Episode 8: The Emergence of Talent (2)
Un Nakhwa, the Third Young Master of the Hanam Un Clan.
A rising star of the younger generation already famed in the martial world by the epithet “Jade-Faced Prodigy,” he was walking through the gardens of the Namgung Clan estate together with his attendant, Makhyo.
“As befits the Namgung Clan, which once commanded the martial world, the scale of these gardens is indeed grand and imposing.”
Clad in white robes, Un Nakhwa moved with such lofty grace that his handsome figure seemed like a living painting. Enough so that the passing servants of the clan stole sideways glances at him.
Makhyo, walking beside him, answered.
“But that is all past glory, is it not? Nowadays, they are an insignificant clan that has been expelled from the Five Great Clans…”
“Indeed. The past is all useless. And the Namgung Clan is especially so. Makhyo, do you know what sword technique the Namgung Clan currently uses?”
“Hmm… Is it the Cheonpung Sword Technique?”
“Correct. But it is said that they used a different sword technique in the past. One of an entirely different nature, not of fluid change.”
“This one lacks knowledge and does not know.”
Un Nakhwa turned to look at Makhyo and offered a faint smile.
“Well, I had heard of it before, but I have forgotten.”
Un Nakhwa resumed walking.
“That is why the Namgung Clan will never be able to advance the Cheonpung Sword Technique further. Because its roots are a different sword technique.”
“Then the Namgung Clan must be all the more desperate for a marriage with the Myeongssi Clan. After all, the Myeongssi Clan is a renowned house of wealth in Jiangsu.”
“The Myeongssi Clan may be weak in martial arts, but they are a family that has accumulated riches for generations.”
The wealth of the Myeongssi Clan had naturally been of great help not only to the Namgung Clan but also to the Hanam Un Clan.
“What do you intend to do about the Dokgwieumjeok?”
Dokgwieumjeok.
He was a villain currently committing evil deeds in Anhui Province, abducting women. Many rising talents of the younger generation had flocked to Anhui to capture this Yin Thief, and Un Nakhwa had happened to stop by as well.
“He must be executed. After all, I must show deeds befitting the Jade-Faced Prodigy. But first.”
Un Nakhwa stopped walking and continued.
“Let us settle the matter here, shall we?”
Un Nakhwa went straight to meet the Young Master, Namgung Han.
After sitting across from Namgung Han and exchanging formal greetings, he immediately got to the point.
“Surely, Brother Namgung, you know as well why the Myeongssi Clan brought me here.”
Namgung Han smiled faintly and nodded.
“Of course. They wish for the Namgung Clan and the Hanam Un Clan to settle matters here, do they not?”
An interested smile spread across Un Nakhwa’s face. The Young Clan Head of the Namgung Clan was far more direct than he had expected.
“I am glad that we understand each other easily. How about it? A duel between you and me, with the condition that the loser withdraws from the marriage talks with the Myeongssi Clan.”
“Very well. However, I am not in good health, so would it be acceptable if I appointed another in my stead?”
Un Nakhwa quickly ran through the possibilities in his head. Defeating the Young Clan Head himself would have been the best outcome. But defeating anyone other than him would still fulfill the bet regardless.
‘I have heard that the strongest expert of the Namgung Clan is the Jageom Hall Master. But there is no way that a man of such high standing would step forward for a duel with me. Aside from him, there is no one of my generation who can defeat me.’
‘Then I must show the composure and magnanimity befitting a member of the Five Great Clans.’
Un Nakhwa nodded with a gentle smile.
“Of course. It makes no difference to me whatsoever.”
* * *
Many people had gathered at the central training ground of the Namgung Clan.
And they all knew. That today, a member of the Namgung Clan and Un Nakhwa would cross blades in a duel.
— A duel with the marriage to the Myeongssi Clan on the line.
Naturally, most of the gathered crowd were members of the Namgung Clan.
“I heard the Young Clan Head is not stepping forward.”
“It seems he has designated a martial artist from the Jageom Hall.”
“If it is the Jageom Hall Master, he may have raised a promising young talent.”
Even as they spoke positively, they could not help but worry.
For their opponent was the Jade-Faced Prodigy, Un Nakhwa, a new star of the martial world.
The Young Clan Head, Namgung Han, felt the same.
‘The Jageom Hall Master said there was someone who could defeat Young Master Un. Did he raise such an expert from the collateral branch? In any case, I have no choice but to trust the Jageom Hall Master now. Even though he despises the main line, he is a man who never speaks nonsense when it comes to martial arts.’
Namgung Han secretly glanced at Namgung Hancheon, who stood on one side of the training ground. Namgung Hancheon nodded to the Young Clan Head.
As if to say, trust me.
But Namgung Hancheon himself did not know why he was doing this. It was strange. At first, when the Second Young Master said he would display his talent, he had hoped the young man’s arrogance would be broken.
But now, he did not.
He felt the Second Young Master would win, and he found himself hoping the Second Young Master would win.
‘In the end, I too am a man of the Namgung Clan.’
Just then, a man walked out to the center of the training ground.
A handsome man clad in white robes, an ornate sword at his waist, moving with lofty strides—it was Un Nakhwa.
The moment Un Nakhwa appeared in the central training ground, all eyes focused on him.
Born into the Hanam Un Clan, he had pursued a road of success ever since. Accustomed to being the center of attention, he maintained his composure even under everyone’s gaze.
Un Nakhwa looked around with a gentle smile.
“It seems the young hero of the Namgung Clan has not yet arrived.”
It was what everyone watching there, just like Un Nakhwa, was curious about.
The opponent for the duel with Un Nakhwa.
Not only the people of the Namgung Clan but also Myeong Hyeonpa, the head of the Myeongssi Clan, felt the same.
‘For my daughter’s sake, it would be best if a member of the Namgung Clan won. Since it is a fair contest, there will be no pressure from the Five Great Clans. But there is no way such a person exists in the Namgung Clan…’
Just then, one side of the training ground became noisy.
Every gaze turned there. From that place, a man slowly strode forward.
Dressed in the sky-blue robes symbolizing the Namgung Clan, a tall man with handsome features.
“It’s the Second Young Master…”
With every step Namgung Rim took, the crowd parted to make way.
Myeong Hyeonpa, head of the Myeongssi Clan, looked at the appearing Second Young Master with a puzzled expression. The Second Young Master he had heard of in rumors was said to lack talent in martial arts and was even preparing for the civil examinations.
Naturally, the most surprised was his older brother, Namgung Han.
“Rim…”
It was his younger brother, whom he had not seen while tending to the clan’s affairs. Much had changed. With each step he took, an overflowing dignity and an overwhelming aura dominated his surroundings.
He had truly become a different person.
Then Namgung Han’s gaze shifted to his younger brother’s back.
“Is that Changse…?”
It was a sword that should have been in the armory. Moreover, such a large sword was ill-suited for executing the Cheonpung Sword Technique.
Everyone murmured upon seeing that sword.
“Why is the Second Young Master carrying such a sword?”
“No, is he even out here to face the Jade-Faced Prodigy?”
But when they saw Namgung Rim step into the center of the training ground, they realized he had come out to face Un Nakhwa.
Amidst everyone’s surprise, there was one person with a raised corner of his mouth.
It was Namgung Hancheon.
“Then let us see it once, Second Young Master. That talent of which you spoke.”
* * *
Un Nakhwa looked at Namgung Rim, who stood facing him.
“You must be the Second Young Master of the Namgung Clan.”
“I am.”
Un Nakhwa introduced himself with a show of manners.
“I am called Un Nakhwa of the Hanam Un Clan. In the martial world, I am known as the Jade-Faced Prodigy.”
Namgung Rim returned the courtesy.
“Namgung Rim. I have not yet made a name for myself in the martial world.”
“Since you have come all the way here, I suppose you are my opponent.”
“Of course.”
“Then there is no need for lengthy talk.”
Un Nakhwa moved his hand to his waist.
Shhring.
The sword drawn forth was slender yet boasted an ornate blade.
Namgung Rim likewise reached behind his back and gripped the scabbard.
Thrum.
A heavy, dull blade was revealed with a weighty resonance.
While the people of the Namgung Clan held their breaths and gazed at that blade, the two men finally raised their swords and took their stances.
Tap!
Un Nakhwa stamped his foot, breaking the silence.
Shhk!
A sharp sword strike stabbed toward Namgung Rim.
Namgung Rim swung his sword to block Un Nakhwa’s attack.
But Un Nakhwa’s sword did not stop there. Drawing elegant lines, it continuously pressured Namgung Rim.
The sword tip moved lightly and gracefully as if swaying in a gentle breeze, and his white robes fluttered with every step.
At the sword dance of this young prodigy, reminiscent of a painting, all who watched exclaimed in admiration.
“As expected of the Jade-Faced Prodigy.”
“Is this the swordsmanship of the Hanam Un Clan?”
Then, the sword that had traced an elegant trajectory underwent a sharp transformation.
Shwaaa!
“It’s the Baekhwa Flying Sword!”
At someone’s surprised shout, six sword tips split apart as if to pierce straight through Namgung Rim’s body.
Namgung Rim’s left foot stepped forward. Then, planting his right foot in a deep stride, he swung Changse horizontally.
Kwaang!
With a violent impact, Un Nakhwa’s body was pushed back greatly. But with fluid movements, he held his center and stood his ground.
“….”
In an instant, silence fell over the training ground.
Un Nakhwa looked at Namgung Rim with strange eyes. When he had first seen him, he had sensed a peculiar dignity and aura. As if the young man possessed a talent that far surpassed his own.
But he had dismissed that feeling. Because there was no way a fallen clan like the Namgung Clan could possess such talent.
And only now did he realize.
That this was already an opponent he had to clash with using his full strength.
Un Nakhwa raised his sword to shoulder height. Then, extending it straight ahead, he aimed at Namgung Rim.
The final form of the Baekhwa Flying Sword, Floral Pandemonium.
Following irregular movements like the trajectory of falling petals, sword shadows scattered through the air.
As the scattered sword shadows enveloped Namgung Rim.
In that instant, golden light flickered in Namgung Rim’s eyes.
Namgung Rim extended Changse and drew a diagonal line.
Where Changse reached was the true form of Un Nakhwa’s technique.
Screech!
Namgung Rim’s sword scraped against Un Nakhwa’s blade.
Un Nakhwa’s eyes widened in shock. He immediately infused his entire blade with true qi. Then, discharging the true qi in an instant, he raised his sword upward.
Ching!
Namgung Rim’s body rose into the air.
“H-he!”
“The Second Young Master!”
Namgung Hancheon was equally surprised.
‘The Jade-Faced Prodigy’s inner power is profound beyond his years.’
While everyone watched in astonishment, Un Nakhwa’s sword stabbed toward Namgung Rim, suspended in midair.
In this situation, unless one had mastered a world-defying movement technique, it was absolutely impossible to dodge.
But he did not dodge.
Namgung Rim simply raised his sword high. And against the stabbing attack, he brought his sword straight down.
A simple, blunt vertical strike the moment it touched Un Nakhwa’s sword caused an overwhelming explosion.
Kwaang!
The sword pressure following the explosion pressed down on Un Nakhwa with the weight of a thousand catties.
“Keuk!”
No matter how much strength Un Nakhwa exerted to resist, it was useless.
His waist buckled, and he knelt on one knee. Only when Namgung Rim’s sword came right before his eyes did the attack finally stop.
The victor was decided in an instant. Anyone could see that it was the defeat of the Jade-Faced Prodigy.
Un Nakhwa stared blankly at Namgung Rim, who silently withdrew his sword.
‘What is this…? Is this a sword technique? It’s absurd. That overwhelming vertical strike was like a saber technique…’
Slowly rising to his feet, Un Nakhwa opened his mouth blankly.
“What… is this sword technique?”
Namgung Rim answered, sheathing his sword on his back.
“The Changgung Muae Sword Technique.”