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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The True Sword Art
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Seolhwa picked up her sword and walked to the center of the training ground.
There was no prior warning, but Ryeon did not stop her. No, he couldn't stop her.
He knew what she intended to do.
Standing in the center of the training stage, Seolhwa gripped her sword. She took a deep breath and assumed her stance.
It is said that a swordsman speaks through their sword. Seolhwa was about to answer Ryeon's question.
Through her sword.
"..."
Ryeon and the Jeokryongdan members' eyes trembled as they recognized the starting stance.
The stance Seolhwa took was the first form of the fundamental sword art, Daeyeon Geombeop, which could be said to be the foundation of all Namgung sword arts.
In the quiet training hall, a child's voice softly echoed.
"If one embraces the will of the heavenly net that covers the heavens and earth, there is nothing that cannot be cut."
Seolhwa's sword moved.
"Daeyeon Geombeop, first of the three preliminary forms. Daeyeon Ilcham."
As if drawing the sky looking down upon the world, Seolhwa's sword cleaved through the world.
The sword continued its flow, unbroken.
"If one connects Heaven and Earth, what in the world can remain undivided? Daeyeon Geombeop, second of the three preliminary forms. Daeyeon Illyi."
Seolhwa brought her sword down.
No, it was a sublime motion that connected heaven and earth. A motion that joined heaven and earth to cleave the world.
Ryeon felt a shiver run down his spine, raising goosebumps all over his body.
It was a sensation he had vaguely felt when he first saw Seolhwa's sword in the training hall that day.
'It wasn't Samjae Geombeop.'
What the young lady had performed that day was not some low-level martial art composed of simple movements.
Seolhwa moved her sword one last time.
"He who embraces the principles of heaven shall pierce through anything in the world."
Clutching her sword, she stepped back with her right foot and gazed straight ahead.
"Daeyeon Geombeop, third of the three preliminary forms. Daeyeon Ilcheon."
Seolhwa thrust her sword forward.
Though she merely thrust her sword into the air, those watching believed her sword had 'pierced' something.
A faint breeze stirred around her. Seolhwa's fluttering robes slowly settled as the wind died down.
No one dared to speak or move easily.
The thrill of the profound principles of heaven and earth, felt through simple movements, tensed their entire bodies.
Sword arts are comprised of forms, and forms are comprised of movements.
Depending on the creator of the sword art, the movements vary, and the sword paths are divided into countless types.
However, a sword art is ultimately composed of simple actions like swinging and thrusting a sword.
"This is how I confront things."
Ryeon swallowed dryly.
Seolhwa's sword was so perfect, one could say she had achieved the Grand Completion (12th stage) of the Daeyeon Geombeop.
To the extent that even he, a Heukryongdae member, wasn't sure if he could perform such profound Daeyeon Geombeop.
The important thing was…
"Just… how did you do it? Jeokryongdaeju taught you nothing."
He meant, how could she learn it if she wasn't taught?
Seolhwa calmly looked at her sword and replied.
"Jeokryongdaeju had me practice Samjae Geombeop, while teaching Daeyeon Geombeop beside me. Samjae Geombeop's movements are simple, but they are ultimately the foundation of all sword arts."
Those who first learn the sword begin by swinging, cutting, and thrusting.
"The three preliminary forms of Daeyeon Geombeop are those very movements imbued with the profound principles of heaven. One could say they are the foundation of the Namgung. If they're teaching the same sword art, just in a different form, is there any reason I couldn't learn it?"
"…!"
Ryeon was astonished.
So that meant…
'She comprehended the sword art just by watching from a distance?'
And not just the movements, but the Namgung's profound principles contained within Daeyeon Geombeop? Is that even possible?
Yet, he couldn't say it was impossible, for the evidence stood plainly before his eyes.
'This, this person…'
This person is real…!
Ryeon recalled the words his senior, a former leader of Heukryong First Unit, and his father, always used to say.
'If you wish to walk the path of a martial artist as someone's subordinate, serve a lord stronger than anyone else. For your lord's strength will be your pride.'
From then on, Ryeon wished to meet a powerful lord.
To meet a powerful lord, one must first become strong oneself. For that purpose, he had trained his martial arts for twenty-five years.
His martial artist's intuition told him. This person is a true martial talent and a great blessing for the Namgung!
'This person is…!'
A thud echoed.
Seolhwa turned her head and looked at Ryeon.
Ryeon, who had discarded his broken wooden sword, was kneeling on one knee, performing a Pokwon.
"Namgung Ryeon, of Heukryong First Sword Unit! From this moment forth, I pledge myself as your lord, Lady Namgung Seolhwa!"
"..."
"Please, punish my disrespectful actions for failing to recognize my future lord due to a hasty judgment!"
It was a declaration of his will to prioritize Seolhwa's command over the Namgung's.
She had only shown him her sword because he seemed to value skill, but she had gained excessive loyalty.
Standing there, a little bewildered and dazed, Namgung Jipyeong shouted from below the training stage.
"You are truly amazing, Young Lady! I haven't seen Daeyeon Geombeop like that since I joined the Namgung! It is an honor to witness your sword!"
The voices of the Jeokryongdan members followed.
"That was incredible! Young Lady, you're so cool!"
"I respect you! That was the best!"
Seolhwa looked at them.
In their bright smiles, she could sense pride for the one they served.
The bursts of laughter contained a joy that made them momentarily forget what was to come.
She hadn't shown them her sword hoping for this reaction, but…
'...Was it a good thing?'
It wasn't a bad feeling.
Seolhwa wore a faint smile.
In any case, it seemed the training had been successfully completed.
* * *
It was as they finished their training and approached the pavilion.
"Take that back! Take it back!"
"Let go of me! Let go!"
"Kyaaah! You crazy wretch!"
Noisy sounds came from near the pavilion.
Recognizing the familiar voices, Seolhwa and Ryeon immediately rushed over.
Sure enough. Yeoyul was rolling on the ground, pulling the hair of several maids.
"Let go at once!"
Ryeon stepped forward in front of Seolhwa and bellowed.
The maids, tangled in a fight, saw Ryeon in his martial robes symbolizing the Heukryongdae, and startled, stood up, and lined up in a row.
Yeoyul, who had been pinned underneath, also stood up, panting and glaring at the maids.
"What is the meaning of this? How dare you fight here of all places!"
"Th-that is…"
As the maids stammered, Yeoyul snapped.
"Sir Knight! You're the young lady's guard, so you have authority, right? Please give them a good scolding!"
Ryeon frowned.
"First, explain the circumstances. Punishment comes after that."
"If you hear what these wretches said about our young lady, Sir Knight, you'll surely get angry too!"
"What…? About the young lady?"
Ryeon realized his mistake.
Yeoyul was agitated, her eyes wild. He was blocking Seolhwa's view.
She clearly hadn't seen the young lady.
"Yeoyul, before you speak, just a moment…"
"Huh? You know my name? No! That's not important!"
"Just wait a…"
"These wretches said! They said our young lady was from a tavern!"
"…!"
"Not just any tavern, but a gisaeng house!"
Yeoyul glared at the maids, and their faces turned pale as they bowed their heads.
Ryeon felt a dizzying sensation.
He had tried to stop her quickly, thinking it was about the young lady, but he couldn't stop Yeoyul's mouth.
But more shocking than that was:
'What did I just hear?'
What? The young lady was from a tavern? And a gisaeng house?
The moment he fully understood those words, a blue aura began to surge from Ryeon's body.
"How dare these wretches speak of…"
"Now you're all dead!"
It was then, as Yeoyul shouted triumphantly.
A small hand gripped Ryeon's arm, which was reaching for his sword. Ryeon turned around in surprise.
"Ah, Young Lady…"
"Yes! The young lady is here too, so now you're all… Kyaaah! Ah, Young Lady…?"
Seolhwa pushed past Ryeon and stood in front of the maids.
Seeing Seolhwa, the maids' faces drained of color, and they began to tremble uncontrollably.
"Tell me in detail. What was I, exactly?"
However, the maids only bowed their heads; not one of them opened their mouths.
Seolhwa approached one of the maids.
"I'll ask one more time."
Seolhwa grabbed the maid's chin, forcing her to look up.
The child's eyes, gazing into the maid's wildly darting eyes, were utterly serene.
"What, was I?"
