The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 51 - To Forge (3)

While the sword fight was breaking out in the Ink Wheel Hall, in the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society, the Two-Cloud Rank Advancement Test was reaching its final stage.

“Baek Ri-cheong! Congratulations on your rank advancement to Two-Cloud!”

At the congratulations of the Iron Pagoda Hall Master, Dan Jung-se, Baek Ri-cheong paid his respects and then lowered his gaze.

The Blue Jade Stone monument was reflected in Baek Ri-cheong’s clear eyes. The cross-section of the horizontally split monument was very smooth.

It was an accomplishment that Baek Ri-cheong had achieved in a single sword strike.

‘He said Younger Brother also cut it in a single strike.’

Baek Ri-cheong wanted to examine the sword mark on the Blue Jade Stone monument that Namgung Jun had cut. He was curious as to what kind of difference there would be, as they would surely not be exactly the same.

He could only feel that it was a shame that he could not see and compare it himself.

‘Perhaps I am still lacking.’

Baek Ri-cheong checked his blade. Though it was minute, the edge of the blade that had first met the Blue Jade Stone monument was damaged.

It meant that it had not been a flawless sword strike.

Baek Ri-cheong, who felt a lack in his accomplishment, did not even sheathe his sword and just stared piercingly at the damaged blade.

The muscles of Dan Jung-se, who was gazing at Baek Ri-cheong, twitched.

‘Baek Ri-cheong. It seems he is not satisfied.’

Even though he had succeeded in his rank advancement with very excellent results, he showed a lukewarm appearance, unable to easily leave his spot.

Dan Jung-se, who had seen right through the inner thoughts mixed in his gaze, smiled and opened his mouth.

“To have a worthy rival with whom you can compete in the Martial Arts (武) is a truly blessed thing.”

“Hall Master.”

“You must want to cross swords with Namgung Jun once again.”

Baek Ri-cheong, his inner thoughts found out, lowered his head. Though his competitive spirit was not a wrong thing, he felt slightly embarrassed.

Had he not been several years younger than himself, and had it not been less than a year since he had learned martial arts?

Baek Ri-cheong, who had been contemplating for a moment, cautiously opened his mouth.

“I have heard that Younger Brother is also currently at the main fortress, so I intend to visit the Heavenly Sword Hall in the near future.”

“There is no need for that. Because there is a better stage.”

“Pardon?”

Baek Ri-cheong was slightly surprised at Dan Jung-se’s following explanation.

‘A competition to select the rising stars who will participate in the Mount Song meeting.’

A chance to cross hands not only with Namgung Jun, but with the promising rising stars belonging to the Ten Halls of the Azure Sky Society.

‘Furthermore, at the Mount Song meeting, I can meet the disciples of the Three Sects and One Union, and the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects.’

He was Baek Ri-cheong, who was always thirsty for rapid growth.

The opportunity to meet several skilled individuals of a similar age was not common. Especially if they were the rising stars of the Three Sects and One Union and the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects, they would surely be counted among the top in the Martial World.

Not only could he grasp a clue for his growth while competing in martial arts with them, but he would also be able to confirm his own current position, at least roughly.

“When does the competition begin?”

“It will be officially announced in three or four days. For now, only the Hall Masters know.”

“Thank you.”

“The Martial Conquest Hall Master is away on a long-term mission, so his news will be late. It is nothing special, so do not worry about it.”

Only after hearing Dan Jung-se’s words did Baek Ri-cheong turn his steps with a lighthearted feeling. Even the time he was spending standing blankly felt like a waste.

He intended to immerse himself in training as soon as he returned to the Martial Conquest Hall.

‘I’ll have to consume the spiritual medicines I received as a mission reward right away.’

Originally, he had intended to eat them after more time had passed, but he had changed his plans. It was for the sake of clashing with all his power in this competition.

There was no way Namgung Jun would not show up in a place like this.

It was certain that he would reveal himself as one of the rising stars representing the Heavenly Sword Hall.

The heart that had been heated up with passion could be glimpsed in Baek Ri-cheong’s quickened steps.

“I envy the Martial Conquest Hall Master and the Heavenly Sword Hall Master.”

Dan Jung-se’s muscles twitched as he watched Baek Ri-cheong, who had at some point disappeared beyond the wall.

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

Though they were rising stars who had just entered the Azure Sky Society, they were showing an incredible speed of martial arts accomplishment and of accumulating meritorious deeds.

Naturally, their names could not help but be heard several times within the main fortress.

In particular, there were a few Hall Masters who were disappointed that they had not been able to bring these two into their own Halls.

Even though he knew that since both of them were swordsmen, they would not be a good fit for the Iron Pagoda Hall, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment.

It was because the two juniors had shown just that much of a shining talent and a path of advancing without hesitation.

“I’ll have to hurry and make my move as well.”

Dan Jung-se thought of the rising stars of the Iron Pagoda Hall that he would send out for this competition.

Though they were lacking compared to Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong, they were not to the extent that they would be helplessly pushed back. Dan Jung-se had never taught the Clouds under his command in a sloppy manner.

‘This competition is like a miniature version of the Ten Halls’ Power Evaluation.’

The Ten Halls’ Power Evaluation was a grand event of the Azure Sky Society that was held once every three years.

As its name suggested, it was a place where all members of the Ten Halls participated to compete for the superiority of each Hall and to select a new Three Strongest.

This competition, too, was quite an important occasion, as all the promising rising stars of the Ten Halls would be clashing.

The time for the Ten Halls’ Power Evaluation, which came around once every three years, was also gradually approaching.

The Hall Masters would surely try to grasp the rough layout of the power structure through this competition.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

……

The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall, who saw Namgung Jun return covered in blood, were startled and ran over.

“What the! How did you end up in this state?”

“I was anxious from the moment he said he was going to the Ink Wheel Hall.”

“A salve for cuts! Ah, and bandages too!”

Heo Il and Man Ye-won, who had stopped their duel, also looked over Namgung Jun’s body with urgent faces. The sight of the blood seeping out from between his martial arts uniform, which had been reduced to tatters, was no laughing matter.

“Young Hero Namgung. Did the Ink Wheel Hall Master do this to you?”

“That Sword Demon, did he fall into Qi Deviation? I’ll go and tell my grandfather right now!”

Heo Il asked in a voice that had sunk a tier lower, and Man Ye-won trembled with her two fists clenched, her face bright red.

Namgung Jun placed his hands on the shoulders of the two.

“Do not worry. They are all shallow wounds, so they will heal right away if I apply a salve.”

Namgung Jun calmed the two of them down and then turned his head. At the end of his gaze was Gong Jun-am.

A coldness was overflowing in his eyes as he silently stared at the dark red stains that had spread over the torn parts of his martial arts uniform.

If Namgung Jun had not said that he was alright, he was on the verge of heading for the Ink Wheel Hall at any moment.

“Enough. Everyone, continue what you were doing.”

At the words of Lee Se-ha, who had been quietly watching the situation, the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall swallowed their anger and retreated.

As Lee Se-ha gestured with just her hand with an expressionless face, Namgung Jun had no choice but to follow her right away.

“Sit.”

Unlike usual, Lee Se-ha’s actions were cold.

Namgung Jun, who had been dragged to the Hall Master’s office, sat down meekly.

Lee Se-ha took out a salve for cuts and a bandage without a word. Then, she took off his martial arts uniform and began to treat his wounds.

As a heavy silence flowed, Namgung Jun cautiously asked.

“Master. Are you angry?”

In the first place, Lee Se-ha had been reluctant for the Sword Demon and Namgung Jun to get entangled. And now that he had come back injured like this, her heart must have been even more unwell.

“You’re not reckless, are you, Jun? You must have had your reasons.”

Her touch, as she cleanly wiped the wounds and applied the salve, was careful and delicate. A heart that wished for her disciple not to feel any pain was suffused in it.

Lee Se-ha personally wiped the bloodstains from Namgung Jun’s face and brought her face close.

“Still, seeing your refreshed expression, it seems you have gained more than you thought.”

“Yes. I have gained a rather good inspiration.”

Lee Se-ha looked at the wound on his shoulder and then pouted her lips.

“Hmph. Someday, I’m going to plunge my sword into that Sword Demon bastard’s shoulder in the exact same way.”

The sword wound, which was etched into his side, was slightly large. If it had been just a little deeper, it would not have ended with just applying a salve.

Lee Se-ha expressed a small complaint.

“I can teach you a lot even without you getting hurt like this.”

“I know that well. My Master’s teaching is the best.”

“You’re good with your words.”

Though her reply was blunt, as if she were inwardly in a good mood, Lee Se-ha’s expression slightly softened.

“It might be stating the obvious, but I wish you wouldn’t get hurt, Jun.”

Lee Se-ha’s small voice carefully settled upon the wound wrapped in the bandage.

It was not the first time she had seen Namgung Jun bleed. Furthermore, it was something that a martial artist could never avoid.

Despite that, it was difficult for Lee Se-ha to see her disciple get hurt. Her heart ached for no reason. As if the same wound would appear on her when Namgung Jun was injured.

Namgung Jun, who was looking at Lee Se-ha’s slender side profile, slowly opened his mouth.

“Please wait just a little.”

“For what?”

“For I will become so strong that there will be no need for you to worry, Master.”

Lee Se-ha let out a sigh and then tapped the top of the neatly wrapped bandage. It was a hand gesture suffused with a sense of relief.

“My one and only disciple really doesn’t listen to me. He makes me worry so often.”

“That hurts, Master.”

“I hit you so it would hurt.”

As the treatment of his wounds was all finished, Lee Se-ha roughly swept her hair back and raised her voice.

“Come to think of it, I’m quite incensed.”

“About what, may I ask?”

“My disciple who doesn’t listen to a word I say. And that Sword Demon who put my disciple in such a state, too.”

Namgung Jun let out a laugh. It was because he knew well that Lee Se-ha was intentionally putting on an exaggerated act to lift the atmosphere.

“Master. How about a duel for the first time in a while?”

“What are you talking about? I just finished wrapping your bandages.”

“Please wrap them again after we are finished.”

“My disciple is working his master to the bone. Really. Is this right?”

Lee Se-ha, who had been retorting with a pouting expression, in the end laughed brightly and gripped her sword.

“Will you really be okay?”

“Yes. I will show you the inspiration I gained at the Ink Wheel Hall.”

The master and disciple, who stood side-by-side on the training ground, met each other’s eyes for a moment and then slowly drew their swords.

The steps of the master and disciple were light and slow. It was the same for the swords that extended out, following the advanced feet.

Shing!

The two blades brushed softly, and a clear metallic sound echoed.

The master and disciple crossed swords very slowly, and it was as if they were performing a sword dance. They did not use any internal energy either.

The two swords, moving extremely slowly. It was a speed that would be clearly visible even to the eyes of a young child who had not learned martial arts.

But the state of the duel was not clumsy or light. Even in the middle of their slow extension, the sword paths changed without end.

It was not that they were not dynamic, but that they were slowly exchanging sword strikes in which a more profound martial principle was mixed. There were many cases where the two swords did not meet and only cut through the empty air.

As the number of exchanges slowly built up, the sword paths that the two swords displayed began to show a clear difference.

Lee Se-ha’s sword path was extremely linear, and Namgung Jun’s sword path was winding and twisted here and there.

Namgung Jun tried to tangle Lee Se-ha’s sword path, and the master tried to cleanly cut off her disciple’s sword path.

The two swords, which endlessly twisted and changed in the empty air, chased and were chased by each other, dancing like a pair of butterflies.

Though half a sijin had passed, the number of exchanges the master and disciple had shared was merely a dozen or so. Despite this, Namgung Jun’s forehead was covered in a great deal of sweat.

It was because he had to shed the unnecessary parts from the sword paths and insights that were appearing moment by moment in his head and his mind’s eye, and forge them cleanly.

Or else, he would be blocked by Lee Se-ha’s sword and would not even be able to properly extend his own.

It was a duel where if he could not extend his sword, it would end just like that.

‘Good.’

As he evaded Lee Se-ha’s slow sword strikes, he was able to cleanly refine the insights of the Illusory Sword and the Shifting Sword that he had obtained at the Ink Wheel Hall.

Chaeng!

Once again, the swords of the master and disciple met. This time, the two swords, as if they were stuck to each other, showed no signs of separating.

With their blades met, only the bodies of the swords moved here and there.

Scrape!

The two swords’ paths endlessly twisted, and they suppressed each other from extending in a different direction.

Around the time that standoff was continuing in full swing.

Lee Se-ha was the first to smile and open her mouth.

“So this is the inspiration you gained at the Ink Wheel Hall. It is a sword of a completely different nature.”

“Thanks to you, Master, I was able to forge it even more cleanly.”

The master and disciple, who had exchanged a single sentence each, withdrew their swords at the same time.

As Lee Se-ha lightly swept her hair back, the moonlight scattered brilliantly through it.

“Perhaps it’s because I used my head quite a bit. I’m suddenly hungry. Shall we get something to eat?”

“I will go and buy some dumplings.”

Lee Se-ha immediately followed along beside Namgung Jun.

“No. Let’s go together. To take a night walk as well.”

The master and disciple set out on a walk, side-by-side, to an inn within the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society.

And so, the competition for the Mount Song meeting drew rapidly closer.