Chapter 23: Training (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 23: Training (6)
Even in the dead of night, Namgung Jun's training did not stop.
After finishing his external arts training, having a quick dinner, and taking a brief nap, he went straight to the training ground to swing his sword.
Whoosh!
A heavy sound split the air as Namgung Jun swung his sword.
He had not infused it with internal energy, nor had he channeled the subtle principles of the heavy sword. He swung it purely with physical strength.
Even so, the Sword Force behind the blade was by no means light. It was the result of his external arts training. Though he still had a long way to go, it was a remarkable improvement compared to his past self.
"You've improved a lot."
The moonlight glinted off the thick eyelashes of Lee Se-ha, who sat beside him watching his training.
Reflected in her silver-lit eyes, her disciple's appearance was vastly different from three months ago.
He had filled out quite a bit, no longer looking like skin and bones, and muscle was gradually building on his frame. One could see at a glance that his body was becoming healthier.
His physique was still lacking for a true martial artist, but considering when he had first set foot on the path of martial arts, his growth rate was remarkable. He displayed such martial prowess with only his innate talent and Sword Qi; what would happen once he possessed a fully developed martial artist's body? Lee Se-ha could not take her eyes off Namgung Jun's achievements, which grew more distinct with each passing day.
"Jun, give it a little more time and you'll become a handsome young man who can charm almost any woman."
"Master, do I have time for that?"
"You never know. You might have your share of trouble with women even if you don't want it. Don't come crying to your master for help when that happens."
Even at Lee Se-ha's teasing, Namgung Jun’s expression didn't change in the slightest. He simply continued to swing his sword.
"Don't worry."
Despite his blunt reply, Lee Se-ha chuckled and rested her chin on her hands. A typical boy his age would have been embarrassed or flustered, but he remained completely unfazed, acting like a little old man. Yet, this mature demeanor of his always brought a sense of reassurance. This, too, was a strength unique to Namgung Jun.
"I worry because you're just too single-minded, Jun."
His master's lighthearted murmuring was like the sound of the wind, something that always seemed to blow past Namgung Jun.
Her occasional soliloquies and pieces of advice blended with the sound of his sword splitting the air. As moonlight danced between the master and disciple, the night felt like a quiet banquet.
Whoosh!
Although the first sword technique he had created in this life was the Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders, the technique Namgung Jun chose to build his foundation was the Great Derivation Sword Technique.
The Great Derivation Sword Technique possessed the potential to branch out into all paths, including the swift sword, heavy sword, illusion sword, blunt sword, and soft-sword principle.
It was the optimal choice to serve as a foundation for Namgung Jun, who wished to delve purely into the sword itself.
'When thrusting the sword to the side, instead of keeping the calf muscles flexible, I must firmly plant my oblique muscles like a pillar.'
Namgung Jun was redefining the names of muscles and the subtle principles of external arts he had learned from Dan Jung-se through the eyes of a swordsman. The Great Derivation Sword Technique was what he actively used during this process. With the mindset of rebuilding from the very basics, he was trying to elevate his mastery of the Great Derivation Sword Technique beyond great mastery and into the realm of ultimate mastery.
By day, he trained his external arts at the Iron Tower Hall.
By night, he re-established his external arts as a swordsman.
Recently, Namgung Jun's tempering had been proceeding in this identical daily routine.
Watching Namgung Jun's training to the end, Lee Se-ha nodded.
"If you had enough merits, you could take the promotion exam right away."
"Master, are there benefits to being promoted?"
"Of course."
Lee Se-ha toyed with her hair, which flowed like the night sky, finding it cute that Namgung Jun was finally showing a subtle interest in her words.
"First, the supplies you receive—like spirit elixirs, martial uniforms, and weaponry—will change. You'll also gain the authority to volunteer for missions."
"Does that mean I can choose the missions I want?"
Lee Se-ha nodded.
"While it's impossible to reject missions handed down from the Ink Fragrance Department of the Azure Heaven Association at will, you can be prioritized for the assignments you want."
"I see."
Living in the Jianghu naturally led to the accumulation of gratitude and grudges. There were times when even the members of the Azure Heaven Association moved according to their personal debts and vendettas.
"Besides that, your range of movement, influence, and the information you can access will vary depending on your rank. Naturally, that will also help in overcoming the Nine Yin Severed Meridian, right?"
Namgung Jun nodded as he thrust his sword horizontally.
Furthermore, to deal with the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult, he had to raise his rank as much as possible. It might be different for small-scale missions, but on a massive stage like a large-scale battle or a province-wide conflict, a high rank would be essential to exercising influence.
Watching Namgung Jun, whose eyes now gleamed with sharp resolve, Lee Se-ha smiled faintly.
"I can't help but imagine you holding the Heaven-Reliant Sword. Though even for you, Jun, I can't just yield the Heaven-Reliant Sword."
Hearing those words, Namgung Jun froze. The name was so deeply missed that for a moment, he thought he had misheard.
"Did you just say the Heaven-Reliant Sword?"
"Yes. The Heaven-Reliant Sword. Oh, did you not know?"
For the first time, Namgung Jun's sword, which had been relentlessly slicing through the air, came to a halt. He fixed his gaze entirely on Lee Se-ha, waiting for her answer.
Tilting her head at his reaction, Lee Se-ha continued.
"You know that the head of the Sword Fragrance Department is called the Sword Lord, right?"
"Yes."
"In the Jianghu, the alias 'Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord' is more famous. It's partly because the Heaven-Reliant Sword is a rare, legendary blade."
"The Heaven-Reliant Sword Lord."
A pure white sword, as if sculpted from heavy snow.
A cloud-shaped blue jade embedded in the scabbard.
The four characters Bright Azure Righteous Heaven engraved on the blade.
Listening to Lee Se-ha's description, it was indeed the very same Heaven-Reliant Sword he had used in his past life.
Though he would have to see it with his own eyes to be sure, Namgung Jun had an intuitive feeling. It was undoubtedly his cherished weapon.
'To think the Heaven-Reliant Sword also remained with the Azure Heaven Association…'
It was a thought he had harbored for a while, but the Azure Heaven Association and Namcheon Palace were clearly deeply intertwined.
As his rank rose and his position grew, he would naturally come to learn about the origins of the Azure Heaven Association.
"The Heaven-Reliant Sword."
Namgung Jun felt his heart pounding fiercely. The anticipation of reuniting with the cherished weapon that had accompanied him in his past life filled his entire body with excitement.
'Indeed, no other sword fit my hand as perfectly as the Heaven-Reliant Sword. I must obtain it.'
At that moment, Namgung Jun's resolve to quickly become the head of the Sword Fragrance Department grew even firmer. Strength flooded into the hand gripping his sword, and the thick, defined lines of his forearm were etched with unyielding determination.
Before he knew it, Lee Se-ha had stepped closer, her hands gently wrapping around his shoulders.
"Your shoulders are completely tense."
"I believe I have found a clear goal."
"So you've come to want the Heaven-Reliant Sword?"
"Yes."
Lee Se-ha knew. She knew that Namgung Jun was not acting this way simply because of a single sword.
However, she spoke lightly, attempting to ease the heavy atmosphere surrounding him.
In any endeavor, excessive tension would only lead to mistakes.
'Though Jun will surely handle himself well.'
While she trusted her disciple, it was also a master's duty to keep a watchful eye on him. Though he was a reliable disciple who never gave her cause for worry, he still needed his master's attentive gaze. After all, Namgung Jun possessed more than enough potential to soar even higher.
Lee Se-ha massaged the tension out of Namgung Jun's shoulders and gently nudged his back.
"Shall we head inside for today? You've trained almost to your limit. It's time to let your body rest."
"Yes. For tomorrow."
Namgung Jun sheathed his sword without another word.
* * *
At an hour when the sun had not yet fully risen and twilight still shimmered, the boy shook off the shadows of dawn and headed straight for the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.
Despite the early hour, Muk Sim-jung was guarding his post as usual. He nodded as the boy drew near.
"Young Hero Namgung. Visiting again today?"
"Yes. There is so much to see that I must keep looking."
"Come whenever you have questions. Discussing the sword with you is always welcome."
Conversing with Namgung Jun, who would occasionally seek him out to ask about various martial arts, was highly enjoyable. Unlike his peers, Namgung Jun's questions were broad and deep. Sharing martial theories with him often yielded entirely new topics of contemplation.
After showing due courtesy, Namgung Jun stepped inside the Self-Reflection Martial Repository and began examining various martial arts secret manuals.
He read every secret manual regardless of the branch of weaponry or martial study—be it sword, saber, and spear; fist, palm, and kick; Lightness Movement Art; or other armaments. In this way, he delved deeply into martial arts itself, without limiting himself to the sword.
Namgung Jun spent his days in this exact routine.
Unlike his past life, where he had focused solely on the heavy sword, he was now broadening his horizons by experiencing a wide variety of martial studies.
This would soon serve as inspiration for creating new martial arts.
As he repeatedly browsed through the secret manuals, Namgung Jun's hand suddenly paused. A familiar name had caught his eye.
"So even this sword technique is here."
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Namgung Jun's face as he pulled out the secret manual.
The Great Wind Sword Technique.
One of the core martial arts of the former Namcheon Palace.
It was a sword technique deeply imbued with the subtle principles of the heavy sword, and a martial art that the Sword Emperor had frequently executed in his youth.
Since the Infinite Steps existed here, he had expected other martial arts to be present as well, but encountering it like this brought him great joy.
"Since I need to create a new heavy sword technique, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use the Great Wind Sword Technique as a foundation."
In his past life, he had not touched it again after reaching a certain level of martial attainment. He had deemed it sufficient for his disciples to learn without any modifications.
Now, however, he could view this martial art from a different perspective.
Living a new life while harboring the memories of the Sword Emperor, to what extent could he develop the Great Wind Sword Technique now?
"There is even an annotated version."
An annotated version was a secret manual that had been simplified by later generations to make the martial art easier to learn, or reinterpreted from a different perspective.
Among the martial arts of the former Namcheon Palace, there were many that Namgung Jun himself had created, but such annotated versions had been nowhere to be found back then.
After all, with the master who had created the martial arts still alive and well, his disciples had tended to walk on eggshells.
But now, things were different.
Upon inspection, there were as many as four annotated versions of the Great Wind Sword Technique.
'Interesting. So they interpreted the mnemonic formula in this manner.'
The thoughts of later generations, who had interpreted the mnemonic formula he had written from an entirely different perspective, were amusing and refreshing.
Even if the level of those interpretations seemed lacking in the eyes of the Sword Emperor, they were more than enough to offer new perspectives and inspiration.
Just as Namgung Jun was tirelessly flipping through the pages of the annotated version of the Great Wind Sword Technique, a voice cut through the silence.
"Are you Namgung Jun?"
Hearing his name spoken so suddenly, Namgung Jun turned his head.
It was a young girl who appeared to be around his age.
"I hear you're really good with a sword?"
"..."
When Namgung Jun did not reply, the girl clenched her fists as if annoyed.
"Let's duel. I can't accept that you're the most highly anticipated rising star in the Azure Heaven Association."
A heavy sword-wind shimmered from the blade the girl had suddenly drawn from the archives.
Whoosh!
Seeing this, Namgung Jun's eyes shifted from indifference to interest.
The flow of the Qi Wave imbued in her sword was incredibly familiar.
It was from the secret manual currently held in his hand.
It was the prelude to the Great Wind Sword Technique.