Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Grand Martial - 1
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Training had become routine, but it wasn't impossible.
Rising at dawn to circle Jinhyu three times. Then came footwork training right away. It was tough to run with legs already trembling from the jog, but Yu Ye-ryeon had no intention of going easy.
After finishing footwork, push-ups as punishment for mistakes, then splitting firewood while holding aching arms. Once all the stacked wood was chopped, it was time for Three Ultimates Sword Art practice.
By the time all the training ended, it was always midnight.
But as it continued, it grew familiar—perhaps because of that—and the time to finish gradually shortened. By the time the first snow fell...
"Hoo..."
"Finally managed to wrap up training by dinner time."
The regimen had finally become second nature. Thanks to the relentless drills? My once-scrawny body now sported solid muscle.
"Time to move on to the next phase."
"What kind of training?"
"Nothing special. So..."
It was then, as Yu Ye-ryeon started explaining the next stage, that a maid came running into the garden where we were.
"My lady. We have guests."
"Guests? No one's supposed to come."
I'd been staying at her estate for quite a while now, but not a single visitor had ever shown up. It was Sword Heaven's home—enough to make you wonder if it was okay to have zero guests—but finally, they arrived.
She seemed surprised too, tilting her head before asking the maid,
"Who is it?"
"The Namgung Family."
......
Namgung Family.
The leading force among the Five Great Clans, a massive group holding significant sway in the Martial Alliance today.
Based in Hapbi of Anhui Province, renowned as a sword clan.
What could bring them to seek out Sword Heaven?
The novel never mentioned it.
The story revolved around the protagonist, Wi Cheonryong. Unlike me, he trained quickly and roamed everywhere, gaining real combat experience. So he wasn't at the estate often, and anything happening in the meantime was naturally unknown to me.
"Training ends here for today. Or not. If it's the Namgung Family, this could be an opportunity."
"Is the next training real combat?"
"Yeah."
Looks like I'm following the same path after all.
All I'd learned was some unnamed footwork, stamina building, Three Ultimates Sword Art, and Five Elements Circulation Art—yet straight into real fights? Not sure if that's okay.
"At your current level, no problem. Don't worry. They'll have you face demons or bandits you can handle."
Demons. A term absent from typical martial arts tales, but this erotic martial novel world diverged from the norm.
With elves, dwarves, cheongsams, and stockings, why not demons? Whatever—gotta roll with it.
"Understood."
No choice but to trust Yu Ye-ryeon on training. I nodded, and she ruffled my hair one more time before standing.
"Shall we greet the guests first?"
There were about thirty of them. Thirty swordsmen in blue lightweight uniforms. Mostly men in their forties or fifties, but one woman about my age stood out. A beauty with striking dark blue braided hair.
Our eyes met as she fiddled with the sword at her waist, scanning the surroundings. She tilted her head.
"Sword Heaven, greetings."
In that moment, the middle-aged man leading them cupped his hands and bowed. Yu Ye-ryeon returned the gesture, then glanced around before asking in a voice laced with curiosity,
"Never expected the Namgung Family's Soaring Heaven Sword Unit to visit like this."
Soaring Heaven Sword Unit.
One of the troops under the patriarch's command, led by his brother Namgung Je—a key pillar of the Namgung Family's might.
Their personal visit meant this was no trivial matter.
Thus, the intrigue in Yu Ye-ryeon's eyes deepened, and the middle-aged man—Namgung Je—facing her, continued gravely,
"Recently, traces of a Mythical Hound were found nearby."
"......"
Mythical Hound. A ferocious evolution of a jiangshi, brutal and violent, wielding supernatural powers to cause droughts or devour people—a mighty demon.
Its strength rivaled a dragon's, so once it appeared, the damage was never minor.
"A Mythical Hound appeared?"
Hence, if one surfaced, righteous and evil factions set aside differences to hunt it down immediately. If it grew by eating people, it could become a colossal disaster.
"Traces were discovered not far from here."
"I hadn't heard anything..."
"I'll explain the rest."
The woman whose eyes I'd met earlier stepped forward. Yu Ye-ryeon nodded in permission, and she cupped her hands before speaking intently,
"Namgung Hye of the Namgung Family."
Namgung Hye? One of the heroines from the erotic martial novel, right?
I'd thought I'd meet her someday, but not like this.
I kept staring at Namgung Hye, who looked just like the illustration I'd seen.
"I discovered the Mythical Hound's traces."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I was returning from business in Hangzhou when I found them. There was the dense deathly qi unique to it, and demons drawn by that qi were gathering. So instead of heading back to the family, I sent a messenger pigeon with a request."
"On the way from Hangzhou... Where exactly?"
"As far as we've grasped, near Changik Village."
Changik Village. A small settlement three days from here. Nothing special, a peaceful place—their locally brewed liquor paired perfectly with my cooking, so I'd been ordering it often lately.
"I see. Got it. Any other info?"
"The Soaring Heaven Sword Unit confirmed the traces are definitely from a Mythical Hound. But we couldn't pinpoint its location."
"You came to me to prepare for contingencies?"
"Yes. And while the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit can handle one Mythical Hound... this is Sword Heaven's domain. We couldn't draw weapons recklessly, so we informed you first."
"Wise. Good. Jin Hyun."
"Yes."
"Get ready to come along."
"Understood."
She wouldn't throw me straight at the Mythical Hound. Probably fighting the demons drawn by its qi—that could be the training.
I nodded, and the Soaring Heaven Sword Unit headed off to rest under the maids' guidance. Meanwhile, Yu Ye-ryeon and Namgung Je spoke seriously in the corner.
Left alone were me and Namgung Hye.
Awkward silence? She glanced at me embarrassedly, then smiled and spoke,
"Nice to meet you. I'm Namgung Hye. We look about the same age—how about we drop the formalities?"
"Sounds good."
"Are you Sword Heaven's disciple?"
"Not quite a disciple... just learning the sword."
"Oh... really? If it's okay, could I see your skills? Swordsmen speak with swords, after all."
Her sword slowly drew. Facing it, I drew mine too.
I had to check once.
Just how far the gap was between me now and the main characters.
"Namgung Hye of the Namgung Family. Using Soaring Palace Free Sword Art."
"Jin Hyun. Using Three Ultimates Sword Art."
"...Huh? Three Ultimates Sword Art? You mean that one?"
"Yeah."
"...Aren't you learning from Sword Heaven?"
"Correct."
She tilted her head in confusion, but soon pulled herself together.
Whatever the art, it wouldn't affect checking skills, she figured.
She assumed her stance slowly, extending her sword to close distance. I mirrored, sword aimed at midguard, waiting.
"Hah!!"
With a low kiai, Namgung Hye's sword flashed.
Blue sky. Her sword art unfolded vast and expansive, true to its name—a sword like the boundless heavens.
Fierce, free energy evoking heavy skies, matched by flashy strikes. Blocking them, I tumbled backward across the ground.
"Oh? You okay?"
"Again."
"Hmm."
Soaring Palace Free Sword Art once more.
Same technique. Another powerful blow evoking vast skies—I rolled again. Toward me, Namgung Hye said worriedly,
"You haven't trained long, have you?"
"Yeah."
"Then maybe not Soaring Palace Free Sword Art, something else..."
"No. That one, please."
"You might get hurt."
"It's fine. A bit more, and I'll get it."
"Alright then."
She loosened up lightly and unleashed the art again. Block, roll.
How many times did I roll? Covered in dirt, I stood. Watching me worriedly, Namgung Hye gripped her sword tight.
"Better end it soon."
"Yeah. Please."
This strike differed. A heavy, powerful blow dominating the entire sky. Facing the surging blue energy like crashing waves, I raised my sword.
Mount Tai Pressing Down.
Sword. Pressing Mount Tai's peak.
Thus reigning supreme over all.
"Eh?!"
The incoming blue energy was crushed under the descending sword.
The heaven-spanning sword art lost its signature freedom, spreading across the ground and vanishing.
Namgung Hye who'd used it, Namgung Je glancing over, Yu Ye-ryeon watching with a pleased smile.
In the stunned silence, I nodded, satisfied with the technique.
"...What was that just now?"
Shocked her sword veered off target, Namgung Hye asked. I shrugged.
"Nothing much."
But that didn't satisfy. Meeting her demanding brown gaze, I added,
"Just slashed."