Chapter 101: Dancer (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 101: Dancer (1)
It was his first solo mission in a long time.
Namgung Jun set out, the spirit elixir he had received from the Ink Lord tucked carefully inside his robes.
Throughout his journey, he used his lightness techniques, alternating between the ancient Lightness Movement Art of the Namcheon Palace and another he had been drawn to in the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.
Although his mastery of each technique grew, he still hadn't found one that perfectly suited his body. Perhaps it was because he had grown so accustomed to the completely transformed Infinite Steps and the Heaven-Pillar Resolute Advance Movement Art that he now needed an entirely new lightness skill.
But inspiration isn't striking.
Namgung Jun did not grow impatient. There was no telling when an idea for a new lightness skill might come to him, so in the meantime, he simply focused on maximizing his understanding and mastery of his current ones.
After running like this for about twenty days, Namgung Jun finally halted as he neared his destination.
Mount Mong.
It was the mountain where the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord was said to be in closed-door cultivation. Though not particularly high, the mountain range twisted in a complex, bizarre fashion that made it difficult to navigate.
As he climbed the mountain path, reviewing the details of his mission, a question naturally arose in his mind.
Why isn't he cultivating at the main headquarters?
For a member of the Azure Heaven Association's Cloud Rank, there was no place more suitable for closed-door cultivation than the main headquarters.
It was a sudden thought, but Namgung Jun didn't dwell on it. There were likely circumstances he was unaware of. Besides, peerless experts viewed the world through their own unique standards, so it wasn't particularly strange.
He only felt a touch of regret.
To think there's a high probability I won't even get to meet the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord.
Namgung Jun recalled the conversation he’d had with Yun Gyeong-jong when he received the spirit elixir.
– "Should I deliver this spirit elixir directly to the Sword Lord?"
– "No. It will be difficult to meet him in person. Once you reach a place called Suyeon Village, look for the village chief. Just deliver the spirit elixir to him."
– "I assume it's to avoid disturbing his closed-door cultivation."
– "Please understand. He's a rather eccentric man. Ideally, you'd meet the Sword Lord yourself to check on his condition, but that will require some luck. That’s why I wanted to send someone of Hall Master rank if possible, but the current situation doesn't allow for it."
Since they were both under the umbrella of the Azure Heaven Association, their paths would surely cross eventually. Namgung Jun decided to focus solely on safely delivering the spirit elixir.
After climbing the mountain for about two hours, his brisk strides gradually slowed.
"Hmm?"
Where had he gone wrong?
Having lost his bearings, Namgung Jun paced around the area. He had been given a rough map showing the location of Suyeon Village and the surrounding geography, but it wasn't much help. Despite wandering all over the mountain for a long time while consulting the map, he could not find a clear path.
Namgung Jun silently tucked the map back into his robes. Being this deep in the mountains made finding his way even more difficult. It was an unexpected obstacle.
Maybe I should have come with Senior Heo.
Even when he aimlessly brushed aside branches or climbed to the top of a tall tree for a better view, he couldn't spot a clear path.
Just as Namgung Jun was barely holding back a sigh, he sensed a human presence in the distance. The faint sound of people arguing brushed past his ears.
Namgung Jun, who had kept his senses sharply honed even while studying the map, immediately spun around. Springing lightly off a tree branch, his figure shot forward. Though countless branches blocked his path, not a single one managed to touch his collar.
It's here.
Moving as fast as he could, he bypassed dozens of trees until human figures began to appear sparsely through the thickets. Their voices now came through clearly.
"A wandering performance troupe, huh? These are the types who carry the good stuff. Drop all your luggage!"
"Look at this. They're carrying way too much food for just themselves. Seems like they have plenty of supplies, too. It's also strange for a troupe to be traveling a deserted mountain path. Is there a hidden village nearby?"
"Answer everything you know! If you don't want to die, that is!"
A dozen or so bandits had surrounded four men. The bandits brandished their blades and raised their voices threateningly, while the group of men, who appeared to be a performance troupe, merely exchanged uneasy glances.
"We will pay the toll. Just please let us keep the rest of our luggage. It contains what we need to make a living," said the middle-aged man who seemed to be their leader, stepping forward. But the bandits didn't even pretend to listen.
"A toll? Do we look like petty thieves to you?!"
Having had no intention of letting them go from the start, the bandits gradually closed in, pointing their weapons at the troupe. At the sight, the performers' faces grew increasingly grim.
"To think you've actually learned martial arts, pathetic as you look."
At the clear voice echoing from behind them, the bandits froze. Turning their heads in unison, they saw a youth walking out from the thickets. Despite his young face, he possessed a tall stature and a solid build, standing right on the boundary between a boy and a young man.
However, the bandits paid no attention to his appearance. They focused solely on the scabbard hanging at his waist.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Are you with them?"
The bandits glared at Namgung Jun, slowly closing the distance. One could tell from the murky killing intent swirling in their eyes that they were just looking for an opportunity to strike first.
Even in this situation, Namgung Jun didn't bother to reply, merely scanning their faces one by one.
"Every single one of you reeks of blood."
"What?"
"I'm saying you're all disgusting."
The moment he finished speaking, a blue flash erupted from his waist, carving a massive semi-circle through the air.
The heads of the three bandits who had subtly tried to flank him flew off simultaneously, erupting in fountains of blood.
The bandits in the back, who had been guarding the performance troupe, slowly tilted their gazes upward, following the blood-spewing heads as they soared through the air.
"You bastard!"
"Wh-what?!"
While the bandits stood with their mouths agape, shocked by the sudden and profound display of martial arts, only Namgung Jun moved with blinding speed. Using the Infinite Steps, he appeared in their very midst in the blink of an eye.
"Hup!"
"Attack!"
The bandits, reacting too late, hurriedly twisted their bodies to strike, but Namgung Jun's sword had already torn fiercely through the air.
Slash!
With every swing of the Eternal Righteous Sword, four or five bandits collapsed. By the time he unleashed his third strike, not a single one remained standing. Fresh blood flowed from their bodies, drenching the dirt ground.
In contrast, the performance troupe stared at the rapidly cooling corpses, not daring to open their mouths.
Flick!
Flicking the blood from his blade, Namgung Jun sheathed his sword. Only then did the members of the troupe snap out of their daze.
"It seemed urgent, so I intervened. Are you all alright?"
When Namgung Jun clasped his hands in greeting, the troupe members belatedly bowed their heads.
"Thanks to you, Young Hero, our lives were saved!"
"My word. I've seen martial artists fight in inns, but I've never seen anyone wield a sword as fast as you, Young Hero."
The performers caught their breath and finally let out sighs of relief. The leader, who was the first to regain his composure, asked Namgung Jun, "By the way, Young Hero, what brings you up this mountain? The terrain is terribly rugged, and there's nothing here."
Staring at the middle-aged man, Namgung Jun had an intuition. These people were undoubtedly from Suyeon Village.
"I am looking for a village called Suyeon Village."
"What business do you have there?" the middle-aged man asked, a hint of wariness in his voice.
Namgung Jun smiled. "Lord Yun sent me. I have something to deliver to the village chief."
"Ah! Lord Yun! He sent you!"
Upon hearing his words, the expressions of the middle-aged man and the rest of the troupe softened considerably. His guard now down, the man immediately gestured to Namgung Jun.
"Ah, come with us."
"Thank you. I was quite lost."
"If not for you, Young Hero, we would have lost our lives. Don't mention it. Let's hurry. The sun sets quickly in the mountains."
* * *
Suyeon Village.
Only after venturing deep into the mountains and following a valley with a swift current did they finally enter the village. It was thoroughly hidden deep within the mountain, and it was baffling that a settlement could even exist in such rugged terrain.
"Here we are."
"We've finally arrived," Namgung Jun replied with a bitter smile.
I was wandering in a completely different direction.
If he hadn't run into the performance troupe, it would have been impossible for him to set foot in Suyeon Village today. Even without a formation, the location was so exquisitely concealed that it made finding it all the more difficult.
The troupe guided Namgung Jun directly to the village chief's residence. The chief, who had initially eyed him with grumpy suspicion, welcomed him with a brightened face after hearing the troupe's explanation.
"Welcome. You said Lord Yun sent you?"
"Yes. I was ordered to deliver this."
Namgung Jun took the wooden box containing the spirit elixir from his robes and presented it.
"I have received it safely."
As if accustomed to such things, the village chief didn't ask what was inside or check the contents. Slipping the box into his sleeve, he clasped his hands.
"I heard you saved our people who went out earlier. Thank you so much."
"It was only natural to help."
"Normally, our village doesn't accept outsiders, but you may stay for a few days before you leave. The villagers possess various talents, so you won't be bored."
Namgung Jun nodded.
I haven't been able to meet the Sword Lord anyway. I might as well stay and look for him.
After a night's sleep, Namgung Jun took a light stroll around the village. But as expected, there was no sign of anyone carrying the Heaven-Reliant Sword. He wondered if the Sword Lord might be in a secluded cave nearby rather than the village itself, but his intuition told him he was somewhere within Suyeon Village.
Trusting his gut, Namgung Jun scanned the village thoroughly.
Although the village was not large, a spacious empty lot was laid out in its center. The lot was bustling with villagers who had gathered there.
What are they doing?
There was no way a market would open in such a small mountain village. Namgung Jun drew closer.
Various acrobatics and performances were taking place. One woman took a mouthful of alcohol and spat out a massive stream of fire, while a bald, middle-aged man stacked all sorts of objects on his smooth head, building a tower. On the other side, a man on a tightrope danced while waving ornate fans, as nearby musicians played a lively melody.
They're here too.
Among those performing were the men Namgung Jun had saved yesterday. The middle-aged man who had guided him to the village gave him a slight nod, then slammed a pole hard against the ground, launching himself high into the air to spin several times before landing—a spectacular feat.
From the perspective of a martial artist, it was a trivial trick, but as a spectator, it was purely entertaining.
"How is it? Quite a spectacle, isn't it?" the village chief asked, having approached him unnoticed.
"Yes. It seems most of the villagers have mastered some kind of talent."
"Suyeon Village was founded by people who used to make a living as performers. Not everyone is one, but more than half of them learn a talent that suits them."
Meanwhile, numerous performances continued one after another. Each time, the village chief would explain the act and evaluate the villagers' skills.
It was after a dozen or so performances had taken place. Suddenly, the people performing throughout the lot withdrew. The only ones remaining were the musicians in a corner of the lot. Their melody gradually grew faster and higher in pitch.
Amidst the completely transformed atmosphere, a man appeared.
He wore a comical mask, the kind children might play with, tilted sideways to cover his face down to the bottom of his nose. His ornate floral robe, with its exceptionally large and voluminous hem, fluttered like a noblewoman's court dress. His unusually long limbs only accentuated the robe's splendor.
His aura is unusual.
Namgung Jun watched the newly arrived figure intently. All the villagers gathered in the lot fell silent, focusing their attention on the man.
As the man circled the lot with light, dance-like movements, a curved saber suddenly appeared in his hand. Like his mask and clothing, the saber was ornately decorated.
"Watch closely. He is the best dancer in our village," the village chief said. After speaking at length about the other villagers, he introduced this man with extreme brevity.
But Namgung Jun didn't mind.
His entire focus had been captured the very moment the dancer drew his curved saber.
That man is…!
The unfathomably profound arc of the dancer's blade filled Namgung Jun's vision.