"Will you be okay?" Ak Yeonho asked nervously, eyeing Namgung Su discreetly. Shouts and fierce bursts of energies were still pouring out of the banquet hall.
"What do you mean?" Namgung Su replied plainly. Despite having just antagonized all of the Ak Clan's experts, he nonchalantly checked the school trip schedule.
"You spoke and acted too harshly. Our Patriarch is a world-renowned hero, so..." Ak Yeonho's voice trailed off hesitantly.
Namgung Su tilted his head.
Namgung Su finally met his gaze. "He didn't look like a hero to me."
"......"
"I followed proper etiquette, so there won't be any problems. Stop worrying about useless things and focus on your duties."
Namgung Su didn't think he had done anything wrong. The Spear King had provoked him first by besmirching the honor of the Namgung Clan. He wasn't sure if the old master simply wanted to show off the Ak Clan's might or had other intentions, but either way, he had deliberately goaded him just to see his reaction.
He acted like a simpleton, but he was carefully and cunningly observing me throughout our entire conversation.
He recalled the advice his father had given him the last time he visited his family."Always keep in mind that the leaders of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans are devious and shrewd."
Namgung Cheon had passed down the Royal Sword Style, a technique reserved for only direct descendants of the clan, to all of his sons when they returned home last summer break.
"From now on, all of us will have to face many challenges and trials, but we cannot rely on the clan's reputation anymore. If you don't develop your own skills, the Namgung name will only become a noose around your neck."
After the bloody internal incident which had greatly weakened the Namgung Clan, they were no longer the world's strongest clan.
"Don't worry, Father."
"I'll make the Namgung Clan great again!"
Determined not to lose the succession war, Namgung Su's two older brothers cut back on sleep to devote themselves solely to martial arts.
Namgung Su, however, was different. He paid as much attention to the state of the murim, which his father casually mentioned over tea, as he did to learning the Royal Sword Style.
"Soon, the power structure of the murim will change. Not only the Five Great Clans, but the Nine Sects One Gang who have been watching from the sidelines like immortals above the clouds will make their moves. Furthermore, families and sects that align with the Blood Cult will emerge. This war will be their opportunity to gain power..."
Namgung Cheon explained that from now on, factions would repeatedly form and break alliances. Some would perish, while others would go down in history as victors.
"...Therefore, you must keep your eyes wide open and pay attention to who our real friends and enemies are."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Those who look down on our family just because our fortunes have faltered temporarily will surely pay the price!"
"May I ask for your esteemed opinion on how to distinguish friend from foe?"
Namgung Cheon sighed. "I called the three of you to offer advice, yet only one of you is asking questions."
Namgung Su recalled his two older brothers rushing to ask questions after their father's criticism. Shaking his head, he brushed the distracting thought aside.
In any case, it was too early to judge the Shandong Ak Clan. He planned to observe them more carefully first.
"Let's check out the student accommodations."
"Yes! Follow me."
The two instructors inspected the student lodgings, training grounds, indoor classrooms, and other activity areas, as well as the inventory of necessary provisions. They occasionally encountered people, mostly low-ranking warriors or Ak Clan servants. Those who passed by bowed deeply, but some stiffened upon seeing Ak Yeonho.
"Ah, this place is..." Ak Yeonho began awkwardly, looking self-conscious even though Namgung Su hadn't said anything. "The direct descendants of the clan often come here to train. When I was young, I stayed here for a few years, so I know quite a few friends here."
"Judging by their reactions, they don't seem very friendly."
"Haha, well, as we get older..." Ak Yeonho forced a laugh, his voice trailing off and his expression clouding over.
Namgung Su didn't press him. Rather, he changed the topic, saying, "Let's go back to the entrance."
"...Okay."
"Why am I not surprised..."
After receiving permission from the guards at the gate, Namgung Su used his movement arts to ascend to a high vantage point and surveyed the entire Ak Clan Branch.
Indeed, I can't shake the feeling that this place is a military fortress.
The branch was located in a natural fortress, which meant it was also isolated. There was only one entrance to the basin. Although there was an ample stockpile of food and supplies, and it was an excellent place to withstand a siege, it would also be difficult to escape.
If we were attacked from the outside...
Namgung Su considered various worst-case scenarios.
"F-Father?" Ak Yeonho suddenly exclaimed.
Namgung Su spun around to see a middle-aged man with graying hair leaning on a cane and limping heavily on his left leg as he approached them.
"So you were here, Yeonho," the man wheezed, as if the short walk had exhausted him.
Ak Yeonho hurried toward him, his face blank with surprise. "Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be at the manor?"
"The Patriarch asked me to come, so I came. I also wanted to see your face. Have you lost weight?" The man smiled faintly and caressed Ak Yeonho's cheek. He then turned to Namgung Su and greeted politely, "I'm Yeonho's father, Ak Jinheon. I apologize for taking up your time when you must be busy."
"...I'm Namgung Su. Don't worry about it, I was just looking around."
Ak Jinheon and Ak Yeonho looked nothing alike. While Ak Yeonho appeared to be a noble young master at first glance, Ak Jinheon had a weathered, wrinkled face and seemed to have barely learned any martial arts.
No, was he crippled? That bad leg looks more like the result of an old injury than a sign of old age.
Ak Jinheon smiled good-naturedly and handed a bundle to Ak Yeonho. "I brought some rice cakes. Share them with your seniors from the Azure Dragon Academy."
"Father, really, why did you bring this?" Ak Yeonho accepted the bundle sheepishly.