Chapter 9 : Chapter 9

Chapter 9. The Martial Arts Master

We proceeded straight to the Elder Council.

The matter of the Family Head's Hall wasn't something I could do anything about just because it weighed on my mind. I had no choice but to wait for Father to bring it up himself.

"The Elder Council is where the clan's retired elders gather. It is not only those who bear the Namgung surname–anyone who has served the clan for a long time is honored with a seat there."

"Their influence must be considerable."

"Of course. It is through their counsel that the Namgung Clan continues to grow and advance. What is even more remarkable is that they only advise the Clan Head–they never impose."

Another reason why the Namgung Clan was a prestigious house.

The Elder Council was where the retired masters of previous generations resided.

Naturally, their words carried significant weight in the family's decision-making.

And yet, they voluntarily stepped back, offering only counsel to the Clan Head.

'The depth of the Namgung Clan's foundations must be formidable.'

A gathering of such people–I was rather excited to see them.

What would they be like? Sharp in temperament to match their abilities? Or mellow with age, quietly playing board games? Perhaps a mix of both.

[Their lives are nearly over. Why not finish the job for them? That would be entertaining. Fighting former masters has always been a delight.]

At any rate, they were clearly people I needed to show proper respect. Time for the specialty of Namgung Yul, champion of the supreme manners competition under heaven.

"Quite a few of the elders are rather particular, but…… none of them will demand the adoption be reversed."

"Did you explain the situation to them?"

"I sent a letter in advance."

There was every chance they would look unfavorably on me. I hadn't just joined the Namgung Clan–I'd been made part of the Clan Head's Main Lineage.

Elders who'd risen from the Collateral Lineage would likely be even more displeased. But as a good Confucian son, even if the elders came at me like that, I was confident I could manage my expressions with ease.

Oh, and if you thought being the former son of a shaman made me a Daoist at heart, you'd be dead wrong. That was business. Why? It's like how they say professional chefs don't cook at home. A shaman household doesn't go around chanting about the Way of Nature and the virtue of water.

When we entered the Elder Council, gray-haired grandfathers and grandmothers greeted us.

Their appearances were varied. Some had gentle faces, while others had stubborn-looking features. Each of their faces bore the distinct traces of the lives they'd led.

One thing they had in common? They all must have been quite the lookers in their youth. I could immediately see where Father, Namgung Hwi, and Namgung Myeong had gotten their good looks from. And Hye, needless to say.

Good looks really were genetic.

"The Clan Head has arrived."

"Elders, I pay my respects."

"Is that the child the Clan Head mentioned? The one who can resolve the family's problem……?"

"That is right."

"Hello. My name is Namgung Yul."

When I greeted them, faint smiles appeared on their faces.

None of them looked displeased with me. There was, however, visible skepticism. What they doubted was obvious: whether I could truly resolve the family's problem.

"He looks sharp."

"He is, in fact."

"Can this child really solve that problem?"

"That is our expectation. Both the Murim Alliance Leader and Cheonggwang of Wudang have confirmed it."

"The Azure Heaven Sword Emperor?"

"Even Wudang?"

"If that is the case, we have no choice but to trust it……"

"Does the child know as well?"

"I have not gone into specifics, but he is aware that it involves a Cursed Object."

"The adoption is barely a few days old, and yet there is already this much trust."

"This child is now a Namgung."

At the Clan Head's words, they murmured contemplatively.

"When do you plan to begin?"

"There is no need to rush. I intend to teach him martial arts first. Haste makes waste, as they say."

"Yes, that is the proper course."

I was genuinely startled by those words.

'Martial arts.'

I'd never given it much thought, but now that I considered it, learning martial arts was a foregone conclusion.

The Namgung Clan was a martial arts clan, and Father had mentioned the superiority of Namgung martial arts when he was courting me.

As a member of the Namgung Clan–and of the Main Lineage, no less–learning martial arts was a mandatory course. Hmm, did that mean I'd be flying through the skies and all that? I might beat the Wright brothers by a few centuries…

"What if he cannot resolve it?"

"Even so, I have already accepted him as a child of the Namgung Clan. Yul is my son now."

"……Well, that is the way of a prestigious house, I suppose. We trust in the Clan Head's judgment."

"Thank you."

After the introductions, Namgung Gwang wore a relieved expression as we left.

"That is a relief. It seems none of them disapprove of your adoption."

"They might have hidden their feelings, don't you think?"

"Perhaps. But what matters is the face they show, not what lies beneath. Even if they have reservations, it means they are supporting me. That is what counts."

Hmm, that was a new perspective. Most people believed that inner thoughts mattered more than outward appearances. But in the politics of a great family, things apparently worked differently. A perspective worth learning.

"Then let us continue. There is much to see."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"You will not be disappointed."

Namgung Gwang grinned. His voice brimmed with pride.

To give the conclusion first…… Namgung Gwang's pride was well-founded.

"This is the forge."

"Welcome, Clan Head."

A man who appeared to be the head of the forge emerged from the ring of hammer blows, wiping his sweat.

"How's the work coming?"

"Splendidly. The young smiths have improved their craft quite a bit. But who is the young master beside you……?"

"A new member has joined our Namgung family."

"Ah, so this is Young Master Yul. A pleasure to meet you. My name is No Byeok. I'm in charge of the forge."

"Hello. A pleasure to meet you. I'm Namgung Yul. I look forward to working with you."

"Haha, using polite speech even with me–what fine manners."

"That is the kind of child he is."

Namgung Gwang smiled with satisfaction at my attitude. He seemed pleased that I hadn't spoken down to No Byeok.

"You'll be the one making my weapons someday, won't you? I'd better make a good impression if I want a fine sword."

[You would use another sword while I am right here?! What manner of nonsense is this?!]

Sorry to break it to you, but you're never coming out of the scabbard. Didn't you know?

When I turned on the charm, Namgung Gwang's and No Byeok's eyes went wide.

"Haha! You're right. The boy knows how the world works. A craftsman deserves to be treated with proper respect. Indeed, indeed."

"Do not worry, Young Master Yul. When the time comes, I will forge you a dazzling blade."

"No Byeok's skill is the real thing. The Sichuan Tang Clan may be famous for their smelting, but when it comes to making swords, our Namgung Clan is the finest. And No Byeok stands at the forefront."

When Namgung Gwang lavished him with praise, No Byeok didn't know what to do with himself.

"Oh, you flatter me."

"Excessive modesty is just another form of arrogance. I know your skill well."

Hmm, so he was brimming with pride about the forge as well. Or was there some sort of rivalry with the Sichuan Tang Clan?

"I'm excited too. So the Greatest Sword Clan Under Heaven earned its name not just for wielding swords well, but for forging them too."

"Young master……"

No Byeok looked positively moved. With that, the odds of impurities ending up in my sword had dropped to approximately zero. Heh heh heh.

"Let us move on. We have many more places to visit today. Until next time, No Byeok."

"Yes, Clan Head. Safe travels. And you too, young master."

"Keep up the good work."

Our next stop was the Medicine Hall.

"Ugh, the smell."

A truly foul odor emanated from inside. I covered my nose instinctively. Namgung Gwang grimaced at the smell too.

"Medicine Hall Master, are you in there?"

At Namgung Gwang's call, a clatter and crash sounded from within.

Then a man with gaunt features trudged out. With his deep dark circles and emaciated frame, he looked like he'd keel over if you so much as flicked him.

"Welcome, Clan Head."

"Indeed. Have you…… been at those experiments again?"

At Namgung Gwang's question, the corners of the man's mouth curled up in a peculiar grin.

"Hehehe, as a matter of fact, I have created a Poison Pill potent enough to crush those Sichuan Tang Clan bastards. Would you like to see it?"

Namgung Gwang let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"……Please, enough already. Why is the Namgung Clan making Poison Pills?"

"Why, you ask? Our Namgung Clan needs to produce someone with a Myriad Poison Constitution so we can grind those Sichuan Tang Clan bastards' noses into the dirt!"

"……Never mind. Let me introduce you. This is Namgung Yul, my newly adopted son."

"Hello, Hall Master?"

"Oh, so this is the child everyone's been talking about. Welcome. I am Namgung Son, the Medicine Hall Master."

Namgung Son reached out to shake my hand, then glanced at his own palm and pulled it back. Had he gotten poison on it or something?

"Anyway, prepare for this child the same thing Hwi and Myeong received. The same one."

"The Firmament Elixir, you mean? Understood."

'The Firmament Elixir?'

The name alone screamed miracle drug. Hmm, it looked like they planned to feed me some kind of elixir. And a very precious one at that.

I wasn't great with bitter things. But I'd have to choke it down even if I didn't want to.

This might sound like a privileged complaint, but it wasn't unusual. It was the same as knowing vegetables are good for you and still not eating them. Hmm, maybe I could dip it in maltose syrup?

"We will be on our way, then. Please, restrain yourself. Don't you feel sorry for the Medicine Hall staff under you?"

"They are all working diligently, united by the shared goal of toppling the Sichuan Tang Clan."

"That is your delusion. Do you not see those hollow eyes in there? Are you aware that applications to the Medicine Hall have been declining?"

"Recruit from outside. Tell them they can work for the Namgung Clan, and they will come running barefoot."

"Enough! Must you have the last word in everything?!"

Namgung Gwang barked at him, but Namgung Son didn't seem the least bit cowed. From that alone, I could be certain of one thing.

'Namgung Son is an absolutely indispensable talent. Better stay on his good side.'

Maybe some crumbs would fall my way…… or not?

As I visited the Namgung Clan's facilities one by one, I noticed something.

'The Namgung Clan has…… a rivalry with the Sichuan Tang Clan?'

The smith No Byeok had subtly displayed his competitive spirit, and the Medicine Hall Master Namgung Son had outright declared that the Sichuan Tang Clan needed to be crushed.

This was peculiar.

The Namgung Clan was a Sword Clan, and the Sichuan Tang Clan was a Poison Clan. The Sichuan Tang Clan was an Orthodox Faction all-rounder with expertise in hidden weapons, metallurgy, and medicine, but the two had no reason to compete.

If anything, they were both members of the Five Great Clans, but that alone hardly seemed enough to ignite a rivalry.

'Was there some incident in the past?'

But asking Father about it felt a bit awkward. I'd have to investigate on my own later.

"There is one last place to visit."

"Where?"

"The most important place in the Namgung Clan."

Namgung Gwang left that cryptic remark and led the way. He didn't seem inclined to say more, so I simply followed.

"HYAP!"

"HRAAH!"

Following Namgung Gwang, the sound of battle cries and blades cutting the wind rushed toward us.

"The Training Grounds."

"Correct. As you heard from the elders earlier, now that you are a member of the Namgung Main Lineage, you will need to learn martial arts."

"Isn't it a bit late for me?"

"It is late, yes. But you are not so old that you cannot learn at all. That is why I plan to assign you the finest teacher. I just hope Myeong doesn't throw another fit……"

Namgung Gwang muttered worriedly but showed no signs of reversing his decision as he entered the Training Grounds.

Inside were numerous Namgung Clan warriors, and the moment they spotted Namgung Gwang, they immediately stopped training and bowed.

"We greet the Clan Head!"

"Mm, carry on."

After passing through, we headed to a private training area reserved for the Main Lineage.

There, a middle-aged man slightly younger than Namgung Gwang was waiting.

"Brother, welcome."

"Thank you for accepting my sudden request, Yeon."

"If you say he is your new son, how could I not step forward? He is my nephew now, is he not?"

'Nephew?'

I analyzed their exchange. Their faces were subtly similar, making it easy to guess their relationship.

'His name is Namgung Yeon–Namgung Gwang's younger brother.'

I bowed my head in greeting.

"It is an honor to meet you, Uncle. I am Namgung Yul. I look forward to your guidance."

When I greeted him, Namgung Yeon chuckled.

"He looks sharp."

"He is, in fact."

"Has he ever trained in martial arts?"

"He was a waiter. You will need to teach him from the very basics. And…… as I mentioned in my letter, there are things to keep in mind."

"I am aware."

Namgung Yeon nodded with a somber expression.

That "I am aware" probably referred to my background. Likely something related to the Blood Demon Sword.

Namgung Yeon grinned and strode toward me. Up close, his frame was considerably larger than Namgung Gwang's. He looked rather imposing.

"Well then, nephew–shall we start with the basics?"