Chapter 106: Guiding the New Recruit (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 106: Guiding the New Recruit (1)
"Hubei Province is growing turbulent."
At Yun Gyeong-jong's murmur, Namgung Jun asked, "Wasn't Hubei Province relatively peaceful?"
"It was. But it seems even they cannot escape these troubled times."
Seeing Namgung Jun's curiosity, Yun Gyeong-jong handed over the letter he had been reading.
Namgung Jun murmured the name that appeared most frequently in the letter.
"Wieon Mountain Villa? Is it a renowned place?"
"It's a solid, mid-sized sect in Hubei Province. Lately, they've been aggressively expanding their influence. It's as if they're aiming to become the ninth great unorthodox sect."
It was just as Yun Gyeong-jong said. According to the letter, Wieon Mountain Villa's tyranny had already caused the downfall of more than four minor local sects, and the suffering of the common people was growing by the day.
"Is the Azure Heaven Association going to intervene?"
"For now, we must keep watching. The Wudang Sect is in Hubei Province, after all. In fact, I hear a few of Wudang's lay sects are already showing signs of movement."
Yun Gyeong-jong tapped the edge of his desk with his finger.
"Hubei and Hunan Provinces are gradually descending into chaos as well. Having amassed its strength, the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult is turning its gaze eastward once more. Before long, a mission for the Ten Halls might arise in one of those two provinces, and the Heavenly Sword Hall will be the one to step forward. Keep that in mind."
"Thank you. I will convey this to my master."
Namgung Jun nodded.
Recently, the Heavenly Sword Hall had been conserving its strength, tasked only with guarding the main headquarters. This was a consideration to allow them to manage the newly supplied spirit elixirs and integrate the incoming recruits after reclaiming their position among the Three Halls.
"Hmm."
Left alone in his office, Yun Gyeong-jong could still vividly picture Namgung Jun in his mind.
"He looks to be on the verge of achieving the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. He might challenge the Fourth Cloud Promotion soon."
Namgung Jun had not even reached the age of twenty. Yet to be so close to the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown was a truly astonishing achievement.
Even the Hall Masters, men of world-class talent, seemed like ordinary men when placed next to Namgung Jun.
‘One day, Namgung Jun will become a peerless expert representing the Azure Heaven Association.’
Currently, the Azure Heaven Association possessed three peerless experts: the Azure Heaven Association Leader, the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord, and the Head of the Elders' Council.
Since the Azure Heaven Association Leader had fallen from grace, it would be difficult for him to display his original martial prowess. The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord was also struggling in the midst of his closed-door cultivation. The only peerless expert who could immediately take to the front lines was the Head of the Elders' Council.
But even the Head of the Elders' Council was tasked with defending the main headquarters, making it difficult for him to venture out into the Jianghu.
‘Five Qis Converging at the Origin. The Peerless Realm.’
Of course, he himself wore five clouds, but he had only risen to the rank of the Fifth Cloud by virtue of his position as the Ink Lord. His actual martial prowess was merely that of a supreme expert who had achieved the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
Thus, Yun Gyeong-jong held high expectations for Namgung Jun.
"When will the day come when the Azure Heaven Association's new divine sword is forged...?"
Suddenly, Yun Gyeong-jong turned his head and looked at the sky outside the window.
* * *
Crack!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Upon returning to the Heavenly Sword Hall, Namgung Jun found the swordsmen diligently training as usual.
Perhaps because they had each consumed spirit elixirs and had not neglected their training in the Sword-Root Foundation Art, the aura of most Heavenly Sword Hall members had grown significantly more intense.
In their midst, Lee Se-ha was overseeing the swordsmen's training.
"Master."
"Jun. You're back? It took longer than expected."
As Lee Se-ha raised her hand and waved, her face lighting up, Namgung Jun bowed respectfully.
"There was more work than I anticipated."
"You worked hard. I heard you met with the Sword Lord?"
"He was quite an unusual person."
At Namgung Jun's brief assessment, Lee Se-ha's smile deepened.
"The Sword Lord is a bit of an eccentric, indeed. But he's a good person. Sometimes he even invites the Hall Masters to watch him perform his sword dance."
"Is that so? I danced with him."
"What?"
Lee Se-ha, who had been speaking while watching the Heavenly Sword Hall members, whipped her head around. Her wide-open eyes clearly reflected Namgung Jun's figure.
"You danced with him?"
"Yes. We matched our steps a few times."
"How strange. He never allows the Hall Masters to match his rhythm and always dances strictly alone."
Namgung Jun asked with a puzzled expression, "Was there a reason for that?"
"Well, he said our swordplay wasn't elegant enough."
Not quite understanding, Namgung Jun simply gave a vague nod.
Lee Se-ha tapped the stone floor with her foot in mock annoyance and asked, "Even I haven't performed a sword dance with you yet, Jun, but the Sword Lord beat me to it? Let's dance together sometime."
"I would be glad to."
Replying with a smile, Namgung Jun examined Lee Se-ha's aura.
"Master, how is your body feeling now?"
"Perfectly fine, of course. A brief ache is nothing. Considering I was hit with the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, isn't it amazing that it ended with just a minor body ache instead of internal injuries?"
Lee Se-ha flashed a triumphant smile, resting one hand on her hip.
"I'm glad to hear that."
Namgung Jun also smiled faintly, looking relieved. Though unintentional, Lee Se-ha had suffered from body aches due to the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian. Moreover, since she was a supreme expert who had accumulated Scorching Yang Qi, it had been even more worrying.
But now that she had completely shaken it off, he could finally put his mind at ease. He had often worried about her condition even during his mission.
"Since you've returned from your mission, go inside and get some rest."
"I'll look around a bit before heading in."
Namgung Jun turned his head to look at his other comrades. Every single one of them was dedicated to their training, showing even more progress than during their combat capability evaluation.
In the meantime, he heard that some quite promising recruits had joined the Heavenly Sword Hall. Of course, they were still older than Namgung Jun.
Perhaps because he was still the youngest—despite not falling behind in rank, martial prowess, or seniority—the veterans of the Heavenly Sword Hall still called Namgung Jun "the youngest" half-playfully and half-affectionately.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea for our youngest to test the new recruit's skills this time."
"That would be a good experience for him as well," Lee Se-ha readily nodded. "Shall we hear Jun's assessment of the newcomer?"
Namgung Jun turned his head to look at the man who was said to have recently joined. He looked quite old for a new recruit. His face was tanned dark by the sun, and he had an incredibly simple, honest look about him. His eyes, in particular, were round and clear.
If he had been holding a farming tool instead of the sword at his waist, he would have looked exactly like a farmer.
‘I heard he turned thirty a few years ago.’
An age where he could no longer be called a rising star. In other sects, it would have been difficult to enter as a recruit at his age, but the Azure Heaven Association was not bound by such things.
For what one carried in their heart was what mattered most.
Observing the recruit's stance, Namgung Jun asked, "Are you left-handed?"
"Yes. I've naturally been more comfortable using my left hand."
"The Left-Handed Sword."
It was rare to see the Left-Handed Sword in the Jianghu. Although some deliberately trained in it to exploit unfamiliar angles and the unique variations originating from the left hand, training and achieving mastery in it were equally difficult. The majority of martial artists who chose the path of the Left-Handed Sword eventually hit a wall and returned to the Right-Handed Sword.
‘What about this man?’
Namgung Jun raised his sword and nodded.
"Come."
"Please guide me, Senior."
At the recruit's words, the Heavenly Sword Hall veterans watching from the sidelines burst into laughter. The sight of Namgung Jun, whom they always called "the youngest," being addressed as "Senior" struck them as hilarious.
Despite the laughter around him, the recruit approached cautiously. A straight sword strike came down toward Namgung Jun's shoulder.
Clang!
Beginning with an upward slash that lightly deflected the sword, Namgung Jun's fierce onslaught began. He pressed forward relentlessly, as if to drive the recruit into a corner.
Each time, the recruit, his mouth slightly agape, struggled desperately to parry the strikes. His round eyes wavered.
‘He is more honest than I expected.’
There were no variations or unorthodox sword paths unique to the Left-Handed Sword. As if he had truly taken up the Left-Handed Sword simply because his left hand was more comfortable, the recruit's swordsmanship was straightforward.
‘His talent is not particularly outstanding.’
However, his swordsmanship was incredibly solid. It was born of effort, not talent. It meant his martial prowess had been built solidly through blood and sweat.
Of course, he couldn't have lacked talent entirely to have reached this realm. However, compared to the other swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall, it was safe to say his talent fell short. He was ordinary—no, closer to a slow learner.
Namgung Jun unleashed the Sookwoo Sword Technique.
As the increasingly dazzling variations poured down on him like wind and rain, the recruit grew dizzy trying to follow. Though his frantic movements were plain to see, he managed to block every single one of Namgung Jun's strikes.
Watching this, the Heavenly Sword Hall veterans were quite surprised.
"Hmm. There's nothing particularly surprising about his swordplay itself, but his foundation is incredibly solid."
"He built his basics well. It’s as if he spent his entire life training only in the Three Powers Sword Technique."
"First Clouds, watch closely. This is the power of basic training."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Meanwhile, the recruit was driven further into a corner. He had been pushed all the way to the edge of the sparring stage.
"Try and block this."
It was then. Namgung Jun's sword, which had been executing the Sookwoo Sword Technique, transformed once more. A thick wind of Sword Qi gathered around the blade.
It was the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique.
A strike that tore through the air fell vertically toward the recruit's head. Perhaps because Namgung Jun had warned him in advance, the recruit grit his teeth and slashed his sword upward.
Claaaaang!
With a deafening metallic screech, the recruit was pushed far back, crossing the boundary of the sparring stage. Even so, he held his ground, maintaining his sword stance until the very end. Although he had stepped off the stage, he did not drop his sword, nor did his posture collapse.
It was an indomitable stance. He lacked talent, but it was clear he had not wasted a single moment of the time he had been given.
"Phew..."
The recruit struggled to calm his heaving chest and catch his breath. Watching him maintain his Opening Stance until the very end, Namgung Jun lowered his sword.
The duel was enough for him to understand the newcomer.
"Recruit. What is your name?"
"I go by the name Yu Geun-su."
"Yu Geun-su. I will remember it. Welcome to the Heavenly Sword Hall."
Namgung Jun turned his head and nodded to Lee Se-ha. It meant he was highly pleased with the recruit.
* * *
The master and disciple walked side by side after the duel.
The master spoke to her disciple first.
"How is the recruit?"
"His talent may be lacking, but I like his swordsmanship. It is not the sword of someone who has wasted his time."
"You must have taken quite a liking to him."
Namgung Jun immediately agreed.
"Though his growth may be slow, he will surely become a swordsman who firmly defends the Heavenly Sword Hall in the future."
Lee Se-ha smiled at Namgung Jun's high praise.
"Then, Jun, you should accompany the recruit on his first mission."
Namgung Jun recalled his own first mission. Heo Il had accompanied him to observe how he behaved as a newcomer. It felt strange that he was now in a position to take responsibility for and evaluate a new recruit.
"Very well."
"To go on a first mission... you know, right?"
"Know what?"
Lee Se-ha tapped the bamboo hat Namgung Jun was wearing.
"That all recruits must reach the fifth stage of the Minor Derivation Sword Technique before they can go on their first mission."
"Ah."
Only then did Namgung Jun recall the rule. It was a rule he hadn't paid much attention to, as he had achieved grand completion in the Minor Derivation Sword Technique right away.
"The recruit has only just begun learning the Minor Derivation Sword Technique. And it seems to take him twice as long as others to learn it."
"Hmm. To that extent."
After contemplating for a moment, Namgung Jun smiled confidently.
"I will make sure he can go on his first mission within a month."