Chapter 86

At Namgung Woo’s words, Paeng Ha-ryeong blinked her eyes as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard or understand its meaning.

Had Namgung Woo ever come to her so directly before? It had always been Paeng Ha-ryeong who approached him. Namgung Woo had merely not rejected her, always maintaining a subtle distance. She had always thought it was her responsibility to bridge that gap.

When Paeng Ha-ryeong remained silent and dazed, Namgung Woo spoke again.

“It’s something important. Once I finish talking with Jegal Seon-a, I’d like you to come.”

“Yes, yes, yes!”

Paeng Ha-ryeong stood up abruptly and answered loudly, almost like a scream or a battle cry.

“I can come right now! Right, Seon-a?”

Paeng Ha-ryeong sent a pleading look to Jegal Seon-a for agreement. Jegal Seon-a, overwhelmed by Paeng Ha-ryeong’s enthusiasm, nodded in a flustered manner.

“Seon-a, sorry, let’s continue our conversation later.”

Paeng Ha-ryeong quickly approached Namgung Woo, walking briskly.

Then Jegal Seon-a also stood up abruptly. Pushing the chair back with force was fine, but when two pairs of eyes turned towards her, Jegal Seon-a immediately shrunk back. Still, she mustered her courage and stammered out her words.

“Ah, um… if what you’re about to discuss is related to this matter, may I join as well? The Jegal Family might be able to help… and, well, Ha-ryeong and I were also talking about it…”

“Sorry for interrupting, Jegal Seon-a. But this time, it’s something I need to discuss with her alone.”

“Ah, okay… I understand.”

Jegal Seon-a, dejected and sulking, looked pitiful, but there was nothing to be done.

Leaving Jegal Seon-a behind, the two walked side by side for a while.

Those who had participated in the Unmong Great Battle, including Changcheon Pavilion, were staying at an inn arranged by the Jegal Family. Jegal Seon-a and Changcheon Pavilion were also using the same inn, just on different floors.

Thinking they were heading to Changcheon Pavilion’s room in the same inn, Namgung Woo instead passed by the rooms and headed towards the stairs.

“Where are we going?”

“To Hongho Lake. It’s a bit chilly, but it’s fine, right?”

It was already the end of the year. Even though Hongho Lake was located in the southern part of the city, it couldn’t completely escape the winter cold.

The change in weather didn’t matter to Namgung Woo, who had ascended to the level of Hanseo Bulchim, but Paeng Ha-ryeong, without an extra coat, might feel cold. So, Namgung Woo handed her his own coat.

“I didn’t want to enter your room without permission. If it’s uncomfortable, you can go back to your room for now…”

“No, no, it’s fine! Thank you…”

Paeng Ha-ryeong quickly grabbed Namgung Woo’s coat before he could take it back. It was more like snatching it than accepting it. Her hand movements were so swift, it was as if she had used the Golden Thread Technique.

Paeng Ha-ryeong immediately put on Namgung Woo’s coat. Although she was quite tall for a woman, Namgung Woo was a head taller, making her look like a child wearing an adult’s clothes.

But Paeng Ha-ryeong didn’t seem to care about her appearance, smiling brightly.

“Hehe… it’s warm.”

True to its name, Hongho Lake appeared shortly after walking outside the city. For martial artists using the Light Body Technique, it was a reasonable distance for a stroll.

Unlike the western side of Hahongho Lake where the Unmong Great Battle had taken place, Hongho Lake was located to the east, giving the area a serene and tranquil atmosphere.

“Shall we talk while walking?”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

Forgetting about the Protective Divine Technique for a moment, they walked slowly, letting their feet guide them.

The night air by Hongho Lake carried the scent of winter mixed with the lake’s aroma. Even for Namgung Woo, whose body had reached the level of Hanseo Bulchim, the cold winter air had a special quality, filling his lungs and calming his mind.

As they walked, Namgung Woo carefully began to unravel the thoughts he had been organizing.

“First, I want to apologize.”

“Huh?”

“I’ve been deceiving you all this time. My name isn’t Nam Woo.”

“……Gaga.”

When Namgung Woo stopped walking, Paeng Ha-ryeong also halted.

Paeng Ha-ryeong’s face looked calm. Perhaps she had already suspected something. Namgung Woo thought back on his actions and felt that might be the case.

That thought made him feel a bit lighter.

“My real name is Namgung Woo.”

“Namgung…”

“You’re not surprised?”

At Namgung Woo’s question, Paeng Ha-ryeong calmly nodded.

“I thought… it might be something like that. I wasn’t sure, though.”

“Since Guyajang?”

“That was the biggest clue. There was no need for Gaga to ask about the Namgung Family. But even before that, I had a slight suspicion.”

That made sense.

A peerless master in his twenties appearing out of nowhere. It was natural to speculate about his origins and background.

“Then, Gaga, are you from the Namgung Family…?”

“Wait, let me finish.”

Namgung Woo stopped Paeng Ha-ryeong and began to talk about his thoughts on the Namgung Family.

“I have no memories of the Namgung Family. I never considered myself a member of the Namgung Family. So, naturally, I didn’t want to get involved with the Dokgo Family just because of the Namgung name.”

He had thought he had no connection to the Namgung Family.

At first, he believed he was just a stranger who had fallen into this unfamiliar world, a traveler who would eventually leave.

But was that really true? Could Namgung Woo truly say he had no ties to this world?

That belief began to crumble, perhaps from the very beginning.

From the moment he received help from Song Chaeji and Yang Sodang, Namgung Woo began forming connections in this world.

Starting with them, he met more people and formed more bonds.

Pyeong Choyul, Yang Kwae, Yang Jeong, Paeng Ha-ryeong, Paeng Mu-ho, Paeng Ye-ryeong, Han Gyeran, Gwak Dan, Paeng Hu-sang…

And… the Namgung Family.

“I was wrong. I’m not unrelated. When I decided to live in this world, I should have accepted it from the start.”

It was too late.

When he took in the Yang Brothers and seriously resolved to live in this world, he should have accepted it then.

Instead, he drifted aimlessly, neither trying to return nor actively embracing the world.

“In the martial world, one’s identity is determined by their martial arts. If that’s the case, then I am a member of the Namgung Family. I only realized that now.”

Yes. The martial arts Namgung Woo had learned, used, and aimed for were all from the Namgung Family.

Thinking that it was different because it was from Chasing Deer Murim was wrong.

When Dongbang Hwa first recognized the Vast Heaven Divine Art and the Changgung Boundless Sword Technique, it could be dismissed as a coincidence. But how to explain the reaction of the Five Yin Demonic Emperor?

He had recalled the true figure of the Namgung Family, Namgung Jin, through Namgung Woo. And finally, upon seeing Namgung Woo’s sword, he recognized it as the Emperor’s Sword Form.

Once might be a coincidence, but twice is a pattern.

Namgung Woo’s martial arts were the same as those of the Namgung Family.

Therefore, Namgung Woo was not unrelated to the Namgung Family.

Whether he wanted it or not, Namgung Woo had used the Namgung Family’s martial arts to achieve his goals. And he would continue to use this power in the future. His body had already become one that couldn’t imagine a life without martial arts.

Thus, Namgung Woo also had a responsibility to the Namgung Family.

Power without responsibility is meaningless.

Even if Namgung Woo refused alone, it would be a futile and ugly struggle.

The world would eventually define him as part of the Namgung Family.

“I’m going to accept it.”

“Gaga…”

He would shoulder the weight the Namgung Family had built.

That also meant inheriting the ongoing grudges.

But Namgung Woo didn’t see it as a loss.

It was only a matter of time before his identity as a Namgung was revealed. He had killed the Five Yin Demonic Emperor, but Dongbang Hwa was still alive. Even if not immediately, Dongbang Hwa would eventually use this information to his advantage.

Since the future was inevitable, he would face it head-on.

“I will rebuild the Namgung Family.”

To survive.

To pay the price for the power he wielded.

Namgung Woo made that vow.

“So, it might get dangerous from now on.”

At those words, Paeng Ha-ryeong’s eyes welled up with tears.

Was he saying this to push her away? Because it was dangerous, because she was from an unrelated family, was he trying to distance her?

Paeng Ha-ryeong tightly gripped the coat Namgung Woo had given her and clenched it.

She wanted to cover her ears and refuse to hear the rest, but she didn’t. Even if she refused, the future would come. Namgung Woo had said so.

So, she too…

“Gaga, I…!”

“Still, I want you to stay with me.”

“Ah……”

“It might be dangerous, the Paeng Family might get involved, but still. Stay by my side.”

Namgung Woo’s words were a confession.

They were an answer to the feelings he had been ignoring, a spell that dispelled Paeng Ha-ryeong’s worries and concerns.

Paeng Ha-ryeong took a step closer and lightly pressed her forehead against Namgung Woo’s chest.

“…Of course. And, have you forgotten? Gaga, you are the benefactor of the Paeng Family… For the Paeng Family, getting involved in the matters of our benefactor is the most joyous thing.”

Namgung Woo carefully embraced Paeng Ha-ryeong.

And whispered in her ear.

“There’s one more thing I need to apologize for.”

“Then I’ll answer in advance. It’s okay.”

“The promise to climb Dajing Tower together when we return will have to be postponed.”

The promise he had made to Paeng Ha-ryeong when they disembarked at Jin River via the Grand Canal, regretting not being able to climb Dajing Tower.

The reason for postponing that promise was that Namgung Woo now had a place he needed to go first.

“I’m planning to go to Luoyang now.”

“Are you going to the Martial Alliance?”

Luoyang. It was where the headquarters of the Martial Alliance was located.

“Yes. Luoyang… the Martial Alliance…”

Jegal Chong, who had learned of Namgung Woo’s identity as a Namgung through Dongbang Hwa’s revelation.

He had told Namgung Woo a secret.

“There, a survivor of the Namgung Family is waiting.”