TL: Nmalada_micah
PR: SWAN
Chapter 5
A fiery heat emanated from Hajinwi’s eyes.
“As a master, you should explain properly!”
Hajinwi, who received information about the incident at the military headquarters from General Jang, expressed his dissatisfaction.
“Hehe… What are you talking about?”
“General! Repeat what you told me here!”
General Jang continued to act with unfocused eyes, even recreating the movements.
“When he slapped his forehead with his palm, the village chief was far away…”
Namgung Cheong glared at him, but he continued his explanation without making eye contact.
Hajinwi’s eyebrows narrowed as he watched him.
Already in pain, and now, dealing with a child who had recently collapsed…
As General Jang finished his explanation, a chill started to settle on Hajinwi’s face.
His demeanor, fitting for the owner of a giant upper faction, emanated from his cold attitude.
“Now, listen to my story for a moment, General.”
Namgung Cheong, flustered, waved his hand and tried to explain.
In the face of a father’s anger, there was no master or anything.
Hajinwi, barely containing his anger, spoke.
“If the reason is something I cannot comprehend….”
The omitted words were clear to everyone.
Namgung cheong could turn the entire martial arts world into an enemy.
With a solemn expression, Namgung Cheong spoke.
“Your son is a genius.”
“…What?”
The unexpected words created a surprising feeling.
Though not openly stated, Hajinwi also had eyes and ears.
Everyone called Eunho a prodigy.
But suddenly being called a genius, not Somyi but Eunho?
Is he lying to escape the situation?
However, Namgung cheong was not that kind of person, and Hajinwi knew it better than anyone.
Watching the confused Hajinwi, Namgung cheong explained the military headquarters’ incident.
Understanding Eunho’s attacks, which were threatening even to himself, and the quick application of advanced martial arts.
“That, that’s impossible.”
“It’s true. Even my brother wasn’t like this.”
Mentioning ‘brother’ had a significant impact.
Hajinwi and General Jang were astonished.
Namgung cheong ‘s brother was the head of the Namgung family, the leader of the alliance of the martial world, and the master of the Murim League in the current martial world.
Moreover, he was the current strongest in the twenty-four Masters of the innermost circle, known as the Sword King, Namgung Jin.
Namgung Cheong felt that he had taken control of the conversation.
“I may be old, but I want to teach martial arts properly to this child.”
Hajinwi’s body leaned towards Namgung Cheong.
“If that’s the case… Oh, I lost my composure a bit earlier. I apologize.”
The incident at the military headquarters was long forgotten.
What father wouldn’t be pleased to be called the father of a genius?
He surpasses the great Namgungjin in martial arts, and the one who said this was Namgung cheong himself.
Although he couldn’t enter the top 24 Masters, he had reached the pinnacle and was highly regarded in the martial world.
“Haha, it’s just a father’s sentiment. Even I would have acted the same as you. You’re a good father.”
“Hahaha! You’re exaggerating. I learned from my master when I was young.”
“This person is something else! Huhuhaha.”
Laughter filled the office for a while.
Namgung Cheong then turned his gaze to General Jang.
“Hehe, but slapping the forehead, what was that? Continue speaking.”
Although his voice still sounded playful, General Jang felt a shiver down his spine.
Hajinwi stepped in at that moment.
“Our General Jang has always been a bit exaggerated. Come on, this person! Surely, the master didn’t say that. Apologize quickly!”
General Jang was genuinely bewildered. He just said what was true…
“Quickly.”
When Hajinwi met his eyes, General Jang could only bow deeply.
He was smiling, but his eyes showed no signs of laughter.
In the end, General Jang had to apologize to Namgung Cheong.
“I seem to have misunderstood. I apologize.”
“That could happen. It’s challenging for ordinary people to understand the movements of masters. But be careful with your words in the future.”
“Yes… yes…”
******
As earnest training began, around the time of experiencing two winters, Eunho found himself caught up with two concerns.
Life as a yokai was too easy.
Always the best, always the strongest.
Now reborn as a human.
He held a sword for the first time and learned martial arts for the first time.
But why…
Eunho grinned at the sight of Namgung cheong performing a unique martial art.
“Feels familiar?”
Perhaps it was only natural.
When the Dalma of Soreum created martial arts for the first time, he imitated the movements of yokais.
In that sense, there was no one in the world who understood the essence of martial arts better than Eunho.
Namgung cheong ‘s face, watching him, was filled with distrust.
“Disciple.”
“Yes.”
“Is it truly your first time? Perhaps you’ve practiced in a previous life or…”
Namgung cheong knew himself that this was an absurd idea.
He had seen Eunho when he was very young.
“It’s the first time.”
“In that case, you’re a genius like no other.”
Namgung Cheong was convinced.
Namgung cheong was convinced. At first, he thought Eunho was a genius surpassing Namgungjin, and now he believed he was a genius that the world might never see again.
“It seems so.”
The familiarity with the sword and martial arts was more of a curiosity than a real concern.
But the second concern was not your typical issue.
Something was seriously wrong.
…Why wasn’t he getting stronger?
“Do you know your level?”
“I don’t.”
He didn’t want to know.
“You are entering the realm of the Pinnacle. The proof is the sword energy concentrated and solidified on your sword, called ‘Sword Force.’”
The Sword Force, woven into the sword and surpassing the sword energy of a peak master, represented the pinnacle realm.
It was vividly present in Eunho’s sword.
“I see.”
“The Pinnacle signifies being one of the top in the current martial world. Even elders of the major sects would find it challenging to match. I reached the pinnacle when my hair had already turned white.”
Truly astonishing, even unbelievable. To reach the Pinnacle in just two years of wielding a sword.
Such a feat was unprecedented in the history of high-level martial arts.
However, Eunho remained nonchalant. “I see.”
Did that mean he was neglecting his training? Not at all.
Even the concept of martial arts… interesting.
A long time ago, during the great yokai era.A time when he defeated renowned yokais one after another, gaining a notorious reputation.
“Why is your expression like that? Aren’t you happy?”
“Yes, indeed… I am happy.”
“You seem troubled.”
Eunho nodded.
“Tell me.”
“I am too weak.”
Namgung Cheong’s jaw dropped slightly. Weak? That couldn’t be right.
“You’re not weak at all! In my entire life, I haven’t seen a genius like you. If you’re weak, then all the children of our generation should just go and die… Well.”
Suddenly feeling sorry for the children of their generation, Namgung cheong withdrew his words.
“I want to become stronger. I simply don’t like being just a genius.”
Of course, Eunho was already strong enough.
Even compared to peers and considering the later index, or even two or three times higher, there were few who could rival Eunho.
However, the issue was that Eunho’s standard of strength was not merely being exceptional, a genius, or a master.
It was his personality that demanded not just being strong but becoming the strongest, a characteristic ingrained in him since the beginning.
Having achieved this in his past life, the current self was dissatisfied with the present achievements.
Eunho knew the reason for his stagnant growth.
It was merely a matter of admitting his limits, which bruised his pride.
However, now he had to admit it.
He casually swung his sword through the air.
Despite the lackluster swordplay, Namgung’s Azure Sky was contained in it.
“You can become stronger in this way, but you cannot become the strongest.”
Namgung cheong ‘s eyebrows furrowed.
“You! Namgung is the greatest swordsmanship!”
His voice carried a sense of pride.
Though currently wandering without a purpose, Namgung Cheong was fundamentally passionate about Namgung, a family known for its swordsmanship.
Eunho, through his boyhood memories, was aware that Namgung Cheong hailed from a prestigious family of swordsmen, claiming to be the best among the Five Great Families.
“Yes, they are indeed the best among the existing martial arts clans. However, claiming to be the absolute best is not an unchanging ‘truth.'”
Namgung Cheong’s expression showed doubt.
Eunho was right.
Before Namgung, there were numerous top swordsmen, and they disappeared too.
Being the current best didn’t mean it was an absolute superiority.
“So, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t want to be bound by a specific style.”
Eunho began unfolding his unique martial arts again.
Among the sword techniques he learned from Namgung Cheong, the most outstanding was the Azure Sky Unrestricted Swordsmanship.
Eunho’s Azure Sky Swordplay could be flashy, mysterious, sharp, and daring.
“Yes, it’s an excellent swordsmanship. However, it’s not practical.”
Namgung Cheong was puzzled.
The Five Celestial Sword Techniques learned from Namgung were supposed to pursue practicality, yet Eunho found them lacking.
Before Namgung cheong ‘s curious eyes, Eunho’s vision opened up to a certain aspect.
His habits during the time he was the king of the yokais in the Hojo Sai, his previous life.
His extended fingernails nullified any means of the opponent.
He anticipated the footsteps of those who fled, scattering all kinds of disasters, and even caught the neck of those he chased.
He neutralized and nullified any attacks, defenses, grabs, and disasters.
At that time, the one standing in front of Eunho’s eyes had his life decided solely by Eunho’s will.
If he wanted to save, they survived. If he wanted to kill, they died.
The actions that shook the heavens and the earth during the great yokai era, tearing apart opponents, came to mind.
And now.
He unfolds it within the sword.
The giant tree collapsed with a single strike, turning into splinters before touching the ground.
Then, the second strike, created in mid-air, turned into a spark.
Small branches were no exception. Dozens? Hundreds? The number didn’t matter.
Eunho manipulated all the forces of nature as if they were his own.
With nature aligning with Eunho’s swordplay, each swing was practically boundless.
The shape of the tree vanished in an instant, swirling through the air.
And then finally the third strike.
A line drawn by Eunho’s sword, accompanied by a dazzling light.
Swish!
A swiftly drawn line and…
Boom!
Followed by a resounding explosion.
What remained in its place was…
Nothingness.
Nothing existed there.
Eunho, who completed every movement without any superfluous details, wiped away a drop of sweat with his sleeve.
Thump.
Namgung Cheong sank to the ground.
“What in the world…”
His disciple’s sword was nothingness and simultaneously martial prowess.
Sword energy? Sword force? Those were irrelevant.
I’m truly seeing the end of nothingness and death. Surely, it’s the reincarnation of the martial god.
Eunho looked at the seated Namgung cheong and spoke.
“Namgung’s Changcheon is undoubtedly excellent… But, it’s not the right fit for me.”
If it were Jangho, maybe.
Namgung’s swordsmanship reminded him of Jangho, the fox yokai that used to follow him around.
Light, sharp, and refreshing. Is he doing well?
However, he soon shook his head.
Since he had already severed all connections, he had no need to be concerned.
Namgung Cheong, in his astonishment, put the lingering awe aside and reconsidered the recent events.
Hidden flaws beneath the overwhelming majesty began to surface.
“It seems it hasn’t been perfected yet.”
“Yes, I’m just getting started now.”
“I’ll help you.”
“No, there’s no need…”
“No, I’ll help. I have a deep understanding of martial arts that no one can follow. Roaming the world, scrutinizing all kinds of martial arts, including foreign ones.”
“Hmm…”
Eunho hesitated.
If Namgung’s martial arts were only this much, then proclaiming to be the best in the world…
Of course, he didn’t say it out loud.
Humans at that age tend to collapse in the face of anger, so it’s better not to provoke.
“The decision has already been made. I will help you.”
Namgung Cheong was quite earnest and firm. He was genuinely curious about the true end of Eunho’s martial arts.
“Yes, well… do as you wish. Master.”
“What did you say?”
Namgung cheong couldn’t believe his ears when Eunho referred to him as “Master.”
“If you didn’t hear, it’s fine.”
While there were cases of yokai forming bonds with priests, it was extremely rare.
For the fluffy-haired Namgung cheong , who was barely seventy, to be called a master was an unexpected event.
“Oh, have you decided on the name for your martial arts?”
“No.”
“Then let me decide for you.”
“I don’t want that.”
“Oh, ‘Master’s orders.'”
A vein popped on Eunho’s forehead.
Namgung Cheong coughed awkwardly, turning his head away.
Perhaps he had been overwhelmed by the previous display of power.
Their unique master-disciple relationship continued with exchanged glances.
“The name will be decided after it’s complete.”
In reality, naming wasn’t crucial.
Eunho considered names as mere formalities.
However, Namgung Cheong had a slightly different perspective.
“A name is needed to stay on the right path without losing direction. It’s better to name it first before completing it.”
“If you confine it to a direction, the result might be tedious. I’ll complete it first and then name it.”
“Alright, then…”
Eunho’s forehead vein throbbed once again. This time, he even clenched his fist.
After creating the catalyst, Eunho’s body underwent a significant transformation.
While he had been absorbing natural energy with each breath, the catalyst made the storage more manageable.
Inhaling natural energy and exhaling a refined vigor made him robust over time, his once-small fist becoming larger and sturdier.
And Namgung Cheong knew this formidable fist spared no one, regardless of age or gender.
“Hmm, don’t regret it.”
In the end, a heartwarming scene unfolded where the master respected the disciple’s wishes.
