The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 11

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 11

“Uncle said you’d be here. You’re working very hard until late at night.” Ha Hyeon didn’t answer but nodded while observing Namgung Min. Namgung Min’s appearance instantly justified why people called him the Hidden Dragon.

“You’re practicing the Three Elements Sword Technique. From your perfect understanding of the basic movements, it seems you’ve practiced for a long time, but you’re missing something crucial. It feels like you’ve done everything perfectly, but something still feels off, right?”

“How did you know?”

“Haha. Because that’s how I felt when I first learned the Three Elements Sword Technique.” Namgung Min’s words were as precise as if he had read Ha Hyeon’s mind.

“Then, you must have already solved that problem?”

“Of course.” Namgung Min smiled at Ha Hyeon’s direct question, finding his boldness endearing.

“Swordplay isn’t just about the sword, or just about the arms swinging it. Footwork is also very important.”

“Ah!” With Namgung Min’s single comment, Ha Hyeon instantly realized what he had been overlooking. ‘What a fool I’ve been. Footwork is what I’m most confident in, yet I didn’t think to utilize it.’

Namgung Min, seeing that Ha Hyeon had understood something from his single comment, thought it was quite impressive and spoke.

“Here, give it to me.” Ha Hyeon handed the branch to Namgung Min.

“Haha. You managed to perform the Three Elements Sword Technique so elegantly with just this branch? That’s amazing. Ask your master to give you a wooden sword. I also received a wooden sword and used to practice by myself at night.”

Namgung Min spoke while channeling his internal energy to smooth the branch’s surface. The small protrusions fell away, making it smooth enough to wield.

“Watch carefully.” Namgung Min began to demonstrate the Three Elements Sword Technique. It wasn’t just showing the basic movements, but rather the technique performed with full internal energy.

“Wow…” Ha Hyeon expressed genuine amazement. Namgung Min’s vertical slash embodied the concept of “pressing down a mountain,” and his horizontal slash demonstrated the true meaning of “crossing through a thousand armies.” And the final thrust. Unlike Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s slow demonstration, Namgung Min executed thrusts in eight directions with lightning speed.

‘Wind. This is wind!’ Ha Hyeon felt the wind in Namgung Min’s final movement of the Three Elements Sword Technique. Wind that was infinitely free and could go anywhere.

“Did you see it well? The final movement is also called Eight Directional Wind and Rain (Palbang Pungu). Though the name is grand, it’s ultimately just thrusting in eight directions.”

“I see. Thank you so much, Brother.” After completing the movements, Namgung Min remained calm as if nothing had happened. Ha Hyeon bowed sincerely to Namgung Min in gratitude.

“Oh? What did you see? Do you understand it better now?”

“Yes. I saw how your feet moved along your sword path.”

“That’s right. And?”

“Well… Actually, I was so focused on that I couldn’t see anything else.” Ha Hyeon said while scratching his head, and Namgung Min smiled as if finding him cute.

The Three Elements Sword Technique looks very simple, but it contains one profound core principle that’s deeper than expected. The core principle that teaches why footwork is important in wielding a sword.

‘Should I teach him why footwork is important later? Figuring it out on his own will greatly help his achievement.’ Though young, Ha Hyeon appeared very intelligent at first glance. So he might realize it sooner than expected.

Just as Namgung Min was about to tell Ha Hyeon to think about it slowly, Ha Hyeon continued speaking as if he wasn’t finished.

“So what I understand so far is that the purpose of foot movement is ultimately to maintain the body’s center. Since maintaining your center as if you’re always standing still allows you to perform your best swordsmanship. But I don’t understand beyond that.” Ha Hyeon continued speaking with a face full of curiosity.

“Which muscles need more strength, how to distribute internal energy…” Ha Hyeon cut his words short when he saw Namgung Min’s smiling expression turn serious, thinking perhaps he had asked too many detailed questions.

“Ah, I asked too many questions. This is something I should figure out through my own training.” However, Namgung Min was thinking something else. ‘No way, he already grasped that maintaining the body’s center is the key? Something I didn’t realize until I was thirteen?’

Namgung Min knew well that his own talents were exceptional. Everyone around him constantly praised him, and none of his peers in the martial arts world could match his achievements. Yet Ha Hyeon seemed even more brilliant than he was at that age.

‘Haha. Perhaps?’ Namgung Min suddenly burst into laughter. It was a genuinely pleased laugh.

“That’s right! Never neglect your training from now on. Body center – that is indeed why footwork is important in sword techniques. But you should know that it’s not absolute. In the martial arts world, if you have no other option, you must use whatever means necessary, even rolling on the ground like a lazy donkey.”

“Thank you for the teaching, Brother.”

“It’s late tonight, so you should go rest too, Ha Hyeon. There’s training at the Blue dragon pavilion tomorrow morning, right?”

“Yes. Then I’ll head in.” Ha Hyeon bowed politely and walked quickly toward the pavilion. Namgung Min watched Ha Hyeon’s retreating figure for a while before returning to his own room.

“Master, has everything been well?”

“Oh, Min has returned. The clan is the same as always. Were you well?”

The next day. Namgung Min visited the Blue dragon pavilion before training began. As he belonged to the Blue dragon pavilion, he was essentially Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s disciple.

“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I returned without incident this time as well.”

“Did you find anything?”

“I found something, though minor. As expected, I found traces of the Demon Cult.”

“So it is as we thought. Well, they have been quiet for over thirty years…” A shadow fell over Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s expression. He recalled the news of bloodshed occurring throughout the martial arts world. This bloodshed, centered around smaller sects, was happening without any pattern. And Shingajang, where Ha Hyeon lived, was one of its victims.

“So that’s why the clan leader left so urgently after finding those traces.”

“Yes. Now that we know it’s the Demon Cult’s doing, a solution should be found soon.” Knowing versus not knowing the culprit makes a big difference. When you don’t know who it is, you must consider countless possibilities, but once you identify the target, you only need to monitor their movements.

“By the way, I met Ha Hyeon last night.”

“Oh, you did?” Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s face noticeably brightened when Namgung Min mentioned Ha Hyeon. Currently, Ha Hyeon’s name was one that made Gyu-hyeon happy just hearing it.

“Yes. He seems to have practiced the Three Elements Sword Technique for quite a while – he was quite skilled. No, more than skilled – he seemed advanced enough to move beyond it.”

“What?”

“Plus, his comprehension is incredibly fast. He seems to have already understood how to integrate footwork into sword technique. His talent appears extraordinary.”

Gyu-hyeon suddenly stood up. “What…?” His face looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Is… there a problem?”

“No, no. Haha. This is unbelievable… No, not unbelievable at all.” Namgung Min looked puzzled at Gyu-hyeon’s incoherent response. Gyu-hyeon laughed and continued.

“Ha Hyeon… held a sword for the first time in his life yesterday.”

“What?”

“I taught him the Three Elements Sword Technique just yesterday.”

“……” Namgung Min was speechless. Having been away from the Namgung clan, he didn’t know when this batch of Blue dragon pavilion members took their entrance exam, and seeing Ha Hyeon’s achievement yesterday, he had assumed it had been a month or two. When Namgung Gi-Cheol talked about Ha Hyeon yesterday, he had only mentioned gaining a brother while Min was away.

“Even though the Three Elements Sword Technique is something that even third-rate warriors in the marketplace practice, you’re saying he mastered it perfectly in just one day?”

“To be honest, I would have doubted your words since I didn’t see it myself. If it weren’t for what happened during the entrance exam.”

“What else happened?” Namgung Gyu-hyeon explained to Namgung Min about the entrance exam events. About how Ha Hyeon memorized the Infinite Steps after seeing them just once, and how he defeated Namgung Hwan in a practice match.

“Haha… I suppose I should let go of being called a once-in-a-millennium talent.” Namgung Gyu-hyeon smiled and replied. “No, to an ordinary person like me, you’re still a once-in-a-millennium talent.”

“But I have a feeling I couldn’t match Ha Hyeon?”

“Ha Hyeon is still young. You should forge ahead and pave the way.”

Namgung Min smiled lightly. “Hehe. I’ll have to intensify my training that I’ve been neglecting. So I don’t fall behind my brother.”

“Yes. That’s exactly the right mindset.” Namgung Gyu-hyeon could see the competitive spirit burning deep in Namgung Min’s eyes. ‘Oh my! Ha Hyeon is truly a great blessing to the Namgung clan!’ He suppressed his urge to clap his hands in delight.

Namgung Min’s heaven-given talent was undeniable. However, he currently lacked motivation.

Though not yet famous in the martial arts world, among the later disciples, no one could match him. His understanding was also far beyond his peers, so he was simply accumulating inner strength over time. But now, talking about Ha Hyeon has ignited a flame within him.

‘The last time I saw such eyes in Min… was it 3 years ago?’ When Namgung Min, at age fifteen, achieved complete victory in matches against young warriors of the Blue dragon pavilion. His passion’s flame had extinguished then. Since then, he had been handling various matters in the martial arts world, but now his eight-year-younger cousin brother has reignited his heart.

“Master, it’s time to begin training. I’ll see you later.”

“Yes, see you then.” As trainees began arriving at the training ground one by one, Namgung Min rose from his seat.

“Brother! When did you arrive? Why didn’t you tell me?” So-hwa, recognizing Namgung Min from afar, ran and embraced him.

“Haha. So-hwa. I came too late yesterday, so I planned to tell you today. Work hard in training today, and let’s talk in the evening?”

“Fine-. Alright. We must talk later.”

“Of course, of course.”

Namgung Min’s eyes met Ha Hyeon’s, who had entered with So-hwa. Ha Hyeon bowed politely, and Namgung Min greeted him with a smile. ‘Something seems different about him from yesterday?’

Ha Hyeon noticed that Namgung Min’s gaze toward him was somehow different from yesterday. However, Ha Hyeon could also tell that it wasn’t hostility.

“Thank you, Ha Hyeon.”

“Yes? For what…”

“Haha. Never mind. Work hard too. Don’t forget to ask Master for a wooden sword later.”

“Yes. Thank you, Brother.”

Namgung Min patted Ha Hyeon’s shoulder and left the training ground. His retreating figure appeared light and in good spirits.