Chapter 32 : Yes, You Pass
"...What did you just say?"
Namgung Cheong asked, looking at Namgung Il.
A sense of puzzlement was felt in his voice and gaze.
Namgung Il answered Namgung Cheong with the same calm expression as when he had first spoken.
"I said I would go to take the entrance exam for the Flying Dragon Academy."
"..."
Hearing the answer, Namgung Cheong was at a loss for words without realizing it.
At that moment, a memory of the past suddenly came to mind.
Namgung Il had once said something meaningful to him... Namgung Cheong was only now able to understand its meaning.
"I'm fine."
"..."
"And that's not the only way to get into the Flying Dragon Academy, is it?"
Namgung Il had yielded the recommended admission to Namgung Hae.
To think that the reason why it was okay to yield at that time was something like this.
Namgung Cheong opened his mouth, not showing his rather complicated feelings on his face.
"...Why would you want to take the entrance exam?"
"Since I yielded the recommended admission to my older brother, that's the only way I can get in, isn't it?"
"The opportunity will come again next year. So there's no need for you to enter the Flying Dragon Academy in such a way."
"If there's a way, there's no need to wait."
When Namgung Il said that, Namgung Cheong had nothing more to say.
As he said, recommended admission was not the only way to get into the Flying Dragon Academy.
Even so, to say that he would take the entrance exam and enter the Flying Dragon Academy... Namgung Cheong opened his mouth again in a serious voice.
"...The entrance exam of the Flying Dragon Academy is by no means something to be taken lightly."
"..."
"I heard that there are some who prepare for more than ten years to enter there. It would be a more rational choice for you to wait a year rather than compete fiercely with such people."
Of course, Namgung Il also did not think that was wrong.
Perhaps if it were him, he would have chosen to just wait a year if he thought rationally.
But Namgung Il had a reason why he had to enter the Flying Dragon Academy this year.
'I can't say it in front of him.'
He could roughly guess what kind of reaction would come out if Namgung Cheong found out that he had made such a bet with Su Majin.
Well, if he had to say, wouldn't a bad reaction come out rather than a good one?
For a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan to dare to bet his right of succession on a bet, he might be scolded for lowering the dignity of the Namgung Clan.
In the end, Namgung Il decided to make up a story and persuade Namgung Cheong.
"I want to prove that I can enter the Flying Dragon Academy even without the power of the family."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"From the moment I was born, I was born with the destiny of the Namgung Clan. Wherever I go, the world will see the name of the Namgung Clan first, rather than seeing me first."
"..."
"Of course, I'm not saying I don't like it. Because I'm proud of my family. But for once, I want to escape the destiny of the Namgung Clan and do something with my own strength."
Because he had thought about it in advance before coming here, Namgung Il was able to say so without any hesitation.
With this much reason, Namgung Cheong would surely be convinced.
Perhaps he would even praise him for his manly spirit.
"...I understand."
As expected.
When Namgung Cheong answered, a faint smile appeared on Namgung Il's lips.
"But there's a condition."
"...?"
"Before you take the entrance exam for the Flying Dragon Academy, I will test you first. And if you pass my test, then I won't say anything more."
He had not expected Namgung Cheong to come out like that.
But looking at that gaze, if he didn't nod his head, it seemed he wouldn't even be sent to the entrance exam of the Flying Dragon Academy.
In the end, Namgung Il had no choice but to accept that test.
"...I understand."
"..."
"So... how on earth are you going to test me?"
A sudden variable.
The test had already begun.
* * *
Namgung Il was now in the training ground.
And, as if it were natural, Namgung Cheong was standing opposite him.
Seeing that, Namgung Il said, as if he were somewhat dumbfounded.
"Don't tell me... the test is not to fight with you, Clan Head?"
"Yes, that's the test."
"..."
To think that was really the test.
Namgung Il immediately thought that this was an absurd test.
'Isn't this just saying that you don't want to let me go?'
No matter how much he was a hero who had defeated the Blood Demon and saved the world in the past, there was no way he could beat Namgung Cheong in this place.
Of course, he had become considerably stronger compared to when he first entered this body.
Still, his skills were not enough to compete with the head of the Namgung Clan.
This was a battle where the result was already obvious.
"...You're not going to say that the condition for passing is to beat you, Clan Head, are you?"
"Of course, I will place a restriction on myself."
That's more like it.
Hearing that, Namgung Il let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
Swoosh—
Just then, Namgung Cheong began to walk to a corner of the training ground.
A few wooden swords were scattered carelessly in a corner.
Among them, Namgung Cheong picked up a nearby wooden sword and returned to his original position.
"I will fight with this."
"..."
"Of course, you can use the sword at your waist."
I see... so that's the restriction?
The wooden sword that Namgung Cheong was holding now was an old wooden sword that was clearly not properly maintained.
In contrast, the sword at his waist was a masterpiece among masterpieces.
That alone had considerably narrowed the gap between him and Namgung Cheong.
"And I will not make any attack first."
"...?"
"Also, if you land a proper attack on me, I will consider it a pass at that point."
This... seems a bit too kind.
Namgung Il said to Namgung Cheong with a meaningful expression.
"Are you really okay with that?"
"...?"
"I can't be held responsible if you get hurt."
When Namgung Il said that, Namgung Cheong smiled leisurely.
Of course, Namgung Cheong knew that Namgung Il had made a dramatic growth recently.
On top of that, wasn't he now also learning the advanced sword style of the Namgung Clan?
But even considering all of that, there was still a huge gap between him and Namgung Il.
"You'll have to attack with all your might from the beginning."
"..."
"I said I wouldn't attack first, but I didn't say I wouldn't counterattack."
Namgung Cheong said and pointed his wooden sword forward.
A rather provocative tone and posture.
Namgung Cheong was deliberately provoking Namgung Il.
Because he wanted to see Namgung Il's skills with his own two eyes in this place.
Of course, he had seen Namgung Il's skills in the spar with Namgung Hae back then, but what Namgung Cheong wanted to see was Namgung Il's true skills.
'I wonder how much he has made the Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders his own.'
Half a year had passed since he had first transmitted the sword style to Namgung Il.
Just half a year.
No matter how much it was Namgung Il, he didn't think he would have achieved a great accomplishment in that time.
In the first place, the Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders was a sword style that had to be trained for a lifetime.
Still... it would be a lie to say that he had no expectations at all.
'Whether your talent is real or not. I will confirm it in this place.'
The talent of realizing the Azure Sky Great Expansion Sword Style on his own without even learning it.
Namgung Cheong wanted to see with his own two eyes to what extent that talent was.
Screech—
Just then, Namgung Il drew his sword.
"Then I will attack with all my might from the beginning without reservation."
Namgung Il said, pointing his sword.
At that moment, a faint smile appeared on Namgung Cheong's lips.
Namgung Cheong beckoned with his empty hand as if to say, come on.
"..."
That much should be fine.
He had to pass the test, and he had also provoked him so unhesitatingly.
As if he had made a decision, Namgung Il began to move his internal energy.
Woong—!
The internal energy in his dantian moved and flowed into the sword Namgung Il was holding.
At that moment, the blade shone faintly and gradually turned blue.
Seeing that, Namgung Cheong opened his mouth slightly and let out an exclamation.
'Clean.'
It was by no means an easy task to flow internal energy into a sword so naturally.
Profound internal energy. And the operation of internal energy that matched it, and the understanding of the sword.
Only when all of those were satisfied could internal energy be cleanly imbued in a sword like that.
'It seems he has already fully reached the stage of Sword Qi Injuring People.'
Namgung Cheong was sufficiently satisfied with that level.
However.
The internal energy imbued in Namgung Il's sword did not stop there and began to move more and more violently.
Crackle—
A flash of lightning appeared around the blade, as if lightning were striking.
Accordingly, the momentum rose, and an formless energy soared up.
Of course, the blade had not suddenly grown.
The internal energy surrounding the blade had become stronger and was now taking the form of a blade.
"...!"
Seeing that, Namgung Cheong was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
A reaction that was clearly different from before.
It was not surprising that Namgung Il had reached the stage of Sword Qi Injuring People, but he couldn't close his mouth at the sight before him now.
"S-sword Qi...!"
Simply injecting internal energy into a sword is called Sword Qi Injuring People.
And when a certain amount or more of internal energy is injected into a sword, it creates an formless sword qi like that, and that is the stage called Sword Realm.
'Could it be... has he already reached the Sword Realm?'
The stage called Sword Realm, or the peak.
This was the stage from which one was generally called a master.
Because if one could form sword qi like that, its power would be on a different level from when one simply injected internal energy into a sword.
It even becomes possible to easily cut through iron... that level of sharpness is imbued in that sword.
Crackle—
The sword qi had now formed a complete shape.
And the flash of lightning was still occurring around it.
It looked as if a single thunderbolt was held in Namgung Il's hand.
"...!"
Only then could Namgung Cheong belatedly come to his senses.
If he were to receive that sword strike wrapped in sword qi head-on, even he would not be able to withstand it.
There was a limit to what this old wooden sword could do.
Woong—!
Making that judgment, Namgung Cheong hurriedly raised his internal energy.
Accordingly, a blue sword qi also appeared on the old wooden sword that Namgung Cheong was holding.
At that moment, Namgung Il's figure disappeared from the front.
Crash—!
A thunderous roar filled the training ground.
And.
Namgung Il had already passed through Namgung Cheong and appeared behind him.
Crackle—
A scorched mark had appeared on the floor between where Namgung Il had first stood and where Namgung Il was standing now.
And the sword qi was still fiercely flickering on the sword that Namgung Il was holding.
Just then, from behind, Namgung Il asked Namgung Cheong.
"Is this enough to pass?"
"..."
Clack—
A moment later, the wooden sword that Namgung Cheong was holding broke and fell to the floor.
No matter how old the wooden sword was, to think that it would pierce through his sword qi and cut it.
It met his expectations... no, it was more than that.
"Yes, you pass."
Namgung Cheong said, turning around with a faint smile.
Truly, an enormous talent.
At this moment, Namgung Cheong was convinced that the intuition he had felt at that time was not wrong.
(End of Chapter)