Chapter 234
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: It Seems You Don't Want To
Harsh sunlight fell across her face, rousing her from sleep.
A clear sky.
A pleasant morning.
Namgung Ji-yu stretched languidly, shaking off the last remnants of sleep.
She threw on a light outer robe and stepped out of her room to wash up.
After splashing water on her face, even the faint traces of drowsiness vanished completely.
She returned to her room.
Then she pulled out the training uniform delivered the day before and changed into it.
"Hm?"
As Namgung Ji-yu checked her appearance, she tilted her head in puzzlement.
It was her usual training uniform, yet something felt different.
Could that even be possible?
It wasn't newly made; it was just the one she'd been wearing, cleaned and returned by the workers.
Yet it felt off somehow.
She examined the uniform again.
"It feels... cleaner than usual..."
That was it.
It was exceptionally pristine compared to normal. That must be why it felt different.
Wearing fresh clothes on such a refreshing morning lifted her spirits naturally.
She even felt like the whole day would go smoothly.
On her way to the academy hall, she ran into Namgung Ji-hu.
Her eyes went to his uniform.
It had been cleaned just as thoroughly as hers.
Quite remarkable.
Especially compared to the other cadets' uniforms, which weren't nearly as spotless.
Was something like this even possible?
She chalked it up to it just being a good day.
Probably just some good luck.
"Hm? You too, sis?"
"What?"
Namgung Ji-yu asked at her brother's words.
"Your uniform's super clean."
Amazing.
Even this unflappable kid had noticed the change.
It must have been that clean.
Who on earth had done the laundry? The thought crossed her mind.
"Probably just a lucky coincidence. Maybe a worker with real skill showed up."
Namgung Ji-hu nodded at his sister's words.
That was the most plausible explanation.
After morning classes ended.
On the way to Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
"Oh?"
One worker caught her eye.
A memorable one.
One-armed, face covered in scars.
He'd left quite an impression.
If not for Elder Wei stepping in yesterday, she might have faced a truly distasteful mess.
Glancing around, she was relieved that the man named Hwang Ryeok wasn't in sight.
As she passed the worker, Namgung Ji-yu gave a light nod and eye contact in greeting.
He flinched, then bowed his head deeply in return.
'Even so, that's a bit much... It's embarrassing.'
With that thought, she hurried toward Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
A refreshing morning dawned.
The workers filed out of the dorms.
A quiet corner room had opened up just in time.
Namgung Hwi had started staying here after moving his luggage from the inn six days ago.
Staying inside Dragon Training Pavilion was convenient.
He could roam the grounds all day.
Under the excuse of doing his worker duties, of course.
Though limited to the areas workers could access.
Lately, Namgung Hwi frequented the edge of Fierce Dragon Corps' training ground the most.
The end closest to the pavilion's center.
Cadets from Hidden Dragon Corps or Wa Dragon Corps sometimes passed through here on their way to Devouring Dragon Pavilion.
Except when heading to the western annex, they always came near this spot.
It was the third day.
He'd been cleaning around here at lunch and dinner times.
But he hadn't caught sight of those kids.
Today, though.
He sensed presences from afar.
It was them.
He focused on sweeping while extending his senses to their limit.
That range was about three jang—roughly nine meters.
With his martial arts suppressed, that was his maximum.
His heart began to pound.
Last time, he'd only glimpsed them briefly, and it had been four days since.
He hadn't dared make eye contact.
Which way would they go?
He was curious but too scared to look up.
Instead, he concentrated on their presences and swept harder.
They were heading his way.
He stole a quick glance up.
The uniforms he'd washed with such care.
They were wearing them today.
He knew it the moment he saw.
After all the effort he'd poured into them.
His heart raced even faster.
He fought back the tears welling in his eyes.
Just then, his gaze met Namgung Ji-yu's.
She recognized him too, it seemed.
No wonder—forgetting this face would be harder.
And yet.
That girl gave a slight nod and eye greeting.
To this hideous, one-armed worker.
Namgung Ji-yu of Namgung Clan—pampered jewel of the house—bowing her head first, even slightly.
Namgung Hwi bowed his head low.
And couldn't lift it again.
His eyes were already red, tears starting to trickle.
He kept his head down, terrified she'd see.
'They grew up so kind. Such pure hearts.'
It was just a small gesture, but it revealed their true nature.
Wearing the uniform he'd laundered, and greeting him to boot.
Today felt like a truly lucky day.
Going to Golden Dragon Tower had been the right call.
Accepting Elder Wei's invitation to join him—smart move.
Taking his advice to apply as a worker—brilliant.
That's why this moment existed.
The two presences faded into the distance.
Still, Namgung Hwi couldn't raise his head.
Drip.
A teardrop wet the freshly swept ground.
Afternoon training time.
Namgung Ji-hu began his personal practice.
He didn't have enough time to refine Emperor Sword Form as it was.
Honestly, he'd wanted to skip morning classes too, but they had their uses, so he'd attended.
He had to survive in the jianghu, after all.
He needed all the knowledge he could get.
If his clan wouldn't provide it, Dragon Training Pavilion would have to do.
He drew his sword.
A worn blade.
Ridiculous.
It had been a fine sword once.
But after Summer Combat Festival and the Eastern Match, it was like this.
His clan had maintained it, but only to this extent.
Namgung Ji-hu sensed it was time to part with this cherished blade.
Namgung Ji-yu, watching, looked a touch wistful.
'Father could at least get him a new sword...'
He was the eldest son of Namgung Clan.
Yet still using that?
"What're you waiting for? Move."
Ha Mu-baek, who had appeared unnoticed, spoke to Namgung Ji-hu.
At that, Namgung Ji-hu slowly began moving his sword.
Ha Mu-baek nodded.
Talent, plain and simple.
No—overflowing talent.
His form was shaping up nicely.
Dragon Training Pavilion.
The major sects didn't send their true prodigies here, or so they said.
Yet every real talent Ha Mu-baek had seen in the jianghu was here.
Mysterious.
Were the righteous elders blind?
Or did true genius hide from ordinary eyes?
"Good."
Namgung Ji-hu's lips curved slightly at the praise.
Approval from that picky monster.
"Now you're worth sparring with."
Namgung Ji-hu nearly halted his sword.
The implication of those words.
A real spar.
Ha Mu-baek caught the hesitation.
"It seems you don't want to."
Namgung Ji-hu focused harder on Emperor Sword Form.
He completed the first half.
Ha Mu-baek approached.
"Not Emperor Sword Form. Use Great Harmony Sword Method."
"Pardon?"
"Great Harmony is the seed of Emperor Sword. Perfect Great Harmony, and Emperor Sword draws closer to its true form."
"Understood."
Namgung Ji-hu agreed to Ha Mu-baek's solemn explanation.
Shing.
Ha Mu-baek drew his sword.
Tahat!
He struck first.
His blade flew straight at Namgung Ji-hu.
'Great Harmony Sword Method?!?'
Namgung Ji-hu was stunned.
How could an outsider wield it so perfectly?
This instructor truly was a monster.
No way he'd been taught it.
Not from a manual either.
Probably just observed it once.
Mimicking from sight alone—and flawlessly.
No time for stray thoughts.
Namgung Ji-hu's sword moved too.
Countering the slicing blade with Great Harmony Sword Method.
Clang!
Clang clang!
The clash of steel rang out fiercely.
Ha Mu-baek's sword relentlessly targeted every gap.
Namgung Ji-hu blocked them all.
In this exchange.
His Great Harmony Sword Method grew ever more perfect.
Inevitably so.
Ha Mu-baek attacked only the flaws visible to his eyes.
Defending honed it naturally.
Perfect instruction through sparring.
Namgung Ji-yu watched it all, mouth agape.
Was this even possible?
What kind of monster was this instructor?
Surpassing imagination at every turn—she'd given up trying, yet here she was, stunned again.
The focus in Namgung Ji-hu's eyes began to fade.
Namgung Ji-yu widened hers in shock.
She quickly clapped both hands over her mouth.
Or a gasp would escape.
'Forget-self state.'
Her brother had entered it.
Just from a spar.
Ha Mu-baek.
She'd sworn off imagining, but still.
His senses caught it too.
Just targeting flaws relentlessly.
And the kid reached that realm on his own.
'Lucky bastard. Too fast. No fun.'
Thoughts that would earn curses from anyone else.
Talent.
Who was the pinnacle?
The man who mimicked rival sects' ultimate arts after a glance.
Complaining talented kids were unlucky?
Then he himself was the unluckiest in the world.
'Well, he's in it now. Might as well spar properly.'
Resolved, Ha Mu-baek matched his level, probing flaws.
Moment by moment.
Namgung Ji-hu's sword edged toward perfection.
At least, the flaws Ha Mu-baek saw were vanishing one by one.
Higher realms existed, no doubt.
He hadn't mastered Great Harmony to its limit.
That was for Namgung Ji-hu.
Guiding him this far was more than enough—overkill, even.
How long had this spirited spar gone on?
Kang!
A different sound rang out.
Whirrr.
Half of Namgung Ji-hu's sword snapped and flew off.
His forget-self state shattered.
"Uh..."
He stared blankly at his blade.
Exhaustion hit, laced with deep regret.
Just a bit longer in that sensation...
"That's plenty impressive already. Too much greed leads to qi deviation."
Ha Mu-baek tossed the words casually, reading his mind.
"Thank you."
Namgung Ji-hu bowed deeply.
"Right. Focus on making today's gains your own for a while."
With that, Ha Mu-baek left.
The training ground empty save for the siblings.
Their eyes fixed on the broken sword.
Regretful.
If only it had held a little longer.
The thought struck them both.
'Thought it was a lucky day.'
Namgung Ji-yu mused wistfully.
No, it had been lucky.
Forget-self state, after all.
But this ending muddied the judgment.
"What about a sword? We still need to train."
Namgung Ji-hu muttered offhand.
Right—that was his only one.
Resentment toward their father bubbled up again in Namgung Ji-yu.
"Use a training sword from the pavilion for now. Later, find a good smithy and commission one."
Namgung Ji-hu nodded.
He picked up the broken piece and sheathed it.
Snapped, but he couldn't discard it.
It was a gift from Father, after all.
One of the rare few.
They headed to the armory.
An unguarded armory.
"Even for training weapons only, isn't this too lax?"
Namgung Ji-hu muttered, looking around.
"Yeah."
But the entrance was secured with a massive padlock.
"Who do we talk to?"
Namgung Ji-hu grumbled, puzzled.
"Haha. What brings you two here?"
Wei Ji-gun appeared then.