The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 27 - Guidance Duel (4)

Lee Se-ha, who had entered Namgung Jun’s room, held her breath. Even though the sun had set and darkness had long since fallen all around, there was no light in Namgung Jun’s room.

Of course, to the visual prowess of a supreme master, this level of darkness was no problem at all, so Lee Se-ha quietly looked around the interior.

Namgung Jun was lying on the bed, sleeping.

The guidance duels with Man Ye-won and Man Hun that had happened during the day.

On top of that, he had continued straight into his evening training, so it was understandable that he would feel tired.

On a normal day, she would have thought of it as a natural thing, but for some reason, today it kept weighing on her mind.

Even if she were to be treated as a bothersome master, her desire to check on her disciple’s condition herself was great.

‘Should I come back in a little while?’

The body of Lee Se-ha, who had been about to stealthily turn her steps, hesitated. She had noticed that the breathing of the sleeping Namgung Jun was disturbed.

At her disciple’s breathing, which had become rough, however faintly, Lee Se-ha had, at some point, sat down on the edge of the bed.

As the darkness of the room was parted by the moonlight coming in through the window, Namgung Jun’s face was also clearly revealed.

Was he having a nightmare?

Though at a glance he seemed expressionless, a faint furrow was etched between Namgung Jun’s eyebrows.

Seeing this, Lee Se-ha’s eyelids lowered slightly. The shadow that flowed down from between her dark and dense eyelashes darkly veiled her gaze.

It was because she had recalled that Namgung Jun had been tormented by nightmares even before they had arrived at the Azure Sky Society.

‘Just like that time.’

At that time, she had not been able to bring herself to ask. Because the question itself might become a wound.

If so, could she ask now?

Lee Se-ha, who had been contemplating for a moment, shook her head.

As expected, it seemed the right thing to do was to wait until he spoke of it himself.

But separately from that, she couldn’t help but be curious.

What was it that tormented her disciple so?

Lee Se-ha fidgeted with her hands by herself for a time, then cautiously took Namgung Jun’s hand.

Namgung Jun’s hand was exceptionally cold. For that reason, she could not let go of that hand.

She wanted to let him know, even if just like this, that he was not alone.

That his master was right here, watching over his side.

And so, that it was okay to shake off the coldness in his heart.

Lee Se-ha, who was holding her disciple’s hand, showed a faint smile.

“My disciple. You’ve worked very hard.”

Even though she had only lightly held his hand, she could feel the small scars and calluses. It had not been a soft hand when they first met, but it had not been to this extent.

It was the hand of a respectable swordsman. One that would not be shameful no matter where it was presented.

Lee Se-ha moved her body and drew even closer to Namgung Jun.

“It’s okay, Jun-ah. This master is here.”

Lee Se-ha did not wake him rashly. She soothed Namgung Jun with a gentle voice.

She looked back and forth between the moonlight dappling through the window bars and Namgung Jun, and was lost in thought.

How much time had passed like that?

“Hm?”

Namgung Jun slowly opened his eyes. The first thing he felt upon waking from his sleep was a soft warmth coming up through his hand.

He took in the sight of the fine hair, swaying amidst the scattering starlight. It was like looking at a piece of jet-black silk that held a subtle sheen.

Namgung Jun knew who it was immediately just by looking at the shimmering hair.

“Master?”

“You’re awake now?”

“Since when have you been here?”

“About an hour?”

Namgung Jun slowly sat up. A look of slight bewilderment was mixed in his expression.

“It seems I was deeply asleep. Normally, I would have noticed right away…”

Lee Se-ha let out a bitter smile.

“I know. It seems you had a very hard time today.”

Namgung Jun did not reply and simply looked at his master slowly.

The disciple had immediately noticed that his master’s reaction was different from usual.

Lee Se-ha, who had been meeting her disciple’s eyes for a long while, playfully shook the hand of Namgung Jun that she was holding.

“Next time, I’m going to go to the Elder Council Head and give him a proper piece of my mind. To think he would work my precious disciple so hard like this.”

Though Lee Se-ha tried to naturally change the subject, Namgung Jun lightly pulled on her sleeve.

Namgung Jun, who had been looking at the night sky outside the window for a moment, met Lee Se-ha’s eyes as if his thoughts were now in order.

The eyes of the disciple, who was calmly meeting his master’s gaze, were as tranquil and deep as a lake in spring.

“My disciple?”

Namgung Jun, who had been staring intently at Lee Se-ha, slowly opened his mouth.

“Death is something that cannot be separated from the Martial World, is it not.”

It was a truly sudden question. But Lee Se-ha’s answer was concise.

“That’s right.”

As if she had intuited that her disciple was about to speak of what was in his heart, the eyes of the master, which had been holding a smiling expression, had at some point become serene.

“I can humbly accept my own death, but the deaths of others are not so. Especially if I have had an influence on that death.”

Namgung Jun slowly began to unravel his story as he thought of the disciples of his past life.

His disciples had taken up the sword for the sake of righteousness.

His disciples had not run away, for the sake of proof.

His disciples had not stopped and had advanced until the very end.

Therefore, it was the proper way to not be sad, but to be proud of them. But he could not do so.

Not as the Lord of Namcheon Palace, but simply as a master, it was true that for whatever reason, he had pushed his disciples into a death trap.

That decision from that time was endlessly holding Namgung Jun back.

“The death of others…”

Lee Se-ha moved her lips in a low voice, mulling over the words Namgung Jun had said several times.

Then, only after a long while, did she open her mouth.

“My disciple. When my main family was annihilated, a great many of my household were sacrificed to save me alone.”

Strength naturally entered the hand of Lee Se-ha, who was still holding Namgung Jun’s hand.

As if her emotions had become slightly agitated, even the warmth of her hand grew hotter.

Lee Se-ha continued her story with a slightly darkened face.

“The last one to protect my back was my uncle, and do you know what he said?”

“I do not know.”

“‘Saving you was my choice. So from now on, you too should live according to your own choices.’”

Lee Se-ha’s eyelids lowered a tier as she recalled that time.

Though a long time had passed, the events of that time were still vivid.

Her uncle, who had been smeared in blood, was smiling as brightly as ever.

He wished for neither the reconstruction of the family, nor for revenge.

Merely that his niece’s life would continue.

From that smile, Lee Se-ha had also gained the courage to make her own choices.

Lee Se-ha wanted to pass on the small courage she had received from her uncle to her disciple.

“If my disciple had a bad influence on their deaths, then of course you must feel a sense of responsibility. But if that is not the case, then please respect their choices.”

Lee Se-ha tapped Namgung Jun’s hand a few times. It was a touch unique to Lee Se-ha, a mix of playfulness and seriousness.

“Those who live by the sword in the Martial World cannot grasp everything. You have to know how to let go, and learn the way to not be tied down. As sharply as our own blades.”

A dry smile slowly spread across Namgung Jun’s lips.

What his master had said was a fact he already knew.

Though he had spent a considerable number of years in the Martial World until he was called the Sword Emperor in his past life, it had not been easy to do so.

It was likely because Nam Yeong-shin of his past life, and Namgung Jun of his present life, were both full of greed and lingering attachments.

It was then.

Lee Se-ha looked straight at Namgung Jun and continued to speak.

“Until just now was my advice as a martial artist and the Heavenly Sword Hall Master, now I will give you my advice as a master, as Lee Se-ha.”

The words that followed from Lee Se-ha were different from Namgung Jun’s expectations.

“I think that compassion you have is also important, Jun. Because you will be able to become a person who can look upon not only the great things, but also not miss the small things.”

“Is that so?”

More strength was added to the hand of Lee Se-ha that was holding Namgung Jun’s.

“Continue to worry and be tied down. It may one day approach you as a Heart Demon, but if you overcome it, you will be able to gain the courage to choose anything.”

“The courage to choose…”

“I believe in my disciple. You will not succumb to a Heart Demon.”

Namgung Jun mulled over Lee Se-ha’s words.

Then, he let out a faint smile.

Who would advise their disciple to face a Heart Demon? To others who might have heard it, it might have been nonsensical advice.

But his master’s final advice, on the contrary, came to him as a comfort.

It may have been that, even if it was sad and painful, he did not want to let go of the disciples of his past life. Even if he might have to let them go someday.

To not avoid it, but to stand firm and face it head-on.

This must be another trial and destiny for Namgung Jun, who was living his present life while remembering his past one.

“Huu.”

Namgung Jun, who had let out a light sigh, showed a cheerful smile as if he felt refreshed.

“As expected, I am still a long way from catching up to you, Master.”

If one were to add the memories of his past life, Namgung Jun’s experience in the Martial World and the length of his life would be greater than Lee Se-ha’s.

But as at this moment, there were clearly things he was gaining and learning from Lee Se-ha.

Not in Martial Arts (武), but in life as well, Lee Se-ha was in no way lacking to call herself his master.

For she possessed the power to gently unravel the anguish that her disciple was suffering with alone.

“Really? I didn't know you could say things like that, Jun-ah.”

“Yes. I still have much to learn from you, Master.”

As Namgung Jun smiled, Lee Se-ha, who had been wearing a subtle smile, also burst into a brighter laugh.

Her sparkling black pupils and the prettily raised red lips were like a single flower blooming wide open.

“Of course! You still have a lot to learn from me!”

Lee Se-ha, who had confirmed that Namgung Jun had regained his spirits, also felt refreshed.

“Come to think of it, have you checked what kind of spiritual medicine you received from the Elder Council Head?”

“I have not yet checked.”

Namgung Jun got up from the bed and picked up the wooden box. Though the wooden box was quite thick, he could feel a warmth coming through his palm.

He could tell that it was no ordinary spiritual medicine without even opening the box.

Namgung Jun looked at Lee Se-ha’s two eyes, which were full of curiosity, and showed a faint smile.

“Would you like to see it together?”

“I’d love to! To be honest, I was curious what he would have given you.”

The master and disciple, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, slowly opened the wooden box.

The first thing to be stimulated upon opening the wooden box was the sense of smell. There was a fishy smell, or a smell like something being thoroughly roasted.

When they fully opened the wooden box, they saw that a bright red inner core was inside, and it had large and small black spots on it.

Lee Se-ha, who had recognized the identity of the spiritual medicine at a glance, swept her side hair behind her ear.

“The Elder Council Head has given you an incredible spiritual medicine.”

“Can you tell what kind of spiritual medicine it is?”

Lee Se-ha answered, without being able to take her eyes off the spiritual medicine.

“Yep! This is the inner core of a Sunfire Carp.”

“A Sunfire Carp?”

This time, Namgung Jun also could not help but open his eyes wide in surprise.

The Sunfire Carp.

When a carp born with Hot Yang Energy lives for over a hundred years, it becomes a spiritual beast called a Sunfire Carp.

Because it was just that rare of a spiritual beast, obtaining the inner core of a Sunfire Carp was by no means easy.

‘This is a very precious spiritual medicine for which one can name their own price.’

Its rarity was one thing, but even if one were to consider only the energy dwelling in the inner core, it would likely be counted among the top ten in the world.

“I never thought he would give us a spiritual medicine of this level just like that.”

Lee Se-ha, who also seemed very surprised, muttered as she looked back and forth between the inner core and Namgung Jun.

“Jun-ah. What are you going to do?”

“I did not expect to receive such a precious spiritual medicine. My proficiency in the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art is insufficient to consume it right away.”

“I think so too. Though of course, it would be fine if I help you.”

Lee Se-ha, who had been contemplating for a moment, shook her head.

Even with her help, it was clear that melting down the inner core’s energy and storing it completely in his Cinnabar Field would take a considerable amount of time.

The inner core of a Sunfire Carp was a spiritual medicine that held just that much of an immense energy.

“We have to set out on a mission tomorrow, so we’ll have to postpone consuming the inner core.”

“A new mission.”

“Yep. It’s the first mission we’ll be heading out on together.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head with a confident expression.

“I look forward to it. Master, what kind of mission is it?”

Namgung Jun, who had heard the mission details, immediately left the main fortress the next day.