Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - The First Mission (1)

After the Placement Test had been conducted, there was no one among the key figures who did not know of Namgung Jun. Excluding the Sword Lord and some Hall Masters who were away on missions.

The boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, targeted by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

A sword genius of overwhelming talent that surpassed his age.

The disciple of the Heavenly Sword Hall Master.

The swordsman who had earned the favor and interest of the Sword Demon.

All of these were words that pointed to Namgung Jun.

No one questioned the fact that the name of a mere One-Cloud member had popped up in the Great Conference Hall. It had been a truly long time since there had been a rising star who had gathered this much attention.

For that reason, all eyes could not help but be drawn to the middle-aged man who had been the first to speak.

“The boy born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians. An unheard-of and rare constitution that the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult coveted with wide eyes.”

The middle-aged man, speaking with eyes stretched wide at the sides held in a firm gaze. Because he was of a plump build, he looked more like a wealthy merchant than a martial artist, but a stubborn tenacity could be felt in his appearance.

On the middle-aged man’s thick waist, a thick hand axe, which did not suit his appearance, shone fiercely.

The fearsome axe of the Azure Sky Society.

He was the Hall Master of the Mountain-Shattering Hall, a military group that crushed all enemies of the Azure Sky Society at the front lines.

The Mountain-Shattering Hall Master continued to speak again.

“The very reason we sent the Heavenly Sword Hall Master in the first place was to protect the boy’s safety and to keep him from being handed over to the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult. But to send him out into the Martial World? What kind of move do you think the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult will make if they find out?”

A few of the key figures nodded their heads as if in agreement.

“There’s no way the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult will stand by idly.”

“Furthermore, the situation is now more serious since he has even learned the Heavenly Sword Hall Master’s Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.”

Yun Gyeong-jong, who had heard the Mountain-Shattering Hall Master’s opinion, turned his gaze toward Lee Se-ha.

“Heavenly Sword Hall Master. What are your thoughts on Namgung Jun’s future course?”

“I believe Namgung Jun must be allowed to stride confidently through the Martial World as a Cloud of the Azure Sky Society.”

“Heavenly Sword Hall Master!”

The Mountain-Shattering Hall Master raised his voice, but Lee Se-ha paid him no mind and continued to speak.

“I do not see Namgung Jun as a target to be protected.”

Yun Gyeong-jong asked with a look of interest.

“If not, then?”

“He is a child who will one day become this society’s Divine Sword. He must, as is right, be given the opportunity to display the talent he possesses.”

Lee Se-ha stared directly at the Mountain-Shattering Hall Master.

“I accepted Namgung Jun as my disciple to protect his righteousness. Not simply to keep him from being handed over to the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.”

“What is the meaning of that?”

At the Mountain-Shattering Hall Master’s question, Lee Se-ha began to slowly recount her first meeting with Namgung Jun.

The key figures who heard the story did not easily open their mouths.

“One who does not take responsibility for their Martial Arts is not worthy of holding a sword… He said this at that age?”

Only the Mountain-Shattering Hall Master muttered to himself. Watching the key figures silently mull over Namgung Jun’s words, Lee Se-ha added.

“He is a new sprout of a righteous warrior. He should be placed in the bright sunlight as is right, not hidden in the shade.”

The Ink Wheel Hall Master, the Sword Demon, who had been listening quietly to the conversation, opened his mouth.

“You bastards are only focused on the case of that brat falling into the hands of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.”

Because it was the Sword Demon, who rarely spoke during meetings, all eyes were focused on him.

“Think about the opposite case. He is equipped with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, and on top of that, a sword genius that goes beyond common sense. Is there another who possesses such talent, or capability? At least, there is no one in this room.”

No one refuted the Sword Demon’s cynical tone. It was because everyone inwardly agreed.

“You all lament that we are always short on hands, yet you don’t even think of honing the sharpest sword that has come into your possession. How pathetic.”

The enemies of the Azure Sky Society in the Martial World were many.

The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, the Unorthodox Faction, and a portion of the Orthodox Faction that had deviated from the proper path.

In contrast, the number of righteous warriors who pursued righteousness was decidedly small. If one were to consider martial prowess and talent on top of that, the situation became even more grim.

The Sword Demon was pointing out this very fact.

That even when faced with the greatest talent who possessed both his own code of righteousness and the talent of a millennium, they were missing the point completely.

“The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult kidnapping that brat again, or that brat becoming so strong that they couldn't even dream of kidnapping him. Between these two, which do you think has a higher possibility?”

The Sword Demon looked at the Mountain-Shattering Hall Master and tore the corners of his mouth into a grin.

“My bet is on the latter.”

Lee Se-ha had emphasized Namgung Jun’s righteousness, and the Sword Demon had emphasized Namgung Jun’s martial might. Both arguments were valid.

Gang Mong also cautiously added.

“It is a wondrous talent, to be able to create a martial art. If that junior gains experience and grows, who knows what other amazing martial arts he will create… If that happens, the fighting power of this society will also be augmented.”

In an instant, the momentum had shifted in favor of Namgung Jun venturing out into the Martial World.

“...…”

The Mountain-Shattering Hall Master swallowed his silence. It was not that he was crushed by Lee Se-ha’s and the Sword Demon’s arguments. It was because he was re-evaluating Namgung Jun once more.

Until now, he had considered him merely a boy born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians. He had focused on the dark side of his unique constitution, which the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult coveted, rather than on Namgung Jun’s shining talent.

‘Responsibility.’

But he had no choice but to think differently. If what Lee Se-ha said was true, then Namgung Jun was a talent rarely seen even in the Azure Sky Society.

Yun Gyeong-jong, who was watching this, stroked his beard.

‘It is a difference in how one thinks of Namgung Jun.’

A promising prospect who would, in the future, become a giant tree of the Azure Sky Society.

A potential problem factor that must be completely isolated from the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, the state of the Martial World, Namgung Jun’s righteousness and talent, the future of the Azure Sky Society.

He had to weigh these various things.

Yun Gyeong-jong, who had set down his teacup, struck that balance.

“However, there is some truth to the arguments of those who oppose it.”

After thinking for a moment, Yun Gyeong-jong opened his mouth.

“How about we permit his venturing out into the Martial World for now, but exclude him from any missions related to the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult? We shall decide what to do after that by observing Namgung Jun’s progress.”

As Yun Gyeong-jong smoothly mediated the situation, those who had opposed him venturing out had no choice but to nod their heads.

‘So the Ink Lord attended today’s meeting because of this agenda item.’

‘So the rumors that he showed immense interest in Namgung Jun were true.’

‘It seems his expectations are quite high.’

Some of the Department Heads and Hall Masters, who had been silently watching the meeting, became certain that the rumors were true upon seeing Yun Gyeong-jong speak for the first time on the matter of Namgung Jun.

It was the first time that the Ink Lord had ever taken an interest in a mere One-Cloud member. Because of this, even those who had previously been uninterested had no choice but to engrave the name Namgung Jun in their minds.

ִ メִ メִ メ

In the Heavenly Sword Hall, a duel was in full swing.

A considerable number of people had gathered around the dueling stage, and all their gazes were directed toward one place.

Though duels happening in the Heavenly Sword Hall were a daily occurrence, once you started watching, you couldn't help but have your attention stolen. This was because the one currently dueling was the youngest member.

And a youngest member with truly outstanding talent, at that.

Ch-ch-chak!

Even though he knew that everyone’s gaze was focused on him, Namgung Jun’s sword drew a fluid line as it calmly extended forward.

The sword extending to an upper stance split into countless paths, creating whitish sword-shadows. At the change that instantly filled half of his vision, the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman had no choice but to step backward.

“Kuk.”

But Namgung Jun did not easily give him the combat distance. He performed the Infinite Steps Footwork and extended out to the side in an arc.

Namgung Jun, who cut off his opponent’s footwork path in advance and swung his sword down. A strike, fully laden with heavy weight, surged toward his opponent's left calf.

A free transformation from the Illusory Sword to the Heavy Sword.

Namgung Jun freely wielded the forms of the Greater Amplification Sword Style and relentlessly pushed his opponent.

The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman, who tilted his sword to block the horizontal strike, was in a cold sweat and hard-pressed to retreat. Even though he was responding by unfolding the same Greater Amplification Sword Style, the difference was enormous.

‘He’s a true supernatural horror. Can forms become this exquisite?’

Every time the blade cut through the empty air, a heavy sound of tearing wind followed. It was clearly evident that a significant amount of sword power was laden in it.

Looking at Namgung Jun’s body, which had not yet properly put on weight, one could tell that this was not power borrowed from his physique, but power that came from the sublimity of his technique.

K-CLANG!

The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman, who had parried a thrust by drawing a half-circle, narrowed his eyes. His wrist was quite numb, and a slight mistake would have made him drop his sword.

In that interval, Namgung Jun’s sword strike, as he leaned his body forward by half a step, fiercely stormed in.

‘Plowing the Clouds, Seven Stakes!’

The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman, who had identified the form Namgung Jun was unfolding, immediately unfolded the Counter-form for Plowing the Clouds, Seven Stakes. He was sure that no matter how good Namgung Jun was, he would not be able to do anything about the Counter-form.

Swish!

The eyes of the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman, who was breaking the flow of the form by bending his sword path diagonally from an upper stance, widened.

It was because the form of Plowing the Clouds, Seven Stakes that Namgung Jun was unfolding was subtly different. At some point, his Counter-form had been blocked from the middle.

Could it be that he knew the Counter-form?

That couldn’t be. They had only taught him the forms of the Greater Amplification Sword Style; they had not yet begun the study of its counters.

‘He figured it out on his own?’

The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman watched with his own two eyes as his Counter-form was, in reverse, dismantled by Namgung Jun’s elegant sword strike.

Namgung Jun, who had crushed the sword form, lightly swung his sword to the side as he was.

KAANG!

With a sharp metallic sound, the sword fell to the floor. The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman didn’t even think of picking up his sword and just stared blankly at Namgung Jun.

“Youngest. How did you just do that?”

“Just because it is a Counter-form does not mean it is invincible. I tried slightly twisting the sword path in the middle.”

“Which means you created a new variation form.”

The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsman could not continue his words. It was because he had been reminded anew of Namgung Jun’s overwhelming talent.

The other Clouds who had been watching the duel felt the same.

“A form isn’t something that can be easily established just by changing the sword path, is it?”

“No, in the first place, the very idea of creating a sword form that surpasses a Counter-form is unbelievable.”

“It’s getting scary now. We’ll have to stay on our toes.”

It had only been three days since Namgung Jun had learned the Greater Amplification Sword Style, yet his proficiency surpassed that of most of the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen.

It was an unbelievable speed.

If anyone else had seen it, they would have thought he had been in the Heavenly Sword Hall for at least a year.

Gong Jun-am, who was watching the duel, muttered in a low voice.

“Magnificent.”

Watching Namgung Jun duel with the Greater Amplification Sword Style, everyone had to admit it.

That a monster had joined them as the youngest.

“It seems the youngest one will be able to go on a mission right away.”

“Hmm. I wonder how he will be in a real battle. I’m curious if he can display those skills to their fullest.”

“A talent like that. There’s no way he would be obscured by the dirt and dust of the Martial World.”

Lee Se-ha’s smile deepened slightly as she listened to the conversation of the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen.

“Of course, Jun can do it.”

Lee Se-ha thought back on the missions that had been assigned to the Heavenly Sword Hall.

After thinking for a moment, Lee Se-ha made a decision.

“Heo Il.”

“Yes, Hall Master.”

At Lee Se-ha’s call, a man with slit eyes walked over leisurely. He had a slender body, and his footsteps seemed exceptionally light.

Perhaps because his sleeves fluttered refreshingly whenever he walked, the dozens of scars concentrated on his right hand were particularly conspicuous.

In fact, as if Heo Il were also conscious of the scars, he was adjusting his fluttering sleeve to cover up to the back of his hand.

“Would you like to go on a mission with Jun?”

“A mission together with Young Hero Namgung, you say? That sounds interesting.”

“You guide him well.”

Heo Il let out a smirk as he watched Namgung Jun, who was sheathing his sword with polite courtesy.

Because he had recently returned from a mission, he had not had any particular interaction with Namgung Jun. As he had been interested in the talented youngest member, Heo Il immediately accepted when such a good opportunity arose.

“Very well. I will depart at once.”

Namgung Jun’s first mission was decided.

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