Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Seamless Sword Arts
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Zhuge Clan's patriarch's quarters, the Crouching Dragon Pavilion.
Steam rose gently from two teacups.
Zhuge Pae lifted his teacup, sipped it quietly without a sound, and spoke.
"Seon."
Jegal Seon, seated across from him, looked at his father, Zhuge Pae.
"Yes, Father."
"That boy... He's truly fascinating."
"I feel the same. He's a standout talent, someone I'd love to bring into the fold."
After finishing his words, Jegal Seon broke into a pleased smile.
It was because his father had cast a positive gaze upon a member of the Baek Clan Manor.
The reason was simple.
"You know how displeased I was that you, Seon, formed a sworn brotherhood with the head of a mere third-rate martial family."
"...Yes. I know."
Jegal Seon had been drawn to Baek Mu-ryang's sense of justice and character, transcending the gap in their statuses to become his sworn brother.
But.
This was not behavior befitting the young clan leader of the Zhuge Clan, one of the pillars of the World's Five Great Clans.
"Because of that, you lost the chance to form a sworn brotherhood with someone of equal status. In other words, you forfeited one avenue to bring glory to the main clan."
"...It's true it's not a solid connection for exchanging practical benefits. But I have no regrets."
Zhuge Pae stared intently at his son.
Unlike Zhuge Pae, who had competed fiercely with numerous brothers, Jegal Seon was an only child.
In other words, there was no brother to vie with for the position of young clan leader.
Thus, he was gentle and somewhat lacking, yet possessed the magnanimity to embrace everyone.
'Losing one thing means gaining another.'
Therefore, his son's Zhuge Clan might differ greatly from his own.
No, it would undoubtedly be different.
But.
The Zhuge Clan still advanced under Zhuge Pae's command.
As both father and patriarch, offering counsel to his heir was part of that duty.
"Indeed. In this case, your decision might yet bring fortune. But Seon, are you prepared to grasp that fortune?"
It was cryptic counsel, but a familiar style to Jegal Seon.
"Fortune rolls in on its own. Trying to seize it might make it slip away like sand."
"Fortune may be so, but profit is fruit that only those who reach out can claim."
"That fruit has rolled right in. Haven't we forged ties with one of the Heavenly Martial Ten Lords?"
The Heavenly Martial Ten Lords were something even the Zhuge Clan of the World's Five Great Clans had never produced.
Each one was an absolute being whose prowess rivaled the great clans themselves—no exaggeration.
For a direct descendant of the Zhuge line to form a master-disciple bond with the Sky-Splitting Thunder Empress was no small matter.
But.
Zhuge Pae was not satisfied.
"That's with a loose net. A tighter weave would yield far greater results."
"Father."
Emphasizing his words, Jegal Seon paused to choose them carefully.
"I have no desire to devour the Baek Clan Manor."
"Why not?"
"Because leaving it be brings greater profit."
Curiosity flickered across Zhuge Pae's face.
Jegal Seon, with his fierce and upright nature befitting the moniker Crouching Dragon Peerless, always yielded to his father.
For such a son to speak so firmly was intriguing.
"Explain."
"I seek to distinguish those to handle with profit from those to treat with righteousness."
"Many think merchants alone chase profit, but in truth, all people live for gain."
"Pursuing profit doesn't mean you can always move others with it."
Zhuge Pae stroked his beard and sipped the now-cooled tea.
It was a sign of approval.
"I won't interfere or investigate further. Yang-hui—that boy is a talent we cannot let slip away. Are you confident?"
"Of course, Father. Just as Liu Xuan-de thrice visited the Thatched Hut for Zhuge Mu-hou, I will use achievement and righteousness to bring the Baek Clan to our side."
This was the conversation between father and son of the Zhuge line in the Crouching Dragon Pavilion.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Why is this sword manual here?"
Best Sword Among Wanderers. A moniker meaning the finest swordsman among ronin.
In his previous life, Baek Yang-hui had ascended to that title after two decades as a wandering swordsman.
However, he hadn't claimed the title without rivals.
'This... It was definitely that punk Heavenly Peak Sword's.'
A Peak Realm expert who pestered him endlessly, claiming the Best Sword Among Wanderers title for himself.
He'd kept his Super Peak attainment secret back then, but since Heavenly Peak Sword kept challenging him to spars, he'd thrashed the fool each time.
[Seamless Sword Manual]
From the idiom "heavenly robes without seams," meaning something so natural it's flawless and perfect.
The "seamless" of that idiom.
The Seamless Sword Manual wove sword forms like threads into cloth, creating surfaces from lines—a profound sword art.
'Yeah, it's the one that punk used.'
Having read the entire manual, he was certain.
Heavenly Peak Sword's fame would spread widely in about five years.
Come to think of it, the guy's main stage was this Huguang region.
The picture was coming together.
He'd somehow gained access to the Scholar's Arsenal, found the Seamless Sword Manual, and made it his core art.
'Seamless Sword Manual. The insights run to second-rate depth, but the principles are soundly established.'
In other words, in the hands of a talented practitioner, it could rise to first-rate—or beyond.
Proof was Heavenly Peak Sword reaching the Peak Realm with it in his previous life.
'An unexpected windfall.'
It was merely second-rate now, but he knew exactly how it would evolve.
That punk had racked up countless spars along the way.
Knowing not just the manual but its advanced forms... It was as good as having a Peak Realm art in his grasp?
"Hahaha!"
Truly, the lucky fall face-first into gold.
He'd planned to grab a bunch of second-rate arts to pad the clan's repertoire.
This was a real stroke of luck.
'The Seamless Sword Manual is perfect to pass to the clan's core forces.'
Even if it required infusing Peak Realm insights into its current second-rate form.
That was no issue.
A few hours en route from the Zhuge Clan to the main house would suffice for mastery.
'So, one Peak art and twenty second-rate ones.'
He'd have to request a council of elders the moment he returned.
Reporting his achievements would be fun.
Grinning, Baek Yang-hui began memorizing all the selected books.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hah! Hah!"
At the center of the Baek Clan Manor's outer training grounds.
Children from seven to fifteen years old sweated profusely, drilling in formation.
Baek Mu-ryang watched the scene with a pleased expression.
The future pillars of the Baek Clan Manor.
All were carefully selected prodigies.
'Just a short while ago, such a sight was beyond our dreams.'
In a mere year, so much had changed.
And the Baek Clan Manor would change even faster and greater ahead.
'The problem is... we lack arts to teach them next.'
The children were currently tempering their bodies with the clan's foundational art, the Principle Harmony Six Unions Art.
Several months had passed, so soon they'd need proper initiation into martial arts.
But no arts to teach.
'Passing the first half of Heaven-Covering 108 Swords is an option...'
Not ideal.
Each child had unique aptitudes, temperaments, and innate strengths and weaknesses; uniformity wasn't feasible.
A proper martial clan wouldn't face such worries.
They'd boast myriad arts beyond heirloom techniques.
This was the Baek Clan Manor's greatest limitation lately, vexing Baek Mu-ryang.
"Sigh. If only martial arts would drop from the sky."
"Worry not, Patriarch. They will."
The response came from Han Seok-eon, standing at attention beside him.
"Hm? What do you mean, Chief Steward Han?"
"Because the Young Master will resolve it upon his return."
"What makes you think so?"
Han Seok-eon's answer was simple.
"It just feels that way."
"...?"
"It's always been like that. Whenever he goes out, he brings back something amazingly helpful to the clan."
Han Seok-eon chuckled as he continued.
"Ideally, if he returns loaded with cash to buy arts—and leaves room for outside connections too."
Baek Mu-ryang, unable to fathom such blind faith, had to retort.
"...Chief Steward Han. Hui went for training, not moneymaking?"
"Hasn't he brought back profits from 'business trips' before?"
"..."
True enough.
Oddly convinced, Baek Mu-ryang nodded—then caught himself.
'Chief Steward Han's gotten quite the joker lately. That's not logical.'
Blind hope without action was failure as patriarch.
Thus, he had to seek ways to acquire arts for the children.
As he pondered...
"Father! Your son has returned!"
Baek Mu-ryang welcomed his son with a laugh, after four months apart.
"Hui! You're back! Haha, it's been too long! You've grown taller!"
Grinning at the shoulder pats, Baek Yang-hui called out again.
"Uncle Jegal awaits outside. You should go greet him."
"Hm? Brother Jegal? Whatever brings him to our manor?"
Seeing Baek Mu-ryang's puzzled look, Baek Yang-hui grinned once more.
"The story's long. So, Father, please convene the council of elders."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "..."
"..."
"..."
In the meeting hall, with the Baek Clan Manor's elders plus Jegal Seon present.
All fell silent.
"..."
"...So, Hui. You went to the Zhuge Clan, gained access to their arsenal as thanks, and memorized twenty martial arts?"
"All first-rate or better?"
He nodded nonchalantly.
"Yes."
"..."
"..."
Whoa.
He actually did it.
Baek Mu-ryang glanced silently at Han Seok-eon.
The chief steward beamed, as if he'd known all along.
'Twenty second-rate arts, no less.'
Enough to assign to the newly recruited prodigies without worry.
The headache plaguing Baek Mu-ryang lately was solved in one go.
"You're truly... uncanny, son."
"Thank you for the praise, Father."
"But... there might be an issue."
Baek Mu-ryang looked to Jegal Seon.
"Brother Jegal's father probably expected two or three at most when opening the arsenal... All good, brother?"
Jegal Seon still wore an incredulous expression.
"I knew Yang-hui was clever, but haha. I didn't expect him to clean out the Scholar's Arsenal, brother."
As Baek Mu-ryang looked apologetic, Jegal Seon continued.
"But fret not. The Crouching Dragon Clan doesn't go back on its word. Yang-hui merely made full use of the reward given."
"I'm grateful you say so, brother."
Clearing his throat, Baek Mu-ryang posed a question.
"But what brings you to our manor, brother?"
"Ah. There's a matter."
Explaining the situation with Jegal Seol-hwa's letter, Baek Mu-ryang burst into laughter.
"You're quite the doting father yourself."
"You have a daughter too, brother—you understand."
"True. Haha. Our Yeon is quite the beauty."
"Seol-hwa is no less."
The sworn brothers' talk veered toward doting dads' boasts.
"Father. I have something to say."
With one agenda left, he interjected swiftly to refocus attention.
"Speak, Hui."
"Before leaving for training, I asked Elder Yeo for a favor."
"A favor?"
"She'll explain herself."
Yeo Un-hyeok rose and faced Baek Mu-ryang.
"I apologize for not informing you sooner due to delays in the investigation."
"No matter, Elder. Speak freely."
Detailing the Advance Teaching Gang's backer, everyone's faces hardened.
"Their movements have been suspicious, indeed."
"Makes sense. Worth checking. Thank you, Elder."
"Elder, did they have a backer?"
Yeo Un-hyeok nodded slowly.
"Piecing together various intel, we've pinned down the backer."
Meaning the Advance Teaching Gang truly had one.
"Where?"
Yeo Un-hyeok continued.
"The Advance Teaching Gang's backer is..."