Glorious Sword Lord's Judgment
The Anhui Divine Spear, Damuk Un, bellowed roughly.
“Are you daring to harm a Damuk warrior within our Damuk Family Estate right now! Reveal your identity! I will apprehend you and hold your sect strictly accountable!”
“Trash like you lot aren't worthy of knowing my sect.”
Even in this hair-trigger moment, Namgung Gijin sneered coolly, and Yeon watched him, lost in thought for a moment.
'If Grandfather revealed he was a former master of the Namgung Family, this would resolve in an instant. Why is he hiding his identity like that?'
Perhaps... What if Namgung Gijin revealed his identity here? The Damuk side would undoubtedly bow their stiff necks. Yeon didn't know exactly what position the name Namgung Gijin, former Namgung master, held, but the Namgung name stood above the Damuk in Anhui Province regardless.
Then what? Without much conflict, Yeon would be rescued by Namgung Gijin and head to the Namgung Family. And if he accepted her, the beggar kids with her too.
Namgung Gijin, with far more experience in the jianghu than Yeon, would naturally foresee the situation unfolding that way. Yet he refused to reveal his identity to the end. There was only one reason.
The predictable outcome didn't sit well with him.
So what did he desire here? The question resolved itself moments later.
Damuk Un, who had been glaring at Namgung Gijin as if he meant to kill him, suddenly grinned wickedly, as if realizing something.
“Ah. I see. We're dealing with a warrior of unknown origins right now.”
A sinister smile crept across Namgung Gijin's face at those words.
“You catch on quick.”
“Indeed. You're no orthodox sect disciple or anything of the sort. Just a mysterious intruder who refuses to reveal himself and invades our home. Isn't that right, Damuk warriors?”
The former family head's icy question drew a resounding response from the hundred-odd warriors.
“Yes, sir!”
“Then what are you waiting for? Seize him and make him kneel!”
“Haaap!”
The Taesang Gajoo who had dominated northern Anhui for twenty years issued his solemn command, and the moment his words ended, the emboldened Damuk warriors lunged at Namgung Gijin from all sides.
And Yeon saw it. Heard it.
Namgung Gijin, flashing a smile in that life-or-death instant. His quiet mutter.
“You started it first.”
The moment those words left his lips, Namgung Gijin's right hand drew his sword in a thunderbolt flash and swung it.
His weathered longsword, its edge gleaming blue with life, rippled with azure gang-gi.
Horror dawned on the faces of the warriors facing that blade.
“S-Sword gang! How, at such a young age!”
Chaeng-!
Before the pinnacle of martial arts that cleaved all it touched, the battle-hardened Damuk spears shattered entirely.
In a single move.
As if unsatisfied, Namgung Gijin's sword traced a graceful arc and shot toward the arm of the lead warrior.
Whether by chance or intent, Yeon remembered that man. The one who had grabbed her wrist and dragged her earlier.
“N-No!”
Terror flooded the warrior's eyes in that desperate moment, but Namgung Gijin's sword trajectory didn't waver.
Just as his blade descended mercilessly—
“Don't.”
A girl's frail voice rang out, and at the same instant, Namgung Gijin's fierce gang-gi dispersed into the air like a mirage.
Sruruk—
In the unbelievable scene, Namgung Gijin's body stiffened rigidly.
“...What in the world?”
Even if he willed it himself, he couldn't disrupt his inner energy so easily. Twisting his head with a crack, his gaze fell on Yeon, who had somehow grabbed his right sleeve tight.
A single bead of cold sweat—the kind that hadn't appeared even when facing the Beggar Clan's leader—trickled down his forehead.
'When did she...?'
This child had slipped his senses, stood at his right side unnoticed, and gripped his sleeve without him detecting a thing.
If she'd held a blade, he'd have been ambushed without surprise.
And the moment she touched his sleeve, his inner energy scattered. Something he'd never believe if he hadn't experienced it firsthand. Namgung Gijin lost his words for a beat.
This space was dominated not by the Glorious Sword Lord, but by the little girl.
Looking up at the dazed Namgung Gijin, Yeon said softly.
“......”
“Don't kill the weak just because you're stronger. And don't cut off their arms either.”
No matter how he examined her, she was just a child, with no trace of cultivated inner energy. No sorcery either. The only oddity?
'A lotus scent from Yeon's hair.'
He'd thought it a mistake, but up close, it was unmistakable. The hair—where the upper dantian housing the shen resided. This pure fragrance emanating from there.
But how could a child without martial training...?
Doubts piled up, scrambling his mind, and Namgung Gijin shook his head vigorously before replying.
“Ah... I understand.”
Yeon continued softly.
“Thank you. For listening to me.”
“...Ah. No. Sorry. I startled you.”
Seeing no awareness in Yeon of what she'd done, Namgung Gijin smoothly glossed over it. A quick glance around showed the Damuk lot thought he'd stopped his sword of his own accord.
As Namgung Gijin slowly sheathed his blade, the Taesang Gajoo bowed his head deeply, still dazed.
“...Thank you for showing mercy.”
The Damuk warriors, having witnessed invincible might, had long lost their will to fight. Even their finest, the Anhui Divine Spear Damuk Un, couldn't manifest gang-gi—what chance did the rest have?
That young man had been fully intent on severing every arm here moments ago. He might've paused now, but who knew when he'd change his mind?
Damuk Un stepped forward, forcing steadiness into his trembling voice.
“M-May we know your esteemed name, sir? We juniors were rude, judging by appearances.”
No youth could manifest gang-gi like that. He must have undergone hwan-gol-tal-tae, so Damuk Un's tone grew even more deferential.
'I'll think about Yeon after we leave this place.'
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Namgung Gijin beckoned slowly to Damuk Un.
“Pardon?”
“Come here. Closer.”
“Y-Yes... yes, sir.”
Staggering to stand right before Namgung Gijin, Damuk Un performed a crisp po-gwon and cried out.
“Greetings from this ignorant Damuk Un of the martial world—”
Kwang-!
The instant he bowed, Namgung Gijin's fist, packed with azure inner energy, slammed mercilessly into Damuk Un's solar plexus.
“Kuhuk—!”
Wracked by agony he'd never known in his life, Damuk Un's eyes bulged as he doubled over like a shrimp and vomited everything in his stomach.
Gazing coldly at the sight, Namgung Gijin beckoned next to the family head, Damuk Baekun.
“I won't kill or maim you. Come here without worry.”
Terror washed over Damuk Baekun's face.
#
“......”
Watching Damuk Baekun writhe and vomit just like the Taesang Gajoo after Namgung Gijin's punch, Yeon wore a pitying expression.
Seeing it, Samwol snorted and scolded her.
“What? Why that face? You feel sorry for 'em or something?”
“It must hurt. A lot.”
“'Course it hurts. They deserve more. If you hadn't stopped him, that hero would've wiped 'em all out.”
Grumbling nonstop, Samwol suddenly startled at the soft sensation in his hand.
“Wh-What?”
“Samwol.”
“......”
Meeting the eyes of Yeon, who gripped his hand tight, Samwol looked away.
“I'm grateful you got mad for me. It was touching, you standing in front.”
“That's just what you do.”
“But it makes me sad seeing you harbor such vicious thoughts toward someone because of me. I wish you wouldn't.”
“They started it—!”
Samwol started to shout, but facing Yeon's steady gaze, he unwittingly shook his head.
“Got it. I won't.”
Only then did Yeon smile and release his hand, leaving Samwol regretting he hadn't vented more.
“Hold my hand too, Yeon.”
“I'll hold yours.”
Chunbong giggled and butted in, and Wangcho, rubbing his sore cheek, took it.
While the kids gathered and chattered among themselves, Namgung Gijin summoned the Damuk leaders again.
“You call yourselves warriors? Whining from one punch? Stand straight.”
“Ugh...”
They had no idea how he'd struck, but no matter how they tried, strength wouldn't return to their bodies, and their inner energy scattered instead of gathering. Damuk Un groaned in realization.
That simple-looking punch hid profound skill. The gap in their martial prowess was immeasurable.
'Where did this monster come from? Is the rumor true? Chuhon Singae? No. No, he wields a sword. And his aura's nothing like the Beggar Clan.'
As Damuk Un racked his brain, Namgung Gijin pointed at Damuk Jeong.
“You. Come here.”
“M-Me, sir?”
“Need a punch to straighten up too?”
“N-No, sir!”
Damuk Jeong hurried to stand before him, fumbling. He couldn't expect protection from his grandfather or father here.
“The reason I'm not punishing you now is simple.”
“......”
“Your wrongs stem from your elders' failures. They didn't educate a child like you properly.”
“......”
“But if this happens again, it'll be one of two things, won't it?”
“Wh-What...?”
“Either you're an unruly brat who won't listen, or your father and grandfather ignored my words.”
“......”
“No second chances. We're done here, but if I catch you acting like scum again, I won't hold back. Got it?”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
He desperately wanted to discipline the insolent brat, but Namgung Gijin barely restrained himself. A jianghu elder couldn't swing at a child.
“You two—why no answer? Educate him properly.”
Startled, Damuk Un and Damuk Baekun quickly replied.
“Yes... Understood.”
Even as they did, they thought inwardly: Whatever sect's former master he was, may he vanish from Anhui soon.
Such wandering elders who meddled in jianghu affairs shared one trait: once they visited, they rarely returned. That's why Damuk Un bowed even lower—to give no further cause and send him off quickly.
“Tsk tsk. Well then, shall we go?”
As if hearing his hopes, Namgung Gijin turned to leave slowly. Damuk Un bowed deeper and asked.
“If I may, could we know your esteemed name, senior? You've graced this fool with guidance, yet sending you off without your name feels regrettable.”
“Ah, didn't I say? Yeon. Come here.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“...?”
As Yeon trotted up, Damuk Un and Damuk Baekun's eyes widened. Having arrived late, they hadn't heard her call him Grandfather.
'How is that girl connected to such a master? Grandfather?'
“You lot too. Come. Yeon's brothers, right?”
“Ah. Yes!”
Wangcho and the other three kids, quick on the uptake, followed at once. Namgung Gijin swept his gaze over Damuk Un's group and spoke slowly.
“You asked who I am.”
“......”
“I remember your face from twenty years ago. It's familiar.”
“Pardon?”
Damuk Un slowly studied Namgung Gijin's face, then stammered in shock.
“N-No way...”
“Indeed. This old man's name is Namgung Gijin.”
Thud—
In an instant, Damuk Un's group dropped to their knees and cried out.
“We pay respects to the Glorious Sword Lord!”
A beat later, following their lead, every Damuk warrior knelt and shouted.
“We pay respects to the Glorious Sword Lord!”
Cold sweat poured down Damuk Un's back. Who was the Glorious Sword Lord Namgung Gijin? A monster who'd entered the ranks of the Ten Great Masters twenty years ago, absolute ruler of Anhui. The madman who'd abandoned everything in his endless passion for martial arts to pursue its pinnacle, vanishing.
And now he returned, rejuvenated. It meant one thing.
“C-Congratulations on achieving great success, great hero.”
Namgung Gijin chuckled softly at the words.
“Sincere?”
“Of... Of course.”
“Then I'll believe it. We'll meet often from now on. Let's go, kids.”
“Yes...”
“Yes!”
Yeon's voice lacked vigor for some reason, while the other kids, thrilled despite not fully grasping it, replied energetically.
As Namgung Gijin led the children away, he paused and turned back, making Damuk Un's group flinch.
“I'll give these children the Namgung surname.”
“......”
“I'll watch closely if you dare call them lowly then. Also.”
“......”
“Tell that Baek Family head I'll visit soon. Have him kneel and wait.”
“Understood...”
Having said his piece crisply, Namgung Gijin turned with a refreshed expression—only to look puzzled. The kids stared displeased at the crumbled wall.
Yeon stood before Damuk Hun, passed out amid the rubble.
Yeon bowed her head slowly.
Cheap pity though it was, this man had shown her unconditional kindness first. Her final farewell to the man now vanished without trace.
“...Thank you for everything, mister.”
She'd heard his unbelievable last words, but how could all that prior kindness turn to nothing?
“...Let's go now.”
As that connection ended, a warm hand rested on Yeon's shoulder in his stead. How strange the world was.
With that thought, Yeon quietly followed Namgung Gijin, leaving behind the dazed Damuk Un and Damuk Baekun, and the stunned Damuk Jeong.