The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 12

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 12

Several days had passed since Namgung Min’s visit, but the daily routine of the Blue dragon pavilion disciples remained the same.

Training, and more training.

The only change was that they had graduated from punching practice and were now endlessly swinging wooden swords.

‘I thought things would be different once we held swords.’

Though everyone maintained composed expressions while swinging their swords, honestly, it was just as grueling as before.

Tak- Tak- Tak

The current training was virtually identical to the previous punching practice. This was because they were practicing slashing through the same point repeatedly with their swords. Just like the punching practice where they had to hit the same spot even after a hundred punches, this training required them to cut through the same spot even after a thousand sword strikes.

While it might seem simple and crude, there was no better method for building fundamentals. The only flaw was that it was mind-numbingly tedious.

But there are always exceptions.

While everyone else found it tedious, Ha Hyeon was enjoying this moment.

‘Maybe because I haven’t swung a sword much, I keep deviating by half a fingernail’s width. Let me concentrate more. Yes! Now it’s becoming more accurate.’

Though mentioned earlier that it was the same training, the difficulty between throwing a punch and swinging a sword was quite different. While they say you should handle a sword like your own body, strictly speaking, a sword isn’t part of your body. Swinging a sword didn’t succeed immediately as Ha Hyeon had hoped. Rather, gradually becoming proficient at something that couldn’t be mastered immediately. This gave Ha Hyeon an incredible sense of achievement and enjoyment.

And thanks to Ha Hyeon’s rapid progress, Namgung Gyu-hyeon lately felt satisfied even without eating.

‘This kid is indeed the real deal. He might even become the youngest person ever to skip grades.’

The Blue dragon pavilion classified its martial artists into three main ranks.

First were the trainees who, after passing the initial entrance exam, spent 3-5 years learning martial arts basics and training their bodies and energy centers before learning formal techniques. Next were the Blue dragon pavilion members who, after completing basic training, were officially recognized as family members and began learning the Namgung family’s martial arts. Finally, there were the elite members who completed their training and entered the martial world, handling both family and martial world affairs. If they chose to remain with the Namgung family for life, they could be granted the surname ‘Namgung.’

However, there were no absolute time requirements for these ranks.

The Blue dragon pavilion’s system allowed advancement to member or even elite member status at any time, provided one had sufficient skill. For example, Namgung Hwan became a member in two years, and Namgung Min took only one year to advance from trainee to member, and another two years to become an elite member.

Some might question whether they really teach the Namgung family’s martial arts once someone becomes a member. But this was precisely the main reason why the Namgung family had far surpassed other families. Unlike other families who declined due to their closed operation and limited transmission of family techniques to only family members and some relatives, the Namgung family began developing rapidly after establishing the Blue dragon pavilion. This resulted in adding the term “One Family” to the “Nine Schools and One Faction” to create “Nine Schools, One Faction, and One Family.”

‘Moreover, he can already control his internal energy freely.’

Namgung Gyu-hyeon recalled his shock from just a few days ago when he tried to teach Ha Hyeon the Three Elements Mind Technique. To think he was already learning the Sky-Reaching Great Refinement Energy Technique instead. An ordinary ten-year-old… no, even mature Blue dragon pavilion members would struggle to grasp the meaning and significance of those techniques. There was a reason they taught the Three Elements Mind Technique first, rather than immediately teaching more powerful techniques. One needed to become very proficient in moving internal energy with the Three Elements Mind Technique before gradually understanding its concepts.

“Ha Hyeon. You can stop now and come here.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon called out to Ha Hyeon, who was swinging his wooden sword as if possessed.

“Yes, Master.”

“You seem to have become quite familiar with cutting already.”

“It’s thanks to your good teaching.”

Despite his young age, Ha Hyeon was humble. Though his future development was uncertain, his attitude of constantly humbling himself and seeking knowledge was a good condition for becoming a great martial artist.

“If you’re bored with cutting, we can move on to the next step. Next is downward strikes. I don’t need to teach you the technique, right?”

Ha Hyeon nodded. And naturally realized.

‘This is an extension of the Three Elements Sword Technique.’

What Namgung Gyu-hyeon emphasized more than ten times a day. It was the repetition of fundamentals.

“Yes. Thank you, Master. The next will be thrusting, right?”

“Correct.”

“I understand. From today, may I borrow a wooden sword after training is finished?”

“Hmm… Alright. Take the one you’re using now.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon permitted after a moment’s consideration. However, he didn’t forget to add one more thing.

“Remember that rest is also part of training. Achievement doesn’t come just from blindly increasing training time.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

But Namgung Gyu-hyeon knew well. That Ha Hyeon wouldn’t actually listen to his words. There were a few things he had learned from his long life in the Namgung family.

‘There must be something in the Namgung blood. When direct lineage blood is mixed in, they become so stubborn.’

But being stubborn also means eventually achieving what one intends. He briefly thought that this stubbornness might have created today’s Namgung family. When his thoughts reached this point, he naturally recalled other direct Namgung family members. Namgung Hwan and Namgung Min, who were recently training as if on fire. Starting with their meeting with Ha Hyeon, their passion for martial arts had rekindled, and they were focusing solely on training day and night.

“Everyone, today’s training ends here. Tomorrow we’ll continue the same training until it’s perfect, so be aware. Good work.”

Namgung Gyu-hyeon announced to everyone and left the training ground. Namgung So-hwa approached Ha Hyeon, who was preciously holding his borrowed wooden sword.

“I hear you train every night too?”

“Yes, sister.”

“Aren’t you tired of doing this training?”

“Hmm… it is tedious.”

Namgung So-hwa’s eyes widened. She had actually expected him to say it wasn’t tedious.

“Then why do you work so hard?”

“Well, because Master said the basics we’re learning now are the most important for mastering martial arts.”

“That’s why you’re training like your life depends on it?”

“Yes. That’s all there is to it.”

So-hwa made an incredulous expression.

“Are you maybe an idiot? No… seeing how you memorize everything at once, you definitely can’t be an idiot. Would you die if Master told you to die?”

“First, Master wouldn’t give such a foolish order. And if it would help strengthen my martial arts… I might at least try.”

Ha Hyeon said with a bright smile as if it wasn’t a big deal. In about five years… no, three or four years, it would be a spring breeze-like smile that could captivate women’s hearts, but to Namgung So-hwa, it just looked like the face of someone who had lost their mind.

“Let’s stop talking! Are you heading back to the pavilion now?”

“Yeah, that’s the plan.”

“Good. Let’s go together.”

Somehow they had become so close that So-hwa took care of Ha Hyeon like her own younger brother, and Ha Hyeon followed her well like an older sister. Moreover, So-hwa was also receiving significant motivation from Ha Hyeon.

“Will you train in the empty space behind that pavilion today too?”

“Probably? It’s the only place I know well.”

“Why don’t you know others? The family compound is so vast, there are countless spaces that size.”

“Ah, it’s so big that I haven’t explored it yet.”

“What? You mean since coming here, you’ve only gone between the pavilion and this training ground? Never went anywhere else?”

When Ha Hyeon nodded, Namgung So-hwa clutched her chest in exasperation.

“Oh my, alright. My mistake. This level of dedication is needed to say you can beat Brother Min, while I’ve just been talking big and slacking off in training.”

Ha Hyeon just gave a slight smile without responding to So-hwa’s words, which made her even more frustrated, but what could she do? What she had just said was true.

“I’ll come out today too.”

“Okay.”

“Master said that after we finish basic training, he’ll teach us proper sword technique forms.”

“Really?”

Ha Hyeon, who had been responding calmly until now, showed his first big reaction. Seeing this, So-hwa shook her head and casually confirmed it while walking away.

After that, So-hwa began joining Ha Hyeon’s night training.

Though So-hwa initially struggled to keep up with Ha Hyeon’s training volume, isn’t adaptability one of the most important virtues for martial artists? After about seven days and nights, So-hwa was starting to enjoy the training. The greatest joy came especially from that achievement. As training progressed and achievements became visible, it became impossible not to go out at night. Of course, when training with Ha Hyeon like this… although there were occasional feelings of frustration.

Next to So-hwa, who was repeatedly striking down, Ha Hyeon was taking the basic stance of the Three Elements Sword Technique. After showing above-average achievement in thrusting over ten days, Ha Hyeon had finally finished preparing mentally to unfold the Three Elements Sword Technique.

‘That was definitely the wind.’

Ha Hyeon slowly moved the sword while recalling Namgung Min’s Three Elements Sword Technique. Even now, Namgung Min’s Three Elements Sword Technique remains vivid. No, rather than just remembering what was seen with the eyes, he remembered that energy, that wind he felt then.

‘Yes. Now I understand. Cutting is not just the act of swinging the sword horizontally. It’s about riding that flow.’

Ha Hyeon’s sword moved slowly from right to left. It wasn’t about forcefully drawing out internal energy to swing the sword. As the sword rode the wind, the internal energy naturally flowed out.

Whoosh

The sword, full of vital energy, flowed with a magnificent sound. And the sword that ended on the left was suddenly raised above the head. It was natural, just as the wind makes no sound when it moves.

‘Next. Mountain Pressing.’

The downward movement from above was a different wind from the one that was riding the wind just now. If Horizontal Small Heaven Force was like a gentle breeze flowing naturally, Mountain Pressing was like a strong wind that seemed about to uproot trees.

Kwang!

The sword fell in an instant as if lightning had struck. Unlike its grandiose technique name suggesting pressing down a mountain, Mountain Pressing is a technique that even third-rate warriors can commonly learn. However, Ha Hyeon’s Mountain Pressing was different. While it might not press down an actual mountain, it had enough force to certainly press down anyone who tried to block his sword.

‘Finally, Eight Directional Wind and Rain is, a storm!’

Swoosh!

Though it was just for a moment, a storm was recreated in Ha Hyeon’s hands. The thrusting in eight directions, which appeared to happen in an instant, reminded one of a whirlwind. And at that moment, as if Ha Hyeon had caused it, wind blew in from somewhere, rustling the leaves and disheveling hair.

“No way, what just…”

So-hwa stopped her training and stared blankly at Ha Hyeon, unconsciously surprised because Ha Hyeon’s form was so magnificent and beautiful. But Ha Hyeon collapsed with a thud.

“Oh my, this seems to be my limit. The rest I could do, but internal energy just won’t work? Though I barely managed to finish…”

Originally planning to maintain the thrusting while spinning more than two rounds to recreate a real storm, Ha Hyeon’s only weakness, lack of internal energy, had caught up again. Actually, since internal energy is something that time can resolve, it’s debatable whether to call it a weakness.

“What martial art was that just now?”

“This… it’s the Three Elements Sword Technique?”

“Three Elements Sword Technique? No, how is that the Three Elements Sword Technique? Especially the last part…”

So-hwa couldn’t finish speaking. Because she realized that the martial art Ha Hyeon had displayed was indeed the Three Elements Sword Technique.

“This is too unfair.”

“What is?”

“I don’t know! Don’t talk to me while training from now on!”

So-hwa returned to her spot and began striking down with the sword. She was much more focused than before. Ha Hyeon also smiled gently at So-hwa and immersed himself back in training.