Chapter 374
Chapter 374
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 374
Chapter Title: Orthodox Assembly (5)
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Sword Emperor Namgung Won and Zhuge Cheok of Heavenly Mechanism Wonderful Mountain.
Though the two giants had split—one toward the north gate, the other toward the main gate—
'If they truly wished it, they could certainly meet.'
Their connection dated back to their days as classmates at the Righteous Martial Academy.
Given that bond, there had to be a place at the academy just for the two of them.
'The Four Great Dormitories burned down, but the academy's layout remains the same...'
If they had intentionally stirred up a quarrel at the conference hall as part of some scheme,
perhaps they were using the north and main gates as decoys, planning to meet in the bamboo grove at the east gate where formations were set up. With that thought, I made my way there.
Since they had told me not to follow from the start, and I had tailed them anyway, sneaking up silently would be rude.
So, I deliberately let my presence be known as I entered the bamboo grove.
Just then, Master's voice suddenly rang out in my mind.
-He's coming.
My senses caught an overwhelming aura as well.
Quaaaaaack!!
It was then that a mass of sword energy arced like a crescent moon, slicing through the surrounding bamboo.
Sssrrrrrring!!!!
I drew Regret in a flash of lightning, wrapped my blade in sword energy,
twirled the hilt, and inverted it to block the incoming mass of energy.
Booom!!
Thanks to that, a cloud of dirt and dust erupted in the area.
'!'
Cleaving through it, a figure shot toward me like an arrow.
Papapap!
In the hazy visibility,
I didn't even have time to identify the attacker before frantically retreating and swinging Regret.
Kaang!!
My blade clashed with the intruder's sword,
and at the moment a fierce gust battered my face,
Hwaaaaaak!
I finally recognized who it was.
"Sword Emperor, sir?"
As I acknowledged him, Namgung Won spoke up.
"Well, well. It's the Monster Dragon. I said not to follow anyone, but when I sensed someone tailing me, I thought it might be a spy or assassin."
Yet, the words coming from his mouth felt oddly contrived.
- ...It doesn't feel like he's reacting to an assassin. More like he's giving himself an excuse to cross swords with you, Yong-un.
I shared the same impression as Master.
Sure enough, Namgung Won didn't halt his swinging sword.
Kakakakang!
As Regret and Namgung Won's blade began sparking fiercely,
Chaenchaeng!!!
I hurled a question at him.
"You knew it wasn't an assassin—why haven't you sheathed your sword?"
"I drew it on a false alarm, but seeing how well you handle it... let's say curiosity got the better of me."
His attitude reminded me of a certain remark Zhuge Cheok had made not long ago.
'Watching a promising sapling up close must be a unique pleasure.'
Just as I concluded in my mind that Namgung Won was testing me,
he posed a question of his own.
"And you—why swing your sword when you could simply back off?"
"A lowly martial artist like me rarely gets the chance to witness a sword like yours, sir. I couldn't let it pass."
After answering, Namgung Won grew serious and spat out a single line.
"Whether that's overconfidence born of reckless pride, or the pure skill to back up those words—let's find out."
His sword strikes grew incomparably fiercer than the initial exchanges.
Pachik! Pachichik!!
Kaaaang!!!
The thunder energy flashing from Namgung Won's sword reverberated through my bones with every block.
'...Is this really swordsmanship and not the Dao?'
It felt just like parrying Uncle Mu Hyeok's black greatsword.
Yet, Namgung Won's sword wasn't merely about brute power.
The instant he repelled me forcefully,
a lightning-fast thrust shot out.
Sssaaaaaack!!
When I deflected it with a Heaven-Splitting energy-infused strike,
it flowed smoothly with supple grace.
Jeeeeeeng!
Such sword intents unfolded from his hand without the slightest waste.
I realized this must be the famed strong sword of the Namgung family.
'When sparring with Gongyun, I'd think names like Imperial Sword or Infinite Arc Sword seemed too grandiose for the Namgung style... but the real thing was something else entirely.'
While fending off with busy swings of Regret amid those thoughts,
Kang! Kang!
Kakakang!!!
Namgung Won, pressing his assault, finally spoke.
"This isn't your full strength, is it?"
"...I'm holding back about thirty percent."
"Why?"
"I sealed my fist and staff arts because I wanted to know purely how well my sword holds up against yours, sir."
"And there's more besides, isn't there?"
Kang! Kang!
Kaaaaang!
"I know a technique that temporarily boosts physical abilities at the cost of some strain on the body."
"How... Will you show me all your talents?"
"But the latter might look like sorcery. I came up with it while restoring the Eon Family's secret arts."
"With your moniker Monster Dragon, how could I not know? I kept my ears open even while holed up in my clan. I'll take that into account."
"Yes, sir."
I swung Regret wide to repel Namgung Won's sword.
Jeeeeeeng!
Using the recoil, I instantly widened the distance,
and the moment I landed, I sliced my left palm.
Swish—
Circulating my blood rapidly and channeling Heaven-Splitting energy through my blood rings,
the enhanced blood rings from absorbing myriad blood essences sharpened my nerves and invigorated my muscles and bones.
"!"
The instant I realized it, I kicked off the ground.
Pat!
And unleashed a barrage of Heaven-Splitting sword strikes at Namgung Won.
Ssaek! Ssaek! Ssaek!
Sssaaaaaack!!
To my intensified swordplay, Namgung Won feigned surprise.
"A transcendent master who has reached the Flower Realm and controls his body perfectly boosts his physical prowess... I wondered what difference it would make."
Kang! Kang!
Kakakakang!!
"It's understandable why you'd mistake it for sorcery."
However, it seemed Namgung Won's earlier display wasn't his full power either.
He began unleashing the Namgung clan's signature sword strikes even more ferociously.
Kakakang!
Kaang!!!
As I matched his blade, memories of the renowned experts I'd faced surfaced naturally.
'...Other absolute masters.'
Facing Shaolin's divine victor felt like confronting a massive pine tree.
The sword of Kyung Hye Sa Tae felt like staring down peril amid merciless strikes.
'...If I had to find a similarity, it's a bit like facing Wudang's Extreme Sword Myeong Yeong.'
Extreme Sword Myeong Yeong.
He was like a serene lake that swallowed all my offensives whole.
Namgung Won's sword shared that quality.
'Flawlessly executed strikes that seal off every one of my paths.'
But there was a crucial difference.
While Extreme Sword's blade, wrapped in the endless mysteries of Taiji, reminded me of my own shortcomings,
Pachichichik!!!
here, the slightest lapse meant a thunder-wreathed sword crashing down like a rod of discipline.
'Like a bolt from a clear sky.'
Yet I did not yield.
'Dragons swim in such skies by nature.'
I twisted my body convulsively to evade Namgung Won's thunder-laced sword,
then unleashed swift fists from the Heaven-Splitting Fist Art.
Shuk! Shuk!
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
As I dodged the power from his fists,
I lunged forward with a massive stride and unleashed Anti-Dragon Palm.
Kworrrung!!!
Namgung Won arched his back dramatically to barely evade the palm force and let out a hollow chuckle.
"Heh. So it's not just piled-up fortune that got you there—you've got instincts. Like a battle-hardened veteran."
But his smile was fleeting.
"Let's see if you can handle this."
What followed was an even more relentless barrage of techniques.
Kang! Kang!
Kakakakang!!
Amid the flurry of sword strikes,
"Your movements show more influence from the Eon Family's cadet branch than the main line."
Namgung Won voiced his thoughts on my martial prowess.
"You've mastered Beggar Clan's Anti-Dragon Palm perfectly. All eighteen forms, it seems? It pairs seamlessly with your cultivation method, making it more potent than the original. And that unique sword style..."
"......"
"Well, you've learned quite the assortment. Yet they harmonize well."
Pachik!
Pachichichik!!
"Is this praise? While swinging such deadly strikes?"
"More like an evaluation. Hmm. My advice would mean little to a single-path specialist like a pine tree. Your arts are like a bouquet of flowers. In that case, this old man's insights might prove useful..."
Just as important words were about to leave Namgung Won's mouth,
- Someone's coming.
'...You're right?'
My senses picked up hurried footsteps rushing from the bamboo grove's entrance.
Namgung Yoon appeared and shouted at Namgung Won, who was crossing swords with me.
"Grandfather! What are you doing right now?!"
* * *
Namgung Yoon had burst in with great momentum,
but after hearing the full story from me, he quickly shrank back.
"...That's how it happened. It seems the elder wanted to gauge my skills."
"......"
Namgung Won delivered a stern rebuke to his grandson.
"Yelling at your grandfather without even checking properly?!"
"...My apologies. You stormed out of the conference hall in a rage, and then I heard fierce clashes of steel. Your little uncle's incident flashed through my mind, so I acted rashly."
"That's why you must stay calm. As Namgung clansmen, we regard the weight of our words and actions toward kin as paramount, rooted in composure amid motion."
After observing a brief lesson in Namgung clan heir training,
Namgung Won turned to me.
"Somehow, our family always ends up embarrassed around you, Monster Dragon."
"Ahem. If I may be so bold, today's events aren't that shameful. And please don't be too hard on Yoon... Gongyun."
"...Anyway, let's finish what I started earlier."
"The advice you mentioned?"
"Yes. Since we're out enjoying the fresh air, and I plan to stay a few days. If you're not too busy, how about I share some insights I've gleaned?"
"I'd make time even if I were. As long as it doesn't clash with classes, I'll visit whenever suits you, sir."
"Good. Then after the conference ends, let's align our schedules."
Accepting Namgung Won's offer brought Yin Ha-seong's face to mind.
"Ah, sir. Mind if I bring one more person?"
"Who?"
"Yin Ha-seong. He's already learning the Namgung sword."
Thinking of the old Yin Ha-seong, the current one had shed his former self entirely, body and soul.
'He swore to stick with me to the death.'
For him, what he needed was ascending martial arts.
There were options like Shaolin's Scripture Pavilion or the academy's library,
but nothing would suit better than advancements based on familiar arts, so I broached the subject.
"Southern Jiang's Divine Hero?"
"Ah, yes. He's called that too."
"I was planning to summon him during this break anyway..."
"You trailed off—is there a problem?"
"No, nothing major. It's just... you give off a vibe of someone subtly countering Zhuge Cheok."
"...Pardon?"
"It's a feeling. Bring him along."
To my surprise, he nodded readily
and led the way back to the hall.
"Time has passed considerably. Let's return to the conference."
Back at the Orthodox Assembly's conference hall,
after a brief recess, the two giants of the righteous martial world reignited their fiery debate over who was more suitable.
"I am Namgung Won. Earlier, I got heated. I apologize to the assembly and shall state my true ambitions. Such organizations are most critical right after formation. Thus, I, who has led and coordinated various sects as Martial Alliance Leader, am the fitting choice."
"Even setting aside your pre-recess remarks, there are practical issues with the Sword Emperor as chairman. Holding the Namgung clan head position makes you unsuitable for devoting yourself to this 'critical period,' as you put it."
Though seen by many as lifelong rivals truly clashing,
my hunch proved right—they had no reason to quarrel without purpose, especially after reversing retirement.
Just before the vote, Sword Emperor conceded, acknowledging shortcomings.
"This old man seems to have overreached, basking in past glories. Heavenly Mechanism Wonderful Mountain's sharp tongue excited me, but upon reflection, his argument holds merit. I'll step aside... Everyone, work together to make this assembly harmonious."
After a perfunctory show of hands,
Zhuge Cheok naturally assumed the chairman role.
My father spoke up.
"With all votes in favor except one abstention, Zhuge Cheok Senior is confirmed as the Orthodox Assembly's inaugural chairman. Chairman, a word?"
At Father's request,
unlike his sharp barbs moments ago, Zhuge Cheok responded gravely.
"I thank the assembly for allowing this old man to take the chair. And I apologize to Namgung Clan Head."
He bowed solemnly.
"This Orthodox Assembly is a fellowship. Yet we are, at root, righteous martial folk who must worry over the lives of the realm's people and the peace of the jianghu."
In a calm tone, he delivered a pointed remark.
"Our negligence and sloth have bred sacrifices among the common folk, leading to our juniors spilling blood in foreign lands. Remember: peace is never easily won, and complacency invites crisis from behind."