The Power of a Renowned Clan
The atmosphere at the Yi Clan Manor in Hebei had completely transformed. Just moments ago, the manor’s people had been meticulously inspecting each and every wanderer, treating them as precious manpower. Most of the wanderers had gathered in small groups with familiar faces, practicing their coordination for battle or discussing strategies against the martial artists of Muan County. Yet that fervor had vanished somewhere. Now the wanderers were far more interested in gossiping about the reinforcements coming from the Paeng family, while the Yi Clan members busied themselves with ordinary preparations to welcome honored guests. All of it was a testament to the sheer power carried by the name of the Hebei Paeng Clan. Simply by existing, they gave people a sense of security and allowed them to view the situation with optimism. There was certainly some expectation mixed in, but Namgung Woo could clearly feel that the underlying fear had been greatly diluted.
So this is what the name of a prestigious clan is worth.
To instill confidence in people through one’s mere presence, just how lofty a reputation and how much genuine strength were required to support it? Namgung Woo’s heart raced with anticipation at the thought that he would finally witness the true might of this world’s Murim.
“Man, I’ve turned into nothing but a sack of barley left out to dry. Don’t you think so, brother?”
Someone approached Namgung Woo and spoke to him in a friendly, brazen tone. Since he had already sensed there was no hostility, Namgung Woo allowed the man to draw near before turning to see who it was.
The speaker was a young man around the same age as Pyeong Cho-yul—roughly mid-twenties. A saber hung at his waist, and he wore bracers on his wrists fitted with throwing daggers. Dressed in typical wanderer attire, he was one of the people Namgung Woo had evaluated as having decent skill when he first arrived at the Yi Clan Manor. His level was similar to Song Chae-ji’s. An elite first-class expert on the verge of the Peak Realm.
And what drew Namgung Woo’s interest even more was…
“Older brother, please don’t just walk up to strangers so casually.”
The fact that they were twins. The younger brother’s clothing was almost identical to the older one who had spoken first, but unlike his sibling, he wore his saber on the opposite side—indicating he was left-handed.
“My apologies, young hero. I hope we haven’t disturbed your thoughts. Our older brother is such an informal person that he tends to act before thinking. Please be understanding.”
Unlike the older twin, who seemed the very model of what a wanderer should be, the younger brother was remarkably polite. His perfectly disciplined bow made him look less like a wanderer and more like a young noble from a scholarly family.
“Not at all. I was feeling rather lonely sitting by myself. My name is Nam Woo. I don’t have a nickname yet, but for now I’m affiliated with the Yo-pyeong Express Agency.”
“Oh, the Yo-pyeong Express Agency? They’re quite well-known in Shanxi. You’ve found yourself a good place.”
“Older brother, your tone…”
The younger brother scolded him again, but the older one remained completely unperturbed.
“What’s the problem? We all roam the same rivers and lakes. Whether you’re an escort or a wanderer, it’s all the same in the end. Right?”
When Namgung Woo smiled and nodded, the older brother gave his sibling a triumphant look, jutting his chin out. The younger brother clicked his tongue in disbelief, but the older one paid him no mind and continued speaking to Namgung Woo.
“I’m Yang Kvae, known as the Swift Cloud Blade. As you can see, I’m this guy’s older twin brother.”
Yang Kvae glanced at his brother, who smoothly picked up where he left off.
“I am Yang Jeong. People around here call me the Flying Dagger Scholar.”
Swift Cloud Blade Yang Kvae and Flying Dagger Scholar Yang Jeong. The pair were fairly well-known even among wanderers. The fact that their nicknames reflected the distinctive characteristics of their martial arts rather than their region or origin was proof that their skills had earned genuine recognition.
Both were elite first-class experts who were treated as half a step into the Peak Realm. Moreover, because they were twins, their personalities were complete opposites, yet their coordinated techniques were exquisitely harmonious. Together, they could subdue even a Peak Realm master without suffering a single injury.
While Peak Realm experts were merely the elite core members of renowned sects and clans, among wanderers—who had far fewer true martial artists—reaching the Peak Realm alone was enough to be considered first-rate. The Yang brothers, who had a record of defeating such Peak experts, were therefore highly respected in these circles.
That Yang Kvae had approached Namgung Woo first was purely out of goodwill.
He looks weak.
In Yang Kvae’s eyes, Namgung Woo’s posture suggested he had trained in martial arts, but his aura was far too faint. He judged him to be somewhere between a third-class martial artist—who had only begun accumulating internal energy—and a second-class one—who could circulate that energy through their main meridians.
If he jumps into the Ghost Gate battle without knowing anything, he’ll probably die screaming.
They had once been in that same position. It was the reckless period of their youth, when they had charged boldly into the Jianghu at the age of twenty, drunk on hot-blooded vigor. It was surprising that he worked for the Yo-pyeong Express Agency. It didn’t seem like a lie, which made it even more puzzling. Since Namgung Woo hadn’t specified his exact role, Yang Kvae privately assumed he might not be an escort warrior but rather a baggage handler. Saying he was an escort was simply a considerate way to protect the young man’s pride.
Yang Jeong, who knew his older brother had a secretly warm heart, had long since realized that the reason he had spoken to Namgung Woo was to look after him. So when the conversation had warmed up sufficiently, Yang Jeong asked on his brother’s behalf what the older twin had been thinking.
“With that said, would you like to stick with us during this Ghost Gate operation?”
Protection from the Yang twins, who were evaluated as being equivalent to late-stage Peak Realm experts when working together? That was quite a generous offer. Of course, that would only be true if Namgung Woo were truly the weak martial artist between third and second-class that they believed him to be.
The aura the Yang brothers had sensed from Namgung Woo was nothing more than what he had intentionally released outward. If he completely concealed his energy within his body, people like Song Chae-ji would mistake him for an ordinary person who had never trained in martial arts. That was why he had deliberately let a faint aura leak out. However, since he had not yet reached the level where he could freely control his internal energy, he maintained only a very weak emission so that he could perfectly suppress it at any moment if he made a mistake.
Had the Yang brothers known the truth, they would have been mortified by their own meddlesome meddling, but that unfortunate realization was buried beneath mutual ignorance. Namgung Woo, for his part, had never imagined they had approached him out of pity, fearing he might die.
Instead, completely unaware of how the Yang brothers perceived him, Namgung Woo analyzed their reason for approaching based on the information he already possessed.
Did they sense the same lightning qi? I didn’t deliberately reveal any lightning attribute in my aura, but they seem to have sharp senses.
Namgung Woo’s eyes pierced through the remarkably pure lightning qi the Yang brothers held within their lower dantians. For wanderers who roamed the world without a proper sect, their internal energy was purer than even Hwang Mu-tak’s. He couldn’t tell exactly what martial arts they practiced, but they were undoubtedly orthodox techniques.
Either they encountered a fortuitous opportunity, or they came from a good background before becoming wanderers. One of the two.
Considering they were only in their mid-twenties, their talent wasn’t bad at all. When one took into account that Song Chae-ji, who had reached a similar level at the age of twenty, was regarded as an outstanding talent, these two were at least on the level of superior talents. Moreover, judging purely by internal energy accumulation, they possessed more than Song Chae-ji, who had trained at the prestigious Mount Heng—one of the Five Great Mountains.
Give them just one good opportunity, and they’ll break through the wall of the Peak Realm immediately.
The balance of essence, energy, and spirit was the great path to the higher realms. Their essence and energy had already finished preparing to reach the Peak Realm. All that remained was for their spirit to catch up and allow them to comprehend an even broader world of martial learning.
Did they become wanderers in order to obtain that enlightenment?
No matter how excellent a teacher, they could not force enlightenment upon their disciple. That was something one had to realize for oneself. Providing the foundation to accept enlightenment and offering clues was entirely possible, however.
Shall I observe them a little longer?
Namgung Woo made his decision.
“I’d be happy to.”
“Oh, excellent! Then shall I call you little brother? After all, I am the older one here.”
“Older brother, isn’t that too familiar? What does the young hero think?”
“Haha, I don’t mind at all. Then I’ll call you Brother Yang… Ah, but that might get confusing with the two of you. If you don’t have courtesy names or titles, I’ll just use your given names.”
“What martial artist uses courtesy names? We have nicknames. Just call me Brother Kvae. Feel free.”
“I will continue to address you as young hero.”
“As you wish, Brother Jeong.”
While Namgung Woo was deepening his acquaintance with the Yang Kvae and Yang Jeong brothers through casual conversation, he suddenly felt a heavy aura approaching the Yi Clan Manor and turned his head.
Beyond the main gate. People whose presence naturally pressed down on their surroundings were drawing near.
“Young hero?”
“They’re here.”
“Ah… So the higher-ups from the Paeng family have arrived.”
Not only the three of them, but everyone nearby turned their gazes in the same direction at their words. Without realizing that Namgung Woo had detected the newcomers’ presence before they had, they focused all their attention on the group crossing the threshold of the main gate.
Five men and women. Namgung Woo let out a quiet sigh of admiration. Every single one of them was a Peak Realm expert. Among them, one was even stronger than Hwang Mu-tak, who had been among the upper ranks of Peak experts.
But the person who surprised Namgung Woo the most was someone else entirely. At the strange yet familiar sight, his eyes widened.
The support that had come from the Paeng family. The woman walking at the very front. Namgung Woo knew who she was.
“Hanbok?”
He was referring to the clothes she was wearing.