Chapter 243
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 243
Chapter Title: Do They Resemble Him?
He rode on relentlessly.
He had to get there as quickly as possible to confirm.
Changing horses along the way, he pushed at full speed and finally arrived at Muchang.
Namgung Hwa-woo's appearance was a mess.
It was unavoidable.
He had ridden with only one thought in mind: reaching Muchang.
He entered an inn, secured a room, and rested.
He had pushed himself to the point of exhaustion.
His heart was in a rush.
Namgung Hwi.
The fear that he might disappear.
After bathing, he lay on the bed and pondered deeply.
"The only warrior my brother took with him on his excursion."
He was a low-grade warrior even among the branch family.
Yet Namgung Hwa-hyeon had kept him close.
Namgung Hwa-woo had once asked out of curiosity.
Why he kept him so near.
The answer he got then was...
"Just keeping a talented person by my side..."
Back then, Namgung Hwa-woo hadn't understood.
No, he couldn't believe Namgung Hwi had any talent.
After all, he was a low-grade warrior from the lowest branch of the branch family.
Not even his brother's high praise could sway him.
He believed the Great Connection Sword Method had clear limits.
And that belief hadn't changed.
The true martial arts of the Namgung Clan were the Heavenly Palace Without Hindrance Sword.
And the Emperor Sword Form, which he had personally interpreted based on it.
Only those two.
"I hope he's still at the Dragon Training Pavilion."
With that thought, Namgung Hwa-woo succumbed to fatigue and fell asleep.
At the very moment Ha Mu-baek and Namgung Hwi were sharing drinks.
Morning.
As he began his duties, Pavilion Lord Pang Do-yul looked troubled at the guest across from him.
Hocheon Corps Leader Namgung Hwa-woo.
By the Righteous Heaven Alliance's rank system, he outranked the Pavilion Lord of the Dragon Training Pavilion.
It was only natural.
The Hocheon Corps, the Alliance Leader's direct guard and combat unit, held higher importance than the Dragon Training Pavilion, which trained later-generation disciples.
However, this visit had nothing to do with rank.
The Hocheon Corps Leader wasn't here on official duty.
He had come on personal leave, rushing to the pavilion.
Because someone he sought was there.
"Is it difficult?"
Namgung Hwa-woo asked calmly, looking at Pang Do-yul.
His request was simple.
He had someone to find at the Dragon Training Pavilion, so he asked for permission to move freely.
Pang Do-yul tapped his desk.
"I have no choice but to allow it."
On leave or not, he was still a superior.
And how could he block him from just finding one person?
"How about we summon that person here instead?"
Pang Do-yul suggested.
It would be better than letting an outsider roam the pavilion.
But Namgung Hwa-woo shook his head.
"It's a clan matter..."
There was no grounds to refuse then.
He had no idea how a Namgung Clan matter connected to a Dragon Training Pavilion worker.
But it was reason enough to respect and cooperate.
"Understood. Then look around freely until tomorrow."
With Pang Do-yul's permission, Namgung Hwa-woo rose and clasped his hands in respect.
"My thanks. I'll just quietly observe."
Namgung Hwa-woo left the Pavilion Lord's office.
"Ah, wait."
Pang Do-yul called him back as if remembering something.
Namgung Hwa-woo turned.
"You know he's here."
Namgung Hwa-woo nodded at the reminder.
He knew who.
His predecessor, Ha Mu-baek.
Exactly him.
The reminder left Namgung Hwa-woo slightly irritated, but he hid it.
Right now, Namgung Hwi mattered more than Ha Mu-baek.
Leaving the Pavilion Lord's building, Namgung Hwa-woo's steps led to the Fierce Dragon Corps training ground.
Because Han Seol-bing, the current owner of Baek-ah, was there.
He guessed Namgung Hwi might be nearby.
"Ha Mu-baek. I hope I don't run into that guy."
With that thought, as he walked, he spotted a man's back.
An empty, flapping right sleeve.
A man sweeping with a broom in his left hand.
A laborer.
The aura he sensed was just that of a simple worker.
"Using a one-armed man as a laborer."
Namgung Hwa-woo passed by, tilting his head.
Out of curiosity, he glanced back.
A middle-aged man with faint scars covering his face.
Scars like those from countless sword wounds.
The moment he saw them, Namgung Hwa-woo stopped dead.
Though faded, he recognized the scars.
And they traced a sword path in his mind.
A familiar sword path.
One he could never forget.
Of course.
"Brother!"
It was Namgung Hwa-hyeon's Emperor Sword Form sword path.
Namgung Hwa-woo turned sharply.
The man stopped sweeping and looked at him, flinching.
He clearly recognized him.
Namgung Hwa-woo's eyes trembled faintly.
Only one person here could have survived that Emperor Sword Form.
The one who made him hurry here.
"Namgung Hwi...?"
The name slipped softly from Namgung Hwa-woo's lips.
Namgung Hwi hesitated back but quickly straightened. His eyes held deep wariness and anger.
Toward the Namgung Clan.
That group's wariness and anger.
Namgung Hwi's aura changed instantly as he stared straight at Namgung Hwa-woo.
No longer a simple laborer.
"Long time no see, Youngest Young Master."
Namgung Hwi stood tall.
Seeing it, Namgung Hwa-woo's eyes widened.
Now he realized.
Namgung Hwi, who clearly practiced martial arts, had an aura unlike an ordinary person's.
And what that meant.
Namgung Hwa-woo had reached that realm recently himself.
"So this is the talent Brother meant."
Namgung Hwi, reaching the Return to Truth realm in middle age.
His only martial art was the Great Connection Sword Method.
How could he reach that height with just that?
"The Youngest Young Master still has remarkable talent."
Namgung Hwi said calmly.
He had recognized Namgung Hwa-woo's realm too.
Mid Absolute Peak. Return to Truth realm.
Having surpassed it himself, he could tell.
"What brings you here?"
"I heard you were here. Came to find you."
Namgung Hwi was startled by the reply.
He hadn't revealed his name in the world, so how?
Last night with Ha Mu-baek was the first time he'd spoken his name.
"Did someone spy on my night training?"
That was the only possibility.
Though he'd checked for anyone around.
Someone might have seen him training with Namgung Ji-hu and reported to the clan.
"Reckless."
Regret came late.
"Then you'll come to kill me soon."
He almost felt relieved.
He'd planned to go to Hebi to settle with Namgung Hwa-hyeon anyway.
Now exposed, he'd come here.
Namgung Hwa-woo shook his head.
"Only I know."
Mysterious words.
"Even the Namgung Clan can't track every worker entering the pavilion. I didn't expect you to be a laborer either."
Namgung Hwi tilted his head.
Then how did he know of his existence?
"Someone accessed your records. And that day, a messenger pigeon from the pavilion went to the Alliance."
Namgung Hwi frowned.
Who?
"Tch. All that useless curiosity. And now you've led them here."
Ha Mu-baek appeared, clicking his tongue.
Namgung Hwa-woo's gaze turned there.
His expression hardened.
He'd run into the one he didn't want to meet.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze went to Han Seol-bing beside him.
She slyly looked away.
"Chasing after Baek-ah, I see."
Namgung Hwa-woo nodded slightly.
Four stood in the middle of the path.
Disciples passing by increased.
Naturally drawing eyes.
Disciples glanced at them.
Among them.
"Greetings, Uncle."
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu clasping hands toward Namgung Hwa-woo.
Those two were there too.
Namgung Hwa-woo looked at the Hidden Dragon Corps kids in the Fierce Dragon Corps area, puzzled.
"It's been a while."
Staying at the Alliance, it had been over a year since seeing them.
After staring, his gaze shifted to Namgung Hwi.
"Indeed..."
He muttered softly, nodding.
"We should move first."
Ha Mu-baek said, stepping away.
The two followed naturally.
Han Seol-bing started to follow but stopped at Ha Mu-baek's transmission.
Guilty, she couldn't chase despite curiosity.
Disciples watched their backs, tilting heads.
Worry flickered on Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu's faces.
"Did the Youngest Uncle come for Senior?"
Namgung Ji-yu said worriedly to Namgung Ji-hu.
"Yeah. How did he find out?"
They hadn't told the clan anything.
The night before.
The tavern where Ha Mu-baek and Namgung Hwi had shared drinks.
Now three were there together.
Early, yet open. One wondered if it ever closed.
Still no customers.
"Seeing them like this, it's clear. Those kids. They're yours, right?"
Namgung Hwa-woo got straight to it.
Namgung Hwi, lips tight, nodded faintly.
"Yes. They resemble so much. No trace of Brother's face. Just your wife's and yours."
Namgung Hwi flinched at Namgung Hwa-woo's nod and words.
"Do they resemble?"
A face that had never considered it.
"I know your original face. Before the scars hid it. Even now, faded scars let me see the similarities clearly."
Namgung Hwi's heart pounded wildly.
Ah.
They resemble me.
They are my blood.
He thought only their mother's faces, but his too.
His face ruined by sword wounds, even he had forgotten his true look.
Such thoughts swirled.
"Well, the scars faded just last night. No wonder the kids don't know yet."
Ha Mu-baek said calmly. Namgung Hwa-woo's head snapped around.
He knew what it meant.
"No... Impossible..."
He shook his head, sighing.
Ha Mu-baek just smirked.
"Why did you seek me?"
Namgung Hwa-woo stared intently at Namgung Hwi.
"I hate Brother."
Short words.
But laden with meaning.
"So I plan to pull him down. The clan decays because a talentless, skillless man leads it."
Namgung Hwa-woo stated his conviction boldly.
His gaze turned to Ha Mu-baek.
"Do you know why I fought so hard for Hocheon Corps Leader?"
Ha Mu-baek nodded knowingly.
"To find this friend."
He knew the position's authority well.
"Close. To get info on that day. The clan has nothing."
"So, using him for your ambition?"
"Great causes demand sacrifices."
From their talk, Namgung Hwi grasped Namgung Hwa-woo's aim.
"Brother's greatest shame. Me and the kids."
"A disgrace unfit for Clan Head."
"Think that'll make you Head?"
Namgung Hwa-woo nodded firmly.
"Brother has no heirs."
Declarative.
Of course.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu's true father was Namgung Hwi here.
"And the nephews are greenhorns who can't even master Emperor Sword Form."
Young too.
"You, the youngest brother?"
"I'll overwhelm with skill."
Namgung Hwa-woo brimmed with confidence in his power.
Ha Mu-baek nodded slightly.
He recognized the realm warranting such assurance.
Rare for that age.
Namgung Hwi shook his head.
"No."
Firm.
Namgung Hwa-woo looked at him.
"It hurts the kids. They're still Brother's children. Even if not heir."
A father's heart.
Wishing no scratch on his children.
Last night.
Namgung Hwi said only he'd settle with Namgung Hwa-hyeon. Nothing about the kids.
For them, hiding the truth.
Bearing all, dying.
Even at peak Absolute, challenging the clan alone was suicide.
With Ha Mu-baek, maybe different.
"Sigh. A father, huh..."
Namgung Hwa-woo sighed deeply.
"Heavenly bonds aren't simple. The kids have feelings too. Think they sensed nothing in all that clan time?"
Namgung Hwi's eyes quivered at the question.
"You should hear my proposal."