Chapter 186: The Teachings of Qingcheng (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 186: The Teachings of Qingcheng (2)
Swish-swish-swish!
Song Jeong made the first move.
His opening gambit was the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, delivered at a measured pace—neither too fast nor too slow.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The blade danced left and right, striking like a lightning bolt as it lunged toward Seok Myeong’s throat.
“Hah!”
Seok Myeong jerked his head to the side just in time.
Song Jeong’s sword grazed past him, missing by a hair’s breadth.
Just as Seok Myeong’s face began to pale from that terrifying brush with death, Song Jeong’s voice drifted toward him.
“Act in a way that you are not ashamed before your sword. No matter who your opponent is, you must give your all. Even if they are weak, if they hold a sword, you must respect them.”
Seok Myeong bit his lip at the sharp rebuke.
It was a fundamental rule he had learned as a child when he first entered the Qingcheng Sect: Never let your guard down before the sword, no matter who the opponent is.
His attempt to show courtesy because his opponent was the Sect Leader had, ironically, offended the man.
“I apologize. I will fight with my full heart now.”
“Good.”
At Song Jeong’s words, Seok Myeong raised his sword again, his expression transformed.
‘How should I fight...?’
He hesitated for a moment.
The moment he decided to go all out, he felt a tightness in his chest. It was the first time he had ever felt this way while facing a blade. Before the fight had even truly begun, he was already worrying about defeat or looking pathetic.
‘Just facing him... I feel intimidated.’
Was it because he had been caught off guard by the Sect Leader’s previous move? Or was it simply the natural pressure of the man's presence?
Thoughts swirled, but Seok Myeong steadied his mind and focused. When the heart is clouded, one must rely on the techniques they know best.
Suddenly, three styles came to mind: The Heaven and Earth Sword, the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, and the Azure Wind Sword.
Seok Myeong began to visualize a combination of the three—powerful, fluid, and practiced.
Step. Step.
Seok Myeong’s first choice was the Sprinting Scratch Sword of the Heaven and Earth Sword style. It was an opening form involving a sudden, explosive charge followed by a single, sweeping strike.
‘Now.’
Flash!
Seizing a momentary breath, Seok Myeong lunged forward like an arrow and thrust his sword. Simultaneously, a powerful Sword Wind surged along the blade.
Clang!
“...!!”
The Sword Wind was diverted away from Song Jeong with startling ease.
The moment Song Jeong’s sword touched the tip of Seok Myeong’s blade, he used the Adhering Sword technique to slide the Sword Wind harmlessly to the side.
Because the counter was so unexpected, a gap appeared in Seok Myeong’s movements. However, Song Jeong did not press the attack.
Slide.
He lowered his sword slightly.
Tap. Tap.
He naturally took a few steps back.
“Ah...”
Seok Myeong stood frozen.
In his experience, whenever he launched a surprise Sword Wind attack head-on, the opponent always reacted by shifting their body. It had been that way a hundred times out of a hundred.
Yet, Song Jeong had neutralized it with a single, simple motion. Seok Myeong was well aware of the Adhering Sword technique—it was a basic movement—but he had never imagined it could be used to break his attack in such a manner.
“Boy. Stop playing around and do this properly.”
Song Jeong’s voice was stern.
Sensing a hint of genuine anger this time, beads of sweat began to form on Seok Myeong’s forehead. He was nervous. The Sect Leader was handling him like a small child. This wasn't just a difference in rank; it was the natural response of a martial artist facing a master of overwhelming skill.
“Ssshh.”
Seok Myeong took a step back, the smile completely gone from his face.
And then—Dash!
In an instant, Seok Myeong rushed in like a predator, swinging his sword with blinding speed.
He executed a series of horizontal slashes. When he transitioned into a thrusting stance at point-blank range, Song Jeong seemed caught off guard for a split second, turning his body and stepping back.
Seok Myeong did not miss the opening.
As soon as the Sect Leader retreated, Seok Myeong unleashed a barrage of consecutive thrusts, targeting both the upper and lower body.
Swish-swish-swish-swish!
As the sword moved so fast it blurred his vision, Song Jeong retreated further. But this time, Seok Myeong gave him no room to breathe.
Shirrck!
Determined to settle the match, Seok Myeong followed closely.
Whish!
He moved in a zig-zag pattern, thrusting his sword with movements so rapid they created phantoms. He was using the Illusory Lost Track Step.
Snap!
It happened almost simultaneously.
Song Jeong, who had been retreating, suddenly stopped and swung his sword fiercely to the right.
Seeing the trajectory of that swing, Seok Myeong thought the Sect Leader had made a fatal mistake. A thrusting sword is naturally faster and stronger than a swinging one.
Clang!
However, something that defied common sense occurred. A sudden burst of Fist Wind erupted from the sword Song Jeong was swinging.
Whoosh!
“...!”
The pressure of the Fist Wind instantly knocked Seok Myeong’s sword off course.
Tch.
By the time Seok Myeong desperately pulled his sword back, Song Jeong’s blade was already resting against his throat.
“Again.”
“....”
Seok Myeong was profoundly shaken.
He had been confident that he wouldn't lose to anyone when it came to swordsmanship. Subconsciously, he had even believed he was second to none within the Qingcheng Sect. And yet, he had lost.
And so hollowly at that. He had been defeated helplessly before he could even properly connect his forms.
“Fist Wind...”
Just now, Song Jeong had used Fist Wind. A man of the Qingcheng Sect, holding a sword... who would have imagined that the Sect Leader himself would use Fist Wind in such a way? Moreover, he never expected someone to use a fist technique to push a sword aside in such a desperate situation.
When Seok Myeong remained silent with a dazed expression, Song Jeong, who had increased the distance between them, spoke.
“This time, use the Five Colored Energy.”
“...Pardon?” Seok Myeong asked reflexively.
“The power you used in front of the Diancang elders.”
“B-but, Sect Leader.”
Seok Myeong hesitated. That energy was immensely powerful, but it was still a power he could not fully control. This wasn't a life-or-death duel; if something went wrong, someone might end up seriously injured.
However, Song Jeong’s words carried heavy weight.
“Do not worry. If you cannot trust your own sword, then trust in me and unleash it. Surely you do not doubt the skill of your Sect Leader?”
“Sect Leader...”
At this point, Seok Myeong’s mind was a whirlwind of confusion. What exactly did the Sect Leader want? Why was he pushing him this far?
“What are you doing! A disciple of Qingcheng, holding a sword, yet losing focus!”
Song Jeong’s roar snapped Seok Myeong back to reality.
It was true. The Sect Leader was still standing there with his sword raised, in the same position as when they first started. He was waiting for Seok Myeong.
‘Fine. I won’t think about it anymore.’
Seok Myeong cleared his mind and raised his sword again. He stopped wondering what lesson the Sect Leader was trying to impart. In this moment, he would view him as an enemy. No, he would erase even that thought and simply pour all his internal energy into the sword.
Hummm—
The sword vibrated in response to his steeled resolve. Perhaps because it was the middle of the night, the five colors seemed to take on a hue closer to deep purple.
“Good.”
Only then did Song Jeong’s face brighten. From now on, Seok Myeong would fight in earnest, and he would be able to see the boy's full potential. He had pressured him to draw out his true strength, but even at a glance, he could tell this would be no easy fight.
For the first time in a very long while, Song Jeong felt his heart pound.
“Come.”
The moment those words left his lips, Seok Myeong’s body became a blur of phantoms, flying toward Song Jeong.
*
Swish-swish-swish-swish-swish!
The Illusory Lost Track Step was unleashed. Six phantoms appeared, shimmering like mirages, making it impossible to tell the real from the fake.
Flash! Flash! Flash!
Then, each phantom split into four more.
‘At his age already...!’
Song Jeong gasped inwardly. Twenty-four phantoms in total.
Creating twenty-four phantoms with the Illusory Lost Track Step meant he had already reached the Eleven Stars level of mastery. While he hadn't yet reached the Twelve Stars—the realm of creating forty-eight phantoms in a single breath—there were fewer than three people in all of Qingcheng who could use the technique at this level.
After a moment of surprise, Song Jeong’s eyes filled with pride.
‘I suppose I need to be on my guard as well.’
He raised the sword he had briefly lowered and channeled his internal strength.
Hummm.
For the first time during this instructional duel, an air current began to flow, and a faint haze started to shimmer around his blade. It was ordinary Sword Aura.
“Hah!”
With a cry as sharp as a blade, Seok Myeong appeared to Song Jeong’s right.
Whoosh!
A streak of red energy, extending from high in the air, traced a gentle arc as it fell toward Song Jeong.
Slash!
Song Jeong quickly swung his sword. It wasn't an extraordinary movement, but unlike other Qingcheng disciples, the way he swung his sword evoked a sense of elegance and precision, like a noble crane. A cluster of Sword Aura, looking as if it would entwine everything in its path, collided with the red light.
CRAAACK!
“Ah...!”
Seok Myeong, who had been watching, hesitated as he prepared his next attack.
The reason was twofold: first, the Sect Leader, whom he thought would dodge, had neutralized the red light instead. Second, the Sect Leader remained completely unscathed.
‘How!’
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened. He had thought that this time, even the Sect Leader would be hard-pressed. Even the elders of Diancang hadn't been able to withstand it. At the very least, it was an energy that shouldn't be blockable with mere Sword Aura.
Yet Song Jeong had blocked it. And he had done so with a faint Sword Aura less than a foot long, not even Sword Force.
“Is this the extent of the Azure Martial Hall Master’s skill!” Song Jeong barked another stinging rebuke.
“Haaap!”
Seok Myeong’s expression turned fierce as he poured even more internal strength into his sword.
Hummmmmmm.
The purple light grew from one foot to two, its radiance deepening. Seok Myeong was putting his heart and soul into it, drawing out the maximum amount of energy he could muster.
“Oho.”
Song Jeong let out a small, intrigued smile. Then, steadying the thrill running down his spine, he began to channel his true internal strength.
VROOOOM!
The moment he set his mind to it, a three-foot-long Sword Aura erupted from his blade. A moment later, the energy sank back into the sword.
Fssshhh!
Then, a brilliant white light surged forth like a fountain, covering the shimmering energy. It was Sword Force—the pinnacle of martial study.
Destruction Sorrow!
SH-KAAAAANG!
As if by design, the two energies collided in mid-air.
BOOM!
A massive explosion accompanied by a powerful Air-Breaking Sound struck their ears. Because the sheer cliffs hemmed them in on three sides, the sound echoed violently. Simultaneously, a whirlwind kicked up, sending dirt from the ground high into the sky.
Sssssss.
“Ugh!”
Seok Myeong barely managed to withstand the intense wind pressure. As the thick dust settled, Song Jeong’s figure appeared, his hands clasped behind his back. He was smiling with a composed posture, looking as if he were merely out for a stroll.
“Is that all?”
“....”
“Is this measly amount of energy the best you can show me!”
“...Urgh.”
Seok Myeong readjusted his grip on his sword. He didn't even want to respond anymore. He simply wanted to win. A burning desire to surpass the Sect Leader was boiling within his heart.
As Seok Myeong extended his sword again, a faint light began to leak out. But this time, it wasn't red. It was a dark, blackish-purple, and its length had grown from two feet to three. It was the same energy he had shown against the Diancang elders.
‘But was it always this dark?’ A look of surprise flickered in Song Jeong’s eyes.
Whirrrr!
At some point, a powerful wind had begun to swirl around Seok Myeong’s purple Sword Aura.
‘Is that... could it be the Heavenly Energy Wind?’
The Pine Wind Sword, by its very name, aims to put the wind into the sword. As one’s mastery grows, the wind begins to blow from the sword, then from the body, and finally, even from the ground beneath one’s feet.
‘He has mastered the hidden essence of the Pine Wind Sword.’
Judging by the wind whipping around a ten-foot radius, he hadn't reached absolute perfection, but such a wind could only be used by someone who had gained a complete enlightenment that pierced through the beginning and end of the Pine Wind Sword.
What was even more astonishing was that the Sword Wind Seok Myeong generated also bore the five colors.
‘Visible wind.’
It is no easy feat to continuously imbue a Wind Sword with a unique energy. This phenomenon meant that the very inner qi flowing through Seok Myeong’s body was the Five Colored Energy itself.
Whoosh!
Whether he knew Song Jeong’s thoughts or not, Seok Myeong charged forward without hesitation. His sword was raised to shoulder height. He unleashed the third initial form of the Pine Wind Sword, Cloudless Flying Dagger—the same move he had taught Seok Ho in the Gamu Cave.
“Ha!”
This was truly extraordinary. A hint of bewilderment touched Song Jeong’s eyes, but it lasted only a fraction of a second.
Clang!
With a simple horizontal slash, he blocked the variation of Seok Myeong’s sword from the inside. This, too, was a move based on the fundamental techniques of Qingcheng.
Flick!
Seok Myeong’s sword changed simultaneously. The sword that was about to thrust upward paused for a moment, then lunged out wide to the right in a slashing attempt. It was the fourth initial form of the Pine Wind Sword, Pine Hitting Intruder.
He had unleashed the very form Seok Ho had struggled with, while airborne, radiating a powerful Five Colored Energy.
Step.
However, his opponent was the Sect Leader of a Great Sect. Just by the position of the sword and the direction of the blade, he could already see exactly which form Seok Myeong was about to use.
“Futile!”
Song Jeong barked, instantly firing off a burst of Sword Force.
Then, something miraculous happened. The five-colored energy, which he expected to be dissipated again, did not collide with the Sword Force but instead curved its trajectory.
‘A curved path?’
The Five Colored Energy flew in a circular arc. Realistically, this was impossible. Since qi emission is an energy that appears and disappears in an instant, it is difficult for it to possess any property other than traveling in a straight line.
Yet Song Jeong was seeing it with his own eyes.
Whirrrr!
The Five Colored Energy turned on its own before lunging straight forward again.
“Hup!”
Though it was a change that happened in the blink of an eye, Song Jeong maintained his composure. He withdrew his sword and generated energy once more.
KABOOM!
The moment Song Jeong’s sword met the five-colored energy, it was as if a waterfall had been inverted; pebbles, sand, dirt, and shredded grass soared into the air.
And from within that chaos, Song Jeong emerged. He was staring at Seok Myeong while enduring the wind pressure from the five-colored Sword Wind. Seok Myeong was still swinging his sword toward him without stopping.
‘This boy...’
Song Jeong hesitated as he moved to meet him. He realized now that Seok Myeong was swinging a plain sword that did not emit any of the five colors. No Black Ink Energy. No five colors. No purple light. Not even a hint of Sword Aura was gathered on the blade.
“Could it be...?”
Zzzzzzt.
Song Jeong frowned at a sickening sound, and then his eyes widened in horror. The formless qi emission, which had no shape at all, began to slowly reveal its presence right before his eyes.
“The ninth form of the Heaven and Earth Sword?!”
The energy gradually turned black, then suddenly surged toward him. There had been no trajectory of the qi flying toward him, yet somehow, the purple light had appeared right in front of his face.
“Oh, for heaven's sake!”
Song Jeong summoned all his internal energy and threw himself backward, leaping away. He spat out the curse, a rare lapse in his usual composure.