Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Confrontation - 1
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The atmosphere in the Namgung Family was quiet yet chaotic.
It was due to recent events.
Namgung Hye, the family's precious jewel, had returned consumed by a heart demon.
Was the problem that the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit had mobilized to subdue the powerful demonic beast known as the Mythical Hound, and Namgung Hye had been dispatched alongside them for experience?
They had succeeded in subduing the Mythical Hound, but Namgung Hye's condition upon return was beyond words.
This left Namgung Hyeok, the patriarch of the Namgung Family, deep in thought.
He agonized over whether to continue teaching martial arts to his beloved daughter.
It was only natural.
Succeeding the Namgung Family was important, but he believed her health and happiness mattered more.
Of course, Namgung Hye had talent, but seeing her suffer from the heart demon made him question if that path truly brought her joy.
"What do you think, Father?"
With that, he consulted Namgung Cheon—his own father, the former patriarch, and Namgung Hye's grandfather.
The man who had always wisely led the family must have experienced something like this. Namgung Hyeok was curious what answer he would give.
"Does Hye want to quit?"
"Well..."
"It's her choice. She chose to pick up the sword, and she chose to become the heir."
The vast Namgung Family had no shortage of candidates worthy of becoming patriarch. But among them, Namgung Hye stood unparalleled.
Her talent was so exceptional it even overcame the drawback of being a woman.
At a young age, she had fully mastered the Lightning Flash Thirteen Thunderbolts and moved on to the Soaring Palace Free Sword Art, reaching the fifth star. For her age, this rivaled the pace of Namgung Cheon himself, who was called a genius.
And that was not all. Her gentle, composed personality made her excellent at caring for others.
She possessed all the qualities of a true leader.
That was why he hadn't stopped her. Even knowing the path was arduous and painful, he hadn't discouraged her. To pull her back now, just because she'd hit a wall?
That would be insulting her.
"Anyone who trains in martial arts will eventually face a heart demon. Whether she overcomes it or not will shape her future."
Countless warriors had faltered before their heart demons and abandoned the martial world.
Whether Namgung Hye would join them was her decision alone. All others could do was create an environment where she could overcome it.
That was why he hadn't summoned her either.
"More importantly... that boy. Jin Hyun, was it?"
"Ah. Yes."
Namgung Hyeok was puzzled by Namgung Cheon's words. As far as he knew, his father despised Sword Heaven and even refused to meet those under her wing.
He had hidden Jin Hyun's arrival to avoid any encounter, yet here his father was mentioning the name.
Worried it might cause trouble, Namgung Hyeok's heart raced.
"Investigate what relationship he has with Hye."
Relief washed over him. It didn't seem like bad news. Namgung Hyeok shook his head with a sigh.
"No need to investigate. It's already done."
He handed over the report from the family's intelligence division.
Namgung Cheon frowned slightly at the thin document, reading it several times before looking puzzled.
"He's only been training in martial arts for this short a time?"
"Yes. We even commissioned the Beggars' Sect to check, just in case... but it confirmed he started under Sword Heaven."
"Hmm... I see."
Namgung Cheon tapped the report and stood.
"Arrange a meeting with him."
"Yes."
To rid Namgung Hye of her heart demon, continuous sparring was necessary. Yesterday, when she entered a trance-like state, she had broken free from it.
People naturally lose stray thoughts when fully immersed in something. If I could make her focus so intensely that she completely forgot her fixation on me, perhaps she could dispel the heart demon.
I was certain this was the way to heal her. The reason was simple.
In the novel, she overcame it this way too.
Of course, it had been other Heavenly Martial Hall members stepping in back then, not me.
The key was getting her to concentrate.
"Huuu..."
That meant I couldn't stop training either.
Thankfully, the Namgung Family had provided a suitable training ground. There, I practiced the Three Ultimates Sword Art as usual, while also continuing with the Taiji Sword.
As I formed circles and boundaries in my practice,
a sharp voice rang out.
"That's not it."
Turning, I saw the elderly man with the striking features from yesterday. Namgung Cheon.
"You've arrived, Elder."
He was my senior, with high standing in the martial world.
So I showed proper respect, and he twitched his white eyebrows in surprise before shaking his head.
"The Taiji Sword emphasizes drawing circles, but equally vital is claiming your domain. Like this."
As I stepped back, Namgung Cheon drew his sword and swung lightly. An impressive domain began to form from that alone.
"The Taiji Sword's domain starts with the reach of your blade, but it's not merely physical distance. Watch closely."
From nearly three jang away—over ten meters—he gripped his sword and executed Taiji Sword forms. As expected from a non-form sword art, it differed from Yu Ye-ryeon or me; he was drawing circles.
And then.
- Flap...!
The hem of my robe tore off. Not from sword wind or energy—just a profound technique enabled by extending his domain here.
"Wudang Sect's Jin-sanjo, the Talking Daoist, was a Taiji Sword master. He could claim a domain nearly ten jang wide."
"Impressive."
"Indeed. He was once among the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces. Though he's passed, his Taiji Sword is still legendary in the martial world."
Id never heard this story before, so I listened with keen interest.
As I waited quietly while he spoke of Jin-sanjo, he suddenly stopped and shook his head.
"I'm not here to reminisce."
"Ah. Of course. What brings you here, Elder?"
Someone of Namgung Cheon's stature wouldn't visit just to chat.
I asked politely, and he stared before speaking.
"What are you learning from Sword Heaven?"
"The Three Ultimates Sword Art... an unnamed footwork. And the Five Elements Circulation Art. Lately, the Taiji Sword."
"Training her in Daoist arts, eh. Not a bad path..."
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no problem. So, what do you think of hegemony?"
I had no particular thoughts.
"Do you think it's wrong for the strong to rule over the weak and protect them with that power?"
"No."
"Why do you train in the sword?"
"It suits me best."
"Why train in martial arts?"
"To do what someone must."
His questions continued beyond these. They weren't hard to answer, so I responded honestly. After listening for a while, he nodded.
"No desire to learn the Namgung Family's arts?"
He asked seriously, so I answered in kind.
"I'm already overwhelmed with what I have."
It was the same offer Namgung Je had made. I politely declined.
He wouldn't take offense, right?
Glancing over, his expression was unchanged—no real displeasure.
"Even if I teach you personally?"
"Yes."
"Hah. Never thought I'd be turned down like this."
But what could be done? I was already under Yu Ye-ryeon. Taking Namgung Cheon as master in that situation was impossible.
Beyond Yu Ye-ryeon herself, joining the Namgung Family would pile on obligations.
When the Blood Cult truly rampaged, the Namgung Family would mobilize countless swordsmen to purge allied sects.
As his disciple, I'd be dragged into those battles too.
But I had no luxury for that alone.
I needed to assault Blood Cult headquarters and stop their demonic cultists from massacring villages.
"Then, what of our Hye?"
"I think of her as a good friend."
I owed her too. Without her, comprehending Mount Tai Pressing Down would have taken much longer.
Beyond that, she was worthy of respect. No reason not to be friends.
"That's why you've come all this way to help her."
"I see. Very well."
With that, he slowly drew his sword. Wait, why the sword?
"I'll now demonstrate the Soaring Palace Free Sword Art. From what I saw yesterday, you're sparring with Hye to lead her into a trance. Correct?"
As expected of one of the Eight Great Heavens. He grasped my intent perfectly.
"But you're too weak for that."
Rubbing salt in the wound of truth.
It wasn't wrong, but I was trying my best.
"Most crucially, you don't know the Soaring Palace Free Sword Art. How can one who doesn't grasp the heavens' vastness ascend to them? So."
He raised his sword slowly, aiming at me, his tone flat.
"Don't fear. Hold out as best you can."
"...Yes."
Right. No fear. This was a golden opportunity.
A perfect chance to measure the exact gap between me and one of the Eight Great Heavens.