Chapter 63: Victory Through Defense (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Victory Through Defense (2)
“Ha! Ha!”
Hyeok-jin was practicing the basic foundational forms of his swordsmanship.
There was no discernible flow between the first and second forms. This lack of cohesion persisted through all fifteen forms. Today, however, Hyeok-jin decided to cast those rigid forms aside entirely.
Senior Brother Seok Myeong was the same.
He recalled the martial arts Seok Myeong had displayed against the Cheon family earlier that day. Seok Myeong hadn't focused on specific forms for offense or defense. He didn't consciously recall a form and execute it as Hyeok-jin did; he simply moved with the fluidity of flowing water, adapting his blade to his opponent's every move.
Reflecting on that, Hyeok-jin realized he had been far too bound by the constraints of formal patterns. That rigidity had made his posture unstable and, ultimately, caused the very core of his swordsmanship to collapse.
First, let me feel their techniques.
Sshhh. Swish.
Hyeok-jin began by mimicking the techniques he remembered from watching Cheol Gun and Seok Myeong. He compared them one by one with the forms he knew.
Some of their strikes were superior, while others were less effective. His own posture for thrusting seemed better, but he lacked the fluidity to attack while retreating or to launch an immediate counterattack after a successful block.
Thud.
Hyeok-jin, who had been continuously mimicking their movements, suddenly froze. He stared down at his sword with a dazed expression.
Strange. Why does this feel so familiar?
The forms suddenly felt meaningless. The techniques Seok Myeong used to attack and those Cheol Gun employed did not deviate from his own swordsmanship at all.
Thrusting, horizontal slashing, diagonal cutting, downward striking, and upward striking—nothing fell outside the five basic movements that comprised the Heavenly White Divine Art.
Even the most flamboyant counterattacks were ultimately just thrusts, and the circular motions used to exploit an opening were merely variations of slashes. Only the shifts in power and the specific trajectory differed slightly; they never left the broader framework of the basics.
In that moment, the specific forms of their techniques vanished from Hyeok-jin’s mind. It wasn't just that he stopped thinking about them; he truly felt they were unnecessary.
The answer converged into a single truth.
It was simply a matter of being a bit faster.
A bit more accurate.
Or perhaps a bit slower.
Otherwise, it was just about stalling for time, clouding the opponent’s judgment, or deceiving their vision.
Swish. Swish.
As Hyeok-jin swung his sword, he no longer searched for connections between moves. He thrust when he saw an opening, aborted his attack mid-swing, or unleashed a random barrage of strikes. He swung his sword freely, following the lead of his blade and the rhythm of his heart.
“Ah…!”
Seok Myeong, who had been watching silently from the sidelines, suddenly stiffened. He couldn't believe his eyes.
The lines of Hyeok-jin’s movements were incredibly clean. They weren't curved or complex; the swordsmanship consisted of simple motions, yet it was different from anything ordinary. It felt as though Hyeok-jin wasn't moving, but rather standing still while the world around him was being drawn into his orbit.
This boy. He did it!
At that moment, a brilliant light began to flicker rhythmically at the tip of the sword.
It was Sword Shadow.
Moreover, it was a Sword Shadow that reached a full foot in length. He had reached the pinnacle of a matured Sword Shadow.
Normally, a cultivator would pass through the stages of Sword Force and Sword Wind before manifesting Sword Shadow, but Hyeok-jin had shattered the walls of those two stages in a single, miraculous leap.
Simultaneously, another change occurred. A faint halo began to shimmer above his head.
It was the precursor to the Five Qi Converging to the Origin. It was the sign of one who could command the true qi of nature and give physical form to their energy.
However, he hadn't quite reached that realm yet.
— Communicate.
Seok Myeong felt as if he could hear a voice from somewhere. It was a concept he hadn't fully grasped before, but looking at Hyeok-jin, he finally understood. Hyeok-jin was simply communicating with his sword.
In the end, the answer was in the heart. Without a shred of greed, he simply moved as he was taught, as he felt, and as he communicated.
To communicate.
It wasn't about forcing a change, but about accepting things as they truly were.
Seok Myeong, who had kept his eyes closed for a long time, heard a voice calling to him. He greeted Hyeok-jin with a warm smile.
“Brother.”
“Yes, Hyeok-jin.”
“I… I…”
Hyeok-jin was on the verge of tears. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn't finish his sentence. Seok Myeong patted his shoulder firmly.
“You did it. I’m proud of you.”
“Ugh… Sob!”
“It’s alright. You’re allowed to cry now. Elder Baek must be watching you from the heavens.”
At those words, tears streamed down Hyeok-jin’s face. He had worked tirelessly. He had practiced every spare moment he had. Once he emptied his heart, training became a joy, and since he had no secret techniques to hide, it didn't matter where he practiced. That peace of mind had guided him to this high realm.
“I have a request.”
Having calmed himself, Hyeok-jin stood up and spoke.
“Tell me anything.”
“Would you mind taking a look?”
“At what?”
“At my swordsmanship.”
Though Seok Myeong still looked puzzled, Hyeok-jin continued.
“I’m curious to see what level I’ve reached. Of course, since you aren't feeling well, Brother Seok Myeong, I want to spar using only pure swordsmanship.”
Seok Myeong nodded at the request.
“Heh, you rascal. Fine, I accept.”
Seok Myeong picked up his sword. Since there were things he would have to teach the boy in the future, it wasn't a bad idea to understand his habits now. Besides, there was something he wanted to verify for himself.
Sshhh.
Seok Myeong took his Qi Gathering Stance. Though his physical strength was greatly diminished, his posture remained impeccable.
Sring.
“The sound of your sword is as beautiful as ever.”
After offering a compliment that wasn't quite a compliment, Hyeok-jin fixed his gaze on Seok Myeong. The two slowly entered a state of confrontation.
*
He’s become solid.
Seok Myeong smiled with satisfaction as he observed Hyeok-jin’s stance. His posture, the position of his sword, and his footwork were on par with the First Generation Disciples of the Qingcheng Sect. As expected of a disciple of one of the former Ten Great Masters, Hyeok-jin’s basics were polished to perfection.
“Here I come.”
Hyeok-jin moved his sword the moment he finished speaking.
However, Seok Myeong wasn't surprised. His eyes were focused on Hyeok-jin’s feet, not his sword. All upper body movement originates from the lower body; only when power is anchored in the legs can a sword exert its true force. Unless one was using trickery or unorthodox methods, that was the absolute rule of movement.
Where will he strike?
The moment Hyeok-jin took a large step forward, Seok Myeong’s eyes shifted back to the blade. He was curious to see where the attack would land.
Swish.
Clang!
Seeing Hyeok-jin’s sword flying toward his thigh, Seok Myeong immediately moved his blade to parry. Simultaneously, he swung his sword down vertically. Hyeok-jin stumbled and retreated a great distance.
I’m not there yet…
Hyeok-jin immediately transitioned to his next attack. He feigned a rapid approach, then stepped firmly onto the ground half a pace ahead and swung his sword downward.
Clang!
Seok Myeong blocked the trajectory of the sword aimed at his crown by placing his own blade in its path.
It was then.
A sense of emptiness brushed through his chest.
Could it be a Bridge Sword?
A Bridge Sword typically involved vibrating both ends of a weapon up and down. It was a technique often used as a variation alongside specific footwork.
But what Hyeok-jin showed was not a standard Bridge Sword.
He gripped the hilt with only his index finger and thumb to strike, then used the rebound force from the clashing blades to let the sword spring up. He then gripped it firmly again and slashed down. The blade seemed to rise high, only to plunge deep into Seok Myeong’s inner guard.
Whish.
Sensing the danger, Seok Myeong immediately twisted his body half a turn. As Hyeok-jin’s sword lunged toward his chest again, he lowered his wrist to block the strike.
Clang!
After the two swords clashed in rapid succession, they moved to reset their stances. Suddenly, Hyeok-jin dropped into a low crouch, his hips nearly touching the ground, and began thrusting his sword. Seok Myeong swung his sword diagonally to block the thrusts.
Clang!
The moment the metallic ring echoed, Hyeok-jin feigned a move to the side, then struck Seok Myeong’s sword, which was blocking his path. He didn't strike it outward, but inward—toward his own body.
He had struck from an unusual posture in an unusual direction.
Just as Seok Myeong’s sword was forced into a position where it seemed to be stabbing Hyeok-jin, the boy spun to the side and attempted a horizontal sweep from a diagonal angle.
Seok Myeong’s eyes flashed.
He took another step toward Hyeok-jin, flipped his sword over his shoulder, and grabbed Hyeok-jin’s wrist with his left hand. Then, he immediately kicked him in the abdomen.
Thwack!
A loud sound, like leather bursting, rang out. Had Seok Myeong tried to block the sword and throw a punch, Hyeok-jin would have evaded it.
“As expected of Brother Seok Myeong.”
Hyeok-jin spoke as he looked up at Seok Myeong, clutching his stomach. Despite taking a hit to the gut, he looked relieved. He looked like someone who had expected this outcome all along.
Seok Myeong’s expression, however, was different. In that brief moment, he had witnessed and felt two methods he had never even considered. Especially the way Hyeok-jin used the Bridge Sword—it was a method he had never even imagined.
How fresh.
The first Bridge Sword. Generally, a Bridge Sword is a distracting technique used to scatter the opponent’s vision and prepare for another attack. But Hyeok-jin’s Bridge Sword utilized the sword’s own elasticity.
If one were to divide a single breath into twelve parts, it happened in the very first fraction of time. By loosening his grip on the hilt and striking consecutively, he created that specific, snapping motion.
The second move was the same. Pulling the opponent’s sword toward himself while moving horizontally to deliver a sweep. The closer the opponent’s sword is to one's own body, the higher the probability of a successful attack on an opening.
But wouldn't that leave him vulnerable to attack as well?
Not necessarily.
Even in an attack, there is a flow. The moment he pulled the opponent’s sword toward himself, the situation flowed in an entirely different direction.
“You’ve improved a lot. Truly.”
“Thank you.”
Seok Myeong nodded.
“Continue to devote yourself. What Elder Baek spoke of was likely this version of you.”
“Yes, Brother!”
Hyeok-jin was so overcome with emotion that he couldn't stand up for a while. Seok Myeong helped him to his feet. Thinking of the progress the boy would make in the future, Seok Myeong felt a warmth spreading through his heart.