STBS 02

chapter 02

Namgung Cheon hurriedly tried to stop Namgung Hyeok, alarmed.

“C–calm down a little. Of course, since you’ve returned from the battlefield, it makes sense to greet your uncle… but…”

“Is there a problem?”

“You… you seem to have already decided that my uncle is the culprit. I’m afraid you might provoke his hostility.”

“You’re worried I might cause trouble.”

Namgung Hyeok gave a faint, ambiguous smile.

“Don’t worry. Even if my uncle is the culprit, I won’t act recklessly. You can rest easy.”

His voice carried a strange weight, as if trying to make him believe it.

“R–right. If you say so, I’ll trust you.”

Namgung Cheon, still flustered by how much his younger brother had changed in ten years, nodded.

He had grown colder, but there was a strange sense of reliability about him now—like he could accomplish anything.

“Then please rest, Brother.”

Namgung Hyeok reassured him and left the room.

Outside, two clan warriors were waiting.

“Third Young Master. The Acting Clan Head requests your presence.”

“Very well.”

‘Seems he’s eager to meet me as well.’

With a faint smile, Namgung Hyeok followed them.

Soon, he arrived at the office that had once been reserved only for the clan head.

Waiting there was his uncle, Namgung Jangcheon.

He looked like a perfectly honed blade—just sitting there radiating overwhelming pressure.

Namgung Hyeok greeted him calmly.

“Long time no see, Uncle.”

“Yes. It has been a while. How have you been?”

“Not the kind of greeting you give someone returning from the battlefield.”

“You’re right. That was careless of me.”

Namgung Jangcheon admitted it readily.

“You’ve changed quite a bit through your time on the battlefield. Your late father would have been very pleased to see you now.”

“I believe so. I intend to use these abilities to restore the Namgung Clan to its former glory.”

“That’s good to hear. I’ll assign you a position in the Heavenly Sky Unit—use it as you please.”

“I decline. I have no intention of joining the Heavenly Sky Unit right now.”

“Oh? Then what do you intend to do?”

“First, shouldn’t we restore order to the clan’s laws and structure? I plan to work on that.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“I heard it has been quite some time since Father passed away. Shouldn’t we appoint a new clan head soon?”

“……!”

Namgung Jangcheon’s expression shifted in surprise.

“Do you even understand what you’re saying?”

“Of course I do. You’ve worked hard for the clan, Uncle. It’s time for you to put down the burden and rest.”

“So you mean to make the First Young Master the clan head?”

“Is that strange? That position originally belonged to my brother.”

“The First Young Master is currently bedridden. If he inherits the position in his condition, it will invite outside enemies to exploit the clan’s weakness.”

“If he truly is bedridden, then yes.”

“What?”

“I checked my brother’s pulse. His condition looks less like illness and more like poisoning. Someone appears to have deliberately poisoned him.”

“……!”

Namgung Jangcheon’s expression hardened instantly.

“Can you take responsibility for that claim?”

“If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t have said it.”

“However, none of the physicians who treated him have ever said such a thing. They only said it was an unknown illness.”

“Then their skill was insufficient. Or…”

Namgung Hyeok narrowed his eyes.

“They were pressured into saying so.”

“You speak as if you suspect me.”

“I don’t only suspect you. If anything, I suspect everyone in the Namgung Clan.”

“That is far too extreme. Isn’t that a leap in logic?”

“In the battlefield I was on, things beyond common sense happened regularly.”

“But this is not a battlefield.”

“No. It is no different. When people fight over power, it is the same thing.”

“You….”

Namgung Jangcheon’s eyes sharpened slightly.

It sounded as if Namgung Hyeok was accusing him, the acting clan head, of power struggles.

Namgung Hyeok smiled lightly and stood up.

“I’ve taken up too much of your time. My apologies.”

“…Then let me ask you something. If Cheon truly was poisoned, do you have a solution?”

“Simple. Remove the poison from his body.”

“If it were that easy, he wouldn’t be in that condition.”

“But I can do it. Isn’t that enough?”

“What?”

“I will treat my brother. Please be aware of that. I will also inform the clan accordingly.”

Without waiting for a reply, Namgung Hyeok turned and left.

Namgung Jangcheon ground his teeth as he watched him go.

‘That brat…!’

He felt clear contempt in Namgung Hyeok’s attitude toward him.

He wanted to grab him immediately and reprimand him—but he couldn’t.

‘Why does his presence feel so immense?’

That was the problem.

Just sitting and talking with him had felt like facing a giant.

Compared to ten years ago, he was on an entirely different level.

Because of that, he could not treat him carelessly.

Namgung Jangcheon exhaled slowly, suppressing his anger.

‘What on earth did he experience on that battlefield…’

Rumors that Namgung Hyeok was treating Namgung Cheon spread instantly.

At first, people were skeptical.

How could someone who wasn’t even a physician treat illness?

But those doubts were quickly dispelled.

Namgung Cheon’s condition was gradually improving.

“Is the Third Young Master really treating the First Young Master? How, when he’s not even a doctor?”

“Maybe he brought some rare medicine from the battlefield?”

“Either way, it’s a relief. I thought we might lose both the Clan Head and the First Young Master…”

Wherever the clan members gathered, they whispered about it.

Meanwhile, Namgung Hyeok continued treating Namgung Cheon.

With Namgung Cheon’s upper body exposed, Namgung Hyeok ignited flames in his hands and burned away the poison within him.

“Let’s stop here for today. If you absorb too much of the Sacred Flame at once, it may strain your body.”

“Thank you. I can feel myself getting better because of you.”

Namgung Cheon said emotionally.

The unknown illness that had tormented him was finally being cured.

“At this rate, I’ll be able to go outside again soon.”

“But you must still rest. You never know when your condition might worsen.”

“Very well.”

“And please be careful with your meals. If the poison was mixed into your food, it’s better to have separate preparations.”

“You think it could really be something like that?”

“If we don’t know the culprit, we must be cautious.”

“Sword Ripple.”

“Yes, my lord.”

The man carrying a spear on his back responded respectfully.

“Stay by my brother’s side for a while. Can you do that?”

“I will obey.”

Namgung Cheon looked surprised.

Sword Ripple was clearly a skilled martial artist, yet he was so obedient to Namgung Hyeok.

Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly.

“This friend here will protect you from any unforeseen danger.”

“Unforeseen danger…?”

“If the poison no longer works, the enemy may send assassins.”

“Assassins…?”

“Brother. Always assume the worst. Anything can happen in this world.”

“…Haah. Very well. I’ll accept your concern.”

Namgung Cheon nodded.

Namgung Hyeok picked up his sword and stood.

“Then rest well. I will return for the next treatment.”

“Where are you going?”

“To attend the clan meeting.”

“A clan meeting?”

Namgung Cheon looked puzzled.

It was a meeting where the clan’s senior members gathered to discuss important matters.

But he had not attended one in years due to his illness.

“I heard it starts in half an hour. Most people are already gathered.”

“Then let me come with you. I’d like to attend after so long.”

“No.”

Namgung Hyeok refused firmly.

“You must continue resting. I’ll go alone.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And…”

A faint smile curved on his lips.

“I should let the clan elders know that I have returned.”

The clan meeting was held in the Namgung Clan’s main hall.

As soon as Namgung Hyeok arrived, all eyes turned toward him.

Many had only heard rumors and were seeing his return in person for the first time.

Everyone looked shocked.

“That really is the Third Young Master…”

“I thought he died on the battlefield…”

“He seems much more refined than before…”

Ignoring the murmurs, Namgung Hyeok walked forward.

But two gate guards blocked his way.

“Apologies, Third Young Master. You are not permitted to enter.”

“Why not?”

“You have not received permission to attend the clan meeting. Until you do, entry is restricted.”

“Permission?”

Namgung Hyeok’s lips curled slightly.

“You know who I am. I am the Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan. One of the last two direct heirs, and someone who returned from the battlefield after fulfilling my duty. And yet I still need permission?”

“Th-that is…”

“Step aside. Or I will cut you down.”

A chilling voice.

Killing intent clung to his words like frost.

The guards swallowed hard, instinctively reaching for their swords.

But—

“Make way.”

A gentle voice echoed from somewhere.

Everyone turned.

An elderly man with white beard and an immortal-like aura stood there.

“If the Third Young Master cannot enter, who among us is qualified to attend? If permission is needed, I will grant it. Step aside.”

“E–Elder Council Leader!”

It was Namgung Baekya, head of the clan elders.

Namgung Hyeok quietly bowed.

Namgung Baekya chuckled warmly.

“Third Young Master. It has been a long time. You have changed greatly.”

“And you have not changed at all, Elder.”

“How much can an old man change? Now then, let us proceed inside.”

With a smile, he gestured forward.

“The clan meeting will begin shortly.”