Chapter 39
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Emotions in the Sword
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“What? She’s not coming?”
“……”
As Nangong Chang-seon squinted one eye, Nangong Han-su averted his gaze and shrank back.
It was Nangong Hye, daughter of the Nangong Clan, who had received an urgent letter summoning her back to the family—and her reply stated she wouldn’t come.
“You little...”
“……”
Nangong Chang-seon slammed the armrest and bellowed.
“No, why exactly!”
“Well... she said she couldn’t go through with an engagement that ignored her own wishes.”
“What?”
Nangong Han-su’s meek response turned Nangong Chang-seon’s face beet red.
“You don’t mean to tell me! Did you mention in the letter that Hyun is here?”
“N-No, of course not.”
“Then why!”
“It seems she’s caught on.”
“Caught on?”
“Yes. She’s always been exceptionally sharp, hasn’t she?”
“You... you...”
Crunch. Cruuunch.
The plan had been to summon Nangong Hye, have her meet Hyun, give them some intimate time together, and let natural feelings develop.
Everything had been meticulously planned.
They were just waiting for her arrival...
“So?”
“Yes?”
“She says she’s not coming—what are you going to do about it?”
“……”
“Send the Azure Heaven Troops.”
“Th-The Azure Heaven Troops?”
“Of course! That’s exactly what we should do. Tell them to drag her back right now!”
“……”
At Nangong Chang-seon’s words, Nangong Han-su let out a deep sigh.
Ha, why did she have to make things so difficult for him?
To force a man and woman together, even deploying the Azure Heaven Troops?
“Father, no, we can’t do that.”
“What? Can’t? What can’t we do? Haven’t you seen Hyun’s incredible talent?”
“……”
“Hurry up and get moving!”
“That’s not it—Hye has volunteered for the conflict zone.”
“What? Then send a letter in my name to the marshal—no, to the alliance leader! Tell them not to send that girl anywhere! If they do, I’ll hold them personally responsible!”
“...Father.”
“What!”
“She’s already left.”
“What?”
“Hye deliberately delayed sending the letter. It arrived after she’d departed.”
“You damned girl!”
Nangong Chang-seon’s eyes twitched as he snorted in rage.
What kind of nonsense was this?
Descendants of prestigious families typically married as their clans arranged.
And yet? She’d do as she pleased?
“How exactly have you been raising your children!”
“……”
Nangong Han-su inwardly sighed repeatedly at Nangong Chang-seon’s thunderous scolding.
No, how was this his fault?
What kind of child was Nangong Hye? One of the Five Peaks, no less.
Talented in martial arts, beautiful to boot...
Born without a single flaw, Nangong Chang-seon had taken her under his wing early on to train her personally—he hadn’t even been allowed to lay a hand on her upbringing.
How long ago had it been since he declared he’d raise her as the Nangong Clan’s premier female warrior?
That’s why he’d sent her to the alliance in place of his son, the young clan heir Nangong Seong.
“Fine. If that girl won’t come, then we’ll send Hyun!”
“Yes?”
“I’ll make sure of it!”
“……”
Nangong Han-su watched Nangong Chang-seon storm toward the guest hall, letting out yet another deep sigh.
That side seemed pretty stubborn too...
Whatever. He’d wash his hands of it.
Marriage? Do it or don’t—who cared anymore.
* * *
Fuming over Nangong Hye, Nangong Chang-seon stomped the ground repeatedly as he arrived at the guest hall.
Just as he raised his hand to open the door...
“Sob sob, ugh sob sob.”
“……”
Crying?
It was unmistakably Nangong Seong...
“You fool! What good is just crying! Put some strength into it! Pour those emotions straight into your sword—I told you!”
“It’s not easy, Uncle.”
“Who said to stop! Keep thinking sad thoughts! Cry, I said!”
“...Ugh sob sob.”
“Think about it. When you’re angry, don’t you want to kill the bastard in front of you?”
“Sob sob.”
“Strength flows into your hands naturally, right? Now think the opposite. Be sad. Really sad. What happens? You don’t want to do a damn thing, do you? You even want to drop your sword.”
“Yes. Sob sob sob.”
“That’s it. That listlessness, that despair—put that into it!”
“But then I’d drop the sword?”
“That’s when you think of anger!”
“That doesn’t... make sense. Sob sob sob, I’m so sad...”
“…….”
Nangong Chang-seon lowered his hand from the door and focused on the conversation inside.
He’d known they were training together, but it sounded like Yu Hyun was the one teaching Nangong Seong?
“Alright, sword up! Let’s start again!”
“Yes. Sob sob sob.”
As the training sounds began, Nangong Chang-seon peeked his head over the wall.
Smack!
“Argh!”
Crunch!
“Gah!”
But Nangong Chang-seon froze at the scene unfolding inside.
He couldn’t even speak.
Why...
Thud! Crack!
“Urk!”
Nangong Seong... was getting beaten.
His face was black and blue, covered in dust from rolling on the ground—then he bounced back up, and what he shouted was even more shocking.
“Fuck this!”
Then he charged at Yu Hyun with a murderous glare, swinging his blade wildly.
What in the world was going on?
“What the hell is...?”
He nearly shouted in bewilderment but managed to hold back.
The moment he saw the swordsmanship Nangong Seong was displaying, a different kind of shock hit him.
Was the Sword King a title earned lightly?
He wasn’t so lacking in discipline as to be swayed by surprise.
The wooden sword sliced through the air toward Yu Hyun.
Not a real blade, so it lacked overwhelming power, but its trajectory alone revealed the level of attainment.
Azure Bow Infinite Swordsmanship.
The foundation of all Nangong Clan sword forms—every clan member learned it, yet no one had ever reached its pinnacle.
But what was this trajectory from Nangong Seong’s wooden sword?
Flawless.
Concise without excess, yet dynamically capable of change at every instant.
And that majestic power emanating from it—what was that?
Like... restrained fury dwelling within?
Nangong Chang-seon couldn’t bring himself to enter, merely peeking through with wide eyes as he watched them.
At that moment, did Yu Hyun sense his presence?
“Hold!”
“……?”
The sword halted mid-swing at the forceful shout.
“Damn it! That was good—I could’ve smashed his head proper...”
Nangong Seong glared daggers at Yu Hyun, full of regret.
Still spewing foul language...
But Nangong Chang-seon, who’d been entranced by their swordplay, felt the exact same regret.
That trajectory just now...
He’d come to persuade Yu Hyun to join the alliance, only to witness something astonishing.
It was utterly different from the Nangong Seong swordsmanship he’d known.
As if it were an entirely different person wearing the same shell.
Had they abandoned the speed and variability the Nangong Clan had traditionally pursued, infusing it instead with a heaviness that overwhelmed the opponent?
As Nangong Chang-seon stared in a daze, his eyes met Yu Hyun’s—he’d turned his head.
“What are you doing?”
“...Huh?”
“If you’re here, why not come in instead of peeking like some sneaky thief?”
“…….”
Treated like a cat eyeing a fish stall, but since he had been spying, embarrassment won out.
Nangong Chang-seon gave an awkward laugh and mumbled an excuse.
“Ah, heh heh. Heh heh heh. No, just passing by...”
“Oh, really? Then keep passing.”
“...Sh-Should I?”
Scratching his head with a flustered expression, he turned to leave—then suddenly stopped.
No, why was he the one flustered? There was no place in the Nangong Clan he couldn’t go.
“Why?”
“Hm?”
“Why do you keep glancing over?”
“Ah, well, your training was so fascinating, you see.”
“Ah.”
Yu Hyun nodded as Nangong Chang-seon confessed honestly.
He didn’t know how long he’d been watching, but it was understandable.
As expected of the Sword King?
In a situation where others would’ve scolded him for beating Nangong Seong so brutally, he recognized it as training.
“Then come in.”
“I-Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Roles reversed.
Nangong Chang-seon, granted permission by Yu Hyun—who spoke like the host—cautiously opened the door and entered the guest hall.
“Uncle’s here, so let’s take a break. That’s enough for today...”
“Yes, Uncle.”
At Yu Hyun’s words, Nangong Seong quickly agreed and flopped down right there to tend his wounds.
“Heh! Well now.”
The scene felt more like master and disciple than uncle and nephew—Nangong Chang-seon let out a hollow chuckle.
Even so, Yu Hyun had only recently begun martial arts and was younger to boot...
But more than that, his curiosity burned.
“Hey, nephew.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Did you... teach that boy the sword?”
“Me? No way.”
Yu Hyun waved it off with a look that said it was absurd.
“But just now, clearly...”
“A spar?”
“Hm?”
“You saw it. We were sparring.”
“…….”
“Me teaching Azure Bow Infinite Swordsmanship? I’m still learning it myself. Seong is too. We’re just honing its application more efficiently through spars, you could say?”
“Ah, I see...”
Nangong Chang-seon nodded at Yu Hyun’s explanation.
That made sense.
But Nangong Seong, hearing it, widened his eyes and tilted his head.
Yu Hyun was teaching him—why say it like that?
Nangong Seong looked utterly confused, but Yu Hyun had his reasons.
An outsider teaching Nangong Clan martial arts to a Nangong warrior?
It was true, but it couldn’t look that way.
Yu Hyun was known as a novice who’d only just started martial arts.
No matter how close the Yu Clan Manor and Nangong Clan were, the Nangong family had lived for generations on pride in their swordsmanship.
One wrong word could deeply wound their pride.
Some might understand, but others would resent it, letting the wound fester—and it might spread.
So, this was appropriate.
He’d already shown enough genius. No need for more attention.
“Ahem, but that form he displayed earlier was completely different from what he’d learned before. It was practically something new. How could he... without learning from someone...”
“…….”
Sharp old man.
Of course—if he hadn’t noticed the alien feel in the sword, he wouldn’t be the Sword King.
“It was shocking. I’m just dying to know what happened.”
“Ah, that’s...”
Yu Hyun paused as Nangong Chang-seon probed like a pickaxe.
How to explain?
After a moment’s thought, Yu Hyun glanced at Nangong Seong.
He was teaching now, but ultimately, it was a sword learned from Nangong Seong.
Its creator needed proper credit.
“Truth is, it was Seong’s idea.”
“What? Seong’s?”
“Yes? Uncle, what do you mean?”
Both men exclaimed in shock at Yu Hyun’s words.
But ignoring them, Yu Hyun coldly clamped Nangong Seong’s mouth shut and continued.
“Seven Emotions Swordsmanship.”
“Seven Emotions?”
“Yes. Seong suddenly realized it one day. A way to infuse human emotions into the sword and wield them?”
“What? Emotions?”
“Yes.”
“Emotions... emotions... Heh, heh heh heh.”
Mulling it over repeatedly as he stared at Nangong Seong, Nangong Chang-seon suddenly burst into laughter.
Martial artists were taught their minds should be like a bright mirror—clear and still.
Infusing emotions was a complete departure, something no one had ever tried.
Yet the sword had changed.
The Azure Bow had reached Nangong Seong and transformed.
From the clear sky-like sword of before to the one now crushing the world.
Nangong Chang-seon gazed at Yu Hyun and Nangong Seong.
Similar ages.
Similar skills.
His grandson might be walking a new path alongside this exceptionally talented boy named Hyun.
Was formal instruction even that important?
Sometimes, acknowledging and observing was better.
Weren’t they already teaching and advancing each other without need for a master?
He’d come to persuade Yu Hyun to join the alliance, but not today.
There was plenty of time, after all.
“Keep at it, you two. I’ll be off. Heh heh heh!”
Once Nangong Chang-seon’s hearty laugh faded completely from the guest hall, Nangong Seong asked Yu Hyun.
“Uncle, why...?”
“Why what? The Azure Bow is the Nangong sword. I just gave you the spark you needed.”
“…….”
The Nangong sword.
Despite teaching the new method, he claimed no ownership—Nangong Seong felt profound gratitude.
“Thank you, Uncle. I’ll engrave today’s consideration deep in my heart and never forget.”
“Just forget it.”
“...Pardon?”
Yu Hyun just smirked.
He’d merely returned it to its rightful owner—what thanks?
“Anyway, wanna go watch some opera?”
“Yes?”
Nangong Seong stared at the grinning Yu Hyun in disbelief.
Now? In this moving moment?
“What’s with the surprise? You’ve built the basics for anger and sorrow—now it’s time for joy. Come on, let’s go laugh till our guts hurt at some hilarious opera.”
“…….”
As Yu Hyun grinned and led the way, Nangong Seong—stunned for a moment—broke into a radiant smile and hurried after him.
“Yes! Uncle!”