The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 4 - Master and Disciple (3)

He had expected continuous pursuit from the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, but the road back to the Azure Sky Society was surprisingly peaceful.

During their intermittent rests, he was able to hear stories about the current state of the Martial World and about the Azure Sky Society.

That the Three Sects and One Union, and the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects were confronting the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult in their respective territories.

That the Azure Sky Society had recently engaged in a major clash with the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

There were many rather interesting stories, but what drew Namgung Jun's interest was the story about the Azure Sky Society.

“Then, are you saying the Azure Sky Society is not an ordinary sect?”

“The terms federation or alliance are more fitting than sect. Because the Azure Sky Society is an organization born from the gathering of survivors from the sects and families that were annihilated by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.”

“Then it is strange that the core virtues of the Azure Sky Society include righteousness and righteous deeds.”

Considering the background of the Azure Sky Society’s founding, it was only natural that they would seek the annihilation of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

But in a situation where it wouldn't be enough to pour all their strength into annihilation and revenge, what was the reason for also pursuing righteous deeds?

Lee Se-ha immediately resolved Namgung Jun’s question.

“The ones who helped the aforementioned survivors escape from the clutches of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult were the righteous warriors of the Martial World.”

“I see.”

“Many of those righteous warriors were sacrificed in the process, and thanks to them, the survivors who barely made it out alive also had a realization.”

“What did they realize?”

Lee Se-ha gave a needless dry cough and slightly lowered her voice, as if mimicking someone else.

“To throw the lives we gained in exchange for the sacrifices of righteous warriors back into the flames of vengeance is not the proper way... Those were the words spoken by one of the survivors. This survivor later became the first generation Lord of the Azure Sky Society.”

Lee Se-ha slightly lowered the bamboo hat on her head and added a final remark.

“Using the new lives they received, saved by righteous warriors, to help others like themselves. That was the only way for the survivors who had lost everything to respect the sacrifice of the righteous warriors and repay the debt of gratitude for saving their lives. The mindset of embracing righteousness without being consumed by revenge is the very beginning of the Azure Sky Society.”

In essence, the survivors had filled the void left by the righteous warriors who had departed first.

‘Remarkable.’

Listening to the story, it seemed the righteousness and devotion of the righteous warriors had inspired the survivors, who had previously yearned only for revenge and survival.

He could not judge rashly since he had not seen it for himself, but it seemed clear that the righteous warriors had played a huge role in turning the survivors' gazes and the points of their swords.

Not towards the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, but towards the world suffering because of them.

“I understand now why the Azure Sky Society came to pursue righteousness.”

Lee Se-ha’s lips, which were always smiling brightly, twisted subtly. She had noticed Namgung Jun’s questioning gaze.

“My family was also annihilated by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.”

“Then among the martial arts you have mastered, there must be some from the Azure Sky Society.”

Lee Se-ha nodded her head.

“The martial arts of the Azure Sky Society were either recovered from annihilated sects or collected from those circulating in the Martial World. Or they were offered up by individuals themselves.”

“Are there cases like that?”

Namgung Jun could not help but be surprised.

The leaking of martial arts was what martial artists were most sensitive about. This was because a leak could lead to the art being countered and broken.

“They either fear that their martial art will die with their generation, or they wish for another to learn it and help in the fight against the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.”

“In that case, the other martial arts you’ve learned as well?”

“That's right. I selected and mastered the martial arts from the Azure Sky Society’s archives that suited me best. You will do the same.”

Namgung Jun gave a quiet nod.

‘I had expected as much.’

Putting together what he had heard from Lee Se-ha, it seemed that roughly two hundred years had passed since the fall of Namcheon Palace.

He felt strange confirming the story of how the martial arts of the annihilated Namcheon Palace had flowed into the Azure Sky Society.

It was a feeling like receiving definitive confirmation of Namcheon Palace’s annihilation. But Namgung Jun’s tightly clenched fists showed no signs of uncurling.

‘Yes. The martial arts themselves are not what is important. What's important is that the righteous spirit of Namcheon Palace is carried on.’

He would have to see and judge for himself, but based on what he had heard so far, it was a place he quite liked.

In the current Martial World, the dominance of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult was prominent.

The Orthodox Faction was, at best, holding the line and suppressing the expansion of the Demonic Cult in some regions, while the Unorthodox Faction showed a variety of responses, either keeping their distance from the Demonic Cult or submitting to it entirely to ensure their own self-preservation.

In such a situation, it was a very welcome thing that there were those who were obstructing a world under the demonic path and performing righteous deeds.

Having organized his thoughts on the Azure Sky Society, Namgung Jun shifted his gaze slightly. It was because Lee Se-ha had, at some point, stopped talking.

‘Hm.’

Though she was trying her best to act brave, a faint shadow had fallen over Lee Se-ha’s face. It seemed the memory of the calamity of her sect's annihilation had surfaced.

After watching her for a moment, Namgung Jun shot up from his spot.

“It is time to prepare our camp for the night. Please rest for a while, Master.”

“Huh? No, it's fine. Let's do it together.”

Lee Se-ha hurriedly called to stop him, but Namgung Jun disappeared quickly into the forest as if he hadn't heard.

Staring blankly at his departing back, Lee Se-ha let out a sigh.

“I showed an unsightly side of myself in front of my disciple.”

Smack!

Lee Se-ha slapped her own cheeks and her eyes shot wide open. Her pitch-black eyes now held a faint glow from a newly found resolve.

“I am a master now.”

Lee Se-ha steeled her heart.

Simply teaching martial arts would not be the whole of it.

To become the disciple's pillar of support and their roof.

That must be the true role of a master.

ִ ﾒִ ﾒִ ﾒ

Namgung Jun looked around his surroundings.

‘This place is?’

He was certain that he had eaten dinner and fallen asleep.

But at some point, he had come to be standing alone on a red plain. The dark red of his surroundings created a horrific scene.

“Ah.”

The plains, dyed in the color of blood, were filled with the corpses of his disciples.

Namgung Jun knew instinctively.

That this was a dream.

A truly terrible nightmare.

But he could not turn away from the scene before his eyes.

Because the guilt of having failed to protect his disciples had settled in his chest, as heavy and cold as Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.

Squelch!

As Namgung Jun crossed the blood-red plains, his entire body was stained red. At the same time, his body began to sink into the ground.

As if he had fallen into a swamp.

Nevertheless, Namgung Jun paid it no mind.

With his eyes wide open, he moved forward.

As if it was what he was meant to do.

“I am sorry. My disciples.”

The corpses of his disciples writhed bizarrely and gathered around him. Even while surrounded by countless corpses, he did not stop walking.

It was his intention to confront this nightmare head-on.

A hand, covered in blood from all sorts of cuts, grabbed Namgung Jun’s leg. A half-rotten leg pressed down on Namgung Jun’s knee.

The corpses of his disciples closed in around his entire body.

The pressure pushing in from all sides and the thick scent of blood.

These things were the regret he held in his heart.

For that reason, Namgung Jun straightened his back and looked forward.

And he cried out.

“If only I had been a little stronger… If only I had advanced a little further!”

Namgung Jun’s remorse echoed throughout the dream.

He walked and walked endlessly across the plains, with no idea when it would end.

It was what he had to do.

ִ ﾒִ ﾒִ ﾒ

Lee Se-ha, who had been sleeping, felt her eyes flash open.

It was because her disciple, on the other side of the campfire, was making sounds of pained groaning.

Lee Se-ha moved cautiously. The expression on the sleeping Namgung Jun’s face was deeply creased.

“My disciples...”

His pronunciation was so mumbled that she could not properly hear his sleep-talking. But seeing him break out in a cold sweat and let out pained groans, it seemed he was having a nightmare.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry... It is because I was lacking.”

This time, the pronunciation was clear. Lee Se-ha’s dark eyelids lowered slightly.

‘Who on earth is he apologizing to?’

After hesitating, her fingers fidgeting, Lee Se-ha firmed her lips as if she had made a decision. Then, she lightly placed a hand on Namgung Jun’s forehead.

“It’s okay.”

Lee Se-ha then continued, as if whispering in Namgung Jun’s ear.

“Because you did your best.”

Was it thanks to her clear voice and the warmth of her hand?

His tossing and turning, as if in the throes of a nightmare, eased into comfort. Soon, his unstable breathing also found its stability.

“Thank goodness.”

A faint arc formed on Lee Se-ha’s light pink lips.

She was happy that she seemed to have fulfilled her role as a master. For it was a master's duty to support a disciple who was wavering.

Once Namgung Jun fell into a comfortable sleep, Lee Se-ha quietly moved away.

Looking up at the night sky revealed between the trees, the brightly shining moon tickled the hem of her clothes.

It seemed her disciple had a past that he had not yet revealed. But she did not want to press him for it.

Because she had faith that he would tell her himself when the time came.

‘A master must not only teach martial arts, but also be able to make her disciple rely on and trust her.’

Her disciple’s talent was so outstanding that he might surpass her in a short period of time. If so, that would be another joy for her as a master.

But Lee Se-ha vowed and vowed again.

That there must surely be things she could teach besides martial arts, and that she must be able to support her disciple with her mere existence.

“I can’t sleep.”

Her disciple’s sleep-talking still lingered in her ears.

In the end, Lee Se-ha did not return to the campfire.

Because when one could not sleep, training was the best remedy.

The moonlight, flowing faintly down through the clouds, struck the blade of her sword and scattered beautifully.

ִ ﾒִ ﾒִ ﾒ

Mount Huang.

A mountain range stretching across the southern part of Anhui Province, its length reaching hundreds of ri.* The number of peaks was also great, totaling over seventy when all were counted.

[N: 1 ri = Approx 392 meters]

“It's a truly beautiful place, isn't it?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Jun's reply, as he gazed upon the landscape, was brief. It wasn't that his gaze was stolen by the beauty of Mount Huang.

‘To think the Azure Sky Society would be located here.’

In his past life, Namcheon Palace was also located on Mount Huang. Therefore, Mount Huang was no different from his hometown.

“My disciple. Mount Huang has four famous features, called the Four Wonders. Want to try and guess what they are?”

“Pine trees, seas of clouds, strange rocks, and hot springs.”

“Oh.”

She had asked the question because she wanted to see Namgung Jun ponder it deeply, but she hadn't expected him to get it right immediately.

However, Lee Se-ha skillfully continued the conversation.

“The Azure Sky Society is hidden within the Four Wonders of Mount Huang.”

Namgung Jun understood immediately.

The mist from the clouds and the steam from the hot springs narrowed one's vision, and the densely packed pine trees and rocks made it easy to lose one's sense of position and direction.

‘And a formation.’

It appeared a formation had been cast over the area, using the terrain of Mount Huang to more easily deceive the senses.

“We’ve arrived.”

The moment he stepped forward, treading in the exact same spot as Lee Se-ha, the oppressive view cleared away completely. What was revealed before his eyes was a cluster of fortress walls and pavilions lined up between the gorges.

“Ah.”

Namgung Jun let out a short gasp without realizing it.

‘It’s Namcheon Palace.’

Though most of its former appearance was gone, looking at the layout of some of the pavilions and fortress walls, he could tell that the Azure Sky Society had been built using the site of Namcheon Palace.

‘How truly coincidental.’

As Namgung Jun stared blankly at the full view of the Azure Sky Society, Lee Se-ha tugged at his sleeve.

Namgung Jun followed behind Lee Se-ha just as he was led.

“Let's go. The Society Lord is away, so we'll go straight to the Ink Scent Division.”

“What kind of place is the Ink Scent Division?”

“It's the place responsible for various fields like administration, finance, intelligence, and personnel. To put it simply, you could say it manages the Azure Sky Society's household affairs. If the Sword Scent Division, which I belong to, is the sword of the Azure Sky Society, then you could say the Ink Scent Division is its brush.”

As they entered the main gate of the Azure Sky Society, the martial artists standing guard greeted Lee Se-ha.

“Hall Master. Welcome.”

“Greetings to the Heavenly Sword Hall Master.”

The martial artists glanced at Namgung Jun once before quickly stepping aside. The very act of accompanying Lee Se-ha was no different from having his identity guaranteed.

Looking at the martial artists walking about the inner fortress of the Azure Sky Society, Namgung Jun asked.

“Everyone here is...”

“Wearing a bamboo hat, right?”

Lee Se-ha tapped the edge of her bamboo hat with her finger and said.

“Because the bamboo hat is the symbol of the Azure Sky Society. All members of the Azure Sky Society wear one.”

“Is there some meaning behind it?”

About to answer, Lee Se-ha paused for a moment, then tilted her chin playfully to the side.

“Hmph. Find out for yourself later.”

Lee Se-ha led Namgung Jun and stopped before a pavilion. As if it were a place of considerable importance, its scale was more magnificent than the other pavilions.

“Is this the Ink Scent Division?”

“Yep. You have to take the entrance exam here.”

As soon as Lee Se-ha’s words ended, the doors of the Ink Scent Division opened and two men revealed themselves.

One was a stick-thin old man, and the other a man with a solid, well-balanced build of muscle. Both men were dressed in scholar's robes.

The old man looked back and forth between Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun and asked.

“Heavenly Sword Hall Master. Is this the boy?”

“That's right. He is the boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians, and also my disciple.”

“You took him as a disciple? You liked him that much?”

The head of the Ink Scent Division, the Ink Lord, Yun Gyeong-jong, slowly crossed his arms.

“Since we have a guarantee from you, who are so picky, we will waive the other exams besides the martial arts test. When will he be able to take the martial arts test?”

Though the question was directed at Lee Se-ha, Namgung Jun answered immediately.

“I can do it right away.”

“Right now? If you’ve just become the Heavenly Sword Hall Master’s disciple, you must have only recently begun to learn martial arts.”

“That is correct. I have only learned the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art.”

“And you still wish to take the test?”

Yun Gyeong-jong looked at Lee Se-ha. His gaze was telling her to explain, but Lee Se-ha merely showed a grin.

“Hah, how amusing.”

Yun Gyeong-jong pointed to the man he had brought with him.

“Try to receive a single sword strike from this fellow.”

The muscular man, who had been standing in silence, drew his sword as soon as Yun Gyeong-jong’s words fell.

“I am Gang Mong of the Ink Scent Division.”

When a distance of seven steps remained.

Gang Mong warned him.

“Don’t be foolhardy, just dodge. You’ll die.”

Immediately after spitting out the words, Gang Mong thrust his sword out vertically.

The sword strike, laden with heavy power, plunged down toward the crown of Namgung Jun's head.