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Chapter 77: It's Time to Rest
Namgung Cheon, wielding the Blue Sword, suffered multiple injuries to his shoulders and arms during his duel with Yeon Jeokha. Seeing him faint, Namgung Jin, known as the Killing Sword, decided to leave alone, stating that he had to fulfill his duty of escorting the merchant caravan to Luoyang on behalf of the Namgung Family.
Namgung Cheon didn't wake up until dusk. The doctor from Haga Village said his exhaustion and blood loss were the causes of his condition.
After dinner, Yeon Jeokha sat in front of the room where Namgung Cheon slept. He was tormented by the guilt of having injured Namgung Cheon.
Shim Yanggak, who was passing by, slowly approached upon seeing him.
"Young Master, don't blame yourself so much. Both of you reached a state of trance during the fight."
"I'm crazy. How could I enter a trance in the middle of a fight?"
"It's unfortunate that Namgung Cheon was injured, but it's also a blessing for both of you."
"What blessing? If he gets another one, he'll die."
"Do you know how many people dream of reaching a state of trance? I'm sure both of you made great progress."
"Progress, my foot. I still can't perform the Sword Control Technique."
"But you've managed to oscillate between formal and informal techniques, which is no small feat. Every swordsman aspires to free themselves from formal techniques."
"Oscillate between techniques? Me?"
"Yes, your swordsmanship has changed a lot. Even when you wielded your sword lightly, it contained the essence of formal techniques. Did you really not feel anything different?"
"Well, now that you mention it, the pressure of 'I must execute a technique' has disappeared."
"Hehe, did you feel pressured by it?"
"I learned it, so I had to use it well. But in the end, it's all about stabbing and cutting. Understanding that even formal techniques are just that, the obligation disappeared."
"I see. Try using your sword tomorrow. You'll notice a big difference. Only those who have tasted the essence of formal techniques can go beyond them, and you've already reached that level."
"Hahaha! Taste the essence? Were you friends with a chef? What essence are you talking about? How funny!"
"As a child, I helped in the kitchen."
"Did you really do all that?"
"Hehe, you had to do anything to survive."
Yeon Jeokha's gaze towards Shim Yanggak softened. Hearing about his past, he began to see him as a fellow human being.
"So, you're saying I'm oscillating between formal and informal techniques?"
"Yes. I can't believe you've surpassed formal techniques at your age. It's truly impossible. Even if I had practiced Swordsmanship from my mother's womb, I wouldn't achieve it. Is it because you learned directly from the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens?"
"Maybe."
"Then how did you acquire that immense internal energy? Even if you've cultivated the 900 characters, it shouldn't be enough to reach that level just with deep breathing."
"I also received a lot of food from the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens."
"Heavenly Medicine?"
"No, dried meat and water."
"And did it taste sweet?"
"Yes."
Shim Yanggak frowned, not knowing how much to believe. But Yeon Jeokha's expression was serious.
"Young Master."
"Yes?"
"It would be better not to tell this to others."
"Why?"
"They might think you're lying or that you've gone crazy."
"Really?"
"Oh! Were you serious?"
"Do you think I'm a fool?"
"Understood. Where did you meet the Mysterious Woman of the Nine Heavens?"
"In a mirror."
"Hahaha! Hehehe!"
Shim Yanggak laughed heartily, shaking his shoulders from the laughter.
Namgung Cheon finally woke up late at night. He wasn't too surprised to learn from Yeon Jeokha that Namgung Jin had left earlier.
After hesitating for a moment, Namgung Cheon spoke cautiously.
"Young Hero Yeon, may I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"Your Swordsmanship style is very familiar to me. Is it the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship of Waryong Manor?"
Namgung Cheon thought this young man might have some connection to Waryong Manor.
He had spent ten years with Yeon Mubaek. Although he didn't know the details of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship, he could imitate it. He was able to maintain the duel with Yeon Jeokha thanks to that familiarity.
"Yes."
Yeon Jeokha did not deny it. He was the son of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman and the legitimate heir of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship techniques.
"What is your relationship with Waryong Manor? I have no other intention, just that I have spent ten years with Yeon Mubaek and it seems you know the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship even better."
Namgung Cheon didn't associate the young man in front of him with Yeon Jeokha. The young man's skill was simply too great. Achieving that level would be almost impossible for a child locked in a warehouse.
"Don't you remember me? We met at Waryong Manor thirteen years ago. I'm Yeon Jeokha."
"What?"
Namgung Cheon looked at Yeon Jeokha in surprise. Was this young man really the child who was locked in the warehouse and then escaped?
"Are you really Yeon Jeokha, the youngest son of Yeon Muryong?"
"Yes."
As Namgung Cheon stared at him, Yeon Jeokha smiled shyly.
"The youngest son who was locked in the warehouse?"
"Eh? How do you know?"
"My God..."
Namgung Cheon recounted how he and his younger sister had searched for Yeon Jeokha at Waryong Manor three years ago.
"How did you get to the Five Peaks Mountain?"
Now that he knew he was the son of his uncle Yeon, Namgung Cheon spoke more familiarly.
Yeon Jeokha narrated how he had escaped from the warehouse and settled in the Five Peaks Mountain.
"...I was sick and about to die when the Boss saved me. Since then, I stayed here."
"Tch! So that's what happened. Your parents and Yeon have missed you a lot. Especially your father, who always wanted to find you, even if it was late..."
Namgung Cheon suddenly stopped talking, remembering the tragedy that had befallen his family.
"I heard about what happened to the Namgung Family. Are there still no news about your uncle?"
"No. But I know he's alive. The Yoomyung Cult made a big fuss looking for my father. He must be receiving treatment somewhere. He's not someone who would leave just like that."
"I hope he returns soon."
"Thank you. By the way, where did you learn the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship? You surpass Yeon Mubaek by far."
"When I lived in the warehouse... I found the writings of the Yeon Family ancestors."
Yeon Jeokha did not mention the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One. He knew that, as Shim Yanggak said, they would think he was crazy.
"Ah! So it was a blessing in disguise. Finding a secret manual in the warehouse. When your stepmother finds out, she'll be very upset."
Namgung Cheon observed Yeon Jeokha's expression. He knew that the tension between Five Peaks Mountain and Waryong Manor was well known. There were many speculations about the cause, but he had never imagined something like this.
"My sister Yeon will be happy to hear about you. Would you like to see her?"
"Yes."
"Should I avoid contacting Waryong Manor?"
"I've broken my ties with them."
Namgung Cheon perceived from Yeon Jeokha's calm tone that reconciliation was impossible.
"I understand. I will respect your decision. I won't associate you with Waryong Manor. If we had found you in the warehouse three years ago, the Namgung Family would have also cut ties with them. Yeon has always been firm in her decisions..."
"How is your sister?"
"Yeon is well, as always. She's as quiet as ever. Unlike me. Haha. Oh, it hurts!"
Namgung Cheon laughed, slightly holding his arm. Unintentionally, he had irritated his wound.
"I'm sorry, brother. I didn't mean to hurt you. I tried to be careful, but I lost concentration for a moment."
"Don't worry. Thanks to you, I made great progress. It was like ten years of training in isolation. This wound is nothing. Now I feel a little more confident."
Since the fall of his family, Namgung Cheon had been discouraged. He wanted revenge, but didn't feel capable. Now, his confidence and self-esteem were beginning to recover thanks to his improvement in martial arts.
"So, do you plan to keep living in the mountain camp?"
"I don't know. Seven of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks Mountain have already descended, but I have nowhere to go..."
Namgung Cheon looked at Yeon Jeokha with sympathy. If the Namgung Family were in good standing, he would have invited him to go with him. But now, he himself depended on the Chamber of Commerce.
"Did you know that a petty thief is beaten and marked, but a great thief is called a hero? Just look at the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord. No one will dare call you a thief to your face."
"Really?"
"Of course. Who would dare insult you in front of you? Maybe behind your back, but not to your face. Haha!"
Namgung Cheon laughed heartily. With Yeon Jeokha's skills, even the Justice Alliance wouldn't dare confront him openly. With the Yoomyung Cult as an enemy, it would be an unnecessary risk.
"The truth is, I don't care much about that. Life in Nokrim isn't so bad. If they treat me as a thief or bandit, I'll act like one. If they treat me as a hero, I'll be a hero."
"That's smart. Even the sages say we should treat others as we want to be treated. If you plant beans, you'll harvest beans. If you plant red beans, you'll harvest red beans."
Yeon Jeokha nodded, although he found the analogy a bit strange. But he appreciated Namgung Cheon's sincerity.
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The next day, Namgung Cheon descended the mountain. He hurried to leave, worried that his sister Yeon in Luoyang might be worried about him.
After bidding farewell to Namgung Cheon, Yeon Jeokha felt restless and spent more time sitting silently.
One day, Shim Yanggak, noticing his discouragement, climbed to the top of the Five Peaks Mountain.
Yeon Jeokha, sitting on a rock, muttered with a bored expression.
"Why are you lurking around, old man? Did you hide some treasure here?"
"Hehe, of course not. Does it seem like you've stopped practicing the Sword Control Technique?"
"That can't be learned in a day or two. Besides, if a nineteen-year-old boy uses advanced sword techniques, people will think I'm arrogant."
"Oh! Really? No one will dare look you in the eye."
"Won't dare look me in the eye? That's not good. I don't want to be such a heartless person."
"Hehe. So, are you resting these days?"
"I've been training hard without rest. It's time to take a break."
"Then why not take the opportunity to rest in a more beneficial way?"
"How's that?"
"I've told you things about the Sword Control Technique, but I know I'm a charlatan."
"So you knew. I felt like a fool trusting your words."
"That's why I suggest you take a trip to Mount Wudang and meet the Sage of Heaven and Earth. He can teach you the true essence of the Sword Control Technique. And while you're at it, why not visit Luoyang and see the Three Wonders of Luoyang?"
"The Three Wonders of Luoyang?"
"Yes, the three wonders of Luoyang are the food of water, the peonies, and the Longmen Caves. If you're going to rest, do it well."
Yeon Jeokha's eyes shone. Visiting Luoyang also meant the possibility of meeting the Namgung Family, which seemed like a pretty good idea.