Chapter 21 - Forging (4)
The Iron Pagoda Hall members, who had confirmed Namgung Jun’s basic physical condition, shook their heads.
Though he had replenished his nutrition and trained in his own way, it was difficult to find even a bit of flesh, let alone muscle, on his stick-thin body that resembled a mummy.
It was a pathetic body, difficult to even call that of a martial artist.
“To think he contained such sword power in a body like this. Incredible. Is this even possible?”
“Heo-eo. It’s all the more wondrous. To the point of being frightening.”
“How on earth does he draw out that power? Is there some kind of special secret to it?”
Among the Iron Pagoda Hall members gathered here, there were those who had watched Namgung Jun’s victory in the martial arts tournament.
For that reason, they let out admiration and astonishment at the same time.
“I expected it to some extent, but I didn’t know his body was this severe.”
“It can’t be helped. He suffered quite a bit as a Geomdong.”
“Was his name Deok-sam? Because of that ignorant bastard, an incredible martial talent was almost buried in vain.”
The Iron Pagoda Hall Master, Dan Jung-se, let out a low hum as he looked at Namgung Jun, then nodded his head.
“Hmm. You must receive my external art training method.”
“I have heard of it, but are you truly going to personally teach me your unique martial art?”
“It’s not so much a unique martial art. It is merely a guideline to train more efficiently and effectively.”
Dan Jung-se looked at the Iron Pagoda Hall members before him.
“If I had my way, I would want to inform the entire Azure Sky Society of my external art training method, but I am already overwhelmed with just properly looking after the Iron Pagoda Hall.”
“Why is that?”
Dan Jung-se crossed his arms and moved his muscles.
The pulsation of his muscles, which moved so vividly as if they were living creatures, was truly astonishing.
“Of course, the physical body is something that becomes more complex the more one delves into it, so it is overwhelming to explain with just oral formulas. There are many cases of misunderstanding, so the training can, on the contrary, lead to injury.”
“So the process of teaching directly is essential.”
“That’s right. But when I go out on missions, I cannot do so, so the conditions are lacking.”
Dan Jung-se looked at a few of the Hall members before him.
“There are now fellows who can teach the basics in my stead, but the advanced course is still lacking.”
“But is it alright for you to spend your time on me?”
“Of course. The members of the Iron Pagoda Hall have all mastered the basics, so there is no one who needs my touch right away!”
Dan Jung-se raised a fist. The giant fist, with its thick, protruding bones, felt as if it were larger than Namgung Jun’s head.
“And I have not yet given my permission to teach you.”
“What must I do?”
“Tenacity! Show me your tenacity. Prove that you can endure my external art training!”
Simultaneously with that, a heavy aura erupted from Dan Jung-se’s entire body.
Namgung Jun nodded his head as if he roughly understood.
“I will prove it.”
***
Namgung Jun and Dan Jung-se stood upon the dueling stage of the Iron Pagoda Hall. Around them, the members of the Iron Pagoda Hall gathered with looks of interest.
“Endure until I stop my attack. If you do, I will acknowledge you.”
“Very well.”
“It will not be easy. Though of course, I will control my strength.”
CRASH!
Simultaneously with Namgung Jun nodding his head, Dan Jung-se’s heavy step shattered the floor of the dueling stage.
A heavy step, as if pressing down on the very ground.
Every time Dan Jung-se extended a step, the floor was shattered and fragments were sent flying in all directions.
A stately aura poured out in succession every time Dan Jung-se took a step. With just that, Namgung Jun felt a considerable pressure.
Namgung Jun recalled the story Gong Jun-am had told him about Dan Jung-se.
‘Was it called the Rock-Treading Heavy Steps? He said it was a footwork style he created himself.’
From what he had heard, all the martial arts that Dan Jung-se had learned were ones he had created himself. He was pioneering a new path by creating an independent martial lineage.
He had said that in that process, the Iron Pagoda Hall had grown strong alongside Dan Jung-se and newly taken its place among the Three Strongest.
‘The Heavenly Sword Hall must also take a place in the Three Strongest.’
Though not a long time had passed since he had entered the Heavenly Sword Hall, Namgung Jun felt a strong sense of belonging.
His master was the Hall Master, and the Hall members, who were crazy about the sword, each held their own code of righteousness.
When he looked at the Heavenly Sword Hall, which had taken up the sword for the sake of righteousness, he was often reminded of the Namcheon Palace of his past life.
Furthermore, he had received much goodwill while being treated as the youngest member, so it was only right that he wanted to repay it.
For that reason, Namgung Jun intended to also teach his sword style to the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall once the creation of his new martial art was well underway.
Just as the Heavenly Sword Hall was trying to teach him their swordsmanship without holding back.
It was while he was having these thoughts that he had come to face Dan Jung-se.
The feeling of meeting a man who was already putting into practice what he himself was trying to do was novel.
‘Even if it’s not just for the external art training method, there will be much to be gained if I cross blades with him directly.’
The solid, giant body, charging toward him in an instant.
The moment Namgung Jun’s body was swallowed by the giant shadow, a blue sword strike welled up like a cloud.
KAAAAANG!
The sword, which had been drawing a series of soft curves like cumulus clouds, was pushed back in a single breath.
The fist that Dan Jung-se had extended was truly heavy and fast. An average iron mace would not be of this level.
‘If I had faced him head-on with the Heavy Sword, it would have been over just like that.’
The sword style that Namgung Jun had brought out in that moment was the Distant Cloud, Layered Wall Form.
After experiencing the Distant Cloud, Layered Wall Form directly in his duel with Lee Se-ha, he had received separate teaching.
Thanks to that, Namgung Jun was able to raise his proficiency in the Distant Cloud, Layered Wall Form in a short period of time, to the extent that he could deflect Dan Jung-se’s fist strikes.
Namgung Jun, who spun his body on the spot, drew his sword slowly in a horizontal line.
The pliant sword strike of the Distant Cloud, Layered Wall Form, as if it held a cloud, softly pushed away Dan Jung-se’s fist.
Despite this, Namgung Jun felt an immense weight.
It felt as if a cliff were tilting over and crashing down upon the body of his sword.
‘And he’s solid.’
Namgung Jun could not help but be surprised.
Dan Jung-se’s physique was powerful. It went beyond simply being trained; a hardness like that of steel could be felt.
It was to the point where he doubted if he could even leave a proper sword wound if his sword strikes were to hit in his current physical state.
Even in his past life, he had never seen someone who had trained their external arts to this degree.
‘It is as if he is cloaked in an invisible Protective Body Aura. So this is why he is one of the Three Strongest.’
As Namgung Jun’s eyes were scanning Dan Jung-se, Dan Jung-se was likewise seeing right through Namgung Jun.
“So you're saying this much is light work, is that it?”
FWOOSH!
The aura of the Heaven-Following Internal Art that was rising from Dan Jung-se’s entire body grew heavier. Along with that, a fierce vortex arose from his right fist.
Dan Jung-se’s unique martial art.
It was the Heaven's Center Iron Fist.
The moment Namgung Jun saw Dan Jung-se’s arm blur, he put his full power into a downward sword strike.
KWAANG!
With a heavy metallic sound, Namgung Jun’s two feet were sent floating into the air. An ordinary person would have been pushed back just like that and thrown from the dueling stage.
But Namgung Jun was different.
He deflected the immense aura that had assaulted his entire body in that instant with the finer points of the Distant Cloud, Layered Wall Form. Then, on the contrary, he used it as the driving force to rotate his entire body.
Namgung Jun’s sword, as he shot forward with the rotation of his entire body, whipped around horizontally.
SWIIIIIIISH!
A powerful sword strike that the current Namgung Jun should not have been able to display was manifested, for a moment, by borrowing Dan Jung-se's power.
A powerful strike extending toward his shoulder.
But Dan Jung-se did not evade it.
GONG!
An immense rebound force, as if one had struck solid metal, assaulted Namgung Jun. He was a hair's breadth from having his hand torn and losing his grip on the sword.
‘A terrifying external art… and he’s learned a separate body protection art as well.’
Namgung Jun, who had experienced Dan Jung-se’s Silent Mountain Standing Art, had to face a massive fist before he had even come down from the air.
Namgung Jun, who had barely managed to twist his body and evade the fist, unleashed his Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash, and Dan Jung-se laughed as he received it with his body.
Then, he extended both his fists alternately and pounded Namgung Jun in succession. They were so powerful that the duel would have ended if even a single one had connected.
Despite this, Namgung Jun did not retreat and faced him head-on.
K-ka-ka-kang!
“To think he can exchange this many blows? What a monster.”
“His innate senses are incredible.”
In that time, Namgung Jun had caught on to what Dan Jung-se was aiming for.
‘So this is the beginning.’
Dan Jung-se was endlessly inducing fierce and large movements from Namgung Jun.
And in doing so, he had drained Namgung Jun’s stamina in a single breath.
As if to prove it, rough breaths were already being let out from Namgung Jun’s mouth.
A hot, feverish sensation could be felt from all the muscles in his body as they screamed, and the nape of his neck began to dry up as if it were on fire.
At some point, his body had reached its limit.
Now, the only thing left was his will.
If he could draw upon his will, his body could still move. For limits were always meant to be broken.
At some point, Namgung Jun had forgotten about Dan Jung-se’s test.
Now, it was a battle with himself.
How many more forms could he receive, and unfold.
Namgung Jun took a step forward without hesitation and displayed his sword.
Steadfast and upright.
It was the field that Namgung Jun was most confident in.
“Good!”
Dan Jung-se, who had accurately perceived Namgung Jun’s state, burst out laughing and extended a step forward.
Even though Namgung Jun’s condition was clearly a mess, his two fists showed no signs of lightening.
Rather, they became more intense.
K-ka-ka-kang!
As the stone floor was shattered and fragments were sent scattering in all directions, Namgung Jun’s body staggered precariously.
The fierce offensive, which swiftly struck and pulled back from various directions, shook Namgung Jun’s body several times.
‘He’s still enduring?’
Dan Jung-se let out an inward sound of admiration.
From the time he had received about twenty blows, Namgung Jun’s stamina had reached its limit. Despite that, Namgung Jun had endured for another thirty blows since then.
Now, they were on the verge of fifty exchanges.
‘I wonder how many men in this Hall could endure as much as this fellow.’
Dan Jung-se became curious as to how far Namgung Jun could endure.
K-THUMP!
A vortex once again arose in Dan Jung-se’s fist.
It was the same form as a moment ago, but the might it displayed was different. An aura that seemed as if it would sweep away the entire area wrapped around Dan Jung-se’s fist.
Heaven's Center Iron Fist.
Collapsing Wave Shatter.
As the surging fist power tried to overwhelm his entire body, Namgung Jun took a deep breath.
A single sword strike, extended with his body twisted diagonally. It was also the final sword strike, which he had squeezed out all his remaining power to finally swing.
FWOOSH!
Following the sword strike that was drawn upright in that instant, the atmosphere was thrown wide open to both sides.
The single sword strike, which had bent in reverse, cut through the aura of Collapsing Wave Shatter strand by strand and fiercely struck the back of Dan Jung-se’s hand.
KAANG!
With a heavy metallic sound, as if one had struck solid metal, the movements of the two men stopped.
“Breathe in slowly.”
Even while pouring sweat from his entire body, Namgung Jun did not collapse. He was somehow supporting his body with his trembling legs.
Dan Jung-se watched this sight with satisfaction.
“That is enough. You may rest.”
“...Yes.”
Even though Dan Jung-se’s permission had fallen, Namgung Jun did not show a crumbling appearance.
With trembling hands, he slowly sheathed his sword and then calmly sat down on the spot and assumed the lotus position.
As he did, he slowly regulated his breathing.
Dan Jung-se stared intently at Namgung Jun for a time, then looked down at the back of his own hand.
The area where Namgung Jun’s sword strike had landed at the end was split open, very finely.
The wound was so shallow that not even a drop of blood came out, but it was clearly a cut.
‘A mere One-Cloud newcomer left a wound on my body?’
Dan Jung-se had confirmed Namgung Jun’s brilliant talent.
“I am curious.”
About what kind of power his sword strikes will display when Namgung Jun has achieved a physique optimal for a martial artist.
But what interested him more than that was Namgung Jun’s tenacity.
He had thought that his martial prowess had blossomed from talent alone. But that was a preconception.
Namgung Jun possessed the tenacity to overcome even harsh training.
Talent and tenacity.
Namgung Jun, who possessed both of these, was a talent who would soar high in the future if only he were given time.
‘I was wrong.’
Dan Jung-se was suddenly reminded of the last meeting.
The divided opinions regarding Namgung Jun’s venturing out into the Martial World.
Dan Jung-se had been neutral, but he now leaned toward the side that said they should develop Namgung Jun’s capabilities.
‘It has been a truly long time since I have met a junior who interests me this much.’
The muscles of Dan Jung-se, who was watching the meditating Namgung Jun, gradually expanded.