“By the way, the King of the Martial World has reached the heavens…, but not really. Still, I never expected him to have reached such a level. It's quite surprising.”
At the Emperor's words, Pae Jin-gwang let out a dry laugh.
“Surprising? Not really. I'm way behind.”
“No, you’re not late.”
The Emperor flicked his index finger up and down. A quite irritating gesture.
“You’re the one who pioneered a completely new level, aren’t you? There are countless people who spend their whole lives without even taking a single step forward. If you’ve opened up new horizons, you should be receiving praise.”
Pae Jin-gwang, who had been deep in thought, turned to look at Seo-jun.
“What is it?”
Seo-jun raised an eyebrow. He had a unique talent for infuriating others with simple gestures.
Pae Jin-gwang squinted his eyes and sighed.
“Forget it.”
That guy, he’s just something odd. Opened up new horizons? How many new horizons has that guy opened?
Somehow, the Emperor's praise didn’t sit well with him.
“Brat.”
“What?”
Seo-jun, suddenly insulted, felt unfair.
The Emperor really didn’t bring up anything else, as if he was only trying to strengthen ties between the martial artists of the heavens.
He watched Seo-jun and Pae Jin-gwang with a strange look, but that was all.
Seo-jun, who had prejudice against the imperial family, kept a careful eye on him to see if he was doing anything suspicious, but found nothing of note.
‘Did he at least test the waters?’
The Heavenly Lord Who Annihilates Evil, who wasn’t on the best terms with the imperial family. The Namgung Clan, which had gone through a generational shift.
It was clear that the Heavenly Lord, who was also the direct fiancée of the Namgung Clan’s heir, would have a huge influence on the future direction of the Namgung Clan.
Given the importance of the matter, it wasn’t surprising that the Emperor himself came to assess the situation.
‘Pae Jin-gwang, now that he’s reached the heavens, won’t do anything reckless.’
Although the massive pillar of Namgung Jincheon had disappeared, the Namgung Clan still stood strong.
Even if the Emperor harbored some ulterior motives, he would be cautious if his head wasn’t just for decoration.
No, even if there was some hidden agenda, Seo-jun didn’t feel like worrying about it right now.
“…Is it starting?”
Seo-jun stood, observing the people gathered at the Namgung Clan. His expression, which had softened over the past few days, became rigid once again.
It couldn’t be helped.
Several days had passed since the meeting between the martial artists of the heavens.
As so many people gathered at the Namgung Clan, there were continuous minor incidents and accidents.
Although the visitors were cautious in their actions and no major incidents occurred, a strange tension filled the entire clan.
The days passed quickly in this precarious balance, and eventually, it was the day of Namgung Jincheon’s funeral.
Today, Namgung Jincheon’s coffin would be laid to rest in the tomb.
“……”
Seo-jun, with a somber gaze, looked at the coffin where Namgung Jincheon had been laid. It was said to be a specially treated coffin.
On the outside, it looked like a luxurious coffin, but Seo-jun couldn’t hide his bitter feelings.
No matter how expensive or fine the coffin was, it seemed too small for someone who had once ruled the skies to rest in.
“Open the way to the heavens!”
The procession was mostly made up of martial artists from the Namgung Clan.
Led by Namgung Myeong, martial forces like the Changcheon, Biyeon, Cheongpung, and Nokrim groups, as well as most of the clan's factions, gathered in a long procession.
The procession moved through the streets of Habi, with a heavy atmosphere.
On both sides of the streets, martial artists from other factions quietly paid their respects, and the citizens of Habi respectfully lowered their heads.
There was no sound of wailing. The people of Namgung did not view this as Namgung Jincheon’s final journey.
It was a procession to bless the head of the family, who would open his eyes in a new place.
In a solemn atmosphere, the procession halted in front of a tomb.
The tombstone bore three characters, seemingly carved with a sword.
‘Yeon So-hee ’
Seo-jun could not tear his eyes away from the tombstone. The sword-like markings in the shape of the name sent a piercing pain to his heart.
He instantly knew who had engraved that name. It had been engraved by his father-in-law.
Naturally, Namgung Jincheon’s tomb had been placed beside it.
The side-by-side tombs of the husband and wife. As Seo-jun gazed at them with a complex heart, the ceremony continued.
The bloodline of Namgung, his family, and all those whom Namgung had accepted as family bowed in reverence.
Seo-jun also bowed and silently observed the proceedings.
It felt as though everyone else’s time moved quickly, while his own dragged on. Before he knew it, most of the ceremony had ended.
Namgung Jincheon’s tomb was sealed, and the tombstone was erected. The tombstone was blank, with nothing engraved.
Namgung Myeong, who would succeed Namgung Jincheon, stood in front of the tombstone.
Srrrk—
Namgung Myeong unsheathed his sword and closed his eyes.
His opened eyes then looked at the empty tombstone. Slowly, but firmly, his sword swung and carved characters into the stone.
‘Namgung Jincheon.
The characters were neat, much like Namgung Myeong’s personality.
Seo-jun watched the scene. Two tombs, two tombstones.
The sky seemed to mourn for them, as it began to drizzle lightly.
“……”
Seo-jun tilted his head. The sky, darkened with rain, didn’t sit well with him.
‘Better than cloudy though…’
The wind of a martial artist in harmony with the world reached the heavens.
The clouds that had been obscuring the sky seemed to be swept away, and the sun, once high above, now shone brightly.
The rain that had already fallen sparkled as it met the sunlight.
Finally, Seo-jun relaxed his stiff expression as he looked at the tombs of the husband and wife.
‘I wonder if you’ve met her now.’
If they were within reach, surely his father-in-law would not have failed to achieve it. Perhaps they had already reunited and were reminiscing together.
For a moment, Seo-jun closed his eyes and silently conveyed his thoughts.
The funeral, which had started on a cloudy day, ended under a clear sky.
Between the pouring sunlight, Seo-jun began to walk. Chun-bong and Namgung Sua silently followed behind.
Seo-jun smiled faintly as he felt the weight of those walking beside him.
‘May you bloom where you are.’
The white mourning clothes fluttered in the wind.
With the end of the funeral, the coronation of Namgung Myeong began.
The coronation was not extravagant. In a solemn atmosphere, the members of the Namgung Clan stood in rows and observed the new head of the family.
Namgung Myeong proceeded with the ceremony, his face firm. The elders of the Namgung Clan, standing behind him, looked at him warmly, as if seeing their own son.
Seo-jun also stood with the elders, watching Namgung Myeong.
The coronation had no special procedures. The position of the head of the Namgung Clan was not one given by appointment.
Normally, the previous head of the family would pass down the title to the successor, but this time, it was different.
The position could not remain vacant, so, with the funeral over, the new head of the clan proclaimed his will.
“…Namgung is not a sect. Namgung is a family that carries the name Namgung. We are a family that inherits the name Namgung, not blood. This is something we must always carry in our hearts.”
His quiet voice spread with inner power.
Seo-jun, still gazing at Namgung Myeong’s back, turned his gaze. As if thinking the same, he locked eyes with Namgung Hyeok.
‘He said something similar back then.’
When he was taught the Emperor's Sword style by his father-in-law, Namgung Hyeok had said something about closing off his dantian, cutting his tongue and wrist. Namgung Myeong had said something similar to him back then.
“Don’t forget. We are not a lineage passed down by martial arts. We are a family that carries on the Namgung name. Because we have family, we have a clan. And that is why we call ourselves the Namgung Clan.”
What symbolizes Namgung is the name Namgung itself. Even if someone carries a different surname, those who share the same purpose under the same roof are Namgung.
“The sword of Namgung does not bend. We are the heavens of Zhongyuan. No one shall act arrogantly in the face of the name Namgung.”
Seo-jun once again looked at Namgung Myeong’s back. His heightened senses, sharp as ever, sensed a slight tremor.
Still, Namgung Myeong stood proudly at that spot.
‘Did they say positions shape people?’
That back, now much broader than when he first saw it, seemed strong. For a moment, Seo-jun felt like he saw his father-in-law in Namgung Myeong.
Seo-jun then looked at the elders standing behind him.
Namgung Yeon, Jin Ga-wee, Namgung Yeongbo, Namgung Baek, Namgung Hyeok, Namgung Hyeoncheol, and strangely, Pae Jin-gwang as well.
There were a few unfamiliar faces, but most of them were familiar.
It was a strange feeling. Less than three years had passed since he fell into the martial world, and now he had this many family members.
“Elder Seo-jun, step forward.”
At Namgung Myeong’s call, Seo-jun walked forward. Standing beside Namgung Myeong, he faced the countless eyes staring at him.
“From today, Elder Seo-jun is appointed as the Grand Preceptor.”
He silently listened to the continued words and met the gaze of countless eyes.
The warriors of Namgung.
Changcheon, Cheongpung, Biyeon, Nokrim, Cheonyang, and Geumju.
Faces he had encountered in passing all stared at him.
However, there were more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones. He didn’t know all of their names.
Still, they were his family.
Seo-jun suddenly looked up at the sky, which had cleared. He looked at his family standing below it.
The energy emanating from those gathered in one place made the sky take on a mystical blue hue.
“Ah….”
Seo-jun saw the shared thread among them. The martial arts the warriors of Namgung practiced resonated with him.
Seomjeon Changroe Simgong and Seomjeon Sipsam Geomroe.
The martial arts Seo-jun created had now become the foundation of Namgung.
As time passed, some would reach the peak through Cheojeol Jeontonggong, and others would refine their strength through Cheonroe Myeolmagong.
Still, others would take Cheonshin Dan created through Cheonin Shindan to strengthen their bodies.
‘…My mark.’
Already, a deep mark had been left on the Namgung Clan. The traces he left would only grow deeper.
His chest stirred strangely.
‘The martial lineage I’ve cultivated.’
Seo-jun saw the individual branches extending from each person, coming together to form a massive tree.
A tree that reached the sky, casting a giant shadow over them.
“…So this is what it is.”
A deep smile spread across Seo-jun’s face.
“Pay respects to the Grand Preceptor!”
With the voice carrying inner power, all the warriors of Namgung looked at Seo-jun. The eyes filling his sight were all Namgung.
The countless warriors of Namgung simultaneously pressed their right fists to their chests. With a loud boom, a voice even larger than that erupted.
Chung!
The salute to the Grand Preceptor of Namgung shook the sky. The heat in their eyes. Seo-jun let out a small laugh.
“Haha…”
His chest swelled. It wasn’t in vain. He had done it right. Even if he wasn’t as great as his father-in-law, he stood here proudly.
Seo-jun stood straight, embracing the fervor of his family.
‘Namgung Ilmaek Jigan Hwawi Chamcheon Geosu…’
The thread that connects Namgung into one, forming a giant tree that pierces the sky.
The realization struck like a lightning bolt through his mind, and the brilliant five stars above him transformed the giant tree before him into martial power.
The Grand Preceptor of Namgung, Seo-jun, felt the blue glow ripple across his eyes. His lips curled into a faint smile.
‘The name of the martial art…’
Namgung Ilmaek.
It seemed like the right name.
The depths of the underworld.
Namgung Jincheon opened his eyes.
[The sinner Namgung Jincheon, listen…!]