The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 52 - To Forge (4)

It was the day when only two days remained until the competition for the Mount Song meeting.

The Hall Masters of the Ten Halls each decided on the list of rising stars they would send out and submitted them to the Ink Scent Division.

Among the Hall Masters, Lee Se-ha was the fastest to decide on her personnel.

From the Heavenly Sword Hall, with Namgung Jun at the lead, Heo Il and Man Ye-won were to step forward.

Heo Il had been a promising rising star of the Heavenly Sword Hall even before Namgung Jun had entered, and though Man Ye-won was a newcomer who had only just entered the Hall, the martial arts she possessed were quite exceptional.

It was the best that the Heavenly Sword Hall could put forth.

Lee Se-ha intensively observed the participants of the competition. Among them, Man Ye-won, whose martial arts were the most lacking, was a target for intensive management.

Ch-ch-chang!

The swords of the two women were swiftly entangled. The sword style they were training was, of course, the Heavenly Sword Hall’s Greater Amplification Sword Style.

Originally, Man Ye-won had mainly practiced the Great Wind Sword Style, but perhaps thanks to the special attention Lee Se-ha had paid her, her accomplishment in the Greater Amplification Sword Style had, at some point, reached the Sixth Level.

However, it was an accomplishment that was insufficient to satisfy Lee Se-ha.

The sword of Lee Se-ha, as she pushed Man Ye-won back, became even faster. Though it was the same form of the Greater Amplification Sword Style, it looked completely different.

“Heup!”

Man Ye-won took a deep breath and struck out with her sword, but was, on the contrary, pushed backward. Lee Se-ha, without showing any mercy, stomped her foot powerfully once again and pressed her.

Because of this, Man Ye-won had no choice but to endure through sheer grit.

“Faster!”

“Hall Master! Any more is…”

“You are lacking in tenacious grit! Draw upon all of your internal energy! You still have more strength left to swing your sword!”

In the interval while Lee Se-ha was hammering all the forms of the Greater Amplification Sword Style into Man Ye-won’s entire body, Namgung Jun and Heo Il were also holding a duel.

Ch-ch-chang!

The swords of Heo Il and Namgung Jun clashed fiercely. The sword paths of the two swordsmen were truly cold and sharp. As if they were holding a life-and-death duel, there was not a single inch of compromise from either side.

Large and small sparks fluttered above the gourd bottle hanging at Heo Il’s waist.

Every time Heo Il exhaled, the faint smell of alcohol was mixed in, and every time, the right hand that moved his sword became even more flexible.

Swish!

A thrust, plunging straight for his chest. Namgung Jun extended his sword with a stoop and deflected the thrust.

Namgung Jun, who had unfolded a single move of the Layered Cloud Form, immediately stomped his foot powerfully and struck his sword up high.

The sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style blasted out massively.

Just from the sword wind manifesting, a pressure slapped against his entire body. His body felt strangely dull, as if the atmosphere had become viscous.

‘As expected of Young Hero Namgung. How exquisite.’

He had softly deflected his form and twisted his own breathing. And in the opening that he had forcibly created, he had hammered in a powerful strike.

To pierce into the minute gap in one’s breathing and insert a sword strike was an artistry that was difficult for even an average mid-level master to attempt.

If one made a mistake, it was likely that their own breathing would be twisted, but Namgung Jun had skillfully caught him off guard. Heo Il recovered his slightly interrupted breathing and pulled his right hip back.

‘It is too late to respond with my sword.’

It would be a different story if his sword strike had simply been blocked.

It was a situation where his sword, which had been deflected by the Layered Cloud Form, was now considerably biased downward.

Instead of his hands, Heo Il moved his feet. Though he had poured the most of his heart's blood into the sword since entering the Heavenly Sword Hall, his feet were still more familiar than his hands.

Just as his heel was trembling minutely, Heo Il, in the same posture with his left foot slightly forward, had retreated.

Namgung Jun smiled as he saw Heo Il, who had dodged the sword wind with considerable leisure.

“I feel it every time I see it, but Senior Heo Il’s Lightness Skill is truly marvelous.”

“Hmph. It is nothing more than a miscellaneous skill.”

Heo Il closed the distance he had tried so hard to open and raised his sword. While letting out an unidentifiable bitter smile.

The eyes of Heo Il, as he performed a footwork style from the Martial Repository of Self-Reflection and not his unique Body Movement Skill that he had used to evade just now, once again became fierce.

SWISH!

A sword-light that extended long, following the sound of tearing air.

Heo Il’s thrust was quite fierce. Its speed was considerable, and it was to the extent that he could ably compete for the top level even within the Heavenly Sword Hall.

‘If one were to consider only sword speed, it is not lacking even when compared to the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash.’

Namgung Jun, who had parried the six thrusts in succession, lowered his sword and drew a half-circle.

Though the cerulean blade swept the floor in a circle, Heo Il lightly kicked off the ground and evaded it.

It was the moment Heo Il’s body was briefly airborne as he moved to evade. The hem of Namgung Jun’s pants was flipped back and the aura of his Infinite Steps Footwork erupted.

The palm of Namgung Jun, who had reached the airborne Heo Il in an instant, pushed the atmosphere with great speed.

It was just before Heo Il’s two feet were about to land on the ground.

KREANG!

Heo Il, who had barely managed to raise his sword and block the Heavenly Thunder Palm Style, retreated several steps.

Though his body had been thrown off balance, Heo Il had no time to fix his posture.

He was in the middle of a situation where the silhouette of Namgung Jun, who had raised his sword straight forward, was shooting out like an arrow.

‘Kuk.’

The vision of Heo Il, who had stomped his foot powerfully once again and was striking upward with his sword horizontally, was dyed indigo blue.

As Heo Il’s eyelids twitched slightly at the exceedingly bright light, a deep blue flash of light flickered five times.

The Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash.

Fifth Form. Five Arrows.

Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!

‘We definitely only clashed once!’

But the shock that beat upon the surface of his blade had poured in five times. As if he had blocked five sword strikes in succession.

Heo Il, who was pushed back, landed with a heavy thump, and the floor of the training ground cracked. His posture had already been in the middle of crumbling.

But as he had to receive even that unbearable shock, his body’s balance was completely shattered.

Whirl!

Namgung Jun did not miss that opening.

In a single breath, Heo Il would have been able to regain his posture.

For that reason, Namgung Jun swept his sword with an even faster body movement.

The aura of his Infinite Steps Footwork, which was fiercely pushing off the ground, created a propulsive force.

At some point, Namgung Jun’s sword had reached the vicinity of Heo Il’s neck. It was slightly faster than Heo Il readjusting his center of gravity and aiming his sword again.

In the end, Heo Il had no choice but to let out a laugh.

“Goodness. I have lost.”

“It was a good duel.”

Namgung Jun withdrew his sword, and the duel was concluded with Heo Il performing a fist-and-palm salute.

“Young Hero Namgung. Your accomplishment in Lightness Skill has improved.”

“I am glad to hear that. Of late, I have been pouring a great deal of my time into my Lightness Skill.”

The two swordsmen, who looked at each other and let out a smirk, began to mentally replay the duel they had just had.

The one who was mainly offering advice was Namgung Jun.

“In that situation, you had to close the distance. With your footwork, Senior Heo, you can ably play with the combat distance.”

“To pierce deeper than the range of the sword. It is not as easy as I thought. It feels like my sword is naturally pushed to the back burner.”

“That is so. But releasing the shackles of combat distance will become another path to realm advancement.”

Namgung Jun was mainly looking after the martial arts of Heo Il and Man Ye-won, who were going out to the competition together with him.

The method was that if Lee Se-ha was looking after one of the two, Namgung Jun would look after the other.

And so, Heo Il and Man Ye-won were filling almost all of their time with harsh teaching. Of course, they were not aiming for any special growth.

The training was proceeding in the direction of supplementing their weak points, because even by filling in just a few lacking areas, they could show a significant change in a short period of time.

“Senior Heo Il, how about you try changing your sword?”

It was a statement that Namgung Jun brought out as he was carefully observing Heo Il’s sword after they had finished replaying their duel.

“My sword, you say?”

“Your sword strikes are mainly centered on thrusts. The Summer Glory Sword Style that you have learned, Senior, is not that kind of sword style, is it?”

Heo Il contemplated for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Somehow, a thrust feels more comfortable and easy. That is why no matter what sword style I learn, I think I end up unfolding forms that are centered on thrusts.”

“In that case, it would be even better for you to change your sword. If it is a sword specialized for thrusting with a narrow body, like a narrow-bladed sword, you will be able to bring out your strengths, Senior.”

Heo Il’s mood was hesitant.

“There are only two days left until the competition, will it be alright to change my sword?”

“It is more than enough time. Rather than the unfamiliar feeling of a new sword, the changed might of your thrust will be felt more keenly.”

Heo Il, who had been lost in thought for a moment, looked at Namgung Jun and twisted his lips.

“In that case, I will trust you, Young Hero Namgung, and try changing it.”

Man Ye-won, who had finished her training, had at some point come over and interjected into Namgung Jun and Heo Il’s conversation.

“Namgung Jun. Is there nothing I need to change?”

“You just need to continue your training. Hurry up and get on. It’s your turn.”

“Okay!”

Namgung Jun immediately began a duel with Man Ye-won.

……

Swish!

Following the sound of tearing air that nimbly cut through the night air, Heo Il’s exhaled breath spread out faintly.

As if he had already drunk a few mouthfuls of alcohol, the unique, sharp fragrance of it spread.

The body of the sword, reflecting the yellow moonlight, was long and narrowly extended, giving off a nimble feeling.

A new sword he had gripped according to Namgung Jun’s advice.

Because the Heavenly Sword Hall was furnished with all sorts of swords, it was easy to find one that fit the conditions. The only thing left was to make the sword fit his hand as much as possible.

‘It’s light and narrow. But the body of the sword is just that much longer. I have to adapt to the increased combat distance.’

Heo Il, who felt a sense of awkwardness every time he thrust his sword, mulled over the advice Namgung Jun had given him.

“Are you ready?”

At the heavy voice that came from in front of him, Heo Il’s gaze rose slightly.

An immense giant that even the moonlight could not completely hide came into his view.

Gong Jun-am had planted his greatsword on the floor of the training ground like a pillar.

“I will go again.”

As Heo Il assumed his starting stance, Gong Jun-am also gripped the hilt of his greatsword properly. Veins bulged on the backs of the two swordsmen’s hands.

KAANG!

An exchange of blades that occurred in an instant.

At Heo Il’s ferocious thrust, Gong Jun-am tilted his greatsword and used it like a shield.

Despite the considerable power, Gong Jun-am’s two feet did not budge an inch.

That was only to be expected.

Because when it came to a sword style that was consistently on the defensive, there was no one who could follow Gong Jun-am.

The epithet that Gong Jun-am was called by in the Martial World was The Aegis Sword.

That was not to say that he was weak in his offense.

K-KRAAACK!

In an instant, the greatsword, which was cutting through the stone floor, drew a half-circle from a low stance and soared up.

While fine stone fragments were pouring out like hidden weapons, the thick greatsword fell with a savage sound of tearing air.

‘The combat distance. If it were Young Hero Namgung.’

Heo Il’s heel fidgeted. In a normal situation, he would have taken a backward step to the rear and looked for an opportunity.

But Heo Il’s choice was to advance.

He pierced into the bosom of Gong Jun-am, who was taking the superior combat distance with his greatsword at the fore. However, it would have surely been just as uncomfortable for Heo Il to move his sword.

The sword, which was much longer than before, was holding his ankle back. At that moment, Heo Il’s two feet softly kicked off the ground.

An exquisite distance, coordinated by the tips of his feet.

At its end was the tip of his sword, held horizontally.

‘So this was the meaning.’

The inspiration that had not been solved no matter how deeply he studied it began to be unraveled as he put it into practice with his own body.

As he coordinated and led the combat distance himself, the optimal range was given. And so, the single sword strike that had been loaded at his waist erupted with a hazy sword-light and pierced the moonlight.

KREEEAANG!

Heo Il’s thrust fiercely beat upon the flat of the greatsword’s blade. Gong Jun-am was still standing firm.

However, Heo Il could not help but hold a smile.

It was because Gong Jun-am, who had always defended his position like a divine general, had taken a step back. It was an accomplishment he could not have achieved before.

A ripple arose in the settled eyes of Gong Jun-am, as if he too were slightly surprised.

“Have you already adapted to the new sword?”

“No. It is not the sword, but it seems I have opened my eyes to the combat distance.”

“Hmm.”

Gong Jun-am nodded his head and withdrew his greatsword.

“The competition is tomorrow. Go quickly and rest.”

Heo Il lay down just as he was on the floor of the training ground.

“I don’t even have the strength to go to the pavilion. I’m thinking of just sleeping here and heading straight to the competition.”

“Do as you please.”

After Gong Jun-am disappeared, Heo Il looked at the full moon that was in the middle of climbing up the edge of the night sky.

“He is like Young Hero Namgung.”

Though not glamorous, he reveals a subtle and lofty presence and shows the way.

Thanks to that, even though he was walking the pitch-black Path of Martial Arts (武道) like the night sky, he was able to walk forward safely.

Heo Il felt it anew.

That his meeting with Namgung Jun was a fortuitous encounter in itself.

‘I’ll have to show them what I can do, too.’

He did not want the advice that Namgung Jun had gone to the trouble of giving him to be in vain.

Heo Il suddenly felt a sense of desire.

Even if he could not become the moon to Namgung Jun, let him become a small star, embedded in the corners of that night sky.

While looking at the star right next to the full moon, Heo Il slowly closed his eyes.

And so, the morning of the competition dawned.