Sawangjeon, Countdown (3)
“Hahaha!”
Laugh. Father didn’t seem to mind it. Might as well scratch my head while I’m at it. It was a way of answering without words. Hehe, forgot all about it~
“I figured as much. Bring some tea.”
Uh… didn’t expect him to buy it that easily. It seemed to slide by okay, but something felt off, strangely irritating. I stared into empty space. Moments later, someone appeared from there and went off to fetch the tea.
“Ho, interesting.”
Father spoke up right then. I tensed again. Looked like my assumption that it had gone smoothly was just wishful thinking on my part.
Is he amused by me trying to weasel out of forgetting the liquor? Or is he pondering how to make me pay for it later…?
Come on, let’s have fun together, you jerk!
Namgung Hancheol had ordered the Blood Phantom Unit leader to bring Namgung Daeso here the moment he crossed into Anhwi Province. Though Namgung Daeso didn’t realize it, Namgung Hancheol knew everything about what he’d been up to at Shaolin Temple. And what he’d just witnessed firsthand had piqued his interest.
He’s got the Shadow Guard’s stealth technique down pat.
His training at Shaolin hadn’t been wasted, it seemed.
The outside world was abuzz with the Sawangjeon right now. But the Namgung estate remained as quiet as ever. No matter how grand the name Sawangjeon, to the Namgung Clan it was just kids’ play. Especially to Namgung Hancheol, the man called Mushin.
He’d had zero interest in the tournament to begin with. He’d assumed his third son would win it handily, as always. But suddenly, it felt like it might be entertaining. Above all, he was curious. About what the current Namgung Daeso was aiming for. Even he couldn’t guess that one.
“What did you see out there?”
So Namgung Hancheol asked directly.
“Y-Yes?”
The abrupt question threw me off. Come on… don’t just dive in like that—what am I supposed to say?
“Don’t make me repeat myself. My mood is excellent right now.”
If you’re in such a good mood, you could repeat it three times, right? And if you phrased the question a bit clearer, I could give you a better answer. Normal people don’t talk like that! This is driving me nuts. Father, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, had become even more unreasonable.
Fine. My mistake for expecting common sense from this guy. If I pushed back now, I might actually get hit. Think, Namgung Daeso! He asked what I saw, so just answer what I saw. Should I say I saw Shaolin? No. Father probably knows exactly what I did there. For him to pretend otherwise? Not his style. Testing like that is for the weak. The strong just confirm.
Odds are, he’s genuinely curious. About what I saw.
No way?
Is that what he’s asking? I’d heard something like this before.
What do you see?
Thinking back, it was similar to that time. I answered cautiously.
“The Shaolin abbot I saw was a massive white tiger who’d guarded the mountain for ages.”
“Ho! A white tiger, eh? And?”
Seemed I’d hit the mark. I relaxed and continued.
“The old man sweeping the courtyard at our estate turned out to be another divine being who protected that mountain. And there was a golden-bodied iron man, still young, who’ll one day wield martial prowess greater than anyone’s.”
“Intriguing. How do they stack up against this Namgung?”
“No contest. Even one of our combat units would end in mutual destruction at worst.”
But that didn’t mean Shaolin was weak. It was Shaolin through and through. I never underestimated their power.
“To fully subdue Shaolin, you’d need at least two units. They’re strong.”
“A fascinating assessment.”
Namgung Hancheol’s eyes gleamed, but he said no more. And.
Spot on.
Just then, the unit member who’d left earlier returned with the tea, interrupting the conversation.
Eh?
What followed made me stare at Father in shock.
Poison?! Is this his punishment?!
I’d never seen anything like it. And the unit member uncle who brought the tea had the exact same look. Father was pouring it himself. Not just into his cup, but mine too. The man who’d normally vanish instantly stood frozen until—clink!—the cups touched, snapping him out of it as he hastily concealed himself.
“Drink.”
Steam rose invitingly from the cup. One sip, and my palate would be scorched—that much was obvious. I glanced at him warily. Father stared back steadily. I gave in and closed my eyes.
Down the hatch.
Sorry, palate.
Slurp.
“Mm… hot.”
Father, who’d sipped alongside me—just a tiny bit, not even a full mouthful—set his cup down. What about me?!
“What’s the holdup? Tea not to your liking?”
It’s scalding hot…
“No, it’s the best tea I’ve ever had.”
Tears welled up. Not from my eyes—from my heart. I drained the cup anyway.
“Remarkable. Must’ve been scorching.”
Then tell me to sip it slowly!
Father asked again.
“Planning to enter this Sawangjeon?”
I answered instantly.
“Yes.”
All my struggles had been for this. Plus, I’d achieved what I wanted at Shaolin. No clue how far it’d take me, but I’d given it my all.
Pour.
Father refilled my cup. Steam still billowed fiercely.
Damn it, why won’t this tea cool?
“Drink.”
“……”
“Tsk tsk. Sip it this time. You’ve always had your shortcomings since you were young, but at your age, you still can’t tell hot from cold?”
It’s all your fault, you jerk!
I sipped slowly this time. For some reason, Father waited until I finished. Clink. As I set my cup down.
“As you are now, you’ll never beat your third brother.”
I couldn’t respond. Silence fell. It was the last thing I expected. But it pierced my lungs, squeezing the air out.
I can’t beat third brother?
I’d considered it possible. Hell, I’d assumed it. It was Namgung So, after all. Still, I’d believed I could manage somehow. My time at Shaolin had been real.
For the first time, I met Father’s eyes squarely and asked seriously.
“Why’s that?”
If he asked if I’d lost my fear, I’d say yes. But if he meant emotion overriding reason—no. I was ice-cold rational. I just didn’t get it. Why was Father…
So certain?
I knew better now. I was strong. Stronger than any peer. In the Namgung Clan, I could at least match anyone of my generation.
“Right now, you think yourself strong.”
I nodded firmly.
“Yes.”
I’d beaten all three of Shaolin’s top disciples, after all.
“Then let me ask: what do you think you are?”
Another curveball, but I pondered it. What? The youngest young master of the Namgung Clan. Five years into martial arts. And a regressor.
“You’re not grasping the intent. Let me rephrase: what do you want to be?”
Obviously.
“A far—”
Words about farming and living simply… strangely wouldn’t come.
“Others might think your third brother went into secluded training to win Sawangjeon. Fools who have eyes but can’t see.”
I said nothing.
Father’s sharp gaze pinned me.
“You saw it, didn’t you?”
Unlike before, I couldn’t meet his eyes. I looked down.
“If you saw and still don’t know, you’re beyond foolish—you’re an idiot. No need for you to enter Sawangjeon.”
“I know.”
I replied.
“What third brother is looking at.”
Third brother… had been watching me. Ever since that day.
I’d thought it didn’t matter.
“I plan to beat him.”
Pfft! Father laughed. Utterly dismissive. The reason came quick.
“That’s your reasoning? You must’ve gained something at Shaolin—look at that overconfidence. Fine! If you’re so bold, convince me.”
Father was unusually chatty today. Like he was baiting me on purpose. Hilarious. The world’s greatest challenging me?
Pfft! I nearly laughed myself. No need to indulge him. But I stood slowly.
This was over the top, no doubt. Yeah, scratch that earlier thought. I wasn’t rational now. Emotional. Reckless, even.
If this was provocation, I’d take the bait knowingly. I wanted to test it. How far I’d come.
Father was convinced I couldn’t beat third brother. I wanted to shatter that conviction. For real.
Shatter it!
For a second, I heard an echo of some lunatic from Shaolin. Ignore it. I asked Father.
“Will you tell me?”
Namgung Hancheol watched his son’s actions leisurely.
“Tell you what?”
His boy had grown tall, but his guts had grown even more.
“If my attack so much as grazes you, explain why you said that.”
Amusing. How many years since someone dared provoke him like this?
“No reason not to. But steel yourself. Daring to challenge the world’s greatest.”
“Perfect.”
Namgung Daeso smirked.
“I’ve always wanted to experience it firsthand. Why everyone fears you so.”
He’d heard the myths and legends. Rumors grow exaggerated over time. How scary could it be?
“And I don’t think I’ll lose.”
To third brother? Even if I did, I wouldn’t go down easy. That much I knew.
Shing.
I drew my sword. Poured full power into it from the start.
Yeah, this is Namgung! Where reason doesn’t apply!
Seven-colored sword aura bloomed along the blade.
“Ho!”
Father exclaimed in admiration. But it differed from what I’d seen at Shaolin.
“Needlessly flashy.”
A simple critique. Father pointed his index finger at me. I asked incredulously.
“You’re facing me with that?”
“Indeed.”
He nodded, then folded the finger and raised his pinky.
“This’ll suffice for you.”
Crackle.
I was pissed, but speechless. That pinky loomed enormous. I focused solely on the moment.
Wait… what if I actually hit the world’s greatest? It’ll hurt like hell, right? Should I back out now?
“No.”
I haven’t even asked yet, you jerk!
“If you won’t come, I will.”
Yes, sir! Coming!