Chapter 68: Like Clouds (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 68: Like Clouds (2)
He forgot, and forgot.
He danced, and danced.
Layer by layer, he peeled away the countless circles stacked like fortress walls that filled his vision. Yet, there was no end in sight.
Countless more circles branched out from the faintly spinning paths of the sword.
Though the distance between them was a mere seven steps, hundreds of sword paths packed the space, as if refusing to allow Namgung Jun's sword to pass.
Even so, Namgung Jun's gaze, now completely dyed a deep blue, showed no sign of wavering.
The Infinite Steps, now complete in its truest sense, lent power to his stride.
His steadfast steps were unconstrained.
As his feet moved freely, his hands, too, grew lighter, as if he had shaken off invisible shackles. Following the endless motion of his hands and feet, his blade left a long trail like a shooting star.
It was the same Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance, yet it was distinctly different.
Once, twice, thrice.
With each thrust, the altered strikes of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance manifested with vivid clarity.
He could not advance, but he no longer retreated either.
Hummm!
A gentle hum burst from Namgung Jun's blade.
His sword path, which had been slowing, locked into the Taiji drawn by Jeong Hong. Namgung Jun's strikes, once slow and curved, grew faster and shorter.
Yet, one thing remained unchanged.
The momentum of his sword was utterly serene.
The strikes of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance billowed like clouds, releasing soft, flowing waves of qi.
Jeong Hong expertly adjusted his own momentum, absorbing Namgung Jun's strikes completely. Moreover, he used meticulous sword paths to cradle and shield Namgung Jun, ensuring the boy would not be broken from his selfless state.
‘Ho.’
Jeong Hong, who had established an invisible, inviolable domain with his Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword, parted his lips slightly.
‘This child.’
Admiration naturally welled within him as he faced the sword of Namgung Jun, who was deep in a selfless state.
He had seen all manner of talent in his life, but never a peerless genius such as this.
The boy's speed of enlightenment was incredible.
Any other rising star would have panicked, desperately and haphazardly pouring out their strength. Within a few exchanges, they would have helplessly lost their grip on their sword.
Namgung Jun was different. He conformed to the flow, absorbing it with his entire being. And because of that, wasn't he now able to move his sword with such freedom?
‘His innate martial talent will surely reach the heavens.’
Watching just a few exchanges of the blade, Jeong Hong realized once again that Namgung Jun was the most outstanding of all the rising stars gathered here.
At the same time, his interest was piqued.
The boy was not a Wudang disciple, but he was undeniably a rising star of the Righteous Faction who performed chivalrous deeds. Providing him with a spark for enlightenment was the duty of a senior of the Righteous Faction.
Jeong Hong unclasped his left hand from behind his back.
As the Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword—which had been moving as slowly as a landing butterfly—gradually picked up speed, Namgung Jun's sword accelerated to match.
Graceful arcs swelled in all directions, drawing one large circle after another.
Namgung Jun's sword gradually became softer and gentler.
His mastery of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance, which had been at ninety percent, leaped forward once again.
Clearly sensing that Namgung Jun had broken through another barrier, Jeong Hong's lips parted slightly.
"Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
In terms of the soft-sword principle, Namgung Jun's technique had advanced tremendously.
He had heard the boy was highly skilled in the swift sword and heavy sword. Now that he had attained such deep mastery in the soft-sword principle as well, he was truly walking the path toward mastering the sword itself.
‘He has easily surpassed the mastery of the Third Mirror.’
Jeong Hong could not help but wonder.
If the boy before him had been a disciple of the Wudang Sect, what kind of Taiji would he have drawn?
And what kind of sword path would this boy walk in the future?
The two streams of sword strikes, which had only clashed until now, slowly began to harmonize.
Chring!
The swords, which had been drawing ever closer, finally made contact.
It was an incredibly faint contact, but they had undoubtedly touched. As if to prove it, a clear metallic ring echoed softly, like a melody.
After over seventy exchanges, the two swords had touched.
The first true clash between the two martial artists.
Jeong Hong felt Namgung Jun's Sword Force travel up the Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword, and a pleased smile touched his lips.
"How steady."
The moment the metallic ring sounded, Namgung Jun froze, his thrusting posture held perfectly still.
The flickering blue light in his eyes vanished as his eyelids slowly closed.
He had fallen into meditation right there, still holding his stance.
Whoosh!
Realizing what was happening, Jeong Hong immediately erected a qi barrier. He then sheathed his Pine-Patterned Ancient Sword and sat cross-legged in front of Namgung Jun.
The martial artists watching gasped in shock.
The Wudang Sect Master himself was acting as a guardian for a mere rising star.
A look of surprise spread across the faces of not only the rising stars but also the faction leaders.
A rising star who had crossed swords with Wudang's First Sword and even received the honor of his guardianship.
The name Namgung Jun was once again deeply engraved in the minds of everyone present.
* * *
‘When did it start?’
His memory of the duel was hazy from the midway point. All that remained vivid was his newfound insight into the soft-sword principle and the swordplay of the Wudang Sect Master.
Namgung Jun began to gather the scattered fragments of his memory.
He synthesized his enlightenment on the soft-sword principle, infusing it into the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance, all while carving the memory of the Wudang Sect Master's sword into his mind.
‘Great Completion. No, it’s beyond that.’
Reviewing the duel in his meditation, Namgung Jun realized something.
His mastery of the Distant-Cloud Layered-Wall Stance had gone beyond Great Completion and reached the realm of Ultimate Mastery.
He hadn't expected to make such a massive breakthrough.
His progress in the soft-sword principle had been exceptionally slow. Yet, by experiencing the Wudang Sect Master's sword, he had made this grand breakthrough. It was a truly precious lesson.
Having finished his meditation, Namgung Jun slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Jeong Hong, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.
"Have you finished sorting through your enlightenment?"
"Sect Master."
Realizing the situation, Namgung Jun bowed in respect. Jeong Hong simply smiled and shook his head.
"Usually, masters who delve deeply into one field naturally develop an understanding of other fields as well."
Namgung Jun understood Jeong Hong's words immediately.
The Sword Emperor of his past life had been the same.
Though he had focused solely on the heavy sword, he had naturally gained a certain level of depth in other subtle principles like the swift sword and soft-sword principle. By pondering how to draw out the power of the heavy sword and channel that force entirely into the blade, one naturally comes to understand various other principles.
"However, there is a clear limit to the depth one can vaguely grasp as a mere byproduct. In fact, countless people have hit a wall by trying to learn multiple things at once."
Opening his eyes, Jeong Hong fixed his clear gaze on Namgung Jun.
"But I do not think that will be the case for you."
"What makes you think so?"
"To others, it may look as though you are stepping onto multiple paths at once, but you believe you are walking a single path."
Namgung Jun's eyes widened slightly.
Jeong Hong's assumption was correct.
He did not wish to be bound by the divisions of heavy sword, soft-sword principle, swift sword, or illusion sword.
He merely sought to walk a single path: the sword.
"A small difference in perspective can yield grand insights. I hope that at the end of the Dao you pursue, only a single sword remains."
"Thank you, Sect Master."
"Let us meet again."
Jeong Hong vanished while still in his cross-legged posture, like a cloud swept away by the wind.
Even seeing it again, his Lightness Movement Art was utterly unfathomable.
Sheathing his sword and turning around, Namgung Jun bowed to the person waiting behind him.
"I greet the Association Leader."
"It seems you've had a great breakthrough."
"Were you personally standing guard for me?"
Namgung Jun looked at the rock where Hahu Seon had been sitting until just moments ago.
Sensing his gaze, Hahu Seon winked, his heavily scarred eye crinkling.
"A Cloud Rank of our association was in meditation; we could hardly leave your protection solely to the leader of another sect. Do not mind it."
"Thank you."
Hahu Seon patted Namgung Jun lightly on the back, and they began to walk side by side.
"You performed exceptionally well this time. Thanks to you, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects can no longer look down on our association."
"It is absurd, when you think about it. Our association is second to none of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects in terms of martial power or legitimacy."
This was true even if the two peerless experts representing the Azure Heaven Association were currently unable to exert their full power.
"Indeed. However, the pride of the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects is as towering as their peaks, so they can be quite unreasonable at times. In such cases, we must simply show them our superiority."
"In the end, that is the Jianghu."
Letting out a chuckle, Hahu Seon walked with his hands clasped behind his back.
"With this level of merit, you should be able to challenge the Third Cloud promotion immediately, and you deserve a grand reward. Is there anything you desire?"
"Could I receive an Elixir of Extreme Yang?"
"Hmm."
Hahu Seon was well aware of Namgung Jun's Nine Yin Severed Meridian.
"Currently, our association does not possess an Elixir of Extreme Yang. However, I have requested assistance elsewhere, so we should hear back soon."
"Do you mean the other organization that is secretly aiding the Azure Heaven Association?"
"It seems you heard about it from the Heavenly Sword Hall Master. Once you promote to the Third Cloud and the opportunity arises, you will learn more about them."
Hahu Seon placed a gentle hand on Namgung Jun's shoulder.
"In any case, I intended to give you the Elixir of Extreme Yang separately from your reward for this mission. I will personally consider what that reward should be. After all, an Elixir of Extreme Yang is surely not the only thing you need."
Hearing that Hahu Seon was personally seeking an Elixir of Extreme Yang for him, Namgung Jun bowed his head.
"Yes. I leave it in your hands."
"You have worked hard. The rest is up to this old man, so you may rest easy."
"Thank you, Association Leader."
* * *
"May I come in?"
Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong, who were circulating their qi together in their quarters, opened their eyes at the same time.
Sensing that the two had awakened, Martial Conquest Hall Master Ha Mu-jung stepped into the room.
"The leaders' meeting has concluded."
"How did it go?"
At Baekri Cheong's question, Ha Mu-jung spoke slowly.
"The Three Sects and One Gang, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, and the Azure Heaven Association have formed an alliance to assist one another against the invasion of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult."
Hearing that the faction leaders had signed and sealed the alliance covenant, Baekri Cheong let out a sigh of relief.
"I am glad that the great sects of the Righteous Faction have joined forces, even if it is late."
Namgung Jun and Ha Mu-jung stared at Baekri Cheong for a moment.
A deep regret lingered in his words, and they could guess what he was thinking.
...If they had formed an alliance earlier and received help, perhaps the Baekri Clan could have avoided extermination.
Namgung Jun quietly raised his hand and placed it on Baekri Cheong's shoulder.
Feeling the warm touch of his sworn brother, Baekri Cheong managed a faint smile and regained his composure.
Watching this with an expressionless face, Ha Mu-jung continued.
"Your help was immense."
Ha Mu-jung looked back and forth between Baekri Cheong and Namgung Jun.
"Even this time, the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects initially refused to sign the alliance. They are content to protect their own mountains and were reluctant to shed blood for no reason."
However, thanks to your overwhelming performance in the Iron Token battle, the Azure Heaven Association's influence grew. This allowed us to throw our weight behind the Three Sects and One Gang. Furthermore, with the Mount Hua Sect among the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects leaning toward approval, the remaining four sects had no choice but to accept the alliance.
"But I wonder if the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects, having been forced into this alliance, will properly fulfill their duties," Namgung Jun expressed his concern.
Ha Mu-jung nodded.
"You need not worry. The Three Sects and One Gang and the Association Leader have taken proper measures, so the Five Great Mountains Sword Sects will not be able to easily turn a blind eye."
"That's a relief."
Only now that Ha Mu-jung had shared the outcome did the long gathering finally feel like it was over.
Though it had been a short time, so much had happened that their stay on Mount Song felt long.
But now, the mission had been successfully completed.
‘Is it time to go back?’
Namgung Jun looked toward the southwest, where the main fortress of the Azure Heaven Association lay.