Chapter 131: Fierce Battle Valley (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: Fierce Battle Valley (4)
Geuk Jeon's excited voice echoed through Fierce Battle Valley.
Looking at the young swordsman, the Lord of Fierce Battle Valley’s eyes flashed brightly, as if he had just laid eyes on a rare treasure.
"Namgung Jun. How old are you this year?"
"I will be eighteen when winter arrives."
"Your swordsmanship is still young, yet it will only grow stronger from here."
The fighters of Fierce Battle Valley, who had been listening intently, finally found their voices.
"The Lord of Fierce Battle Valley acknowledged him?"
"It was truly astonishing. Even if he was holding back, is there any other martial artist who could trade blows like that with one of the Five Great Masters under Heaven?"
"The Azure Star Sword. And the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique… I must etch those names into my mind."
The atmosphere was one of shock, but no one could disagree with Geuk Jeon's assessment. The martial prowess Namgung Jun had displayed was truly astonishing, and the sword strikes he unleashed felt almost divine.
"This makes no sense."
Oh Byeong's eyes trembled as he watched Geuk Jeon and Namgung Jun standing face-to-face.
"He's a year younger than me, yet he has already achieved such profound mastery?"
He had been brought to his knees, utterly defeated and unable to do a single thing. The loss was all the more devastating because his opponent was of a similar age.
But looking at him now, Namgung Jun was standing in an entirely different realm. He had defeated the Eldest Martial Brother and traded blows freely with his own master—something Oh Byeong had never even dared to imagine.
The gap between them felt overwhelmingly vast. It was as distant as the space between heaven and earth.
Yet, the boy before his eyes had accomplished it all so effortlessly, as if showing off.
"That boy's name will be spoken across the realm in the future."
"Master?" Oh Byeong replied blankly, startled to find Geuk Jeon suddenly standing before him.
Looking at Oh Byeong's hollow eyes, Geuk Jeon shook his head.
"Why? Does witnessing an untouchable talent make you feel utterly powerless?"
Oh Byeong didn't answer, his mouth clamped shut.
"The disparity in talent. It is a wall that every martial artist must face eventually."
"..."
Geuk Jeon lightly tapped Oh Byeong's chest with his fist.
"If you are a fighter of Fierce Battle Valley, you must overcome it."
"If I overcome it… will I be able to reach him?"
"Who knows. But it will certainly be extremely difficult." Geuk Jeon looked straight into Oh Byeong's eyes and said, "Before you worry about that, shouldn't you first win the battle against yourself?"
Oh Byeong couldn't bring himself to look at his master's back as Geuk Jeon walked past him.
* * *
A celebratory feast was held in Fierce Battle Valley, with Geuk Jeon treating Namgung Jun as an honored guest.
"Even I have never been treated to drinks in Fierce Battle Valley. This is rather disappointing," Jang Mu-yeon teased.
"Hmph. Even you couldn't have shown such skill at his age."
"I can't argue with that." Shrugging, Jang Mu-yeon chuckled and tilted his cup. A faint, proud smile played on his lips, hidden behind the rim.
Geuk Jeon laughed as he filled Namgung Jun's cup. "You seem to hold your liquor quite well. I like that."
"This much is nothing."
"Hoh." Geuk Jeon gulped down his drink and spoke. "In a way, your martial arts and mine stand at complete opposites. Do you know why?"
"Our perspectives on forms and how we utilize them are different."
"Correct."
While the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique was free from forms, Geuk Jeon's Battle-Wandering Formula was bound by them. While Namgung Jun pursued freedom, Geuk Jeon relied on a fanatical, systematic obsession with forms to raise his chances of victory.
"That's what made it all the more entertaining," Geuk Jeon said.
"It was of great help to me as well," Namgung Jun replied.
Geuk Jeon looked around at the fighters of Fierce Battle Valley drinking nearby. "The freedom you pursue—do you think future generations will be able to inherit it as it is?"
Namgung Jun pondered for a moment. The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique was not an easy style to learn. That was only natural for a technique containing superior martial principles, but the inherent nature of the art itself was also challenging.
Freedom meant there was no set path. Without a proper understanding of the insights and principles embedded within the technique, even taking the first steps would be nigh impossible. Unless one possessed exceptional talent, it might prove too difficult.
"I will have to keep refining it. The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique will continue to evolve."
"Is that so?" Geuk Jeon looked at his disciples and the martial artists of Fierce Battle Valley drinking around them. "I pride myself on having a sense for battle that ranks among the top three in the realm. The Battle-Wandering Formula is a martial art that systematizes this sense. It's essentially me forcing my innate instincts onto others."
"Were you successful?"
"To some extent. However, differences in individual talent inevitably led to varying levels of achievement, and hitting a wall was unavoidable."
Namgung Jun stared at his reflection in his cup. Having fought Geuk Jeon right after Jeon Hu-seong, he understood. Since both had mastered the Battle-Wandering Formula, their forms felt similar at a glance, but the underlying sensation diverged, especially during critical moments that could determine victory or defeat.
"Senior, is there a reason you went to such lengths to systematize your personal instincts into a martial art?"
"Because if other martial artists can become stronger and draw closer to my level through this technique, it is also a path for me to become even stronger."
"Systematizing an individual's innate instincts into a martial art to pass it down to others..."
As Namgung Jun murmured in thought, Geuk Jeon glanced toward Jang Mu-yeon.
"The lineage of the Harmonious Music-Reflection Dance will end when that fellow dies. But your Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique will be different. Of course, that depends on how much effort you put into it."
"You are giving me advice."
"Isn't that only natural for a fellow martial artist? It is a great pity for divine arts and peerless techniques to vanish from the Jianghu. I believe that not only creating a martial art but fully passing it down to future generations is the true mark of a grandmaster."
"Passing it down to future generations. That is an important topic." Namgung Jun bowed his head slightly and refilled Geuk Jeon's cup. "Thanks to you, Senior, I have gained a profound topic to ponder."
"Then repay me by becoming even stronger. Even though you created it, your current Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique has likely not reached grand completion. I wish to experience the fully perfected version one day. To be honest, my hands are itching even now."
"I will make sure that happens. At that time, you won't need to hold back like you did today."
"What did you say?" Seeing Namgung Jun's confident face, Geuk Jeon burst into a hearty laugh. "Thanks to you, the mindsets of my eldest and youngest disciples have changed. Both were stuck behind their own walls, but you have given them something new to ponder. Consider this a fitting reward."
Namgung Jun looked at Geuk Jeon and the other martial artists of Fierce Battle Valley. It was undeniable that they caused all kinds of trouble, driven mad by their love for fighting. However, their violent martial power was never directed at the weak. They were men who poured their lives solely into the advancement of martial arts and testing their limits.
Their rough and crude methods had them labeled as part of the Unorthodox Faction. Namgung Jun believed that while Fierce Battle Valley was undeniably unorthodox, they were not evil. Because they maintained a baseline of righteousness, Jang Mu-yeon was using the duel agreement to prevent them from joining the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
"If you permit it, Senior, I would like to add my name to the duel agreement with Fierce Battle Valley."
"Hoh. Are you saying you can stand in for the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord?"
Before answering, Namgung Jun glanced at Jang Mu-yeon, who tilted his head with an intrigued expression—a gesture telling him to go ahead.
"The Sword Lord is someone who operates with the entire realm as his stage. This is to prevent a repeat of last time, where the promise couldn't be kept. Only when promises are kept can trust continue to deepen, can it not?"
"Trust deepening?" Geuk Jeon stared at Namgung Jun for a moment, his smile widening. "You rascal, you have a sly side to you. You're aiming for something much bigger."
"Things can always change depending on the situation and one's position."
"Does the Azure Heaven Association not treat the Demonic and Heretical Paths as enemies? We, too, are ultimately one of the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers."
Setting down his cup, Namgung Jun replied with a serious expression. "To be precise, we deal with those who abandon the responsibilities of martial arts and stray from human morality. I have no intention of blindly dividing people based on outdated prejudices of Orthodox and Unorthodox. The Orthodox Faction does not consist solely of chivalrous heroes, nor does the Unorthodox Faction consist solely of evil villains."
Wiping the smile from his face, Geuk Jeon held out his cup toward Namgung Jun, who quietly picked up the bottle and filled it.
"Promises and trust. So that is how you wish to contend with Fierce Battle Valley. I accept."
"I will not back down."
Geuk Jeon and Namgung Jun clinked their cups.
That night, a new agreement was forged between Fierce Battle Valley and the Azure Heaven Association.
* * *
Walking along the mountain path, Jang Mu-yeon toyed with his earring.
To think he would accomplish this much.
He hadn't hesitated when choosing Namgung Jun as his companion for the mission. Although Jeon Hu-seong's reputation was high, he had never once thought Namgung Jun might lose. From the very beginning, he had brought Namgung Jun along with the intention of winning every duel in Fierce Battle Valley.
Yet, he had not expected Namgung Jun to not only defeat Jeon Hu-seong with ease but also showcase a brand-new sword technique, completely capturing the interest of the Lord of Fierce Battle Valley.
The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique…
It was a sword technique that subtly carried the essence of the Harmonious Music-Reflection Dance. In essence, however, it was a completely different art. It was a sword style that perfectly embodied the providence of heaven.
There was no exaggeration in Geuk Jeon's evaluation. The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique created by Namgung Jun was undoubtedly a divine art, a peerless technique rarely seen in the Jianghu.
It would not fall short even when pitted against any martial art from the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, the Three Sects and One Gang, or the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers.
A young swordsman possessing a new peerless technique, along with world-shaking talent. The Lord of Fierce Battle Valley seemed completely captivated by him.
And to make such a proposal at the end… This mission was a massive success.
Reflecting on what had transpired, Jang Mu-yeon came to a halt. Before he knew it, he had reached a fork in the road.
"It would be best for us to part ways here."
"Are you not returning to headquarters, Sword Lord?"
"Mm. I have another mission immediately. I rested for too long, so I have that much more work piled up." Jang Mu-yeon tapped Namgung Jun's bamboo hat. "Thanks to you, I saved a lot of energy. I suppose this counts as a great contribution."
"Is that so?"
Jang Mu-yeon handed Namgung Jun a neatly folded letter. "This is the mission report I wrote in advance, along with my evaluation of you. Deliver this to the Ink Lord."
"Understood."
"Heh. What a blunt fellow." Winking, Jang Mu-yeon turned and departed without any lingering attachment. "See you next time."
"I wish you victory, Sword Lord."
Only after Jang Mu-yeon had disappeared into the distance with long, easy strides did Namgung Jun turn to leave.
This duel was of immense help.
How many opportunities were there in the Jianghu to duel a peerless expert without the threat of death? He had gained so much from the match with the Wandering Battle Venerable.
Though he had appeared to hold his ground effortlessly, every single exchange had been a life-or-death crisis. If not for his past life's experience as the Sword Emperor, the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique, and the Cloud Mantle Embracing Sorrowful Thunder, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few moves.
It was as if this fortuitous encounter had been made possible only because the connections and experiences of both his past and present lives had merged into one.
Even so, the strength of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult is truly formidable.
Though he had reached the level of a supreme expert who had achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, this was merely the beginning. Starting with the Demonic Cult Leader, one of the Two Ultimates, the Cult was teeming with peerless and supreme experts under his command.
The greatest power under heaven in the current Jianghu: the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.
Once I rise to the rank of the Fourth Cloud, I will inevitably clash with them much more often.
Namgung Jun tightly gripped the hilt of the Eternal Righteous Sword as he made his way back.