Chapter 73 : The Three-Cloud Training Corps (2)
Chapter 73 - The Three-Cloud Training Corps (2)
Namgung Jun, without taking his eyes off the secret manual, held out his hand.
“A brush and paper.”
Though it was a sudden request, the scribe, as if mesmerized, handed over the writing tools that were in front of him.
‘Namgung Jun. The boy who is receiving the full interest of the Ink Lord.’
The scribe already knew of Namgung Jun.
And that he had caught the eye of not only the Ink Lord, Yun Gyeong-jong, but also of several other executives.
‘But even setting that aside.’
The cerulean gaze that was reflecting the secret manual was in the middle of creating a sense of anticipation, as if he were really about to do something.
The scribe did not mind in the slightest that the lecture had been cut off in the middle because of Namgung Jun.
On the contrary, he was an appearance of having focused his gaze on the blank paper, as if he were far too curious as to what he would show them.
Namgung Jun began to write something down.
His unrestrained brushwork was like watching some kind of sword style.
The scribe, who had been watching quietly, muttered in a low voice as if he had realized something.
“Hmm? This is?”
What Namgung Jun’s brush was filling the paper with was a diagram to which certain secret verses and detailed sword paths had been added.
“The Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword is a sword style that maximizes its might by using two swords and the repulsion of yin and yang.”
Even while explaining with his mouth, Namgung Jun’s hands moved without end.
The eyes of the scribe, who had gotten a glimpse of the secret verses and the diagram that were gradually becoming more detailed, grew wider and wider.
“The Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword has taken the repulsion of yin and yang and made it into another kind of harmony, and to the martial artists of the Orthodox Faction, a concept like this is rather unfamiliar.”
The brush of Namgung Jun, which had been racing across the paper with the force of a single, fluid stroke, stopped.
“If that is the case, then the counter-method is simple. To shatter the harmony that the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult pursues.”
In an instant, Namgung Jun had filled a dozen or so pages with secret verses and diagrams.
“This counter-method will become the first step in being able to face the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword.”
Not only the scribe, but also the Two-Cloud members who were in the surroundings could not take their eyes off the counter-method that Namgung Jun had written down in a single breath.
“How can he do this?”
“How can he create a counter-method for a martial art he has not even seen directly?”
“Young Hero Namgung. This counter-method. Are you certain of it?”
The last question was a question from the scribe who had been lecturing until just a moment ago.
“You would not have experienced the Eclipse Blade Corps, Young Hero Namgung. If that is the case, it means that you have created a new counter-method with only these limited clues, but is this a possible thing?”
The scribe urged Namgung Jun on with an expression mixed with astonishment and admiration.
“The records of the Eclipse Blade Corps’s deeds, the dozens of remaining sword marks, and the counter-method that our society has created.”
Namgung Jun pointed to the teaching materials that the scribe had brought, one by one.
“If you use these as clues and reverse-engineer them, you can create a counter-method that, even if it is not perfectly accurate, can pierce the core martial principle of the sword style.”
In truth, he had been able to construct the counter-method at such a high speed because he had experienced the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword directly.
Even if he had not known of the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword, it would have been more than possible for him to construct a counter-method of the same level if he had had the clues before him.
It was merely a difference in the time it would have taken.
“I have understood your words, Young Hero Namgung, but frankly, it is difficult to accept.”
Despite Namgung Jun’s calm explanation, those in the surroundings were not willing to easily believe the counter-method.
They couldn’t help it.
The feat that Namgung Jun had accomplished was an act that defied common sense.
How on earth could one reverse-engineer a new counter-method based on the information and sword marks left in a secret manual, and the counter-method derived from them, without ever having seen the sword style directly?
This was not a matter of proficiency or accomplishment in martial arts.
To be able to lay out countless possibilities and consecutively make the best judgment among them, a truly immense level of talent would have been required.
In other words, what was needed was a world-covering talent.
As their conclusion reached this point, the astonished gazes of a few of the Clouds fell upon Namgung Jun.
With respect to sword talent, Namgung Jun was receiving the evaluation of being the best in the history of the Azure Sky Society.
Had he not created and refined an outstanding sword style and achieved a high level of accomplishment at a young age?
‘Come to think of it, he has even created a sword style, so constructing a counter-method is not such a marvelous feat after all.’
‘But will this counter-method truly work?’
‘Setting its efficacy aside, the very act of constructing a counter-method like this is incredible. Is this not a feat that even an average master would not dare to even attempt?’
The Clouds, including the scribe, were at a loss for words as they saw the result that Namgung Jun had put forth in a single breath.
The scribe, who had been looking over the counter-method with serious eyes several times, asked Namgung Jun.
“There is someone in the Elder Council who has experienced the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword and survived. He is the one who has researched the counter-methods until now. Would it be alright if I were to show this counter-method to him?”
“Of course.”
Namgung Jun’s answer was overflowing with confidence.
The scribe, who had nodded with a grimly determined face, carefully folded the papers that Namgung Jun had written on and put them inside his robes.
That afternoon, Namgung Jun received a summons from the Martial Conquest Hall Master.
……
In the training ground, all the Two-Cloud members of the Training Corps were assembled.
The Martial Conquest Hall Master, Ha Mujung, who was standing on the platform, opened his mouth.
“Namgung Jun. Are you confident.”
“Yes.”
As Ha Mujung was about to say something, a frail, elderly voice that he was hearing for the first time interjected from behind.
“Is there a need for more explanation? All he needs to do is experience it with his sword.”
The gazes of all turned in the direction the voice had come from.
An old man wearing a yellow monk's robe walked over with two swords slung over his shoulders.
He was wearing an eyepatch, as if he had lost his right eye, but the gaze that flowed from his left eye was truly deep.
Though he appeared to be at the perfection of the Peak Realm, the bearing cloaked around his body was very sharp. It was clear that it had been refined by long years and experience.
“I am sorry to have made you come all this way.”
“It is fine. It is much simpler for this old man to make the trip than for a large number of personnel to move.”
Ha Mujung paid his respects to the elder and then pointed to Namgung Jun.
“This is the fellow.”
“Is the story this old man heard true?”
“We will have to confirm it. That is why we need your help, Elder Gwon.”
The old man, who was called Elder Gwon, stared intently at Namgung Jun.
“Are you saying this young child has created a counter-method for the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword?”
Elder Gwon trailed off his words. He had heard about Namgung Jun.
Had the Elder Council Head not praised him highly?
It was to the extent that he was even planning to arrange a match with his own granddaughter. If it was to that extent, his innate talent must have been the real deal.
‘But is it truly possible?’
Though he had heard the news and had come to the Three-Cloud Training Corps himself, he was still half-believing and half-doubting.
To have created a counter-method by reverse-engineering limited information and sword marks, without ever having seen the martial art?
Though he had survived for quite a long time in the Martial World, he had never heard of such a thing.
“Are you confident in the counter-method you have created?”
“Yes.”
“Then there is no need for more words.”
Elder Gwon took up the two swords he had brought in both his hands.
“At that time, I had gone out on a mission, and I happened to run into the Eclipse Blade Corps. Though I lost an eye, I was able to survive by a stroke of heavenly luck.”
Namgung Jun nodded his head.
He had realized the reason why Ha Mujung had brought the old man before him all the way to the Training Corps.
‘He is a veteran master who has experienced the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword directly.’
He was clearly an individual who could immediately judge the efficacy of the new counter-method.
“Though long years have passed, it is still vivid before my eyes. As it is a sword style that took my eye and my comrades, I have tried to create a counter for it several times, but my capability was insufficient.”
A deep regret was suffused in Elder Gwon’s voice.
As if he were recalling the Eclipse Blade Corps, which was not before him, it was to the extent that a faint heat even began to flow out.
“After that day, I immediately retired and have clung to only these two things: the Eclipse Blade Corps and the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword. Thanks to that, I can, however faintly, imitate its sword path.”
Elder Gwon crossed his two arms and raised his twin swords diagonally.
“Come. I will discern whether your counter-method is truly effective.”
“I will be in your care.”
Namgung Jun raised his sword to a middle stance and charged at Elder Gwon.
The moment the steps of his Infinite Steps Footwork were steadfastly taken in a straight line, the twin swords of Elder Gwon lunged in diagonally, aiming for his neck.
A sword style full of killing intent that had only killing moves.
It was a situation where if he were to push his body forward even a little, his neck would be cut from both sides.
But Namgung Jun did not stop his steps. On the contrary, he thrust his sword forward and inserted it into the gap between the twin swords.
In that state, Namgung Jun drew up his internal energy.
Crackle!
The lightning energy that was flowing along the body of his sword soared to the heavens and pushed away the artificial clash of the two twin swords.
Elder Gwon’s flow stopped for an instant, but that was also only for a moment.
The two streaks of sword strikes, which pushed forward again like a raging wave, lunged in as if to behead Namgung Jun’s entire body.
KWANG! KWANG! KWANG!
It was a deafening roar that was heard as the twin swords clashed with each other. At the same time, the speed and power of the twin swords were increased by another level.
‘Did he say he had delved only into the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword for the rest of his life? I can feel that tenacity.’
Because he had experienced the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword of the Great Protector, Namgung Jun could tell.
That the past years Elder Gwon had let flow by had by no means been in vain.
Thump!
Namgung Jun, who had stomped his foot powerfully, inserted his sword into the gap of the twin swords that were surging as if to interlock from both diagonal sides.
JJEJEONG!
As the twin swords of Elder Gwon failed to cause a clash and only the distance between them widened, their might was dropped in a single breath.
Namgung Jun leaned his body forward and charged.
No special artistry was needed.
Every time Namgung Jun displayed the knack and the sword path that he had shown in his counter-method, the twin swords of Elder Gwon were pushed back.
‘This is!’
The eyes of Elder Gwon, who was facing Namgung Jun’s sword, gradually widened.
It was not simply a matter of a difference in martial prowess.
It was certain.
The Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword was being pushed back according to the sword path and the secret verses of the counter-method. It was possible because he had blocked the core martial principle of the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword from being implemented.
‘He has not only bundled together the counter-methods that had existed in the Azure Sky Society until now, but has even added his own insights.’
JJEONG!
The unrestrained charge of Elder Gwon stopped for the first time. He couldn’t help it.
For the sword of Namgung Jun, which stood tall in the center, had completely cut off the clash of the twin swords.
The three swords, clashing once again.
In that state, after competing for about ten more exchanges, Elder Gwon suddenly withdrew his twin swords and took a step back.
“This is the limit of the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword that I can imitate with my capability.”
A silence settled over everyone present.
Though Elder Gwon kept his mouth firmly shut, no one rushed him. In the first place, an answer was not needed.
Everyone who had watched the duel knew.
Namgung Jun’s counter-method was clearly effective.
“A talent like a supernatural horror. Is something like this even possible.”
Elder Gwon’s low muttering hammered the point home.
Elder Gwon, who had been staring blankly at Namgung Jun, performed a fist-and-palm salute.
The single eye of the old martial artist who was paying his respects was slightly welling up with moisture.
“You have solved the long-cherished wish that this old man could not achieve in his lifetime. Thank you so much.”
“Please raise your head.”
“Your counter-method might one day save someone from the Azure Sky Society. You can be proud.”
Elder Gwon felt he could now understand why the Elder Council Head had been so interested in Namgung Jun.
If it had been him, he would have had no choice but to be the same.
For the boy before him was an existence like a key, born with the talent to fulfill everyone’s long-cherished wish.
‘Of course, it cannot be said to be perfect. But this will become the first step.’
A certain thought flashed past the mind of Elder Gwon as he was mulling over the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword.
“You there.”
“Please speak.”
“The Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword is a martial art for which extremely little information exists. Yet if you were able to create a counter-method of this level, is it possible for other martial arts as well?”
The role of analyzing the fighting power of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers and creating counter-methods was the responsibility of the Elder Council.
It was only that he himself had been particularly focused on the Eclipse Blade Corps and the Twin Owl’s Death Knell Sword; the other Elders would often observe and analyze various martial arts all together.
But to create a counter-method for any martial art was a very difficult task.
For that reason, Elder Gwon could not help but show an interest in Namgung Jun’s ability.
At Elder Gwon’s question, which was full of anticipation, Namgung Jun immediately nodded his head.
“If the martial art in question is a sword style, then I am confident.”
At Namgung Jun’s unrestrained answer, a silence descended upon the Training Corps once again.