The Child Raised by the Unorthodox Faction (3)
"What? The Namgung Clan is coming to Heung-guk?"
"Yeah."
Pyeongha shoved a piece of chicken into his mouth and nodded at Gwangpae, who had raised his voice in irritation.
"Sotae told me today. They're visiting the Heukmyeong Martial Hall in four days, and they said they'd hold a light sparring match while they're at it."
"Tch... those idiots. Coming all this way just to show off."
"Well, it's not like it's anything new, is it? The Five Great Families are always so full of themselves."
"The Namgung Clan is still a cut above the rest when it comes to arrogance, though."
"I don't like the Namgung Clan either."
Heukpyo and Baek Ryeong nodded along in agreement after Gwangpae's remark. When even Seokdu, rare for him, chimed in on the topic of the Namgung Clan, Pyeongha glanced over at Hyeolwang, who was eating with them, clearly baffled.
Their eyes met, and Hyeolwang smiled faintly before speaking.
"The Namgung Clan is one of the Five Great Families, seated in Anhui. With no worthy rivals nearby, they're practically called the rulers of the province."
"Then why does everyone say they're arrogant?"
"Why do you suppose they roam about even here in Jiangxi—a land that isn't even theirs—patrolling it like they own the place, though no one asked them to? They mean to flaunt their power and influence in a land where no one has yet stretched out a hand."
"Tch... Greedy bastards from the cradle, the lot of them."
Gwangpae, who had been gnawing on his meat while listening to Hyeolwang's explanation, swallowed what was in his mouth and continued.
"Their pride is monstrous too. They're the kind who stick the word 'Emperor' onto their swordsmanship."
"Their sword art is called the Emperor Sword Art?"
"They've got this and that, but the art they brag about most is the Emperor Sword Form. Anyway, they're people who can't stand anyone standing above them. Best not to get tangled up with them if you can help it."
"I see."
"Pyeongha, normally I'd say don't go down the mountain at all unless you have to, but for a while, absolutely not... and especially don't go anywhere near the martial hall. Don't meet that Sotae boy or whoever else either."
"Huh? But I already decided to go watch that day. The Namgung Clan."
"Tch... Well, naturally that's how it should—PBBT! WHAAAAT?"
"Ack! What are you doing?! You're getting food everywhere!"
Gwangpae, spraying everything in his mouth as he shouted, drew a sharp rebuke from Yeon-ha, who had been eating beside him. Flushing red, he hastily apologized, then turned back to Pyeongha.
"S-sorry about that. But... what did you just say? Where are you going?"
"To the Heukmyeong Martial Hall, to see the Namgung Clan."
"Whaaat? Agaaain?"
"To see the Namgung Clan?"
"Pyeongha, don't go. Trust me, you'll regret it."
Before Pyeongha could even finish, Heukpyo, Baek Ryeong, and Seokdu all began talking him down at once. Hyeolwang, too, stroked his long beard and showed more caution than usual.
"Hmm... They're not exactly people you benefit from meeting... Do you have some particular reason you need to see them?"
"They say it's a famous and powerful clan, so I'm curious. I'll just watch quietly and come right back. Is that so wrong?"
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Nothing worth seeing."
"Best not to go, Pyeongha."
The Dark Sky Four Monsters opposed him in perfect unison with Gwangpae. Pyeongha shot Yeon-ha an earnest, pleading look, and she gave an awkward smile before turning to Gwangpae.
"Um... Master, Pyeongha wants it that badly..."
"Nanny or not, what's not allowed is not allowed."
"He's just going to watch. They're supposed to be a proper Orthodox clan—are they really going to pick a fight with a mere spectator?"
"They might. I'm telling you, those bastards are rotten."
"...Do you really mean that, Grandfather?"
"Ahem."
When the question suddenly swung to him instead of Gwangpae, Hyeolwang cleared his throat and glanced around at everyone.
"Well... honestly speaking, the chances of that are low."
"See? I told you."
"Hey, old man!"
"Pyeongha, do you want to see them that badly? They're nowhere near as wonderful as you're imagining."
"Yes."
Pyeongha answered Hyeolwang's question with as much earnestness as he could muster.
"It's my wish."
"Hmm..."
Hyeolwang drew a long breath, seeming lost in thought for a moment, then broke into a grin and raised one hand.
"Then I shall give my blessing."
"Wow! Grandfather, you're the best!"
"Hey! Old man!"
"You said it was your wish, didn't you? And when you think about it, it's scoundrels like us they have bad blood with—there's no reason for them to clash with Pyeongha."
Left with nothing to counter with, Gwangpae just worked his jaw, and Yeon-ha smiled warmly and raised her hand as well.
"If Grandfather approves, then so do I. Pyeongha, you can go watch quietly and come straight back, right?"
"Yeah! I promise! Really!"
Pyeongha beamed at Yeon-ha's question, his eyes sparkling, and turned to the Dark Sky Four Monsters.
"Big Uncle, please?"
"No. I'm still outnumbered, aren't I? The opposition's bigger."
"Then... the other uncles?"
When Pyeongha looked to them as if begging for help, Heukpyo and Baek Ryeong hastily averted their gazes in opposite directions.
And after a short pause, Seokdu raised one hand.
"Hmm... Then I approve too."
"Wow! Uncle Seokdu, you're the best!"
"Hey, hey! Seokdu, you—!"
<He looks so happy.>
Seokdu, wearing a soft smile as he watched Pyeongha, sent his voice directly into Gwangpae's mind.
<When's the last time we saw Pyeongha smile like that? He used to laugh all the time when he was little.>
"...Hnnngh."
Perhaps unable to bring himself to argue the point, Gwangpae only let out a groan. And no wonder—the face gazing back at him with those two sparkling eyes was the very image of the boy he'd been as a child, lifted straight out of the past.
"Big Uncle..."
"...Fine. Go."
"Huh?"
"Ah, just go already! Those insufferable bastards—well, at least their martial arts are worth something, so maybe you'll pick up a speck of something useful!"
"But..."
"...Brother?"
"WAAAH! Big Uncle, you're the best!"
Heukpyo and Baek Ryeong stared blankly, dumbfounded by Gwangpae's about-face. And as Pyeongha leapt about in delight, Yeon-ha, Hyeolwang, and Seokdu watched him with warm eyes.
Four days had passed since Sotae's visit.
The morning of the long-awaited day broke, and almost before the sun had cleared the ridge, Pyeongha swept down the mountain with his lightfoot technique, leaving even his breakfast behind.
Since he had no way of knowing exactly when the Namgung Clan would arrive at the Heukmyeong Martial Hall, he figured it was better to go early and wait.
When Pyeongha reached the martial hall, the instructors, who had already heard he was coming, welcomed him warmly. Some of them even remembered him.
"Well, well! So you really are that little sprout from back then?"
"Must be what, ten years? Damn, you've grown up fine, kid."
"Why do you curse at the boy when he's grown up well? Anyway, good to see you. Come on inside."
"Thank you for the warm welcome."
Pyeongha bowed politely to the instructors' hospitality and stepped inside. And there, in the distance, he caught sight of the Hall Master and Sotae, deep in serious conversation.
They must have spotted him entering as well, because Sotae soon raised a hand.
"Pyeongha! You're here!"
"Yeah, I'm here. It's been a while, Hall Master."
"Indeed it has."
The Hall Master offered a faint smile at Pyeongha's greeting. In the past, he had wanted nothing more than to bring Pyeongha into the martial hall—but ever since learning how positive an influence Pyeongha was on Sotae, he had given up on that idea entirely.
He had acknowledged that maintaining a good relationship by stepping back was far better than grasping at something hopeless and stirring up new friction.
"You've grown beyond recognition. You could have visited the hall at least once, you know."
"I wanted to, but circumstances kept me training in the mountains."
"Oh ho, is that so? Then your progress over the years must be considerable. You've made me rather curious..."
"I'm sure my skills are nothing compared to yours or the instructors'. But if you ask it of me, Hall Master, I'll show you anytime."
"Haha, good. Thank you."
When Pyeongha answered so cheerfully, beaming all the while, the Hall Master burst into hearty laughter.
He remembered the boy as being rather precocious in his childhood, but watching him now, every word and gesture was courteous, and there wasn't a single shadow on his temperament.
'I worried that growing up under men like them might make him hard and angular.'
But even this brief exchange was enough to show him how groundless that worry had been.
Before he knew it, the Hall Master was smiling at Pyeongha with even greater warmth as he spoke.
"Sotae told you, I take it? Today there will be a light contest between the Namgung Clan and our instructors."
"Yes, I came because I wanted to see it so badly. I can hardly wait."
"Haha, of course. Everyone in the hall is looking forward to it—how could you be any different? I hope it proves a meaningful and rewarding time for you as well."
"Thank you so much for having me."
"There's a good lad. Sotae, see to it that Pyeongha can watch the bouts in comfort. And make sure your own preparations for the sparring are thorough."
"Yes, Hall Master. Come on, Pyeongha. It's this way."
"Okay."
Pyeongha followed Sotae's lead, and soon the sparring stage came into view in the distance, along with rows of seats arranged so spectators could watch at their ease.
"Is that where they'll fight?"
"Yeah, that's right. That's our hall's sparring stage."
"Whoa, that's so cool."
To Pyeongha, who had only ever fought in the depths of the mountains—and always on bare ground—even the idea of a proper sparring stage filled him with a fluttering excitement.
When they reached the seats beside the stage a short while later, Sotae grinned and spoke up.
"You'll have to sit here alone for a bit, even if you get bored. Everyone's run off their feet—training for the bouts, getting ready to receive the Namgung Clan."
"Right, you're fighting too, aren't you? I heard just now."
"Ah, yeah, it got decided. I was planning to take it easy before the tournament, but... the Hall Master and the instructors decided it was a good opportunity to test ourselves beforehand."
"Instructor? Oh, that uncle—Ui Pung-myeong?"
"Yeah, the swordsmanship instructor..."
"Sotae! What do you think you're doing over there!"
"Eep!"
At Ui Pung-myeong's bellowing call, Sotae flinched and forced an awkward smile.
"I really have to go now. Anyway, enjoy the show. I'll come find you when my bout's over."
"Okay, got it. Win!"
"Forget winning—I just hope I don't disgrace myself. See you later."
"Yeah!"
Having said his farewells, Sotae scrambled off and began receiving one instruction after another from Ui Pung-myeong. Watching him take up his stance with a wooden sword and exchange techniques with a partner, Pyeongha could sense it: everyone was anticipating the coming bout with the Namgung Clan—and worrying over it too.
How long had he been watching the bustle of it all?
At length, a wave of countless auras and the murmur of many voices reached him from beyond the compound walls, and Pyeongha lifted his head.
"...They're here."
Thud. Thud. Thud.
"Are you within? We have come from the Namgung Clan!"
Before his murmur had even faded, the sound of fists pounding on the main gate rolled across the grounds.
And then—
BANG.
"Welcome! We are honored to receive the Namgung Clan at the Heukmyeong Martial Hall."
"Please come inside. The Hall Master is waiting for you."
"My thanks for your hospitality. Then..."
Step. Step.
The sound of greetings being exchanged between the Namgung party and the instructors drifted over from the gate, and soon a middle-aged man in deep blue martial robes strode into the compound at the head of the group.