"With Only Mid-Mid Talent, How Did He Master Heavenly Thunder Ground or Golden Snail's Great Cyclic Nineteen Forms Up to 8th and 7th Star?"
"His talent is only mid-mid at best, yet somehow he reached 8-star in a formation technique like Heavenly Thunder Ground and 7-star in Golden Snail's Great Cyclic Nineteen Forms?"
They said he had a knack for it, and sure enough, his hands-on skills were impressive for his age. But everything else felt sorely lacking for someone from the direct line.
"Father, Uncle must be busy. Wouldn't it be better if I went instead?"
At that moment, the boy standing between them spoke up softly. He looked about twelve now.
Namgung Gyeong-mu seemed relieved at his nephew's intervention and stepped back obligingly.
"Seo-geon."
"Wouldn't it be more comfortable for Lady Ryeon and Lady Seong if someone their age went? Like me."
His voice carried a mature thoughtfulness, as if he were looking out for his uncle and the guests.
Namgung Gyeong-hae glanced at his younger brother Namgung Gyeong-mu and let out a brief sigh before waving a hand at his son.
Go ahead, it meant.
Ryeon returned Namgung Seo-geon's sidelong glance with a nod, but she couldn't shake a puzzled feeling.
Why's he looking at me like we're close? Isn't this our first time meeting?
His gaze was like that of a relative he hadn't seen in ages.
* * *
This place is practically a palace.
The Geum Family was wealthy enough not to be outdone by anyone, but its short history left certain gaps. In contrast, the Namgung Family estate was on par with any imperial palace.
Still, Seo-geuk-rim, Mae Sin-yu, and Danmok Wan—each calm in their own way—didn't lose their composure even as they toured the grounds.
Namgung Seo-geon seemed a bit surprised by their lack of awe but smiled warmly and continued leading the way.
"This is the reception hall. We're not taking guests right now because of the Kyunghang Yunryeon preparations, but normally the line stretches all the way outside the walls."
He pointed to the resplendent building.
As Namgung Seo-geon smiled softly, crinkling his eyes, he glanced at Ryeon again, an oddly familiar air about him.
"Oh! Don't wander the gardens on your own just because they're pretty. They're full of formations and mechanisms. If you want to explore them, just let me know anytime. I'll come with you."
Qimen Dunjia formations arranged objects, mechanisms, or people according to profound principles to achieve specific effects. In the martial world, the Zhuge Family topped the list for such formations, with the Namgung Family a close second.
The Sichuan Tang Clan excelled at hidden weapons and traps, but if they'd delved into formations too, the rankings might have been a fierce battle.
In any case, getting lost in the formations deliberately set around the Namgung estate's gardens would likely mean not emerging until your next life.
Amid the garden's serene scenery, Ryeon pretended to marvel at the hidden formations while sneakily checking her fan. She clicked her tongue inwardly.
Two-Faced.
I saw this on Seong too, but for her...
Danmok Seong's two-faced nature meant a cool exterior hiding a not-so-harsh interior, right?
So what about Namgung Seo-geon's? His outside was as friendly as dandelion seeds drifting on a spring breeze—did that mean his true feelings were the opposite?
And on top of that, Sparrow Learns Crane's Steps?
It meant a sparrow trying to mimic a crane's stride, only to end up with torn legs, as the hint warned.
So who's the crane?
Ryeon subtly turned the fan behind her back and glanced at Namgung Seo-geon.
"By the way, with all the elders' lectures throughout the week for this Kyunghang Yunryeon, are you okay with that, Ryeon? You were sick not long ago, right?"
Namgung Seo-geon asked in a gentle tone.
He seemed the type to act kindly on the surface anyway, but it felt especially intense toward her.
"I was back then, but I'm fine now!"
"...Really? That's a relief."
His voice had an odd ring. He didn't sound like he truly thought so.
"Ah, this is the hall where you'll be staying. If you need anything or run into any inconveniences, just tell me. You can send a servant too. Or if you get hungry or want to sightsee outside the estate."
"Make yourself at home," Namgung Seo-geon said, smiling brightly with crinkled eyes.
"Me! I wanna see the formations!"
Danmok Bi shot his hand up at that, and Ryeon laughed, pulling it down.
"You can't just ask to see something like that casually, Bi-ya."
"I can't?"
"Yeah. If someone asked to see Bi-ya's treasure, would you show them?"
"If Nui asked..."
Danmok Bi mumbled and clung to Ryeon.
As Ryeon gently shook his cheeks while laughing, Namgung Seo-geon watched them with a somewhat dazed expression.
"You two get along so well..."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, he's my little brother."
Namgung Seo-geon stared at Ryeon silently for a moment before forcing a smile.
"I see. That's nice. Ah! I think I need to head out now—mind if I leave first?"
The Danmok kids nodded, and Namgung Seo-geon turned abruptly, his demeanor suddenly cool, and vanished.
Not long after Namgung Seo-geon left with his peculiar attitude, children began appearing one by one in the reception hall courtyard. They were the martial family kids attending this Kyunghang Yunryeon.
A stocky boy among them approached boldly.
"I heard the Danmok Family arrived today. Danmok... Ryeon? Or Seon?"
"And who might you be?"
Before anyone could respond, Danmok Seong stepped in front of Ryeon with a cold voice.
Startled by her stiff demeanor, the boy responded awkwardly.
"M-Me? I'm from the Shandong Ak Family! Ak So-hyeong. This guy's from the Haibei Paeng Family, Paeng Ju-ran."
"Uh... hi."
Both seemed used to leading wherever they went and looked a bit flustered by Seong's attitude.
The other kids just watched.
Only then did Danmok Seong step aside.
"I'm Danmok Seong. These are Danmok Ryeon, Danmok Bi. And behind them are Danmok Wan, Seo Geuk-rim, and Mae Sin-yu."
"Huh? Aren't you all from the Danmok Family?"
Paeng Ju-ran muttered.
As Ryeon moved closer to the three behind her, Danmok Seong replied.
"They're our branch family. We came together."
"You brought branch family too? Then why are you sticking together?"
Ak So-hyeong asked.
It was an innocent question, as if wondering why they mingled despite the status gap.
Ryeon answered naturally.
"We're family, and we study together, so of course we're together. Right, kids?"
"Yes, of course!"
Danmok Wan, who'd been watching nervously, responded the quickest and most naturally—her usual timid quietness from the estate gone. Even Mae Sin-yu glanced at her in surprise.
Ak So-hyeong oddly took it as criticism and bristled.
"You can study together? Branch family's level doesn't match, right? They can't keep up. Even if you teach them, isn't it a waste of time?"
Ryeon blinked in surprise. She was stunned someone could say that outright in front of branch kids.
"Really? Why can't they keep up? Our kids do just fine."
"Hmph, even if they do well..."
"Can you walk from here to way over there without leaving a single footprint?"
Ryeon pointed from her feet to a distant spot.
"What?"
"Our kids can."
Ak So-hyeong's face twisted in confusion at Ryeon's casual shrug.
"That's nonsense! Even I..."
Can't do that, the words rose to his throat but sank back.
Ryeon grinned and turned to the kids behind her. They'd forgotten the insult and looked bashful.
Ak So-hyeong read it as them saying it was no big deal, and his face crumpled further.
"How? How do you do it?"
"If I tell you, can you do it?"
"O-Of course! If your branch kids can, so can I."
"What if you can't?"
"Huh?"
"If I tell you how and you still can't?"
Ryeon stepped closer. Ak So-hyeong backed away in alarm.
"N-No way I can't!"
"If you can't, apologize to our kids and study with us for the whole Kyunghang Yunryeon."
"W-What?"
"No way!"
As Ak So-hyeong started to protest, a gorgeously dressed boy burst out from the crowd like a cannonball through paper.
"What, what?"
"What's that...?"
"Who is he?"
"Dunno, what's going on...?"
Amid the murmurs, Ryeon widened her eyes in shock.
"Geum... Jongha?"