STBS 01

chapter 01

Whoosh!

It was a day when heavy rain poured down violently.

Thud. Thud.

Someone was forcefully knocking on the tightly shut main gate of the Namgung Clan.

“Who goes there?”

Soon, the gate opened slightly and a gate guard poked his head out.

What he saw were three people standing in the rain.

One was a young man with an extraordinary presence and sharp, piercing eyes. One was a giant covered in scars all over his body. And one was a man carrying a spear on his back.

The giant standing at the very front spoke.

“Open the gate.”

“Who are you to order us to open or close the gate….”

The guard, about to protest to the young man, couldn’t continue his words.

His eyes had met the young man standing behind.

The guard’s pupils trembled.

If his eyes weren’t deceiving him, that person was someone he definitely recognized.

“T–The Third Young Master!”

The guard hurriedly opened the gate and bowed his head.

The Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan.

Namgung Hyeok, who had gone to the battlefield, had returned.

The Namgung Clan was thrown into chaos.

Namgung Hyeok.

He was the son of Namgung Gong, the head of the Namgung Clan, born from a concubine.

Because of that, his status in the clan was not very high.

Due to his timid personality and being born a concubine’s son, he was often looked down upon. The only one who stood by his side was his elder brother, the First Young Master.

But then, war broke out between the Empire and the northern tribes.

Unlike other sects, the Namgung Clan had deep ties with the imperial government, and as a prestigious family ruling Anhui, they were obliged to send reinforcements.

However, the clan elders and senior members were not pleased with such circumstances.

So they came up with a plan.

“Let’s send the Third Young Master to the battlefield!”

They saw it as a chance to get rid of the “useless burden” of the Third Young Master, who had no standing in the clan.

And so, Namgung Hyeok was essentially dragged off to the battlefield.

That was ten years ago.

After that, no one—except the First Young Master—paid him any attention.

They believed the timid and weak boy would never survive the battlefield.

But now, Namgung Hyeok had returned.

And he had returned with an entirely different presence.

“Long time no see, Elder Tian.”

Namgung Hyeok was now meeting one of the elders, Tian Jinyang.

Tian Jinyang’s eyes shook as he looked at him.

The aura he carried was completely different from ten years ago.

Moreover…

‘I can’t measure his qi.’

Even Tian Jinyang, a top-tier expert, could not properly gauge Namgung Hyeok’s strength.

That meant his power was beyond imagination.

“Why are you silent? I’ve already greeted you.”

“Ah, y–yes. Long time no see, Third Young Master. It is good to see you return safely.”

Tian Jinyang spoke while regaining his composure.

Though he was overwhelmed by Namgung Hyeok’s pressure, he needed to understand why he had returned at this time.

“Good to return safely, you say…”

Namgung Hyeok smiled faintly, almost mockingly.

“I did not expect to hear that from Elder Tian. Weren’t you the one who took the lead in sending me to the battlefield?”

“T–That was because someone from the Namgung Clan had to go…!”

“No need for excuses. Those were just surface-level reasons. You simply wanted to get rid of me.”

“……!”

“And even if that were true, it no longer matters. I gained much experience on the battlefield and grew as a martial artist. Had I stayed in the clan, that would not have been possible.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke clearly and firmly.

Tian Jinyang was once again shocked.

This was not the personality he used to have.

The old Namgung Hyeok had always been anxious, timid, and fearful.

But after ten years on the battlefield, he had become an entirely different person.

“Enough of that. Where are Father and my brother?”

“Th–that is….”

“Why are you silent?”

“Haah. It seems you have not heard the news from the battlefield.”

Tian Jinyang spoke carefully.

“The former Clan Head passed away last year due to illness. And the First Young Master is also currently bedridden with the same illness.”

“……”

Namgung Hyeok quietly closed his eyes for a moment.

But only briefly.

“Then who is currently leading the Namgung Clan?”

“Namgung Jangcheon, who was previously the commander of the Heavenly Sky Unit, is currently acting as the clan head. Ah, you should at least greet him…”

“Enough.”

Namgung Hyeok cut him off coldly.

Tian Jinyang swallowed hard.

Namgung Jangcheon was the younger brother of Namgung Gong and the current de facto leader of the clan. He was also considered the most likely successor.

To treat him so coldly…

But Namgung Hyeok remained calm.

“I will pay respects at my father’s memorial tablet, then visit my brother. Elder Tian, please arrange lodging for those who came with me.”

“B–but the First Young Master is ill….”

“That is precisely why I must see him. It is my duty as his younger brother.”

With that, Namgung Hyeok stood up, signaling that the discussion was over.

Overwhelmed by his presence, Tian Jinyang had no choice but to comply.

Before visiting his elder brother, Namgung Cheon, Namgung Hyeok first stopped by the ancestral hall where the memorial tablets of the clan were kept.

Among them was the tablet of his father, Namgung Gong.

He bowed slightly.

“I have returned, Father.”

He spoke aloud, even though no one was there to hear.

It was as if Namgung Gong were still alive.

“I wanted to ask why you sent me to the battlefield when I returned… but I suppose I can no longer do so. How unfortunate.”

His voice carried complex emotions.

A mixture of affection, resentment, and regret.

But soon, his expression sharpened again.

“Of course, I understand you saw me as a weak and burdensome child. So you likely agreed when the elders suggested sending me away. Even if you were alive now, you would probably say the same.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“Still, I had hoped for something different. That you might welcome me home safely. But that can no longer happen.”

He paused, bowed once more in silence, then turned away after paying his respects.

“I will visit again.”

He left the memorial hall and headed to Namgung Cheon’s residence.

A strong medicinal scent filled the air.

It was clear—he was indeed ill.

“Brother.”

“Cough… Hyeok? Is it really you?”

Namgung Cheon’s voice trembled when he heard that Namgung Hyeok had returned.

Namgung Hyeok nodded calmly.

“Yes. I have returned from the battlefield. I just came after visiting Father.”

“Ah… you are safe. Thank goodness… truly thank goodness.”

Namgung Cheon smiled brightly despite his pale, corpse-like complexion.

He was the only person in the clan who had supported Namgung Hyeok when he was once discriminated against.

Because of that, the bond between them was very strong.

“You must have suffered greatly. I am glad you returned. Now I can finally rest peacefully.”

“What are you saying? Brother, are you really that unwell?”

“Haah… to be honest, I am not well. I can feel my strength draining day by day.”

After a brief silence, Namgung Hyeok spoke cautiously.

“May I check your pulse?”

“Your pulse? You learned medicine?”

“I learned it on the battlefield. I may even be better than most physicians now.”

“Of course. If it is you, I trust your abilities.”

Namgung Cheon nodded, and Namgung Hyeok gently took his wrist and sent a surge of energy into his body.

Warm internal energy flowed through Namgung Cheon’s body.

Namgung Hyeok’s eyes narrowed.

‘This is…’

“Hyeok? What is it?”

Namgung Hyeok spoke gravely.

“This is not a normal illness. It looks like poisoning.”

“Poisoned?!”

Namgung Cheon’s eyes shook violently.

“Just stay still. I will make you more comfortable.”

Namgung Hyeok placed a hand on his back and circulated his internal energy.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, flames erupted from his hand.

“W–What is that?!”

“It is a fortuitous encounter I obtained on the battlefield. Trust me.”

He focused his mind.

The flames seeped into Namgung Cheon’s body, burning away the toxins inside him.

“Ugh!”

Namgung Cheon struggled in pain, clutching the blanket tightly, but Namgung Hyeok did not stop.

After some time, he withdrew his hand.

“Haah… haah…”

“How do you feel?”

“I… I feel lighter. Much better than before…”

Namgung Cheon moved his arms in disbelief.

“How… how is this possible…?”

“You must not overexert yourself yet. I will treat you a few more times. Let’s monitor your condition.”

Namgung Hyeok stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“If you were truly poisoned, then this is a serious matter. Someone has poisoned the rightful heir and First Young Master of the Namgung Clan.”

“……!”

“So I must find the culprit. To do that, I need to meet the person currently controlling the clan.”

“The one controlling the clan… don’t tell me you mean…”

Namgung Cheon asked, his voice trembling.

“Yes.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded.

“I am going to meet my uncle.”