Chapter 37. The Gap in Caliber (3)
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“……Fine, then. See you later.”
The Jegal siblings bowed their heads and turned away. Namgung Hyeon’s face, watching them go, was stiff with tension.
He had seen it—the particularly cold glint in Jegal A-yeon’s eyes as she looked at him.
Damn it all.
This was all Yeon Hojeong’s fault.
If he hadn’t been humiliated in front of Yeon Hojeong, Jegal A-yeon never would have looked at him that way.
This gathering had left nothing but wounds, deep ones that threatened to shatter his reason.
Recalling Jegal A-yeon’s gaze, Namgung Hyeon ground his teeth.
I wanted to kill him with my own hands.
It was regrettable, but in a way, it was satisfying too.
The Tang family’s poisons were beyond imagination in variety. There were ones that killed before you even noticed, others that paralyzed the body, some that inflicted pure agony without mercy, and those that left permanent disabilities—countless kinds, they said.
Namgung Hyeon had witnessed Yeon Hojeong’s skill firsthand. As much as it galled him, the man’s martial prowess was undeniable. Overwhelming Chuseong like that wasn’t something even he could do easily.
That mongrel bastard! There must have been some trick.
Chuseong’s movements in those first three exchanges had been far too clumsy. He must have been holding back out of consideration for his opponent, only to get caught off guard by the unexpected skill and slip up. He’d ask when Chuseong woke—why the hell he’d let his guard down like that.
Come to think of it, that time was a sneak attack too.
When Yeon Hojeong had subdued Dang Yangseon, it hadn’t been a fair win either.
Listing it all out, the guy was nothing but a coward.
People only saw the results, not the process. That’s why they thought Yeon Hojeong was impressive.
“Filthy trash. Strutting around on that meager skill……”
In extreme situations, people tend to see only what they want to see. Having his pride wounded for the first time in his life, he failed to use that sharp mind of his properly.
“Where’s Myeong hyung?”
“He left first.”
“Without even saying goodbye?”
Namgung Hyeon scowled.
These guys.
Nothing pleased him. Absolutely nothing.
“Is the cleanup done?”
“Not yet, but it’ll be soon.”
Namgung Hyeon bellowed.
“The sun will set soon! Hurry up and finish!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
The servants scurried about. In less than an hour, Namgung Hyeon stepped out of the manor.
It would take time to travel from Hapbi back to the Namgung family’s territory near Huangshan.
People often wondered why the Namgung family, the greatest power in Anhui, had settled not in the capital Hapbi but in Huangshan.
But that was just hindsight. When the Namgung ancestors first established roots, the family wasn’t this mighty.
Things were different now. The Namgung eyes were everywhere in Anhui, especially in the capital Hapbi.
“We’ve prepared the carriage in advance. Please, get in.”
Even Namgung disciples traveling within Anhui were provided with the finest carriages and boats. Everyone in the province who made a living there had to watch their step around the Namgung.
It was a privilege fit for the royalty of a small kingdom.
Thus, five days later, Namgung Hyeon crossed the river and entered the Namgung domain near Huangshan.
What’s this?
Walking the main road, Namgung Hyeon felt an odd sense of unease. Countless people were stealing glances at him.
It wasn’t surprising. His escorts carried three or four massive flags emblazoned with the character “Namgung.”
He usually drew plenty of stares, but today was different. They whispered as they glanced, and it didn’t feel friendly.
Namgung Hyeon’s face slowly twisted. His mood soured.
By the time the group reached the Namgung estate……
“Hyeon?”
“Ah, Uncle.”
Namgung Daesan, the outer court leader, approached with an urgent expression. Namgung Hyeon’s unease grew.
“What’s going on?”
Namgung Daesan cut straight to it.
“What the hell did you do?”
“Pardon?”
Namgung Daesan thumped his chest in frustration.
“You used a borrow a knife to kill ploy on the Tang heir to assassinate Yeon family’s young master?!”
Namgung Hyeon’s face went pale in an instant.
Too shocked, he blurted out without thinking.
“H-how did you……”
Namgung Daesan’s eyes darkened.
“You…… So it really was you.”
Realizing his slip, Namgung Hyeon clamped his mouth shut. But the damage was done—those who needed to hear had heard.
No, even if he denied it, the incident had already unfolded.
“The rumors have spread beyond Anhui to other regions. It’s no mere gossip—the source is clear, and the witnesses solid.”
“Th-that’s absurd!”
“Get to the family head’s quarters, now!”
Smooth.
Smooth.
The brush glided across the rice paper with careful yet unhesitating strokes. Namgung In’s hand, painting the orchid, embodied the spirit of a true craftsman. Calculating the ink’s depth perfectly, his orchid strokes had reached a transcendent realm.
Namgung Hyeon’s mouth went dry.
His father had been painting for over an hour now. More than twenty sheets lay discarded on the floor—what didn’t please him?
“Hm, now that’s decent.”
Namgung In lifted the paper, fanning it gently to dry. Satisfaction flickered across his face. As the ink set in the breeze, he finally spoke.
“Is it true?”
The question after an hour was brutally direct.
Namgung Hyeon swallowed hard. He sensed the subtle fury beneath his father’s calm tone.
He’d seen this side of his father often. But never aimed at him.
For the first time, he faced his father’s wrath—and shrank under it.
“Yes.”
Lying wouldn’t work anyway. No, this wasn’t a situation for lies.
Namgung In’s eyes deepened, disappointment plain.
“I didn’t send you to the later-generation summit because we lacked people. Even if not the eldest, we have plenty sharper than you.”
It stabbed at his heart. Namgung Hyeon paled further.
“Yet I sent you. Because you wanted to go. And because I acknowledged you.”
“……”
“Earning acknowledgment from others is hard. But disappointment fades quickly. You know that.”
Only then did Namgung In turn to his son.
“I admired your resolve to mend ties with the Yeon family. I trusted you wouldn’t overreach. But I never imagined you’d draw a blade.”
“……”
“Using people well earns praise as the art of employment; using them poorly makes you a schemer. I thought you at least capable of keeping your name clean, if not masterful. Was I wrong?”
Drip.
Blood trickled from Namgung Hyeon’s lips. He’d bitten them without realizing.
Namgung In’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“I trust my judgment. My own blood wouldn’t make such a foolish mistake. So why this outcome?”
“……”
“One of three reasons: something disrupted your composure, or Yeon Hojeong’s schemes outmatched you.”
“……!”
“Or both.”
Bloodshot veins rose in Namgung Hyeon’s eyes. Even if it was schemes, he refused to admit Yeon Hojeong was better.
Namgung In saw his son’s turmoil. Amid the anger and disappointment, faint pity stirred.
“Was it because of the Jegal eldest daughter?”
Startled, Namgung Hyeon looked up. His father continued.
“Wondering what happened, I had every detail from the summit reported.”
“……”
“She caught your eye that much?”
“I-I……”
“……So it was.”
Sternness filled Namgung In’s eyes.
“A man must beware women most of all. Guard against it lifelong—yet you couldn’t master that one weakness and botched everything?”
“……I’m sorry.”
Namgung In clicked his tongue.
“I’ve sent a matchmaker to Jegal family head.”
“What?!”
“You’re no slouch, even if not the heir. Jegal’s eldest will inherit anyway—they can afford to give a daughter.”
“Father……”
Namgung Hyeon’s chest tightened with emotion. Scolding harshly, yet sending a matchmaker for his sake. That was his father’s love.
“I’m family head before your father. Considering your contributions, I’ll overlook this blunder.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t expect much. Jegal’s daughter is just your whetstone. She’ll hone you, nothing more—not my daughter-in-law, but your wife.”
Cold words. He calmly declared he wouldn’t accept her as family.
But for Namgung Hyeon, it was enough.
Seeing his son’s flushed face, Namgung In clicked his tongue again.
“Go rest now.”
Namgung Hyeon looked up. Peering into his father’s heart, he’d regained his composure. Despite the flush, his eyes were coldly sharp once more.
Namgung In nodded inwardly. That was the gaze he wanted.
“So how will you handle this?”
“Why? Planning to step in yourself?”
“……”
“Stay out of it. Clinging to a failure is pathetic.”
“But Father.”
“Besides.”
Namgung In’s face grew impassive.
“I hear Yeon Hojeong excels in both letters and arms. From my agents’ reports alone, he’s no opponent you can handle.”
Namgung Hyeon’s cheek twitched. His wounded pride stung anew.
But he composed himself quickly. Not in front of his father, of all people.
Satisfaction finally showed on Namgung In’s face.
“Recognizing your foe is the first step to growth. You’ve finally taken it.”
“I lost once. But I won’t lose twice.”
“I know. Still, stay out. Cultivate body and mind for now.”
Grateful for words like these, Namgung Hyeon bowed.
“Understood. I’ll withdraw.”
“Long journey—rest well tonight.”
Sending his son off, Namgung In leaned back in his chair.
“Just past weak crown age, blood runs hot. Can’t be helped.”
No brother matched his younger one. The eldest hadn’t been like that at this age.
And not just temperament—the eldest’s martial talent matched it. He’d grasped at twenty what Namgung In had at thirty. No need to discuss talent.
The world would gasp when the eldest emerged from seclusion.
Namgung In spoke.
“Cheon Chonggwan.”
Moments later, a sturdy middle-aged man entered the head’s quarters.
“You called, Family Head?”
Namgung In gazed out the window. The deep sunset glow was strikingly beautiful.
“The pot’s hot enough now.”
“……”
“Spread word of what Sanghwa did.”
“Is that truly wise?”
“We must stitch the wound, ugly as it looks. Better a somewhat mature son than that scatterbrained girl.”
“……Understood.”
Namgung In’s eyes caught the sunset’s red hue.
“Bi-san Yeon family…… I thought them mere martial prodigies, but the head and his son are no ordinary folk.”