(Chapter 11)
The Weakest in the World’s Greatest Village
Namgung Clan’s Main Reception Hall.
A long table was set in the center, with Namgung’s high-ranking figures seated along both sides.
The seat of honor belonged to Kang Yu.
Though the elders with graying hair sat below, while the youngest person—Kang Yu—sat at the top,
none of the Namgung elders voiced complaint.
After all, the youth had arrived holding the Ten Dragon Plaque (十龍牌)—a relic of immense significance.
By any measure of hierarchy and propriety, this seating was justified.
The branch patriarch Namgung Gu carefully repeated Kang Yu’s earlier words.
“So you’re saying… you came from a place called Jangbaek Village?”
“Yes.”
“And that Ten Dragon Plaque you hold… was given to you by an old man from that village?”
“Yes.”
“…”
The elders exchanged silent glances.
An old man from a village, he said.
Had the Namgung Clan’s sacred heirloom—one that would be remembered for generations—really been given to him by some village grandpa?
And what in the world was this Jangbaek Village?
Namgung Gu cautiously pressed further.
“Would the old gentleman who gave you the plaque happen to bear the surname Namgung?”
“No, his surname is Dan.”
“Dan?”
“Yes. Grandpa Dan gave it to me.”
“…”
The elders grew restless, exchanging whispered sound transmissions.
“If he’s a Dan, then he’s not a descendant of the Divine Sword.”
“Wait. It could’ve been passed down through a maternal line.”
“That’s true… but if he’s from the Daoist branch, after 150 years the bloodline would’ve turned over several times.”
“But the Divine Sword never married before disappearing. Still, it’s possible he met a common woman while wandering.”
“Ah, right. That complicates things.”
While the elders were busy chasing leads through their whispers, Kang Yu added suddenly:
“Oh, right! The original owner was a Namgung grandpa.”
“Original owner?”
“Yeah. Grandpa Dan won it from him.”
“What?”
Kang Yu waved the plaque lightly.
“This thing—Grandpa Dan won it in a bet. From Grandpa Namgung.”
“…?”
Won it?
What?
The Ten Dragon Plaque?
In a bet?
Surely he didn’t mean someone gambled away the Namgung Clan’s sacred treasure—the very symbol of Namgung Seong, the Divine Sword who had once been the world’s strongest under heaven?
Namgung Gu swallowed dryly.
“You mean to say… this Namgung gentleman wagered the Ten Dragon Plaque in a bet?”
“Oh, they did that all the time.”
“What kind of bet…?”
“They played Go, chess, anything. They’d wager this and that. Too many times to even remember.”
“…”
The elders’ eyes darted about again, buzzing with telepathic murmurs.
“Whether Dan or Namgung, they clearly don’t understand what that thing is.”
“But didn’t he say they told him to bring it specifically to the Namgung Clan? Then they must have known.”
“Then what? They knew and still wagered it in a game?”
“I don’t know anymore. What in the world is that boy saying?”
While the elders whispered furiously, Namgung Gu cleared his throat.
“Setting aside the matter of wagers… might you tell us the name of this Namgung grandfather?”
“His name?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… I did hear it once when I was a kid, but we all just called him Grandpa Namgung…”
He scratched his head, thinking.
“Ah! It was Namgung Seong.”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
“I—I’m sorry, what did you just say?”
“Namgung Seong. Namgung… Seong. You asked for his name, right? I remembered.”
“…”
Namgung Seong?!
The Divine Sword, Namgung Seong—the only man in the clan’s five-hundred-year history to become “The Greatest Under Heaven.”
But that man had lived nearly 180 years ago. He would have been over sixty even then—long dead by now.
Namgung Gu grasped for reason.
Ah… must be someone else with the same name.
After hearing so many absurdities in a row, his head was spinning.
While he rubbed his temples, Kang Yu suddenly pulled something from his pack—a small letter.
“By the way, who’s the Clan Head here?”
The room froze.
A tense silence fell before Namgung Gu and the Chief Steward Wi Yeong spoke at the same time.
“The Clan Head is away on external business…”
“He’s unwell and resting at home…”
Two conflicting answers.
“Huh?”
Their gazes collided midair.
“A-ah, the Clan Head is unwell and resting…”
“He’s away on business…”
Trying to fix it only made it worse.
Kang Yu wasn’t worldly, but he wasn’t stupid either.
He caught the inconsistency immediately.
“So which is it? Is he away, or is he sick?”
Namgung Gu and Wi Yeong exchanged weary looks.
Why did you butt in!
You weren’t answering, so I tried to help!
Truly, who could they blame?
They’d been so obsessed with the Ten Dragon Plaque they hadn’t even agreed on a simple cover story.
Kang Yu looked from one to the other.
“Are you hiding something from me?”
Namgung Gu forced a strained smile.
“N-no, of course not. Just a small misunderstanding—please don’t think much of it.”
“Hmm. But I was told to give this to your Clan Head personally.”
He tucked the letter back into his pack.
“Sorry, but my grandpa said only the Clan Head should receive it.”
Namgung Gu’s outstretched hand folded awkwardly back.
Kang Yu patted the pack.
“So, is the Clan Head out traveling, or bedridden?”
The two elders sighed as if the floor had dropped beneath them.
Meanwhile…
“Tch. My mood’s ruined because of one worthless fool.”
Namgung Sahwa had returned from He-fei, only to find the estate unusually busy.
Servants were scrubbing places already spotless, running about doing needless chores.
She stopped a passing servant carrying water buckets.
“Hey. Why’s everyone so frantic?”
The servant jumped, startled.
“A-ah! Lady Sahwa! I—I didn’t see you there!”
“Spare me. What’s going on?”
“W-well, my lady, a very high-ranking guest has arrived, so we’re doing a full cleaning.”
“A very high-ranking guest? Who?”
“Th-this humble one wouldn’t know…”
Of course not. What would a servant know?
“Fine. Go on.”
She dismissed him and entered the side hall where the clan’s young masters stayed.
Then she summoned Biyeon, her trusted aide—planted years ago by her maternal family.
“You called, my lady?”
The graceful woman bowed.
“Who’s this ‘very high-ranking guest’? You must’ve heard something.”
No need for context—Biyeon always understood instantly.
“The bearer of the Heavenly Ten Dragon Plaque has arrived.”
Sahwa frowned.
“That’s it? I have one too.”
The Heavenly Dragon Plaque (창천황룡패) was given to all direct and branch members of the clan.
If that’s all, there’s no reason for the whole manor to be in uproar.
It was noisier even than when the Vice Alliance Leader once visited.
Biyeon clarified calmly:
“This guest’s plaque bears ten dragons.”
Sahwa froze.
“…Ten dragons?”
“Yes.”
“As in… ten?”
“Exactly.”
That couldn’t be right.
Even her father, the Clan Head Namgung Cheon, had nine dragons—the highest rank possible.
Ten had never existed before.
“Are you sure?”
“When the owner of the Ten Dragon Plaque arrived, there was a commotion at the Law Enforcement Hall and the Sky Pavilion. Everyone of note knows by now.”
Sahwa knew Biyeon didn’t make careless claims.
“The owner of the Ten Dragon Plaque, huh…”
She tapped her finger on the armrest.
If someone outranked even her father…
Whatever. Who cares why?
What mattered was opportunity.
If she could please this Ten Dragon bearer, she could overturn her miserable assignment to the Law Enforcement Hall and seize the deputy—or even the chief—position at the Sky Pavilion as originally promised.
Her tapping stopped.
Even heaven leaves a way out for the desperate.
“Hahahaha!”
Her laughter rang through the hall.
Indeed—fate wasn’t so cruel after all.
Back in the main reception hall, Kang Yu was startled.
“Missing? The Clan Head is missing?”
“Shh.”
Namgung Gu put a finger to his lips.
“Please lower your voice. It’s a top secret matter.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Kang Yu whispered back.
“Since when?”
Namgung Gu looked around at the elders.
After a few nods, he spoke.
“Half a month ago. He left saying he had personal business, and we’ve heard nothing since.”
“Half a month?! That long?”
“Yes.”
Kang Yu’s face filled with concern.
Missing… the Clan Head.
Considering the letter he was supposed to deliver, and the reverence these people held for “Grandpa Namgung,” there was no doubt—they were the old man’s kin.
Which meant they were his kin too.
He couldn’t just ignore that.
“I’ll help.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll help find your Clan Head.”
“…”
Namgung Gu looked troubled.
“We appreciate the sentiment, but please leave this to us. Just tell the one who gave you the Ten Dragon Plaque that we’ll contact him once the matter is resolved.”
His tone was courteous—but the meaning clear:
You’ll only get in the way. Go home before you cause trouble.
After all, everyone in that room could tell—this boy had never trained in martial arts.
Kang Yu spoke softly.
“Are you telling me to just go back?”
Namgung Gu and Wi Yeong exchanged another glance.
After a quick telepathic debate, Namgung Gu took the plunge.
“Not exactly, but… yes, we’ll send word later—”
“I can help.”
“That would be difficult. You don’t know martial arts.”
“Martial… arts? What’s that?”
“…”
He didn’t even know what martial arts meant.
Well, might as well rip off the bandage now.
Namgung Gu steeled himself.
“I mean you’re too weak. This is the disappearance of the Namgung Clan’s head—one of the Five Great Clans of the martial world. You’d only be a hindrance.”
At that blunt statement, Kang Yu looked around at them all.
These people were ridiculous.
“Aren’t you all martial artists?”
“Eh?”
Then why did they call him weak?
The air in the hall suddenly sank.
A tangible pressure weighed down on every elder present.
“…!”
“Ugh?!”
“I am weak. But still stronger than martial artists like you.”
Kang Yu rose from his seat.
“Where was the Clan Head last seen? Hurry up and tell me. I’ve still got other errands to run after this.”
The elders, crushed under invisible weight, stared up at him in shock.
