Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 59. Sword King
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The hegemon of Anhui Province and one of the foremost among the Five Great Families.
A place where countless merchants and minor sects lined up to curry favor.
Nangong Hwan, patriarch of the Nangong Family, who wielded an authority in Anhui that rivaled even the emperor's—at least on the surface—was now facing the most difficult person in the world.
The patriarch knelt obediently like a child scolded by an elder.
The old man seated before him possessed an aura as sharp as a finely honed sword.
The old man spoke.
"Yurin refuses to return?"
"Yes. It's all my fault, Father."
The old man was none other than the patriarch's father and the Sword King of his generation, Nangong Jin.
The expressionless Sword King took a sip of his tea.
The patriarch couldn't hide his tension.
Nangong Yurin, currently at the Murim Academy, had rejected the order to return.
Having failed to properly educate his child, the patriarch bowed his head like a sinner.
The Nangong Family had produced Sword Kings generation after generation.
Despite receiving every possible support—from mentors to resources—the patriarch had not reached the sublime heights of his father.
He had always carried a sense of guilt, but the birth of his son Nangong Yuhyeon had brought him relief.
His son, who had shown extraordinary martial talent from a young age, grew smoothly, easing the Sword King's regrets.
Nangong Yuhyeon was essential to shake off the Paeng Family of Northern Hebei, who were closing in fast, and ensure the Nangong Family remained the pinnacle of martial houses.
It wasn't just the fifth among the Five Great Families that was desperate.
They all had their own circumstances.
But then.
Even his son Nangong Yuhyeon had ended up confined to the house in such a state.
With only his daughter Nangong Yurin left as a reliable hope, she had suddenly started defying orders.
"I'll send someone right now to bring her back."
As the patriarch cautiously spoke,
The Sword King set down his teacup.
"No need. I'll go to the Murim Academy myself and fetch her."
The patriarch fell silent.
Once the Sword King made a declaration, no one could defy him.
He had handed over the patriarch position to raise Nangong Yuhyeon to the utmost and retired to the role of Supreme Patriarch, but his father still wielded absolute influence in the Nangong Family.
***
The Sword King brushed off the patriarch's offer to assemble an escort and departed the Nangong Family alone.
He had heard that the Dao King had recently been ambushed by some mysterious group, but the Sword King only sneered at such a weakling.
He had absolute confidence in his own martial prowess.
On his way to Luoyang, he heard various rumors.
Tales of the newly famed Divine Physician healing a blind man, for instance.
It piqued his interest, thinking of his grandson Nangong Yuhyeon, but upon hearing the details, he lost interest.
Apparently, a blind monk who had already suffered eye injuries had once sought out this Divine Physician.
And that monk was still blind.
'He merely cured someone with poor eyesight. There's no way he could heal someone with actual eye wounds like Yuhyeon.'
The Sword King firmly trusted his judgment.
And.
He had no doubt that his granddaughter Nangong Yurin would achieve her greatest growth under his personal guidance.
***
The cadets of the Murim Academy buzzed with excitement.
They were martial artists themselves, after all, and now they had the chance to behold the Sword King—one of the top experts even among Transformation Realm masters—with eyes full of admiration.
The meeting between Nangong Yurin and the Sword King drew even more attention.
'What could the Sword King want with Nangong Yurin?'
Ignoring the onlookers, the Sword King conversed with Nangong Yurin.
"It's been a while."
"Indeed, Grandfather. What brings you all the way here?"
"I've come to take you home."
"..."
The Sword King eyed Nangong Yurin appraisingly.
Her aura and posture remained as refined as ever.
Yet there didn't seem to be any noticeable increase in calluses on her hands.
"But unlike what you wrote in your letter, you seem to have made no progress at all. What happened?"
"That's..."
Nangong Yurin had received word to leave the Murim Academy and return to the Nangong Family.
When her brother was healthy, they had sent her here despite her reluctance.
But now that her brother was injured, they were pressuring her to come back.
If she returned to the family, she would receive heir training and learn martial arts directly from the Sword King.
Nangong Yurin had no desire for that.
After much deliberation, she sent a messenger pigeon back to the Nangong Family.
-I'm making progress in my training here, so I can't return just yet. Please wait until the time is right.
She had come to the Murim Academy against her will.
But there were upsides to being here.
Namely, she didn't have to face the maid she had been close to in childhood.
She had always been told it was a problem she needed to confront head-on, but being apart brought her a slight sense of relief.
Returning to the family meant facing her again.
Nangong Yurin wasn't ready to overcome it on her own yet.
And.
'There's someone else I want to watch a bit longer.'
Finishing her thoughts, she lifted her head.
Her grandfather was still gazing at her with piercing eyes.
She had never defied her stern grandfather before, but suddenly, Yuseong came to mind.
The audacity of that man, shattering his dantian yet thrashing Paeng Jisan—the bloodline of the Dao King—right in front of him!
If he could stand up to a bloodline like that, what did she have to fear?
With that thought, courage surged within her.
She boldly met the gaze of the Sword King, whom even her father dared not look in the eye.
"I'm sorry. But I'm not going back yet."
"..."
The Sword King glanced around.
The Murim Academy cadets were watching with keen interest.
He had spoken confidently, certain of compliance,
But his granddaughter—who had always been passive, never once defying him—was now openly resisting for the first time.
This wouldn't end quickly.
"Let's talk inside."
As they moved to another location, the Sword King didn't show it, but he felt a spark of pride toward his granddaughter.
'I worried she was too frail, but she's grown enough to assert herself before me. A positive change.'
He had always shown an authoritative demeanor at the family's core.
His son and grandson had never defied him.
Nangong Yurin had been the same, her martial progress stagnant but her inner growth evident.
He had regretted her meek temperament, given she might one day become patriarch, but it seemed that flaw was being filled—and it pleased him.
Settling in one of the reception halls, the Sword King asked,
"You're refusing to return because of that maid? How long do you plan to keep avoiding her?"
"That's part of it, of course. But not all. I can't explain now, but please trust me."
The Medical Pavilion Master said he could heal my brother's eyes.
Of course, this was a secret promise with Yuseong, so she kept it hidden.
The Sword King could have dragged her back by force, but he decided to respect Nangong Yurin, who had voiced her opinion so assertively for the first time.
His goal was to impart martial arts, after all.
"Very well. If that's how it is, stay here for a while, and I'll teach you the Emperor Sword Form. Promise me you'll train diligently. Then I won't press you to return for now."
The Emperor Sword Form, passed down only to the heirs of the Nangong Family.
The technique that Nangong Yuhyeon had mastered now fell to Nangong Yurin.
***
As Yuseong treated patients, Nangong Yurin kept coming to mind.
'The Sword King came to take her away...'
It was an internal matter of the Nangong Family, and he knew nothing of the circumstances.
Contrary to Jang Chil's guess, they weren't involved romantically, so Yuseong had no place to intervene.
Still, he resolved to see her once before she left.
'I haven't even examined her.'
Making that excuse, he waited for the treatment hours to end.
'There sure are a lot of patients today.'
The Medical Pavilion now had three physicians, so days often ended early, but not today.
"Are there still many patients left?"
He asked Jang Chil, who had entered the treatment room.
"Please wait a moment."
Jang Chil excused himself to Yuseong and went to find Jong Hakjin.
There were still over ten patients remaining.
"Brother, any critical cases?"
Critical cases meant patients who needed to be seen by Yuseong.
Jong Hakjin looked over his papers.
"No? Why?"
"Then could you send some more to Physician Yang and Physician Cha?"
"Oh, does the Medical Pavilion Master have something to do?"
"The Master never said that. I just think he looks tired."
"Oh dear, can't have that. I'll handle it, so tell him there are no more patients for him."
"Thanks."
Physician Cha was on duty today.
Yuseong, packing up after hearing Jang Chil, noticed the remaining patients and realized the consideration.
Treating ordinary patients to build up Divine Power was important, of course.
But the thought that he might not see Nangong Yurin for a long time if not today drew him toward the Murim Academy.
"Medical Pavilion Master, Nangong Yurin is currently in the fourth reception hall at the Murim Academy."
After slyly receiving that info from Jang Chil.
A short while later.
When Yuseong arrived at the fourth reception hall, the doors were wide open.
He had expected the Sword King to be with her, but Nangong Yurin sat alone inside, wearing a dazed expression.
Her unfocused eyes sharpened upon spotting Yuseong.
"Medical Pavilion Master?"
She jumped to her feet and approached.
"You're still here. I wanted to say something I couldn't before, so I came."
"N-Now? C-Come in first."
Nangong Yurin seemed flustered as she led Yuseong into the reception hall.
She glanced around as if checking for watchers and firmly closed the door.
"Have a seat here."
As Yuseong sat where she indicated, Nangong Yurin smoothed her hair and sat demurely beside him.
Her hands rested neatly on her lap.
Gulp.
The sound of Nangong Yurin swallowing was unusually loud.
'She did that before too. Is there something wrong with her throat?'