Chapter 48

Changcheon Society Leader (2)

Namgung Jun stared fixedly at Ha Hu-seon.

He could not sense any aura from him.

That was only natural.

The man before him was a peerless master far beyond his current level.

Even so, the transcendence unique to such a being was unmistakable.

Vast. Boundless. And clear.

The feeling was far too familiar.

The Sword Emperor of his previous life, after mastering the Sky King Heart Method, had been exactly the same.

I can't sense his aura directly, so I can't be completely certain. But there's no doubt that the root of his martial arts lies in the Sky King Heart Method.

Furthermore, his surname was Ha Hu.

The surname Ha Hu and the Sky King Heart Method.

There had only been one person in his previous life who possessed both.

Ha Hu-ryeong.

The last rising talent of the Southern Heavenly Palace.

Ha Hu-ryeong's final mission had been to evacuate women and children too young to practice martial arts.

Whether he had succeeded in that mission remained unknown.

The Sword Emperor and every remaining force of the Southern Heavenly Palace had clashed with the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and perished.

Yet as he looked at Ha Hu-seon, Namgung Jun instinctively knew.

Ha Hu-ryeong had succeeded.

The Changcheon Society stood upon the former grounds of the Southern Heavenly Palace.

The Heavenly Sword.

The martial arts of the Southern Heavenly Palace.

Even the ideals inherited by the Changcheon Society.

Every question he had carried until now suddenly found its answer.

"Palace Lord, is it truly alright for me to learn the Sky King Heart Method already?"

"At such a young age, you sacrificed an eye to prove your chivalry. I hope the Sky King Heart Method will become the eye that replaces it."

"With the new eye you have given me, Palace Lord, I will uphold my chivalric path to the very end."

***

Ha Hu-ryeong... you kept your promise.

Remembering that conversation from his previous life, Namgung Jun lowered his head slightly.

He could not allow Ha Hu-seon or Yun Gyeongjong to see the moisture gathering in his eyes.

"You seem deep in thought."

Despite the sudden question, Namgung Jun's voice remained steady.

"Yes. Upon meeting the Society Leader, I was reminded of the Society's name."

"You thought of the sky?"

As Ha Hu-seon's beard trembled lightly, Yun Gyeongjong's eyes widened.

That was not the sort of answer a youth who had only recently entered the Peak Realm should be capable of giving.

Sensing the transcendence of a peerless master was not particularly difficult.

Even ordinary people often felt an overwhelming presence when standing before such beings.

But recognizing that presence and accurately discerning its essence were entirely different matters.

Even masters who have reached the Two Wheels of Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit would struggle with that. Yet this child...

And yet Namgung Jun had pierced directly to the core of Ha Hu-seon's transcendence.

A spiritual perception sharp enough to rival that of a supreme master.

An instinct capable of judging things beyond normal awareness.

Such a feat was impossible without heaven-defying talent.

Ha Hu-seon and Yun Gyeongjong exchanged glances.

Both arrived at the same conclusion.

"Remarkable. The Chief Strategist did not exaggerate."

"I wasn't aware his talent had reached this extent either."

Ha Hu-seon set down the branch he had been carving.

Yun Gyeongjong could only laugh in disbelief.

"Heaven has bestowed a Divine Dragon upon our Society."

After that brief expression of admiration, Ha Hu-seon's attention remained fixed on Namgung Jun.

Though blind, it felt as though he could see him perfectly.

"This old man remembers every member of the Society. Since I cannot see, I sharpen my other senses."

Footsteps.

Voice.

Aura.

Presence.

Breathing.

And there was more.

Every person possessed a unique innate energy that reflected their individual nature.

A peerless master's spiritual perception, connected to the natural energies of heaven and earth, could glimpse such things and approach the essence of a person.

Having lost his sight in his youth, Ha Hu-seon's perception was especially acute even among peerless masters.

How fascinating.

Looking at Namgung Jun, Ha Hu-seon felt genuine curiosity.

Normally, a person's appearance would naturally take shape within his mind.

Yet Namgung Jun appeared differently.

All he perceived was a vast and clear expanse of blue.

Isn't it just like the sky itself?

Only peerless masters or those possessing extraordinary mental realms transcended the ordinary image of a human being.

Hm...

Ha Hu-seon smiled softly.

"A great gathering will soon take place."

"A gathering?"

"A meeting between the Three Sects and One Alliance, the Five Sacred Sword Sects, and our Society."

Even as the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult's influence continued to grow, the major orthodox sects had largely confined themselves to defending their own territories.

The Three Sects and One Alliance, however, had concluded that the orthodox sects across the provinces needed to cooperate more closely and confront the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult on a broader scale.

Thus, the Three Sects and One Alliance had organized a grand assembly and invited both the Five Sacred Sword Sects and the Changcheon Society.

Through the gathering, they intended to exchange opinions, forge agreements, become familiar with one another, and reduce the distance between their hearts.

"No matter how righteous they may be, they are still martial artists. A situation where martial skill is tested is inevitable."

The supreme masters of each sect could not easily step forward themselves.

Their strength was needed against the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.

Moreover, the current situation in the martial world did not allow such experts to travel freely.

"The younger generation—the future of each sect—will be used to measure one another's martial abilities. Of course, the process may not proceed smoothly."

"Why is that?"

Ha Hu-seon clicked his tongue.

"Among the Five Sacred Sword Sects, all but the Mount Hua Sect disapprove of this gathering. They believe that survival through self-preservation is the only path forward."

His expression grew colder.

"They have no interest in the turmoil of the martial world or the suffering of the common people."

However, they could not simply ignore the strength of the Five Sacred Sword Sects and confront the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult on their own.

There were five major sects in that alliance.

Their support was essential in any war against the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult.

Without them, the chances of victory were exceedingly slim.

That was precisely why the Three Sects and One Alliance were forcing this gathering to take place despite the chaos engulfing the martial world.

"So although it is called a gathering, its true nature is a battlefield where the future direction of the orthodox factions will be decided."

"Exactly so. Our Society shares the same views as the Three Sects and One Alliance. Depending on circumstances, there may come a time when we must force the Five Sacred Sword Sects into agreement."

Ha Hu-seon let out a quiet sigh.

"The situation is complicated, but regardless... this old man has high expectations for you."

His gaze remained fixed on Namgung Jun.

"Will I be representing the Changcheon Society at that gathering?"

"A competition will be held to select the participants. However, someone of your caliber should be more than capable of earning a place."

Namgung Jun nodded.

Ha Hu-seon was speaking of fairness.

Representing the Changcheon Society was unquestionably an honorable position.

Many would desire such an opportunity.

No matter how much fame Namgung Jun had recently gained, people would not simply accept his selection without question.

To avoid disputes, holding a competition was the proper course.

"In two days everyone will learn of it anyway. Since we happened to meet, I decided to give you a small hint beforehand."

"I will live up to your expectations."

"Good."

Thus ended Namgung Jun's first meeting with the Society Leader.

***

Afterward, Namgung Jun entered meditation.

Ever since meeting Ha Hu-seon, he had been reviewing the martial arts of his previous life.

Sky King Heart Method.

Southern Heavenly Guiding Horizon Sword.

The personal supreme arts of the Sword Emperor.

He had not yet begun practicing them.

For now, he merely kept their formulas and principles within his mind.

The reason was simple.

He did not wish to merely imitate the martial arts of his previous life.

He intended to surpass them.

One day, those techniques would become invaluable foundations when he created entirely new divine arts.

These martial arts weren't even recorded in the Martial Pavilion.

Perhaps they had been passed down exclusively as the Society Leader's personal inheritance.

Or perhaps they had been lost entirely.

The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art is an outstanding supreme martial art, but it falls short of being a true divine art.

The same applied to the techniques he currently cultivated.

All of them possessed room for further evolution.

Moments like these required broadening one's perspective and keeping every possibility open.

As he reflected upon his previous life, a new realization surfaced.

Something from my previous life remained after all.

Until now, his past life had been defined by regret and guilt.

Yet after meeting Ha Hu-seon, he understood.

The spirit and martial arts of the Southern Heavenly Palace still survived within the martial world.

They had reached him.

The sacrifices of the Sword Emperor and his disciples had not been meaningless.

He could feel that truth directly.

A conversation from his previous life surfaced in his mind

"Palace Lord, there is one thing I regret."

"And what would that be?"

"I do not fear death. But I fear being forgotten. If everyone dies, no one will remember us."

"A natural concern. I once worried about the same thing."

The Sword Emperor had looked toward the heavens as he answered.

***

"The sky will remain blue forever, just as it is now. We are the same. If our chivalry remains unwavering, someone in the future will remember it and carry it onward."

"Like the sky..."

"Our individual names may be forgotten. But we will be remembered under another name."

"Chivalry."

"Heroes."

It was something he had once said while comforting one of his disciples.

Well? My disciple. Was it truly an empty promise?

The names Sword Emperor, Nam Yeongshin, and Southern Heavenly Palace had vanished.

Yet their legacy endured within the Changcheon Society in the form of chivalry and heroes.

Just as the blue sky stretched endlessly overhead, the will of the Southern Heavenly Palace remained alive throughout the martial world.

Though the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult remains as well.

That was a problem Namgung Jun himself would have to resolve.

The Sword Emperor had failed to finish the matter in his previous life.

It was only right that Namgung Jun bring it to its conclusion in this one.

"Steadfast and upright."

As long as he continued forward as he had before, he would eventually reach the end of the path.

***

After completing his contemplation of martial arts and his previous life, Namgung Jun opened his eyes.

With the competition approaching, there was no room for complacency.

He needed to continue sharpening his sword.

Not only the Second Cloud rank, but most of the Third Cloud rank members are participating as well.

Nearly every Society member of the younger generation was expected to enter the competition.

The honor of representing the Changcheon Society was significant.

The rewards were equally impressive.

Namgung Jun had no intention of yielding this opportunity.

Rewards and merits would allow him to grow stronger even faster.

When he stepped outside his quarters, he spotted Heo Il practicing swordsmanship alone.

The moment Heo Il saw him, he casually waved the hand holding his sword.

"Young Hero Namgung. It's been a while. Care to cross swords for a bit?"

"I'm heading somewhere else today."

"Somewhere else? Where?"

"The Mukryun Hall."

Heo Il's expression became peculiar.

It was as though he had instantly understood Namgung Jun's purpose.

"You're really going there?"

"Yes. I heard the Hall Master of Mukryun Hall has returned from his mission."

"Heavens... There's no stopping you, is there? Young Hero Namgung, the Hall Master will jump through the roof if he finds out."

"That's why I need to go secretly while Master isn't around."

At Namgung Jun's bright smile, Heo Il could only scratch the back of his head.

"If you're worried, go with him."

Gong Junam, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed, spoke indifferently.

The moment he did, Man Yewon—who had been practicing the Great Flame Sword Art with him—immediately seized the opportunity.

"Namgung Jun! Can I come watch too?"

"... Young Hero Namgung, then I'll come along as well. Those people are notoriously rough."

Both Heo Il and Man Yewon looked fully prepared to follow him all the way to Mukryun Hall.

As a result, Namgung Jun quickened his pace.

"I'll be back shortly."

"Go ahead."

Only Gong Junam remained quietly where he stood, allowing Namgung Jun to leave alone.

While Gong Junam occupied Heo Il and Man Yewon, Namgung Jun headed straight toward Mukryun Hall.