The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 63 - The Mount Song Meeting (2)

“What does a young brat like you know!”

Dong Gak-ho, who had been unable to draw his sword, tried to extend his left fist toward Namgung Jun.

However, his clenched left arm could not extend forward. It was because it had been blocked by the hand of a man who had suddenly intervened.

On the sleeve of his black dao robe, an embroidery of red plum blossoms was stitched in great numbers.

It was the Head Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, Yeong-il.

The Mount Hua Sect.

Among the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects, it was the only sect that cooperated with the Three Sects and One Union to stand against the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and strove to perform righteous deeds.

He had heard from Ha Huseon that it was the only reliable place among the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects.

“You there, Dong Gak-ho. Just how far do you intend to show this disgraceful behavior.”

“But this bastard!”

Dong Gak-ho could not continue his words.

It was because Yeong-il had shaken his head with a hardened face.

Dong Gak-ho naturally turned his gaze and surveyed the banquet hall.

The disciples of the Three Sects and One Union were, as expected, frowning as if displeased, and the disciples of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects were also restless.

To create distance in the banquet hall was one thing, but for a fight to break out was a completely different matter.

‘And on top of that, if the opponent is the Azure Sky Society.’

If they were to become enemies with the Azure Sky Society, not even the Three Sects and One Union, it was clear that the elders of his sect would give him a severe punishment.

For he was under orders to build a friendship with the Azure Sky Society if possible, to have them take the side of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects.

“I get it, so let go.”

As Yeong-il, who had let out a bitter smile, released his hand, Dong Gak-ho turned his back while panting with anger.

Yeong-il, who had glanced at Namgung Jun, performed a fist-and-palm salute.

“I am Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect. This humble Taoist will apologize in his stead.”

“It is alright.”

“May the Primordial Heavenly Worthy be praised.”

As Namgung Jun returned the gesture, Yeong-il also performed a fist-and-palm salute to the disciples of the Three Sects and One Union.

“Everyone. We have gathered to unite our strength, so how about we gather in one place, as Young Hero Namgung has said?”

At the proposal of the Mount Hua Sect, which was at least friendly toward them, the disciples of the Three Sects and One Union also rose to their feet.

They had deliberately pretended not to see the war of nerves with the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects to avoid a quarrel until now, but they had realized that was not the right answer.

“Now that I see it, it seems our own behinds were heavy. Amitabha Buddha.”

“The elders will not be pleased if they see us keeping our distance amongst ourselves. What our sect holds as important is Taiji and harmony, so I am ashamed.”

“Young Hero Namgung and Daoist Yeong-il have prepared a place for us like this. We are truly grateful.”

As the disciples of the Three Sects and One Union were the first to introduce themselves, Yeong-il also revealed his name once again as if in response.

As the atmosphere changed, the other disciples of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects also reluctantly introduced themselves.

Yeong-il looked at Namgung Jun.

“I had not heard the news that there was a rising star like you, Young Hero Namgung, in the Azure Sky Society.”

“That is understandable. Younger Brother Namgung was, in fact, initiated into martial arts only a short time ago.”

Everyone showed an interest in Baek Ri-cheong’s words.

At that, Namgung Jun nonchalantly began his story.

“Heok. Less than a year has passed since he learned martial arts?”

“To think he has already reached the Peak Realm!”

“A talent that could catch up to the rising stars of the Azure Sky Society in such a short period… It is a talent I have never seen before.”

Without any distinction between the Three Sects and One Union and the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects, the eyes of all were colored with astonishment.

Dong Gak-ho, in particular, who had briefly clashed with Namgung Jun, even began to steal furtive glances at him.

Only Baek Ri-cheong was letting out a proud smile. It was the gaze of an older brother looking upon his admirable younger brother.

Namgung Jun naturally turned the attention that had been focused on him to Yeong-il.

“It seems your accomplishments are also no ordinary matter, Daoist Yeong-il.”

“No. Compared to the martial studies of the Mount Hua Sect, this humble Taoist’s talent is far lacking. I am at a level where I can only just now make the plum blossoms bloom.”

As Yeong-il showed a humble attitude, the disciples of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects shook their heads.

“It is not an easy thing to make the plum blossoms bloom at that age.”

“You may be more confident, Daoist Yeong-il.”

The disciples of the Three Sects and One Union also naturally praised him.

“I am curious about the fragrance of the plum blossoms that Daoist Yeong-il makes bloom.”

“I am looking forward to the upcoming duels.”

At everyone’s praise, Yeong-il gave a slight nod to Namgung Jun and expressed his thanks.

“Come to think of it, I was also curious about the sword style of the Mount Heng Sect.”

“Though our sect’s sword style truly lives up to its reputation, is the depth of the Wudang Sect’s martial studies not also great? For it is a martial study in which the touch of Daoist Sanfeng himself is imbued.”

Starting with Yeong-il, as the topic of conversation continued on to each other’s martial arts, the dialogue flowed out endlessly.

Naturally, the stiff atmosphere of the banquet slowly began to loosen.

As proof of that, the rising stars who had not shown any interest in the food and alcohol were gradually extending their hands.

“Haha!”

“That is good.”

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong, who had confirmed the atmosphere of the banquet hall where the sound of laughter could now be heard often, looked at each other and nodded.

The one rising star in this place that all three factions held a favorable impression of was precisely Daoist Yeong-il of the Mount Hua Sect.

Namgung Jun had naturally unraveled the atmosphere of the occasion with a way of speaking that turned the interest toward Yeong-il.

‘Incredible. He likely was not separately educated in this.’

Baek Ri-cheong was inwardly in admiration.

Ordinarily in a place like this, when one’s interest was focused on oneself, one would either get drunk on it and become excited, or on the contrary, shrink back; it was one of the two.

What was certain was that those who could properly digest and lead the interest that was being shot at them were extremely rare.

But Namgung Jun had gone beyond this and had passed the interest to Yeong-il, drawing out a harmony in the atmosphere.

Baek Ri-cheong was certain that Namgung Jun speaking to Yeong-il first was not a coincidence, but was intentional.

This kind of under-the-surface social sense and political acumen was not something that Namgung Jun, at his young age, could have easily learned.

If it was not from the systematic education one receives from a young age, one could only say that it was simply innate.

Had he himself not barely been able to see through Namgung Jun’s intentions thanks to the education he had received in the days of the Baek Ri Clan?

‘He is a younger brother who is outstanding in many fields.’

Because he was a younger brother with many aspects to learn from, Baek Ri-cheong was able to watch Namgung Jun’s actions with a happy heart.

In the middle of the rising stars harmonizing and their conversation continuing, a disciple of the Wudang Sect asked.

“Has anyone heard in what way the duels will be conducted?”

Everyone shook their heads.

“Won’t it be held in the form of a straightforward martial arts tournament?”

“That is the most common way.”

“Hmm. I suppose we will know when the tournament bracket comes out.”

The banquet for the rising stars was concluded without incident, thanks to Namgung Jun and Yeong-il.

……

“I have heard what happened at the banquet.”

The Mount Song Sect Leader, Guo Yeong, slowly turned his teacup.

Dong Gak-ho, who was watching that sight, bowed his head even more deeply. It was a sign that the Sect Leader’s mood was displeased.

“Did I not clearly tell you to pull the Azure Sky Society to the side of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects? But you have, on the contrary, become enemies with them?”

“I am sorry.”

Slurp!

Guo Yeong brought the teacup to his lips. The sound of him drinking the tea was unusually loud, but Dong Gak-ho could only bite his lip hard.

“Never mind. That is a trivial problem. There is a truly important problem that is separate from that. To think you couldn't even draw your sword?”

“I am sorry, Sect Leader.”

“This is a shame that goes beyond you and is a shame to the Mount Song Sect. Our fellow martial artists of the Martial World will laugh, saying we have chosen a martial artist who cannot even draw his own sword as our head disciple.”

Dong Gak-ho did not dare to open his mouth at Guo Yeong’s voice, which was gradually lowering the more he spoke.

‘Namgung Jun. It’s because of you that I am receiving such a humiliation!’

It was when Dong Gak-ho was inwardly resenting Namgung Jun.

Something fell with a thud in front of the feet of Dong Gak-ho, who was bowing his head.

It was a small wooden box.

Dong Gak-ho did not even think of picking up the wooden box and raised his head to look at Guo Yeong.

“It is an Eternal Song Pill. Originally, I was planning to give it to you in a year or two, but I shall move up the time.”

The Eternal Song Pill.

The spiritual medicine that represented the Mount Song Sect.

Because it was a treasure that could only be made by pouring in an immense amount of time and wealth, even in the Mount Song Sect, one had to be of the status of the Sect Leader or the head disciple who would succeed the next generation to be able to barely eat it.

“This precious thing.”

Guo Yeong, who was looking at Dong Gak-ho, who could not properly continue his words, urged him.

“You should know well what it means for me to give you the Eternal Song Pill now. Can you do it?”

Dong Gak-ho nodded his head with a resolute face.

“I will be sure to defeat Namgung Jun and raise the honor of the Mount Song Sect.”

“As the head disciple of our sect, you should naturally do so.”

Guo Yeong gestured to Dong Gak-ho with his hand.

“Come here and sit in the lotus position. I shall help you consume the Eternal Song Pill.”

“Thank you! Sect Leader!”

Guo Yeong looked at Dong Gak-ho, who had turned his back to him and sat in the lotus position.

To say he was looking at a disciple of his sect, Guo Yeong’s gaze was far too cold.

‘You had better win. Does it even make sense for the head disciple of the Mount Song Sect to lose to a mere scrap from the Azure Sky Society.’

Guo Yeong extended his hand toward Dong Gak-ho’s Gate of Life Point with a hardened face.

……

The second day of the Mount Song meeting.

The day to compete in the martial power of the rising stars had dawned.

The Three Sects and One Union, the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects, and the Azure Sky Society.

A total of twenty rising stars of the younger generation had gathered in one place. Without exception, their bearings were outstanding, and there was no one who was ordinary.

The Wudang Sect Leader, Jeong Hong, let out a small exclamation of admiration as he watched the rising stars standing in a line.

“The future of the Orthodox Martial World is in this place.”

No one refuted Jeong Hong’s words.

For if the rising stars before them were to grow up magnificently as they were, they would one day become the martial artists who would represent each of their sects.

The heads of each sect looked at the rising stars that their own sects had produced with dependable eyes.

They were full of the belief that no matter in what way they competed in the Martial Arts at this meeting, their own disciple would be victorious.

“Everyone has gathered.”

On the platform stood the Mount Song Sect Leader, Guo Yeong.

“This time, the place where we will compete in the prowess of the rising stars is the Tiger’s Grove on Junji Peak.”

The Tiger’s Grove.

It was a forest located on the mountainside of Junji Peak.

Guo Yeong took out an indigo blue iron token from within his robes.

“Each of you will be provided with one iron token. Secure as many iron tokens as you can within the time limit. The rankings will be decided according to the number of iron tokens.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head at Guo Yeong’s explanation.

‘So it is not an ordinary dueling tournament.’

Following that, Guo Yeong’s supplementary explanation continued.

“The rules are simple.”

First. Killing is forbidden. Intervention from an examiner is possible, at their discretion.

Second. You must move only within the formation that is spread out in the Tiger’s Grove. If you go outside the formation, it will be treated as a forfeiture.

Third. The transfer of iron tokens is not allowed. If your iron token is stolen, you will be escorted out of the formation under the guidance of an examiner.

Fourth. In the case that you are defeated while holding multiple iron tokens, your own iron token will be handed over to the victor, and the remaining iron tokens will be submitted to the examiner.

‘So it’s an iron token scramble, in essence.’

Namgung Jun, who had heard Guo Yeong’s explanation, organized the rules of this scramble in his head.

‘If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to meet a variety of opponents.’

Namgung Jun liked the current method more than a martial arts tournament.

Since the space was limited, if he moved about diligently, he would surely be able to meet several rising stars.

He would naturally be able to experience a variety of martial arts.

‘Good.’

In the interval while the corners of Namgung Jun’s mouth were rising slightly, Guo Yeong continued his explanation.

“The reason we have adopted this method instead of a normal martial arts tournament is to confirm the real combat capabilities of our young disciples in preparation for battles with the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths.”

As the name of the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths popped out, the faces of the rising stars, which had been full of interest, became tinged with tension.

It was certain that in the current Martial World, the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths were dominant.

“For that reason, we have created an environment so that you may compete as closely to a real battle as possible, so you rising stars should show off the capabilities you possess without holding back.”

The eyes of the rising stars became sharp.

It was because they had immediately understood what the method of competing for skill this time meant.

Though examiners were placed throughout the Tiger’s Grove, they would generally not intervene.

Unlike a normal duel, there were no particular rules other than forbidding murder, so there was no telling what kind of variables might arise.

It could be difficult to steal an iron token with just a superiority in martial arts alone.

“A good opportunity will be given to the one who obtains the most iron tokens.”

The rising stars looked as if they wanted to hear exactly what it was, but in the end, Guo yeong did not tell them.

Thump!

Guo Yeong, who had lightly stomped his foot, looked at the rising stars and declared.

“Then we will begin at once.”

The rising stars watched each other with sharply refined gazes.

It was the beginning of the Iron Token Scramble.