Chapter 57

Contest (5)

Swoooosh!

With a single stroke of Namgung Jun's sword, the air parted gently to either side, like a spring breeze drifting through sunlight.

Baekri Cheong gazed at his own sword qi, which had failed to soar and instead sank away, and acknowledged his defeat.

The moment the title of Changcheon's Greatest Rising Talent was decided.

"Winner: Namgung Jun!"

The instant Vice Hall Master Zhuge Muran of the Divine Strategy Hall made the announcement, thunderous cheers erupted from the spectator stands.

The members of the Heavenly Sword Hall in particular rushed onto the arena and competed to embrace Namgung Jun.

"The youngest did it!"
"The Heavenly Sword Hall produced Changcheon's greatest young talent, you bastards!"
"Amazing. Truly amazing."

The sight of the Heavenly Sword Hall gathered in a circle around Namgung Jun resembled a flower in full bloom.

Baekri Cheong lacked nothing. If anything, he had more than enough.

Zhuge Muran looked toward Baekri Cheong as he lowered his sword.

Though he had only recently reached the Second Cloud, in terms of pure martial prowess, he would not have been lacking even among those of the Third Cloud.

Day by day, ever improving.

The phrase could have been coined for Baekri Cheong.

The Baekri Cheong of the placement examination and the Baekri Cheong of today were completely different people.

He had not merely corrected his weaknesses; he had elevated his strengths to a higher level and reached his current realm.

His talent was undoubtedly among the finest not only within the Changcheon Society but also among the younger generation of the Orthodox Sect.

Yet his opponent was an even greater monster.

Namgung Jun.

The boy born with the Nine-Yin Severed Meridians.

Perhaps because he had been born with severed meridians, an overwhelmingly extraordinary talent had accompanied him. After becoming the disciple of the Heavenly Sword Hall Master, his rate of growth had accelerated even further.

If Baekri Cheong's growth surpassed the limits of ordinary genius, Namgung Jun's rise had gone beyond the very category of talent itself.

Zhuge Muran could not take his eyes off him. The iron fan in his hand trembled faintly.

That sword strike just now... Did a youth not even twenty years old truly perform that?

He could not tell whether it had been intentional or accidental.

It had not looked like a simple strike meant merely to decide victory.

The profound principle contained within that clean and flawless sword attack was unquestionably extraordinary.

Even to him, a supreme expert who had achieved the realm of Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown, the strike had felt sharp and imposing.

I can say this with confidence.

Today's defeat was nothing for Baekri Cheong to be ashamed of.

Nor would Namgung Jun's victories end here.

Namgung Jun possessed the potential to surpass the title of Changcheon's greatest young talent and become the greatest young talent of the entire Orthodox Path.

At that moment, Zhuge Muran suddenly realized something.

The number of clouds embroidered on the sleeves of the two youths before him was insufficient.

And he was not the only one thinking so.

"...You certainly didn't neglect your external-body training. My instruction wasn't wasted."

"You taught him? He actually endured the Iron Tower Hall's body-training regimen?"

"Of course. That boy possesses not only talent but perseverance as well."

"No wonder. Even when he imitates our hall's Five Divine Forms of the Empty Wave recklessly, his body never seems to break down."

Listening to the conversation between the Iron Tower Hall Master and the Flying God Hall Master, the Sect Hall Master quietly observed Namgung Jun.

To him, Namgung Jun's performance carried a special significance.

He said he would make sure I never regretted the choice I made back then...

Namgung Jun was keeping that promise exactly as he had made it.

Was he not proving it through his actions for all to see?

The confident look in his eyes from that day remained vivid in memory.

"My disciple. Isn't it a waste to leave someone like him in the Main Hall?"

"Heavenly Sword Hall Master."

Hearing the clear voice beside him, Sect Hall Master Kang Gok turned his head.

At some point, Lee Se-ha had approached and was speaking with a proud expression.

Kang Gok nodded calmly.

"We still need to observe him longer. But for now, your assessment is correct."

As he rose from his seat, he added,

"As his master, you must take proper care of him. The more Namgung Jun distinguishes himself, the heavier your responsibility will become."

"I know that very well. He's not a disciple I can afford to be careless with."

Watching Namgung Jun gradually earn the recognition of the various hall masters, Lee Se-ha smiled brightly.

"As expected of my disciple."

***

A banquet was held at the Heavenly Sword Hall for the first time in a long while.

It was a celebration of Namgung Jun becoming Changcheon's Greatest Rising Talent.

"Heh heh. As expected, Young Hero Namgung never disappoints."

Heo Il burst into laughter.

That was because he had wagered on Namgung Jun's victory in more than a dozen bets.

Namgung Jun's reputation within the Changcheon Society had already risen considerably, so the odds were not particularly high, but they were more than enough to multiply his stake several times over.

Heo Il used every coin he had earned from those wagers to buy food and alcohol for the inn.

Since the money had been won thanks to Namgung Jun, he was satisfied with using it to make the banquet even grander.

"Young Hero Namgung, I wasn't sure what dishes you liked, so I simply prepared everything. Eat as much as you wish."

Heo Il continuously pushed plates of food toward Namgung Jun.

Before Namgung Jun could even inspect what dishes were present, another plate would appear in front of him.

"You've had one match after another all this time. You must be exhausted. Today, just relax and enjoy yourself."

As Heo Il shrugged and smiled, Namgung Jun nodded in agreement.

"Eating properly is also an important part of a martial artist's training."

"Young Hero Namgung truly speaks wisely. Though it's a shame I couldn't prepare better liquor this time."

At that moment, Man Yewon, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation, suddenly cut in.

"Namgung Jun! Don't be disappointed! I brought some liquor that I secretly took from my grandfather!"

In Man Yewon's hand was an elegant jade bottle that looked expensive at first glance.

"You're saying you secretly took the Elder Council Chief's treasured liquor?"

"It seems the Elder Council Chief may be paying us another visit soon."

As Heo Il and Gong Junam shook their heads at Man Yewon, other swordsmen also came over to congratulate Namgung Jun.

"To think the Heavenly Sword Hall would produce Changcheon's Greatest Rising Talent. Does that mean we can aim for the Three Powers ranking in the next evaluation?"

"Of course. We have to reclaim it—the name of the Three Powers."

"The Three Powers... That's a nostalgic title."

The atmosphere of the banquet, which had been lively moments ago, gradually calmed. The veterans quietly raised their cups, their expressions suggesting they had become lost in old memories.

Sensing the change in mood, Namgung Jun asked,

"Was the Heavenly Sword Hall originally one of the Three Powers?"

"It was. During its golden age, it stood shoulder to shoulder with the Extreme Martial Hall."

"Then what happened?"

At Namgung Jun's question, Heo Il and the others fell silent. It did not seem to be a subject they discussed lightly.

At that moment, Lee Se-ha, who had been carrying two jars of liquor, spoke up.

"The Heavenly Sword Hall nearly got wiped out once."

"Wiped out?"

"It clashed with one of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult's War Brigades. More than half the hall members died, including the previous Hall Master."

Back then, the Changcheon Society had even discussed dissolving the Heavenly Sword Hall. The Ten Halls had nearly become the Nine Halls.

"So the Heavenly Sword Hall almost disappeared."

"And I opposed it. I argued with the Society Leader, the Sword Lord, and the Silent Lord again and again until the dissolution was stopped."

Afterward, Lee Se-ha personally took responsibility for the Heavenly Sword Hall by becoming its Hall Master.

To restore a martial organization that had been on the verge of dissolution to this extent... That's remarkable.

Having led a sect in his previous life, Namgung Jun understood very well how difficult such an accomplishment was.

Under Lee Se-ha's leadership, the Heavenly Sword Hall rebuilt its strength and became far more tightly united than the other halls.

They had endured hardship together and protected the hall's name.

"The War Brigades. Are they powerful?"

"They're among the most vicious groups in the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult. Not only are the individual members strong, but their numbers are considerable as well."

"Which War Brigade pushed the Heavenly Sword Hall to the brink of annihilation?"

"The Second War Brigade."

Lee Se-ha answered casually, but for an instant a fierce light flashed through his eyes before disappearing.

"The Second War Brigade..."

Namgung Jun repeated the name, committing it to memory.

A military organization of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult that had not existed in his previous life.

Not only the War Brigades, but who knew how many hidden forces the cult possessed?

In the end, regardless of what situations lay ahead, the best answer was to build an unshakable martial strength capable of responding to anything.

"We'll have to repay that debt someday."

"Of course we will."

The atmosphere had become solemn, but Lee Se-ha quickly lifted everyone's spirits again.

"Come on! Tonight, eat and drink as much as you want!"

"Agreed, Hall Master!"

"It's been a long time since we've seen the Hall Master drink!"

Everyone's cups were filled, and the members of the Heavenly Sword Hall once again became one, laughing and celebrating together.

***

By the time the full moon hanging in the night sky had begun to tilt toward the horizon, master and disciple were walking side by side along a quiet road.

"Jun has really helped this master's reputation."

"I still have a long way to go."

Namgung Jun answered confidently.

Lee Se-ha merely smiled proudly, as if he agreed.

The place where they finally stopped was a secluded training ground.

The night had grown deep, and there was no one else around.

"You've never properly experienced the sword arts of the major Orthodox sects, have you? The closest you've come is fighting against the White Virtue Sword Art."

"That's correct."

In his previous life, he had encountered the sword arts of several Orthodox sects, but since he had no such connections in this life, it was best to feign ignorance.

Lee Se-ha lightly swung his sword.

"I can't reproduce them perfectly, but I can at least give you a taste of their flavor."

"I'm curious."

"There will undoubtedly be clashes of force during the assembly. It would be nice if you could distinguish yourself there as well."

Before they knew it, master and disciple were standing side by side with swords in hand.

Lee Se-ha began demonstrating a mixture of sword arts from the Three Sects, One Alliance, and the Five Great Sword Sects.

Naturally, they were not exact copies.

He merely borrowed representative forms and techniques without using internal energy.

Even so, it was more than enough to capture the characteristics of each sect.

Namgung Jun lightly received Lee Se-ha's sword strikes, trying to absorb as much as possible.

At the same time, the Great Expansion Sword Art and the other sword arts he had mastered flowed forth naturally.

The sword paths drawn by Namgung Jun were in no way inferior to Lee Se-ha's.

"Jun's swordsmanship is already on par with that of the major sects."

"They are merely goals that I must someday surpass."

"That's the right mindset."

Clang!

A clear metallic ring echoed out as the two swords lightly collided.

Master and disciple moved once more, their blades intertwining again.

They exchanged sword techniques continuously at a moderate pace, yet the level of skill was extraordinarily high.

Had internal energy been added, the spar would have become far more intense.

However, the two swordsmen controlled their strength with exquisite precision, maintaining a delicate balance.

Whenever he became thirsty, Lee Se-ha drank liquor instead of water while continuing to wield his sword, while Namgung Jun endlessly refined his forms.

***

Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong passed through the main gates of the Changcheon Society's headquarters.

They were heading toward Mount Song, where the assembly would be held.

The group was surprisingly small.

Only Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong were going.

The Society Leader had originally intended to accompany them, but he had left headquarters earlier due to other matters.

As a result, the two young talents would travel to Mount Song on their own.

Rather than being troubled by this, both welcomed the arrangement.

They already held favorable impressions of one another, making it a perfect opportunity to deepen their bond and grow closer.

"Little Brother, are you ready?"

"Yes. Let's depart."

As the two young talents left the headquarters side by side, the members of the Changcheon Society offered words of encouragement.

"Show them the strength of the Changcheon Society at the Mount Song Assembly!"

"You two will do well."

The two swordsmen set off toward the northwest, in the direction of Henan Province.