Chapter 106: There is Still Three Thousand Two Hundred Taels' Worth Left (3)
Chapter 105 – There is Still Three Thousand Two Hundred Taels’ Worth Left (3)
Who am I?
Where is this?
Baek Mu-geuk reached a state of self-lessness.
He had heard that when one’s martial arts reached a certain level, they would achieve the unity of saber and body, reaching a state of self-lessness.
When he heard that story, only one thing came to his mind.
‘Among the countless selves, who will disappear and who will remain?’
Since most humans had a single self, a state of self-lessness would be possible for them, but would it be possible for him, who possessed multiple selves?
If only he could forget all those selves, he had wanted to achieve that stage at least once.
Therefore, he had trained in martial arts even more tenaciously.
When Mu-geuk felt his limit, Il-geuk came out to train, and when Il-geuk felt his limit, I-geuk stepped forward.
Laughably, in order to forget his countless selves, he had mobilized all of them while training in martial arts.
Naturally, he had not yet reached the state of the unity of saber and body.
Although he was achieving results faster than others, reaching the state of self-lessness was still a distant prospect.
Yet, to think he would reach a state of self-lessness from getting beaten up.
The pain that felt like it would tear his entire body apart was no longer even felt.
No, he felt it.
However, the physical pain did not lead to mental pain.
His body was in deathly pain and exhausted, but his mind was rather peaceful.
His countless selves seemed to converge into a single pain.
In the end, he forgot all his selves, and only pain remained.
To think that getting beaten up would bring such tranquility.
Right now, he was neither the dim-witted Mu-geuk, the hot-tempered Il-geuk, nor the cold-blooded I-geuk.
Only his suffering body and his mind, focused entirely on his five senses, remained.
No counterattack came to mind.
Every time he was struck by the wooden sword, he staggered here and there.
Suddenly, a question arose.
Who had raised this question?
Mu-geuk? Il-geuk? I-geuk?
It did not matter either way.
Because right now, his self had vanished, leaving only thoughts drifting around.
At any rate, the question that came to mind was, absurdly, ‘Who am I?’
A chuckle escaped him.
To think that, after going round and round, he was ultimately searching for ‘himself’.
However, he did not want to throw away this opportunity of tranquility, which felt like floating in the universe.
This time, focused solely on the sense of pain.
*Thwack!*
The wooden sword slapped his cheek, sending Baek Mu-geuk’s body spinning like a top.
“Waaah! What incredible speed! Cadet Baek Mu-geuk has no room to respond! At this rate, in less than half of a half-quarter-hour, it will be Cadet Namgung Cheon’s overwhelming victory!”
Only the commentator’s voice rang out loudly across the Grand Martial Arena.
“What on earth…!”
The Alliance Leader clenched his fists while gritting his teeth.
It was half a quarter-hour.
If he could hold out for just half a quarter-hour, Namgung Cheon would be unable to use his internal energy, which would have made it an easy victory.
Of course, it would not end there; they could have also completely ruined Namgung Cheon.
But…
‘Why can he not even hold out for half a quarter-hour!’
*Grit.*
As he ground his teeth, the Chief Administrator, who happened to be standing next to him, bowed his waist.
“Alliance Leader.”
“Ahem.”
At the Chief Administrator’s caution, the Alliance Leader barely managed to regain his composure.
However, his insides were boiling.
Things should not have proceeded this way.
What on earth was wrong with Namgung Cheon?
No, at this point, it was ambiguous whether the problem lay with Namgung Cheon or Baek Mu-geuk.
Was not the sword art Namgung Cheon was using clearly the Boundless Sky Sword Art, which he had also used against Yun Gyeong earlier?
The sword art that was the absolute basic of basics of the Namgung Clan.
It did not contain fancy techniques, nor was it rampant with variations or feints.
Baek Mu-geuk was completely unable to handle the sword that was being swung so honestly.
How could this happen… Could it be?
‘An illusion art…?’
However, the Alliance Leader soon shook his head.
There was no way.
Why would the Namgung Clan use an illusion art?
If it were an illusion art, Baek Mu-geuk would be the one using it.
Had he been careless? Had he been caught off guard absurdly while only thinking about the Gongjin Powder being scattered?
But to think so…
‘It is definitely not an ordinary Boundless Sky Sword Art.’
The Alliance Leader narrowed his eyes.
Every single sword stance Namgung Cheon unfolded was perfect.
Of course, it was not a difficult sword art.
However, basic did not mean easy.
Rather, because it was the basic, maintaining its center was the difficult part.
Yet, Namgung Cheon was unfolding the basics exactly as they should be.
There was no addition or subtraction.
Did it not seem as if it were shouting, ‘This is the sword art of the Namgung Clan!’?
The reason so many people remained silent while watching was because they were captivated by Namgung Cheon’s sword stances.
Even the Alliance Leader himself found it difficult to easily take his eyes off Namgung Cheon’s sword art.
He had never paid close attention to the Namgung Clan’s Boundless Sky Sword Art, but at this moment, he felt one thing clearly.
‘That sword art is in perfect harmony with the internal energy cultivation method.’
How could he execute such a clean, waste-free sword art?
Because the opponent was in a state of being unable to resist?
Not at all.
It was because he was executing a clean and waste-free sword art that the opponent had become unable to resist.
The sword art of the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Cheon was currently raising not only his own reputation but also the status of the Namgung Clan in this duel.
The Namgung Clan.
The Alliance Leader’s gaze directed toward Namgung Geom, who was sitting in the spectator seats.
As always, Namgung Geom watched Namgung Cheon’s martial prowess quietly with an unreadable expression.
‘Namgung Geom, did you raise that child like that?’
Namgung Geom stared blankly at Namgung Cheon and spoke quietly.
“Hwa, are you watching?”
“Yes… Father. For the Boundless Sky Sword Art to be so perfect…”
“That child is now making our clan known to the world.”
“Father. I cannot take my eyes off him. Cheon has far surpassed even me now.”
Namgung Geom nodded silently.
What on earth had happened?
Had he undergone death and communed with his mother’s spirit or something?
In every single one of Namgung Cheon’s movements, the movements of Namgung Seon could be felt. It was as if Namgung Seon was holding Namgung Cheon’s wrist while wrapping her arm around his shoulder, performing the Boundless Sky Sword Art together.
Namgung Hwa’s eyes grew moist.
“Father…”
“Yes, it has been a long time.”
A faint warmth could be felt in Namgung Geom’s voice as well.
It had been a long time.
Since he had witnessed such a perfect and noble Boundless Sky Sword Art.
How long had it been since he saw Namgung Seon perform it long ago?
The power of a sovereign could be felt in Namgung Cheon’s sword stances.
Every single strike was a decisive blow.
If it had been a real sword, a life would have ended with every single sword swing Namgung Cheon made.
It had not been a bluff.
For Namgung Cheon, a single-strike match was simply something he could do.
The murmuring voices of the people reached the ears of Namgung Geom and Namgung Hwa.
“A-Amazing. So that is the sword art of the Namgung Clan…!”
“Indeed. I do not know martial arts… but even I can tell that sword art is incredible.”
“But they say that sword art is the most basic of the Namgung Clan, right?”
“What? Is that true? Then Namgung Cheon is driving that Baek Mu-geuk into a corner like that with just the basic sword art?”
“It is only because the Namgung Clan has been walking the path of decline recently. Still, were they not once the number one family under heaven?”
“Right. They say three of the historical Sword Emperors came from the Namgung Clan. You cannot look down on it just because it is basic.”
“If it is the Namgung Clan, that is.”
People were becoming intoxicated by Namgung Cheon’s sword art.
The stigma of being a fallen clan was gradually washed away, leaving only the Namgung Clan as itself.
Precisely by that Namgung Cheon.
‘Cheon…!’
Namgung Hwa called out in her heart as she clenched her fists tightly.
Through this Joint Conference, the Namgung Clan would surely face a new turning point.
It would not be a clan in endless decline, but one that hit rock bottom and soared toward the peak once again.
‘This is all thanks to you.’
In the meantime, Namgung Cheon was finally unfolding his forty-fifth sword strike.
*Thwack!*
Struck in the abdomen by the sword swung by Namgung Cheon, Baek Mu-geuk bent like a bow and flew up into the air.
After going round and round, the sword stance to decorate the finale was the first stance of the Boundless Sky Sword Art, Boundless Sky Single Arrow!
*Boom!*
*Swishhh!*
Namgung Cheon’s body became an arrow.
The straightly extended wooden sword became one with Namgung Cheon’s hand, wrist, and even shoulder.
Namgung Cheon, who flew as if riding the wind, thrust straight into Baek Mu-geuk’s chest.
*Bam!*
*Swoosh, crash!*
Baek Mu-geuk, who flew all the way out of bounds, collided with the wall of the spectator seats and sprawled out spread-eagled.
*Clatter…!*
After the stone debris fell, Baek Mu-geuk collapsed forward.
It was the exact same scene as when Yun Gyeong had been defeated.
This would be engraved in everyone’s minds.
That the young experts who fought the Namgung Clan were defeated without exception.
And by the most basic sword art of the Namgung Clan, at that.
And…
‘It would be even better if that were the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan.’
Namgung Cheon turned back to look at Namgung Geom with a faint smile.
At the same time, the cheers of the people packed the Grand Martial Arena.
Heaven and earth shook.
It was finally the moment the winner of the long, long Joint Conference was born.
Murong Sin, the examiner, was spaced out and did not even think to move.
It did not matter.
Everything that needed to be shown had been shown.
With this, the people of the world would no longer view the Namgung Clan as merely a declining family.
Even amidst the cheering crowd, Namgung Geom, the Head of the Namgung Clan, stared back at Namgung Cheon with his usual cold gaze.
The world was in an uproar over the birth of the Divine Dragon who had performed a miracle, but only Namgung Cheon and Namgung Geom, standing in the middle of it, exchanged a silent conversation with their eyes.
‘Is that what you wanted to say?’
‘Yes. As of today, the Namgung Clan will face a turning point. Is this not enough to qualify as the Young Patriarch?’
‘Why do you want to become the Young Patriarch so badly?’
‘Because I will grow even further.’
‘Not the Namgung Clan?’
‘Yes. I will grow and rise to the peak of the Martial World, which is why I must become the Young Patriarch of the Namgung Clan.’
It was truly an arrogant ambition.
Did it not mean he would lead the Namgung Clan, rather than using it as a background?
Indeed, it was not the Namgung Clan of the past that could be used as a background.
‘It is not such a simple matter. We must hold a formal meeting to make the final decision.’
‘I only wish to confirm the Patriarch’s will.’
‘If it is my will… I do not speak twice.’
‘That is enough.’
Namgung Cheon grinned and turned around.
This time, his gaze directed toward the Alliance Leader in the VIP seats.
The Alliance Leader was smiling faintly, but the corners of his mouth were trembling slightly.
Understandably, since all the preparations he had made so thoroughly had gone to waste, how could he not be?
‘He must feel it is a real waste of the Gongjin Powder he had scattered in advance.’
Gongjin Powder had very fine particles.
When mixed with grains of sand, it was not easy to distinguish.
However, Namgung Cheon already knew.
It was thanks to the information he had received from the Obscurity Society.
‘What a pity, Alliance Leader. Try struggling a bit more. I will do the same. Let us see who laughs in the end.’
Finally, Murong Sin opened his heavy mouth.
“Namgung Cheon… victory!”
Woaaaah!
“Waaaah! It is the birth of the Divine Dragon! Namgung Cheooon, who emerged making a splash since the beginning of the Joint Conference! He has raised the status of his clan! As expected, even a ruined giant… No, correction! Is the orthodox lineage strong indeed! Namgung Cheon! He has become the final winner of this Joint Conference!”
The commentator’s voice echoed loudly, and the cheers of the people grew even higher.
Namgung Cheon clenched his fists.
‘It is only the beginning now.’
And other gazes watching such a Namgung Cheon.
‘Namgung Cheon…! What on earth are you…!’
‘You are truly incredible, Young Hero Namgung.’
‘I too, someday, will definitely…!’
A hot fire was lit in the hearts of the cadets, including Paeng Su-hyeok, Yu Hyeon, and Yun Jong-seung.