Ah! Namgung Clan
Episode 002: I Want to See the Blood-Drinking Monster (2)
"When are we leaving?"
"We cannot cross the mountains in this weather, so let us depart once it clears, child."
Namgung Joseok wanted to return even a day sooner. However, crossing the mountains with a child in this weather would be difficult.
Namgung Ganghae noticed that and spoke in a manner unbecoming of a child.
"Please do not worry about me. Even in winter, I am used to climbing mountains. If we are to go, now is best. It is early morning, so if we move diligently, we can descend the mountain before sunset."
"Will you be alright?"
"Yes. If we wait for the weather to clear and snow happens to fall, we could be trapped for a couple of months without being able to move."
"Then let us do so."
"Please wait a moment. I will pack my things right away."
Namgung Ganghae wrapped his mere two sets of clothes into a bundle, packed the short blade he always carried, and the bow he used for hunting. That was all he had to take.
"Let us go now."
"Is that all? Have you nothing more to bring?"
"Yes. It was not exactly an abundant life."
That tone again. A tone unbecoming of a child.
"Then let us go."
As Namgung Joseok stepped outside, Namgung Ganghae quickly ran up to walk beside him.
"Could we stop by Elder Bang's place for a moment?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
As Namgung Ganghae expressed his thanks, Namgung Joseok glanced down at him. For someone who had grown up alone in such a remote mountain village, his manners were excessively proper.
"How old are you this year?"
"Twelve, sir."
"Older than you look."
Namgung Ganghae appeared to be about seven or eight by looks alone. That was because he had suffered his share of hardships and had been unable to eat properly all this time.
"It is because I did not eat well. It will change once I grow bigger."
That tone again. Talking with Namgung Ganghae did not feel like speaking with a child at all. That was why it felt discordant. It had been that way from the very first time they met.
***
"Grandfather."
"You have come. Enter."
When they arrived at Bang No's house, he welcomed them. The two went inside and took their seats.
"Have you decided to leave?"
"Yes. We are leaving right away."
"I see. Wait a moment."
Bang No said so and went into his room, then emerged with an old sword.
"This is something your father left in my care."
"Th-that is……"
Namgung Joseok received the sword in the boy's stead and looked down at it with a distant gaze. The three leaf-shaped engravings on the blade were the emblem of the Namgung family. They represented courage, strength, and justice.
In the past, anyone carrying this sword was recognized as a bloodline member of the Namgung family and received gazes filled with admiration. Furthermore, if any trouble arose, the other party would unconditionally back down a step.
But now, that was no longer the case. There was no longer anyone who would tread carefully around a fallen clan.
Shing!
When he drew the sword, despite not having been maintained for a long time, a chilling sharpness could be felt. When he looked at Bang No with a questioning gaze, the old man let out a hollow laugh.
"It was an entrusted item, so I polished it occasionally to keep it from rusting."
"I see."
It was likely something Namgung Sanhak had entrusted before his death, to be given to Namgung Ganghae once he grew older. After all, a child could not maintain a sword.
"This sword can only be possessed by bloodline members of the Namgung family. I held onto it, and shall give it to you when you are a bit older."
"Yes."
Namgung Ganghae nodded obediently. Though it was the sword his father, Namgung Sanhak, had used, he did not particularly want it, nor did he have any use for it right now. It would only be burdensome to carry.
"Take these as well."
What Bang No gave as extras were a thick cloak and a small pouch. Namgung Ganghae, having received them, checked what was inside the pouch. It contained some money and medicine to apply and consume in case of injury.
"This is……"
"Take them with you."
"Thank you."
"I do not know if you will ever return here, but do not forget what you learned here."
Bang No spoke with a smiling face, stroking Namgung Ganghae's head. As if treating his own beloved grandson.
Watching that scene, Namgung Joseok realized that Bang No had been looking after Namgung Ganghae all this time. Indeed, that must have been why Namgung Sanhak had entrusted even his sword to him.
"Yes. I will. Please stay healthy."
"Yes."
After exchanging farewells with Bang No, Namgung Ganghae followed Namgung Joseok out of that place. Showing no apparent attachment, he walked on silently like that, but before leaving the village, he stopped for a moment and turned around.
For the past several years, he had endured untold hardships to survive in that unfamiliar and barren place. Everything, from one to ten, had been foreign to him, and thus he had to learn and practice tirelessly without rest.
Now, if he followed Namgung Joseok, he would have to make such efforts again to adapt to a new environment.
It was frightening, bothersome, but on the other hand, exciting.
Namgung Ganghae fastened the cloak Bang No had given him tightly and walked again. They had to move diligently from now on to make it down the mountain. Especially so with a child's quick, short strides.
***
After walking for about half a day, before they knew it, the sun was at its zenith. Until then, the two had walked continuously without a word. Namgung Joseok led the way, and Namgung Ganghae followed.
"We cannot go that way."
Hearing Namgung Ganghae's words, Namgung Joseok looked at the path ahead. It was clearly the way he had come yesterday.
"Is this not the path to the village?"
"If we go that way, it will take about two hours longer."
"Hah! Is that so?"
Winter days are short. Moreover, it was already midday, and they had not yet come halfway. If they detoured for another two hours like this, the sun might set and they could end up wandering the mountain.
"This way is faster."
Namgung Ganghae pointed to a place that was not a path.
"Are you certain of the way?"
"Yes. I have been there a few times before."
If an ordinary child had said such a thing, he would have questioned and doubted further. Generally, a child's memory could not be trusted. But since it was Namgung Ganghae who said it, he felt inclined to believe him. It would not be nonsense.
"Then lead the way."
"If it is alright, I will go a bit fast."
"Very well."
Namgung Joseok immediately regretted saying that. Thinking, "How fast can a child go, even if he says he is going fast?" had been a mistake.
Namgung Ganghae moved not as if walking, but almost as if running. Moreover, he traversed the pathless terrain so adeptly that if one took their eyes off him for even a moment, the distance would instantly widen or he would disappear.
Each time that happened, Namgung Joseok used the Lightness Body Technique to catch up. The Lightness Body Technique is a method of rapidly moving using the internal energy accumulated within the body.
The Namgung Clan's Lightness Body Technique is uniquely called Cheonrihojeong. It is said that when mastery reaches the extreme, one becomes so fast that one appears as nothing but a single line.
However, Namgung Joseok had only reached three-tenths of the ten-tenths mastery. That was because his internal energy, which served as the foundation of lightness skills, was pathetic.
Currently, half of the Namgung Clan's martial arts had been lost. Most of the high-level martial arts and the secret techniques passed down to the direct bloodline descendants had disappeared.
The cause was the successor struggle that occurred in the previous generation and the Great War between Righteousness and Demonism. The clan's experts, including the family head, died one after another, so the martial arts could not be properly inherited.
Namgung Joseok was no different. He was a direct bloodline descendant of the Namgung Clan. Therefore, even excluding the secret techniques learned by the family head and the young family head, he should have learned the high-level martial arts: the Heavenly Thunder Divine Art, Flash Lightning Thirteen Sword Thunder, Heavenly Thunder Three Palms, Heavenly Thunder Finger, and Explosive Thunder Divine Fist.
But regrettably, all he had was a half-complete Heavenly Thunder Divine Art and three initial forms of the Flash Lightning Thirteen Sword Thunder.
Nevertheless, even with an achievement worth nothing to boast of, he could cover about four or five steps in a single bound by kicking off the ground, which was enough to follow Namgung Ganghae.
Moving like that for half a day, the two nearly left the mountain. Now, if they went just a bit further, a village would appear. Only then did Namgung Ganghae slow his speed.
"Phew! You are as fast as a squirrel, little one."
Namgung Joseok spoke while catching his breath. It was praise in its own way. Whether he knew it or not, Namgung Ganghae asked with an expressionless face.
"Was that rapid movement you used to follow me the Lightness Body Technique?"
"That is correct. It is called Cheonrihojeong, a Lightness Body Technique passed down only in the Namgung Clan."
Namgung Ganghae seemed about to say something more, but stopped. His lips moved; he clearly had something to say, but ultimately held it back. That sight was so endearing that Namgung Joseok smiled without realizing it.
"If you are curious, you may ask anything."
"No. Nothing."
"Perhaps... do you wish to learn martial arts?"
When asked what he suspected, Namgung Ganghae's eyes went wide. If he wanted to learn, he should have said so readily—why had he not spoken up?
"Th-that... Elder Bang told me. He said martial artists do not teach martial arts recklessly."
"Was that why you hesitated so?"
"Yes."
"Are you and I strangers? We are family. So if you wish, I shall teach you martial arts."
It had truly been a long time since he heard the word family. Though it felt a bit strange, it was not unpleasant.
"Thank you."
"You are of the Namgung family as well, so you ought to learn the clan's martial arts. First, let us go to the village to eat, then begin the basics step by step."
Originally, he had planned to teach martial arts after returning to the Namgung Clan and receiving permission from the family head and his elder brother, Namgung Museong. But since the boy showed such interest, it seemed fine to teach him starting now. He was smart for his age, so he would learn quickly.
They arrived at the village while the sun was still up. Thanks to Namgung Ganghae, they had come quickly without backtracking.
Namgung Joseok stopped at an inn, procured a room, ordered simple dishes and rice, and had dinner with Namgung Ganghae.
A fallen clan would not have money. Coming this far had already been quite a strain. Thus, meals were always simple.
But for Namgung Ganghae, who had lived in the mountains, even that was a blessing. Just eating white rice itself was already something to be grateful for.
"I will eat well."
"Yes. Let us eat."
As they ate, Namgung Joseok watched Namgung Ganghae. Having traversed the mountain for over half a day, the boy would surely be hungry; naturally, he had expected him to wolf it down. But instead, he sat straight-backed and ate the food little by little.
It meant he had received proper etiquette training from someone. Had his father, Namgung Sanhak, taught him?
No. That could not be. He had heard from Bang No that the man died when Namgung Ganghae was young.
"From whom did you learn to eat like that?"
"Pardon?"
"From the looks of it, you seem to have received etiquette training befitting a prestigious family. Who taught you such things?"
"Th-that... I learned it from my father."
The stuttering made it clear it was a lie. But Namgung Joseok thought there must be a reason he could not reveal the truth, so he did not press further.
After the meal, the two went to the room. Thanks to their leisurely meal, it was already night.
As Namgung Joseok sat on the bed to rest, Namgung Ganghae brought water, dampened a towel, and wiped his body. That too was something only those from prestigious families did. Commoners did not pay much attention to keeping their bodies clean.
Namgung Joseok too had washed with water or wiped his body like that when he was in the clan. But now, in the middle of travel, he only did so once every three or four days.
"You said you wanted to learn martial arts, did you not?"
"Yes? Yes."
"Have you ever learned martial arts from your father?"
"No."
"Then you must start with the Namgung Thirteen Postures."
"What kind of martial art is that?"
"It is the Namgung Clan's basic martial art, where you learn the thirteen postures required for swordsmanship while training your body. For your internal energy cultivation method, I shall teach you the Great Evolution Divine Art."
The Namgung Thirteen Postures was a basic martial art that any warrior of the Namgung Clan would learn and know. But the Great Evolution Divine Art was not. It was an intermediate martial art of the Namgung Clan. Generally, one could only learn it after mastering the basic martial art and then all the low-level martial arts.
And there was good reason, for whether in any clan or sect, internal energy cultivation methods were not taught recklessly. With internal energy, one could shatter boulders with a single strike, move instantly across distances of five or six steps, or infuse one's weapon with qi to increase its strength and make it sharper.
Therefore, wanderers who did not know internal energy cultivation could not escape the third-rate no matter how hard they tried. Thus, Namgung Joseok's intention to teach Namgung Ganghae the Great Evolution Divine Art meant that he acknowledged him as family.
He wanted him to become strong, even a day sooner, even a little stronger.
To raise up the fallen Namgung Clan, outstanding talent was needed.
Talent like Namgung Ganghae.