Chapter 221
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Sorry
Early dawn at the training grounds.
Yeon Ha-min and Nak Woo-jin.
Their swords moved swiftly and fluidly.
The sword technique they were currently practicing was the Flowing Dragon Sword Method.
They executed it based on the Three Talents Heart Method, yet there was no awkwardness whatsoever.
It was truly a martial art that transcended heart methods.
The Flowing Dragon Fist Method and Flowing Dragon Body Technique were the same.
The two, who didn't have any particularly special martial arts of their own, devoted themselves fully to mastering the Flowing Dragon Arts.
It was both to assist Squad Twenty of the Wa Dragon Corps in their first year and to hone their own skills.
Learning the Flowing Dragon Sword Method was something the other three members of Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven—along with Ju Woo-myeong and Ha Seol-ran—were doing as well.
Since they had all decided to help Squad Twenty of the Wa Dragon Corps, they needed to understand the martial arts that squad would use.
So they sparred with each other to check the strengths and weaknesses of the Flowing Dragon Arts.
And how it might play out in real combat.
Amid all this, Yeon Ha-min also pondered strategies for the Summer Combat Festival.
There were only two months left.
A short time that would fly by in the blink of an eye.
So much to do, and so little time remaining.
"The Summer Combat Festival will probably be held at Mount Mokran again this year."
Yeon Ha-min spoke in a low voice during a brief break to catch their breath.
The festival was held in the same location every year, so it was a reasonable assumption.
"Ideally, we'd train there for about a month in advance, like we did last year..."
Unfortunately, that wasn't possible.
It was because of the Fierce Dragon Corps' group training.
"Instead, we'll head to the nearby mountains on rest days for guerrilla warfare drills. We'll explain the terrain as much as we've familiarized ourselves with it."
Everyone nodded at Yeon Ha-min's explanation.
"We'll also train on facing one opponent with a sword formation."
Yeon Ha-min's gaze turned to Ju Woo-myeong, Baek Ri-pyeong, and Dan Mok Un-roe.
They were currently the strongest among the group.
"The problem is we don't know what martial arts those guys will use. Thunder Citadel, Iron Flag Guild, Great Sea Gate, Ice Heaven Palace, Heavenly Sword Sect. We've seen the martial arts of Thunder Citadel, Iron Flag Guild, and Heavenly Sword Sect during the Winter Combat Festival, but..."
"If it's Ice Heaven Palace's martial arts, I can help."
The cadets' eyes turned toward her at the sudden voice of Han Seol-bing.
"Pardon?"
Yeon Ha-min was startled.
It was help she hadn't even considered.
"I've been away from the palace for a while, but I didn't know it'd changed that much. Even if it's just because I can't stand those Tak Clan bastards, I'll lend a hand."
Tak Clan.
She meant Tak Mu-jeon.
With Han Seol-bing joining in, they discussed future plans and continued their training.
Flowing Dragon Sword Method, Fist Method, Body Technique, and now sword formations.
They trained, sparred, and reviewed multiple times.
Mornings were for classes, afternoons for Fierce Dragon Corps training.
And after dinner.
Thanks to the longer days, dusk had only just begun to fall.
The cadets of Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty appeared at Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven's training grounds.
"We're starting sword formation practice now."
Yeon Ha-min said calmly.
The five looked haggard but nodded.
It was understandable.
They were training so intensely they were skimping on sleep.
"You've practiced on your own, right?"
They nodded again at Yeon Ha-min's question, drew their swords, formed up the sword formation, and took their positions.
There were no shields.
The Flowing Dragon Sword Formation was executed with swords alone.
That part felt lacking.
Shield techniques would have been a big help for them.
But there wasn't time to practice that far.
"Here I go first!"
Baek Ri-pyeong stepped forward first.
The five Wa Dragon Corps cadets nodded with tense expressions.
Baek Ri-pyeong stepped into the air and swung his sword.
Chaeng!
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets moved in perfect unison to block Baek Ri-pyeong's sword.
Baek Ri-pyeong observed their movements while wielding his sword.
Since confirming the formation's organic movement was the priority, he swung toward the easier-to-block sides.
Baek Ri-pyeong had also learned the Flowing Dragon Sword Formation.
He matched his swings to the formation's movements for a while.
How much time passed like that?
Just as the formation grew accustomed to Baek Ri-pyeong's sword...
"Now for real!"
Baek Ri-pyeong's sword movements changed.
The Heavenly Star Sword Method began to unfold properly.
With its deployment speed doubled.
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets' swords grew chaotic against the suddenly assaulting blades from all directions.
"Keep your focus! Don't break the formation's flow!"
Baek Ri-pyeong shouted while swinging his sword.
He had reached a realm where he could survey his surroundings and shout even while unleashing the now twice-as-fast Heavenly Star Sword Method.
At Baek Ri-pyeong's shout, the Wa Dragon Corps cadets gritted their teeth and maintained the formation.
But their limits showed quickly.
"Ugh."
Shim Cheol-san was the first to drop out.
Once one fell...
The formation collapsed in an instant.
Yeong Hu-in, Im Dae-chi, Eun Hwa-ryang, and Na Jung-cheon fell in that order, each taking a strike from Baek Ri-pyeong.
"Next, me."
Dan Mok Un-roe stepped up.
The sword method he used was the Flowing Dragon Sword Method.
He hadn't yet refined his Dan Mok Clan sword method enough for real combat.
His progress with the Flowing Dragon Sword Method was much faster instead.
It was a curious thing even for Dan Mok Un-roe.
Dan Mok Un-roe trembled his sword toward the formation.
The Wa Dragon Corps cadets, exhausted from facing Baek Ri-pyeong, still gritted their teeth and swung their swords.
However.
They couldn't withstand even half a stance against Dan Mok Un-roe's relentless attacks targeting the formation's gaps, and all collapsed.
"No time to rest."
Yeon Ha-min said in a cold voice.
Next was Ju Woo-myeong.
The Tai Chi Radiant Sword unfolded from his fingertips, and the Wa Dragon Corps cadets couldn't last ten breaths.
"Hah... huff huff..."
"Ahh."
"Kuh. Huff huff."
They lay sprawled on the ground, breathing raggedly.
"You need to hold at least half a stance against three of us."
Yeon Ha-min said in a voice like icicles.
While they trained so diligently...
The cadets of Wa Dragon Corps Squad One were tilting cups at a tavern outside the Dragon Training Pavilion.
"Heard those guys are training like mad?"
Tak Mu-jeon said as he raised his cup.
"Doesn't matter. Trash is trash."
Byeok I-gyeom replied dismissively.
"Let's hit the brothel."
Cheol Ryeong smacked his lips regretfully.
"And get stuck inside again when the pavilion gates close like last time?"
Gong Gu-pae said incredulously.
That had been quite the hassle.
The month at the Dragon Training Pavilion had built considerable camaraderie among them.
The problem was the direction of that camaraderie.
They paid no particular mind to Squad Twenty.
Even though they were in the same Wa Dragon Corps at the Dragon Training Pavilion, those guys were on a whole different level.
They were confident in their talent, and right now, they were drunk on it.
Much like Squad One of the Hidden Dragon Corps a year ago.
At least those guys had Namgung Ji-hu and Namgung Ji-yu to keep them in check.
This year's Wa Dragon Corps Squad One was truly a case of birds of a feather flocking together.
They partied with drinks every other night.
At another table in the tavern where they drank...
Han Seol-bing, sitting alone and nursing her cup, shook her head.
She had come here after noticing these guys lurking around.
Overhearing their conversation from her distant seat was quite the spectacle.
No need to hear more.
Han Seol-bing left the tavern.
At that moment, Cheol Ryeong glanced at her retreating figure.
And licked his lips.
'Nice.'
He didn't know who she was, but she stirred his lust.
He wanted to get up and follow, but his companions were there.
Regrettable.
The Dragon Training Pavilion.
It wasn't for him.
The Iron Flag Guild was better.
Where he could do as he pleased.
Han Seol-bing stepped out of the tavern and came to an abrupt halt.
She turned sharply, her gaze piercing back.
She couldn't have missed that stare.
'A mutt mixed in with the dogs.'
She decided to properly thrash that one after the Summer Combat Festival.
For now, those guys were Squad Twenty of the Wa Dragon Corps' to deal with.
Swallowing her anger, Han Seol-bing arrived near the training grounds.
The sounds of training still emanated from Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven's grounds.
"Where've you been wandering?"
Ha Mu-baek asked.
"Seems you're keeping tabs, huh?"
Han Seol-bing turned toward where Ha Mu-baek was and replied.
"Eh, just amusing watching them play around."
Ha Mu-baek chuckled.
He hadn't intervened at all regarding Wa Dragon Corps Squad Twenty.
Not yet.
"You might regret looking down on them while they fool around."
Han Seol-bing frowned at Ha Mu-baek's words.
"Those losers?"
"Still, their skills aren't to be taken lightly. The new ones this year. That Un Mu-woong guy, and even Un Do-heon whom I smashed. They've got potential and real power. Quite the mystery."
With that, Ha Mu-baek turned and walked away.
In the direction away from Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven's training grounds.
"Where are you off to?"
Han Seol-bing asked, tilting her head.
"Got a place I need to check briefly."
Ha Mu-baek's figure vanished after his curt reply.
Whoosh. Shing.
The sword whistled through the air as it passed.
Bathed in moonlight, the blade sliced through the darkness, scattering a mysterious aura.
Great Extension Sword Method.
It was the Namgung Clan's foundational sword art, but its movements were anything but basic.
Namgung Ji-yu watched in astonishment.
It was a sword method she'd never seen in the clan.
Clearly the Great Extension Sword Method, yet not the one she knew.
Suddenly sensing a presence, she startled and leaped back.
When had he arrived?
Ha Mu-baek stood beside her.
"Not bad. You've got the basics down, at least."
Namgung Ji-yu blinked at his words.
Basics? After that incredible display?
Meanwhile, Namgung Ji-hu finished the entire Great Extension Sword Method and steadied his breath.
"You've come."
Namgung Ji-hu bowed politely toward Ha Mu-baek.
"Yeah. Now show me the Emperor King Sword Form once. Been itching to try it, haven't you? Nearly killed you holding back."
A smile crept onto Namgung Ji-hu's lips at Ha Mu-baek's words.
Exactly.
Throughout training the Three Talents Sword Method and Great Extension Sword Method...
The Emperor King Sword Form's manual had tickled his chest and mind.
Urging him to unleash it.
Yet Namgung Ji-hu steadfastly trained only the Three Talents and Great Extension Sword Methods.
He hadn't even touched the Sky Bow Without Attachment Sword.
Believing Ha Mu-baek would guide him when it was time.
Namgung Ji-hu assumed his stance, raised his sword.
And slowly moved it according to the first manual verse.
"Ah!"
Namgung Ji-yu let out an involuntary gasp of admiration.
How could she not?
It was a sword movement she'd never witnessed before.
Crack.
As Namgung Ji-hu executed the technique, it seemed he heard such a sound by his ear.
The first movement.
With just that, he felt a crack in the seed within him.
The seed splitting to sprout.
One swing, two swings.
With each movement, the crack in the seed grew larger.
By the time he finished the first half...
Namgung Ji-hu vividly felt a small sprout emerge.
Ha Mu-baek smiled watching him.
Then tilted his head.
'What is this? This aura?'
Familiar yet strange. Known but different.
He sensed it emanating from Namgung Ji-hu's Emperor King Sword Form.
An aura he'd never felt from others performing the Emperor King Sword Form.
It was different.
Clearly the Emperor King Sword Form, yet not.
A new Emperor King Sword Form.
It was gradually revealing itself from Namgung Ji-hu's hands.
An aura and form impossible to predict from the manual alone.
Ha Mu-baek watched calmly.
'Sword form. Yes, a sword form.'
Ha Mu-baek's lips curled up unwittingly.
The Dragon Training Pavilion, where he'd planned to just pass time leisurely, kept serving up interesting developments.
"Huuu..."
A deep, long breath escaped Namgung Ji-hu.
He was drenched in sweat.
From performing just the first half of the Emperor King Sword Form once.
"How was it?"
"It feels like the sprout has emerged."
Namgung Ji-hu replied to Ha Mu-baek's question, suppressing his excitement.
"Now I understand why you called the Emperor King Sword Form a seed."
Namgung Ji-hu's eyes brimmed with respect toward Ha Mu-baek.
After experiencing it, how could he not?
"It's not just the Great Extension Sword Method. The Sky Bow Without Attachment Sword is the same. Both are fertilizer for the seed. Keep training more. Don't get fixated solely on the Emperor King Sword Form."
With those words, Ha Mu-baek left Hidden Dragon Corps Squad One's training grounds.
The Namgung siblings watched his departing figure silently.
"Sorry."
Namgung Ji-yu whispered.
"Hm?"
"When you said you'd show the Emperor King Sword Form manual to Instructor Ha. I opposed it, calling it insane."
Namgung Ji-hu chuckled at his sister's words.
Despite her opposition, he had handed over the manual anyway.
And in the end, his judgment was right.
Achieving results in martial arts after just over a month was encouraging.
"But... will Father acknowledge this Emperor King Sword Form?"
"He'll have to acknowledge something stronger. The Emperor King Sword Form isn't a completed sword method—it's one that must be completed."