Episode 15: The Heavy Sword's Heart Method
The manor had changed, starting from the main gate.
The two gatekeepers guarding the main gate recognized me and greeted me.
"Second Young Master, you have come!"
The two men paying their respects had no swords at their waists.
Instead, swords were strapped to their backs.
Broad swords, like mine.
Which meant the sword technique had been changed.
"It seems you have learned the Boundless Sky Sword Technique."
"Yes. The Sword Hall Master spoke to the Family Head and had all the sword techniques in the manor changed."
"It is the same technique you used when fighting Okmyeon Junye. Though we cannot overwhelm as you do yet, Second Young Master."
It seemed the Sword Hall Master was handling matters better than expected.
I went inside.
The manor was bustling with energy. After my elder brother had ascended to the position of Family Head, everyone was moving with a refreshed mindset.
As I entered the manor, many people turned to look at me.
"It's the Second Young Master."
"The Second Young Master has returned safely."
"Then could it be that he has executed the Dokgwi Eumjeok?"
Walking down the central path under everyone's gaze, my elder brother soon appeared. He was now the Family Head bearing the grave responsibility of leading all affairs of the manor.
"You disappeared without a word, but you've returned safely, Rim."
"I didn't say goodbye because I knew I'd return safely. Here."
I held out what I was carrying. Then the attendant by my brother's side came and took it.
Unwrapping the torn cloth, a head drenched in blood was revealed.
"Don't tell me?"
"That's right. It's the Dokgwi Eumjeok's head."
Exclamations of surprise erupted from the surroundings.
"The Dokgwi Eumjeok?"
"The Second Young Master executed that villain?"
"First Okmyeon Junye, and now the Dokgwi Eumjeok."
My brother looked at me with a surprised expression, then soon smiled faintly.
"The emergence of the Dokgwi Eumjeok threw Anhui Province into great chaos. Yet you executed him. You have accomplished a great feat."
My brother alternated his gaze between the head and me, then continued.
"We must inform the authorities of this. And the Nine Sects as well."
Though the Dokgwi Eumjeok was a martial artist, ordinary commoners had also suffered greatly. The authorities would welcome this news.
And the Nine Sects.
Currently, there was no central unifying force in the martial world like the Martial Alliance from 150 years ago. The Nine Sects themselves had taken its place.
'Perhaps through this matter, they will realize, even if only slightly,'
that the Namgung Clan is not yet finished.
After parting with my brother, I headed to the Eastern Training Ground. As always, it was where the Sword Hall Master trained.
As I approached the Eastern Training Ground, sounds could be heard. Unlike before, when sharp sounds of slicing air rang out, now they were incredibly powerful sounds.
Papapang—!
Soon the Eastern Training Ground came into view.
There, sword winds were raging.
The warriors of the Sword Hall were executing the Boundless Sky Sword Technique in perfect unison.
Power filled their swinging swords, and grandeur brimmed in their moving formations. It was a considerable level. It seemed Namgung Hancheon had taught them properly.
'As expected, it was good to leave it to Namgung Hancheon. To think it changed this much in such a short time. Wait, why is Dancheol over there?'
It was unexpected. Dancheol was walking among the Sword Hall warriors, observing their sword techniques.
Then Sword Hall Master Namgung Hancheon spotted me. The expression with which he had been watching everyone's training, stern until that moment, brightened instantly. It was the face of a man who had recovered a treasure he cherished above all else.
"Oh, Second Young Master, you've returned."
Namgung Hancheon approached me and continued.
"The fact that you've returned like this means you executed the Dokgwi Eumjeok, I presume."
"Yes. That is correct."
Surprise surfaced on Namgung Hancheon's face, but it lasted only a brief moment. Soon he patted my shoulder with a pleased smile.
"You've truly accomplished a great deed. You must have elevated our manor's name. Tonight, let us tilt a cup of wine and tell me the tale of how you caught that scoundrel."
"But why is Dancheol over there?"
"Ah, you mean Dancheol. Hey, Namwi Daeju!"
Namwi Daeju. It was the position in charge of the Namwi Squad within the Sword Hall.
At Namgung Hancheon's call, Dancheol spotted me and ran over with a delighted face.
"Second Young Master!"
"Dancheol has decided to lead our Namwi Squad. I've had my eye on him for some time, but once he began learning the Boundless Sky Sword Technique, his skills grew rapidly."
I too was aware of Dancheol's outstanding aptitude. That was why I had judged that he could grow stronger.
However, only blood relatives of the Namgung Clan could assume the position of Daeju.
Namgung Hancheon immediately resolved that curiosity.
"I spoke to the Family Head. Soon, Dancheol will be adopted into the clan."
Adopting talented people into the family was a common practice. Dancheol had received such a selection.
It was a good thing. A talented person must be in a position to unfold his talents.
With a light smile, I said teasingly to Namgung Hancheon.
"Then I suppose I have no bodyguard now."
Namgung Hancheon also smiled, playing along with my joke.
"In our manor, I am the only one left who can serve as your guard now. Well, if you truly wish, I could follow you around."
That was not something I particularly wanted either.
* * *
I exchanged greetings with people I hadn't seen in a long while and witnessed the changed appearance of the manor.
The manor had changed, and winds of change were blowing bit by bit.
'My brother and the Sword Hall Master are doing well. Now I...'
need only do what I can do—what I do best.
I headed to the underground training chamber.
A place where countless sword marks remained on the walls on all four sides.
The fact that there were innumerable sword marks did not, of course, mean I had comprehended the ultimate truth of the sword.
'There is no time to rest.'
I reached my right hand behind my back and drew Changse. Then, recalling the battle with the Dokgwi Eumjeok, I swung the sword.
'I sought him out for enlightenment.'
The Dokgwi Eumjeok was certainly strong. But together with the enlightenment that flashed at the crossroads of life and death, I ultimately succeeded in executing him.
'And the sword stance born in that process.'
Following the sensation from that time, I exploded my true qi and struck down with the sword. Three streaks of sword energy descended like lightning bolts.
BWOONG—!
It was the sword stance I had named Nameless (無名) when Nak Ilgun asked.
Soon, silence enveloped the space where a great vibration had rung out.
And there, I realized the path I had to take.
'The creation of a sword technique.'
I had to create new sword stances and combine them to forge a sword technique unprecedented in history.
I didn't know when, but it was a realm I had to reach without fail. If only to replace the supreme sword technique that had fallen into disuse in the clan.
'Nak Ilgun of the Hebei Nak Clan had said the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering would open soon.'
Needless to say, the Nine Sects and the Five Great Clans would gather, and it was clear that the young prodigies of the martial world would flock there as well.
It was the perfect opportunity to announce the revival of the Namgung Clan.
To do that, I needed an achievement that could overwhelm everyone there.
Seeing that a detailed schedule had not yet been set, there was still time left.
'Swinging the sword alone won't suffice. I must fight with my life on the line against more, stronger opponents.'
I took out the letter that Jin Arin of the Shandong Jin Family had given me from inside my robe.
It was the letter Jeokyeom Jugoe had sent to the Dokgwi Eumjeok.
"I shall give you the item I spoke of before. Let us grow stronger together and travel unhindered across the world."
Setting aside the pleasantries, this was the gist.
'The item could be something tangible, or perhaps a treasure map pointing to some relic's location. Looking at the part about growing stronger together, it could be a martial arts secret manual or an elixir.'
Whatever it was, it was a secondary matter.
The crux was that I could meet him. The letter contained the location of a pavilion in Jiangsu Province, the rendezvous point.
'I must hurry.'
I went to meet Namgung Hancheon and Dancheol. And immediately got to the point.
"I intend to leave the manor for a time."
Namgung Hancheon's eyebrows rose.
"Again?"
I spoke of Jeokyeom Jugoe and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. I also spoke of the need for an achievement that would overwhelm everyone there.
"The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is not far off, so I will not be away for long."
A laugh escaped from Namgung Hancheon's lips as he looked at me for a moment.
"Kekeke. An incredible figure has truly emerged in our manor. To choose a dangerous path of your own accord for the sake of martial achievement."
"It is a path anyone has walked."
"Second Young Master, though you are currently at first-rate level, you have consecutively defeated peak experts. I look forward to seeing what you will be like when you grow and reach the peak. Very well. When do you plan to leave?"
"Tomorrow."
Though I had returned today, I had no intention of resting here.
It was enough that I had witnessed the manor's changes with my own eyes. The affairs of the clan could be sufficiently left to my brother and the Sword Hall Master.
* * *
Departures were always chosen at early dawn.
The Second Young Master of the manor, departing on a martial journey.
It was reason more than enough for the clan to hold a boisterous farewell.
But since it was merely a path to find what I must do, I only wished to leave quietly.
But unlike last time.
Dancheol was waiting at the main gate.
Dancheol smiled faintly at me.
"As expected, you are leaving early."
"What brings you to wait here?"
Dancheol held something out with both hands. It was a small wooden box.
"What is it?"
"It is a top-grade Golden Wound Pill. The Family Head said that since the Second Young Master might depart abruptly again, I was to give you this medicine when that time came."
As expected of my brother. He knew everything about me.
I took the box and placed it inside my robe.
"Tell my brother I am grateful."
With a light smile, I bid farewell.
Immediately after meeting Dancheol, I rode my horse and left the manor.
'The place where Jeokyeom Jugoe was to meet the Dokgwi Eumjeok was a pavilion in Danyang City, Jiangsu Province.'
Jiangsu Province lay across the border from Anhui Province. It was not far from the Namgung Clan.
After riding for seven days, I soon arrived in Danyang City.
'The pavilion's name was said to be Daheung Pavilion.'
I asked around and made my way to Daheung Pavilion. I didn't think Jeokyeom Jugoe would still be waiting there now.
But since it was the rendezvous point, I was certain that if I waited here, Jeokyeom Jugoe would appear.
The moment the sight of Daheung Pavilion, which people had pointed out, came into view—
Crash!
—a window shattered and a person burst out from inside.
He had long white hair like an old man, but his face was that of a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties.
He had no left arm, his right leg limped, and there was not a place on his body left unscathed.
"Cough, cough! How dare you brats attack me. Hurry up and call Jeokyeom Jugoe!"
Two martial artists wielding swords emerged from inside the pavilion.
"Keke. Where did this scoundrel come from, waving a blade about?"
They were right. In the middle-aged man's hand was a dao (刀), rarely seen in the martial world these days.
The middle-aged man held the dao at mid-level and smirked at them.
"I was careless just now, but if I go all out, you lot will be split apart. Cough, kheugh."
His coughing was severe. Moreover, his voice was not good. Though he didn't look intact on the outside, it seemed his insides were ruined as well. In that state, he couldn't properly circulate inner strength.
"This Paeng Mo has no interest in anyone but Jeokyeom Jugoe."
"A cripple who can't even handle us!"
The two martial artists rushed at the middle-aged man simultaneously.
The moment I heard the middle-aged man say he was Paeng Mo, I felt a certain intuition. Besides, anyone could see that middle-aged man couldn't handle them.
'I could also sense evil qi (邪氣) from those two.'
Immediately, I grabbed my scabbard with my right hand and launched myself.
One of them turned to look at me.
The moment that bastard aimed his sword at me, I immediately drew my blade.
Shhk—!
The diagonal strike loaded with power sheared through the opponent's arm along with his head.
And the other startled man's head flew off as well—by the middle-aged man he had been facing, not me.
The middle-aged man looked at me, who had suddenly appeared, and asked.
"Cough. Who are you?"
"I am called Namgung Rim, from the Namgung Clan."
A peculiar emotion flashed across the middle-aged man's face. Perhaps it was the feeling of shared misery.
"But why did you interfere all of a sudden? Did you think I would fall to those guys?"
"No. I came looking for Jeokyeom Jugoe, and I intervened simply because his nickname came up."
"Looking for Jeokyeom Jugoe? Why?"
"I received a letter he sent to the Dokgwi Eumjeok."
I deliberately left room in my words. Depending on how one heard it, it could seem as though I knew everything.
Then the middle-aged man immediately took the bait.
"What? Then you too have come seeking the Solar Jade Essence?"
The item written of in Jeokyeom Jugoe's letter seemed to be an elixir after all.