Chapter 263
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: Interesting
Ten days had passed.
During that time, the chaos in the Namgung Clan had settled down to some extent.
The head of the Namgung Clan had ultimately become Namgung Hwa-u.
He had no desire for it.
But in the current state of the Namgung Clan, there was no one else suitable for the position.
Namgung Hwa-u had refused until the very end, so his brothers stepped forward to persuade him.
In the end, Namgung Hwa-u accepted the role of clan head on one condition.
Ten years.
After that, he would step down.
By then, the clan's turmoil would have been resolved.
And when he announced the vision he had originally envisioned, the clan members cheered.
The outer court's branch family members offered absolute support.
The direct descendants showed some dissatisfaction.
But they had experienced it firsthand.
That bloodline had nothing to do with ability.
The branch family's Namgung Hwi had defeated Clan Head Namgung Hwa-hyeon.
The obsession with the legitimacy of bloodline could lead to the Namgung Clan's decline.
All members of the Namgung Clan felt that crisis.
Thanks to being utterly crushed by a single warrior named Ha Mu-baek.
They realized it was no time to be bound by bloodline.
Namgung Hwi was reinstated.
Even though he said he would leave the clan, he was officially restored as a full member of the Namgung Clan regardless.
Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu were also officially renamed Namgung Hu and Namgung Yu.
And the three prepared to depart for the village where Namgung Hwi had lived.
Namgung Hu and Namgung Yu said they would spend some time there before heading to the Dragon Training Pavilion.
"You might get held back a year?"
Ha Mu-baek said this while looking at Namgung Hu and Namgung Yu from the guesthouse.
"It doesn't matter."
Namgung Hu replied calmly, a pristine ancient famous sword hanging from his waist.
The Great Palace Sword.
It was the first sword Namgung Hwa-u had retrieved from the clan's secret vault upon becoming clan head and given to him.
The three bowed politely to Ha Mu-baek and left the Namgung Clan, heading toward Zhejiang Province.
To the place where Namgung Hwi had survived after escaping the brink of death.
Another purpose for going there.
"Seeing Mother is more important."
Namgung Yu said with a composed expression.
His uncle's wife and aunt, who had become jiangshi in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
Namgung Hwi had granted them eternal rest and built sunny tombs for them.
After hearing this from Namgung Hwi, Namgung Hu and Namgung Yu decided to visit together.
Gongson Mu-oe and Ma Jin-gi had already left three days prior.
As they walked together, they soon reached the Namgung Clan's main gate.
It was time to leave.
Namgung Hwi looked at Ha Mu-baek.
"Thank you so much. I will never forget the grace you've shown us."
Ha Mu-baek simply smiled faintly.
"And..."
Namgung Hwi's lips twitched as if he had something more to say.
But in the end, he didn't open his mouth.
He bowed once more, and the three departed.
With even Namgung Hwi's family gone like that.
Ha Mu-baek was left alone.
"Is it all over?"
Ha Mu-baek chuckled softly.
For him, who had no connection to the Namgung Clan, to be the very last to leave.
Ha Mu-baek had come all the way to the main gate to see the three off.
Once their figures vanished from sight, he turned around.
The grand sight of the Namgung Clan came into view.
A place that now had nothing to do with him.
Since he was already out here.
"Guess I should head back now too. It's been empty for a long time."
Quite some time had passed since he left the Dragon Training Pavilion.
He had mentioned repeating a year to Namgung Hu and Namgung Yu, but he couldn't relax either.
"If they kick me out for poor performance, I wouldn't even have a defense."
Ha Mu-baek muttered after a moment's thought.
This time, he had left so suddenly and unexpectedly.
Before, he would have left gratefully if dismissed.
But now, that wouldn't do.
He was quite satisfied with life at the Dragon Training Pavilion.
He felt he could find the jianghu he desired there.
With that in mind, just as he was about to take a step.
Ha Mu-baek paused.
Due to the immense presence emanating from the Namgung Clan.
Ha Mu-baek glanced back subtly.
"A warrior like that?"
There definitely hadn't been one.
He had scanned not just the Namgung Clan but all of Hefei multiple times with his senses.
There surely hadn't been.
But now there was.
Ha Mu-baek's lips curved upward.
"Interesting."
That presence was calling out to Ha Mu-baek right now.
He had to respond to the invitation.
Ha Mu-baek turned his departing body around.
He stepped lightly and soared toward the source calling him.
It was the clan head's residence.
Namgung Hwa-u.
And an elderly man with white hair and beard beside him.
His transcendent, otherworldly bearing made him seem like an immortal sage.
"So it's you."
The old man smiled brightly upon seeing Ha Mu-baek.
"This is Elder Namgung Baek."
Namgung Hwa-u introduced the old man to Ha Mu-baek.
"And the Namgung Clan's greatest master."
The Namgung Clan's greatest master.
Yet his name was a single character.
Meaning he was from the branch family.
"But he wasn't recognized as the Namgung Supreme Sword, so that position remains vacant."
A wry smile appeared on Namgung Baek's lips at Namgung Hwa-u's words.
"Because he's branch family?"
Ha Mu-baek asked, and Namgung Hwa-u nodded.
"The Council of Elders wouldn't approve it."
"Those mad bastards."
The curse slipped out naturally.
It couldn't be helped.
Ha Mu-baek could tell how strong the old man before him, Namgung Baek, truly was.
He didn't even need to activate the Infinite Bright Wheel Eye.
The sheer fact that he hadn't sensed Namgung Baek entering Hefei told him everything about his realm.
'At least the peak of Transcendent Realm.'
That night.
If Namgung Baek had been in the Namgung Clan, Ha Mu-baek wouldn't have dismantled it so easily.
To think such a powerhouse existed.
It was unexpected.
He hadn't seen him during the recent war either.
"It's because of the privilege granted to the Namgung Supreme Sword."
Namgung Hwa-u continued.
"The latter half of the Imperial Sword Form. Normally, only the clan head qualifies to learn it, but exceptionally, the Namgung Supreme Sword can as well."
"Bullshit. Every damn mutt and mongrel was practicing it."
At Ha Mu-baek's sharp criticism, Namgung Hwa-u gave a bitter smile.
Through his ten days of investigation, he had learned that the elders who colluded with his father and brother had received the latter half as their reward.
From Namgung Hwa-hyeon's own mouth.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze turned to Namgung Baek.
"But this gentleman doesn't seem to need that crap anyway."
Ha Mu-baek's assessment.
Namgung Baek smiled brightly.
"You're right. It was once my obsession, but now it doesn't matter."
"I didn't see you on the battlefield?"
Ha Mu-baek voiced his curiosity.
"They didn't send me. The clan head and elders."
Ha Mu-baek frowned at that.
Why keep such a powerful master sidelined?
"They wanted to prevent a branch family warrior from shining on the battlefield."
Namgung Baek explained.
"Fucking bastards."
Unfiltered curses poured from Ha Mu-baek's mouth.
To tie down a master who could have been a major asset for such a petty reason.
He could have unleashed even harsher profanities.
"For now, I should thank you."
Ha Mu-baek looked at Namgung Baek with puzzlement.
"Thanks to you, I was just recognized as the Namgung Supreme Sword by the Council of Elders. I don't care about the Imperial Sword Form, but even at my age, I couldn't let go of that honor. Heh heh."
Whether embarrassed that a master of his caliber clung to such vain glory, Namgung Baek let out an awkward laugh.
'What's the big deal with bloodline and family...'
Ha Mu-baek wondered at Namgung Baek's attitude.
It was a sense of belonging he simply couldn't comprehend.
"Moreover, the clan has finally shed its pure-blood dogma. I can't express my gratitude enough. There won't be anyone like me anymore."
His words were filled with sincerity.
However.
Namgung Baek's demeanor shifted completely after that.
"And well, I thought I should show you something. That the Namgung sword is no pushover."
"So that's why you called me?"
Namgung Baek nodded at Ha Mu-baek's question.
"I was shocked to return from a short trip and find the clan overturned. And even more shocked that Namgung fell so pathetically."
A subtle anger laced his words.
Directed at Ha Mu-baek? Or the Namgung warriors? It was unclear.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
"Then show me."
The moment Ha Mu-baek spoke.
Namgung Baek's presence transformed into a single sword.
The human-like aura vanished, becoming purely a sword.
Namgung Hwa-u hurriedly retreated to a safe distance.
Ha Mu-baek's presence changed as well.
His aura had also become a single sword.
On the surface, neither had drawn their swords.
They merely stared at each other.
Yet the presence overwhelming the clan head's residence was like two massive swords clashing.
The two stood utterly still.
Namgung Hwa-u blinked in confusion at the sight.
He couldn't comprehend it at all.
But Namgung Baek and Ha Mu-baek.
The two were already exchanging sword strikes, one with another.
Namgung Baek, from the branch family but recognized for his talent and taught the Great Palace Unrestrained Sword.
He had cultivated it to the extreme.
And finally, based on it, created his own Imperial Sword.
Just as Namgung Hwi had created his Imperial Sword from the Grand Linked Sword Method.
Namgung Baek had honed it even further afterward.
His sword was incomparable to anyone else in the Namgung Clan.
For the first time since reaching a new realm, Ha Mu-baek unleashed the second form of the Infinite Free Eight Severing Sword Sea.
Severing Sunset.
It severed the sunset glow.
And the great palace along with it.
"Urk."
Namgung Baek groaned and stepped back.
Sweat beaded on Ha Mu-baek's forehead as well.
"Your realm is profoundly distant."
"The Namgung sword is splendid as well. As expected of Namgung."
Smiles appeared on both their faces simultaneously.
Namgung Hwa-u couldn't fathom it.
Just staring at each other, and yet...
He had braced for the area around them to be reduced to ruins.
What on earth had happened?
He knew they had unleashed tremendous presences, but his realm was still too low to perceive the fierce clash between them.
"The latter half of the Imperial Sword Form. Seeing it once might help."
Namgung Baek had achieved the Imperial Sword solely with the Great Palace Unrestrained Sword, without the Imperial Sword Form.
Yet he didn't dismiss Ha Mu-baek's advice.
"If you say so, I should take a look."
Namgung Baek, who had already surpassed the Transcendent Realm and just stepped into the initial stage of the Transformation Realm.
Ha Mu-baek's words that it might help could be the key to fully entering it.
Namgung Baek took the advice gravely.
Ha Mu-baek watched the entire latter half, having already seen the first.
In the Imperial Sword Form, Ha Mu-baek sensed a certain energy absent from the Grand Linked Sword Method and Great Palace Unrestrained Sword.
An energy he had felt budding in his own imagery.
Now felt even more clearly.
Similar yet different from his Infinite Freedom.
Similar yet different from Dan Mok Un-roe's Void Wanderer's Heart Formula.
Namgung Hwi and Namgung Baek's Imperial Swords lacked that energy.
Namgung Hwa-hyeon and Namgung Hyeon-cheol's realms were too shallow to reach it.
If Namgung Baek grasped that energy too, he would advance to even higher realms.
"I'm accumulating debts to you nonstop."
At Namgung Baek's words in the now amiable atmosphere, Ha Mu-baek tilted his head.
Debts?
"Hwi and Hu. Those children."
"..."
"I met them last night. They said it was thanks to you they reached their realms. You've shaped the Namgung Clan's future. And now you've helped me too. I feel like I'm drowning in debts."
"Ah..."
Only then did Ha Mu-baek realize why Namgung Hwi had hesitated with his lips.
It was probably about Namgung Baek.
But he must have been instructed not to mention it.
Yet he almost said it anyway.
The reason he didn't.
Not because of Namgung Baek's order.
Probably.
'Because he trusted me.'
"I've only repaid my debts."
Ha Mu-baek replied calmly.
"Debts?"
"Thanks to those two, I obtained a clue to a new realm."
Namgung Baek's eyes widened at Ha Mu-baek's answer.
This monstrously strong warrior had gained a clue to grow even stronger.
"Heh heh, heh heh heh."
Only laughter escaped him.
"Even so, the Namgung Clan owes you absolutely."
Ha Mu-baek smiled faintly at Namgung Baek's words.
And then he left the Namgung Clan.
It was time to return to the Dragon Training Pavilion.