Chapter 6 : Chapter 6

Chapter 6. Adopted Son of Namgung

Daoist Master Unak, sect leader of Mount Hua Sect, was astounded. The masters from other sects were no different.

"He truly proposed adoption? The Sword King himself?"

"I'm telling you, he did."

"And it wasn't just posturing–he was serious?"

"Amitabha, Amitabha."

"Goodness, what is this? Making such a bold proposal. Let us be blunt–is the child not of unknown origin?"

"That tells you how desperate the Namgung Clan must be…… And watch your tongue. If word got out that you said such things after the child has been entered into the Namgung registry, there will be unpleasant consequences."

"Ahem, ahem. I was merely speaking in general terms. In general."

News that Namgung Gwang, Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, had proposed to adopt Jang Yul spread like wildfire.

"And it's not just giving the name through the Collateral Lineage–he proposed a Main Lineage adoption?"

"I hear he even mentioned the Boundless Firmament Sword Art. Does he truly intend to pass down all the martial arts?"

It was on precisely that point that most–no, all–of the clans withdrew. The talent the child called Jang Yul possessed was tempting, but not enough to shake the foundations of their own houses.

And the Buddhist and Daoist sects like Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua sorely lacked the means to entice Jang Yul.

"He handled it decisively."

"If you want to win someone over, you cannot be stingy about it. You must offer something precious of your own so the other person truly feels they are needed, no?"

"I agree."

Meanwhile, in the Alliance Leader's Hall, Azure Heaven Sword Emperor Jin Taegwang and Sword King Namgung Gwang were meeting in private.

The contest to recruit Jang Yul had all but fallen into the Namgung Clan's hands. Of course, Jang Yul had not yet given a definitive answer, but it was as good as settled.

"But can you handle it?"

"Handle what?"

"The child's temperament."

At Jin Taegwang's question, Namgung Gwang smirked.

"You mean the Heavenly Killing Star?"

The Heavenly Killing Star.

A being from martial world legend, whose mere emergence was said to drown the martial world in Blood Massacre.

They could not suppress their Killing Intent and found the meaning of their lives in taking others'. Whenever they conquered the martial world, an endless hellscape followed.

And Jang Yul was a Heavenly Killing Star. His personality made it hard to imagine, but Jin Taegwang, Cheonggwang, and Namgung Gwang–who had seen him up close–all knew the truth.

"According to Cheonggwang…… the child caused a Blood Calamity with the Blood Demon Sword. Yet he felt not a shred of guilt. What that means is clear."

"That is the hallmark of the Heavenly Killing Star. I knew the moment I saw him. But this child is special. Exceptionally so, even among Heavenly Killing Stars. For one, his temperament as a Heavenly Killing Star has not fully manifested."

"But there is no telling when it might."

"Is that why the Murim Alliance did not try to detain the child, but sought to send him to Wudang through Cheonggwang?"

At Namgung Gwang's razor-sharp question, Jin Taegwang allowed himself a subtle smile. This man always drove straight to the heart of the matter without batting an eye.

"You judged that if the child cultivated the Dao at Wudang, it could suppress his Heavenly Killing Star nature for life."

"How did you know?"

"The way you and your lot think is always so predictable."

Namgung Gwang said it with cold derision. Jin Taegwang did not take offense. Namgung Gwang had always been this way.

"And you still want to take him?"

"Let me ask you one thing. Do you truly believe such a method can prevent the Heavenly Killing Star from manifesting? If it were possible, does it make any sense that across the entire long history of the martial world, not a single Daoist or Buddhist sect has ever successfully reformed even one Heavenly Killing Star?"

It was not as though no one with the Heavenly Killing Star's nature had ever trained in a Daoist or Buddhist sect.

But all those efforts came to nothing. Sooner or later, the Heavenly Killing Star revealed its true nature, and Blood Massacres followed.

"The very approach of suppressing desire was wrong from the start. Daoists and monks cannot even fully suppress their own desires–what makes them think they can suppress a Heavenly Killing Star?"

"Then do you have another method?"

"Of course."

Namgung Gwang spoke with confidence. His voice brimmed with conviction.

"At its core, the Heavenly Killing Star is about Killing Intent manifesting. So you smother it with other pleasures. If the child craves fine food, give him every delicacy from land and sea. If he craves a family's love, give him love. If he wants to drink, procure every famed wine under heaven, from the Western Regions and beyond. If his appetites run in other directions, buy him an entire pleasure house."

In the end, if desire could not be suppressed, you gave the person different desires. So that the desire to kill would never awaken. So that the Heavenly Killing Star's eyes would remain fixed on other pleasures.

"Do you truly believe that will work?"

"Well, I may be wrong. But even so, we cannot kill the child. You know that too–that is why you let him live, is it not?"

"……Indeed."

The martial world appeared peaceful for now, but it was a candle flickering in the wind.

Countless Cursed Objects were roaming the Central Plains, and the efforts to seal them were reaching their limit.

On top of that, within the greatest sects–Orthodox, Sinister, and Demonic alike–there slumbered terrifying Divine Relics that made those Cursed Objects pale in comparison.

The only person in the current Central Plains martial world who might be capable of dealing with them was Jang Yul. Just one.

"In the end, that child may become the martial world's salvation. That is why you let him live, is it not?"

"You are right. But you must know this as well–even if the Namgung Clan adopts the child this time, you will never be able to keep him to yourselves."

"Of course I know that."

Namgung Gwang nodded. It was only natural. This was a matter involving the martial world's survival–monopolizing the child?

That was something the other sects would never accept. They might let it slide for now, but sooner or later they would find any pretext to take the child away. They might even resort to war.

"But when fires are burning in multiple places at once, you put out the one in your own house first. And if that child becomes a Namgung child…… would not everything the child accomplishes redound to the Namgung Clan's credit?"

"……You had even thought that far ahead?"

"Naturally. I am the Namgung Clan Head, and elevating the family's prestige is a clan head's duty."

Namgung Gwang was thinking on a grand scale. Right then, Jin Taegwang became certain. He could entrust Jang Yul–that child–to this man.

"I leave him in your hands."

"Do not worry. Though of course…… the child's wishes come first."

***

"What am I going to do……"

An Adopted Son…… Isn't this too good a bait?

My suspicion sensors were blaring an alarm. If I swallowed this hook, something terrible would follow.

[If you are troubled, just kill them all. What is there to agonize over?]

"Is 'kill them all' the only thing you know how to say?"

[I say it because you insist on taking detours when the easy path lies before you. If something troubles you, simply remove it!]

Wow, it was painfully obvious how this thing had lived its life. Then again, how else would a Cursed Sword have lived? Discarding the useful and dispatching the useless, something like that.

So I blithely ignored the Cursed Sword's words and thought it over once more. Rationally speaking, the fact that the Namgung Clan Head had proposed adoption meant…… I was worth that much to him.

'Cheonggwang tried to recruit me into the Wudang Sect too, so that much is certain.'

On top of that, the Daoists bringing me sweets, the clan children approaching me–when I added it all up, the answer was clear. I had some value I wasn't even aware of.

'My value…… Hmm, I'm just a penniless waiter with nothing to my name.'

But there was one thing that set me apart.

'Could it be because of this thing?'

The Blood Demon Sword.

On the way to the Murim Alliance, I'd seen the Daoists get bewitched by the Blood Demon Sword countless times. Meanwhile, me?

No Cursed Object or cursed thing could stand against this body–the former son of a shaman. Act up and it's straight into the bathwater!

'Still, it'd be better to confirm this properly rather than just speculate.'

It probably wasn't just this ability alone, but something this ability could be used to achieve.

'I should measure my exact market value right about now.'

I didn't want to sell myself short. If the Namgung Clan Head truly wanted me, he'd tell me honestly.

If all went well, we were about to become father and son. If we couldn't even be upfront about something like this, there'd be no more cold and distant relationship.

They say you should pull the bull's horn while the momentum is there, so I marched straight to where the Namgung Clan Head was staying.

He'd told me to come anytime, so it shouldn't be rude. And I, who pride myself on the finest manners under heaven, could never commit a discourtesy.

"Welcome."

"Hello."

As expected, the Namgung Clan Head greeted me warmly. The fact that no one had stopped me along the way suggested he'd left prior instructions to let me through whenever I came. Already treating me like a son, perhaps.

"I came because I have something to ask. Do you have a moment?"

"Of course."

The refined middle-aged man's warm smile stirred a strange feeling. His face wasn't exactly the benevolent type.

"I haven't had much schooling, so please forgive me for being blunt."

A formality, of course. I was just too lazy to beat around the bush.

"Very well. I prefer it that way myself."

Namgung Gwang seemed amused by my manner of speaking. My directness appeared to be a refreshing novelty for him.

"I've been thinking, and something seems off."

"Off?"

"I was just a waiter, you know? But suddenly everyone's being nice to me, Daoist Cheonggwang asked me to come to Wudang, and it's strange. Especially you offering to adopt me, Clan Head."

I asked without hesitation. I could have withheld that last part, but rather than sounding the other person out through roundabout means, I wanted to ask outright.

"First of all, thank you for asking so honestly."

Namgung Gwang's expression turned serious. Seeing that face, I felt both nervous and grateful.

It meant he had no intention of brushing off my question and would give me a straight answer.

[It would be easier to just kill him.]

Please, just shut up.

"There is a reason I want to adopt you. It is because of your constitution–your immunity to Cursed Objects."

"I see."

I nodded at the answer I'd expected.

"So the Namgung Clan has some troublesome object of that sort too."

"We do."

"You could just hire me, you know."

"I could. But then I might lose you to someone else."

He could have been evasive, but Namgung Gwang spoke with genuine candor. He continued.

"That is not all. Along with your power to resist Cursed Objects, there is an immense power sleeping within you–one you yourself do not know about. If mishandled, it could destroy both you and the world."

Namgung Gwang spoke with the utmost gravity. I had an inkling of what that power might be. The Blood Demon Sword had said something to me before.

'Is it that Heavenly Killing Star thing?'

But how did the Namgung Clan Head know about it? Was it because he's a master?

"I want to help you wield that power correctly. That is why I wish to welcome you not as a Retainer, but as a son. Do you understand now?"

"Yes. Completely."

I wasn't just saying that. I didn't know why he'd go this far for me, but genuine emotion came through unmistakably in his voice. Even an actor with forty years of experience probably couldn't fake that.

"It will not be a bad arrangement for you, either. I am the Namgung Clan Head with the reputation of the Sword King behind me, so there will be no using you once and then discarding you. You will grow up as a child of the Namgung Clan. I give you my word."

I stared straight into his eyes for a moment. Was there any deceit in them? Having worked customer-facing jobs in both my lives, I was supernaturally good at reading people.

"Really? You're not just going to dump all the Cursed Objects on me and then give me the cold shoulder? I refuse to live as the unwanted stepchild."

At my unexpected question, the corners of Namgung Gwang's mouth turned up again.

"Haha, do not worry, my son. I stake my name on it–that will never happen. Who would dare mistreat my son? You said Kung Pao Chicken is your favorite? I will have you try every regional variation, from Sichuan-style to Beijing-style."

I flinched for a moment at being called "my son," but quickly steadied myself. This was a solid guarantee and a fair deal.

"Mm…… all right."

Above all, the fact that he'd been honest with me earned him extra points. He could easily have glossed things over, but his sincerity to this degree told me I wouldn't be eating scraps at the Namgung Clan.

"Then from now on, I'm Namgung Yul. Father."

At the word "Father," Namgung Gwang's eyes went round.

"You've already adapted."

"I'm rather quick on the uptake."

Namgung Gwang smiled, and I smiled back.

Well, well. Me, a young master of the Namgung Clan. Something completely outside my fate. Or wait–was it precisely fate that brought me here?

[It would be easier to just kill them.]

Please close your mouth.