Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Victory Over the Heavenly Dragon
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Urk!”
With a massive explosion, Namgung Hyo’s form was flung backward.
Boom!
He crashed into a large tree in the direction he flew and finally came to a stop.
“......”
They were already far from the training ground. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have suffered any internal injuries or major harm.
‘I lost.’
But the mental shock was considerable.
‘I never imagined it. The day would come when I’d lose to a late-stage disciple ten years my junior......’
Standing there in a daze for a moment, Namgung Hyo stepped forward toward Seol Hwa-un.
“Shall we continue?”
At Seol Hwa-un’s question, Namgung Hyo shook his head.
“I lost. The Young Palace Lord’s martial arts are truly remarkable.”
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
“You’re admitting defeat this easily? We still have the Emperor King Sword Form left.”
Namgung Hyo shook his head.
“I’ve learned the Emperor King Sword Form, but I’m still sorely lacking. Even if I used it, it wouldn’t work on the Young Palace Lord.”
Peak experts could wield sword aura too. It was just that it consumed a lot of internal energy and its power was weaker than the Formless Realm.
“......”
Seol Hwa-un liked the sight of Namgung Hyo admitting defeat so cleanly.
‘The rumors were true. Unlike what you’d expect from a prestigious family’s heir, he doesn’t cling to his reputation and properly acknowledges his opponent.’
It was clear at a glance that he possessed an upright and just character.
‘Moreover, his martial arts weren’t to be trifled with. Without the Zaosodan, it wouldn’t have been easy.’
“By any chance, have you broken through the wall?”
Instead of answering Namgung Hyo’s question, Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
“I suspected as much, but really......”
“From the looks of it, you’ll break through the wall soon too, so don’t be too disappointed.”
“Who knows?”
As he said, though Namgung Hyo was a rare genius, Seol Hwa-un couldn’t guarantee he’d reach the Formless Realm.
In fact, there were countless cases of those who became peak experts at a young age but never broke through to the Formless Realm before meeting their end.
‘Hmm, should I give him a little help?’
It was a spontaneous thought, but if someone like Namgung Hyo grew stronger, he’d help many people.
No, that was just an excuse. Seol Hwa-un simply liked Namgung Hyo and wanted to help him.
“Young Master Namgung, may I borrow your sword for a moment?”
“......?”
Namgung Hyo was puzzled but handed it over willingly. Taking the sword, Seol Hwa-un smiled.
“For a swordsman to hand over his sword so readily, you’re quite innocent.”
At his words, Namgung Hyo’s face flushed as if embarrassed.
“Ah, no, that’s......”
“I’m joking. Watch closely from now on.”
Seol Hwa-un channeled internal energy into the sword.
Flash!
Sword energy soon burst forth.
“Ah! Could it be the Young Palace Lord has learned swordsmanship too?”
“I didn’t train hard at it. Just the basics.”
Seol Hwa-un had deemed it useless and only learned swordsmanship under Seol Wi-myeong’s insistence. But as he said, it hadn’t ended at just the basics.
Namgung Hyo found it hard to believe.
“You can draw sword energy with just the basics?”
It was possible for Seol Hwa-un, who had mastered fist techniques to the extreme in his previous life and understood the universal principles of all martial arts.
“That’s not the point. Just watch.”
“......”
Hum!
The sword energy gradually sharpened, soon beginning to take a certain shape. Namgung Hyo’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“Gasp! Sword aura?!”
Seol Hwa-un shook his head.
“Wrong. Even I can’t wield true sword aura. My understanding of the sword is lacking. This is merely sword energy shaped to resemble sword aura by applying fist aura.”
Examining the sword aura Seol Hwa-un had created, he soon nodded.
“Indeed. It’s similar enough to fool me.”
“The Young Master did the same.”
“......?”
“When you defended with your sword earlier, I saw you use sword aura. It was an excellent improvisation.”
When struck by the Full Snow Flow Fist, Namgung Hyo had instinctively raised his sword to form sword aura. It had minimized the impact.
“I still have a long way to go.”
“True enough. If it had been real sword aura, you would have defended perfectly.”
“......Probably.”
“The biggest issue with the Young Master’s sword aura is that it focuses more on vast internal energy than understanding of the sword. Can sword aura be created solely with internal energy?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why manifest such sword aura? Using the sword energy you’re proficient in would have been better.”
“That’s......”
“You’ve fallen into a trap without realizing it, Young Master. Sword aura made by relying on internal energy is fake, but its power surpasses sword energy. So you get the illusion that refining it a bit more will lead to true sword aura.”
“......!”
“In the end, you wander, unable to break through the wall, wasting time.”
Of course, Namgung Hyo knew this. But during his secluded training, obsessing over the wall and sword aura had made him forget.
Namgung Hyo felt as if struck hard on the back of the head.
‘......So that’s it.’
“Go back to basics and focus on the sword itself. You’ll naturally break through the wall.”
Of course, not everyone could do that. But Namgung Hyo was more than ready.
“......”
Standing dazed for a long while, Namgung Hyo suddenly came to his senses. He bowed deeply toward Seol Hwa-un.
“Young Palace Lord, thank you truly. This was a great help.”
Considering his position, it was hard to believe. Bowing so deeply to someone ten years younger, and an outsider at that!
Of course, such guidance could have been given within the Namgung Family.
But given Namgung Hyo’s personality, he wouldn’t have asked. He’d likely waste years stubbornly before realizing his mistake.
Seol Hwa-un had shortened that time for him.
“Don’t forget the upright justice and righteousness in your heart. That’s enough.”
“......I’ll keep it in mind.”
After Namgung Hyo left, Dong Ho-won grumbled.
“Young Palace Lord, even so, isn’t showing too much favor to a Central Plains man?”
“Regardless of Central Plains or not, I just liked him.”
“But what if he uses your teachings later to threaten the Ice Palace?”
Seol Hwa-un wanted to say no, but he knew the martial world was a place where anything could happen.
“That could happen. But with me here, what’s there to worry about?”
“......You leave me speechless.”
“It’s true his talent is exceptionally rare. So don’t I need an opponent like him to grow steadily for me to feel a bit of tension?”
“You, Young Palace Lord?”
Eom Mu-hwi couldn’t believe it. In the past five years of watching Seol Hwa-un, he was a martial arts maniac.
Even gritting his teeth, they couldn’t match his training volume, and now he said there was no tension?
Eom Mu-hwi pressed as if he couldn’t accept it.
“What’s the real reason?”
“I told you, I just liked him.”
“......”
Seol Hwa-un let out a chuckle.
‘Are these guys jealous?’
The advice to Namgung Hyo was valuable, but he had given far more to the two of them over time.
“Since you insist on a reason, I’ll give you another. Namgung Hyo is the young master of the Namgung Family. He’ll become family head someday.”
“That’s true.”
“The Namgung Family, called the greatest under heaven. Wouldn’t it be good if its head held goodwill toward our palace?”
“......That’s true.”
“Seeing you talk nonsense means your bodies have fully recovered. Come on, attack again. When you reach Namgung Hyo’s level, I’ll drag you into the Formless Realm even if I have to.”
“You just sparred with the Heavenly Dragon. You sure you’re up for it?”
“Do you think I’d be that tired?”
“......Of course not.”
The two gritted their teeth and charged at Seol Hwa-un once more.
Boom!
* * *
Namgung Seo-ok sat leisurely, sipping tea. A faint smile played on his lips.
“A shame it’s not liquor.”
As the Namgung Family’s second young master, he couldn’t drink in broad daylight during the grand assembly.
‘They’re probably in the thick of it by now?’
The thought of finally flattening the nose of that arrogant Ice Palace Young Palace Lord put him in a good mood.
It wasn’t coincidence that Namgung Hyo heard rumors of Seol Hwa-un right after returning to the Namgung Family. Namgung Seo-ok had deliberately spread them to his ears.
He had cleverly omitted the story that the Dragon Boy’s blade broke due to the ice technique’s nature.
If the Young Palace Lord was underestimated, things might not go as planned.
The martial fanatic Namgung Hyo wouldn’t sit still after hearing that. He’d seek out the Young Palace Lord and demand a spar upon meeting.
‘The Young Palace Lord can’t refuse for the sake of face.’
Even if he did, it didn’t matter. Namgung Hyo’s stubborn obsession with martial arts would force a spar eventually.
Namgung Seo-ok knew well how strong Namgung Hyo was. Frustratingly, he couldn’t match him.
Namgung Hyo was the finest with the Namgung Family’s swordsmanship. He felt inferior, but there were good examples: his father and uncle.
His uncle Namgung Jin-seong had become the greatest swordsman under heaven, and his father Namgung Seong the family head.
Namgung Hyo was young master now, but he firmly believed he’d become family head in the end.
‘Brother is strong. There’s no way that Ice Palace Young Palace Lord is a match.’
But going to watch in person would be unseemly.
‘When Brother returns, just spread rumors that the North Heavenly Dragon was utterly crushed by the Heavenly Dragon.’
At that moment, his door opened, and Namgung Hyo entered.
“......Brother?”
“Yes, you were in your room. Good.”
“Why suddenly here...... No, more importantly, did you not meet the North Heavenly Dragon?”
At those words, Namgung Hyo’s eyes changed.
“How do you know that...... You pulled some scheme again.”
“Th-that’s......”
“Tsk, you haven’t changed. Didn’t I tell you repeatedly? If you’re going to do something, do it yourself.”
Face flushing, Namgung Seo-ok asked.
“Fine! More importantly, did you meet the North Heavenly Dragon? No spar?”
“We did.”
Namgung Seo-ok’s face brightened.
“As expected of Brother! So, how many seconds to win?”
“You’re sorely mistaken. I lost.”
“......What? L-lost?”
Namgung Seo-ok couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
“No way......”
“The North Heavenly Dragon...... No, he’s fully worthy of the Heavenly Dragon title. Incredibly strong, beyond even me...... A great man. Thanks to him, I gained much insight.”
“Impossible! How could Brother lose?!”
It was natural for him to react this way. To Namgung Seo-ok, Namgung Hyo was an insurmountable towering wall.
Namgung Hyo gave a wry smile.
“I can hardly believe it myself. Never thought I’d lose to a younger warrior. Anyway, drop any thoughts of provoking the Young Palace Lord. He’s beyond you.”
“......”
“Ah, I forgot why I came. I can’t meet Father, so pass on my message.”
“......What message?”
“Tell him I’m entering secluded training again. But next time I emerge, I’ll show definite results, so give me one more chance.”
As Namgung Hyo turned, Namgung Seo-ok grabbed him urgently.
“Brother! You just ended your seclusion yesterday! Entering again right away?”
Namgung Hyo smiled faintly.
“Yes. Thanks to the Young Palace Lord, I gained great insight. I can’t hold back from training now.”
“No, Brother......”
Namgung Seo-ok tried to stop him again, but Namgung Hyo’s form had already vanished.
His mind was in chaos, unable to compose himself.
“What in the world is this...?!”