Heaven-Defying Sword

Chapter 6

Chapter 6. You’re a Genius!

Na Jin-seong, who was sparring with Na Jin-mook, flinched. Since they had both learned and practiced the same Na Family Six Forms, he knew every technique that Na Jin-mook used.

This was not their first time sparring either. He had already figured out Na Jin-mook's tendencies long ago.

Even so, Na Jin-mook was striking his weaknesses with pinpoint accuracy. It was surprising because Na Jin-mook was so honest that he did not even think about creating feints to lure him in or using unconventional attacks, yet he was somehow gaining the upper hand.

"Watch out!"

Na Jin-mook pushed forward with strength and then kicked at his leg. When Na Jin-seong dodged it, Na Jin-mook took the opportunity to pour on a fierce assault.

Na Jin-seong blocked frantically before striking back with all his might. Following that, Na Jin-mook, who had been pushed back, stabilized his ragged breathing.

"Let us stop here."

"Yes, brother."

"You have improved again."

Na Jin-seong, who had sheathed his saber, offered his praise. He was sincere.

"I still cannot catch up to you, brother."

"What are you talking about? I used to always win in the past, but now I lose once every three times. It feels like your skill increases every time you come back from Seowon Temple?"

"Haha. You noticed."

"There really is something going on."

Na Jin-seong poured some tea and handed it over. Na Jin-mook, who was already thirsty, emptied it in one gulp.

"Now tell me. What kind of master is at Seowon Temple that is giving you help?"

"You would not believe me even if I told you."

"Would I doubt you? The evidence is this clear."

Na Jin-seong poured another cup of tea and held it out. It was a sign for him to hurry up and speak.

Na Jin-mook took the tea he offered and smiled.

"I will tell you if you promise to keep it a secret."

"Do you perhaps not trust me? Is the brotherly affection we have built up over time only worth that much? It is not, right?"

Na Jin-seong asked with a hurt expression. Then, Na Jin-mook put down the empty cup and spoke.

"It is the youngest."

"What?"

As Na Jin-seong stared blankly, Na Jin-mook laughed as if he had expected that reaction.

"The youngest helped me."

"So-an?"

"Yes."

"That is nonsense. If you did not want to tell me, you should have just said so..."

"See? I told you that you would not believe me. If you do not want to believe it, then don't. I told you the truth."

"Is it really true?"

"Why would I deceive you, brother? What profit would I gain from that?"

Even though it had only been about a month, Na Jin-seong had spent half of every day with Na Jin-mook. Therefore, he knew his upright personality. Na Jin-mook was incapable of even thinking of a trick to deceive someone.

Naturally, there was no way he would deceive his own older brother. He made jokes occasionally, but never in this manner.

"I am sorry for doubting you," Na Jin-seong said seriously.

Then, Na Jin-mook laughed awkwardly.

"Even I would not have believed it. As I said, this is a secret."

"But how is So-an helping you? Ah, I am not asking because I do not believe you, I am just curious about the method."

"Hmm..."

After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Na Jin-mook soon made a decision and spoke.

"Seeing it once is better than hearing about it a hundred times. I happen to be going to see the youngest with Mother tomorrow, so do you want to come along?"

"That is a good idea. I will get permission from my mother as well."

Lady An gave her permission immediately after hearing her son's words. She looked favorably upon Na Jin-seong acting like an older brother and taking care of Na Jin-mook.

She had been worried that he lacked brotherly love because his relationship with Na Jin-sang was poor, so it was admirable that he even cared for the youngest.

Thus, Na Jin-seong followed Lady Jeong and went to Seowon Temple with Na Jin-mook.

"Mother!"

As Na Jin-an came running, Lady Jeong smiled and took him into her arms. Her heart felt overwhelmed seeing the child after ten days.

"My youngest. Have you been listening well to the Great Master?"

"Yes. Two days ago, the Great Master was happy and said that my mind has finally opened."

"Is that so?"

"Youngest. Your big brother is here too."

"Yeah."

"I came along as well. You seem to have grown a bit since I last saw you?"

Na Jin-seong said as he stroked the head of Na Jin-an.

Why on earth did Na Jin-seong come as well?

That question was soon answered. After they shared a meal while talking with their mother, Na Jin-mook spoke.

"Mother. You must be tired from the long journey, so please rest for a while. I will go and play with the youngest and Brother Seong."

Every time Na Jin-mook came here, he tried to be alone with Na Jin-an. Once, Lady Jeong had followed them secretly to see what they were doing and laughed after seeing him sit the youngest down while showing off his martial arts.

He was likely doing this again because he wanted to show what he had practiced. Since he usually spent time with Na Jin-seong, it made sense that they were going together.

"I understand, so go ahead."

"Yes."

Na Jin-mook tried to pick up the youngest. However, Na Jin-seong lifted him up first.

"Let us go."

After heading to the backyard, Na Jin-mook drew his saber once Na Jin-seong had taken a seat. Then, after glancing at the youngest, he took a deep breath and concentrated.

Na Jin-seong had sparred with Na Jin-mook countless times, but he had never seen him look like that.

"Ha!"

With a short shout, Na Jin-mook performed the Na Family Six Forms. Recently, he had been learning the latter three forms of the Na Family Six Forms from Na Jin-seong. Because of that, his movements and saber path were a bit clumsy, but his momentum was considerable.

"Well done!"

Watching this, Na Jin-seong shouted out instinctively in excitement.

"What do you mean 'well done'?"

"Huh?"

Hearing the youngest he was holding mutter to himself, Na Jin-seong looked at him with questioning eyes.

The youngest had a cold and sulky expression. He had seemed to be in a good mood until just a moment ago, so why was he suddenly acting like this?

In truth, Na Jin-an was acting that way because of Na Jin-mook. Seeing him bring Na Jin-seong here to practice the saber technique meant that he had already told him everything.

I told him not to say anything. His mouth is so light.

Of course, it was not as if he did not understand those feelings. Since he finally had an older brother he could trust and rely on, he probably did not want to deceive him.

He likely felt the desire to grow stronger together, and he probably also wanted to brag about his talented younger brother.

"Tsk!"

Fine, the water is already spilled. If it cannot be undone, let us think positively.

Are we not already one family?

His father would die in two years. First, he had to stop that from happening, and he had to help his uncle so that he would not lose his government position.

He had already been feeling uneasy with only Na Jin-mook, whose head is a flower garden. He might as well teach Na Jin-seong well and put them both to work.

Having reached that thought, Na Jin-an nodded.

But that is that, and the price for breaking the promise must be paid.

"I told you that is not it! The stride is too small! How many times do I have to tell you? Stupid brother! I told you to take a larger step there!"

Na Jin-mook flinched and then performed the technique again exactly as the youngest instructed. Immediately, the movements became cleaner, and the power and speed changed.

After that, Na Jin-an pointed things out several times while hurling insults, calling him an idiot, a dummy, or slow-witted.

However, Na Jin-mook silently did as Na Jin-an told him, and the results were amazing. His skill was clearly better than before he had come here.

That was visible even to Na Jin-seong's eyes.

'What on earth is this...'

Na Jin-seong could not close his mouth, which had fallen open in shock. Because he knew Na Jin-mook's personality, he had said he believed him to his face, but honestly, he had been skeptical.

A four-year-old teaching martial arts!

But it was the truth.

"Do you want to try too, Big Brother?"

Na Jin-seong, who had been staring blankly, finally snapped out of it.

Try it?

Of course I have to. I just saw Na Jin-mook's skill improve like that right before my eyes.

However, Na Jin-seong first asked with a worried face.

"Are you perhaps going to swear at me like that too?"

He did not usually do that. He was only doing it today because Na Jin-mook had broken the promise.

"No."

Only then did Na Jin-seong feel relieved as he took up his saber and performed the Na Family Six Forms. Then, Na Jin-an began to point out the lacking areas.

"Rotate your waist more there. Keep your wrist fixed."

Na Jin-seong nodded and did as the youngest said. When he did, more power was loaded into the saber he swung.

"For that technique, do not think about what comes after; just pour everything into it. Again! Again!"

After repeating it several times, the transition to the next form became faster and more seamless.

Unbelievable!

Na Jin-seong was so excited that he lost track of time and continued to swing his saber. Then, when he could no longer hear the youngest's voice, he faltered and looked over.

At some point, Na Jin-mook, who had sheathed his saber, was sitting beside the youngest. The two of them were busy chatting and seemed to have forgotten about him.

Na Jin-seong felt very disappointed, but he was not greedy. There would be plenty of days to receive help in the future.

"This is incredible. Truly incredible. I feel like my skill has increased several times over thanks to the youngest."

"Haha. I told you so, right?"

Na Jin-mook said while acting proud. Then, Na Jin-seong picked up the youngest.

"Youngest. Can you tell this brother how you know all this so well?"

He knew he would ask that. Na Jin-an answered nonchalantly as if it were nothing.

"I can just see it."

"What?"

"When I watch you, Brother, I can see how you can do better. I can see everything Big Brother is doing too."

'He is a genius!'

Na Jin-seong was convinced instantly.

There are many things in the world that cannot be understood.

Take Dongbang Selin of the Dongbang Clan, for example. Whenever people discussed who was the most outstanding among the Rising Stars of Anhui Province, Dongbang Selin was never left out.

From what he heard, Dongbang Selin could perfectly replicate any technique after seeing it just once since the age of three. The youngest was clearly a genius like that.

"Hahaha! Our youngest is this outstanding. But why does no one know? If Father and Great Uncle knew, they would be overjoyed."

'Father? Ha!'

Na Jin-an snorted. He is deceived even by someone like Gang Myeon-uk, so who knows what would happen if I spoke up.

"Brother. No one must know about this."

Na Jin-mook said with a serious expression.

"Hmm? You and I already know?"

"You are different, Brother."

"Different? How am I different? We are all one family with Great Uncle."

"You believe in the youngest and me, Brother. And you will keep the secret. Father must know eventually, but not right now."

"Mmm..."

Na Jin-seong remembered how his father would often slam the table in frustration or even stamp his feet whenever he talked about his Great Uncle. He said there was no one else with such a stubborn and rigid personality.

Based on what he saw this time, he did not know for sure because they had not spoken for long, but his father probably was not making things up.

"Then how about telling only Father?"

"Later. If it were to be known outside, things could become difficult."

'Difficult?'

As Na Jin-seong furrowed his brows slightly, not understanding what he meant, Na Jin-mook added.

"The protruding stone gets the hammer."

Only then did Na Jin-seong understand what Na Jin-mook was worried about.

If people knew the youngest's talent was that great, there would be those who would become envious and jealous.

However, the Na Manor did not have the power to protect Na Jin-an. His father was a Chief Constable and his uncle was a District Magistrate, but there were many people in Anhui Province who were much more great and prominent. There were also many influential families.

Come to think of it, it was the same for Dongbang Selin. The Dongbang Clan was a family with powerful influence in the eastern part of Anhui Province. Even so, they had hidden that talent until she was fifteen. It had only been known that she was moderately outstanding.

"If it were my father, he could open a path for the youngest and protect him in case of an emergency. But because of that, damage could come to the family. So, not right now. Fortunately, Great Master Beom Yo dotes on the youngest, so for the time being, it is fine."

'That is right. There was Great Master Beom Yo.'

Na Jin-seong nodded in agreement. Great Master Beom Yo's reputation was so high that even the Yeonnam Prince's Manor could not treat him lightly. So, as long as he was within that fence, he was safe.

"Great Master Beom Yo decided to teach the youngest for a hundred days, right? Then what happens after that?"

"That is..."

In truth, everything Na Jin-mook had just said was what Na Jin-an had told him. He had told him to speak to Na Jin-seong in that way.

Na Jin-mook, who was at a loss for words, looked at Na Jin-an. Then, Na Jin-an let out a small sigh.

"You and Big Brother have to get strong quickly and protect me."

"Ah!"

The two of them had the same reaction at the same time. There are many reasons for practicing martial arts, but fundamentally, it is to protect oneself, one's family, and by extension, one's country.

"You have limitless potential, Brother. Big Brother too."

"Me?"

Na Jin-seong asked back, pointing at himself with his finger. His father, Na Hyeon-gwang, had hoped he would become a civil official. Therefore, he had kept books closer than martial arts practice. He had only learned the Na Family Six Forms because it was passed down in the family.

However, he had always held a longing for martial arts.

What young man would not hold the righteous path of a martial arts hero in his heart?

"If Big Brother wants, I can draw out that potential."

Should he believe the words of a four-year-old or not...

But had he not already seen and experienced it?

The youngest was a genius.

"Fine. Then I shall try. Since both Mook and you are my younger brothers, I will protect you."

Hearing those words, Na Jin-mook's heart grew hot, and he reached out his hand, which Na Jin-seong then grasped.

"Brother!"

"My brother!"

The two of them looked at each other and nodded. Knowing they were of one heart and mind, they burned with passion.

However, Na Jin-an, who was watching them, shook his head.

Looking at the way they were acting, it seemed Na Jin-seong's head is a flower garden as well, so he wondered when he would be able to teach the two of them. He even had the doubt: Will it work?

Regardless, it was a good thing to have gained one more helper.