Namgung Hyeok couldn't tell whether they were mocking him or speaking in earnest.

He’d heard that this Seo-jun guy hadn’t even been with the Namgung family for a full year.

But what was that?

They said he’d created two new techniques, one divine-level technique, delayed the Gilyeon Lord in a battle, and even played a big part in developing a new elixir?

Utter nonsense.

And that Life and Death Gates technique he supposedly mastered? It was unheard of in the entire history of martial arts.

If it had just been that rascal bragging, he might have ignored it, but with even the family head supporting him, it became impossible to make sense of the situation.

Could the family head have a reason to lie? So, it’s true? But even so, it still didn't add up.

His head couldn't accept it, and neither could his heart. No matter how he thought about it, it just didn't seem possible. Not even Ju Un-cheon, once called the God of Martial Arts, could have done this.

Creating three new techniques in such a short time? Fine, maybe martial arts, but then what was all this talk about elixirs?

"Hah..."

All he could think was that they were mocking him. Perhaps they considered him an outsider after his long absence from the family...

Namgung Hyeok shut his eyes tightly.

Having secluded himself in the mountains for training, he barely knew anything about the current state of the Namgung family.

If he hadn’t happened to overhear discussions about the Sovereign Sword Form in Anhui, he probably wouldn’t have come at all.

Hadn’t he come because he couldn’t tolerate them completely ignoring the Namgung family traditions that had spanned thousands of years?

Yet now that things had come to this, he couldn’t make sense of anything.

Seo-jun and Namgung Jin-cheon continued their conversation as if completely unbothered by his presence.

“Father-in-law, what’s this divine-level technique? I don’t recall creating any new martial arts techniques.”

“Isn’t there Cheonin-shin-dan-gong?”

“What? That one? Why would that be considered a divine-level technique?”

“If it’s a martial art that can create an elixir, of course, it’s divine-level…”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I see your point.”

Namgung Hyeok, unable to hold back any longer, raised his voice.

“Family head! You’ll have to answer for these claims!”

“I intend to…” Namgung Jin-cheon nodded calmly. He had nothing to hide since it was all the truth.

Watching them, Chun-bong thought to herself, What the hell has that guy been doing while I wasn’t around?

She’d heard some things, but hearing it again, it sounded absurd.

That was all supposed to be the work of one person in less than a year?

If Seo-jun had been with the Fallen Sword Sect before it collapsed…

Slap!

Chun-bong slapped her own cheek and shook her head. Seo-jun noticed right away.

“My cheek!”

A large hand rubbed her flushed cheek gently.

Chun-bong sighed.

“That guy looks seriously pissed. Are we good with this?”

“Who cares? Is anything more important than this?”

Once he confirmed her cheek was unharmed, Seo-jun finally smiled and straightened up, looking at Namgung Hyeok.

“I get your concern, but I won’t do anything to harm the Namgung family.”

“How can I believe that? Moreover, the Sovereign Sword Form is not something to be shared with just anyone who claims they mean no harm.”

“That’s why I’ll prove it.”

“Prove what, exactly?”

“My qualifications.”

Seo-jun tipped his head with his hands clasped behind him.

It was a cocky posture, and while Namgung Hyeok’s brows furrowed, he couldn’t ignore Seo-jun’s aura.

The nonexistent aura that seemed like a lie before now filled the entire family hall, announcing his presence unmistakably.

Namgung Hyeok responded in kind.

Rumble—!

A heavy aura surged forward, pressing against Seo-jun’s presence. But it could only go halfway before being pushed back. In fact, it was slightly repelled.

“What…?”

Namgung Hyeok’s eyes quivered in shock.

Aura wasn’t everything in martial arts, but how could he withstand his aura so easily?

Seo-jun stepped forward, meeting Namgung Hyeok’s gaze directly.

“Will that suffice?”

A faint image emerged behind Seo-jun, that of a sovereign descending to the earth.

Namgung Hyeok’s face flushed bright red.

“You’ll regret those words…”

“Oh, really?”

Seo-jun chuckled.

“I doubt it.”

 

Namgung Hyeok stomped away, grumbling about returning soon.

As he watched him leave, Seo-jun, making sure no one else noticed, discreetly raised a middle finger behind him and spoke to Namgung Myung.

“Hey, little brother. That was rough.”

“What? No, it wasn’t really…”

“Come on, it was rough. Didn’t he stop you from saying anything? Who even is that guy?”

He’d heard it was his father-in-law’s great-uncle, but why had he come out of seclusion only to try to bring down the family’s future successor?

Of course, given the Namgung family’s values, respecting their elders was essential, but still, to stand so defiant in front of his father-in-law?

Hah, maybe he’s crazy?

Then again, it could be seen as courage. Whether his devotion to the Namgung family drove him or an inferiority complex due to the Sovereign Sword Form, it wasn’t clear.

No, considering his rank, Namgung Hyeok shouldn’t feel inferior, should he?

Given how seriously martial artists take hierarchy, it might not have been as rude as it appeared.

After all, even in seclusion, he wasn’t removed from the family registry.

His father-in-law even addressed him respectfully.

Well, it was all too complicated.

Giving up on the matter, Seo-jun chuckled.

“Actually, it’s surprising, little brother. You know how to speak up, huh? Refreshing!”

We’re the Namgung Family, not some Namgung Clan or Namgung Sect.

Seo-jun imitated his voice solemnly, and Namgung Myung laughed awkwardly.

“Well, it’s the truth. The Namgung family isn’t a sect gathered around a single teaching or martial art; it’s an established family that stands on its name alone. Forgetting that weakens our roots.”

“Oh…”

He was, after all, the family’s successor. His conviction was solid.

Although his outlook seemed a bit different from Namgung Jin-cheon’s, it was evidently influenced by him.

“By the way, brother, are you really okay with this? The great-uncle might impose conditions for proving your qualifications…”

“Doesn’t matter to me.”

Seo-jun grinned.

“So what if I can’t prove it?”

He hadn’t agreed to anything like forfeiting his martial arts if he couldn’t prove himself.

It might tarnish his pride a little, but he’d never been one to care much about pride.

“Oh… I see.”

“And, well, proving myself probably won’t be that hard.”

He wasn’t entirely sure what the qualification for learning the Sovereign Sword Form would entail, but it was likely related to martial arts.

As long as he didn’t have to fight his father-in-law head-on, he felt fairly confident.

“If he goes too far, I’ll step in, son-in-law…”

“Thank you, father-in-law. I’ll rely on you.”

Having Namgung Jin-cheon, the Blue Sword Sovereign, on his side? He had nothing to fear.

But just in case, maybe I should prepare.

The Cheonyak-dang master had said he’d notify Seo-jun when ready, but there’d be no harm in going there sooner.

“Well, then, I’m off to Cheonyak-dang…”

“Hey, my martial art!”

“Oh.”

Seo-jun had forgotten about it while Namgung Hyeok was here.

He looked over at Pae Jin-gwang, who was waiting expectantly.

“Senior, are you really going to teach your martial art to my son-in-law? Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-gong?”

“Is there a problem?”

“No, but… are you sure?”

Pae Jin-gwang nodded confidently.

“Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-gong is a martial art I tailored to my own body, so there’s no one else it suits. But this brat’s body can heal even if it breaks, so he should learn it quickly. Most others wouldn’t reach mastery.”

“I see… Thank you.”

“Hah, why are you thanking me when I’m teaching him?”

Namgung Jin-cheon smiled silently.

“Odd fellow.”

Pae Jin-gwang chuckled.

 

Setting aside the Cheonin Elixir, still unnamed, Seo-jun headed back to the training grounds.

On the way, he asked Namgung Su-a about Namgung Hyeok, but she shook her head, saying she knew little.

“I’ve only just met him myself. I’d only heard of him occasionally.”

“Really? Wasn’t he at the family estate?”

“Nope. He left the family long before I was born and secluded himself.”

Seo-jun, after hearing the brief story, furrowed his brow.

“So… how’d he hear about the Sovereign Sword Form? Did he just hear about it and rush over? It’s not like he came out for a stroll and conveniently overheard it.”

“Who knows?”

Namgung Su-a laughed awkwardly. Pae Jin-gwang dug his ear as he spoke up.

“Why worry about it? Just do what you need to. Whatever he does, Namgung Jin-cheon will handle it. You focus on your training.”

“Old man, you can’t just live with that mindset. Life comes at you fast.”

“Shut up. And stop using foreign phrases. They’re hard to follow.”

“If you don’t understand, study.”

Pae Jin-gwang ignored him and stood at the center of the training field.

The Fist King’s heavy aura pressed down on the training grounds.

Having “King” in his title meant he truly dominated that field.

Most peak-level martial artists or those on the brink of it earned such titles. Even the Lord of Hwangbo Family, a martial artist in the same class, wasn’t called the Fist King, since Pae Jin-gwang was the true master of the fist.

Rumor had it the Hwangbo Lord resented this, but Pae Jin-gwang remained very much alive.

Even a renowned family like the Hwangbo couldn’t touch him recklessly.

When Pae Jin-gwang’s aura descended on the training grounds, Chun-bong and Namgung Su-a went pale.

“Hey, can you tone it down? I’ll seriously smack you.”

Seo-jun, of course, didn’t care about the aura. With a wave, he diverted it away from Chun-bong and Namgung Su-a.

“Huff…”

Chun-bong, gasping, trembled as she sensed the gap between her, the Fist King, and her brother.

Watching them, Pae Jin-gwang scratched his head.

“Oh… sorry. I didn’t mean to go all out.”

“What kind of Fist King can’t control his own aura?”

“I’m not great with internal energy.”

Seriously?

Chun-bong, dizzy, let out a deep sigh.

“Hah… Sis, I need to get stronger. If not, I might die of frustration!”

Namgung Su-a chuckled.

“Then I’d better catch up quickly. If I’m stronger than Seo-jun… I could handle everything, and he could just relax.”

Chun-bong shuddered.

“Imprison him!?”

“Not imprison. He just gets into dangerous situations, so I’ll take care of it instead.”

Namgung Su-a’s eyes glinted in a way that was slightly unsettling.

Chun-bong shifted away and glanced at Seo-jun.

Imprisonment…?

She imagined him looking only at her, doing everything he asked…

Stopping him if he tried anything dangerous, towering above him with a smirk…

Oh, Chun-bong the Great! Would you like some sweets?

Hoho! Yes, bring them.

Yes, ma’am!

Not bad.

Chun-bong giggled to herself, lost in her imagination.

What’s going through her head now?

Watching her, Namgung Su-a smiled.

 

“Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-gong is a name slapped on by people who didn’t understand it. It just stuck over time.”

Pae Jin-gwang explained the technique through a secret transmission to Seo-jun.

“It’s hard to define because I’ve thrown everything I know into it without making clear distinctions. It’s a martial art, a training method, a footwork technique, and more. You could say it reflects my entire life.”

“Your life…”

“Yes, I’m teaching you my life.”

It wasn’t anything overly profound.

Some people guarded their martial arts like their life, while others felt it meaningful to nurture the growth of a budding talent.

Pae Jin-gwang grinned.

“Consider it an honor, brat.”