Chapter 84
Support for the Akan Branch (4)
A sword strike that severed the Fifty-Man Commander's head in a single blow.
It was the strike that signaled the end of the battle.
"Ghk! The Fifty-Man Commander!"
"Get a hold of yourselves!"
The moment the Fifty-Man Commander fell, the five Ten-Man Commanders under him reacted immediately.
The Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron War Camp.
Both sides had lost the leaders responsible for directing their forces.
Yet neither force fled immediately.
Instead, they stubbornly continued trying to hinder the Heavenly Sword Hall's advance.
It was the spirit expected of warriors from major sects.
However, there were clear limits to how long a battlefield could be maintained through determination and willpower alone.
"The Fifty-Man Commander is dead!"
While cutting down Iron War Camp warriors from within their ranks, Namgung Jun infused internal energy into his voice.
His intention was to ensure that even the Iron War Camp warriors too focused on combat to notice their commander's death would hear the news.
"Is that true?"
"Impossible! How could the Fifty-Man Commander suddenly—"
The Iron War Camp warriors fighting the Great Convergence Sword Formation at the front were visibly shaken.
The problem was that Heavenly Sword Hall sword strikes were flying at them from directly ahead, while their attention drifted behind them.
There was no way they could respond properly.
The Heavenly Sword Hall was far too dangerous an opponent for such distractions.
"Looking elsewhere during a battle?"
"Now! Push through!"
The Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen relentlessly exploited every opening.
Even the Fist Shields that normally formed an unbreakable wall proved helpless at that moment.
BOOM!
The Great Convergence Sword Formation tore through the encirclement formed by both the Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron War Camp and successfully escaped the battlefield.
***
After reaching a secluded location, the Heavenly Sword Hall finally halted to catch their breath and reorganize.
The Akan Branch survivors, who had remained protected at the center of the formation throughout the battle, stared at the Heavenly Sword Hall warriors with amazement.
The Heavenly Sword Hall was one of the Ten Halls.
An elite military force of the Changcheon Society.
Naturally, their martial prowess would be extraordinary.
Yet witnessing it firsthand left an entirely different impression.
The Heavenly Sword Hall truly lives up to its reputation.
More importantly, the overall level of their swordsmen seems to have risen. The Great Convergence Sword Formation feels completely different.
The Blue Star Sword, Namgung Jun... To possess such martial prowess at that age. Has the next Hall Master of the Heavenly Sword Hall already been decided?
Most of the Akan Branch members found themselves looking toward Namgung Jun.
Dan Sohye was no different.
He had served as one of the central pillars of the Great Convergence Sword Formation throughout the battle.
Then, at the end, he had broken away alone and personally taken the head of the Iron War Camp's Fifty-Man Commander.
An achievement she would never even dare imagine attempting.
How does someone become that strong?
The more she thought about it, the larger the gap between herself and Namgung Jun felt.
While Dan Sohye remained unable to look away from him, the Akan Branch Leader was handing the bloodstained document to Lee Seha.
"So this information is what caused the Akan Branch to fall?"
"Yes, Hall Master. The information was nearly taken by the Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron War Camp, but we managed to intercept it by sheer luck. Unfortunately, the branch paid the price."
Lee Seha unfolded the document and examined its contents.
"...The grotto of the Jangcheon Cult."
The paper contained the location of a hidden grotto.
Jangcheon Cult .
A major unorthodox sect that had dominated Jiangxi Province over a century ago.
It had been a gathering place for those obsessed with immortality, pursuing it through countless forbidden arts and sinister rituals.
In the end, however, the sect had fallen.
Even so, they had left traces of their studies throughout the martial world.
The grotto sought by both the Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron War Camp appeared to be one such remnant.
"A hidden grotto... Now I understand why those two factions suddenly joined forces."
At Lee Seha's words, Namgung Jun nodded.
"If it's a grotto like this, people from all over the martial world would flock to it. They joined hands so they could quietly and efficiently absorb as much of the Jangcheon Cult's legacy as possible."
"That's probably the case. They may normally be enemies, but they're the sort who can pretend to cooperate when there's enough profit involved."
Heo Il stroked the edge of his bamboo hat.
"If this information falls into the hands of the unorthodox path, chaos will spread across the martial world. Preserving it was a stroke of heavenly fortune."
Lee Seha nodded.
"It's only part of the map rather than the complete thing, but we've gained a tremendous amount of time. The Akan Branch has accomplished something remarkable."
He carefully stored the document away and stood up.
"We should return immediately. There's no chance they'll quietly let us leave."
***
The Heavenly Sword Hall successfully escorted the Akan Branch survivors back to the Society's headquarters.
Using the information recovered by the Akan Branch, the Ink Fragrance Department focused its attention on Jiangxi Province.
The Sun Moon Demonic Cult and the Iron War Camp would undoubtedly continue digging relentlessly until they found the Jangcheon Cult's hidden grotto.
If things went badly, a massive bloodshed centered around the grotto might erupt.
Treasure maps.
Hidden grottoes.
The tombs of peerless masters.
Such things had always brought bloody storms to the martial world.
The Changcheon Society intended to prevent that disaster before it began.
The surviving members of the Akan Branch would remain at headquarters for the time being to recover.
Once a new branch was established, they would be dispatched again.
"I wanted to know how much I'd grown since the placement examination..."
Halfway through speaking, Dan Sohye seemed to realize her mistake and trailed off awkwardly.
Namgung Jun was younger than her.
Yet he was now officially a Third Cloud member.
Meanwhile, she remained a First Cloud.
Proper etiquette dictated that she speak respectfully.
"Hmm."
Perhaps because she knew he could leave for the martial world again at any time.
Whatever the reason, Dan Sohye had sought him out.
"Let's spar!"
Namgung Jun, who had been instructing First and Second Cloud members of the Heavenly Sword Hall, looked at her silently.
As Dan Sohye flinched beneath that indifferent gaze, Man Yewon—who had been receiving heavy-sword instruction from Namgung Jun—suddenly interjected.
"Namgung Jun is a Third Cloud now. Shouldn't you be speaking more respectfully? Even if you entered the Society at the same time."
Dan Sohye's eyes widened.
Realizing her mistake, she hurriedly tried to correct herself.
Namgung Jun, however, had no intention of criticizing her for it.
Instead, he simply observed the visibly flustered woman.
She said she was my first opponent in the placement examination.
He had only learned that fact during the journey back from Jiangxi Province.
Had the Akan Branch members not mentioned it, he might never have known.
Dan Sohye.
Now that he thought about it, a vague memory surfaced.
Yet even then, she had left little impression on him.
After all—
Their match had ended with a single strike.
Whether he could truly give the woman what she sought remained uncertain.
But Namgung Jun did not concern himself with that.
If someone held a sword properly and genuinely aspired to rise higher, offering even the smallest bit of guidance was part of the martial world's code.
"This way."
When Namgung Jun pointed toward the sparring platform, Dan Sohye brightened and quickly picked up two wooden practice swords.
Seeing that, Namgung Jun shook his head.
"We'll be using real swords."
"Ah."
Will I be able to receive it this time?
She was unquestionably stronger than she had been during the placement examination.
Even so, she could not confidently say she could withstand the sword strike Namgung Jun had shown back then.
It was both her goal and her inner demon.
That was why she had chosen to confront it directly.
If it was a demon she had to overcome someday, then she wanted acknowledgment from the very person who had delivered that sword strike—not merely self-satisfaction or empty speculation.
Thud.
Standing still, Dan Sohye touched the sword at her waist before stepping forward with a resolute expression.
Meanwhile, Namgung Jun stood on one side of the platform with a hand resting on his hilt.
"By my master's orders, I am responsible for instructing the sword arts of the hall. I cannot waste time. This spar will be decided in a single exchange."
"That's exactly what I wanted. Show me the same sword strike you used during the placement examination."
Dan Sohye drew her sword with determination.
Tension filled her face as she assumed her stance.
Namgung Jun stepped forward.
His movement flowed like water.
To Dan Sohye's eyes, his figure blurred almost instantly.
Forget the sword strike.
At this rate, she wouldn't even be able to react to his approach.
Even so, she concentrated every ounce of her focus.
I can do this.
One defeat.
One sword.
The scar left by that single strike during the placement examination had tormented her ever since.
Yet she had never stopped.
She trained relentlessly and never allowed herself to stagnate.
That was why she trusted the blood and sweat she had shed.
"Haaah!"
With a sharp shout, Dan Sohye unleashed a sword strike.
Its trajectory was elegant and refined.
At the same moment, a blue flash exploded before her eyes and completely filled her vision.
Even then, she refused to retreat.
She pushed her sword path forward to the very end.
The frustration and regret of that day.
The effort and dedication that followed.
She poured everything into that single strike.
KRAAAAAANG!
A thunderous explosion echoed across the sparring platform.
Dan Sohye's body slid backward.
Yet she barely noticed.
An overwhelming sword force threatened to crush her entire body.
"Ghk!"
For an instant, her vision turned completely white.
Still, she struggled to remain conscious.
She wasn't even sure whether she was still standing.
Perhaps she had failed to receive the strike properly.
Perhaps her sword had broken again.
Perhaps she had been sent tumbling across the platform in disgrace.
"Miss Dan."
Even through her dazed state, Namgung Jun's voice cut through her mind as sharply as a blade.
"Hah!"
Dan Sohye inhaled deeply and regained her senses.
Namgung Jun stood far away.
The situation became clear immediately.
He had not retreated.
She had been pushed back that far.
The first thing she checked was her sword.
"...Ah."
A sigh escaped her lips.
Just how heavy had that strike been?
Both palms were split open and bleeding heavily.
The blade still trembled violently.
Yet one thing was certain.
The sword had not broken.
Even then, she could hardly believe it.
"Did I... receive Young Hero Namgung's sword? The same strike from the placement examination?"
Glancing at his own blade hanging low at his side, Namgung Jun replied,
"You certainly did."
As her eyes slowly widened, he continued.
"To be honest, the strike I just delivered was more than twice as strong as the one I used during the placement examination. Yet you endured it regardless."
Namgung Jun smoothly sheathed his sword.
"You've clearly grown stronger, Miss Dan. Haven't you?"
Despite receiving that acknowledgment, Dan Sohye did not answer immediately.
She merely steadied her breathing before slowly sinking to the ground.
"Are you alright?"
Man Yewon hurried onto the platform and tried to support her.
Dan Sohye shook her head.
Refusing the assistance, she planted her trembling legs firmly beneath her.
Then, despite her condition, she stood back up.
"My goal hasn't changed since the placement examination."
Her eyes had become clearer than ever.
"To enter one of the Ten Halls of the Changcheon Society."
She looked directly at Namgung Jun.
"I'll chase after you, Young Hero Namgung. Someday, I want to stand behind you and draw my sword on the same battlefield."
The placement examination was not the only path into the Ten Halls.
Cloud-ranked members who distinguished themselves in branches throughout the martial world could be recommended to headquarters.
Hall Masters also occasionally conducted separate examinations to fill vacancies.
Having finally overcome the sword strike that had haunted her since the placement examination, Dan Sohye had found a new goal.
Her legs looked ready to give out at any moment.
Her hands were covered in blood.
Yet she still held her sword.
And her eyes remained unwavering.
Seeing that, Namgung Jun nodded.
"Your sword was steadfast. I believe it is entirely possible."
He sheathed his sword fully and offered a respectful salute.
"I look forward to the day we stand on the same battlefield."
***
After finishing his spar with Dan Sohye and returning toward his quarters, Namgung Jun found his path suddenly blocked.
Lee Seha reached out, grabbed his sleeve, and pulled him closer.
"Jun. How about the two of us go on a nice little mission together?"
"A mission?"
"That's right. Come along quickly."
Master and disciple left the Society's headquarters side by side.