The Namgung Clan, famed as one of the Six Great Clans, was abuzz with the sparring match between Seo-jun, the suitor of Namgung Jin-cheon’s daughter, and Namgung Hyeok, the clan’s esteemed elder.

The spectators, entranced by the intensity and agility of the match, watched with bated breath. Seo-jun seemed to dominate initially, blending martial techniques with sorcery, his style vibrant enough to draw cheers.

“You go, my lucky charm!” Namgung Yeon, Seo-jun’s vocal supporter, cheered, hopping with excitement.

Yet, though Seo-jun held the advantage, victory wasn’t yet his. Namgung Hyun-cheol, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, muttered thoughtfully beside her.

“His skill is truly remarkable. Especially in energy cultivation, he’s already at a master’s level.”

“Old man! Stop overthinking and cheer! Just cheer!” Yeon chided him.

“You should pay attention, too, and watch closely. There’s much to learn from this duel.”

Soon, the enchanted pillars exploded in sequence as Seo-jun unleashed his techniques. The crowd’s excitement surged, thinking he had secured the upper hand. But as Namgung Hyeok retaliated, summoning a sea of blue from the sky, Su-a clenched her fists, watching in awe.

“He’s truly made the Sword of the Vast Skies his own.”

Chun-bong, however, scoffed. “Seo-jun’s going to win anyway.”

“But that technique…”

The sky opened up, and a massive tidal wave bore down on Seo-jun. Even Chun-bong fell silent, clenching her sweaty palms. Pae Jin-gwang, observing the scene with relaxed amusement, scratched his arm.

“That kid won’t be taken down so easily…”

The critical question was whether he’d counter the wave or take a significant hit.

“Come on, brother…!”

Chun-bong’s increasingly fervent cheers drew a chuckle from Pae Jin-gwang.

As the tidal wave engulfed Seo-jun, a collective sigh arose from the onlookers, many presuming his defeat.

“Still, isn’t it impressive?”

“They say he’s only been training martial arts for two years… achieving this much is almost unbelievable.”

Amused by the ignorant comments, Pae Jin-gwang scoffed internally.

‘Let’s see…’

His heart raced as he anticipated the unfolding of Heaven-Reversing Sun and Moon Aura, a rare thrill even for the Fist King.

“Brother…! Crush that bastard…!” Chun-bong’s cheer broke Pae Jin-gwang’s focus momentarily, but it was short-lived.

As Seo-jun’s sword cut through the air, silence fell over the crowd.

“Haha!”

Pae Jin-gwang alone laughed heartily, struggling to contain his growing excitement.

“This is the fortune of the martial world!”

His eyes gleamed with a fierce desire to clash fists and blades with Seo-jun, suppressing his impulse with a wide grin. Though Seo-jun wasn’t fully utilizing Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-mu yet, its integration into his techniques was undeniable. Seo-jun’s external energy reinforced his internal energy, amplifying the strength of every move.

 

The tidal wave surged forward, but Seo-jun remained calm within the torrent, swinging his sword.

Heaven-Reversing Sun and Moon Aura.

The essence of the Taiji, balanced in harmony, flowed from Seo-jun’s sword and the spectral emperor at his back. The Taiji expanded, merging with the wave, and as it melded, Seo-jun redirected it with a sweeping motion.

Whoosh—

With the support of the spirit of White Lotus Ghost Blade and Absorptive Art, Seo-jun’s Taiji-infused sword danced in a circular arc, pulling the wave with it.

The immense weight strained his body, threatening to shatter him under the pressure. But as he bore the tidal force, Spirit Manifestation Art and Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-mu held him steady, guiding the titanic weight of the wave smoothly.

“Impressive…”

Namgung Hyeok’s mouth fell open, stunned by how his devastating strike had been countered.

‘Is this...the Wudang? No, it’s slightly different…’

Anyone familiar with Wudang’s Taiji Sword would have been even more awestruck, yet it wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Realizing the implications, albeit a bit late, Namgung Hyeok hastily moved to respond.

“Damn…!”

Seo-jun completed the movement, sending the combined wave and aura surging skyward. Namgung Hyeok’s trembling hand met the onslaught with his sword.

BOOM—!

A mere clash of swords, yet the impact shook the space around them.

“Whoa…!”

“Get back!”

The onlookers flinched and scrambled to evade the shockwave, though Namgung Jin-cheon’s swift intervention absorbed the blast into the sky with a simple gesture, sparing the crowd below.

Under the cloudless sky, Seo-jun looked up, panting from the exertion.

“Ugh…”

Namgung Hyeok, reeling slightly, steadied himself as he landed on the ground. Though he hadn’t sustained any critical wounds, he was visibly exhausted.

‘So, he’s at an advantage…’

Namgung Hyeok had blocked the redirected blow just in time, but his internal channels weren’t unscathed. Blood trickled from his lips.

Seo-jun, on the other hand, had only accumulated strain and fatigue from the burden on his body, both rapidly healing. Seo-jun raised his sword again, prompting Namgung Hyeok to burst into hearty laughter.

“Haha…!”

Seo-jun glanced at him, puzzled, as a grin spread across Namgung Hyeok’s face.

“An old fool who couldn’t even see the world clearly. Yes, you are truly the blessing of the Namgung Clan!”

Namgung Hyeok lifted his sword to meet Seo-jun’s, his face lit with the joy of a youth rekindling his spirit. It had been so long since his heart had raced like this. In the ashes of his settled life, a spark ignited, faintly illuminating a distant horizon.

Call it enlightenment, call it purpose—Namgung Hyeok glimpsed the realm beyond his reach.

Though the path was still long, he now saw the destination and knew he could one day reach it.

Namgung Hyeok, breaking free from his stagnation, bared his teeth in a fierce grin.

“Come! The Namgung sword never breaks!”

“What…?”

Seo-jun chuckled, pressing his index and middle fingers against the base of his sword, channeling the Heaven-Reversing Moon Aura across its blade.

Namgung Hyeok responded by wielding his ultimate skill.

Vast Skies Fallen, Forming the Great Sea.

Blue energy surged around his raised sword, turning the sky into a boundless ocean. With a powerful step forward, Namgung Hyeok swung with the force of crashing waves.

Seo-jun, poised to trigger his hidden attacks, hesitated, then smirked.

“Gotta keep some dignity.”

Abandoning the traps he had set, Seo-jun leaped forward, meeting Namgung Hyeok’s strike head-on.

Drawing on the strength of Spirit Manifestation Art and Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-mu, Seo-jun infused his sword with Heaven-Reversing Sun and Moon Aura, aligned with the form of the Sovereign Sword.

The sound of their clash was subdued.

Swoosh—

A breeze swept through, and Namgung Hyeok’s hair fluttered as Seo-jun’s blade hovered a mere inch from his throat, blocked by an intervening sword from nowhere.

“…I’ve lost.”

Namgung Hyeok lowered his shattered sword.

The blue aura surrounding him dissipated, scattering in the breeze.

“Cough…!”

Blood spilled from his lips as the dissolution of his aura struck his spirit. He gently pushed away the blade hovering before his neck.

“My thanks to the clan head as well… My life is spared, thanks to you.”

Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword, which had intervened in midair, returned quietly to its sheath.

Namgung Jin-cheon met Namgung Hyeok’s gaze, prompting him to straighten his disheveled robe and announce,

“Seo-jun has proven his worth through loyalty and martial skill, showing he is more than worthy of the Sovereign Sword Form.”

All eyes turned to Namgung Hyeok’s declaration in the grand arena.

Amid the profound silence, he continued,

“And as he is now bound to the Namgung Clan, it is a blessing for all the martial world. I also take this moment to congratulate him on his engagement to Namgung Su-a.”

“What?” Seo-jun gasped, catching his breath and lifting his head in shock. Engagement? They hadn’t even married yet!

“Moreover, both the clan head and I have endorsed his qualifications. There shall be no more needless disputes or foolish concerns.”

Namgung Hyeok closed his eyes, then opened them to address the entire audience with a formal salute.

“There’s nothing more disgraceful than an old man blocking a young man’s future. This ordeal stemmed from my shortcomings and ignorance. From this moment, I relinquish all authority and dedicate myself solely to the clan. I hereby appoint Seo-jun as an elder of the Namgung Clan, ushering in a new era and bringing fortune upon us all.”

An elder?

As Seo-jun stared in bewilderment, Namgung Hyeok approached and patted his shoulder.

“I’ve been a fool. Age has dimmed my sight. I entrust the future of our clan to you.”

“…Um…”

Seo-jun blinked. Namgung Hyeok chuckled softly.

“They’re all waiting for your words. If you have anything to say, speak freely.”

As Seo-jun looked around, he saw the admiring and awestruck faces in the crowd.

After a brief pause, Seo-jun began, “Uh, yeah… I dedicate this honor to my Chun-bong, Su-a, the clan head, Old Man Pae, and, well, everyone.”

He raised his arms in a gesture of triumph.

“And please join me in congratulating our Chun-bong on reaching adulthood…!”

Dead silence fell.

The onlookers, unsure of what he meant, exchanged confused glances. A moment later, an angry voice bellowed,

—“You idiot!”

Finally, the crowd burst into raucous applause, filling the grand arena with celebratory cheers.

 

Seo-jun was thoroughly scolded.

Chun-bong’s angry punches packed more of a bite than her usual playful taps. Seo-jun, groaning in pain, lifted his head only when the beating subsided.

“So, we’ll throw a celebration, right?” he grinned.

“What?”

“Chun-bong’s coming-of-age party…! I’ve been planning it these last few days.”

“Just die already!”

And so, the celebration was vehemently vetoed by Chun-bong, leaving Seo-jun pouting as he sat on the ground.

It seemed that the “Congratulations on Maturity” banner he’d prepared would have to be burned before she found out about it.

Now, the only thing left was the Yongbong Gathering, though there was still some time before it started.

“Ah, Elder! Congratulations!” someone called.

“Oh, thank you! But Elder sounds old… Could we stick with ‘Young Lord’ instead?”

Grateful for the congratulatory remarks, Seo-jun pondered what to do next with his free time.

‘Maybe I should create a new martial art.’

If he wandered around the clan grounds, he’d be called “Elder” fifty times a day, and that wasn’t ideal.

Plus, he still had plenty of techniques to develop.

There was Chun-bong’s technique, a skill for Pae Jin-gwang, and finishing touches on Life and Death Interchange Technique.

Not to mention, with the ongoing war, developing a counter for the Ice Constriction Art of North Sea Ice Palace, something he’d learned from an interrogation during the Green Forest expedition, wouldn’t hurt.

Moreover, Chun-bong and Su-a had both recently improved their bodies through the Cheonin Elixir, so checking in on that was essential.

‘Why am I suddenly so busy?’

Just as he pondered his growing list of tasks, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning, he found Chun-bong looking up at him.

“Yes, my dear Chun-bong? What’s up?”

“They said the Yongbong Gathering will be held this spring, right?”

“Yep. Why? Are you thinking of joining?”

“Yeah, that, and…”

Chun-bong hesitated, staring intently at Seo-jun.

“Are you planning on competing?”

“Me? What would I even do at a youth tournament?”

“You scared?”

“What? You…”

“Chicken?”

“…!”

Unable to hold back, Seo-jun declared, “This oppa will win it all!”

“I’m counting on you, oppa.”

“Hurk…!”

The Yongbong Gathering? They’re all going down.

Watching Seo-jun’s growing excitement, Chun-bong chuckled slyly to herself.

‘This will spread the name of the Gold Sword Clan far and wide…!’

Of course, Namgung Jin-cheon intervened.

“Son-in-law… Considering the purpose of the Yongbong Gathering, I would ask you to reconsider participating.”

The Yongbong Gathering was meant to encourage the growth of the younger generation and reward those who achieved notable accomplishments. If Seo-jun, whose prowess rivaled even seasoned martial artists, were to join, it would shatter the young contestants' spirits rather than motivate them.

With war on the horizon, crushing the morale of rising talents would be unwise.

‘But Chun-bong’s counting on me…’

Seo-jun clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“Guess I don’t have a choice. What’s the prize for this tournament?”

“As I recall, it’s the Great Rejuvenation Pill…”

“Oh.”

The Great Rejuvenation Pill—the pinnacle of elixirs.

Perfect for Chun-bong.

Seo-jun asked, “But if I participate…?”

“It would be a great relief if you could refrain…”

Regrettably, he had to decline.

“Clan Head.”

This time, Chun-bong stepped forward. However, it wasn’t to argue for Seo-jun’s participation.

Though disappointed, she knew what she wanted and would strive to achieve it herself.

“In this Yongbong Gathering, I wish to reassert the prominence of the Gold Sword Clan.”

“Your words mean…?”

“I hope to not dishonor the Namgung Clan.”

With the Namgung Clan’s support, Chun-bong finally had the foundation she needed to establish herself as Geum Hee of the Gold Sword Clan.

This was her chance to declare to the world that the rightful successor of the Gold Sword Clan lived.

Namgung Jin-cheon, moved by her determined gaze, smiled gently.

“Of course… The Namgung Clan will gladly support the revival of the Gold Sword Clan.”

The revival of the Gold Sword Clan was finally within reach.