Vol 2 Chapter 58. Why? Is Something Like That Here? (1)
Some time ago.
Around the time Patrick began to oversee Namgung Min’s training in earnest….
“So let’s check first. How far have you learned the sword?”
At Patrick’s question, Namgung Min hesitated and answered.
“I have only learned the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword yet.”
“Really?”
“Yes. My achievement is still lacking, so….”
“I see.”
As Patrick answered nonchalantly, Namgung Min hurriedly continued speaking.
“Still, I have learned the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword itself perfectly and can unfold it.”
“Pfft.”
At those words of Namgung Min that were like an excuse, Patrick chuckled as if it were laughable.
“Unfold the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword perfectly? You?”
“Yes. Well…. For now….”
“You’re kidding? What do you know about the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword to say such bullshit?”
Excuse me, I am the third son of the Namgung Clan?
Even so, is it right for a person outside the family to say something about the family’s sword?
As Namgung Min glared with a sullen gaze, Patrick spoke.
“If you are so confident, try unfolding it.”
“Now?”
“Then do you want to eat, wash, sleep a bit, and do it tomorrow?”
“Can I do th… Kueook!”
SMACK!
He got hit once.
Patrick tapped his shoulder with the scabbard and spoke as if grumbling.
“This bastard, only his looks are decent but he’s secretly the Knight A type.”
“Who… Who is that?”
“You don’t need to know, so just do it quickly.”
At Patrick’s urging, Namgung Min grumbled, picked up his sword, and took a stance.
And he began to unfold the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword carefully.
Honestly, since this is the only thing he has been doing since childhood, he could do it even if told to unfold it with his eyes closed.
Around the time half of the forms passed like that….
“Done. Stop.”
Patrick made Namgung Min stop. Then he let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“It is coooooompletely wrong.”
Then Namgung Min got angry.
“This is our Namgung Clan’s sword.”
“I know too. But why can’t you do it?”
“No matter that the Great Hero is an expert, you cannot know our family’s sword better than me.”
“Oh… Is that so?”
Patrick grinned.
And he dropped the White Dragon Sword among the two swords on his back to the ground.
Then he grabbed the Black Dragon Sword with both hands and took a stance. That stance is….
“Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword?”
Towards the surprised Namgung Min, Patrick spoke.
“Although I can only unfold it at a superficial level….”
“…….”
“Watch clearly. This is the real Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.”
And Patrick deployed the sword art.
First form, second form, third form….
The sword forms connecting one by one like flowing water were unmistakably the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.
Namgung Min’s mouth dropped wide open.
‘H… How?’
The Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword is an easy sword art.
It is a basic swordsmanship all swordsmen of the Namgung Clan learn, and in fact, if one is a sword expert, mimicking the forms wouldn't be that difficult.
But the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword Patrick is unfolding right now was perfect.
Much more than what he unfolds.
It was as if seeing the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword his father demonstrated as an example in the past.
‘No, no. Perhaps….’
Really, really really impossible, but….
“Hap!”
WHOOOOSH!
Sword wind generated from the sword lifts the fallen leaves on the ground into the air.
Sword wind occurring purely with the sword’s external force without operating sword energy separately.
This is not something an ordinary expert can show.
The sword moving along Patrick’s surroundings was solid yet without gaps, and above all, had completeness.
‘Different. I don't know what is different, but this is different.’
This was not the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword he knew.
The form is the same, but different.
Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword surpassing the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.
When all forms ended and Patrick was calming his breath.
Not a single fallen leaf had fallen within 3 Zhang of his feet.
At that marvelous sight, Namgung Min could not close his gaping mouth.
“Huuuugh…. Unfolding it after a long time is a bit tough.”
“Gr… Great Hero, where did you perhaps learn the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword?”
“A long time ago…. I learned it briefly from a friend.”
“That friend is….”
“That is not important. What is important is….”
Patrick spoke towards Namgung Min.
“Do you know what is a bit different?”
“That is… Uh….”
Namgung Min stuttered and then blushed and spoke.
“I apologize. I do not know well.”
Embarrassing.
A guy called the son of the Namgung Clan has to say he doesn't know about the Namgung Clan’s sword to a person of another sect….
If it were an advanced sword art like Azure Sky Unhindered Sword Art, maybe.
But not knowing the basics like Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.
He had no choice but to be ashamed.
But Patrick did not mock Namgung Min. Rather, he laughed with a smirk and spoke.
“Well, it would be strange if you knew this.”
“…….”
“Rather than insisting you know what you don't know, it is better to just say you don't know what you don't know. That is the correct attitude to request learning.”
“Great Hero….”
This was a bit touching.
As expected, apart from his usual frivolous speech and conduct, this person is surely an excellent orthodox expert….
“And a greenhorn who doesn't know his own skill and only has enthusiasm ahead is the thirty-ninth thing I hate. If caught doing that, you die….”
“Ah! Why are there so many things you ha… Kugh!”
SMACK!
Give back my emotions.
As if protesting, Patrick’s scabbard fell without fail on the crown of Namgung Min’s head.
“Where does this guy open his mouth while an adult is speaking? His mouth? Should I sew it shut so you can't open it?”
“…….”
He can't retort. Why?
Because it seems he would really do it.
“Ahem, anyway, from now on I will teach you this Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword. How about it? Are you prepared to learn?”
I can learn?
I can learn that sword which looks so magnificent and solid just by looking that it makes my heart race?
Why would I hesitate?
“YES!”
“It will be hard. Are you prepared?”
“Of course.”
Did he like Namgung Min answering vigorously?
Patrick’s hand touched Namgung Min’s shoulder. And smiling brightly, he spoke….
“I don't accept giving up in the middle.”
“…….”
Later, Namgung Min thinks.
‘I should have lived with some thought.’
* * *
Back on the sparring stage.
Namgung Min’s sword and Namgung Bi’s sword collide head-on.
CLANG!
Unlike a moment ago, the swords of the two people who raised sword energy collided with each other.
‘I will push you back at once.’
Namgung Bi intended to utilize the secret principle of the superior advanced sword art to knock his younger brother senseless.
[ Azure Sky Unhindered Sword Art.: Returning Wind Martial Flow Form. ]
Namgung Bi’s sword stabbed toward Namgung Min drawing a spiral like a fierce vortex of sword energy.
Although he cannot unfold it perfectly yet, it is the most high-level sword art among the swordsmanship he learned, a secret move. However….
BANG! BOOM! BANG!
The younger brother Namgung Min is receiving that sword perfectly fine.
“How?”
BANG! BOOM!
“How can you receive it?”
Namgung Min could not answer Namgung Bi’s desperate cry. Right now, he was concentrating his whole body and mind solely on the sword.
At this moment, what he heard in his ears was not his brother’s desperate cry but Patrick’s nagging.
[You greenhorn. If you want to approach the true meaning of the Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword, investigate the true meaning of the sword your ancestor made first, not the forms.]
[Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword is a guardian sword made to protect the family and the civilians of Anhui. It means it is a sword cultivated to become a steel sword more solid than anything to protect and guard the weak. Always keep that meaning in mind.]
[Think about the meaning of each sword form and move the sword with a clear purpose. There are not many martial arts that can concentrate intent on the form of the martial art itself. Shaolin, Wudang, and your Namgung are about it. Why let this good thing rot?]
[Ah! Focus, focus!]
[You defying me? Are you defying me?]
[Does it hurt? Hurt? I hurt too. Saying what I said again and again, I feel like I'm getting muscle pain in my tongue. You bastard!]
The latter part seemed a bit like bullying, but….
‘Still, thanks to that, I improved a lot.’
Right now, the second brother’s sword is rushing in like a storm from all directions. However….
‘It’s okay. I am an Iron Sword. A guardian Iron Sword determined to protect the Namgung Clan.’
It didn't feel like it would collapse.
A distinct will is contained in his sword, but there is no will in the second brother’s sword.
Although stronger power and internal energy are loaded, now he thinks he knows.
A sword without purpose and will is bound to be light.
What one must realize first is not the strength of the martial art but the essence of that martial art.
And the moment his thoughts were organized.
“Haaap!”
With Namgung Min’s strong shout, a heavy downward strike flew aiming for Namgung Bi’s crown.
Namgung Bi hurriedly turned his sword to defense and blocked that sword. However….
“Keheook!”
BOOOM!
The moment he blocked the sword, he had to vomit blood at the pain of his internal organs shaking.
‘When did this guy get such power….’
Adding more internal energy into the sword and tensing his body, he endures. But….
CREAK... CREEAAK!
Namgung Min’s sword pushed Namgung Bi’s sword little by little. And then….
CRACK...
Cracks began to appear on Namgung Bi’s sword.
“Impossible?”
I lose in a contest of strength vs strength?
And to the youngest?
Namgung Bi’s heart wavered witnessing the reality he wanted to deny. And at that moment….
“Haaat!”
SHATTER!
Namgung Min pressed down with his sword vigorously.
Simultaneously, Namgung Bi’s sword shattered.
“…….”
“…….”
Two brothers were silent.
But the meaning of that silence was quite different.
One was trembling with emotion at overcoming a wall he thought he could never cross in his life, and the other was dazed at this unbelievable reality.
However, the result seen from outside was obvious.
Namgung Min’s sword, which broke Namgung Bi’s sword and entered, stopped precisely touching the top of Namgung Bi’s crown.
There was no room for doubt as to who the winner was.
“Namgung Clan’s Namgung Min, Victory!”
“Kugh….”
The moment the referee’s declaration of victory came out, tears gushed out from Namgung Min’s eyes.
* * *
“H… How can this be?”
Namgung Un is a supreme expert known to have reached the peak of the State of Harmony.
Such a supreme expert gaping and being astounded was quite a rare spectacle.
“Well, it’s as expected.”
And the sight of a person with colored eyes next to him smiling detestably and being sarcastic is an even rarer spectacle.
Even if 200 more years flow in the history of Gangho, wouldn't it be hard to see such a sight again?
Namgung Un, who barely came to his senses, spoke.
“What did you teach my son?”
“Sword art.”
“…….”
“Ah. Why? Did I lie or what? I taught sword art, would I have taught saber art?”
Namgung Un spoke firmly as if he had no intention of playing along with Patrick’s wordplay.
“The time you and Min spent together was not long.”
“It was.”
“Even if you are an outstanding expert, that child cannot grow like that with only a short time of teaching.”
“Why? Are you afraid I taught him some evil art or something?”
“…….”
“Those words come out even after clearly seeing what he unfolded with your two eyes? I’m asking just in case, you are the Namgung Clan Head, right Mister?”
“Hmm….”
Namgung Un had no words to retort.
What his son unfolded was undoubtedly the family’s swordsmanship, Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.
So what evil art?
To Namgung Un who hesitated because he was short on words, Patrick spoke.
“Look here. Mister.”
Now the word Mister is not even surprising.
But what followed made Namgung Un angry.
“I’m telling you this because you don’t seem like a bad person. Try trusting your son a bit.”
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