Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Father's Legacy
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‘The fallen… Namgung Family…’
Damn it!
How could Namgung Urin not know?
That the Namgung Family had fallen.
But hearing it from someone else's lips was a first. The words pierced him like sharp awls, agonizing to hear.
That aside.
Why would the man want to flee to the fallen Namgung Family, as he himself had said?
Did he believe the fallen Namgung could protect him? The Namgung Family was, quite literally, ruined.
With a bitter taste in his mouth from dwelling on the fallen family, Namgung Urin spoke.
“The Namgung Family is ruined, just as you said, is it not?”
“That is all the more reason to go.”
Even with his brilliant mind, Namgung Urin could not comprehend those words.
“At least tell me why.”
The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes, as if to ask if he could be trusted.
“What more is there to hide, when you’re already planning to go to the fallen Namgung Family?”
The man clicked his tongue, a look of displeasure on his face.
“True enough.”
There was nothing left to hide.
The middle-aged man began to speak.
His name was Yeongchun. His story went back eight years.
The son of a physician, Yeongchun had spent his childhood helping his father. In the process, he naturally gained extensive knowledge of medicinal herbs. However, rather than using this knowledge to treat patients, Yeongchun began to use it to create unique medicines.
His father would scold him every time, telling him he was wasting precious herbs on useless endeavors, but Yeongchun never stopped. Years passed, his father passed away, and Yeongchun was left to run the clinic alone. Then, by chance, Yeongchun created a new pill.
It was a virility supplement.
It sold like hotcakes. It was so popular they couldn't keep it in stock.
Then, disaster struck.
A man who had taken the supplement complained of severe stomach pains and threatened Yeongchun, demanding an exorbitant amount of compensation. Yeongchun refuted the claim, insisting it was impossible and clearly a scam, but the man was a martial artist.
Unwilling to yield, Yeongchun was ultimately faced with death. At that very moment, as if the heavens were on his side, another martial artist appeared and saved him from the crisis.
That martial artist even rebuilt the destroyed clinic and looked after Yeongchun.
He was none other than Namgung Hyeok, the Namgung Family Head who had beheaded the Heavenly Demon during the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
After that, Yeongchun stopped making the virility supplement and diligently ran his clinic. However, his curiosity seemed insatiable, as he continued to create new things.
Then, ten years ago, Yeongchun chanced upon creating an elixir that martial artists would go crazy for. Lacking confidence in it, he began to test it on a martial artist he knew well.
Finally, a year ago, Yeongchun became certain of its effects. He wanted to use this elixir for the sake of the Namgung Family.
He felt it was all thanks to Namgung Hyeok.
He believed a debt of gratitude must always be repaid.
In the midst of this, the martial artist who had grown stronger from Yeongchun's elixir suddenly died, and Yeongchun was forced to go into hiding.
“So that’s what happened.”
“And that’s how I ended up here. But can you really save me?”
At that, Namgung Urin suddenly removed the mask he was wearing. Yeongchun’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.
“…You… how old are you this year?”
“Eighteen. Why? Is it because I’m too young?”
He was far too young.
He was not of an age to be able to save Yeongchun. When the entire Black Serpent Gang couldn't save him, how could this young man before him possibly do it?
It was preposterous.
Rather than blaming the young man for deceiving him with words of salvation, he blamed himself for messing things up so badly. Moreover, he cursed his own predicament, having to beg for his life from someone so young.
Yeongchun, who had briefly harbored hope, let out a hollow laugh of despair.
“Hahaha. My situation is so dire that I leaned on a young man like you and dreamt a futile dream for a moment. That is enough. You should wash your hands of this matter.”
“You don’t know who I am, do you?”
In truth, until he heard Yeongchun’s story, Namgung Urin hadn’t known either.
“How would I know you?”
Yeongchun’s voice was devoid of strength, as if he had given up on everything.
“The man who saved you, sir, was my father. I was by his side at the time.”
“…Then…”
“That’s right. I am the one who will become the Young Lord of the Namgung Family.”
“Y-Young Master. P-please, untie me.”
Without moving from his spot, Namgung Urin untied the ropes.
“…How did the ropes…”
Yeongchun was startled that the ropes had come undone on their own, but only for a moment.
‘Of course! He is the one who will become the Young Lord of the Namgung Family.’
Untying a simple rope would be nothing for him.
Freed from his bonds, Yeongchun respectfully performed a deep bow to Namgung Urin. Then he rose and warmly clasped both of Namgung Urin’s hands.
“My goodness, I am just grateful to the heavens that our connection has continued in this way. So, how is the Namgung Family now? Have you become a master, Young Master? Is that why you said you would save me?”
Namgung Urin smiled brightly.
Was this not a connection left by his father? That made him all the more pleased, all the happier. And he was even more delighted that this connection could make the Namgung Family stronger.
“Yes. I can save you because I am a master. And the Namgung Family will be able to rise again in a few years.”
‘It’s all thanks to you, sir.’
“Oh, what a relief. A tremendous relief, indeed. That at least you are alive and well, Young Master. So, are we going to the Namgung Family now?”
“No. I would like to do that, but if we do, this place could be endangered. Tomorrow, on their way to take you, the men from the Dark Heaven Sect will be ambushed, and I will extract you. Please trust me.”
“Of course, I trust you. I trust you completely. You are of the Namgung Family, after all. Hahaha.”
* * *
The dark night passed, and morning came again. No, it was dawn, just as the sun was beginning to rise. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, Namgung Urin spent the day with the Black Serpent Gang.
The previous night, the Five Dragons seemed to have held many meetings regarding the training of the gang. The training proceeded step by step, without any wavering or confusion.
The Black Serpent Gang, who woke at the crack of dawn, began with the Horse Stance. Having not undergone systematic training from a young age, their muscles needed for martial arts were severely lacking. Thus, they had to start from the basics, one step at a time.
The Five Dragons’ choice was correct.
The foundation of all martial arts begins with the body. No matter how strong one’s mental fortitude, if the body cannot support it, it is no different from a slab of meat filled only with fat.
Because the Five Dragons had tried everything to become stronger, they knew what the Black Serpent Gang needed now and what they had to be taught.
It wasn't because they were masters.
The Black Serpent Gang’s resolve burned brightly from dawn, but their stiffened muscles screamed in protest. After a short while, some began to collapse, their legs trembling.
But their passion was incredible. They immediately got back up and resumed the Horse Stance. Not a single person complained.
“Fuck!”
“I’ll do it even if my legs break!”
“I’d rather choose this pain than stay a third-rate fighter!”
After two hours of continuous Horse Stance training, they had breakfast and a short rest before training resumed.
The morning session began with each man holding his weapon. Nine out of ten used swords. The rest used sabers, but the fundamentals of both were the same. While they differ when delved into deeply, the basics of both the sword and the saber are to slash, thrust, and strike down.
It was the same as the Three Talents Sword Art.
Many looked down on the Three Talents Sword Art, but all sword arts begin with it. One could become a master with the Three Talents Sword Art alone, and there was even someone who had made it onto the list of the Ten Great Masters of the world using it.
Of course, that was only possible because they were able to create variations and apply it in different ways.
The Five Dragons instructed them to swing their swords slowly, as slowly as they possibly could.
This was to discard the bad habits ingrained in their bodies. Swinging slowly like this, the rusted and corroded bad habits were bound to fall away.
Furthermore, it was to learn the correct path of the sword.
One might think it would be easy because it was slow, but that was far from the truth. This training was twice as hard as the Horse Stance.
“Ughhhh.”
“Arrrgh!”
“Yeah! Fuck it! Let’s just die training! Just die!”
“I am a master! A master, I tell you!”
“If you’re a master, then I’m the greatest under heaven!”
It was the kind of training that made screams erupt from their mouths and sweat pour down their bodies even in the dead of winter. It was training that made their muscles tremble as if they were going mad.
The Five Dragons’ mindset before joining the Black Serpent Gang and their mindset now were quite different. Their perspective on the gang had also changed significantly.
Their talent and martial prowess were far inferior to the Five Dragons' own, but seeing them train to the death without giving up even at a late age, armed with nothing but a sliver of hope, was making them realize something new.
They had no idea how much these small, trivial realizations would one day lead to a great enlightenment for themselves.
The same training was repeated in the morning and afternoon. And this daily routine would continue for the foreseeable future. Starting over at a late age inevitably required more time.
Night fell.
The time for the Dark Heaven Sect to arrive was approaching.
Namgung Urin and the Five Dragons left the Black Serpent Gang's base and hid on a hill overlooking the compound.
A moment later, someone approached the spot where Namgung Urin was hiding.
“You’re late.”
Namgung Urin chided Geolgae, the Anhui Branch Leader, for being late.
‘What’s he talking about? I ran my ass off to get here!’
“Haha. Am I late? It took some time to gather information.”
“So. Where are the Dark Heaven Sect bastards now?”
‘Damn it! This little brat is really something else!’
Couldn’t he at least say a word of thanks? Especially since he was getting the information for free!
Did he have any manners at all?
“They’ll arrive in about fifteen minutes.”
“Don’t just answer what I ask. Can’t you just spit it out? You’re so annoying. How many of them are there?”
‘Ugh, seriously!’
If he had his way… ugh. Of all the people to get stuck with. Damn it, I’m too intimidated to do anything.
Damn it all.
“There are twenty of them. From the Dark Heaven Sect’s Dark Heaven Sword Brigade. The Vice-Captain is leading them. His martial skill is about on my level, so you should be careful. Ah, I’m not talking to you.”
“I don’t need such useless information.”
“…No, I’m saying he’s a master on my level. Your subordinates should be careful.”
Namgung Urin spoke as if annoyed.
“Your level?”
“Yes.”
Geolgae nodded vigorously, as if to say a master of his caliber was rare.
“Everyone here is at your level.”
“…”
No, there’s a limit to bluffing.
Does that even make sense?
Geolgae was practically guaranteed to be the next Sect Leader.
What? All five of Namgung Urin’s subordinates are at his level?
‘What kind of bullshit is this!’
“You don’t seem to believe me.”
‘Of course not!’
“It doesn’t make sense.”
“Then why don’t you fight one of them next time? See if I’m telling the truth or not.”
‘Could it be true?’
“How old are those kids?”
Namgung Seol answered instead.
“Twenty-three.”
“Twenty-three…”
They were twenty-three and possessed martial skills comparable to his own?
And this kid, the Young Lord, who wasn’t even of age yet, had enough power to intimidate Geolgae.
If that was really true…
Is the Namgung Family full of monsters?
Was the ancestor of the Namgung Family a monster or something?
Namgung Urin’s next words cleanly cleared up Geolgae’s thoughts.
“It’s not that these kids are strong; it’s that you’re weak. Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“…”
‘That damn disrespectful brat!’