Chapter 15
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: A Victor's Grace
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Hah, hah.
The young mans clothes, as he gasped for breath, were already in tatters. I clicked my tongue as I stood before him.
After the decisive battle with Black Tiger, I thought I had polished my skills quite a bit, but every sword strike I unleashed felt unnatural, and I was displeased.
When will it start to feel natural?
Why on earth did I
Unlike me, he has no self-awareness at all. Tsk.
The tip of his sword, which once felt as light as a feather, must now feel as heavy as a mountain. He probably feels the urge to lie down right this instant, as if someone were pulling him down.
Even so, I found myself looking quite fondly at the young man who was struggling to keep his drooping head up.
To the young man, Kang Umun, I tossed out a single remark.
Perhaps its because you were careless.
He didnt seem to understand anything I said. The shock must be quite severe.
But that wasnt something I could solve for him. How he grew from this was a matter of his own mental fortitude.
If a single defeat made him succumb to its bitterness like a fever, then I figured there was no need to bring him along in the first place.
Ive studied the Ten Forms of the Iron Sword countless times.
I heard the fellow muttering. I spoke softly to the dazed man.
Dont try to grasp everything with your paltry talent.
Damn it, damn it!
Seeing him unable to control his anger, his eyes bloodshot, completely failing to manage his emotions, I shook my head.
Was this all you had? The effort you speak of is no different from a candle flame. It flickers out at the slightest breeze.
Then I looked at Namgung Ho. It was time to end this.
Namgung Ho seemed to understand my intention and nodded. He, too, had likely assessed Kang Umuns condition and was about to declare the result, raising his hand.
But then.
Its not over yet.
Kang Umun spoke softly.
You want to continue?
Seeing his slumped shoulders and gaunt face, it was clear he had no strength left to fight.
The world is too vast to be judged by your standards.
I was about to shake my head, thinking it impossible, but
I wont forget this. And my fight starts now.
He was saying he would use his anger as fuel to keep honing his skills. Right in front of me.
I
Hahaha.
Laughter burst out of me before I knew it.
There are countless sword arts practiced in the Namgung family, but Kang Umun judged that no fool would teach such a superior sword art to the Great Young Lord, known as the family scoundrel.
Up close, the Great Young Lord of the Namgung family was nothing but a scoundrel, but Namgung Mubaek, viewed from afar, was a different man.
As the head of the Namgung family, the spiritual pillar supporting Anhui Castle, and an exemplar for all swordsmen, Namgung Mubaek would never personally teach the familys superior sword arts to a mere scoundrel.
Firmly believing this, Kang Umun had, on several occasions, watched the sword dances of the Ten Forms of the Iron Sword and the Thirteen Flashes of Lightning, which any martial artist from Anhui Castle could sometimes observe at the Namgung familys training grounds.
Though they were far superior to the meager sword arts at the Kang U Martial Hall to be called basic, the gap wasnt insurmountable, so he researched and researched.
To seize the one opportunity that was sure to come.
And yet.
Why on earth did I
Kang Umun, who had devoted himself entirely to his swordsmanship, had to face an unbelievable result.
Perhaps its because you were careless.
He said it was because I was careless. No, that couldnt be.
He knew himself well; Kang Umun, in particular, knew himself very well.
He had poured out everything he could, and unleashed everything he could.
But Ive already researched the Ten Forms of the Iron Sword so much.
And yet.
Dont try to grasp everything with your paltry talent.
Damn it, damn it!
He couldnt break the Great Young Lords pride. Thats right. To put it simply, it was a complete defeat.
And in doing so, he had utterly shattered the expectations of the Kang U Martial Halls members and the children who had looked up to him with sparkling eyes after his hard-won ascent.
How could he return with this face?
Was this all you had? The effort you speak of is no different from a candle flame. It flickers out at the slightest breeze.
Arrogant.
Haughty.
It was an utterly insolent voice.
So, in defiance of the Great Young Lords arrogant words, he found himself shouting.
Its not over yet.
You want to continue?
The next words came with a look of disdain.
The world is too vast to be judged by your standards.
It was a low, quiet voice, but to Kang Umun, it sounded like thunder. He turned his head to watch him as he passed by.
The boy who had tormented the Kang U Martial Hall just a few years ago had grown up, shedding his boyishness. The plump flesh was gone, and calluses were visible on his fingertips.
Is that so.
I had denied it, but was I careless after all?
Suddenly, he began to see things he hadnt noticed just moments before.
I see.
The moments he had swung his sword tens, hundreds, thousands of times to make its blade sing flashed before his eyes like a lantern.
He finally felt how much effort he had put into making his sword sing, and at the same time, he recalled the song of the Great Young Lords blade. A resonance far firmer than his own.
He hadnt wanted to admit it. The frog in the well was none other than himself, Kang Umun.
Kang Umun pushed himself up. Seeing the faces filled with disappointment looking at him, he steeled his wavering heart.
I wont forget this. And my fight starts now.
He had witnessed a shining talent and effort. With such an extraordinary background, he would be difficult to catch, and the gap between them would likely only widen.
But, so what?
For a life lived by the sword, isnt this much ambition necessary?
So he expressed his will.
At the same time, he expected the price for showing such defiance would be quite high.
His appearance had changed, and his attitude toward swordsmanship had as well, but considering the disposition of the scoundrel who had trampled on the Kang U Martial Hall back then
He would probably mock me, asking if I was clinging to my paltry pride after a defeat.
He might even turn me into a laughingstock in front of all these people.
I have to endure it.
I will endure it.
Thinking this, Kang Umun, who had even snorted as he forcefully raised his head, was taken aback for the first time.
He was smiling. The scoundrel boy, now all grown up, was smiling broadly.
Hahaha.
The Great Young Lord, who had let out a hearty laugh, stopped and strode toward Kang Umun.
Uh?
In a flash.
The Great Young Lord snatched Kang Umuns wrist and raised his hand high into the air.
He didnt add any words. He just held it high and swept his gaze over the dumbfounded crowd.
Woooooah!
So cool!
Kang U Martial Hall! Kang U Martial Hall!
And then, as if on cue, a roar erupted, filling Anhui Castle.
Cheers and warm gazes, things that should never be directed at someone shamed by the scoundrel, were now fixed on Kang Umun.
It was the result of a match that had shown a fine display and the unyielding will of a young man who refused to give up.
Kang Umun shifted his gaze to the Great Young Lord, who, after focusing everyones attention on him, was slowly descending the stairs.
Looking at that calm back, Kang Umun suddenly felt that his figure seemed boundlessly large.
Youre really putting on a show.
A sharp remark, as if hed been waiting for me the moment I came down.
Hes not bad, is he? For his level.
Not bad, my ass. Hes more than you deserve.
My uncle grumbled, clearly displeased about something.
You should be focusing on getting rid of your scoundrel title. Why are you bestowing honor on some other guy?
Honestly. Why are you so concerned with what others think?
Ignoring my uncle, who was rambling on about how the world of martial arts is cold and why I was being so soft-hearted, I raised the corners of my mouth.
If the man on the bluestone floor can heal his past wounds through this, thats enough for me. What does it matter if a scoundrel is called a scoundrel?
Its too much. You are the victor. It is the victors destiny to enjoy their leisure, and the losers to bear the full weight of their responsibility.
Then you can just say its a conclusion reached by a leisurely victor. Consider it another luxury the winner gets to enjoy.
If its too much, he can just consider it a debt.
It will become quite a good story to tell over drinks, and a source of pride.
Though known as a scoundrel, he exchanged many blows with the Great Young Lord of the Namgung Family of the Azure Sky, a man who could make his blade sing, and even earned his acknowledgment.
The Kang U Martial Hall was the starting point. In the future, I would have to overturn my relationships with other martial halls I had encountered in a past I didnt rememberthe Taesan, Pungun, and Baek San Martial Halls.
Thanks to turning the stigma of losing to a scoundrel on its head, my ill-fated connections with the martial halls would lead to a not-so-bad outcome.
However.
Thats only possible if you become the champion of this Sword Branch Assembly. Otherwise, whats the point of it all?
My uncle was telling me not to miss the forest for the trees. He meant that if I didnt win, everything that came before would be for naught. He wasnt wrong.
Besides, there are two guys over there who are on a completely different level from the one you just fought.
Where my uncle pointed, I saw them, one after another: the boys who were coming down after overpowering renowned fighters from Anhuis prominent martial halls in just a few exchanges.
Both of them shared the Namgung name.
The Second Young Lord, Namgung Hyeok.
And the Third Young Lord, Namgung Gal.
They were two boys not even fifteen years old, yet they displayed a power befitting the name of the Namgung of the Azure Sky. It was quite impressive.
They could have been reacting to the surrounding cheers and shouts, but instead, the sharp gazes of the two were directed at me in turn.
The gazes of Namgung Hyeok with his cold eyes, and Namgung Gal with his challenging glare.
Such wonderful brotherly affection. Im truly envious.
Why dont you try saying that when youre sober?
I didnt back down from his sarcasm and clicked my tongue.
So many people are watching, yet they show their emotions so openly. Tsk. I guess it was too much to ask these kids who arent even dry behind the ears to liven up the Sword Branch Assembly.
Not even dry behind the ears? I have no idea who youre talking about.
I deliberately ignored his dumbfounded tone and, seeing that the Fourth Young Lord, Namgung Gyeon, though not as skilled as them, had also safely passed, I smiled with satisfaction.
With each passing match, the audiences attention became more focused. The interest of those who had initially dismissed it as a talent show for ten-year-old kids was gradually rising.
The stage was being set for this to become the hottest topic in Anhui.