The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 41

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family
Chapter 41

Shortly after the meeting at the Murim Alliance, they publicly announced Hwanhyun Gate’s actions to the martial arts world and strengthened their vigilance against the evil sect leaders.

However, they excluded any mention of the Soul absorbing Demonic Art or the Demonic cult in this announcement to prevent major chaos in the martial arts world.

Through this process, Ha Hyeon naturally learned that while this incident could be related to the Demonic cult, it was ultimately separate from the annihilation of the Shin family.

But contrary to expectations that he would be shaken by this, he remained calm.

‘If the annihilation of small factions has stopped, that’s actually a good thing.’

He swallowed even the slight regret he had and sincerely thought it was fortunate.

Thinking it’s unfortunate that he couldn’t find traces of the Demonic cult because no blood calamity occurred would be too disrespectful and insulting to those who had died.

A normal ten-year-old child might have had such immature thoughts.

But Ha Hyeon matured faster than his peers after experiencing things no ordinary child could go through.

Moreover, coming to the Namgung family to learn martial arts and receiving plenty of love helped him develop the right mindset.

Although Ha Hyeon didn’t show any signs of disappointment, Namgung Mu-ryong told him out of concern:

‘Those Demonic cult bastards will extend their evil hands to the martial arts world eventually. Wait for that time.’

Ha Hyeon engraved his grandfather’s words in his heart.

He thought the best thing he could do was trust them and build up his own strength.

And as he strived not to waste even a minute or second, time passed as swiftly as an arrow released from a bow.

* * *

“What’s wrong with these kids these days?”

Namgung Hwan was having trouble adapting to the recent sudden changes.

After returning from her first mission, So-hwa suddenly became determined and devoted herself frantically to martial arts training, and Paeng Heon-hong had been following Ha Hyeon around while training intensely.

As for Ha Hyeon… well, needless to say, he was training like his life depended on it.

“Ah, I don’t know. It feels like I’ll be considered strange if I’m the only one not working hard here.”

So Namgung Hwan also became diligent in his training.

Before realizing the gap with Namgung Min during her first mission last time, Namgung So-hwa had acutely realized the gap with Ha Hyeon.

So she didn’t just stop at training hard, but started to copy Ha Hyeon’s every move.

“Ha Hyeon! What are you going to do now? It doesn’t seem like you’re going to train as usual.”

“Me? I’m going to run now.”

“Run?”

So-hwa tilted her head.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the meaning of running.

She just hadn’t heard of martial artists doing running training.

“Yes. Elder Chwiwol Geolgae said that running without using inner energy helps a lot in building waist and lower body strength.”

“Really? Then I’ll run too.”

“Really? I’m planning to run for quite a while.”

So-hwa’s brows furrowed slightly.

When the word “quite a while” comes from Ha Hyeon’s mouth, it really means quite a while.

“It’s, it’s fine.”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Yes! Let’s go!”

So-hwa said deliberately cheerfully.

Ha Hyeon looked at her and smirked before casually walking out of the training ground.

“Ha Hyeon, So-hwa. Can I come too?”

At that moment, Paeng Heon-hong, who had been diligently practicing sword techniques in the corner, asked while sheathing his sword.

“Brother Paeng? Sure. Come along!”

“No, sister, why are you deciding on your own…”

“What? Do you have a problem with that?”

“Well, not really.”

“Then we can do it together. Come quickly, Brother Paeng.”

And So-hwa shouted at Namgung Hwan, who was pretending not to notice them.

“Brother Hwan! Aren’t you coming?”

“Why should I?”

“Why are you pretending you can’t hear? Aren’t you going to train?”

“Can’t you see I’m deeply focused on practicing the Changgung Sword Technique?”

As Namgung Hwan pretended to train by swinging his sword in the air, So-hwa put her hands on her hips and said meaningfully.

“Should I tell father?”

“Hah… So-hwa.”

“Alright then. Keep practicing your ‘Changgung Sword Technique’ diligently, brother. I’ll be going.”

“Ah, So-hwa!”

So-hwa quickly left the training ground, and Ha Hyeon and Paeng Heon-hong gave Namgung Hwan a sympathetic look before following her out.

Namgung Hwan stood frozen as if time had stopped for a moment, but eventually shouted and followed them.

“I’ll go too! Me too!”

They ran several laps around the estate for two hours straight, literally until they tasted blood in their mouths, without using any inner energy.

It was somewhat expected that Namgung Hwan would drop out first, and So-hwa endured with sheer willpower and ran together until Ha Hyeon stopped.

After this day, they continued running for a minimum of two hours, sometimes up to four hours daily.

Although Ha Hyeon hadn’t intended it, this training method gradually spread throughout the Namgung family, and the number of people who joined them in running increased… This was how the Thousand-Li Run, which would later become the most dreaded training for Blue Dragon Pavilion trainees, came to be.

* * *

As they bustled about, clashed, and trained together like this, Paeng Heon-hong gradually became more similar to the Namgung family people… specifically, those siblings.

To be honest, it would be a lie to say that Paeng Heon-hong didn’t feel jealous or envious of Ha Hyeon.

Separate from revering Ha Hyeon as his savior, he agonized over why he didn’t have such talent.

At the very beginning of his training, he had the biggest question.

‘How can Senior Namgung Hwan and Namgung So-hwa act so unbothered?’

It’s true that humans can’t separate themselves from jealousy and envy.

Even high monks who have served Buddha for decades struggle most with distancing themselves from jealousy and envy.

However, after training together for nearly six months, he finally understood Namgung Hwan and So-hwa.

‘They use this jealousy towards Ha Hyeon as nourishment for their own growth.’

That’s how it was.

No matter how good the family atmosphere is, or how much they were raised with love from childhood, it’s nonsense to say they don’t know jealousy when born human.

But they clearly engraved two things in their hearts.

First, victory gained by bringing down or tripping up others is meaningless.

And second, the progressive mindset of believing they too can grow just as much, no matter how unreachable the other person seems.

In other words, their feelings of jealousy and envy became the driving force that made them move forward more.

In fact, he just realized that these two ways of thinking had been emphasized since Namgung Mu-ryong became the family head.

Perhaps that’s why the Namgung family is what it is today.

‘Could our family become like this too?’

Paeng Heon-hong thought of the North Paeng family for a moment.

A place where you need power to be recognized more, and if your power is lacking, you try to exist at the top even if it means tearing others down.

It’s true that this culture has put the North Paeng family in their current position.

After all, competition is the biggest driving force for growth.

‘Was I truly happy there?’

However, he couldn’t say life there was happy at all.

Especially when you had outstanding talent like Paeng Heon-hong.

Thinking about his siblings who were less capable than others, he finally clenched his fists.

‘No, I have to make it that way. I will make the North Paeng family a place where everyone can be happy!’

He set his life goal.

He remembered some time in the past when his father had firmly grasped his hands and told him he had high expectations for him.

*Squeeze*

His hands gripping the sword tightened even more.

* * *

Ha Hyeon’s skills improved rapidly day by day.

Especially his achievement with the Moonlight Sword Technique, inspired by the Primordial Thunder Technique, was dazzling.

There’s a saying that martial artists should improve so much that when meeting again after three days, one must rub their eyes in disbelief.

However, Ha Hyeon’s achievements were so outstanding that he had to be seen differently not just every three days, but every single day.

Perhaps it’s natural that his mastery is outstanding since it’s a sword technique he created himself.

Moreover, Ha Hyeon wasn’t stingy about sharing his insights and martial arts.

He taught the Moonlight Sword Technique without hesitation to anyone who wanted to learn.

Of course, those who could learn it easily could be counted on one hand.

Among those who witnessed Ha Hyeon’s Moonlight Sword Technique was Namgung Min.

Namgung Min seemed quite shocked after seeing the sword technique that Ha Hyeon had created.

The look on Namgung Min’s face as he watched Ha Hyeon perform the Moonlight Sword Technique was similar to Ha Hyeon’s face when he first saw Namgung Min perform the Three Elements Sword Technique months ago.

One of admiration, shock, and a hint of envy.

A wall.

Looking at Ha Hyeon, Namgung Min thought of a wall.

For him, who was called a once-in-a-millennium genius, this was the first wall he had ever encountered.

Even during training sessions with his uncle and master Namgung Gi-cheol, he was thinking about Ha Hyeon.

“You’re not focusing at all today.”

Namgung Gi-cheol’s sharp voice was heard.

Namgung Min hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“I apologize, Master.”

“Why? Are you troubled by inner demons?”

“No.”

“There’s no need to deny it. Having inner demons doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.”

Despite usually being strict with Namgung Min, Namgung Gi-cheol’s voice was somehow gentle today.

“Among your peers… no, even among martial artists several years above you, there was no one who could match you. Especially in terms of talent and future potential, not current ability.”

This time, Namgung Min nodded readily.

“It might sound arrogant, but I’ve never once thought my talents were lacking since I was born.”

“It’s not arrogant. That’s the truth.”

“However, after meeting Ha Hyeon and spending time with him, I feel increasingly insignificant. I wonder if I really believed this level of talent was the best…”

Namgung Min continued with a bitter expression.

“And when I have such thoughts, another thought follows. If I think like this, how must others see me? Won’t it seem like I’m deceiving them?”

Namgung Gi-cheol smirked at this serious situation.

He too thought, in a very small part, that Namgung Min was speaking from a position of privilege.

“I apologize for saying this in such a serious situation, but I find it amusing. Because I heard what you just said not too long ago.”

“Not too long ago?”

“Yes. Just a few months ago.”

“Who was it?”

“It was Hwan.”

“Ah…”

Namgung Min made a troubled expression.

Namgung Hwan was not just his cousin but also Namgung Gi-cheol’s own son.

He figured it wouldn’t feel good for him to directly talk about his son.

But Namgung Gi-cheol’s expression wasn’t bad.

No, he seemed rather pleased.

“Hwan came to me after sparring with Ha Hyeon a few months ago.”

“Is that so?”

“And he told me honestly. He said he’d cleanly give up on what’s impossible and focus on what he can do.”

Namgung Gi-cheol patted Namgung Min’s shoulder, who couldn’t respond, and continued.

“It’s natural for you to worry and struggle. Accept all of it and make it your motivation.”

“Thank you, Master.”

“And I… think it’s fortunate for you that this didn’t come later.”

Namgung Gi-cheol gave Namgung Min the words he needed in the current situation.

‘Though he may not understand all my words right now, he’ll eventually overcome these inner demons.’

He thought this as he looked at Namgung Min again.

Just as he was about to say let’s end today’s training…

‘Huh?’

He unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.

While Namgung Min’s eyes had been anxious and complicated just moments ago, his face was now very calm.

‘Did he master his emotions in this short moment?’

Namgung Gi-cheol was once again surprised by Namgung Min.

After another brief moment, Namgung Min returned to his usual expression and smiled awkwardly as if embarrassed.

“Master, I apologize. I was troubled over absolutely nothing. I’m ashamed.”

“What do you mean?”

“How could I not realize something so simple – that Ha Hyeon’s outstanding talent has no effect on my training and achievements… I have much to learn.”

Watching Namgung Min bow his head, Namgung Gi-cheol soon made an expression of exasperation.

No matter how exceptional Ha Hyeon proved to be, in his eyes, Namgung Min was also a once-in-a-millennium genius of equal caliber.

“Until the Flash Thunder Thirteen Sword Thunder reaches its peak, I won’t turn my eyes to other martial arts. I will train harder, so please continue to guide me well.”

“Good. Since only you and I have learned the Heaven Thunder Emperor Divine Technique in our family, who else but me could help you? If Ha Hyeon catches up, you can just run ahead that much further.”

Namgung Min grinned.

He had caught onto Namgung Gi-cheol’s leading question.

“No. Ha Hyeon… no, no one is chasing after anyone, isn’t that right?”

Namgung Gi-cheol smiled back.

Namgung Min seemed to have completely shaken off his inner demons.

“Yes. That’s exactly it. No one is chasing or being chased. We’re all moving forward together. Just at slightly different speeds.”

“I’ve gained great insight.”

Someday, Ha Hyeon’s martial arts might surpass Namgung Min’s.

No, that day will definitely come.

But even when that day comes, Namgung Min will gladly accept and acknowledge that fact.

Even if such a thing happens, the fact that he is Namgung Min of the Namgung family will never change.

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