The Gwiwang Banjang was just a small restaurant, but being located right at the foot of the eastern hill, it had a rather spacious Huwon (rear garden). In that garden was a large boulder that the Gwisoi had moved with great effort, and on top of it, Namgung Cheon was sitting cross-legged, engaged in Ungong Suryeon (energy cultivation).
Hwiiiii!
A whirlwind rose around the seated Namgung Cheon, and the fallen leaves nearby floated lightly into the air.
Hwuuuuung.
The sight of the faded maple leaves and fallen leaves rotating around Namgung Cheon was, at a glance, marvelous. At some point, the leaves no longer seemed to be scattering in the wind, but floating and flowing leisurely in mid-air. The clear, blue energy emanating from Namgung Cheon's entire body made the scene even more mystical.
Regardless, Namgung Cheon was currently focused solely on circulating his qi.
The Changgung Daeyeon Shingong (Vast Sky Great Augmentation Divine Art). It was the fundamental divine art of the Namgung Family, and its most important Simbeop (Mind-Heart Art). It was no exaggeration to say that all of the Namgung Family's martial arts began with the Changgung Daeyeon Shingong.
Namgung Cheon, having completed a Sojucheon (Small Cycle) and a Daeju-cheon (Large Cycle) of the energy from his Danjeon, now slowly began to change his cultivation method.
It was the Cheonroe Jewang Shingong (Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art), said to be passed down only to the Namgung Family's Sogaju (Heir).
Compared to the Changgung Daeyeon Shingong, the very weight of the energy was different. If the Changgung Daeyeon Shingong moved lightly and nimbly, the Cheonroe Jewang Shingong felt heavy and powerful, making it difficult to control. This was likely because the Namgung Family's sword arts placed equal emphasis on both Kwaegeom (Fast Sword) and Junggeom (Heavy Sword).
The reason Namgung Cheon, who was not the heir, knew this art was thanks to Namgung Seon. She, who had been revered as the Cheonhajeillyong (The World's Number One Dragon) despite being a woman, had received the qualifications of the Sogaju early on.
Well, until she met me.
In any case, thanks to that, Namgung Seon had learned not only the Cheonroe Jewang Shingong but all of the family's ultimate techniques.
'And she showed them all to me.'
Even while circulating his energy, Namgung Cheon was briefly lost in old memories. That time, which brought a smile to his face just by remembering it. The time when he had laughed the most, even while running for his life every single day.
Namgung Cheon's consciousness flew back to one of those days, and he became Jin Cheonrang.
Before his eyes, a sword blade, imbued with a clear, blue energy, fiercely cut the air.
Shiit! Shwik, shwik, shwik! Shweeeek.
Even just watching from the side, his skin tingled. It was probably because the sword art she was performing held the energy of Cheonroe (Heavenly Thunder).
Namgung Seon, who had been demonstrating the splendid sword forms, finally sheathed her sword and took a deep breath. She, whose hair settling in the breeze, seemed beautiful.
Namgung Seon suddenly turned and smiled brightly.
"How is it?"
"Amazing."
"Is that all?"
"When something is too amazing, words no longer come out."
"That expression just now wasn't bad."
Namgung Seon smiled brightly. The saying that a flower blooms on a person's face must have been describing such a sight.
Jin Cheonrang suppressed his racing heart and continued. "The reason you showed me this?"
"I wanted you to see it."
"Why?"
"To see what problems my family's sword art has."
"Hmm."
"How is it? Can you tell?"
Jin Cheonrang nodded. "I think so."
"Really? As expected of Chogyeon Pagongan!"
"But I'm not confident I can fix it right away."
"Why? Isn't Chogyeon Pagongan able to deconstruct any martial art?"
"Just because they know where it's broken, does that mean every blacksmith can fix a treasured sword?"
"Ah…"
"It's easy to point out a flaw, but it's difficult to fix it and create something. That's why the more you know, the less you point things out."
"The more rice ripens, the more it bows its head?"
"A similar concept."
Namgung Seon suddenly burst out laughing, making Jin Cheonrang tilt his head.
"What's funny?"
"Just. This kind of talk... it's not like you."
"What is 'like me'?"
"Well... what is like you? Ah! The sight of you rushing at me, spitting curses, saying you'd kill me. That was definitely like you."
"Forget it. I don't want to die twice."
"Yap!"
Suddenly, Namgung Seon threw her arms around Jin Cheonrang's shoulders. She whispered in his ear. "Still, you'll promise me, right? That you'll try to fix... the broken parts."
Those words sounded very strange. The broken parts. It could have meant this world, or his own fate, or the Namgung Family's martial arts.
Jin Cheonrang held Namgung Seon's fine, white hand and thought. For such an outstanding martial arts master to have such soft hands... it's cheating.
Jin Cheonrang's lips, holding a faint smile, parted. "I promise. I'll try to fix them."
But in the end, Jin Cheonrang couldn't fix anything before she left. Not the world, not his own fate, and not her martial arts.
A single tear streamed down the cheek of the cross-legged Namgung Cheon.
Pulling himself from his longing, Namgung Cheon refocused on the Gongnyeok flowing through his blood vessels. The Gongnyeok, having completed one cycle, now ran even more powerfully. It felt as if every sense in his body was awakening. This was the sensation of the Heavenly Thunder's qi awakening.
If one mastered the Cheonroe Jewang Shingong, they would create Cheonroe-gi (Heavenly Thunder Qi), allowing them to wield Ganggi (Sword Aura). Of course, with his current lack of internal energy, it was a difficult stage to realize.
How much time had passed?
The Gongnyeok that had finished three cycles entered its fourth. As it began to hold a small amount of the Heavenly Thunder's qi, all his senses sharpened like blades, and every single strand of his hair floated up and swayed.
As Namgung Cheon, having finished the final Daeju-cheon, snapped his eyes open, the Ghost King and Gwisoi standing in six directions shouted.
"Ready!"
"Come!"
Pabababat!
The moment Namgung Cheon soared into the air, the Ghost King and Gwisoi threw things at him in unison.
Shwi-shwi-shwiiit-
Parararara!
Namgung Cheon spun like a whirlwind, his sword striking rapidly. Sword Qi exploded in all directions, delicately slicing the things that rushed toward him.
Shwik! Shwi-shwi-shwishwik.
Namgung Cheon was like the wind shimmering in the sky, like a cloud drifting leisurely, and like a flash of lightning.
"Wow…"
"That's amazing…"
The Ghost King and Gwisoi stared at Namgung Cheon, mesmerized.
Finally, the things that had rushed at Namgung Cheon, sliced by the fine sword qi, fell hududuk in all directions.
Chwaaat! Cheolkeok.
Namgung Cheon, after slicing one last thing, sheathed his Byeokrageom and righted his posture.
Tudung.
The last thing sliced by his sword form was a saengdak (raw chicken). The finely sliced raw chicken fell into a pot, signaling the end of the splendid sword dance.
The mesmerized Ghost King and Gwisoi burst into applause.
Clap, clap, clap…
The Ghost King ran over, huffing, and looked at the ingredients in the surrounding dishes and pots.
"Lord, it's perfect! You've even imbued all the ingredients with sword qi, so their freshness is perfectly maintained! This will make them taste superb!"
"Truly amazing! The cucumbers, onions, and green onions are all cut so uniformly!"
The Gwisoi also brought their dishes and pots, showering him with praise. What they had all thrown at Namgung Cheon were the ingredients for a chicken dish.
Namgung Cheon scanned the ingredients with a serious expression, then sighed lightly. "Stop flattering me and take them. It's still not perfect."
"Flattering? It's really amazing…!"
"Stop. You'll spit on the ingredients I worked so hard to prepare. Just take them."
"Bongmyeong!"
The Ghost King and Gwisoi replied in unison and retreated with the ingredients.
Namgung Cheon watched them go, lost in thought.
'The thickness of the ginger was slightly different.'
In other words, his swordsmanship wasn't perfect. He had mixed the Changung Daeyeon Geom-beop (Vast Sky Great Augmentation Sword Art) and the Changung Mu-ae Geom-beop (Vast Sky Unhindered Sword Art), but it wasn't perfect.
No, to be precise, it was exactly as Namgung Seon had performed it. He had already performed it dozens of times, so he had even awakened to its O-ui (True Essence). But there was a somewhat lacking part in the sword art itself. Both sword arts were powerful, but they lacked precision.
To fix this, he needed to solve the flaws in the Cheonroe Jewang Shingong… and that wasn't easy.
In such cases, it's one of two things. Either the sword art was biased from the beginning and had flaws, or it had been gradually distorted over a long time. Usually, it's the latter.
Of course, if anyone knew of Namgung Cheon's concerns, their jaw would drop. To freely use the Namgung Family's two representative sword arts and still find them lacking? Was there any greater luxury in the world?
'Well, shall I stop here for today?'
Having trained the Namgung Family's heart art and sword art after so long, his body felt much lighter. Of course, he had no intention of ending his training today. He planned to continue training, supplementing the weaknesses and developing them.
Fixing and developing something was outside the influence of Chogyeon Pagongan, so it required effort.
A man who has talent, yet does not stop striving for more. That's me.
After finishing a rewarding day's work, he was about to return to his quarters when someone suddenly appeared in the rear garden.
"Namgung Cheon!"
The person who let out the booming voice was none other than Paeng Suhyeok. He stared intently, then twisted his lips.
"I request a spar."
"Can't we do it tomorrow?"
"Are you running away?"
"Not that. I'm sick and tired of running away."
"Then follow me."
Haa, why are there so many people telling me to follow them. Can't we just do it here? Ah, is he being considerate because it's a restaurant's garden?
Paeng Suhyeok didn't wait to hear more and strode around the corner.
What a funny guy. Does he think I'll really follow him just because he walked off? Of course I'm not going. I'm going to my quarters to sleep.
First of all, I'm not the type to do as I'm told. I have a strong Banggol Gijil (rebellious nature), so when I hear something that sounds like an order, I do the opposite. I fought with Namgung Seon a lot because of this, too.
In any case, I'm not following. Who does he think he is, telling me to come and go?
As Namgung Cheon walked toward the opposite corner, the restaurant's back door opened, and the Ghost King came out, grunting as he carried a large cauldron.
"Huh? Lord, where are you going?"
"Why? What is it?"
Namgung Cheon looked back indifferently. The Ghost King set down the cauldron and tilted his head. "You have to finish the rest, don't you?"
"What?"
"This... aren't you doing it?"
Namgung Cheon frowned and looked at the cauldron, which was full of various ingredients. He asked with a smile full of salgi. "Are you ordering me to work right now?"
"Ah, no. That's not it... It's just that, since you're training anyway, if you helped us like before, the quality would go up, and business would be good... hahaha...!"
"It looks like that cauldron is a bit short on meat. And there's an old pig right in front of me. Should we add some ingredients?"
Seureureureung.
As Namgung Cheon drew his Byeokrageom with a desolate expression, the Ghost King's face turned pale.
"Hahahat! I-I'll prepare them! As part of my martial arts training! Please be on your way!"
The Ghost King grabbed the cauldron and scrambled back inside the restaurant. He collided with the Gwisoi who were just coming out with their own pots, and they all fell in a chaotic heap.
Namgung Cheon sighed.
Ah... should I really kill them?
Stop it. I'll really become the Great Killing Star at this rate.
'Why isn't this bastard coming out!'
Paeng Suhyeok, tired of waiting, strode around the corner of the restaurant.
"What the hell is he doing that he's not...!"
Paeng Suhyeok stopped shouting, shut his mouth, and blinked.
The Ghost King and Gwisoi were gathered in the rear garden, holding knives in both hands, radiating a menacing aura.
The Ghost King, knives in both hands, spoke in a chilling voice. "Hm? You here to help chop the meat?"
"Ah, no!"
Paeng Suhyeok quickly finished his answer and scrambled back around the corner.
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