Chapter 156
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Heir of the Void Sword
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A faint memory from his days as the Martial Alliance Leader suddenly flashed through Seol Hwa-un's mind.
“No matter how I look at it, that sword dance is terrible… No, it's just mediocre. To refuse becoming a disciple of my sect just because you've learned such a sword technique.”
“What do you know about swords to say that, Alliance Leader!”
“It's obvious when you see it. Especially something like the Void Sword Sect's swordsmanship…”
“Alliance Leader!”
The image of Moon Jeong-ho boldly standing up to him, the Alliance Leader himself, flickered in his mind.
'Moon I-cheon, huh. I see. He really takes after Jeong-ho.'
The fact that he was even performing the Void Sword Sect's 'Void Sword Dance' confirmed he was Moon Jeong-ho's descendant.
'The Void Sword Sect is impressive too. Who would've thought their lineage still endures.'
He had spoken harshly back then, but in truth, he had acknowledged the Void Sword Sect's swordsmanship to some degree.
Now that he himself practiced the sword in this life, he was even more convinced.
'If perfected properly, it could become the world's greatest sword.'
But it had clear drawbacks. It heavily depended on the practitioner's talent.
If they had a disciple with talent like Moon Jeong-ho, they could produce one of the top masters in the world, but if not…
'It'd be worse than a third-rate sect.'
Seol Hwa-un stared at Moon I-cheon, who was sweating profusely as he performed the Void Sword Dance.
'How much talent do you have? If you're not on Jeong-ho's level, it'll be hard to even escape second-rate.'
His internal energy was still weak, so the aura he emitted wasn't particularly impressive. However, the sword intent itself was remarkably sharp.
Moreover, there were no flaws in his sword-wielding posture.
'Well-trained.'
The sword dance was inherently like that, but the Void Sword Dance especially was not a practical martial art.
It was simply practiced to deepen understanding of the sword and grasp the subtleties of swordsmanship.
Uniquely, the Void Sword Sect expressed it through sword dance rather than verbal formulas.
'No wonder it depends so much on talent.'
The Void Sword Dance was the beginning and end of the Void Sword Sect, but an ordinary person would spend their life practicing and only end up healthier for it.
“…….”
As he quietly watched Moon I-cheon's sword dance, a glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'The latter half has a different posture.'
Having seen Moon Jeong-ho's sword dance many times, he remembered the original Void Sword Dance perfectly.
'It’s not a mistake or poor learning. He was taught with the altered posture from the start.'
Someone had modified the Void Sword Dance during transmission.
Seol Hwa-un could tell. The current version had far greater depth and hid various martial principles.
'But that would make it even harder to master properly.'
He even thought that even Moon Jeong-ho might struggle to fully comprehend it.
'No. Jeong-ho probably altered it himself. It's an improvement, but won't that make things harder for the Void Sword Sect?'
He later learned that after returning from that incident in the North Sea long ago, Moon Jeong-ho had immediately left the Martial Alliance.
'It must have been to perfect the Void Sword Sect's martial arts.'
After that, his whereabouts became unknown.
'And after two hundred years, even more so.'
It was regrettable, but unavoidable. There was no way he could still be alive anyway.
'I wonder how much that kid understands.'
Moon I-cheon continued the slow sword dance. The session lasted a full hour.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un watched without growing bored, even sitting down on the ground.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
Exhausted, Moon I-cheon finally sheathed his wooden sword.
'That's it for today…'
As he was wrapping up, he finally noticed Seol Hwa-un's figure and jumped in surprise.
'Gasp, did he wait the whole time?'
Moon I-cheon said with an awkward expression.
“I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I meant to use it just for a moment…”
Seol Hwa-un rose from his seat and chuckled.
“It's fine. You're impressive, Young Hero Moon. To maintain concentration for a full hour while performing the sword dance.”
Moon I-cheon's face flushed slightly.
“I-It’s nothing. It's just my daily routine…”
'As expected, Moon Jeong-ho's descendant.'
While Seol Hwa-un thought that, Moon I-cheon suddenly felt a question arise.
'Did he watch my sword dance the whole time?'
Even disciples of the Void Sword Sect grew weary practicing the Void Sword Dance. Watching it must have been even more boring.
He asked.
“Wasn't it boring?”
“You mean your sword dance, Young Hero?”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“No. It was so fascinating I enjoyed watching. It even helped my own swordsmanship a bit.”
“……Is that true?”
Moon I-cheon looked stunned at the unexpected response.
No one had ever refrained from mocking the Void Sword Dance, the Void Sword Sect's greatest technique.
'But it helped him?'
He had heard rumors that Seol Hwa-un was practicing swordsmanship.
'Isn't the Void Sword Dance just a moving exercise?'
Even so, the main reason Moon I-cheon diligently practiced the Void Sword Dance was his promise to his grandfather.
Plus, daily practice lightened his body and built his internal energy, so he never skipped a day.
“It really helped?”
“Of course. It was an impressive sword dance.”
Seol Hwa-un's words were sincere.
To him, who had reached a profound realm in swordsmanship, merely watching the Void Sword Dance provided small insights.
“…….”
Moon I-cheon tilted his head.
'Does that mean Grandfather was right?'
As he pondered, Seol Hwa-un asked.
“Are you also participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference, Young Hero Moon?”
“Of course.”
“I suppose I asked something obvious.”
Moon I-cheon suddenly had a good idea.
'Right, let's ask him!'
He politely cupped his fists.
“Twenty-seventh generation disciple of the Void Sword Sect, Moon I-cheon. I request a spar with the North Heavenly Dragon!”
“……!”
“Please teach me a move with the sword!”
Moon I-cheon knew well he was no match for Seol Hwa-un.
He hadn't expected to win from the start.
However, the sword, called the king of all weapons chosen by most martial artists, was the same for Dragon-Phoenix Conference participants. So, he wanted practice facing sword against sword with Seol Hwa-un.
Reading his intent, Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
He had refused all the later-generation juniors who sought instruction earlier that day, but he couldn't do the same with Moon I-cheon.
“Very well. I'll spar with you.”
For once, he drew the soft sword from his waist.
“Haaap!”
As if waiting, Moon I-cheon swung his wooden sword at Seol Hwa-un.
Whoosh!
Clang!
Their swords clashed fiercely. Despite meeting a real sword, Moon I-cheon's wooden sword remained intact.
Seol Hwa-un pushed back with his soft sword, sending Moon I-cheon staggering back from the force.
“Ugh.”
'Come to think of it, that's the wooden sword Moon Jeong-ho used.'
Made from the Indestructible Divine Wood that only grew in a specific region of Yunnan, it was tougher than any steel.
“Yaap!”
Moon I-cheon charged again.
Whoosh!
His tenacity was greater than it seemed. Even after being defeated and collapsing five times in a row, he came at him again.
Finally, on the sixth fall, he lay spread-eagled, breathing raggedly.
“Haa! Haa! Haa!”
Seol Hwa-un gazed down at him steadily.
'Impressive.'
He hadn't rated him highly at first glance, but after crossing swords, his opinion changed.
'Only his internal energy is lacking; everything else is sufficient.'
From technique application to adaptability and sharp judgment.
'Perhaps the Void Sword Sect will produce a second Dragon-Phoenix.'
Of course, the first was Moon Jeong-ho.
Considering Moon I-cheon's age, it was a remarkable achievement.
'He doesn't seem aware, but he's already internalized much of the Void Sword Dance's subtleties.'
It felt like seeing Moon Jeong-ho in his childhood.
'Even the tenacity to never give up.'
Having caught his breath, Moon I-cheon slowly rose.
“Haa. As expected of the North Heavenly Dragon. To reach this level with swordsmanship too.”
'……No way?'
“One more time, please!”
“……!”
“Yaaap!”
Moon I-cheon swung his wooden sword again.
* * *
The next morning.
Seol Hwa-un urged his group to hurry and leave the inn for once.
Seeing this unfamiliar side of him, the group was puzzled but followed his orders without complaint.
Once the carriage departed, Seol Hwa-un finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew.”
Yu Gong-seon asked.
“Gang Leader, is something wrong?”
“Oh, it's nothing.”
He couldn't tell him the truth.
'Really, what a persistent guy.'
Twenty-five times.
That was the number of spars with Moon I-cheon last night.
'To keep charging even after bruises all over his body.'
In the end, Seol Hwa-un had to plead as dawn broke before the spars finally stopped.
'Really tenacious.'
Knowing Moon I-cheon would surely seek him out again as soon as he woke, he had left the inn in haste.
He could have just refused, but Moon Jeong-ho's face kept flashing in his mind, making it hard.
'But it was quite fun.'
There was enjoyment in guiding the spars too. He could see Moon I-cheon's skills improving with each bout.
'Truly inherits Jeong-ho's blood.'
He might stir an unexpected storm at this Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
'Looking forward to it.'
Seol Hwa-un felt a strange sensation. It was a connection spanning two hundred years.
'It wasn't like this with Kwon Ma…'
It was probably because Moon Jeong-ho had been one of the closest figures in his previous life.
Sitting across from him, Yu Gong-seon tilted his head while observing Seol Hwa-un's expression.
'What on earth is he thinking?'
There was no way for him to know.
Shortly after Seol Hwa-un's carriage departed, Moon I-cheon, who had woken up late, rushed straight to the rear garden.
His body felt as heavy as a thousand catties, but he ignored it. The sense of accomplishment outweighed it.
'I'll land a proper strike today!'
But upon arriving at the annex, his face fell in dismay.
“……!”
A servant boy was diligently cleaning the empty room.
“Where did the guests who were staying here go?”
At his question, the servant replied.
“They had breakfast early and left just a little while ago.”
“…….”
Moon I-cheon turned away with a hollow feeling.
'Did he leave on purpose? …No, that's overthinking it.'
It was a shame.
Sparring with Seol Hwa-un had been immensely enjoyable. He could feel his own growth.
'No choice, I have to catch up quickly.'
Moon I-cheon immediately packed his belongings and set off after Seol Hwa-un.