Chapter 105: Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord (3)
The relocation of Suyeon Village began.
Suyeon Village was small, and the villagers’ belongings were remarkably sparse, as if they had always been prepared to move at a moment’s notice.
After arriving at the nearest Azure Heaven Association branch without incident, the villagers dispersed, traveling onward in separate groups. Members of the Cloud Rank from the branch blended in naturally to escort them, a tactic meant to throw off any potential pursuers from other factions.
Once the bustling process was over and all the villagers had departed, only two people remained.
A young man still growing and a flamboyantly dressed dancer.
“Are you sure you don’t need to travel with them?”
“We have to trust the branch’s Cloud Rank. We made it this far safely, so nothing should go wrong now.”
Jang Mu-yeon walked leisurely, his hands clasped behind his head. With his splay-footed, swaggering gait, he looked like nothing more than an idle playboy.
Yet, walking beside him, Namgung Jun didn’t find the man’s posture the least bit unimpressive.
'His footwork is incredibly free-form. It feels as if he could spring in any direction at will.'
Since his own Infinite Steps were developing in a similar direction, there was much to learn from Jang Mu-yeon’s seemingly careless stride.
It wasn’t just his footwork. At that moment, Jang Mu-yeon’s presence was completely erased. It was the same as when they had first met in Suyeon Village. Not a shred of aura or Qi Wave could be felt, nor was there any of the transcendent air unique to a peerless expert.
While it was natural for a peerless expert to restrain their power, it was rare to find someone who could conceal it as perfectly as Jang Mu-yeon.
“Sword Lord, have you achieved the Return to Simplicity and Truth?”
“Indeed. After I achieved the Five Qis Converging at the Origin and became a peerless expert, I poured most of my efforts into researching the Return to Simplicity and Truth.”
Namgung Jun looked at Jang Mu-yeon, his eyes filled with surprise. If the man was famous for one thing, it was his sword dance. Hadn’t his formless dance toyed with the very laws of creation? The moves the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord had shown him were still vivid in his mind.
“Most commoners are terrified of martial artists,” Jang Mu-yeon said.
“It’s only natural.”
“Even more so if that martial artist is a master. When I reached a certain realm, no matter how much I restrained my aura, the common folk would subtly avoid me. They instinctively felt a sense of alienation.”
Namgung Jun nodded. For someone of the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord's caliber, even if commoners couldn't feel a direct threat from his aura and Qi Wave, they would certainly sense something that deviated from the ordinary.
“If they feel even the slightest bit uneasy, they can’t fully enjoy the performance. What’s the use of a performer having brilliant talent if the audience can’t truly immerse themselves?”
Listening quietly, Namgung Jun turned his head. Before he knew it, Jang Mu-yeon had begun to walk with cheerful, almost dancing steps, as if his body was itching to move.
“Then, was the reason you trained in the Return to Simplicity and Truth so you could wander the world and perform?”
“Of course. How else could I enjoy sword dancing with the common people, get treated to a cup of wine, and chat comfortably with them?”
His face half-hidden by his mask, Jang Mu-yeon moved his arms playfully.
“If nothing else, when it comes to hiding one’s aura and Qi Wave to pretend to be ordinary, no peerless expert can match me. Remember that.”
Jang Mu-yeon paused for a moment, then lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.
“The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord’s Return to Simplicity and Truth is the best under heaven.”
A deep sense of playfulness radiated from the dancer’s widely smiling lips.
*
On their way back to the Azure Heaven Association headquarters, Namgung Jun and Jang Mu-yeon made sure to visit every village they came across. The size of the village didn’t matter; it was enough if there were people who could enjoy the performance with them.
Although the sky was dyed orange as the sun began to set, they paid it no mind. The villagers had already lit up the surroundings with torches, their faces bright with anticipation. It had likely been a long time since a performance troupe had visited.
The small crowd watched Jang Mu-yeon and Namgung Jun with expectant eyes. Since the performers had only asked for a single meal and a place to stay for the night in exchange for the show, the atmosphere was lighthearted.
Thump!
As the masked Jang Mu-yeon performed an Earth-Trembling Stomp with comical, exaggerated movements, a sound like a drumbeat erupted from the ground.
“Oh!”
“How can a stomp make a sound like that?”
“That’s not something you can do just by being strong!”
The sound of Jang Mu-yeon’s Earth-Trembling Stomp alone was enough to intrigue the commoners.
“Heave-ho!”
It was only natural. In a tiny village tucked away in a mountain valley, with little entertainment to speak of, how many interesting things could possibly happen?
After executing two or three more Earth-Trembling Stomps, Jang Mu-yeon drew his sword with a bizarre shout. A clear metallic chime rang out from the ornaments on his clothes and the blades he wore, serving as their own musical accompaniment.
His steps were light and frivolous, his shoulders bobbing in a restless rhythm. Nodding his head and surrendering his body to the unique beat created by his stomps and ornaments, Jang Mu-yeon began his dance.
The Heaven-Reliant Sword and his curved blade weaved through the air in a lively display, dazzling the villagers.
Chring!
The swordplay began with a theatrical clatter. Before Jang Mu-yeon had even swung his blades five times, the commoners were watching with their mouths agape. They didn’t need to see much more; even an ignorant peasant who knew nothing of martial arts could tell how beautiful the patterns his swords drew in the air were.
'He said this kind of performance is his closed-door cultivation.'
The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord’s closed-door cultivation was different from the ordinary kind. It wasn't about training alone on a deserted mountain or in a hidden cave. It was about stepping back from the Jianghu to perform a sword dance, mingling with the common folk, and sharing laughter and conversation. That was the path chosen by the dancer named Jang Mu-yeon.
The Harmonious Music-Reflection Dance.
It was said to be the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord's proprietary martial art, one that peculiarly wove sword techniques, footwork, and heart methods into a single whole. Even Jang Mu-yeon, who had created it, claimed he didn't know how such a technique had come to be.
'Is it like circulating Qi while performing a sword dance?'
Since he was executing sword techniques while circulating his Qi, it wasn't a simple dynamic art. It was a form of martial art Namgung Jun had never seen before, making it difficult to judge. But one thing was clear: his own presence was helping Jang Mu-yeon.
Step!
Namgung Jun did not perform the peculiar, drum-like Earth-Trembling Stomp. Instead, channeling the free-spirited principles of the Infinite Steps, he leaped onto the stage.
Drawing his sword before anyone noticed, Namgung Jun began to trade blows with Jang Mu-yeon, just as they had in Suyeon Village.
“Wow!”
“It’s getting faster and more complex, yet the swords look like they’re about to touch but never do!”
With Namgung Jun’s entry, the blades Jang Mu-yeon wielded grew faster and more dazzling, though he kept the movements just slow enough for the villagers’ ordinary vision to track. Still, the commoners cheered wildly at the sword dance the two displayed.
'Is this enough?'
Namgung Jun stole a glance at the eyes behind Jang Mu-yeon’s mask and was inwardly surprised. The corners of Jang Mu-yeon’s eyes were deeply curved in a smile.
There was no need to look further. Jang Mu-yeon was thoroughly enjoying this stage and the cheers of the audience.
“Phew.”
Namgung Jun let out a soft breath. He decided to stop worrying about the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord’s internal injuries, his closed-door cultivation, or any other trivial matters.
'Let it go.'
He would purely enjoy the present moment, just as the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord wanted.
Enjoying himself while swinging his sword. This was something Namgung Jun was quite familiar with, even if it wasn't a sword dance.
At first, there had been a dancer and a swordsman on the stage. But now, there were simply two dancers showing off their moves to each other.
As the two harmonized in their sword dance, the villagers watched, completely losing track of time. The sun had long set and the torches cast a bright glow, yet no one showed any sign of heading home.
It was then that a sudden gust of wind blew down from the mountain slopes, tickling the village. The strong wind began to extinguish the torches one by one.
Yet, the commoners paid them no mind, their focus entirely on the sword dance. They felt that even a moment’s distraction would be a waste.
The surroundings darkened until only a single torch remained.
Just as Jang Mu-yeon’s body seemed to tilt sideways, his sword, extended far to the side, grazed the torch. A flame now rested on the flat of his blade. He hadn't cut the wick but had purely split the flame itself and caught it. It was bound to go out quickly.
Yet, Jang Mu-yeon did not rush. Shrugging his shoulders as usual, he moved with leisurely flourishes of his sword, dancing around the stage to relight the torches. One by one, the stage grew bright once more.
“To think I’d witness such a feat!”
“I’ve never seen anyone transfer fire with a sword before!”
“The flame…! He cut it!”
Most of the torches were now lit. All that was left was the final one.
Just as Jang Mu-yeon seemed to approach it, he suddenly spun around and extended his sword toward Namgung Jun. The flame instantly leaped from his blade to the flat of Namgung Jun’s. The flickering light illuminated his face.
Understanding the gesture, Namgung Jun immediately stepped forward. He did not rush. If he moved carelessly, the flame would surely go out.
'Flow with it.'
Namgung Jun recalled the martial insight he had gained while performing the sword dance in Suyeon Village. The phenomena of all creation, brought forth by the sword.
Even in the moment he slowly extended his blade, countless insights flashed through his mind. Then, suddenly accelerating, Namgung Jun’s sword grazed the last remaining torch.
Whoosh!
Just when it seemed he might have failed, the final torch burst into flame. With all the torches burning once more, the stage was completely illuminated.
With that, the performance came to an end.
“Wow!”
“My eyes have truly been opened today!”
“What a magnificent performance troupe!”
As cheers and applause rained down from all sides, Namgung Jun offered a quick bow with clasped hands to express his gratitude. Chuckling at the sight, Jang Mu-yeon suddenly spoke.
“It was because of this.”
“Pardon?”
“The reason I joined the Azure Heaven Association.”
Namgung Jun followed Jang Mu-yeon’s gaze. He saw the commoners laughing and enjoying themselves without a single care in the world.
“A performance like this can only be enjoyed when life is somewhat bearable. But those bastards from the Demonic and Heretical Paths, especially the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult, don’t even leave people the breathing room to enjoy such simple pleasures.”
Jang Mu-yeon continued as he took off his mask.
“Shouldn’t people at least have the peace of mind to live with a smile?”
Namgung Jun simply nodded without replying. He felt as though he had just caught a glimpse of the chivalric spirit harbored by the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord.
*
It took a considerable amount of time to return to the Azure Heaven Association headquarters, as they stopped to perform at every single village they came across.
When they finally climbed Huangshan and entered the headquarters, Jang Mu-yeon clapped Namgung Jun on the shoulder and leaped ahead, saying he had to pay his respects to the Association Leader.
Thanks to him, the task of delivering a detailed report on the events at Suyeon Village and their return journey fell entirely to Namgung Jun.
“Excellent. The Sword Lord is incredibly free-spirited, so you must have had a hard time, but you assisted him well.”
“Not at all. I also learned a great deal.”
Just as the Ink Lord, Yun Gyeong-jong, stood up from his seat to praise Namgung Jun, a scholar from the Bright Affinity Pavilion hurried in with a letter.
“Ink Lord. This is information from Hunan Province.”
“Hmm.”
Checking the information immediately, Yun Gyeong-jong’s wrinkles deepened.