The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 22

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 22

“What did you say?”

Namgung Mu-ryong asked with a very surprised face.

“From what I feel, this sword technique is one, but not one. At the same time, the movements feel very familiar…”

“Let me tell you a secret – the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique was created by combining two sword techniques you’ve already learned: the Changgung sword technique and the Daeyeon sword technique.”

“Ah!”

Ha Hyeon’s expression showed that he had realized something. Namgung Mu-ryong wasn’t surprised this time. Now he just waited with a pleased expression for Ha Hyeon’s next words.

“So that’s why it felt like two different sword techniques were joined together. But this… hmm…”

“Yes, quickly tell me what you’re thinking.”

Ha Hyeon was about to explain more but instead suddenly stood up from his seat, bowed deeply to Namgung Mu-ryong, and said:

“Grandfather, could you show it to me one more time? I think I can be certain if I see it once more.”

“Certain?”

“Yes. Certain about whether what I’m thinking of is correct.”

“Very well. Step back a bit.”

Namgung Mu-ryong gladly demonstrated the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique movements once more. Perhaps because he wanted to hear Ha Hyeon’s certainty as quickly as possible? Whether knowingly or not, the movements he demonstrated were slightly faster than the first time. However, those movements were bigger and clearer. It was his intention to help Ha Hyeon better absorb and analyze these movements.

“Now then. Have you figured it out?”

“Thank you, Grandfather! I think I need to think just a tiny bit more.”

Ha Hyeon, who immediately fell into thought, was smiling brightly as if something was very pleasing.

‘To be so delighted like that.’

In Namgung Mu-ryong’s eyes, Ha Hyeon’s current expression was like that of a child playing with toys. Had he ever seen someone enjoy martial arts this much? No, never before.

Namgung Mu-ryong shook his head internally. Although he himself would be second to none in being obsessed with martial arts, Ha Hyeon’s level of enjoyment in martial arts had already far surpassed his own.

Ha Hyeon, seemingly having finished thinking, opened his mouth to speak to Namgung Mu-ryong.

“I’m afraid words won’t fully convey my meaning – would it be alright if I demonstrate directly?”

“Go ahead.”

Swoosh

Ha Hyeon drew his sword. Then he began to demonstrate the movements.

Woong

Though it wasn’t as powerful an energy as Namgung Mu-ryong’s, perhaps thanks to absorbing the spirit medicine, an undeniable force flowed out.

“Huh?”

But the sword technique Ha Hyeon was demonstrating was strange. The beginning was clearly the same as the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique. Therefore, Namgung Mu-ryong thought that what Ha Hyeon claimed to have realized would be separating this technique into two parts. After all, the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique was created by combining the Changgung sword technique and the Daeyeon sword technique. And he thought Ha Hyeon might gain something from the two separated techniques. However, what Ha Hyeon was now demonstrating far exceeded Namgung Mu-ryong’s expectations.

“The Changgung Mu-ae sword technique?”

That’s right. The sword technique that Ha Hyeon was clumsily demonstrating was none other than the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique, which was practically the symbol of the Namgung family. Although the detailed movements and the technique of infusing internal energy were very inexperienced and awkward, the form and shape followed the path of the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique.

“How… how did you learn this technique?”

The Changgung Mu-ae sword technique was so advanced that even the Sword Saint couldn’t reach its peak, remaining at the eight-star level, but it had elevated him to the position of Sword Saint. Although Namgung Gi-hyeon and Namgung Gi-cheol were learning it too, they had just reached the level of two stars – it was an advanced technique at the beginning ascension level.

‘Did he learn the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique from the spirit just like the Changgung Daeyeon internal energy?’

Namgung Mu-ryong shook his head. Until recently, Ha Hyeon didn’t even know the Three Element sword technique. He had said that he first held a sword when he came to the Namgung family. Moreover, crucially, Namgung Yeong-ryeong had never received instruction in the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique.

‘That means…’

For now, Namgung Mu-ryong restrained his speculation and watched until the end of what Ha Hyeon was doing.

Whoosh

With a downward striking motion as the final movement, Ha Hyeon stopped his sword. Ha Hyeon’s expression showed some dissatisfaction.

“This is what I’ve got for now… I’ll need to research a bit more.”

“Tell me more in detail. How did you perform this technique? Where did you learn it?”

Ha Hyeon shook his head.

“I haven’t learned it anywhere. However…”

“However?”

“Although I don’t know which ancestor created the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique, I thought about why they would create such an uncomfortable sword technique.”

“Uncomfortable sword technique?”

Instead of answering, Ha Hyeon held up his sword and demonstrated one movement. It was a sword technique with large, flowing movements as if trying to slice the sky itself.

“This is the Changgung sword technique.”

“That’s right.”

And this time it was a slower technique, but one that tried to incorporate subtle changes in each movement.

“And this is the Daeyeon sword technique.”

Namgung Mu-ryong silently nodded.

“I think the ancestor wanted to combine two techniques with clear individual strengths into one, creating a technique that was both flowing and fast while full of subtle changes. The Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique appears to be the first attempt at this.”

Namgung Mu-ryong was now listening intently to Ha Hyeon’s words.

“However, it seems the ancestor wasn’t planning to be satisfied with just that. I came to think that they wanted to create a technique that made the awkward parts more natural, removed unnecessary elements, and was most concise and fast while containing subtle changes within it.”

“So, you’re saying that’s what the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique achieved?”

“Yes, although I didn’t know the name of the technique.”

In his eighty years of life, this was the most surprised Namgung Mu-ryong had ever been. Even more than when the former Sado Ryeonju launched a surprise attack from the darkness during the Jeongsa Battle.

“You mean to say that you deduced the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique from the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique?”

“Yes. But I’m still very lacking. I can’t grasp how the movements should progress after this point. It seems I haven’t reached that level yet, so my vision isn’t clear enough. Thank you, grandfather. I now have another reason to work harder.”

Although Ha Hyeon bowed his head in gratitude, Namgung Mu-ryong gave no response. The reason for his surprise wasn’t because Ha Hyeon had shown something amazing. The real reason was the paradigm shift in realizing that while he knew the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique had evolved from the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique, he had never once thought about what the ancestor who created this martial art had been thinking when developing it.

‘Ah, when I was stuck with the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique, I should have looked back at the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique. No, can I really say that I’ve mastered both the Changgung sword technique and the Daeyeon sword technique perfectly?’

Namgung Mu-ryong felt something like a storm rising within his heart. This sensation was one he had felt several times during his decades of martial arts training. He used to call this sensation:

‘Enlightenment.’

Namgung Mu-ryong began swinging his sword in the training ground as if in a trance, as if Ha Hyeon wasn’t even there. He started with the Changgung Sword Technique, immediately followed by the Daeyeon sword technique. And without pause, he continued into the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique he had shown Ha Hyeon twice just moments ago.

‘Ah…!’

Ha Hyeon was internally expressing constant amazement while watching Namgung Mu-ryong. Though it was clearly the same martial art as his own, the difference between Namgung Mu-ryong’s martial arts and his own was truly like heaven and earth.

Grip!

Ha Hyeon unconsciously clenched his fist tightly. As a pure martial artist, Ha Hyeon felt the desire to catch up to his grandfather.

Thump

After finishing all the movements of the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique, Namgung Mu-ryong sat down cross-legged.

‘When Father passed down the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique, he said this technique valued fundamentals above all else.’

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that his father’s words created the current atmosphere in the Namgung family where they were almost obsessed with fundamentals. The Sword Saint’s father wasn’t as strong as the current Sword Saint. Therefore, the emphasis on fundamentals must have been passed down from distant ancestors rather than something he learned through personal experience.

‘I had misunderstood those fundamentals. When I tried to find the answer only within the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique, the answer remained distant. In the end, everything is connected.’

He objectively observed his own state. And now, when he thought about what he hadn’t understood in the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique by connecting it with the Daeyeon sword technique…

‘Ah! To think it was this simple!’

He gained a small enlightenment. In sword techniques, variation isn’t about making more flashy and impressive moves against the opponent. It’s simply about deceiving the opponent for even just a moment. That is the meaning of creating variation.

Flash

Namgung Mu-ryong opened his eyes. He took up his sword and slowly began to demonstrate the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique. The movements were very slow but precise. Although this was a sword path he had repeated hundreds, thousands of times, he swung his sword carefully as if this was his first time.

‘Was there ever a reason for the sword technique to be flashy?’

The sword should find the shortest distance to reach the opponent, and variation only needs the blink of an eye. His sword would be faster than the blink of an eye.

Abandoning flashiness made the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique appear plain at first glance. But whether the sword technique is flashy or plain, being struck by the blade means having your neck pierced all the same.

Swoosh!

Abandoning flashiness brought out the sharpness instead. He could now use his strength and energy more efficiently, without losing power trying to dazzle the opponent’s eyes with flourishing sword movements.

‘The essence of sword technique is ultimately to kill the opponent.’

Namgung Mu-ryong continued swinging his sword while barely holding back an inexplicable urge to smile endlessly. Slowly and carefully, just like when he first received instruction in the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique.

Swish- Swoosh- Swoosh-

Only the sound of the sharp sword cutting through the air echoed throughout the training ground.

How much time had passed? Finally, Namgung Mu-ryong’s sword stopped. The first thing Namgung Mu-ryong did after elegantly sheathing his sword was laugh.

“Ha… Haha… Hahahaha.”

After stopping his sword technique, Namgung Mu-ryong burst into laughter.

Twenty years. After twenty long years, he had finally advanced from the eight-star level to the nine-star level in the Changgung Mu-ae sword technique.

“To think I wasted twenty years on something like this.”

That’s how it always is. When you can’t overcome a wall, it looks as tall as Mount Tai, but once you’ve crossed it, it seems like nothing at all.

Namgung Mu-ryong quickly turned his head to look for Ha Hyeon.

“Hyeon.”

“Grandfather, congratulations.”

“Hahaha.”

Ha Hyeon was standing guard with his sword drawn, having learned this protective stance from somewhere. Namgung Mu-ryong strode over to Ha Hyeon and embraced him tightly.

“You truly are a blessing. Thanks to you, I’ve realized it.”

“Not at all. Even without me, grandfather, you would have surely gained this insight soon.”

Although it might have been uncomfortable since Namgung Mu-ryong hugged him tightly, Ha Hyeon remained still in his embrace. Looking at Ha Hyeon in his arms, only these three characters appeared in Namgung Mu-ryong’s mind: ‘Great Grandmaster. This child has the qualities to become a Great Grandmaster.’

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