The Three-Sword Style (?) Swordsman, Im Bukjin
Beom Jo-ang was a young man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties. He was a master bladesmith possessing exceptionally handsome features and an air of refined elegance. He nodded slowly, his voice steady. "A fine name."
As he finished speaking, Beom Jo-ang began to circulate his Hyeongi. Using a brush as his tool, he began to engrave two characters onto the red, saw-toothed blade: 'Indomitable' . The moment the characters were etched, a light so brilliant it was nearly blinding erupted, flooding the surroundings. It was clear he was employing a specialized secret technique used for tempering and refining weapons.
Thus, the saw-toothed sword handed over by Dong Bang-jeon now bore the name 'Indomitable'. Despite the engraving, the blade suffered not a single scratch. In fact, the sword now radiated an entirely different aura than before, as if a sentient spirit had taken residence within the steel. Dong Bang-jeon gazed at his newly named weapon, his face lighting up with immense joy.
The onlookers watched in hushed admiration. Even Cho Heun seemed deeply impressed. "Was that... could that have been the Sword Soul Endowment technique I've only heard of in legends? Truly a profound art! Simply magnificent!"
In the North Sea Empire, there were three primary holy lands of swordsmanship: White Cloud City, Nonggeom Pavilion, and the Abyss of Minor Tribulation. Each of these sanctuaries possessed unique methods for forging and tempering blades. Among them, the forging techniques of the Nonggeom Pavilion were considered the pinnacle, holding the title of the empire's finest. White Cloud City followed as a close second.
The Abyss of Minor Tribulation, however, focused more on training assassins and spies, so their blacksmithing was not particularly noteworthy. Consequently, the school recognized as having the third-best sword-making techniques in the empire was the Grandmaster Beom lineage. Grandmaster Beom was a man who had reached the rank of Great Master in the field of bladesmithing. Throughout his life, he had designed and crafted countless swords.
The swords produced by the Beom lineage were categorized into four series: Sorrow, Joy, Parting, and Reunion. His fame extended beyond the North Sea Empire, reaching the Aurora Empire and even the island nation alliances across the sea. Because of this prestige, any blade bearing his name was highly coveted. Even the Blue Bird Sword currently in Bukjin's possession was a mass-produced model derived from the Beom lineage, enjoying great popularity in the markets.
The forging arts of the Beom lineage were profound and mystical. Among them, the most legendary was the Sword Soul Endowment—a technique that granted a sword a spirit and a soul by engraving characters upon it. As the master's spirit grew, the soul-infused sword would grow alongside them. This secret art was a world-shaking technique exclusive to the Beom lineage. In this specific field, not even White Cloud City or the Nonggeom Pavilion could hope to match them.
Beom Jo-ang nodded toward Cho Heun. "Dean Cho, you flatter me. The Sword Soul Endowment is an incredibly deep and difficult art that cannot be mastered by anyone below the Heavenly Person Rank. My own cultivation is still lacking, so I have yet to learn it. What I performed just now was a simplified version called Sword Spirit Endowment. Its effectiveness is barely a tenth of the true technique. It merely forces a single strand of spirit into the blade."
The crowd gasped at his explanation. Cho Heun marveled once more. "Even so, it is a peerless technique! To bestow spirit upon a blade... it is already a divine skill."
The other veteran swordsmen were equally lavish with their praise. Even Im Gun-hyeon and Jin Ryeon-sin nodded silently in agreement with Cho Heun's assessment. The young boys and girls watching the exchange were buzzing with excitement. For them, simply having the chance to choose a sword that suited them was a massive gain. But to have Beom Jo-ang, the successor of the Beom lineage, breathe spirit into their blades? It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck.
It was then that Hyeol-yeom, unable to wait any longer, stepped forward and presented his sword. "I... I wish to call this sword 'Demon Piercer'."
Currently, the common enemy of every inhabitant of the continent was the Outworld Demons. In a way, 'Demon Piercer' was a common name, but it perfectly suited the personality and resolve of the boy named Hyeol-yeom. A man with a sword, purging the demons of the three outer heavens. It was a common sentiment on the continent, yet perhaps the most noble one.
Beom Jo-ang nodded and used the Sword Spirit Endowment to engrave the name onto the blade.
"My sword is 'Missing One'..."
"I shall call mine 'Heaven Slasher'."
"'Hero Sword'..."
"'Peerless'."
One by one, the youths stepped forward to name their swords. Bukjin sat to the side, watching them while struggling to suppress his laughter. How can they think of such cringeworthy names? Do they all have a severe case of chuunibyou?
"Why are you laughing?" Baek Geum-un asked, glancing sideways at him. "I suppose you've thought of some incredibly grand name, Senior?"
Bukjin looked at her. Is she asking me again? Does this girl have some kind of decision-making disorder? "What about you? Have you decided on a name?" he shot back.
Baek Geum-un nodded confidently. "Yes. I've thought it through. I'm going to call this sword the 'Great Treasure Sword'. Don't you think it's simple, clear, and cool? Names like 'Demon Piercer,' 'Heaven Slasher,' or 'Hero Sword' have no character; they're too ordinary. What do you think of the name I chose, Senior? Isn't it bold and unique?"
Hearing her answer, Bukjin saw Baek Geum-un in a new light. I see now. It's not a decision-making disorder. She's just a severe case of chuunibyou herself.
"It's excellent," Bukjin said, giving her a big thumbs up. "As expected, you're truly one of a kind. I'm practically speechless with admiration."
Baek Geum-un beamed, feeling quite proud of herself. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that 'Great Treasure Sword' was a magnificent name. "Do you have a name for your sword, Senior?"
Bukjin scowled. "No."
In truth, Bukjin had zero interest in naming a sword right now. His eyes were fixed on the square table at the front. There were still six swords remaining on that table. Tsk, tsk, tsk! What a total waste. That's all money sitting right there...
Driven by a sudden impulse, Bukjin stood up without a moment's hesitation. "Master Beom, Lord Im. May I ask a question?"
Countless eyes immediately locked onto Bukjin. Im Gun-hyeon replied, "Hmm? Student Im, what is your question?"
Bukjin flashed a friendly, innocent smile. "Actually, I don't just use a sword with my right hand; I use my left hand as well. I can even wield two swords simultaneously to perform dual-wielding techniques. Therefore, it feels a bit unfair for someone like me to only choose one sword. Would it be possible for me to pick one more?"
The expressions of the crowd soured instantly.
What a thick-skinned brat!
One isn't enough, so he wants two?
I've seen people beg for food or clothes, but this is the first time I've seen someone beg for a sword!
However, Jin Ryeon-sin's expression shifted. "Left-handed swordsmanship?" She stood up, her sharp eyes boring into Bukjin. "Are you certain?"
The expressions of Im Gun-hyeon and Yeo Nak-yeon also turned serious. But Bukjin had already prepared a rational answer for such an inquiry. He smiled and said, "I'm certain. Actually, after seeing Lady Im Jin use left-handed swordsmanship in the recent selection trials, I..."
"Enough. No more words are needed. Choose another sword," Jin Ryeon-sin interrupted, her voice stern. "However, if you fail to prove that you are a left-handed swordsman in the next round, I will consider it an act of deception against every senior gathered here. If that happens, you will be stripped of your right to participate in the upcoming duel and expelled from the manor."
"Hmm..." Bukjin rubbed his slightly furrowed brow before answering. "Fine."
Under the watchful gaze of everyone present, he walked back to the table. He selected a silver sword of average size that could be held in one hand. Why did he choose another silver sword? Because the remaining swords were all black or bronze-colored. In other words, they didn't look like they'd fetch a high price. But he wasn't done. After a moment of deliberation, he picked up a thin, pale silver dagger as well.
With three weapons in his possession, Bukjin marched back to his seat with his head held high.
"Who do you think you are, picking three swords?" Dong Bang-jeon snapped, unable to hold back. "Do you have three hands or something?"
Bukjin chuckled. "Haha! What would a bottom-tier hack like you know? Not only can I dual-wield, but I can also use a secret technique called Three-Sword Style—meaning I can use three swords at once. That's why I took three."
"..."
Dong Bang-jeon was rendered speechless by Bukjin's sheer audacity. The other youths looked like they had reached their limit of tolerance. What an utterly shameless bastard!
Jo Pacheon, watching Bukjin, let out a mocking laugh. "Truly a disciple worthy of Teacher Jeong. You don't even have a decent sword of your own, so you resort to begging for them with such ridiculous excuses? Heh, I can't tell if it's because you're trash or because Teacher Jeong is just that poor."
Bukjin fired back immediately. "Of course you wouldn't know. What would a pathetic loser like you understand?"
"You...!" Jo Pacheon's rage flared. Bukjin's tongue was lethal, and in a war of words, no one could beat his venomous wit.
Just then, Baek Hae-geum waved a hand at Jo Pacheon. The boy immediately bowed his head and shut his mouth. "Senior Brother Jeong, do you know why Jo Pacheon left you three years ago? It seems you still haven't figured it out," Baek Hae-geum said, looking at Jeong Sam-seok.
Jeong Sam-seok remained silent, offering no reply. He looked like a high priest lost in deep meditation. Watching him, Baek Hae-geum smirked and turned to Bukjin. "Im Bukjin. Since you claim to be a master of the Three-Sword Style, I suppose choosing three swords isn't impossible. However, it seems your master hasn't taught you properly. Let me tell you one thing: greed invites calamity. This is a fundamental truth of the martial path. Every sword has its own unique characteristics. To train with three different swords at once... Heh, what a naive dream. If you try to catch two rabbits at once, you'll end up losing both. Imagine trying for three."
Bukjin didn't even want to dignify the man's oily, condescending tone with a response.