Chapter 5: Family Specialty Martial Arts (2)

Yong Hwarin was betrothed in an arranged engagement to Jaegal Cheongyeong, the daughter of Jaegal Yugyeol, the Chief Administrator of the Jaegal Clan.

Jaegal Yugyeol and Yong Biyang had met in their younger days in the Murim and bonded as sworn brothers. Over time, they maintained occasional contact before either became a Sect Leader or Chief Administrator, solidifying their friendship to the point of promising a pre-birth engagement between their children.

The agreement was that once Yong Hwarin passed the age of majority, the engagement would be formalized.

However, Yong Hwarin was not heading to the Jaegal Clan simply because he truly liked Jaegal Cheongyeong. The Jaegal Clan’s home in Yongjung Mountain wasn’t too far from Wudang Mountain, making it a convenient destination.

On top of that, he had a valid excuse to visit the Jaegal Clan, which made his plan all the more advantageous.

Even so, his father, Yong Biyang, was momentarily conflicted. He wasn’t entirely certain if Hwarin had recovered enough to make the journey to the Jaegal Clan, but after observing him train tirelessly under Mo Biyoung without collapsing, Yong Biyang concluded that his son’s health had indeed returned.

In truth, the sheer amount of spiritual medicine consumed by Yong Hwarin over the past few years could have filled an entire cart. The expense of purchasing these spiritual medicines alone was staggering.

Now that the results were evident, Yong Biyang found no reason to oppose his son’s decision.

Moreover, it was necessary to demonstrate to Jaegal Yugyeol that Yong Hwarin had regained his health. Though their children had met briefly in their younger years during family visits, they had scarcely seen each other since coming of age.

Yong Biyang also wanted to show his old friend his now grown son.

‘Any young woman would fall for him at this point.’

Even from an objective perspective, his son Yong Hwarin was strikingly handsome and could easily catch others’ eyes.

The only flaw, perhaps, was his overly pale skin, which lacked a masculine tone due to spending too much time indoors. Yet, this feature could also be seen as appealing from a woman’s perspective.

With his health restored and his body now filled out, Yong Hwarin’s appearance was so captivating that even the women within the sect couldn’t help but glance at him.

The only person unaware of this fact was Yong Hwarin himself.

He had never possessed such a sleek figure in his past life. Until his death, he had been teased and mocked as a “pig” due to his corpulent build.

Even after his regression, he had been entirely focused on survival, leaving no room to dwell on his appearance.

Regardless, Yong Biyang was delighted with his son’s decision. The son who had built a wall between himself and the outside world was now, for reasons unknown, seeking to step beyond the confines of their sect.

If Yong Biyang were to reject his son’s request, he feared that Hwarin might retreat behind his walls once again.

‘Yes, this might be a good opportunity. If Hwarin experiences and understands the world, he won’t isolate himself again.’

With this thought in mind, Yong Biyang granted his permission. However, his wife expressed her concerns.

“Lord, how long has it been since Hwarin regained his health? It seems wiser to wait a bit longer before sending him off.”

Yong Biyang was well aware that although his wife wasn’t Hwarin’s biological mother, she cared for him even more attentively than her own children. In fact, she had sourced over half of the spiritual medicines for Hwarin through her family connections.

Understanding her concerns, Yong Biyang smiled as he reassured her.

“Hwarin has now reached the age of majority. For a martial family’s child to remain confined within the sect isn’t ideal. It’s better for him to travel and make friends. That’s how I met Yugyeol at his age.”

Realizing her husband’s resolve, his wife, Gi Yooyeon, reluctantly gave in.

“Very well, as you wish, Lord. But since the journey is long, please ensure his safety. It will take at least a full month to reach the Jaegal Clan, so he will need reliable escorts.”

“I understand.”

Yong Biyang took her hand and offered a reassuring smile.

Yong Hwarin anticipated that his father would assign escorts for his safety. However, the number of escorts exceeded his expectations.

Ten escorts had been assigned to accompany him.

“Father, forgive me, but two escorts will suffice. Traveling with this many people could draw unnecessary attention and may even lead others to perceive me as weak.”

Yong Hwarin spoke firmly, meeting his father’s gaze directly.

Seeing his son who had once been unable to meet his eyes now assertively voicing his opinion, Yong Biyang felt a surge of emotion.

“Very well, we’ll reduce the number to three escorts. But your martial arts instructor must accompany you.”

Yong Biyang knew that Mo Biyoung alone was far stronger than any three escorts combined. With her traveling alongside Hwarin, there was little cause for concern. Adding two experienced escorts with considerable knowledge of Murim would ensure a smooth journey.

“Understood. I shall take this as an instruction to continue my martial arts training during the journey.”

Though Yong Biyang hadn’t initially intended it as such, he was touched by his son’s willingness to continue martial arts training during the journey.

“This is your travel money,” he said, handing over two silk pouches. When Yong Hwarin opened them, he found them to be filled with silver coins.

“This is too much.”

“No, it’s not. Out in the Murim, you’ll find many unexpected expenses. You can’t appear shabby while traveling to meet your fiancée. Don’t be frugal when it comes to food or lodging.”

He also handed a bundle containing gifts for Jaegal Yugyeol to one of the escorts.

“This is a gift for the Jaegal Clan. Take good care of it.”

“Yes, Sect Leader,” the escort replied.

Unlike Mo Biyoung, the two escorts were personal bodyguards who served directly under the clan head. Both were descendants of loyal retainers and renowned for their dedication.

The taller one was named Jungwook, and the leaner one was Namwook. Despite having different surnames, their shared name fostered a unique camaraderie, and their swordsmanship was so exceptional that they were known within the clan as the “Two Wook Sword Demons.”

Before leaving, Yong Hwarin gathered the three escorts and spoke firmly.

“From now on, I will decide the route we take. I expect no objections on that matter.”

“As long as it doesn’t concern safety, we’ve been instructed by the Sect Leader to follow your wishes,” Jungwook replied.

Yong Hwarin felt a deep sense of familial love. Though unspoken, his father and mother’s restless concern, akin to parents worried about a child near water, made him reflect on his past life. He realized how foolishly he had lived before.

It was not his family’s fault that he hadn’t felt their love in his previous life—it was his own.

*         *         *

Just as they were about to depart, Yong Seollan, her eyes wide with hope, asked, “Brother, can’t I come with you?”

“I’m sorry, but I promise to take you wherever you want to go during the Chongyang Festival.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Their parents watched the siblings’ affectionate exchange with smiles.

“Brother, while I’m away, you’ll have to handle things in my place,” Yong Hwarin said, turning to Yong Kijoong.

At first, Yong Kijoong had found his transformed older brother awkward to deal with. He couldn’t help but be cautious, thinking Hwarin might find some new fault with him. In the past, Yong Hwarin’s sharp and cold demeanor had made it difficult for Kijoong to approach him.

But now, this same brother actively sought him out, even challenging him to friendly sparring matches and offering to train together.

Yong Kijoong appreciated the change. He could see how much joy it brought their parents, and for that, he was grateful.

“Don’t worry. This younger brother will hold the fort in your absence,” Yong Kijoong said with a sincere smile.  

“Good. I trust you,” Yong Hwarin replied, noticing the warmth in Kijoong’s gaze.  

With that, Yong Hwarin left on horseback, leaving his family behind. Once he disappeared from sight, Kijoong suddenly voiced a question in a curious tone.  

“Wait, has Brother ever practiced horseback riding? I don’t recall seeing it…”  

“Oh? Now that you mention it, Big Brother rides better than me,” Yong Seollan added.  

Yong Biyang and Gi Yooyeon exchanged glances. They hadn’t considered that possibility.  

“He must have practiced without us noticing,” Yong Biyang replied.  

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to ride so skillfully all of a sudden. It was such an obvious assumption that they hadn’t paid it any mind, but Kijoong’s sharp observation caught it.  

“Did he? Strange,” Kijoong muttered, tilting his head. Yong Seollan also tilted her head in confusion before they both turned back toward the house.  

* * *

Yong Hwarin galloped toward Mount Dabie.  

Even Mo Biyoung and the Two Wook Sword Demons were surprised by how well he handled his horse.  

Though learning to ride a horse could take only a few days, it usually required at least a year of consistent practice to develop a strong bond with the horse and ride it with such precision.  

For this reason, martial artists from most prominent families made horseback training just as important as their martial arts.  

Yet, Yong Hwarin’s posture and handling suggested years of consistent practice.  

The three escorts were well aware that their Young Master had been frail, relying heavily on medicinal decoctions just to function daily. They had no idea when he could have learned to ride this well.  

‘How peculiar,’ they thought in unison.  

From that moment on, the three of them began to observe Yong Hwarin more closely. It would have been odd not to notice something strange.  

Yong Hwarin paid them no mind. His thoughts were entirely occupied with future events and how to prepare for them.  

That evening, when they stopped to camp, Yong Hwarin decided to use the opportunity to train. He called Mo Biyoung over.  

“Please take a look at my Azure Bamboo Sword technique today,” he requested.  

“Of course,” she replied.  

Starting from the opening stance, Yong Hwarin smoothly executed the moves of the Heavenly Central Sect’s exclusive Azure Bamboo Sword technique. He concluded with the ultimate strike, Extinguish the Void.  

Mo Biyoung’s expression grew serious as she observed his performance.  

“It feels as though you’ve been familiar with these techniques for a very long time, Young Master. Either that, or your martial talent is truly extraordinary.”

No matter how one interpreted it, Mo Biyoung’s words were high praise for Yong Hwarin.

However, hearing them made Yong Hwarin feel a twinge of guilt.

“In what way do you mean?” he asked.

Mo Biyoung began to explain slowly, “Even if one practices for several months, techniques like the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword or Azure Bamboo Sword aren’t so easily mastered. Mimicking the outward movements of the forms is one thing, but understanding their direction and intent requires enlightenment. Moreover, this is true for all advanced martial arts. Both sword techniques of the Heavenly Central Sect are advanced sword arts, to say the least. It’s remarkable how quickly you’ve mastered them, but at the same time, it’s concerning. Progressing too rapidly can sometimes lead to qi deviation.”

She paused, as though a lingering curiosity had compelled her to speak further.

“Additionally, there’s something peculiar. Without inner energy, performing the full sequence of either of these sword arts is dangerous. Advanced martial techniques naturally draw upon inner energy even if one does not actively utilize it. Without sufficient inner energy, performing such techniques could damage the body. Yet, Young Master seems unaffected by these restrictions, as though you possess inner energy equivalent to twenty years of cultivation.”

Hearing this, Yong Hwarin quickly came up with an excuse.

“I found it strange as well. It felt unusually easy to perform the techniques of the Heavenly Central Sect, and when I practiced energy circulation, I noticed my inner qi accumulated rapidly. After some thought, I concluded that the spiritual medicines I consumed throughout my childhood must have left latent energy in my body, which, now that I’ve recovered my health, is being converted into true qi.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep