Chapter 9 A New Beginning

Chapter 9 A New Beginning

“Young Master Nam? Not Namgung?”

Namgung-woo, suddenly given a new surname, wore a complicated expression at Song Chae-ji’s words. Hwang Mu-tak, standing behind them, might not have seen it, but Song Chae-ji certainly did.

Nevertheless, Song Chae-ji rushed over to Namgung-woo as if nothing was amiss, grabbing his arm and pulling him along.

Namgung-woo was bewildered by Song Chae-ji’s sudden familiarity and clinginess.

Of course, it wasn’t as if they weren’t close. They had helped each other, and even exchanged swords. But her approaching him so unreservedly was still unexpected.

“Young Lady Song? My name is…”

“Let’s head back now, Young Master Nam! It’s not good to leave the elder alone at the Inn. Oh, the Black Bear Faction will send the payment to the Inn, right?”

Hwang Mu-tak, still dazed, was swept along by Song Chae-ji’s pace.

“Y-yes, they will.”

“That settles it then. You worked hard, Young Master Nam.”

He wasn’t sure why she kept adding “Young Master Nam” to his name, but there must be a reason.

Namgung-woo decided to follow Song Chae-ji’s lead for now.

“Indeed. It worries me to leave someone unwell alone at the Inn.”

Leaving the half-bewildered Hwang Mu-tak behind, the three exited the Black Bear Faction’s stronghold.

“Is he really that Namgung?”

These were Song Chae-ji’s first words upon returning to the Inn.

Namgung-woo let out a small laugh.

It seemed the Namgung Clan existed in this world too. He had expected to get entangled eventually, since he had no intention of abandoning his name, but was it happening already?

Namgung-woo cherished his name and had no thought of changing it just because there was a Namgung Clan. It was one of the precious legacies his parents, who hadn’t left him much else, had bestowed upon him. How could he discard it? This sentiment translated into a confident nod.

“Yes. Is there perhaps a fake Namgung?”

Namgung-woo had intended it as a joke, but Song Chae-ji’s reaction was peculiar.

She pondered seriously, murmuring “Hmm…” before nodding, confirming his jest.

“Not exactly… but there have been some. Though none of them ended well.”

“Right. The Namgung Clan wouldn’t just leave imposters alone.”

“What? What do you mean… Ah, surely not…”

Song Chae-ji’s expression shifted wildly. Then, as if realizing something, she nodded repeatedly.

Namgung-woo unconsciously let out an “Oh~” of admiration at the rather strange sight, and Song Chae-ji glared at him like an older sister scolding her immature younger brother.

“What was that look for?”

“No, nothing.”

“…And here I was worrying about you.”

“Worrying? It’s fine. I am a true Namgung.”

Though not from the Namgung Clan.

Namgung-woo didn’t voice the latter part.

He figured it would be even stranger for a Namgung who practiced martial arts to deny being from the Namgung Clan.

However, Song Chae-ji became even more dumbfounded by his words, muttering, “Of course, that’s true… with such profound martial arts…”

“Then what is there to worry about?”

At Namgung-woo’s concerned question, Song Chae-ji threw out one last clarifying question.

“Are you truly unaware?”

“Unaware? Of what?”

There was no room for doubt anymore.

Song Chae-ji was certain.

Ah, this person is truly… genuine.

This person has absolutely no idea how the world works.

“Haa… I should have known from when you didn’t even recognize the Shadowless Gate… Did you really just emerge after training in some mountain cave?”

Did Namgung-woo sense the odd reaction, so different from what he expected?

Even on his face, which had shown no hint of crisis or alarm, a growing unease began to spread.

Song Chae-ji, though it pained her, revealed the harsh truth to this poor soul.

“The Namgung Clan… was annihilated twenty years ago.”

“…What?”

For a moment, he was stunned. But the Yin True Qi residing in Namgung-woo’s Upper Dantian quickly cooled his mind, restoring his composure.

Rationally, Namgung-woo analyzed the information he had just heard.

Annihilated?

Who? The Namgung? Annihilated?

He had considered the possibility that the Namgung Clan might not exist in this world at all.

However, he had never anticipated that the Namgung Clan, if it existed, would have been annihilated by someone.

So, Song Chae-ji thought I was the last survivor, secretly spirited away by the Namgung Clan?

Thinking that, Song Chae-ji’s reactions suddenly made sense.

And I have to admit, it sounds plausible.

A young man of refined appearance. Anyone would instinctively call him a Young Master.

He seemed to have grown up receiving excellent education from a good family, yet he was utterly ignorant of worldly affairs. He didn’t know about the Shadowless Gate, the Unorthodox Great Sect that dominated the Shanxi Martial World, nor did he know about the annihilation of the Namgung Clan, an event that shook the Under Heaven.

Yet, his martial arts were incredibly powerful?

Then, wouldn’t anyone think, Ah, this fellow must have been secluded in some mountain valley, diligently cultivating martial arts, and has only just emerged!

And on top of that, this fellow claims to be a Namgung.

The Namgung Clan, annihilated twenty years ago.

An appearance that, if viewed as young, could be around twenty years old.

Profound sword techniques that brought to mind the Namgung Clan, famous as a Sword Family.

The pieces fit together perfectly.

It’s almost as if I planned it, so exquisitely coincidental.

Namgung-woo couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh at the result of coincidence piled upon coincidence.

But now, even if he were to claim he wasn’t a descendant of the Namgung Clan, the atmosphere wasn’t one where he’d be believed. Even Yang So-dang, who was listening beside them, had tears welling up in their eyes.

I never expected this. Should I have kept my real name a secret?

Song Chae-ji was so engrossed in her own imagination that Namgung-woo couldn’t even guess how far her thoughts had soared.

He didn’t even need to use the special ability of his Azure Serenity Eyes. Just by looking at her expression, it was clear that Namgung-woo’s twenty years of life were being fabricated in her mind.

It probably went something like this:

At the time of the Namgung Clan’s annihilation, the clan members fought desperately to spirit away a survivor to continue the family line. The infant was entrusted to a loyal retainer of the clan, growing up in a secret cave hidden by the family, cultivating martial arts.

And now, at twenty years old, his martial arts having reached a profound realm, the last Namgung has finally descended the mountain.

There might be some discrepancies or leaps in logic, but such details would be blurred by the emotional narrative of being the last survivor of a prestigious family.

No sword? He must have broken them all while training. The swords were probably too weak to withstand his formidable Internal Energy.

Unaware of the Namgung Clan’s annihilation? His protector must have died before telling him. Or perhaps he believed someone else remained to rebuild the Namgung Clan.

Why did he appear in Shanxi Province, far from Nanzhili, the Namgung Clan’s homeland? Naturally, he must have fled far away to escape the Namgung Clan’s enemies.

Such rationalizations were readily available.

Was it because she was a person before a martial artist? Song Chae-ji, finally composing herself from her emotional state, asked, “…Then what will you do now?”

“Hmm, I haven’t really decided. For now, I plan to move wherever my feet take me.”

“If I had my way, I’d invite you to our mountain, but…”

Song Chae-ji’s voice trailed off.

It meant she wished to, but couldn’t in reality. Just as she couldn’t utter the word “defeat,” Song Chae-ji seemed unable to say what she truly didn’t want to.

“I understand.”

In truth, he didn’t understand.

He didn’t even know who annihilated the Namgung Clan or how.

But Namgung-woo’s words seemed to impress Song Chae-ji even more.

Perhaps his calm demeanor, born of ignorance, was perceived as a steadfast resolve to walk a solitary path without relying on others.

“I heard the Namgung Clan’s Assassination Order is still active. I know no one has actually died in the past few years, but that’s probably because, until recently, anyone claiming to be from the Namgung Clan, real or fake, was killed. So, no more imposters appeared.”

“Still active, you say?”

“Yes. The Dokgo Clan are persistent people.”

The Dokgo Clan.

Only then did Namgung-woo learn the culprits who annihilated the Namgung Clan.

But why did the Righteous Faction Martial World allow the Dokgo Clan, a prestigious family of the Righteous Martial World, to annihilate the Namgung Clan and then openly issue an Assassination Order to eradicate them?

There was still so much Namgung-woo didn’t know. He wanted to ask Song Chae-ji for the detailed inside story immediately, but he hesitated, fearing it might deepen the misunderstanding.

Anyway, even Yang So-dang, a Common Folk, seems to know about the Namgung Clan’s affair… so it must be a major event well-known to others. I can find out more later.

Three people had heard him say he was a Namgung.

Song Chae-ji and Yang So-dang wouldn’t spread the word, and Hwang Mu-tak probably thought he was a Nam Clan member due to Song Chae-ji’s quick thinking.

In that case, it was as if no one truly knew Namgung-woo. He had plenty of time to leisurely wander the world and gradually learn.

“Rather, what about the two of you?”

“Ah, I’ll have to return to Hengshan. And Dang-a too.”

“My dad and I used to work under Big Sister’s family. We’ll probably go back to the Song Clan Manor.”

Yang So-dang said, her voice nasal from crying.

It was admirable how resilient she was, despite having gone through such hardship at a young age.

“So, Young Lady Song came to help.”

“I happened to be nearby. I couldn’t use the Mountain Faction’s name, so I came alone, separated from my other Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters.”

“Because of the Shadowless Gate, I presume.”

“That’s right. The Unorthodox Faction’s power is quite strong in the Shanxi Martial World, after all…”

At that, the conversation paused briefly.

Neither Namgung-woo nor Song Chae-ji seemed to know what to say next.

Then, Namgung-woo, realizing he had no reason to be reserved, spoke casually.

“Then, this must be where we part ways.”

“Ah, are you heading south… to Nanzhili?”

A descendant who had emerged from Secluded Training.

Was he immediately going to seek out his enemy, the Dokgo Clan? Song Chae-ji asked with concern.

“Not exactly. First, I plan to travel the world a bit. In Shanxi, there isn’t much to see if I go north.”

“Hmm… Hengshan is almost at the northern edge, after all.”

Since she couldn’t invite him to Hengshan, the two had no choice but to part ways here.

Song Chae-ji felt troubled by this. She had received a favor but couldn’t properly repay it.

Bringing Namgung-woo in from the street? That couldn’t be considered a favor she had given, as Yang So-dang was the one who brought him and provided the place.

On the other hand, Song Chae-ji had received the favor of him taking her place in the martial arts duel and giving her enlightenment by demonstrating the Unity of Body and Sword. She couldn’t send Namgung-woo away without any recompense.

“…You’ll have many inconveniences traveling alone.”

“That may be true, but…”

“I’ll introduce you to an Escort Agency. They’re close with our family, so my recommendation should be helpful to Young Master Namgung.”

Showing goodwill to a Namgung.

It might mean incurring the Dokgo Clan’s wrath, but Song Chae-ji didn’t want to turn away Namgung-woo out of fear. Even if the Hengshan Sect couldn’t, she wanted to help him on a personal level.

Taking out a small brush and ink she carried, Song Chae-ji quickly wrote a letter of recommendation on the spot.

“Their name is Yaoping Escort Agency. They’re in Linfen County.”

Thus, Namgung-woo’s first destination was decided.