Chapter 162: Silent Song Hak (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 162: Silent Song Hak (2)
“Phew… that wasn’t easy.”
After being swarmed by the children for two shijin, Seok Myeong wiped away the cold sweat.
He was happy to teach children who were so eager to learn, but providing individual guidance to dozens of high-spirited youngsters was an exhausting ordeal. He figured that even one of the Hundred Great Masters would find such a task daunting.
“Eldest Disciple.”
“…Hm? Oh, Seok Mun.”
As Seok Myeong slipped away from the crowd of children as if escaping, a First Generation Disciple approached him. He was one of those who had been cautiously avoiding Seok Myeong’s gaze ever since their return from the Martial Alliance.
“You are truly incredible. I heard you helped Seok Ho improve his internal energy.”
“…I did?”
“Yes. Seok Ho told me. He said you melted away the turbid energy that had accumulated in his body and cleared his pathways. He says his cultivation is much smoother now, and his control over his energy has become far more fluid.”
“Ah. Is that so?”
Seok Myeong’s face brightened at the news. As always, hearing that his intervention had been successful brought him joy. It gave him a sense of fulfillment, knowing he had contributed to the welfare of Qingcheng.
“So, I was wondering… if you have the time, could you take a look at my martial arts as well?”
“Heh.”
This was exactly the kind of interaction he had always hoped for. While someone else might have looked askance at Seok Mun’s sudden change in attitude, Seok Myeong was simply happy.
“Of course. It’s no trouble at all.”
“Th-thank you!”
Seok Mun bowed deeply, his waist bending at a right angle. He had likely worked up the courage to ask, but his past behavior must have made him feel uneasy.
Whoosh!
Seok Myeong sat on the ground. As Seok Mun drew his sword and took a Qi Gathering Stance, Seok Myeong called out to him.
“Wait a moment, Seok Mun. Have you always used a longsword?”
“Pardon?”
Seeing Seok Mun’s puzzled expression, Seok Myeong tapped his own temple.
“If my memory serves, you used to use an ordinary sword of about three cheok five chon. The one you have now looks to be about four cheok three chon. Am I right?”
“Ah… well, about that.”
He even noticed and remembered that?
Seok Mun nodded, thinking that Seok Myeong was indeed on another level. In fact, today was the very first day he had switched swords.
“To be honest… the sword forms I’ve been practicing lately haven’t felt right. How should I put it? Every time I spar, I feel like I’m always one step short. My master told me to lengthen my breathing, but it feels like my internal strength is insufficient for that. So, I thought I could compensate for that gap by increasing the length of my sword….”
“Haha.”
Seok Myeong chuckled at his explanation. Then, with a slightly firm expression, he shook his head.
“Your enthusiasm for finding improvements is good, Seok Mun. But that is not the right direction. Every sword technique has its corresponding forms and movements. Trying to compensate for a lack of stride with the length of a sword is like trying to plug a leaking waterway with a temporary fix.”
“But… no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find another way. In the transition to the Fourth Initial Form of the Pine Wind Sword, no matter how fast I stretch my legs, I can’t keep up with the speed of the sword.”
“…Is that so?”
“If I am wrong, I will fix it.”
Seok Mun’s shoulders slumped.
“No, there’s no need for that. It just means your dilemma was deep enough for you to consider changing your weapon.”
Seok Myeong waved his hand at the dejected disciple. While correct training was certainly important, the most vital element was the practitioner’s passion. There was nothing more foolish than killing the ox while trying to straighten its horns.
“For now, try moving the way you intended. I’m curious to see if your answer is correct, or if there’s something I can advise you on. I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes!”
Perhaps stimulated by the word ‘looking forward,’ Seok Mun’s gloomy expression brightened instantly.
“Then, I will show you what I’ve been working on.”
Clang.
Seok Mun checked to see if anyone was around before raising his sword into a Qi Gathering Stance. He then slowly brought the blade up to shoulder height at an angle.
“This form is called Cloudless Flying Dagger.”
“Mm. A technique used to slash at an aerial foe or distract them before immediately attacking the lower body.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Seok Mun nodded, seeing that Seok Myeong identified it without difficulty.
“This is the following Third Initial Form, Pine Hitting Intruder.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he lowered his stance with the drawn sword.
Thud.
There was a moment of suspension as he moved one stride.
Screech.
Seok Mun pushed the sword forward as if thrusting, paused briefly, and then extended it long, as if whipping up a wind to the right.
“Fourth Initial Form: Cloud Mist Moon Wind!”
Swish.
By the time the dust on the ground rose following the sword, his stride finally swept across the floor. It was a form that felt awkward and somewhat stifling.
“Ugh.”
Seok Mun remained frozen for a while after performing the technique. He had held high hopes for this attempt after changing his sword, but perhaps due to nerves, the transition between the forms had collapsed more severely than he expected. He felt too embarrassed to lift his head.
However.
“Ho. Seok Mun, you were right.”
Slap.
Seok Myeong struck his knee as he spoke.
“Pardon?”
Seok Mun looked up with wide eyes.
“Well, you see…”
Seok Myeong organized his thoughts before answering. When Seok Mun first performed the transition between the forms, Seok Myeong was certain the footwork was wrong. No, that was still true—his lower body couldn’t keep up with the speed of the sword.
However, after observing the overall flow into the fourth form, he realized there was no other solution. The sword technique, which was originally supposed to be long and fluid, had instead achieved a precise posture accompanied by a fierce energy. Viewed this way, the lower body following late didn’t seem awkward at all. In fact, the trajectory of the sword looked even more plausible. At least, for Seok Mun.
The purpose of the Pine Wind Sword isn’t just to create sword wind. If that were the goal, the Azure Wind Sword would be better. Ultimately, the Pine Wind Sword is about concentrating the power of that wind. But Seok Mun… his legs are a bit short.
Because of that, a longsword actually suited him better. Seok Myeong found himself reconsidering the martial arts of Qingcheng.
The Azure Wind Sword and the Pine Wind Sword. They didn’t seem vastly different, but their origins were distinct. Someone had created these techniques with specific intent—one for those who wield longswords well, and another for those who favor medium swords. Thinking this way, Seok Myeong realized that not a single martial art in Qingcheng had been created without purpose.
Come to think of it, it was the same with Yeon-hui.
The Azure Origin Heart Method. Even while the Demonic Energy Absorption Art was showing effects on Seok Jin, Yeon-hui didn't experience the same results. No two people in the world were exactly alike. Even twins had slight differences in personality and appearance. Therefore, the process of cultivation and application needed to be tailored to the individual.
I was arrogant. The very idea of merging all of Qingcheng’s martial arts into one was meaningless. An axe and a short sword have different uses. Why would I need to force things with different purposes into a single blend?
Seok Myeong trembled as if struck by a realization and remained silent for a long time.
“Um…”
Seok Mun scratched his head. He was at a loss because Seok Myeong seemed about to say something, only to mutter to himself and start trembling.
After a moment of intense focus, Seok Myeong shook himself off and stood up.
“I’ve sorted it out. Seok Mun, your form is not wrong.”
“What? That can’t be. My stride was…”
“Yes, your stride was technically incorrect. Your upper body moved correctly, but your lower body was lacking, so your balance broke. However, the momentum of your sword actually became stronger.”
“Ah…”
“Take up your sword again. This time, don’t worry about your feet and just draw the trajectory of the sword again.”
At Seok Myeong’s words, Seok Mun looked at his sword. Soon, he began to move the blade slowly.
Slide.
He paused for a moment as he was about to extend the sword. It felt awkward to move the sword without worrying about his lower body, unlike his usual practice.
“Phew…”
Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and moved the sword rapidly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As he moved his body nimbly, the piles of brushwood on the ground rose along his blade. But it was different from before.
Wait?
The debris didn't just rise; it rippled and moved along with the sword. And when he finally stopped the blade, the straw surrounding the sword surged forward and settled in an instant.
The movement was exactly the same. The sword stopped first, and then his right foot swept the ground a moment later.
Splash! Shhhhh.
Internal energy naturally surged. It was a phenomenon that had never occurred before.
“Eldest Disciple, what just happened?”
Seok Mun, who had been staring blankly in disbelief, asked Seok Myeong.
“That is the homework you must solve from now on.”
Seok Myeong’s answer was concise. In this matter, explaining it with words would actually hinder his training. He knew what Seok Mun’s problem was: his physical proportions. His legs were somewhat short compared to the other First Generation Disciples. Because of this, as Seok Mun performed the forms, he became increasingly desperate to keep up with the required stride.
Footwork is the foundation of swordsmanship. Since the foundation was unstable, the sword in his hand could never exert its true power. That issue would only be solved if Seok Mun’s legs grew longer or if he put an extraordinary amount of effort into training his lower body.
Even so, regarding the current application…
“I want to tell you this. Looking at the movement of the sword from the upper body alone… it was absolutely magnificent.”
Seok Mun’s face flushed at Seok Myeong’s sincere praise.
“Thank you!”
“It’s nothing, really.”
It was a heartwarming day, filled with the long-missed bond of brotherhood.
* * *
“Phew…”
After the sun had dipped below the mountains, Seok Myeong lit a lamp inside the Azure Moon Storehouse.
While he was busy solving the problems of every Second and First Generation Disciple he met, the official position Seok Myeong currently held was the Azure Cloud Pavilion Master. His orders from the Sect Leader were to organize the Azure Origin Heart Method and the Qingcheng sword techniques, as well as to restore and categorize the books lost from the Azure Moon Storehouse.
“Let’s see. This goes here…”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
After spending about an hour repairing desks, categorizing books, and clearing space, Seok Myeong finally sat at a table. He needed to record a list of missing books and write down the contents of the manuals he remembered.
“Azure Moon Sword. Azure Wind Heart Decision. Azure Origin Heart Method…”
Before the attack by the Black-Clad Woman and the monsters, the number of books stored in the Azure Moon Storehouse was countless. Even with his best efforts, Seok Myeong could not restore all those lost volumes.
However, the core texts—the heart methods, sword techniques, and footwork containing the unique energy of Qingcheng—were already etched into his memory. He had memorized almost all of the high-level sword techniques. It wasn't because he understood them, but rather because he didn't, so he had memorized them first.
“The operation of qi is truly profound.”
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Seok Myeong organized the various thoughts floating in his head. The different types of energy in Qingcheng could be categorized into a single lineage if forced. Mostly, the energy gathered in and radiated from the Lower Dantian. However, some sword techniques were operated centered on the Middle Dantian, or even the Upper Dantian.
Unfortunately, this was beyond Seok Myeong’s current understanding. He had simply committed them to memory.
“Sigh…”
He wrote down what he remembered and added annotations on the side. He also took great care to distinguish his own thoughts from the original text, ensuring that future readers would not be influenced by his personal biases.
He held his brush for about two hours, until the oil in the lamp was nearly spent. Feeling dizzy and fatigued, Seok Myeong stepped outside.
“Haaaa…”
Sitting on the entrance steps, Seok Myeong let out a low sigh. He fell into thought as he gazed at the moon hanging in the middle of the dark sky.
What will happen from now on?
The series of events that had occurred at the Martial Demonstration Gathering would not easily leave his mind, no matter how hard he tried to forget. He had defeated Goma, a master of the Diancang Sect and a member of the Four Demons of the Martial World, and ultimately killed him. At the time, he believed he was simply doing what had to be done. He still felt that way.
But.
— Did you really have to go that far?
Seok Jun’s words made him reflect on himself. Was that truly the only way? Had he acted recklessly out of pure rage? Thinking back, the match was already decided when he broke the Diancang elder beyond recovery. He could have ended it there. If he had…
“I wouldn’t be suffering like this now.”
Hummm—
Seok Myeong’s sword hummed. As he pushed his internal energy to his fingertips, a faint aura appeared. It soon turned into a dark, murky energy.
The Qingcheng heart method was condemned as a demonic art. Tracing its origins, it was true that it derived from the Demonic Cult’s Demonic Energy Absorption Art. However, at the cost of hundreds of lives, including Azure Cloud Taoist’s, this energy had been reborn as a completely new martial art of Qingcheng.
— Do you not know the saying ‘a needle in a pouch’?
Seeing how it melted away turbid energy and caused no side effects in the bodies of the Qingcheng disciples, it was certainly not a demonic art. He could simply summon the energy in front of everyone to prove it was a pure martial art. But even if its purity were proven, would that be the end of it?
“They’ll just find a way to make an issue out of the color…”
If Seok Myeong had any regrets, it was this: if he had simply defeated them, shamed them, and stepped back, Diancang would have been too embarrassed to make further trouble. But because he had gone so far as to kill him, the matter had escalated.
Of course, they hadn't approached with good intentions from the start. Hiding an elder-level master as a First Generation Disciple was proof of that. His only regret was…
“Why did my qigong turn out this color? Combining all three energies…”
“It’s because you haven’t fully mixed them, you idiot.”
It was then. Someone answered Seok Myeong’s monologue.
Rustle.
Song Hak, who had been leaning against an old tree next to the Azure Moon Storehouse, tossed the words toward him.