Accepting the Sword Saint’s blade was no small task. Surviving such an encounter was an extraordinary feat in itself.
It required the mindset of enduring a calamity. This was what Jeong Yeon-shin had considered since the start of his mission.
"This is the realm I must tread."
There are swordsmen who claim to cleave through providence with a single stroke.
The Commander of the Sword Corps, the head of the Wudang Sect, the Master of the Celestial Sect among the Thirteen Heavens, and even the infamous leader of the Blade Specters who recently defeated the head of the Qingcheng Sect.
Throughout the world, there were beings of unfathomable power and mystery—some as numerous as the factions within the Daebang Sect.
They had dominated their generations, earning the title of supreme masters. Their names transcended time, inspiring awe and respect across the ages. Enthusiasts often compared them to the unparalleled figures of history whose titles were etched into the annals of the martial world.
The Sword Saint Hyeon So-baek’s renown was no exception.
In the public's imagination, he was considered the reincarnation of the Sword Immortal, Lu Dongbin. His swordsmanship, even when restrained in deference to Jeong Yeon-shin, was nearly impossible to endure.
How many defensive measures would be required to block a single exchange? It was the last remaining obstacle for the boy in Menghui.
This was immediately after Cheon Joo-jin offered his support.
Among the three esteemed guests present, two flinched. The head disciples of the Qingcheng and Mount Hua sects adjusted their postures.
Was this a matter that Cheon Joo-jin had not informed them about beforehand?
A ripple spread across the surface of the pond beside their table, the disturbance from a faint vibration forming concentric circles. As the water carried a few fallen maple leaves, the sunlight, white and red as it danced on the ripples, quivered gently, mirroring the unease of those seated.
"Well now."
A woman of striking presence muttered softly.
She wore a black sword at her hip and a crimson silk cuirass. Her jet-black hair nearly brushed against the scabbard.
Her aura was sharp and honed, but the slightly downturned eyes beside her large pupils gave her a gentle appearance. The pure martial spirit of the Nine Great Sects radiated from her.
It was the Small Sword Queen, Chui So-ok.
Seated upright beside her was the Mount Hua’s hidden dragon, Yu Hyeon. This was a rare gathering, where the renowned Mount Hua Sword Hermit discussed swordsmanship.
Cheon Joo-jin, who once lamented not naming his Azure Flame Eclipse technique, had joked that many would gladly offer sacks of rice in gratitude for his nomenclature skills.
But sparring with swords was another matter entirely.
Mount Hua, alongside Wudang, was one of the most renowned sword sects among the righteous factions. The insights of the Mount Hua Sword Hermit carried value akin to provisions in chaotic times.
Even masters of equal stature sought his counsel on swordsmanship, and swordsmen across the martial world longed for just a single word of his wisdom.
The Small Sword Queen parted her lips delicately, her eyes wide.
"Shall I step away? I didn’t come here knowing the True One’s intentions."
"Don’t trouble yourself. Travelers like us seldom journey through Yunnan without relying on Qingcheng’s assistance. As the head disciple and rightful successor of the Sun Piercing Sword Technique, your presence will be invaluable. It’s wise for the pillars of the Nine Great Sects to form bonds with figures like Ma Gwang-ik."
Cheon Joo-jin spoke in an even tone.
His tone contrasted sharply with the weight of his words. Mount Hua swordsmen were typically like this—honed by the rugged terrain of the western mountains, they carried themselves with the solidity of rock.
Their perpetually indifferent expressions became a symbol of swordsmen. Yu Hyeon, however, was a peculiar case.
The Small Sword Queen smiled faintly.
"Thank you for your kind words. But, I am already well-acquainted with Lord Jeong. We traveled together from Sichuan to Yangyang and even fought side by side against the Sim Mu-ryeon forces. Instead of assisting him, I only reaped benefits."
Her somewhat naive smile carried an oddly playful air. Her gaze naturally shifted to the boy.
Jeong Yeon-shin found himself at a loss for words.
The context didn’t lend itself to straightforward gratitude, and offering a reply felt uncomfortably awkward.
As he stared blankly at her, the elegant nose of Yu Hyeon, sitting cross-legged beside him, twitched as if suppressing a laugh in the presence of his teacher.
Ignoring his peer’s silent amusement, Jeong finally spoke.
"I am curious about the True One’s intentions. My swordsmanship may still be incomplete, but it hardly warrants the True One bestowing such grace upon a warrior of Ipwang Fortress. Unlike the Nine Great Sects, we are not kindred spirits in our pursuit of martial enlightenment."
"Primordial Tranquility (元始安鎭)."
Cheon Joo-jin softly recited the epithet.
"You are connected to Yu Hyeon as well. Did you not save his life twice? A Mount Hua head disciple, trained in the Purple Mist Divine Art, does not owe light debts. Repaying this grace throughout his lifetime is a matter of honor. However, as Yu Hyeon’s skill is still insufficient, I, in turn, extend this favor."
So, it wasn’t a debt.
The boy decided to set his mind at ease.
Having recently created the Radiant Wheel Technique with the assistance of the Seventh Apostle, he had grown particularly sensitive to the weight of debts and enmities. The martial world was a realm of favors and grudges.
Every reputation and influence stemmed from these relationships, and every tale was concluded by them.
Even masters of the dark sects found it difficult to navigate the martial world if they repaid kindness with resentment. It was an ethos woven into the spirit of the times.
Now, as the leader of Ipwang Fortress’s martial forces, he couldn’t afford to accept aid lightly.
Even if the benefactor belonged to the most righteous of factions, such entanglements could affect his future path.
A knowing gleam flickered in the eyes of the young Taoist across from him, as if he understood everything.
Jeong Yeon-shin gave a slight nod and opened his mouth.
"I will listen attentively."
"It would be presumptuous to call this teaching. Consider it a small spark of insight."
Cheon Joo-jin smiled faintly as he gestured into the air.
Swish!
An intangible wave of energy shot forward, razor-sharp. It sliced through a tree branch near the pond.
The long, sturdy branch fell gracefully. Cheon Joo-jin caught it with a gentle motion.
"Our sect master is a remarkably lenient man. He rarely raises a rod to his disciples. Thus, I have taken it upon myself."
Yu Hyeon flinched at his words, though no one paid him any mind.
All eyes, including those of Jeong Yeon-shin and the Small Sword Queen, were fixed on Cheon Joo-jin’s hands.
He stroked the rough pine branch in a peculiar manner.
Swish.
With a light sweep, various currents of energy emanated, resonating through the air. The waves moved in every direction, scattering sunlight like refracted glass.
Within moments, the thick branch was smoothed and evenly shaped, its rugged surface transformed into a narrow wooden sword.
The process took less than three breaths. Bits of bark fell softly between his fingers.
"From the first form of our sect's Plum Blossom Sword Technique, Plum Blossom by the Wayside (梅花路傍), to the seventh form, Plum Blossom in Profusion (梅花頻紛), I stopped midway. The trick lies in swiftly transitioning internal energy from one form to the next. The key is linking energy control into a seamless sequence."
He was saying that he had carved the branch using the residual energy left behind from halting the execution of sword forms.
Jeong Yeon-shin's eyes gleamed with excitement. He hadn’t expected such a fascinating method of martial arts training.
Mount Hua Sect was renowned for its swordsmanship, with a history as old as time. Their training methods were just as unique, marked by this extraordinary ingenuity.
For the first time, a youthful curiosity appeared on Ma Gwang-ik’s usually sharp face. His raised eyes seemed to sparkle with interest.
Cheon Joo-jin smiled.
"Try to contain the essence of your swordsmanship entirely in your hand. No matter how many forms you employ, the bark must be evenly stripped. Each form of the sword technique has its own distinct intention, so you'll need to constantly adapt your flow of energy. Surely you've heard tales of masters defeating opponents with branches picked up along the way? Think of this as an extension of such legends. To properly channel energy, the edge must be sharp."
It was a training method to master the art of linking sword forms into a continuous flow. Despite his modest tone, this was undoubtedly a closely guarded secret of the sect.
For Jeong Yeon-shin, whose swordsmanship remained unpolished compared to the perfected Plum Blossom Sword Technique, this exercise was particularly valuable.
If gaps existed in his transitions, he would inevitably face defeats like the one against the Yullyeong Unit leader, where his Radiant Sword Style had been dismantled.
Even the most powerful forms couldn’t compensate for disjointed transitions.
"To craft a wooden sword..."
Jeong Yeon-shin repeated the phrase to himself.
Cheon Joo-jin, watching the boy intently, asked, "Would you like to try?"
"Yes."
Jeong nodded decisively. His decision came independently of his awareness of his energy center.
In Menghui, the incomplete swordsmanship he had practiced without transitions would finally be perfected.
"It’s fortunate there are evergreens nearby. Pine trees are sturdy but temperamental when observed closely. They’re perfect for refinement."
Cheon Joo-jin cut another branch, just as sharp energy waves slashed through the air.
This time, Jeong Yeon-shin caught it midair. The coarse texture of the branch gripped firmly in his palm; it was unusually thick.
"Shape a single wooden sword until it’s immaculate. That’s all there is to it. Once your sword forms are fully interconnected, they’ll converge into a unified technique. That’s the essence of true swordsmanship. I don’t think it will take you long."
Listening intently, Jeong Yeon-shin summoned his energy.
From his heart, the Radiant Wheel Qi rotated, flowing like a wheel of light into his palm center and channeling through the Laogong Acupoint.
As the gathered energy surged like wind, he initiated the first form of his unnamed swordsmanship.
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Slash!
He distinctly felt the bark being stripped away. However, when he attempted to transition into the second form with the residual energy, the branch crumbled, scattering into dry fragments.
A faint cloud of dust brushed against Jeong Yeon-shin’s hand.
Beside him, Yu Hyeon let out a startled exclamation, his quiet voice laced with amusement. "So there is something you can’t do!"
"Don’t laugh."
Jeong muttered, his tone almost a growl. Though he had never befriended peers his own age, his reaction came naturally.
Yu Hyeon’s smile disappeared instantly. Opposite them, the Small Sword Queen exhaled a faint chuckle.
"Not so easy, is it? Even for you. The more refined the forms, the harder this training becomes."
"It’s difficult enough just to create a single blade edge."
"Even crafting a single-edged sword without attempting a double-edged one is an advanced feat. With your sword forms, it’ll be even harder. For now, aim to create a single-edged blade."
"Thank you for your guidance."
Jeong clasped his hands in a formal gesture of gratitude. Despite the modesty in Cheon Joo-jin’s words, the man was still Ma Gwang-ik.
Regardless of their respective ages, Cheon Joo-jin treated him as an equal to the Plum Blossom Sword Masters.
"Calling it guidance is an overstatement. However, as arduous as this may be, the rewards of mastery will be immense. Consider it a small repayment of a favor. Ipwang Fortress holds more importance than ever. With your abilities, you could save thousands of lives."
Cheon Joo-jin spoke with a somber tone.
He wasn’t merely referring to conflicts with the unorthodox sects. The position of the Martial Alliance was clear.
While the Nine Great Sects maintained a passive stance toward worldly affairs, Menghui, led by its faction leaders, sought to overturn the influence of Ipwang Fortress.
The martial world should have been a haven for free-spirited masters. Yet, martial clans had become feuding factions, vying for dominance.
Though some aided the common folk, others used their strength for personal gain, claiming neutrality even while destroying inns and shrines.
This chaotic ecosystem had once benefited the clans, granting them fame, power, and wealth.
However, after the Yuan dynasty fell and the Ming court rose, the unchecked rise of local martial lords was strictly forbidden.
The sharp blade of Ipwang Fortress had silenced the martial world, with the order and safety of the people as its highest priority.
The martial clans were suppressed, their discontent festering. The annihilation of the Hwangbo Clan and the Namgung family’s direct line only exacerbated the tension.
Jeong Yeon-shin realized these circumstances after bidding farewell to the honored guests of the Nine Great Sects—just as he successfully crafted a single-edged wooden sword on his second attempt.
"A wooden sword...?"
The face of the pale young Taoist flashed briefly in his mind before Ma Gwang-ik led Zhuge Cheong-ah through the front gates.
Her visit, planned after the Gepa Daetjeon, was long anticipated.
Now, amidst the uproar caused by Ma Gwang-ik’s victory over Eon’s First Fist, Jeong Yeon-shin stood by the pond, his crafted wooden sword in hand, as he addressed her.
"Speak."
Zhuge Cheong-ah trembled under Ma Gwang-ik’s calm gaze.
Perhaps it was due to witnessing her duel with Eon Hwayeon, but her small lips, usually tightly shut, appeared dry and slightly parted.
She slowly opened them and said, "If you hear me out, you will have to break through many in a short time. They are famed elite warriors..."
"Just speak."
Jeong Yeon-shin frowned, feeling a sharp ache in his knees.
The pain, usually confined to the night, was now creeping into the day. Irritation swelled within him. "Again, I’ll need to adjust my training regimen."