Chapter 24
Guided Sparring (1)
Namgung Jun glanced at the sword wind surrounding the girl's blade before closing the manual and asking,
“Who are you?”
“You don't know me? You've surely heard the name Man Yewon!”
Yet Namgung Jun remained silent.
Contrary to her expectations, it was a name he had never heard before.
Seeing his indifferent reaction, Man Yewon frowned deeply and shouted,
“Aaagh! I'm the granddaughter of the Elder Council Chief!”
“The Elder Council Chief?”
The Azure Sky Society did indeed have an Elder Council.
Though their numbers were small, it consisted of retired members who had survived decades of righteous deeds and fierce battles against the Sun Moon Demonic Cult.
Even in old age, they remained willing to act for the sake of the Azure Sky Society.
Whenever manpower grew scarce, they occasionally reappeared.
The current Elder Council Chief was said to be an elderly hero who had spent a lifetime performing righteous deeds.
Even Master said he was someone worthy of respect.
For the sake of preserving the dignity of a venerable hero he had never even met, Namgung Jun decided to at least continue the conversation.
“What do you want?”
“Let's spar and settle once and for all who's stronger.”
“Why should I?”
“If you don't, rumors will spread that you avoided the match. Don't you have any pride?”
Tilting her head mockingly, Man Yewon tried to provoke him.
Namgung Jun calmly replied,
“If I defeat you, does that somehow preserve my pride?”
He looked directly into her eyes.
The clear blue light shining from his gaze caused Man Yewon to flinch.
What is with those eyes?
He's like an old man.
His gaze was anything but ordinary.
Those were not the eyes of a boy her age.
They resembled the eyes of a swordsman who had weathered countless storms.
Like the veteran masters of the Elder Council.
As Man Yewon hesitated, unable to answer, Namgung Jun continued,
“My pride is not so fragile that it would be affected by something like that.”
His gaze shifted to the sword already drawn in her hand, faint sword wind swirling around it.
“Nor is my sword so light that I would draw it merely to satisfy your curiosity.”
His answer was so firm and unwavering that Man Yewon's face reddened.
After hesitating for a moment, she bit her lip and spoke again, this time in a slightly smaller voice.
“If you spar with me, I'll give you an extreme-yang elixir.”
“An elixir?”
“That's right. You're suffering from the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, aren't you? You need something like that, don't you?”
Her face was filled with confidence, as though she had finally revealed her trump card.
It was easy to see what she was thinking.
Normally, such an offer would be impossible to refuse.
She clearly believed he would accept.
Yet Namgung Jun merely looked at her and chuckled softly.
“I possess something that cannot even be compared to an elixir.”
“What? That's impossible...”
“My master and the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.”
Man Yewon stared at him blankly.
She could tell from his relaxed smile.
Those words were neither boasting nor a lie.
Born with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, his life should have been in constant danger.
And yet—
How could he remain so calm?
He was not even twenty years old.
“How is that even possible...?”
Man Yewon muttered in a daze.
Namgung Jun did not bother answering.
An extreme-yang elixir...
He did not know exactly what kind of elixir she possessed.
There was no doubt it would help him if he consumed it.
Even so, he had no intention of accepting the demand of someone who barged in and insisted upon a spar like this.
His sword was not so cheap that it could be swayed by a mere elixir.
Nor should it be.
“I'm not interested.”
Namgung Jun simply walked past her.
“I'm not finished talking! Stop!”
Man Yewon hurriedly tried to chase after him.
But a man suddenly stepped between them.
“Miss Man. Stop.”
It was Muk Simjung, the librarian of the Hall of Martial Archives.
He always greeted Namgung Jun with a smile.
Yet before Man Yewon, his face was cold and expressionless.
“You know perfectly well that drawing weapons inside the Hall of Martial Archives is forbidden.”
“W-Wait a second!”
She quickly tried to move around him.
Muk Simjung stepped sideways with a movement technique and blocked her path once more.
His expression, already cold, became utterly frigid.
His voice followed suit.
“Miss Man. Shall I report this directly to the Elder Council Chief?”
The moment her grandfather's title was mentioned, Man Yewon's body stiffened.
Meanwhile, Muk Simjung sensed Namgung Jun's presence growing more distant.
A small smile secretly tugged at his lips.
As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone bother Young Hero Namgung.
Having heard the entire conversation from afar, Muk Simjung casually placed his hands on his waist.
“Miss Man. Come with me.”
“You drew a weapon inside the Hall of Martial Archives. You'll have to listen to a lecture from me.”
Muk Simjung had already decided.
He would keep Man Yewon here so she could not chase after Namgung Jun.
Whooong—
A faint sword wind descended along the path of Namgung Jun's blade.
It swept heavily across the ground, thicker and clearer than usual.
It almost looked as though several layers of cutting wind had been superimposed upon one another.
As a result, even the sword he swung slowly felt incomparably heavier.
The sword wind he released carved across the training ground with undeniable presence.
At that moment—
A gaunt old man slowly entered the Heavenly Sword Hall training grounds.
A blue robe clung tightly to his thin frame, emphasizing his frailty.
Yet he did not appear pitiful.
Rather, he resembled an ancient tree that had weathered countless storms and sunk its roots deep into the earth.
At the sight of the old man, the Heavenly Sword Hall members who had been fiercely crossing swords with one another gradually lowered their blades.
They had no choice.
Because everyone there recognized exactly who he was.
The old man emitted no visible aura whatsoever, yet his presence was overwhelming.
Naturally, every member of Heavenly Sword Hall turned their gaze toward him.
“Why is the Elder Council Chief here?”
“Did he come to see the Hall Master?”
Nodding in acknowledgment of the greetings offered by the Heavenly Sword Hall members, the old man walked straight toward a single destination.
Toward Namgung Jun, who had just put away his sword.
The Elder Council Chief, Man Hun, curled his lips slightly.
“So it is you. The young dragon who has recently become the focus of all attention within the Azure Sky Society.”
Even before such a prominent figure, Namgung Jun's gaze did not waver.
He simply offered proper courtesy as usual.
“I do not deserve a title as grand as Young Dragon.”
The wrinkles around Man Hun's eyes deepened slightly as he studied Namgung Jun with shining eyes.
“Humility becomes a flaw when taken too far.”
Smiling warmly, Man Hun shifted his body slightly to the side.
A moment later, Man Yewon appeared from behind him.
She had concealed her presence behind the sturdy frame and formidable aura of her grandfather.
“It seems my granddaughter behaved rather rudely.”
“Grandfather!”
After stealing a glance at Namgung Jun, Man Yewon cried out sharply.
Man Hun ignored her completely and continued speaking in a gentle tone.
“I believe there was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Man Hun stroked the white beard that reached his collarbone.
“The extreme-yang elixir this child offered you was originally meant to be a gift from me.”
Man Yewon looked as though she wanted to object.
But the sharp glare from Man Hun silenced her immediately.
Judging by her subdued demeanor, she had likely already received a thorough scolding before coming here.
Looking puzzled, Namgung Jun asked,
“A gift? May I ask why you wished to send me such a thing?”
“I hope that you overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians and become the Divine Sword of the Azure Sky Society. Precious treasures should be given to those worthy of them.”
With his hands behind his back, Man Hun glared at his granddaughter.
“Yet this troublesome child offered it as payment for a spar. I imagine that must have displeased you greatly.”
“It is fine. Merely the impulsiveness of youth.”
The moment those words came from someone younger than Man Yewon herself, Man Hun burst out laughing.
“The impulsiveness of youth. How amusing.”
As the Elder Council Chief produced a wooden box from his robes, Namgung Jun was slightly surprised.
Even before the box was opened, a gentle warmth radiated from within.
“Would you accept it? It is quite a precious item.”
The Heavenly Sword Hall members secretly listening nearby widened their eyes.
Whatever kind of elixir it is, he isn't even giving it to his own granddaughter?
I knew the Elder Council Chief was generous, but to this extent...
Yet their astonishment only deepened.
Because Namgung Jun shook his head without even a moment's hesitation.
Since he had never consumed an extreme-yang elixir before, his refusal was all the more shocking.
“I feel as though I would be taking on a debt too great to repay. Such an elixir is far too precious for me to accept without reason.”
Bringing his hands together respectfully, Namgung Jun bowed.
Man Hun looked at him with genuine curiosity.
“There's no need to burden yourself.”
“Debts and obligations in the martial world should always be clearly settled. To me, at my current station, this would be a debt too great to bear. Refusing it is the proper course.”
Man Hun stared at him for a moment before letting out a hearty laugh.
“I think I understand your concern. You're worried that one day this old man might use the elixir as leverage to ask something of you.”
Namgung Jun lowered his eyelids slightly.
He did not deny it.
Seeing that reaction, the corners of Man Hun's lips twitched faintly.
Despite his young age, his words and actions are not careless. He has firm principles.
Steadfast. Stubborn.
After meeting him personally, Man Hun found himself wanting to give him the elixir even more.
If this boy continued growing stronger while maintaining his current mindset, he would become a blessing not only to the Azure Sky Society but to the turbulent martial world itself.
For a moment, Man Hun glanced at Man Yewon.
There were times when he wished to give the elixir to his beloved granddaughter, his most precious treasure in the world.
But no matter how he thought about it—
This was not the right choice.
If it were an ordinary elixir, perhaps.
But this is an extreme-yang elixir.
This child is the one who truly needs it.
After pondering briefly, Man Hun looked back at Namgung Jun.
“My granddaughter told me something you said.”
“That your sword is not light.”
“Yes. I still believe that.”
The Elder Council Chief lowered his head and offered a respectful fist-and-palm salute.
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen silently stared in shock.
Words failed them.
All they could do was widen their eyes.
“Then, for the sake of this old man's dignity, would you spar with my granddaughter just once?”
“My reputation and a spar with my granddaughter.”
“Let those two things repay the debt of the elixir.”
“I ask this favor of you.”
The sight of the Elder Council Chief willingly showing such courtesy to a newcomer many years his junior left everyone speechless.
Namgung Jun fell silent.
He's even giving me a proper reason to accept the elixir.
He looked directly into Man Hun's clear and unwavering eyes.
There was no deceit within them.
No hidden agenda.
That much was obvious.
If anything, it seemed he had struggled between choosing Namgung Jun and choosing his own granddaughter.
Yet in the end, he had not compromised his beliefs.
“Master of the Elder Council, I have heard that you proved your martial path through a lifetime of righteous deeds.”
“I can confidently say I have not lived a shameful life.”
Namgung Jun slowly nodded.
“If it is for the dignity of a veteran hero such as yourself, then it is only proper that I draw my sword.”
The old hero standing before him was someone worthy of respect.
For a man who had devoted his entire life to righteousness, Namgung Jun would never hesitate to draw his blade.
This time was no different.
His hand settled upon the hilt at his waist.
His grip tightened gently.
“I will spar with her.”
Namgung Jun calmly drew his sword.
Not because of the elixir.
But for the sake of an elder who cherished the younger generation.
For the current Namgung Jun, it was the best way to honor the steps taken by an old hero throughout his life.