The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

Creak—

Namgung Il carefully opened the lid and looked inside the jar.

Sediment settled at the bottom, and a clear-colored liquor floated above it.

The sight was reminiscent of a lake in a quiet forest.

Plop—

A ripple formed on the calm surface.

Namgung Il tasted the liquor on his little finger and muttered with satisfaction.

"It seems to have turned out well."

For something he had made after a long time, it was a pretty good work.

Of course, it wouldn't matter if he drank it as it was, but Namgung Il began the final process.

Splash—

Namgung Il started to scoop the liquor with a gourd and strain it through a sieve.

The already clear liquor was strained once more and began to flow down in a cleaner form, and only after repeating that process several more times did Namgung Il let out a sigh.

"Oh, my aching body. It's just as hard to make it after a long time."

How did he make this once every ten days without a word of complaint in the old days?

If he were told to go back to that time, it might be better to just die.

'Now, if I just put the thousand-year-old wild ginseng in here, it'll be complete.'

Of course, that didn't mean he could drink it right away.

At least half a year.

In fact, the longer the period, the better, but since he didn't think he could wait that long, Namgung Il was thinking of half a year later.

'Hehe... In half a year, my internal energy will have increased to a level incomparable to now.'

The biggest advantage of the spiritual liquor that Namgung Il was trying to make now was that he could absorb the energy of the thousand-year-old wild ginseng with almost no loss.

Usually, in the process of absorbing a spiritual medicine, most of its energy is lost without being fully absorbed.

A brat who knows how to handle internal energy to some extent might be able to absorb the spiritual medicine a little better, but even so, it wouldn't exceed seventy percent.

Thirty percent, that's not a low figure, is it?

Especially, the higher the efficacy of the spiritual medicine, the more that figure would be felt.

'Thinking about it that way, I can definitely wait for about half a year.'

Well, it's not like he was in a hurry for internal energy, so he could just wait patiently.

Namgung Il smiled quietly and was about to move the jar of liquor into his room.

"Young Master!"

Just then, Yeonghwa appeared in the kitchen, calling for Namgung Il.

Her gaze immediately went to the jar in Namgung Il's hand.

Looking at the other things scattered around the kitchen, Yeonghwa said.

"Did you make liquor again?"

"Ah, I said I'd let you have the first taste when it's done, right?"

"...Pardon?"

That was definitely not what she had meant when she asked Namgung Il...

Before Yeonghwa could say anything, Namgung Il put down the jar and opened the lid.

Swoosh—

Namgung Il just put a bowl into the jar, scooped up the liquor, and held it out to Yeonghwa.

"Have a drink."

"Uh... this much?"

"This much is fine. I made plenty."

"..."

It would be against etiquette to refuse the cup of liquor that Namgung Il was personally offering her.

In the end, Yeonghwa received the cup with both hands.

It was called a cup, but what Yeonghwa was holding was a bowl several times the size of a normal cup.

'It doesn't look much different from ordinary liquor on the outside...'

The bigger problem was that the person who had made this liquor was Namgung Il.

To be told to drink liquor made by a person who had never even touched liquor in his life.

Of course, Yeonghwa didn't think this was proper liquor at all.

'It won't kill me!'

Thinking so, Yeonghwa finally brought the bowl to her lips.

A moment later, the clear liquor went down Yeonghwa's throat.

At that moment, Yeonghwa's eyes widened as if in disbelief.

"...!"

Wh-what is this?

For a moment, Yeonghwa thought there was something wrong with her tongue.

Otherwise, there was no way that liquor made by Namgung Il could taste like this...

Sip—

"...I can't believe it."

"..."

"How can liquor taste like this?"

Looking at Yeonghwa, who was muttering with a surprised face, Namgung Il nodded his head without a word.

The brat knows what liquor is.

The liquor he had just brewed was made with more effort than the Tear and Sweat Liquor, so in terms of value alone, that one cup could easily fetch a gold tael.

"It's delicious, right?"

"...It feels like a fairy is dancing on my tongue."

"Uh... really?"

That's a new way to describe the taste.

Well, he could just take it to mean it was delicious.

"How can liquor taste like this!"

"Drink a lot. It's precious."

Before Namgung Il could even say that, Yeonghwa was already pouring all the liquor in the bowl into her mouth.

As if that wasn't enough, she was now even licking the empty bowl with her tongue.

As if possessed by a dog, Yeonghwa continued to lick the empty bowl, which had not a single drop left.

"Yeonghwa, you're going to put a hole in that bowl."

"...!"

When Namgung Il said that, Yeonghwa was able to realize what she was doing.

At the same time, a blush appeared on her face.

Looking at her, Namgung Il asked.

"By the way, why were you looking for me?"

"Pardon?"

"Weren't you looking for me?"

"...Ah!"

She had forgotten for a moment while drinking the liquor.

Yeonghwa barely came to her senses and said to Namgung Il.

"Th-the clan head is looking for you."

"Me?"

"Yes, I think you should go to the clan head's residence right now."

Why was Namgung Cheong suddenly looking for him?

This was the first time he had been summoned like this since he had beaten up Namgung Ji.

'Well, I'll find out when I get there.'

After all, he couldn't not go when the clan head was calling.

Namgung Il started to walk and said to Yeonghwa.

"Yeonghwa, please move that jar to my room."

"Pardon?"

"I'm going to the clan head's residence right now."

Namgung Il said and left the kitchen before even hearing Yeonghwa's answer.

At that moment, a sudden silence fell.

A moment later, Yeonghwa carefully approached the jar on the floor.

Gulp—

Looking down at the liquor in the jar, Yeonghwa swallowed a mouthful of saliva without realizing it.

'No... what am I thinking!'

Looking into the jar, as if possessed by something, the taste of the liquor she had just drunk kept coming to her mind.

Ah... it was really delicious.

In the end, Yeonghwa couldn't overcome her instincts and stuck her face into the jar.

"...!"

Click—

Fortunately, before she could stick her tongue in, Yeonghwa hurriedly closed the lid.

However.

Soon, Yeonghwa opened the lid again and began to stare intently inside.

'Yes... one sip should be fine.'

Didn't Namgung Il also tell her that there was plenty?

And if it was just one sip, it wouldn't be noticeable even if she drank it.

Swoosh—

In the end, as her instincts led her, Yeonghwa scooped the liquor with a bowl.

A moment of hesitation.

But as the sweet scent tickled the tip of her nose, Yeonghwa brought the bowl to her lips without hesitation.

"Ah..."

This is the Peach Blossom Spring.

Like that, one sip, two sips.

Yeonghwa's hand movements became more and more bold as time passed.

* * *

Halt—

Namgung Il was about to open the door but stopped his hand for a moment.

'What is it... Something feels off.'

It felt like he had a chill, as if he had caught a cold.

Well... it's probably just my imagination.

Namgung Il didn't pay much attention and moved his hand again to open the door.

Creak—

Inside, Namgung Cheong was sitting as usual.

"I heard you were looking for me."

Approaching, Namgung Il said with a fist-and-palm salute.

But there was no immediate answer.

Namgung Cheong just sat in his chair and looked at Namgung Il without a word.

'What is it?'

As no answer came, a look of puzzlement appeared in Namgung Il's eyes.

If you call someone, you should say something.

He was a very busy person, so he wanted him to get to the point quickly.

"...I heard you entered the Great Heaven Training Ground."

Just then, Namgung Cheong finally opened his mouth and said.

Was he really called all the way here just to ask something like that?

As he said, Namgung Il was currently training the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style at the Great Heaven Training Ground.

"Yes, that's right."

"..."

This is... he's gone silent again.

Namgung Il was so frustrated by the silence that he wanted to argue, but since the other person was the head of the Namgung Clan and his father, he barely held it in.

"...I have one thing I want to ask."

Just then, Namgung Cheong opened his mouth again.

"When you stood in the spar back then, were you still in the Middle Heaven Training Ground?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then... how did you use a form of the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style in that spar?"

Namgung Cheong had naturally thought that Namgung Il had learned the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style.

But it had only been a few days since Namgung Il had gone to the Great Heaven Training Ground and started to learn the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style in earnest.

In other words, Namgung Cheong had only now realized that Namgung Il was still in the Middle Heaven Training Ground at the time of the spar.

'Ah, was that what he was curious about?'

Only then did Namgung Il understand why Namgung Cheong was making that expression.

Well, even if it were him, he would have been puzzled if his son had defeated an opponent with a sword style he hadn't even learned.

At that time, he had unconsciously shown the sword form while recalling Namgung Jeongung's movements, so he had expected a situation like this to some extent.

And his answer to that was.

"It came out unconsciously."

"...Unconsciously?"

"Yes."

To answer honestly.

He couldn't think of any other reason.

Of course, he had no intention of mentioning the fact that he had referred to Namgung Jeongung's movements.

"..."

Hearing Namgung Il's answer, Namgung Cheong shut his mouth firmly again.

To have used a form of the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style unconsciously...

It was a hard thing to believe, but it wasn't entirely impossible.

'The Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style is a sword style made by mixing the subtleties of the Azure Sky Sword Style and the Great Expansion Sword Style.'

Therefore, if one had learned the Azure Sky Sword Style and the Great Expansion Sword Style, it could be sufficiently connected to the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style.

But for Namgung Il to have realized that unconsciously on his own.

Unless one had an extremely outstanding talent for the sword, that was absolutely impossible.

"..."

But Namgung Il had done it.

That was why Namgung Cheong was surprised.

Why a child who had no talent for the sword had changed so much.

It was the same when he first saw Namgung Cheon's sword style with his own two eyes in the past, but now Namgung Cheong was even more surprised than then.

Hoot—

Just then, Namgung Cheong began to smile faintly.

'What is it... why is he suddenly smiling?'

When Namgung Cheong suddenly smiled at him like that, Namgung Il couldn't help but be puzzled.

Did I say something strange?

As Namgung Il was thinking that, Namgung Cheong suddenly got up from his chair.

And.

"Follow me."

He said and began to walk somewhere.

"Haaah..."

Seeing that, Namgung Il let out a small sigh.

Where on earth was he taking him this time?

Since his mind was currently filled with nothing but the thousand-year-old wild ginseng, he just wanted to go back to the Blue Sky Pavilion as soon as possible.

'It can't be helped.'

Well, the only work left was to go back and put the thousand-year-old wild ginseng in the jar.

Without even dreaming of what was happening at the Blue Sky Pavilion right now, Namgung Il quietly followed behind Namgung Cheong.

(End of Chapter)