Chapter 199
Chapter 199
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 199
Chapter Title: Enlightenment Through Sparring
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199
Namgung Hyeok trudged to the center of the training ground.
"Hey, you first."
He beckoned with his hand, and So Hye-yeon nodded as she walked forward.
She pressed her lips tightly together and stared at Namgung Hyeok.
*It's been a month.*
A month ago, she hadn't lasted even five exchanges. She'd been barely able to block before passing out.
*Today has to be different.*
So Hye-yeon steeled her resolve.
Even if it was just five exchanges, she vowed to bring everything she had.
She assumed the starting stance of the Twelve Meteor Swords and circulated her inner energy. Her gaze swept over Namgung Hyeok.
His face showed clear annoyance, his posture slouched.
He was waving his hand as if to say, "Come on already."
Even in the face of that provocation, So Hye-yeon didn't lose her composure.
Namgung Hyeok was a powerhouse.
A powerhouse's leisure was only natural, and that natural leisure was no bad thing for So Hye-yeon.
It would allow her to pour out everything she had.
So Hye-yeon regulated her breathing.
A sharp sword qi extended from her blade. Sparring with Namgung Hyeok meant using live steel without question.
Using live blades in a spar was extremely dangerous, but it seemed par for the course with him.
Namgung Hyeok beckoned again.
"Come on."
"......"
"Not coming?"
"Go—"
"Then I'll come to you."
"......!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Namgung Hyeok vanished like a mirage.
Whoosh!
Crossing three zhang in an instant, he appeared right in front of her and plunged inward without hesitation.
So Hye-yeon startled and unleashed the Twelve Meteor Swords while leaping back, thrusting at Namgung Hyeok's shoulder.
Her Twelve Meteor Swords, powered by the Little Profound Heart Technique, stabbed rapidly through the air.
But Namgung Hyeok lightly dodged and tapped the flat of the incoming blade aimed at his shoulder.
Clang!
"Ah!"
So Hye-yeon staggered, losing her balance.
Namgung Hyeok's hand lightly twisted her arm and pushed.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
So Hye-yeon let out a groan and retreated.
Even as she did, she continued the Twelve Meteor Swords, creating dozens of meteor showers in the air.
Namgung Hyeok lightly deflected and evaded the pouring meteor showers, saying,
"The Twelve Meteor Swords are excellent in their flowing linkages like water and the unique footwork that creates superb sword trajectories."
"......"
"But that's exactly why the weakness is so clear."
Namgung Hyeok flicked So Hye-yeon's blade with his finger.
Ting!
"......!"
So Hye-yeon lost her balance once more and stared at him with wide eyes.
Even if Namgung Hyeok had attacked suddenly, being pushed back so helplessly was disconcerting.
It felt even more grueling than their previous spar.
This time, she couldn't even regain her stance easily.
"Once that flow breaks even once, the sword's power drops sharply."
"......!"
"Think about it. How do you overcome it? It's vulnerable against numbers or ambushes like this. So what do you do?"
His voice was utterly calm, in contrast to the fierce movements.
So Hye-yeon's pupils shook.
*How?*
If the flow breaks, recreate the flow.
So Hye-yeon's eyes lit up.
The answer was simple.
Crescent Moon Evasion Step.
That flashy, even beautiful footwork accelerated further as she swiftly retreated.
It was concise movement to build speed.
The corner of Namgung Hyeok's mouth twitched up.
A satisfied expression, as if he'd heard a good answer.
So Hye-yeon's sword traced the unique flow of the Twelve Meteor Swords, pouring out sword qi like meteor showers.
Shwaaaa!
A more complex and faster assault than before.
So Hye-yeon's eyes sparkled like stars.
Her vision seemed to clear, Namgung Hyeok's movements almost palpable.
She even felt an illusion of brilliant light pouring down.
Namgung Hyeok lightly parried and redirected her sword, opening the path of her technique.
When the chain of the Twelve Meteor Swords finally paused, Namgung Hyeok said,
"That's your five exchanges."
Namgung Hyeok swung his fist.
Bam!
"Ack!"
The impact like being hit with an iron club sent So Hye-yeon flying sideways.
Thud! Boom boom!
She crashed into the wall and tried to rise, only to collapse in a heap.
"Ah......"
She gazed at Namgung Hyeok with dazed eyes.
*What just happened?*
It wasn't the shock of being knocked out in one blow by him.
A few words from Namgung Hyeok and his pointers had changed her swordsmanship, bringing some shift.
That strange yet subtle change astonished So Hye-yeon.
A fresh, shocking situation she'd never experienced before.
*How in the world?*
How could someone his age do this?
It was a realm of utter astonishment.
But So Hye-yeon quickly calmed her mind and mulled over Namgung Hyeok's teachings.
Before she knew it, she was deeply immersed, replaying the spar with him.
Namgung Hyeok glanced at So Hye-yeon, then turned his head.
His gaze caught Paeng Yeon-hwa, who had a fierce look on her face.
Namgung Hyeok grinned and beckoned with his finger.
"Next! You?"
"......Y-Yes."
"Martial arts are learned through the body!"
"Pardon?"
Namgung Hyeok grinned as he charged at Paeng Yeon-hwa.
Paeng Yeon-hwa panicked and hurriedly unleashed her saber arts to block him.
Boom! Kwang!
Intense clashes and a few exchanges passed, and as Namgung Hyeok's voice rose.
Baaaam!
Namgung Hyeok's fist struck Paeng Yeon-hwa squarely.
"Aaack!"
With a single scream, Paeng Yeon-hwa bounced back and landed beside So Hye-yeon.
Thud!
Paeng Yeon-hwa briefly grimaced in pain, then, like So Hye-yeon, stared at Namgung Hyeok with a dazed expression.
Her eyes, mixed with shock and ecstasy, slowly closed.
Watching the two women sit side by side against the wall, lost in meditation and immersion, Paeng Jung-hyeok's eyebrows twitched repeatedly.
*......He's actually passing on his skills to the workers?*
He wasn't blind or deaf.
He wasn't fool enough not to see that Namgung Hyeok was teaching the workers.
Namgung Hyeok was an expert.
An immense expert beyond his years.
Receiving instruction from such an expert was worth more than a thousand gold.
*I can get a line from the latter half of the Blade King Manual later! I grow, the family grows!*
Look at the Namgung Clan.
With the two brothers dominating the martial tournament, hadn't the declining house turned around?
Paeng Jung-hyeok rolled his eyes, then shot to his feet.
"Next is me!"
Shing!
Paeng Jung-hyeok drew the sword at his waist and stood before Namgung Hyeok.
"Let's get to it!"
Namgung Hyeok let out a hollow chuckle at Paeng Jung-hyeok, who actively drew his blade and approached.
"Why so eager?"
"Watching the spar boiled my blood. It's a Paeng family man's trait."
"Your Paeng blood only heats up when the situation calls for it?"
"Ahem!"
He flinched, feeling exposed, but what could he do?
*If I'm calling him out, might as well do it right!*
Paeng Jung-hyeok glared at Namgung Hyeok with burning eyes.
"Ten exchanges. Ten."
"Shi-bal?"
"No, ten exchanges."
"Alright, shall we taste our Paeng young master's blade?"
"No! Who attacks while—"
"Here I come!"
Before the words finished, Namgung Hyeok closed the distance in a flash and grabbed Paeng Jung-hyeok's collar.
"Why only me by the collar!"
Paeng Jung-hyeok tensed his jaw and pushed at Namgung Hyeok's chest with Heaven-Earth Divine Palm. The air rumbled as heavy palm force poured out.
"Good judgment!"
Namgung Hyeok shouted approvingly and lightly evaded the Heaven-Earth Divine Palm.
Boom!
No time to feel the futility of the palm force exploding in empty air before Paeng Jung-hyeok powered his fist.
"Eyah!"
From Heaven-Earth Divine Palm straight into Armor-Breaking Thrust linkage!
The heavy, weighty palm force instantly turned into a sharp awl targeting Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok countered Paeng Jung-hyeok's swift, sharp fist with Thunderclap Fist.
Crackle! Boom!
"Keuk!"
The shock shaking his organs pushed Paeng Jung-hyeok back, and he drew the sword at his waist.
Shing!
"You look like Tak Hyeok-dong, but your head spins faster!"
"Hey, don't compare me to that clueless guy! Haaah!"
Paeng Jung-hyeok charged vigorously at the chuckling Namgung Hyeok.
Strength flooded his eyes.
A strike of Primordial Chaos Divine Blade powered by Primordial Chaos Divine Art!
Dusky saber qi sliced through the air, crashing powerfully toward Namgung Hyeok.
It was a merciless attack.
Savage enough that it didn't feel like a spar.
Normally, the opponent would be cleaved in two by his Primordial Chaos Divine Blade.
But the one sparring him now was Namgung Hyeok.
The man who crushed disciples of the Nine Great Sects one after another to win the martial tournament and took down the Hebei Paeng Family's Blood Killer Squad Leader.
*No way that monster falls to this! Where? Where?*
Swoooosh! Kwang!
The saber qi of Primordial Chaos Divine Blade writhed once, shattering the bluestone floor.
Stone fragments scattered, white dust billowing up.
Paeng Jung-hyeok twisted his wrist and spun his waist wide.
"Haaa......!"
Spinning like a top to maximize the blade's trajectory and infuse more Primordial Chaos Divine Blade power.
"Your side's open."
Suddenly, a shadow loomed, and Namgung Hyeok appeared right beside him.
As Paeng Jung-hyeok faltered, Namgung Hyeok barked,
"Focus! Primordial Chaos Divine Blade squeezes everything into a single stroke—lose focus and what's the point!"
"Huh?"
Thud!
Namgung Hyeok gripped Paeng Jung-hyeok's wrist firmly, halting the spin.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
The rebound force climbing his arm flushed Paeng Jung-hyeok's face red as if it would burst.
*W-What strength?*
Namgung Hyeok's arm, slender as chopsticks, didn't budge an inch.
His unchanged expression even showed leisure.
Namgung Hyeok furrowed his brow.
"Plant your stance properly! Like you're splitting Mount Tai!"
"......!"
"Squeeze it out. Swing that blade till you're on the verge of collapse!"
"Kuh!"
Paeng Jung-hyeok pushed Primordial Chaos Divine Art to its limit and shoved his blade forward. Thick veins bulged and throbbed on his forearm.
"Hraaaaaah!"
With a roaring lion's cry, Primordial Chaos Divine Blade sliced at Namgung Hyeok's waist.
Swoooooosh boom!
The dusky qi tore through the air and vanished.
With all his energy drained in that single stroke, Paeng Jung-hyeok exhaled the breath he'd held.
"Puhah!"
His trembling limbs and face filled with shock.
He stared dazedly at the blade hanging limply in his hand.
A different sensation, a different feeling.
Was Primordial Chaos Divine Blade always like this?
The doubt arose amid the fresh, wondrous sensation.
"Don't get distracted mid-spar."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
"I......"
"Seven exchanges left."
"I-I, th-that, I don't have the strength to hold the sword......"
"You gonna say that in real combat too? 'I'm out of energy, let's do it later'?"
"Huh?"
"Raise your sword, punk. No whining. Back in my day, if I couldn't lift my sword, I'd bite instead."
......When the hell was 'my day'?
You survive a demonic bloodbath or something?
Paeng Jung-hyeok stared at Namgung Hyeok in bewilderment, and Namgung Hyeok raised his fist.
"Come on!"
"Y-Yes sir!"
Paeng Jung-hyeok unwittingly lifted his sword to block Namgung Hyeok's fist.
Kwaaaang!
"Keeeeek!"
Paeng Jung-hyeok screamed gutturally as he flew back and crashed into the wall.
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue at the frothing, collapsed Paeng Jung-hyeok.
"Weak foundation. The Blade King wasn't like this."
What the hell, man?
Even as consciousness faded, Paeng Jung-hyeok gurgled in response.
Paeng Jung-hyeok, Paeng Yeon-hwa, and So Hye-yeon leaned side by side against the wall, faces dazed.
Freshly awakened from the trance of enlightenment gained from sparring Namgung Hyeok, ecstasy lit their features.
An experience like punching through a wall in one go.
*How did he do it?*
*The framework of my Twelve Meteor Swords changed......*
*So the family arts can be like this. A whole new experience.*
*From just a few spars......*
This unbelievable change shook their hearts fiercely.
How Namgung Hyeok reached such a realm didn't matter.
They'd personally experienced he had more than enough ability to guide them. That was enough.
Enlightenment was like opportunity.
A priceless chance to reach higher, deeper realms.
With such priceless enlightenment from mere light(?) labor, what hardship was it?
Paeng Jung-hyeok gazed at Namgung Hyeok with trembling eyes.
*Ran a few errands and he gives this enlightenment...... Outwardly rough, inwardly warm......*
"What're you staring at?"
Namgung Hyeok spat an apricot pit onto the ground.
*......Character ain't that important.*
But one thing was odd.
*How does he know Primordial Chaos Divine Blade so well?*
......Well, the Paeng Family knows the Emperor Sword Form well too.
*That's not the point now!*
Paeng Jung-hyeok nodded and jumped up, rushing to Namgung Hyeok.
Not to be outdone, So Hye-yeon and Paeng Yeon-hwa exchanged glances and followed, standing before him.
As Namgung Hyeok looked puzzled, the three bowed in unison as if rehearsed and shouted,
"Order us to do anything from now on! We'll work harder!"
"I'll give my all! Give us work!"
"I'm strong. Order me to do everything, everything!"
Namgung Hyeok let out a hollow chuckle at the three raising their voices.
*Your motives are showing, you lot.*
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue.
Still, he'd hired them, so he'd take responsibility.