Chapter 21: Training (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: Training (4)
After checking Namgung Jun's basic physical condition, the members of the Iron Tower Hall shook their heads.
Although he had clearly trained and nourished himself in his own way, his body was as emaciated as a mummy. There was barely any flesh to be found, let alone muscle.
It was a pitiful physique, hardly fitting for a martial artist.
"To think he could channel that much Sword Force with a body like this... Incredible. Is that even possible?"
"Hah. It's more than marvelous; it's terrifying."
"How on earth does he draw out that kind of power? Is there some secret to it?"
Some of the Iron Tower Hall members present had witnessed Namgung Jun’s victory in the martial tournament, and they let out gasps of awe and admiration.
"I expected it to some extent, but I didn't realize his body was in such a serious state."
"It couldn't be helped. He suffered quite a bit as a sword attendant."
"His name was Deoksam, wasn't it? Because of that ignorant fool, an incredible martial talent was almost buried."
The Iron Tower Hall Master, Dan Jung-se, let out a low groan as he looked at Namgung Jun, then nodded.
"Hmm. You'll need to receive my external arts training."
"I've heard of it. Are you truly going to teach me your personal martial art?"
"It's not so grand as to be called a personal martial art. It is merely a guide to training more efficiently and effectively."
Dan Jung-se looked at the Iron Tower Hall members before him.
"If it were up to me, I would share this external arts training method with everyone in the Azure Heaven Association, but even looking after the Iron Tower Hall is overwhelming right now."
"Why is that?"
Dan Jung-se crossed his arms and flexed his muscles. The way they pulsed, as if they were living creatures, was truly astonishing.
"The human body is incredibly complex; the deeper you delve, the more you realize it. It's not something that can be explained with a simple mnemonic. Misunderstandings are common and can lead to injury instead of progress."
"So direct instruction is essential."
"Indeed. But I can't provide that when I'm away on missions, so the circumstances aren't right."
Dan Jung-se looked at a few of the hall members.
"A few of them can now teach the basics in my stead, but they still lack the skill to teach the advanced course."
"But is it alright for you to spend your time on me?"
"Of course. Every member of the Iron Tower Hall has mastered the basics, so none of them need my immediate attention!"
Dan Jung-se raised his fist. Its thick, protruding bones made it seem larger than Namgung Jun's head.
"And I haven't agreed to teach you yet."
"What must I do?"
"Grit! Show me your grit. Prove that you can endure my external arts training!"
At that moment, a heavy wave of Qi erupted from Dan Jung-se's entire body.
Namgung Jun nodded, seeming to understand.
"I will prove it."
* * *
Namgung Jun and Dan Jung-se stood on the sparring stage of the Iron Tower Hall, surrounded by members who had gathered to watch with curious eyes.
"Endure until I stop my attacks. If you do, I will acknowledge you."
"Very well."
"It won't be easy. Though, of course, I will control my strength."
Boom!
The moment Namgung Jun nodded, Dan Jung-se's heavy step shattered the floor of the sparring stage.
It was a step so heavy it seemed to crush the very ground.
With every stride he took, the floor splintered, sending debris flying in all directions. Majestic waves of Qi poured from him with every step, exerting considerable pressure on Namgung Jun all on its own.
Namgung Jun recalled what Gong Jun-am had told him about Dan Jung-se.
'Was it called the Rock-Trampling Heavy Steps? He said it was a footwork technique he created himself.'
He had heard that all the martial arts Dan Jung-se practiced were of his own creation. He was forging a new path by establishing his own unique martial lineage.
In the process, the Iron Tower Hall, which grew stronger alongside him, had newly claimed a spot among the Three Powerhouses.
'The Heavenly Sword Hall must also take a place among the Three Powerhouses.'
Although it hadn't been long since he joined the Heavenly Sword Hall, Namgung Jun felt a strong sense of belonging. His master was the Hall Master, and its sword-obsessed members each harbored their own sense of chivalry.
Seeing the Heavenly Sword Hall raise their swords for the sake of chivalry often reminded him of the Namcheon Palace from his past life. Furthermore, having received so much goodwill while being treated as the youngest, he naturally wanted to repay them.
Therefore, once his own creation of a new martial art reached a certain level, Namgung Jun intended to teach his sword technique to the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall, just as they had selflessly tried to teach him their swordsmanship.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Namgung Jun faced Dan Jung-se. There was a unique feeling in meeting a man who was already doing what he himself planned to do.
'Even if I don't get the external arts training method, I'll gain a lot just by clashing with him directly.'
In an instant, the massive, solid figure was right before his eyes.
Just as the giant's shadow swallowed him, a blue sword strike bloomed.
Clang!
The sword, which had been drawing soft, consecutive curves like cumulus clouds, was pushed back in an instant.
The fist Dan Jung-se thrust forward was incredibly heavy and fast. An ordinary iron mace wouldn't be this formidable.
'If I had faced him head-on with a Heavy Sword, it would have been over right then.'
The sword stance Namgung Jun had instinctively deployed was the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance.
He had received special instruction on the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance after personally experiencing it during his duel with Lee Se-ha. Thanks to this, Namgung Jun had raised his proficiency with the stance in a short time—enough to deflect Dan Jung-se's fists.
Spinning on the spot, Namgung Jun slowly drew his sword horizontally. The gentle, cloud-like strike of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance softly pushed Dan Jung-se's fist aside.
Even so, Namgung Jun felt an immense weight, as if a cliff were collapsing directly onto his blade.
'He's solid.'
Namgung Jun couldn't help but be amazed. Dan Jung-se's body was incredibly powerful. Beyond mere conditioning, it possessed a hardness akin to steel.
In his current state, Namgung Jun doubted he could even leave a proper sword wound if a strike landed. Even in his past life, he had never seen anyone who had trained their external arts to this extent.
'It's as if he's wrapped in an invisible Protective Astral Qi. I suppose he didn't join the Three Powerhouses for nothing.'
As Namgung Jun's eyes scanned Dan Jung-se, Dan Jung-se was likewise seeing right through him.
"So you're saying this much is easy, eh?"
Whoosh!
The Qi Wave from the Tianzong Heart Method rising from Dan Jung-se's body grew even heavier. At the same time, a fierce vortex formed around his right fist.
Dan Jung-se's personal martial art.
It was the Heavenly Central Iron Fist.
The moment Namgung Jun saw Dan Jung-se's arm blur, he swung his sword down with all his might.
Crash!
With a heavy metallic clang, Namgung Jun's feet were lifted off the ground. Normally, he would have been blown backward and crashed right off the sparring stage.
But Namgung Jun was different.
He deflected the massive wave of Qi that enveloped him using the subtle principles of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance. Then, he used that force as momentum to spin his body.
Using the momentum from his spin, Namgung Jun shot forward and swept his sword horizontally. He momentarily manifested a powerful sword strike that he shouldn't have been able to produce, borrowing Dan Jung-se's own power to do so.
A powerful blow aimed near the shoulder.
But Dan Jung-se did not dodge.
Clang!
An immense rebounding force, as if striking solid iron, assaulted Namgung Jun. His palms nearly tore open, and he almost lost his grip on his sword.
'Formidable external arts... and he's mastered a separate protective art as well.'
Having just experienced Dan Jung-se's Silent Mountain Standing Art, Namgung Jun had to face a massive fist before he could even land.
Barely twisting his body to dodge the fist, Namgung Jun unleashed the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders, which Dan Jung-se laughingly took head-on with his body.
Then, alternating both fists, Dan Jung-se pummeled Namgung Jun in rapid succession. Each blow was powerful enough to end the duel if even a single one connected.
Nevertheless, Namgung Jun did not retreat and faced him head-on.
Crash, crash, crash!
"He's keeping up with him for this many exchanges? The kid's a monster."
"His innate senses are incredible."
Meanwhile, Namgung Jun realized what Dan Jung-se was aiming for.
'Is it starting now?'
Dan Jung-se was baiting him into making large, intense movements, trying to drain his stamina all at once.
As if to prove it, rough, ragged breaths were already escaping Namgung Jun's mouth. A burning heat surged through his muscles, which screamed in protest, and his throat began to dry up as if on fire.
Before he knew it, his body had reached its limit.
Now, only his willpower remained.
If he could summon his will, his body could still move. For limits were always meant to be broken.
At some point, Namgung Jun forgot about Dan Jung-se's test.
This was now a battle against himself.
How many more forms could he receive and execute?
Namgung Jun stepped forward without hesitation and thrust his sword.
Stubbornly and straightforwardly.
This was the area where Namgung Jun was most confident.
"Good!"
Accurately reading Namgung Jun's condition, Dan Jung-se burst into laughter and stepped forward.
Even though it was plain to see Namgung Jun was in a terrible state, Dan Jung-se's fists didn't lighten in the slightest. On the contrary, they grew even more violent.
Crash, crash, crash!
Amidst the stone floor shattering and debris scattering everywhere, Namgung Jun's body swayed precariously. The fierce offensive, striking and retreating from multiple directions, shook his body time and again.
'He's still holding on?' Dan Jung-se marveled inwardly.
Namgung Jun's stamina should have run out after twenty exchanges, yet he had endured for another thirty since then. They were now approaching fifty exchanges.
'I wonder how many men in our hall could hold out as long as this kid.'
Dan Jung-se grew curious to see just how far Namgung Jun could endure.
Thud!
A vortex whipped up around Dan Jung-se's fist once more.
It was the exact same form as before, but the power it displayed was on a different level. A wave of Qi that seemed capable of sweeping away the entire area enveloped his fist.
Heavenly Central Iron Fist.
Crashing Wave Shatter.
As the surging fist force threatened to overwhelm his entire body, Namgung Jun took a deep breath.
Bending his body diagonally, he thrust out his sword. It was his final strike, swung with every last ounce of his strength.
Whoosh!
In an instant, the very air parted along the path of his straight sword thrust. The arcing counter strike severed the Qi Waves of the Crashing Wave Shatter strand by strand, striking the back of Dan Jung-se's hand with immense force.
Clang!
As a heavy metallic sound erupted, like striking iron, the movements of both men came to a halt.
"Breathe slowly."
Even as sweat poured from his entire body, Namgung Jun did not collapse. He managed to support himself on his trembling legs.
Dan Jung-se looked at him with satisfaction. "That is enough. You may rest."
"...Yes."
Even with Dan Jung-se's permission, Namgung Jun did not collapse. With trembling hands, he slowly sheathed his sword, sat down calmly on the spot, and crossed his legs.
Then, he slowly regulated his breathing.
Dan Jung-se stared at Namgung Jun before looking down at the back of his own hand. The spot where Namgung Jun's final sword strike had landed was split by a minuscule line.
The wound was so shallow that not even a drop of blood emerged, but there was no doubt he had been cut.
'A mere First Cloud rookie managed to wound my body?'
Dan Jung-se had confirmed Namgung Jun's brilliant talent.
'I am curious.'
What kind of power would Namgung Jun's sword strikes possess once he developed the optimal physique for a martial artist?
But what interested him even more was Namgung Jun's grit. He had assumed the boy's martial prowess had blossomed from talent alone. That had been a prejudice.
Namgung Jun possessed the grit to endure even the most grueling training.
Talent and grit.
Equipped with both, Namgung Jun was a genius who would soar high as long as he was given time.
'I was wrong.'
Dan Jung-se suddenly recalled the previous meeting and the divided opinions on whether Namgung Jun should venture into the Jianghu. He himself had been neutral, but he now realized he had been leaning toward the side that argued for nurturing Namgung Jun's capabilities first.
'It has been a very long time since I met a junior who caught my interest.'
As Dan Jung-se watched Namgung Jun performing his Qi Circulation, his own muscles began to swell.