Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: My Child Has Changed
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Perhaps because it was quitting time, there was no one in the Crouching Dragon Unit.
“By the way, where are the seniors?”
He hadn't seen them once since the welcoming party.
“Once you reach 3rd-grade missions, you often get assigned high-priority tasks from the Alliance and travel outside. That's probably why you don't see them.”
Hearing Namgung Yuya's explanation, Ha Yuseong felt a desire to become a 3rd-grade warrior himself.
He used to think he'd have no other wish if he just became a Murim Alliance warrior, but now that he was one, something else caught his eye.
‘Humans are truly fickle creatures.’
Still, he had no intention of turning away from what he wanted.
To avoid regrets from now on, and for a new goal in life.
‘Alright! First, I’ll become a 3rd-grade warrior!’
Ha Yuseong decided to ask right away what he needed to do to become a 3rd-grade warrior.
“Uh, um…”
But when he was about to ask, he felt a bit hesitant, worried it might seem too arrogant for someone who had just joined the Murim Alliance.
Ha Yuseong mustered his courage.
“How does one become a 3rd-grade martial artist?”
“That’s…!”
Namgung Yuya, who was about to continue, suddenly shut his mouth. Ha Yuseong looked at Namgung Yuya and then Hae Myo beside him with an eager gaze, but their eyes were fixed straight ahead.
The first thing that infuriates a person is when someone stops talking mid-sentence, and the second is…
Ha Yuseong also looked ahead.
A man he had never seen before was there.
“I was told to deliver an extra mission here.”
A rather frail-looking man was standing there.
‘So the presence I felt just now was his.’
“Please, come over here.”
Ha Yuseong kindly sat the man, who looked like he might collapse at any moment, next to him and offered him water from his canteen.
“It’s hot these days, isn’t it? Have a drink.”
“Oh my, thank you kindly!”
The man drank the water greedily, as if he'd been waiting for it. Ha Yuseong watched him with a pleased expression, fanning him with his hand. He felt a particular concern, as if he were looking at his past self.
In contrast, Namgung Yuya and Hae Myo remained stiff.
‘Why is that man here?’
Namgung Yuya knew who this man was.
He had seen him at a Murim Alliance banquet he attended with his father.
‘The Vice-Commander of the Heavenly Sword Unit, the Lord’s personal guard, Yaun!’
His other name was Yaksha.
The heads severed by his sword could likely build a mountain.
Naturally, his true identity was a secret.
“Have some sweets, too. Sugar is essential when you get older.”
“My, young people these days don’t know about these little things. I was just running low on sugar, you see.”
“Haha! I know that feeling all too well. Here!”
Brother Yuseong kindly took a sweet from his robes and handed it over. Did he have any idea? That with a single word from that man, not only his own head but even the head of a 3rd-grade warrior could go flying.
‘Anyway, why did that man come here? And why go to the trouble of hiding his identity!’
That was Namgung Yuya’s question.
And Hae Myo was frozen for a different reason.
‘I didn’t sense his presence.’
He hadn't noticed at all until the man opened the door and came in.
Until now, the only person whose presence Hae Myo had failed to detect was the leader of the Three Flowers Unit.
In other words, the frail-looking man before him was at least at the level of a Unit Leader.
If he was truly a figure of that caliber, there was no way he wouldn't know him.
It was a face he'd never seen before. The moment their eyes met, the man gave a harmless little laugh.
He looked ordinary on the outside.
Hae Myo glanced to the side.
He saw Namgung Yuya breaking out in a cold sweat. Hae Myo realized that Namgung Yuya knew the man’s identity.
On the other hand, seeing his senior treat the man without any hesitation, he thought, *as expected*.
Unlike them, who were intimidated, his senior was completely at ease.
His senior must have already sensed the man’s presence, unlike himself. That had to be why he could be so composed.
“Ah! Um… you seem to have been with the Murim Alliance for a long time, so I have something to ask.”
“I have been here for a while. Probably over ten years, I’d say!”
“Oh! In that case, do you happen to know what one must do to become a 3rd-grade warrior?”
“Ah! You must still be a trainee.”
“Yes. I was fortunate enough to join the Murim Alliance not long ago.”
“Fortunate? My goodness, you belong to the Crouching Dragon Unit, one of the Ten Great Units. Ahem, there are largely two ways to become a 3rd-grade warrior.”
“Oh! Two ways!”
“Yes. One is to take the 3rd-grade warrior examination, which anyone who has served in the Murim Alliance for at least three years can take.”
“Th-that’s a bit rough. I haven’t even been here a year.”
“In that case, the second method would be perfect for you. With a recommendation from your direct superior, you can take the exam regardless of your years of service.”
“My direct superior?”
“Yes. Since you are currently a trainee, the Unit Leader is your direct superior.”
“A recommendation from the Unit Leader.”
“Yes. It is a unique authority granted to the Unit Leaders, who are 1st-grade warriors.”
After finishing his words, the man bustled about as if he had just remembered his original purpose.
“Goodness me! Look at my scatterbrain. I came to deliver this, and I nearly spent all my time chatting.”
The man, Yaun, took out a letter and handed it to Ha Yuseong.
A single location was written on the letter, and Yaun continued his explanation.
“The target of this extra mission is at this location. Your task today is to escort that person home.
Ha Yuseong set aside his thoughts about becoming a 3rd-grade warrior for now and decided to focus on the mission.
“Ah! Sounds like a runaway.”
At those words, Yaun's tone sank slightly.
“Yes. It has been over a year now.”
“A year, you say. That’s a long time. But you can count on me! I’ll be sure to resolve it!”
“If you could do that, I feel I could grant you any wish you desire!”
“Haha! You’re quite the joker.”
Gulp.
Namgung Yuya knew those words were no joke. Swallowing dryly, he glanced at Hae Myo.
He could feel Hae Myo’s intense gaze, which had been fixed on him for a while.
It seemed Hae Myo had noticed something from Namgung Yuya's tense demeanor.
However, information about Yaun was not to be spoken of carelessly.
Knowing that, Yaun was likely leaving him be.
If he were to carelessly speak of him, he would experience his head and body being separated before anyone knew.
Or perhaps, he might get a pass for being the Sword King’s son.
He entertained the thought for a moment, but he had no expectation that such mercy would be shown to him, the fourth son, not the first, second, or third.
That aside, just why did that man appear here! So suddenly!
The only clue was the extra mission.
Could it be!
‘Is he the one who posted this mission?’
If so, that was an even more serious problem.
Didn't he just say his own son ran away and hasn’t come back for a year!
Namgung Yuya soon became certain.
That melancholic gaze as he thought of someone!
It was undoubtedly the look of a father worried about his son.
For reference, Namgung Yuya had never exchanged more than three sentences with his own father since birth.
“Well then, I shall be on my way.”
“Ah! Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
As Yaun left, Ha Yuseong spoke to the two who were lost in their own thoughts.
“Let’s go!”
The sun was already setting.
***
Living as the son of the Murim Alliance Lord was both a fortune others did not possess and a shackle that bound him.
Neung Baekdo, son of the Heavenly Sword Emperor Neung Cheonhwi, realized this sooner than others.
Children who lose their mothers at a young age tend to mature faster than their peers.
They had to, in order to survive in a harsh world without a guardian, and the same was true for Neung Baekdo, who lost his mother at the tender age of three.
Neung Baekdo’s father, Neung Cheonhwi, lived steeped in sorrow after losing his wife.
He trained like a madman to forget his wife.
As a result, Neung Baekdo spent more time alone.
In such a situation, there was not much young Neung Baekdo could do.
He too was deeply saddened by the loss of his mother, but he wanted to console his grieving father.
From a certain point, young Neung Baekdo began to train, following his father’s example.
He wondered if his father might be pleased if he showed even a little improvement.
The training that began that way became an opportunity for Neung Baekdo to realize just how incredible a being Neung Cheonhwi was.
Through his training, Neung Baekdo continuously reached new heights.
But all of it was utterly insignificant compared to his father’s achievements.
And so, his father grew more and more distant from Neung Baekdo.
Then one day, his father ascended to a position so high he couldn't even dare to look up at it: the Lord of the Murim Alliance.
Meanwhile, he was still struggling in the same place.
After that, Neung Baekdo did not see his father for over three years.
Neung Baekdo's memory of his father's face was now faint. Not seeing his father was more comfortable than before.
To be more precise, it had reached a point where it was more comfortable to think of him as a stranger.
It wasn't that Neung Baekdo hated his father. He simply felt he had no right to face him.
He couldn't proudly declare himself the son of the Heavenly Sword Emperor, Neung Cheonhwi. He believed he was substandard.
His father must know this too, which is why he hides my existence.
Neung Baekdo was training late into the night again today.
Though still young, Neung Baekdo’s eyes already looked mature.
“Hah!”
The ground was damp, soaked with Neung Baekdo’s sweat.
“Hah!”
The power in Neung Baekdo’s downward strike was by no means that of a child his age.
If anyone were to witness this scene, would they not have gasped in admiration?
In truth, Neung Baekdo was what one would call a genius.
It was just that his goal lay in a heaven beyond heavens, a place not easily reached.
The Heavenly Sword Emperor, Neung Cheonhwi.
A man who could split mountains and cleave the sky with a single strike, the undisputed greatest swordsman and master of the Orthodox Faction.
The head of the Ten Grandmasters of the World.
Neung Baekdo collapsed onto the ground with a thud.
His trembling arms were telling him he could train no more today.
Having swung his sword since morning, it was only natural he was in this state.
“To be exhausted by just this much.”
Father could swing his sword for three whole days without tiring.
“Am I really not cut out for this?”
Just then, he sensed a presence from one side.
Assuming it was Yaun, Neung Baekdo turned his head toward the presence, intending to make it clear he would not be returning home.
But it wasn't Yaun. Instead, there was some dumb-looking man.
“H-Hello?”
“What do you want? You look like a pale, steamed bun!”
Steamed Bun Namgung Yuya had a gut feeling this mission would not be easy.
***
The other two watched the situation unfold while hiding to the side.
Ha Yuseong and Hae Myo watched from their hiding spot in the bushes as Namgung Yuya confidently stepped forward.
Namgung Yuya returned.
“That damn brat is a lost cause.”
He delivered his assessment of the child in a very firm tone.
“Tsk, tsk. To think you can’t even handle a little kid… I’ll give it a try.”
Hae Myo stood up confidently.
He stood before the boy.
“I am Hae Myo of the Huashan Sect.”
“Ah! The sect that lost the title of Sword King? I guess you haven't gone bankrupt yet?”
The moment Hae Myo lost his composure and was about to charge the boy, Namgung Yuya quickly rushed out and held him back.
“Let’s have a go!”
“Hey! Hey! Get a grip!”
“Damn it! Why are losers like you here instead of the old man!”
“Don’t stop me, senior!”
“Junior! Calm down! I said calm down! He’s just a child!”
Just then, Neung Baekdo spoke again.
“Is it a trend these days for morons to hang out together?”
The strength slowly drained from Namgung Yuya's hands, which were holding back Hae Myo.
Wouldn't it be okay to just give him a little flick on the forehead?
If he insisted it was self-defense, wouldn't everyone believe him?
Besides, teaching this rude brat the ways of the world early on would be good for his character development.
Yes, let's do that!
This is killing two birds with one stone, a true win-win. Isn't this a scene of true education!
The very moment Namgung Yuya completely relaxed his grip.
Ha Yuseong stepped forward in front of the two.
Ha Yuseong first bent his knees, meeting the boy’s eye level.
At this, the boy became quiet for the first time.
Ha Yuseong quietly gazed into the boy’s eyes.
The boy seemed at a loss under Ha Yuseong's gaze.
The way most adults treated him fell into two broad categories.
They would offer some trivial consolation for losing his mother early, pitying him as if they were someone special.
Or they would point out his rude attitude.
Like those two idiots over there.
But this was the first time an adult had just watched him quietly.
“Wh-what!”
The boy was the one who ended up shouting first.
Only then did Ha Yuseong smile brightly, shifting his gaze from the boy to what was in front of him.
“Seeing the fist marks on the rock, you must have been training for quite a while. Right?”
The boy’s eyes widened for the first time.
“You can tell?”
“Of course. You’ve been working very hard, haven’t you?”
“Well! I didn’t just mess around!”
Hee, hee, heeeee!
The boy was forcing down the corners of his mouth, which were trying to curl up.
Yaun was secretly watching this unfold.
He watched with a satisfied smile.