Episode 7: The Emergence of Talent
Namgung Hancheon looked at the Second Young Lord with a stiff face.
"Did you just call the Celestial Wind Sword Art 'something like that'?"
"I did."
There had been a massive trend in the martial world known as the Changing Tide, and the Namgung Clan had also learned the Celestial Wind Sword Art without going against that flow.
Many martial artists of the clan had striven to develop this Celestial Wind Sword Art. To become the second Mount Hua Sword Immortal.
Namgung Hancheon was also one of those who had developed the Celestial Wind Sword Art.
Therefore, he took pride in the Celestial Wind Sword Art.
Yet the Second Young Lord before his eyes was currently trampling upon that pride.
"It is a sword art that has already passed through the hands of clan experts for nearly a hundred years. There has been much refinement in that process. You called such a sword art 'something like that'—you must have that much confidence."
Namgung Hancheon was no ordinary figure either. Even at Namgung Rim's words that touched his pride, he did not easily reveal his anger. Instead, he only calmed his gaze even further and stared at the Second Young Lord as if piercing through him.
But Namgung Hancheon's fierce gaze had no particular effect on Namgung Rim either.
The gaze he met was still tranquil and serene.
"Has it already been a hundred years for the Celestial Wind Sword Art?"
"Indeed. Since the teachings of the Mount Hua Sword Immortal."
"And it is merely a hundred years at that."
"What?"
"The Boundless Firmament Sword Art is a martial art that has been with the clan since its origin, like a fundamental root. From the beginning, it is a sword art that cannot even be daringly compared to the Celestial Wind Sword Art."
Since it was an undeniable fact, Namgung Hancheon closed his mouth, and Namgung Rim's words continued.
"There is no need to throw away the clan's foundation and forcibly imitate the sword art of the Mount Hua Sword Immortal. We are not Daoist practitioners cultivating the Dao like them."
Namgung Hancheon looked at the Second Young Lord for a moment. Hearing the sword arts of the current Daoist sects shaking the martial world expressed in such a way somehow gave him a refreshing feeling.
"Kwahahaha!"
As if satisfied with something, he threw his head back and laughed for a while before soon looking at Namgung Rim.
"Splendid. You speak the truth. It is all correct."
And then his face hardened again.
"But in the end, what the Second Young Lord speaks of is merely an ideal detached from reality. The Boundless Firmament Sword Art has already lost its power, and currently in the martial world, the sword arts of the Nine Sects and Five Great Clans are praised as the best."
"To the extent that even the Hebei Paeng Clan, who wielded the dao, fell into ruin long ago."
"Indeed. I well understand the Second Young Lord's meaning. Conviction. The conviction to reclaim our clan's foundation, is it not? However, conviction without talent is ultimately nothing but a vain delusion that brings no benefit."
Namgung Hancheon's voice gradually rose, filled with force.
"The reason the Hebei Paeng Clan, and furthermore our Namgung Clan, declined is ultimately simple. It is because there is no talent that can surpass the Five Great Clans, and above them, the Nine Sects. Is the Second Young Lord saying he possesses the talent to speak of such conviction?"
Namgung Hancheon had witnessed with his own eyes that the Second Young Lord had defeated the head of Jegeom Hall. And he had coveted that talent. But after speaking with him directly, he was a prodigy who far surpassed his thoughts.
*Perhaps that is why he is excessively arrogant. He could go wrong at any moment. I must set him straight.*
With such thoughts, he faced Namgung Rim, who slowly opened his mouth.
"I have heard rumors."
At the completely unexpected words, one of Namgung Hancheon's eyebrows rose.
"What rumors are you suddenly speaking of?"
"The Myeong Clan, who are in the middle of marriage talks with my elder brother, will soon visit our clan. Along with the Hanam Yun Clan, that is."
Namgung Hancheon had heard of it as well. After the Namgung Clan was expelled from the Five Great Clans, the Hanam Yun Clan had sent a marriage proposal to the Myeong Clan.
*And to a lady who was exchanging marriage talks with our Young Clan Lord, at that.*
When the Hanam Yun Clan, affiliated with the Five Great Clans, made such a move, the weak Myeong Clan had no choice but to come to the Namgung Clan. As a martial clan, they naturally had no choice but to take the Five Great Clans' feelings into account.
Having grasped the situation, Namgung Hancheon's eyes widened.
"Second Young Lord, surely you don't mean..."
The Third Young Lord of the Hanam Yun Clan, Yun Nokhwa. The one betrothed in the marriage talks with the Myeong Clan this time, he was of the same age as Namgung Rim. And he was also an expert renowned in the martial world as a rising star.
This time, that Yun Nokhwa was coming here. And since it was a meeting between martial clans, a match would obviously occur for some reason or another.
Namgung Rim had been thinking of having a match with Yun Nokhwa then.
Having discerned the Second Young Lord's plan, Namgung Hancheon was startled, and Namgung Rim flashed a faint smile at him.
"Please witness it with your own eyes then. Whether I possess the talent to surpass them."
* * *
The Young Clan Lord of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Han, was passing through extremely busy days.
"There has been no reply to the letter from the Baek Manor side. It seems they intend to cut off exchanges with us. Also, the Dongjin Merchant Guild has contacted us saying they will cease their sponsorship of our clan."
The information delivered by the steward was all bad news. Since being expelled from the Five Great Clans, it had always been like this.
But Namgung Han answered the steward without losing the smile on his face.
"It is fine. The Baek Manor side owes a debt to the clan lord from two generations ago, so if we bring up that matter, they can sufficiently change their minds again. As for the Dongjin Merchant Guild's sponsorship, their current business endeavor is closely related to the Northern Yuan Escort Agency. The Northern Yuan Escort Agency is run by our blood relatives, so if we clearly point that out, we can persuade them again."
Admiration flashed across the steward's face. The Young Clan Lord's handling of affairs was always unobstructed. As if he had always thought things through.
"Understood. I will handle it as you have said."
Once the steward disappeared, only then did Namgung Han lean deeply back into his chair.
"Phew."
A shadow fell upon his face, which always wore a smile.
Since his father passed away, he had to take charge of the clan's affairs. That alone was no easy task, and the marriage talks with the Myeong Clan were stagnating and dragging on.
Nevertheless, Namgung Han never lost his smile before others. He never showed others his hardships and strove to do his best in the tasks given to him.
*I can handle the clan's affairs well enough. But if things continue like this...*
Maintain the status quo.
He had to re-enter the Five Great Clans and revive the clan, but for now, merely maintaining the status quo was an overwhelming task.
*I must raise the clan's martial arts achievements.*
As a martial clan, martial arts were ultimately important. But Namgung Han's talent in martial arts was ordinary.
*The current clan's strongest expert is the Jegeom Hall Master. Must I place my expectations on him?*
Then he suddenly thought of his younger brother. He had heard that lately, he had been holed up in the underground training chamber.
*No, my younger brother is not the type to run away. He must be doing some sort of training. But his talent is ordinary as well... I hope he doesn't get hurt for nothing.*
While Namgung Han was worrying like that, a subordinate entered the office and reported.
"People have arrived from the Myeong Clan, and from the Hanam Yun Clan."
The story of the Hanam Yun Clan sending a marriage proposal to the Myeong Clan was something Namgung Han naturally knew as well.
His head hurt instantly, but he still answered with a smile on his face.
"Understood."
Namgung Han's shoulders grew heavy.
* * *
The clan was bustling. Just like before they were expelled from the Five Great Clans.
But today the atmosphere was not as bright as back then.
The visit of the Myeong Clan and the Hanam Yun Clan.
I went to Central Avenue with Dancheol, where they had arrived. Central Avenue was already bustling with guests from the two clans and our clan's people welcoming them.
Even from afar, there was one figure that stood out particularly.
A man of the same age, handsome in appearance and clad in white.
Dancheol beside me seemed to have noticed him first as well.
"That must be the Third Young Lord of the Hanam Yun Clan, of whom rumors abound. The one called the Jade-Faced Prodigy."
The Jade-Faced Prodigy, Yun Nokhwa.
I had naturally heard of him as well. The Hanam Yun Clan had three brothers, and all three were renowned in the martial world for their handsome appearances and outstanding martial arts skills.
Among them, two were married, but the youngest, Yun Nokhwa, was still without a partner. And then, when our Namgung Clan was expelled from the Five Great Clans this time, a marriage proposal had been sent to the Myeong Clan.
Then a rough voice came from behind me.
"The Second Young Lord intends to defeat that fellow?"
I could tell who the voice belonged to without turning around.
"Yes. Jegeom Hall Master."
"You said you would show me with your own eyes. Your talent that can surpass even the Five Great Clans and the Nine Sects."
"If I defeat the Jade-Faced Prodigy, would that not be sufficient proof?"
"Indeed. That fellow has already reached the threshold of Pinnacle at a glance."
Dancheol, listening from the side, exclaimed in surprise.
"He has reached the threshold of Pinnacle at an age not yet even thirty?"
It was surprising indeed. The Jegeom Hall Master had yet to break through the wall of Pinnacle, so reaching the threshold of Pinnacle at that age meant tremendous talent.
Namgung Hancheon spoke to me instead of answering.
"Indeed. Second Young Lord, you boasted to me that you would face such a rising star who is currently building his reputation."
I turned to Namgung Hancheon.
"Would that not be even better?"
"What do you mean?"
"The impact of winning, of course."
Namgung Hancheon's face looking at me grew strange. It was an expression of suppressing and holding something in.
"Very well. I shall watch. Regarding the true nature of that talent the Second Young Lord spoke of."
Namgung Hancheon, who had been about to turn away, stopped his steps and looked at Dancheol.
"But why are you looking like that?"
Dancheol answered nonchalantly.
"I was staring because I thought I heard a faint hint of expectation in the Hall Master's voice. The expectation that the Second Young Lord would win, that is."
Namgung Hancheon answered without changing his expression one bit.
"What? What nonsense are you spouting?"
And he quickly disappeared.
Dancheol said, watching Namgung Hancheon's retreating figure.
"Even like that, the Jegeom Hall Master seems to ultimately hope for the Second Young Lord's victory."
I smiled lightly.
"Indeed. Because he too is one of our clan who bears the surname Namgung."
After seeing the two clans' visit, I returned to my quarters. And an hour later, I headed to the underground training chamber.
I had been leaving my sword in the underground training chamber anyway. Because it would be troublesome if the clan's people saw it right now.
On the way to the training chamber, two figures caught my eye.
My elder brother and Myeong Eunbi of the Myeong Clan.
Their faces were full of worry. After all, the two of them had feelings for each other.
But even as the Myeong Clan Lord, he could not lightly refuse the request of the Hanam Yun Clan, a member of the Five Great Clans.
*That is why they visited our clan together with the Hanam Yun Clan. They must have thought to settle things somehow here.*
While I hoped my brother's affection would continue, the Myeong Clan was, after all, a wealthy family of Jiangsu Province. The Hanam Yun Clan side would also want to connect with the Myeong Clan somehow.
*The Myeong Clan's wealth is absolutely necessary for us as well.*
Therefore, I had to show an overwhelming display in the match with Yun Nokhwa.
To the extent of turning back not only Namgung Hancheon but also the Myeong Clan Lord's heart.
* * *
That evening, Namgung Hancheon was called upon by the Young Clan Lord, Namgung Han.
Namgung Hancheon seemed to know the Young Clan Lord's intentions, but he pretended not to and asked.
"Young Clan Lord, what is the matter?"
"The superficial reason Lord Yun of the Hanam Yun Clan came here is to punish the shadow bandit currently active in Anhui Province."
Namgung Hancheon had heard of it as well. That many rising stars had moved to catch that shadow bandit wreaking havoc in the Anhui region.
"If that is the superficial reason, the true intent must be different."
"Yes. He will likely request a match. With the condition of breaking off the marriage talks."
"Then would he not naturally request it of the Young Clan Lord?"
Namgung Han smiled subtly.
"People are generous when they have leeway. They have leeway, so they will easily agree even if I do not step forward."
Namgung Hancheon admired inwardly. Even if the Young Clan Lord lacked talent in martial arts, his scheming was deeper than he thought.
"Then."
"The Jegeom Hall Master's status does not match Lord Yun, so is there anyone in Jegeom Hall who can step forward?"
In that moment, Namgung Hancheon unknowingly got goosebumps.
*It is flowing exactly as the Second Young Lord planned, to an astonishing degree. Is it not as if a stage is being prepared for him?*
"Yes. I shall nominate someone."
Namgung Han brightened.
"Is there a suitable person?"
"Yes. There is no one else."
Namgung Hancheon felt a strange sensation. To the point that he even felt as if he were being manipulated by the Second Young Lord's plan.
And unknowingly, he continued speaking.
"If it is him, I believe he can defeat the Jade-Faced Prodigy."
Delight and surprise simultaneously rose on Namgung Han's face.
"There was such an expert in Jegeom Hall? As expected of the Hall Master. To think you were nurturing such a rising star in Jegeom Hall!"
It was surprising that there was a rising star in the clan who could defeat the renowned Yun Nokhwa, but the Jegeom Hall Master was never one to speak nonsense.
Namgung Hancheon found it difficult to answer for a moment. He instilled only the belief that they could win in the Young Clan Lord before extricating himself from that place.
Returning after parting with the Young Clan Lord, Namgung Hancheon ran into Namgung Rim at the path, as if he had been waiting.
"Likely, Lord Yun... that fellow will request a match tomorrow."
"You have worked hard. Everyone will gather then."
Only then did Namgung Hancheon realize. Tomorrow would not be a private match in Jegeom Hall like before. It would be a match receiving the attention not only of the clan's people but of all the other clans as well.
*Even though we had a private match before, the Second Young Lord did not raise any objection at all. He was aiming for today from the very beginning.*
Namgung Rim flashed a light smile at the surprised Namgung Hancheon.
"Now they too shall know. That the Namgung Clan's talent has not yet been severed."