The Time-Limited Elixir of the Ruined Clan - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Decline of a Fallen Clan: Terminal Years — Chapter 118

“If that’s the case, why bother stealing in the first place?”
“Kleptomania isn’t something reason can solve…….”
“Anyway, can we really just refuse to go to the Yongbong Assembly?”
One of the young men grumbled. Being born into a famous martial family meant having no freedom to skip such gatherings.
“Still, it should be interesting. They’ll be coming from the west too?”
Since the families attending the Gyeong Hang Un Ryeon tended to cluster in the east, there was a peculiar competitive spirit toward the western clans.
“When the Je Gal Clan shows up, let’s land a solid hit on them, won’t we, Gyeong Mu!”
Nam Gung Gyeong Mu, who had been sipping tea with an indifferent expression throughout, started with alarm.
“Me, me? Against the Je Gal Clan……?”
“Yeah! They’re always saying no one can beat them with their Formation Technique.”
Nam Gung Gyeong Mu thought, ‘Because it’s true,’ but didn’t voice it aloud.
In circles like this, self-awareness translated into lack of spirit, weakness, stupidity.
As Nam Gung Gyeong Mu fumbled with his teacup, unable to find words—
“By the way, Gyeong Mu, I need to buy some gifts for my nieces and nephews. Would you mind showing me around Yangzhou proper?”
Someone spoke in a hearty voice. It was a young man with clear, delicate features and a mischievous expression—Dan Mok Hyeon U.

* * *

Dan Mok Hyeon Yo stood in silence, more like an ivory figurine carved with perfect precision than a living person.
Yet the moment she faced her family, life bloomed across her face as if leaves had suddenly burst forth from a painting into the world beyond.
“What is that boy doing with the children? Excuse me for just a moment.”
Though the Gyeong Hang Un Ryeon was ostensibly a gathering for the young to compete and train, the powerful adults from each region had their own agenda.
How far they could expand their interests, how much to cooperate versus compete within the Martial Alliance, the unspoken assessment of each other’s futures by watching the children.
Still, this Gyeong Hang Un Ryeon had been convened after a long interval, and thanks to the emergence of the Mo Yong Clan—a major power that had never attended before—and the revival of Dan Mok Cheon Gi, the proceedings had unfolded remarkably smoothly.
Only the matters they were about to address were anything but smooth.
“Hyeon U, what are you doing with the children?”
“Sister, I was thinking of showing this friend around Yangzhou proper. Then we happened to run into the children.”
Dan Mok Hyeon U avoided the gaze of his sister, who was watching him with subtle scrutiny.
If this had been the Dan Mok Clan, she would have scolded him, saying “Your nephews and nieces are all studying, training, doing their reviews, and here you are going out to play!” But because this was the Nam Gung Clan, one look sufficed.
“You’re going out dressed like that? Won’t it be chilly when you return?”
“It won’t be cold.”
Dan Mok Hyeon U spoke, then glanced sideways. If this had been the Dan Mok Clan, his sister would have said something like “My, has young master Hyeon U already reached the stage of Invulnerability to Cold and Heat?” But this was the Nam Gung Clan.
‘Are you planning to live in the Nam Gung Clan forever?’
“Well then. I’ll bring along some Wind Evasion talismans. I was planning to anyway. Right, Gyeong Mu?”
“Huh? Yes, yes…….”
While Nam Gung Gyeong Mu nodded in confusion, Dan Mok Hyeon U left only the words “I’ll bring back gifts for the family!” before whisking Nam Gung Gyeong Mu away.
“Goodness, that prankster never changes, no matter how old he gets.”
Dan Mok Hyeon Yo clicked her tongue a few times, then looked down at the children who remained.
“You’re all heading to your lesson?”
“Yes!”
The Dan Mok Clan children answered in unison.
“Good, good. You must all work hard. You are the pillars of the Dan Mok Clan.”
As Dan Mok Hyeon Yo stroked each child’s head, called them by name, and offered words of encouragement, she noticed a servant lingering nearby and felt a small jolt of unease.
‘What was that child’s name? Something……Yoon, was it?’
There was a servant that Dan Mok Ryeon favored particularly—this must be that one.
Her memory of the girl was dim, her appearance easy to overlook, but when they came face to face, something in that face startled her.
Still young, yet with such a clearly defined bridge of the nose, such large eyes, and even a beauty mark beneath the left eye—features so refined that looking at them would lead one to think her a descendent of some noble house rather than a servant.
But it was the eyes of that servant girl that struck Dan Mok Hyeon Yo most of all.
The eyes of those who have conquered defeat. Not merely assuming they would win, but eyes of someone who already knew they would not lose.
Eyes she had only ever seen in her father and her elder brother.
‘No, no. What am I even thinking?’
Dan Mok Hyeon Yo hastily shook her head. Such thoughts were unbecoming when directed at her cousin’s servant.
Yet uneasy all the same, instead of patting the girl’s head as she had the other children, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo merely tapped her shoulder lightly.
“Where is Mother going?”
“Where is Aunt going?”
Dan Mok Seong asked, and Dan Mok Bi followed with the same question. Dan Mok Hyeon Yo dodged the inquiry.
“We’re just discussing how the different clans maintain their defenses. You’ll learn all about it eventually.”
“……Right now?”
Dan Mok Hyeon Yo flinched at Dan Mok Ryeon’s question, caught off guard—as if the girl had already grasped the whole situation.
“Well…… yes. It might be nice to discuss it together once everyone has gathered.”
Though they all belonged to the Baek Do Meng within the Martial Alliance, and now gathered at Gyeong Hang Un Ryeon, Dan Mok Hyeon Yo could hardly divulge such intimate matters of household security; instead, she smoothly changed the subject and sent the children away.
“How wonderful that the children are so lively and sharp-minded.”
“With so many of them, half my joy is tempered by worry they’ll cause some trouble.”
Dan Mok Hyeon Yo laughed quickly and replied. The pleasant exchange lasted only a moment before the adults’ expressions clouded over. Nam Gung Gyeong Hae, positioned at the far end, gestured inward with a tilt of his head.
As they filed inside, dark clouds began creeping across the sky above.

* * *

Today’s lesson fell to Nam Gung Hwan, and surprisingly, what he’d brought was not a sword or saber, spear or bow, but books—several of them.
“Huh……?”
The children’s faces went blank, but Nam Gung Hwan remained unmoved.
“Today we’re going to quickly trace the history of martial techniques.”
“The history of……martial techniques?”
At the phrase “martial techniques” rather than “Martial Arts World,” the children’s eyes widened.
“Yes. The development of martial techniques has its own flow, its fashions and trends. We who live within them simply fail to notice. For instance, right now speed is prized above all—reading an opponent’s attack and striking their openings with swift counterattacks. But until ten years ago, sensing an opponent’s strong internal energy through energy perception was far more important than reading the direction of their assault.”
Dan Mok Ryeon understood the reason. Ten years ago meant the era when they confronted Blood Coral Valley and eliminated its remnants.
Blood Coral Valley possessed its own bizarre nature—formidable internal energy from some unknown source, paired with clumsy, unskilled techniques.
“Before that, people admired delicate and beautiful combat forms. The refined art of cornering an opponent with traps, intricate technique, and damage dealt without cruelty—that was considered supreme. Do you know why?”
The children were silent. They’d never even been born ten years ago, so how could they know of an age even more distant?
Then someone’s hand shot up, and all eyes instantly fixed on the small boy with the bright smile—Dan Mok Bi.
“What? Bi, you know?”
Dan Mok Bi called out confidently.
“My older sister knows!”
And the attention that had been on Dan Mok Bi shifted entirely to Dan Mok Ryeon.
Dan Mok Ryeon looked at Dan Mok Bi with dismay, but faced with her younger brother’s unwavering belief that “my sister is a genius,” she couldn’t manage a harsh word.
“Ryeon, do you know?”
Dan Mok Ryeon fought to keep her expression from crumpling and gathered her thoughts slowly.
‘If delicate, skillful techniques were fashionable then……before that must have been something else. Something not delicate. Not skillful. People must have grown tired of the cruelty and adopted this trend.’
“Might tyrannical methods have been popular before that? Like, overwhelming strength that could knock an opponent flying in a single exchange?”
“……!”
Nam Gung Hwan’s eyes widened, then slowly he nodded.
“Mm, exactly. Especially if it meant destroying an opponent’s weapon as well. Nicknames like Tyrant King, Tyrant Path, Tyrant Sword spread through the Martial Arts World. This is how attack methods rise and fall throughout the ages. But.”
Nam Gung Hwan suddenly paused, drawing all eyes to him. After a moment of silence, he glanced around before continuing.
“But there are things that do not change, no matter how much time passes.”
Nam Gung Hwan tapped the stack of books before him.
“Actions may create history, but records sustain it.”
Nam Gung Hwan spoke with absolute clarity. Dan Mok Ryeon noticed something rather remarkable about him then.
It was the callus embedded in the middle finger of his right hand. Not the kind that forms from wielding weapons or practicing martial combat.
It was a mark that only appeared on those who never neglected their writing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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