NOVEL NEXT Chapter 532
00532 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————=
I immediately moved to the secret space of the Namgung Clan and acquired the Suspicious Fishhook. After obtaining the fishhook, I headed to where my companions were, making my way towards the secret room where the women were being abused. The horrific scene I had seen before was being reenacted exactly, so this time, instead of extreme rage, I could only frown slightly.
Puff.
“That son of a…!”
But it didn’t seem to be extreme fury. Extreme Tiger used his spear to skewer the guards like skewers, turning them into mincemeat with his deadly accuracy. Just as Extreme Tiger was about to finish off the remaining ones, Jin So-cheong stepped in and stopped him.
Kaang!
“Elder Brother, please calm down.”
“Damn it!!”
Extreme Tiger let out a loud Lion’s Roar, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. Regaining his composure, he looked at me with piercing eyes and spoke.
“I’m sorry, Baek Woong. I got too worked up. I need to leave some alive to testify.”
“No, I don’t really care about testimonies or anything like that…”
I responded while looking at Extreme Tiger.
“You’ve already seen it all using the Obsidian, right? Aren’t you getting a bit too worked up?”
I wasn’t pointing this out for no reason. If Jin So-cheong hadn’t intervened, Extreme Tiger would have literally ripped the remaining ones into hundreds of pieces. Showing such anger was rare indeed.
“… I thought I would feel the same way.”
Extreme Tiger shook his head.
“It’s different when you face it directly; completely different feelings rush in. When I saw it through the obsidian, it felt like I was watching someone else’s problem, but now… I couldn’t help but feel anger.”
“……”
I fell silent at Extreme Tiger’s words. I thought I understood why.
‘The Obsidian transfers memories and emotions from my perspective.’
But if the Obsidian’s ability was just that, it wouldn’t be a technique of vision. The spell of the Obsidian had the ability to allow the recipient of the received memories to resonate and understand my emotions. So far, those who accepted my memories could understand and accept them without much resistance. This was a safety measure to protect the minds of the recipients.
However, just like with Extreme Tiger’s experience, when faced directly with experiences that terribly challenged one’s common sense and reverse scales, the mental defenses provided by the Obsidian could be slightly broken. I spoke to Extreme Tiger.
“Don’t waste your emotions on these trash.”
Pep.
As I casually released the Snake Fist, the heads of the two trembling guards next to me exploded. I stared blankly at my hands, which had no blood on them, and continued.
“I’ve killed them all with that. There’s no need to testify in Jianghu about the evils of the Namgung Clan.”
Miho, who was creating light clothing for the women with her magic, glanced at me and said.
“You’ve hardened your resolve.”
“I just chose to do it cleanly.”
“As a maiden, that’s what I prefer.”
The Sword Demon remarked while crossing his arms.
“Baek Woong. As per our operation, we’ll start tearing through them from here. You can handle your task.”
“Understood.”
Pa-at!
I immediately took Extreme Tiger and Jin So-cheong toward the meeting hall where the upper echelons of the Namgung Clan were gathered. Upon confirming that they were all present, joy illuminated my face.
“So you’re all here! Thank goodness.”
Murmur.
In this place were the clan leader, Sword King Namgung Myeong, along with the Eight Swords of Namgung and several powerful martial artists. Excluding the Sword King and the Eight Swords, there were at least fifty capable martial artists present, confirming that the Namgung Clan was indeed holding a meeting at this hour. Instantly, all their gazes turned towards us and locked in place.
One of the Eight Swords of Namgung stood up abruptly and shouted.
“Who are you? Who dares to invade the Namgung Clan?”
What a confident bunch of human trash.
Swoosh.
I wanted to draw my sword and unleash a massacre on them. The very existence of those bastards disgusted me. But as I reached for my sword, Extreme Tiger stopped me with a gesture and called out.
“Respected Sword King Namgung Myeong, how have you been? You look quite healthy.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m just Extreme Tiger, passing by.”
At those words, Namgung Myeong, seated in the large, ornate chair, replied solemnly.
“Ah, you must be Jin So-cheong. What is happening here?”
“……”
Namgung Myeong asked Jin So-cheong for an explanation, but she turned her head away with a bitter expression. Until she received the Obsidian, she had respected Namgung Myeong as an exceptional martial artist, but now that she knew all the ugly truths, she couldn’t even bear to meet his gaze. Instead, Extreme Tiger said cheerfully.
“Sword King! You’ve done a lot of terrible things, haven’t you? I’m curious, don’t you fear the Evil God?”
“The Evil God? I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you keep prattling on…”
“It’s the Everlasting Killer.”
Swoosh.
At that moment, Sword King Namgung Myeong’s expression changed drastically. It was a change that only he experienced in the hall, and he even began to tremble slightly. The Eight Swords looked at him in confusion, as if they didn’t understand why their leader was reacting like that.
“Leader! What is…”
“Wait a moment.”
Sword King Namgung Myeong carefully spoke while observing us.
“You’re… could it be the Everlasting Killer? Or are you related to him?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Extreme Tiger grinned creepily and sent me a secret transmission.
[See? It’s working. That Sword King knows something about the Everlasting Killer. Just that alone makes it worthwhile for us to be here.]
[It seems the Eight Swords don’t know.]
[Why would we talk about the immortal assassin that can kill anything?]
[That’s true.]
The Everlasting Killer!
That was a legendary being my Sword Demon had once told me about. Having appeared long before the current generation’s ancestors, this being was the greatest assassin in Jianghu who acted only for his own justice. Rumors said he had achieved the realm of the Evil God, capable of killing anything alive, thus earning the title of Everlasting Killer, which was whispered in secrecy.
However, this title seemed to only be well-known to the leaders of powerful clans like Sword King Namgung Myeong, while those below did not know of it. After a brief cough, Extreme Tiger answered Namgung Myeong’s question.
“What do you think?”
“Profit… do you dare to mock me?”
“Mock you? I merely wish to hear the Sword King’s insightful perspective.”
As Extreme Tiger jested, Sword King Namgung Myeong bit his lip and said.
Tydaht!
The moment Namgung Myeong raised his hand, the martial artists of the Namgung Clan rushed in like lightning. Extreme Tiger and Jin So-cheong began counterattacking as if they had awaited this moment, and I, as promised, used the Soul Removal Technique to advance forward. The series of actions seemed perfectly coordinated as if we had rehearsed it beforehand.
Kaang!!
Two of the Eight Swords rushed in, unleashing sword qi, and I simply withstood the attack with my internal power. I didn’t even use a basic technique, just blocking their sword qi with my martial arts made them gasp in shock.
“What…”
“What kind of internal power is this…?”
Puff!!
‘So slow…’
I rushed in and inserted a fist into the neck of one of the Eight Swords. As the fist flowed like starlight, I then struck another one in the temple with a precise maneuver. After seamlessly transitioning my attacks, I found myself behind the two and lightly dusted my hands.
Thud…
One collapsed with his throat crushed, while the other slowly fell with his brain turned to mush. As I had taken down two Peak Experts instantly without using a sword, the remaining Eight Swords were stunned.
“What?!”
“Is he a Fist Saint…?”
Their astonished reactions made sense since, in the world of Jianghu, it was generally accepted that overpowering someone at the peak of martial arts in one blow was not something one could easily do. Even reaching the early stages of Peak Master was usually not enough to settle things easily. A martial artist who had built their own strengths was never to be underestimated.
Nonetheless, I had achieved it. The remaining six members of the Eight Swords looked shaken and hesitant, but Sword King Namgung Myeong yelled in frustration.
“Get a grip!”
“Wha… Leader…”
“A Fist Saint? What Fist Saint? He simply delivered a precise strike at a gap in my defenses thanks to his incredibly fast technique! It’s not that he’s all that powerful; the ones who were attacked simply took too long to switch to defense!”
“That can’t be…”
The Eight Swords gazed in disbelief, but I was impressed by Sword King Namgung Myeong’s precise analysis.
‘He’s perceptive. Truly the strongest among the Five Great Families.’
While the others, with their lower martial arts levels, were oblivious to how I had dug into their weaknesses and killed them, Sword King Namgung Myeong had been able to catch on to the speed of the Soul Removal Technique in conjunction with my martial arts proficiency all in a single glance. It was evident that he was a Peak Master of extraordinary caliber, unlike the Eight Swords.
With a smile, I raised my sword.
“I want to fight like Jin So-cheong, but I don’t think I’m at that level yet, so I’ll use my sword.”
“What?”
“Don’t run away.”
Pa-at!
I utilized the Soul Removal Technique to cleverly slip to the side. Positioned in my attack trajectory was one of the Eight Swords, who was clearly trying to read my movements and defend against me. However, I ignored his defense and poured my internal power into my sword.
Pook!
“……!!”
I sliced through my opponent’s body, splitting him vertically while still sheathed in sword flames.
‘When the understanding is lacking, it may be an issue, but right now I can fully harness my internal prowess.’
Given the level of the technique I had mastered, so long as I didn’t use mind control, my Absolute Slash couldn’t be blocked. I could even change the trajectory using the Bowing Sky Slash. It was clear defense meant nothing as I swept my sword across the two next to me.
“Ugh.”
“Move out of the way.”
The remaining Eight Swords adopted a defensive posture, offering to give up an arm rather than die. They seemed to mean they’d rather lose a limb than perish.
Wiying!
Thunder God Sword Dance!
A sound like a swarm of bees buzzed from the tip of my sword, and suddenly, it crackled like thunder. The techniques of the Thunder God Sword Dance shot out like a whip, severing the head of one of the elders caught at the end of the technique. I spun on the spot and made another attack, resulting in yet another head falling.
Blood erupted.
As I swiftly took down more than half of the Eight Swords, fear etched itself onto their faces. They had already lost their will to fight, staggering backwards, just as I was about to launch another assault-
Kaang!
“Damn it!!”
Sword King Namgung Myeong shouted as he clashed against my sword. I received his sword head-on and thought.
‘A powerful steel sword.’
And since I had witnessed Namgung Myeong’s battle several times before, I knew he could freely execute both the mighty techniques and tempered techniques in his sword style. Although as a person he was rubbish, it was clear he was indeed an exceptional Peak Master of exalted caliber.
But that was all.
With my sword facing his, I said.
“Namgung Myeong. Do you know why I came to find you as Extreme Tiger suggested?”
“You vile scoundrel… why?!!”
“I came to regain my confidence.”
“… What?”
Tat!
I momentarily broke off the close stance and stepped back, watching Namgung Myeong’s confused expression.
“There’s a Peak Master in Dongyoung who could shred you into hundreds of pieces in an instant. And I have to fight a monster afterwards who could kill that Peak Master with a mere finger. Therefore, I need assurance that the strength I have accumulated so far isn’t misplaced.”
“Bullshit… where on earth is there such a monster?”
Namgung Myeong bellowed loudly.
“The swordsmanship of the Namgung Clan is the best in the world!! I will kill the likes of you!”
Ka-kaang!
Ka-kaang!
I engaged in a furious exchange with Sword King Namgung Myeong for a full fifteen seconds. During the match, the Three Elders of the Eight Swords joined in to cooperate, but I toyed with them, appearing behind them with the Soul Removal Technique and smashing their heads.
Puff.
“Kakh!”
Numbers hardly mattered.
I could handle it alone from here on out.
However, unlike the foot soldiers, Sword King Namgung Myeong was a formidable opponent. He was definitely not someone I could defeat in an instant. With that keen swordsmanship, if I were careless, I would get into serious trouble. The five-colored sword strength coiled around and formed a dragon shape; indeed, it was the Mind Control Technique.
Pish!
I narrowly dodged the Absolute Slash of the Emperor Sword Technique, but still couldn’t completely escape unscathed and got a small wound on my cheek. His sword’s power was not to be underestimated.
‘Did I underestimate him too much?’
I was confident that my strength was indeed above Sword King Namgung Myeong’s. Because no less than Jin So-cheong herself acknowledged it while laying the foundation for my Absolute Realm, it felt strange for me to be stumbling against Namgung Myeong now. But in this place, there were relative factors at play.
Namgung Myeong was currently engulfed in extreme fury, pushing his capabilities to their limits, and the fact that this was his territory gave him confidence. Had I not looked down on Namgung Myeong and fought with all my maximum strength right from the start, I could have easily taken him out, but I had instead chosen to slowly fight and observe his strength. Because of that, he had drawn out his maximum potential, and now we appeared to be evenly matched.
But I no longer intended to retreat. I calmly engaged with Sword King Namgung Myeong and, at the sixtieth second mark, I controlled the Earth, Heaven, and People with the Three Treasure Technique and perceived his barrier.
I could spot a weakness.
Just as Jin So-cheong had mentioned, by mastering the Three Treasure Technique, I could accurately perceive the space I occupied and the space my opponent occupied. Furthermore, I could instinctively sense how to penetrate the barriers existing against master-level martial artists. I took a slow step forward, allowing Namgung Myeong’s attack to flow in.
In that instant, I heard Namgung Myeong’s yell.
[You! You’ve let your guard down!]
Emperor Sword Technique!
Ultimate Form!
Emperor Sky Shattering Dance!
A technique I had seen before erupted, infused with vibrant, five-colored sword energy. If hit properly, it could even destroy a Golden Hall, its overwhelming power nearly oversized, yet I purposely waited for him to unleash his grand move before I acted.
Thunderclap!
Crackling sounds echoed around me, surging with my dormant potential as dozens of electric arcs surrounded my body. In that instant, I poured an immense amount of internal power into the Thunder Clap technique, amplifying my capabilities, and the augmented strength stimulated the muscles of my legs and the bones and flesh of my entire body.
Swoosh!
With my speed amplified by the Thunder Clap, I employed the Soul Removal Technique again and moved behind Sword King Namgung Myeong, who showed a look of sheer astonishment.
[Th-This is impossible. That was a deception…]
Of course, I was showing him a gap. Having failed to see through the deception, Namgung Myeong revealed his great technique, and I exploited that opening with the Thunder Clap and the Soul Removal Technique to strike back.
Pook!
Without hesitation, I stabbed him in the back. However, I did not unleash the sword energy, and as a result, Namgung Myeong stood frozen, bleeding. He spoke in a voice saturated in pain.
“… Are you not going to finish me off?”
“Do you think of yourself as being in a comfortable position to die?”
I retorted after pushing the sword in even deeper.
“Kakh…”
Blood dripped continuously. Namgung Myeong let out a suppressed scream.
“It seems your son has also been captured.”
From a distance, Extreme Tiger approached, his spear stained with blood, holding something in one hand.
“Baek Woong. I exterminated the Earth Team.”
“Thanks for the hard work.”
“Should we dispose of the trash?”
What was in his hand was the head of Namgung Hwan. It seemed Extreme Tiger had tortured him using Thunder God Lineage techniques; Namgung Hwan’s eyes were rolled back. Extreme Tiger nonchalantly tossed Namgung Hwan’s head at Sword King Namgung Myeong.
Thud.
“From now on, today will be the day of your and your son’s memorial service. If there’s anyone to perform the rituals, that is.”
“Grrrr…”
Namgung Myeong trembled with rage, but since I could finish him off in one second if I wanted to, he could do nothing. He blurted out angrily.
“Kill them!!”
“Why?”
“When I die, I will curse you.”
I stared at Namgung Myeong quietly.
“Those who were wrongfully killed and abused by your hands probably said the same thing.”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I won’t take long with someone like you.”
Pook!
I decapitated Sword King Namgung Myeong. Extreme Tiger snickered beside me.
“Seems like you got tired of interrogating him.”
“Because I can just ask using the Heavenly Secret Technique.”
After answering nonchalantly, I went to look for Jin So-cheong. She appeared fatigued, as if she had just finished a fierce battle against the Sky Team, sitting atop a pile of corpses with only minor scratches. It seemed she had annihilated the Sky Team without sustaining significant injuries. Upon seeing me, Jin So-cheong waved her hand.
“Baek Woong. It’s over here too.”
And in the distance, Miho spoke to me through spells.
[I’ve cast the Naseng Gate across the entirety of this clan. The minions have all been mentally suppressed by this maiden. The events that transpired here today will not be known.]
With Miho neatly cleaning up the aftermath, I sensed that everything was finished in an instant. At last, I joined with Miho, feeling something unusual.
“Where’s the Sword Demon?”
“It seems he’s fighting someone.”
“What?!”
“It looked like a formidable opponent.”
We were all startled and hurried to the location where the Sword Demon was fighting. Just as Miho had said, we could see him in the midst of battle with someone.
The Sword Demon appeared to have nearly gained the upper hand, wearing a relaxed expression while suffering minimal injuries. In contrast, his opponent stood, breathless, with his bow stuck in the ground. It looked like the Sword Demon had been generous enough to allow him to live despite inflicting numerous critical wounds.
He appeared young, likely around Jin So-cheong’s age. Dressed in all black, curiously, the bow he held lacked a string.
“Ugh… ugh…”
The Sword Demon looked intrigued.
“A young man with incredible strength. What is your name?”
At the Sword Demon’s question, the archer answered.
“Yeon Jong-hwi…”
“The Yeon family is rare in this world… I’ve not heard of them. Do you have a nickname?”
“No.”
“Why would you confront me? We have no hidden grudges, do we?”
Yeon Jong-hwi replied.
“I intended to leave the Namgung Clan today, but… I’m still a guest fighter and must repay the favor.”
The Sword Demon turned to me and chuckled.
“Seems like Baek Woong, you would want to let him go?”
“……”
“Could be a great asset in the future.”
Upon hearing the Sword Demon’s appraisal, I thought it reasonable. I then spoke in a trembling voice.
“… Of course. But I can’t let him go just yet.”
“Is that so? Yeon Jong-hwi, you should surrender to us. The Namgung Clan has been exterminated.”
Pointing in the direction of the severed heads of Namgung Myeong and Namgung Hwan, Yeon Jong-hwi sighed.
“… It seems there’s no choice. Do what you will with me.”
Jin So-cheong stepped forward with restraints in hand.
“Allow me to tie your hands.”
“Fine.”
As Jin So-cheong tied Yeon Jong-hwi’s hands, I felt a strange sensation. Miho, having noticed my expression, playfully asked.
“There’s something going on. Who exactly is this Yeon Jong-hwi?”
“… The one known as a Ten Great Master binding another Ten Great Master.”
“Hmm?”
I stared blankly at the scene.
‘Who would have thought I would see this person here?’
Indeed.
In fifty years, he would be known as one of the Ten Great Masters, a peerless master in the Jianghu who achieved the legendary feat of one arrow, one kill. The legendary Bow King, Yeon Jong-hwi, was now being bound by the Divine Spear, Jin So-cheong, right before my eyes.