Chapter 23 - Forging (6)
Even though it was the middle of the night, Namgung Jun’s training did not stop.
Namgung Jun, who had finished his external art training and had taken a short, sweet sleep along with his evening meal, had immediately come out to the training ground and was swinging his sword.
FWOOSH!
The heavy sound of tearing air made by Namgung Jun’s sword.
He had not laden it with internal energy, of course, nor had he laden it with the finer points of the Heavy Sword. He had merely swung it using the pure strength of his physical body.
Despite this, the sword power laden in the sword was not light. It was the result of his external art training during this time. Though he still had a long way to go, it was remarkable compared to the past.
“You’ve gotten much better.”
Moonlight scattered brilliantly between the dark eyelashes of Lee Se-ha, who was sitting beside him watching his training.
The appearance of her disciple, reflected in her pupils that held the silver moonlight, had changed a lot from three months ago.
He had gained a fair bit of weight, so he no longer looked stick-thin, and muscle had begun to build up little by little. At a glance, one could see that his body was becoming healthier.
Though it was still lacking to be called the body of a martial artist, considering the time he had been initiated into martial arts, it was a remarkable growth rate. If he could show off this much martial prowess with his innate talent and sword skill despite his lacking external arts, what would happen when he possessed a body that was whole as a martial artist? Lee Se-ha could not take her eyes off Namgung Jun’s accomplishments, which were changing distinctly with each passing day.
“Jun-ah. If just a little more time passes, you’re going to become a handsome man who can lightly bewitch any woman.”
“Master. Will there be time for that?”
“You never know. You might suffer from troubles with women even if you don’t want to. You can’t ask this master for help when that time comes.”
Despite Lee Se-ha’s teasing, Namgung Jun did not change his expression one bit and simply swung his sword.
“Do not worry.”
Even at his blunt reply, Lee Se-ha let out a laugh and propped her chin on both her hands. An ordinary boy of this age would have been embarrassed or flustered, but since he was not shaken in the slightest, he was no different from a little old man. But this mature appearance always brought about a sense of dependability. This, too, must be a strength that only Namgung Jun could possess.
“I worry because my Jun is too steadfast.”
The master’s lighthearted muttering was, to Namgung Jun, like the sound of the wind that always blew.
The master’s monologue and her occasional interjected advice harmonized with the sound of tearing air that erupted from the sword. As the moonlight played alone between the master and disciple who were facing each other, it was like a quiet banquet in the middle of the night.
FWOOSH!
Though the first sword style he had created in this life was the Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash, the sword style that Namgung Jun had chosen to build his foundation with was the Greater Amplification Sword Style.
This was because the Greater Amplification Sword Style possessed the potential to branch out into all paths, such as the Swift Sword, the Heavy Sword, the Illusory Sword, the Dull Sword, and the Flexible Sword.
For Namgung Jun, who wished to delve into the Sword itself, it was the optimal choice to build his foundation upon.
‘When striking out to the side with the sword, instead of making the gastrocnemius muscle more flexible, I must make the oblique muscles of my side as firm as a pillar.’
Namgung Jun was once again re-establishing the various names of the muscles and the finer points of the external arts he had learned from Dan Jung-se, from the perspective of a swordsman. The one he was actively unfolding in that process was precisely the Greater Amplification Sword Style. Namgung Jun, with the mindset of building his foundation again from the basics, was in the middle of trying to raise his accomplishment in the Greater Amplification Sword Style beyond Great Mastery and into the realm of Ultimate Mastery.
External art training at the Iron Pagoda Hall by day.
Re-establishing his external arts as a swordsman by night.
Recently, Namgung Jun’s forging had been proceeding with the same daily routine.
Lee Se-ha, who had been watching Namgung Jun’s training until the very end, nodded her head.
“If you just have enough meritorious deeds, you could take the Rank Advancement Test right away.”
“Master. Is there an advantage to advancing in rank?”
“Of course.”
Lee Se-ha fiddled with her hair, which shimmered like the night sky. As if she found Namgung Jun, who was now showing a subtle interest in her story, to be cute.
“First of all, the provisions, such as spiritual medicines, martial arts uniforms, and weapons, change, and you also gain the authority to volunteer for missions.”
“Are you saying I can choose the missions I want?”
Lee Se-ha nodded her head.
“It is impossible to refuse the missions that come down from the Ink Scent Division as you please, but it is possible to be assigned the missions you want with priority.”
“I see.”
As one lives in the Martial World, one is bound to accumulate grudges and favors. There were times when the Clouds of the Azure Sky Society also moved according to their own personal grudges and favors.
“Besides that, your range of activity, your influence, and the information you can access all change according to each rank. Of course, it would also be helpful in overcoming your Nine Yin Severed Meridians, right?”
Namgung Jun nodded his head as he laid his sword horizontal and thrust it out.
Furthermore, in order to face the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, he had to raise his rank as high as possible. It might be different for small-scale missions, but on a huge stage like a large-scale pitched battle or at the province level, it would become essential to exercise influence based on a high rank.
Lee Se-ha, who was watching Namgung Jun’s eyes shine fiercely as he steeled his resolve, smiled brightly.
“I find myself imagining you holding the Uicheon Sword, Jun. Even if it is you, Jun, I can’t yield the Uicheon Sword, you know.”
Namgung Jun, who heard those words, flinched. It was a name he had missed so much that for a moment, he thought he had misheard.
“Did you just say the Uicheon Sword?”
“Yes. The Uicheon Sword. Ah, perhaps you didn’t know?”
The sword of Namgung Jun, which until now had been rushing through the air without rest, stopped for the first time. Namgung Jun had completely fixed his gaze and was waiting for Lee Se-ha’s answer.
Lee Se-ha, who tilted her head at Namgung Jun’s reaction, continued to speak.
“You know that the head of the Sword Scent Division is called the Sword Lord, right?”
“Yes.”
“In the Martial World, the nickname Uicheon Sword Lord is more famous. It’s partly thanks to the Uicheon Sword being a famed sword rarely seen in the world.”
“The Uicheon Sword Lord.”
A pure white sword, as if crafted from heavy snowflakes.
A cloud-shaped blue jade embedded in the scabbard.
The four characters, ‘Azure, Bright, Righteous Heaven’, engraved on the body of the blade.
Listening to Lee Se-ha’s description of the Uicheon Sword, it was indeed the Uicheon Sword he had used in his past life.
Though he would have to see it with his own eyes to be sure, Namgung Jun knew instinctively. That it was definitely his beloved sword from his past life.
‘To think that the Uicheon Sword also remained with the Azure Sky Society.’
It was a thought he’d had for a while, but it was clear that the Azure Sky Society and Namcheon Palace were deeply connected.
He figured that as his rank gradually rose and his standing widened, he would naturally come to learn of the origins of the Azure Sky Society.
“The Uicheon Sword.”
Namgung Jun could feel his heart beating fiercely. The anticipation of being able to meet the beloved sword that had been with him throughout his past life elevated his entire body.
‘In truth, there was no sword that fit my hand as well as the Uicheon Sword. I must obtain it.’
It was the moment that Namgung Jun’s desire to quickly become the head of the Sword Scent Division became even firmer. Naturally, strength entered the hand that was gripping his sword as well. The thickly defined lines that ran along his forearm were painted over with a firm will.
Lee Se-ha, who had approached at some point, gently wrapped her hands around both of Namgung Jun’s shoulders.
“Your shoulders are full of tension.”
“It seems I have found a clear goal.”
“You’ve come to want the Uicheon Sword, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
Lee Se-ha knew as well.
That Namgung Jun was not acting this way simply because of a single sword called the Uicheon Sword.
But she tried to release the weightiness that was surrounding Namgung Jun by speaking a little lightly.
Because whatever it may be, if one put an excessive amount of strength into it than usual, mistakes were bound to be made.
‘Though Jun, of course, will do well on his own.’
To believe in her disciple, yet not take her eyes off him and watch over him until the end, must also be the role of a master. Though he was a dependable disciple who did not cause her any worry, it was also true that he needed his master’s interested gaze. Because Namgung Jun was overflowing with the capability to extend himself even higher.
Lee Se-ha, who had relaxed Namgung Jun’s shoulders, gently pushed his back.
“Shall we head in for today? You’ve trained almost to your limit. It’s time to let your body rest now.”
“Yes. For the sake of tomorrow.”
Namgung Jun also sheathed his sword without saying much else.
***
The sun had not yet fully risen, so it was a time when the twilight was still shimmering.
The boy, who had appeared shaking off the shadows of daybreak, headed straight for the Martial Repository of Self-Reflection.
Even though it was early dawn, Muk Shim-jung was at his post as usual. Muk Shim-jung gave a slight nod as he saw the boy, who had now gotten quite close.
“Young Hero Namgung. Have you visited today as well?”
“Yes. There are so many things to see that I must keep looking.”
“If there is anything you are curious about, come at any time. A sword debate with you, Young Hero, is always welcome.”
The conversations with Namgung Jun, who would occasionally come and ask about various martial arts, were very enjoyable. Unlike his peers, Namgung Jun’s questions were broad and deep. It was to the point where he would, on the contrary, gain a new topic for inquiry while discussing martial theory with him.
Namgung Jun, who had paid his respects, went inside the Martial Repository of Self-Reflection. Then, he looked through various secret martial arts manuals.
He read all the secret manuals, regardless of the branch of martial studies—be it Sword, Saber, or Spear; Fist, Palm, or Foot; or Body Movement Skill and other weapons. In this way, he was not limited to the Sword, but was delving deeply into Martial Arts itself.
Namgung Jun was spending every day with this routine.
It was for the purpose of broadening his perspective by experiencing a variety of martial studies, unlike his past life where he had focused only on the Heavy Sword.
This, in turn, would become inspiration for the creation of new martial arts.
The hand of Namgung Jun, who had been endlessly and repeatedly looking through the secret manuals, stopped. A familiar name had come into his view.
“So this sword style was here too.”
A look of happy nostalgia emerged on the face of Namgung Jun as he took out the secret manual.
The Great Wind Sword Style.
One of the main martial arts of the old Namcheon Palace.
A sword style deeply imbued with the finer points of the Heavy Sword, and a martial art that the Sword Emperor had often unfolded in his youth.
Since the Infinite Steps Footwork was here, he had expected that other martial arts might be as well, but it was a great pleasure to encounter it like this.
“I must create a new Heavy Sword style, so it would not be bad to use the Great Wind Sword Style as a foundation.”
In his past life, he had not touched it separately after his martial arts realm had risen to a certain level. It was because he had deemed it sufficient for his disciples to learn, without needing to be separately revised.
But now, he could look at this martial art from a different perspective than in his past life.
Now that he was living a new life while holding the memories of the Sword Emperor, to what extent could he develop the Great Wind Sword Style?
“There are annotated commentaries, too.”
An annotated commentary referred to a secret manual that a person of a later generation had either explained simply so that the martial art could be learned more easily, or had reinterpreted from a different perspective.
Among the martial arts of the old Namcheon Palace, there were many that Namgung Jun had created, but such annotated commentaries could not be found.
It was likely that there was a tendency to be reserved, as the master who had created the martial art was still alive and well.
But now was different.
As he looked, he saw that a whole four volumes of annotated commentaries on the Great Wind Sword Style existed.
‘How interesting. So this is how they interpreted the oral formulas.’
The thoughts of his successors, who had interpreted the oral formulas he himself had written down from a completely different perspective, were amusing and fresh.
Even if the level of that interpretation seemed lacking from the perspective of the Sword Emperor, it was more than enough to give him a new point of view and inspiration.
It was when Namgung Jun, who was looking through the annotated commentary of the Great Wind Sword Style, was ceaselessly turning the pages.
“You’re Namgung Jun, right?”
As his name was suddenly called, Namgung Jun turned his head in the direction the voice had come from.
It was a girl who looked to be about the same age as him.
“They say you’re that good with a sword?”
“…”
As Namgung Jun did not reply, the girl, as if annoyed, clenched both her fists.
“Let’s have a match. I cannot accept that you are the most anticipated rising star in the Azure Sky Society.”
A heavy sword wind flickered from the sword that the girl had abruptly pulled out from a bookshelf.
FWOOSH!
The look in the eyes of Namgung Jun, who saw this, changed from indifference to interest.
It was because the flow of the aura laden in the sword was truly familiar.
The secret manual that Namgung Jun was holding in his hands at this very moment.
It was the prelude to the unfolding of the Great Wind Sword Style.