The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 17

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 17

Late at night. Without fail, Ha Hyeon was swinging his sword in the empty lot once again. Though it already looked perfect, Ha Hyeon, seemingly never tiring, repeated horizontal cuts, vertical cuts, and thrusts.

‘I’m still not used to this sword yet. I think just a bit more will do.’

It had already been a week since Ha Hyeon was promoted to a full member. But there had been no changes in his lifestyle.

‘Ha Hyeon. There is someone else who will become your master. Wait just a little longer.’

Normally, a master would be assigned within days of promotion, and individual training would begin, but strangely, Ha Hyeon had not yet formed a master-disciple relationship with anyone.

‘There must be a reason for this.’

Ha Hyeon wasn’t disappointed by this. He was well aware that his very existence was extraordinary. All he had to do was silently do what he needed to do. During the day, he learned the basic forms of the Changgung Sword Technique from Namgung Gyu-hyeon, following the Three Element sword Technique. No, he had already perfectly memorized the basic forms when he first learned them and fully understood their principles, but he was training to correct minor habits and perfect his posture even further. And at night, he trained individually like this. Namgung So-hwa, inspired by Ha Hyeon’s dedication, also trained hard, but today she said she would rest for just one day, so he was training alone.

Some time passed. Having swung his sword to his satisfaction, Ha Hyeon closed his eyes and raised his sword. Ha Hyeon imagined a warrior holding a sword standing before him. Although the only warriors he had faced so far were Ma Yun-cheol, Namgung Hwan, and Paeng Heon-hong, Ha Hyeon combined their movements and his own in his mind to create an opponent with optimal movements. An imaginary warrior slowly approaching with a sword stance similar to Ha Hyeon’s. Although it was happening only in Ha Hyeon’s mind, he physically performed the same movements as his imagined self.

Shaak- Shak-

Moving the body exactly as imagined is an excellent training method. However, it is very difficult to calculate both one’s own movements and those of an imaginary opponent while actually moving the body. Of course, Ha Hyeon was doing this difficult task as easily as eating with a spoon. Ha Hyeon’s movements gradually reached their peak. Fighting with the imaginary opponent, sometimes using elaborate footwork, sometimes unleashing the Changgung sword technique with intensity, Ha Hyeon swung his sword horizontally at the climactic moment.

Wheek

Though the sword cut through empty air in reality, in Ha Hyeon’s mind, the imaginary warrior’s head had just been severed. Even though it was imagination, Ha Hyeon’s hand showed no hesitation in beheading.

“Phew.”

Having finished the imaginary battle, Ha Hyeon sat cross-legged, taking deep breaths to regulate his breathing. It was time to reorganize what had just happened in his mind and make it his own.

Thump- Thump

After some time had passed. Someone’s footsteps were heard from the darkness. It wasn’t So-hwa’s familiar footsteps. Nor was it Uncle Jang-chil’s light steps.

‘Who could it be?’

Ha Hyeon peered intently into the darkness. A figure appeared.

“Brother Hwan?”

“Hello, Hyeon. I thought you’d be here.”

It was Namgung Hwan.

“Did you come looking for me? I was just thinking that we haven’t talked much lately. You seemed too busy with training.”

“Haha. Was I like that?”

Namgung Hwan was one of the people who helped Ha Hyeon the most when he was first adjusting to the Namgung family. Perhaps taking a liking to his suddenly acquired younger brother, Namgung Hwan had stuck close to Ha Hyeon, teaching him in detail about proper behavior and etiquette in the Namgung family. But lately, Namgung Hwan only showed his face briefly at mealtimes, spending all day shut away in the training grounds.

The reason was, of course, Ha Hyeon’s martial arts achievements. As Namgung Gyu-hyeon had anticipated, Ha Hyeon’s very existence became an enormous stimulus for Namgung Hwan. Though he had never lacked talent, perhaps he had lacked motivation? He had shown somewhat lazy tendencies before. But recently, he devoted himself to training, even reducing his sleeping hours. As a result, it seemed he had made considerable progress lately.

“You’re right. It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this. Congratulations on becoming a full member. I failed twice at destroying that iron tower.”

“I was just lucky.”

“Luck is important too. But from what I see, it definitely wasn’t luck in your case. It was skill.”

“Thank you for the praise, brother.”

Namgung Hwan grinned. Just like when he first met him, he still found Ha Hyeon appealing. He knew that those words of thanks were purely and genuinely grateful.

“I wasn’t trying to spy, but it looked like you were having a mock battle by yourself?”

“That’s right.”

“Instead of doing it alone, how about trying it with me?”

“You mean sparring?”

Ha Hyeon glanced at the sword he was holding. Namgung Hwan waved his hand and said:

“Haha, but we can’t do sword sparring. I didn’t bring a sword, and there’s no wooden sword either. So how about this? Let’s do the simplified sparring we did for the Blue dragon pavilion entrance test.”

The simplified sparring where they push each other to knock the other down. Although it was only a few months ago when they did it for the Blue dragon pavilion entrance test, somehow it felt like it happened a very long time ago.

‘Last time, my victory was eighty percent luck.’

Ha Hyeon looked at himself objectively. That’s why he became even more eager to spar with Namgung Hwan. Sparring with the same opponent in the same way is the best method to gauge how much one has improved.

“Um… alright, brother.”

“Good.”

Namgung Hwan nodded with a smile, as if he knew Ha Hyeon would respond this way. Ha Hyeon gently put down his sword in a corner and looked at Namgung Hwan.

‘Brother is completely different from back then.’

If Namgung Hwan had the momentum of an untamed water buffalo when they first met, now his eyes were those of a predator calmly stalking its prey.

While Ha Hyeon had been developing, Namgung Hwan certainly hadn’t been idle. He was even looking forward to sparring with this improved version of Namgung Hwan.

“Here I come.”

“Yes!”

Paaat!

Once again, they rushed towards each other. However, their speed was incomparably faster than a few months ago.

Tadadadat!

Namgung Hwan again used the light steps technique. But this time, he wasn’t following a predetermined path like before. His footwork, applied and modified throughout, seemed to show just how much effort he had put in during that time.

“Haap!”

Just before colliding with Namgung Hwan, Ha Hyeon had a moment’s hesitation. Should he move sideways and aim for the flank like last time, or should he retreat? But in less time than it takes to blink, Ha Hyeon chose a third option. Instead, he stepped forward and thrust his palm at Namgung Hwan. But Namgung Hwan seemed to have anticipated this, countering Ha Hyeon’s palm strike with his own palm.

Kwak!

After that momentary collision, both stepped back to create distance.

“Though it wasn’t my full strength, I put some force into it, but you didn’t even flinch? You’ve become frighteningly strong in just a few months.”

“Even so, I still seem far behind you, brother?”

Namgung Hwan smirked.

“Seeing how you’re already trying to beat me, you must be quite shameless? I’ve been training for five years already!”

As soon as he finished speaking, he rushed at Ha Hyeon and thrust both arms forward.

Sweeek

Ha Hyeon tried to counter those hands again, but sensing something unusual in the force of the approaching hands, he quickly threw himself sideways.

Shaak

Having barely dodged by the width of a few paper sheets, Ha Hyeon used his footwork to turn toward Namgung Hwan from his dodging position. Then he extended his palm toward Namgung Hwan, who hadn’t yet withdrawn his arms.

Peok!

Ha Hyeon’s palm definitely made contact with Namgung Hwan’s body. However, instead of being hit by Ha Hyeon’s attack, Namgung Hwan received Ha Hyeon’s hand with his left shoulder and moved his arm like lightning to trap Ha Hyeon’s hand in his armpit.

“Got you.”

Namgung Hwan smiled deeply. Ha Hyeon tried to pull his arm free, but this time he was properly caught, and his arm wouldn’t budge at all. Giving up on freeing his arm, Ha Hyeon instead took a big step closer to Namgung Hwan and grabbed his right shoulder with his free left hand. And so began their battle of strength.

“Uaap!”

“Haap!”

What remained between them wasn’t about technique or skill. It was purely a battle of strength and inner force.

Ppudeuk- Ppudeuk

The balance of victory, which had been in a temporary stalemate, began to tip toward Namgung Hwan. Ha Hyeon was younger than Namgung Hwan and a head shorter. It was only natural that he would be at a disadvantage in a contest of strength. Honestly, for Namgung Hwan, just the fact that he had fought evenly with Ha Hyeon was as good as a defeat. But there was a world of difference between an actual defeat and something that was just like a defeat. Namgung Hwan gave it his all until the end, and finally Ha Hyeon’s body began to tilt over.

‘I’ve won.’

The moment Namgung Hwan sensed victory.

“Haap!”

Ha Hyeon pulled his knee up to his chest, then used all his strength to drive his foot into the ground.

Pook

Using the last of his true energy, Ha Hyeon’s foot broke through the ground and sank in up to his shin. With his leg anchored in the ground, Ha Hyeon naturally stopped falling.

“Ah no…. Ha. Hahaha. Isn’t this cheating?”

Namgung Hwan burst into laughter, finding something extremely amusing.

“There wasn’t any rule saying we couldn’t do this, right? Master didn’t say anything about it either.”

“Well, that’s because the training grounds are made of cut stone, not dirt like this, so you couldn’t dig into the floor like that, right?”

Namgung Hwan was right. If this had been in the training grounds rather than an empty lot, it would have been Namgung Hwan’s victory. Ha Hyeon pulled his foot out of the ground and shook off the dirt while answering.

“I learned that making good use of the given terrain and situation is a very important element for a warrior.”

“Haha! Right. You’re so clever! Now I see you’ve got quite a competitive spirit too?”

Ha Hyeon had always seemed polite, respectful, and humble, but now Namgung Hwan could feel it. The fire that Ha Hyeon kept hidden in his heart.

Thud

Namgung Hwan plopped down on the ground. Then, as if the sparring with Ha Hyeon had been quite tiring, he lay down completely.

“Whew. I’m tired. I’ve been training like crazy for months, but this kind of intense training really doesn’t suit me.”

“…Brother, your improvement over these few months is visible.”

“Hehe. You think so? But I know my level.”

Namgung Hwan looked at the hundreds of stars twinkling in the sky.

“I know I have superior talent compared to others. Just among my peers who took the Blue dragon pavilion entrance test, there were over twenty people to compare with. But when I see brother Min’s talent, it feels like looking at those stars.”

Namgung Hwan reached his arm toward the sky and clenched his fist. Naturally, he caught nothing.

“They shine brightly, but they’ll never come into my hands.”

“Brother……”

“But, you’re the same.”

“What?”

“When I first saw you, and watching you literally evolve every day, it feels like watching my brother. Brilliant, but impossibly distant.”

“……”

“Heup!”

Namgung Hwan jumped up and brushed the dirt off his pants and back while speaking.

“Thank you. As of today, I’ve cleanly sorted things out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Now I have to give up on becoming the head of the Namgung family. Following brother Min, it’s clear as day that you’ll soon surpass me too. Since I tried my absolute best at least once, I don’t have many regrets. From now on, I’ll train moderately and become a moderate warrior.”

Namgung Hwan approached Ha Hyeon and patted his shoulder.

“Keep working hard. Thank you.”

As he turned to leave, Namgung Hwan looked incredibly unburdened. Watching his retreating figure, Ha Hyeon felt that Namgung Hwan had let go of something significant.

“Brother!”

“What?”

“I come here to train at this time every day.”

“I know. That’s why I came.”

“Master said that training through sparring leads to faster achievement.”

“That’s true.”

“Whether daily or every other day, I’ll always be here. Come whenever you need a sparring partner. And even if it’s not for sparring… wouldn’t training together make us both stronger? And…”

Ha Hyeon paused briefly before continuing.

“I don’t think you need to give up martial arts just because you can’t become the family head.”

“I’m not exactly saying I’m giving up completely……”

“Do you know why I train martial arts this intensely?”

Namgung Hwan looked at Ha Hyeon’s serious face and answered with a smile.

“Alright. What’s the reason?”

“Grandfather said this. If you want to protect something precious, you need strength. I… don’t want to lose anything precious again. Whether it’s a home or people…”

It was the best comfort Ha Hyeon could offer after wracking his brain. That there was no need to give up, that they could train together every day and become stronger together.

Namgung Hwan approached Ha Hyeon with his serious expression, placed his hand on his head, stroked it a couple of times, and said:

“…Thank you. Thank you.”

“Then brother……”

“Haha. First, I’ll play around for a few days, then when I get bored, I’ll think about it. Thanks for telling me.”

Though his words seemed casual, Ha Hyeon felt that Namgung Hwan wasn’t someone who would remain just an ordinary warrior. Even if he couldn’t become the family head, with his natural martial spirit and obsession with martial arts, he would surely return here again. In the retreating figure of Namgung Hwan disappearing into the darkness, there was a new energy shimmering that had never been seen before.

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