The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 21

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 21

The day after Ha Hyeon absorbed the Purple Purification PIll, during training time, Namgung Mu-ryong examined Ha Hyeon’s body.

“Ha Hyeon. Come here.”

Namgung Mu-ryong carefully examined Ha Hyeon’s body, checking his acupoints one by one. The energy that had been flowing like a raging fire yesterday had now become calm like a lake. Additionally, there was no trace of impure energy.

“Ho ho, it’s hard to believe this is the day after consuming the spirit pill.”

There are three types of spirit medicines that martial artists can take to increase their inner energy in a short period.

First is the Inner Core. When beasts live beyond their natural lifespan, they become spirit beasts, and as spirit beasts, they begin to accumulate natural energy which forms an Inner Core. By consuming this Inner Core, one can absorb the natural energy – that is, the inner power that the spirit beast has gathered.

Second are naturally formed spirit medicines, referring to things like ten-thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, wild ginseng, and azure stone essence where natural energy has naturally concentrated. These are extremely difficult to obtain, but they are the most effective among spirit medicines.

And lastly, there are spirit pills. Spirit pills are artificially made spirit medicines, referring to combinations of various beneficial medicinal ingredients and natural substances mixed according to unique methods passed down through sects or families. The Shaolin’s Great Return Pill, Mount Hua’s Purple Purification PIll, and the Wudang’s Grand Azure Pill are representative examples. Since spirit pills are artificial rather than purely natural, they contain less energy and the amount that can be absorbed is also less. Furthermore, if absorbed incorrectly, impure energy can seep in and actually cause meridians to become blocked. However, even though Ha Hyeon consumed the Purple Purification PIll, which is considered the most crude among spirit pills, there wasn’t a single trace of impure energy, as if he had absorbed a naturally formed spirit medicine.

“How do you feel right now?”

“Very good. My body feels lighter than before. The best part is that I have more energy than before.”

“That’s fortunate.”

Namgung Mu-ryong was a quick-witted person. He decided to give up trying to understand Ha Hyeon’s body and simply accept it. Originally, after absorbing spirit medicine, one should rest for a day to refine that energy. Moreover, since there had been an unusual phenomenon yesterday where her entire body’s energy and blood seemed to boil, being extra cautious seemed natural. But Ha Hyeon didn’t seem to need that. The energy from the Purple Purification PIll was flowing naturally through Ha Hyeon’s body as if it had been his own energy from the start. So Namgung Mu-ryong decided to take another step forward today.

“Then today, you will learn a mind technique that will help you better utilize and cultivate the energy you possess. I will teach you the mantra, so remember it well.”

“Yes, grandfather.”

Ha Hyeon seemed already prepared to listen attentively. Namgung Mu-ryong slowly taught Ha Hyeon the mantra of the ‘Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique.’

‘Since he already has considerable energy, teaching the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique first would be better. Hyeon will surely understand it.’

Originally, Namgung family disciples who have just started building inner power learn either the Great Lotus Mind Technique or the Heaven Thunder Mind Technique to prepare for receiving advanced martial arts training. While the Great Lotus and Heaven Thunder Mind Techniques are well-known in the martial arts world, they don’t compare to the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique. The greatest advantage of the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique is that the more energy one has, the more energy they can accumulate. Conversely, its disadvantages are that the mantra is very difficult to understand, and even after learning it, the accumulation speed might feel insignificant when one’s own energy is low.

“Uh…?”

In the middle of Namgung Mu-ryong explaining the mantra, Ha Hyeon’s voice interrupted the flow. Though this situation could have been anger-inducing, Namgung Mu-ryong spoke gently.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, grandfather, it’s not that. This is actually the mind technique I already learned.”

“What?”

“Mother taught me the mantra before. So I’ve been practicing it.”

“You mean the mind technique you’re currently practicing is the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique?”

“Yes. I’ll recite the mantra, so please point out any mistakes.”

Ha Hyeon quickly recited the mantra. Of course, it didn’t differ by even a single letter from what Namgung Mu-ryong knew.

“That’s correct. Why didn’t I think of this until now?”

Namgung Mu-ryong slapped his forehead. If he had thought about it a little more, if he had paid a bit more attention, he could have known. No, if he had just asked in the first place, he could have easily known. However, the fact that Ha Hyeon’s energy was as pure as if it had been accumulated through the Three Elements sword Technique alone, and that the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique couldn’t be understood just by knowing the mantra, had given him preconceptions.

“Did you have any difficulties when circulating energy with the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique?”

“No. When I had the mind to follow the mantra’s instructions, the energy followed.”

“Hahaha. I see. When your mind moved, the energy followed.”

Namgung Mu-ryong laughed heartily. Ha Hyeon hadn’t needed the process of enlightenment.

“Good. Very good. This means things will progress even faster. Good. Have you learned the Changgung Sword Technique?”

“Yes. I’ve learned both the Changgung Sword Technique and the Daeyeon Sword Technique.”

“Is that so? Then, it’s time to learn a truly proper sword technique.”

“Sword technique…!”

Ha Hyeon brightened up and welcomed the word ‘sword technique’ as it came from Namgung Mu-ryong’s mouth.

“Grandfather. There’s something I’d like to show you.”

“Something to show me?”

“Yes. While practicing yesterday, I thought about a way to wield the sword.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Namgung Mu-ryong’s face showed interest. He was praised as the Sword Sage in the martial arts world and was approaching a hundred years of age, yet he was still full of curiosity about new martial arts. No, that curiosity must have been what brought him to his current position.

“May I try something?”

“Go ahead. Please.”

Ha Hyeon took up his sword in the starting position. The beginning was the ordinary starting position of the Three Elements Sword Technique.

“Whoo……”

After taking a deep breath, Ha Hyeon swung his sword. Skipping past the 横掃千軍 (Horizontal Sweep of a Thousand Armies) and 太山壓頂 (Mountain Peak Descending), Ha Hyeon went straight into 八方風雨 (Eight Directional Wind and Rain), awakening the sensation of shooting out his sword from yesterday.

Whoosh-!

Yesterday’s wind came rushing in. Namgung Mu-ryong’s eyes grew as big as lanterns watching Ha Hyeon’s form.

‘Is this what I taught Min…?’

Just because someone isn’t a direct disciple doesn’t mean they receive no teachings at all. In fact, Namgung Mu-ryong had given much advice and help to Namgung Min, who was called a once-in-a-thousand-years talent, and thanks to that, Namgung Min had gained many insights, both big and small.

Whirlll-!

At that moment, Ha Hyeon’s body began spinning like a top.

Woooosh-

Thanks to the rapid rotation and the energy contained within it, the sword spun while making a magnificent sound. How many more turns did he make? As the rotation speed gradually decreased, Ha Hyeon eventually stood proudly in the training ground.

“Phew-.”

Ha Hyeon took a deep breath, perhaps having been nervous about whether his first demonstration of martial arts before her grandfather would go well.

“This is….”

“I developed this further while practicing the Three Elements Sword Technique last night. I named it the Storm Sword.”

“Yes. Storm indeed.”

Namgung Mu-ryong nodded. As Ha Hyeon said, no other word but ‘storm’ would suit this sword technique.

“Remarkable. Why has no one thought of this until now?”

Namgung Mu-ryong was genuinely amazed. Even to him, the Storm Sword that Ha Hyeon had just demonstrated was no ordinary technique. A sword technique with power typically seen only in advanced martial arts had been derived from the Three Element Sword Technique. However, though even Namgung Mu-ryong didn’t realize it, this was only possible due to Ha Hyeon’s unique circumstances. Despite having inner power more abundant than most martial artists due to his great martial enlightenment and spirit medicine, Ha Hyeon had stuck solely to the Three Elements Sword Technique. Most martial artists, no, almost all martial artists, would stop practicing the Three Element Sword Technique and focus only on advanced martial arts once they reached Ha Hyeon’s level of achievement. That’s why they never thought to develop the Three Element Sword Technique further.

“It’s still very crude, but I plan to polish it more, grandfather.”

Ha Hyeon’s eyes sparkled like a child with an interesting new toy. While Namgung Mu-ryong felt pleased seeing Ha Hyeon like this, he quickly regained his composure and said,

“It’s an incredible concept, and undoubtedly an excellent martial art.”

“Really?”

“However, from what I can see, it has a fatal flaw.”

“A flaw?”

“This sword technique would be difficult to use against opponents of similar or greater strength, but it would be advantageous when facing multiple enemies who are weaker than you.”

“Ah…!”

Namgung Mu-ryong smiled at Ha Hyeon’s reaction. Once again, Ha Hyeon needed no further explanation.

“If my sword fails to cut through the opponent’s sword and gets deflected, the moment the rotation stops, it would expose an enormous weakness.”

“That’s right. Therefore, if you think you can’t cut through their sword in one strike, you should also research ways to maintain rotation by deflecting their sword.”

“Thanks to you, grandfather, I’ve found my direction. Thank you!”

Namgung Mu-ryong found Ha Hyeon’s quick response endearing and patted his head several times.

“Since you’ve shown me a good sword technique, I should show you one as well, shouldn’t I?”

He then picked up his own sword, which looked somewhat long but very intricate.

“There are countless sword techniques you will learn from now on. What do you think is the reason for learning sword techniques?”

“Hmm……”

Ha Hyeon thought for a moment before speaking.

“I think it’s to ingrain techniques in our body so we can execute either very efficient or unexpected sword paths at any time.”

“Correct. You got it in one try again. Being able to execute the sword technique you want whether eating or sleeping – that’s the significance of sword techniques. But is it everything just to perfectly master the forms?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What do you think is the reason?”

Ha Hyeon fell into thought again. Namgung Mu-ryong waited patiently with a relaxed expression. After a bit more time than before, Ha Hyeon spoke.

“The opponent… It’s about the opponent.”

“Ho ho. That’s right. Truly amazing.”

Ha Hyeon’s answer was brief, but Namgung Mu-ryong could tell he already understood everything. Looking at Ha Hyeon with eyes full of affection, proud of his insight, Namgung Mu-ryong began to elaborate.

“A sword exists to cross swords with someone. No matter how much you swing a sword alone, it’s no different from a sword dance. More important than memorizing forms when learning sword techniques is seeing how the opponent’s sword comes in and responding with appropriate techniques.”

“So that’s why training through sparring is more efficient.”

“Exactly.”

Namgung Mu-ryong took up his sword in the starting position, as if to demonstrate to Ha Hyeon.

“This is what you’ll be learning. It’s called the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique. It pairs perfectly with the Changgung Daeyeon Heart Technique you’re practicing.”

As soon as Namgung Mu-ryong finished speaking, he began to demonstrate the Azure Sky Great Lotus Sword Technique. It was a sword technique with concise yet powerful movements. A technique that was neither too flashy nor too linear.

Whoosh- Whoosh-

Originally, the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique was, if one had to classify it, not an ultra-advanced technique but rather a high-intermediate level technique. However, when displayed in Namgung Mu-ryong’s hands, it took on a different appearance. Even though this wasn’t his full power and was merely a demonstration for Ha Hyeon, his sword gave the illusion of cutting through space itself.

‘This is… the Sword Sage’s sword.’

Ha Hyeon felt as if his eyes were being opened watching his sword. Until now, the most excellent swordsmanship he had personally witnessed was that of Namgung Min. While Namgung Min’s sword was excellent and beautiful, it was like the beauty of a freshly bloomed flower bud. Namgung Mu-ryong brought to mind a fully bloomed flower garden. Not a single flower, but a garden densely packed with flowers in all directions.

“Did you watch carefully?”

“Thank you, grandfather.”

However, Ha Hyeon’s expression seemed unsatisfied. Apart from Namgung Mu-ryong’s martial arts skill, Ha Hyeon noticed something strange about the sword technique he had just demonstrated.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Rather than a problem… there’s something strange.”

“Something strange?”

“The sword technique you just showed is certainly an advanced martial art. But… something seems awkward.”

“Awkward?”

Namgung Mu-ryong looked even more surprised than before.

“Can you tell what exactly seems strange about it?”

“Since I only saw it once, I can’t say for certain… “

Ha Hyeon recalled the sword technique Namgung Mu-ryong had just shown as he spoke.

“It seemed like two disparate sword techniques were attached together.”

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