Chapter 23

“Focus.”

At Namgung Woo’s words, the Yang brothers closed their eyes and focused on the palm of his hand placed on their lower backs.

“While breathing, remember the flow of Thunder Qi clearly.”

The brothers didn’t respond. Namgung Woo didn’t expect them to. If they had answered, he would’ve scolded them for not concentrating properly.

A strand of Namgung Woo’s Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy flowed through the Mingmen acupoint, closely connected to the Lower Dantian.

At first, the brothers trembled at the unfamiliar sensation of the Thunder Qi, but now they skillfully blocked the backlash and opened their meridians to the Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy.

“Always be aware that the Twelve Regular Meridians are connected as one. Let the Thunder Qi flow. The starting point of the Lightning Flash Swords is the moment the Thunder Qi spreads from the Lower Dantian through the Twelve Meridians to the limbs.”

Namgung Woo had taken the brothers as his subordinates and disciples.

And what the brothers were learning from Namgung Woo was none other than the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords.

A martial art so profound in handling Thunder Qi that it could be called a peerless technique, there was no better fit for the Yang brothers, who were cultivating Lightning Qi.

“Arms and legs are one. When the hand moves, the foot follows. When the foot steps, the hand extends accordingly.”

The secrets of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords flowed from Namgung Woo’s lips into the world.

Namgung Woo recited the secrets while using the Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy to map out the meridian paths for the brothers. Like a guide showing travelers the way, the Heavenly Thunder Divine Energy taught the brothers the path their Lightning Qi should take.

The recitation of the secrets and the Qi guidance lasted for a while.

The two brothers had just begun learning the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords. Moreover, they had no prior experience in mastering Ascendant Martial Arts, which required a proper mental state.

That’s why Namgung Woo was teaching them step by step, with utmost care, starting from the very basics.

“I think I’m starting to understand the flow of Qi now. The more I learn, the more I realize how thoughtlessly I’ve been wielding my sword.”

Yang Jeong, who had finished slightly earlier, let out a long breath and shared his thoughts.

“It’s strange. Even though I’m learning sword techniques, I feel like my internal energy is getting stronger.”

Soon, Yang Kwae also spoke up.

“That’s actually how it works. Ascendant Martial Arts stimulate each other to enhance achievements. It’s the same principle as how those who master the mental techniques of the Hyeonmunjeongjong lose their achievements when they learn demonic sword techniques.”

“Thinking about it, it’s only natural, considering how we’ve been wandering around looking for martial arts that suit our internal energy.”

No internal energy cultivation method circulates through all meridians and Qi points.

Even the Muscle-Tendon Change and Marrow-Cleansing Classic of Shaolin, which claims to handle all meridians, including the Twelve Regular Meridians, Eight Extraordinary Meridians, and the entire body’s meridians, doesn’t cover everything.

Thus, the meridians and acupoints not covered by internal energy cultivation methods are trained through other martial arts. Ascendant Martial Arts share some similarities with Dynamic Qi Cultivation Methods.

“Alright, let’s move on to practice now.”

Seeing Namgung Woo’s smiling face, the Yang brothers gripped their weapons with determination, knowing what was coming.

§

“Ah, I can do up to the third move, but I just can’t get to the fourth.”

Yang Kwae sighed, replaying in his mind the recent martial duel with Namgung Woo.

The Yang brothers’ training was divided into two parts.

First, the theoretical lessons of Qi guidance and secret recitations that Namgung Woo gave them inside the inn.

And immediately after, the practical lessons where the two brothers teamed up to spar with Namgung Woo.

Of course, Namgung Woo always won, but lately, Yang Kwae had been feeling anxious about his stagnant progress.

Originally, Yang Kwae and Yang Jeong’s skills were almost equal, with Yang Kwae slightly ahead. But recently, while Yang Kwae couldn’t get past the fourth move of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords, Yang Jeong had mastered up to the fifth move and was now working on the sixth.

Seizing the opportunity, Yang Jeong teased his brother.

“That’s why I told you to switch to a sword.”

Yang Jeong tapped his waist. The sword he now carried was the same style as Namgung Woo’s, having sold his original saber.

As the name suggests, the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords is fundamentally a sword technique. Naturally, mastering it with a sword yields faster progress.

However, it’s not exclusively a sword technique; it also deals with the principles of wielding a blade, so it’s not entirely unusable with a saber. Thus, Yang Kwae stubbornly stuck to his saber.

“Brat, this is our father’s legacy. How can I just throw it away?”

“It’s not like it’s some divine weapon.”

The brothers’ father had passed his saber to Yang Kwae, the elder twin. Yang Jeong didn’t mind. It was a high-quality saber made by a skilled blacksmith, but it wasn’t exactly rare.

In fact, their father had left Yang Jeong more money to buy a weapon. Of course, that money was eventually used to buy a sword, paving the way for his transition to swordsmanship.

“I guess I was always meant for the sword. You should try it too, brother.”

“No, I’ve made up my mind to stick with the saber.”

“Stubborn as always. If you end up holding back Namgung—I mean, the boss—even you won’t be forgiven.”

“Don’t worry. If that happens, I’ll just die.”

Yang Jeong shook his head at Yang Kwae’s response. If only he could channel that stubbornness entirely into improving his martial arts.

“Hey, let’s go. The boss is here.”

§

While the Yang brothers were rapidly improving under Namgung Woo’s guidance, Namgung Woo was also learning common sense and experience from the brothers.

If the martial arts lessons took place in static environments like the inn or campsites, the lessons the brothers gave Namgung Woo happened during their travels.

The three walked instead of riding horses to train their Protective Divine Technique. Even while walking, they had to infuse their voices with internal energy to maintain clear conversation, which was also part of their training.

The normalization of training.

It was a familiar routine for martial artists.

“The reason the Namgung Family isn’t being helped is clear. It’s because it’s justified.”

Yang Jeong finally began to answer the long-standing question Namgung Woo had.

“Justified?”

“Yes. You might wonder how killing people and ending a family line can be justified, but the martial world’s unwritten laws justify it.”

“Man, you’re taking too long. Boss, to put it bluntly, the Namgung and Dokgo Families publicly declared a blood feud, and the Martial Alliance and Black Martial Alliance made a pact not to interfere. So, the Dokgo Family’s hunt for the Namgung Family is an extension of that feud, and the Martial Alliance is letting it happen.”

A blood feud that determined the survival of a family.

The two families engaged in the feud under the witness of their respective major alliances, and the Dokgo Family won.

“But the fact that the hunt is still being ignored is likely due to fears of another Jeongsa Great War breaking out.”

“Anyway, the Namgung Family is already ruined. Protecting them would probably do more harm than good, right?”

“…But isn’t the Dokgo Family currently the top family among the邪派?”

“Exactly.”

“The Black Martial Alliance leader doesn’t have a family to speak of.”

“Then why did the Namgung Family accept the blood feud with the Dokgo Family?”

The Dokgo Family’s reputation is high.

Except for the Heonwon Family, which is considered the top among the正派, no family dares to claim they’re stronger than the Dokgo Family.

So why did the Namgung Family accept the blood feud?

It’s simple.

“They thought they could win.”

The Namgung Family was the World’s Greatest Sword Family.

In the midst of the Jeongsa Great War, if they could reduce their enemies to just the Dokgo Family, it would boost their family’s reputation while minimizing losses.

From the outside, it seemed the Namgung Family’s leadership had made that judgment.

“Before the Jeongsa Great War, the Dokgo Family wasn’t considered a martial family.”

“They did have some reputation as martial artists, though.”

In the martial world, the Dokgo Family was almost unknown.

In contrast, the Namgung Family was competing with the Heonwon Family for the title of the top正派family.

Anyone would’ve bet on the latter’s victory.

“The problem was that the previous family head, the Namgung Family’s strongest, died in battle suppressing the Blood Sect’s rebellion…”

“And the succeeding family head wasn’t as strong as the previous one.”

The previous family head, Namgung Jin, disappeared during the war with the Blood Sect, and his successor, Namgung Hyu, the Azure Sky Hero, lost his life to the Dokgo Family head in the blood feud.

Thus, the Namgung Family lost two family heads in a row and fell into ruin.

After briefly explaining the two family heads, Yang Jeong gave Namgung Woo a somewhat subtle look.

“Rumors say that the family head secretly had a child who escaped…”

The unspoken question in his trailing words was obvious. The Namgung Family fell 20 years ago. The rumor of the Namgung Family head’s child escaping.

And here, a Namgung survivor in his early twenties.

Even Namgung Woo himself thought it was natural for the Yang brothers to have such questions.

“I’m twenty-three, you know.”

“I didn’t say anything, boss.”

Yang Kwae, who had just betrayed him, was glared at by Yang Jeong like a traitor.

Namgung Woo, keeping the deeds of the Namgung Family heads in mind, asked again.

“But why did the Imperial Family ignore it? I heard it was the Imperial Family’s intervention that ended the Jeongsa Great War.”

“That’s… a bit complicated.”

“The Dokgo Family was a loyal servant of the Imperial Family.”

“The Dokgo Family?”

“Earlier, I mentioned they had some reputation as martial artists. Originally, they were a family with ties to the government.”

This was unexpected.

邪派families are generally those who oppose the Imperial Family’s policies, right? Namgung Woo couldn’t understand the gap between the concepts of a loyal servant of the Imperial Family and a邪派family.

This time, Yang Kwae began to explain.

“Boss, you’re probably aware of the complicated succession disputes within the Imperial Family.”

The recent Ming Imperial Family had been tumultuous.

Originally, the正统Emperor Zhu Qizhen was captured in the土木之变, and his brother Zhu Qiyu became the景泰Emperor.

Then, when Zhu Qiyu fell ill after his heir died, the夺门之变occurred, and Zhu Qizhen regained the throne as the天顺Emperor.

“The Dokgo Family was part of the military until the土木之变, but they were loyal to正统Emperor, so they were expelled by the景泰Emperor’s faction. Disillusioned, they joined the martial world.”

“After正统Emperor returned as the天顺Emperor, they remained in the martial world. The current Emperor is the正统Emperor’s legitimate heir, so he somewhat tolerates the Dokgo Family’s actions.”

A family of generals who remained loyal to the Emperor who had been dethroned.

The Emperor pitied the Dokgo Family, who had been driven into the martial world for defending his father.

“Besides, the Dokgo Family doesn’t outright violate the大明律. Except for the hunt, they still follow the Imperial Family’s policies.”

“They’re also very active, sending out forces to hunt down martial world criminals and the Ghost Gate… but if things go wrong, those forces become the hunt squads. They’re ruthless.”

“Most of their subordinates also came from the military, so they have more of a military character than a martial family.”

The brothers’ knowledge of the Dokgo Family ended here.

This level of information could be easily obtained by paying attention to rumors, but for more detailed insights, they’d need to seek out specific information sources.

“Gaebang, Haomun, Nine Dragons Association… the major information organizations in the martial world are divided into these three.”

Each represented the正派,中立, and邪派factions.

“The easiest path is Haomun. Those guys will sell any information for money.”

“But the quality of their information is the lowest. They’re not an information-gathering organization; they’re just intermediaries.”

“Still, it’s better than nothing.”

Their plan for Beijing was set.

The three continued to teach each other as they leisurely made their way to Beijing.

That’s why they didn’t run into the Paeng Family members, who were rushing to Beijing at top speed to find Namgung Woo.

Paeng Ha-ryeong, who had rushed out to find Namgung Woo as quickly as possible, never imagined that Namgung Woo was leisurely making his way to Beijing, taking breaks at inns and eating three meals a day.

And so, time passed.

“Finally, we’ve arrived.”

“That’s Beijing, boss.”

Namgung Woo had arrived in Beijing.

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