The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 14

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 14

Time passed again. Today too, Ha Hyeon arrived early at the training grounds.

For several months, when Ha Hyeon opened his eyes in the morning, he would only make minimal preparations before heading straight to the training grounds.

It was about one to half a time period earlier than the other trainees. Ha Hyeon was using this time to check yesterday’s achievements and plan today’s training in advance.

The reason he intensified his already diligent training was due to Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s decisive words from not long ago.

‘You all have improved a lot. Enough to prepare for the promotion test now. However, not everyone is at the same level. Ha Hyeon, who has shown the most outstanding achievement among you, will take the test first.’

From those words, Ha Hyeon realized two things and cheered inwardly. First was that he could advance to a higher level. And second was that Ha Hyeon’s achievements were publicly acknowledged as the most outstanding in front of everyone. No matter how mild-mannered Ha Hyeon was, there was no way such words wouldn’t make him happy.

Creeak

The old wooden door opened with a loud noise, and Ha Hyeon, who arrived one time period earlier than training time, entered the training grounds.

“Huh?”

However, Ha Hyeon saw two people he usually wouldn’t see at this time. One was Namgung Gyu-hyeon. While it wasn’t unusual for Namgung Gyu-hyeon to come out this early occasionally, the other person was someone he’d never seen at this hour.

‘Why is Brother Paeng here at this time?’

That person was Paeng Heon-hong. However, the atmosphere between Namgung Gyu-hyeon and Paeng Heon-hong seemed unusual.

“I also… want to take the promotion test.”

“It’s too early. Train more.”

“Do you think I won’t pass the test?”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon met Paeng Heon-hong’s eyes. At first glance, the tone and words seemed very disrespectful. However, Paeng Heon-hong saw a burning flame within them.

“The criteria are clear. I mentioned the promotion test because I thought the basic training could be concluded and there was sufficient ability to be promoted to a full member.”

Despite Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s crystal-clear words, Paeng Heon-hong still seemed unable to accept them.

“I understand. But I cannot agree.”

“Which part can’t you agree with?”

“We are martial artists. I believe that to be promoted, one must possess adequate martial power. I can acknowledge Ha Hyeon’s outstanding talent a hundred times over. However, if there’s no proof that he’s the strongest among our trainees, I cannot accept him taking the promotion test first.”

Paeng Heon-hong spoke with conviction. Namgung Gyu-hyeon could understand him.

‘Right, you’re also a martial artist from the Paeng family. So that’s it.’

The martial artists of the Northern Paeng family were famous for having slightly different views than ordinary orthodox martial artists. It was because of the rule of Strong Dominance (强者尊), which stated that the next family head must be the strongest within the Paeng family. That ideology, which seemed more similar to unorthodox sects or devil cults than orthodox sects. However, perhaps because of this, the Paeng family was known as the family right behind the Namgung family among the five great families. Moreover, their unique aggressive sword techniques and fist techniques were more than enough to spread their name further.

“Are you saying that Ha Hyeon isn’t the strongest among the trainees?”

“Yes. If you say that in a few years… no, even next year, Ha Hyeon might surpass us all, I could accept that, but I don’t think that’s the case right now. Right now, I believe there are those stronger than Ha Hyeon.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon smirked while watching Paeng Heon-hong speak deliberately.

‘He’s exactly like his master.’

Paeng Heon-hong reminded him of the master he had met and talked with a few years ago. Not only was he the son who looked most like his master among his children, but it wasn’t just his appearance – it was his nature of preferring to break rather than bend.

“You can be more honest. You want to say that you’re stronger than Ha Hyeon, right?”

“…I won’t deny it.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s smile deepened. He didn’t dislike this side of Paeng Heon-hong. He thought that as a martial artist, having that level of competitive spirit was a virtue one should naturally possess. However…

‘Being arrogant and failing to accurately gauge your opponent’s level deserves punishment.’

Namgung Gyu-hyeon called out to Ha Hyeon, who was hesitating at the training ground entrance, unable to either leave or come up.

“Ha Hyeon. I know you’re there. Come up here.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ha Hyeon trudged up to the training ground. When Gyu-hyeon briefly examined Ha Hyeon’s expression, it wasn’t bad at all. No, rather, he seemed to be pleased.

He was clearly happy after hearing Paeng Heon-hong’s words about Ha Hyeon surpassing everyone in a few years.

‘Seeing how he’s not embarrassed by this, this kid isn’t ordinary either.’

Gyu-hyeon shook his head inwardly and spoke calmly.

“Good. Heon-hong. I don’t see the current situation as entirely bad. As a martial artist, without that level of spirit and determination, you can’t improve your skills further.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon looked at Paeng Heon-hong and continued with a grin.

“As you said, we are martial artists. There’s a simplest way to determine who is strong and who is weak.”

“A spar…!”

“That’s right. Even if we can’t see it with our eyes, once we cross swords, we’ll immediately understand.”

When Namgung Gyu-hyeon said this, Ha Hyeon and Paeng Heon-hong understood what he wanted to say. He was telling them to have a spar right here and now.

“Will this spar be like the simple one we had during the test before?”

“No. That was just to test potential. You’ve all been learning swordsmanship for the past few months, right? It’s time for a proper spar.”

Paeng Heon-hong looked somewhat flustered, as if he hadn’t expected things to progress so suddenly, while Ha Hyeon calmly nodded instead.

“When will the spar be?”

“No need to waste time. We’ll do it now.”

“Right now, you mean?”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon nodded.

“It’ll be at least half a time period before the other trainees arrive. That should be enough time for a spar to determine who’s stronger, not a life-or-death battle. Crossing swords directly will be the quickest way.”

Paeng Heon-hong lowered his head deeply.

‘Did my words hurt his pride?’

Gyu-hyeon worried if he had misspoken. After all, what he had just said was essentially declaring that Paeng Heon-hong would certainly lose.

However, when Paeng Heon-hong raised his head a moment later, his eyes showed something entirely different.

‘Haha… He’s passionate, truly enthusiastic.’

His expression clearly showed excitement, as if something interesting was about to happen. Namgung Gyu-hyeon clicked his tongue inwardly and said.

“Still, we need some basic rules, right? Just in case, don’t attack the head and neck. And the spar ends when one side falls or admits defeat. Simple, right?”

“Understood.”

“And lastly, approach this thinking you’ll show everything you’ve got. That way, neither side will have regrets. Like before, I’ll clap to signal the start.”

This time, Paeng Heon-hong only nodded without answering, his face turning solemn. Then he gripped his wooden sword and looked at Ha Hyeon. Ha Hyeon also took out the wooden sword at his waist with a serious expression.

‘Huu…’

Though he didn’t show it, Ha Hyeon was filled with a strange mixture of excitement, tension, and elation.

‘This is my first real spar with someone since that simple match with Brother Hwan.’

However, while this was Ha Hyeon’s first spar, strictly speaking, it wasn’t exactly his first. Though this might sound nonsensical, what Ha Hyeon had been visualizing during his nightly qi circulation practice was… how to face opponents. In his mind, he had already fought ten times, a hundred times. No, he had fought thousands, tens of thousands of imaginary battles.

‘Brother Paeng certainly can’t be underestimated, but he doesn’t match up to Brother Min.’

And his imaginary opponent had always been Namgung Min. Namgung Min would occasionally demonstrate martial arts techniques briefly to Ha Hyeon during his night training, and Ha Hyeon had endlessly sparred in his mind with a reconstructed version of Namgung Min using those movements as material.

‘This is a good opportunity to confirm if I’m heading in the right direction.’

Grip

Ha Hyeon firmly grasped his wooden sword and slowly circulated true qi throughout his body. It felt like his stiffened muscles were coming back to life, each sensation awakening one by one.

Clap!

With Namgung Gyu-hyeon’s clap, Paeng Heon-hong and Ha Hyeon rushed toward each other.

Swoosh

Thwack!

Their wooden swords clashed as Paeng Heon-hong swung his sword while displaying footwork nearly matching Ha Hyeon’s Infinite Step. Then they separated even faster than they had met.

“Oho, as expected!”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. While he already knew of Ha Hyeon’s talent and skill, Paeng Heon-hong showed that he was not inferior to Ha Hyeon at all. The reason he had sought him out so early this morning must have been because he had confidence in himself.

“Haaah-!”

Paeng Heon-hong stepped forward once more with his footwork and swung his sword with all his might. This time, his sword contained an impressive amount of inner force that didn’t match his age.

‘I heard the master particularly favored his youngest son, but how many medicinal pills did he feed him?’

Gyu-hyeon could immediately assess Paeng Heon-hong’s condition. But the surprise came next.

Whoosh

Such powerful true qi burst from Ha Hyeon’s body that it made his clothes flutter. And that true qi was naturally drawn into his sword as if finding its home.

Crash!

A sound that seemed impossible from wooden swords colliding rang out.

Pop!

They created distance between each other, bouncing back after just one collision.

‘As expected, he’s strong. At that age…! No, let’s not think about age.’

Paeng Heon-hong purely admired Ha Hyeon, and…

‘He has greater energy than me. If we clash head-on… I can’t guarantee victory.’

Ha Hyeon instinctively realized that Paeng Heon-hong possessed more internal energy than himself. And the two young swordsmen rushed at each other again with all their might, swinging their swords. As if rehearsed, they both thought the same thing.

‘At times like this.’

‘At times like this.’

Woong… Woong…

Though made of wood, their wooden swords began to tremble as they were imbued with magnificent inner force. They both grimaced as if struggling to swing their swords.

‘Quick decision!’

‘Quick decision!’

Kwang!

Ha Hyeon and Paeng Heon-hong had the same thought. The thought to pour everything into the next strike, as quickly as possible. As a result, when their wooden swords collided, there was a thunderous sound like lightning striking an old tree.

Crack!

And Paeng Heon-hong’s wooden sword split right there.