The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Namgung Ji had come here under Namgung Hae's orders.

It would be troublesome if Namgung Il suddenly disappeared on the day the spar was to begin.

So he had come to check if Namgung Il was properly there... but he had run into a completely unexpected person.

'Why on earth is that woman here?'

To someone else's eyes, Namgung Yeon might look beautiful, but at least to Namgung Ji, she did not.

Because Namgung Yeon was one of the few people in the clan that Namgung Ji feared.

In fact, when Namgung Yeon was still in the clan, he couldn't even properly lay a hand on Namgung Il because he was conscious of her.

"Namgung Ji."

"...!"

"Don't tell me, are you still going around bullying Il-ah?"

Namgung Yeon asked in a cold voice.

At that moment, Namgung Ji started to back away without realizing it.

He already knew for sure that he was no match for Namgung Yeon, so he didn't even think of fighting back.

Swish—

In the end, Namgung Ji turned his body and ran away.

But at the same time, Namgung Yeon's figure also disappeared from the room, and before he could even run a few steps, Namgung Ji fell forward.

"Keck—"

Namgung Yeon had already grabbed the back of Namgung Ji's neck with one hand and was pressing him down.

It was as if she were apprehending a criminal caught in the act.

In that state, while mercilessly pressing Namgung Ji to the floor, Namgung Yeon asked.

"Why are you here so early in the morning?"

"B-brother, is it wrong to come and see your brother?"

"Brothers don't usually ask if you're prepared as a morning greeting."

"...!"

"Tell me the truth."

Namgung Ji's head was in a state of considerable confusion as to what to do.

If he told the truth, this woman would surely not let it go.

He couldn't just tell the truth without thinking, as it might cause a problem with the two's spar.

Squeeze—

Just then, Namgung Yeon's fingers, which were holding the back of his neck, tightened with more force than before.

A grip that accurately pressed on a pressure point.

At the same time, Namgung Ji felt a tingling pain all over his body.

"I-I'll talk! So please, just that..."

"..."

Namgung Yeon slowly released the strength in her hand.

Thanks to that, Namgung Ji was able to regain his composure, but the situation of him being held by Namgung Yeon's hand had not changed at all.

'What should I do...'

If she found out that the two were sparring today, Namgung Yeon would naturally try to stop it.

But if he didn't say anything here, she would torture him like before...

Since both options were quite difficult, Namgung Ji hesitated and still couldn't answer.

"I will be sparring with Namgung Hae today."

Just then, Namgung Il said from behind.

At that moment, Namgung Yeon turned around with a look on her face as if she had misheard something.

To say with his own mouth that he was sparring with Namgung Hae... Namgung Yeon couldn't immediately understand those words.

"Il-ah, what do you mean by that?"

"To commemorate Father's birthday today, I plan to liven up the atmosphere of the banquet by sparring with Namgung Hae."

"..."

"I didn't tell you in advance because I thought you would worry. I apologize for that."

When Namgung Il said that, Namgung Yeon was momentarily at a loss for words.

It was true that there were occasional cases where a spar was shown as a form of entertainment during a banquet, as he said... but that was only when their skills were similar.

Moreover, in order to show a spectacle that would interest the audience, both people sparring would have to have considerable skills.

Namgung Hae might fit that description, but to be frank, her younger brother was definitely not.

"...Il-ah, do you know what you're saying?"

"..."

"I'll be blunt. Don't spar."

She knew Namgung Il's skills better than anyone else.

If the opponent's skills were somewhat similar, she wouldn't have said this, but hadn't he just said with his own mouth that the opponent was Namgung Hae?

Just as she was currently subduing Namgung Ji with one hand, there was a clear gap of that magnitude between Namgung Il and Namgung Hae.

"In that spar, you'll just be beaten one-sidedly."

"..."

"If your goal is to liven up the atmosphere of the banquet, I'll spar instead. So..."

"I can't do that."

Namgung Il answered in a firm voice.

As if quite shocked by that, Namgung Yeon completely released the strength in her hand, and not missing that opportunity, Namgung Ji crawled out like a bug and ran far away.

"Don't you dare run away!"

Namgung Ji shouted and left the place without looking back.

Soon, only the two of them were left in the corridor, and Namgung Yeon stood up straight and asked Namgung Il again.

"Why can't you?"

"..."

"Did Namgung Hae threaten you or something? If that's the case, I'll go right now..."

"Sister, it's my own will."

"..."

"No one threatened or forced me. It's just a spar I chose myself."

At that moment, Namgung Yeon felt that Namgung Il was unfamiliar.

Was the person saying that really her younger brother?

She had felt that something was different from the Namgung Il she knew since last night, but she had thought it was just because she hadn't seen him in a long time and was just mistaken.

"..."

But now she could see that it was no longer a mistake.

What kind of change had happened to Namgung Il while she was away from the clan?

Namgung Yeon remained silent for a moment and then opened her mouth.

"I don't know why you chose to spar with Namgung Hae, but I can see that it's important to you."

Namgung Il had rarely chosen anything for himself until now.

Especially after their mother's death, he was a child who couldn't do anything for a while if she wasn't by his side.

For such a Namgung Il to be expressing his opinion so confidently to her now, Namgung Yeon was worried, but at the same time, she wanted to encourage him.

"Promise me one thing."

"..."

"That you won't get hurt. Then I won't say anything more."

"Yes, I promise."

When Namgung Il said that, Namgung Yeon let out a slight sigh.

'When did he grow up so much?'

Namgung Yeon was proud and at the same time a little sad that he had grown up so much in just half a year.

If she could, she had always wanted to be a reliable older sister to her younger brother.

Now, Namgung Il seemed to be slowly spreading his wings to leave the nest that was her.

She couldn't keep holding onto such a younger brother just for her own selfish reasons.

Perhaps her mother would have said the same thing in this situation.

"Then shall we go eat?"

Namgung Yeon asked with a smile.

Seeing that, his eyes widened as if he were slightly surprised.

What should I say... Namgung Il once again felt that he was truly fortunate that this person was his sister.

'I can't get hurt.'

Because he couldn't make his pretty sister's heart ache.

Namgung Il thought so to himself and clenched his fists.

* * *

In the afternoon, a grand banquet began to be held at the Namgung Clan.

Splendid food was placed all over the wide courtyard.

At the same time, many people in formal attire could be seen here and there.

"I sincerely congratulate you on your birthday, Clan Head."

"Thank you for coming."

"On the contrary, I am the one who should be grateful. Thanks to your invitation, I also had the opportunity to see the great Namgung Clan."

When the man said that, Namgung Cheong just smiled without a word.

How many times had he had such conversations full of empty compliments, even excluding the man in front of him?

Although his expression was smiling, Namgung Cheong was getting tired of this repetitive conversation.

Still, since he was the main character of the banquet, he couldn't hide himself.

Thinking that he was fulfilling his role as the clan head, Namgung Cheong was forcing himself to endure this situation.

"Hoho, thank you."

Next to Namgung Cheong, Suseonghwa could also be seen.

Her attire was even more splendid than that of Namgung Cheong, the main character of the banquet.

As if to show off the fact that she was the mistress of the Namgung Clan, Suseonghwa was clinging to Namgung Cheong's side in her splendid attire.

Thud— Thud—.

It was then.

An old man walked from afar to where Namgung Cheong was.

"...!"

Seeing the old man, people naturally stepped back and made way, and soon, as if Namgung Cheong and Suseonghwa had also seen the old man, they greeted him.

"You must have had a hard time coming all this way."

The old man received Namgung Cheong's greeting as if it were natural.

An old man with a very stern impression.

He was Su Majin, the head of the World Escort Agency.

"Congratulations."

"..."

"It's not much of a gift, but I've left a few carts at the entrance, so check them later."

A few carts.

Su Majin was speaking as if he had loaded them with rice straw, but Namgung Cheong could roughly guess what was there.

He must have brought expensive silk, perfumes, and high-quality liquor.

With the financial power of the World Escort Agency, that much was nothing.

"Thank you."

No matter how much gold and silver Su Majin had brought, Namgung Cheong was not particularly happy.

The real purpose of Su Majin's visit to this banquet.

Namgung Cheong was still thinking about what that could be.

"...?"

Just then, a man approached Su Majin's side.

Namgung Cheong's gaze naturally turned that way.

At that moment, Namgung Cheong looked at the person with a very surprised face.

"...Teacher?"

"Do you still call me that?"

As if finding Namgung Cheong's reaction amusing, the man said with a smile.

A man with an appearance that somehow resembled a certain animal.

Namgung Cheong naturally remembered the benefactor who had once taught him.

"Of course. But how are you still the same? You don't seem to age even as time passes, Teacher."

"You've aged a bit. Ah, now that you've become the head of the Namgung Clan, is it rude to call you this?"

"It's alright. Please just call me comfortably."

Namgung Cheong was smiling from the heart for the first time at this banquet.

In the past, when Namgung Cheong attended the Flying Dragon Academy, the man in front of him was a teacher there.

His name was Seo Shinwon.

He hadn't seen him for a long time, and to meet him by chance like this, Namgung Cheong couldn't help but be very happy to meet Seo Shinwon.

"Are you still at the Flying Dragon Academy?"

"Well, yes."

"I see. But how did you come here?"

"I came along at the invitation of the Escort Agency Head."

When Seo Shinwon said that, Namgung Cheong's gaze turned to Su Majin.

"I thought it would be good if the Headmaster also graced this banquet, so I invited him. I didn't think you would know him."

"Headmaster...?"

"Didn't you know? This person is the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy."

When Su Majin said that, Namgung Cheong looked at Seo Shinwon with surprised eyes.

To think that Seo Shinwon had become the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy.

The Headmaster was the highest authority in the academy, so it was a huge position even socially.

Moreover, the academy where Seo Shinwon was was none other than the Flying Dragon Academy.

As it was directly supported by the Martial Alliance, even entering the Flying Dragon Academy as a mere teacher required a considerable screening process.

"Headmaster... Congratulations!"

"What's there to congratulate about something that happened a few years ago? Rather, you should be congratulated today."

"Would you not stay overnight at the Namgung Clan today? I think there are many things we haven't talked about."

"Hoho, if you'll have me, I'd be grateful."

Hearing Seo Shinwon's answer, Namgung Cheong felt quite happy.

To be able to talk with his old benefactor, reminiscing about those days.

Although he hadn't been able to attend the Flying Dragon Academy until the end and had dropped out in the middle, the memories of that time were one of the happiest moments for Namgung Cheong.

However.

The smile on Namgung Cheong's lips soon disappeared.

"...?"

The two people who were walking this way.

At the sudden appearance of Namgung Il and Namgung Hae, Namgung Cheong looked at the two with eyes full of questions.