The Namgung Clan Seeks Me
The Namgung Clan was looking for me.
Surprised by the news, I asked, "Are they here to interrogate me about the incident?"
I was referring to the Namgung martial artists who had been slaughtered by the Mountain River Ghost.
Since I was a witness, I figured they wanted to question me about it. But...
"No," Cheon Ui-jin replied. "While that might be part of it, their primary objective is to meet with you, Young Master Bang."
"Why would an investigator want to meet with me...?"
"It's not just any investigation team..."
Cheon Ui-jin hesitated for a moment before adding, "I hear the Little Blue Sword has come in person."
"Pardon?"
The Little Blue Sword, Namgung Seong. My expression shifted in surprise at the mention of his title.
I couldn't help it. When people spoke of the Little Blue Sword...
He's the Patriarch's son.
The child of the Namgung Patriarch. In other words, a direct descendant of the Namgung bloodline.
Hundreds of clans existed in the Central Plains.
So many, in fact, that it was impossible to remember all their names.
Yet, amidst the rise and fall of countless families, there were those who had maintained an unshakable position for centuries.
People called them the Five Great Families of the Central Plains.
They were the pillars of the orthodox faction, standing firm since before the creation of the Martial Alliance.
The most prestigious of noble houses, each ruling over their respective regions.
The Namgung Clan of Anhui.
The Sichuan Dang Clan.
The Hebei Paeng Clan.
The Moyong Clan of Liaoning.
The Jegal Clan of Hubei.
These five were revered as the Five Great Families, wielding immense influence throughout the land.
To a commoner, even looking directly at a direct descendant of these families was considered a grave offense.
Yes.
Under normal circumstances, they were people far beyond my station—individuals I wouldn't even dare to look at.
And yet...
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Bang."
I felt a strange sensation as I looked at the young man clasping his hands in a polite greeting before me.
He was a tall, handsome youth clad in blue martial robes.
A sword hung at his waist, and a smile that seemed both cold and gentle played on his lips.
"I am Namgung Seong of the Namgung Clan."
The Namgung Clan, located in Anhui, was one of the Five Great Families.
Often hailed as the Greatest Sword Clan Under Heaven, its current Patriarch was none other than the Sword King.
This young man was a member of that very clan.
And he wasn't just any member; he was a direct descendant of the Patriarch.
The Little Blue Sword, Namgung Seong.
He was the second son of the Sword King and a leading figure among the thousands of rising stars in the Murim.
"...Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Bang Seong-yeon."
I returned the clasp-hand greeting with caution.
Namgung Seong offered a bright smile.
"It is truly an honor to meet such an illustrious individual."
"...Haha... Yes, likewise."
To think I would live to hear such words from a son of the Namgung Clan. It was a novel experience.
We were currently in a room provided by the branch leader. Several other martial artists were present as well.
Half of them were from the Namgung Clan, while the other half belonged to the Martial Alliance.
As we finished our brief introductions, the person standing next to Namgung Seong tentatively greeted me.
"...I am Namgung Hyeon."
Is she his younger sister?
I had never heard her name before, but like her brother, she was a remarkably beautiful woman.
"Yes. I am Bang Seong-yeon."
"I heard earlier."
"Ah, I see. I just thought you might not have caught it."
"No. I heard you."
"Right."
Hmm.
Her somewhat prickly attitude prompted me to lean slightly toward Cheon Ui-jin. He narrowed his eyes in response, clearly wondering what I was up to.
Ignoring his reaction, I whispered to him, "She seems to lack basic manners, doesn't she?"
"...! Young Master Bang, you're speaking too loudly!"
Cheon Ui-jin gasped in shock. Admittedly, it was a bit loud for a whisper.
But of course it was. I wanted her to hear it.
My words clearly reached her, as Namgung Hyeon's brow furrowed in anger.
"What did you just...?"
"Hyeon."
"..."
At Namgung Seong's soft, smiling voice, Namgung Hyeon froze instantly.
Noted.
Observing this, I mapped out the dynamic between Namgung Seong and Namgung Hyeon in my mind.
"My apologies. My sister has behaved rudely," Namgung Seong said.
"It's fine. I don't mind. My apologies as well, Lady Namgung," I replied.
"...Yes."
Once we glossed over the awkwardness, Namgung Seong turned his attention to Cheon Ui-jin.
"It has been a while, Young Master Yeon... Ah, I suppose I should call you Young Master Cheon now."
"...Young Master Namgung."
"I heard you went through quite an ordeal recently. Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes."
For a casual conversation, their words carried a heavy undercurrent.
They don't seem to get along at all.
I had heard that the Namgung Clan was the one who wrote Cheon Ui-jin's recommendation letter, and seeing that they knew each other, that seemed to be true. Yet, the tension between them made for a very delicate atmosphere.
I took a sip of the tea placed before me.
"That is a relief. And since I hear you obtained what you desired, I must offer my congratulations as well."
"...Thank you..."
Cheon Ui-jin's expression was far too grim for someone expressing gratitude.
Hmm.
I tilted my head slightly, observing them.
The Namgung Clan and Cheon Ui-jin...
Why was Cheon Ui-jin so uncomfortable around him?
There was bound to be some underlying issue I wasn't aware of, but...
For starters, is it a discrepancy in internal information?
I figured the root of the problem lay in what happened at the cave.
Cheon Ui-jin was shocked to see the Namgung martial artists at the cave.
His reaction was as if he had no idea why they were there.
And that cave was a place Cheon Ui-jin had been searching for with a specific purpose.
I already knew what that purpose was. Yoo Chun-gil had explained it to me during the night.
The traces of the Sword Saint. Or perhaps a fortuitous encounter.
It was a location where something left behind by the Sword Saint was believed to remain.
Cheon Ui-jin had traveled all the way to Anhui to find it.
Yet, the Namgung Clan's martial artists had been deployed all around that very cave. How else could one interpret this?
If both sides knew, it would be a partnership. If one side was kept in the dark, it was a scheme.
Especially considering that the guide, Pung Yeon, had betrayed them.
The fact that the Namgung martial artists had arrived because of the information Pung Yeon leaked meant...
Pung Yeon's faction and the Namgung Clan were already communicating behind the scenes.
Given that, there was no way Cheon Ui-jin would look upon the Namgung Clan favorably.
"Then, I must ask, did you obtain what you wanted, Young Master Namgung?" Cheon Ui-jin inquired.
Namgung Seong smiled faintly. "Well... I am not so sure."
Was he trying to brush it off with a smile?
Unable to contain himself at that reaction, Cheon Ui-jin spoke up, his tone shifting. "Why did you do it?"
"What do you mean?"
"You clearly promised... that you would support my side."
Support? I listened quietly.
"Ah, yes. That is true. I did say that."
"Then why did you side with my sister's—"
"I changed my mind."
"...What?"
Cheon Ui-jin's face contorted at the casual reply. Immediately after, Namgung Seong's cold voice filled the room.
"I simply had no desire to involve myself in a losing battle. I chose to bet on the side with the higher probability of winning. I hold no personal ill will toward you, Young Master Cheon."
"...A losing battle?"
"Do you think otherwise? The very fact that you came here and nearly lost your life to the Mountain River Ghost proves you were already dancing in the palm of the Young Mistress's hand."
"..."
Cheon Ui-jin clamped his mouth shut at Namgung Seong's words.
"I saw little potential. So, I decided to change my path."
Cheon Ui-jin let out a bitter laugh at the cold, calculating statement. "...Were you ever on my side to begin with?"
"Haha. Who knows?"
Cheon Ui-jin grit his teeth so hard they clicked.
Watching this unfold, I chuckled inwardly.
So that's what this is about.
I had wondered why they were growling at each other, but it seemed to be a faction dispute. Cheon Ui-jin had believed Namgung Seong would support him, but that turned out to be a lie. It appeared Cheon Ui-jin was hostile toward his 'sister'.
The reason was likely...
A struggle for the position of Young Sect Leader?
That was the most plausible explanation.
Having reached a conclusion, I lightly waved my hand.
"I understand the situation between you two, but... could we talk about my business first?"
My words drew the attention of everyone in the room.
"So, why exactly did you come looking for me, Young Master Namgung?"
A strange gleam flickered in Namgung Seong's eyes at my question.
"My apologies. I got sidetracked by personal matters and ignored you, Young Master Bang."
"No need to apologize. I feel like I just overheard some rather interesting gossip."
Thanks to them, I had gained some valuable information. It wasn't just decent; it was a net positive.
"The reason I came is simple."
Namgung Seong averted his gaze entirely from Cheon Ui-jin and addressed me.
"I rushed here upon hearing that the successor of the Sword Saint—the disciple of the great former Alliance Leader—had appeared."
"Ah."
I pondered his words.
It's only been three days since the rumor of me being the Sword Saint's successor started spreading.
For Namgung Seong to already know and show up meant...
He has deep connections to the Alliance's intelligence network.
It was an indirect way of showing that he was receiving information from the Alliance even while staying within his clan.
"I wanted to meet you in person," Namgung Seong said.
"Me?"
"Yes."
I feigned confusion, but I had already anticipated this. I knew someone from the Namgung Clan would show up sooner rather than later.
Especially since an incident just occurred.
With most of the Namgung martial artists found dead, the Alliance would have already reported it to the clan. They had a perfectly valid reason to come.
And on top of that, rumors of the Sword Saint's successor had reached their ears.
And of all places, right here in Anhui, where the Namgung Clan held sway.
"So, what are your impressions of me now that we've met?" I asked.
"Before that, I would like to ask you something..."
Namgung Seong's gaze turned icy as he questioned me. "Are you truly the successor of the Sword Saint, Young Master Bang?"
Our eyes met.
He had remarkably handsome eyes.
Staring straight into them, I replied, "If I am, what of it? And if I'm not, what then?"
"You—! How dare you speak to my brother in that tone—!"
Namgung Hyeon, the ill-mannered girl beside him, flared up, but—
Slap!
"Ugh..."
Namgung Seong swung his hand and slapped Namgung Hyeon across the face. Even as he struck her, he didn't even look at his sister.
"Namgung Hyeon. I believe I told you to keep quiet?"
"...I-I'm sorry..."
Namgung Hyeon whimpered, clutching her reddening cheek.
The atmosphere in the room instantly turned freezing cold.
Even I was slightly taken aback. I hadn't expected him to slap her right then and there.
However, Namgung Seong seemed entirely unbothered by the tension as he continued, "If you are, I have something to propose. If not, then our meeting ends here."
"So you didn't come to interrogate me about the incident?"
"Our clan is already conducting its own investigation into that matter, so you need not worry about it."
The Martial Alliance was the one that discovered the crime scene, yet the Namgung Clan was conducting the investigation? What a mess.
Well, not that I cared if it was a mess.
Even thinking about it was giving me a headache. This was the first time in this life that I had to use my brain this much.
"In that case," I said after a brief silence, "I will decide whether to answer your question after I hear what you have to say."
"...Hmm?"
Namgung Seong let out a low hum, his expression betraying his surprise at my response.
This bastard.
I didn't like how he was subtly trying to seize control of the conversation.
Pretty slick, aren't you?
He was trying to manipulate me into following his lead without me even realizing it. This wasn't his first time doing this.
"Since you came here with a purpose, it only seems fair that you speak first."
"..."
"Don't you agree?"
Namgung Seong's eyes darkened slightly.
Watching his expression, I took another sip of my tea.
For a brief moment, the silence stretched, making the seconds feel like minutes.
"You are correct. It seems I was the one being rude this time," Namgung Seong said with a smile.
He had taken a step back.
"To begin with... if you are indeed the successor of the Sword Saint, the Namgung Clan wishes to offer you our support."
"Support?" I blinked, widening my eyes.
Beside me, Cheon Ui-jin reacted instantly. "...Young Master Namgung. What is the meaning of this?"
"As I said before, I prefer to align myself with a winning hand rather than a losing one."
Regardless of Cheon Ui-jin's reaction, Namgung Seong pressed on. "No matter what you might have obtained in that cave, Young Master Cheon... it simply means Young Master Bang's value is far greater."
Cheon Ui-jin's face contorted further at Namgung Seong's words.
Glancing at him briefly, I looked back at Namgung Seong. "What kind of support are we talking about, exactly?"
"Anything. The Namgung Clan will do whatever is within our power to assist you."
It was an incredibly generous offer just to hear it. Yes, truly extraordinary. In that case...
"And what do you want from me in return?"
What did they stand to gain by supporting me? I asked to find out, and Namgung Seong answered without hesitation.
"We do not require anything from you at the moment."
I didn't believe a word of it. Promising sponsorship under the prestigious name of the Namgung Clan without wanting anything in return? Even a passing dog would laugh at that. I stared at him, looking utterly unconvinced.
"We only hope that our name will be associated with the path you walk in the future, Young Master Bang."
"..."
I tilted my head slightly at his follow-up.
They want to solidify their standing with Cheongwol Gate.
To be precise, they wanted to stake a claim on the person who might become the next Young Sect Leader.
How incredibly tiresome.
I had despised this kind of political maneuvering in my past life as well. It was nothing but annoying and tedious.
Suppressing my irritation, I spoke to Namgung Seong. "I heard that you initially planned to support Young Master Cheon... and then shifted your support to someone else, and now you're offering it to me. How can I trust your words?"
"We only believe in potential."
As long as you perform well, we won't abandon you. But if you lose your potential, we will discard you just as quickly. That was the raw, unvarnished truth behind his words.
"I see."
I pretended to ponder his offer for a moment.
The terms weren't bad. No matter the circumstances, it was the backing of the Namgung Clan. Even if it came with strings attached, taking it was a net positive. Especially for someone like me, the son of a ruined family, I should have bowed my head and accepted it with gratitude.
However...
"Then I will choose not to be the successor."
"..."
My choice was rejection.
"I see. Understood."
Namgung Seong nodded at my answer.
He stood up without a shred of lingering regret, not even bothering to ask for my reasons.
"I heard you are not in good health, so thank you for taking the time to meet with me."
He clasped his hands in the same polite gesture as before and turned to leave.
Watching his back, I called out to him. "Ah, Young Master Namgung."
"Yes?"
He paused and looked back at me. I stared straight into his eyes and said, "Please pass a message to that person. Tell them to stop playing these annoying games and just come see me in person."
"I have no idea what you are talking about. Excuse me."
Namgung Seong showed not a single flicker of emotion, but I simply drank the rest of my tea as he walked away.
After finishing the conversation, Namgung Seong stepped outside.
The smile that had adorned the young man's face just moments ago had completely vanished.
"B-Brother..."
Namgung Hyeon followed him out and called his name.
Slap!
Namgung Seong swung his hand and slapped her cheek once again.
This time, the blow was hard enough to draw a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth.
"Have you lost your mind?"
His chilling voice made Namgung Hyeon flinch and shrink back.
"I told you to stand there and act like a pretty decoration, yet you dared to ruin my plans? You must truly want to die."
"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Terrified by Namgung Seong's furious tone, Namgung Hyeon clung to him, begging for forgiveness.
"I-I was just angry that a piece of trash like him was acting so insolent toward you, Brother...!"
"Shut up before I rip your mouth open."
"Yes..."
Namgung Hyeon cowered with a dejected face, and Namgung Seong clicked his tongue in disgust.
Useless wench.
He had brought her along only because she had a decent face and figure, but she couldn't even perform that simple task properly. His plans had gone slightly awry, causing his expression to sour further.
Things have taken a strange turn.
It had deviated from his expectations.
He had thought a country bumpkin from a ruined family who knew nothing of the world would be easy to manipulate.
Namgung Seong bit his lip as he recalled the conversation.
I couldn't seize control of the conversation.
Normally, he would have been able to bend the other party to his will. But that country bumpkin was strangely impossible to control. He exuded a bizarre aura, both in his speech and his presence.
Is he truly the successor of the Sword Saint?
Namgung Seong didn't believe it. Even when he received the report and came in person, he hadn't believed it for a second.
His energy is far too weak.
His blue eyes were proof that he had awakened the Moon Eye. Yet, the internal energy he possessed was utterly pathetic. How could someone like that kill his guard and the Mountain River Ghost? Namgung Seong was convinced there had to be another factor at play. He had believed that up until the moment he stood up to leave.
But then...
"Please pass a message to that person."
Those parting words kept nagging at him.
Could he possibly know?
No, that was impossible. There was no way he could know...
Namgung Seong stroked his chin as doubts began to sprout.
"I will... have to pay him another visit."
If doubts arose, he had to investigate. If something was suspicious, he had to dig deeper. And if it proved to be an obstacle, he had to eliminate it.
That was Namgung Seong's nature, and Bang Seong-yeon had now firmly etched himself into his mind.
I need to verify this again before I send word to her.
Having made his decision, Namgung Seong walked away.
And as the martial artists of the Namgung Clan departed...
From above the ceiling, Yoo Chun-gil watched them go, letting out a soft chuckle.