Twenty-some years ago, in the days when Namgung Mucheon and No Mun were still wandering the Martial World, building their reputations. No Mun had once challenged Namgung Mucheon.
He had been drunk on the pride of being an elite swordsman from a great sect, and he despised the swordsmen who threw their weight around under the banner of a martial family.
Intending to teach them what a sword truly was, he had been waiting for an opportunity when he came across a Young Master of the Namgung family and decided to test him.
‘Righteous and cherishes justice, benevolence, and etiquette, my foot.’
He was beaten. Literally beaten to a pulp, as if someone were trying to raise dust on a rainy day. Saying he needed to fix the mentality of those sect fellows, Namgung Mucheon beat him like a dog.
He was pummeled so badly that he wanted to find and kill the ‘damn sect bastards with no manners’ that Namgung Mucheon kept shouting about while hitting him, whoever they were. From that day on, No Mun never went near a martial family again.
‘I heard he calmed down and became dignified after he got older and became the Family Head!’
He came here believing that!
“…Senior Namgung, please calm your anger. I was merely testing the Namgung child’s martial strength, as it was surprisingly outstanding…”
“Who’s your senior?”
“…Sword Sovereign…”
“…”
“Lord Sword Sovereign.”
“Pathetic whelp.”
Namgung Mucheon clicked his tongue. His gaze turned toward the two disciples of Mount Hua’s younger generation standing on one side of the Training Ground. One had a look of terror, and the other…
‘Hoh.’
Afraid, yet sharp. A spirit that looked ready to charge at a moment’s notice if even a single hair on his senior’s head was touched. His claws were fully extended, a brazen sight, but it was not a bad spirit.
A tiger, after all, must know how to show its claws.
“So you’ve gotten old too, dragging around your own disciples.”
“…They are my martial nephew and my disciple. As you say, I too have aged to some extent, so if Senior Namgung could please show some consideration for my face…”
“A disciple, you say.”
That brazen one must be his disciple.
“You’ve raised one good disciple.”
Namgung Mucheon turned his indifferent gaze back to Seolhwa. Their eyes met, and Seolhwa looked back at him. —What do you wish for me to do? I can break an arm or a leg.
Seolhwa glanced at Yu Kang and No Mun once each before answering. —The disciples of Mount Hua are here, and I don’t think it’s necessary to tarnish Mount Hua’s honor in front of everyone. —So? —Please forgive him just this once. He had unleashed his energy, but he had not revealed any killing intent.
That was why Seolhwa had fearlessly confronted No Mun, and it was the reason she forgave him.
“Hahahaha!”
The three from Mount Hua flinched at Namgung Mucheon’s hearty laughter. Namgung Mucheon spoke to No Mun.
“You live today thanks to my granddaughter’s outstanding character. Do not forget it.”
Namgung Mucheon’s eyes flashed. No Mun hastily nodded his head.
“…Yes. I will not forget.”
After Namgung Mucheon’s appearance, the situation was quickly resolved. No Mun, who had tried to intimidate them into getting the elixir, ended up getting nothing and had to back down. The family’s opinion about fostering ties with Mount Hua completely vanished, and the Elders and Hall Masters shouted that they should demand compensation from Mount Hua for the damages.
“This is an insult to the Namgung! How can a great sect be so arrogant and audacious!”
“That’s right! If the Family Head hadn’t come out of the training grotto early, he looked ready to kill us all!”
“Heh. Is that person truly one of the ten great masters? The title Plum Blossom Divine Sword is wasted on him. Tsk tsk.”
The sentiment to protest the Bone Marrow Cleansing when the Family Head emerged from the training grotto also naturally faded away. It was only natural, as Namgung Mucheon had helped reduce the damage.
“What are your thoughts, Family Head?”
Chief Steward Namgung Mun asked Namgung Mucheon. The enraged family members held their breath and looked at the Family Head. Namgung Mucheon, who had his eyes closed, slowly raised his gaze and looked around the council hall.
His eyes rested on his two sons.
“Cheonghae.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“I heard you tried to establish ties with Mount Hua.”
“…Yes.”
That was before No Mun showed his arrogant attitude. Until then, he had been searching for an elixir to meet No Mun’s demands. The Elder Council was aware of this as well, but the Elder Council Leader coughed drily and averted his gaze.
After a glance at him, Cheonghae bowed his head toward Namgung Mucheon.
“My judgment was lacking.”
“What went wrong?”
Cheonghae could not answer. If it weren’t for No Mun’s actions, the exchange with Mount Hua would surely have benefited the Namgung family. If there was a mistake, it was…
‘I didn’t expect someone like the Plum Blossom Divine Sword to act so rashly.’
A man who was an elder of Mount Hua, no less.
“Cheongun.”
“Yes, Father.”
“What are your thoughts?”
The gazes of the Elders and Hall Masters turned to Cheongun all at once. While Namgung Cheonghae had been running around trying to secure an exchange with Mount Hua, he had done nothing. What thoughts could a man who was busy taking care of only his daughter possibly have?
There was not a shred of expectation in the eyes looking at him. A short silence passed, and Namgung Cheongun slowly spoke.
“I do not understand why the Namgung should need Mount Hua’s name in the first place.”
“…!”
A flicker of interest appeared in Namgung Mucheon’s stoic gaze.
“Speak further.”
“Is the Namgung family so weak as to need the power of Mount Hua? I do not think so.”
Cheongun raised his gaze and slowly looked around at the Hall Masters and Elders.
“For eight years, I left the family and wandered the world, and I felt the great power of the Namgung name with my own skin. Bandits would clear the way and ruffians would lower their weapons at the mere mention of the Namgung name.”
Because no one in the Unorthodox faction wanted to be on bad terms with a powerful and influential family like the Namgung.
“Some say this power of the Namgung comes from you, Family Head, but I do not think so.”
Namgung Cheongun looked at Namgung Mucheon.
“The Namgung is by no means weak. Mount Hua is also called the greatest sword sect in the Central Plains, but I do not think we need to bow our heads to obtain a friendly relationship.”
The corners of Namgung Mucheon’s mouth curved into a faint smile. His face was filled with satisfaction.
“You are right.”
He acknowledged Cheongun’s words with a nod.
“It is strength that makes the Namgung powerful. That is never obtained by the hands of others, nor through relationships with other sects or families.”
He clenched his fist tightly. With just that, the energy around him erupted violently.
“Today’s incident is not Mount Hua’s fault. If you wish to blame someone, blame your own weakness. Blame yourselves for not possessing the strength to protect the family.”
If there had been just ten supreme masters, No Mun would not have been able to run wild as he did today. Because they became Elders, because the work of a Hall Master was busy, they neglected their training and remained at the Supreme Realm, and things came to this.
“Did you wish to gain the power of Mount Hua? Did you wish to elevate the family’s name? Does today’s incident make your blood boil with injustice?”
Namgung Mucheon’s voice echoed quietly, yet clearly, through the Celestial Tiger Hall.
“If so, then cultivate your strength.”
It resonated in the hearts of the Hall Masters and Elders.
“Cultivate your strength and prove the might of the Namgung. Look at yourselves before you blame others.”
It was a reprimand, and— “When you obtain a power that no one can look down upon, the world’s attention will naturally gather, and when you have the power to rule the world, any faction will bow its head on its own.” It was the encouragement of one who had walked that path before them.
“Make the Namgung into such a family.”
Those gathered in the Celestial Tiger Hall stiffened with tension. No, it was a certain degree of inspiration. The extinguished flame of the warrior ignited a blaze in their chests.
The fighting spirit, dulled by long peace, sounded a warning bell. Watching them, tense with determination, Namgung Mucheon nodded with satisfaction.
“I look forward to the Heavenly Martial Tournament.”
The Namgung family’s greatest event, a confirmation of Namgung’s martial arts. The Heavenly Martial Tournament was ten days away.
A night of deep darkness. Amidst the enveloping silence, someone knocked on No Mun’s door.
“Come in.”
No Mun, already knowing who was beyond the door, answered, and the door opened.
“Disciple Yu Kang pays his respects to Master.”
No Mun nodded to accept the greeting.
“What is it, at this hour of the night?”
“This disciple has an unresolved question and has come despite the late hour.”
“Ask.”
Yu Kang raised his gaze to meet No Mun’s. “One is about the Great Rebirth Pill.”
“…”
“This disciple has heard nothing about the Great Rebirth Pill. May I be so bold as to ask if we came to the Namgung family to retrieve the Great Rebirth Pill?”
“Yes.”
Yu Kang swallowed dryly.
“Then, may I ask why Mount Hua is trying to find a secret treasure of Shaolin?”
“I forbid it. That is not for you to know.”
“I understand.”
At No Mun’s sharp reply, Yu Kang did not ask further. He hadn’t expected to hear everything when he came to see No Mun.
“Then I would like to ask something else.”
“Ask.”
“Why did you entrust the sparring match with the Namgung young lady to me?”
Yu Kang once again raised his gaze to meet No Mun’s. “That I would be no match for the Namgung young lady…” No Mun’s expression was as tranquil as before.
“You already knew, did you not, Master?”