Chapter 73
Samun Training Corps (2)
Namgung Jun extended a hand without taking his eyes off the manual.
“A brush and paper.”
It was a sudden request, but the scholar handed over the writing set in front of him as if possessed.
Namgung Jun. The boy who has drawn the attention of the Ink Lord himself.
The scholar already knew who Namgung Jun was.
Not only that he had caught the eye of Ink Lord Yun Gyeongjong, but that many other high-ranking officials had taken notice of him as well.
But even setting that aside...
The blue gleam reflected in Namgung Jun’s eyes as he studied the manual gave the impression that he was about to accomplish something extraordinary.
The scholar did not mind in the slightest that the lecture had been interrupted because of Namgung Jun.
Rather, he stared intently at the blank sheet of paper, burning with curiosity about what the young man was about to show.
Namgung Jun began to write.
The brush moved without hesitation, its strokes resembling the execution of a sword art.
Quietly observing, the scholar suddenly realized something and muttered under his breath.
“Hm? This is...?”
What Namgung Jun was filling the paper with was a diagram complete with explanatory formulas and detailed sword trajectories.
“The Twin Death Harmony Sword uses two swords and the repulsive force of yin and yang to maximize its power.”
Though he spoke, his hand never stopped moving.
As the formulas and diagrams grew increasingly detailed, the scholar’s eyes widened.
“The Twin Death Harmony Sword treats the repulsion of yin and yang as another form of harmony. Such a concept is rather unfamiliar to orthodox martial artists.”
The brush, which had been racing across the paper with unstoppable momentum, finally came to a halt.
“In that case, the countermeasure is simple. Break the harmony that the Sun Moon Demonic Cult seeks.”
In the blink of an eye, Namgung Jun filled more than ten sheets of paper with formulas and diagrams.
“This countermeasure will be the first step toward facing the Twin Death Harmony Sword.”
Not only the scholar but the trainees gathered nearby could not take their eyes off the countermeasure that Namgung Jun had written in a single breath.
“How is this possible?”
“How can he devise a countermeasure for a martial art he has never even seen?”
“Young Hero Namgung, are you certain about this countermeasure?”
The last question came from the scholar who had been lecturing moments earlier.
“Young Hero Namgung has never encountered the Heavenly Demon Sword Unit, has he? Then are you saying that, based only on these limited clues, you created an entirely new countermeasure? Is such a thing even possible?”
A mixture of shock and admiration colored the scholar’s face as he pressed for an answer.
“The records concerning the Twin Death Harmony Sword, the dozens of sword marks that remain, and the countermeasure our association previously developed.”
Namgung Jun pointed to the teaching materials the scholar had brought one by one.
“If you work backward from these clues, it is possible to construct a countermeasure that penetrates the core principles of the sword art, even if it is not perfectly accurate.”
In truth, he had experienced the Twin Death Harmony Sword firsthand in his previous life, which allowed him to formulate the countermeasure so quickly.
Even without that knowledge, however, the clues before him would have been enough to devise a countermeasure of the same caliber.
The only difference would have been the amount of time required.
“I understand what you are saying, Young Hero Namgung, but frankly, it is difficult to accept.”
Despite Namgung Jun’s calm explanation, those around him found it hard to believe.
And understandably so.
What Namgung Jun had accomplished defied common sense.
How could someone derive an entirely new countermeasure simply from the information left in a manual, sword marks, and an existing countermeasure, without ever witnessing the sword art itself?
This was not merely a matter of skill or mastery in martial arts.
To lay out countless possibilities and repeatedly arrive at the optimal conclusion required talent of an unbelievable level.
In other words, what was needed was heaven-defying aptitude.
As that conclusion dawned on them, several trainees stared at Namgung Jun in astonishment.
When it came to sword talent, Namgung Jun was already being praised as the greatest genius in the history of the Blue Heaven Society.
Had he not created and improved remarkable sword arts at a young age and achieved an extraordinary level of accomplishment?
“Now that I think about it, he created sword arts himself. Perhaps devising a countermeasure is not all that surprising.”
But will this countermeasure really work?
Setting its effectiveness aside, the mere fact that he devised it is incredible. Even many top experts would never attempt such a thing.
The scholar and the other trainees found themselves speechless as they looked at the result Namgung Jun had produced in an instant.
After examining the countermeasure several times with a serious expression, the scholar asked:
“There is an elder in the Elder Council who survived an encounter with the Twin Death Harmony Sword. He is the one who researched all of our previous countermeasures. Would it be acceptable if I showed this to him?”
“Of course.”
Confidence overflowed from Namgung Jun’s reply.
The scholar nodded solemnly and carefully folded the papers Namgung Jun had written before placing them inside his robes.
That very afternoon, Namgung Jun received a summons from the Hall Master of Martial Training.
All the trainees of the training corps gathered at the training ground.
Standing atop the platform, Ha Mujung, the Hall Master of Martial Training, spoke.
“Namgung Jun. Are you confident?”
“Yes.”
Just as Ha Mujung was about to say something more, an aged voice that none of them had heard before interrupted from the rear.
“Is any further explanation necessary? One need only experience it through the sword.”
Everyone turned toward the direction from which the voice had come.
An old man clad in a yellow robe walked forward with two swords resting on his shoulders.
He wore an eyepatch over his right eye, as though he had lost it, yet the light shining from his remaining left eye was remarkably intense.
Though he appeared to have reached the pinnacle of mastery, the aura surrounding him was razor-sharp. It had clearly been honed through long years and relentless refinement.
“My apologies for making you come all the way here.”
“That is unnecessary. It is far simpler for this old man to take a few steps than to have so many people move.”
After showing proper respect to the elder, Ha Mujung pointed at Namgung Jun.
“It is this boy.”
“Is what I heard truly correct?”
“We should verify it. That is why I need Elder Kwon’s assistance.”
The old man called Elder Kwon stared fixedly at Namgung Jun.
“You are telling me that a child like this devised a countermeasure to the Twin Death Harmony Sword?”
His voice trailed off.
He had heard of Namgung Jun before.
Had not the Head of the Elder Council praised him to the heavens?
The old man had even gone so far as to make plans to pair the boy with his granddaughter.
If that was the case, then the youngster’s natural talent must be genuine.
But is such a thing truly possible?
Though he had personally come to the Samun Training Corps after hearing the news, he remained doubtful.
A countermeasure created by reverse-engineering limited information and sword marks without ever witnessing the martial art itself?
He had survived in the martial world for many years, yet he had never heard of such a feat.
“Are you confident in the countermeasure you created?”
“I am.”
“Then no more words are necessary.”
Elder Kwon picked up the two swords he had brought and held one in each hand.
“At the time, I was out on a mission and happened to encounter the Heavenly Demon Sword Unit. I lost an eye, but by sheer fortune managed to survive.”
Namgung Jun nodded.
He finally understood why Ha Mujung had brought this elder to the training corps.
A veteran who directly experienced the Twin Death Harmony Sword.
There could be no better person to judge the effectiveness of a new countermeasure.
“Many years have passed, yet it remains vivid before my eyes. That sword art stole my eye and the lives of my comrades. I tried countless times to find a way to counter it, but my abilities were insufficient.”
Deep regret colored Elder Kwon’s voice.
Merely recalling the Heavenly Demon Sword Unit seemed enough to release a faint heat from his body.
“After that day, I retired immediately and devoted myself solely to studying the Heavenly Demon Sword Unit and the Twin Death Harmony Sword. Because of that, I can at least imitate its sword paths to some degree.”
Elder Kwon crossed his arms and raised the twin swords diagonally.
“Come. Let me see whether your countermeasure truly possesses merit.”
“I would be honored.”
Holding his sword at middle guard, Namgung Jun charged forward.
The instant the steadfast steps of Infinite Step carried him straight ahead, Elder Kwon’s twin swords slashed diagonally toward his neck.
A vicious sword art composed solely of killing techniques.
Had he leaned forward even slightly, his head would have been severed from both sides.
Yet Namgung Jun did not stop.
Instead, he thrust his sword forward and wedged it between the paths of the twin blades.
Then he circulated his internal energy.
Crackle!
Lightning energy surged along the sword blade and forced apart the artificially created collision between the two swords.
Elder Kwon’s flow faltered for an instant.
But only for an instant.
The twin sword strikes came crashing down once more like raging waves, threatening to tear Namgung Jun’s entire body apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The thunderous noises came from the twin swords colliding with each other.
At the same time, the speed and power of the blades increased further.
He said he devoted the rest of his life solely to studying the Twin Death Harmony Sword. I can feel that obsession.
Having experienced the Twin Death Harmony Sword wielded by the Great Protector, Namgung Jun could tell.
The years Elder Kwon had spent pursuing it had not been wasted.
Boom!
Stamping his foot firmly into the ground, Namgung Jun inserted his sword into the gap between the twin blades as they converged diagonally.
Clang!
Unable to collide with one another, Elder Kwon’s twin swords were forced apart, causing their power to drop instantly.
Namgung Jun leaned forward and charged.
No special technique was required.
Each time he demonstrated the principles and sword paths contained within his countermeasure, Elder Kwon’s twin swords were pushed back.
This is...!
Elder Kwon’s eye widened as he crossed swords with Namgung Jun.
This was not simply a matter of differences in cultivation.
It was unmistakable.
The Twin Death Harmony Sword was being suppressed by the formulas and sword paths of the countermeasure.
The very core principles that gave the Twin Death Harmony Sword its strength were being prevented from manifesting.
He did not merely combine all of the countermeasures that the Blue Heaven Society had accumulated until now. He added his own understanding on top of them.
Clang!
For the first time, Elder Kwon’s relentless advance came to a halt.
It could not have been otherwise.
Namgung Jun’s sword stood firmly in the center, completely blocking the collision of the twin blades.
The three swords clashed again and again.
After exchanging more than ten additional moves in that state, Elder Kwon suddenly withdrew his swords and stepped back.
“This is as far as this old man can imitate the Twin Death Harmony Sword.”
Silence descended upon the crowd.
Though Elder Kwon kept his mouth shut, no one urged him to continue.
There was no need for an answer.
Everyone who had witnessed the spar already knew.
Namgung Jun’s countermeasure was undeniably effective.
“What monstrous, heaven-defying talent. How can such a thing even be possible?”
Elder Kwon’s low murmur drove the point home.
Staring blankly at Namgung Jun, he cupped his fists in salute.
The lone eye of the elderly martial artist had grown slightly moist.
“You have accomplished a lifelong wish that I could never fulfill. Truly, thank you.”
“Please withdraw such courtesy.”
“Your countermeasure may one day save someone from the Blue Heaven Society. You have every right to take pride in it.”
At that moment, Elder Kwon finally understood why the Head of the Elder Council had shown such interest in Namgung Jun.
Had he been in the same position, he would have done the same.
The boy before him was like a key born with the talent to fulfill everyone's long-cherished wishes.
Of course, it cannot be called perfect. But this will become the first step.
As Elder Kwon pondered the Twin Death Harmony Sword, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
“You there.”
“Yes?”
“The Twin Death Harmony Sword is an art for which very little information exists. Yet you still created a countermeasure of this caliber. If that is the case, could you do the same for other martial arts?”
Analyzing the forces of the Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Eight Great Death Guards, then creating countermeasures, was the responsibility of the Elder Council.
Elder Kwon had merely focused on the Heavenly Demon Sword Unit and the Twin Death Harmony Sword in particular. The other elders studied and analyzed many martial arts at once.
Even so, creating a countermeasure for any martial art was an extraordinarily difficult task.
That was why Elder Kwon could not help but be interested in Namgung Jun’s ability.
In response to the elder’s expectant question, Namgung Jun immediately nodded.
“If the martial art in question is a sword art, then I am confident.”
At Namgung Jun’s unwavering reply, silence once again descended upon the training corps.