Chapter 36
“What on earth is happening here?”
The onlookers at the duel murmured in confusion.
Suddenly, Patriarch Namgung On swung his sword, shattering the blue stone tiles.
In the next moment, his opponent, Namgung Yeol, was punching into the air.
“Step aside, step aside! Damn it, where is this place?”
He even muttered incomprehensible words under his breath.
Even after a long while, he showed no signs of regaining his senses.
After about the time it would take to drink a cup of tea, Elder Namgung Mu-yeong sighed and stepped onto the dueling platform.
“Victory goes to the Patriarch!”
“Waaaaah!”
A wave of cheers echoed throughout the entire mansion.
“Boom, boom, boom!”
Even the masters holding the drums struck them with energy and excitement.
Above, a flag with the Namgung name fluttered in the sky.
“I won…”
Namgung On lowered his sword, staring blankly at the scene.
He felt a strange sensation.
“Did I really beat Yeol?”
Yeol, who had never once won a duel while growing up…
Was defeated by him—by his own hand.
It hardly seemed real. His hands gripping the sword felt as if they belonged to someone else.
“Patriarch! As expected, you are the best!”
When he caught sight of Hong-seol’s bright face, the reality finally sank in.
“I won!”
The child waved from atop Namgung On’s shoulder. A smile finally spread across Namgung On’s previously tense face.
It was all thanks to Hong-seol, that child.
A few days ago, Hong-seol had come to him and suddenly asked:
“Have you learned that too, Patriarch? I heard there’s a unique technique in the Namgung family’s martial arts passed only to the Patriarch…”
“You mean the ‘Emperor Sword Style’?”
“Yes! Changcheon Daeju said it’s an extraordinary heavy sword technique. Is that true?”
“Indeed. If you follow the moves properly, it can even split a rock.”
“Then we have everything we need.”
“What?”
“The objects required for the formation.”
“What do you mean?”
“See, the blue stone tiles on the dueling platform—they’re rocks too!”
The child was right.
‘Why hadn’t I thought of that?’
With the Emperor Sword Style, he could smash the blue stone tiles, strike the fragments with the blade, and set up the formation.
It would trap Namgung Yeol in a complex illusion, which he was still struggling to navigate.
“But before that, you won’t be able to block Yeol’s attack. You always give him the first strike.”
“Hm, do I have to always yield?”
“I am the older brother, aren’t I?”
He remembered the little one scrunching her nose at that. It seemed to say, “Big brother never yields to his opponent,” which made him smile.
“I’ll lower my head to avoid his first attack. Yeol always starts with a horizontal strike.”
“No!”
“What?”
“This time, Prince Namgung Yeol will definitely come out empty-handed.”
“How do you know that?”
The child flinched, as if caught.
“…I watched you train.”
“How?”
“Well… I watched secretly. You were practicing martial arts the whole time.”
“I see… so how did you manage not to get caught… ah.”
Only then did Namgung On realize that Hong-seol had transformed into a cat to secretly observe Namgung Yeol’s training.
He also realized that Hong-seol was anxiously unsure whether he knew she was a cat-human.
‘She risked exposing her true form just to help me…’
Namgung On’s large hand covered Hong-seol’s head.
“Hong-seol, I appreciate your heart, but it is improper to spy on someone’s training. Do you understand?”
“Yes, y-yes…”
At his words, Hong-seol’s shoulders shrank. Seeing this, Namgung On gently patted her head.
“I understand your intention. I’ll pay extra attention to the martial arts forms passed down in my family.”
Namgung On planned to memorize every form in the martial arts scroll in the library.
That way, he could dodge his brother’s first strike.
Hearing this, Hong-seol brightened and nodded, just like she was now basking in victory.
‘Thank you, Seol. It’s all thanks to you.’
Their eyes met in the air, and radiant smiles spread across both their faces.
“Hong-seol, did you perhaps perform some kind of trick?”
Standing at the door of Changcheon Pavilion, Grand Patriarch Namgung Ho asked with a serious expression.
Before breakfast, Hong-seol had come out for some fresh air. She tilted her head curiously at his words.
“Big brother?”
Seeing a familiar face, Hong-seol’s eyes widened with excitement.
Next to her stood Namgung Baek, arms full of books. He seemed hesitant to step fully into the pavilion, despite clearly being there.
“Welcome, big brother! Let’s have breakfast together.”
“Hah, you never came when we called, and now you appear on your own, carrying books too.”
Though his tone was rough, Namgung Ho’s joy was apparent.
It was good that Namgung Baek, who had always been cold, was showing interest in Hong-seol.
But the cautious grandfather worried that his sensitive grandson might suddenly turn away.
So, trying not to show too much joy, Namgung Ho asked:
“Baek, what are you doing up so early?”
His eldest grandson seemed like a different person from just a few days ago.
Seeing his neat face and faint smile, Namgung Ho was surprised.
‘Did Baek really know how to smile like that?’
The surprise lasted only a moment before Namgung Ho was impressed by his words.
“I just became a little interested in martial arts. And to learn martial arts, I should learn from Grand Patriarch.”
“I never said I’d teach you, so go to Changcheon Daeju. I’m busy teaching our Hong-seol.”
“Even just observing your movements teaches me a lot.”
“Haha, in the Namgung family, no one’s tongue has ever been so smooth. Who taught you to speak like that?”
Grand Patriarch Namgung Ho shook his head at his young grandson’s eloquence.
“If you insist, come in.”
Though his voice sounded reluctant, there was a subtle joy in it.
What Namgung Ho muttered afterward could only be heard by Hong-seol:
“Goodness, I wonder who he got that stubbornness from…”
‘Who… who does he take after…?’
They were alike in temperament, but Hong-seol didn’t dare say it aloud.
“Grand Patriarch, breakfast is ready.”
At that moment, Me-ran and the others came in with food. Seeing Namgung Baek, Me-ran looked slightly flustered.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know the eldest prince was here… Should I bring another pair of chopsticks?”
At that moment, familiar footsteps approached.
“Hong-seol! Grandfather!”
“Oh, first brother too?”
The twins, Heuk and Jeok, were always together like thread and needle.
Excited by the familiar faces, Hong-seol grabbed Namgung Ho’s sleeve and smiled widely.
“What are you two up to?”
“We came to eat with the little one.”
“And to greet grandfather in the morning!”
It seemed she would never have a quiet morning alone again.
“Changcheon Pavilion is full of uninvited guests day by day.”
Though he sighed aloud, Namgung Ho’s face held a pleasant smile.
“Grandfather?”
“Haha… ahem.”
Hong-seol looked puzzled as Namgung Ho cleared his throat and went into the dining room without giving any orders.
So Hong-seol had no choice but to whisper a request to Me-ran:
“Uh, Me-ran, bring three more pairs of chopsticks.”
“No one else is coming, right? Perhaps Patriarch Namgung?”
Patriarch Namgung On had also been stopping by Changcheon Pavilion recently.
“Mm, he said he’s busy today.”
Hong-seol sat quietly at the table where food was served.
Baek sipped his pre-meal tea, while Heuk and Jeok were too busy playing to notice much else.
Though Namgung Ho grumbled, a smile lingered on his lips. The bustling morning seemed to please him.
‘Is this what family feels like?’
Just as the mood seemed settled, a minor skirmish erupted between Namgung Ho and Namgung Baek as soon as breakfast was set.
