Even now, if I close my eyes, the memories remain vivid.

"Lord Namgung, I’m fine. Don’t be too sad. I’ll get better soon. We were supposed to go on a picnic with Sua... and Myeong, remember?"

His wife, who often fell ill, would always console him instead.

Whenever she did, Namgung Jincheon would hold her hand and smile.

"Of course, we will. I’ve prepared so much. You’ll shake off this illness soon enough, and we’ll go see the ocean with the children. You said you’d never seen it in your whole life."

Namgung Jincheon still hadn’t seen the ocean.

He couldn’t shake off the memory of that night, the shallow breaths, and the hand that clung to him as if it would shatter.

"Lord Namgung... Lord Namgung... I can’t breathe..."

He couldn't forget the voice of his wife, pleading for her life as she struggled for air.

He couldn’t erase the sound of his children crying, the fading warmth, the stiffening skin he felt under his touch.

A long, yet brief moment passed, and when Namgung Jincheon opened his eyes, he held his sword in his hand.

The firm grip of the sword felt familiar in his hands.

"My son-in-law..."

He saw his grown daughter, and the son-in-law she had brought with her. Namgung Jincheon parted his heavy lips to speak.

"Never forget that martial arts are a means to protect someone... Once it’s too late, nothing can be done... A sword that fails to protect what it should is utterly worthless... So, you mustn’t be late..."

Just by gripping the sword, the head of the Namgung family seemed to weigh down the earth as if the heavens were falling.

Seo-jun met his gaze and swallowed dryly.

"I understand."

The Sovereign Sword Form. It was the secret martial art passed down solely to the heads and successors of the Namgung family.

Yet, the weight of Namgung Jincheon’s words pressed down on Seo-jun more heavily than even that legacy.

"There will be no such thing as being late."

•  

The Sovereign Sword Form is only permitted to be mastered by the head of the Namgung family and their successors.

Even though it was rarely referred to as a divine art, no one in the world of Murim doubted its celestial status. Its power lived up to its name, and it also served as a symbol of status in itself.

Naturally, outsiders could never be taught it. Sharing it with anyone other than a successor would be met with the reproach of the elders and former masters.

Namgung Jincheon had intended to bear that burden alone. Even if it meant facing the world on his own, he wanted to protect his family.

Such a man wielded his sword.

His sword was closer to the gesture of a sovereign than mere swordsmanship.

When he moved the sword vertically, the sky seemed to collapse; when he swung it horizontally, it was as if the earth turned upside down.

The sword moved slowly, deliberately.

But could anyone escape if they stood before it?

No, Seo-jun could say with certainty.

There was no way to escape from the view of the sovereign that looked down from the heights upon the earth below.

Most martial artists would lose control of their body just by being caught in that gaze.

That was the Sovereign Sword Form, the Namgung’s sword.

Namgung Jincheon remained motionless, collecting his energy without losing a single breath.

"As you may have noticed... the Sovereign Sword Form is an extension of the Infinite Sky Sword Art... To be precise, it’s a form where one of our ancestors, upon reaching enlightenment, rewrote the Infinite Sky Sword Art into what we now call the Sovereign Sword Form..."

Namgung Jincheon sheathed his sword. His eyes, which had been reflecting the sky, now focused on Seo-jun. A sudden chill raised goosebumps on Seo-jun’s skin.

"For some reason..., I can see that you’ve grasped parts of the Infinite Sky Sword Art...”

“Oh."

Could he have noticed while teaching the sword? Seo-jun scratched his head, and Namgung Jincheon gave a faint smile.

“It’s a fortunate thing... It will make teaching it much easier..."

At his gesture, three chairs flew in from somewhere.

Namgung Jincheon took a seat first, and Seo-jun and Namgung Sua also sat down.

After a moment’s pause, Namgung Jincheon continued his explanation.

"The Sovereign Sword Form, as its name suggests, embodies the presence of a sovereign... While the Infinite Sky Sword Art sought to capture the sky within the sword, the Sovereign Sword Form embodies the sovereign who commands that sky..."

Namgung Jincheon’s voice transmitted through a mental message. A short chant etched itself into Seo-jun’s mind.

When Seo-jun looked at him, Namgung Jincheon nodded.

"As what you seek to embody changes, so too does the structure of the swordsmanship... Although there are some parallels, it may feel quite different from the Infinite Sky Sword Art..."

Namgung Jincheon, speaking mechanically, blankly looked up at the sky.

"From now on, you will train with Sua in the Sovereign Sword Form... But you need not be bound by it... With your talent, you should be able to incorporate the essence of the Sovereign Sword Form into your martial art..."

"Has Sua been training in it already?"

"She’s memorized the chants, but she hasn’t begun in earnest... I’ve had her refine her basics while waiting for your arrival..."

Seo-jun nodded, then asked a question that came to mind.

"Would it be alright if I took a look at other martial arts from the Namgung family? I’d like to go over the basics."

"Do as you wish... I’ll inform the head of the Heavenly Martial Pavilion, so speak to him whenever you wish..."

“Oh, thanks.”

A solid approach. It seemed fitting to craft a masterpiece from the basics.

Wouldn’t he like it if I gifted him something akin to a birthday present for my father-in-law?

"Should I prepare a demonic version too, just in case?"

For efficiency, nothing beats demonic arts. They come with side effects, but if those could be minimized or eliminated, no martial art could compare to it in terms of growth speed.

Of course, once it reached that level, it would be considered divine martial art.

After some more private talk, Namgung Jincheon took his leave.

As the sky turned red, Seo-jun stood up and looked at Namgung Sua.

“I’m going to train right now. Want to come?”

“Oh, then go on ahead. I’ll join after a shower.”

“You’re just going to sweat again. Why bother?”

“The sweat from before dried and feels super sticky, okay?”

“Oh, that makes sense.”

“Go on ahead. I’ll be right behind you.”

Namgung Sua quickly scurried off, moving away from Seo-jun.

No smell at all.

Usually, those from wealthy families don’t smell because they have traditional methods for sweat prevention. Some even have pleasant scents.

Chun-bong, for instance, lived in back alleys, but didn’t he smell good?

"I don’t get it."

It must be a girl thing.

Seo-jun leisurely headed toward the training grounds.

•  

Seo-jun and Namgung Sua trained in the Sovereign Sword Form, exchanging ideas along the way.

Seo-jun found the initial entry into the Sovereign Sword Form relatively easy.

While it was the ultimate martial art of the Namgung family and not something to be mastered in a single try, he felt he could reach a significant level given enough time.

A few years, at minimum, perhaps, but that was still fast.

The issue was with the sword.

The Sovereign Sword Form is rooted in the sword.

Seo-jun somewhat substituted it with his inner energy, but it didn’t produce the true power of the Sovereign Sword Form.

Namgung Sua’s assistance proved invaluable in that regard.

"Seo-jun, here, you need to lighten up and embody the heaviness. You usually swing lightly, so make it much heavier."

From behind, Namgung Sua wrapped her arms around Seo-jun, guiding his hands on the swing.

Whoosh-!

Even without channeling energy, the sword’s swing burst through the air.

Seo-jun leaned back into the refreshing breeze.

"Wow, comfortable."

High-end sofa? It’s nothing compared to this.

A giant suspension supported his back, while a warm, cozy sensation wrapped around his upper body.

Namgung Sua chuckled softly.

"Want to take a break?"

"I’m already taking a comfy one right now."

"You goof. I’m the one who can’t rest."

"Oh, right."

Seo-jun released his hold on her and dropped to the ground.

"Let me take a look before we rest."

"Thanks."

Seo-jun watched Namgung Sua perform the Sovereign Sword Form with her greatsword.

Unlike the long sword traditionally used by the Namgung family, she wielded a greatsword, which required a bit of adaptation. Namgung Jincheon had been helping with that part.

Since they were training in the exclusive yard for the family head, Namgung Jincheon came out daily to assist Seo-jun and Namgung Sua.

"Truly, a Namgung through and through."

Namgung Sua inherited her father’s open-heartedness and graceful demeanor, and Seo-jun watched her with admiration.

"Oh dear."

Seo-jun clapped his cheeks to shake himself out of the daze.

"As expected of Namgung."

To be entranced by mere swordsmanship... Such is the artistry of the ultimate illusion.

Of course, watching her didn’t mean he was neglecting the martial arts.

"Your swordsmanship is far superior, but your inner energy feels too gentle overall."

Seo-jun touched her lower abdomen with his finger.

"Uh..."

"Hey, focus. No funny thoughts."

He lightly traced along her inner energy paths, beginning from her danjeon.

"So, like this..."

He infused her with his energy and guided hers to perform the Sovereign Sword Form as he interpreted it.

Since Namgung Sua accepted his inner energy without resistance, it was possible.

Boom-!

The space around them seemed to compress under the Sovereign Sword Form’s pressure.

Though not as powerful, it was unmistakably the Sovereign Sword Form.

"This is... It always amazes me."

"Isn’t this easier?"

"What are you talking about? Not at all."

"Sure."

Seo-jun nodded and continued his explanation.

"I think you need to harden your resolve. Your sword may lack it, but your inner energy is too kind. Naturally, that affects your mental state."

"Harden my resolve?"

Namgung Sua raised an eyebrow.

"Haaa!"

She swung her greatsword in the air,

Whoosh-

Only to end with a mere vibration in the air.

"Hmm... I’m not sure."

"You’ll get it with practice."

Seo-jun’s encouragement was sincere. Namgung Sua was undoubtedly talented.

Lately, her intense dedication to training had him worried.

She seemed so focused that he feared she might overstrain herself.

Yet, despite it all, she maintained a gentle inner state.

It must be her nature.

"Oh?"

As Seo-jun watched her, Namgung Sua lifted her palm to the sky.

"It’s snowing."

He looked up, and indeed, a few tiny snowflakes drifted down.

"It really is. Is it the first snow?"

"Probably?"

"Chun-bong loves snow."

"I hope the heavy snow arrives before he returns. Right?"

"Yeah, I’m itching for a snowball fight."

Seo-jun felt confident he’d win any snowball fight held at Namgung Manor.

With dark energy, he could make snowballs that no one could defend against.

Namgung Sua pinched his cheek as he chuckled to himself.

"Thinking weird things again?"

"You’re the one who has strange thoughts at night."

"No, I don’t... Why do you keep misunderstanding?"

"Let’s just say you don’t."

"I’m serious, though?"

Namgung Sua pouted, setting her greatsword down and stretching.

"Ahhh... It does feel good."

Seo-jun quickly diverted his gaze.

"Yeah. We should be out having fun on a day like this."

• Brother! Sister!

At that moment, the Namgung family’s capybara arrived.

"Oh, Myeong!"

"Were you training?"

Namgung Myeong, the future head of the Namgung family, flew over and landed.

The capybara who would one day lead Namgung’s clan was a capable fighter, despite his warm personality.

"This spring, the Dragon Phoenix Assembly is being held at Shaolin. Are you aware?"

"Oh, right."

A friendly monk had mentioned it once.

Was it Monk Hye-un? A monk friend who’d taken down his back alley pals back in the day.

Even now, he seemed like a genuinely kind person.

"I’ll be participating this time, but what about you, sister? It’s your last chance."

The age cutoff for the Dragon Phoenix Assembly was thirty. With Namgung Sua turning twenty-eight soon, it was her final opportunity.

However, lately sensitive to her age, she didn’t take that well.

"Myeong? Did you have to say it like that?"

"Did I say something wrong...?"

"It’s nothing."

She grit her teeth, though it hardly sounded like nothing.

Seo-jun patted her back with a chuckle.

"You should participate. It’s a good chance."

Lately, she’d been thinking a lot, and it was a good opportunity to earn a name for herself.

Even though they were at war with the Black Lotus, if the Murim Alliance still wanted to hold the Assembly, there must be a reason.

"Maybe... I should?"

"Yahoo! It’s settled!"

So Namgung Sua’s debut stage was confirmed. There was still plenty of time, though.

During that time, Seo-jun planned to hone his skills to repay his father-in-law’s boundless grace.

He’d add to the fundamentals with everything he had.

If he could create something magnificent as a gift, his father-in-law would surely appreciate it.