“Now it’s not Daoist Cheonghwi, but Hyungnim Cheonghwi!”
“…Y-Yes, that is how it turned out.”
“I’m glad we’ll be living under the same roof! While guests may part ways when their paths differ, family remains close at heart even when physically distant. How wonderful! I look forward to our relationship, Hyungnim Cheonghwi!”
“……”
Envers Redburn, who had become Namgung Cheonghwi as of today, twisted his body in all directions every time he heard the word “Hyungnim”. Namgung Myeong asked worriedly, wondering if he might be ill.
“Why are you twisting your body like that, Hyungnim Cheonghwi?”
Namgung Seungah next to him raised the corner of her mouth. She thought this was a chance to get revenge for the 0 confessions, 1 rejection incident.
“Can’t you tell at a glance? He seems unaccustomed to being called ‘Hyungnim’. In that case, we must call him that often until he gets used to it… Right, Orabeoni Cheonghwi?”
“Orabeoni is fine.”
“Do you really want to die?!” Squabble squabble.
After a brief tussle using the Grabbing Hand Technique, Namgung Cheonghwi came up with a very philosophical question in his mind.
Family… What am I even supposed to do now?
It was undoubtedly something he had longed for. However, having lived without the meaning of family for quite some time, he was now at a loss as to what exactly it was.
Let’s retrace memories. Family-like behavior…
I had even shared half a bean with Elder Brother Roderus. Then, is giving of one’s own the true behavior of family?
“…Daoi- I mean, Orabeoni. Why do you keep moving beans to my plate?”
“To share…”
“I don’t like beans, so give them to Myeong. I said give them to Myeong!”
“Noonim and Hyungnim! Both of you! Picky eating is bad! I learned that to harmonize the energy of the Five Elements, one must eat everything without exception to strengthen bones and muscles and properly accumulate Inner Qi. Also, beans grow from the earth, so absorbing Earth Qi—“
With Namgung Myeong’s explanation as background music, Namgung Cheonghwi and Namgung Seungah got into a fight over who could move more of their beans to the other’s plate.
Cheonghwi, who was deflecting beans using the Heavenly Demon’s martial studies, thought this didn’t seem quite right. When sharing with Elder Brother Roderus, there was affection, but now, perhaps because of abundance, there was no particular feeling.
He pulled out another memory from his bundle of memories.
His mother had cared for young Envers with utmost devotion. When he cried from hunger, she breastfed him; when he fell and cried, she comforted him.
Then, is taking care of someone like a child left by the water’s edge the true behavior of family?
“…What are you doing?”
“I was on standby in case you might get cut by the sword.”
“I’m going to train now. Are you worried I might get cut by a sword while practicing swordsmanship I’ve been honing for over a decade?”
“That is right.”
Swoosh!!
Namgung Seungah unleashed an unrestrained killing movement. Cheonghwi, who was performing evasive maneuvers, reconsidered, thinking this might not be it. Excessive kindness might make the protected person feel insulted.
Another… family-like action.
The Duke of Redburn taught assassination techniques, showed the scene of brothers being created from the front row, and didn’t even treat his sons as sons if their abilities were lacking.
“……”
No matter how inexperienced he was, he at least knew that that wasn’t ‘family-like’.
Cheonghwi humbly acknowledged that he didn’t know much about family. And since one should learn what they don’t know from others, he honestly asked for guidance.
Namgung Seungah made an incredulous expression.
“…So that’s why you’ve been acting crazy all this time?”
“I tried my best.”
“You know how when you’re learning martial arts, if you’re too tense and put in too much force, your movements become stiff and unsightly? That’s exactly how you are right now, Daoi… Orabeoni.”
To the question of what family is and how one should act, Namgung Seungah, an adopted child, answered.
“What’s so special about family? We’re not even blood-related.”
“…?”
“Don’t be constrained by the framework of family. There are hundreds of ways to accept family, and among them, some focus on honor or power like Namgung Zhao. That might not be right… but you need to find your own way.”
So stop doing weird things. Namgung Seungah snapped that and left. It was a reasonable statement.
Left alone in the Namgung Clan’s garden, Namgung Cheonghwi sat cross-legged and fell into thought.
Roderus had taught him a flawed Mana Operation Technique, damaging Envers’ Mana Circuits. Until now, he had thought of it as betrayal and it remained a deep wound in his heart, but…
Looking back, Roderus had simpler and faster options available.
If he had been jealous of Envers’ talent and wanted to exclude him, he could have just killed him. If he had thrust a rapier into him while he slept, he would have closed his eyes without even screaming.
So… perhaps he deliberately did that to make him leave the Redburn Household.
Maybe he wanted to protect him like that.
Now he understands. If he and Namgung Myeong were in the same situation, and if there was no other method that came to mind. Perhaps Cheonghwi would have made a similar choice.
“Then, Elder Brother Roderus must have seen me as very young at that time… It’s a bit disappointing. Elder Brother.”
He thought he was quite mature even then. Or wasn’t he?
Cheonghwi recalled his memories with Roderus one by one. Sometimes, even while sparring, there were times when Roderus would attack particularly harshly. To the point where Envers would be injured and unable to properly participate in the competition.
Until now, he had thought those were just days when Roderus was in a bad mood, but perhaps it was also a consideration difficult to understand.
Thinking carefully, on days when the atmosphere was ominous, Roderus invariably inflicted injuries. And on such days, there were often fatalities in the vicious competition among illegitimate children.
He was keeping him far away from danger.
“…There were clues all along. I just did not see them.”
Namgung Cheonghwi stood up, dusting off his dusty bottom. And he walked a little.
If, after all, everything in the world is like martial arts, and it’s up to oneself to decide what meaning (意) to put into the word family.
Then. For Namgung Cheonghwi, family was a relationship where hearts were deeply understood.
Having been hurt a lot by misunderstandings, now he sincerely hoped to face things properly. He truly wished he could do so.
When I meet Elder Brother Roderus again, let’s have an open conversation. So that we can return to being close brothers again.
Not just that, but also Selvier and Luna. He felt he wanted to get a step closer to those he was grateful to. Living as if being chased, there were too many things he hadn’t taken in with his eyes.
If he doesn’t convey his gratitude, then…
Having organized his thoughts, Cheonghwi took out a letter from his bosom.
It was a letter from Namgung Zhao asking him to come to the nearby forest when night falls. There was also a warning that if he didn’t come, he couldn’t guarantee the safety of his ‘family’.
“Hmm…”
Namgung Cheonghwi firmly tied the sword he had briefly leaned against a rock to his waist. It was a sturdy longsword given by the Clan Lord to welcome him to the Namgung Clan.
He shall tie up loose ends.
===============================================================
He walks along the path. He heads back the way he came.
He passed through the main gate of the Namgung Clan. Now he exchanges greetings through only the medium of their eyes with the guard warriors who share the same surname. He told them he was going out briefly on an errand.
He passes through the bustling main street. Scenes that were once unfamiliar are now familiar to his eyes. Delivery people jumping across rooftops were also part of daily life.
He sees two martial artists fighting crudely in the marketplace. Whether they’re fighting drunk, both their faces are bright red like boiled octopus.
Cheonghwi intervenes between them as he passes by, lightly deflecting their force and making them sit down.
“Huff…!”
“A-A Master!”
The fight stopped at the master’s intervention. Namgung Cheonghwi left them with words to fight after sobering up, then continued on his way.
Following the path and crossing the city gate, greenery begins to fill his view.
As he walked, the sunset came, the sky turned crimson, then became pitch black. He thought it was indeed true that night comes quickly in the forest… but.
“……”
Perhaps, it was not because of the forest.
His skin tingles. He feels a sensation as if his soul is trembling.
From far away, a malicious energy spreads. An energy that seems to extend to the sky and cover it thinly, seeming faint yet heavily pressing down. As if a layer has been covered over the world.
He is reluctant to approach. Fear wells up inside. Looking closely at the fear, its shape is very familiar.
Heavenly Demon. This was the Heavenly Demon’s energy.
The sensation of facing something enormous, like looking up at a towering wall, that he felt when confronting the Heavenly Demon.
Was this the future the Crazy Wizard had read when he said they were bound by fate?
He could turn back now. The sense of helplessness he felt towards the Heavenly Demon was still vivid. Even if he challenged now after learning so much, Envers would be miserably defeated.
However…
Namgung Cheonghwi stands here for his family.
“…I cannot run away. I would rather bash my head against the wall.”
If Selvier was someone who doesn’t fear challenges, and Luna was someone who enjoys them… Then he will be one to shoulder challenges.
He walked.
As he advanced in the direction guided by the energy, he could see Namgung Zhao’s figure through the trees, looking up at the sky. In his grasp was an ominous book.
To Cheonghwi… it looked upside down. It was not that Namgung Zhao was holding the book. It felt as if the book was holding Namgung Zhao. The presence of the book was that enormous.
It was a vague feeling, but Cheonghwi instinctively knew that this book was the root cause of this situation.
Namgung Zhao spoke in a dejected voice. His clothes were disheveled and his hair was unkempt, showing none of his usual noble appearance.
“You came, Cheonghwi.”
“Namgung Zhao. Have you decided to drop honorifics altogether?”
“There’s no reason to be polite to someone who’s going to die.”
“It does not seem to be a matter of reason. Rather, I wonder if you do not even have the leisure to mourn.”
Shing. Namgung Zhao drew his longsword.
The well-sharpened precious sword was emitting a cold blue light. The killing intent was thick.
“You ruined all my plans. If it weren’t for you, I would have taken Myeong’s blood long ago… and obtained the Heavenly Demon’s power!”
“Speak correctly. I did not ruin your plans. I saved you. So that you would not regret later.”
“Regret? The only thing I regret is not killing you earlier. Instead of entrusting it to that fake Daoist, I should have forcibly cut off your head right there!”
“Then, why not try it now? Do you not think it is not too late even now?”
Namgung Cheonghwi also drew his sword in response.
Swish.
Namgung Zhao was taking the perfect form of the Boundless Firmament Sword Technique. It was a flawless preparatory stance, like a marble sculpture. However, his heart was impatient and closed, so he wasn’t free.
On the other hand, Namgung Cheonghwi, having only recently learned the Boundless Firmament Sword Technique, had many gaps and clumsy postures here and there. However, he knew the intent of the martial art, so he was unconcerned and relaxed.
In the silence.
Along with the sound of a bird fluttering up, the sword fight began.
“Hyaaah──!!”
As Namgung Zhao stepped in with his footwork and thrust with single-minded focus, his momentum was like an arrow being shot. The perfect form of martial art unfolded with pure Inner Qi contained as much powerful force as its level of mastery.
Namgung Cheonghwi met the sword to assess it.
Clang-!!
Cheonghwi’s sword was greatly deflected.
Namgung Zhao’s sword strike, able to freely use Inner Qi, had the upper hand in strength compared to Cheonghwi, whose Inner Qi control was unstable. There was no way to win if he competed in strength head-on.
Namgung Zhao’s sword spread out like a crane spreading its tail feathers. Smoothly transitioning from thrusting to slashing, he aimed for Cheonghwi’s chest.
Lazy Donkey Roll. Cheonghwi rolled on the ground without hesitation to avoid the blade.
“What an unsightly sight!”
“One should not be bound by outward appearances. You were talking about the Heavenly Demon’s power, but if it were the Heavenly Demon, he would have used the Lazy Donkey Roll dozens of times.”
If that was the choice with the highest probability of winning, the Heavenly Demon would have just done it, no matter how ridiculous the movement.
Namgung Zhao’s sword fiercely cut the ground like a gliding hawk. Cheonghwi used Ignition on the ground while rolling to avoid the slash, and from a low position, swung his sword to aim for Zhao’s ankle.
Namgung Zhao jumped high to avoid it. In the gap created as they both focused on evasion, Cheonghwi opened his mouth.
“There is a part I do not understand.”
“…You have the leisure to chatter, you bastard!”
Clang-!!
Once again, metal clashed against metal.
Blood light flickered and wavered in Namgung Zhao’s eyes. His swordsmanship became more violent, and gradually, a dark red color began to mix into the blue Sword Qi.
Namgung Zhao’s Boundless Firmament Sword Technique swung in all directions, pressuring Cheonghwi, but he met it as if soaring through the sky. Even in a situation where the sword path was restricted by dense Sword Qi, he was free.
Narrowing his shoulders and twisting his body to swing, or stepping in with a firm stance while aiming for Namgung Zhao’s instep; by mixing various martial arts, Namgung Zhao couldn’t easily settle the match.
“Why are you trying to kill Myeong?”
“The secret of the Demonic Descent Divine Art (魔降神術) said to offer the blood of family!”
“After achieving that secret and gaining power, what do you intend to do?”
“I must make the Namgung Clan even greater. So that no one looks down on the clan!”
Clang, clang-!
Namgung Cheonghwi gently rotated his wrist, using the elasticity of his joints to slash like a whip. It looked similar to the movement of a chain sickle.
When the surprise attack penetrated with great force, Namgung Zhao’s advancing sword momentarily stopped. Cheonghwi didn’t miss that gap and aimed for his palm.
Ignition.
Boom-!
Cheonghwi’s quickly shot fist hit Namgung Zhao’s chest and pushed him back.
“Kueok…!”
“You are the one looking down on the clan. How can someone trying to kill a family member claim to be protecting the clan?”
“You don’t understand! Only I can make the Namgung Clan great. Only I can lead the family! I must keep that faith!”
“Who exactly told you to become an excellent Clan Lord?”
“That’s…!!”
Myeong did.
It was what Myeong used to say habitually. That Hyungnim Zhao would undoubtedly become an excellent Clan Lord.
Namgung Zhao’s movements suddenly stiffened. With a confused expression, he looked at the evil book still held in his left hand.
Even when he tried to remove his fingers, the book wouldn’t fall off, as if it were glued on.
The blood light flickering in his eyes subsided. His breath, which had sounded as if he was being chased by something, quieted down, and emotions other than anger settled in his eyes.
In his confusion, Namgung Zhao murmured.
“…Myeong is a genius. His talent was something I couldn’t dare to keep up with. Someday, without fail, Myeong would reach a realm I couldn’t even dream of.”
He felt jealous, and perhaps there was also fear that the Clan Lord position might pass to Myeong. And also, the desire to be a ‘role model of a brother’ for as long as possible.
“…So I tried to improve my skills by learning the sword that cuts the sky, but Father never showed me the ancestors’ secret chamber. So I had no choice but to use other methods.”
So he picked up the book.
The book was full of evil secret techniques for improving one’s skills by sacrificing people. Namgung Zhao harmed innocent people and took their blood. It seems he felt guilty at first, but as time went on, he felt nothing.
One, then two. The victims kept increasing. He became intoxicated with the heterodox path.
“…I know, I know. From the moment I killed innocent people, I was already worse than a common thug. But…”
Even though he was a wolf who could harm people anytime for his own sake, he had a purpose. But when the Blood Qi started to invade his marrow, he forgot even his purpose.
The petty man who wanted to maintain the authority of the eldest son at all costs was ultimately consumed by power that was merely a means.
Namgung Zhao looked at Cheonghwi with gloomy eyes.
“…I won’t repent. Even if I could turn back time, I would have chosen the method of killing people and easily gaining power. Because that’s the kind of person I am.”
“……”
“I have no regrets for all those actions, but being enchanted by this damn book… forgetting even my family, that hurts.”
Namgung Zhao put the blade to his own nape. All his plans were already in shambles, and it was better to die than to be swayed by this mere book.
The moment he applied force to the handle to take his own life.
“…Kuh, urk.”
Crack. Crunch.
Ominous red energy spread in all directions from the Demonic Descent Divine Art (魔降神術), climbing up Namgung Zhao’s hand and spreading throughout his body. Blood vessels bulged, and sounds that shouldn’t come from muscles and bones were heard.
Something was happening. It shouldn’t be left like this.
Namgung Zhao shouted, rolling his eyes back.
“…K-Kill me!”
“–Hup!”
Namgung Cheonghwi, to finish the incident before being devoured by the demonic book, closed the distance with Ignition and swung his sword with all his might.
Whoosh──!!
Just as the accelerated blade touched Namgung Zhao’s nape, about to dig into his neck.
Namgung Zhao’s body showed an incomprehensible movement and disappeared from view. Namgung Cheonghwi blinked in bewilderment, then as if struck by lightning, realized something and exerted force to protect his entire body.
An incomprehensible technique. That just now was the Heavenly Demon’s movement.
Thud.
A fist touched Cheonghwi’s chest.
And then, BOOM──!!
“Kuk…!!”
Cheonghwi, hit by an exquisite Fa Jin1 , flew about 3 zhang into the air.
Using the Thousand Catty Weight Movement Technique to stick his feet to the ground, he firmly grasped his longsword with both hands and faced forward. Before his eyes was Namgung Zhao, wavering like a heat haze.
Cheonghwi saw the Heavenly Demon beyond Namgung Zhao’s rolled-back eyes. That being had descended through space and time and nested in Namgung Zhao’s body.