Chapter 18
Training (1)
As Namgung Jun was heading toward the Heavenly Sword Hall, he suddenly stopped and turned around.
A middle-aged man was striding toward him from behind.
His presence was so overwhelming that he resembled a massive boulder rolling across the ground rather than a human being.
His eyes were stretched so wide at the corners that one might think it was simply because he was overweight.
Yet his appearance was anything but laughable.
Instead, the pressure he exuded felt like a colossal wall advancing forward, weighing heavily upon the entire area.
A trace of interest appeared in Namgung Jun's eyes as he observed the man.
There was not the slightest sluggishness in the man's movements.
Rather, beneath his heavy build lay a faint sense of agility.
Namgung Jun found himself curious about how the man would move in actual combat.
"Axes."
His gaze settled on the pair of hand axes hanging at the man's waist.
They were large enough that most martial artists would need both hands to wield them, yet for this man, one hand seemed more than sufficient.
Perhaps noticing Namgung Jun's gaze, the middle-aged man stroked the side of one axe and spoke.
"I am Kang Gok, Master of the Sect Division."
"I greet the Sect Division Master."
As Namgung Jun offered a respectful greeting, memories of the Sect Division surfaced in his mind.
He had heard that whenever large-scale battles such as the Great Sect War broke out, the Sect Division always led the vanguard.
Their explosive destructive power when breaking enemy formations was said to surpass even the martial forces of the Three Rivers.
Kang Gok, the leader of the Sect Division, was likewise renowned as a supreme expert capable of unleashing devastating strikes.
Even martial artists of equal standing could lose their weapons and suffer fatal injuries in an instant if they lowered their guard.
Perhaps because he cultivated straightforward martial arts centered around overwhelming force, Kang Gok's manner of speech was equally direct.
"I heard that on your first mission, you encountered the Sun Moon Demonic Cult."
"That is correct."
Kang Gok stepped closer.
That simple movement alone made the oppressive pressure bearing down on Namgung Jun even more intense.
"Do you fully understand your current situation? From where I stand, it doesn't seem that way."
After studying Kang Gok for a moment, Namgung Jun nodded.
"Are you referring to my Nine Yin Severed Meridians?"
"Exactly."
A sharp gleam emerged from between Kang Gok's fierce eyes.
His gaze swept over Namgung Jun's body, yet Namgung Jun did not so much as blink.
"I've been watching the recent movements of the Sun Moon Demonic Cult. They're still searching for you."
A heavy step echoed as Kang Gok advanced once more.
The distance between them had shrunk to less than five paces.
"That means your existence is extremely important to them."
His eyes hardened.
"I don't know what kind of twisted schemes they intend to carry out with your body, but it's easy to predict that it could become a major threat to the martial world."
Namgung Jun nodded.
Kang Gok's concern was not excessive.
The Sun Moon Demonic Cult possessed countless bizarre arts and forbidden techniques.
In his previous life, Namgung Jun had even witnessed rituals that transformed a body into one that was neither male nor female.
The purpose had been to create the perfect vessel capable of wielding both yin and yang energies simultaneously.
Grotesque as it was, the technique possessed undeniable depth.
A male body born with Nine Yin Severed Meridians. The Sun Moon Demonic Cult would naturally covet it.
Namgung Jun's physique was something rarely seen throughout the history of the martial world.
Perhaps it was unprecedented.
Given such a unique constitution, there was no limit to what could be attempted with it.
"Wouldn't remaining quietly within the Azure Heaven Society headquarters be the better choice? Not only for yourself, but for the martial world as a whole."
Namgung Jun nodded again before answering.
"If I were to die, the matter would end quite simply."
A brief pause followed.
"But my master chose otherwise."
"I respect the Heavenly Sword Hall Master's decision."
Namgung Jun inclined his head.
"My master granted me a new life through righteousness."
His voice remained calm.
"Therefore, it is only right that I contribute to the martial world through righteousness as well."
"Righteousness..."
Kang Gok, whose hands rested upon his waist, suddenly released an immense aura.
"Those born with talent often make the same mistake."
His eyes narrowed.
"They assume they'll survive long enough to become supreme masters who rule the world."
WHOOOOOSH!
A violent surge of qi erupted like a raging storm.
Even though Namgung Jun braced his entire body, he felt himself slowly being pushed backward.
The density of Kang Gok's aura was overwhelming.
If Kang Gok truly released it without restraint, weaker martial artists would struggle to remain standing from the pressure alone.
"You will remain the target of the Sun Moon Demonic Cult until the day you die."
His voice grew heavier.
"Do you possess the martial power necessary to endure that?"
"My sword is straight."
Namgung Jun answered without hesitation.
"And it will remain so."
His voice was filled with certainty.
Sensing that unwavering conviction, Kang Gok became curious.
Was that confidence truly born from faith in his martial arts?
Or was it nothing more than the reckless courage and hot blood of youth?
Namgung Jun's gaze did not waver in the slightest.
Kang Gok's right hand twitched.
Fwoosh!
A fierce aura riding upon the wind wrapped around one of his axes.
"Then let me see for myself."
His eyes sharpened.
"Show me your sword."
At some point, an axe had already appeared in Kang Gok's right hand.
The axe blade, saturated with chilling killing intent, pointed directly at Namgung Jun's head.
Then it descended.
A vertical strike aimed straight at the crown of his skull.
Namgung Jun's pupils tracked the attack, blue light flickering sharply within them.
The moment Kang Gok saw that movement, surprise filled his face.
'He reacted to it perfectly?'
Naturally, Kang Gok had held back.
It was nowhere near his full strength.
Even so, it was not an attack that Namgung Jun—who had yet to reach the Peak Realm—should have been capable of handling.
Failing to react properly would have been the normal outcome.
Yet Namgung Jun appeared to be reading the exact trajectory of the axe.
The moment Kang Gok saw those crystal-clear eyes, he unconsciously put a little more strength into his wrist.
His instincts had told him something.
That the boy before him could withstand even this much.
'If he blocks it directly, his sword will break.'
Namgung Jun immediately stepped backward, rotating through his left foot.
As he widened the distance, his body continuously traced twisting circles.
THUD!
Drawing out the profound principle of Jeonsagyeong, the force rising through his entire body, Namgung Jun planted his foot and swung his sword upward.
One of the heavy-sword techniques he had mastered in his previous life.
A sword art he could barely reproduce with his current body.
It was a fragment of the profound mysteries of the Great Wind Sword Art.
The descending axe and ascending sword collided at a single point between them.
BOOOOOOM!
A suppressed metallic roar exploded outward.
The surrounding walls shook violently, and roof tiles tumbled from above.
Namgung Jun was driven backward while maintaining his sword posture.
His feet carved deep trenches into the ground.
Only after being pushed back a considerable distance did he finally stop, driving his sword into the earth for support.
Seeing that sight, Kang Gok's eyes widened to their limits.
'Impossible.'
His head slowly lowered.
His gaze settled on his own right foot.
The foot that had served as the foundation for his strike had slid backward by roughly an inch.
At first glance, it seemed insignificant.
But considering his opponent, it was anything but.
It meant that he had been pushed back by the sword strike of a young junior who had not even reached the Peak Realm.
Because such a result had never crossed his mind, the shock was all the greater.
Still gripping the sword embedded in the ground, Namgung Jun straightened his back and spoke calmly.
"I wished to place my righteousness within that sword strike."
A sharp gleam flashed through Kang Gok's eyes as he felt the lingering impact still vibrating in his hand.
He could not help but ask.
"And what is your righteousness?"
"The One Consistent Path."
Or, as some would call it—
One Principle That Runs Through All Things.
To take righteousness and chivalry as a single guiding principle and remain unwavering from beginning to end.
To make righteousness the one ideal that pierces through both life and martial arts.
That was why it was called Consistency.
"The heart of the One Consistent Path..."
Kang Gok's voice lowered.
"How can you be so certain? Most people embrace righteousness in the beginning, only to have it slowly worn away by the hardships of the martial world."
"The comrades of the Azure Heaven Society will walk beside me."
Namgung Jun's expression remained serene.
"What cause do I have for concern? It is enough for me to keep my own sword straight."
Kang Gok stared at him for a long time.
The overwhelming aura around him still raged violently.
At last, he slowly lowered his axe.
"You've already found your own martial path at such a young age."
In an instant, the aura that had dominated the surroundings completely vanished.
A remarkably refined display of internal energy control.
As expected of a supreme master who had reached the realm of Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown.
"You have shown me your talent and your martial path."
His narrow eyes relaxed.
"Having already taken your first true step as a martial artist, discussing whether you should remain confined is absurd."
His gaze softened further.
"To interfere in the journey of a young swordsman would be equally ridiculous."
After silently studying Namgung Jun for a moment, Kang Gok rummaged through his robes and tossed over a small wooden box.
"What is this?"
"A spiritual medicine."
Kang Gok answered casually.
"It should be sufficient to heal the internal injuries you sustained from receiving that strike."
Then he turned around and walked away.
Watching his retreating figure, Namgung Jun chuckled.
It had certainly been a powerful attack.
However, thanks to Kang Gok's precise control over his aura, Namgung Jun had suffered no meaningful internal injuries.
At most, his palm still stung slightly.
The person who had delivered the strike knew that better than anyone.
Which meant there was only one reason for such words.
Kang Gok simply needed an excuse to give him the spiritual medicine.
Facing the distant back of the Sect Division Master, Namgung Jun clasped his fists and offered his thanks.
***
Azure Heaven Society — Ink Fragrance Department
A scribe approached the Society Lord, Yun Gyeongjong.
"Society Lord, the report you requested has just arrived at the Ink Fragrance Department."
Receiving the document, Yun Gyeongjong's eyes lit up.
"Finally."
Though the response was brief, the scribe was greatly surprised.
'The Society Lord is reacting like this? To a report concerning nothing more than a newly recruited Cloud member?'
It was unprecedented.
Neither new recruits nor the many promising talents within the Azure Heaven Society had ever attracted such attention from him.
Considering that Yun Gyeongjong normally treated even reports from Division Masters with detached indifference, this reaction was astonishing.
"Hm."
Setting aside the letter he had been reading, Yun Gyeongjong immediately reached for Heo Il's report.
The letter he had just put down concerned a matter of significant importance.
Even so, he prioritized this report.
Using the observational techniques of the Ink Fragrance Department, he absorbed the contents at a glance.
His eyebrows rose slightly.
The report was concise and clear.
Though it outwardly appeared to be a standard mission report, its contents were filled with praise for the new Cloud member, Namgung Jun.
Yet it was neither exaggerated nor biased.
It was simply the honest evaluation of a senior observing a junior.
Namgung Jun had displayed abilities so exceptional that praise was unavoidable.
"As expected."
A faint smile appeared.
"He never disappoints."
Seeing such a clear reaction from Yun Gyeongjong, the scribe grew curious.
'Just what is written in that report?'
He desperately wanted to know.
But there was no chance.
Yun Gyeongjong showed no sign of putting the document down.
After the scribe finally left the office, Yun Gyeongjong quietly murmured to himself.
"This should calm the arguments regarding his future for a while."
His gaze drifted toward the direction of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
"It will be a tremendous help."
Yun Gyeongjong intended to make the details of this mission public throughout the Azure Heaven Society immediately.
It would undoubtedly provide a significant boost to morale.
The appearance of a brilliant young talent could inspire an entire organization regardless of faction or affiliation.
A dazzling new star naturally elevated everyone's spirits.
After a brief pause, Yun Gyeongjong muttered,
"Was there a spiritual medicine particularly suited for Namgung Jun?"