Chapter 496 - Just Let Me Grasp It Once.
Wudang Gwaeseon.
A famous master produced by Wudang, and one renowned as the most eccentric figure among them.
He had been a disciple of the current Wudang Sect Leader, and was always counted among Wudang's greatest experts.
Over a decade ago, he had defeated Hyeok Eochun of the Ghostly Twin Swords under Sima Oje.
Like the Sword Empress, he had also single-handedly stopped the great demonic phenomenon that erupted among the common folk.
Based on such deeds, there was a time when he almost contended with the current Sword King, Namgung Jin, over the vacant throne of the Sword King (劍王).
But due to the layers upon layers of bizarre deeds that followed, his name was ultimately never inscribed.
Gwaeseon despised helping others to an extreme degree; though a Taoist, he enjoyed eating meat and drinking alcohol.
Unlike the serene flow said to represent the will of Wudang, his behavior was far too rough and unpredictable.
He had once been laughing boisterously one moment, only to draw his sword and slaughter his opponent the next for reasons unknown.
It was later revealed that the opponent had been a lecher who relentlessly assaulted women among the commoners, so the controversy died down.
Yet even after that incident, because Gwaeseon often caused inexplicable rampages, rumors spread through the world that Wudang had sent him away because they could no longer tolerate him.
The martial prowess and realm he possessed were outstanding.
Though he showed righteous, chivalrous behavior by saving impoverished people, he just as often displayed disgraceful conduct unbecoming of a Taoist.
That was why people called him Gwaeseon—the Eccentric Immortal.
However.
This was a rather unfair matter for Wudang Gwaeseon… no, for Namgung Hyeong.
The reason he had come to be called such a disgraceful wretch was mostly due to the foul-tempered old man dwelling within his possession.
There had been many hardships in Namgung Hyeong's life.
But if he had to pick the greatest among them, it would be when he grasped the Noea.
—Found it.
The unknown rod kept at the center of the Namgung family's treasure vault.
It would be no exaggeration to say Namgung Hyeong's entire life was overturned at that moment.
—So it was you. The will of heaven that shall raise the Namgung family.
When he grabbed the rod with blood-stained hands, he remembered the voice that pierced his ears.
How could he forget that voice, speaking with such longing through his exhausted body?
To Namgung Hyeong, who had asked who it was with a voice rough as a rasp, the Noea answered thus:
—I am called Namgung Myeong.
—It does not matter who you are. As long as it is certain you carry the blood of the Namgung family, nothing else matters.
Namgung Myeong.
When Namgung Hyeong raised his head at that name, heard from somewhere before, the Noea resting upon the table gradually began to emit light.
—Take it.
—Take the Noea, and carry on my will. And thereby.
—Let us revive the fallen Namgung once more.
The young Namgung Hyeong could not understand what this meant.
The Namgung family was still treated as a prestigious house, one of the pillars of the Four Great Families.
What part of it had fallen, and how could it possibly be revived further?
Namgung Hyeong could not understand a single word Namgung Myeong spoke.
Even so, he grasped the Noea.
There was only one reason.
He thought that if he grasped the Noea, he could escape from this terrifying, revolting household.
Swept away by such an inexplicable sensation, Namgung Hyeong grasped the Noea.
Fortunately.
Namgung Hyeong was able to escape the Namgung family.
However.
That was simply not Namgung Myeong's complete intention.
Noon arrived without fail today as well.
As always, Namgung Hyeong swung his sword to his heart's content, then sat upon a rock to fill his empty stomach.
While stuffing a handful of rice balls into his mouth.
[Just how long do you plan to be stubborn?]
A cold voice rang in Namgung Hyeong's ears.
This, too, was part of his daily routine.
[Isn't this enough?]
Delaying his answer, Namgung Hyeong put the remaining rice in his mouth, drank water, and swallowed it all down.
With all three rice balls finally inside him, he only then felt somewhat full.
Just as he was about to enjoy such tranquility.
[I also did not like what your grandfather said the other day, but I do not think it is a bad idea.]
"...Sigh..."
He tried hard to ignore it, but was inevitably forced to respond.
Was it because he was a spirit that he never tired?
"I do not believe I am the one being stubborn."
[Descendant.]
"Old man, it is you who should stop being stubborn. I have said so from the very beginning—I have no intention of returning to that household."
[How can one born of the Namgung bloodline refuse to return to the Namgung family?]
"If you're annoyed, you leave. What of it? Will the clan perish without me?"
[Yes, it will perish, which is why I speak thus.]
"Truly absurd."
At Namgung Myeong's firm words, Namgung Hyeong could only laugh hollowly.
"Old man. If a clan would perish over one missing man, wouldn't it be fine to simply let it perish?"
[You brat...!]
"It seems my grandfather's words have gotten under your skin. Give it up. If I were going to fall for such words, I would have done so long ago."
He recalled the words his grandfather, the Tianzun, had spoken when he came to visit.
That if he returned to the Namgung family, they might even give him the position of family head?
Recalling his older half-brother, who had struggled desperately to seize that very seat, Namgung Hyeong curled his lips.
'A seat that would fly away with a mere gesture of my grandfather's hand—who cares for such a thing?'
He had no interest. Even if a blade were held to his tongue, Namgung Hyeong had no intention of returning to the Namgung family.
The problem was that Wudang was also making a fuss for him to return, and now even the Tianzun had come—it was simply growing annoying.
'It's about time to move.'
It had already been a year since he settled in Sichuan.
He had thought he was living quietly, having settled down where no one knew him.
How had they found him?
'My disciple wouldn't have told them.'
It was Uhyeok; he believed that Uhyeok, of all people, would not go around spreading word of him.
'Either way, it's become troublesome.'
It was a reasonably good location, and he had intended to stay another two or three years.
But since the Tianzun had come, it seemed he would have to leave for somewhere else.
Where should he go this time?
'Perhaps I'll visit the Northern Sea.'
Not bad. It was a place he had once wanted to visit—a frozen land uninvolved in secular affairs.
It was fine land for a leisurely departure.
[Descendant.]
While he was contemplating his plans, Namgung Myeong spoke to him.
At that voice, Namgung Hyeong snorted softly and answered.
"As we first promised. I will properly complete your sword and pass it on to the Namgung family. Is that not why I swing my blade day and night?"
[....]
"If you expect anything more than that, just leave me, will you? Say you're returning me to the clan, and they'll leap for joy."
When Namgung Hyeong spat the words out as though annoyed, the Noea finally stopped vibrating.
Feeling that, Namgung Hyeong sighed inwardly.
He knew Namgung Myeong's will, and because he had received help from him, Namgung Hyeong tried to understand that intention.
But he was not the one to embody and carry it out.
Nor did he wish to.
Having thought that far, Namgung Hyeong tried to change the subject.
"Fine. Aren't you going to tell me what happened last time?"
[...What matter do you speak of?]
"Last time, when that little monster came."
Little monster. It meant the one his disciple had brought along, calling him a friend.
Namgung Hyeong thought it was quite a well-coined name.
If that was not a monster, what was?
Namgung Hyeong had truly believed his disciple would sweep through the world.
He had possessed the caliber of talent for it, and he was the sort to figure out ten things when taught one, so he had surely expected him to become great.
It was a flaw that he was a bit lazy and slept too much, but he had thought that was a talent that could overcome even that.
'To think the level was truly different.'
Wasn't his name So Yeomra?
The So Goe, who had recently caused an uproar in the Central Plains, was on a level far too different from his disciple.
A martial artist on the verge of completion, or perhaps already complete.
His loose, seemingly hopeless demeanor was a bit grating.
But Namgung Hyeong could see the hidden blade within him.
Dry and parched.
A blade that seemed as though it would sever everything around him the moment it was drawn.
Well.
'The child of a monster couldn't possibly be anything other than a monster.'
As Namgung Hyeong looked at that young boy from the Gu family named So Yeomra, he recalled the family head of that household.
Whenever he remembered meeting that man, chills ran down Namgung Hyeong's spine.
How could he forget that spectacle where even the sky burned, not to mention the earth?
The long hair dyed crimson by the heat, and the red eyes blazing alongside it.
Grabbing the neck of Hyeok Eochun of the Ghostly Twin Swords, called under Sima Oje, that man had looked at Namgung Hyeong and spoken.
—I've been beaten to the punch.
With those words, he disappeared like a spark. It had been but a fleeting moment, yet Namgung Hyeong could not forget that sight.
He couldn't win.
He was certain of it when he recalled that vast presence surrounding him, and the sight of him effortlessly subduing Hyeok Eochun—who had been struggling in his death throes right before being defeated by Namgung Hyeong himself. Just the recollection sent intense emotions surging through him.
[That child is not the only strong one.]
Namgung Myeong spoke to Namgung Hyeong in his uniquely chilly tone.
[A greater monster is attached to the child of a monster, so it is only natural that he becomes strong.]
Sensing something in Namgung Myeong's voice, Namgung Hyeong formed a strange expression.
Because he realized it was a story from that day.
"Are you not going to tell me that story after all, either?"
The day So Yeomra came.
Namgung Hyeong had been shocked that So Yeomra could hear Namgung Myeong's voice.
Until then, no one else had ever been able to hear Namgung Myeong's voice.
The problem was that from Namgung Myeong's words, it seemed So Yeomra also had something like the Noea, yet Namgung Hyeong himself could not hear other people's voices.
Moreover.
[That is not something you need to know.]
Namgung Myeong was avoiding talking about that day.
It was a reaction as though he did not want to tell Namgung Hyeong.
At that reaction, Namgung Hyeong spoke in an irritated voice.
"Then at least hide the emotion in your voice. You're getting on my nerves."
[...]
Embarrassment.
From Namgung Myeong's voice as he avoided the conversation, an inexplicable sense of embarrassment could be felt.
It was the first sense of dissonance from Namgung Myeong, who always felt cold yet confident.
"I can't understand what is so embarrassing that you cannot lift your head."
[Who says they are embarrassed?]
"You are doing so right now, old man. You are cowering like a man caught stealing."
[...Be quiet.]
Seeing that he did not deny it, it seemed something indeed had gotten to him.
He wanted to dig deeper, but Namgung Hyeong held back.
Because he had already called someone he could ask even without questioning Namgung Myeong.
Just then.
Wooong—!
Predictably, the presence of people was caught by Namgung Hyeong's senses from afar.
Judging by their speed, they were martial artists. One of them was Uhyeok's presence.
But.
'Three?'
He felt the presence of two more besides Uhyeok.
The slightly greater presence seemed to be So Yeomra.
Who was the other one?
The moment Namgung Hyeong raised his killing intent slightly to confirm this.
Zzt—!
"...!"
A tingling energy brushed past his body.
It was an energy that Namgung Hyeong could not possibly fail to recognize.
After a few seconds passed.
"Master."
Uhyeok appeared in the distance, landing lightly on the ground.
He was carrying some beast on his back, and at a glance, it was a wild boar.
He had probably brought it as a gift for him; anyway, he was a cute fellow.
Having examined the wild boar for a moment, Namgung Hyeong's gaze soon fixed elsewhere.
A young man with a savage impression—it was So Yeomra, whom he had seen before.
And beside him....
The same white-azure hair as his, and the same eyes.
With fair, beautiful skin and beautiful features to boot.
"...I see."
Seeing that, Namgung Hyeong could immediately tell who she was.
"So you're my niece."
She was likely his half-brother's daughter.
And she would be the one currently called Geommuhui, betrothed to So Yeomra.
Seeing her, Namgung Hyeong stood up.
Conversely, Namgung Bia also slightly widened her eyes upon seeing Namgung Hyeong.
"...?"
"It seems my brother raised his child well. Your spirit is sharp."
"...Brother...?"
At Namgung Hyeong's words, Namgung Bia tilted her head.
At that sight, Namgung Hyeong smirked.
Because he could tell they had not told her about him in the family.
Truly, a place that never changed.
Yet because he bore no ill will toward Namgung Bia, Namgung Hyeong could at least smile.
"I don't think there's any need for affectionate greetings... I am..."
Just as Namgung Hyeong was about to briefly introduce himself.
[Descendant.]
Namgung Myeong's voice rang out.
'Old man?'
[Draw your sword.]
'Hm? What do you mean...?'
Shlick.
'What...?'
At Namgung Myeong's words, Namgung Hyeong's hand moved.
This was not Namgung Hyeong's will.
It was dangerous.
The hand reaching for the sword moved without hesitation, and if he drew and swung at Namgung Bia like this, blood would be spilled.
Trying somehow to endure, just as Namgung Hyeong was about to force his strength.
Clack.
"...!"
The sword did not draw. He had clearly tried to grab and pull it.
It was not that Namgung Hyeong had stopped. Seeing the current state, he too was startled.
The reason the sword did not draw was simple.
Someone was firmly pressing down on the hilt to prevent the sword from leaving the scabbard.
That was why Namgung Hyeong was shocked.
It meant he had not noticed until the person approached right in front of him.
And the fact that they blocked it before he even drew meant they had approached while realizing he was going to draw his sword.
Realizing this, Namgung Hyeong looked at the opponent with eyes wide in shock.
And he had to be surprised.
Looking into the eyes of the one who stopped his sword draw, a certain person's face came to mind.
"...Just now."
A voice pierced his ears.
It seemed as though he was forcibly holding back anger. Or perhaps forcibly suppressing killing intent.
"What were you trying to do?"
Eyes brimming with heat, yet somehow containing a blue light.
So Yeomra, the spitting image of that crimson-haired man from that time, was slowly turning up the heat as he looked at Wudang Gwaeseon.