Tangmunjeon - Chapter 259



Only Noblemtl

Episode 259: The Sword

If a son returns after a long wandering, the father’s story usually begins with the words, “He had a hard time.”

However, the story that Dang Je-seon told Dang Mu-jin was a little different.

“Mujin-ah.”

“Yes.”

“I know you went out because of something important. But for the time being, it would be best for you to keep an eye on Seol-yeong and Wan-ah. Both of them have mild personalities, so they are well-behaved. If their personalities had been just a little different, there would have been chaos.”

“All right.”

Dang Mu-jin doesn’t know his mother’s face because she passed away from the pain of childbirth.

That is why Dang Mu-jin rarely felt the absence of his mother. Since he had never known his mother from the beginning, it was rather strange when he felt the absence.

However, unlike Dang Mu-jin, Dang Je-seon lived his entire life feeling the void left by his wife.

It is only natural that the longing and regret for his wife has turned into a love for his two daughters-in-law.

‘Actually, even if you look at it all separately, it was too much.’

Anyone can see that this is the epitome of irresponsible behavior. Dang Mu-jin reflected deeply.

*

Since then, Dang Mu-jin has remained quiet and has not ventured beyond the walls of the Dang family.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was lying around in my room like a bum and just playing around.

The period spent at the family home is a period for the family and their loved ones, but it is also a period to prepare for the future.

‘A typhoon will hit soon.’

The Battle of Jeongsa, or the Battle of Jeongma.

I don’t know exactly when, but it’s a given that something will happen.

Of course, unlike other large sects of the political faction, even if the Tang family takes a step back, it will not cause any major problems.

Rather, the problem is my friends.

The three friends are Gaebong, Namgung Se-ga, and Mudang-pa. They can’t avoid a fight.

‘I guess I should help now too.’

If you think about it, most of the fights Dangmujin has been through so far have been due to the needs of his friends.

The person who needed help was always Dang Mu-jin, and his friends never backed down and fought by Dang Mu-jin’s side.

But now the day is coming when Dangmujin must take up his sword for his friends.

Dang Mu-jin would wake up at dawn every day, finish his training, and in his spare time, he would go out to the backyard and practice swinging his sword with other martial artists.

*

But before long, a small problem arose for Dang Mu-jin.

‘Why are you suddenly like this?’

After returning to the Tang family, for about a month, Tang Wujin was completely absorbed in the practice.

If you swing your sword from the morning, the sword in the evening will be sharper than in the morning, and if you devote yourself to martial arts in the evening, you will gain a little enlightenment the next morning. It is a situation where training cannot help but be fun.

However, after just over a month of returning to the party, the party leader’s progress stopped as if it was a lie.

It felt like I was trying to move forward with a thick rope tied around my waist to a large tree.

Of course, it’s not that there’s no progress at all. But the achievements have become so inadequate that we can’t help but notice it.

It wasn’t just a simple illusion, as the results were revealed in the recent Dalian.

The opponents that Dang Mu-jin most often spar with are his three friends.

It was difficult to defeat Hyeon-gong or Nam-gung-myeong when fighting with a sword from the beginning, so it was not strange to lose to them.

But lately, it has become burdensome to even deal with Hong Geol-gae. Even though Dang Mu-jin did not display his solo skills, Hong Geol-gae also did not display his Chwipal Seon-bo.

‘Why is it suddenly getting sluggish?’

Dang Mu-jin invested more time into training than before, working hard on his Yun Gi Haeng Gong, and immersing himself in meditation.

But I just couldn’t seem to get through this predicament.

Naturally, my enthusiasm for training waned and even the time I spent on training began to decrease.

After a few days, Hong Geol-gae came to see Dang Mu-jin and asked.

“You, why have you stopped practicing these days?”

“Stop? You practice every day.”

“You know what I mean? It’s just that you’ve been a bit quiet lately.”

As Dang Mu-jin was about to explain the current situation, he felt something stuck in his throat.

The pride that made him not want to make a weak sound blocked Dang Mu-jin’s throat.

But Dang Mu-jin put down his pride with a deep sigh.

There aren’t many people with whom he can talk about such matters. His master, Goei, has long since died, so the only people Dangmujin can ask for advice are Samanbul, Hyeolwoogaek, and his three friends.

If Hong Geol-gae was in the same situation, Dang Mu-jin would have listened to Hong Geol-gae’s worries.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t tease you.

When Dang Mu-jin explained the situation with a serious expression, Hong Geol-gae answered.

“I think Hyun-gong or Nam-gung-myeong would know that better than I. Just wait a minute.”

Before Dang Mu-jin could even nod, Hong Geol-gae got up from his seat and quickly brought Namgung Myeong and Hyeon-gong.

When Dang Mu-jin explained the situation again, Hyun-gong began to tell his story.

“The martial artist improves his martial arts skills through practice and actual combat. That’s why those who practice quietly go on regular trips to the martial arts world to gain practical experience, and that’s why the martial artists who survive the Jeongsa War achieve great things.”

“I know that.”

“But you lacked practice and had a lot of practical experience. Thanks to that, you were able to make steady progress while returning to the Danggajang and practicing, but now that the balance between practice and practical experience is starting to be struck, your growth is slowing down.”

Dang Mu-jin looked around. Fortunately, Dan Seol-yeong and Mok Wan-ah were nowhere to be seen.

“So, in order to achieve something, I have to leave the Tang family and wander around before returning? It hasn’t even been that long since I returned to the Tang family.”

Hyun-gong made an embarrassed expression.

“That may be the case, but after hearing your story, I think that might not be the case···.”

“Then what is it?”

Hyun-gong hesitated and could not easily answer Dang Mu-jin’s question.

It’s not that I can’t answer because I don’t know, but it’s as if there’s something I’m embarrassed to say.

Namgung Myung, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from the side, intervened.

“Shall I tell you?”

Hyun-gong is reluctant to talk about something even though he knows something, but Nam-gung-myeong is not that kind of person.

The type of person who says something that absolutely must be said without worrying about what other people think.

Of course, there were many instances where he committed a foolish act, and as a result, he got his left arm cut off.

Rather, that is why I believed.

If it was Namgung Myung, he would definitely speak directly to me without beating around the bush.

“What is it?”

When Dang Mu-jin asked again, Namgung Myung gave a completely unexpected answer.

“To put it simply, it means that your swordsmanship is nearing its limit.”

“···uh?”

“What’s surprising? Everyone has different innate talents. Your skills have gotten close to the limit of your talents.”

The tone was serious, but it was hard to tell whether the content was serious or a joke. That’s why Dang Mu-jin looked at Nam Gung-myeong with a subtle expression.

Namgung Myung spoke with a serious expression, without a hint of laughter.

This is the face of a warrior who puts his heart into his sword, not a thief jumping over a fence or a scoundrel killing time at a market.

“Dang Mu-jin. Men of the Namgung Sega family begin to swing wooden swords when they are six or seven years old. And do you know how many of the Namgung Sega family’s warriors have surpassed the peak barrier?”

“···well.”

“There are eleven of us, including my father and me. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this is the most, excluding Shaolin Temple. Among them, my father is the youngest to have crossed the zenith barrier, followed by me. Don’t you feel something?”

Before I was asked the question, I felt like my mind was frozen because I had heard such a shocking story.

Dang Mu-jin answered hesitantly.

“What do you want me to feel?”

“Your achievements were strangely fast. I swung my sword for fifteen years and passed the peak wall. Hyun-gong also swung his sword for over ten years and passed the peak wall. But do you know how long it took you to pass the peak wall?”

Dang Mu-jin quietly reflected on his thoughts.

It was only after meeting the monster that he began to learn the sword, and Dang Mujin reached the peak of his skills in less than three years. It was a period of time that anyone would find strangely short.

Namgung Myung continued the story.

“Of course, your situation is different from that of an ordinary person. Before learning martial arts, you learned medicine and were well-versed in the eight meridians and the human body. Of all the martial artists in the world, Goi-yi was the best teacher you could have had. He didn’t even have any other students and spent the whole day teaching only you.”

When Dang Mu-jin nodded, Namgung Myeong continued his story.

“Furthermore, you took the precious elixirs of Black Peony and Great Ring. You didn’t have to spend time and build up your internal energy like others. Furthermore, you experienced real-life combat early and in greater numbers than others. Of course, it wasn’t just luck. You were born with great talent, so you must have been able to achieve such things.”

Looking back, I was really lucky. It was a series of coincidences and good fortunes that others would not have had.

“I know I’ve been making progress quickly.”

“Yes, you are the fastest runner. But the fastest person does not necessarily run the farthest or the longest.”

Dang Mu-jin realized once again that Namgung Myeong was born into the Namgung family.

Namgung Myung’s tone was extremely cold. Just like the attitude Namgung Jincheon had shown.

It wasn’t a very pleasant story to hear, so Dang Mu-jin frowned without realizing it.

“So what? My talent ends here, so there’s no point in training with the sword any longer?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just that you’ve finally begun to feel like a normal person.”

“Tell me more.”

“Training is not about walking comfortably on a path with good water and good wind. At first, you start walking lightly, but eventually, one day, you will come across a large rock mountain. From then on, you will take up a pickaxe, strike the solid rock wall, and dig a cave. You have now finally come across the rock mountain.”

Namgung Myung took a breath and then continued his story.

“If there are ten or twenty people who devote their lives to the sword, only one of them will pass the peak wall before dying. There are many who reach the limit faster than you. You ran faster than anyone else, and you reached the limit much later.”

Dang Mu-jin’s expression did not brighten at all.

“So, are you saying I should give up with gratitude for my accomplishments so far?”

“How could that be? What I’m trying to say is that other people have felt the same sensation as you much earlier, and yet they keep practicing endlessly. Even if you have to break through the rock, you can still make progress little by little.”

Namgung Se-ga’s sword skills are among the best in the world.

How many people among the Namgung Se family’s military leaders have failed to achieve what they wanted and have hit a wall?

Namgung Myung must have seen such things since he was young, so Namgung Myung’s story must be true.

But Dang Mu-jin did not want to admit that fact hastily.

“But, you and Hyun-gong are still developing quickly, right?”

Namgung Myung smiled faintly.

“I’m a genius. Hyun-gong can be called a genius too.”

“What about Hong Geol-gae?”

“He’s someone who can run long and far, even if he’s a little slower than others. No, Hong Geol-gae also reached his peak at the age of 25, so is it really right to say he’s slow? In any case, Hong Geol-gae’s talent is also great.”

Dang Mu-jin felt a sense of deprivation that he couldn’t describe.

Should I be satisfied with this achievement, given that I have achieved more than the average person?

Dang Mu-jin couldn’t do that.

What was important to Dang Mu-jin was not the achievements of countless unnamed people whose faces and names he did not know.

Dang Mu-jin’s standard was his three closest friends.

I didn’t want to stand still and watch my friends move forward, alone and alone, digging through the rough rock.

It must be a dirty feeling that you have never experienced before.

Hyun-gong also added a word.

“It’s not that I’ve encountered a strange obstacle. Rather, it’s more correct to think that it’s now a normal situation. To achieve success after going through hardships. Isn’t that the essence of cultivation?”

The moment he heard that story, someone came to Dang Mu-jin’s mind. Jin Song, the leader of the Cheongseongpa Seongdo Branch.

When he first met the monster, Dang Mu-jin thought that if only he could achieve as much as Jin Song, a first-class martial artist, he would have no more wishes.

However, even though Dang Mujin had already crossed the climax wall, he was still not satisfied. Naturally, he was dreaming of a day when he would cross the climax wall with his friends. However, Jin Song, who had trained much longer than Dang Mujin, still had not crossed the climax wall.

Up until now, I have achieved things easily as I have practiced, so I just realized it late.

Namgung Myung spoke.

“I’m not telling you to quit. It’s not Mujae but Geomjae that you’ve reached your limit.”

“That’s it, right?”

When Dang Mu-jin asked again, Namgung Myung answered as if he had heard a strange story.

“Do you think that the sword is all there is to martial arts? Even if everyone in the world thinks so, at least you shouldn’t think so.”

Namgung Myung thought he had said everything he could, so he got up from his seat and left to go on his mission. Hyungong and Honggeolgae also stayed a little longer and then left.

And Dang Mu-jin sat quietly in thought.

‘The sword, and the martial arts that are not the sword.’

Faced with the sudden choice, Dang Mu-jin couldn’t easily make a decision.

That’s why Dang Mu-jin stayed in the backyard and swung his sword.

Meals were minimal. Sleep was minimal, or only for an hour or two a day, as if he had passed out.

Danseolyeong and Mokwanah sat a little distance away and looked at Dangmujin.

*

A fortnight passed like that.

It wasn’t a long time, but looking back, it was a time when I had devoted everything to the sword, and I had no regrets.

Dang Mu-jin looked back on the achievements made over the past two weeks.

And I had no choice but to admit it. Namgung Myung’s story was accurate.

Unless you get a special opportunity, you will never be able to get the feeling as quickly and definitely as you have so far.

Dang Mu-jin looked toward the east. Dawn was dawning dimly.

Although I hadn’t been able to rest or sleep properly for two weeks, I felt like my whole body, which had been sore, was filled with energy again.

Dang Mu-jin closed his eyes before the sun had fully risen.

I still vividly remember the image of a middle-aged man with graying hair at the back of his ears. The middle-aged man looked at Dang Mu-jin with a cold expression.

In the darkness, the monster drew his sword.

The monster took a stance ready to stab his heart with his sword.

An attitude that is too careless and frivolous to be considered preparation for a battle.

The monster slowly showed off the first moves of the Self-Heart Sword, and finally showed off the three most important moves of the Self-Heart Sword.

Jagbong (雀蜂). A sword that lures the opponent with a light blade and aims for the opponent’s neck.

Jangchun Deung (長春藤). A sword that flexibly climbs up the opponent’s sword like a honeysuckle vine and targets the opponent’s vital points.

Tip. A sword that aims for the opponent’s heart by taking the shortest distance.

The monster sat cross-legged in the darkness and looked at Dang Mu-jin.

Now, Dang Mu-jin stood up from his seat, straightened his posture, and unfurled his sword into the air.

I followed the order of the first steps shown by Dangmujin’s black magic.

With a final concise stab, Dangmujin’s sword stopped.

And Dang Mu-jin looked at the monster.

The goyi did not praise Dang Mujin.

Instead, he just smiled silently. As always, he looked a little annoyed.

But Dang Mu-jin saw a faint surprise and pride in the monster’s eyes.

The look in the eyes of a master looking at a disciple who has surpassed him without even knowing it.

That’s why Dang Mu-jin also looked at the strange man and smiled.

‘Yeah. When did we get here?’

Dang Mu-jin opened his eyes and stretched refreshingly. He had no more regrets.

If what the master has shown is this far, then the disciple’s role is to pioneer the rest himself.

Dang Mu-jin put his sword back into its scabbard.

Although his swordsmanship had not yet reached the heavens, his martial arts had not yet reached its limits, so Dang Mujin’s steps were lighter than ever.