Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Young Lord of the Namgung Family
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“Mother. It’s Urin.”
Before I could even finish, my mother Yeonhwa’s door flew open.
She pulled me into a tight embrace.
Tears streamed down her face.
It was understandable, seeing her son for the first time in five years.
Though nutritional meals had been sent every month for five years, my mother had never come herself.
It was likely because she didn’t want to disturb her son’s training, and also because she feared her heart would weaken at the painful sight of me.
We stayed like that for a moment.
It had been a while since I was in my mother’s arms… or rather, since she was in mine, but her warmth was just as comforting now as it was when I was much smaller.
Yeonhwa stopped crying and looked up at her son, Namgung Urin.
“My son. You’ve truly grown so much.”
“It’s been five years, Mother. Is that not more than enough time to grow up?”
“Did you not miss your mother at all?”
Yeonhwa didn’t expect an answer.
She just wanted to ask.
She already knew what her son, Urin, would say.
She just wanted to hear it.
That he missed her.
That he thought of her.
He wasn’t that kind of child, but Yeonhwa held onto a sliver of hope that one day, she might hear those words just once.
“I missed you, Mother.”
It was when the Shadows were giving me a headache.
“...Truly?”
“Yes, Mother.”
It wasn’t a lie, after all.
“Thank you. I’m so grateful.”
Yeonhwa clung to her son, Namgung Urin, and wept again.
They were tears of joy.
Her long-held wish had finally come true.
She was overjoyed, thinking that her son was finally beginning to feel human emotions.
*His father would have been so happy to hear this.*
Believing he was watching from the heavens and smiling, Yeonhwa wiped away her tears.
After her tears subsided, Yeonhwa smiled brightly and spoke.
“I knew you were coming today, so I prepared something. Follow me.”
“What is it, Mother?”
“I need to see just how hard you’ve trained.”
“...”
*Really?*
*Right now?*
After spending five long years in secluded training, her son had just come out… I had hoped for a little rest.
“Hurry and follow.”
Just like that, Yeonhwa’s expression changed.
Looking at her now, one could see a little of who Namgung Urin took after.
“...Yes.”
It was nice that my mother was just as consistent now as she was when I entered the secluded training grounds.
Nice, but…
Namgung Urin wanted to rest.
But his mother, Yeonhwa, gave him no such chance.
* * *
The training grounds were noisy.
A mixture of cheers and jeers filled the air.
Apparently, today was the final day of the ranking tournament held once every three months.
The Namgung Family never had such events before, but my uncle established it after the incident that nearly wiped out our family.
It could be seen as a way to boost the morale and motivation of the young disciples.
I understood.
Training is like a long journey with no end in sight.
But if one were confined to this place, doing nothing but training, would it feel like a journey?
If not hell, it would feel no different from a prison.
The reason was simple.
The Namgung Family was not yet supposed to engage in external activities.
Of course, they could if they really wanted to, but it was obvious that doing so would only plunge the Namgung Family further into ruin.
Fingers of scorn would be pointed at them.
The still-unseasoned young disciples lacked the strength to endure such humiliation.
That was why.
That was the main reason this event was created.
Namgung Yul, the head of the Namgung Family, sat at the head of the training grounds, watching the heated spectacle of the young disciples.
Namgung Yul saw Yeonhwa and Namgung Urin approaching the training grounds.
He immediately rose from his seat.
He couldn't possibly remain seated while his sister-in-law was arriving.
Without Yeonhwa, he would not have been able to spend the last five years in such peace.
To Namgung Yul, Yeonhwa was a lifeline, a source of funds.
Of course, the funds came from the Hangyeol Merchant Guild, run by Yeonhwa’s father.
Currently, there were 300 young disciples gathered in the training grounds, about 150 children under fifteen, 65 guards, and another 100 or so people who handled miscellaneous chores, cooked, and served as maids.
There had been more people, but many left the Namgung Family after the incident five years ago.
In a way, it was a relief.
Namgung Yul hadn't known.
He never imagined it would cost so much money to run a family.
Fortunately, his sister-in-law, Yeonhwa, was there to manage the family’s remaining assets, and with the support of the Hangyeol Merchant Guild, things were manageable. Otherwise, Namgung Yul’s head might have exploded, and he could have died without even thinking of revenge.
Thanks to this, the Hangyeol Merchant Guild had shrunk to half its size compared to five years ago.
The interference from the many sects that had allied with the Baekri Family was severe.
Namgung Yul greeted Yeonhwa and Namgung Urin.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“You’re finally out. You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes. I worked incredibly hard.”
Even though he was seeing his nephew for the first time in five years, Namgung Yul’s face scrunched up slightly.
“You should have tried to fix that personality of yours.”
“What’s wrong with my personality?”
Yeonhwa shot Namgung Yul a look, her eyes asking what nonsense he was spouting to a child who had just emerged from such hardship.
“Ahem. Haha. I was just joking because I’m happy to see you.”
“I know.”
*That you meant it.*
*And that you’re being cautious because of my mother.*
Namgung Urin knew.
He had heard about how the Namgung Family was faring from Suyeon, who brought him nutritional meals once a month.
Namgung Yul’s gaze swept over Namgung Urin from head to toe.
*This brat!*
If he had trained diligently, a warrior’s aura should be flowing out of him.
But there wasn't even a speck of it.
It wasn't as if his nephew could have reached the pinnacle of mastery where one's presence becomes undetectable in just five years at his age.
*That's absurd!*
Namgung Yul’s father, Namgung Urin’s grandfather, the Sword Emperor, was an absolute master who had reached that state.
So, the thought was ridiculous.
“Uncle, joking with your nephew you haven't seen in ages. And what's with that look?”
Namgung Yul thought his nephew, Namgung Urin, looked better, his face brighter than before.
He did, but…
“Ahem. I wonder if you’ve trained properly.”
It was a natural question, as he didn't know that Namgung Urin had learned the Primordial Chaos Art.
Those who cannot see Primordial Chaos cannot feel it.
Thus, it was only natural that he couldn't sense Namgung Urin’s aura.
“You can see for yourself, can’t you?”
That was why his mother, Yeonhwa, had dragged him all the way here.
“Very well. Sister-in-law, please have a seat.”
“Thank you, Family Head.”
Namgung Yul had appointed all 300 young disciples to the Azure Sky Sword Brigade.
Part of the reason was that they all possessed the necessary skills, but he also wanted to instill something in them all.
That they were the future, the greatest sword brigade of the Namgung Family.
The gazes of the 300 young disciples of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade gathered on Namgung Urin.
The one who was to be the Young Lord hadn't shown his face for five years.
They scoffed at the idea of a thirteen-year-old undergoing secluded training.
And they wanted to see for themselves just how great he was.
They had only heard rumors.
That the one who would be Young Lord possessed incredible talent.
But rumors that he was insane also circulated widely.
That was why the gazes of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade were fixed on him so intently.
“That guy… no, that person is the Young Lord, right?”
“The atmosphere suggests so.”
“Surely that ‘incredible talent’ they talk about isn't just his face, right?”
“Hmm… could be. I can’t feel any aura from him at all.”
“He just looks the part. What’s with that face?”
“Bastard, if you’re jealous, just say so.”
“Admitting you're jealous is losing. Have you ever seen me lose?”
Even if he didn't always win, Namgung Hyeon-u never lost.
He had ultimately taken first place in today’s ranking tournament.
Namgung Hyeon-u had a talent.
A talent for never giving up, even if it killed him.
Thanks to that, he had won first place today.
“Never. Annoyingly so.”
The one who spat out the irritated words was Namgung Jun, who had lost to Namgung Hyeon-u in today’s tournament and ended up in second place.
He had always been first, but today he was second.
All because of the damn stubborn Namgung Hyeon-u, who refused to give up.
Though the result might have been different if it had been a real sword fight instead of a wooden sword duel.
Everyone was murmuring like this.
Namgung Urin was an object of great curiosity to the young members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade.
“Silence!”
Namgung Geon, the Commander of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, quieted the grounds.
Namgung Geon was one of the men who had returned alive from the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions alongside Namgung Yul.
Namgung Geon showed his respects to Namgung Urin.
“Young Lord. Please proceed to the center of the training grounds.”
The Namgung Family line was passed down through direct succession.
Right now, Namgung Urin was the only one in the direct line, so there was no need for competition.
“Thank you.”
As Namgung Urin stopped in the center of the grounds, Namgung Hyeon-u, who had won first place in today’s ranking tournament, walked forward as if it were his right.
“It is an honor to meet you, Young Lord.”
His words were respectful, but his expression was challenging.
*This isn't right.*
*This shouldn't be happening.*
In Namgung Urin’s eyes, it was all trivial and laughable.
It wasn't just the opponent standing before him.
It was the same for this person and for the many members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade staring daggers at him from behind.
They must have run themselves ragged to get this far, fueled by the memories of five years ago.
Namgung Urin was no different.
He knew.
He could see it.
He could see just how much they had struggled with all their might.
He could tell just by their spirit.
They were outstanding.
They possessed martial prowess beyond their years.
If they were to venture into the world now, they would never lose to the young disciples of other families.
But.
Why couldn't they see it?
Namgung Urin was deeply disappointed.
Disappointed in the state of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade.
He had never imagined what they would or wouldn't be like.
The Azure Sky Sword Brigade he saw before him was simply not to his liking.
It was different from the Azure Sky he had envisioned.
“Young Lord?”
Namgung Urin was just staring at him and the brigade members behind him without a word, so Namgung Hyeon-u called out to him again, frustrated.
Namgung Urin suddenly turned his body.
“...?”
*What? Is he completely ignoring me?*
Turning to face the Brigade Commander, Namgung Urin spoke.
“You are the Commander of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade, correct?”
“That is correct, Young Lord.”
“If it’s not too much to ask, could you grant me command of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade for a moment?”
The Brigade Commander, Namgung Geon, hesitated.
He was worried.
He had just come out of secluded training; was he already trying to cause trouble?
So, the Brigade Commander turned his gaze towards the Family Head, Namgung Yul, who was seated above.
“Family Head.”
He was asking for a decision.
Implying that if Namgung Urin caused trouble, he would bear no responsibility.
*What is that brat trying to do now…*
Namgung Yul considered for a moment before speaking.
“You may not…”
Namgung Urin’s mother, Yeonhwa, cut him off with a glare.
“Family Head.”
“Sister-in-law…”
“Let him do as he wishes.”
“Sister-in-law…”
Namgung Yul’s expression seemed to say, *‘Isn’t this exactly why he’s like this, because you raised him this way?’*
Because they had given him everything he ever wanted.
Both his brother and his sister-in-law.
But.
“Family Head.”
Yeonhwa’s expression seemed to ask, ‘Are you rich?’
Money wasn't everything in the world.
What was mere money?
In the martial world, if one had enough power, wealth would naturally follow.
It would follow, but…
Right now, the Namgung Family was a presence that wasn't even mentioned in the martial world.
Moreover, for the Namgung Family, which was no better than beggars, money was everything; it was their sky.
The Namgung Family was powerless before money.
*Sigh.*
“Do as he says.”
The Brigade Commander, Namgung Geon, turned to Namgung Urin.
“He has given his permission.”
“Thank you.”
A smile that Namgung Yul dreaded to even imagine spread across Namgung Urin’s face.