A New Beginning
Namgung Woo's words left Paeng Ha-ryeong blinking in confusion, as though she couldn't quite believe what she had heard or grasp its meaning. Had he ever sought her out so directly before? It had always been Paeng Ha-ryeong who approached him. Namgung Woo never refused her outright, yet he maintained a subtle distance. She had always believed it was her role to close that gap.
When Paeng Ha-ryeong remained silent, staring blankly, Namgung Woo spoke again.
"It's an important matter. Once you're finished speaking with Lady Jegal, I'd like you to come see me."
"Y-yes, of course!" Paeng Ha-ryeong sprang to her feet, her voice ringing out loud enough to resemble a battle cry. "I can go right now! Isn't that right, Seon-a?"
She cast an imploring glance at Jegal Seon-a, seeking agreement. Jegal Seon-a, caught off guard by Paeng Ha-ryeong's forceful energy, nodded with a flustered expression.
"Seon-a, I'm sorry. Let's continue our talk later." Paeng Ha-ryeong hurried toward Namgung Woo with quick steps. Jegal Seon-a also rose abruptly. Pushing her chair back with vigor had been fine, but when two pairs of eyes turned toward her, she immediately shrank inward. Still, she mustered her courage and stammered out a reply.
"Um… if what the Great Hero wishes to discuss is related to the recent events, may I listen as well? The Jegal Family might be able to help, and… Ha-ryeong and I were already talking about that very matter…"
"My apologies for interrupting so suddenly, Lady Jegal. However, this is a conversation I must have with her alone."
"Ah… I understand."
Though Jegal Seon-a's dejected expression was pitiable, there was nothing to be done. Leaving her behind, the two stepped out of the room and walked side by side for a while. Those who had remained in Hongho County after the Unmong Tournament—including the members of Changcheon Squad—were all staying at an inn secured by the Jegal Family. Jegal Seon-a and the Changcheon Squad were using the same inn, differing only in the floor of their rooms.
Just as it seemed they were heading to the Changcheon Squad's quarters, Namgung Woo passed the rooms entirely and made for the stairs.
"Gaga?"
"We're going toward Hongho. It's a bit chilly, but you don't mind, do you?"
The year was already drawing to a close. Even though Hongho County lay in the southern reaches, it could not escape the winter's bite entirely. For Namgung Woo, who had reached the realm of Hanseobulchim, the change in climate meant nothing, but Paeng Ha-ryeong, without a proper coat, might feel the cold. Thus, Namgung Woo offered her the outer robe he had brought along.
"I didn't want to enter your room without permission. If it's inconvenient, we can return to the room for a moment…"
"I-it's fine! Thank you…"
Paeng Ha-ryeong snatched the garment before Namgung Woo could withdraw his hand. It was less an act of receiving and more a grab. She had even employed the subtle technique of Geumnasu, making the description quite fitting. She immediately draped Namgung Woo's robe over her shoulders. Though Paeng Ha-ryeong was tall for a woman, Namgung Woo stood a full head taller, so the robe made her look like a child wearing an adult's clothes. Yet she paid no mind to her appearance and smiled brightly.
"Hehe… It's warm."
True to its name, once they left the county walls and walked for a time, Hongho Lake soon came into view. For martial artists who employed gyeongsinbeop, the distance was little more than a pleasant stroll. Unlike the western shore where the Unmong Tournament had been held, Hongho County lay to the east, and the area around the lake carried a tranquil, serene atmosphere.
"Shall we talk while we walk?"
"Yes, I'd like that."
Setting aside the Bosin-gyeong for the moment, they simply let their feet carry them forward at a leisurely pace. The night air, laced with the scent of the lake, mingled with the fragrance of winter. Even with a body that had reached Hanseobulchim, the cold winter breeze held a certain clarity, filling his lungs and calming his mind. As they walked, Namgung Woo began to carefully unfold the thoughts he had finally organized.
"First, I want to apologize."
"What?"
"I've been deceiving you all this time, Ha-ryeong. My name isn't Nam Woo."
"……Gaga."
When Namgung Woo stopped walking, Paeng Ha-ryeong halted as well. Her face, when he looked at her, appeared composed. Perhaps she had already suspected as much. Namgung Woo reflected on his own actions up to this point and found the thought oddly comforting. It lightened his heart a little.
"My real name is Namgung Woo."
"Namgung…"
"You're not surprised?"
At Namgung Woo's question, Paeng Ha-ryeong nodded calmly.
"I thought… it might be something like that. I wasn't certain, though."
"Since Guya Manor?"
"That was the biggest clue. There was no need for you to ask about the Namgung Family unless you had some connection. But even before that, I had wondered, just a little."
Of course. A peerless expert in his twenties appearing out of nowhere—naturally, people would speculate about his origins and backing.
"Then, Gaga, the Namgung Family…"
"Wait. Hear me out first."
Namgung Woo stopped her and began to speak of the Namgung Family as he had come to understand it.
"I have no memories of the Namgung Family. I've never thought of myself as one of them. So naturally, I never wanted to be entangled with the Dokgo Family simply because my surname is Namgung."
He had believed he had no connection to the Namgung Family. At first, that was how he saw it. He was merely a stranger who had fallen into this unfamiliar world, a traveler who would eventually leave after a brief stay. But was that truly the case? Could he really claim to have no ties to this world at all?
That belief had begun to crack, perhaps from the very beginning. From the moment Song Chae-ji and Yang So-dang helped him, Namgung Woo had started forming connections with this world. From there, he met more people and forged more bonds—Pyeong Cho-yul, Yang Kvae, Yang Jeong, Paeng Ha-ryeong, Paeng Mu-ho, Paeng Ye-ryeong, Han Gye-ran, Gwak Dan, Paeng Hu-sang… and the Namgung Family as well.
"I was wrong. I'm not uninvolved. The moment I decided to live in this world, I should have accepted it long ago."
It was too late. He should have embraced it when he took in the Yang brothers and resolved to live seriously in this world. Instead, he had drifted like a fence-sitter, neither trying to return nor fully accepting this place.
"In the murim, a person's identity is defined by their martial arts. If that's the case, then I am a member of the Namgung Family. I've only just realized it."
Yes. The martial arts Namgung Woo had learned, the techniques he used, the arts he aspired to—all of them belonged to the Namgung Family. The notion that they would be different simply because they came from Chukrok Murim had been mistaken. Dongbang Hwa had first recognized the Changgung Daeyeon Singong and Changgung Muae Sword Art. That much could be called coincidence. But how to explain O-eum Maje's reaction? Through Namgung Woo, he had recalled the real Namgung Jin of the true Namgung Family. And in the end, he had recognized the Jeowanggeomhyeong in Namgung Woo's sword. Once might be chance, but twice was inevitability. Namgung Woo's martial arts were the same as those of the Namgung Family. Therefore, Namgung Woo had never been unrelated to them. Whether he wished it or not, he had wielded the Namgung Family's techniques and achieved his goals through them. And he would continue to do so. His body had already become one that could not imagine life without martial arts. If so, then responsibility toward the Namgung Family must also rest upon him. There was no power without responsibility. Even if Namgung Woo alone tried to reject it, it would be nothing more than a meaningless and ugly struggle. In the end, the world would define him as part of the Namgung Family.
"I intend to accept it."
"Gaga…"
He would shoulder the weight the Namgung Family had built. That also meant inheriting the grudges that still lingered. Yet Namgung Woo did not see it as a loss. The revelation of his surname Namgung was only a matter of time. He had killed O-eum Maje, but Dongbang Hwa still lived. Even if not now, Dongbang Hwa would eventually use this information to his advantage. If the future was coming regardless, then it was better to face it head-on from this side.
"I will rebuild the Namgung Family."
To survive. To pay the price for the power now in his hands. Namgung Woo made that vow.
"So from now on, it may become dangerous."
Tears welled in Paeng Ha-ryeong's eyes at those words. Was he saying this to push her away? Because it was dangerous, because it was the affair of a family that had nothing to do with her—was he trying to drive her off? Paeng Ha-ryeong clutched the robe he had given her tightly and pulled it closer. She wanted to cover her ears and refuse to hear the rest, but she did not. Even if she refused, if the future was coming, she would not avoid it. Namgung Woo had said as much. Therefore, she too…
"Gaga, I—!"
"Even so, I hope you'll stay with me."
"Ah…"
"It may be dangerous, and the Paeng Family might get dragged in as well, but still… stay by my side."
Namgung Woo's words were a confession. They were an answer to the feelings he had been avoiding, a spell that dispelled Paeng Ha-ryeong's worries and doubts. She took a small step forward and gently pressed her forehead against his chest.
"…Of course. And have you forgotten? You are the Paeng Family's benefactor. If the Paeng Family becomes involved in matters concerning their benefactor, there is nothing we would welcome more."
Namgung Woo carefully drew her into his embrace. Then he whispered into her ear.
"There's one more thing I must apologize for regarding the future."
"Then I'll answer in advance. It's fine."
"The promise we made to climb Dagyeongnu together when we return… we'll have to delay it a little longer."
It was the promise he had made to Paeng Ha-ryeong, who had been disappointed at not being able to visit Dagyeongnu when they descended the Grand Canal to Jingang. The reason for the further delay was that Namgung Woo now had a place he needed to visit first.
"I'm thinking of going to Luoyang now."
"To the Murim Alliance?"
Luoyang. That was where the Murim Alliance's headquarters stood.
"That's right. Luoyang… the Murim Alliance…"
Jegal Chong, who had learned Namgung Woo's true surname through Dongbang Hwa's revelation, had shared a certain secret with him.
"There… is a survivor of the Namgung Family."