One Who Enjoys Winning Others Over with Virtue
Baek Hae-geum, the man who prided himself on his reputation for benevolence, turned his head to glance at Jeong Sam-seok before speaking. "Let us proceed with the naming of the swords."
Following the order, another young genius swordsman stepped forward and handed his chosen blade to Beom Jo-ang. A few moments later, it was finally Jo Pacheon's turn.
He stepped forward and presented a sword with a broad, golden blade. "I shall call it Sky Slasher," he declared.
"Pfft!"
Bukjin made a face as if he would have sprayed water everywhere if he’d been mid-drink. Jo Pacheon’s eyes flared with rage as he glared at him. Unable to help himself, Bukjin finally spoke up.
"They say the Heavens gave birth to all things, and by those things, mankind survives. The Heavens are like a parent to all creation... but the more I look at you, the more I see what an ungrateful wretch you are. Your name is already 'Sky Breaker,' and now you name your sword 'Sky Slasher'? Do you have some personal vendetta against the sky?"
"Pfft! Haha!"
Standing beside him, Baek Geum-un couldn't contain her laughter at Bukjin's biting mockery. To her, Bukjin seemed like a master of sarcasm. She knew that by calling him 'ungrateful,' Bukjin was subtly criticizing Jo Pacheon for betraying Jeong Sam-seok to crawl under Baek Hae-geum's wing.
I thought he was just some delinquent senior, but he’s actually quite witty and sharp-tongued, isn't he? Baek Geum-un found herself looking at Bukjin in a new light.
"What do you know, you fool?" Jo Pacheon sneered. "The path of martial arts is inherently a process of defying and reversing the natural order. Young warriors like us must strive in our cultivation to suppress the heavens with our blades and cast out the fear in our hearts. In other words, it is a virtue to cleave the sky and overcome the fate it has decreed. Only by transcending the self and realizing the essence of the sword can one reach the Great Profundity. A scoundrel like you couldn't possibly understand such things."
"Sure, sure," Bukjin replied with a chuckle. "I don't know about all that, so just get back to what you were doing."
Jo Pacheon’s anger reached its boiling point. Beom Jo-ang quickly intervened. "Ho ho, Young Master Jo. Debating martial theory with words is meaningless. 'Sky Slasher' is a magnificent name. I hope your will to cleave the heavens allows you to part the very clouds. The name is already engraved, so you may take your sword."
Using the Sword-Imbuing Command, Beom Jo-ang had already etched the name 'Sky Slasher' onto the golden blade. A strange, faint radiance began to flow from the newly named sword. It felt as though it possessed an inexplicable spiritual power—a vitality rarely seen in ordinary weapons. Its destructive potential seemed to have increased significantly.
The atmosphere was entirely different from when the previous students had named their blades. Furthermore, the moment Jo Pacheon gripped the Sky Slasher, the sword vibrated subtly, as if testing its new master. It was a profound phenomenon.
"Hahaha!" Jo Pacheon laughed loudly and funneled his Hyeongi into the blade. A high-pitched metallic resonance filled the air. Soon, a brilliant golden light erupted from the blade.
The Hyeonmun patterns faintly etched into the metal began to glow, manifesting like pillars of light. The sword looked entirely different now, as if it had been reborn from a deep slumber.
Huh? Those patterns look a bit like electrical circuits, Bukjin muttered to himself, staring at the glowing sigils. That part looks like a series circuit, and the bottom looks like a parallel one. Is that what a Mystic Pattern is?
A moment later, the radiant Sky Slasher returned to its original form.
"A fine blade," Beom Jo-ang praised. "The sword already shows a compatibility of over sixty percent with your cultivation, Young Master Jo. If you train diligently with it, that compatibility will only rise. Once it reaches a hundred percent, the sword's rank will evolve. Ho ho, you certainly have a keen eye for weaponry."
"Hahahaha!" A broad grin spread across Jo Pacheon's face. He was immensely satisfied with his choice. Being acknowledged by a master craftsman who forged the blades himself brought him an indescribable sense of pride. It felt like a confirmation of his status as a true genius.
Watching this, Baek Hae-geum wore a satisfied smile. The rules of White Cloud City were strict. Even though Jo Pacheon was his disciple, his cultivation hadn't reached the level required to carry anything other than the standard-issue White Cloud Sword. While those were high-quality, they were a far cry from a true masterpiece. Obtaining a high-grade sword perfectly suited to him was a massive gain.
Jo Pacheon looked at Bukjin triumphantly. "Im Bukjin. It's your turn. I assume you've decided on a name for that... thing you chose?"
Bukjin gave Baek Geum-un a subtle nod. She stood up abruptly, holding her pale blue greatsword, and stepped forward. "I'll go first. The name I have chosen is... Great Treasure Sword!"
Beom Jo-ang stared at her blankly. The surrounding crowd fell into a brief silence before erupting into laughter.
"Great Treasure Sword?"
"What kind of bizarre, tacky name is that?"
However, Baek Geum-un, who had been thoroughly brainwashed by Bukjin, was perfectly satisfied with the name. She held her head high and shouted back, "What's so funny? It's my sword, and I'll call it whatever I want! I like this name! Hmph!"
Bukjin lowered his head, hiding his face. Beom Jo-ang, being an experienced swordsmith, quickly regained his composure. With a faint smile, he performed the Sword-Imbuing Command and engraved the name. The process was over in an instant. The three characters for 'Great Treasure Sword' glowed atop the blue steel.
Baek Geum-un took the blade and injected her Hyeongi.
Wooooong—!
A low vibration hummed through the blade.
"Hm?" Beom Jo-ang’s eyes widened in surprise. As Baek Geum-un channeled her energy, blue and yellow lights began to flow and intersect across the Great Treasure Sword. Simultaneously, a faint resonance echoed from the metal. The expressions of those watching shifted dramatically.
"A compatibility of... eighty percent?" Beom Jo-ang gasped. This was significantly higher than the score for Jo Pacheon and his Sky Slasher. For a split second, a dark shadow flickered across Jo Pacheon's face.
"Child, what is your name? Which city are you from?"
Bukjin recognized her. She was the swordsman who had placed that specific greatsword on the table earlier. She was its creator.
"Her name is Baek Geum-un. She is a first-year student at Unmong City's 3rd Academy," Cho Heun answered from the banquet table, stepping in for her. "President Lyu, is something the matter...?"
The woman, addressed as President Lyu, replied, "No, nothing is wrong. I simply didn't expect to meet a junior with such high compatibility—one capable of awakening this sword to such a degree. Ho ho, she is quite the talent. Instructor Cho, I would like to visit the 3rd Academy once the Sword Testing Covenant is over. Would that be acceptable?"
Thousands of thoughts raced through Cho Heun's mind. Overjoyed, he replied with a beaming smile, "Of course! It would be more than acceptable! You are the esteemed General President of the Coastal Branch of the Thousand-Mile Merchant Alliance, are you not? It would be an honor for the 3rd Academy to host someone of your noble status!"
"Then I shall take that as a yes," the woman said before returning to her seat.
Baek Geum-un, having awakened her sword, clutched the greatsword with both hands and returned to her seat with her head held high, looking like a child who had just received her favorite toy.
"It's your turn now, Senior," she whispered to Bukjin.
Bukjin picked up the silver greatsword that sparked whenever it touched the floor in his right hand. In his left, he held the standard-sized silver sword, and he tucked the small silver dagger into his belt. He walked up to Beom Jo-ang with all three weapons and gave a polite bow.
"I must ask for a favor, Master Beom. This sword... I shall call it Virtue."
"Virtue?" Beom Jo-ang looked bewildered. ...What kind of name is that?
"Tsk, that's not a very cool name at all," Baek Geum-un muttered from her seat, sounding disappointed. "He should have called it the 'Great Silver Sword' or something! Why 'Virtue'? It doesn't suit his reputation at all! Since when does Senior have any virtue? Hmph!"
"A certain swordsman said it before," Jo Pacheon spoke up. "People often boast about what they lack most to hide their deficiencies. It seems you know deep down that you have no virtue, which is why you chose such a pathetic name."
"That's not even funny. Given how much you love to act like a know-it-all, it’s clear you actually know nothing," Bukjin retorted effortlessly. "I am a man of culture. I simply enjoy winning people over with virtue."
Baek Geum-un’s jaw dropped. Everyone else in the vicinity wore expressions of utter disbelief. Beom Jo-ang looked at Bukjin with a skeptical eye.
"Are you suggesting that 'winning people over with virtue' means you intend to use this sword to cut them down until they submit? With a sword named 'Virtue'?"
"Exactly. Is there something strange about that?"
Beom Jo-ang’s lips twitched as he fought back a laugh. He had named countless swords in his time, but he had never heard such a ridiculous name. Nor had he ever met such an eccentric owner. Without further questions, he performed the Sword-Imbuing Command on the blades the young swordsman had brought.
In that moment, a sharp glint flashed in Baek Hae-geum's deep eyes—a light so subtle it was almost impossible to catch. It was unclear what he had realized. Across from him, a natural smile spread across Jeong Sam-seok's face as if he, too, had caught onto something.
That magnificent idiot!