The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 69 - The Great Art (1)

The Clouds who had returned from the Mount Song meeting were welcomed at the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society.

“You have all worked hard.”

The Martial Conquest Hall Master, Ha Mujung, commended the two rising stars before him.

His sharp and dry gaze, like that of a bizarre rock, was the same as ever, but it had become somewhat blunted.

It was thanks to the exchange he had had with Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong on the way from Mount Song to Mount Huang.

Though the exchange had consisted of very little conversation and was all just countless duels.

But it had been more than enough to learn about the two rising stars.

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

They were two who showed great distinction, even among the promising rising stars of the Ten Halls. It was clear that they would one day, as a matter of course, reach the rank of a Hall Master.

‘Especially…’

Ha Mujung’s gaze shifted slightly and turned toward Namgung Jun.

Though Baek Ri-cheong’s talent was also great, Namgung Jun was something different. Something off-the-charts could be felt.

‘A sublime talent with the blade that transcends time. Must this also be called a talent?’

If a peerless swordsman who had lost most of his internal energy and whose body had become extremely frail were to barely swing his sword, would it look like this?

Namgung Jun’s Sword Skill was just that world-covering. It was to the extent that the sword path that Namgung Jun had drawn still flickered before his eyes.

Even though Namgung Jun was clearly his junior, the duel with him had been a great help.

He had realized with his own body that the rumor of the Ink Lord having come down from the stairs after watching Namgung Jun’s entrance exam was not a lie.

‘I wonder what kind of reaction the Sword Lord will show.’

Ha Mujung, who had thought of the Sword Lord, who showed a bizarre side at times, added.

“Namgung Jun. My expectations are very great. Continue to devote yourself to your training.”

“I will work hard to be able to do so.”

Namgung Jun also answered Ha Mujung’s words of encouragement with a fist-and-palm salute.

“Then, you may go.”

At Ha Mujung’s words, Namgung Jun looked at Baek Ri-cheong.

“Older Brother Baek Ri. I will see you later.”

“Ah. Who knows when we will see each other again. Since we are both busy with our respective missions. I wish you good health and victory, Younger Brother Namgung.”

Namgung Jun, who had parted with Ha Mujung and Baek Ri-cheong, headed straight for the Heavenly Sword Hall.

Because Ha Mujung had taken responsibility for the face-to-face report on this mission, it was enough for Namgung Jun to just submit a separate report later.

‘It has been a long time.’

As he returned to the Heavenly Sword Hall, the sight of the swordsmen crossing swords, as usual, could be glimpsed.

Namgung Jun, who was observing the swords of the Heavenly Sword Hall members in detail as he slowly moved his steps, showed a faint smile.

He was not the only one who was growing and advancing.

As a fair bit of time had passed, it seemed the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall had also each gained their own accomplishments.

Especially a few of them, were they not revealing a remarkable accomplishment?

Since they swung their swords as if mad every day, in a way, it was a natural result.

As Namgung Jun crossed the threshold of the Heavenly Sword Hall, the swords of his comrades stopped one by one.

“Oh. Youngest one. You’ve returned!”

“You’re finally back. It took quite a while.”

“How were the rising stars who gathered at the Mount Song meeting?”

The seniors, who had discovered the youngest member of the Heavenly Sword Hall, stopped their training and swarmed around Namgung Jun.

Everyone was curious about Namgung Jun’s exploits at the Mount Song meeting.

“Young Hero Namgung. Your bearing has changed. It seems you have had an accomplishment.”

Heo Il, who had closed the distance with his uniquely stealthy footwork, slightly lifted his conical hat and grinned.

Namgung Jun, who was looking at Heo Il’s gait, also let out a faint sound of admiration.

“You have also changed, Senior Heo.”

Could it be that the enlightenment he had gained last time and the duel in the competition had become a turning point?

There was a considerable change in Heo Il’s bearing.

Though he would have to cross swords directly to know what had changed, it was certain that he had found his own path.

“Huhu. It is thanks to you, Young Hero Namgung.”

“Namgung Jun! I’ve finally achieved Great Mastery in the Great Wind Sword Style!”

Man Ye-won, who had rushed over, passing Heo Il who was replying with a triumphant expression, cut in with a loud voice.

Though Man Ye-won moved her lips as if to say something more, Gong Jun-am, who had approached at some point, pulled her back.

“Enough. Catch up later. Namgung Jun, go and report to the Hall Master first.”

Namgung Jun bowed his head at Gong Jun-am’s consideration, which sent away not only Man Ye-won but the other swordsmen as well.

As he headed for the Hall Master’s office, a bittersweet fragrance began to seep out little by little.

As if she had already noticed her disciple’s return with her Qi Sense, his master was already in the middle of brewing tea.

“Jun-ah. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Welcome.”

“Master.”

Lee Se-ha, who was moving her head here and there with an exaggerated motion, smiled brightly and clapped her hands.

“You’ve grown more in the time I haven’t seen you. You’ll be taller than me soon.”

“Is that so? You are the same as ever, Master.”

Lee Se-ha, who had smiled brightly, propped her chin on her hand.

“How was the Mount Song meeting? The pride of the rising stars there must be quite high.”

“The training and advice I shared with you, Master, were a great help.”

The smile on Lee Se-ha’s red lips became even more radiant.

“Heeung, now that you say that, I’m even more curious. Hurry up and tell me the story.”

The disciple savored the tea his master had brewed and slowly began to unravel what had happened at Mount Song.

The changes in Lee Se-ha’s expression as she listened to the story were diverse. Depending on the content, she would sometimes knit her lovely brow, and at other times, she would smile wide and reveal her pride.

And then, when he reached the part about having held a duel with the Wudang Sect Leader, Lee Se-ha asked back with a thoroughly serious face.

“You had a duel with the Wudang Sect Leader?”

“Yes. I fell into the Realm of No-Self in the middle of it, so I do not remember it clearly, but I was able to obtain a great accomplishment in the Layered Cloud Form.”

“To think you crossed swords with one of the Five Ultimates. This, I’m a bit envious of.”

If until now it had felt as if she were listening to her disciple’s story as a master, now it seemed as if she were expressing her curiosity purely as a martial artist.

“My disciple turned an opportunity into a fortuitous encounter.”

The master, who had been looking at her disciple with her chin propped on her hand, extended her hand.

It was to stroke her disciple’s head along with a compliment, but Namgung Jun stealthily pulled his body back.

Lee Se-ha, who had expected the reaction, smiled brightly even though her hand had swung through the empty air and continued to speak.

“It’s not as if you can unconditionally obtain a great insight easily just by holding a duel with a peerless master.”

“The consideration that the Wudang Sect Leader showed must have also been a factor.”

“I guess I’ll have to be mindful of the Wudang Sect disciples when I meet them from now on?”

Lee Se-ha, who had heard all of Namgung Jun’s story that also served as his report, fiddled with her hair as if satisfied.

“You performed an incredible exploit this time. I was surprised when I saw the reward that came down from the Ink Scent Division, but it was well-deserved.”

“Has the reward already been decided?”

“Of course. Because the Society Lord personally contacted the main fortress.”

A single streak of anticipation settled in Namgung Jun’s eyes.

Since it was a reward that the Azure Sky Society Lord had selected himself, he could not help but have expectations, regardless of his meritorious deeds.

As a deep vitality bloomed in Namgung Jun’s eyes, Lee Se-ha pouted her lips slightly and tilted her chin.

“It seems the reward has caught your eye more than your master, whom you have met for the first time in a long while? How disappointing.”

“How could that be?”

Namgung Jun, who had laughed awkwardly, brought his hand to the teapot.

Because the master and disciple had unraveled a long story as soon as they had seen each other’s faces, the tea water was lukewarm.

But Namgung Jun did not mind.

A blue lightning energy flickered from the hand of Namgung Jun as it wrapped around the teacup that had been filled with tea water.

Not long after, the tea water, which had stopped at merely holding a slight warmth, began to slowly boil.

Namgung Jun handed the teacup, from which steam was gently rising, to Lee Se-ha.

“Master. Please drink.”

“It boiled three breaths ago. Your maturity and circulation of internal energy have improved a lot, haven’t they?”

The lips of Lee Se-ha, who had tasted the tea, curved prettily like a crescent moon.

“It’s not too hot, it’s just right.”

“It is the temperature that you like, Master.”

“You remember?”

“As a disciple, is it not natural that I should?”

“My disciple. You seem so blunt, but you’re so meticulous.”

Lee Se-ha, who let out an eye smile, set down the teacup that had been emptied in a single breath.

“Try going to the Azure Raiment Pavilion.”

“The Azure Raiment Pavilion, you say?”

Even though Namgung Jun expressed his question, Lee Se-ha merely nodded her head.

“The reward should be ready by now.”

…...

The Azure Medical Pavilion.

The organization responsible for the medical care of the Azure Sky Society.

The physicians of the Azure Medical Pavilion were dispatched not only to the main fortress, but also to each branch office, to practice their medical arts.

The physicians of the Azure Medical Pavilion were also quite well-versed in martial arts.

Not only could they protect their own bodies, but they also had a deep knowledge of medical arts that used internal energy.

‘Come to think of it, I’m about to get an earful.’

Namgung Jun, who thought of the Azure Medical Pavilion Head, smiled bitterly but did not stop his steps.

As he entered a location where the Azure Medical Pavilion was visible, the thick scent of medicinal herbs flowed out from a distance.

It was likely because the Clouds who had returned injured from their missions were indebted to the Azure Medical Pavilion for their care.

Namgung Jun was no different.

For he had been suppressing the symptoms and attacks of his Nine Yin Severed Meridians as much as possible with the decoctions that the Azure Medical Pavilion had been steadily sending.

As he entered the Azure Medical Pavilion, a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair was sitting perched on the wooden veranda.

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head looked at Namgung Jun with a disapproving expression.

“It is difficult to see your face. No matter how important your missions are.”

“Yes. It has been so.”

“It is troublesome if you feel at ease just because your accomplishment in your internal art has risen. You may be fine now, but as you go through the process of breakthroughs or treatment, it will become more painful. You must manage it thoroughly while you are even a little younger. Though you may use your body recklessly because you are a martial artist, you must also know how to cherish it.”

The sharp, resonant voice of the Azure Medical Pavilion Head poured out in succession like a martial arts form and dug into his ears.

Despite it having the might of a Sound Art, Namgung Jun tried his best to endure it and bowed his head.

“I will keep it in mind.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had been clicking his tongue, rose from his spot and asked.

“Have you come because of the reward?”

“That is correct.”

“First, let me check your pulse.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head took Namgung Jun’s wrist and then let out a low hum.

“Around this age, the symptoms of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians should be getting worse, but the balance of your yin and yang is still alright for now. Is it thanks to the forceful breakthrough of the first point of your Nine Yin Severed Meridians and the rise in your accomplishment of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art?”

“Is that so?”

“However, you still have a long way to go. You have only just now made a breakthrough in a single point.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head.

“I feel it every time I check your pulse, but it is only lamentable that this old man’s medical skill is insufficient and I cannot cure your severed meridians.”

“I have heard that even an ordinary case of Nine Yin Severed Meridians is very difficult to cure. But since I am of a unique constitution, born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians in a man’s body, it must be even more difficult.”

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head shook his head.

“Such things are not important. It is lamentable that my medical arts cannot reach you. The only things I can do are research the Nine Yin Severed Meridians and prepare decoctions.”

“That alone is of sufficient help. If not for you, Pavilion Head, I would not have been able to properly utilize the secret manual I received from the Tang Clan.”

There was no exaggeration in Namgung Jun’s words.

The secret manual that the Tang Clan’s Tang Ye-jin had handed over was closer to a medical text. The person in the Azure Sky Society who could utilize it most effectively was, as a matter of course, the Azure Medical Pavilion Head.

In truth, the Azure Medical Pavilion Head had greatly lessened Namgung Jun’s pain and burden based on the research and medical arts he had conducted on his own, and on top of that, the medical text of the Tang Clan.

But the Azure Medical Pavilion Head did not seem to be satisfied with this alone.

“There is no great strain on your body for now. It seems it will be alright to proceed with the Great Art.”

“The Great Art, you say?”

“The reward that the Society Lord has prepared for you is precisely the Great Art.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head after hearing the explanation of the Great Art he was to receive.

‘It seems that for the current me, there is certainly no reward as great as this.’

The Society Lord had seen right through what he was lacking.

The Azure Medical Pavilion Head, who had finished his explanation, asked.

“What do you say? Will you receive the Great Art?”

“Yes. When is it possible?”

“It is possible right away, if you wish.”

The eyes of Namgung Jun, who was nodding his head, shone fiercely.

“I would like to ask you to begin at once.”