Chapter 5
Flash of Lightning and Sword Thunder (1)
Quite sturdy.
That was Namgung Jun’s impression as he watched Kang Mong’s sword strike descend toward his head.
The attack carried considerable sword force, accompanied by a heavy whistle through the air. Even an ordinary first-rate martial artist would have struggled to receive it head-on.
Is the entrance examination normally this difficult? Or are they trying to break applicants’ spirits?
Either way, it made no difference.
Having perfectly read the trajectory of the attack, Namgung Jun already had a sword in hand.
He planted strength into his right foot as though crushing the ground beneath it, using it as a pivot. Pulling his center of gravity forward, he slashed upward at an angle.
Shrrng!
As he placed his blade against the incoming strike with a smooth diagonal turn, Kang Mong’s sword was redirected as though sliding away.
The wrinkles around Yun Gyeongjong’s eyes deepened.
It would have been impressive enough if he had blocked it. But he redirected it?
There was no ringing clash of steel, nor were there any sparks.
Only a faint sound, like silk brushing against silk.
Kang Mong was equally startled when he suddenly realized his sword was pointing toward the ground. At that moment, Namgung Jun’s clear voice pierced him like a dagger.
“Be careful.”
Namgung Jun did not stop at merely deflecting the attack.
Using the force he had redirected as recoil, he spun his body. At the same time, he stepped forward and raised his sword high overhead.
Whooosh!
The sword rose high before descending vertically.
It was identical to the strike Kang Mong had just used.
“What—!”
KWAANG!
Kang Mong barely managed to draw his sword back to his chest and block the attack. His eyes widened.
He had nearly lost his grip on the weapon.
His hand, hardened through years of training, felt as though it were screaming in agony.
How can such power come from that skinny body?!
Kang Mong stared blankly at Namgung Jun.
A frail, unimpressive frame so thin that his bones seemed visible.
It was difficult to believe physical strength had contributed much.
And yet he had unleashed such a heavy strike.
That could only mean—
Pure swordsmanship.
Breathing heavily, Kang Mong suddenly realized something.
He had taken a step backward.
The clear footprint pressed into the ground proved it.
It was undeniable evidence that he had failed to fully withstand Namgung Jun’s sword strike.
While Kang Mong stared in shock, Namgung Jun calmly sheathed his sword.
“As expected! That sword path just now was incredibly clean!”
Watching with eager eyes, Lee Seha burst into laughter.
“If it's true that he has only learned a cultivation method, then he was born with extraordinary talent for the sword.”
So astonished that her lips had parted slightly, Lee Seha finally added:
“Well... of course.
He’s my disciple.”
“Such talent is truly unparalleled. Had the Lord of the Society seen him, he would have immediately accepted him as a disciple.”
“Ah, that would be a bit troublesome.”
Yun Gyeongjong gazed at the boy with curious eyes.
“What is your name?”
“Namgung Jun.”
“From this moment onward, you are one of our Society’s Un.”
Lee Seha added an explanation.
“Un means a member of the Blue Sky Society.”
As she spoke, she exaggeratedly waved her arm.
Four embroidered clouds adorned her fluttering sleeve.
“Disciple, I hope you become a Saun soon.”
Namgung Jun shifted his gaze slightly.
Yun Gyeongjong’s sleeve bore five clouds, while Kang Mong’s displayed three.
Looking between the two youths, Yun Gyeongjong muttered quietly,
“...The next fifty years of this Society will likely rest upon that child.”
Then he slowly stepped forward and descended the stairs.
Kang Mong’s broad shoulders trembled.
The Mokju is personally coming down the stairs?!
Yun Gyeongjong always attended the entrance examinations, and he always stood in the same place.
He would remain a step back atop the stairs, silently observing before quietly returning to the hall.
Yet now he was descending the stairs to show interest.
Such a thing had never happened before.
If word of this spreads, it will cause quite a stir.
Lee Seha was equally surprised.
Even when she herself had taken the entrance examination, Yun Gyeongjong had only offered brief praise. He had never descended the stairs.
The fact that he was now standing directly before Namgung Jun and showing such interest was an extraordinary exception.
So the number of clouds represents rank.
Understanding the meaning of the clouds, Namgung Jun nodded.
“Saun.
It won't take very long.”
At his confident declaration, Kang Mong’s expression turned strange, while Yun Gyeongjong watched with evident interest.
“As expected of my disciple.”
Nodding in satisfaction, Lee Seha turned to Yun Gyeongjong.
“Mokju, my disciple can enter the repository now, right?”
“Let him.”
As Yun Gyeongjong nodded, Kang Mong withdrew an iron token from his robes.
A single cloud was engraved upon it.
It appeared to symbolize the status of a Milun.
“Take it.
I learned a thing or two today.”
Kang Mong extended it with a calm expression.
Though he had been the examiner and had effectively ended up on the receiving end, he showed neither embarrassment nor resentment, calmly acknowledging the outcome.
Good.
Pleased by that attitude, Namgung Jun accepted the token with proper courtesy.
Lee Seha immediately grabbed his arm.
“Let's go!”
“There’s no need to rush.”
Despite Namgung Jun’s attempt to calm her, Lee Seha accelerated as though using a movement technique.
As a result, Namgung Jun was dragged along, swaying like a fluttering scrap of cloth.
Watching them leave, Kang Mong asked,
“This is the first time I've seen you come down the stairs to personally examine a newcomer.”
“Of course it is.
It's my first time as well.”
Yun Gyeongjong’s calm reply made Kang Mong flinch.
Yun Gyeongjong had overseen the Mukhyang Division for forty years.
That meant the vast majority of martial artists currently in the Blue Sky Society had taken their entrance examinations under his supervision.
And yet—
Are you saying not even the current Hall Masters ever moved the Mokju like this?
The Hall Masters were supreme experts renowned throughout the martial world.
Wherever they went, none would dare look down on them.
The fact that even they had never prompted Yun Gyeongjong to move from his position was shocking.
“Is his talent truly that great?”
“If given proper sunlight and water, he will grow into a towering tree capable of reaching the very edge of the blue heavens.”
As the master and disciple disappeared into the distance, Yun Gyeongjong turned away as well.
“The Heavenly Sword Hall Master will provide the sunlight and water.
We need only provide fertile soil.”
Yun Gyeongjong entered first, but Kang Mong remained behind, quietly repeating the name.
“Namgung Jun...”
The shock of receiving that sword strike still lingered vividly in his hand.
That weight was not something one encountered often.
Just how does one produce a sword strike like that?
As Kang Mong sank into thought, Yun Gyeongjong’s voice drifted quietly from behind him.
“You should replace your sword.”
“Pardon?”
Kang Mong immediately examined the weapon, and his eyes widened.
A fine crack had formed along the blade.
It had failed to withstand Namgung Jun’s strike.
“Hm.”
A breath escaped Kang Mong’s lips.
His feet simply refused to move.
***
The master and disciple arrived at the Blue Sky Society’s library.
Namgung Jun looked up at the plaque hanging above the entrance.
Gwonamu-go .
Observe your own martial path.
It was a rather unusual name for a repository that stored martial manuals.
As he stepped inside, he found rows upon rows of shelves packed with secret manuals.
It looked like a forest made entirely of bookshelves.
Though Gwonamu-go consisted of only a single floor, its size was immense.
Even the library of the South Heavenly Palace would pale in comparison.
He had not expected much, yet the variety and quantity of manuals far exceeded his expectations.
Naturally, Namgung Jun’s gaze deepened.
Seeing him take in the entire library at a glance, Lee Seha gently patted his shoulder.
“Most sects place restrictions on who can read their manuals. They always have reasons—background, cultivation level, reputation, bloodline, and so on.”
Namgung Jun nodded.
The South Heavenly Palace of his previous life had been no different.
“But the Blue Sky Society places no restrictions on reading manuals. We must continue growing stronger without end to oppose the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and uphold righteousness.”
Lee Seha randomly pulled out a manual and showed it to him.
The cover bore the title Wandering Scholar Fist, and beneath it was a small inscription:
Third Cloud.
Namgung Jun immediately understood.
“So instead of restrictions, you've established standards.”
“My disciple is too clever. I barely need to explain anything.”
Smiling brightly, Lee Seha returned the manual to its shelf.
Wandering Scholar Fist was likely suitable for martial artists who had reached the rank of Third Cloud.
So that's why it's called Gwonamu-go.
The name was a reminder not to be greedy when choosing martial arts, but to select techniques suited to oneself.
“Since it's your first time here, your master should choose your martial arts for you, right?”
“Master.”
As Lee Seha enthusiastically scanned the shelves, Namgung Jun shook his head.
“I would like to examine the manuals and choose for myself.”
“Hmmm.”
Looking slightly disappointed, she blinked a few times before nodding.
“Fine. My Jun is clever, after all. But before you start practicing anything, you have to show me the manuals you choose.”
“Of course.”
“Then take your time looking around. I'll go handle some urgent matters and come back later. Bringing you here ended up taking longer than I expected.”
Namgung Jun recalled that Lee Seha had been called the Heavenly Sword Hall Master.
If even a Saun held considerable rank, then a Hall Master naturally carried many responsibilities.
“Please take your time, Master.”
When Namgung Jun bowed politely, Lee Seha smiled brightly and waved.
“I'll come back as quickly as possible!”
A moment later, she vanished from sight.
Namgung Jun brushed his bangs back and looked across the countless shelves.
In my previous life, I focused solely on the heavy sword.
Of course, once one reached mastery in a particular field, other martial disciplines naturally followed like branches from a trunk.
But that still fell far short of personally exploring those fields in depth.
If I wish to surpass the Sword Emperor of my previous life, I must attain enlightenment in the sword itself.
That wasn't all.
There was also the possibility that other martial arts of the South Heavenly Palace, such as Infinite Step, still existed within the Blue Sky Society.
If he carelessly practiced the Sword Emperor's martial arts from his previous life, he could easily create troublesome situations.
Since he had already chosen to walk a martial path different from his previous one, Namgung Jun intended to grow in an entirely new way.
Naturally, once he reached a sufficient realm, he would revisit the martial arts of his past life.
But not yet.
Having made his decision, Namgung Jun pulled a manual from a shelf and began rapidly flipping through it.
His speed increased with every passing moment.
Eventually, it became difficult to tell whether he was actually reading the manuals or merely flipping pages to smell the paper.
A certain man watched him closely.
Is this really okay?
Muk Simjung, the librarian of Gwonamu-go, recalled the request Lee Seha had casually left behind before departing.
“If my disciple gets lost, would you mind giving him some advice?”
It wasn't a difficult request.
After all, guiding visitors was part of a librarian's duties.
This won't do.
He had watched countless martial artists during his years managing the repository.
But this was the first time he had seen someone browse manuals so recklessly.
As Muk Simjung strode toward Namgung Jun, his eyes gradually narrowed.
Form Sword... Mountain-Slaying Twelve Swords... True Origin Sword Art?
Only after approaching did he realize something.
Namgung Jun was not reading manuals at random.
He's only looking at manuals related to fast sword techniques.
The boy clearly had his own standards.
Even so, the speed at which he read remained baffling.
Muk Simjung chose not to interfere.
He had heard that the boy knew only a single cultivation method.
What exactly was going through his mind?
Is this merely youthful recklessness, or is there some greater plan behind it?
Thunk!
Namgung Jun closed a manual and abruptly stood up.
Then he placed a hand on his sword hilt.
Huh?!
Muk Simjung doubted his eyes.
Simply from the way the boy gripped his sword, an inexplicable sense of weight emanated from him.
It felt as though he were looking at one of the Hall Masters.
Dazed, Muk Simjung watched him draw his blade.
Shing!
Moments later, Namgung Jun began executing sword forms through the empty air.
Muk Simjung immediately recognized them.
They were techniques taken from the manuals Namgung Jun had just read.
Forms from dozens of sword arts spilled forth one after another.
Yet despite the apparent chaos, the fast sword techniques flowing from Namgung Jun's blade were woven together into a clean and coherent whole by an indescribable current.
Crackle!
Suddenly, blue lightning gathered along the blade.
Then came a thrust.
SHWAAAAK!
The sword pierced the air with terrifying sharpness.
A long, piercing whistle echoed through the library.
The resulting pressure caused nearby bookshelves to tremble.
That sword strike just now was like...
Muk Simjung discovered that he had unknowingly clenched his fists.
Like a flash of lightning.
No—
Perhaps Sword Thunder was a more fitting description.
Whatever it was, Muk Simjung understood instinctively.
The boy had merely read a few manuals and practiced their forms a handful of times.
Yet he had already absorbed their insights and forged them into a sword style of his own.
A prodigy? No—a genius! A peerless talent!
His body trembling, Muk Simjung became certain.
No one who had ever entered Gwonamu-go could match this boy's talent.
“Haaah!”
Feeling as though he had discovered a priceless treasure, he unconsciously let out an exclamation.
As Namgung Jun sheathed his sword, his gaze shifted toward Muk Simjung.
Those calm eyes, utterly unsuited to someone his age, made Muk Simjung swallow nervously.
Just as he was about to speak—
A gloomy voice sounded from behind him.
“You. What are you?”
Muk Simjung flinched and turned around.
A man was standing behind him.
Only then did he realize that Namgung Jun's gaze had never been directed at him.
It had been fixed on this man all along.
“What were those techniques just now?”
“You should explain who you are first.”
Namgung Jun's eyes sharply examined the middle-aged man standing behind Muk Simjung.
A distinct demonic aura surrounded him.
Which meant only one thing.
The man was a demonic practitioner.
A demonic practitioner had appeared in the very heart of the Blue Sky Society.
The veins on the back of Namgung Jun's sword hand bulged.
His grip tightened around the hilt.