Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: Stuck at the Midway Point
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Nangong Hyeok sat cross-legged from the early dawn, chewing on jerky with loud crunches.
As daybreak arrived and morning light spread, he took a deep breath of fresh air and tilted his head.
"Now that I think about it, things have been so quiet lately. Oh, right—Jin Cheomsang's been gone."
The guy who'd stuck to him like glue every day hadn't been seen since returning from the Black Dragon Sect.
By now, Jin Cheomsang should've shown up with a lavish spread that could bend the table legs.
Or at least brewed some tea.
"Where the hell's he wandering off to these days?"
"Didn't he head to Zhejiang Province?"
"Zhejiang?"
"Yeah! He's been going back and forth to Hangzhou a lot, helping out with some work."
"Huh, looks like he's setting up shop in Hangzhou."
Nangong Hyeok let out a light sigh and narrowed his eyes at the side.
Little Beggar stared back blankly.
"But how do you know that?"
"I'm a Beggars' Sect division head. That's basic stuff."
"What's with sneaking into someone's house and digging for info?"
"I'm a guest here..."
"What about my bill for the Myeonnanhwa Pear?"
"......Urk."
"I can't stand freeloaders who don't pay up. If you can't cover the tab, go sell some begging bowls."
Extorting money from a beggar.
But he had no comeback.
He hadn't even caught a whiff of the Myeonnanhwa Pear after all this time, so he was basically eating for free. Nangong Hyeok's words left him speechless.
Little Beggar slunk off to a corner and wilted.
Still wilted, Little Beggar mumbled.
"But aren't you going to train the regular warriors?"
"Why do you care?"
"Well, the Nangong Family's been buzzing lately, so I end up hearing things..."
"Buzzing my ass."
"They say secret manuals poured out from the annex, and it's total chaos. Plus, they're releasing a few to teach the regular warriors—reactions are through the roof."
Nangong Hyeok snorted at the outsider beggar getting all excited.
Guess hanging around the Nangong Family too long made the beggar get emotionally invested.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue and turned away.
Geon Cheon-hwi and the Thunder Dragon Squad were entering.
"Young master, it's about time to head to the training grounds."
"Already?"
"Yes."
Nangong Hyeok got up lazily.
Crunch crunch.
Nangong Ryong, the Peng siblings, the Tang siblings, and So Hye-yeon rose to follow Nangong Hyeok, who was still munching jerky.
The whole procession felt utterly natural.
Nangong Hyeok glanced back with a grin.
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Woong shook their heads.
Whatever. Nangong Hyeok yawned widely and shuffled along.
Geon Cheon-hwi reported from the side.
"The regular warriors will train in shifts to match their division duties. The Family Head provided manuals and supplies for them."
"Oh, okay."
"Four hours a day, up to six max. Training will be structured tightly under your lead..."
"Yeah, skip that."
"Pardon?"
Geon Cheon-hwi paused mid-recital of the day's schedule.
What could be more important than the schedule?
Nangong Hyeok waved him off.
"How're the elders doing?"
"The elders... you mean?"
"Yeah, them."
"...What about them?"
"Did they like the manuals? Flying high?"
"Word is they're smiling all day."
"Smiling?"
"Yes."
"But they haven't practiced yet?"
What?
Something felt off about the phrasing.
Geon Cheon-hwi nodded at Nangong Hyeok's question.
"Heard they're starting cultivation today. To master the manuals quickly..."
"Heh."
"Master them..."
"Heheheh."
"......Young master?"
Did he eat some bad hangover soup or something?
Geon Cheon-hwi called out blankly.
Nangong Hyeok wiped his mouth and said.
"Oh, right. So they're still far off."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"Wonder when they'll come knocking. The sooner they figure it out, the better."
Nangong Hyeok's lips curved into a chilling smile.
Geon Cheon-hwi flinched at his words.
Nangong Ryong, walking beside them, felt his pupils quake.
Did this guy tamper with the manuals?
'...No, wait. He forged them from scratch—that's the real issue.'
They were fake manuals packaged to look like some ancient master's legacy.
Planned by Nangong Hyeok, made by Nangong Hyeok—how could they possibly be legit?
No matter how skilled Nangong Hyeok was in martial arts, crafting manuals was a whole different beast.
Of course his creations wouldn't turn into real divine arts...
'Why didn't we realize sooner?'
It was shocking they'd only now clocked that ridiculous truth.
This was worlds apart from the initial shock of him making a fake annex and fake manuals.
Why hadn't they questioned the contents?
That was the truly insane part...
'We're biased from familiarity, but how'd the elders miss such garbage manuals?'
Maybe they really did find legit ones?
As Geon Cheon-hwi pondered, Nangong Hyeok shrugged and entered the training ground.
"Let's get to work. Follow me."
"......B-but the elders?"
"Work first."
Since when?
Geon Cheon-hwi stared at Nangong Hyeok's back, bewildered and confused.
Jang Woong muttered.
"So what exactly is the second young master planning?"
Geon Cheon-hwi shook his head.
"...Just roll with it. He'll handle it."
"Really?"
"......No clue."
"Hmm!"
Jang Woong turned to Nangong Ryong.
"Eldest young master, any guesses...?"
"......"
Nangong Ryong stared silently at Jang Woong, then let out a long, deliberate sigh.
"Huuuuh."
His face was etched with deep worry.
Geon Cheon-hwi and Jang Woong shot him pitying looks.
Yeah, at least we're outsiders.
He's blood.
Shadows fell over their faces.
But amid it all, Tak Hyeok-dong was the exception.
"Ha ha! Why the long faces? Let's go! Young master! What should I start with?"
Tak Hyeok-dong's booming voice echoed across the training ground.
* * *
Nangong Wi-gyeong stood alone in the center of his private training ground and drew his sword.
His movements and aura evoked a solitary crane—serene yet profound.
Holding the sword out front, Nangong Wi-gyeong recited the incantations of the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword.
As he chanted its eight-hundred-character incantation, he began to move the blade.
Swoosh!
The forms from the manual flowed naturally into his mind.
Shiiing!
It was the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword, built on the frame of the Soaring Vault Edged Sword.
The softly circling sword tip shimmered with blue sword qi.
Shiiiiaaa!
Wind rose.
It swirled into the circles he created.
Sword qi vortexed, and lightning brewed within the Soaring Vault.
Crackle!
With thunderous roar, the majestic flow of the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword shifted.
A heavy, powerful single stroke.
Faster and more concise than the Soaring Vault Edged Sword.
'So supple yet ferocious!'
He'd known from reading, but embodying it revealed depths beyond imagination.
'Amazing! Such mastery!'
He couldn't fathom what realm of swordsmanship birthed this.
Gazing at those lofty heights sparked boundless respect for the nameless Nangong ancestor.
The progenitor who created the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword was surely a true Sword Hero and Grandmaster.
Nangong Wi-gyeong vowed to master this legacy properly.
And with it, aid the Nangong Family's revival—his own sword would follow suit.
'To think passion like this blooms in my twilight years!'
He couldn't praise Nangong Hyeok enough for unearthing it.
What a gift, igniting fire in an old man's heart!
"Haat! Hah!"
Nangong Wi-gyeong chanted and poured his soul in.
He soon entered a trance, immersed in the swordplay.
Merging the manual's Soaring Vault Invincible Sword with his lifetime of insights was seamless.
Over fifty years of experience made it so.
Rumble! Crackle!
Within the circles of the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword unfolded the Nangong Family's signature heavy sword intent.
As the swordplay peaked and his qi surged—
Drip.
"Huh?"
A break in qi flow—his vigorous swing veered off track.
His foot tangled, stalling the building momentum.
"Hmm?"
Nangong Wi-gyeong startled.
He stared blankly at his sword.
"Haha, even I make mistakes now. Getting old, I suppose!"
He brushed it off.
Age and new swordplay caused slips.
Nangong Wi-gyeong refocused and resumed.
"Haaap!"
The Soaring Vault Invincible Sword surged toward climax.
Then, inner power cut off again—trajectory and footwork tangled.
Thud!
"Hmm? What's..."
It repeated twice, thrice—same spot, same error.
Nangong Wi-gyeong looked sheepish.
"Did I misread the incantation?"
Same issue meant a misunderstanding there.
"Guess I need to check the manual again."
Thanks to Family Head Nangong Jangcheon's generosity, it was stored in the elders' hall archive.
Nangong Wi-gyeong hurried there.
He'd verify incantation and forms before his enthusiasm waned.
Approaching the archive in the elders' hall, Nangong Wi-gyeong's eyes widened.
"Hm? Seventh Elder?"
"Great Elder! What brings you here?"
"Haha, just checking something. You?"
"Same—referencing a sword technique."
"Haha, is that so?"
Nangong Wi-gyeong nodded, pleased.
"Hm? Great Elder? Seventh Elder too?"
"Hm? Fifth Elder?"
"Whoa! What brings you two here?"
Fifth Elder eyed them curiously.
Nangong Wi-gyeong and Seventh Elder chuckled awkwardly.
"Coincidence."
"Oh, coincidence?"
"Haha, yes."
"Ah. Well, I've got urgent business, so excuse me..."
Creak, thud!
Fifth Elder opened the archive door sheepishly.
"Hm?"
"......Huh?"
"Eh?"
Gazes of those inside, plus Nangong Wi-gyeong and others, met in midair.
All stared in shock.
Nangong Wi-gyeong chuckled dryly.
"What day is it today?"
"I had some business..."
"Business? With the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword, by chance?"
"Haha. Yes, got stuck on a part..."
Eighth Elder trailed off, then gaped.
"No way—you too, Great Elder?"
"The midsection form?"
"Yes! Exactly."
"Huh, you all too?"
Elders widened eyes, exchanging looks.
Chaos flickered in Family Head Nangong Jangcheon's eyes.
'No way?'
All stuck at the same spot?
"I-is there a flaw in the art?"
"No. Checked twice—no issues."
"Hmm! Impossible! If no flaw, why this?!"
"W-well, you see..."
Nangong Wi-gyeong and the elders gaped.
He hastily examined the Soaring Vault Invincible Sword manual.
Still flawless.
"But no flaw—why does the form break?!"
Insanity.
A complete sword art, yet everyone hit the same snag!
"Tell the Family Head?"
"No—we boasted we'd decipher and fix it! How disappointed would he be!"
"Notifying him quickly serves the family..."
"Hah, frustrating. A perfect art—with this issue?!"
Amid the elders' turmoil, Nangong Wi-gyeong spoke lowly.
"Let's pool our heads first. No flaws in incantation or forms—we can solve it!"
"Yes, Great Elder!"
"Twelve elders together—can't crack this one?!"
Confidence lit Nangong Wi-gyeong and the elders' faces.
They figured it'd be quick.
For now.