The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 61

Chapter 61

The energy gathering around Ha Hyeon’s sword was undoubtedly the Sword Mist.

Some call it Sword Mist because the energy surrounding the sword resembles fog, while others call it Sword Thread because it looks like scattered threads – a realm of supreme ascension.

It was definitely not a realm that someone of Ha Hyeon’s age could reach.

Thud-

But that moment was literally instantaneous.

It truly lasted only for a split second.

The Sword Mist surrounding the blade disappeared immediately, and Ha Hyeon’s arm, which had been struggling to hold the sword, dropped.

Thump

Then Ha Hyeon collapsed in his sword-wielding stance.

“Huh?!”

Startled, Paeng Gil-san rushed to Ha Hyeon and caught him before he hit the ground.

But Ha Hyeon had already lost consciousness.

Quickly checking his condition… he was sleeping while making wheezing sounds.

“Really… he’s completely depleted without a grain of internal energy left.”

It seemed he had fallen asleep as his body couldn’t handle the rapid consumption of internal energy.

Paeng Gil-san lifted him up in his arms.

Such a small child compared to his own body, which was twice the size of an ordinary person.

However, he didn’t think of Ha Hyeon as small at all.

“Perhaps he has already gained sufficient enlightenment.”

Paeng Gil-san recalled how Chwiwol Geolgae, a close friend of both Namgung Mu-ryong and himself, had been making a fuss recently.

“He said he was the hope of the righteous martial arts world.”

In fact, until their recent meeting at the Northern Paeng Family, he thought Chwiwol Geolgae was exaggerating. While Ha Hyeon was certainly a genius, every era had its geniuses.

Looking no further, Paeng Gil-san himself was considered a genius in the martial arts world, hence being called by the grand title of Master.

But now, seeing Ha Hyeon firmly gripping his sword even while unconscious, Paeng Gil-san couldn’t help but think.

That Chwiwol Geolgae might be better at judging people than he thought.

* * *

Ha Hyeon woke up around lunchtime the next day.

As soon as he awoke, he looked around, unfamiliar with his surroundings.

‘I was definitely in the forest?’

Ha Hyeon recalled yesterday’s events.

He remembered realizing his grandfather and Namgung Min were safe, and then being led by something floating in his mind to a place where there were no people.

‘Then… I swung my sword… the sunset was shining…’

That was all he could remember.

Something felt familiar yet blocked, like he couldn’t quite grasp it.

Then a memory flashed through his mind.

The sensation of heaven and earth splitting apart, and someone’s warm embrace.

‘Then where is this? Where is my family?’

As Ha Hyeon looked around more, he suddenly realized he had seen these interior decorations somewhere before.

After recalling for a moment, Ha Hyeon unconsciously exclaimed aloud.

“The Northern Paeng Family?!”

Slide

At that moment, the door opened and several people entered.

All familiar faces.

“Hyeon!”

So-hwa rushed to Ha Hyeon as soon as the door opened.

“Are you okay? Are you really awake?”

“Sister, how are we all here?”

“You should have said something if you were struggling! Master Paeng brought you here after finding you collapsed in the forest. What if there had been wild beasts?”

Behind So-hwa, Namgung Hwan and the two uncles entered.

Everyone appeared to be in good condition.

“What about grandfather? And brother Min?”

“Father has regained consciousness and is currently discussing recent events with the Iron disciple, and Min is lying in bed receiving treatment. The iron disciples provided medicine for his wound, so he should recover quickly.”

Namgung Gi-cheol, standing behind, answered instead of So-hwa.

Ha Hyeon seemed to understand the situation and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Yes. Everything is fine, so that’s good.’

Ha Hyeon decided not to make much of it.

He thought he must have lost consciousness unknowingly after consuming too much energy fighting the Blood Sword Lord and Blood Sword Squad.

“Well then, now that we’ve seen Ha Hyeon is awake, let’s leave.”

“Yes, Ha Hyeon needs rest too.”

Namgung Gi-hyeon agreed with Gi-cheol’s words.

Namgung Gi-cheol approached Ha Hyeon closely.

“Hyeon, I have an important mission for you today.”

“What is it?”

Namgung Gi-cheol said with a stern expression.

“Today, except for mealtimes, do not leave your bed.”

“What?”

“Additionally, mental training is also forbidden.”

“What do you mean…”

As Ha Hyeon stammered, Namgung Gi-cheol smiled and said,

“Haha. I’m telling you to rest properly today. Training is good, and moving your body is good, but you need to spend at least one day just lying in bed without getting up. Think of rest as training too.”

“Rest is training…”

Ha Hyeon thought of Namgung Gyu-hyeon, who would be teaching the Blue Dragon Hall trainees at the Namgung Family.

This was something Namgung Gyu-hyeon used to say often.

“Well then, we’re leaving. Rest well, and if you need anything, Master has arranged for servants to wait outside your door, so just call them.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

Namgung Gi-cheol stroked Ha Hyeon’s head a few times before turning and leaving the room.

“Hyeon, rest well!”

“See you at mealtime!”

The family members who had rushed in now rushed out just as quickly.

Ha Hyeon thought about getting up from the bed, but remembering Namgung Gi-cheol’s words, he just flopped back down.

Then he recalled yesterday’s battle.

‘That sensation…’

Ha Hyeon remembered the sensation he felt when he clashed with the Blood Sword Lord at the end.

The moment when the world stopped, and he could sense the Blood Sword Lord’s next movement.

‘How do I do it?’

The disappointing part was that he couldn’t control that sensation at will yet.

He understood it appeared at crucial moments when his concentration peaked, but that was all.

“Today is full of unknowns.”

Ha Hyeon muttered while staring at the ceiling.

It felt like his mind was filled with fog.

Something flickered before his eyes, but he couldn’t see it clearly.

He wanted to have this conversation with his grandfather soon.

Whenever he was about to lose his way, his grandfather always showed him the most appropriate path.

Ha Hyeon lay there for a long time without thinking about anything.

Since he started learning martial arts, he couldn’t remember when he had last just laid down like this, except when sleeping.

“Isn’t sister coming back?”

Getting bored of just lying there, Ha Hyeon naturally thought of So-hwa.

Though So-hwa might not think the same, Ha Hyeon considered her not just a cousin sister but his closest friend.

Ha Hyeon started to get up, thinking of sneaking out of the room.

Click

Just then, the door opened slightly.

Ha Hyeon was startled by the sound and quickly lay back down.

Though the door opened, no one entered.

“Who’s there? Sister?”

“…”

But there was no answer.

Finding it strange, Ha Hyeon sat up again and looked toward the door to see a girl peeking her head through the doorway, looking into the room.

“Who…”

Ha Hyeon had never seen her before.

The girl, now making eye contact with Ha Hyeon, seemed to become bolder and opened the door a bit more to come in completely.

She was a cute girl with well-suited twin braids.

She looked about Ha Hyeon’s age but was slightly shorter than him.

The girl walked gracefully to Ha Hyeon’s bedside and spoke.

“So you’re Ha Hyeon? Namgung Ha Hyeon.”

“Yes, but who are you?”

“I’m Ju-eun. Paeng Ju-eun. I’m the Master’s… that is, the grandmaster’s granddaughter.”

“Granddaughter? But how do you know about me?”

At Ha Hyeon’s question, Paeng Ju-eun smiled deeply.

When she smiled, her dimples were so deep that Ha Hyeon briefly thought they could hold water.

“I’ve received many letters from Uncle. My father isn’t very close with Uncle, but I am.”

“Who’s your uncle?”

“Heon-hong. Paeng Heon-hong.”

Ha Hyeon’s eyes widened like saucers in surprise.

While he knew that Paeng Heon-hong was the Paeng Family Head’s last born son, he never thought he would have such a grown niece.

“They say you’re twelve years old this year? I’m twelve too.”

Ha Hyeon unconsciously took Paeng Ju-eun’s extended hand.

“But what brings you here?”

“I just wanted to see what kind of person you are. Half of Uncle’s letters to me were about you. Oh right! You absolutely can’t tell Uncle about this!”

Ha Hyeon shook his head.

“What on earth has Senior Paeng been writing about…”

“Well, mostly good things. Like, ‘Today I trained the Three Elements Sword Technique with Ha Hyeon, and despite being a sword technique, it was good for establishing the basics of the Way.’ ‘Ju-eun, you should try practicing the Three Elements Sword Technique too.’ That sort of thing.”

Ha Hyeon chuckled at Paeng Ju-eun imitating Paeng Heon-hong’s serious expression and tone, and Paeng Ju-eun laughed along with him. Then Ha Hyeon seemed to remember something and said to Ju-eun.

“But, I’m close with your uncle. Doesn’t that make me like an uncle to you?”

“Hmph. Uncle is only four years older than me anyway. I don’t care about that sort of thing.”

Paeng Ju-eun said, puffing out her chest.

Ha Hyeon liked her confident attitude.

“Really? Do as you like. But why didn’t I see you when I was at the Paeng family house last time?”

“I wasn’t there then. I was at my maternal grandparents’ house in Shandong with my father and mother, and just came back yesterday. My mother is from the Jegal family.”

Paeng Ju-eun continued talking without pause.

Ha Hyeon found it fascinating how Paeng Ju-eun, whom he just met today, chatted away so freely without any shyness, and he nodded along.

She seemed like a child without any trace of timidity.

“Grandfather said you’d be alone around now, so I came to see you. I’m glad I did.”

“Who said I’d be alone?”

“Grandfather did.”

“Grandfather? You mean Master Grandfather?”

Paeng Ju-eun nodded.

Her face showed pride at the mention of the Master.

She extended her hand to Ha Hyeon and said,

“Want to go out? It’s too stuffy to stay in this room. I’ll show you around Beijing city.”

Ha Hyeon made a troubled expression.

While he wanted to leave the room right away, Namgung Gi-cheol had emphasized rest, even calling it a mission.

“Why? Don’t you want to?”

“No, it’s not that… I just have some circumstances.”

As Paeng Ju-eun was making a puzzled expression, a hearty voice came from the door she had left open earlier.

“Ha Hyeon, why don’t you go out with Ju-eun?”

“Grandfather!”

Paeng Ju-eun ran to Paeng Gil-san and hugged his legs.

Ha Hyeon spotted Namgung Mu-ryong who had been hidden behind Paeng Gil-san’s large frame.

“Grandfather!”

Ha Hyeon completely forgot about his promise to stay in bed and ran to hug his grandfather like Ju-eun had done.

“Grandfather, are you alright?”

“Of course, I’m fine. It was just a minor internal injury. It’s all healed now. I worried everyone by exaggerating.”

Ha Hyeon shook his head.

“No. I’m just so glad it wasn’t a serious internal injury.”

“But what were these circumstances that kept you from leaving the room?”

Ha Hyeon hesitantly revealed his promise with Namgung Gi-cheol.

Namgung Mu-ryong laughed heartily and said,

“Gi-cheol said that? Haha. He’s copying exactly what I used to make the children do when they were young.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If that’s the case, I’ll talk to Gi-cheol, so go out if you want to. However, absolutely no using martial arts or training. Understood?”

Ha Hyeon nodded vigorously.

Watching this, Paeng Gil-san spoke to his granddaughter.

“Ju-eun, you heard that? Get along well with young master Namgung here. Take this. Buy some treats too.”

Paeng Gil-san took out a silver piece and handed it to Paeng Ju-eun, who bowed her head deeply.

“Thank you, Grandfather! Ha Hyeon, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

Ha Hyeon seemed to have forgotten all his serious thoughts from earlier as he followed Paeng Ju-eun, who had already left the room.

At times like this, he looked exactly like the young child he was.

Watching them fondly, Paeng Gil-san spoke to Namgung Mu-ryong in a subtle voice.

“Hey, Mu-ryong.”

“Why are you calling me like that?”

“Don’t those two look good together?”

“Ha Hyeon doesn’t have any friends his age. He only had So-hwa as something like a friend, so this is nice to see.”

Paeng Gil-san responded with a deliberately regretful expression.

“Huh huh. I didn’t know Ha Hyeon had such circumstances. He’s such a bright child, I didn’t notice.”

Namgung Mu-ryong had noticed something odd about his friend for a while.

“What’s wrong with you? Did you eat something bad? You were normal until we were discussing the demon cult earlier.”

“Me? What? Just watching those two made me think. They’re well-matched in age. They seem to communicate well too.”

“So what? Speak plainly.”

Paeng Gil-san smiled br

oadly and said,

“How about our Ju-eun as a future granddaughter-in-law?”

“What? What are you suddenly talking about?”

“I’d like Ha Hyeon as my grandson-in-law. How about we become in-laws?”