Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Brocade Guards
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Upon arriving at Hangu Pass, just as Nangong Hwan had said, there were people waiting ahead. They were warriors stationed near the pass, all clad in blue garments. Spotting Nangong Hwan, they bowed deeply.
"The Sky Squad pays respects to the Young House Lord!"
The Sky Squad seemed to be the Nangong Family's direct armed unit. I scanned their roughly twenty members and saw that more than half were first-class experts. With this level of force, they could wipe out a minor sect overnight—I was genuinely shocked. Nangong Hwan addressed the Sky Squad leader.
"Why didn't you come to greet me all the way inside Guanzhong City?"
"My apologies. If we entered Guanzhong City, the six great Guanzhong families would take great notice. It was an unavoidable measure to avoid friction."
"Is that truly your own thinking?"
"......"
"Hmph."
Nangong Hwan gave a wry smile and turned his head, while the Sky Squad leader stood silently. I could sense some conflict between them, but now wasn't the time to probe. Nangong Hwan took Jin So-cheong's hand and said.
"I'm truly grateful. Without you and Baek Woong, I would've died without escaping even a hundred li from the Zhao estate."
"No. Didn't you trust me enough to brave the danger and come all the way to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall? I'm more thankful for that."
They seemed to share a genuine friendship. I wondered why Nangong Hwan had been chased by rivers and lakes experts with only Moyong Yeon in tow, and what his relationship with the Sky Squad was. But it wasn't a situation to ask directly, so I held back for now.
Nangong Hwan also grasped my hand.
"Young hero, I'm truly grateful. If you ever visit the Nangong Family, I'll treat you as my lifesaver with utmost respect. You must come."
"No need for such words..."
I exchanged polite formalities and glanced at Moyong Yeon. Strangely, she had been unusually quiet and passive throughout this ordeal. She had simply followed Nangong Hwan silently, as if it were only natural.
'In a crisis where she'd be gang-raped or violated the moment she was caught, how could she stay so composed?'
I felt an odd sense of unease. No matter how steadfast and strong-willed a female hero she was, this incident involved dozens of martial artists swarming solely to ravage her. Any ordinary woman would be terrified or show emotional turmoil. Yet she displayed not a hint of agitation, as if certain it would never happen.
"Then take care."
"Ah, yes."
After Jin So-cheong's farewell, Nangong Hwan and Moyong Yeon departed into the night with the Sky Squad. Despite how exhausted they must have been, forcing themselves onward seemed aimed at shaking off pursuers even a little more. Once their figures vanished, Jin So-cheong spoke to me.
"Let's head back, junior brother."
He now fully accepted me as a new junior brother without a shred of doubt. Before, I'd been treated like an experimental animal to raise as needed; now, he was openly pleased. Feeling a bit proud inside, I said.
"Senior brother, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Today's events were too strange. For the Nangong Family's Young House Lord to wander with only the Pure Yin Body maiden and no escorts—not to mention the Sky Squad, who must have arrived at Hangu Pass long ago, never coming down from the mountains to protect him."
"......"
"Senior brother, you know something..."
As I trailed off, Jin So-cheong fell silent for a long moment before replying.
"We shouldn't get involved any further. I've fulfilled my duty as Nangong Hwan's friend; the rest is up to him. At any rate, things won't get more tangled."
"Do you know the full story behind this?"
"Do you want me to tell you?"
"Yes."
Jin So-cheong ruffled my hair with a chuckle.
"Fine then, how about a bet?"
"A bet?"
"If you spar with me at the hall and last a hundred exchanges with spear arts, I'll tell you."
I was a bit surprised.
"That's..."
"What do you say? It'll be good training too."
My competitive spirit ignited. Jin So-cheong wasn't just a senior brother to me. He was practically my master, having taught me nearly all my martial arts, and possessed overwhelming talent and skill beyond comparison. I couldn't back down from a martial wager from him.
"Agreed."
Jin So-cheong and I raced back along the night path to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. It was quite a distance, so by arrival, the hour of the dog was approaching. But no matter how tired we were, Master's—Triple Excellence Lee Gwang's—orders came first, so we hurried to report.
"We're back."
"Good, come in."
Triple Excellence Lee Gwang was reading by lamplight in the Crouching Dragon Hall. He closed his book and said to Jin So-cheong.
"You're a bit late."
"I was delayed helping a friend."
"If you're confident in yourself, I won't pry further."
Triple Excellence Lee Gwang let the matter pass like that. Seeing it, I felt inwardly envious. Normally, this would warrant intense questioning, but he trusted his disciple to always act honorably. How empowering such an attitude must be for a student—it was enviable.
Then Triple Excellence Lee Gwang said.
"You've heard the story by now. The child from the Thunder God Style who came to be my disciple."
"Yes. He helped me a great deal too."
Triple Excellence Lee Gwang nodded pleasedly.
"As you can see, he possesses tremendous inner power. He'll revive the Thunder God Style alongside you, so aid each other toward becoming the best under heaven."
"Yes. I'll keep it in mind."
The best under heaven!
The grand words made my heart race. It was the dream of all warriors, but coming from a peak expert like Triple Excellence Lee Gwang, it felt profoundly real. Training under him truly seemed like a path to supremacy, filling me with anticipation.
"You may withdraw."
"Yes."
"Good night."
We bowed and left Triple Excellence Lee Gwang. As we walked the dim hall corridors, Jin So-cheong quietly said to me.
"You and I both—our bodies are still stiff from earlier. Since we're at it, shall we do that bet now?"
"Can we keep doing that bet until I win?"
"Of course."
"Then naturally we must."
We left the Crouching Dragon Hall and headed to the training hall. We lit the space brightly and took up wooden spears in ready stance. I used the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms; he did too.
Jin So-cheong said.
"For reference, feel free to use all your inner power without restraint."
"Is that alright? Even if you can handle it, this training hall might get wrecked."
"Don't worry. I just want to see your true strength."
"Understood."
I'd worried about causing a nighttime ruckus by overusing inner power. But as I gripped the training spear and faced him three paces away, I realized that fear was unfounded.
"......!!"
It felt like my entire body was being pierced by needles.
Jin So-cheong merely held his stance, yet my vital points were exposed as if naked, and his spear tip felt like a dagger already embedded in my heart. Even with world's-best inner power, it'd be useless. The moment I swung, that spear blade flickering under the hall's lights would slice my throat.
This had nothing to do with spear or sword specialties.
'What...?! I ate Millennium Snow Ginseng three times!'
But I couldn't accept it. Astonishingly, despite devouring the ultimate fortuitous encounter—unattainable in a lifetime, three times over—with boundless inner power surging through me, I still couldn't beat Jin So-cheong! My shock deepened knowing he had only recently entered peak expert realm in my memory.
Wasn't this pressure even greater than facing the Iron Blood Sect's top elder?
Sweat beaded on my spear-gripping hands. Midway into Thunder Spirit Eight Forms stance, it felt like an illusion before me was speaking. A tingling aura choked my breath.
"Urk...!!"
I couldn't endure it. I tried channeling inner power to shift directions, but thought never became action. Each time, that spear tip seemed alive, tracking me.
No good.
This was utterly impossible.
Inner power wouldn't solve it.
"... I lose."
In the end, I admitted defeat without even one exchange. Only then did Jin So-cheong release the pressure. He racked his wooden spear and said.
"Sorry, junior brother. I didn't mean to show off on your first day, but your current state is so dangerous I had to warn you."
"Dangerous?"
Clack.
I racked my spear too, then sat cross-legged before Jin So-cheong. Beyond the spar's outcome, I knew he'd proposed the bet to convey something important. He nodded and said.
"You're probably thinking this: 'All I lack is qi control and martial skill; fulfill those, and I'll instantly be best-under-heaven level!' ...Right?"
"...I won't deny it."
Jin So-cheong sighed briefly, his concern genuine.
"But... that's wrong. No matter the supreme inner power, your body is still human. Advancing on one who's mastered intent with mere qi is like standing naked in the arctic chill—you'll die. A tragic waste."
"......?"
Intent?
What did will matter?
I tilted my head, not grasping it. Until then, I'd thought he meant post-initiative principles or speed. Seeing my confusion, he smiled wryly.
"My actions might seem petty suppression. But starting tomorrow, with one-on-one lessons from Master, that mindset will be read instantly. Master doesn't show disappointment openly, so you might spin your wheels cluelessly. That's what worried me—I wanted to point it out."
That was indeed dangerous. Unlike Jin So-cheong's always enthusiastic teaching, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang seemed accustomed to geniuses, neglectful toward the mediocre. Likely from being a genius himself.
I accepted Jin So-cheong's goodwill purely. I'd felt his skill firsthand, so doubting was pointless.
"Hmm... I won't deny thinking that, but I still don't get it. Intent? Like this?"
Whoooosh.
I drew forth inner power and killing intent. Ordinary folk would flinch at this alone. But Jin So-cheong waved it off.
"No, that's not intent. If anything, it's qi overflow from heart-qi-blood-essence... broadly still qi."
"You're saying human will alone can affect the world?"
"Exactly—that's the advanced realm of martial arts. Beyond forms and inner power, experts clash on wholly different planes. Forms and power aren't ignored, but it's a different trajectory from lower levels."
In that moment, I realized.
'Jin So-cheong's already stepped into that realm!'
And Triple Excellence Lee Gwang was a true master long past it. Only now did I understand the terrifying dissonance against his formless ki. Neither fit worldly martial classifications—they'd reached beyond.
Also, I realized that even without my intervention today, Jin So-cheong could've handled those first-class experts alone. In original history, he never suffered injury or death here, and today's events happened independently of me.
Meaning—in true history, Jin So-cheong soloed over ten first-class experts. Earlier, he'd just been gauging the situation.
Jin So-cheong said.
"Starting tomorrow, after training, let's keep sparring like today. It'll surely advance your martial arts."
"Yes."
No reason to refuse—I agreed instantly.
'Lasting a hundred exchanges with wooden spears? Won't take long.'
We chatted idly, then parted for bed. Exhausted, I washed and slept deeply.
The next day, I began lessons with Triple Excellence Lee Gwang. Emerging early morning to the dedicated training hall in Crouching Dragon Hall, he said.
"You seem to specialize in swordsmanship among our Thunder God Style arts. Do you like Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship?"
I scratched my head.
"Yes. I know Thunder Spirit Eight Forms is strongest, but spear doesn't suit my aptitude..."
"You know sword arts are inherently weaker. That's commendable."
"......"
He stated sword arts' inferiority bluntly—what could I say? As a master beyond Jin So-cheong, excelling in sword, fist, and spear alike, my novice opinions would be laughable. But reading my sullenness, Lee Gwang smiled.
"I'd rather not rank martial arts high or low, but reality demands knowing. Spears have never been weaker than swords since antiquity; spear arts evolved from combat techniques, sword from self-defense extensions—understand that first."
"Yes."
"Naturally, supreme masters equate spear and sword. Until then, base on spear, supplement with sword. It maximizes talent and time."
"Talent depletes too?"
Lee Gwang nodded matter-of-factly.
"Talent isn't infinite. It gradually consumes within fixed time and potential. Many prodigies fade to mediocrity with age. Youth's truth: master as much as possible early."
"Understood."
"You've mastered Thunder Spirit Eight Forms basics, so today I'll teach advanced spear applications and correct flaws."
Thus, after over a decade, I resumed learning at the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. Following Triple Excellence Lee Gwang's guidance, I diligently retrained spear from scratch, mastering three advanced applications:札 (strike), 驚 (shock), 着 (land).
"Practice this technique at least five hundred times daily from today."
From morning, I drilled relentlessly all day. Sweat beaded and dripped from my brow, draining my stamina utterly.
After that day's lesson, I sought Jin So-cheong for wooden spear sparring. Yesterday's pressure had frozen me, but today would differ—I steeled myself.
Gripped spears, faced off.
"......"
But like yesterday, I was pinned like a fly in a web—unable to advance a step. The instant I moved, vitals would be severed, I felt. Baffled, I sat pondering.
'Why can't I move? Suppressed before acting—what principle?'
As I mulled, Jin So-cheong said.
"Junior brother, sense the spacing not with eyes, but sixth sense."
Sounded crucial, but I grasped nothing—another fruitless day. If I were genius enough for instant insight, I'd have conquered the world by now.
"Can't be helped. Let me help with today's lesson."
Sparring unfruitful, Jin So-cheong wryly smiled and elaborated kindly on my new applications. His explanations made Lee Gwang's prior words clearer.
'Yes, I can do this!'
Self-study was foolish indeed.
Now training thus, I'd seize peak expert realm eventually!
"Junior brother, hate to say it, but..."
Three years later, one day.
Jin So-cheong faced me in the sparring ground, spears in hand. Mine had dropped; I stood dazed. Three years re-joining Azure Dragon Martial Hall, and I'd just barely lasted eighty exchanges. He said bitterly.
"You lack talent, junior brother."
Indeed.
Three years since the bet, I still couldn't last a hundred wooden spear exchanges. Even full inner power, my moves were read and countered preemptively—no progress. At least, hall's diligent cultivation vastly improved my Thunder Spirit Eight Forms and Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship proficiency beyond before.
But about a year ago, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang stopped one-on-one lessons. Realizing my mediocrity, he'd tried teaching diligently at first, then lost interest, tossing me to Jin So-cheong. Kind Jin So-cheong taught his best, but my self-esteem was shredded.
I acknowledged it calmly.
"Seems so."
Jin So-cheong consoled earnestly.
"Don't resent Master's coldness. That's his nature—no malice."
"No resentment. The gap's too vast for even that feeling."
I voiced my honest sentiment.
Azure Dragon Martial Hall's lord, Triple Excellence Lee Gwang.
His prized disciple, Chief Instructor Jin So-cheong.
Monsters! Three years ago, beyond peak classification; grown even faster than newbie me. Genius plus effort—impossible to catch.
My own gains existed. Far stronger than three years prior. Just dwarfed by two nearby geniuses.
Soon, Jin So-cheong said.
"Actually, Master told me two days ago: no more dedicating time to you; take my personal training instead."
"......"
To him, I was wasting genius Jin So-cheong's talent. He'd watched for Thunder God Style loyalty till now, but prioritized his training henceforth. Feeling wretched, I endured with grit and nodded.
"Hall Lord's judgment is correct."
"Sorry. But come anytime with questions during training. I'll help however."
"One thing first... Can I learn what happened three years ago?"
Jin So-cheong replied.
"Since it's the last day, I'll tell you."
"Yes."
"That day's events... frankly, Nangong Hwan reaped what he sowed."
"Yes? Self-inflicted?"
What followed shocked me.
"He was more showy and vain than he seemed. He should've kept Pure Yin Body fiancée Moyong Yeon's secret to the grave, but on a pre-wedding rivers-and-lakes outing, he blurted it out drunk."
"......"
Nangong Hwan himself leaked the Pure Yin Body secret to the jianghu! As I marveled, Jin So-cheong sat in the training hall and continued.
"The Moyong Family naturally exploded, wanting to cancel the marriage immediately. But Nangong Hwan's father, the family head, bought time by hastily sending them into jianghu. So rushed, they were virtually exiled without escorts. He dodged around till reaching me."
Jin So-cheong was remarkably kind. Likely, all Nangong Hwan's other jianghu friends refused aid; only he stepped up.
"Why didn't the Nangong Family's Sky Squad escort him right away?"
"Probably his rival successor brother in the family pulled strings. Left him to die if he must."
"......"
"Well, they did escort him eventually, but he's still in brutal succession strife now."
I roughly grasped that day's events.
But one thing puzzled me.
"Then Moyong Yeon seemed far too calm and unperturbed for a woman in rape peril. Wasn't that odd?"
"Hmm... Likely because she truly loved Nangong Hwan."
"Yes? Love?"
"Otherwise, how could she trust and roam jianghu duo with the man who leaked her Pure Yin Body secret? Incomprehensible to me, but she trusted and loved him enough to dismiss betrayal entirely."
"......"
Truly baffling.
No matter Nangong Hwan's handsomeness, such devotion? Perhaps the strangest oddity I'd witnessed in lifetimes. Simultaneously, I pitied Moyong Yeon. Unlike her, Nangong Hwan didn't seem the type for such pure devotion to one woman.
Story ended, Jin So-cheong said.
"Junior brother, don't despair. Keep at it. Your skill is first-class anywhere now. Few in Guanzhong region can match you."
"Yes, thank you."
I parted from Jin So-cheong and returned to my quarters.
Leaning against the wall, I sank into complex thoughts.
Frankly, the three-year-old secret mattered little now. What truly frustrated was failing to last a hundred exchanges against Jin So-cheong with spear. Feeling the genius wall I'd barely sensed before was suffocating. My arts had advanced, but gazing upward soured the mood.
'Tch, can't be helped.'
I shook my head and resumed practice.
Need ten more years.
To shake defeat, I shifted goals.
[If you'd honed swordsmanship just ten years, I wouldn't have been your match.]
The words of the sword guest who'd beheaded me echoed.
'I'll make it so.'
Strong enough to avenge that Iron Blood Sect elder defeat would dispel this frustration. Thus, new motivation—self-deception born.