Kindred Spirits
A rising star suddenly emerging from the Namgung Clan.
The moment the Anhui Mo Clan received word of his existence, they devised their current scheme.
There were two reasons.
First: could Namgung Yun, who had already attained alarming martial prowess judging by the reports, grow into a calamity and a bolt from the blue for the Anhui Mo Clan, much like Namgung Jeongcheon had?
Back when the Mo Clan was steadily suffocating the Namgung Clan, an Absolute Master named Namgung Jeongcheon had suddenly burst onto the scene and upended the board. The prospect of such an infuriating nightmare repeating itself was unacceptable.
And the second reason.
Does he have any ties to Yoma?
The suspicion was natural, given that Namgung Yun’s sudden emergence coincided with him being treated by a physician revealed to be Yoma's successor.
It was not that the Mo Clan felt some righteous indignation to purge a lingering evil. Rather, their gaze was fixed on the possibility that Yoma’s supreme arts might have found their way into the hands of the Namgung Clan.
If so, the Namgung Clan's military might could surge.
This was hardly groundless anxiety. They knew all too well what terrifying power could be attained through Yoma's forbidden craft.
Yet the intelligence gathered thus far had yielded nothing conclusive.
Nothing about him suggests a connection to Yoma.
While Namgung Yun’s martial achievements were certainly astonishing, he remained an ordinary scion of the Namgung Clan on the surface. His inner energy felt impeccably pure and orthodox, and the techniques he wielded belonged squarely to the Namgung lineage.
Then again, there is no proof completely disproving it, either.
To be blunt, Mo Seok-heon did not truly care whether Namgung Yun was tied to Yoma or not. If the brat continued to grow stronger at this pace, he was guaranteed to become an insurmountable obstacle barring the Anhui Mo Clan’s future, just as Namgung Jeongcheon was.
He must be killed.
Nothing was cleaner than death.
A dense, murderous chill settled in Mo Seok-heon’s eyes.
The morning after the banquet, the Namgung Clan settled back into its usual rhythm. The raucous commotion of the previous day felt like a distant illusion.
The same held true for Namgung Yun and his companions.
As they always did, they trained relentlessly and patrolled the city, practicing righteousness and chivalry.
The only noticeable difference was Namgung Yeon. His lukewarm, reluctant attitude toward chivalrous acts had transformed into fervent enthusiasm—a change that brought Yun considerable satisfaction.
Beyond that, children who wished to receive instruction from Namgung Yun began cropping up here and there.
Namgung Geol’s overwhelming triumph in the duel against the Mo Clan was impressive enough, but the fact that Namgung Yeon had fought on equal footing against an opponent an entire rank above him drew intense scrutiny. Both had been trained by Yun.
Of course, many within the clan still attributed their performance to their innate talent rather than Yun’s tutelage. Even so, this was the Namgung Clan, an environment perversely obsessed with Respect for the Strong. Once a new avenue to power presented itself, curiosity was inevitable.
Naturally, several youths approached Geol and Yeon, asking whether they too might receive instruction from Yun.
Yun’s response was always the same:
"The condition is that you must practice righteousness and chivalry."
Upon hearing those words, their expressions invariably soured.
Not only were they thoroughly steeped in the clan's doctrine of 'Respect for the Strong,' but they also feared the disapproving gazes of their elders. Quite apart from martial skill, many conservative members of the clan looked upon Yun, Geol, and Yeon with blatant contempt.
Geol owed his very life to Yun and was inherently reckless about what others thought of him; Yeon had been placed under Yun’s care directly by his father, General Administrator Namgung Uncheon. Considering that both had unique circumstances, one could hardly blame the other children for hesitating.
Thus, while faint ripples of change stirred the surface, life for the majority continued as it always had—until Namgung Jeongcheon summoned Yun to his quarters.
"You must make a journey to Mount Huang."
Mount Huang.
Hearing that name, only one reason sprang to mind.
"Is this because of Yoma?"
"Indeed. The Murim Alliance has resolved to dispatch a search party to uncover any lingering traces of Yoma. Our clan and the Anhui Mo Clan will take part, along with the Shaolin Temple and the Zhuge Clan."
The Namgung Clan was an involved party entangled in the recent Jiangshi incident, as well as a leading power contending for hegemony over Anhui Province, where Mount Huang lay.
Shaolin and the Zhuge Clan were based in the neighboring provinces of Henan and Hubei, making them geographically proximate compared to the other great factions.
And the Anhui Mo Clan had their ancestral estate rooted directly at the foot of Mount Huang.
"Understood."
Yun had been harboring curiosity about what Yoma had been up to after being banished from the Sacred Cult in his past life anyway. Moreover, a journey beyond the clan’s borders would offer ample opportunities to perform chivalrous deeds along the road.
I can't properly practice chivalry around here.
This was the sovereign domain of the Namgung Clan. While petty squabbles occasionally flared up, no truly grave crisis ever erupted. Even if the clan had long abandoned traditional righteousness—or perhaps precisely because of it—their territorial instinct was fiercely absolute.
Furthermore, security throughout the Mount Cheonju region had been tightened considerably following the Seo Won-gil incident.
Even if trouble wanted to stir, there was simply no room for it.
"I will inform you of the exact departure date later. You may withdraw."
Dismissed by his father, Yun stepped out of the pavilion.
Looking up, he was met by an immaculate expanse of azure sky.
In truth, this marked his first official venture into the Jianghu in the body of Namgung Yun.
It felt as though the heavens themselves were blessing his maiden journey, sending an unexpected thrill racing through his chest.
"Congratulations, Hyung-nim!"
Having wrapped up their patrol as usual, Yun and his followers stopped by an inn—the very establishment where the thugs of the Anhui Mo Clan had once caused a ruckus.
The wrecked furniture and shattered beams had been neatly restored using the silver Yun had—forcibly extracted—from the Mo Clan lackeys.
The lively crowd filling the hall suggested that the previous disruption had done no lasting damage to business.
No sooner had the dishes been laid out and the first cup filled than Geol belted out his congratulations.
"You're finally making your official debut in the Jianghu!"
To boys of Geol’s age, swinging their swords in the hopeful dream of making a name across the realm, stepping out into the wider martial world was an occasion worthy of grand celebration.
"Congratulations, Hyung-nim," Yeon echoed warmly.
"The time has come for the name of the Little Chivalrous Hero to reverberate beneath the heavens! Just imagining the martial artists of the Jianghu singing your praises makes this foolish younger brother's heart thump with excitement!"
"Hahaha, is that so? I suppose it must!"
Yun chuckled heartily, genuinely amused by Geol's flamboyant flattery.
Not long ago, Yeon would have stared at such an absurd display with bewildered distaste, but ever since the duel, he had completely transformed. He now nodded with fervent conviction, echoing Geol's sentiments.
As the three carried on their cheerful banter, an unfamiliar voice broke in.
"What a fascinating conversation you gentlemen are having."
Though Yun had earned the affectionate title of Little Chivalrous Hero and was treated with a warmth rarely afforded to ordinary martial artists, he was still a swordsman with a blade at his hip. Unless Yun approached commoners during his patrols, outsiders seldom dared interrupt when martial artists were drinking amongst themselves.
Until now.
Yun and the boys turned toward the speaker.
A noble scion.
That was the immediate impression he gave.
Dressed in impeccably tailored robes with sharp, handsome features, he looked like the sort who had broken a few women's hearts in his time.
Yet what immediately arrested their attention was the slender sword resting at his waist.
A martial artist.
Geol and Yeon instantly bristled with vigilance.
The ordeal with Seo Won-gil and the clash with the Anhui Mo Clan were still fresh in their minds. To let their guard down before an unidentified martial artist who approached without warning would have been pure negligence.
Sensing their sudden wariness, the young man raised his hands, displaying empty palms in a placating gesture.
"Peace, please. I have no intention of provoking a quarrel."
"Who are you?" Yun asked calmly.
The man brought his hands together in a formal martial salute.
"My name is Yang Woo. I am merely an insignificant wanderer roaming the world to broaden my horizons. Forgive the intrusion, but might you be the esteemed Little Chivalrous Hero whose renown has traveled far and wide?"
"I am."
"I knew it!"
Yang Woo’s eyes sparkled.
"Unworthy though I am, I too aspire toward the path of righteousness and chivalry. I journeyed here simply to gaze upon the illustrious Namgung Clan, but upon hearing the remarkable rumors surrounding you, Young Hero, I could not resist the urge to introduce myself."
"You pursue righteousness and chivalry?"
Yun’s interest piqued immediately.
Ever since waking up in the body of Namgung Yun, this was the very first person he had encountered who openly professed an aspiration toward righteousness.
"That is indeed a noble ambition."
"Hahaha, noble though the intention may be, 'without action, nothing is attained.' To hear such praise from someone who personally puts righteousness and chivalry into practice only brings me shame."
"There are countless souls who have never even conceived of such an ambition. There is no reason to feel ashamed. Say, if your time permits, would you care to share a few words?"
"It would be my absolute honor."
Geol and Yeon shifted their seats to clear a space, and Yang Woo pulled up a chair to join their table.
Thus began their conversation.
Contrary to his humble modesty, Yang Woo possessed remarkably lucid principles regarding chivalry and justice. As their talk progressed, it became evident that he had already carried out an impressive number of righteous deeds during his wanderings.
Naturally, Yun was thrilled.
Yes! This! This is precisely what I had hoped to find in the Namgung Clan!
Drawing upon the philosophical theories he had absorbed from the Murim Alliance Leader and the old bald monks of Shaolin back during his days as the Heavenly Demon, combined with the hands-on experiences of his current life, Yun traded insights with the traveler.
Beside them, Geol and Yeon listened with rapt attention.
Having dedicated themselves to the same ideals, they found Yang Woo’s eloquent storytelling thoroughly captivating.
To think someone like this still existed in today's Jianghu.
Yet upon deeper reflection, it was hardly impossible. The Jianghu was vast beyond measure. In an absurd world where an old monster could reincarnate into Namgung Yun's youthful skin, an earnest young man striving to practice righteousness was practically ordinary by comparison.
So engrossed were they in their exchange that time slipped away unnoticed.
"Pardon me, esteemed guests... but it is closing time."
"Ah, has the hour grown so late already?"
When the waiter nervously piped up, Yang Woo glanced toward the window. Outside, night had fallen in full, and the inn's interior was illuminated by flickering lanterns.
"Hahaha! Conversing with a man of your caliber, Little Chivalrous Hero, has been a truly peerless delight."
"The pleasure was entirely mine."
Yun rose from his seat.
"I will take care of the tab."
"No, please. At the very least, I must cover my own share."
"This town is the domain of the Namgung Clan, and our clan does not charge guests who grace our table. Please, permit me."
"...If you insist so firmly, I shall accept with gratitude."
Having settled the bill with the waiter, Yun turned back to Yang Woo.
"Where do your travels take you from here?"
"Having toured the Namgung Clan, enjoyed the sights of the city, and even had the fortune of meeting the Little Chivalrous Hero, it is time for me to resume my wandering."
"I shall look forward to the day we cross paths again to discourse on chivalry once more."
"I, too, sincerely pray our paths cross again."
With warm smiles, the two parted ways.
"I never imagined there would be someone else out there actively striving to practice chivalry besides us," Yeon remarked as they walked under the night sky.
Geol nodded in firm agreement.
"The Jianghu is vast, and its travelers are countless," Yun said casually. "How could there not be at least one person like me?"
"You seem to be in exceptionally high spirits, Hyung-nim."
"There is no joy greater than encountering someone who truly understands your heart. It was not for nothing that Boya severed the strings of his zither upon the death of Zhong Ziqi."
"Indeed. The two of you seemed to understand each other effortlessly."
It went beyond merely sharing an interest in righteousness and chivalry; their temperaments simply clicked on an instinctual level. Geol had felt that unmistakable resonance watching them converse.
"Did you two sense it as well?"
"If someone didn't know better, they would have assumed you two were lifelong childhood friends."
"Haha, perhaps that is precisely what having a true kindred spirit feels like."
Basking in the pleasant afterglow of a delightful encounter before his imminent departure for Mount Huang, Yun returned to the estate in soaring spirits.
Back in his quarters, lying across his bed, Yang Woo cast his mind back over the encounter.
So that was Namgung Yun.
A youth bestowed with the moniker of Little Chivalrous Hero—a title so jarringly out of place among the modern Orthodox factions.
He had initially wondered if this was merely some pampered young master forcing an undeserved sobriquet upon the populace as a childish game.
Yet he was entirely sincere about the path of chivalry.
In fact, his philosophical comprehension of it ran startlingly deep.
To think such a figure could emerge from today's Orthodox sects.
No matter how decadent and decayed they had become, was an illustrious sect still worthy of its ancestral name after all?
The two boys accompanying him were quite decent as well.
Yet those three were the sole exceptions. Regarding the rest of the Namgung Clan, Yang Woo had heard nothing but grim whispers and vile reputations.
Typical hypocrites of the Orthodox path.
He had stepped into the Jianghu secretly harboring a sliver of hope that there might still be righteous men of virtue among them, only to find beasts whose conduct made it impossible to distinguish between Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.
In such a desolate landscape, a man like Namgung Yun was more than worthy of his genuine admiration.
I would truly relish the chance to share another cup of wine with him.
Yet that pleasure would have to wait.
For now, he had an urgent duty to fulfill.
Yoma.
He had no idea why that ancient fiend’s name had resurfaced in this era, but as long as the old monster was involved, it demanded thorough verification.
Fortunately, the Little Chivalrous Hero seems entirely uninvolved.
He had briefly harbored suspicions that Yun might be tainted by Yoma’s insidious influence, but that doubt had vanished completely upon meeting him face to face.
Now, it was time to take his next step.
The rogue named Seo Won-gil said he unearthed that old fiend's secret manuals on Mount Huang.
His next destination was decided.