The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

After finishing the Hidden Weapon Techniques class, Namgung Il was walking with Tang Wol-yeong.

'...Now I know why this brat is taking the Hidden Weapon Techniques class.'

Although it was hard to believe, Tang Wol-yeong's hidden weapon skills were truly at a terrible level.

To what extent was that? Would it be understandable if he said that her accuracy with hidden weapons was lower than his, who had just encountered hidden weapon techniques for the first time?

Although Namgung Il couldn't hit where he wanted, he at least hit the target... Tang Wol-yeong's hidden weapons couldn't even get near the target every time she threw them.

'At first, I thought Tang Wol-yeong was aiming for me and had thrown the dagger... to think that she had really thrown it wrong.'

Who on earth would think that it was a mistake from the beginning?

If she had been standing near the target, he might not have known, but the place where he was standing was a place that could be said to be in the almost opposite direction of the target.

A direction that could not be reached unless a headwind was blowing.

So Namgung Il had thought from the beginning that Tang Wol-yeong had been aiming for him, but as time passed, he realized that it was really a mistake.

'It was the first time I had such a tense class.'

After that, Tang Wol-yeong had thrown a dagger at him a few more times.

Of course, Mang U-yeong was no exception.

In the end, Namgung Il and Mang U-yeong had no choice but to be very tense in a place far away before Tang Wol-yeong threw the dagger.

"..."

When that situation was repeated several times, he had no choice but to believe that it was not intentional, but a matter of skill.

A desperate skill that even Mang U-yeong could not cover up.

Namgung Il still could not forget the expression of Mang U-yeong, who was looking at Tang Wol-yeong.

'How can someone from the Sichuan Tang Clan be so bad at hidden weapon techniques?'

Although he understood why Tang Wol-yeong had applied for the Hidden Weapon Techniques class, Namgung Il had a bigger question instead.

As he said before, the place where one held a hidden weapon from the age of five was the Sichuan Tang Clan.

That meant that Tang Wol-yeong had been learning hidden weapon techniques for at least ten years...

Normally, if one invested that much time in one thing, even if one's skills were not outstanding, it was normal to be able to do it at an ordinary level.

'Even in the case of the original Namgung Il, he couldn't get out of the Lesser Heaven Training Ground for several years... but this doesn't seem to be at that level at all.'

Even that brat, who had a poor talent, knew how to swing a sword.

But in Tang Wol-yeong's case, wasn't she at a level where she couldn't even take her first steps yet?

Having witnessed Tang Wol-yeong's hidden weapon techniques directly, Namgung Il even had a suspicion that she was really from the Sichuan Tang Clan.

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Huh?"

"You seem to have been looking at me for a while now."

Tang Wol-yeong had now turned her head and was asking Namgung Il.

Perhaps because he had many questions about Tang Wol-yeong's skills, it seemed his gaze had been directed that way without him realizing it.

Namgung Il was about to say something but swallowed his words in the middle and brought up a different question from what he had originally intended to ask.

"Uh... you said that to me before."

"...?"

"That you can't be close with me. What's the reason?"

In fact, what Namgung Il was really curious about was the part about Tang Wol-yeong's hidden weapon skills.

But thinking that there might be a personal story, he could not ask so openly.

'I'll have to ask about that part when we get a little closer.'

Even if they became close, he would have to bring it up very carefully.

Although it could be said that he was taking an unnecessary interest in someone else's business, Tang Wol-yeong did not feel like a stranger.

She was a descendant of Tang Cheol-go, who had been a comrade in the past, and wasn't she also the object of Jong Seo-eon's affection?

The fact that she had taken his side against Hwang Dong-jae probably also had a slight influence.

"That's..."

When Namgung Il asked, Tang Wol-yeong stopped walking and her words trailed off slightly.

"...Because you beat me."

"What?"

"No matter how many times you challenge a defeated opponent, you must win. That is the creed of my family, the Tang Clan."

It was a completely unexpected reason.

In other words, since she was an enemy to be defeated later, she couldn't be close with him?

Although it was not surprising that the Sichuan Tang Clan had such a creed due to its nature, there was one part that Namgung Il could not understand.

'Have I ever fought this brat?'

In the first place, Namgung Il was puzzled by that.

For her to say that he had defeated her meant that he and Tang Wol-yeong had had a spar at some point... but no matter how much Namgung Il searched his memory, he could not remember such an incident.

'...Wait.'

Just then, a scene flashed through Namgung Il's mind.

'Could it be... she's talking about that time?'

Although it wasn't exact, if he and Tang Wol-yeong had had a spar, it seemed it could only be that time.

The spar that had been held as the final entrance exam for the Flying Dragon Academy.

If he had had a confrontation with Tang Wol-yeong besides that, there was no way he would not know about it.

"..."

The number of opponents that Namgung Il had defeated at that time was countless.

Since the number had gone beyond two digits and had reached three digits, how could he remember the opponent's face one by one?

Although he might have remembered if it had been a strong opponent, since the outcome had been decided within three moves for most, except for Jong Seo-eon, it was not particularly memorable.

"Could it be... you're talking about the fight during the entrance exam?"

"Yes, that's right."

"..."

"Don't tell me you don't remember?"

At those words, Namgung Il flinched inwardly.

To hide that inner thought, Namgung Il smiled awkwardly and said to Tang Wol-yeong.

"No! Of course I remember!"

"..."

"It was that time! That... after I had defeated a few dozen people, you came up!"

The people of the Sichuan Tang Clan were mostly proud.

He had already experienced that to the point of being sick of it through Tang Cheol-go.

Looking at her, he felt that Tang Wol-yeong's pride was also quite strong, so Namgung Il spoke vaguely and hid the truth.

"...I see."

"..."

"Wait for me. I'll challenge you to a spar again later."

A faint fighting spirit was felt in Tang Wol-yeong's eyes as she was saying that.

Although he had spoken to her to become close, it felt like the opposite had happened... it wasn't just a feeling, was it?

As Namgung Il was about to say something again, someone approached this way.

"Tang Wol-yeong! You were here..."

The person who was approaching, shouting, was none other than Seon U-jae.

But as he discovered someone, Seon U-jae's expression and mouth froze for a moment.

As his eyes met with Namgung Il's, Seon U-jae's hands even trembled slightly.

'Wh-why is that brat here?'

Unlike when he had confidently called Tang Wol-yeong's name, Seon U-jae was quite weak in front of Namgung Il.

The reason was simple.

How could he handle a junior that even Hwang Dong-jae could not handle?

Especially when Namgung Il had been surrounded by dozens of Vermilion Bird Class students before, Seon U-jae had also been there.

"..."

The sight of Namgung Il, who had jumped into the air and had struck down with a flashing sword at that time, was quite strongly imprinted in his memory.

Although he had run away after that, who on earth could have run away safely like Namgung Il in that situation?

At least, Seon U-jae thought that it was absolutely impossible for him to run away in that situation.

Creak—

As soon as he discovered Namgung Il, Seon U-jae hurriedly turned his body and tried to leave.

However.

"Wait."

"...!"

"Where are you going, senior?"

Hearing Namgung Il's voice calling him from behind, Seon U-jae had no choice but to stop in his tracks.

'Ah... I'm screwed.'

Although he didn't know why he was having such a thought about a junior, Seon U-jae thought that it was a priority to get through this situation safely for now.

Seon U-jae smiled awkwardly and approached Namgung Il, turning back.

"Uh... what a coincidence?"

"..."

Namgung Il was looking at Seon U-jae with a suspicious gaze.

'This brat, he surely called Tang Wol-yeong's name.'

And yet, he had discovered him in this place and had hurriedly tried to go back, Namgung Il had noticed that early on.

That meant that he had turned back because he had something to feel guilty about... Namgung Il was now quite suspicious of that part.

"...?"

Just then, Tang Wol-yeong's figure came into Namgung Il's sight.

Her lips, which were slightly bitten, though it was subtle.

Namgung Il could tell that Tang Wol-yeong was uncomfortable with Seon U-jae's appearance.

'...Don't tell me.'

Seeing that reaction, a certain guess came to Namgung Il's mind.

At that moment, his gaze became sharp.

Namgung Il questioned Seon U-jae as if he were shooting at him.

"Why did you come here?"

"So I just happened to..."

"You called Tang Wol-yeong's name quite confidently earlier, didn't you? Didn't you have business with this brat?"

"D-did I? I don't know, my memory is a little hazy these days...?"

This brat, is he trying to play dumb until the end?

Namgung Il glared at Seon U-jae with a much more fierce face than before.

"Did Hwang Dong-jae order you?"

"...!"

"I asked if Hwang Dong-jae had ordered you to bring Tang Wol-yeong."

When Namgung Il asked, Seon U-jae's face turned pale, and he could not say anything.

Seeing that reaction, the situation was now certain.

He had thought it would calm down a little after the bet... it seemed that Hwang Dong-jae was bullying the first-years again.

'I was too complacent.'

Come to think of it, he could have known that Hwang Dong-jae would not back down easily.

Especially, if he excluded himself, wouldn't he persistently bully Tang Wol-yeong among the first-years?

The reason was, of course, because she had taken his side and had rebelled against Hwang Dong-jae at that time.

"..."

Namgung Il could not stand by and watch Tang Wol-yeong be harmed because of him.

As Namgung Il continued to look with hostility, Seon U-jae stammered and opened his mouth.

"N-no... I don't know anything."

"..."

"R-really! I didn't do anything wrong!"

Seon U-jae did not seem to be properly aware of what he was saying now.

Just then, Namgung Il, who had been just glaring, broke the silence and finally opened his mouth.

"Go and tell Hwang Dong-jae."

"...!"

"If he lost the bet, he should keep his promise. If I see something like this again, I won't let it go."

After saying that, Namgung Il slightly moved his head as if to tell him to get lost.

Seeing that, Seon U-jae hurriedly left the spot as if he were running away.

Namgung Il looked at Seon U-jae, who was getting farther away, for a moment and then turned his gaze to Tang Wol-yeong.

"Tang Wol-yeong."

"..."

"If Hwang Dong-jae touches you, tell me. The same goes for the other seniors."

Namgung Il had an obligation to protect Tang Wol-yeong.

Although it might be his own selfish thought, Namgung Il did not want to abandon the person who had been the only one to help him at that time.

"...Thank you."

"..."

"But it's alright. I'll take care of my own business."

Tang Wol-yeong said and showed a transcendent smile.

Namgung Il, who was silently watching her for a moment.

Although he wanted to hear a more definite answer if he could, since it could be a compulsion if he went any further, Namgung Il swallowed his words.

"Uh...!"

It was then.

As someone's surprised voice was suddenly heard from somewhere, Namgung Il and Tang Wol-yeong simultaneously turned their heads that way.

'Jong Seo-eon?'

When did that brat come?

Just then, Namgung Il could tell that Jong Seo-eon's state was a little strange.

"Y-you two, don't tell me..."

"...?"

"Captain... how could you, even knowing my heart..."

Wait... that brat, it seems he's seriously misunderstanding something now.

As Namgung Il was about to say something to clear up the misunderstanding, Jong Seo-eon turned around and ran away like the hero of a tragic love story.

"Aaaah—!"

With a strange cry, Jong Seo-eon got farther and farther away.

Seeing that, Namgung Il put a hand on his forehead for a moment as if his head was hurting.

"What's wrong with him?"

Just then, Tang Wol-yeong asked with a puzzled expression.

Seeing that, it seemed that Tang Wol-yeong had not noticed Jong Seo-eon's feelings at all.

"...There's a reason for that."

Poor Jong Seo-eon.

Namgung Il had no choice but to answer Tang Wol-yeong like that.

(End of Chapter)