Chapter 121: This isn't it…? (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: This isn't it…? (1)
Heavenly Dragon Gu Cheolun.
The Lord of the Gu Clan, now known as the Tiger Warrior.
Even back in their Murim Alliance days, Namgung Jin and Gu Cheolun had never gotten along. With few young prodigies around at the time, it was inevitable that people would constantly compare them, debating who was stronger.
Namgung Jin, proud to a fault, refused to let such talk slide. The arrogant young noble sought out Gu Cheolun and challenged him to a duel.
And he was utterly defeated.
Namgung Jin remembered it all too well.
The scorching heat, the flames that blotted out the sky.
And those crimson eyes glaring down at him from within the inferno.
How could he ever forget? That memory still haunted him to this day.
It wasn't the only reason he grew to despise Gu Cheolun, but it was a scene forever burned into his mind.
He loathed the man. Not only had his pride been shattered, but their ruined friendship festered into a deep-seated resentment.
And above all else…
Losing her was, ultimately, his own fault.
But it was also Gu Cheolun's sin for neglecting the flower he had won. How could it not be a crime, to cast aside everything for a woman whose name he didn't even know?
Even after learning the Gu Clan's secrets, Namgung Jin's hatred never wavered.
…
The sword glimmered coldly under the moonlight. Around the time Namgung Jin transcended the peak realm and stepped into the fusion realm, the Lord of Heaven had told him:
You are empty inside. You must first fill that void.
It likely wasn't a reference to Qi, and Namgung Jin wasn't foolish enough to misunderstand.
Many years had passed since then. He had trained for countless hours and survived innumerable life-or-death battles, yet Namgung Jin remained stuck in the same place.
He felt no progress. It was difficult to say he truly embodied the title of clan lord.
Even with his clan's support, he felt incomplete. He had reached the fusion realm, but the enlightenments he gained never truly took root within him.
Was there something wrong with his body?
One morning, his grandfather summoned the Immortal Healer to examine him.
After the check-up, the Immortal Healer stated bluntly, "I'm not sure what you expect me to treat. There is nothing wrong with your body."
The diagnosis was clear: no physical ailments. The problem lay elsewhere. Namgung Jin had hit a wall he could not overcome as a martial artist.
As Lord of the Namgung Clan, he needed greater strength to uphold that honor. The Namgung were a martial clan; a weakling could not sit at its apex.
Namgung Jin had reached the fusion realm, easily placing him among the world's top hundred masters. Yet, it still wasn't enough to lead the Namgung Clan. That was why he sought power from elsewhere, by any means necessary.
Whether it came from the Gu Clan he so despised, or from anywhere else.
-Swish!
The tip of the sword grazed Namgung Jin's cheek, carried by the wind. His earlier thought of giving his opponent ten seconds vanished, replaced by a frantic search for an opening between the relentless onslaught of slashes.
Namgung Jin held the advantage in speed.
And in strength.
Not using Qi? That shouldn't have been a problem. He had far more experience with the sword—or so he had prayed.
So what was the issue? Why couldn't he block that blade? Just because he was stuck at a wall didn't make him a weak martial artist.
Yet here he was, being pushed back by a mere youth…
Gu Yangcheon's movements lacked any discernible foundation, the kind every aspiring swordsman should have mastered.
His swings seemed random, yet also… efficient, containing only the most necessary motions.
Am I dreaming?
The almighty Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin, couldn't even predict this young prodigy's movements.
It wasn't a matter of speed; he simply couldn't comprehend them.
Even in a dream, this shouldn't be possible…!
The sword cleaved the air.
Namgung Jin's footwork was superb, and this was a pure sword duel. As a king of the sword, being forced back was unthinkable.
-Swish! Swish!
The sound of blades cutting through air grew sharper. After transcending the peak realm, his Qi had become one with his body, infusing his movements naturally without conscious effort.
Even without employing Qi-based martial arts, he never imagined he could be outpaced.
The Namgung Clan's arts were supreme among sword techniques, but their highest skills required Qi.
However, that wasn't the entirety of the Namgung sword.
They could still wield their blades effectively without it.
Once his resolve solidified, Namgung Jin initiated the Azure Heavenly Tidal—
-Clang!
"...!"
His sword was knocked skyward.
Gu Yangcheon had exploited an opening created by Namgung Jin's refusal to use Qi, striking his blade away.
With his weapon deflected, Namgung Jin's guard broke, leaving his chest exposed.
Damn it…!
A single swing here would seal Gu Yangcheon's victory. A vile thought—to break his vow and use Qi—flashed through Namgung Jin's mind.
He had learned to do anything to achieve his goals, but that would be a betrayal of his pride as a martial artist.
Resigned to defeat, unable to counter the incoming strike, Namgung Jin braced himself… but the expected blow never landed.
"What are you doing?"
Gu Yangcheon lowered his sword and stood still, his question hanging in the air.
"I told you to give it your all. So what is this?"
Namgung Jin was baffled. Was the youth mocking him? But Gu Yangcheon's expression was deadly serious.
"Not only are you holding back, but are you so blinded by your own delusions that you can't see what's right in front of you?"
"What… are you talking about?"
Anger surged within Namgung Jin, fueled by his inability to comprehend the other's words. The urge to unleash his Lightning Qi became almost unbearable. He wanted to shut that damned mouth for good.
"I applaud you for keeping your promise not to use Qi. But a duel conducted so selfishly…"
Gu Yangcheon trailed off, his expression growing increasingly severe.
Noticing the shift, Namgung Jin couldn't help but ask, "What is that look? Why are you staring at me like that?"
He couldn't fathom the reason for such a grim visage.
Gu Yangcheon let out a hollow, mirthless laugh.
"Perhaps…"
[What is it?]
Elder Shin didn't respond, not even to Gu Yangcheon. Instead, he began to swing his sword before Namgung Jin, as if demonstrating. These movements were different from before—because Elder Shin had never truly used a proper form against him initially.
He had no intention of using the Plum Blossom Sword Art, nor was it necessary. As Elder Shin observed Namgung Jin, pieces seemed to click into place. Gu Yangcheon, watching from within, recognized these movements.
"I acknowledge your talent, but how dare you give me a—!"
Namgung Jin's shout died in his throat as he watched Elder Shin's sword.
His jaw slackened, threatening to hit the ground. The shock was that profound.
Elder Shin's movements were definitely not those of Mount Hua.
But I've seen this before. I've seen it countless times.
[Why are you using this form?]
Gu Yangcheon's voice trembled as he asked Elder Shin.
No Qi was being used, but this was unmistakably the swordplay of the Namgung Clan. More precisely, it bore a striking resemblance to the form the Demonic Sword had used in his past life.
If her style was heavier, rougher, and saturated with killing intent, the form Elder Shin now displayed was precise, flawless in its execution.
The sword that had shed the Namgung Clan's weaknesses. The very form the Demonic Sword used when she destroyed the Namgung Clan.
It wasn't a perfect replica. His lower body remained mostly static, as if he was mimicking the form with his upper body alone. Yet, the similarity was uncanny.
After a few more swings, he stopped and looked at Namgung Jin. Seeing the man standing in stunned silence, he spoke, his voice laden with a bitter sadness.
"So, it wasn't that you didn't do it… but that you couldn't."
"Wh-what did you just do…?"
Namgung Jin's tone had completely changed.
"Just now, what was that—!"
"I showed you your own clan's sword art right before your eyes, and your curiosity overrides your anger. You must be truly desperate."
"...!"
It was slightly different, but that was undeniably the Namgung Clan's sword art. So similar it was unmistakable.
[Elder Shin.]
I've wondered for a long time. The Namgung Clan's sword art I saw in your memory was as lacking as ever. The form of that mighty clan.
Originally, the clan should have been filled with monsters who usurped power with their Lightning Qi. At least, that was the Namgung Clan in Elder Shin's memory.
The Thunderous Sword, Namgung Myung. A master capable of swinging his lightning-infused blade dozens of times in mere seconds.
He had many achievements, but his greatest…
He had perfected the Namgung Clan's sword.
Perfection.
That was the word Namgung Myung dared to utter after reaching a certain pinnacle.
He would drink himself into a stupor, boasting about creating a legacy to pass down to his descendants. The swordplay he demonstrated that day was the complete embodiment of all the Namgung Clan's enlightenment—even the Divine Sword of Mount Hua acknowledged it.
And all this was accomplished single-handedly, from nowhere, at a time when the evolution of his clan's sword art had stagnated.
"S-Something like this can't be…"
Times had changed. When the Divine Sword Shincheol awakened, the world was transformed.
Yet, plum blossom petals still drifted through the air on Mount Hua.
They continued to shine even after his death.
Other places should have remained the same.
At the very least, so the seeds they left behind would not have been sown in vain.
"It should have been that way. So what is this half-completed garbage?"
[Are you saying there's something wrong with the current generation of the Namgung sword?]
If I had to answer, I couldn't call it 'wrong.' In its own way, it's impressive.
[Then what is the problem—]
It has simply deteriorated. Whether they failed to pass it down properly, or simply forgot.
Where did it go?
Where did Namgung Myung's accomplishment disappear to?
Was the half-completed state of this man the anomaly?
It's because he's incomplete that he wanders, unable to overcome the wall.
Gu Yangcheon's body was currently at the peak realm. While more capable than others at his rank due to his past life's experience, it was strange that Elder Shin could so easily see through Namgung Jin, who should firmly be in the fusion realm.
He was stuck midway. The current Namgung Jin was barely clinging to the fusion realm.
It was just one step. He struggled solely because of that single, insurmountable step. Arrogance, desperation, pressure, and his shattered pride had halted his progress.
Namgung Jin asked, his voice shaking,
"...Please… tell me. What was that just now? You… what are you?"
Given that his own clan's art had just been used before him, he should be furious. Instead, Namgung Jin was filled with a desperate hope.
Hope? To think he'd feel hope after seeing a replica of that deficient form.
He even began to question Gu Yangcheon's identity, despite looking down on him moments before.
"Do not mistake me. I am Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Clan."
[At least fix your way of speaking if you're going to say that.]
Stop interrupting and stay quiet.
[This is completely different from what I asked… Why are you doing this?]
Have you never wondered why the Namgung child failed to earn the title of Sword Dragon?
[Are you saying it's because the current Namgung sword is flawed?]*
I struggled to understand Elder Shin. Namgung Cheonjun was talented, at least compared to his peers.
He had the talent to be called a genius, but Yung Pung was simply more gifted.
Even if Elder Shin spoke the truth, I couldn't grasp why he was acting this way now.
"Can you call your sword complete when you cannot perfect it without relying on Qi?"
"What are you…"
"I tried to give you a hint, but I see it's pointless…"
The Namgung art used by Namgung Cheonjun, and of course Namgung Jin, lacked significant power without Qi.
This was true for other clans' arts as well, but I understood Elder Shin a bit better after this comment.
The openings revealed during their swordplay. The movements that only became whole with the infusion of Qi.
It was as if Qi was patching the flaws in the form. The barely noticeable gaps were covered by Qi, explaining why he neglected these weaknesses.
Namgung Myung's sword art…
The Demonic Sword's sword art…
Both of us, having witnessed their true forms, could see the vast chasm separating him from them.
The brief display Elder Shin showed earlier was certainly similar to the Namgung sword, but the difference in quality was stark, evident even in those few movements.
Even I, with limited swordsmanship knowledge, could see it. How could Namgung Jin not?
[I think he's completely forgotten our bet.]
His composure had shattered. He seemed trapped by what he had just witnessed.
He looked as if he had swallowed a mouthful of bitter seeds.
How Gu Yangcheon could wield a sword, the extent of his talent—none of it mattered to him now.
The humiliating words, his servants groaning on the ground—all of it had vanished from Namgung Jin's mind.
He seemed to have given up on the bet altogether.
To see the lord of a noble clan in such a state… It was disconcerting to witness such a pathetic side of him, but there was nothing I could do.
"...I've lost. I admit defeat…"
Namgung Jin conceded. The man who had fiercely dueled a child, despite the power difference, was completely broken by a brief demonstration of swordplay.
"I will kneel, I will apologize—whatever you want. I'll do anything you ask…"
Is he begging me to tell him what that was?
[He's lost his mind.]
He should first seek the path to achieving such sword art himself.
Was Elder Shin's display truly so shocking? He seemed incapable of rational thought, let alone maintaining his dignity.
And this was a fusion realm martial artist. Something was definitely amiss.
[Does he have some kind of mental instability?]
"...Hmm."
Elder Shin sighed, looking at Namgung Jin. The old man also seemed to find the lord's behavior peculiar.
Maybe not… Is he actually smiling?
"Do you wish to know?"
[Elder Shin?]
I called out quickly upon hearing his question. Was he really about to teach Namgung Jin, just like that?
Why? I understand this isn't what you intended, but I did emerge victorious.
[I get that part, but are you seriously going to teach him?]
Teach him what?
[The sword art of the Thunderous Sword.]
If he was friends with the Thunderous Sword, I can see why he's disappointed the art wasn't passed down. But suddenly teaching it here makes no sense.
Elder Shin responded to my internal question.
How could I teach him that? I don't even know the fundamentals.
[Huh?]
What is he talking about now?
Namgung Jin looked ready to prostrate himself upon hearing Elder Shin. To see such an arrogant man so thoroughly broken was something else.
Since I've already shown him this much, I can't simply use 'talent' as an excuse for my strength. I revealed the Namgung Clan's art, and even an evolved version of it. I need a different explanation.
Does Elder Shin have a plan?
[Then what are you…]
Naturally, the rest is up to you.
[Pardon?]
What did this old man just say?
Up to me? How am I supposed to teach Namgung Jin his own clan's sword art?
As panic set in, I desperately called out again.
[Elder Shin… Wait, what are you doing?]
Ignoring me completely, Elder Shin spoke to Namgung Jin.
"From this day forth… you will regard me as your master."
[You… crazy old man…]
His words made my head spin. I tried to protest, but Elder Shin still held full control over my body.
Lights approached the guesthouse—members of the Gu Clan who had heard the commotion, and Namgung Bi-ah, who had just arrived.
Namgung Bi-ah's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Namgung Jin kneeling and me standing completely unscathed.
"I'm fucked…"
That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I finally regained control of my body.