Chapter 84: Supporting the Le'an Branch (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Supporting the Le'an Branch (4)
A single sword strike decapitated the Commander of Fifty.
It was the blow that signaled the end of the battle.
"Ugh! The Commander of Fifty!"
"Everyone, get a grip!"
As the Commander of Fifty's head flew through the air, the five decurions under his command reacted instantly. The Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp had now both lost the leaders directing their forces.
Even so, they did not flee. They stubbornly resisted the Heavenly Sword Hall—a display of spirit worthy of martial artists from great sects.
However, spirit and grit alone could only sustain a losing battle for so long.
"The Commander of Fifty is dead!"
Namgung Jun, who had been cutting down Iron Battle Camp martial artists from within their own ranks, infused his throat with internal energy and roared. He made sure that even those still locked in combat, who hadn't seen their leader fall, would hear the news.
"Is that true?"
"No way! How could the Commander of Fifty suddenly…?"
As predicted, the Iron Battle Camp martial artists facing the Great Derivation Sword Formation at the front lines fell into disarray. Their attention was fatally divided between the swordsmen before them and the chaos erupting behind, leaving them unable to respond. And the Heavenly Sword Hall, executing its Great Derivation Sword Formation, was not an opponent that forgave such lapses.
"Distracted, are you?!"
"Right here! Break through!"
The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall relentlessly tore into the openings that appeared in the enemy's lines. The Iron Battle Camp’s famed iron-wall defense of fists and sabers utterly crumbled.
Crash!
The Heavenly Sword Hall's Great Derivation Sword Formation finally broke through the encirclement of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp, swiftly leaving the battlefield behind.
Stopping in a quiet area, the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall began to catch their breath and regroup.
The cultivators from the Le'an Branch, who had been sheltered at the center of the Great Derivation Sword Formation, stared at the Heavenly Sword Hall martial artists with astonished faces.
The Heavenly Sword Hall of the Ten Halls.
As a martial force composed of the Azure Heaven Association’s elites, their prowess was naturally on a different level. Even so, witnessing their combat ability firsthand filled them with awe.
'The Heavenly Sword Hall… They truly live up to their reputation.'
'More than that, the overall skill of the swordsmen seems to have risen. The Great Derivation Sword Formation feels different from how I remember it.'
'The Azure Star Sword, Namgung Jun. To possess such martial prowess at his age… Has the next Hall Master of the Heavenly Sword Hall already been decided?'
Most of the cultivators from the Le'an Branch found their gazes drawn to Namgung Jun. Dan So-hye was no exception.
He had commanded the central axis of the Great Derivation Sword Formation during the battle and, in the end, had moved alone to decapitate the Iron Battle Camp's Commander of Fifty.
It was an achievement she couldn't even fathom.
'How can someone become that strong?'
The more she thought about it, the wider the chasm between them seemed.
While Dan So-hye couldn't take her eyes off Namgung Jun, the Le'an Branch Chief was handing a piece of paper he’d retrieved from his robes to Lee Se-ha.
"Is this the information that led to the fall of the Le'an Branch?"
"Yes, Hall Master. This information almost fell into the hands of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp, but we were fortunate enough to secure it. It cost us our branch, but we succeeded."
Lee Se-ha unfolded the paper and examined its contents.
"The Hidden Cave of the Long-Stream Cult."
The location of a Hidden Cave was marked on the paper.
The Long-Stream Cult. A great unorthodox sect that had dominated the Jiangxi Province region about a hundred years ago. It had been a gathering of those who dreamed of eternal youth and immortality through all manner of sorcery and esoteric arts, but it had eventually collapsed.
Nevertheless, their teachings and techniques remained scattered across the Jianghu. The Hidden Cave that the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp were pursuing was likely one of those remnants.
"A Hidden Cave. I see why the two forces suddenly joined hands," Lee Se-ha muttered.
Namgung Jun, who was listening nearby, nodded in agreement. "For a Hidden Cave like this, people from all over the Jianghu would flock to it. They must have joined forces to absorb the Long-Stream Cult's arts as quietly as possible."
"That's highly likely," Heo Il chimed in, toying with the edge of his bamboo hat. "No matter how much they clash, they're the type to feign friendship the moment profit is on the table."
He continued, "If this information falls into the hands of the Demonic and Heretical Paths, it will cause great chaos. It's a stroke of heavenly luck that we managed to protect it."
Lee Se-ha nodded. "It's not a complete map, just a fragment, but we've bought ourselves a lot of time. The Le'an Branch did a great job."
She tucked the paper into her robes and stood.
"Let's return quickly. They won't just stand by and let us leave."
* * *
The Heavenly Sword Hall safely escorted the cultivators of the Le'an Branch back to the main castle.
Based on the information the Le'an Branch had smuggled out, the Ink Fragrance Department of the Azure Heaven Association turned its full attention to Jiangxi Province. The Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron Battle Camp would relentlessly dig for the Long-Stream Cult's Hidden Cave. If they weren't careful, a massive bloodbath could erupt over its discovery.
Treasure maps, hidden caves, the tombs of peerless experts… such things had always brought a storm of blood to the Jianghu, and the Azure Heaven Association intended to prevent it before it could start.
The surviving cultivators of the Le'an Branch would recuperate at the main castle for the time being. Once a new branch was established, they would be dispatched immediately.
Perhaps because she didn't know when she would head out into the Jianghu again, Dan So-hye sought out Namgung Jun.
"Spar with me!"
Namgung Jun, who was instructing the First and Second Clouds of the Heavenly Sword Hall, stared blankly at her sudden appearance.
Dan So-hye flinched under his indifferent gaze, but Man Ye-won, who was receiving instruction on the Heavy Sword, spoke up sharply. "Namgung Jun is a Third Cloud. You should address him with respect, even if you joined the association at the same time."
Her eyes widening at Man Ye-won's rebuke, Dan So-hye hurriedly corrected herself. "I wanted to see how much I've grown compared to the Placement Test…"
Her voice trailed off as she realized her mistake. Although Namgung Jun was younger, he held the rank of a Third Cloud. She, on the other hand, was still a First Cloud. It was only proper to speak to him formally.
"Hmm."
Namgung Jun didn't bother to scold her. Instead, he quietly observed the flustered Dan So-hye.
'She was my first opponent in the Placement Test, wasn't she?'
He'd only learned this on the way back from the mission in Jiangxi Province. If the cultivators from the Le'an Branch hadn't mentioned it, he would have never known.
'Dan So-hye.'
A faint memory of her now came to mind, but there was still nothing particularly impressive about it, simply because their duel had ended in a single strike.
He wasn't sure if he could give her the answer she was looking for, but he didn't mind trying. When a dedicated sword wielder dreamed of greater heights, it was the duty of any martial artist to offer what help they could.
"This way."
As Namgung Jun gestured toward the sparring stage, Dan So-hye's face brightened. She picked up two wooden swords.
Seeing this, Namgung Jun shook his head.
"We will spar with real swords."
"Ah."
She paused, her hand hovering over the sword at her waist before she stepped forward with a determined look.
Meanwhile, Namgung Jun stood on one side of the sparring stage, his hand resting on his hilt. "By my master's orders, I am responsible for instructing this hall's swordsmen, so I cannot waste time. We will have a single exchange."
"That is exactly what I want," Dan So-hye said, drawing her sword with a resolute expression. "Show me the same strike from the Placement Test."
As she took her opening stance, her face was taut with tension.
'Can I block it this time?'
She had certainly grown much stronger since the Placement Test. Even so, she lacked confidence. Could she truly withstand the single strike Namgung Jun had shown back then?
This goal was also her inner demon.
Therefore, Dan So-hye decided to face it head-on. If she had to overcome this inner demon, she wanted it to be under the gaze of the very person who created it, not through self-satisfaction and guesswork.
Stomp!
Executing an Earth-Trembling Stomp, Namgung Jun glided forward like flowing water. In an instant, his figure blurred in Dan So-hye's eyes.
She couldn't even properly react to his approach, let alone block his strike.
Even so, Dan So-hye focused all her concentration.
'I can do this.'
That single-strike defeat from the Placement Test had become a festering wound in her heart, tormenting her ever since. But Dan So-hye had not stopped. She had trained passionately, refusing to let herself stagnate.
And so, Dan So-hye put her faith in the blood and sweat she had shed.
"Haa!"
With a sharp cry, she thrust her sword forward, tracing a graceful path. At the same time, a blue flash erupted before her, completely filling her vision.
Yet, Dan So-hye did not yield.
She strove to see her sword path through to the very end, pouring the resentment and regret of that day, along with all her subsequent effort and passion, into this single strike.
Clang!
With a deafening roar, Dan So-hye's body slid backward.
'Ah!'
She didn't even realize she had been pushed back. An immense Sword Force, powerful enough to crush her entire body, was surging through her. Her vision flickered white, but she fought to hold onto her consciousness.
She couldn't even tell if she was still standing. Had her sword broken again? Had she been sent rolling away in an unsightly heap?
"Lady Dan."
Even as her consciousness faded, Namgung Jun's calm voice pierced through the haze as sharply as a sword strike.
"Huff!"
Dan So-hye gasped, her senses returning with a jolt.
Namgung Jun was standing far away. She quickly assessed the situation. It wasn't that he had moved back; she had been pushed that far.
After looking at him, the first thing she checked was her own sword.
"Ah!"
Dan So-hye let out a small gasp.
Just how heavy had that strike been? The webbing of both her hands was torn and bleeding profusely, and the blade of her sword was still trembling violently.
But one thing was certain: the blade had not broken.
Still unable to believe it, she asked, "Did I… block your strike, Young Master Namgung? The one from the Placement Test?"
Namgung Jun glanced down at his lowered sword. "You certainly did."
Looking at Dan So-hye, whose eyes were gradually widening, he added, "To be honest, I struck with twice the power of my strike from the Placement Test. Yet, you still managed to block it."
With a fluid, graceful motion, Namgung Jun sheathed his sword.
"You have clearly grown, Lady Dan. Is that not so?"
Despite his acknowledgment, Dan So-hye did not reply. She simply caught her breath and slowly sank to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Man Ye-won, who was watching nearby, quickly ran onto the sparring stage to support her.
But she shook her head, refusing the help.
Soon, supporting herself on trembling legs, she forced herself to stand.
"My goal hasn't changed since the Placement Test. I will enter one of the Ten Halls of the Azure Heaven Association."
Dan So-hye looked at Namgung Jun, her eyes now clear and focused.
"I will chase after you, Young Master Namgung, until the day I am worthy to draw my sword at your back."
The Placement Test was not the only way into the Ten Halls. Cultivators who performed exceptionally in the branches established throughout the Jianghu could receive recommendations, and individual Hall Masters held separate exams to fill vacancies.
Having finally overcome the single strike from the Placement Test, Dan So-hye had set a new goal for herself right then and there.
Her legs looked ready to collapse at any moment, and her hands were a bloody mess. Yet, seeing her still holding her sword with an unwavering gaze, Namgung Jun nodded.
"Your sword is steadfast, Lady Dan. You will surely succeed."
Namgung Jun sheathed his sword and bowed politely.
"I will look forward to the day we stand side by side on the same battlefield."
* * *
As Namgung Jun was returning to his quarters after the spar, Lee Se-ha blocked his path.
She grabbed his sleeve and pulled him close.
"Jun, how about you and I go on a cozy little mission together?"
"A mission?"
"Yes. Hurry up and follow me."
The master and disciple walked out of the main castle side by side.