The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Thud—

Namgung Il and Namgung Hae approached and silently made a fist-and-palm salute.

Namgung Cheong looked at them with a puzzled expression.

He hadn't called for them, yet they had come forward to greet him. Still, he couldn't just leave them like this, so Namgung Cheong introduced his two sons to Seo Shinwon.

"These are my sons."

"..."

"Pay your respects. This is the great hero Seo Shinwon, the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy."

When Namgung Cheong said that, Namgung Hae first stated his name.

But for some reason, the other name did not follow.

From the moment Namgung Cheong had mentioned Seo Shinwon's name, Namgung Il had been looking at Seo Shinwon with a somewhat surprised face.

'Seo Saengwon (Scholar Seo)!'

Seo Shinwon was a junior from the time Namgung Il had attended the Flying Dragon Academy.

Because his name was what it was, and his appearance was a spitting image of a mouse, he had always called him Seo Saengwon.

In his delight, Namgung Il almost called him by his old name without realizing it.

"Seo Saeng..."

Gulp—

Hoo... He barely managed to cover his mouth before saying it all.

In the past, he was a close junior, so it didn't matter if he teased him by calling him Seo Saengwon, but if he said the same thing now in this form, the Namgung Clan would be turned upside down.

Moreover, from what he had heard earlier, it seemed that Seo Shinwon had now become the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy.

'To think that the brat who used to follow me around like a puppy is now the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy, time sure flies.'

He had been worried if he would be able to fend for himself after graduating from the academy.

Seeing him grown up like this, Namgung Il felt a sense of pride without realizing it.

"Is there something on my face?"

Just then, Seo Shinwon asked Namgung Il.

At that moment, Namgung Il belatedly realized that everyone's gaze was on him, and he immediately made a fist-and-palm salute again and said to Seo Shinwon.

"I apologize. I was a little surprised because I didn't expect the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy to be here."

"..."

"My name is Namgung Il."

Although the introduction was over, Seo Shinwon continued to look at Namgung Il without a word.

A deep puzzlement had formed in his eyes.

Even Seo Shinwon himself didn't seem to know the exact reason, but for some reason, his gaze kept going to Namgung Il.

"Clan Head, we have prepared something to commemorate the banquet."

Just then, Namgung Hae suddenly said to Namgung Cheong.

"...Prepared?"

"Yes, my younger brother and I would like to show a spar in front of everyone, would that be alright?"

When Namgung Hae said that, Namgung Cheong couldn't help but be surprised.

Those two were going to spar here and now?

No, the spar itself was not surprising, but he was surprised by the fact that Namgung Il was included in it.

"Oh my, how admirable."

"...?"

"The two sons have prepared a spar for their father, of course it's alright, isn't it, dear?"

Just then, as if waiting, Suseonghwa suddenly interjected and asked.

In a loud voice, as if to make sure everyone heard.

At that moment, taking the bait thrown by Suseonghwa, the surrounding people began to murmur among themselves, looking this way.

"They're going to spar right here?"

"It seems those two are going to do it... Aren't they both direct descendants of the Namgung Clan?"

"To think I'd be able to see the sword style of the Namgung Clan in this place!"

The people seemed quite pleased with the news that the two were going to spar.

After all, there were few who disliked watching a fight, and the subjects were two direct descendants of the Namgung Clan, weren't they?

There was no reason for the people to refuse this spar, as opportunities to see a high-level spar like this were rare.

'Could it be... was today's banquet all for this?'

Only at this moment could Namgung Cheong realize that fact.

The sudden visit of Su Majin, and the grand banquet that had gathered influential figures from all walks of life.

He now understood all of Suseonghwa's intentions, but it was already too late to turn the tables.

Glare—

Namgung Cheong glared at Suseonghwa with sharp eyes.

But instead of being scared, Suseonghwa responded with a relaxed smile.

She also knew well that Namgung Cheong could no longer do anything about the current situation.

"It seems good."

Just then, Su Majin suddenly interjected and said.

"These are people who have gathered to celebrate you. How about repaying them by showing them the sword style of the Namgung Clan?"

"..."

"I think it's fine. If it's not too much of a bother, may I ask Headmaster Seo to be the judge of the spar?"

"Well... I don't particularly mind."

Seo Shinwon answered and glanced at Namgung Cheong.

Besides him, there were numerous other gazes directed at Namgung Cheong.

In a situation like this, even Namgung Cheong could not refuse this flow.

"...Namgung Il."

"..."

"Are you confident?"

Namgung Cheong was only asking Namgung Il.

Namgung Il himself knew the reason well, so he nodded lightly and answered briefly.

"Yes."

"..."

It was a voice that had no trace of fear or hesitation.

He had vaguely felt that some change had occurred in Namgung Il recently... but wasn't this action too reckless?

Although Namgung Cheong was slightly worried, he had no choice but to respect Namgung Il's choice in the end.

"I understand."

"..."

"I permit the spar."

Simultaneously with the decision, low cheers erupted from the surroundings.

* * *

People were surrounding an empty space in a circle.

Where everyone's gaze was directed, Namgung Il and Namgung Hae stood facing each other, and between them, Seo Shinwon was present as a mediator.

A spar could be said to be a duel to gauge each other's skills.

In order to prevent any possible injuries, there was usually a mediator like Seo Shinwon now.

'Namgung Il, you will taste considerable humiliation today.'

Looking at Namgung Il standing right in front of him, Namgung Hae thought to himself.

Especially since the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy, Seo Shinwon, was watching this spar from the side, wasn't he?

Namgung Hae planned to enter the Flying Dragon Academy next year, so he intended to leave a good impression on Seo Shinwon by overwhelming Namgung Il in this place.

Swoosh—

Just then, Namgung Hae slightly turned his head and looked somewhere.

His family, standing side by side, was looking at this place.

Among them, Namgung Hae exchanged a meaningful glance with Suseonghwa and then turned his head back to its original position.

"May I ask a favor of the great hero Seo Shinwon?"

"A favor?"

"Yes, I would like to compete with a real sword in this spar, not a wooden sword."

When Namgung Hae said that, Seo Shinwon's expression changed subtly.

A spar using a real sword, not a wooden sword.

It was natural that the danger of the spar would increase accordingly.

"Why do you want to use a real sword?"

"Because I believe that will show the sword style of the Namgung Clan more clearly to the audience."

"..."

"Ah, of course, if my younger brother says a real sword is scary, then it can't be helped."

The matter of using a real sword instead of a wooden sword in this spar was naturally not something that had been agreed upon.

In the first place, Namgung Il had probably never even held a real sword.

The reason he was saying this was solely to belittle Namgung Il in front of people.

'Now, hurry up and say it's scary. Just that alone will let people know that I am superior to you.'

Namgung Hae thought to himself and looked at Namgung Il with an arrogant expression.

However.

Hearing Namgung Il's answer, Namgung Hae's face could not help but show bewilderment.

"Yes, let's do that."

"...?"

"What's wrong? Weren't you the one who suggested a real sword first, older brother?"

"...You're really going to spar with me with a real sword?"

"Yes, or was it just a bluff?"

As he said, that was Namgung Hae's purpose from the beginning.

But to think that brat would actually accept his proposal.

Namgung Hae was trying his best not to show the turmoil inside him on his face.

"Well, if you're really scared, older brother, then it can't be helped."

"...!"

"I don't particularly mind using a wooden sword. I'll match your level."

In fact, although Namgung Hae used a real sword in training, he had never used it in a real fight like a spar.

Therefore, he was a little scared of holding a real sword in a spar, but if he backed down after hearing such words, it would be the greatest humiliation, wouldn't it?

Especially in a situation where Seo Shinwon was watching, he could absolutely not back down.

"Who said I'm scared..."

"..."

"Fine. Let's do it with real swords."

The two people sparring came to an agreement.

Seo Shinwon had been watching them in silence until now, and he soon looked at Namgung Cheong and sent a telepathic message.

[Will it be alright?]

[...I ask of you.]

Namgung Cheong immediately gave his permission.

In that case, there was no need for him to stop this situation.

Seo Shinwon immediately opened his mouth to the two.

"Alright. Since you have both agreed, the spar will be held with real swords."

"..."

"...Do you not have a sword?"

Seo Shinwon asked, looking at Namgung Il.

"No, I don't have a sword that I can call my own yet."

"...What?"

Seo Shinwon couldn't help but be dumbfounded by Namgung Il's answer.

Didn't that sound as if he had never even held a real sword before?

And yet he readily accepted to hold a real sword in this spar... It was an action that could not be understood with common sense.

'Why is that person's face suddenly coming to mind?'

His senior and a hero of the martial world.

Do Yeoksan was also an unpredictable person like that child now.

At that time, everyone had pointed fingers at Do Yeoksan, calling him a troublemaker, but he had sincerely admired that appearance...

Why the face of the deceased Do Yeoksan was coming to mind from that child's appearance, Seo Shinwon naturally couldn't understand.

"...Then I will lend you my sword."

When Seo Shinwon said that, not only Namgung Hae, but also the people around them were all surprised.

A sword was like a life to a martial artist.

To readily lend such a thing to someone else, and for the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy to lend a sword to such a child, was truly a surprising event.

"Will it be alright?"

"Use it carefully and return it."

Seo Shinwon said as he drew the sword from his waist and held it out to Namgung Il.

Namgung Il looked at him in silence for a moment, then respectfully received the sword with both hands, and answered with a smile.

"It's a good sword."

"..."

"I will definitely win and return it to you as it is."

Tremble— Tremble—.

Seeing that, Namgung Hae's body trembled slightly.

Why would the Headmaster of the Flying Dragon Academy lend his own sword to someone like Namgung Il?

Namgung Hae was so envious of that fact, and at the same time, he was furious that the subject was not him.

"Namgung Il... can you even draw that good sword properly?"

"..."

"Don't even think about scratching the great hero's sword, just use someone else's sword..."

Screech—

A clean and clear ring.

Seeing Namgung Il, who had already drawn his sword, Namgung Hae was momentarily at a loss for words.

"It draws well, though?"

"...!"

"What are you doing?"

Thud—

"Hurry up and draw your sword."

Namgung Il said, pointing his sword forward.