The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 27

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 27

A few days later, Ha Hyeon prepared to demonstrate the Moonlight Sword Technique to his grandfather for the first time. Although he desperately wanted to show it the very next day, he took time to organize the parts he didn’t fully understand himself, leading to today’s demonstration.

Slash-!

Ha Hyeon’s sword cut through empty space like lightning splitting the sky. The sword swept down with such force that it seemed capable of cleaving anything in its path.

“Huff-!”

As the sword was about to touch the ground, Ha Hyeon exhaled deeply, spinning his body once to raise the sword back up from its downward trajectory.

“Hooh……”

Namgung Mu-ryong couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.

Currently, Ha Hyeon was exclusively using one edge of the sword, essentially performing saber techniques. However, Namgung Mu-ryong’s amazement wasn’t simply due to Ha Hyeon’s saber techniques.

‘To think the Honwon Lightning Saber could be like this….’

Namgung Mu-ryong recalled the Honwon Lightning Saber technique his friend Do-je had once shown him. It was one of the Paeng family’s absolute martial arts that had been lost over generations. They had decided to send Paeng Heon-hong to study at the Namgung family after concluding that clues to its recovery might be found in sword techniques.

‘To find clues this quickly…’

Even he, known as the Sword Saint, hadn’t expected to contemplate the Honwon Lightning Saber this soon. They hadn’t factored in Ha Hyeon’s existence when deciding to invite Heon-hong to the Namgung family.

Yet they couldn’t send Paeng Heon-hong back to the Northern Paeng family now. Inviting him to the Namgung family wasn’t just about reconstructing the Honwon Lightning Saber – it was also to separate him from the Paeng family head’s older sons who would stop at nothing to become the next head.

Whoosh-! Whish-!

Even as Namgung Mu-ryong was lost in thought, Ha Hyeon’s sword continued moving relentlessly. Though it moved like saber techniques, what Ha Hyeon wielded was clearly sword techniques. The advantage of a sword is the ability to use both edges. Ha Hyeon occasionally used the less-utilized opposite edge to target openings.

‘Between saber and sword techniques… no, it’s too harmonious to describe it that way.’

The reason most martial artists don’t use swords for saber techniques is simple. The sword is too thin to execute the powerful, aggressive moves common in saber techniques. The saber isn’t just for cutting – it involves many powerful striking motions unsuitable for swords.

However, swords have their own advantage: the ability to thrust. Thrusting presents a smaller target area and allows for the shortest path to attack the enemy, making it highly effective. Yet Ha Hyeon had created sword techniques that encompassed both advantages, as if he had long trained in saber techniques.

“Whew…. This is all for now.”

“……”

Having completed his planned forms, Ha Hyeon waited for Namgung Mu-ryong’s response. But Namgung Mu-ryong remained silent for a while. He unconsciously clenched his trembling fists.

‘Incredible talent. Even talent is insufficient to describe it.’

Though he had known Ha Hyeon was an unparalleled genius, today’s display stirred something different within him.

“Yes. Well done.”

Namgung Mu-ryong finally spoke. Ha Hyeon, who had been anxious during the silence, finally broke into a bright smile. Namgung Mu-ryong almost chuckled at the sight but quickly regained his composure.

“However, there are still many unpolished areas. I have some thoughts, so let’s examine them one by one.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“And while training in this Moonlight Sword Technique, you must not neglect the Changgung mu-ae Technique. Never forget that our roots lie in the Namgung family.”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Namgung Mu-ryong couldn’t help but pat the head of Ha Hyeon, who nodded solemnly.

“First, take the initial form. Striking so deeply there will consume excessive internal energy protecting the sword. You need to cut more shallowly, but sharply.”

“Yes!”

Their training continued afterward. Creating and mastering a new sword technique wasn’t easy, but Ha Hyeon accomplished this difficult task steadily. Namgung Mu-ryong generously passed on everything he had experienced and realized, and time flowed by.

Namgung Min, another genius of the Namgung family and already known in the martial arts world as a rising star, had become the youngest elite member in Namgung family history. Though he had focused more on actual missions than training, he recently rekindled his passion for martial arts and devoted himself to training day and night.

While not neglecting physical training, his main focus was meditation combined with breathing exercises. These meditation sessions always ended with imaginary duels against martial artists in his mind.

Flinch-

As the imaginary duel intensified, Namgung Min’s body twitched as if he were actually fighting. One, two……

The evil men and demon leaders from the dark faction whom Namgung Min had encountered during his missions passed by in succession, their forms merging into one until finally taking the shape of a single person.

‘Ha Hyeon.’

Surprisingly, that opponent was Ha Hyeon. But it wasn’t just Ha Hyeon – it was a grown version of him.

Snicker-

Namgung Min couldn’t help but laugh at the sight. Though it was his own imagination, something about seeing a grown version of Ha Hyeon, who usually followed his older brothers around cutely, struck him as funny. However, he quickly wiped the smile off his face and looked at Ha Hyeon seriously again, because Ha Hyeon’s talent and skill were real.

“Whew-“

A moment later, Namgung Min finished the mental duel and rose from his seat with a deep sigh. Though it was only an imaginary duel, his body was drenched in sweat from the mental exertion. Only he would know the result of that duel.

“That’s enough… for today.”

Namgung Min changed out of his sweat-soaked clothes and stepped outside to find a snack. As soon as he left, he ran into someone at the door.

“Brother.”

“Hwan, what brings you here?”

“I was worried I’d forget your face, so I came to visit. Would you like to have some tea?”

“Haha. Indeed. It does feel like it’s been a long time.”

Namgung Min led Namgung Hwan to the tea room with an awkward smile. As he skillfully brewed the tea, Namgung Hwan spoke with his characteristically bright expression.

“I thought you had gone on a distant mission. You’re rarely seen even within the family.”

“That’s because I haven’t been showing up even for meals.”

“Yes. I heard you were training…”

Namgung Hwan glanced at Namgung Min and shuddered.

‘Was Brother Min’s aura always this powerful?’

You see what you know, as they say. This applies to the martial arts world too. The higher one’s level, the easier it becomes to gauge others’ abilities. Namgung Hwan had grown rapidly in the few months since beginning training with Ha Hyeon. Perhaps that’s why he could now see things he couldn’t before. Previously, he had only vaguely thought Min was strong, but this felt different.

‘A feeling of… endlessness.’

Like staring into a bottomless pit.

“Hwan. I see you’ve achieved great things. Congratulations. I’ve been too negligent of you.”

“Not at all. Rather, you’re the one who… has achieved something.”

Namgung Min responded with a slight smile while pouring tea into Namgung Hwan’s cup. Then he returned Hwan’s question with another:

“You seemed uninterested in training before, but lately you appear to be working hard. Did something change?”

This time, Namgung Hwan responded by pouring tea into Namgung Min’s cup. Min smiled brightly and said:

“It’s Ha Hyeon, isn’t it?”

“Haha. Yes. These days I train with Ha Hyeon and So-hwa every evening. Though I’m older, I’m learning a lot.”

“At that training ground from before.”

Namgung Min recalled when he met Ha Hyeon, when he first showed him the Three Elements Sword Technique.

“Yes. Ah, recently Heon-hong, Ha Hyeon’s peer who was promoted to formal member, has been training with us too.”

“Ah. You mean the Paeng family head’s youngest son?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Min nodded. He thought Ha Hyeon had some kind of magnetic charm that drew people to him.

“Actually… I’ve been quite inspired too. When I watch Ha Hyeon, something in my heart stirs and I can’t help but train.”

Namgung Hwan smiled lightly in agreement and said:

“I think I understand that feeling. But I’m surprised you felt that way too, brother.”

“Haha. Is that so? Ha Hyeon is just a special child.”

Namgung Hwan studied Min’s face carefully as he said this, but saw no trace of envy or jealousy. His expression was extremely bright and somehow unburdened.

“Brother, you seem to be in a good mood.”

“Do I?”

Namgung Min unconsciously touched his face. He hadn’t realized it himself, but noticed his lips had curled up into a smile.

“I suppose so.”

Namgung Min broke into a full smile. Though Namgung Hwan himself was considered one of the most handsome men around, when Min smiled like that, it felt as if a pleasant breeze was blowing through the room despite all windows being closed.

“Hwan, do you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“Four years… no, five years ago. When I told you about my dream.”

“Your dream? Ah…! Could it be?”

“Yes.”

“When I opposed you for the first time, brother?”

“Haha. That’s right.”

Namgung Min and Namgung Hwan recalled the past.

‘Hwan. I want to wander the world, unbound by family.’

But that dream was impossible to achieve.

Currently, the Namgung family wielded enormous influence not just in the Martial Alliance… but in the entire martial arts world. Namgung Min was the likely next head of the Namgung family… and the position of family head wasn’t one that could be easily vacated.

When Namgung Hwan heard this, he opposed Namgung Min for the first time in his life. He couldn’t understand how Namgung Min, who possessed both the sparkling talent and position that others could only dream of, could say such things. But soon after, they came to understand each other.

As Namgung Hwan hesitated to speak about that conversation, Namgung Min spoke casually:

“Hwan. I was sincere back then. And… that feeling hasn’t changed.”

Min continued with a somewhat bitter expression.

“I just hid those intentions because I couldn’t disappoint Grandfather.”

“Brother….”

Hwan trailed off, looking at him with sympathy.

“But lately, I feel like that dream might be achievable.”

“Perhaps… Ha Hyeon?”

“Yes. Even I can see that Ha Hyeon has superior talent to mine.”

Namgung Min grinned. Though saying Ha Hyeon was better than himself wasn’t something to smile about, he seemed genuinely pleased.

Namgung Hwan stood up abruptly, unable to contain himself. He couldn’t easily accept what Min had just said.

“Brother! Are you saying… you want to make Ha Hyeon the family head?”

“Yes. That’s why I plan to help Ha Hyeon with all my might. If you’re alright with it, of course.”

Namgung Hwan stared at Min’s calm face before slumping back into his chair.

“Honestly, I have no interest in becoming family head. Never did, never will. But Ha Hyeon isn’t from the main family…”

“He’s our brother and Grandfather’s grandson. That’s enough legitimacy. However…”

“However?”

Namgung Min spoke with a resolute expression, as if having sorted out all his thoughts:

“It might be difficult for Ha Hyeon to achieve this alone. That’s why we need to help him. I will make Ha Hyeon the family head.”

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