The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 42

The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family

Chapter 42

It had been exactly 2 years since Ha Hyeon came to the Namgung clan.

During that time, Ha Hyeon had accompanied them on several basic missions, successfully completing all of them.

The elite members of the Namgung clan who went on missions with Ha Hyeon all unanimously praised him.

“This child… is incredibly bright. He never forgets what he’s heard once.”

“He understood the martial principles I’ve trained my whole life in an instant… It feels like he stole them from me. Haha. But why do I feel so good about it?”

“Ha Hyeon cannot be explained just by his martial arts talent or intelligence. He must have been well educated by the clan leader – his manners are proper and his character is already excellent.”

While the reports from the martial artists to Namgung Mu-ryong might have seemed somewhat embarrassing, Namgung Mu-ryong secretly enjoyed hearing Ha Hyeon’s praises.

* * *

And on Ha Hyeon’s twelfth birthday.

Ha Hyeon sat facing his grandfather.

Recently, Namgung Mu-ryong hadn’t been teaching Ha Hyeon any new martial arts.

It had been a long time since Ha Hyeon had memorized all the techniques and forms he could learn after properly starting his training at the Namgung clan.

Therefore, when Ha Hyeon sat face to face with his grandfather like this, it was one of two cases.

Either they would share their insights and discuss swordsmanship… or Namgung Mu-ryong would teach Ha Hyeon the tea ceremony.

And today was time for the tea ceremony, the only teaching that Ha Hyeon disliked.

“Here. Drink.”

Even though Namgung Mu-ryong knew Ha Hyeon didn’t particularly enjoy it, he never skipped the tea ceremony sessions.

The Han people may skip meals, but they never skip tea.

Perhaps that’s why in the martial arts world, conversations between masters often take place over tea.

Namgung Mu-ryong didn’t want his grandson to be looked down upon in such situations.

“This tea is called White Down Silver Needles. It’s a precious tea that only comes from Zhenghe County in Fujian Province. Its silver-white color is characteristic. If you look closely, you can see white fuzz on the surface of the tea leaves.”

“Yes.”

“That’s why it’s called White Down Silver Needles. When you put the tea leaves in and pour hot water…”

When Namgung Mu-ryong put the leaves in the teapot and poured hot water, the tea leaves rose and fell in the hot water.

“Oh… The tea leaves are dancing.”

“Haha. Dancing? What an interesting expression. You’ll probably like this tea.”

When the tea had steeped properly, Ha Hyeon skillfully placed the tea strainer and poured the tea into the fairness cup before serving it in teacups, just as Namgung Mu-ryong had taught him.

His movements were practiced, as if he had done this many times before.

“Haha. You’re doing quite well now.”

“Hehe. Right?”

Regardless of whether Ha Hyeon was interested or not, he never forgot anything once he learned it, so he had already perfected the form of the tea ceremony.

Though it might be considered a minor issue that he still didn’t like tea.

As Ha Hyeon lifted his teacup, Namgung Mu-ryong first savored the tea, and Ha Hyeon followed, bringing the teacup to his lips.

His brows were slightly furrowed even before the tea entered his mouth, as if he had experienced the unpleasant taste many times before.

“Hmm?”

But Ha Hyeon’s expression brightened after tasting the tea.

Namgung Mu-ryong, who had been watching him closely, burst into laughter.

“See? You like this tea, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do.”

“This tea isn’t astringent and leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. I specially requested it from Hwiyeon thinking you would like it.”

“Ah, Uncle Hwiyeon!”

Ha Hyeon thought of Namgung Hwiyeon from the Blue dragon post.

It was as if his characteristically playful expression was floating in the teacup.

“From now on, I should prepare sweet teas like this too. Haha.”

“Didn’t you say you don’t like sweet tea, Grandfather?”

“That was when I was young, but lately I don’t mind it. I suppose tastes change with age.”

Namgung Mu-ryong’s eyebrows curved like half-moons.

In truth, he still didn’t particularly like sweet tea.

Ha Hyeon had already become such an important part of his life that he was willing to change his tea preferences that he had maintained throughout his life.

Namgung Mu-ryong watched with a smile as Ha Hyeon sipped the tea to his taste, then spoke.

“Ha Hyeon. It’s already been almost two years since you came here.”

“Indeed it has. Time seems to fly by so quickly.”

“Right? By the way, do you know about the agreement I made with the Moyong clan leader?”

“Agreement?”

Ha Hyeon thought carefully but couldn’t clearly remember anything.

“I made an agreement with him about a year ago. We agreed to have a clan war.”

“A clan war, you mean a war?”

“Haha. It’s not as serious as a war – we just agreed to have matches between direct descendants. Think of it as sparring matches.”

“I see.”

“I said I would visit the Moyong clan then, so we’ll need to go to the Moyong clan soon.”

A look of disappointment crossed Ha Hyeon’s face.

He was sad that he wouldn’t be able to see Namgung Mu-ryong for a while again.

Uncharacteristically pouting, Ha Hyeon said:

“Ah… So you’ll be away again.”

“Since Liaoning where the Moyong clan is located is quite far, that’s right. But there’s no need to rush, so I plan to go slowly and sightsee along the way.”

“I see.”

Ha Hyeon’s voice was dejected.

Seeing him looking like a rain-soaked puppy, Namgung Mu-ryong found it both cute and pitiful, so he decided to stop teasing.

“Why do you look so down? Do you dislike going to Liaoning that much?”

“What?”

“I was looking forward to going on a long trip with you for the first time, but if you dislike it that much, I guess I’ll have to revise the plans. I’ll have to leave you behind.”

Ha Hyeon frantically waved both hands and spoke:

“Ah! No. I want to go! I just assumed I wouldn’t be able to go…”

“Why did you think that?”

“Since you said it was matches between direct descendants, I naturally thought I would be excluded.”

Namgung Mu-ryong smiled gently and held Ha Hyeon’s hand.

This was also one of the reasons he brought up this conversation today.

To tell Ha Hyeon what he wanted to say next directly.

“Ha Hyeon… Look at me.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“Don’t forget. You are clearly my… our Namgung clan’s direct descendant.”

Ha Hyeon couldn’t respond, feeling choked up.

Namgung Mu-ryong gripped Ha Hyeon’s trembling hand tighter and spoke firmly:

“And, since we’re on the topic, there’s something I’ve wanted to ask you for a while.”

“Please… ask anything.”

Ha Hyeon barely managed to answer, swallowing the hot feeling rising in his throat.

Namgung Mu-ryong paused for a moment before speaking:

“Of course, you’re already my direct descendant, but… I want you to become a ‘Namgung.’ Would you consider living as Namgung Ha Hyeon from now on?”

“…!!”

The question of whether he would live as Namgung Ha Hyeon.

The meaning was actually very simple.

He wanted to bestow the Namgung surname upon Ha Hyeon.

Actually, it’s quite common for martial arts clans to bestow their surname upon someone.

Looking no further than the Namgung clan itself, there were Namgung Gyu-hyeon, Namgung Hwiyeon, Namgung Woojin, and others… There were quite a few cases of people who originally came from outside but decided to become full members of the Namgung clan, abandoning their original surnames to become members of the Namgung clan.

The Namgung clan doesn’t share all their family martial arts with everyone who enters the Blue Dragon Pavilion.

Even after becoming official members, martial artists who will only train here and pass through are taught only basic sword techniques.

The Clear Wind Sword technique and Sky Void Sword technique that Ha Hyeon first learned upon becoming an official member fall into this category.

Only those who decide to become full members of the Namgung clan and receive the Namgung surname are taught the true family martial arts.

Of course, Ha Hyeon’s case was completely different.

He had already learned the Changgung Daeyeon Refinement Energy technique and the Changgung Mu-ae Sword technique, which could be considered the clan’s secret arts.

‘Not Shin Ha Hyeon but Namgung Ha Hyeon…’

Ha Hyeon was lost in thought for a moment.

He looked back on his very short life.

Especially his memories of living in the Shin family mansion.

“Grandfather…”

Ha Hyeon called out unconsciously.

Instead of his usual respectful “Honorable Grandfather,” it was a voice that came straight from his heart.

“Ha Hyeon. You don’t have to answer right away. Tell me when your thoughts are sorted out.”

Namgung Mu-ryong gave Ha Hyeon a slight smile.

For a moment, he felt guilty, thinking he had forced a cruel choice on a child.

To his grandfather feeling this way, Ha Hyeon gave a sorrowful smile.

“No. Thank you so much. I’m really happy. Grandfather.”

Ha Hyeon gave his grandfather a tight hug.

“Can I think about it a little more and come back? Ah, I don’t mean I don’t want to…”

“No. I understand everything. Then let’s end here for today. I won’t mention this matter separately until you speak of it, so whenever you decide, please tell me.”

“Thank you.”

Ha Hyeon bowed deeply to Namgung Mu-ryong and left the tea room.

* * *

Evening came.

Even by this time, Ha Hyeon hadn’t been able to sort out his confused feelings.

Skipping even his beloved night training, he sat in his quarters reminiscing about the past.

‘The Shin family mansion…’

Ha Hyeon still remembered everyone who had lived in the mansion.

But ultimately, for Ha Hyeon, the Shin family mansion was distilled into memories of these three people.

First was his father.

Though his father’s martial arts were very weak, he was an incredibly caring person.

Compared to his mother, he was at a tenth… no, to be honest, not even at a third of her level, a third-rate martial artist.

But he had a charm that drew people to him, and everyone in the mansion sincerely followed him.

‘Mother…’

Second was his mother.

His mother, the Lone Heart Beauty Namgung Yeong-ryeong, was a strong and solid person.

Unlike his reticent father, Ha Hyeon had at least partially explained what the martial world was, and showed through his own example how much effort it takes to achieve success in any field.

Though she was usually a strict mother who didn’t indulge Ha Hyeon’s whims, at crucial moments she was like an ocean, always embracing Ha Hyeon.

Finally, Shin Ji-hyeok.

‘Shin Ji-hyeok…!’

Until that day, he had been Ha Hyeon’s most trusted uncle and friend.

He taught Ha Hyeon all sorts of practical skills, and whenever Ha Hyeon was scolded by his mother and crying, Shin Ji-hyeok would always appear to comfort him.

Gritting his teeth

Just thinking about him caused the anger Ha Hyeon thought he had buried deep in his heart to raise its head.

It’s true that when he first fled from the Shin family, he survived using the survival skills that Ji-hyeok had taught him.

However, when Ha Hyeon realized that if it weren’t for him, there would have been no need to use those survival skills in the first place, he felt his chest tighten.

‘I am the last survivor of the Shin family. If I live as Namgung Ha Hyeon, will all traces of the Shin family disappear from this world?’

Ha Hyeon’s eyes trembled.

While he was still undecided…

Bang bang bang-

Someone knocked on his door.

“Who…”

“Ha Hyeon! Aren’t you coming out?”

Without needing to check, it was Namgung So-hwa’s voice.

“Sister?”

“Ha Hyeon… How could you try to escape alone after throwing me into this training hell? Isn’t that too cruel?”

“Brother Hwan is here too?”

Creak-

When Ha Hyeon hastily opened the door, So-hwa was standing there with her arms crossed primly, with Namgung Hwan behind her wearing a resigned expression.

“Ha Hyeon, are you sick somewhere?”

“Ah, no. Nothing hurts…”

“Then come out! What are you doing?”

“Ah! Sister, your voice…”

Ha Hyeon’s ears were ringing from So-hwa’s shout.

But at that moment, Ha Hyeon realized.

Until now, he had been needlessly worrying about something so obvious.

‘That’s right…! The Shin family is already in the past. Surely father and mother would want me to move forward without suffering anymore. Together with my sister and brothers.’

Whoosh-

Ha Hyeon suddenly embraced So-hwa, who still had her arms crossed firmly, and said:

“Sister, thank you! And brother… thank you so much.”

“Haha. It’s nothing. Let’s quickly go to the training ground.”

“Ah, but I’m sorry. I need to go somewhere urgently right now.”

So-hwa, who had been suddenly hugged by Ha Hyeon, pushed him away with both hands and said:

“Where are you going at this hour?”

“To grandfather!”

“Why grandfather… Hey, hey! Where are you going!”

“Sorry!”

Ha Hyeon deployed his movement technique to the extreme and disappeared from their sight.

A moment later.

At Namgung Mu-Ryong’s quarters.

He was drinking a cup of grain wine that he had asked Jang-chil to bring from the dining hall.

Though he usually didn’t drink, today was somehow a day when he wanted to have a drink.

Gulp

Just as he managed to down one cup.

Thump thump thump-

The sound of someone running fiercely could be heard.

“Who could it be at this hour… No, this familiar energy?”

While Namgung Mu-Ryong was briefly pondering.

The running sound faded in front of his door.

Knock knock-

“Grandfather. It’s Ha Hyeon.”

“Yes, Ha Hyeon. Come in.”

Ha Hyeon’s appearance was a mess.

He had run so hurriedly that his hair was covered in white dust, and he was drenched in sweat, having paid no attention to distributing his energy.

“What kind of state is this? And what brings you here at this hour?”

Ha Hyeon, catching his breath several times as he was out of breath, finally said:

“Grandfather. I want to live as a Namgung too. I’m sorry my decision was delayed. If I had told you right there and then, I wouldn’t have troubled you.”

Ha Hyeon glanced at the wine bottle on the table as he spoke.

“Ho ho ho…”

However, Namgung Mu-Ryong’s face was happy, as if wondering what kind of inner struggle Ha Hyeon had been going through until now.

“No. Even now is plenty fast enough. Thank you. Thank you.”

“No. I should be thanking you… Grandfather.”

Namgung Mu-Ryong hugged Ha Hyeon tightly.

The dust and sweat were no hindrance at all.

Ha Hyeon seemed a bit surprised at first, but soon returned the embrace with strength in his arms.

“You’ve always been, but now you’re truly family.”

“Yes. True family.”

Ha Hyeon repeated the words ‘true family’ several times in his mouth.

On this day.

The Shin family officially disappeared from the world.

And the Namgung family officially gained one more martial artist bearing the Namgung name… and one with unprecedented talent at that. 

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