Chapter 135: Vacant Thoughts Catch The Dragon (2)
Chapter 134 – Vacant Thoughts Catch The Dragon (2)
Wuuuung.
Around Namgung Cheon, who sat cross-legged on a boulder, a warm breeze spread outward.
Each strand of his hair floated into the air, fluttering gently, like haze in early spring.
After bathing and changing into clean clothes, Namgung Cheon looked like a completely different person.
As if he had undergone bone marrow cleansing, much of his childish appearance had vanished, and he now possessed the physique of a proper young man, his build becoming even sturdier.
At some point, Namgung Cheon snapped his eyes open.
At that moment, the warm breeze spreading in all directions also stopped, and Namgung Cheon’s hair settled down.
The next moment,
Pa-pa-pat!
Namgung Cheon soared up from the boulder.
Whoosh! Swish!
The Emerald Silk Sword sliced through space and pierced the world.
At times, a heavy energy fell as if it would cleave Mount Huang, and at other times, it flowed gently like the wind of Mount Huang.
The sword path was surprisingly diverse; one moment it evoked a winding valley stream, and the next, it brought to mind a sheer precipice or seemed to spread a rugged rock face before one’s eyes.
In other words, heavy sword and fast sword were in harmony, giving the feeling of painting Mount Huang with a sword.
Feints became drifting mist, variable moves became winding valleys, and true moves became sheer precipices.
As all these things came into harmony, the sword tip rose like a mountain peak, and beyond it, the azure sky and deep blue sea unfolded.
Namgung Cheon became a green mountain, then the blue sky, then the blue sea.
At this moment, the sword was Namgung Cheon, and Namgung Cheon was the world.
As Heaven, Earth, and Man harmonized, every single movement was as natural and free as the wind.
Had anyone seen Namgung Cheon’s sword dance unfolding in the back garden right now, they would have found it difficult to close their gaping mouth.
A martial art that truly seemed to contain all the principles of nature.
It did not lean toward fast sword, nor did it place weight on heavy sword.
It simply changed from moment to moment.
A gentle breeze could suddenly whirl and become a gale, or a harsh storm passing over a ridge could quiet down into a zephyr.
While there were sword stances that looked as beautiful as flowers in full bloom on a hill, there were also sword paths as precarious as pine roots clinging to the edge of a cliff.
Stances that were solid as boulders, grand as rock cliffs, and overwhelming like bizarre rock formations also sprang forth.
It was mercurial.
Even so, it was never light.
It was truly a mysterious martial art.
It did not seem like the Namgung Clan’s sword art, yet looking at it again, it closely resembled the Namgung Clan’s sword art.
Finally, Namgung Cheon concluded his brilliant sword dance.
Pa-pa-pat, whoosh!
The sword tip, thrust straight forward, came into contact with the surface of the boulder he had first sat upon.
Tap.
Namgung Cheon lightly tapped the boulder with the tip of his sword.
Shhh.
As the energy gathered, Namgung Cheon slowly withdrew his sword.
Click.
The moment the Emerald Silk Sword was sheathed,
Crack…!
Blue streaks of light drew all over the surface of the boulder like a spiderweb, and in an instant, did it not crack off in thin layers as if shedding skin?
Crash!
As if the boulder had been wearing clothes, only the thin surface cracked away.
Clatter.
Once the fragments fell, the core of the boulder still stood firm in its place.
“Not bad.”
He had certainly improved.
However, it was not yet complete.
Even so, it was good.
Just the fact that there was still something to achieve made his heart flutter with excitement.
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly and turned around, just as Bok-seong entered the back garden.
“Oh, Young Patriarch. As expected, you were here.”
“Yes, I was doing some training.”
“You just came out of closed-door cultivation, and you’re training again? You have to set off on a long journey tomorrow. You should rest a bit.”
“I wanted to try it while breathing fresh air. But what is it?”
“Ah! The Patriarch is looking for you.”
“The Patriarch?”
“Yes, he asked to bring you to the back garden of the Patriarch’s Hall.”
“To the back garden?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Lead the way.”
“Yes, then.”
Bok-seong turned around.
* * *
In the back garden of the Patriarch’s Hall, Namgung Geom and Namgung Hwa were drinking tea in a pavilion.
Did he call him to have a cup of tea since it was the last day?
Namgung Cheon stood below the pavilion and clasped his fists.
“Did you call for me?”
Namgung Geom cast a flat look, while Namgung Hwa smiled with delight.
“Cheon-ah, you have really grown a lot. You’ve gotten much taller, too.”
“Yes… well.”
Hearing such praise from his sister-in-law in practical terms, Namgung Cheon merely nodded, feeling somewhat awkward.
Namgung Geom setting down his teacup, asked.
“So, did you achieve results?”
“Although it is not to a satisfying level, there has been some progress.”
“Is that so? What about the secret manual you took?”
“I have already memorized all of it, so I returned it to the Boundless Sky Library.”
“Did you understand it?”
“It is not yet complete, but I have achieved the desired results.”
“Good. Let me see.”
As Namgung Geom stood up after speaking, both Namgung Cheon and Namgung Hwa showed surprised expressions.
“Father…?”
“Patriarch?”
Unconcerned by their reactions, Namgung Geom stepped down from the pavilion and spoke.
“Draw your sword. I wish to check it myself.”
“Ah…”
As Namgung Cheon wore a dazed look, Namgung Geom stood opposite him at a suitable distance and instructed with a solemn expression.
“You are now the Young Patriarch. It is only natural for the Patriarch to assess and advise on the Young Patriarch’s martial arts. Draw your sword.”
“Are we… sparring?”
“Yes.”
Namgung Cheon and Namgung Hwa opened their eyes wide once again.
In particular, Namgung Hwa stared with wide eyes at the completely unexpected situation and clasped her hands together.
‘A spar between Father and Cheon-ah…’
Father was someone who rarely sparred.
There was only one reason.
Nobody could satisfy him.
Long ago, when sister was alive, Father used to spar frequently.
However, after sister died, he did not spar with anyone.
Although Namgung Hwa felt a bit hurt, she could also understand on the other hand.
Sister, who was called a natural genius.
Because Father’s expression always looked so happy when he sparred with her.
Yet, after sister died, Father could never hide his disappointment and deep longing, no matter whom he sparred with.
Since no one could ever replace sister.
Thus, Father had stopped sparring.
Unless it was a fight to the death, he did not even engage in friendly duels.
Yet…
‘For Father to propose a spar first.’
While her heart fluttered with anticipation, she was also worried on the other hand.
Could Namgung Cheon satisfy Father?
Might he end up disappointing him even more?
Also, could Namgung Cheon withstand Father’s fierce sword?
Namgung Cheon, as seen at the Joint Conference, definitely possessed outstanding talent.
A appearance that had changed beyond comparison to the past.
However, Father was a master acknowledged even in the Jianghu.
‘Cheon-ah. Show him. Your true strength!’
Namgung Hwa clenched her fists tightly.
Meanwhile, Namgung Geom slowly drew the sword at his waist while silently observing Namgung Cheon.
‘Of all the books, why the Azure Emerald Skill? He must convince me. Even if he cannot satisfy me, at least let me not regret my decision.’
It was a decision made despite the opposition of many.
He had seen that much potential in Namgung Cheon.
Now was the moment to prove that potential a bit more clearly.
Shring.
Finally, Namgung Cheon also drew his sword.
“Then, considering this an honor.”
Namgung Cheon curled up the corners of his mouth faintly.
It had been a long time.
So long ago that the memory was hazy, Namgung Cheon had already clashed hands with Namgung Geom.
Not long after he had been pursued by the Martial Alliance.
Namgung Geom had pointed a sword at Namgung Cheon’s neck and spoken:
“You are not the Great Killing Star.”
The figure of Namgung Geom turning away without any lingering regret after saying those words.
It was certainly different from the attitude of typical prestigious families.
From then on, he had viewed the Namgung Clan differently.
Yet, to clash swords again after several decades.
Although the meaning was slightly different, he had no intention of taking it lightly.
Since it was a rare opportunity, he would put his whole heart into it.
“Here I come.”
Swish!
In an instant, Namgung Cheon shot forward like an arrow.
Narrowing his eyes, Namgung Geom immediately thrust his sword in a straight line.
Whoosh!
It was as if two arrows would collide in midair.
However, the moment the sword tips were about to touch,
Clang!
Namgung Cheon’s sword twisted slightly and swept along the blade of Namgung Geom’s sword. Spontaneous sparks erupted as the blade hit the handguard and bounced off.
Ting!
‘Slow.’
Namgung Geom formed a detached impression and redirected his sword path.
“Ah…”
Watching this, Namgung Hwa let out an exclamation.
It was Father’s sword art, which she had not seen in a truly long time.
Yet, she could see that it was not rusty at all. No, she could feel it.
Was he not executing a sword path that seemed impossible to shift?
It had to be a movement learned through countless training sessions and real battles, alongside a solid backing of internal energy.
Still, did they exchange one clash?
Yet…
‘Huh?’
Clang!
The sword tip flying toward his flank was blocked and deflected by the scabbard Namgung Cheon was holding.
‘With the scabbard?’
As if he was also slightly surprised, Namgung Geom opened his eyes wide.
Immediately after, Namgung Cheon spun like a whirlwind.
Whoosh!
A slight hint of bewilderment blossomed in Namgung Geom’s eyes.
‘Is this… our clan’s martial arts?’
Before he could even finish his thought, a heavy impact was transmitted along the blade.
Boom!
Shhh!
Namgung Geom instinctively took two steps back.
His expression twitched.
‘I was… pushed back?’
However, this was not the time to be lost in impressions.
Swish!
Namgung Cheon deployed Boundless Steps and stuck close to him.
Whoosh!
Sword strikes flew toward him so fierce that they sent a chill down his spine for a mere spar.
Watching this, Namgung Hwa gasped without realizing it.
“Huff.”
Whoosh, clang!
As deep blue sword qi erupted, the blade raged like a violent typhoon.
Clang! Clang!
It was wild.
It was fast.
It was fierce.
On top of that, it was even chaotic.
However, even in the seemingly disorderly sword strikes, a rule existed.
Yet, whenever one thrust a sword aiming for the gap in that rule, it was invariably a feint or a variable move.
Clang!
Finally, the two blades clashed once again!
However, as Namgung Cheon slightly twisted and diverted the energy, the Emerald Silk Sword slid along the blade.
Screeech!
Sparks lined up and erupted again as it rushed toward Namgung Geom’s heart.
‘How can it be this domineering…!’
As Namgung Geom kicked off the ground with his toes and backed away, Namgung Cheon stuck close behind as if he had already predicted it.
Whoosh!
Gulp!
Namgung Geom swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.
He had intended to teach him a lesson.
He had planned to point out that sometimes one must face reality rather than vain dreams.
Although he had achieved results over the three months, he wanted to let him know that he could learn far more through a single spar.
Yet… yet…
‘What on earth is this sword art?’
A blue energy enveloped Namgung Cheon’s entire body, changing its properties from moment to moment.
Domineering yet flexible, diverse yet upright.
Clatter-clatter-clack!
This time, it was fast sword!
As the two blades repeatedly collided, a sound like roasting beans on an iron plate echoed.
Watching this, Namgung Hwa stood with her mouth wide open, unable to think of moving.
She muttered blankly.
“In our clan… was there such a martial art?”