Chapter 77 : The Daoist of True Qi (1)
Chapter 77 - The Daoist of True Qi (1)
When they arrived at the Azure Sky Pavilion, the Azure Sky Society Lord, Ha Huseon, was carving a wooden sword, as usual.
—Let us wait for a moment.
At Yun Gyeong-jong’s telepathic message, Namgung Jun also stopped his steps.
As the blunt block of wood was slowly taking the shape of a wooden sword, the eyes of Ha Huseon, which were taking in that sight, were so transparently focused.
His delicate and unhesitating hand movements were pious, like a high monk washing his alms bowl, going beyond the air of a master craftsman.
Was it because of that?
The old Azure Sky Pavilion felt like a small temple nestled on a sacred mountain.
‘The grip.’
Namgung Jun focused on the wrinkled fingers that were smoothly carving the wooden sword.
Ha Huseon’s fingers were moving as if he were holding a sword grip, and the aura laden at his fingertips was endlessly transforming.
What was peculiar was that the aura that was being derived from the wooden sword was not spreading out in all directions, but was being endlessly condensed.
Even though an immense aura was being endlessly injected, the cleanly trimmed wooden sword did not move in the slightest.
This, too, was likely thanks to Ha Huseon’s exquisite control of his aura.
Could it be a training method unique to the Azure Sky Society Lord?
‘This is no ordinary training.’
Something flashed through the mind of Namgung Jun, who had been watching for a long while.
‘A single, special sword strike.’
Though he did not know exactly what it was, it seemed to be a special training method for drawing a single, transcendent sword strike in a single moment.
CRACK!
When the condensation of the aura reached a certain critical point, a hairline crack formed on the wooden sword that Ha Huseon was carving.
The crack gradually increased, and then finally, starting from the blade part, it began to turn to dust and scatter.
KWAAAAAANG!
The sword style’s aura that had been concentrated in the wooden sword was released in an instant, and it was like a storm striking the mountainside.
“Hmm!”
It was the moment Yun Gyeong-jong let out a low hum and was about to shield Namgung Jun with his own body.
The flow of the aura that had been rapidly overflowing stiffened in an instant. As if it were being suppressed by a giant, invisible hand.
Simultaneously with the fluttering of Ha Huseon’s sleeve, the aura that had been soaring violently scattered as gently as a spring breeze.
SWOOOSH!
Except for the wide-open windows shaking slightly, the Azure Sky Pavilion had regained its original quiet.
The gaze of Ha Huseon, who had been looking at the wooden sword that had been finely scattered like dust and was now flying through the windows, turned toward Namgung Jun.
“You’ve come.”
Namgung Jun, who had placed his hand on his hilt to dissipate the aura, clasped his two hands just as they were.
“Greetings to the Society Lord.”
“You are on the verge of achieving the harmony of Jing, Qi, and Shen. The last time I saw you, you were completely imbalanced, but you have achieved a great accomplishment.”
“It is thanks to the support of the Adamant Essence Art that you have bestowed upon me, Society Lord.”
Ha Huseon shook his head.
“I heard from the Azure Medical Pavilion Head. That a problem arose during the Adamant Essence Art, but you not only resolved it with your resourcefulness but also ascended to an even better state.”
Ha Huseon reached out his hand and brought over a new block of wood that was beside him.
He had begun to carve a wooden sword once again.
“I must thank you once again. Thanks to you, I was able to resolve the Mount Song meeting, which was on the verge of becoming a difficult matter due to this old man's insufficiency.”
As Namgung Jun humbly bowed his head, Ha Huseon’s smile deepened.
“The justification is a reward for your meritorious deeds, but it is also true that this old man's personal heart has been moved.”
“If you say a personal feeling?”
“I wish to take you as my disciple.”
Yun Gyeong-jong, who had been listening intently to Ha Huseon’s words from the side, remained silent.
It was because it was something he had expected to some extent.
As a martial artist, it was only natural to become greedy upon seeing a talent of Namgung Jun’s caliber.
‘Perhaps, among all the rising stars of the current Martial World, he might possess the most outstanding talent.’
If the Heavenly Sword Hall Master had not struck first, Namgung Jun would have, as a matter of course, become the Azure Sky Society Lord’s disciple.
‘That being said, this is the first time I have seen the Society Lord bring up the matter directly like this.’
Yun Gyeong-jong looked at the side profile of the boy who was still maintaining a stiff posture despite the unexpected proposal.
‘Is he different after all.’
Just as he himself had seen Namgung Jun at the entrance exam and had come down from the stairs, had the Society Lord also seen something different?
This was the first time that Ha Huseon, who had experienced the countless talents of the Azure Sky Society, had brought up the word "disciple."
“But the Heavenly Sword Hall Master would be furious, so I cannot do that. In the first place, it is not the way of the Martial World to carelessly interfere in a master-disciple relationship that has already been formed.”
“Yes. That is correct.”
At Namgung Jun’s firm answer, Yun Gyeong-jong’s breath caught in his throat.
Even the Hall Masters, who usually acted as they pleased, maintained an extremely courteous attitude in front of the Society Lord.
But Namgung Jun did not seem to be hindered by the weightiness of the title of Azure Sky Society Lord.
No matter who the opponent was, Namgung Jun’s attitude was always consistent.
“Heoheo.”
Ha Huseon’s smile deepened, as if he rather liked that attitude of Namgung Jun’s.
“But even if we are not master and disciple, giving you a single martial art should not be a problem.”
Namgung Jun looked at Ha Huseon quietly.
Though there is a proverb in the Martial World that if you learn even one thing, that person is your master, it seemed he was not trying to be needlessly bound by it.
Ha Huseon did not wait for Namgung Jun’s answer and flicked his hand.
At that, the secret manual that had been placed on the table behind him floated up buoyantly.
“This is the other reward that this old man is giving you.”
Yun Gyeong-jong was startled as he confirmed the secret manual that Ha Huseon had lifted with the Void Grasp.
“Society Lord! That internal art is!”
Yun Gyeong-jong had also expected it to some extent.
Though he didn't know what kind of reward Ha Huseon intended to give, he had thought it would be no ordinary one.
However, the secret manual that was now heading toward Namgung Jun was something that was far beyond Yun Gyeong-jong's expectations.
No matter how he thought about it, it was a reward far beyond his meritorious deeds.
“Ink Lord. It is fine.”
At Ha Huseon’s dissuasion, Yun Gyeong-jong calmed his expression.
In that interval, the secret manual dropped with a thud in front of Namgung Jun.
“Examine it.”
As Ha Huseon's permission was given, Namgung Jun first took in the name of the secret manual with his eyes.
Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.
Namgung Jun saw the name of the secret manual and recalled the Prosperous King's Internal Art of his past life.
Looking at the name of the secret manual, it appeared to be an internal art that had taken the Prosperous King's Internal Art as its basis and developed it.
Namgung Jun, who was stroking the cover of the secret manual, asked.
“May I look at the contents of the secret manual?”
“Go ahead.”
From his seat, Namgung Jun began to quickly scan the secret verses of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.
‘As expected, the foundation is the Prosperous King's Internal Art of the Southern Sky Palace.’
Various insights and martial principles were harmoniously intertwined, centered on the Prosperous King's Internal Art, but they were not the martial arts of the Southern Sky Palace.
Just as the Azure Sky Society had accepted various sects that had been annihilated by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, it seemed the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art had also been created in that flow.
A faint surprise spread across Namgung Jun's eyes as he examined the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.
Even though he had not yet examined all the secret verses, he could tell for certain.
‘It has surpassed the Prosperous King's Internal Art.’
Ha Huseon, who was looking at Namgung Jun, let out an aged laugh.
“So you have realized the value of this internal art.”
“It is a rare and supreme secret art.”
“An excellent discerning eye that does not suit your age.”
Ha Huseon looked at the secret manual of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.
“Originally, it was the exclusive martial art of the Azure Sky Society Lord, but as time passed, the policy was changed to also pass it down to Clouds who had outstanding talent or had established great meritorious deeds.”
“In the current Azure Sky Society, is there another Cloud who has learned this martial art?”
Ha Huseon, whose smile had faded, shifted his gaze slightly. His blurred gaze was reaching the blue sky outside the window.
Though it was a clear sky with no clouds, the sky reflected in Ha Huseon's pupils felt exceptionally empty.
“There was.”
It was a short and plain answer.
Namgung Jun also followed Ha Huseon and looked at the sky.
The feeling was truly strange, as the Prosperous King's Internal Art, which the Sword Emperor of his past life had passed on, had now returned as the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.
The atmosphere seemed to sink for a moment, but Ha Huseon continued speaking with a gentle smile.
“The strength of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art is its sky-like compatibility. It will not clash with other internal energies, unless it is the wicked qi of the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths. It will not be a strain to learn it alongside the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, which is based on Hot Yang Energy.”
It was rare in the Martial World to learn internal arts of different systems.
It was a common occurrence for internal energies of different natures to clash in one's Cinnabar Field or meridians, and even if one were to somehow achieve a fusion, the overlapping of complex Qi circulation paths would cause internal injuries and Qi Deviation.
Of course, it was not entirely impossible to learn multiple internal arts at the same time, and depending on one’s talent and martial arts, martial artists who could handle several internal energies would occasionally emerge.
‘The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art is certainly a supreme martial study, but it is lacking to be called a divine secret art. Learning the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art will be a help at any time.’
Namgung Jun, who had examined the secret manual of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art, came to the judgment that initiating into a new internal art would be of help to his current self.
“The disposition of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art's internal energy is majestic yet upright. As it holds a resolute power within its grand flow, it will be of great help in suppressing the Cold Yin Energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.”
“Thank you. I will learn it diligently.”
Ha Huseon, who had nodded his head, gestured with his hand.
“Come here. I will help you with your initiation into the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.”
“Society Lord! Please think of your body!”
The startled Yun Gyeong-jong not only raised his voice but also shifted in his seat.
However, Ha Huseon shook his head resolutely.
“It is fine. Ink Lord, you will stand guard.”
The energy that was being released from Ha Huseon’s hand gently pulled Namgung Jun’s body.
Namgung Jun, led by the invisible hand, eventually walked toward Ha Huseon.
“Turn around and sit.”
At Ha Huseon’s soft yet firm tone, Namgung Jun had no choice but to show him his back.
Ha Huseon’s one remaining hand gently wrapped around Namgung Jun’s Gate of Life acupoint.
Though it was merely his palm that had touched, Namgung Jun felt a warm energy.
“I will begin the Passing of True Qi. You, focus on remembering the movements of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art.”
VWOOM!
Ha Huseon, who had slowly raised the energy of the Prosperous King's Pure Force Art, gently injected his internal energy toward Namgung Jun’s Gate of Life acupoint.
……
“Have you still not found his whereabouts?”
“No.”
At his subordinate’s report, the Sword Corpse Demon clicked his tongue.
“It was the perfect time to aim for his path of return from the Mount Song meeting.”
The Sword Corpse Demon neurotically crumpled the paper on which Namgung Jun’s movements were recorded.
The boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, whom the Demonic Cult was still searching for.
Though he appeared to possess a considerable martial prowess for a rising star, that was a matter that did not apply to him.
He had discovered his movements belatedly and had aimed for his path of return, but the Azure Sky Society Lord and the Martial Conquest Hall Master had been accompanying him.
Because it was a fight in which there was absolutely no chance of victory, he had had to promise for a next time, but it was a matter that could not be helped that it was a shame.
‘It seems he will show himself again soon.’
The eyes of the Sword Corpse Demon, who was steadily gathering information on Namgung Jun’s movements, sharpened.
‘Is it because he was born with Nine Yin Severed Meridians in a man’s body? His growth is so fast it is bizarre. If I delay even a little, the opportunity might disappear altogether.’
The Sword Corpse Demon had an intuition that the remaining opportunities were almost gone.
For that reason, he intended to pour all his strength into capturing Namgung Jun alive.
“When he ventures into the Martial World for his next mission, you will capture him without fail. There must be no laziness in your information gathering.”
The Sword Corpse Demon, who had given the order to his subordinate, wet his lips.
‘If I can just catch this bastard.’
The Sword Corpse Demon let out a light breath.
While his subordinates were tracking Namgung Jun’s movements, he had focused the remaining time on eliminating his other competitors.
Since he had eliminated the last competitor this time, if he could just establish the great meritorious deed of recovering the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, he would surely be able to rise to the rank of a Mirror Adept in a single breath.
As the only thing he lacked in his current situation was a single meritorious deed, it was almost certain that his rank would rise as soon as he captured Namgung Jun.
The Sword Corpse Demon, who was dreaming of becoming the fourteenth Mirror Adept, revealed a sinister smile.
“Namgung Jun. I look forward to the day we meet.”
The Sword Corpse Demon stroked the sword on the table.