t know the direct line’s names.

Of course, she well knew the weight of the Namgoong name. Whether branch or direct, not just anyone could bear it.

“I am Seoyeon.”

Seoyeon’s lips moved.

“Honored guests have come all this way. But I have nothing proper to offer, so I apologize.”

“We’ve already received more than enough. It was enlightening. I wish to repay the favor somehow, so if there’s anything you desire, please say it.”

Seoyeon’s eyelashes trembled softly. She closed and opened her eyes.

A precious experience?

Had he seen the sculptures displayed in the corner? No other explanation came to mind.

‘My skills are that good?’

She knew she had talent, but she hadn’t expected praise from the Namgoong Clan itself. Of course, righteous factions had flowery speech, but she couldn’t help feeling proud.

“For you to value my humble skills so highly, I should be the one thanking you.”

“Excessive humility can be poison as well.”

The Namgoong Clan truly consists of great people.

Seoyeon thought so, maintaining proper etiquette politely.

‘I want to keep living here, but that’s impossible.’

It was possible a superior elixir had been discovered, something even the clan coveted, or perhaps a treasure like a dragon vein.

If so, leaving promptly was wise. Lingering might lead to suspicion as a martial artist disguised as a commoner.

‘Still, I should confirm.’

She had no intention of assuming. Seoyeon aimed to judge rationally and logically.

They had offered to repay the favor. If it was something a commoner could know, they’d tell; if not, they’d hesitate.

That would suffice.

“I heard from the Namgoong Clan members yesterday. They said this area would be incorporated into Namgoong territory. May I know the reason?”

Namgoong Sein’s eyes narrowed subtly for a moment.

The reason was clear. A surge of high-quality elixirs and spiritual beasts.

But Namgoong Sein couldn’t answer rashly.

Having witnessed her prowess. He realized the source of the elixirs and beasts.

One who cultivates orthodox divine techniques to the peerless realm becomes a spiritual vein in themselves. Her mere presence made the mountains breathe, elixirs bloom, and beasts evolve into spiritual creatures.

No reason or intent to hide it.

“Elixirs and spiritual beasts have surged in this area, so we took that measure. However, if the lady wishes, you may stay indefinitely. I, Namgoong Sein, guarantee it.”

In truth, Namgoong Sein was the one who should beg. Though no supreme elixirs like millennium snow ginseng or ten-thousand-year pear flower existed, lesser grades were plentiful in the mountains. An opportunity never to repeat.

“…….”

Seoyeon didn’t answer immediately.

Though not a dragon vein, she sensed it was equivalent.

Even if declared Namgoong territory, martial artists blinded by realm advancement weren’t few.

In martial tales, even heaven’s net was breached often. The Namgoong Clan wouldn’t be much different.

Renowned masters would cross borders to enter the mountains somehow.

Ultimately, his words politely meant to leave. He permitted but guaranteed no safety.

‘So it comes to this.’

Seoyeon swallowed deep regret.

Still, knowing the situation before leaving versus not made a difference. She expressed thanks politely.

“Thank you. However, I think I must leave before an uncontrollable storm arrives.”

Namgoong Sein couldn’t hide his regret. From the moment he met her, he had somewhat anticipated this.

If she desired wealth, glory, or worldly power, she would have appeared in the martial world in some form.

With that swordsmanship and martial arts, grasping a portion of the world wouldn’t take long.

Yet she hadn’t. Reaching peerless realm, she only honed her own path.

How noble a mindset.

Truly deserving of the title celestial maiden.

Knowing this, he couldn’t hold her. He couldn’t ask her to become a clan guest.

Namgoong Sein murmured inwardly.

‘Blinded by immediate gain, I’ve ruined things.’

If Seoyeon left, the spiritual energy in the mountains would dissipate soon. The range would become a mere rumored spot.

“May I ask where you plan to go?”

“I plan to go to Henan.”

“……Do you have ties to Shaolin by any chance?”

“No significant ties. I just thought the rugged terrain keeps people away, making it suitable.”

Her tone was serene. But Namgoong Sein wasn’t one to miss the intent behind it.

Would a peerless realm woman speak so casually without thought?

She revealed her destination but meant not to seek her.

In that calm tone lay a request to show the dignity of a prestigious clan.

He was being tested in reverse.

Namgoong Sein curled his lips upward. Then, soon.

“Hahahahaha!”

He burst into laughter.

Namgoong Sein nodded and said.

“No need to worry. I swear on the clan’s name. Nothing from today will leak out.”