Chapter 180: Azure Martial Hall Master Seok Myeong (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: Azure Martial Hall Master Seok Myeong (3)
“…….”
“……Senior Brother. No, Hall Master.”
A heavy silence descended over the training grounds. The first-generation disciples exchanged uncertain glances.
“I will heed the Hall Master’s words,” Seok Jun replied, his expression stiffening.
The Azure Wind Sword Technique was the art he had practiced most diligently. To be told to stop practicing it could, depending on how one took it, be seen as a declaration that his entire foundation was flawed. In the past, he likely would have flared up in protest immediately.
“Jun. In terms of the Azure Wind Sword Technique, you are likely superior to me,” Seok Myeong said calmly. “Your speed, accuracy, and momentum are so perfectly balanced that it is difficult to find a single flaw. To put it another way, I have nothing left to teach you regarding standard sword training.”
“Pardon?” Seok Jun’s expression shifted, turning peculiar.
Nothing left to teach.
He couldn't decide if hearing those words from Seok Myeong—who was now the Azure Martial Hall Master—was a compliment or a dismissal. As Seok Jun stood there in confusion, Seok Myeong continued.
“Your weakness lies precisely there. Because your swordsmanship is so textbook, you are actually vulnerable to unconventional techniques. It was the same when we sparred in the past. In terms of pure swordsmanship, you were my equal—perhaps even my superior—and yet you couldn't fully utilize that skill.”
“…….”
Seok Jun nodded reflexively. He remembered that duel vividly. He had employed the foundational Azure Wind Sword Technique, the advanced Azure Center Sword Technique, and even the Divine Crane Sword, yet Seok Myeong had parried them all with ease.
“Then… what should I do?”
“Heterodox Sword Techniques,” Seok Myeong answered succinctly. “You have mastered the most orthodox of Qingcheng’s traditions. That mastery is exactly what is holding you back. You will become stronger by learning swordsmanship that is more aggressive and practical. Coincidentally, the Qingcheng Sword Technique I created contains many such elements. Let us practice them together.”
“Ah!”
Only then did Seok Jun realize the weight of Seok Myeong’s words. The Qingcheng Sword Technique was the art Seok Myeong had poured his soul into, synthesizing the essential principles of the Azure Cloud Taoist. Seok Myeong was offering to pass on the very core of his martial path.
“Will you do it?”
“I—I must! No! I will do it!” Seok Jun shouted, his excitement palpable.
Seok Myeong watched him with a satisfied smile. The heavy atmosphere that had gripped the grounds just moments ago transformed into one of warm vitality, as if by magic.
“I’ll go next,” Seok Ho said, stepping forward as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Which technique do you intend to perform?”
“The Azure Center Sword Technique. My skill with it is similar to my Azure Wind Sword, but since Senior Brother Seok Jun is so proficient in that one, I’ll show you this instead.”
Seok Myeong nodded and watched closely.
The Azure Center Sword Technique followed a different path than the Azure Wind Sword. It focused primarily on momentum directed toward the opponent’s center, concentrating attacks on the mid-section rather than the upper or lower body. It was a technique that aimed for the core.
However, the variations within that single mid-section focus were infinite. There were thrusts using the tip, strikes swinging from top to bottom, upswings from the ground, and even swings that shifted the sword’s center of gravity mid-flight. Though it targeted a single point, the essence of the Azure Center Sword Technique lay in how it changed based on the practitioner’s strength, posture, and grip.
“Haat!”
Whir! Swish!
“Ho……”
“Look at that.”
The first-generation disciples marveled as they watched Seok Ho. They had all mastered the Azure Center Sword Technique, but the sword Seok Ho wielded was full of unconventional flair. It wasn't the rigid swordsmanship found in the manuals; it was his own style, refined over years of practice.
So that’s what they meant by 'eccentric ideas.'
To put it kindly, it was unconventional; to put it harshly, it could be seen as having poor form. However, perhaps because they had just witnessed Seok Jun’s perfect demonstration, the disciples all shared the same thought: He’s tricky to deal with.
Swordsmen who reach a certain level tend to move in similar ways, seeking maximum efficiency. Yet, Seok Ho took his own lack of "perfect" form and turned it on its head. Even starting from the same initial stance, his blade would fly toward the opponent differently every time, guided by his intuition in the moment.
“Phew.” Seok Ho caught his breath as he finished with a final spinning thrust.
“Well done. That was truly excellent swordsmanship.” Seok Myeong lightly applauded in encouragement.
The other disciples looked at Seok Ho in a new light. His swordsmanship appeared loose at a glance, but in a real fight, his unpredictable and reckless style would be incredibly difficult to counter.
“I’m Seok Jin. I’ll go next.” Fired up by the previous displays, Seok Jin stepped forward.
“Very well. Proceed.”
Seok Myeong watched with even greater focus. Seok Jin was a junior particularly close to him. More importantly, he was the first to attempt Seok Myeong’s Qingcheng Heart Method, which had significantly amplified his internal energy. He was currently learning the 72 Wave Swords—a technique that, along with the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword and the Heaven and Earth Sword, ranked among the supreme martial arts of Qingcheng.
Master once mentioned that it was a difficult sword technique, Seok Myeong recalled.
The 72 Wave Swords was so profound that even Seok Myeong found it difficult to approach. His master, True Person Song Hye, had once remarked that it might be better for most not to learn the technique at all.
Swish! Whoosh!
However, Seok Jin had chosen the 72 Wave Swords specifically because his increased internal energy allowed him to utilize its unique advantage.
Tremble!
It’s the Wave Sword.
Seok Myeong nodded as he saw the vibrations emanating from Seok Jin’s blade. The moment he swung, the sword wind fluctuated like ripples on water. Those vibrations were powerful; an opponent facing them for the first time would likely be defeated helplessly. Furthermore, while the technique appeared to consist of seventy-two forms, it was actually composed of nine core sword paths. By adding eight variations to each path, it looked complex, but it was actually more intuitive to learn than other high-level techniques once the rhythm was mastered.
“You certainly had a specific goal in mind.”
“Hahaha. Did you catch on?” Seok Jin scratched his head. Perhaps because his footwork couldn't quite keep up with his energy yet, he had overshot his final position. However, that was a minor issue that could be fixed with training.
“Is Seok Mun next?”
“Yes. I am Seok Mun. I will perform the Pine Wind Sword.”
Thud.
Unlike the others, Seok Mun stepped forward holding a longsword measuring four feet and three inches. He was the junior who had sought to master the Pine Wind Sword by increasing the length and weight of his blade.
Shring.
The sound of his blade leaving the scabbard was as smooth as flowing water. Extending the sword straight out at chest height, he slowly opened his eyes.
Swish. Whir. Shuck. Sh-sh-shuck!
The sword dance began. At first, he seemed to move quickly, but his movements slowed between forms. Then, as he transitioned, he would accelerate again, mimicking a surging wave.
He has found his own path.
The corners of Seok Myeong’s mouth curled up. The lack of synchronization between Seok Mun's upper and lower body—something Seok Myeong had criticized in the past—was still there, but it no longer felt awkward. His trajectory was precise, and his focus was terrifying. The sword was slower because of its size, but in exchange, he had developed a Strong Sword style capable of shattering an opponent’s blade on impact.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
“Ho……”
“Is… is that really the Pine Wind Sword?”
Seok Myeong wasn't the only one impressed. Seok Jin, Seok Hu, and Seok Jun were all staring in surprise at Seok Mun’s transformed style.
Swish!
When the demonstration ended, Seok Myeong nodded. There truly are infinite ways to apply a single technique.
Generally, martial halls prioritize raw talent—physical attributes like bone structure, speed, or eyesight—because achievements vary wildly even with the same effort. However, as Seok Myeong looked at his juniors, he realized something more important: Character. Personality. Temperament.
Faced with the same wall, some doggedly break through it, while others cleverly find a way around. Since no two people are the same, it was impossible for them to achieve identical results from the same technique.
I must tailor the training for each of them.
Making that internal vow, Seok Myeong turned to the last disciple. “That was excellent. Finally…… Seok Hu?”
“Yes, Hall Master!”
Rustle.
Seok Hu, his shoulders stiff with tension, stepped forward with an awkward gait. Light laughter erupted among the disciples; it was their first time seeing the usually sly and sociable Seok Hu so nervous.
“The technique I will use is the Pine Wind Sword. Uh, um…… I’m afraid it will look lacking compared to Senior Brother Seok Mun’s……”
Seok Hu’s specialty was also the Pine Wind Sword, and he was clearly intimidated by the powerful display that had just preceded him.
“Do not worry. You only need to perform the Pine Wind Sword as you know it,” Seok Myeong reassured him. “If you are too tense, your body will only stiffen. First, take a deep breath.”
“Yes!”
Seok Hu closed his eyes. He stood still for a moment, letting his ragged breathing subside.
Thud.
He gripped his sword. Then, slowly but steadily, he drew the blade.
Swish! Swish! Whir!
“Oh?”
“Interesting.”
Yeon-hui tilted her head, and Seok Jun nodded in approval. Seok Hu’s Pine Wind Sword was different from the traditional Qingcheng style. Instead of solemn, solid strength, it was a cheerful, vibrant technique—as if his own personality were embedded in the steel.
He accelerated, moving through the forms with a spirited Fast Sword style that thrust at the upper, middle, and lower sections so quickly it was hard to follow. The flashing blade showed a level of prowess far beyond his previous skills.
It starts now.
Seok Myeong focused. The power of the Pine Wind Sword was truly unleashed when two or three forms were linked in rapid succession.
Whir! Flick!
The links formed, generating a faint sword wind. But as he pushed his limits, a fatal weakness appeared. In his eagerness to maintain the speed, Seok Hu applied too much strength to his hands, causing his posture to collapse.
“Tsk,” Seok Jun clicked his tongue. By the time Seok Hu finished the final form, he was standing far from his intended position.
“Uh, um. I’m sorry, Hall Master.” Seok Hu’s face flushed red.
“It’s alright. You will improve with practice,” Seok Myeong said with a smile.
What Seok Hu lacked was a clear mental image of an opponent—a result of limited combat experience. However, he had shown Seok Myeong something vital: a sense of novelty and a unique, spirited strength.
I might actually end up learning from my juniors.
Recalling the old saying about learning while teaching, Seok Myeong gathered them together.
“Excuse me, Eldest Senior Brother?” Yeon-hui, the only one who hadn't performed, raised her hand with a pout.
“He is the Hall Master here,” Seok Jun rebuked her sharply.
Yeon-hui quickly corrected her etiquette. “Yes, Hall Master. Are you not going to look at me? What I learned from my father is the Eight Heavens Sword……”
Seok Myeong’s eyes narrowed. The Eight Heavens Sword was the Sect Leader’s personal martial art. He was more curious about it than anyone, but there was a more pressing matter for Yeon-hui.
“Yeon-hui, let’s start by stabilizing your Heart Method. To be honest, I don't know much about the Eight Heavens Sword myself.”
Seok Myeong waved his hand dismissively. Even as the Azure Martial Hall Master, he couldn't claim proficiency in every single art of the sect. Currently, only the Sect Leader could truly guide her path with that specific sword.
Come to think of it, I need guidance too.
Seok Myeong knew he still had room to grow. The first person who came to mind was Song Mun, the master of movement techniques. He had wanted to ask for guidance regarding the Illusory Lost Track Step, and now, by the Sect Leader’s order, he finally had the authority to do so.
“Now then, I shall tell each of you your strengths, your weaknesses, and the path your martial arts should take in the future.”
Seok Myeong smiled. Through their demonstrations, they had already begun to see what they lacked. He provided meticulous guidance tailored to each of their temperaments. Some were distressed by the sheer amount of "homework" they were given, while those with fewer tasks actually envied them.
In the Jianghu, Seok Myeong was already gaining a reputation as a man of great leadership and virtue—someone whose skill in teaching was as renowned as his blade.
“I have no doubt that the people gathered here today will become the finest of Qingcheng. Trust me, and let us strive for the sake of the sect and for your own honor!”
“Yes!”
“We understand, Senior Brother!”
It was an awkward beginning, but it marked the first step for the supreme swordsmen who would one day bring unparalleled glory to the name of Qingcheng.