Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Practical Combat Lessons
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Chapter 88
As Namgung Hyeok returned to the training grounds, Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, Jang Ung, and the others tensed up immediately.
Geon Cheon-hwi was still staring blankly at the ground.
*Smack!*
“Gahk!”
Namgung Hyeok ruthlessly smacked the back of Geon Cheon-hwi’s head before moving to the front of the training grounds.
Jang Ung hurriedly dashed over to set out a chair, and Namgung Hyeok settled into it.
Propping his chin with one hand and crossing his legs, Namgung Hyeok smirked.
“Have you sorted out your thoughts?”
“……”
“Oh?”
Geon Cheon-hwi’s lips twitched but stopped.
No matter how many times he thought it over, there was only one answer.
It had been a clear-cut match, so there was a winner and a loser, nothing more.
But that couldn’t explain the emotions he was feeling now.
Taking a deep breath, Geon Cheon-hwi spoke.
“……I don’t really know.”
“Then why do you think you lost?”
“……”
“Simple. You’re weak.”
Right.
What excuse was needed?
The gap between him and Namgung Ryong was so overwhelming there wasn’t even room for excuses.
He’d looked down on him a bit as a late-generation disciple, but now he realized just how foolish that mindset had been.
He didn’t feel like a frog in a well—he felt like a bug buried somewhere underground.
Namgung Hyeok smirked at Geon Cheon-hwi, who had clamped his mouth shut with a stiff expression.
“Knowing your place is a skill in itself.”
“……Please help me.”
Geon Cheon-hwi said with a serious face.
He wanted to know what this wall was, and what would change if he overcame it.
He wanted to know what lay beyond the well, and if what he was doing was right.
And somehow, he had a feeling that Namgung Hyeok could tell him how to scale this wall.
Namgung Hyeok smirked at Geon Cheon-hwi, whose eyes burned with determination.
“I told you to know your place.”
“……Please teach me.”
“It’s not about secret manuals, I keep telling you. Even if I gave you one, you couldn’t master it properly, and you can’t even use your current martial arts right.”
Geon Cheon-hwi had wondered if it was the difference between standard martial arts and advanced ones.
The Thunder Dragon Ten Steps was a standard-issue technique.
It was just one of the many low-grade martial arts in the Namgung Clan, refined by Geon Cheon-hwi through real combat.
But even refined, its roots were in a low-grade art, making it crude and simplistic.
So, wasn’t there an uncrossable gap between this low-grade technique and the advanced ones mastered by the Family Head’s bloodline?
Like the difference between a tiger and a house cat.
“Stabbing and slashing are the same either way. What difference does it make?”
“Pardon?”
“Does swinging an advanced sword technique summon storms and thunder? In the end, swordsmanship is just stabbing and slashing. So, where’s the difference?”
“If I knew that……”
“That’s why I’m telling you.”
Namgung Hyeok rose from his seat and drew his sword, pointing it at Geon Cheon-hwi.
Geon Cheon-hwi flinched and looked at him.
“Does my sword automatically go for your throat the moment I draw it?”
“……No, it doesn’t.”
“With Sword Control, it could.”
……True enough.
And if he could use Sword Control, he wouldn’t be having these worries.
Geon Cheon-hwi’s face went blank for a moment before he focused on Namgung Hyeok’s words.
“But realistically, that’s impossible. So what do you do?”
“I need to move.”
“How?”
“……According to the opponent?”
“If the opponent’s faster than you, you just die, right?”
“……”
“Close the distance while watching the opponent. But how? Maximize your effect while making it awkward for them. Try blocking this.”
Namgung Hyeok suddenly kicked off the ground and lunged in.
Geon Cheon-hwi flinched and swung his blade, but Namgung Hyeok slipped in one step faster and pressed his sword to his throat.
Geon Cheon-hwi’s eyes filled with confusion.
‘What the?’
It hadn’t even been that fast, yet the sword was already at his throat.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
“See that?”
“……”
“Go for angles that inconvenience the opponent. Enter their blind spots and invade their spacing. Your swordsmanship’s power changes based on foot placement. Enter well, exit well. That’s footwork.”
“Ah.”
Namgung Hyeok sheathed his sword and continued.
“That’s all it takes to end fights against novices. Have you ever split a ten-story pavilion or blown up a mountain with sword qi? No? Then master this, and you won’t get hit easily.”
Geon Cheon-hwi’s eyes gleamed as he sank into deep thought.
Namgung Hyeok kept going.
“Doesn’t mean you have to keep losing as a novice. Fights aren’t won by being upright—they’re won by the victor.”
“……”
“Fight like a novice. Trying to match sword qi with someone who can unleash it is for madmen.”
Geon Cheon-hwi nodded at Namgung Hyeok’s sharp words.
It was spot on.
Stubbornly forcing a contest of strength when you were clearly outmatched was foolish.
“Practically speaking. That’s why unorthodox fighters start strong. Why? They’re practical.”
……Excuse me?
This is the Namgung Clan, Young Master.
“Take what’s practical. Why don’t we in martial arts? Unorthodox arts do!”
……This is the Namgung Clan, you know?
Namgung Hyeok pointed at Geon Cheon-hwi.
“Even if you learned Imperial Sword Form right now, could you unleash sword qi?”
“……Impossible.”
“See? That’s the answer. Stab well, retreat well. Whoever gains more advantage. That’s how the weak catch the weak. Got it?”
“A little……”
Namgung Hyeok let out a breath.
‘Ah, back in the day, I didn’t need explanations like this.’
Well, that was when the Sword King was digging for snow ginseng on Heavenly Mountain.
Shaking his head, Namgung Hyeok said.
“It’s fine. If you don’t get it, roll until you do.”
“……Pardon?”
“You’ve got to roll your body to internalize it.”
Namgung Hyeok fiddled with his scabbard and gripped it.
Geon Cheon-hwi instinctively shuddered.
Hold on.
He’s seriously about to hit me.
For some reason, a bad premonition hit that if Namgung Hyeok raised that scabbard, he’d be crawling out the door.
Déjà vu, like he’d seen this before.
This felt like he might not even keep his bones intact if it went wrong.
“……Shouldn’t we learn the basics step by step?”
“This is the basics.”
“Ah, I still don’t get it.”
“How long are you gonna keep ‘getting it’? It’s useless if you die.”
“There’s still time……”
“Time’s no good if you die in real combat.”
“Pardon?”
“You’ll figure it out once you do it.”
Namgung Hyeok grinned and raised his scabbard.
Geon Cheon-hwi shouted urgently.
“W-Wait a second!”
“There’s no ‘wait’ in real combat!”
Before the words finished, Namgung Hyeok’s scabbard smashed mercilessly into Geon Cheon-hwi’s head.
*Crack!*
“Gaaahk!”
With a single scream, Geon Cheon-hwi foamed at the mouth and collapsed face-first.
“Hey, hey.”
*Tap, tap-tap.*
Namgung Hyeok approached and prodded him with the scabbard, but there was no reaction.
“Sheesh, I hit lightly, and you couldn’t dodge.”
I even warned you ahead, *tsk*.
Smacking his lips, Namgung Hyeok turned.
*Swish, swish.*
He roughly wiped the bloodied scabbard on the ground and looked at Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung.
The moment their eyes met Namgung Hyeok’s, Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung froze.
They glanced at each other, rolling their eyes.
‘No way?’
‘No, it won’t be.’
*Twitch, twitch.*
Namgung Hyeok silently wiggled his scabbard.
……It is?
Tak Hyeok-dong swallowed dryly and spoke.
“……Y-Young Master. Changing training methods was entirely the squad leader’s idea. I didn’t say a word. Y-Yes, ahem, of course!”
Jang Ung also backed away stealthily.
“……I’m satisfied with how things are.”
Namgung Hyeok smiled and strode toward them.
“Hey, it’s no use if only one learns.”
“Pardon?”
“Might as well do it now.”
“I-I’d prefer later……”
“You need to get used to real combat.”
“W-Wait!”
“H-Huhk!”
Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung’s faces drained white.
They’d only watched Geon Cheon-hwi get pummeled, and now this bolt from the blue!
Before they knew it, Namgung Hyeok’s scabbard loomed over them.
*Smack! Smack!*
“Gyyaaahk!”
“Gaaahk!”
In an instant, he knocked out the two, then nudged the fallen Geon Cheon-hwi with his foot.
“Ugh.”
“Coming around? Time for round two?”
“……Ugh?”
Namgung Hyeok raised his scabbard again.
* * *
After teaching the Thunder Dragon Squad trio about adjusting spacing for a while, Namgung Hyeok returned to his quarters.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, circulated the Soaring Heaven Bright King Art, then quietly opened his eyes.
Clear inner light flowed out before fading away.
Looking outside, dusk was falling.
Gazing at the darkening scenery of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Hyeok fell into thought.
Meeting Namgung Jangcheon brought back memories of times when he’d gotten angry and furious.
And when they met again, the apologetic look and air of distress.
Why was that?
Why?
The sudden thoughts chained together.
He slowly parsed the emotions he’d felt.
Someone gets angry out of worry for me.
Gets angry.
Worries……
His eyes deepened as a strange emotion ground like grains of sand in his mouth.
‘Same bloodline.’
Long ago, in the distant past.
A chaotic memory of his conversation with the Sword King surfaced.
- Aren’t you lonely?
- Me? Why would I be?
- Doesn’t it suck to be alone until you die? I have family and clan, but you keep no one by your side.
- You turn to dust anyway when you die. Being born, living, dying—it’s all solitary by nature. What’s new?
- You’re too harsh on yourself. Get too rigid, and you’ll snap. Having no one means that when you break, no one’s there to pick you up.
- Don’t need it.
- It’s precarious! Just watching makes me frustrated.
- When was it ever not?
- That’s why I worry. You could crumble any time.
- Hoping I do?
- Man can’t be emotionless. Emotionless is worse than beasts.
- Ha, beasts? That’s rich coming from you. In kills, you and I……
- Tsk.
- At least have someone to bury you when you return to dust!
- I’ll hire someone with money.
- Broke as you are……
- You’re on a roll today?
- Ahem!
A bitter taste filled his mouth.
Torches lit one by one in the darkened Namgung Clan, illuminating the surroundings.
Namgung Clan.
The Sword King’s family.
The place where he’d live from now on.
And the people he’d share it with.
His old self would have dismissed it.
Surely.
Back then, he’d handled and solved everything alone.
Namgung Hyeok vaguely sensed it was different from times when the Sword King, Iron Pillar, and Great Tree were by his side.
Different.
The word etched deep into his mind.
His conversation with Namgung Jangcheon visualized in his head, linking to the Sword King.
Similar, yet clearly different.
Namgung Jangcheon’s worry, anger—all of it was blind.
Something blind.
And something beyond.
Namgung Ryong’s, Geon Pilsang’s worries, the Thunder Dragon Squad’s loyalty—it was all different from back then.
After deep, deepening contemplation, Namgung Hyeok sprang up.
“Yeah, can’t have shortages. Would be a hassle if you died.”
If something happened and they weren’t by his side.
“No good. Gotta drill them more.”
Decision made, he acted.
Grinning, Namgung Hyeok grabbed his treasured sword from the side and barged into the Thunder Dragon Squad’s barracks.
*Bang!*
The squad, collapsed from exhaustion after training, startled awake as the door flew open.
Reflexively rising and grabbing weapons from beside their beds with a *clang-clang*.
“Who……”
“The hell…… Ah?”
“……Young Master?”
Spotting Namgung Hyeok grinning down at them, the Thunder Dragon Squad freaked out.
Training was over.
No way…… right?
Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed dryly and looked at him.
“Young Master, what brings you……?”
Namgung Hyeok smiled slyly and called.
“Cheon-hwi.”
……Uh, hold on.
Did he just call me by name?
First time ever.
But why so ominous?
Ah, is this that uneasy feeling Geon Pilsang mentioned whenever the Young Master mutters?
Namgung Hyeok lifted the corner of his mouth sinisterly.
“Looks like today’s training wasn’t enough.”
“……Pardon?”
“Found another way.”
Whatever it was, Geon Cheon-hwi—who wanted to hear it tomorrow—swayed.
He could predict what came next.
“Come out.”
The Thunder Dragon Squad gaped in shock.
As everyone recoiled in horror, Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed tears first and drew his saber.
“……Yes, Young Master.”
Tak Hyeok-dong and Jang Ung glared at him silently with bloodshot eyes.
Geon Cheon-hwi bowed his head.
‘Sorry, my fault.’
All because I blabbered……
Like cattle to the slaughterhouse, the Thunder Dragon Squad shambled after Namgung Hyeok outside.