Master Swordsman’s Stream - Chapter 191

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 191

Jin Yeon, burdened by the Wulin Alliance Elder’s earnest request to take on a student and deliberating over it repeatedly, had been suddenly rushed upon by Namgung Cheon, who came fuming with indignation.
“Sigh…….”
Namgung Cheon seemed to have been conversing with the child, and now he was claiming the boy had insulted him—demanding a Martial Duel.
But wait. How could a pure, pitiable child who didn’t even know his own name have possibly insulted anyone?
Jin Yeon let out a bitter laugh at the absurdity of it.
He assumed it was Namgung Tae’s doing.
The Namgung Clan—that family which instilled a sense of chosenness into their children.
So he’d tried to stop them, arguing against making an enemy of a child who’d picked up a sword for the first time today, but.

-Ha, let’s see, shall we? Cheon will show some restraint. Just enough to repay the insult.

The irritating old man had smirked wickedly.

-Please stop him, Elder.
-If it gets out of hand, stop it yourself. That side seems determined not to let it go, for some reason. A matter of pride, perhaps. Tsk. This is why those Clan types are troublesome.

There was no choice.
Apparently, the child had indeed spoken in a way that suggested he was holding a sword for the first time, and the child himself admitted to saying those words.
Whether it was intended as a slight or not, since the words had been spoken and acknowledged, there was no stopping Namgung Cheon’s insistence, and so the duel had to proceed.

-You must be careful, child.
-Yes, sir!
-If you feel even the slightest pain, cry out as loudly as you can. Remember, this is not a legitimate duel.
-Yes, sir!
-Alas, I’m sorry you must face this just as you’ve begun to take your first steps. The child you’ll be fighting has been training with the sword for several years already.
-Really? Truly?
-That…… no. He is a beginner after all. So do your best.
-Yes, sir!

The duel’s outcome was strange.
“This, this is……. Our Cheon has nearly perfected the Daeyeon Sword Technique…….”
“Huh……. So you picked it up on the road? Not Hwasan’s prodigy? Where on earth is that Yongdam Hoxyeol?”
“Cheon! What are you doing! Fight properly!”
“It seems even the Namgung Elder’s eyes cannot accept what they see, Kahahaha!”
“Elder? You seem to be laughing rather loudly.”
“Hahahaha! A child who picked up a sword for the first time today defeating an all-time prodigy of the Namgung Clan! Hahahaha!”
The Wudang Elder laughed so heartily the very mountains seemed to shake.
The Nine Sects and One Alliance—nine martial schools and one great alliance.
The Five Great Clans—the five most powerful families in the realm.
These two pillars upheld the Orthodox Faction, with Shaolin as the leading force of the Nine Sects and the Namgung Clan serving as the leading force of the Five Great Clans.
Thus the Namgung Clan harbored a tendency to look down upon Wudang Sect.
They acknowledged Shaolin, but not Wudang.
For that reason, the relations were poor.
“Hahahaha! That child uses almost nothing but downward strokes from the Yuk-hap Sword! Anyone can see he doesn’t know other Swordsmanship well, yet he’s countering Namgung’s techniques perfectly with just the Yuk-hap at precisely the right moments. Is that perhaps the Daeyeon Sword Technique you said he’d nearly perfected?”
“Elder. That…… perhaps you should stop?”
Jin Yeon whispered softly, but it had no effect.
“It seems he hasn’t achieved full mastery yet, hahahaha!”
“Argh……. Cheon, stop this!”
Namgung Cheon permitted several attacks during the duel, but the child didn’t take a single blow.
Rather, he seemed to be enjoying himself. He was laughing with obvious delight as he observed his opponent’s sword and countered it.
This child is different.
This fact could be felt by the Wudang Elder who was roaring with laughter, by the Namgung Elder whose gifted prodigy was being thoroughly overwhelmed, and by Jin Yeon, who stood there dumbfounded.
A child who’d just begun martial arts was displaying movements and insight that should have been impossible.
Afterwards, Namgung Tae left the Yeonmujang with Namgung Cheon and Namgung Hwang.
There was no apology. The Namgung prodigy’s eyes were even wet with tears of frustration.
As they disappeared, the child walked toward where they had been standing.
“I did my best!”
The Elder beside him bowed deeply.
“Well done. You truly have never held a sword before?”
The Elder, who had visited Jin Yeon several times to persuade him, was a familiar face to the child.
“No, sir.”
“You have no other memories either, I hear. Let me see your hands for a moment.”
After examining the hands, the Elder told him to rest and left, seeming surprised.
“Gifted Talent! How can this be!”
Jin Yeon turned away from the sight of Hyeon Un bouncing excitedly with joy.
His expression grew complex.
“The Black Sword Demon. No—the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. If he had first picked up a sword, would it have gone like this? What do you think? There wasn’t a trace of martial training on the child’s hands at all.”
“Are you saying this child possesses talent similar to the Black Sword Demon?”
“Yes. Perhaps even greater. Did you not see the level? Namgung Cheon was certainly exceptional. It was no wonder he’s called a prodigy of the Namgung Clan. Yet this nameless child defeated him. It was a sight that would confuse everyone had we not told them who the beginner and who the prodigy were.”
Everyone would have been fooled about which was which.
“Hah……. My head is becoming muddled.”
“Why? Because the child’s talent is so exceptional? Or because of his missing past?”
“Both troubles me somewhat. I still question whether I saw this correctly. To toy with the fundamentals of a child who’s been training for years…….”
Can this be explained in terms of talent alone?
Ah.
‘So that’s why he brought up the Black Sword Demon.’
“So what will you do?”
“I’m uncertain. But one thing is clear.”
“What is that?”
Jin Yeon turned back to the child, hands clasped behind his back, and gazed at him.
“That I, and Hwasan, will take responsibility for him. I’ve made that promise.”
“A noble choice, tsk tsk. But Hwasan will have difficulties.”
“Pardon?”
The Elder’s voice dropped low.
“Surely you don’t think Namgung Tae will sit idle?”
“You mean he’ll seek revenge?”
“No. He’ll do something far more troublesome.”
“What would that be?”
“He’ll spread rumors. That the Namgung prodigy was defeated by a child holding a sword for the first time.”
“What? Surely not…… spreading rumors himself? If that happens, then Namgung Cheon…….”
“Remember—this child has no affiliation. Even if Hwasan had recruited a child who showed monstrous talent, anything could happen. But this child is merely one you picked up on the road, is he not?”
“Ah…….”
“Inducement, abduction, coercion, or murder. There are countless ways to crush a promising seedling from a rival sect or steal them away. But for Namgung Tae to act, wouldn’t he have to kill both me and you as well simultaneously?”
“That would be difficult. I couldn’t predict how they’d respond to removing me, but you’ll remain in the Alliance.”
“Exactly.”
They are the Orthodox Faction.
Thus they dare not openly raise trouble.
But behind the scenes, schemes run as thick as in the Heterodox Sect or the Demonic Cult.
All for their sects to rise to greater heights.
Jin Yeon understood this well.
“These were gathered because they expect their disciples, raised under many masters, to stand tall as rivals to the Heavenly Demon, as heroes of the Orthodox Faction. But now we, and Namgung Tae as well, saw it—that the talent destined for a position like Young Cult Leader is recognizable at a glance. All those disciples are prodigies, yes, but none can become monsters that defy common sense. It can be recognized from the moment they grasp the sword.”
“Indeed.”
“But just now, we three—you, I, and Namgung Tae—witnessed it. That talent ascending to a position that will remain in martial history, like that of a Young Cult Leader, is distinguished at first sight. Their disciples are all prodigies, but they cannot become monsters that break convention. You can tell from the instant they grip the sword.”
At this point, he became genuinely curious.
What had the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult been like when he first gripped a sword?
And what world does this child see?
“In any case, Namgung Tae will spread these rumors. If you try to suppress them alone, you’ll be immediately identified, and neither you nor I know how events might unfold. But if he escalates the matter? While abduction becomes impossible, preventing him from entering Hwasan becomes possible. Once that barrier is in place, the rest becomes easier. By tomorrow, rumors will spread, and by the day after, those gathered here will be knocking on your door to verify the truth. After that?”
It’s obvious even without seeing it.
“Now do you understand what you must worry about?”
“Yes. How to escape safely to Hwasan, I presume?”
“Ha, no. There is a method, isn’t there? I believe you’ve thought of it yourself.”
“But if that happens, this child will never be able to enter Hwasan. He’ll live without any affiliation.”
“Then you simply become his master, and that’s that, isn’t it?”
“But a martial artist without a sect…….”
“Don’t worry. Seeing such talent, do you fear being ignored? Yes. Later, when he enters a step and receives training from multiple masters, they’ll use that as pretext to prevent him from registering with Hwasan.”
“…….”
“Jin Yeon. Do you want Hwasan to gain an absolute master and become the foremost sect in the realm?”
“Yes…… but not at the cost of endangering this child’s life. I simply wished to bring him because Hwasan is a good place.”
“Then bring him later. It doesn’t matter if he isn’t a Hwasan novice, does it? As long as he remains your student.”
“Hm. I thought I’d become the Sect Master of this child, but instead I’ll become his Master. Hyeon Un will gain a Master-Disciple Relationship rather than a Gifted Talent. Very well. I’ll take on the role of teacher for the newly established step. And this child will enter that step in his current state.”
“Hahahaha. Then even if rumors spread, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Rather, lacking any affiliation, people will watch their behavior toward this child. All to leave a better impression on the future number one in the realm. An excellent arrangement. Indeed, indeed.”
The Elder gazed toward the sky and laughed.
“Are you pleased because this child might stop the Young Cult Leader?”
“No. Right now I’m pleased that Hwasan isn’t growing stronger.”
Hahahaha.
As the two men laughed, the child paused mid-swing of his sword, turned to look at them, and smiled brightly alongside them.
He seemed truly delighted to have picked up a sword.
“Elder. Would you have spread the rumor if Namgung Tae hadn’t?”
“Hehehehe. Who can say?”

* * *

Seo Jun quietly sifted through his memories for a moment before answering.
“Yes.”
Confidently.
‘That Namgung whatsit. I found out later, but he had considerable talent.’
At first he’d genuinely believed the boy was a beginner.
In any case, he’d been good from the moment he picked up a sword. Really good.
No, he’d been good even before he picked it up.
So he answered with confidence.
“Really from the start?”
“Yes. Can you even imagine me being bad at something?”
He couldn’t imagine it.
‘But still…….’
A wistful smile bloomed at the corner of Seo Jun’s lips.
In sharp contrast to his teammates, who made expressions like they’d eaten something foul at his display.
‘In the end, I never saw it.’
Jin Yeon died before he could ever bring him to Hwasan.
After that, he deliberately never went.

-Child, you’ll surely like Hwasan when you see it full of blossoming plum blossoms.

A sentence he’d heard over and over while learning the language.
‘I wonder if he would have liked it.’
Now there was no way to know forever.
Well.
The past is only the past.
“Speaking of which, everyone? Shouldn’t we be eating faster?”
“Seo Jun. Please, just during meals……!”
“Guarantee us an hour for lunch! Guarantee us!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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