The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 13

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 13

Time flows quickly.

Especially in situations like Ha Hyeon’s current state, where one can completely immerse their mind in something. Ha Hyeon was totally absorbed in martial arts, and now was even reducing sleep time to train in martial arts. And that influence extended to the Blue dragon pavilion trainees.

‘What’s with this class… They’re not even martial arts fanatics.’

Namgung Gyu-hyeon unconsciously shook his head while watching the Blue dragon pavilion trainees wielding their swords with frightening concentration. Certainly, until this class first started, honestly, it had been a class that lowered expectations. Although he had thought their qualities were inferior to previous classes, after several months had passed, he didn’t think that way at all.

‘I feel apologetic for thinking their qualities were lacking.’

Would the expression ‘eye-opening change’ be fitting? The Blue dragon pavilion trainees’ development could be seen day by day. And there was no doubt that Ha Hyeon was at the center of it.

“Huff-. Huff-.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon watched Ha Hyeon, who was still repeating basic training while breathing heavily. Though anyone could see their outstanding qualities, they never became arrogant or looked down on others. Moreover, they weren’t stingy about sharing their insights, so despite being the youngest, their peers followed him like an elder brother.

‘A different kind of genius from Min.’

Looking at Ha Hyeon, Gyu-hyeon naturally thought of Namgung Min. Namgung Min also had a time as a Blue dragon pavilion trainee like Ha Hyeon, and like Ha Hyeon, was ahead of everyone else. However, Namgung Min didn’t influence his Blue dragon pavilion peers like Ha Hyeon does now. According to some, it was because he felt like a dragon playing in the clouds. They said it was because they felt an insurmountable wall from Namgung Min that they could never overcome no matter what they did.

‘In contrast, Ha Hyeon is…’

Ha Hyeon also feels like a wall to his Blue dragon pavilion peers all the same. But there was one big difference.

“Oh my. I can’t do anymore. I should rest a bit before continuing.”

“Ha Hyeon. Are you taking a break?”

“Are you getting arrogant because you’re ahead of us right now?”

“Yeah. Actually, this is good. Take a nice long rest so we can catch up.”

When Ha Hyeon sat down with a thud to take a break, the surrounding trainees each made comments. They all seemed genuinely intent on teasing Ha Hyeon.

“No, senior brothers. If you say that, I can’t rest properly.”

“Who said not to rest?”

“That’s right. We actually told you to rest.”

“Ugh.”

Ha Hyeon wiped the flowing sweat with his sleeve and stood up again, grasping the wooden sword. The surrounding trainees burst into laughter at this sight before immersing themselves back in their training. Namgung Gyu-hyeon unconsciously smiled gently at this sight. But even while smiling, he knew well that the effect Ha Hyeon had brought couldn’t be laughed off.

‘Perhaps, just perhaps, the impossible thing of everyone promoting to full member together might happen…’

Although it had never happened before in Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s time and was highly unlikely to happen in the future, the thought that it might be possible with this class just wouldn’t leave his mind.

“Alright. Today’s training ends here. Everyone has grown tremendously in a short time. From tomorrow, I’ll teach you a new sword technique.”

“Woah-!”

Cheers erupted among the trainees. It was a new sword technique after several months of learning the Three Elements Sword Technique.

“Can’t you tell us what sword technique it is?”

Namgung So-hwa quickly asked, and peers sent grateful looks to So-hwa. Everyone was curious, but being so casual with Namgung Gyu-hyeon was practically So-hwa’s exclusive privilege.

“Hmm… Alright. I’ll tell you. It’s the Changgung Sword Technique.”

“Huh…?”

Someone was heard taking a sharp breath. While everyone was dumbfounded, one person carefully asked.

“Is this the Namgung Family’s exclusive martial art, the Changgung Sword Technique that I’m thinking of?”

“Yes. Are there any other Changgung Sword Techniques besides this one?”

“Ah! I heard that exclusive martial arts could only be learned after promoting to official member…”

At those words, Namgung Gyu-hyeon grinned.

“And that’s not all. From tomorrow, you’ll also learn the Changgung Mind Technique together.”

No one could easily respond to Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s words. Not because they didn’t understand his words, but because they knew too well what his words meant. Namgung Gyu-hyeon glanced at the trainees who were blankly staring at him, smirked, and continued speaking.

“I specially requested from the Family Head the opportunity to advance the learning of exclusive martial arts a bit earlier, and the Family Head accepted. From what I could see, you all seemed to have the qualities to promote to official members.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon said while turning around and leaving the training ground.

“Well then, continue with individual training until tomorrow’s training time. Just because you’re learning advanced martial arts doesn’t mean you can abandon the basics. Now, each of you should spend more time learning martial arts.”

The moment Namgung Gyu-hyeon closed the training ground door.

“Woah!”

“To think such an opportunity would come!”

Cheers erupted from beyond the door. Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s smile stretched up to his ears as he heard those sounds.

While the trainees might have shown similar achievements in basic skills training, visible differences began to emerge once they started learning the Changgung Sword Technique in earnest. Originally, sword techniques don’t become stronger through effort alone. Of course, blood-and-sweat training and effort must support it, but before that, achievements differ even with the same training time depending on how outstanding one’s natural talent for the sword is. That talent could literally mean outstanding sense in wielding a sword, or it could mean superior intelligence in understanding the principles and sword paths.

And if there’s one more thing to mention…

‘Obsession, it’s obsession.’

Namgung Gyu-hyeon thought while watching the trainees trace the paths of the Changgung Sword Technique. There were three trainees showing notable achievements as they began learning the sword technique. Two of them were, naturally, Ha Hyeon and Namgung So-hwa who inherited the Namgung Family’s blood, and the other was Paeng Heon-hong, the late-born son of Paeng Gil-san, the Northern Paeng Family Head known as the Sword Emperor.

Namgung Gyu-hyeon couldn’t hide his puzzlement when he first heard that Paeng Heon-hong was coming to take the Blue dragon pavilion entrance test. After all, the Northern Paeng Family was also a prestigious sect with powerful martial arts, and Paeng Heon-hong was the son of that family’s head. Moreover, rumors were widely spread throughout the martial arts world that Sword Emperor Paeng Gil-san favored his youngest son so much that he taught him advanced martial arts from a young age and sought out all sorts of precious medicines for him. For such a Family Head’s youngest son to entrust himself to the Namgung Family?

‘The Family Head said he would teach me the reason when the time comes.’

After that day, Gyu-hyeon carefully folded away his questions about Paeng Heon-hong and hid them in a corner of his heart. If Namgung Mu-ryong said he would explain later, there must be a reason for it. The absolute trust that the Namgung Family members had in their Family Head was one of the main reasons they were called the number one family in the martial arts world.

Even while practicing the forms of the Changgung Sword Technique, Paeng Heon-hong kept glancing somewhere. At the end of that gaze was Ha Hyeon.

It wasn’t like this from the beginning. Ha Hyeon was not only the youngest among the trainees here, but also appeared timid at first glance. But now it’s different. All trainees, including Paeng Heon-hong, were conscious of Ha Hyeon.

‘Like water soaking into dry land, absorbing everything at once.’

‘How is that possible?’

‘I was called a once-in-a-thousand-years talent in my region too.’

If it ended there, one might realize their limitations and despair. But that wasn’t the end.

‘If you can’t master it at once, repeat until you do.’

‘But Ha Hyeon keeps repeating too?’

‘Training even more than that is the answer.’

Just Ha Hyeon’s existence alone gradually increased the Blue dragon pavilion members’ training time and level. And that influence reached Paeng Heon-hong more strongly than anyone else. Ha Hyeon began following along quite skillfully after just one look, as if he had known the sword paths of the Changgung Sword Technique since birth. Until now, words like genius, prodigy, and talent had been modifiers attached to his name. But coming here, he only felt that those words didn’t suit him. Because of Ha Hyeon right beside him.

However.

Grin

He smiled. No, laughter came to him. It was an emotion he had never felt before.

‘To think that things not going my way could be this fun.’

For the first time in his life, he hit a wall. Moreover, that wall keeps running away. Not only jumping over the wall, but even just chasing it might require his full effort. But that’s what made him truly smile.

‘Among the many reasons father sent me here, this must have been one of them.’

Paeng Heon-hong recalled what his father Paeng Gil-san had said on the day he left for the Namgung Family.

‘There are various reasons, but ultimately it’s about power. It’s not hiding. Think of it as time to grow stronger.’

Honestly, at first, he couldn’t accept those words as they were. It was common sense that a person of the Paeng Family, moreover the Family Head’s son, studying abroad at the far-away Namgung Family was incomprehensible. And also because he couldn’t even imagine what he needed to learn at the Namgung Family. But now it’s different. He began to find training gradually more enjoyable.

Ha Hyeon lived as if practicing martial arts was the only thing to do in this world. He wouldn’t be satisfied with the basics Namgung Gyu-hyeon emphasized until Gyu-hyeon told them to stop, and at night they practiced the Changgung Sword Technique and circulated the Changgung Mind Technique. At first, he could barely tell if it was accumulating or not, but like a snowball growing as it rolls, Ha Hyeon could now feel achievement in his internal energy that grew slightly each day. Also, while circulating the Changgung Mind Technique, the impurities accumulated in their body continued to be expelled, and as their constitution gradually changed, Ha Hyeon was experiencing a phenomenon where they felt less tired even after training all day or sleeping less, and rather their stamina increased the more they practiced.

“Good. You’re on the right path.”

Three months had already passed since entering the Namgung Family. And during that period, Ha Hyeon had become incomparably stronger than when they first entered. Ha Hyeon’s talent and Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s systematic teaching were enough to create explosive growth. Unlike how they had only focused on training until now, today they looked back on everything they had done so far to check their achievements and condition.

‘I can see your development changing day by day. Those among you with the most outstanding achievements will be able to take the promotion test first. Prepare yourselves mentally.’

Ha Hyeon recalled what Namgung Gyu-hyeon had said during training just yesterday.

The promotion test.

If they pass this test, Ha Hyeon will become an official Blue dragon pavilion member, and in martial arts training, they will gain the precious opportunity to learn advanced martial arts as well as basics.

“I must pass no matter what.”

The intelligent Ha Hyeon was well aware that they were currently receiving all sorts of attention and expectations within the Namgung Family. They also knew about the rumors circulating that they were comparable to… no, might even surpass Namgung Min, who was called a once-in-an-era genius.

‘Even the trainee who promoted to member in the shortest time was a trainee for a year. So just think of this test as evaluating your current abilities. It’s a test where failing is expected.’

Though Namgung Gyu-hyeon told Ha Hyeon this to lift their burden, Ha Hyeon knew the reality was different. When receiving such expectations, if those expectations were betrayed, it was clear as day that evaluations would plummet. No, even setting aside people’s expectations, they were determined to pass even if only to gain grandfather’s favor.

“Alright, let’s do it one more time.”

Ha Hyeon raised his sword again. And once more began to unfold the forms of the Changgung Sword Technique like flowing water.