Chapter 17 - The First Mission (6)
The Mingjiaowei stared intently at the blade of Namgung Jun’s sword that was aimed at him. Just from having the sword aimed at him, a strange pressure arose.
Though there was no aura laden in it, the feeling of the atmosphere being parted was peculiar. The sharp aura flowing from the sword of a young boy who was not yet twenty was far too dense.
‘To think I’d feel this kind of emotion from a mere brat?’
The Mingjiaowei tried his best to deny the sense of dissonance that was slowly creeping up on him. Then, he stepped on a small pebble in front of his foot and crushed it.
As the feeling of the pebble crumbling was transmitted through the sole of his foot, he was able to look at Namgung Jun with calmer eyes.
And so, more certain information entered through his senses.
An ordinary bearing, nothing special.
An untrained and wretched body.
A single cloud filling his sleeve.
The unidentifiable pressure he had felt at the very beginning was surely a momentary misunderstanding. Either that, or the brat before him possessed an excellent talent for bluffing.
“Are you telling me you stalled for time like this just to wait for a mere One-Cloud brat?”
The Mingjiaowei spoke the words, affording himself a sense of composure. As he did, he gave no more time for Heo Il and Namgung Jun to converse.
Seeing him reveal himself so confidently, there was no telling what the two of them might try to pull if they joined forces.
The Mingjiaowei immediately turned his body and attacked Namgung Jun.
The speed at which he closed the combat distance was so swift that even Heo Il momentarily lost track of his movement and could only react belatedly.
“Young Hero Namgung!”
As Heo Il’s urgent shout rang out, Namgung Jun’s blade was both upright and free.
In an instant, a pillar of cerulean sword-light was erected in front of Namgung Jun.
KWAANG!
A foot laden with Demonic Energy plunged toward the point between Namgung Jun’s eyebrows. Though he raised his sword and blocked it, Namgung Jun had no choice but to be pushed back.
“I am fine. Senior Heo, please protect the children.”
Even in the middle of that, Namgung Jun leisurely opened his mouth. He had deliberately relaxed the strength in his entire body and retreated.
His left calf, which had been gently relaxed, twisted to the side. Namgung Jun, who had naturally drawn his sword back, lowered his wrist diagonally and thrust his sword out at an angle.
KAANG!
Though the tip of his sword and the sole of the foot had clashed, a sharp metallic sound erupted. It was because of the dense Leg Qi laden in the Mingjiaowei’s two feet.
Despite this, Namgung Jun did not pull his sword back. Rather, the veins on his right hand, which was gripping the sword, stood out clearly.
He struck the end of the hilt with his left palm to knock the Mingjiaowei’s foot away and then immediately stomped his foot powerfully.
THUMP!
Namgung Jun, who had stomped his foot powerfully to boost the strength of his entire body, found his sword form gradually getting faster. The Mingjiaowei, who had rotated his body in mid-air, hurriedly got into his stance and lashed out with his left foot like a whip.
The sword style and the kicking art clashed continuously, sweeping up a faint cloud of dust. The Mingjiaowei’s eyes narrowed at the rushing rebound force.
K-KWAANG! CRASH!
His left foot, which had kicked the sword away, trembled so much it was visible. Though it was a strike he had poured considerable strength into, Namgung Jun’s sword had not been pushed back by much.
“Hah?”
The moment the Mingjiaowei, who had felt a throbbing ache in his ankle, let out a cry of question, Namgung Jun stomped the ground again and kicked off.
Namgung Jun’s body, which had soared up slightly, twisted in a circle and then unleashed a continuous series of sword strikes. The blade, fully laden with sword power, surged vertically and horizontally in succession.
The air, screaming from the linked attacks that properly contained the finer points of the Heavy Sword. It was simply a marvel from where such sword power was coming.
Clang-clang-clang!
Even against the storm-like whirling offensive, the Mingjiaowei did not retreat and clashed with it head-on. Numerous leg-shadows, drawn with light footwork, pressed down on the surface of the rushing sword.
“So the arrogant bastard had something to rely on!”
The Mingjiaowei immediately parried the Greater Amplification Sword Style and began to apply pressure. It seemed that after exchanging a few blows, he had adapted to Namgung Jun’s sword.
Namgung Jun extended his right foot straight out and took a long, deep breath.
For an ordinary martial artist, it was difficult to overcome a gap in realms in a life-and-death duel. This was because while one’s realm was not absolute in determining the direction of a life-and-death duel, a clear disparity still existed.
‘If we're talking purely about realms, I am at a disadvantage.’
If the realms from Third-Class to First-Class were a process of training in Form and Style and circulating internal energy to match, the Peak Realm was a realm where Form and Style became completely one with internal energy.
For a technique to be completely one with internal energy meant that the circulation of internal energy could be manifested not just inside the body, but outside the body as well.
For that reason, what symbolized the Peak Realm was precisely the Sword Qi generated by infusing a weapon, or the Palm Force unleashed from one’s palms.
THUMP!
The Mingjiaowei right before his eyes had cloaked both his feet in Leg Qi, giving him the upper hand in durability and power.
In contrast, Namgung Jun was merely holding a single sword, barely receiving the offensive.
“What can a bastard like you do in this situation!”
The Mingjiaowei, who was continuously on the offensive, began to savor a bit of leisure as Namgung Jun showed no particular resistance.
Despite this, Namgung Jun’s face was serene.
‘Sword Qi and Palm Force are, in the end, nothing more than a part of Martial Arts.’
The Sword Skill he had built up in his past life was not so shallow that it would be pushed back by something like this.
Thump!
Namgung Jun stomped his foot powerfully and raised his sword to an upper stance.
“As long as the sword is in my hand.”
The tips of the Mingjiaowei’s feet, which were aiming for his side, his heart, and both his thighs, were precisely engraved in his pupils.
“I can do anything.”
Namgung Jun, who was radiating a calm gaze, muttered to himself. As if he were reciting the key secrets of a martial art.
In fact, it was also one of the will-intents of the sword that Namgung Jun pursued.
Namgung Jun did not think of what would come after. He poured all of his remaining energy into a single moment. To realize, if only faintly, the sword path he was drawing in his mind.
SWOOOSH!
A heavy sound of tearing air erupted as a cerulean streak of light tore the atmosphere apart. With a single horizontal strike, he crushed all four of the kicking art forms that were rushing in.
A blue light, now a tier deeper, drew a lofty line. The sublime artistry that seeped into his swordplay thoroughly dismantled the Mingjiaowei’s move.
“What?!”
A cry of bewilderment burst from the mouth of the Mingjiaowei as he met the cerulean gaze dwelling in Namgung Jun’s two eyes.
‘What on earth just happened?’
The Mingjiaowei could not properly comprehend the situation that had just occurred.
He thought the Azure Sky Society brat’s sword had blurred, and then his own right foot was knocked away as an immense rebound force assaulted his body.
The Mingjiaowei, who had forcibly suppressed the internal bruising rising up his chest, took a step back for the first time.
“How?!”
The Mingjiaowei, who had leaped, kicked at the empty air in succession. The dark red Demonic Energy laden in his two feet was still churning violently.
Namgung Jun thrust his sword forward to match.
If they were to clash head-on like this, it was a matter of course that Namgung Jun’s sword, which had no Sword Qi, would be pushed back or broken.
But there was no hesitation in Namgung Jun’s hand movements. The gaze in his eyes, laden with a cerulean light, was firm.
Just before the two martial artists clashed, Namgung Jun’s wrist twisted to the left. Namgung Jun’s cunningly turned blade pressed down on the instep of the Mingjiaowei’s foot from the side.
As Namgung Jun thrust his hand forward, his sword shot up just as it was and knocked the Mingjiaowei’s foot to the side.
The Mingjiaowei’s eyes widened at the sublimely hazy swordplay. In that interval, Namgung Jun’s sword had entered the optimal combat distance and was tearing the atmosphere apart.
As the ten sword strikes simultaneously bent in different directions, the Mingjiaowei’s reaction dulled for a moment.
The Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash.
Tenth Form. Ten Bends.
The sword-light, which had been extending straight, blurred and became stooped, then instantly split into ten streaks and pierced through the empty air.
“Kkeuaaak!”
The Mingjiaowei, who was spouting blood from his entire body, knelt and collapsed. His right foot, in particular, had been struck by four sword strikes and was nearly in tatters.
“How can this be?!”
“The Mingjiaowei?”
The Demonic Beings who had been engaged in a joint attack against Heo Il cried out in shock and turned their heads without thinking.
Slice!
Heo Il’s expression, as he took that opening to send the heads of two Demonic Beings flying, was not much different.
‘To think he defeated a Peak Realm martial artist all by himself!’
No matter how outstanding Namgung Jun’s talent was, he had not thought he would be able to defeat the Mingjiaowei alone. For that reason, he had intended to slaughter the Demonic Beings as quickly as possible and help him.
But he had never imagined that he would strike down the Mingjiaowei so quickly. He had not expected in the slightest that a One-Cloud on his first mission would produce such a result.
He had done something that was beyond his assumptions.
“Senior Heo. I will help.”
Namgung Jun’s voice was clear, as if he still had strength left even after facing the Mingjiaowei single-handedly. In fact, the steps of Namgung Jun as he performed the Infinite Steps Footwork were swift and light.
“Keuk!”
“To be defeated so futilely like this.”
As Namgung Jun joined in, the Demonic Beings quickly crumbled.
“Senior Heo. Are you alright?”
Namgung Jun surveyed Heo Il’s entire body.
The number of wounds visible at that very moment was more than five. Despite this, Heo Il managed a smile.
“Since we have saved these children, it does not hurt at all.”
“I see.”
Namgung Jun also smiled and turned his head.
Namgung Jun confirmed that the children, who were huddled closely together, were all safe, and nodded his head.
‘It feels like I'm looking at those kids.’
Namgung Jun’s gaze grew slightly hazy.
Seeing the children huddled together made him think of his disciples from his past life for no reason.
Nam Yeong-shin of his past life had often taken in children he had formed a bond with during his righteous deeds as his disciples.
When he saw a child who had entered Namcheon Palace while being carried on his back grow into a respectable swordsman and set out on their own righteous deeds, he had felt as if he had the entire world.
“Huu.”
Namgung Jun felt that those days of his past life were covering a deep part of his chest like a dark cloud, making it gloomy.
The shadow created by the dark cloud made the longing, the guilt, and the sorrowful fondness he felt for his disciples all the more vivid.
But the blue lightning that filled Namgung Jun’s mind's eye did not permit the dark clouds to gather thickly.
Namgung Jun, who lifted his head again and took in the sight of the children, had eyes that were very clear and serene.
Just as his disciples had trusted and advanced with him in his past life, now it was his turn to take the shadows of his disciples as his guide and press forward.
‘My disciples. Please watch over me. I will strive even harder in this life as well.’
Namgung Jun smiled faintly to reassure the children and added.
“The first mission was a success, I see.”
***
The two men returned all the kidnapped children to their homes.
“Oh, my. I thought my son was already dead.”
“Thank you so much, Great Heroes.”
Namgung Jun and Heo Il bowed their heads at the gratitude of the commoners. Though there were many who said they would repay the kindness, the two men unfolded their Lightness Skill and quickly disappeared.
“This won’t be the end of it, will it?”
“Of course not. We have merely stopped an isolated kidnapping; now that it is clear the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult has infiltrated Anhui Province, we must uproot and eliminate them completely.”
Heo Il looked at Namgung Jun with proud eyes.
“You have done a truly great thing, Young Hero. Normally, the mission would have ended at the Bae Gong Union.”
Even if they had found out about the kidnapping of the children, it would have been difficult to resolve it like this.
After all, the support from the Azure Sky Society had only arrived after the situation was over.
Namgung Jun looked at the blood-stained bandages visible through Heo Il’s martial arts uniform.
“When we return, I must redouble my efforts in training.”
Heo Il, who understood the meaning of those words, let out a dry laugh.
“I didn’t get hurt because of you, Young Hero.”
“Nevertheless, I have become aware of my own shortcomings, so it is right that I must fill them.”
Heo Il shook his head.
“You are quite stubborn as well, Young Hero Namgung. I do not know why there are so many people like this in the Azure Sky Society.”
Heo Il smiled and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Namgung Jun.
‘I heard there was much debate among the key figures regarding Young Hero Namgung’s future.’
The Nine Yin Severed Meridians, which he was born with as a man.
There was no telling what the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult planned to do with this, but it was clear that it would not be a good thing.
For this reason, he could understand the arguments of the key figures in the Azure Sky Society who were obstructing Namgung Jun’s venturing out into the Martial World.
‘But… he is too precious a talent for that.’
Heo Il shifted his head slightly and looked at Namgung Jun’s side profile.
A heart that cared for the common people.
An unbending righteousness.
A shocking talent with the blade that overcame the gap in realms.
For these reasons and more, Namgung Jun’s talent was too dazzling to be tied down to only the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society.
Though it was only one mission, Heo Il was certain that Namgung Jun would come to play a huge role in the future of the Azure Sky Society.
From the position of having carried out a mission right beside him, the appearance of a sparkling new star named Namgung Jun was only a welcome thing.
‘I’ll have to put some real effort into writing the report.’
As it was Namgung Jun’s first mission, this report would surely have a very large impact.
Heo Il, even before arriving at the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society, began to polish the sentences he would write in the report in his head.
***
Namgung Jun and Heo Il returned safely to the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society.
Heo Il turned his steps to submit his report to the Ink Scent Division, and Namgung Jun was in the middle of returning to the Heavenly Sword Hall alone.
“Namgung Jun. Stop.”
A grave and dignified voice, laden with internal energy, that came from behind pulled at the nape of Namgung Jun’s neck.