Saaaak—
The sword of Mystic Heaven Sect's leader, Geom Un-bi, sliced through the night air.
Its momentum was overwhelming, sweeping up and down across the gathered crowd's skin. When it curved downward, the moonlight shimmered as if caught in a wave.
It was a sword strike beyond imagination, an entirely new harmony between footwork and swordplay.
The motion of his entire body, muscles, and the white afterimages of his blade wove together in a mesmerizing dance. A continuous stream of unbroken lines connected seamlessly.
'What… is that?'
A controlled sharpness emanated from the sword wind, carrying the noble dignity of a prestigious family. The limits of his swordsmanship were impossible to gauge.
They say that a master's craft reflects their lifetime. Inspiration is intertwined with one's life itself.
In the single stroke of a refined swordsman, habits and character are deeply embedded. If one were a martial artist from a renowned clan, they would perceive this even more clearly.
So was the case for Gongya Jung, the Grand Young Lady. A sense of solitude welled up within her.
She wanted to observe it more closely.
'No, that would be improper in the ways of the martial world…!'
Just as Gongya Jung was about to squeeze her eyes shut—
Sarak.
The blade, which had been cutting through the moonlight without restraint, hesitated. The fabric of his sleeve, brushing against the veins standing out on his taut forearm, slid down in vain.
Perhaps it was the hushed gasps of the servants accompanying her father that caused the dance of the sword to come to an end.
"I've overstepped my bounds. This is not my home, after all."
The sword practitioner spoke.
Sreung.
Gongya Jung blankly watched Geom Un-bi's elegant re-sheathing of his blade. In this moment, she felt a longing more profound than the radiance of the moonlit sky.
Even though she had tried not to keep looking, she had to suppress the overwhelming sense of regret.
It was an emotion she hadn't felt in a long time, and it had nothing to do with romantic affection between a man and a woman.
The heir of a noble clan was deeply shaken by the swordplay of a wandering swordsman.
At a time when she carried a heavy burden, she found herself at a complete loss.
—The person before you has been invited with great care, considering the concerns of the Lady. What a fortunate turn of fate that he so graciously accepted. I assure you, this will be an invaluable opportunity.
The words of Master Go flickered through the mind of Gongya Jung.
"…Even calling it 'not seeing what's under the lamp' would be an understatement for our clan. I never even thought to look beneath it… Have I grown rigid with the passage of indifferent years? In my youth, I used to see everything with my own eyes."
The leader of the Gongya clan spoke, standing across from Geom Un-bi. His voice carried a deep resonance.
His large frame was wrapped in a crimson robe, imbued with moonlight. His piercing eyes radiated a deep, dark gleam.
"I never imagined there would be a swordsman of your caliber among the younger generation of my house. I apologize for witnessing your training uninvited. You have left me utterly spellbound."
It was a straightforward apology, delivered with dignity.
Jung Yeonshin shook his head, reining in the subtle aura that had started to leak out.
The middle-aged man before him possessed an internal force formidable enough to be sensed from the glow surrounding him. He had to be cautious.
Even if the Gongya Clan was known only as a powerful clan in Shaanxi, the martial prowess of its leader was unlikely to crumble before the black rank of Desolate Fortress so easily.
"The fault lies with the guest who chose the wrong place. I was training in an inappropriate location."
Geom Un-bi spoke as he casually smoothed out the cloth tied around his waist.
The Gongya Clan's leader's firm lips curled into a faint smile.
"It is our family's failing that we did not recognize a noble swordsman. I should treat you with utmost respect. May I ask the name of your sword technique?"
"I simply swung my sword as thoughts came to me. It has neither a proper form nor a name yet."
Jung Yeonshin answered nonchalantly.
It was still incomplete. His crude sword path had yet to be fully refined.
From the Jung Clan Divine Sword, all he had taken was its refined nature, as though an enlightened monkey had merely used it to chop firewood.
He was seeking to create his fifth sword technique.
He had only gained a preliminary understanding that would help him further complete Sword Thunder Flash Art.
Ultimately, he was tasked with facing peerless masters, rare even in all of the martial world. He couldn't rely on sword techniques designed purely for short bursts of combat.
Since he could not currently muster a robust internal energy defense, he needed a stable countermeasure.
'A sword form that compensates for the weaknesses of single-strike martial arts.'
He sought to imbue Sword Thunder Flash Art, still in its infancy, with the essence of a noble clan's technique.
It was an attempt to artificially bestow the completeness that only time could grant.
If he could perfect it before confronting the Zhuge Clan's leader, it would be ideal, but nothing was certain.
To fully integrate the profound Transcending Law Radiant Wheel, a sword strike must embody supreme inspiration.
'They say that one learns while teaching.'
The Gongya Clan was a prestigious household. There was surely more to gain here.
Just as he had found a way to refine Jung Family Divine Sword into a proper form.
At that moment—
"A technique without form or name…?"
The Gongya Clan's leader repeated Geom Un-bi's words with a peculiar expression.
After silently observing the young swordsman for a while, he brushed his sleeve and spoke again.
He had suppressed the competitive spirit that naturally arose as a swordsman. Their ages and statuses were too far apart.
"The night is deep. I regret not seeking you out sooner upon your arrival. That was my negligence."
"The meal was a feast fit for kings."
Jung Yeonshin stated the truth. The dignified clan leader's lips curved slightly.
"You are welcome to stay at our house as long as you wish. Even if you visit unannounced, you will always be received warmly. Rest comfortably."
Jung Yeonshin responded with a polite fist salute.
At the hall of a separate residence, Gongya Jung continued to silently watch him.
The Grand Young Lady of the noble clan, a daughter of a prestigious clan. The pale moonlight lingered on her face, now clear of any trace of intoxication.
* * *
At the break of dawn, Jung Yeonshin was visited by Gongya Jung.
From the rear, Scholar Go Jin emerged with a bright smile, raising his fist in greeting. He was a refined man, resembling Heon Wonchang.
"I humbly seek instruction from the Sword Master."
The Grand Young Lady bowed with precision. A single strand of hair slipped past her nape.
Her hands were overlapped like a roof, but it was not a martial salute. It was Gongshou Li, a traditional civilian gesture of humility.
It was a display of profound respect.
Jung Yeonshin had received this gesture once before, from the Tang siblings of Sichuan's Tang Clan.
When he demonstrated the essence of Full Sky Flower Rain, they had honored him as their benefactor with the same gesture. They were among the most talented individuals he had ever met.
They were truly remarkable people. A rare sense of kinship had formed.
'I wonder if they are doing well.'
He hoped that the Grand Young Lady of the Gongya Clan would at least be able to reach their level.
Jung Yeonshin slowly parted his lips.
"Your father's martial prowess seems formidable. I wonder why you have come to me instead."
"I seek to broaden my knowledge. Your sword dance was astonishing. If my previous words or actions caused any offense, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness."
Gongya Jung's tone had shifted to one of utmost courtesy.
There was no need to dwell on it. In times of famine, martial ability dictated status.
Even the strictest hierarchies collapsed in the face of hunger.
Jung Yeonshin nodded quietly.
"I had a fine meal, so I must earn my keep as a guest."
Yet, he had skipped breakfast.
This was an important moment. He walked alongside Gongya Jung toward the open courtyard.
They avoided the training ground, it was quiet enough here. Jung Yeonshin curbed his impatience and told her to draw her sword.
"Yes."
Gongya Jung unsheathed her blade and lowered it.
At that moment, Jung Yeonshin's gaze traveled along her arm, down to her ankles. He assessed the tension in her muscles and the shape of her internal energy flow.
Then, his lips moved slightly. It was a transmission meant only for her.
As she listened in silence, sunlight trembled on the corners of her lips.
"This is… How could such a profound technique…"
"A profound technique…?"
Jung Yeonshin tilted his head slightly, urging her forward. What he had just shared was no secret technique.
It was simply a way to use the body.
By observing her physique, he had reverse-engineered a sword form and footwork that would suit her.
'Her long limbs allow for a wider sword range. Her left-hand strength is lacking compared to her right, but… she's accustomed to that imbalance. She should maximize the power of her lean muscles and the flexibility of her wrist acupoints.'
The great master of Jung Clan Movement Arts emphasized the optimal use of one's natural physique.
For Jung Yeonshin, born into a minor martial clan, maximizing his own body was the only path to growth.
Naturally, he considered those who failed to utilize their potential akin to monkeys.
"Try it."
He folded his arms and gestured with his chin. His demeanor had grown effortlessly natural.
Gongya Jung was not offended.
Fixing her gaze on the tip of her sword, she let out a short cry and swung, flattening her sword path into a horizontal arc.
Her crimson sleeves billowed grandly.
Saaak!
Jung Yeonshin remained silent for a moment.
The sweeping force of the sword strike cleared away the dust in the air, leaving behind a tranquil silence.
By the time the ochre-colored dust had fully settled, he parted his lips once more.
"It seems there was a misunderstanding. Let me show you again."
Jung Yeonshin spoke as if it were nothing of consequence.
This was a noble martial clan. Rather than questioning the Grand Young Lady's martial prowess, it was only right to reflect on his own instruction.
Even a stone on the roadside rolls in the direction it is kicked. There was no reason to assume failure before it even happened.
He sent another silent transmission to the Grand Young Lady of the Gongya Clan, and she, without a word, extended her sword once more.
Saaak—
The instant a straight streak of white light carved through the air, the atmosphere wavered slightly. A strike that would seem plausible to anyone.
From the tips of her toes to the point where the force of the strike dispersed, the movement of her muscles and energy created a faint distortion in the air.
Jung Yeonshin's eyelashes trembled.
"If you loosen the right shoulder blade just a bit more, and flick the energy in your Neiguan acupoint as I instructed… the force of your horizontal strike will increase. Significantly more than now."
"I had actually been contemplating this issue for some time, but hearing your words has given me confidence. Since I have already stepped into the first stage of attainment, I will dedicate ten years to training for mastery. I am deeply grateful for this astonishing and invaluable instruction."
Sreung.
Gongya Jung swiftly sheathed her sword and brought her hands together in a gesture of respect. Her demeanor radiated unwavering resolve.
She spoke of dedicating ten years so lightly, yet it did not come across as empty words.
She was like pristine white marble, someone who would refine herself over long years to achieve greatness. A kind of rising genius that Jung Yeonshin could never fully comprehend.
"...."
The current Radiant Demon Squad's leader was at a loss. It was utterly shocking.
He had to force himself to speak.
"You… will do well."
The Grand Young Lady of the Gongya Clan lived in an entirely different span of time.
A distant, unreachable cliff's edge came to mind. She was like a stone enduring the ages, gradually shaped by the wind.
Jung Yeonshin thought to himself. A mere mayfly like him could never grasp the passage of time for a stone.
His eyes felt sunken. At least, that was how it seemed.
Jung Yeonshin faced the morning sunlight with a weary gaze. The rays seeping through the paper windows licked at his skin as if mocking him.
He greeted Gongya Jung's morning visit with an indifferent expression.
"Sword Master, if you had any discomfort during your rest, please let us know immediately. Our household has many skilled servants. Adjusting your bedding would be a simple task."
"It's because I've experienced defeat for the first time in my life…"
"You must have engaged in mental training even while lying down. That is a discipline I should learn from. To spend the first month of the year with a swordsman like yourself… It seems I shall have good fortune this year."
Her hair, neatly tied from the morning, caught his attention.
He wondered when she had woken to wash and dry it, for it gleamed with a pristine sheen, a testament to her diligence.
She seemed to have practiced energy circulation at dawn. It was the textbook approach to training, a commendable discipline.
'Mental training…'
Jung Yeonshin suppressed his doubt. Surely, she wasn't mocking him.
"What is your business?"
"As I mentioned before, the preliminary event for the Martial Tournament is approaching. People from prestigious clans are gathering at our estate. That is why the banquet is being held here. As I previously said, making connections with them will be highly beneficial for you, Sword Master. Many of them are influential figures."
"The preliminary event of the Martial Tournament…"
Jung Yeonshin pondered for a moment before nodding.
"I will attend the banquet."
"A wise decision. However…"
Gongya Jung, who had been smiling just moments ago, suddenly wore a troubled expression.
"Our clan faces considerable scrutiny. Among the participants, there are those from sects founded by former Green Forest bandits. Now they are recognized as prominent sects in the vast province of Shaanxi, but some may act rudely toward you, Sword Master."
"Are all the tournament participants attending?"
"Yes."
"I hear there are quite a few unorthodox sects with volatile energy within their martial styles."
"There are many. Shaanxi has historically been a land where the military holds great power. The pressure on martial aristocrats has been severe, making it difficult to sustain a sect while following the righteous path. Our own clan's history is filled with hardships… Many Green Forest leaders were once generals who fled due to military conspiracies, and many martial artists who lived by the sword have come to reject the laws of the Ming Dynasty. Half of them can be considered unorthodox sects."
"Then it is nothing to be concerned about."
"Of course, your swordsmanship surpasses theirs by far, but… nonetheless, they belong to unorthodox sects…"
"Grand Young Lady."
"Yes?"
"The Grand Young Lady of the Gongya Clan will one day stand at the pinnacle of invincibility. I can tell by the effort you put in."
"That is an outrageous claim…"
The Grand Young Lady, Gongya Jung, let out a faint smile.
Jung Yeonshin did not smile.
A person with no one left to challenge them, such a person would be truly invincible.
The internal struggle from the previous night had left a heavy shadow on his heart. He wondered if this was the kind of feeling his grandfather carried with him every day.
'I should be a bit more affectionate toward him.'
He recalled the Pure Blood Robe tucked away in the corner of his travel bag. A symbol of nobility within the Blood Flame Cult.
To surpass the black-clad seniors with an overwhelming record of victories, failure was not an option for the Radiant Demon Squad's leader of this era.
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