The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Swish—

Namgung Il was once again swinging a wooden sword at the Lesser Heaven Training Ground.

The wooden sword now felt completely familiar, as if it were a part of his own body.

Namgung Il's sword strikes drew the forms of the Azure Sky Sword Style one by one in the air.

'I feel like I'm getting used to it now.'

Namgung Il himself, swinging the wooden sword, thought that he had become quite accustomed to the sword style.

When he first swung the sword, his body moved differently from what he pictured in his head.

As they say, martial arts gradually become perfect through repetition. He was now able to perform the sword style he envisioned with his body to some extent.

'To think that I, the former leader of the Beggars' Sect, would be holding a sword. It's funny even thinking about it now.'

Of course, sword styles existed among the martial arts of the Beggars' Sect.

But when one thinks of the martial arts of the Beggars' Sect, doesn't everyone think of staff techniques and palm techniques?

Namgung Il, too, had mainly learned and used staff and palm techniques during his time as the leader.

"..."

Namgung Il was confident that he wouldn't be pushed back in a fight against any master with his staff and palm techniques.

However, he admitted that there were many masters with higher achievements in sword styles than him, and if he had to pick one, it would be none other than Namgung Jeongung.

'I just can't seem to match that guy.'

While swinging the sword, Namgung Il continuously recalled Namgung Jeongung's movements in his head.

Because among the people he knew, he thought he was the most outstanding swordsman.

But just as no one else could perfectly imitate his staff and palm techniques, it seemed that the current Namgung Il still had a long way to go to catch up to Namgung Jeongung's sword style.

Swish—

Still, Namgung Il's progress was quite fast.

No, it was beyond fast; it could be called astonishing.

To have almost made a sword style he was learning for the first time his own in just a few days after seeing it only once, an outsider would have no choice but to think he was a tremendous genius.

However, this was not because Namgung Il was a genius, but a result of his experience.

The experience and knowledge of martial arts he had acquired as the Beggar King, and the memory of having seen the sword style of Namgung Jeongung, who could be called the best model, up close and frequently.

As they say, all martial arts converge into one. The appropriate harmony of those two elements had created the current situation.

"Hah..."

Today, too, Namgung Shin was staring at Namgung Il with his mouth agape.

The same went for the other disciples here.

They had been unable to contain their astonishment since the first time Namgung Il swung his sword, but as time passed, they had reached a point where they couldn't even figure out what was going on.

'Until now... was it all an act?'

Namgung Shin had no choice but to think so.

Otherwise, he couldn't possibly accept how Namgung Il had changed overnight like this.

Of course, he didn't understand why he had been acting for five years either... but if he didn't think that way, he wouldn't be able to explain the current situation.

"..."

In fact, Namgung Il's level was already high enough to leave the Lesser Heaven Training Ground.

He was already performing the sword style at a higher level than his own Azure Sky Sword Style, so what more could he teach him here?

The reason Namgung Shin had kept Namgung Il here was because he wanted to witness Namgung Il's sword style with his own two eyes for even a little longer.

'...Beautiful.'

And noble.

Although he was in the position of teaching the Azure Sky Sword Style at the Lesser Heaven Training Ground, he felt that there were many things to learn even for him, the instructor, from Namgung Il's current movements.

Something that transcended simple movements.

That feeling was emanating from Namgung Il's sword path.

Swish—

Just then, Namgung Il's sword drew an arc and cut through the air.

The sword style ended with the final move, Crimson Stain on the Azure Sky.

Until that moment, everyone in the Lesser Heaven Training Ground held their breath and watched Namgung Il's sword style.

"Ah..."

Even if it wasn't Namgung Shin, everyone could tell.

Even though it was the same sword style, there was a clear difference between the sword style they were performing and the one Namgung Il was performing.

Now, none of the disciples of the Namgung Clan sneered at Namgung Il, calling him a flightless, falling bird.

'...Is this as far as I can go?'

Everyone thought Namgung Il's Azure Sky Sword Style was perfect, but Namgung Il himself did not think so.

Because he had already seen with his own two eyes what could be called the completed form of the Azure Sky Sword Style.

Therefore, he was also able to quickly realize that with his current self, he could not reach that level no matter how much he swung his sword here.

"Instructor."

"...Ah!"

"I think this is as far as I can learn here. Is there anything more you have to teach me?"

When Namgung Il asked, Namgung Shin couldn't answer.

As if he had anything more to teach Namgung Il.

On the contrary, he thought he was the one receiving teachings from Namgung Il, so Namgung Shin immediately shook his head and opened his mouth.

"There is not."

"..."

"Even in my eyes as the instructor, your Azure Sky Sword Style is at a level where you can leave the Lesser Heaven Training Ground. No, rather..."

Namgung Shin was about to say more but ended up trailing off.

It was the best Azure Sky Sword Style I have ever seen.

That was what he had almost blurted out before realizing his current position.

"...Congratulations."

"..."

"You may now leave the Lesser Heaven Training Ground and go to the Middle Heaven Training Ground."

If one raised their Azure Sky Sword Style above a certain level here, they could finally leave the Lesser Heaven Training Ground and head to the Middle Heaven Training Ground.

Naturally, one could learn a higher level sword style than the Azure Sky Sword Style there, and Namgung Il had earned that qualification after roughly five years of holding a sword.

'This feeling... It's the first time I've felt this since becoming an instructor.'

Namgung Shin had spent a not-so-short amount of time here as an instructor.

Naturally, among the disciples he had taught, there were those who left the Lesser Heaven Training Ground in less than a year, and there were also those who still remained here even after five years.

However, it was the first time he had seen a case like Namgung Il, where a person had changed in just a few days.

Those with talent always showed their prominence quickly, so there were no cases like this where someone had hidden their talent for five years.

"..."

No, he couldn't be sure that Namgung Il had talent yet.

Although he had achieved a higher level of accomplishment in the Azure Sky Sword Style than himself, didn't it take him roughly five years to actually reach that level?

Of course, the change had started to be felt a few days ago, but considering the overall period, he thought it was still too early to judge Namgung Il.

'I'm looking forward to it.'

That meant that at his level, he couldn't yet gauge Namgung Il's talent.

In other words, there could be more infinite possibilities in Namgung Il than what was currently visible.

He couldn't explain it exactly, but Namgung Shin was very much looking forward to Namgung Il's future actions.

"Young Master Namgung Il, the path ahead may be even more arduous than now."

"..."

"But please never give up. This is the last piece of advice I can give you."

He wasn't particularly worried.

Five years... Even amidst all that ridicule and persecution, Namgung Il had ultimately achieved something beyond imagination, just like now.

Looking at Namgung Shin who was saying that to him, Namgung Il answered with a calm smile.

"Thank you."

* * *

In a room decorated with dazzling luxury items, Namgung Ji and Suseonghwa sat facing each other.

But while Suseonghwa sat on a chair like a queen, Namgung Ji was kneeling on the floor as if he had committed a crime.

Looking down at Namgung Ji, Suseonghwa spoke in a sharp tone.

"Tell me honestly. Is what that brat said really true?"

"..."

"Did you really get beaten by that one brat? And with a bone?"

At Suseonghwa's question, Namgung Ji couldn't easily open his mouth.

That brat, Namgung Ji knew well that it referred to Namgung Il.

'Wh-what should I do?'

In fact, Namgung Ji hadn't wanted to publicize this matter to this extent.

After all, wouldn't it be too embarrassing if the rumor that he was beaten with a bone by Namgung Il spread throughout the clan?

So he had wanted to hide that fact as much as possible, but after the marks all over his body were discovered, he had no choice but to tell his mother what had happened with Namgung Il.

'Should I not have told that lie back then?'

If he had been honest with his mother from the beginning, would the situation be much better than now?

No, Namgung Ji was sure it would absolutely not be.

Because his mother truly hated Namgung Il.

He knew that well from the words she had always said to him.

"Ji-ah, you must never fall behind that woman's son."

"..."

"Always show the people of the clan that you are superior to that brat. Do you understand what I mean?"

Words he had heard faithfully almost every three days.

He had faithfully carried out his mother's words, and he had been praised by his mother every time he bullied Namgung Il until now.

But in the end, the unexpected accident that had occurred a few days ago.

If he told the truth here, how would his mother change... Namgung Ji was too afraid of that.

'I must never tell the truth!'

As they say, lies beget lies.

Namgung Ji had no choice but to continue the lie he had started.

"Of course not!"

"..."

"That brat is lying! There's no way I would lose to that brat, right? And to be beaten with a bone, do you really believe that, Mother?"

There was no evidence anyway.

That he had not been disgracefully defeated by Namgung Il in a one-on-one fight.

If he could just make his mother believe that point, he would be able to get through the current situation somehow.

"...That's a relief."

Hoo—

Did he manage to get through it?

Hearing the voice saying that to him, Namgung Ji let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

"Yes, there's no way my son would lose to that woman's son."

"Th-that's right."

"But your father doesn't believe it and is taking his side... It's so frustrating."

"It can't be helped. Since that is Father's will..."

"Ji-ah."

Suseonghwa had come down from the chair and placed both her hands on Namgung Ji's shoulders.

A sense of anxiety at that moment.

Knowing what it meant for his mother to act like this, Namgung Ji's body was even trembling slightly.

"I am so upset. The fact that my son has been so disgraced... Ji-ah, you understand this mother's upset feelings, right?"

"..."

"So, will you wash away that disgrace and make this mother happy?"

That gaze... When his mother spoke like this, he could not refuse, no matter what the situation.

Because it had always been like that since he was young.

If he shook his head and said no here, only a punishment he never wanted to experience again would be waiting for him.

"In front of everyone, this time you will knock that brat down."

"Me...?"

"Yes, you can do it, right?"

"..."

The answer was already decided.

Namgung Ji lowered his head and muttered in a low voice.

"...Yes."

"My good son. As expected, you are the only one who understands this mother's heart."

Squeeze—

Only then did Suseonghwa pull Namgung Ji into her arms with a smiling face.

On the other hand, Namgung Ji remained with his head bowed, not answering.

Soon, with a vacant gaze, Namgung Ji muttered something.

"Yes... because I am a good son."

A good son.

Even Namgung Ji, who was speaking now, did not know the true meaning of those words.

(End of Chapter)