I Bear the Namgung Name
The question struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
“What sort of relationship…?”
The completely unexpected words left Namgung Woo momentarily speechless. Before he could recover, Jegal Jong stepped in on his behalf, his voice cracking like a whip.
“This rudeness has gone beyond all bounds! Withdraw at once! This is a direct order from the acting family head. Defy it, and I will no longer consider you my nephew. You will be confined in seclusion!”
Jegal Jong’s eyes blazed with fury. Namgung Woo was no ordinary man. He was the benefactor who had saved his only son. Though their connection had begun as a simple commission, he was the one who had prevented an unimaginable catastrophe for the Jegal Family. His importance in the coming war could not be overstated.
Neither the Jegal Family nor the Banunbang possessed any of the supreme experts known as the Three Extremes Ten Honored Ones. Even after gathering every available ally, the situation remained unchanged. The Jegal Family had therefore estimated Namgung Woo’s strength and concluded that the scales of victory had tilted in their favor.
At least until the Banunbang abruptly produced an absolute expert of unknown origin.
From that moment, Namgung Woo’s value had risen from “it would be good to have him” to “he must be present.” In the current silence of both the Murim Alliance and the Black Demon Union, who continued to withhold their supreme experts, his importance had become absolutely vital.
And yet someone had chosen this moment to dredge up an old, long-broken engagement and spoil the entire atmosphere. Jegal Jong resolved then and there that, Respected Dragon or not, he would throw his full support behind his eldest nephew, Jegal Chong, as the next family head.
This time, the uncle’s icy warning seemed to land. Jegal Jun tightened his lips, then reluctantly offered a fist salute.
“I have been rude to the family’s benefactor. I will make formal contact at a later date.”
“There is no need. For the time being, you will reflect alone in the Cold Palace.”
Confinement in the Cold Palace meant being locked inside an unheated ice cell.
“...Understood. Then I will take my leave.”
“Pay your respects to the family head before you go.”
“That won’t be necessary. I already greeted him the moment I arrived.”
Jegal Jun bowed deeply and turned on his heel. The moment he opened the door, the guard warrior waiting anxiously outside bowed low and quickly shut it again.
“Hoo… I have shown you an ugly side of our family, Great Hero. As an elder, I apologize in their stead.”
“It’s all right. More importantly, what about that young master?”
At Namgung Woo’s calm inquiry, Jegal Jong offered an explanation.
“He was once engaged to the eldest daughter of the Hebei Paeng Family. The heads of both clans were close friends. But please pay it no mind. The engagement was annulled without any particular incident.”
So that was how Paeng Ha-ryeong, who had never left Hebei, had become friends with Jegal Seon-a. The connection had apparently formed through the betrothal to Jegal Jun. Since Jegal Seon-a had once stayed with the Paeng Family for a time, Jegal Jun had likely accompanied her.
Jegal Jong confirmed the accuracy of the guess and continued.
“It was right when the marriage talks were underway. Jun insisted on seeing the girl himself and went in person. Then Seon-a threw a tantrum, demanding to go along, so we let her tag along.”
After that visit, Jegal Jun—who had been lukewarm about the match—returned as its most passionate supporter. Thanks to his enthusiasm, the engagement was finalized. Yet it never came to fruition. Not long afterward, Paeng Ye-ryeong’s terminal condition was revealed, and the Paeng Family’s situation changed drastically. Since the arrangement had been little more than a vague understanding, the annulment was carried out without complication.
Whether from the shock or something deeper, Jegal Jun spent some time in a daze before suddenly declaring closed-door training and devoting himself entirely to martial arts. The pain of a broken heart was the hidden reason the Jegal Family—renowned more for its formations and strange arts than its martial prowess—had produced one of the Seven Dragons.
“Let us speak no more of this.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
Though Jegal Jun had been the one to start the quarrel, discussing the matter behind the person’s back felt too much like gossip. Even Namgung Woo found it uncomfortable.
“The reason we have asked you here, Great Hero, is to discuss how we should handle that unknown supreme expert who fought our family head.”
It was a subject Namgung Woo had more or less expected. He had already given it some thought.
“Unless there is a way to lure him out separately, it would be difficult for me to take sole responsibility for him.”
The battlefield was vast. While it might not cover all of Hubei Province, the entire region between the Banunbang’s Mount Tianzi and the Jegal Family’s Wuhan could essentially be considered the battlefield. Yet the Jegal Family would not have raised the issue without a plan.
“Please accompany Seon-a.”
“With Lady Jegal Seon-a?”
“Yes. Seon-a has mastered our family’s upper dantian art known as the Resonance Star Heavenly Chart. It allows her to foresee fortune and misfortune. The enemy will surely appear at the place where the greatest calamity is predicted. Great Hero, I ask that you block every location where he emerges.”
Dongbang Hwa was dangerous, both for his powerful martial arts and his mastery of heretical sorcery. However, having already lost his right arm to Namgung Woo, his threat level had fallen sharply. Therefore, among the misfortunes sensed by the Resonance Star Heavenly Chart, the greatest one undoubtedly belonged to the unknown expert.
“…It does not sit well with our family to place the Great Hero on the most dangerous front line… but we have judged this to be the best available option. After all, our position in this war must ultimately be one of defense rather than offense.”
Had the battlefield been in Hunan Province, things would have been different. The Jegal Family might have taken the offensive while the Banunbang defended. Or they might have displayed the typical selfishness of the Black Path and ignored the local sects, telling them to survive on their own. But the Jegal Family could not do that. As protectors of Hubei’s murim world, with branch families scattered across its cities, they had too many places to defend.
“If that is the case, I have no reason to refuse.”
“Thank you. Please take good care of Seon-a—my daughter—during this war.”
It was a sincere request to protect Jegal Seon-a well. Yet to Namgung Woo, who had already noticed the admiration and affection in her gaze, the words carried a strangely layered meaning.
Unaware of how his words had been received, Jegal Jong returned to practical matters.
“I understand you accepted a commission from Seon-a, but proper compensation has yet to be discussed. I would like to take this opportunity to propose it formally.”
Jegal Jong unfolded the documents he had prepared and began explaining each possible reward in detail: monetary payment, martial arts manuals (excluding clan secrets), divine weapons, economic rights held by the Jegal Family, and more.
Yet none of it held much interest for Namgung Woo. He still had more than enough money. Economic rights would be useless without the means to manage them. The divine weapons were tempting, but he already possessed the martial attire from the Hebei Paeng Family and would soon have a sword. As for additional martial arts, they were even less useful. He had not yet mastered what he already practiced; adding more would serve no purpose.
With a gentle but firm motion, he pushed the documents back toward Jegal Jong.
“Great Hero?”
“Let us leave it as a debt.”
“A debt?”
“Just as I have helped you, when the time comes that I need assistance, the Jegal Family will help me in return.”
Jegal Jong’s expression grew strangely complex—a bitter smile that seemed both light and heavy at once.
“That is the most difficult form of compensation… and it also means you place that much trust in our Jegal Family.”
Shaking his head as though he had been outmaneuvered, Jegal Jong spoke with sincerity.
“Though I am the acting family head, this is not a request I can approve on my own authority. I will need to consult the family head.”
“There is no need.”
“Family head?”
Namgung Woo had already sensed Jegal Chong’s approach. He rose with relaxed grace and offered a polite fist salute. Jegal Chong waved his hand dismissively.
“There is no need for such formality. Sit comfortably. Chief Steward, I will handle things from here. You may leave.”
“But your internal injuries…”
“It’s fine. There is nothing to worry about.”
“…Then I shall withdraw.”
Jegal Chong, still not fully recovered from his internal wounds, approached with slightly unsteady steps and sat down heavily across from Namgung Woo.
“I heard the conversation from outside.”
“You are quick indeed.”
“Before I give my answer, I have one question.”
Despite his injuries, Jegal Chong’s eyes remained profoundly deep as he regarded Namgung Woo, as though prepared to verify the absolute truth of whatever came next.
“The Namgung Family. Is it true?”
It had finally come. The name that had been forced upon him, regardless of his own wishes. Yet Namgung Woo did not hesitate. His decision had already been made.
“If you are asking whether I carry the Namgung surname, then yes, that is correct.”
“……It can’t be…”
“However.”
Namgung Woo cut off Jegal Chong’s stunned murmur and continued calmly.
“If you are asking about the Namgung Family itself, then I do not know. I do feel an attachment to the surname, but I hold no vengeful obsession toward the Dokgo Family, nor do I possess any clear determination to rebuild the Namgung Family at all costs.”