Chapter 19: Training (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: Training (2)
By the time the report on Namgung Jun reached the Ink Fragrance Department, a massive stir was already brewing within the Heavenly Sword Hall.
“I heard the youngest returned from his first mission. Is he safe?”
“Safe? You won’t be saying that once you hear what Namgung Jun accomplished.”
“Heo Il might be prone to exaggeration, but he’s not one to spin outright lies.”
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall couldn’t hide their astonishment as Heo Il recounted Namgung Jun’s exploits.
A fresh recruit, who had only just attained his Cloud rank, had single-handedly dismantled the Bae Gong Gang and subdued Sang Ho-no.
Granted, the martial arts of those unorthodox practitioners hovered around the third- and second-rate realms, but emerging completely unscathed from a chaotic melee on his very first mission was undeniably remarkable.
But that wasn’t all.
He had gone even further, slaying a Bright Order Rank in single combat and rescuing over a dozen children.
This was a feat that even a Third Cloud would have found challenging.
Of course, while Heo Il had provided significant assistance, there was no denying that Namgung Jun had played the pivotal role.
The members of the Heavenly Sword Hall had initially assumed Namgung Jun would struggle to apply his swordsmanship in actual combat. After all, a friendly duel and a life-or-death battle were entirely different beasts. They had hoped he would simply gain experience through minor tasks to build a solid foundation, but no one had expected him to perform so exceptionally.
“That kid… he was in the first-rate realm, right?”
“Since he can faintly infuse his sword with internal energy, he must have reached the full mastery of the first-rate realm.”
“It’s almost laughable to categorize him by realm alone. His talent with the blade is likely sharper than that of most peak swordsmen.”
As they continued to marvel, the swordsmen pictured Namgung Jun. The sword technique he displayed was something that clearly transcended his years. It was hard to believe he had been holding a sword for less than a month.
It was a truly terrifying talent for the sword.
His only flaw was his lagging cultivation, including his internal energy and external arts, but that was merely a matter of time.
Besides, Namgung Jun’s astounding talent did not seem confined to the sword alone.
“It is foolish to be surprised. You all need to train your eyes better,” Gong Jun-am, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up.
“For reasons unknown, his sword looks as though it has been tempered by the harsh winds of the Jianghu. If it isn’t experience, then it must be the realm of pure instinct and genius. The mission’s success was a natural outcome.”
It had been a very long time since Gong Jun-am had spoken at such length. That alone was a testament to how astonishing Namgung Jun’s martial prowess was.
Hearing his words, the other swordsmen fell silent for a moment. They now fully realized that Namgung Jun’s aptitude was not limited to simply swinging a sword.
“By the way, where is the youngest? He deserves some praise.”
“The Hall Master has already gone to his quarters herself. They must be meeting by now.”
“My, my. The Hall Master’s affection for her disciple is truly immense.”
* * *
“Phew.”
Finishing his qi circulation, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.
He had sensed the cold yin qi surging up, threatening to trigger a seizure, and had repeatedly circulated his qi to soothe his Nine Yin Severed Meridian. While this wouldn’t prevent the seizures entirely, it would help reduce their frequency and intensity.
As he took stock of his internal state, Namgung Jun stroked the scabbard resting beside him.
'As I thought, external arts are what I need most right now.'
Although his internal energy was not yet profound, his biggest problem lay in his physical body.
For a martial artist, the balanced growth of Essence, Qi, and Spirit was crucial. Only then could one eventually reach the realm of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown.
At present, the aspect lagging most was his Essence, which corresponded to the physical body. He had felt this deficiency acutely during his recent mission.
Having lived as a sword attendant while suffering from severed meridians, his physical condition was bound to be poor. Even an ordinary beggar likely had a better physique than him. Although he had begun training as a martial artist after meeting Lee Se-ha, his wretched body could not be transformed in such a short time.
'Above all, the Nine Yin Severed Meridian has a massive impact on my physical body.'
The Nine Yin Severed Meridian offered no direct benefits to his body. Instead, it interfered with the innate yang qi of a male, hindering his physical growth. Consequently, Namgung Jun was a head shorter and much slighter than others his age.
He would have to suppress the Nine Yin Severed Meridian as much as possible and advance his mastery of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula to attain a physique suitable for a martial artist.
'I should look for an external art training method in the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.'
In his past life, ordinary external training would have sufficed, but now he possessed a unique body born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridian. Naturally, he needed a new external art tailored to his current condition.
Lost in thought, Namgung Jun looked toward the door and spoke.
“You may enter.”
“My disciple!”
Lee Se-ha, who had been standing guard while waiting for him to finish his qi circulation, stepped into the room the moment she was permitted.
“I heard all about it! Jun, is there anything you can’t do?”
“I am still lacking.”
“That’s a good thing! It means there’s room for growth!”
Namgung Jun’s gaze shifted to the armful of books she was carrying.
“Master, what are those?”
“Ah, these? I brought them from the Self-Reflection Martial Repository. I thought they would be good for you to read.”
Iron Limit Body Forging Art
Comprehensive Theory of Severed Meridians
Yin-Cold Illness Record
Outer-Cleansing Unified Splendor Art
Three Harmonies Divine Form
Glancing at the titles, he saw a mix of external art manuals, medical texts, and books on severed meridians and cold qi. Every single one of them was exactly what he needed right now.
“We aren’t physicians, but I think it’s important to have some knowledge. Let’s study these whenever we have time, not just focus on martial arts.”
Lee Se-ha raised her chin slightly, a confident expression on her face.
“I read through all of them while you were away on your mission. Your master will teach you well. It’ll be much faster than reading them alone.”
A faint smile touched Namgung Jun’s lips.
As his master, Lee Se-ha had accurately grasped her disciple’s condition and problems, and she had sought out her own way to resolve them. Seeing his youthful master put in such effort for him, the corners of Namgung Jun’s mouth curled upward.
“Thank you, Master.”
“It’s only natural.”
With that, Lee Se-ha tapped the sword at her waist.
“But regardless, the sword must still come first, right?”
“Of course.”
Understanding her meaning, Namgung Jun picked up his sword from beside the bed.
Master and disciple headed to the training ground side by side.
* * *
Namgung Jun and Lee Se-ha stood facing each other on the training ground.
“Jun, why don’t you try executing the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders?”
“I will.”
Facing each other, master and disciple placed their hands on their sword hilts. After a brief exchange of glances, Namgung Jun unleashed a swift strike. In the blink of an eye, the blade lunged forward, nearly brushing against Lee Se-ha’s collar.
Clang!
Lee Se-ha’s slowly drawn sword deflected the thrust by a hair’s breadth. With a subtle vibration of her wrist, her blade curved and flowed, tracing a succession of elegant arcs. Her unhurried sword path blocked every strike of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders. Rather than targeting Namgung Jun directly, her soft, slow strikes seized control of the surrounding space.
'A mix of the Blunt Sword and Soft-Sword principles.'
The core principle of the Blunt Sword was to dominate space and form through stillness in motion, executing the optimal strike regardless of the opponent’s actions. Because of this, it was a highly complex and difficult martial art to learn, making it fascinating that Lee Se-ha had mastered it.
'I wonder how well the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula harmonizes with the Blunt Sword.'
His curiosity piqued, Namgung Jun began to accelerate his sword. His blue sleeves, which had been fluttering wildly, were suddenly blown straight back by the sheer speed.
Clash! Clash! Clash!
Namgung Jun’s sword grew infinitely faster, while Lee Se-ha’s remained slow. Yet, the lightning he unleashed failed to reach her. Her strikes, weaving together like a net, descended lightly to softly yet firmly suppress the forms of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders.
'Impressive.'
Through this clash of blades, Namgung Jun saw many things. She was truly the Hall Master of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
The subtle essence of the Blunt Sword governed the flow. The subtle essence of the Soft-Sword principle exquisitely connected the beginning and end of each strike. In the fleeting instant she broke his attack, her counter even carried a hint of the Swift Sword.
Lee Se-ha was binding various principles of the sword into a single blade.
Had she been an enemy, she would have transitioned to the Swift Sword the moment she broke his flow and aimed for his vitals. But since this was an instructional duel with him, she merely countered his swordsmanship.
'As expected, there are still many areas that need refining.'
Although he had created the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders based on the Swift Sword from the Self-Reflection Martial Repository, it was still lacking in many ways. Even now, his sword path was being repeatedly disrupted by her strikes.
After exchanging over fifty blows, Namgung Jun and Lee Se-ha stepped back simultaneously.
“Master, what is the name of that sword technique?”
“The Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance.”
“It is a superior peerless art.”
“Indeed. The manuals in the Self-Reflection Martial Repository classify it as a technique to be learned by the Fourth Cloud.”
Namgung Jun nodded. Having experienced the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance firsthand, he knew it deserved that classification. His hands began to itch.
'I will make it mine.'
His opening stance for the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders, which had leaned forward, shifted. His center of gravity sank, and his stance widened by an inch. As he tightened his grip, the eyes of the Heavenly Sword Hall members watching the duel widened.
'The opening stance of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance?'
'What is he planning? Is he trying to mimic it? Just from experiencing it, without even seeing the manual?'
Namgung Jun immediately answered their unspoken questions.
Whoosh!
Channeling the weight anchored through his knees into his strike, he drew a billowing, cloud-like sword path. Though it was an incredibly slow strike, it incorporated the essence of the Soft-Sword principle, dispersing force in all directions and swallowing the space to his side. Having seized control of one direction, his blade plunged toward Lee Se-ha’s shoulder.
In response, Lee Se-ha smoothly retreated and swung her sword upward.
Clash!
After a single exchange, Lee Se-ha’s eyes sparkled.
'He isn’t just mimicking it.'
He hadn’t merely copied the form; the core principles of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance were fully embedded in his strike. Judging by the Qi Wave it produced, he was compensating for the proper internal energy flow with his split-second wit and innate talent.
'To do this without even looking at the manual!'
Astonished by his terrifying talent, Lee Se-ha grew curious to see how far he could go. Though she wanted to tell him the manual's mnemonic formula right away, she refrained. She knew that what Namgung Jun realized on his own through clashing blades would be invaluable to his future growth.
The slow strikes of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance danced quietly and leisurely, like a pair of butterflies. Despite being an extremely static duel, the tension was immense. The slightest mistake from either side would lead to immediate disaster.
Nevertheless, the master and disciple exchanged over seventy clashes, repeatedly seizing and losing control of space and form.
'Amusing.'
Namgung Jun marveled at Lee Se-ha’s talent, which allowed her to match his pace. As someone who remembered his past life as the Sword Emperor, it would have been difficult for anyone of ordinary caliber to properly act as his master. Yet, Lee Se-ha was doing so flawlessly.
'Meeting Master is truly the greatest stroke of fortune in this life.'
Clang!
Executing the exact same form, the swords of master and disciple locked smoothly in midair, letting out a light metallic ring.
“At this rate, you’ve instantly achieved seventy percent mastery of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance compared to the manual.”
“It is thanks to your teaching, Master. You concentrated the core principles into your forms and demonstrated them repeatedly.”
“As expected, only my disciple truly understands me.”
Watching Lee Se-ha beam, Namgung Jun felt a deep thirst. Although he had successfully learned the new sword technique, he was not yet satisfied.
'It is still not enough.'
Namgung Jun clasped his hands together and spoke.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“Please show me your Swift Sword as well. I understand the Swift Sword is your true signature technique.”
Namgung Jun intended to absorb Lee Se-ha’s Swift Sword as well.