The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 18

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 18

On the third day since Ha Hyeon and Namgung Hwan’s confrontation, Namgung Hwan, having seemingly sorted out his thoughts, naturally began joining the night training sessions. Despite So-hwa’s minor protest of ‘Brother Hwan! It’s already cramped here, what are we going to do if you come here too!’, Namgung Hwan smoothly got his way with his characteristic slickness.

Ha Hyeon didn’t specifically ask about Namgung Hwan’s choice. Whether he was working to become the family head or, as he said, had given up on becoming the family head but was here due to his obsession and desire for martial arts, the reason for wanting to become stronger wasn’t important at all. What truly mattered was the very act of wanting to become stronger.

‘Come to think of it, what has Brother Min been up to?’

Since returning from the last mission, there had been no reason to leave the estate, so Namgung Min must be somewhere in the Namgung family compound, but for some reason, he was nowhere to be seen. Ha Hyeon thought he could definitely learn something from Namgung Min and wanted to meet him, but Namgung Hwan and Namgung So-hwa said this was typical of him and didn’t think much of it.

Several days passed like this. As Ha Hyeon was about to go for his usual morning training, he noticed that the family compound had an unusually excited atmosphere today. Not just the martial artists of the Namgung family, but even the servants were the same.

“Uncle Ju-wan!” Ha Hyeon called out to Ju-wan who happened to be passing by.

Ju-wan was the servant who had called out the names of examinees during Ha Hyeon’s Blue dragon pavilion entrance exam, and during normal times, he was in charge of maintaining the training grounds and training equipment, making him one of the few servants Ha Hyeon had built a relationship with.

“Ah! Young Master Ha Hyeon. Did you sleep well today?” All the servants of the Namgung family were kind and respectful to Ha Hyeon, just as they were to Namgung Min, Namgung Hwan, and Namgung So-hwa. There was no discrimination or hostility towards him for being a grandson through the maternal line.

“Is something happening today? Everyone seems really busy.”

“Ah. Haven’t you heard? The Family Head is returning today.”

“Grandfather?” Ha Hyeon’s face lit up. Although it had only been a few months since he’d seen him, Ha Hyeon felt comfortable and warm whenever he thought of Namgung Mu-ryong.

“Yes. And the Head of the Blue dragon pavilion is coming with him. Ah, that’s right. You haven’t met the Blue dragon pavilion Head yet, have you?” The Blue dragon pavilion Head that Ju-wan mentioned was Namgung Ki-hyeon.

Ha Hyeon nodded. “I haven’t met him even once yet.”

“Then you’ll meet him for the first time this afternoon. He’s a really wonderful person.”

“I’m sure he is. Thank you for telling me when you must be busy.” Ha Hyeon bowed his head politely. Ju-wan, finding Ha Hyeon’s behavior endearing, left with a bright smile, saying they would see each other again when the Family Head arrives.

Although Ha Hyeon was excited about his grandfather’s return, he thought he shouldn’t neglect today’s training and headed to the training grounds.

Ha Hyeon could now handle the sword he received from the blacksmith quite skillfully. The initial sense of unfamiliarity was no longer there, and out of a hundred swings, he could cut where he wanted about ninety-five times. Even the remaining five times didn’t differ by more than a finger’s width, but Ha Hyeon couldn’t be satisfied with that.

‘A hundred out of a hundred. Only when it goes exactly where I want can it be called mastery of the basics.’

Thanks to his endless dedication to martial arts, Ha Hyeon’s skills were becoming increasingly solid. Being in his growth period, Ha Hyeon’s muscles were developing appropriately for wielding a sword, and although only a few months had passed, his height and arms had grown considerably. Even Namgung Gyu-hyeon, who had trained numerous martial artists, was increasingly impressed by Ha Hyeon’s dedication and growth with each passing day.

“We’ll end today’s training here. I have some things to do this afternoon. You can continue training independently if you want.”

“Yes!” Namgung Gyu-hyeon addressed the training students. Some began preparing to leave the training grounds at those words, while others, seemingly wanting to train more independently, continued what they were doing without paying attention.

Just as Ha Hyeon decided to continue training in the afternoon and was about to swing his sword again, Namgung Gyu-hyeon called him.

“Ha Hyeon.”

“Yes, Master.”

“You come with me.”

“Understood.” Without a word, Ha Hyeon put his sword back in its scabbard and approached Namgung Gyu-hyeon.

When Ha Hyeon followed, Namgung Gyu-hyeon walked somewhere steadily without saying anything.

“Master, where are we going?”

“You always ask later, like when you went to take the promotion test last time.”

“Because you don’t tell me even though I wait.” Namgung Gyu-hyeon let out a chuckle.

“I thought you weren’t asking because you weren’t curious. But you were actually holding back your curiosity.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, ask first whenever you’re curious about anything. The most important things in learning are doubt and curiosity.”

“Thank you for your words. So where are we going now?”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon said with a playful smile, “It’s been a really long time since you became an official member, hasn’t it? Let’s go meet your master.”

“My master?” Ha Hyeon’s eyes widened. It was something he hadn’t expected at all.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Actually, I heard today was the day grandfather was coming, so I thought we were going to see grandfather. But you say master…”

“Hahaha. Has all your curiosity been satisfied now? Don’t ask who your master is. I’ll tell you when we get there.”

“Yesss.” Namgung Gyu-hyeon began walking faster, and Ha Hyeon had no choice but to follow with a sulky face.

A moment later, the place where Namgung Gyu-hyeon and Ha Hyeon arrived was the Gyeonggak Hall. This was the first place Ha Hyeon entered on the day he first arrived at the Namgung family compound. And since that day, he had no reason to come back here.

‘This is where I first met grandfather.’

Though it was a few months ago, it feels like it was just a few days ago.

‘This is where grandfather hugged me when I showed him mother’s token.’

Ha Hyeon felt that moment was truly warm. Because when Namgung Mu-ryong suddenly embraced him, he felt in his heart that this was truly his grandfather. No matter how clever and precocious he was, Ha Hyeon was still a ten-year-old child. It was a time when he needed parental love.

‘When that door opened, grandfather was right there.’

As Ha Hyeon was lost in these nostalgic thoughts, Namgung Gyu-hyeon, as if reading Ha Hyeon’s mind, stood in front of the door Ha Hyeon was looking at and called out softly.

“Family Head. It’s Gyu-hyeon.”

Before Ha Hyeon could sense anything strange, someone’s voice came from inside.

“Come in.”

Ha Hyeon’s mind snapped to attention when he heard that voice.

‘Grandfather?’

It was definitely grandfather’s voice. Ha Hyeon dazedly followed Namgung Gyu-hyeon into the room.

“Grandfather!”

“Haha. Ha Hyeon, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

Namgung Mu-ryong spread his arms wide with that same warm smile from before. As if responding to the Sword Saint’s gesture, Ha Hyeon ran straight forward. Just simple running, without any martial arts movement. Ha Hyeon ran to Namgung Mu-ryong and was embraced tightly.

“Oh my. Ha Hyeon. Were you that happy to see this old man?”

“Yes. Grandfather. Have you been well?”

Ha Hyeon suddenly realized he might have been rude and bowed his head deeply in greeting. Namgung Mu-ryong looked at Ha Hyeon adoringly and patted his head.

“You seem to have grown quite a bit in this time. And your qi… it’s quite different from before.”

For a martial artist of Namgung Mu-ryong’s level, they could gauge someone’s martial arts ability just by glancing at them if there was a big enough difference in their levels. From what he could see, just looking at the qi alone, the Ha Hyeon before leaving for the Murim Alliance and the current Ha Hyeon were like completely different people.

“I worked hard. To get even a little closer to grandfather.”

“Hoho. I can see that. Well done.”

Namgung Mu-ryong patted Ha Hyeon’s back with sincere appreciation. He seemed to feel how desperate this young child was.

“Ah! Grandfather. I passed the member promotion test.”

“I already heard about it. That’s wonderful.”

“So they said I would meet my master today… but it seems Master Gyu-hyeon was joking.”

Namgung Mu-ryong smiled deeply.

“It’s not a joke.”

“What?”

“Does Gyu-hyeon seem like someone who would make such jokes?”

When Ha Hyeon glanced at Namgung Gyu-hyeon, he could almost hear him shouting ‘Basics!’ during training. Ha Hyeon shook his head.

“No. Then that means…”

“This old man will be your master.”

Ha Hyeon’s eyes grew as big as fists in shock. Even Ha Hyeon, who rarely lost his composure, couldn’t help but be surprised at these words.

“Is, is that really true?”

“Why. Don’t you like it?”

“No, that’s not it!”

“You do like it?”

“Yes! I like it!”

Ha Hyeon’s face was full of joy. Gyu-hyeon thought he had never seen Ha Hyeon act so much like a child before.

“Ah…!”

Ha Hyeon, as if remembering something, stepped back a few steps from Namgung Mu-ryong and was about to make a deep bow. At that moment, a clear voice came from the wall.

“Have you ever seen such an ungrateful fellow! You don’t even acknowledge my presence? When I offered to take you as a disciple, you rejected me outright. Oh my! How bitter it must be for those without grandchildren!”

“Elder Chwiwol Geolgae?”

When he turned toward the voice, Chwiwol Geolgae had been there glaring at Ha Hyeon, though it wasn’t clear since when. When Ha Hyeon could only fumble for words at that expression, Chwiwol Geolgae’s expression seemed to soften slightly, perhaps finding his reaction cute. Surprised by Chwiwol Geolgae’s sudden appearance, Ha Hyeon unconsciously turned back to look at Namgung Mu-ryong, and his grandfather’s expression seemed somewhat pleased. However, Ha Hyeon, shocked as he was, didn’t notice the contentment in that face.

“I’ll ask one last time. Do you have no intention of receiving my teachings?”

“I, I…”

“Speak clearly!”

At Chwiwol Geolgae’s thundering voice, Ha Hyeon’s expression hardened and he answered firmly.

“I want to live in the Namgung family compound. I’m very grateful for your offer to teach me, Elder Chwiwol Geolgae, but… I don’t want to go live at the Kaibang.”

“Why. Because Kaibang is a beggar’s den?”

“No, no! That’s not it…”

“If that’s not it, then what is it?”

Chwiwol Geolgae’s voice had somehow softened to that of addressing a grandson, as if he had never shouted.

‘This place is my home now. I don’t want to go somewhere else, leaving my home.’

“Hehe… Mu-ryong, how did you bewitch your grandson like this?”

“What do you mean bewitch! The blood ties are naturally that strong. You wouldn’t know since you’ve never married or had children.”

“Maybe I should have gotten married, if only out of spite.”

“Have you ever even liked a woman in your life?”

“You rascal!”

They were teasing each other, but their faces were bright with smiles. In fact, they had both already anticipated things would turn out this way. Chwiwol Geolgae exchanged a few more jokes with Namgung Mu-ryong before turning to Ha Hyeon and saying.

“Then if you continue living here, would you be interested in receiving my teachings?”

“What…? What do you mean…”

Once again, Ha Hyeon couldn’t immediately answer Chwiwol Geolgae’s question. No matter how brilliant Ha Hyeon was, Chwiwol Geolgae kept saying things that were beyond his common sense.

“I’m saying I’ll stay here for a while and bestow my martial arts upon you!”

“Wh-what? What are you saying?!”

This time, it was Namgung Gyu-hyeon, who had been listening to the conversation from a distance, who burst out in surprise.

“Why? Did I say something wrong?”

“Regardless of where he receives training, Ha Hyeon is a disciple of our Namgung family. So if you’re telling him to become your disciple…”

“When did I say he should become my disciple?”

“What do you mean by that…”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon glanced at Namgung Mu-ryong. Even though Chwiwol Geolgae was known to do things his own way, he thought the elder could only speak so confidently because this had been previously discussed with Namgung Mu-ryong. Sure enough, when their eyes met, Namgung Mu-ryong gave a slight nod.

“There’s no need to only teach my martial arts to disciples, is there? However, I can’t teach martial arts passed down from the beggars sect. But… there shouldn’t be any problem with teaching the martial arts that I’ve created and developed throughout my life. As a friend of his grandfather.”

This time, Gyu-hyeon nodded slightly. It’s not like such cases were unheard of. Learning doesn’t necessarily have to come only from one’s master.

“However…” But at Chwiwol Geolgae’s final words, spoken with a confident expression, Gyu-hyeon could only click his tongue. “In two years, I’ll ask Ha Hyeon again if he wants to follow me. And by then, I’ll make Ha Hyeon want to follow me. I am Chwiwol Geolgae! There’s never been anything I wanted that I couldn’t get! Hey, Mu-ryong. Am I right?”

Even Namgung Mu-ryong, known as the Sword Saint throughout the martial arts world, could only nod in agreement to Chwiwol Geolgae’s words.

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