Episode 10: A Talent That Draws Attention
For the first time in a while, the atmosphere of the clan had brightened.
Their expulsion from the Five Great Families, followed by their father's death. Due to the successive calamities that had erupted one after another, the clan's atmosphere had sunk into deep gloom.
But today, one could not feel the shadow of those times whatsoever.
The elder brother's wedding, and simultaneously, the clan head inauguration ceremony.
It was a decision made because the position of clan head had been left vacant for too long to be postponed any longer.
Though it was a wedding attended only by people from our Namgung Clan and the Myeong Clan, the atmosphere was quite bustling and busy.
The faces of the clan members coming and going were bright.
"It's all thanks to the Second Young Master."
"Who would have known he would defeat the Third Young Master of the Hanam Yun Clan like that?"
Dancheol, who was beside me, heard those words and looked back at me.
"Praise of the Second Young Master is widespread."
"I have ears too, so there's no need to relay it deliberately."
"But you wouldn't have heard the other thing. That the collateral branch, whose spirits were low, has completely changed as well."
"I suppose so. That was precisely what I desired."
Even if the clan was to return as a united bloodline centered on the direct line, if the numerically superior collateral branch did not lend its strength, the authority of the direct line would be reduced by half.
And Namgung Hancheon had been keeping our direct line in check from the center of that collateral branch.
But now, things had changed.
"Every time the Sword Division Chief meets with the collateral branch members, he speaks only praise of the Second Young Master. It seems the Sword Division Chief holds considerable expectations."
"From now on, my brother will handle the clan's management well. He is a man who naturally commands respect. If the collateral branch only cooperates properly, everything will run smoothly."
"It is the Second Young Master who changed the clan's atmosphere in an instant like this."
"Yes. But I did not take up the sword merely to change the clan's atmosphere."
It was no different from having not yet taken a single step forward. There was no reason whatsoever to rejoice or get excited here.
Dancheol looked at me as if in agreement, then nodded with a face full of determination.
"Yes. I will also do my utmost to assist you."
I showed Dancheol a light smile.
"For now, let us celebrate my brother today."
* * *
Wearing red wedding garb, my brother and Myeong Eunbi exchanged cups of wine before everyone's eyes.
Both of their faces were bright.
In the end, it was two people with mutual affection coming together.
After the wedding was held, the clan head inauguration ceremony immediately followed.
For sects or clans, the rise of a new leader was a grand ceremony.
Thus, other forces would usually send congratulatory delegations.
But to us, there was nothing of the sort.
'If we were still one of the Five Great Families, things would have been different.'
If we had not been expelled, it was certain that not only the other Five Great Families but also the Nine Sects would have sent congratulatory delegations.
'We must change. So that the Nine Provinces martial world will turn its eyes upon our Namgung.'
As I was watching the clan head inauguration ceremony, someone approached me from the side.
"Hehe. Your face is stiff on such a fine day."
It was Myeong Hyeonpa, the head of the Myeong Clan, who wore a short beard handsomely.
"I had something to think about for a moment."
"I hear you've been devoted solely to training lately. Indeed, you are different. It seems even now you are engaged in visualization training in your head."
Myeong Hyeonpa continued speaking to me, who showed little reaction.
"To be honest, I am filled with regret these days. Why did I not recognize your worth sooner?"
"It seems you have something you wish to say."
Myeong Hyeonpa turned around and said something to a subordinate, and soon the subordinate brought a young girl.
She was a pretty girl with large eyes and a bright expression.
"This is my second daughter."
"Hello. I am Myeong Eunhyang."
Myeong Eunhyang introduced herself with a clear, ringing voice.
"What do you think? In my eyes, you two look like a well-matched pair, hehe!"
Only then did I seem to understand Myeong Hyeonpa's intention.
An intertwined marriage alliance.
By taking me as a son-in-law of the Myeong Clan as well, following my elder brother, he meant to forge an inseparable bond with us.
In a way, it was something to be grateful for. Because he had made such a decision based solely on my martial arts match, even though it had not been long since we were expelled from the Five Great Families.
In short, he was looking at my potential and choosing to invest.
'That isn't bad either.'
But if I accepted, my value to the Myeong Clan would be no different from being sold at current market price.
Moreover, simply through my brother's marriage, we could already receive ample support from the Myeong Clan's wealth.
I looked at Myeong Eunhyang.
Without avoiding my gaze, she stared at me while wearing a smile. It was a confident look.
Naturally, I had heard rumors about her. That she possessed both talent and beauty, and was already widely renowned in Jiangsu Province.
Such a girl would certainly have grown up receiving beauty and attention wherever she went.
But.
"I have no such thoughts at the moment."
The moment she heard my words, Myeong Eunhyang's face hardened coldly.
Myeong Hyeonpa also seemed momentarily flustered, but soon laughed heartily and reversed the atmosphere.
"Haha! That's right! It is never too late for a great man to accomplish his grand ambitions first."
Myeong Hyeonpa seemed to think that my words "at the moment" had left room for the future.
"Still, I shall arrange such occasions from time to time. If we see each other's faces coming and going, feelings may yet develop."
Myeong Hyeonpa left with his daughter. And even as Myeong Eunhyang disappeared, she turned back to look at me.
'It seems the shock was quite great.'
* * *
The night the inauguration ceremony ended, I called Namgung Hancheon and Dancheol to the Eastern Training Ground.
"You called for us, Second Young Master."
Unlike Dancheol, who was perfectly fine, Namgung Hancheon was slightly drunk.
"You are truly something. To call us to a training ground on such a fine night. And you've even brought a sword; what have you called us for?"
Namgung Hancheon looked to be in a good mood. Naturally, because it was the day the Namgung Clan made a fresh start with a new clan head.
"You said you would help me, Division Chief."
"Of course! I shall do my utmost to help you."
"I shall demonstrate the Changgung Muae Sword Technique from now on."
"Hm? So suddenly?"
Before the flustered Sword Division Chief, I reached behind my back and drew my sword.
The moment I drew my sword, the flustered Sword Division Chief's gaze changed in an instant.
A focused gaze.
It was indeed the concentration befitting the clan's greatest expert. Despite being intoxicated, he sobered up immediately.
I began to swing the sword.
Boom.
The heavy sound of tearing air gradually condensed as I swung.
Slash.
I exerted more and more strength into the hand gripping the sword hilt as I swung.
Not the elegant sword dance of Daoists dreaming of ascension, but so that it would become a sword wind that tears apart the myriad phenomena.
The sword technique, beginning with the first stance, Raging Wave Sundering Break, soon raced toward its finale.
And with the final twelfth stance, Sword Open Heaven Bright, it reached its climax.
Kwaang-!
Dust from the training ground rose all at once, obscuring vision.
I sheathed Changse and turned to Namgung Hancheon.
"Did you remember it all?"
But Namgung Hancheon closed his eyes without answering. Even so, I did not rush him.
After a moment, when twice that time had passed, he soon opened his eyes.
"Amazing."
"What do you mean?"
"It is different from what I knew."
"This is the original source."
Strange light flowed in Namgung Hancheon's eyes. But he did not ask in detail. Soon he merely laughed as if satisfied.
"Keke, it seems my resolve was not in vain. Good. I remembered it all."
He was indeed the Sword Division Chief. He definitely had talent. It was merely that, born into the Namgung Clan, that talent had been unable to fully bloom.
Namgung Hancheon's words continued.
"You mean to change it, then. The clan's sword technique from the Cheonpung Sword Technique to the Changgung Muae Sword Technique."
The perceptiveness to grasp it on his own without me explaining each and every thing.
"You saw correctly."
The smile that rose on Namgung Hancheon's face deepened.
"Kekeke. It will be fun. Very fun. I'll have to change the heart method to one that suits the principles of heavy and strong as well."
"You will have much to do for the time being."
"It is blood-boiling work. I wish to do it right this instant. But will the Second Young Master not teach it? You would be more than capable."
"I intend to leave the clan for the time being."
"Hm? Where do you intend to go?"
"The Poison Ghost Yin Demon."
Namgung Hancheon's and Dancheol's eyes widened. Since the Poison Ghost Yin Demon was a considerable expert, there was no reason for them not to be surprised.
But I needed a life-or-death confrontation, not a simple martial arts contest. Because my Dohwang sense would bestow the golden radiance of enlightenment at that hair's-breadth crossroads.
Namgung Hancheon opened his mouth in a satisfied voice.
"It seems you intend to undertake a righteous campaign to punish the Yin Demon. Hehe. Indeed, you are different. A scion of a prestigious clan should naturally overflow with chivalrous spirit. Yes! Of course!"
Even Dancheol chimed in from the side.
"It is a good decision. For elevating the clan's position, a righteous campaign is the best path. Then I shall make preparations."
I shook my head at Dancheol.
"I go alone."
"Yes? You go alone?"
"Dancheol, you must learn the Changgung Muae Sword Technique here. That is the priority."
* * *
The next day, I left the clan early at dawn. I had already asked Dancheol to speak to my brother in my stead.
As the horse galloped, I quickly grew distant from the clan.
In a way, it was my first step into the martial world.
It was my first time setting foot into the martial world alone like this.
I was not nervous. Strangely, I was calm.
No, rather, I even felt an anticipation filled with a certain thrill.
'What enlightenment will come at the crossroads of life and death?'
I spurred the horse toward Seonju City like that. It was a place one arrived at after riding northeast for about three days from the vicinity of Huangshan, where the Namgung Clan was located.
The reason for heading there was simple.
'Experts are gathering here to catch the Poison Ghost Yin Demon.'
No matter how much the clan had fallen, Anhui Province was the Namgung Clan's base. There was no way our eyes and ears would not reach there.
On the third day, I arrived at the outskirts of Seonju City. I entrusted my horse at a relay station and headed inside the city.
Perhaps because it was a city located at a crossroad connecting to Jiangsu Province, there were many people coming and going.
And martial artists with swords at their waists were frequently visible.
'Quite a lot have gathered.'
I could tell intuitively. That all of these people had come here to catch the Poison Ghost Yin Demon.
'There must be those who have chased the Yin Demon for a long time.'
I knew nothing about the Poison Ghost Yin Demon. It was natural that my information lagged behind the others.
'I need someone to make use of.'
It was a matter of going together with someone well-informed. Since in the end, I only needed to fight the Poison Ghost Yin Demon at the final moment anyway.
Since I wished to stay quietly for the day, I headed to a small inn located on the city's outskirts.
At that time, a young man and woman of similar age to me came out of the inn and our eyes met. The man with long hair smiled slightly at me and spoke.
"You're already too late here."
"No rooms?"
The woman, who had her hair tied up cutely on both sides, answered instead.
"No. There are rooms. But there are esteemed guests."
I could not understand how there could be rooms, yet one couldn't enter because of esteemed guests.
I paid no heed to their words and headed inside.
Upon entering, the inn was completely empty.
Except for the man tilting his wine cup alone in the center and the guards surrounding him.
One of the guards discovered me and spoke.
"Leave. This place is being used by our Hebei Luo Clan."
From behind, the girl's voice I had encountered earlier was heard.
"Oh my, I should have told that young master that they're not just esteemed guests, but the Five Great Families!"
Right.
In the current martial world, the Nine Sects and Five Great Families are names so renowned that even birds fall from the sky.
What she meant was that these esteemed guests are the Five Great Families.
Without hesitation, I strode deeper into the inn.