Chapter 134: Vacant Thoughts Catch The Dragon (1)
Chapter 133 – Vacant Thoughts Catch The Dragon (1)
Judging by the character ‘Chang'(/Azure) in the name, it was clearly a martial art of the Namgung Clan.
After all, the Namgung Clan was inexplicably obsessed with the color blue.
But Azure Emerald Divine Art? Azure Emerald Sword?
He had never heard of these before.
Did it mean blue and green?
It was a very deep-blue martial art.
‘Shall I take a look?’
As Namgung Cheon blew a puff of air, the layers of dust piled on the cover billowed up.
“Geez, I can’t even brush it with my hand, fearing the paper might tear.”
Opening the book cover carefully, he saw that it was packed with tiny characters. Because it was such an old book, some of the characters were smudged, and some were erased here and there.
Reading it by somehow inferring the contents, there were some characters he could not recognize at all. No, even the parts where the characters were clearly visible were not easily understood.
This was a fresh experience.
Namgung Cheon, who could clearly see the flow of internal energy as if dissecting a human body, was able to self-study and master most martial arts manuals.
Yet to find writing that he could not understand even after reading it.
Either the meaning contained was too profound, or the explanation was unfriendly.
However, this seemed closer to being unfriendly. Or was it both?
In any case, one thing was certain.
The person who wrote this manual refused to let anyone master this martial art easily.
It was as if they were saying: read it, and if you can understand it, try to learn it.
If so, then…
Shouldn’t he try to learn it, even if just out of stubbornness?
“Ho, this is quite plausible.”
Namgung Cheon flipped the pages quickly.
Just how long had he read with such concentration?
Because the writing on each page was so dense, progress was slow.
Furthermore, he did not know how many times he had reread it because of the words he could not understand.
‘No matter how difficult it is, surely I can fully under… under my foot! I can’t understand a single word!’
Namgung Cheon closed the book and tore at his hair.
“Argh! So frustrating! What on earth does this mean! The only ones who will read this are the family’s descendants anyway, so why did they twist it so hard and make a mess!”
When he let out a furious scream, dust scattered in all directions.
Namgung Cheon, scratching his head vigorously, took a deep breath and spread the manual open again.
“Let’s see… Since the azure sky and the emerald sea meet, the flow of qi must encompass heaven and earth, and when that greenness breaks the boundary at the center and governs with the sharp qi of circulation… the azure emerald… the ridges of rivers and mountains… with the harmony of essence, qi, and spirit… damn it, damn it.”
As expected, he still did not know.
The biggest problem was the parts where the characters were not properly visible.
It was already difficult language, but with the writing erased or smudged here and there, he could understand it even less.
‘To master this… it will require quite a bit of time.’
It was not a matter to be resolved in a day or two.
A month? Two months? Or maybe much longer.
‘It’s really irritating… but for some reason, my heart is racing.’
Although he was annoyed, he felt strangely excited at the thought that he had encountered a martial art he could not understand.
Because this was the first time such a case had occurred.
As all the martial arts in the world were merely trivial to Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon was someone who might have martial arts he hadn’t learned, but never one he couldn’t learn.
Yet a martial art he couldn’t learn even after seeing it had appeared before his eyes.
Of course, he couldn’t say he had seen it properly.
Even if he didn’t know everything, judging by the parts he could vaguely understand, it was no ordinary manual.
To manage such a valuable thing in this manner.
A sigh leaked out once more, but suddenly, a low-pitched voice was heard from beside him.
“What are you worrying about so much?”
“Oh, shit! You startled me!”
Pat!
Namgung Cheon, who retreated reflexively, struck out a palm despite himself.
Peok!
Clatter!
As the palm force was blocked and a wave of qi exploded, the books on the surrounding bookshelves fell in a heap.
Belatedly, Namgung Cheon recognized the person who had blocked his palm force.
“Old… Old man?”
“What did you say?”
As Namgung Geom, who had entered unnoticed, narrowed his eyes, Namgung Cheon flinched and quickly adjusted his posture.
“F-Family Head, have you come?”
“Rather than that, what I heard just a moment ago…”
“You heard wrong.”
As Namgung Cheon spoke cut and dry, Namgung Geom knit his brow.
After staring at Namgung Cheon for a moment, he stroked his palm and muttered as if talking to himself.
“Your strike is quite stinging.”
“I am sorry. I was just too startled.”
“You were startled like someone who has spent his life in hiding.”
Well… that is true, though.
Namgung Cheon swallowed the words that rose inside and replied calmly.
“Because there was no sign of presence…”
“I entered while deliberately clearing my throat, though.”
“Ah… I must not have felt it because I was concentrating.”
“A martial artist must always maintain tension, even in the safest place.”
Indeed. I know that better than anyone.
But since I lived like that my whole life, can’t I live with some tension released now?
Of course, he did not voice his thoughts.
“I will keep that in mind. But what brings you to the library…”
Namgung Geom had an expression that asked if he really didn’t know.
“Are you going to settle down and live here?”
“Ah… I was here for quite a while, wasn’t I? I will leave soon. I am starting to feel hungry.”
“Do you know how long you stayed?”
“How long… did I stay?”
“Seven days and nights have passed.”
“What?”
Namgung Cheon was startled, his eyes widening.
He thought he was a bit hungry, but to think seven days had passed?
Of course, during his days as a fugitive, he had endured for ten days without drinking a single drop of water.
He was able to endure like that because circulating his internal energy to prevent the evaporation of moisture had become a habit.
Also, controlling even his physiological needs was thoroughly ingrained in his body as a habit.
Consequently, even now, staying awake for several days or not eating was not very difficult.
Even so, to think he had been cooped up in the library for seven days and nights without knowing it.
Namgung Cheon looked at the manual in his hand with a bewildered face.
To make him forget even time.
“Th-This is indeed a true demonic manual…”
“What?”
“Yes? Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
If he babbled that the family’s secret manual was a demonic manual, he would get slapped on the cheek.
As Namgung Cheon quickly shut his mouth, Namgung Geom scanned the surroundings once and asked.
“So, did you gain anything after spending seven days and nights?”
“Yes, I would like to borrow this manual.”
“That is…?”
Namgung Geom inspected the old book for a moment and frowned.
“Why that of all the many books?”
“I have already looked through all the others.”
“And did you finish understanding them?”
“Not all of them, but I grasped the general context. However, I haven’t done so for this one yet.”
“It is an old book. It is passed down as a secret manual left by an old master of the family, but it was neglected for a long time because the interpretation was difficult and it was impractical. Now, the characters are quite erased, leaving only messy, pipe-dream stories.”
“If you chase a pipe dream, wouldn’t you also be able to catch an ascending dragon?”
“It is a vain thought.”
“To rise to the peak, ordinary thoughts are insufficient, you know.”
“…”
Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes again.
As expected, he did not lose a single word.
However, such a change was not bad. Because the reason Namgung Cheon could be in this position today started from this very change.
‘However…’
Of all these many books, why…
Is he still young, after all?
‘Should I say he has no eye, or should I say he is reckless.’
Namgung Geom cleared his thoughts and nodded.
“Do you not need other books?”
“Yes, this is enough.”
“Understood.”
“Thank you. By the way, I should enter closed-door cultivation for a while.”
“Closed-door cultivation?”
“Yes, I plan to proceed with it until I return to Wuhan, so I need to buy some fasting pills.”
“Do as you wish. After all, is it not the funds you prepared?”
“Thank you.”
Namgung Geom turned around.
“Let’s go. Let’s eat.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Namgung Cheon smiled broadly and followed behind.
* * *
“Now, you all understand, right?”
As Bok-seong raised his voice, the servants and maids answered in unison.
“Yes, we understand!”
“Ahem!”
Nodding as if satisfied with the loud voices, Bok-seong paced back and forth in front of them.
“Keep it in mind. You must always have pride. Our family is a family of sovereigns. It means the world’s number one family. Furthermore, the Young Patriarch you serve is a truly amazing person. You have heard of the Joint Conference, right? He is the one who won that great tournament. So you must consider it an honor. Understood?”
“Yes, we understand!”
“Good.”
Bok-seong nodded again with a satisfied expression.
The servants and maids lined up in front of Bok-seong were those who would serve the Young Patriarch in the future.
‘My lovely juniors.’
How long had it been since he got juniors?
Just a few months ago, this would have been unimaginable.
Where would the money come from to hire more servants?
They were in a situation where they had to let even the working servants go.
However, everything changed once Namgung Cheon became the Young Patriarch.
‘Yes, everything changed!’
Bok-seong looked around with a proud expression.
About a dozen Zhang away, construction of a new pavilion was in full swing. The scale was also considerably large.
It was originally where a wall should have been, but it was torn down and expanded long ago.
Behind it, and beside it, pavilion construction was also underway.
With the recovery of the business rights of Yixian, the hired martial artists also increased significantly.
Strictly speaking, most of the martial artists who used to work for the Namgung Clan had returned.
‘Yes, you should be proud. Consider it an honor! Because the Young Patriarch you serve is truly… a truly amazing person!’
Bok-seong felt a swell of pride as he looked at the unrecognizable surroundings.
“Now, in just a moment, the Young Patriarch will finish his closed-door cultivation and come out. Everyone, send thunderous applause!”
“Yes!”
“Ah. It has been three whole months. Since I last saw the Young Patriarch.”
“Um, senior. I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“What… does the Young Patriarch look like?”
“Naturally, he is a flower boy! He is very handsome.”
At Bok-seong’s words, several maids blushed and whispered.
Bok-seong smiled broadly and turned toward the pavilion.
Today was the date Namgung Cheon promised.
Since he said he would come out at noon, he would appear soon.
‘Young Master… no, Young Patriarch! Please come out quickly! I missed you like crazy!’
Did he hear the voice of his heart?
Finally, the main door of the pavilion swung open.
Pshhh…!
As if steam was rising from a cauldron, white mist poured out from inside the open door.
A damp and hot energy blasted out, making the chilly weather of early spring fade in comparison.
Step… Step…
A shadow appeared inside the white steam that spread like fog, and gradually became clear.
Bok-seong smiled brightly and approached.
“Ah, you are finally finished! I missed you so mu… Who are you?”
Not to mention Bok-seong, the servants and maids lined up behind him gaped.
The servant who had questioned Bok-seong earlier muttered blankly.
“Where did the Young Patriarch go, and why is a beggar… Gasp!”
The servant standing next to him quickly covered the mouth of the one speaking carelessly.
Namgung Cheon, who appeared after three months, looked exactly like a beggar.
It was bound to be the case, since he had focused only on cultivation for three months without washing or shaving.
His entire body was bound to be filthy.
Moreover, because he was in his final growth spurt, his height had shot up and his frame had grown sturdier in the meantime.
Namgung Cheon smirked.
“It is me, Bok-seong.”
Only after confirming the voice did Bok-seong smile brightly.
“Young Patriarch!”
“Yeah, how have you been? It seems something changed.”
As Namgung Cheon spoke while looking around, Bok-seong chattered excitedly.
“Of course! It changed a lot! It was all changed by the Young Patriarch! By the way, please take a bath first! What are you doing? Quickly guide the Young Patriarch to the bathhouse!”
“Yes? Ah, yes!”
As two servants quickly led the way, Namgung Cheon smirked and tapped Bok-seong’s shoulder.
“Oh, you even got juniors?”
“Hehe. It is all thanks to the Young Patriarch. Did you have some achievements from your cultivation?”
As Bok-seong asked with a beam, Namgung Cheon’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Of course. I had quite a few achievements.”
An inexplicable confidence was embedded in the expression of Namgung Cheon as he curled up his lips.