Chapter 148
Clatter.
The door to the room we were sitting in burst open, and a middle-aged man with a cold, stern face strode in.
There were few who could freely enter a room where Namgung Jong, the young lord of the Namgung Clan, resided.
But beyond that, there was another reason we could be certain of the man’s identity.
The sharp aura reminiscent of a finely forged sword. Even though his height wasn't imposing, the pressure he exuded felt as if he were looking down from the heavens.
A man who carried such a presence could only be one person in all of the Central Plains.
The Sword King.
The head of the Namgung Clan had finally returned.
While we were overwhelmed by his aura and could only swallow silently—
“Father?” “It seems you've made some progress.”
The Sword King suddenly smiled with satisfaction. For a moment, I wondered what I had just heard.
No, on his way here, he must've seen the ruined buildings and the chaotic state of things. Yet the first thing he mentioned was Namgung Jong’s progress?
Sure, considering how he’d been sparring with me and others all day, occasionally receiving advice from Seorin, and now even experiencing real combat, it was only natural that he'd have improved to some extent.
Still, he was the head of the Namgung Clan and Namgung Jong’s father. Shouldn’t he have first asked what happened, or whether his son was hurt?
I didn’t think they were a family overflowing with affection like the Tang Clan, but I hadn’t expected that Namgung Jong’s progress would be his first concern above all else.
Not that it was wrong per se, but... there was something oddly off-putting about it.
So, both Tang Sowol, Seol Lihyang, and I were briefly taken aback, unsure how to respond.
Namgung Jong, however, showed no trace of resentment. Instead, he simply nodded, full of sincere joy and pride.
“It was thanks to the help of new friends.”
“Indeed. All of them seem to be remarkable post-peak stage warriors.”
Only then did the Sword King turn to look our way and nod. Seeing that, I realized—
Ah, this is just how this family is.
I briefly nodded to myself. Then, Seorin gave a soft laugh and spoke up.
“It’s been a while, Namgung Dowi. Don’t tell me you see this one as just another post-peak junior?”
“What kind of nonsense is that to blurt out as soon as you appear?”
The Sword King snorted and shook his head. He didn’t act like this was our first meeting. Curious, I nudged Seorin lightly and asked,
“Senior Seorin, could it be that you’re acquainted with the Lord of the Namgung Clan?”
“Acquainted... is a bit of a stretch. He came to me once, made an absurd request, so I threw him out.”
“I’d heard a bit about it, so I figured you wouldn’t trouble me this time.”
“Ha! So you did know you were being a bother back then.”
She snorted in the same way and... hid behind me? No, more like she kept pressing into my back. She was practically pushing me forward.
Pretending I had no choice, I took a few steps ahead and asked,
“A request for the sword of the Seomun Clan, of all things... what was the nature of that connection?”
“It was nothing much. A few months after I had avenged my clan and gone into seclusion to reorganize our martial arts, he suddenly showed up and asked for the Seomun Clan’s sword techniques. Specifically, the sword forms.”
“Excuse me...??”
That was practically the behavior of a thug.
It felt like I had just glimpsed a side of the Sword King, a martial artist revered by swordsmen everywhere, that was deeply disappointing.
Perhaps realizing how that sounded, Seorin added a correction.
“Mn. I may have phrased it too maliciously. To be precise, he politely requested it. Though I refused, of course.”
“Well, if it was like that... Still, he really wanted the Seomun Clan’s sword techniques?”
“That’s right. I never learned the clan’s fist techniques anyway. And since I have no children or disciples, the Seomun Clan’s swordsmanship would end with me. He said it was a waste to let it disappear and asked me to pass it on to him.”
“I see... I’ve heard that the Seomun Clan was renowned for its swordsmanship, but was it enough for the Namgung Clan to come seeking it?”
When I asked that, the answer came not from Seorin, but from the Sword King himself.
“Not to that extent. The Seomun Clan’s sword was certainly excellent, but it could never compare to the Namgung Clan’s... still, it was a sword art I didn’t know.”
...Huh?
“The first reason was simply because I wanted to learn a sword I didn’t know. The second was that, even if it couldn’t match the Namgung Clan’s, the excellence of the Seomun sword was undeniable. Letting it vanish would be a shame. So, I went and asked.”
“Ha! Just because it’s a path I didn’t take, did you really think I would hand over the clan’s martial arts so easily?”
Seorin growled with as much ferocity as a puppy robbed of a bone.
But wait, didn’t she once say she’d teach me everything if I just changed my name to Seomun Hwi?
I quickly shook my head to clear that inappropriate thought and jabbed her in the side again, this time a little harder.
“?!”
“So, what ended up happening? I doubt the Sword King would’ve given up so easily.”
“You’re awfully persistent today... It really wasn’t a big deal. He tried to bribe me with a box full of gold, offered to help rebuild the Seomun Clan, and so on. It was bothersome.”
“I see. That does sound annoying.”
Back then, Seorin had just completed her revenge and was disillusioned with the martial world.
No wonder she was indifferent to promises of money or rebuilding the clan.
“In the end, I told him to take the martial arts I’d collected from my defeated enemies and get lost. This is the first time we’ve met since. I should’ve given them to you instead of throwing them at that sword-maniac.”
“Sword-maniac, really... Still, he is the owner of the house we’re staying in.”
“You saw it yourself. He returned to find his home in ruins and still brought up martial arts first.”
“Well... that’s true...”
I nodded before I realized it, and the Sword King let out a long sigh.
“What’s the point of asking things you already know? It’s clear there was a surprise attack, but you fended them off and threw them all into the dungeon. So the situation is mostly resolved. Judging by how many Namgung warriors were injured but few died, it wasn’t a major threat.”
“That’s all thanks to this one and Hwi.”
“Whoever contributed most, at least things didn’t get too serious.”
Look at that sharp tongue...
Whether or not Seorin sighed in exasperation, the Sword King continued speaking.
“How many times do you think the Namgung Clan gets attacked each month? From lunatics who want fame and swing their swords recklessly, to scoundrels trying to extort something, to idiots who don’t even realize we’re the Namgung Clan and just attack blindly. Even now, our trade caravans and businesses are probably under minor attacks.”
“T-That much?”
“Being known as the greatest clan under heaven means being at the top. You wouldn’t understand, being little more than a wandering rogue.”
“Kuh!”
Seorin’s expression contorted, while the Sword King Namgung Dowi smirked in satisfaction—though only briefly.
He soon let out a deep sigh.
“Of course, it’s rare for the main house to be attacked directly. I’ve never seen this much damage before. I don’t know exactly what happened while I was away, but it couldn’t have been ordinary. Still, you managed to handle it well. Then praise comes first. We can hear the details afterward.”
“Ah! So that’s why you said Young Lord Namgung had made progress the moment you saw him!”
Tang Sowol clapped her hands as if she finally understood. But the Sword King twitched an eyebrow and shook his head.
“No. I simply saw that he had taken a step forward, so I praised him. As for the credit for handling the attack, I was just about to acknowledge that.”
Tang Sowol clamped her mouth shut. He really was... a strange one.
Ignoring our stunned expressions, the Sword King casually patted Namgung Jong’s shoulder and finished his earlier compliment.
Then he turned to us and introduced himself.
“I am Namgung Dowi. As for you all... You seem to be of the Sichuan Tang Clan. The girl over there looks familiar, but I don’t quite recall the others.”
He glanced briefly toward Tang Sowol, and we bowed politely in response.
“It is an honor to meet the Sword King, sir. I am Cheon Hwi-da, who recently became a son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“S-Seol Lihyang, at your service.”
Namgung Dowi’s eyes widened slightly.
“Ah, the one the Black Lotus Sect Master gave the title of Blood Flame Sword Demon?”
“Yes. I am that Blood Flame Sword Demon, Cheon Hwi.”
A martial artist from a righteous sect would usually avoid mentioning such a nickname—especially one given by the Black Lotus Sect Master, and a name so ominous.
But now I knew. The reason Namgung Dowi confirmed whether I was the Blood Flame Sword Demon was not to reprimand me for it, but simply because he was impressed I had earned such recognition.
“I see. You and the white-haired one... Come to think of it, the Lord of the Murim Alliance told me not to use her old title. What should I call you, then?”
“Call this one the Head of the Seomun Clan.”
“Mn. Though you have no home or family, I don’t know why you insist on that title—but if that’s what you prefer.”
“Eeit! We helped you when you were attacked, and this is the thanks we get?”
“I meant no offense. Regardless, it makes sense now. With the Blood Flame Sword Demon and the Seomun Clan Head here, it’s no wonder things were resolved smoothly.”
Namgung Dowi nodded. Sitting beside Namgung Jong, his face remained expressionless, but his tone grew markedly more serious.
“Well then, tell me in detail what happened.”
Namgung Jong began.
“The attackers were from the Hwangbo Clan, Father.”
And with that, everything we had compiled spilled forth.
What had happened at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. The arrival of Hwangbo Gwang at the Namgung Clan. Our party’s visit to fulfill our prior promise of a match.
The crazed martial artists who later breached the Namgung walls.
Both Seorin and I added explanations from our perspectives. Since we had been thinking about and dealing with this for days, the explanation didn’t take long.
As Namgung Jong finished, he took a breath and concluded,
“It’s absurd. To think someone believed they could truly raise their martial realm like that.”
“The cleanup is mostly complete. From here, it’s just a matter of your decision, Father.”
“What decision? Most of the Hwangbo Clan’s forces are either dead or in the dungeon, aren’t they?”
“Yes.”
“Then their main house in Shandong should be empty.”
“So we heard under interrogation.”
“Then there’s no need to go all the way to Shandong. I’ll be entering the palace in ten days to assist the Imperial Prince’s training. I’ll explain the situation to His Majesty then. He’ll take care of it. Oh, but we should transcribe the Hwangbo Clan’s martial arts first.”
“Already underway. As for the prisoners, I’ll await the royal decree.”
“Well done. Now, about you all...”
Namgung Dowi looked our way and hesitated briefly before speaking.
“If it were up to me, I’d ask what you wanted. But the current situation doesn’t allow for much. Funds and elixirs are needed in many places now.”
Rebuilding destroyed buildings and compensating injured warriors would cost a lot. There weren’t many deaths, but many were wounded and would need elixirs to heal their internal injuries.
“Besides, I doubt gold or elixirs mean much to you now.”
He was right. The Tang Clan had plenty of money, and we had recently received elixirs from Clan Leaders Paeng and Eon, so we weren’t lacking.
It would be nice to have more, but what we needed was something else.
“So I thought about it... and decided it’s best to give what I’m best at.”
“And that is?”
The Sword King looked me straight in the eye and said,
“I cannot teach you the Namgung Clan’s martial arts—but I can show you. That much should be fine.”
“That’s more than enough.”
For someone like me, who had barely grasped the edge of willpower, the chance to experience the Sword King’s blade was more valuable than anything.
Seorin sometimes helped with my training, but a swordsman and a fist-user had fundamental differences.
As I answered with a satisfied smile, Tang Sowol, Seol Lihyang, and Seorin slowly raised their hands behind me.
“Um... any chance there are rare poisons, or maybe a venomous spirit beast nearby?”
“Ah, I’m fine with just elixirs...”
“This one plans to one day rebuild the Seomun Clan, so she needs money. Lots of it.”
Their cautious but firm requests made Namgung Dowi avert his gaze.
Then, with a grimace, he shut his eyes tight.
“Hey, will the wound be okay?”
It was autumn.