Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Rite of Entry
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“I heard you summoned me.”
“Yes, isn't it about time for you to undergo your capping ceremony?”
Yuk Jin-yang did not panic at his grandfather's sudden proposal. He had been thinking it was time himself.
The Duke of Zhou had said that the age just reaching adulthood was called the weak crown. Though imperfect, once the capping ceremony was performed, one should be treated as a full adult. Common folk usually took twenty as the benchmark.
Murim customs were different. One had to prove they could handle a man's share of work to be recognized as an adult. Age had nothing to do with it.
Generally, after surviving the trials of the jianghu, one was deemed worthy of adult treatment. With the Hainan incident, Yuk Jin-yang had taken his first step, so he was more than qualified.
“Then should I return to the main household?”
“No, we don't have time for that. How about holding it here, combined with your alliance initiation rite?”
He had heard of it once before. To join the Five Harmony Alliance, one had to prove their qualifications. That test was called the initiation rite.
No one was exempt from the initiation rite, not even royalty.
Even those born of fine bloodlines sometimes fell short. The alliance took special care to maintain the caliber of its members.
“I've heard the initiation rite is the test to enter the alliance. What specific trials must one undergo?”
“Let's leave that as the fun of the day. It wouldn't be exciting if you knew in advance.”
The Yuk Clan Leader brushed it off with a hearty laugh.
“The alliance has quite a bit of interest in you as well. They brought it up first.”
“Because I'm Grandfather's grandson?”
“That too. Considering your age, the fame you've built isn't small. You wiped out the Guangdong Jin Clan and executed Hainan's traitor. They can't afford to overlook useful talent.”
“That's unexpected. I thought most people wouldn't believe the rumors about me.”
In Yuk Jin-yang's experience, murim folk were generally skeptical of hearsay.
It was a world where verifying rumors was difficult. All sorts of exaggerations floated around. True heavenly talents were exceedingly rare. Most flaunted empty reputations over real genius.
“There are certainly some insolent fools like that.”
Yuk Jin-yang sensed expectation in his grandfather's gaze.
“So show those stuffy old men for certain. That you are the grandson of Yuk Mu-hyeok.”
Two days later.
Yuk Jin-yang followed a servant's guidance to the Five Harmony Alliance's outdoor training ground. It was twice the size of the Yuk Clan Great Compound's grand drill field. Spacious enough to hold hundreds with room to spare.
Thickly planted cypress trees served as a fence around the perimeter, with azure silk curtains draped to block the sunlight.
The stone slabs paving the ground were renowned for their hardness: mukgon stone. A precaution to withstand martial artists' stomping feet and clashing blades.
Many people were already seated in the training ground. Most faces were unfamiliar. But it was clear many high-status masters were present. Their auras and bearing set them apart.
The servant guided Yuk Jin-yang to the head seat. The leaders of the four great clans sat there.
Bored expressions on the clan leaders' faces lit up with interest. Yet none spoke first. Yuk Jin-yang first paid respects to his grandfather.
“Grandfather.”
“Sit. Your turn is still a ways off.”
Yuk Jin-yang obediently took the empty seat beside him. His grandfather gave a brief explanation.
“The initiation rite is a spar. You prove your skills against an examiner.”
“Prove how?”
“Any means necessary to earn the examiner's approval. Or defeat them outright.”
“I won't disappoint you.”
“It won't be easy.”
At the meaningful words, Yuk Jin-yang tilted his head. He glanced over, but his grandfather said no more. The other clan leaders merely wore mischievous smiles.
With no choice, Yuk Jin-yang quietly awaited his turn. In the meantime, several spars took place. Most participants passed, but some did not.
“Failure. Your footwork needs more training. Too many unnecessary movements.”
“...Thank you for the feedback.”
The participant swallowed his bitterness at the examiner's cold assessment and turned away.
The proceedings were more intense than expected. This was no ceremony to hand out fancy titles to the pampered young scions of noble houses. Whether testing or being tested, all approached it in earnest.
“Yuk Jin-yang of the Zhejiang Yuk Clan, step forward!”
At last. Yuk Jin-yang rose from his seat. He was the final one.
As he descended from the head seat toward the training ground, murmurs arose from all around.
“Is that boy the Yuk Clan's youngest grandson?”
“They say he hasn't even had his capping ceremony. It's true.”
“His looks are outstanding, just like his father. He'll grow into a fine man.”
Amid the idle chatter, blatant doubts slipped through.
“Wonder what his martial skill is truly like.”
“Haven't you heard the rumors? Helped Hainan wipe out the Guangdong Jin Clan and beat Azure Swallow Division Leader Bae Ji-hak. Ha.”
“Hainan's contribution was probably the real one. No doubt the Yuk Clan hyped up their young hopeful.”
“Setting that aside, isn't he too young? We're not so desperate as to borrow the hand of an uncapped kid.”
Gazes filled with expectation and suspicion poured down. Yuk Jin-yang ignored them and took his position in the training ground.
Opposite him emerged a youth in white training robes. Perhaps only a year or two older. Quite young.
The youth casually tapped the examiner's shoulder. The arrogant manner seemed utterly natural. The examiner bowed his head and yielded the spot, as if to a superior.
Before he could ask what was going on, the youth spoke. His expression was languid, almost bored.
“Good grief. Grandmother went too far. Calling a busy grandson for something like this.”
Bare dissatisfaction seeped through his arrogant words.
“I'm Yu Baek of the Xizhou Yuk Clan. No need to introduce your family, right? Since I'm not an official examiner, feel free to speak casually.”
“Not official? So you're a temporary examiner?”
Not even that, perhaps. Yuk Jin-yang swallowed the rest. By martial prowess, this one seemed superior to the prior examiners. That was the sense from his energy.
The mystery cleared quickly.
“By rank alone, this isn't a position for me. I've only been initiated half a year myself. Still treated as the rookie in my unit.”
Yu Baek candidly admitted, adding,
“But what can you do? The clan leaders wanted to compare the new bloods of the four great clans.”
“I understand the situation.”
A matter of clan pride, no doubt. Yuk Jin-yang gave a wry smile, guessing the background.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
Finishing their chat, the two drew their swords and faced off.
Yuk Jin-yang refrained from moving rashly, observing his opponent.
Hand resting on his sword guard with a faint smile, his sloppy stance showed no openings. The solemn aura surging like frost deceived the eye.
The Xizhou Yuk Clan's Radiant Martial Divine Sword was famed as a forceful sword style. Many masters had become lost souls to its overwhelming killing power.
'But meeting it head-on would be certain defeat. Sticking to defense would overwhelm me.'
With that thought, Yuk Jin-yang unleashed Moon Stream Subtle Steps. He closed in sharply with deceptively casual movements.
Their distances overlapped. Weapons swung from both sides clashed in midair.
Claaang!
A thunderous roar erupted. The vibration traveling up the sword guard numbed his grip. The power exceeded expectations, monstrous.
Screeech!
As blades scraped stone, both steadied their stances. The clash didn't end there. He lunged again, exchanging several bouts.
Their sword trajectories twisted and warped. Neither gained the upper hand. Murmurs rose at the stalemate, contrary to expectations.
“Evenly matched. No, the Yuk side has a slight edge.”
“Wasn't the Xizhou Yu boy up for the youngest promotion?”
“Rumors called him a prodigy, but it seems the true dragon was elsewhere.”
“The alliance's Young Phoenix Gathering will see changes.”
The crowd's buzz didn't reach Yuk Jin-yang at all. His focus was solely on the foe before him, no room to glance around.
“You're pretty good.”
Yu Baek tossed out the words and stomped forward. His next sword strike came fiercer. A ferocious energy wave blanketed his vision in an instant.
'Unleashing full-body might from the opening strike?'
Blades locked with a chilling screech, sparks flying wildly. The white glare of metal dazzled the eyes.
Ching!
As he deflected the sword, Yu Baek twisted his stance. Spinning in place, a barrage followed. The sword force had grown stronger.
He had thought a forceful strike would expose a gap, but his prediction missed the mark spectacularly.
'He's backing his swordsmanship with body technique. Using waist and joint recoil for variations.'
Different from facing Bae Ji-hak.
The more he clashed swords, the more new facets appeared. The exquisite fusion of footwork and swordplay drew admiration.
Peak consummate arts transcended sword momentum limits.
Brace for swift sword, and the power would surprise.
Prepare for heavy strikes, and the chaining combos would fell him.
Forms simple, yet flows endlessly variable, hard to read.
He keenly felt the heights of supreme skill.
Whoosh!
The slashing strike whipped up a gale. A counter opening appeared, but Yuk Jin-yang retreated without hesitation. Yu Baek let out a hollow chuckle.
“You saw through that?”
“...”
Honest variability was folly in disguise. Yet this sword imposed no folly. Rather, it forced its rules on the opponent.
'What if I mimic it instead?'
He dismissed the thought rising in his chest.
Mimicry wouldn't suffice.
His grandfather's lingering koan resurfaced. After a brief hesitation, Yuk Jin-yang shifted his stance. The Moon Maiden Sword Technique shared that freedom from forms.
Seeing the familiar posture, Yu Baek smirked.
“They say your talent is decent, but isn't this too reckless?”
“Reckless.”
“Our clan's sword is on another level. You won't grasp its essence just by imitating the stance.”
“That's why I want to reference it more.”
“Casual speech?”
“You said to speak freely.”
Yu Baek dropped his smile and circulated his qi. The aura enveloping him blazed fiercely like flames.
“Fine. Let's see how well you mimic.”