Chapter 496: Give it to me just once.

Mu-dang Gwaiseon.

He was a famous master produced by Mu-dang, and widely regarded as the most bizarre figure.

He was a disciple of the current Mu-dang sect leader, and always counted among Mu-dang’s top masters.

About ten years ago, he had a record of fighting and defeating Hyuk Eo-chun, the Twin Sword Saint of the Four Demon Emperors.

Like Sword Empress, he had once single-handedly blocked the Great Demon Gate incident that occurred in a civilian village.

Based on these deeds, he had once nearly contended for the vacant Sword King title with the current Sword King, Namgung Jin.

However, due to his increasingly bizarre actions afterward, he ultimately failed to make the list.

Gwaiseon detested helping others, and though considered a Taoist, he thoroughly enjoyed meat and alcohol.

Unlike the serene flow preached by Mu-dang, his actions were often rough and unpredictable.

He could be laughing heartily one moment, and then, for some reason, draw his sword and slaughter his opponent the next.

It was later revealed that the opponent was a lustful demon who had repeatedly raped women in the village, which put an end to the controversy.

Even right after this incident, Gwaiseon often caused unexplained disturbances, leading to widespread rumors that Mu-dang had sent him away because they didn’t want to harbor him.

His possessed power and cultivation level were outstanding.

While he showed chivalrous acts saving the poor, he conversely often displayed a scoundrel-like demeanor unbecoming of a Taoist.

That’s why people called him Gwaiseon.

However.

This matter was somewhat unfair for Mu-dang Gwaiseon… no, for Namgung Hyung.

The reason he was called such a scoundrel was mostly due to the ill-tempered old man contained within him.

Namgung Hyung had faced many hardships in his life.

Among them, the biggest event could be said to be when he finally grasped the Leiah.

-Found it.

An unknown rod located in the center of the Namgung family’s artifact storage.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Namgung Hyung’s life changed from that moment.

-It’s you. The will of heaven that will raise the Namgung family.

He remembers the voice that pierced his ears as he grasped the rod with blood-stained hands.

How could he forget that voice, speaking with such longing while his body was exhausted?

To Namgung Hyung, who asked who it was in a rough, grating voice.

The Leiah replied thusly at that time.

-I am called Namgung Myung.

-It doesn’t matter who you are. As long as you carry the blood of the Namgung family, anything is fine.

Namgung Myung.

When Namgung Hyung looked up at the name that came from somewhere.

The Leiah, placed on the table, gradually emitted light.

-Take it.

-Grasp the Leiah, inherit my will. And thus.

-Let us revive the fallen Namgung.

Young Namgung Hyung couldn’t understand what this meant.

The Namgung family, still treated as a prestigious family and a pillar of the Four Great Clans.

Where exactly had it fallen, and how could it be revived further from here?

Namgung Hyung couldn’t understand a single word Namgung Myung said.

Nevertheless, he grasped the Leiah.

There was only one reason.

He felt like if he grabbed the Leiah, he could escape this terrifying and disgusting family.

Swept up by such an unknown sensation, Namgung Hyung grasped the Leiah.

Fortunately.

Namgung Hyung was able to escape the Namgung family.

However.

It was just that it wasn’t Namgung Myung’s complete intention.

Noon arrived, as it always did.

Namgung Hyung, as usual, finished swinging his sword vigorously and sat on a rock to fill his empty stomach.

As he was shoving a handful of rice balls into his mouth.

[How much longer are you going to be stubborn?]

A cold voice reached Namgung Hyung’s ears.

This too was part of his daily routine, just like always.

[Isn’t this enough?]

Namgung Hyung delayed his answer, put the remaining rice in his mouth, drank water, and swallowed it all.

After all three rice balls were gone, he finally felt somewhat full.

Just as he was about to enjoy the quiet leisure.

[What your grandfather said last time, I don’t like it either, but I think it’s not bad.]

“…Haa…”

He tried hard to ignore it, but it ultimately forced him to answer.

Is it because he’s a spirit body that he never gets tired?

“I don’t think I’m the one being stubborn.”

[Descendant.]

“Old man, how long are you going to be stubborn? Like I said from the beginning, I have no intention of returning to that family?”

[How can a descendant of the Namgung family refuse to go to the Namgung family?]

“If I get annoyed, I leave. What’s the big deal? Will the clan collapse without me?”

[Yes, it will collapse, that’s why I’m saying this.]

“This is absurd, really.”

Namgung Hyung had to laugh hollowly at Namgung Myung’s firm words.

“Old man. If the clan would collapse just because of me, wouldn’t it be fine if it just collapsed?”

[This punk…!]

“It feels like grandfather’s words are holding you back. Give it up. If I were going to fall for such words, I would have done so long ago.”

He recalled what his grandfather, Cheon-jon, had said when he visited.

If he just returned to the Namgung family, he could even be given the position of clan head?

Recalling his half-brother who struggled desperately just to secure that position, Namgung Hyung pursed his lips.

‘A position that could vanish with a single gesture from grandfather, what’s so special about it.’

He wasn’t interested. Even if a knife were at his tongue, Namgung Hyung had no intention of returning to the Namgung family.

The problem was that Mu-dang was also starting to make a fuss about him returning, and with Cheon-jon adding to it, it was simply becoming bothersome.

‘I should probably move soon.’

It had already been a year since he settled in Sichuan.

He thought he had settled down secretly and lived quietly, but

How did they find out and come here?

‘My disciple wouldn’t have said anything.’

He believed that Woo-hyeok, of all people, wouldn’t have spread information about Namgung Hyung.

‘Either way, it’s become troublesome.’

Since it was a reasonably decent location, he had intended to stay here for another two or three years, but

Now that Cheon-jon had visited, it seemed he had to leave for another place.

Where should I go this time?

‘Maybe I’ll go to the Northern Sea.’

Not bad. It’s a place he had intended to visit once. An frozen land where official affairs don’t interfere.

It was a very good place to leave for a leisurely journey.

[Descendant.]

As he was contemplating his schedule, Namgung Myung spoke to him.

At that voice, Namgung Hyung let out a slight puff of air and answered him.

“As we first promised. I will properly complete your sword and hand it over to the Namgung family. Isn’t that why I’ve been practicing day and night?”

[….]

“If you expect more than that, just leave me be. They’ll jump for joy if I say I’ll return it to the clan.”

Namgung Hyung spat it out as if annoyed, and only then did the Leiah stop vibrating.

Feeling that, Namgung Hyung sighed inwardly.

Namgung Hyung knew Namgung Myung’s intentions, and because he had received help from him, he tried to understand that will.

But it wasn’t him who embodied and practiced it.

And he didn’t want to.

Thinking that far, Namgung Hyung tried to change the subject.

“Enough. Are you not going to tell me about that incident last time until the end?”

[…What incident?]

“Last time, when that little monster brat came.”

Little monster brat. It referred to the guy his disciple brought along, calling him a friend.

Namgung Hyung thought it was a pretty good name he came up with himself.

If that wasn’t a monster, what else could it be?

Namgung Hyung truly thought his disciple would sweep the world. He had that level of talent, and the kid figured out ten things from one explanation, so he definitely expected him to become great.

His only flaws were being a bit lazy and sleeping a lot, but he thought even those would be covered by his talent.

‘To the point where the difference in class is that significant.’

Was her name So Yeom-ra?

The young prodigy who had recently been making waves in the Central Plains was on a completely different level compared to his disciple.

A martial artist on the verge of completion, or perhaps already completed.

Although his swaggering and seemingly unpromising demeanor was a bit grating.

Namgung Hyung could see the hidden blade within him.

Lean and thin.

A blade that seemed capable of slicing everything around it the moment it was drawn.

Then again.

‘A monster’s child wouldn’t be anything but a monster.’

Looking at the young brat from the Gu family named So Yeom-ra, Namgung Hyung recalled the head of that family.

When he recalled meeting that person, Namgung Hyung’s spine involuntarily chilled.

How could he forget that sight, where the sky itself burned along with the land?

Long hair dyed crimson, resembling the heat, and red eyes burning along with it.

Grasping the neck of Hyuk Eo-chun, the Twin Sword Saint known as one of the Four Demon Emperors, he looked at Namgung Hyung and said.

-I was beaten to the punch.

With those words, he vanished into embers, and though it was only a fleeting moment, Namgung Hyung couldn’t forget that sight.

I can’t win.

The way he effortlessly subdued Hyuk Eo-chun, who was making his last struggle just before being defeated by him, and the vast presence felt around him.

Namgung Myung was certain.

That he couldn’t defeat him. Just as intense emotions arose from the memory alone.

[That child is strong for more than just that reason.]

Namgung Myung spoke to Namgung Hyung in his characteristic cool tone.

[Since a greater monster is attached to the monster’s child, it’s only natural they’d become strong.]

Sensing something in Namgung Myung’s voice, Namgung Hyung wore a strange expression.

Because he seemed to realize it was about that time.

“Will you not tell me that story either, in the end?”

The day So Yeom-ra visited.

Namgung Hyung had to be greatly shocked that So Yeom-ra could hear Namgung Myung’s voice.

Because until now, no one else had been able to hear Namgung Myung’s voice.

The problem was, judging by Namgung Myung’s words, it seemed So Yeom-ra also had something like Namgung Myung, yet Namgung Hyung couldn’t hear other people’s voices.

Moreover.

[It’s not something you need to know.]

Namgung Myung was avoiding talking about that day.

It was a reaction as if he didn’t want to tell Namgung Hyung.

Reacting to that, Namgung Hyung said in an annoyed voice.

“Then, couldn’t you at least hide your emotions in your voice? It makes people curious.”

[…]

Embarrassment.

An inexplicable embarrassment was felt from Namgung Myung’s voice, which was avoiding the conversation.

It was the first time he felt this strangeness from Namgung Myung, who always felt cold yet confident.

“I can’t figure out what’s making you so embarrassed you can’t lift your head.”

[Who said I’m embarrassed?]

“Old man. If the clan would collapse just because of me, wouldn’t it be fine if it just collapsed?”

[This punk…!]

“You are acting like that right now, old man. You’re crestfallen like a person caught stealing.”

[…Be quiet.]

Seeing that he didn’t deny it, it seemed something was bothering him.

Namgung Hyung wanted to probe a little deeper, but he held back.

Because he had already summoned someone to ask, even if he didn’t ask Namgung Myung.

Just then.

Woong-!

As expected, a presence was detected by Namgung Hyung’s senses from afar.

Seeing them coming at high speed, they were martial artists. One of them was Woo-hyeok’s presence.

But.

‘Three?’

Besides Woo-hyeok, the presence of two more people was felt.

The slightly stronger presence seemed to be So Yeom-ra.

Who could the other one be?

The moment Namgung Hyung slightly increased his aura to confirm this.

Jeo-rit-!

“…!”

A tingling energy brushed past his body.

It was an energy that Namgung Hyung couldn’t possibly mistake.

After a few seconds passed like that.

“Master.”

From afar, Woo-hyeok appeared, lightly landing on the ground.

He had an animal slung over his back, and at a glance, it looked like a wild boar.

It seemed he brought it to give to him; anyway, it was a cute creature.

While Namgung Hyung briefly examined the wild boar, his gaze soon fixed somewhere.

A young man with a fierce impression, it was So Yeom-ra, whom he had seen last time.

And next to him…

Hair the same white-blue color and eyes the same as his own.

Even his fair, delicate skin and beautiful facial features.

“…I see…”

Seeing that, Namgung Hyung could immediately figure out who she was.

“So you’re my niece.”

She was likely his half-brother’s daughter.

The one currently called Sword Dancer, engaged to So Yeom-ra beside him.

Looking at her, Namgung Hyung got up.

Conversely, Namgung Bi-ah also had to widen her eyes slightly upon seeing Namgung Hyung.

“…?”

“It seems my older brother raised his child well. Your aura is sharp.”

“…Older brother…?”

At Namgung Hyung’s words, Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head.

Seeing that, Namgung Hyung chuckled.

Because he could tell they hadn’t told her about him in the family.

It was truly the same old place.

Nevertheless, he held no ill feelings towards Namgung Bi-ah, so Namgung Hyung could at least smile.

“It doesn’t seem like a particularly warm greeting is in order… I am…”

Just as Namgung Hyung was about to briefly introduce himself.

[Descendant.]

Namgung Myung’s voice could be heard.

‘Old man?’

[Draw your sword.]

‘Hm? What is…?’

Seureuk.

‘What…?’

Namgung Hyung’s hand moved the moment Namgung Myung spoke.

This was not Namgung Hyung’s will.

It was dangerous.

The hand reaching for the sword showed no hesitation, and if he had drawn and swung it at Namgung Bi-ah like this, blood could have been drawn.

Trying desperately to resist, Namgung Hyung tried to force his strength, but

Cheol-geok-.

“…!”

The sword wouldn’t come out.

He had clearly grabbed the sword to pull it out.

Namgung Hyung hadn’t stopped himself. Seeing the current situation, he too was surprised.

The reason the sword wouldn’t come out was simple.

Because someone was gently pressing the hilt to prevent the sword from being drawn from the scabbard,

That’s why Namgung Hyung was astonished.

It meant Namgung Hyung hadn’t noticed until they approached him,

And stopping him before he could even draw the sword meant they approached, realizing Namgung Hyung was about to draw it.

Understanding this, Namgung Hyung looked at the opponent with eyes wide as saucers.

And he had to be surprised.

Looking into the eyes of the one who blocked Namgung Hyung’s draw, someone’s face came to mind.

“…Right now.”

A voice pierced his ears.

It sounded like they were forcibly suppressing anger, or perhaps forcibly suppressing killing intent.

“What were you trying to do?”

Eyes filled with heat, but for some reason, containing a blue light.

So Yeom-ra, who was the spitting image of the red-haired man from back then.

Was slowly raising her heat while looking at Mu-dang Gwaiseon.