Chapter 132: Four Clouds (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 132: Four Clouds (1)
Having safely returned to the main castle of the Azure Heaven Association, Namgung Jun headed straight for the Ink Fragrance Department.
Yun Gyeong-jong carefully reviewed the report and letter from Jang Mu-yeon that Namgung Jun had submitted, then nodded.
"I have received it safely."
Setting down the letter, Yun Gyeong-jong let out a soft breath, warm with a flutter of excitement. Reading about Namgung Jun's exploits in the report, he couldn't help but feel a thrill.
"Once again, you have exceeded expectations on this mission."
The head disciple of the Wandering Battle Venerable was a swordsman whose reputation and martial prowess stood high even among the peak experts of the Jianghu. Even the fiercely proud masters of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects hesitated to draw their blades before the moniker of the Tide-Piercing Sword.
If Jang Mu-yeon had not suddenly selected Namgung Jun, Yun Gyeong-jong had planned to dispatch one of the Hall Masters of the Three Powerhouses. The Tide-Piercing Sword was simply that formidable; in a situation where victory had to be guaranteed, he was an opponent one could not underestimate.
Yet, not only did he defeat the head disciple, but he also won the recognition of the Wandering Battle Venerable himself.
Yun Gyeong-jong took special note of the promise Namgung Jun had forged with the Lord of Fierce Battle Valley.
This means he was captivated by Namgung Jun's talent and martial arts. And he is a man with the highest standards in the world when it comes to martial arts.
Yun Gyeong-jong could assert one thing with confidence: even if another Hall Master had gone on this mission and defeated the Tide-Piercing Sword, they would not have been able to secure a new promise with the Lord of Fierce Battle Valley.
This outcome was an achievement that only Namgung Jun could have accomplished.
Thanks to the promise Namgung Jun had secured, the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord's future movements would have a bit more breathing room. This was because the Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord traversed the entire world in the realm of the peerless, meaning the Azure Heaven Association now had a small margin of flexibility in deploying its forces.
The small opening Namgung Jun had created might have a massive impact in the future. Aside from the success of the mission itself, this was a tremendous contribution.
While he had expected Namgung Jun to succeed, he had never anticipated him achieving this much. Yun Gyeong-jong's smile deepened as he looked at the young man who always delivered results that defied expectations.
"The Sword Lord also attached an evaluation of you. Have you seen it?"
"I have not."
"It is brief, but you should take a look."
Namgung Jun examined the bottom of the letter Yun Gyeong-jong handed him. The handwriting, a perfect reflection of Jang Mu-yeon's temperament, possessed a strange power that drew the eye, looking as if it might leap off the page and dance at any moment.
When the whims of heaven dance upon the play of the blade, what does a mere four clouds matter?
Yun Gyeong-jong stroked his beard as he watched Namgung Jun read Jang Mu-yeon's words.
"You have successfully completed the mission and received the Sword Lord's recognition. Your promotion to the Fourth Cloud will proceed smoothly."
Namgung Jun nodded humbly. His expression was firm, showing that the possibility of failure had never even crossed his mind.
"Will my promotion to the Fourth Cloud take place today?"
Yun Gyeong-jong shook his head.
"From the Fourth Cloud onward, a separate ceremony is held for promotions. The weight and symbolism of the rank change starting from the Fourth Cloud."
Namgung Jun understood. The Fourth Clouds of the Azure Heaven Association were all peak experts who had achieved the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. In other sects, they would be prominent figures actively operating in the Jianghu, representing the sect's military might and prestige. When intelligence organizations investigated a particular sect, the first thing they monitored was the movements of its peak experts.
The Fourth Clouds of the Azure Heaven Association were no different. Every time one of the Hall Masters went on a mission, all eyes were on them.
"The Jianghu will be shocked once again. To think the Azure Heaven Association has produced yet another peak expert so young."
When Lee Se-ha was promoted to the Fourth Cloud and became the Heavenly Sword Hall Master, the Jianghu had been thrown into a stir. Even the martial worlders who had dismissed the rumors as exaggeration were left speechless by the deeds she performed afterward.
This time, it will be far noisier than when the Heavenly Sword Hall Master was promoted.
Even Lee Se-ha had only achieved the Unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit at the age of twenty—an extremely rare feat in the Jianghu. It was a miraculous rate of growth, akin to what the peerless experts of the Five Great Masters under Heaven or the Two Ultimates, who reigned at the absolute peak, might have achieved in their youth.
Namgung Jun, however, had gone a step further, reaching this stage at the age of seventeen. The Jianghu was bound to be thrown into an uproar. This was also certain to have a massive impact on the morale of the Azure Heaven Association's Clouds operating throughout the lands.
For Yun Gyeong-jong, who meticulously coordinated the association's affairs, Namgung Jun's very existence was a blessing.
"There is still time before the promotion ceremony. Go rest and recover from your journey."
"Thank you."
After Namgung Jun withdrew, Yun Gyeong-jong, left alone in his office, fell deep into thought. Only after a long while did he murmur in a low voice.
"Have the conditions finally been met to put it into action?"
*
In the training ground of the Heavenly Sword Hall, its members were gathered, chatting in low voices.
"Our youngest is finally promoting to the Fourth Cloud."
"We won't even be able to call him 'the youngest' anymore."
"To be honest, we should have stopped using that title a long time ago. We just kept using it as a term of endearment."
The senior members of the Heavenly Sword Hall smiled as they looked at Namgung Jun. As soon as he had returned, news of his confirmed promotion to the Fourth Cloud had spread like wildfire. To celebrate, the Heavenly Sword Hall had finished training early and gathered in the training ground. Some of the Clouds had already gone to an inn within the main castle to buy alcohol and food.
The senior members congratulated Namgung Jun, lightly patting his head or placing their hands on his shoulders. Their close, familiar gestures were filled with encouragement and affection. They could still vividly picture his first day in the hall—emaciated and in a wretched state.
Yet, that very same youngest member had somehow become the core of the Heavenly Sword Hall and surpassed them all. They couldn't help but feel incredibly proud and deeply moved.
"I guess this is the last time we can treat you so casually."
"You've worked hard, kid. Though, of course, you'll keep climbing even higher."
Receiving the congratulations of the Heavenly Sword Hall's swordsmen, Namgung Jun turned his head and asked, "I don't see Man Ye-won."
Heo Il, who was sitting beside Namgung Jun wiping his sword blade, looked up.
"As soon as she heard the news about you, Young Master Namgung, she rushed off. Word is she went to sneak out some of the Head of the Elders' Council's prized liquor. I heard it's a precious brew infused with spirit elixirs."
"Really? Aren't we going to get dragged into this and scolded for no reason later?" Yu Geun-su, who had brought a load of items to prepare for the feast, frowned slightly in worry.
Observing Yu Geun-su's movements, which had become somewhat smoother, Namgung Jun smiled faintly.
"Your skills have improved quite a bit."
"Is that so? While you were in Hunan Province, Senior Namgung, I managed to complete three missions myself. Though they were trivial compared to yours."
Namgung Jun shook his head with a gentle smile. "There is no such thing as a trivial mission. Isn't that right?"
Realizing the meaning behind his words, Yu Geun-su nodded sheepishly.
Gong Jun-am, who was standing silently with his arms crossed, spoke up. "Perhaps because he went through a major mission in Hubei Province, Yu Geun-su's sword has become much firmer. With a bit more effort, he should be able to rise to the Second Cloud."
"Senior Gong, your evaluation is quite generous," Namgung Jun noted with slight admiration.
At his words, Gong Jun-am merely closed his eyes gently.
Namgung Jun looked back and forth between the two men standing by his side. Though he didn't say it aloud, the auras of Heo Il and Gong Jun-am had also become far more refined. The two swordsmen were steadily advancing. Although Namgung Jun had offered guidance to everyone in the Heavenly Sword Hall, these two had shown particularly remarkable growth. He felt that one day, he would see them promote to the Fourth Cloud as well.
"Hm?"
"What's that?"
The attention of the senior members, who had been chatting among themselves while waiting for the food and drinks, converged on a single spot: the main gate of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
Slam!
The main gate burst open, and a cart appeared. The one pulling it was not a horse or an ox, but Man Ye-won. The cart she pulled was piled high with food and alcohol.
"Agh!" Arriving at the Heavenly Sword Hall, Man Ye-won shouted, her face completely flushed.
"Lady Man, what are you doing?"
"...Grandfather caught me."
"Ah. So the Head of the Elders' Council punished you."
When Heo Il burst into laughter after asking his dumbfounded question, the other swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall began to laugh along, one by one.
"I knew you'd get caught red-handed eventually."
"Don't tease her too much. She did her best in her own way."
"But she really brought a lot, didn't she?"
Man Ye-won's face was burning hot, but she bit her lip and approached Namgung Jun.
"Grandfather heard the news and packed some good food and drinks for us. He told us to enjoy ourselves. He also congratulated you on your promotion to the Fourth Cloud."
"Please convey my gratitude to the Head of the Elders' Council."
"Ugh!" Man Ye-won let out a deep sigh and vented her frustration on the laughing seniors around her. "Don't just stand there laughing, help me!"
"Yes, yes, of course we should help."
"Did you pull this all the way from the Elders' Council? You've had a rough time."
Once the food and drinks were set up, everyone from the Heavenly Sword Hall gathered. Lee Se-ha also joined them after wrapping up her backlog of work.
"Let's drink!"
"Today, we won't stop drinking until we see the youngest get drunk!"
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall vied with one another to fill Namgung Jun's cup to the brim. Even though he kept draining his cup, it showed no signs of staying empty.
"He's surprisingly good at drinking."
"There's really nothing he can't do."
Normally, Namgung Jun would have paced himself, but today, he did not refuse a single cup offered by the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall. Naturally, he did not use his internal energy to suppress the alcohol either. He simply wanted to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere with everyone.
Emptying his cup, Namgung Jun suddenly stood up, holding his sword. At this, the Heavenly Sword Hall members looked at him with questioning eyes.
"Jun? Are you drunk?" Lee Se-ha asked worriedly.
Namgung Jun shook his head. "I have always wanted to properly show this sword technique to everyone in the Heavenly Sword Hall. I believe this is the perfect occasion."
He slowly drew the Eternal Righteous Sword. Though his face was flushed from the alcohol, the moment he drew his sword, his eyes turned incredibly cold and focused. The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall quickly stepped back, carrying their food and drinks.
The space wasn't particularly large, but it was more than enough for Namgung Jun. After all, he was not executing the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique with its full force.
"This is a sword technique I was able to create because I joined the Heavenly Sword Hall. The swords of everyone here are imbued within it."
With a smile, Namgung Jun lightly swung the Eternal Righteous Sword, beginning a sword dance. Since he did not unleash his Sword Qi, no blue mist drifted out, but the moonlight cascading down like a curtain took its place.
Namgung Jun performed a sword dance based on the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique. The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall watched his performance with gentle smiles. They had all heard of his Vast Sky Boundless Sword Technique—a sword art created with them in his heart. They were simply grateful and proud that he held them in such high regard.
None of the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen spoke a word, quietly watching his sword dance. Though laughter and chatter had ceased, the atmosphere in the hall had grown even deeper and more profound.
*
It was the day of the Fourth Cloud promotion ceremony.
The Great Training Ground of the Azure Heaven Association's main castle.
The Heavenly Sword Hall had already departed for the venue, and Namgung Jun was walking there alone. Beside him was Kang Mong of the Ink Fragrance Department.
"Time has flown. To think you are already promoting to the Fourth Cloud."
"It reminds me of when I first became a Cloud of the Azure Heaven Association."
"Indeed it does."
Since Kang Mong had personally conducted Namgung Jun's entrance exam, the moment felt especially profound to him. Having faced Namgung Jun's sword himself, Kang Mong had been absolutely certain that the boy before him would one day soar without end.
Suppressing his rising emotions, Kang Mong spoke in a calm voice. "I won't be able to speak down to you anymore. So, let me say this now."
Kang Mong patted Namgung Jun on the shoulder.
"You've worked hard up to this point. I will always wish you success, so keep charging forward without end. The Ink Fragrance Department will always support you from behind."
Kang Mong stopped walking and stared intently at Namgung Jun. Soon, a faint smile appeared on his face, and he clasped his hands together, bowing politely.
"Please, go on in."
Nodding, Namgung Jun took a long stride into the Great Training Ground.