Chapter 5: Sword Thunder of the Lightning Flash (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 5: Sword Thunder of the Lightning Flash (1)
'Quite robust.'
That was Namgung Jun's impression as he watched Kang Mong's sword plunging toward his head.
The heavy sound of the blade cleaving the air indicated a substantial amount of Sword Force had been infused into the blow. It was a strike that even an ordinary first-rate martial artist would find difficult to withstand.
'Is the entrance exam usually this difficult? Or is this meant to break my spirit?'
Either way, it didn't matter. Having already read the sword's trajectory, Namgung Jun had his own blade in hand.
He channeled strength into the sole of his right foot, grinding it into the ground to use as a pivot. Shifting his center of gravity forward, he swung his sword upward.
Shring!
Tilting his blade at a gentle angle, he met the descending strike, causing Kang Mong's sword to slide harmlessly off course.
The wrinkles around Yun Gyeong-jong's eyes deepened.
'It would have been surprising enough if he had blocked it, but he deflected it?'
There was no common metallic clash, nor did any sparks fly. Only a light, scraping sound, like silk rubbing against silk, echoed through the hall.
Kang Mong was equally shocked to find his sword suddenly pointing at the ground. At that moment, Namgung Jun's clear voice cut through the air like a dagger.
"Be careful."
Namgung Jun didn't stop at merely deflecting the strike.
Using the deflected momentum and his forward-leaning stance as a pivot, he spun his body. Stepping forward, he raised his sword high into an upper stance.
Whoosh!
The sword, held high, plunged vertically downward. It was a strike identical to the one Kang Mong had just unleashed.
'What?!'
Clang!
Kang Mong's eyes widened as he barely managed to block the attack by pulling his sword to his chest.
He had almost lost his grip on his weapon. His hands, calloused and hardened by years of training, screamed in protest.
'How can someone with such a scrawny frame produce this kind of power?!'
Kang Mong stared blankly at Namgung Jun.
The boy's body was so gaunt it looked pathetic, his bones practically showing through his skin. It was impossible to attribute this power to raw physical strength.
Yet, the fact that he had delivered such a heavy strike meant…
'Pure sword technique.'
Panting heavily, Kang Mong suddenly realized something.
He had taken a step back.
As if to prove it, a clear footprint was stamped into the ground behind him. It was undeniable proof that he had failed to properly withstand Namgung Jun's attack.
While Kang Mong stared in shock, Namgung Jun sheathed his sword with an indifferent air.
"I knew it! That trajectory was so clean!"
Lee Se-ha, who had been watching Namgung Jun with expectant eyes, burst into delighted laughter.
Yun Gyeong-jong looked back and forth between Namgung Jun and Kang Mong, then muttered in a low voice.
"…That boy will carry the next fifty years of our association on his shoulders."
Yun Gyeong-jong spoke as he slowly descended the stairs.
Seeing Yun Gyeong-jong, who usually stood as still as a stone statue, make a move, Kang Mong's broad shoulders flinched.
'To think the Ink Lord would descend the stairs himself!'
Yun Gyeong-jong always oversaw the entrance exams, and his position was always the same. He would stand a step back at the top of the stairs, watch the proceedings, and then quietly return to the pavilion.
For him to walk down the stairs now, to show such direct interest…
This was unprecedented.
'If word of this gets out, it will cause quite a stir.'
Lee Se-ha was equally astonished.
Even when she had taken her own entrance exam, Yun Gyeong-jong had only offered a brief word of praise and had not moved from his spot.
For Yun Gyeong-jong to stand right in front of Namgung Jun and show such interest was an extraordinary exception.
"If it's true that he has only learned a heart method, then he was born with an immense talent for the sword."
Her lips parted in a cute 'o' of surprise before Lee Se-ha belatedly replied.
"Well… of course. He is my disciple, after all."
"Truly a peerless talent. If the Association Leader had seen him, he would have taken him as a disciple on the spot."
"Ah, that would be a bit problematic."
Yun Gyeong-jong looked at the boy with a strange gaze.
"What is your name?"
"I am Namgung Jun."
"From this moment on, you are also a Cloud of our association."
Lee Se-ha added, "A 'Cloud' means a member of the Azure Heaven Association."
As she spoke, she waved her arm in an exaggerated motion. Four clouds were embroidered on her fluttering sleeve.
"My disciple, I hope you quickly reach the Fourth Cloud."
Namgung Jun glanced sideways. There were five clouds on Yun Gyeong-jong's sleeve and three on Kang Mong's.
'It seems the hierarchy is determined by the number of clouds.'
Having understood the meaning, Namgung Jun nodded.
"The Fourth Cloud. It won't take long."
At Namgung Jun's confident assertion, Kang Mong's expression turned strange, while Yun Gyeong-jong watched with an amused look.
"That's my disciple for you."
Nodding in satisfaction, Lee Se-ha asked Yun Gyeong-jong, "Ink Lord, can my disciple enter the martial repository now?"
"You may."
As Yun Gyeong-jong nodded, Kang Mong pulled an iron token from his robes. It was engraved with a single cloud, symbolizing the status of a First Cloud.
"Take it. I have learned a valuable lesson today."
Kang Mong nodded with a stoic expression and extended his hand. He had been bested while administering an exam. It wouldn't have been strange for him to show resentment or embarrassment, yet he accepted it calmly.
'Good.'
Pleased by this attitude, Namgung Jun offered a polite bow and accepted the iron token.
Lee Se-ha immediately grabbed Namgung Jun's arm and pulled him along.
"Let's go, quickly!"
"Please slow down."
Despite Namgung Jun's coaxing, Lee Se-ha accelerated, almost as if she were using a lightness skill. Consequently, Namgung Jun was dragged along, fluttering like a scrap of cloth in the wind.
Watching them go, Kang Mong asked, "I have never seen the Ink Lord descend the stairs to examine a newcomer so closely."
"Of course you haven't. It is a first for me as well."
Kang Mong flinched at Yun Gyeong-jong's calm reply.
Yun Gyeong-jong was a figure who had been in charge of the Ink Fragrance Department for forty years. This meant that most of the martial artists currently in the Azure Heaven Association had taken their exams under his supervision.
And yet…
'Does this mean that not a single one of the current Hall Masters was able to make the Ink Lord move?'
The Hall Masters were supreme experts renowned throughout the Jianghu, individuals who would never be overshadowed, no matter where they went. The fact that even such figures had failed to make Yun Gyeong-jong take a single step was shocking.
"Is his talent truly that great?"
"With the right sunlight and water, he will surely grow into a giant tree that reaches the very edge of the blue sky."
As the master and disciple faded from view, Yun Gyeong-jong also turned around.
"Since the Heavenly Sword Hall Master will provide the sunlight and water, we must provide the rich soil."
Yun Gyeong-jong went inside, but Kang Mong remained behind, muttering Namgung Jun's name.
"Namgung Jun."
The shock of blocking that single strike still lingered vividly in his hands. That weight was not something one encountered easily.
'Just how on earth does one deliver such a strike?'
Just as Kang Mong was about to lose himself in thought, Yun Gyeong-jong's low voice drifted from behind him.
"You had better replace your sword."
"Pardon?"
Kang Mong immediately inspected his sword, and his eyes widened.
A fine crack ran along the blade. It had failed to withstand Namgung Jun's strike.
Gasp.
A weak breath escaped Kang Mong's lips. He suddenly found it incredibly difficult to take a step.
* * *
The master and disciple arrived at the library of the Azure Heaven Association.
Namgung Jun looked up at the plaque hanging at the entrance.
Self-Reflection Martial Repository.
'Reflect upon oneself.'
It was an unusual name for a library that stored secret manuals.
Stepping inside the Self-Reflection Martial Repository, he saw bookshelves packed with secret manuals stretching out endlessly. It felt like looking at a forest of bookshelves. Although the Self-Reflection Martial Repository was only a single story, its scale was immense.
'Even the library of the Namcheon Palace would pale in comparison to this.'
He hadn't expected much, but the variety and sheer number of secret manuals exceeded his expectations. Naturally, Namgung Jun's gaze deepened.
As Namgung Jun took in the library, Lee Se-ha gently patted his shoulder.
"Usually, sects restrict access to their secret manuals. They cite various reasons like background, realm, reputation, or bloodline."
Namgung Jun nodded. The Namcheon Palace of his past life had been no different.
"But the Azure Heaven Association has no restrictions on reading secret manuals. We must constantly grow stronger to oppose the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and perform righteous deeds."
Lee Se-ha randomly pulled out a secret manual and showed it to him. On the cover, the name "Flowing Crane Fist" was written, along with the small characters for "Third Cloud."
Namgung Jun understood immediately.
"Instead of imposing restrictions, you've established a standard."
"My disciple is so clever, he doesn't even need an explanation." Lee Se-ha smiled warmly and returned the manual to its place.
The Flowing Crane Fist was likely deemed suitable for a martial artist who had reached the rank of the Third Cloud.
'So that's why it's called the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.'
It meant one should not be greedy when choosing a martial art, but rather select one that suited them.
"Since it's your first time, shouldn't I, your master, choose a martial art for you?"
"Master."
While Lee Se-ha scanned the shelves with an excited expression, Namgung Jun shook his head.
"I would like to look through the manuals and choose one myself."
"Hmm." Lee Se-ha blinked, looking slightly disappointed, but nodded. "Alright, since our Jun is so smart. But in return, you must show me the manual you choose before you practice it."
"Of course."
"Then why don't you take your time looking around? I'll go handle some urgent business and come back. Returning with you took longer than I expected."
Namgung Jun recalled that Lee Se-ha was called the Heavenly Sword Hall Master. The Fourth Cloud seemed to be a fairly high rank, so she naturally had duties to perform.
"Please go ahead, Master."
As Namgung Jun bowed politely, Lee Se-ha smiled brightly and waved.
"I'll be back as fast as I can!"
The moment Lee Se-ha vanished, Namgung Jun brushed his bangs back and focused on the bookshelves.
'In my past life, I focused solely on the Heavy Sword.'
Of course, if one delves deep enough into a specific field and reaches mastery, other martial principles naturally follow like branches from a tree. But that was a far cry from directly and deeply mastering another field.
'To surpass the Sword Emperor of my past life, I must attain complete mastery over the sword itself.'
Furthermore, he had to keep in mind the possibility that other martial arts of the Namcheon Palace, like the Infinite Steps, might still remain within the Azure Heaven Association. If he rashly practiced the martial arts of the Sword Emperor from his past life, he might find himself in a difficult position.
Since he was walking a different martial path anyway, Namgung Jun intended to grow in an entirely new way. Of course, once he reached a certain realm, he would revisit the martial arts of his past life—but not right now.
Having made up his mind, Namgung Jun pulled a secret manual from the shelf and scanned it rapidly. His speed grew faster and faster, to the point where it was hard to tell if he was actually reading or simply flipping the pages to catch their scent.
A man was watching this scene intently.
'Is this really okay?'
Muk Sim-jung, the librarian of the Self-Reflection Martial Repository, recalled the request Lee Se-ha had casually left as she walked out.
"If my disciple happens to get lost, could you give him some advice?"
Lee Se-ha's request was not a difficult one. After all, that was the original duty of the librarian guarding the Self-Reflection Martial Repository.
'I can't just stand by.'
Throughout his time as a librarian, he had seen countless martial artists, but he had never seen anyone browse secret manuals so haphazardly.
As Muk Sim-jung strode toward Namgung Jun, his eyes gradually narrowed.
'Hyeongseong Sword. Four Mountains Twelve Swords. Jincheo Sword Technique?'
Only then did he realize that Namgung Jun was not reading just any manual at random.
'He is only looking at secret manuals for the Swift Sword.'
The boy had chosen the manuals based on his own criteria. Even so, the incredible speed at which he read them remained a mystery. Still, Muk Sim-jung did not rashly intervene.
He had heard that the boy had only learned a single heart method. He grew curious about what the boy was thinking to behave this way.
'Is it mere childish arrogance, or is he drawing a grand picture of his own?'
Thud!
Namgung Jun shut the manual he was reading and stood up. Then, he immediately placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
'My word!'
Muk Sim-jung could hardly believe his eyes. An inexplicable weight emanated from the simple act of the boy gripping his sword. It was as if he were looking at one of the Hall Masters.
Muk Sim-jung blankly watched him draw his sword.
Swoosh!
Soon, Namgung Jun began to execute sword forms in the air, one after another. Muk Sim-jung immediately recognized them.
They were the forms from the secret manuals Namgung Jun had been reading just moments ago. Forms from dozens of different sword techniques were unleashed in a seemingly random sequence. Yet, the Swift Sword unfolding from Namgung Jun's blade was neatly pieced together according to an inexplicable flow.
Crackle!
Suddenly, blue lightning crackled along Namgung Jun's blade.
A single strike pierced straight through the air.
Swoosh!
A sharp, air-splitting sound lingered long after the strike vanished. In its aftermath, the surrounding bookshelves trembled slightly.
'That strike just now was like…'
Muk Sim-jung suddenly realized he had clenched his fists tightly.
'It was like a lightning flash.'
No, perhaps the term "Sword Thunder" was more appropriate.
Whichever it was, Muk Sim-jung felt it instinctively. That boy, merely by reading the manuals and executing the forms a few times, had melted those martial insights into his own sword.
'A prodigy—no, a genius! A peerless talent!'
Shivering, Muk Sim-jung was certain. No one who had ever entered the Self-Reflection Martial Repository could match this boy's talent.
"Ah!"
Feeling as though he had discovered a priceless treasure, Muk Sim-jung let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
As Namgung Jun sheathed his sword, his gaze shifted toward Muk Sim-jung. Confronted by a calm, piercing gaze that belied his young age, Muk Sim-jung swallowed hard.
Just as Muk Sim-jung, meeting Namgung Jun's eyes, was about to force himself to speak, a sinister voice echoed from behind him.
"What are you?"
Startled, Muk Sim-jung spun around.
Before he knew it, a man was standing right behind him. Only then did Muk Sim-jung realize that Namgung Jun's gaze had been directed not at him, but at this man.
"I asked what they were. Those forms just now."
"And who exactly are you?"
Namgung Jun's eyes sharply scrutinized the middle-aged man standing behind Muk Sim-jung.
What enveloped the man's body was unmistakably Demonic Qi.
In other words, this man was a Demonic Practitioner.
A Demonic Practitioner had appeared right in the heart of the Azure Heaven Association.
Veins bulged on the back of Namgung Jun's hand as he gripped his sword.