The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 3 - Master and Disciple (2)

Crackle!

The blue lightning coalescing in Lee Se-ha’s hand pulsed violently.

“I have mastered the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, an internal art that accumulates Hot Yang Energy. My plan is to teach you this martial art and have you break through your severed meridians one by one.”

Lee Se-ha added another remark.

“If you were a woman, this method would be completely out of the question.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head as if in agreement.

The Nine Yin Severed Meridians was not a condition that could be overcome simply by learning a Hot Yang Art.

Even if one were to master a Hot Yang Art, the Cold Yin Energy of the Nine Yin Severed Meridians would expand at a much faster rate.

Rather, in most cases, crudely building up energy would instead incite a clash between yin and yang, shortening one's lifespan.

“But it’s a different story if you’re a man. If you accumulate Hot Yang Energy through your innate yang energy, the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, and various spiritual medicines, there is a chance to overcome the Nine Yin Severed Meridians. And I will also actively help you overcome it.”

Mulling over Lee Se-ha’s words, Namgung Jun calculated the possibility in his head.

‘The key is how quickly I can raise my proficiency in the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art. If it’s me, it’s possible.’

There was no falsehood or exaggeration in Lee Se-ha’s words or logic.

‘Even in Namcheon Palace, there was no internal art for accumulating Hot Yang Energy. Furthermore, judging by the lightning energy she showed me, it is clearly an advanced martial art.’

Was that all?

If he could absorb the residual energy from his severed meridians during the treatment process, he would surely achieve an immense level of accomplishment.

‘The Nine Yin Severed Meridians. Right now, it is a clear obstacle, but if I overcome it, it will become the foundation to surpass my past life.’

Having organized his thoughts, Namgung Jun asked.

“I am a complete stranger, so why have you chosen me as your disciple?”

“Those who do not take responsibility for their Martial Arts are not worthy of holding a sword.”

Lee Se-ha playfully mimicked Namgung Jun’s voice, then put on a deliberately serious expression.

“I do not want a disciple who swings their sword lightly. I want someone who properly holds righteousness in their heart.”

“Righteousness in one's heart.”

Namgung Jun mulled over Lee Se-ha's words before asking.

“What will happen if I do not accept the offer?”

“You will continue to be targeted by the demonic beings. Being captured by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult would be troublesome.”

Lee Se-ha held up two fingers.

“You’ll either have to stay in a safe house provided by the Azure Sky Society, or live alone with a secret escort in a remote mountain village.”

Both options would require the Azure Sky Society to invest considerable effort.

Namgung Jun subtly tested Lee Se-ha.

“Rather than going to all that trouble, wouldn't it be better to kill me and eliminate the root of the problem?”

“If I did that, I would be no different from the demonic path. What can be protected, should be protected.”

“Is there not also the saying, ‘to lose the great by coveting the small’?”

Losing the great by coveting the small.

To suffer a great loss by coveting something small.

In the current situation, the small thing was Namgung Jun.

For the first time, the smile was wiped from Lee Se-ha's face.

“There are many who say one should sacrifice the small for the sake of the great. Most people would try to grasp the great thing.”

“That is correct.”

“If that's the case, don't you think there also needs to be someone who tries to grasp the small things?”

Pausing for a moment, Lee Se-ha spoke with a clear voice, devoid of any hesitation.

“I want to be that kind of person.”

At Lee Se-ha’s answer, the corners of Namgung Jun’s mouth drew a faint arc.

‘Someone who tries to grasp the small things, she says.’

There are almost none who would go to the trouble of grasping something so trivial and insignificant. If such a person exists, they must hold some kind of firm conviction.

‘She possesses her own code of righteousness.’

Namgung Jun acknowledged Lee Se-ha.

The bond between a master and disciple is not a light one.

He did not want to become a disciple in name only just to obtain a new Hot Yang Art.

If he were to be a disciple, was it not proper to serve one's master with sincerity?

Even if his survival was on the line, he could not compromise. It was because his innate character was so.

But now that he had confirmed what kind of person Lee Se-ha was through their exchange, there was nothing holding him back.

Lee Se-ha was a woman fully worthy of being his master.

“I was wary of the sudden proposal and suspected you, Lady. I apologize.”

“What! So that's what that was?”

Her face flushing slightly, Lee Se-ha’s lips jutted out in a pout. But her eyes soon held a lively starlight once more.

“So, now that we've had our little chat, what do you think? Do you approve of me?”

Namgung Jun looked at Lee Se-ha, who was tilting her head.

‘Is this fate?’

It was truly a perfect encounter. For Namgung Jun, Lee Se-ha was no different from a fortuitous opportunity.

If he had not met Lee Se-ha, far from facing the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, he would have had to first find a way to simply survive.

In a situation where even bowing deeply to be accepted as a disciple would not have been enough, for her to make the offer like this was a stroke of heavenly luck.

‘Besides, I cannot face the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult alone.’

Unlike in his past life, Namcheon Palace was now gone.

He needed a new home and new comrades.

“Yes, I approve.”

As if inwardly embarrassed to hear such direct words, Lee Se-ha averted her gaze slightly and gave a dry cough.

In that time, Namgung Jun straightened his attire.

He neatly closed the front of his robes and smoothed the wrinkles on his cuffs. Politeness and reverence emanated from his hand gestures.

The traditional atmosphere made Lee Se-ha instinctively fix her gaze on him. Having straightened his attire, Namgung Jun slowly folded his hands together.

“Disciple Namgung Jun.”

Namgung Jun slowly performed a deep bow. His movements were so disciplined that they looked like a martial arts form.

“Humbly greets his Master.”

His solemn voice filled the room, low and resonant.

It was the moment the bond between master and disciple was forged.

ִ ﾒִ ﾒִ ﾒ

Having officially become master and disciple, Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun.

Looking at the first disciple she had ever taken, Lee Se-ha held up both her fists.

“Gungjun-ah! Let's start training your martial arts right away.”

“...My surname is Namgung.”

“Huh? I thought for sure it was Nam! I’ve never heard of that surname before!”

Slyly lowering her fists, Lee Se-ha presented a book as if nothing had happened. Though her fingertips trembled slightly, Namgung Jun pretended not to notice and averted his gaze.

“My disciple. This is the secret manual for the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.”

Her form of address had naturally changed, but he did not point it out. Because this way of addressing him was better.

“I wonder if it's thanks to your life as a Sword Page? It’s a relief that you know the basics of the Martial World and can even read. My disciple, you’re magnificent.”

Lee Se-ha began her lesson, starting with the first oral formula of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art and explaining it in detail.

‘I could have reached the introductory stage just by reading the secret manual on my own.’

Namgung Jun quietly accepted the instruction.

Since this was his first time learning a Hot Yang Art, Lee Se-ha’s explanations were a great help. It seemed it would shorten the time required considerably.

Moreover, as his understanding of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art deepened with every explanation he heard, he felt his level of accomplishment would leap up in a single bound once he actually began his training.

While receiving the instruction, Namgung Jun could naturally gauge the depth of the Martial Arts that Lee Se-ha had cultivated.

‘To have achieved the state of Three Flowers Gathering at the Summit while still in the younger generation. She is a genius of a millennium.’

Lee Se-ha’s talent was such that it would not fall short even when compared to the Sword Emperor of his past life. It was a talent that naturally drew admiration.

In the future, when he began to clash with the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult in earnest, Lee Se-ha’s existence would surely be a great help.

While the disciple was gauging the master.

‘My disciple, why is he so brilliant? His comprehension is no ordinary matter. Is it because he was born with severed meridians?’

Likewise, the master was also assessing the disciple’s talent.

While explaining the oral formulas of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, she would launch surprise questions to check if he had understood properly, but there was never a time he was at a loss for an answer.

On the contrary, he would sometimes offer a profound answer she had not considered, providing a new topic for inquiry. Because of this, it did not simply feel like she was teaching a disciple.

It was as if she were holding a discourse with a master of the same level, or even higher.

‘It feels like I’ve met a living, breathing fortuitous opportunity.’

The way he answered with a firm voice full of conviction was truly dependable.

“Therefore, in this oral formula, you must circulate the internal energy more fiercely to quickly pass the Okjung Point. The feeling should be more like pushing it out, rather than letting it flow.”

“That's right. My disciple is never wrong.”

Lee Se-ha brought her teacup to her lips, only to realize the tea had gone completely cold. She looked out the window and saw that the sun was about to rise.

“Has it gotten this late already?”

They had continued the lecture all through the night and into the day.

“Shall we get some sleep now?”

Lee Se-ha asked with an apologetic expression, but Namgung Jun shook his head.

“Now that I have memorized all the oral formulas, I would like to attempt Qi circulation and breath regulation immediately.”

After pondering for a moment, Lee Se-ha nodded her head.

“Normally, you can't feel internal energy right after learning an internal art. So don't be disappointed even if you can't feel it, okay?”

Namgung Jun sat down in the lotus position, and Lee Se-ha took a spot behind him. It was so she could intervene immediately should any problem arise during his Qi circulation.

“Huu.”

Namgung Jun, who had begun breathing according to the oral formulas of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, felt his eyes twitch.

It was because something had happened that even Namgung Jun himself had not anticipated.

‘I can feel the Qi? This quickly?’

Usually, even geniuses with outstanding talent would take seven days and nights to feel Qi for the first time.

In his past life, it had taken Nam Yeong-shin four whole days to feel Qi.

But this body felt the Qi immediately.

With just a single cycle of inhalation and exhalation.

Although it was a phenomenal situation, Namgung Jun calmly continued to circulate the internal art. The internal energy that flooded in with his breathing became progressively clearer.

The Qi flowing down through the Cheondol Point and the Jungbu Point raced through the meridians according to the circulation path.

‘The strength and width of these meridians are also unbelievable.’

While meridians are naturally trained as one learns martial arts, one's innate constitution also plays a large role.

There was a reason why martial artists checked the physique and meridians when looking for disciples.

If the meridians of an ordinary genius were like a narrow mountain trail, the meridians of this body were no different from a main road wide enough for four carriages to run abreast.

This was an enormous difference.

‘With the memories of my past life and this body!’

Namgung Jun dared to be certain.

That he could, as a matter of course, surpass the Sword Emperor of his past life.

That as long as he had a sword in hand, there was nothing to fear.

The moment Namgung Jun was becoming progressively more immersed in his Qi circulation.

Vroooom!

“Ah?”

Lee Se-ha, who had been observing Namgung Jun carefully, felt her eyes go wide.

‘He can already feel the Qi?’

She had just been thinking of what advice to give him if his concentration broke and his breathing was interrupted.

But far from his breathing being interrupted, Namgung Jun was in the process of forging Qi into internal energy according to the oral formulas of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

If he rode this momentum, he might even form his Cinnabar Field in his very first Qi circulation session.

“No way. It took me four whole days just to feel Qi! Is this for real?”

While nervous that something might go wrong, Lee Se-ha was also filled with excitement.

It was because she was now certain that Namgung Jun possessed a talent far greater than she had imagined.

‘A talent stronger than my own. Did I use up all my life’s luck to get such a genius as my disciple?’

As Lee Se-ha watched Namgung Jun’s back with eyes full of anticipation, her mouth slowly fell open.

Crackle!

A blue lightning pulsed around Namgung Jun’s shoulders. It was extremely faint and weak, but it was unmistakably the lightning energy of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.

‘Impossible!’

The meaning of the faint lightning energy seen during Qi circulation was simple.

It was a sign that not only had he formed his Cinnabar Field, but that his Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art had reached the Fourth Stage of accomplishment.

This meant he had leaped over three stages the moment he was initiated into the art.

‘Has a case like this ever existed in the history of the Martial World?’

As Lee Se-ha seriously pondered this, her mouth, still wide open, showed no signs of closing.

‘What do I do! I think my disciple is a genius.’

As Lee Se-ha looked at Namgung Jun, her dark pupils sparkled excessively.

In that time, Namgung Jun was calmly observing the internal energy flowing through his meridians. Because it was so fundamentally different from the internal art and the nature of the internal energy that the Sword Emperor of his past life had mastered, he found it quite fascinating.

Thanks to the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art, the reality that he had been reborn into a new body truly sank in.

‘So this is Hot Yang Energy.’

The warmth settled in his Cinnabar Field was extremely faint and weak, but because his body was so full of coldness, it felt all the more distinct.

Having finished his Qi circulation, Namgung Jun slowly opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw upon opening them was Lee Se-ha, her clasped hands trembling.

“Master? Are you alrigh—”

Namgung Jun could not finish his sentence. It was because Lee Se-ha had suddenly thrown her arms out and pulled him into a tight hug.

“My disciple! Magnificent! I praise you!”

Lee Se-ha abruptly hugged Namgung Jun and began jumping up and down. In contrast, Namgung Jun was perfectly calm.

“Please, calm down, Master.”

Only after a long moment did Lee Se-ha calm her excitement, sweeping her disheveled hair behind her ear.

“I checked your Pulse Gate... the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art seems to have settled stably in your Cinnabar Field, too! There don’t seem to be any problems.”

Letting go of Namgung Jun’s wrist, Lee Se-ha tilted her head as if fascinated.

“Even for a genius, how is this level of accomplishment possible?”

“It is thanks to your teachings, Master.”

Though Namgung Jun calmly demurred, Lee Se-ha firmly shook her head.

Then, after thinking for a moment, she raised her right hand.

“Want to try and copy me?”

Crackle!

Lightning energy coalesced clearly in Lee Se-ha’s hand. She intended to see what Namgung Jun’s internal energy circulation was like.

‘There is no need to deliberately hide my power.’

There is a saying in the Martial World not to reveal one's skills lightly, but Lee Se-ha was his master.

Rather than hide his power half-heartedly, it would be better to display his talent and learn an advanced martial art even a day sooner.

‘This much is easy.’

Namgung Jun immediately generated lightning energy in his hand.

Unlike Lee Se-ha's lightning energy, which split clearly into dozens of straight branches, Namgung Jun's lightning energy merely coiled faintly.

But it was clear that he had successfully circulated the internal energy from his Cinnabar Field through his meridians to his hand.

“My disciple really is a genius!”

Lee Se-ha covered her mouth with both hands and cheered.

As if he had quickly adapted to his master's fuss, Namgung Jun asked with a composed expression.

“Master. I wish to learn other martial arts as well. Things like swordsmanship and footwork.”

“Of course, you should. When we get back to the Azure Sky Society, I'll immediately find martial arts that suit you.”

New martial arts.

No other words made his heart race so much.

Of course, he remembered the martial arts of Namcheon Palace from his past life, but Namgung Jun had no intention of simply retracing those steps.

He, who regretted his past, did not believe he could change the present with the martial arts of the past. One regret was enough.

Now that he had gained the opportunity to learn new martial arts, he intended to make active use of it.

‘And while doing so, I must create a martial art that surpasses the ones I used in my past life.’

Having made a solitary vow, Namgung Jun clenched his fists.

“Shall we set off right away, then?”

“Yes. Let us depart.”

Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun packed their travel bags and immediately set out on the road.

Towards the Azure Sky Society.

Towards a new home.