The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family
Chapter 23
After Namgung Mu-ryong’s martial arts improved from gaining inspiration from Ha Hyeon, he put more effort into teaching him.
To be honest, Namgung Mu-ryong wasn’t the best teacher either, though he is a hundred times better than Chwiwol Geolgae.
“When you want to add more power to your sword strike, swing down as if the sword feels heavier.”
He mainly spoke about feelings and sensations because he himself was an exceptional genius. As they say, geniuses often struggle to be good teachers. Though it was the martial art he was most confident in, he found it difficult to explain things specifically and in detail to Ha Hyeon.
However, unlike him, Ha Hyeon was the perfect student.
“Ah… I see. So instead of just infusing qi, you mean I should apply the principles of Mangeunchu to the sword as well?”
“That’s right. Exactly.”
Ha Hyeon was not only quick to understand what he was taught but was also a genius who could immediately apply and adapt what he learned.
It was natural that Namgung Mu-ryong became deeply invested in teaching him.
And at the end of their training, they always had time to share their thoughts.
“So, Ha Hyeon, you’re saying that the fourth form of the Changgung Mu-ae Sword Technique should bend over above the head rather than extending the arms upward?”
“Yes. It seems to be derived from the twelfth form of the Changgung Sword Technique, which isn’t an offensive form but a counterattacking one. This posture would be more effective for deflecting the opponent’s sword.”
“I see. I agree that it comes from the twelfth form of the Changgung Sword Technique. But perhaps Master Sajo, who created the Changgung Mu-ae Sword Technique, wanted to change that counterattacking form into an initiating move? That’s why the thirteenth form follows immediately with a counter.”
“Ah… I see. I hadn’t thought that far.”
Namgung Mu-ryong and Ha Hyeon engaged in quite sophisticated discussions. Sometimes Namgung Mu-ryong would forget Ha Hyeon’s young age and happily debate with him.
Together, they researched swordsmanship, modified and refined sword techniques. As a result, Ha Hyeon’s sword skills developed noticeably, and unknowingly, even Namgung Mu-ryong made progress.
Their Changgung Mu-ae Sword Technique was becoming more and more perfect.
Though Namgung Mu-ryong wished to dedicate all his time to Ha Hyeon’s growth, he was the head of the Namgung family.
As the head of such a major family, there were many duties he had to fulfill. One of these duties was inspecting nearby villages and monitoring the situation around the family estate.
This time, Ha Hyeon decided to accompany his grandfather on the inspection.
Guards were naturally unnecessary. What need was there for guards when Namgung Mu-ryong himself was the Sword Saint?
As they left the estate gates, Bangsan, whom Ha Hyeon had seen before, was standing in front of the blacksmith shop right ahead.
“Bangsan. Have you been keeping well?”
“Lord! I’ve been well thanks to the family and you. I heard you were at the Murim Alliance for a long time.”
“Yes. My youngest grandson kept praising the sword he received from you.”
“I’m grateful you’re pleased. Young Lord.”
“No, I’m grateful.”
Bangsan bowed to Ha Hyeon as well, speaking with a smile on his face, perhaps remembering when Ha Hyeon had left Namgung So-hwa at his forge and rushed into the estate.
“Well then, keep up the good work. We have a long way to go.”
“Yes, Lord. Please visit again.”
Namgung Mu-ryong made a round of the village outside the estate. Despite it not being a small village, he met quite a lot of people.
“Hwanggyu. Has your father’s health improved?”
“Thanks to the physician you sent last time, he’s very healthy now.”
He would greet people first, like this young man who appeared to be a farmer.
“Oh my, Lord! It’s been so long. Since it’s been a while since we’ve seen your face, here, please have one of these!”
A merchant selling sweets ran over after spotting Namgung Mu-ryong from afar, pressing some of his candies into their hands.
“Lord! We’re scared to go collect firewood because we hear tiger roars from the back mountain.”
“I’ll send some family martial artists as soon as possible.”
Some people would make requests like this to Namgung Mu-ryong.
Namgung Mu-ryong never showed any annoyance, greeting everyone and listening to their stories, and accepting their gifts.
Of course, everywhere they went, he didn’t forget to boast, “This is my grandson. Isn’t he handsome? He’s Yeong-reong’s son.”
The villagers unanimously praised Ha Hyeon’s looks and were eager to give him anything they could.
“Now only the Blue dragon gambling house remains. Shall we take a brief rest before that?”
“Yes, grandfather.”
Namgung Mu-ryong and Ha Hyeon sat on a flat rock. Anyone who saw the grandfather and grandson sitting there enjoying the cool breeze might have thought they were on a picnic.
Crunch!
Namgung Mu-ryong bit into the sweet crispy candy. Despite his age, he enjoyed such snacks. Ha Hyeon followed his lead and started eating the candy.
“Grandfather, how do you seem to know all the villagers?”
“Me? Haha. Not all, but I do know many of them. I’ve lived here a long time. During the Ten Years of Political Strife, I never returned home once, so I’ve lived here for seventy years.”
Namgung Mu-ryong laughed, seeming to feel the emptiness of passed time. Looking into the distance, he continued.
“Don’t the villagers look happy?”
“Yes. Everyone’s faces were without worry.”
“Right? Our Namgung family is like their fence. If there are wild beasts taking people, our martial artists handle them. The same goes for mountain bandits and robbers. When there’s a poor harvest, we share grain from our storehouse. I sincerely hope they live with good hearts while living alongside us.”
Though Namgung Mu-ryong’s words weren’t difficult, Ha Hyeon tilted his head.
“Honestly, I don’t quite understand.”
“You mean why our Namgung family does all this?”
“Yes. We don’t collect taxes or protection fees…”
Ha Hyeon trailed off, as if asking why they do things that bring no benefit. But Namgung Mu-ryong smiled gently.
“Because I think of them as my family. Meeting and talking with them like this makes me feel happy too.”
“Family?”
“I don’t think of family as something complicated. I think family means being able to sincerely help someone when they’re struggling. If we always give our hearts to them like this, won’t they think of us when we’re having difficulties? Though our Namgung family probably won’t face such difficulties in the future.”
Namgung Mu-ryong laughed heartily. Ha Hyeon felt a warm energy flowing from his grandfather.
“Living in the same place for seventy years naturally leads to such thoughts. And when you live here until you’re my age, coincidentally, you’ll have lived here for the same amount of time as me.”
Ha Hyeon lowered his gaze slightly, moved by his grandfather’s warm eyes, and asked:
“Will it be alright even though I wasn’t born and raised here?”
It had been six months since he came to the Namgung family. But Ha Hyeon still thought of himself as an outsider.
“Have you been thinking that all this time?”
Ha Hyeon nodded slightly.
“I had no idea.”
Namgung Mu-ryong took Ha Hyeon’s hand.
“Ha Hyeon. You don’t think all our family members were born here, do you?”
“Ah… no.”
“Do you think Gyu-hyeon and our other martial artists, or Jang-chil and Ju-wan who help with our chores, don’t consider this place their home?”
Ha Hyeon shook his head. Even to him, everyone in the family seemed to truly consider this their home and themselves as people of the Namgung family.
“Everything changes according to how you think about it. If they consider each other family, then what about you who shares my blood?”
“Even though it’s through the maternal line?”
Namgung Mu-ryong whispered in Ha Hyeon’s ear, though no one else was listening:
“Actually, I loved your mother more than your uncles.”
“Haha. Really? Your sons would be upset if they heard that!”
“They probably already know that fact.”
Ha Hyeon and Namgung Mu-ryong shared a laugh, but the mood became somewhat subdued at the sudden thought of Namgung Yeong-reong.
“Mother… she would want me to be happy, right? Forgetting about revenge.”
“Hmm… to be honest…”
Ha Hyeon’s eyes grew wide. The Namgung family had intentionally avoided talking to Ha Hyeon about Yeong-reong.
“Given Yeong-reong’s personality, she might want you to become the strongest under heaven and take revenge.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Why else would her nickname be ‘Poisonous Heart Beautiful Flower.’… Though I certainly didn’t teach her that way…”
“Tell me more about mother. I heard the room I’m staying in now was originally hers?”
“If you look carefully at the corners of that room, there might still be soot marks. When Yeong-reong was eight… playing with fire techniques in that room…”
Namgung Mu-ryong shared memories of his departed daughter with a smile. Ha Hyeon listened with a bright expression. But he wanted to hear these stories. Stories about how his mother lived here and what she did. This was how Ha Hyeon satisfied his longing for his mother.
“Mother must have been quite a tomboy.”
“She was. So-hwa is becoming so much like Yeong-reong…”
The grandfather and grandson talked, losing track of time. Namgung Mu-ryong taught Ha Hyeon more than just martial arts. His thoughts and way of thinking. And his heart as family head caring for his people. Ha Hyeon was learning all of this from Namgung Mu-ryong.
After talking for a while, Namgung Mu-ryong realized they hadn’t finished the inspection. He picked up Ha Hyeon and used his lightness skill to reach the Blue dragon trading post in one leap.
“This is the trading post our family operates. Were you curious how we live so abundantly without any production activities?”
“Yes, I was curious.”
“Sometimes our martial artists help other sects and families and receive rewards, but that’s minimal. Our main income comes from here.”
Though not comparable to the Namgung estate, it was quite spacious, with an impressive signboard at the entrance reading âBlue dragon trading postâ (ééŸéąć±).
“I wrote this signboard myself. Haha.”
Namgung Mu-ryong laughed awkwardly at his own words as he opened the door. Ha Hyeon followed him, feeling much closer to his grandfather after their conversation.
“Post Master, are you here?”
After Namgung Mu-ryong called out, there was a crashing sound from inside before someone emerged.
A master!
Ha Hyeon was startled by the man’s aura. He seemed at least as skilled as Namgung Gi-cheol or Gi-Hyeon.
“Lord! What brings you here without notice?”
“Just stopping by during my rounds.”
“Welcome. I actually had something to report. And this must be… Young Lord Ha Hyeon?”
He recognized Ha Hyeon immediately without introduction.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Namgung Hwi-yeon, the Post Master. I’ve been meaning to visit the estate.”
“I am Shin Ha Hyeon of the Namgung family. A pleasure to meet you.”
This time, Ha Hyeon proudly identified himself. He had come to understand that whether his surname was Shin or Namgung didn’t matter – he was a member of the family.
“I can sense your remarkable talent, just as I’d heard. Haha. I have quite an eye for people.”
“Indeed. Everyone knows about your good eye. If you had Gyu-hyeon’s calm temperament, I would have made you the Blue dragon hall instructor.”
“Haha. That’s all in the past, isn’t it? I prefer the freedom of the trading post.”
Namgung Hwi-yeon was free-spirited. Ha Hyeon had never seen anyone speak so comfortably with Namgung Mu-ryong, even more familiar than his uncles.
‘Namgung… Hwi-yeon.’
Ha Hyeon committed Hwi-yeon’s appearance and name to memory, finding him impressive.
‘He’s like the wind.’
A person like the wind. Yet the way he addressed Namgung Mu-ryong was unmistakably like a son to his father. Watching this, Ha Hyeon realized:
‘I see. I should think of them as family first.’
Even someone as strong and free as Hwi-yeon considered this place home. Ha Hyeon couldn’t help but smile. In just a short time, he truly felt like a member of the family. He was glad to be part of this place. And so the ten-year-old genius who entered the Namgung family finally came to fully think of it as his home.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
If you would like to support these translations or read advanced chapters, you can do so by unlocking them.
Your support will allow for the continued translation of this novel.
Schedule: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun.
Please review this novel @ NovelUpdate.
