The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family
Chapter 48
“Lady Yeong! The family head is looking for you. How could you disappear so suddenly without a single coin! What have you been doing for over ten days?”
“If father won’t withdraw my arranged marriage, I have no intention of returning!”
“My lady, please return home first and speak with the family head. Your current appearance is terrible.”
Ha Hyeon was racking his brain trying to understand the current situation.
Actually, to be honest, he understood everything the moment he heard their conversation.
“Ah, so… wait, you’re a woman?”
“Is that important right now? And you thought I was a man despite my beauty?”
“Your appearance…”
“What’s wrong with my… appearance?”
Yeong suddenly looked down at herself and seemed embarrassed, her face turning red as she lowered her head.
Her disheveled appearance from not washing properly for ten days, bangs covering her eyes, and clothes that had become quite dirty from sleeping outdoors for ten days.
Even her clothes made it difficult to determine her gender since she had worn training clothes when she ran away to move more comfortably.
“Do you know these people?”
“They’re my guards.”
She raised her head again to answer Ha Hyeon’s question.
“Guards?”
“Yes. Sorry I couldn’t tell you earlier. It was sudden for me too. I’m Yeong of the Jin-ju Eon family.”
The Jin-ju Eon family was a martial arts family in Anhui’s Anping. Though they weren’t among the current era’s five great families, they were still a prestigious martial arts family with deep history.
“Yeong?”
“Yes. Written with the character for ‘bell’ (éŽ).”
It was the same character used in his mother’s name.
“I see. But why are you wandering around like this?”
“Well, I left home due to certain circumstances.”
“Ran away?”
As Ha Hyeon tilted his head, Yeong quickly asked again.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Shin… no, I’m Namgung Ha Hyeon.”
“Namgung? You’re from the Namgung family?”
“Yes.”
Yeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Oh, is that so? But you’re incredibly strong. Yu-chun who’s unconscious here might be the weakest among my guards, but he’s still quite skilled.”
When Yeong pointed at the unconscious warrior who had his tongue hanging out thanks to Ha Hyeon, a troubled expression appeared on Ha Hyeon’s face.
“Well… I’m sorry. I thought you were being chased.”
“I was being chased, in a way.”
“My lady! Who exactly is this person? I should immediately…”
Aeng-aeng spoke with great indignation.
It was understandable.
After all, he had knocked out two of her subordinates in an instant.
“Aeng-aeng. Stop it.”
“My lady!”
“I told you to wait!”
When Yeong’s demeanor changed slightly, Aeng-aeng’s aggressive stance toward Ha Hyeon softened.
They clearly appeared to be in a superior-subordinate relationship.
Yeong turned back to Ha Hyeon.
Her voice and attitude were gentle as if she had never been angry.
“Thank you.”
“What? But I knocked out your guards…”
“Thank you anyway. Don’t worry about that. It’s more my fault for not explaining clearly. You were trying to ‘protect’ me, right?”
“I guess so…?”
Though Ha Hyeon didn’t understand why she emphasized the word ‘protect,’ he agreed.
“Pfft. I think things will get more complicated if you stay here. Should we part ways now? I’ll handle our situation myself.”
Ha Hyeon thought for a moment and nodded.
As Yeong wasn’t in danger as he had thought, and as she said, staying longer would obviously only lead to conflict with Aeng-aeng.
“I’m sorry about today. I’m staying at the Paeng family residence now. I’ll be leaving in a few days, but if anything happens, come find me.”
“You’re from the Namgung family, right? We’ll probably meet someday. There’s the Dragon Phoenix Gathering too.”
Yeong smiled softly.
Though hidden behind her disheveled appearance, upon closer look, it was quite a dignified smile.
“Well then, I’m going.”
Ha Hyeon gave a slight bow as a final greeting and disappeared.
“My lady, are you really letting him go like this?”
“Didn’t you hear earlier? I said it was my fault.”
“But still…”
“Let’s stop now and go home. I need to return.”
“Really?”
Aeng-aeng’s face brightened as if she had already forgotten about Ha Hyeon.
Yeong had run away several times before.
Though they always managed to find her somehow, convincing her to return home had been a real struggle, so this easy agreement to return was surprising.
“Yes. I have something to say to father.”
“To the family head?”
“Yes. Let’s return as quickly as possible. Bring Yu-chun too.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Aeng-aeng ordered one of the uninjured subordinates to carry the unconscious Yu-chun and immediately set out toward the Jin-ju Eon family residence.
She needed to return as quickly as possible before Yeong might change her mind.
* * *
After returning to the Paeng family residence, Ha Hyeon looked for Namgung Min.
Namgung Min was meditating in the guest quarters provided by the Paeng family head.
Ha Hyeon waited for the meditation to end and then visited him with a box of rice cakes.
“Ha Hyeon. Didn’t you say you were all going out together today?”
“I came back because I thought of you being alone here, brother.”
Namgung Min grinned and ruffled Ha Hyeon’s hair.
“Now you even know how to say things like this.”
“Hehe.”
Ha Hyeon smiled happily and handed the rice cake box to Namgung Min.
“What’s with the rice cakes?”
“You seemed to like them last time, so I bought some on my way back.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
Namgung Min quickly picked up and ate a rice cake.
Watching him reminded Ha Hyeon naturally of the runaway girl, Yeong, whom he had met earlier.
“Brother, do you know about the Jin-ju Eon family?”
“The Jin-ju Eon family? I don’t know the details, but I know roughly. They’re quite a renowned martial arts family in Murim. In this Hebei region, their influence is second only to the Paeng family. But why suddenly ask about the Eon family?”
“I saw someone from the Eon family in the marketplace earlier.”
“Since this is their main territory, you’ll probably meet them quite easily.”
Namgung Min spoke casually as he swallowed another rice cake.
Ha Hyeon watched this sight with curiosity.
No matter how he looked at it, Namgung Min and rice cakes didn’t seem to match.
“Well then brother, I won’t disturb you anymore. I want to rest a bit in my quarters too.”
“Alright, Ha Hyeon. Thank you really for these.”
Ha Hyeon bid farewell to Namgung Min and left his quarters.
Putting aside what happened earlier, Ha Hyeon was looking forward to his upcoming meeting with Paeng Gil-san.
* * *
A round full moon hung in the sky, brightly illuminating the training grounds.
Three people stood under the moonlight in what was called the ‘Central Training Ground’ of the Northern Paeng Family.
They were Sword Saint Namgung Mu-ryong, Blade Master Paeng Gil-san, and Ha Hyeon.
“You say the name of the sword technique you created is the Moonlight Sword Technique? That name perfectly matches a night like this with the moon high in the sky.”
Ha Hyeon nodded with a slight smile.
The night he first saw Paeng Heon-hong’s Honwon Lightning Saber and created the Moonlight Sword Technique also had a full moon like tonight.
Sreung-
Ha Hyeon’s sword gleamed as he drew it.
Since he was going to do this, he intended to properly demonstrate with a real sword.
“I’ll begin.”
“Please do!”
Paeng Gil-san, wanting to see properly, dragged a chair from the corner of the training ground and sat down.
When all preparations were complete and just before starting the form, Ha Hyeon’s eyes met with his grandfather’s.
His grandfather gave him a slight smile as if to say “do your best.”
Perhaps because of that smile.
For some reason, Ha Hyeon felt his sword was lighter than usual today.
Whiing-!
The sword flows with the wind.
The sword tip draws a circular moon shape, then strikes down strongly against the ground with one edge.
Kung-!
Though Ha Hyeon’s sword clearly didn’t touch the ground, the Blade Master seemed to hear a thudding sound.
Talgarak
Just seeing this much, Paeng Gil-san stood up abruptly, not even noticing his chair falling backward.
“Honwon… Lightning Saber?”
There was uncertainty in Paeng Gil-san’s words.
The form of swordsmanship Ha Hyeon was performing resembled the Honwon Lightning Saber. But he, who had mastered the Honwon Lightning Saber, knew best that it was completely different.
Even as Paeng Gil-san was lost in thought, Ha Hyeon continued moving.
“Hah!”
Buwang-!
Now he doesn’t even get short of breath.
It’s a sword technique that through daily morning practice, he can now perform using only physical strength without any help from internal energy.
Using internal energy properly for a proper demonstration, the air vibrations felt different from the start.
“Hmm… oh my…!”
Paeng Gil-san continued watching Ha Hyeon’s Moonlight Sword Technique, sometimes lost in thought and sometimes startled. For Namgung Mu-ryong, who had seen the Moonlight Sword Technique many times before, watching Paeng Gil-san’s reactions was more interesting than watching Ha Hyeon’s swordsmanship.
Buwang-! Huung!
Ha Hyeon’s sword reached its climax.
Paeng Gil-san now watched Ha Hyeon’s swordsmanship intently without any reaction.
His gaze was so focused as if even blinking would be a waste of time.
The part Ha Hyeon was performing now was the section that was lost from the Honwon Lightning Saber.
In other words, it was swordsmanship purely created by Ha Hyeon.
Seuak- Huuk!
Ha Hyeon’s sword seemed to slash, then thrust, then appeared to strike down from above before suddenly making a horizontal cut as the final movement, ending his sword technique demonstration.
“Huu-.”
Ha Hyeon exhaled deeply.
He had performed it perfectly without a single mistake.
“……”
Paeng Gil-san stared into empty space, deeply lost in thought.
Namgung Mu-ryong and Ha Hyeon knew how crucial this moment was, so they waited quietly without speaking to him.
Enlightenment.
It seemed that moment of enlightenment, said to come only a few times in life, had arrived.
After about half an hour had passed.
Paeng Gil-san’s unfocused eyes became clear again.
Then, he suddenly began laughing heartily enough to shake the training ground.
“Hahaha! Mu-ryong! You were right. This child truly is a blessing.”
“Congratulations. It seems you’ve realized something.”
Paeng Gil-san looked genuinely delighted.
As Namgung Mu-ryong said, he had undoubtedly gained something from the Moonlight Sword Technique.
“Hahaha! I never thought the Way could be interpreted like this. To be honest…”
“There comes a moment when you can’t tell whether what he’s wielding is a sword or a blade, doesn’t it?”
“That’s exactly it.”
Paeng Gil-san nodded emphatically.
He had lived his entire life thinking that blades and swords were completely different weapons.
No, going further, there were times he thought they were complete opposites, despite appearing similar.
“I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve been training all this time…”
For there to be an answer, there must be a question.
Paeng Gil-san is a warrior who has reached the pinnacle of blade mastery, enough to be called the Blade Master.
It would have been impossible for him to have any doubts about his martial arts for dozens of years.
But today, for the first time in a very long time, he was able to ask himself a question.
And though it might not be right now, someday he would find the answer.
Kwak
Paeng Gil-san walked over to Ha Hyeon, firmly grasped his hand, and said,
“Thank you so much for giving me the chance to see such excellent martial arts.”
“No, I just swung my sword…”
“Haha! Though modesty is a virtue, when you act humble, that’s deception.”
Paeng Gil-san grinned playfully and continued in a serious voice.
“What do you want?”
“What I want?”
“Yes! If you want gold and treasures, I’ll give them to you. If you want spirit medicine, I can give you spirit medicine or spirit pills. Tell me what you want.”
At his words, Ha Hyeon fell into deep thought for a brief moment.
Watching that contemplative face, Paeng Gil-san thought,
‘Though his talent is outstanding, he’s still a child. At this age when he should be immersed in training, won’t he ask for spirit medicine?’
For a martial artist, internal energy is as precious as life itself.
Paeng Gil-san thought Ha Hyeon would naturally need spirit medicine or spirit pills.
“Can I really ask for anything?”
“Of course. I’ll do anything within my power.”
“I…”
However, contrary to his expectations, the words that came from Ha Hyeon’s mouth were something he hadn’t considered at all.
“Since I showed you my sword technique, I would like to see a proper blade technique of the Paeng family. Please give me the opportunity to properly witness the Five Tigers Gate-Breaking Blade.”
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