The Genius Grandson of the Namgung Family Chapter 56

Chapter 56

“Family head?”

Ha Hyeon blinked his eyes, wondering what Namgung Min meant.

“Yes. The family head of our Namgung family. Like Grandfather.”

“How could I possibly become the family head…”

Ha Hyeon’s voice trailed off.

Generally, the family head position typically goes to the current head’s son or grandson by blood.

“Why do you think you couldn’t do it?”

“Well, I’m not Grandfather’s blood grandson…”

“So what?”

“What? What do you mean ‘so what’?”

Namgung Min bent down to meet Ha Hyeon’s eye level and spoke.

“You still don’t understand. Our Namgung family.”

“What don’t I understand?”

“In our Namgung family, anything is possible if you have the ability.”

“If you have the ability…”

His words seemed to strike a chord with Ha Hyeon, who unconsciously repeated Namgung Min’s words.

“And now you’re a ‘Namgung’ too, aren’t you? Anyone who carries that surname before their name has the possibility.”

“Is that… really true?”

Finding Ha Hyeon’s wide-eyed look cute, Namgung Min ruffled his hair and said.

“Haha. However, that also means if ability is lacking, none of us will get the chance. So you’ll have to work even harder. You’ll have to work pretty hard just to surpass me first, right? Can you do it within three years?”

“I can’t guarantee I’ll surpass you in three years, but I’ll become a master who can satisfy you when we spar.”

“Haha. I’ll be more developed than now by then too, are you considering that as well?”

Ha Hyeon answered, proudly puffing out his chest.

“Of course. I’ll just have to develop faster.”

“Hahaha. I’m already scared of being caught up to.”

Namgung Min straightened up with a pleased laugh.

“Well, let’s go in, Hyeon. Thanks to you, my thoughts seem a bit clearer now.”

“Alright, Brother. But I’d like to stay out a bit longer.”

“Why?”

“Hah… You’ll see when you go in.”

A moment later.

When they reached the quarters again, Namgung Min witnessed the scene he hadn’t noticed earlier because his mind was elsewhere.

“Hyeon! Brother! Where did you go?”

“Just, just went for a short walk…”

“Is this the time for a walk? What do you think I lacked that made me lose? I could have almost won!”

“Well, it was because of lacking internal energy…”

So-hwa’s eyes lit up.

“Internal energy?!”

“Yes. If you had sufficient internal energy, you could have easily won.”

“Is that so?”

So-hwa suddenly headed for the door.

“So-hwa. Where are you going?”

“To Grandfather!”

“Why?”

“Medicine. I’m going to ask for spirit medicine!”

“So-hwa, this is the Moyong family estate!”

Bang-

But So-hwa left without listening, slamming the door shut.

Namgung Min looked at Ha Hyeon, who had been quietly standing without making a sound.

When Ha Hyeon’s eyes met Namgung Min’s, he just shrugged once and pointed to Namgung Hwan, who was almost curled up in a corner.

“Hwan, why are you like this again?”

“Brother…”

“Yes, Hwan.”

“Why am I in such a state…”

“What?”

Namgung Hwan made a tearful face.

He looked extremely depressed.

“I want to do well like Brother and Hyeon too.”

“Then you just need to train hard, don’t you?”

“But I hate training…!”

“What?”

Namgung Min couldn’t help but laugh, finding it ridiculous.

“Why is training so hard?”

“It’s training because it’s hard. If it wasn’t hard, it would be playing.”

“If there was training that wasn’t hard, I would work hard…!”

Instead of answering, Namgung Min shook his head and looked at Ha Hyeon.

“I find it fun though…”

“What?”

“Ah, nothing. I’m worried about Brother Hwan too!”

Namgung Min couldn’t help but chuckle, finding the situation too amusing.

“Hyeon. Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Everything. Thank you.”

Though Ha Hyeon didn’t fully understand what he meant, he nodded.

“Oof. Then there’s no choice. If my little brother wants to work hard, I should step up from now on.”

Namgung Min muttered to himself and went to Namgung Hwan, who was still crouching.

“Hwan. Get up.”

“Yes?”

“Follow me. Let’s train together.”

“Train?”

“Yes. I’ll teach you a really fun training method.”

“Where in the world is there a fun training method… Alright. I’ll come out.”

When Namgung Min stared at him intently, Namgung Hwan couldn’t finish what he was about to say and stood up.

“Hwan. I think I know why you’ve found training uninteresting until now.”

“Oh! What’s the reason?”

“I think it’s because you haven’t really tried it properly yet.”

“What? I always work hard…”

“No. You’re still doing things moderately. True pleasure comes when you experience your limits and overcome them.”

Next to them, Ha Hyeon nodded with an expression that seemed to say ‘That’s right, that’s right!’

“That means… you’re going to show me my limits?”

“That’s right.”

“But we’re still at the Moyong family…”

“Isn’t that good? You can try training in a different environment.”

“But I just had a martial arts match…”

“That’s even better. Your body is already warmed up.”

Namgung Hwan looked at Ha Hyeon with eyes like those of a cow being led to slaughter, but Ha Hyeon said firmly:

“Brother. Do your best.”

“Ugh… I have no allies.”

“No, we’re all on your side. That’s why we’re trying to help.”

In the end, Namgung Hwan had no choice but to follow Namgung Min outside.

Ha Hyeon, who was suddenly left alone in the room, smiled and sat cross-legged.

“Sister, with the brothers working so hard, I can’t just be playing around.”

Ha Hyeon’s expression looked happy as he instantly slipped into his inner world.

Just looking at his face, one might mistake him for doing the most enjoyable play, as he had mentioned earlier.

* * *

That night after all the commotion.

So-hwa finally managed to get a promise from her grandfather that he would get her a medicinal pill when they returned home, and Namgung Hwan had already collapsed from such intense training with Namgung Min.

Namgung Min also seemed to have regained his focus, as he was deeply immersed in solitary training, practicing breath control in a corner of the room.

Ha Hyeon, after practicing breath control for a while, went outside to get some night air.

It had been three months since leaving the Namgung family.

Ha Hyeon was starting to miss home.

‘They said we’d return faster than when we came.’

The journey here had been leisurely, stopping to sit whenever they found scenic spots and resting when tired.

But for the return journey, they planned to pick up the pace somewhat and return within a month.

The Sword Saint’s absence was a great loss not only to the Namgung family but also to the Murim Alliance.

‘You old Namgung! Where have you been wandering around! Just working me to death.’

Ha Hyeon chuckled to himself as he suddenly seemed to hear Chwiwol Geolgae’s voice.

“What’s so funny by yourself?”

Just then, a voice came from behind.

Ha Hyeon turned around startled to find Moyong Cheong, his martial arts match opponent, standing there.

Perhaps the injury he received from Ha Hyeon wasn’t small, as he had bandages wrapped around his upper body instead of wearing a top.

“Moyong Cheong… sir?”

Ha Hyeon said his name and hurriedly added the honorific at the end.

“Haha. I’m glad you’re still awake. By the way, ‘Sir Moyong Cheong’? I’d prefer if you called me Brother Cheong.”

“Brother Cheong?!”

“If that’s uncomfortable, you can call me Brother Moyong… whatever feels natural to you.”

Ha Hyeon could hardly believe this was the same person he had fought earlier.

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“I came to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

Ha Hyeon had to recall what he’d just heard, wondering if he’d misheard..

He couldn’t understand why he had to receive an apology when he was the one who won the martial arts match and knocked down his opponent.

However, Moyong Cheong, ignoring Ha Hyeon’s puzzled expression, respectfully cupped his hands in greeting while groaning as if moving was difficult.

“I’m sorry. Please accept my apology.”

“But what exactly…?”

“For not seeing you properly during our earlier match.”

Moyong Cheong’s attitude was sincere.

Indeed, if he wasn’t sincere, he wouldn’t have dragged his body all the way here.

“You came up there as a proper martial artist, but I ignored and insulted you. When I came to my senses and realized what I had done, I felt ashamed. That’s why I came.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Ha Hyeon scratched his head as if suddenly remembering something and said,

“Actually, I should apologize too for provoking and acting arrogantly towards you… brother Moyong, even though it was to win the match.”

“Haha. You seem like a completely different person from who you were on the training ground.”

“I hear that quite often.”

Moyong Cheong chuckled but then clutched his chest as if in pain.

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright?”

“Not really. Someone beat me quite severely.”

“Ah, I’m sorry about that too…”

“Hahaha. I really can’t tell which is your true self.”

Moyong Cheong laughed heartily, clearly in a good mood for some reason.

Ha Hyeon soon joined in his laughter.

It was amazing how they could connect like this without many words with someone they had fought to the death with earlier.

“I’ve never been to the Namgung Family compound. I should visit next time.”

“Yes. It’s a peaceful and warm place, I’m sure you’ll like it.”

Moyong Cheong nodded vigorously.

“Are you planning to participate in the next Dragon Phoenix Gathering?”

“I don’t have any plans yet. Actually, I only recently learned that such a gathering exists…”

Ha Hyeon sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

But Moyong Cheong looked deeply shocked.

“Haha… Right. You’re right. Things like the Dragon Phoenix Gathering and fame aren’t what’s important, and I wonder what I’ve been chasing all this time.”

“I didn’t mean anything so profound.”

Ha Hyeon waved both hands in protest as Moyong Cheong seemed to have greatly misunderstood, but this seemed to impact Moyong Cheong even more.

“No profound meaning… Yes, that’s right… Then may I ask one more thing?”

“What is it?”

“Why do you learn and practice martial arts?”

Though it seemed like a sudden question, Ha Hyeon’s answer came quickly.

“To become stronger.”

“For what purpose?”

“Because I can’t let there be times when I fail to protect precious people due to lack of strength.”

The words he spoke before his grandfather on the day he first came to the Namgung Family.

Those words had become the guiding principle he would follow for life.

“Hahaha. I see… Yes. Thank you. I learned something big today.”

“Not at all.”

“Still, make sure to come to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Let’s compete again then.”

“Gladly.”

Moyong Cheong bowed deeply to Ha Hyeon with cupped hands, and Ha Hyeon returned the gesture.

In the deep night, they deeply acknowledged each other.

Between them, the outcome of their match earlier that day and their age difference didn’t matter.

There were only two martial artists (武林人) present there.

* * *

A few days later.

The Namgung Family members prepared to leave after resting well at the Moyong Family compound for several days.

“Elder, please take care on your long journey back. Thanks to you, I received great teachings.”

“No. I’m satisfied if it was of any help to you.”

During the days at the Moyong Family compound, Namgung Mu-ryong had given some guidance on martial arts to Moyong Bi-san, known as Cold Blooded Sword.

Though there were big differences between the sword techniques of the Namgung and Moyong families, the Sword Saint seemed to dismiss these differences as meaningless and passed on a small portion of the sword’s profound principles.

When Namgung Gi-hyeon complained about why they were doing so much for Moyong Bi-san, Namgung Mu-ryong smiled and said,

‘The Moyong Family is also a pillar of our righteous faction. In these turbulent times, there’s no harm in lending strength.’

It was Namgung Mu-ryong’s magnanimous decision for the martial arts world itself rather than personal feelings.

“From now on, our Moyong Family will never trouble the Namgung Family.”

“Haha. Of course. Isn’t a promise something that must be kept?”

“Yes. We are also a proud… Ahem! Righteous faction.”

Namgung Mu-ryong smiled slightly seeing Moyong Bi-san hesitate at the word ‘proud’.

“Before you leave, we’ve prepared some food and necessities. And we’ll escort you by carriage to Liaoning just as when you came.”

“You don’t need to go this far.”

“No, I want to.”

“Well, if you insist.”

Despite his words, Namgung Mu-ryong didn’t look displeased at all.

“And… before you go, there’s a gift for Lady So-hwa.”

“A gift?”

Moyong Bi-san received a small wooden box from a servant and handed it to Namgung Mu-ryong while saying,

“It’s Hundred Year Snow Ginseng. We obtained it from mountains even further north than Liaoning.”

“Why this?”

“Didn’t Lady So-hwa seek spiritual medicine? Though it’s less effective than Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng, it will certainly have an effect.”

So-hwa’s eyes sparkled as she listened from the side.

Ha Hyeon, being right next to her, could hear So-hwa whisper very quietly ‘Internal energy enhancement!’

“Haha. How embarrassing. But since you’re giving it, we’ll gratefully accept it. Thank you.”

“Then please take care on your journey.”

Perhaps having grown fond of each other over these few days.

The people of both families found the parting regretful.

Finally, after saying their goodbyes, the Namgung Family members boarded th

e carriage.

And as the carriage began to move, Namgung Mu-ryong looked around at his family members and said,

“Now, let’s go home.”

To Ha Hyeon, the word ‘home’ in Namgung Mu-ryong’s words felt deeply comforting.