Hmm, What Should I Do?

“Taoist!”

“Gyo-ha!”

Namgung Su-hwa and Ah-ryeong ran over.

Just then, a wind blew in and swept the dust away.

Thanks to that, they could see Namgung Hyeok as well.

Namgung Hyeok lay motionless, as if unconscious.

But he was not alone.

An old man was supporting Namgung Hyeok.

Only then could the people understand what Gyo-ha had meant earlier.

“…Good grief.”

The old man looked at Gyo-ha with a troubled expression.

Gyo-ha had taken Namgung Hyeok’s attack head-on, but Namgung Hyeok had received the old man’s help.

“I intended to simply watch from the side.”

But Gyo-ha’s momentum had been so strong he could not help but intervene.

“Grandfather.”

“Supreme Patriarch.”

Namgung Su-hwa and the Namgung Clan’s martial artists bowed in salute.

The old man was Namgung Jin-yeong, the Namgung Clan’s previous Clan Head.

Namgung Jin-yeong sighed and looked around at the martial artists.

“Go call the Medicine Hall Chief. Open the Hidden Vault as well. I will report to the Clan Head personally.”

“Yes, understood.”

The Hidden Vault was something even an elder could not open at will.

Naturally, not even the Supreme Patriarch Namgung Jin-yeong had that authority.

It was a right held by the Clan Head alone.

However, no one took issue with this.

Before being the Supreme Patriarch, he was all but the symbol of the Namgung Clan itself.

Sword Saint Namgung Jin-yeong.

He was one of the pillars supporting Murim.

His whole body itched.

It felt like tiny ants were crawling all over him.

Soon the ants grew larger and larger.

It took only a moment for the itching to turn into pain.

Feeling that sensation for the first time in a while, Gyo-ha opened his eyes.

His body felt light.

His injuries had all healed.

But Gyo-ha had no time to worry about that.

He sprang to his feet and dashed out the door.

Right then he ran into Namgung Su-hwa and Ah-ryeong, who happened to be approaching.

He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the two of them now looked quite close, unlike before.

“You woke u…”

The two greeted him happily, but Gyo-ha ignored them both.

This was no time to exchange leisurely greetings.

Once he passed through the corridor, he could see the garden.

There were people relaxing there, but Gyo-ha paid them no mind.

He immediately took a stance.

Radiant Burst Strike!

An explosion burst out in midair.

Yet his internal energy did not decrease. If anything, it was livelier than before.

The cause lay inside Gyo-ha.

Something within was spitting out internal energy.

‘What in the world did they feed me?’

Startled, Gyo-ha swung his fist once more.

A second Radiant Burst Strike!

His internal energy only hesitated for a moment before surging back up.

Then another Radiant Burst Strike exploded out.

Martial artists who had rushed out at the commotion were surrounding the garden in layers.

At first they thought it was an attack and tried to subdue him, but Namgung Su-hwa stopped them.

Then a fourth Radiant Burst Strike went off.

Gyo-ha staggered.

His internal energy was plentiful, but his body couldn’t withstand it.

His body creaked and screamed in protest.

Yet his internal energy was still rising.

At that moment, another power within Gyo-ha stirred.

Yokai power.

It began absorbing the overflowing internal energy. It was not a huge amount, but it was devouring it little by little.

Thanks to that, the rate at which his internal energy rose slowed, and Gyo-ha, his tension easing, plopped down.

“…Ah, I thought I was going to die.”

If it had been even a little later, his body would have burst.

Once he had caught his breath, his surroundings came into view.

The garden was a wreck.

He had fired into the air, but there was no way there would be no damage.

The nicely crafted pond had turned into muddy water, and the fish that had lived there were floating belly-up.

Naturally, the trees and plants planted in the garden were in such a state that their shapes could not even be recognized.

And all around, countless martial artists encircled the garden.

“…Hmm.”

He had made a mess.

Gyo-ha belatedly scratched his head.

In the end, Gyo-ha was not scolded.

“Supreme Patriarch, how can you just use medicine like that? I told you a Healing Pill would be more than enough.”

The Medicine Hall Chief sighed and looked at Namgung Jin-yeong.

After being reprimanded by someone young enough to be his nephew, Namgung Jin-yeong spoke with a dark look.

“…The Namgung Clan has its pride. How can we settle things with just a single Healing Pill. But he isn’t a swordsman either, so we cannot give him a sword.”

Namgung Jin-yeong spoke as if making excuses.

“But how could you feed him a Lesser Revival Pill? Even elixirs become poison in excess.”

In truth, Namgung Jin-yeong’s judgment was not bad.

The Lesser Revival Pill was a Shaolin elixir.

One of the finest elixirs under heaven.

However, there was a reason Shaolin’s tonics were more famous than other elixirs.

Versatility.

Not all elixirs were good. They had to suit one’s constitution and inner cultivation method.

If taken wrongly, they could indeed become poison, just as the Medicine Hall Chief had said.

But Shaolin’s elixirs were different.

Even demonic cultivators coveted them.

So Namgung Jin-yeong’s decision had not been bad.

If not for Gyo-ha’s constitution.

“I told you that this young master has no need of elixirs.”

He had heard that.

But he had thought it was a lie.

He knew the Medicine Hall Chief. Under Namgung Jin-yeong’s gaze, the Medicine Hall Chief sighed.

“You think I would be stingy even with guests? This is all because of the lot who come running to me for the slightest thing. If they are hurt they should swallow regular wound medicine or slap on some Golden Wound Medicine. Why are they looking for elixirs? Those bastards look for elixirs even when they catch a simple cold!”

The martial artists secretly listening outside the door cleared their throats and slipped away.

Among them were elders as well.

They had taken an interest because they had seen the earlier commotion.

And it was not only those outside who felt a pang at those words.

Namgung Jin-yeong also quietly averted his gaze.

“I understand, I understand. Who would have thought there would be a martial artist who dislikes a Lesser Revival Pill.”

It was not that he disliked it. It simply didn’t suit him.

But even the Medicine Hall Chief agreed with that sentiment.

“I also want to know how he even learned martial arts. And on top of that, he has a constitution that draws in qi just by staying still?”

His eyes flashed as he looked at Gyo-ha.

They were tinged not just with curiosity, but with greed.

“Uncle.”

At Namgung Su-hwa’s call, the Medicine Hall Chief came to his senses and cleared his throat.

“In any case, this young master needs only to rest.”

The Medicine Hall Chief repeated his cautions several more times before leaving.

Once he had gone, Namgung Su-hwa let out a sigh and spoke.

“We will have to tighten control of the household so the Taoist’s constitution doesn’t get out.”

At Namgung Su-hwa’s words, Ah-ryeong nodded as well.

At that, Gyo-ha tilted his head in puzzlement.

“Is there a problem?”

“Your dantian is not the problem. The issue is the property of drawing in internal energy. There will be people who want to study your constitution, but there will also be villains who want to catch you and eat you themselves.”

It was a horrific thought.

But martial artists were that kind of creature. If something was said to be good for internal energy, they would even drink sewage.

If they heard there was a person who naturally drew in internal energy, they would see him as a spiritual creature and try to eat him.

Even Namgung Jin-yeong, listening, didn’t deny it.

He had encountered countless villains on his way to earning the title Sword Saint.

It was by no means an overblown worry.

“If word gets out, many people will target you.”

At Ah-ryeong’s words, Namgung Jin-yeong and Namgung Su-hwa nodded.

But Gyo-ha himself cocked his head.

‘Isn’t that a good thing?’

His enemies would come to him on their own.

And if they were targeting Gyo-ha, they were surely villains.

There would be no need to hesitate about fighting.

It was the life Gyo-ha wanted.

‘Ah, maybe not. It would be a bit of a problem when I’m sleeping or taking a dump.’

He liked fighting, but he didn’t want even those moments disturbed.

But seeing how grave everyone else’s expressions were, he didn’t bother to voice the thought in his head.

Even Gyo-ha had begun to develop some social awareness.

“Hmm, what should I do?”

Namgung Jin-yeong stroked his beard as he looked at Gyo-ha.

“I have unintentionally caused you trouble twice now.”

He had wasted a precious Lesser Revival Pill. Namgung Jin-yeong clicked his tongue in regret.

But he couldn’t leave this without compensation.

Watching Namgung Jin-yeong like that, Gyo-ha furtively glanced around.

“What about Namgung Hyeok?”

“Ah, Hyeok is tending to his internal injuries. He was not badly hurt, so he will be here soon. In fact, he is just arriving.”

Namgung Jin-yeong turned his head.

And before long, they heard someone beyond the door.

“May I come in?”

It was Namgung Hyeok.

“Come in.”

The door soon opened, and Namgung Hyeok looked at Namgung Jin-yeong in mild surprise.

“So Grandfather is here as well.”

“How is your body?”

“I am fine.”

Nodding, Namgung Hyeok clasped his fist toward Gyo-ha.

“Please forgive my discourtesy the other day.”

He acknowledged the outcome cleanly. It was fitting for a scion of a great clan.

But Namgung Hyeok’s words did not end there.

“From now on, I will serve you as my older brother.”

“Sorry?”

“Hm?”

Not only Gyo-ha, but even Namgung Su-hwa turned in surprise.

But Namgung Hyeok spoke calmly.

“I heard you have a body that cannot store internal energy in your dantian. Even so, you overwhelmed me. You are more than worthy to be this Namgung Hyeok’s older brother.”

“Hyeok, what are you saying?”

Namgung Su-hwa spoke in disbelief.

She knew Namgung Hyeok’s way of thinking differed from ordinary people, but this went too far.

“Grandfather, say something as well.”

Namgung Su-hwa turned to him, but Namgung Jin-yeong only stroked his beard.

Inside, he was thinking it would not be a bad thing.

“I heard Grandfather intervened in this match and caused you to be injured. I will repay that favor by serving you as my older brother.”

At Namgung Hyeok’s words, Namgung Jin-yeong cleared his throat. With things said that far, it was hard even for Namgung Su-hwa to speak lightly.

Then Gyo-ha spoke up instead.

“Still, we aren’t that far apart in age. Being your older brother is a bit…”

“Excuse me?”

“Huh?”

At Gyo-ha’s words, everyone blinked.

Feeling their gazes on him, Gyo-ha looked back as if to say what was the problem.

“…Gyo-ha is sixteen.”

It was Ah-ryeong who spoke.

She nodded as if understanding everyone else’s reactions.

Namgung Su-hwa’s surprise, in particular, was even greater.

It was because she had personally investigated Gyo-ha.

They were not achievements that could be accomplished at the age of sixteen.

If she had known Gyo-ha’s age, she would not have made the request.

Namgung Su-hwa’s goal had been to give Namgung Hyeok a sense of urgency, not to burden him with a sense of defeat.

Losing to a senior and losing to someone your own age were different.

Now that the Sword Saint’s retirement was drawing near, Namgung Hyeok had to become the Namgung Clan’s new star.

But that was only Namgung Su-hwa’s view.

Namgung Hyeok’s gaze grew deeper.

“In that case, you are more than qualified. Please accept this unworthy younger brother!”

Just as he was about to kneel, Namgung Jin-yeong stopped him.

Without even laying a hand on him, his waist stopped.

It was an astonishing display of qi control.

Gyo-ha scratched his cheek.

“Well, call me whatever you like.”

What did the form of address matter?

Gyo-ha thought little of it.

Ah-ryeong beside him started to speak in surprise, but soon stopped.

It was not something a guest like her should meddle in.

What did it mean for the scion of a great clan to take someone as a sworn elder brother?

All the more when that clan was the Namgung Clan.

As expected, Namgung Su-hwa let out a quiet, hidden sigh.

But the reason she did not object was not only because of her grandfather, Namgung Jin-yeong.

It was because she had looked into Gyo-ha.

‘It bothers me that he is not from the orthodox factions, but he is close with both Mount Hua and the Beggars’ Union.’

His personality wasn’t bad either.

He was far from polite, but he was born with the disposition of a chivalrous hero.

His sect, the Kunlun Sect, was also an undeniable prestigious clan.

Moreover, considering Gyo-ha’s age, his potential for growth was more than sufficient.

‘He has an issue with his dantian though…’

He had clearly found another method. Otherwise he could not have defeated Namgung Hyeok.

In short, it meant he had passed.

It might seem cold, but it was natural for someone from a great clan.

There were more than a few clans that had collapsed because they brought in the wrong person.

And just like that, Gyo-ha gained a new sworn younger brother.