The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 32 - The Karma Exchange Religion (5)

Her eyes, in which a cold and stern light dwelled, were exceptionally jet-black.

Lee Se-ha, who was lowering her sword and glaring at the Karma Exchange Cult Leader, asked.

“Was I very late?”

Namgung Jun spat out black blood and said. Though it was a considerable amount, he straightened his back as if it were nothing.

“Not at all. Barely half a gak has passed.”

Though Lee Se-ha’s gaze was directed at the enemy, her voice, laden with warmth, gently caressed Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

“My disciple. You have carried out the mission perfectly.”

The master, who had encouraged her disciple, took a long stride forward.

Her step, accompanied by a violently writhing lightning energy, mercilessly clawed at the atmosphere.

“Leave it to your master now.”

“Yes.”

The steps of her lightning-cloaked Infinite Steps Footwork immediately charged toward the Karma Exchange Cult Leader. The footwork’s aura, thoroughly angered, shot up as sharply as a thunderbolt.

“Karma Exchange Cult Leader. No, you’re more familiar with the nickname Moon-Defying Saber Demon, aren't you?”

At the single sentence from Lee Se-ha, who had seen right through his identity, the Moon-Defying Saber Demon let out a sharp roar.

“So you’ve been digging into my past, you fighting dogs of the Azure Sky Society!”

Though the Moon-Defying Saber Demon tried to strike first, the one who seized the initiative was Lee Se-ha.

RUMBLE!

The forms of the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Style were savagely unleashed, accompanied by a sonorous roar of thunder.

The appalled Moon-Defying Saber Demon hurriedly lowered his stance and raised his straight blade, but the body of his saber was violently shaken by the sword strike extending from the left.

‘The Wandering Princess of the Black Cloud! Of all people, that wench!’

The Moon-Defying Saber Demon, who had been pushed back two steps, unfolded a series of forms centered on powerful strikes to regain his momentum.

But there was no holding back in Lee Se-ha. On the contrary, she stomped her foot powerfully and thrust her sword in succession.

As she unleashed over twenty thrusts in a single breath, all the vital points on the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s body were exposed.

K-K-KRAANG!

As if his blade style alone was not enough, the Moon-Defying Saber Demon, who had poured out a series of fist-shadows with his empty left hand, barely managed to strike her sword away.

But there was no gap for the Moon-Defying Saber Demon to catch his breath.

A net of several layers, woven from the danglingly flowing lightning energy, tore apart the forms of the Singing Moon Scattering Blade.

The expression of the Moon-Defying Saber Demon, whose clothes had been cut in an instant, hardened. Though he immediately took a backward step, Lee Se-ha did not give him an opening.

She caught up in a single breath and thrust her sword out long. At the single move aiming for his solar plexus, the Moon-Defying Saber Demon had to desperately twist his chest.

Lee Se-ha, who had driven the Moon-Defying Saber Demon into a corner, persistently aimed for his left shoulder. She had seen right through the fact that the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s left side had been relatively weakened.

‘An injury on his left shoulder, but his Protective Body Aura is fine. In that case, was it an Internal Heavy Strike Method? But how did he pierce the Protective Body Aura?’

Lee Se-ha, who had confirmed the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s condition, felt a growing sense of wonder.

It seemed that Namgung Jun had faced him all by himself, and it would have been a very surprising situation even if he had only just endured.

But he had succeeded in a counterattack, as if to show off.

A single strike that was only possible with sublime artistry.

A feat that one at the level of a Peak Realm master could not even attempt.

It should only have been possible by achieving the Trinity Bloom, where one’s control of internal energy responds immediately to their will-intent.

‘Jun always manages to surprise me.’

The fact that Namgung Jun had accomplished this meant that he possessed a sense and talent that were truly heaven-sent.

Lee Se-ha, who was keenly feeling her disciple’s talent once again, extended her sword long.

Thump!

The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Sword Style.

Twin Bolt Strike.

The sword strike, which had split into two branches and plunged down diagonally, shone fiercely like a lightning strike. As a sonorous crash of thunder and lightning erupted, the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s Protective Body Aura scattered with a fizz.

‘After Jun poured out so much of his strength.’

As a master, there would be no greater shame than to drag out the fight.

The blade of Lee Se-ha’s sword plunged vertically into the left shoulder of the Karma Exchange Cult Leader, the one that Namgung Jun had injured with his Internal Heavy Strike Method.

Spurt!

And so, the left arm of the Moon-Defying Saber Demon went flying.

The moment the body of the Moon-Defying Saber Demon staggered, scattering blood from all over, Lee Se-ha unleashed a ferocious sword strike, so fierce that the hem of her sleeve was roughly flipped over.

“Grrgh!”

The hands and feet of the Moon-Defying Saber Demon, who was blocking the sword with a desperate expression, gradually became entangled.

“Wandering Princess of the Black Cloud. How dare you! To me!”

“And what are you?”

C-C-CRACK!

Lee Se-ha’s cold voice plunged into the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s entire body like a blade. The sound of his Protective Body Aura crumbling was an added bonus.

SWOOSH!

Lee Se-ha, who had sliced horizontally across his left side and chest, and had plunged a single strike into his thigh, righted her sword.

“If I had just accomplished this one thing, the rank of a Radiant Master!”

Lee Se-ha did not listen to the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s last words. A single sword strike, drawn horizontally, cleanly split his neck. The crackling lightning-thunderbolt roughly intertwined in all directions.

The Moon-Defying Saber Demon, making a resentful expression.

His head fell to the ground with a thud.

‘If it hadn’t been for Jun, I would have had to exchange at least thirty more blows.’

Lee Se-ha, who had cut off the Moon-Defying Saber Demon’s head, turned her head. She was looking for her disciple.

……

KWAAAAANG!

“It seems some kind of trouble has happened outside.”

“It seems that boy from before started something.”

“But what can he do all by himself?”

The commoners flinched every time a deafening roar and a scream were heard from outside the prison. The martial artists among them were feigning composure, but their complexions were just as dark.

Those who were trapped had held a small hope for a moment, but they soon ended up shaking their heads in self-mockery.

No matter how they thought about it, it was not an easy task.

Though the Karma Exchange Religion was disguised as an ordinary religion on the outside, its inside was mixed with cult members who had learned martial arts.

The sight of the boy striking down the Dharma Master was certainly not ordinary, but it was not to the extent that he could handle the entire Karma Exchange Religion.

“In my… opinion.”

From the innermost part of the prison, a cracked voice was cut off, bit by bit. At this, those in the prison stopped their conversation.

He was the old man who had survived the longest in this prison, and there was a rumor that he had once made quite a name for himself in the Martial World.

“The talent with the blade that child showed… it was not ordinary. He did not look like a mere wandering warrior, so let us wait and see.”

With the old man’s words as the end, the prison sank into silence.

Though the old man had soothed those inside the prison, an atmosphere of negativity could not help but linger.

Despite this, there was no one who took their eyes off the iron door of the prison.

It was something that everyone was yearning for.

A life where they could live like people, not as livestock, forcibly prolonging their lives while becoming prey for the cult members.

THUMP!

A deafening roar, erupting from near the iron door.

At this, those in the prison also became rigid with tension.

CLANK!

With a rough metallic sound, the iron door began to open.

As if the sun had risen at some point, a pure white light, like a wave of silk, flowed in from between the iron doors.

Because that sunlight was so dazzling, those who were in the prison could not even properly open their eyes.

For that reason, they could not immediately tell if the one who had opened the iron door and entered was that boy, or if it was the Karma Exchange Religion.

It was then.

Parting the sunlight that was descending like a curtain to the left and right, the bridge of a nose as sharp as a blade revealed itself.

“Everyone.”

The boy’s clear, sonorous voice ventilated the stuffy air of the prison.

“I have come to keep my promise.”

The blood-stained sword of Namgung Jun revealed a spotlessly clear, sharp aura.

The place that sharp aura was heading for was the lock of the prison.

Slice!

“Take my hand.”

Namgung Jun, even while his body was trembling, was helping the commoners trapped inside the prison and rescuing them by bringing them outside.

“Thank you… so much.”

“I have only done what is natural.”

“What is your name?”

“It is Namgung Jun.”

“Namgung… Jun. I will remember it.”

Namgung Jun, who had brought out even the old man from the innermost part of the prison, looked around.

The swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall who had spread out in all directions were in the middle of subduing the members of the Karma Exchange Religion, and some were in the middle of securing documents that seemed to be the link between the Karma Exchange Religion and the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

With this, they had been able to completely eradicate the branch of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult that had been secretly taking root in Anhui Province.

……

Overnight, the headquarters of the Karma Exchange Religion was in complete disarray.

Though the commoners were startled by the sight, they could not help but be even more astonished at the rumors they heard afterward.

“How can this be. To think the Karma Exchange Religion was an evil cult.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“But since the proof is right here…”

The fact that the Karma Exchange Religion was an evil cult and that the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult was behind it was revealed. Not only were there various documents, but the testimonies of the commoners and martial artists who had been trapped inside the pavilion also followed.

“To think that giving and receiving karma was them stealing our vital energy!”

“Will we be okay?”

Lee Se-ha spoke to the confused commoners.

“Our society has brought all the physicians from the vicinity. You will be able to have your pulse checked without any cost.”

Lee Se-ha used the wealth and provisions from the Karma Exchange Religion’s headquarters and entrusted the health of the commoners to the physicians.

Though their vital energy had been stolen by the Energy-Absorbing Great Art, if it was a small amount, medicinal herbs and time would surely solve the problem.

Lee Se-ha and the Heavenly Sword Hall soothed the commoners, who were confused after learning the truth of the Karma Exchange Religion.

“Jun-ah. Is your wound alright?”

“A wound of this level is common. I am fine.”

Lee Se-ha gently caressed Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

“The sword wound was quite deep.”

“I dealt with it quickly, so I am fine.”

“I’m so proud of you.”

Lee Se-ha’s eyelids lowered slightly.

For a martial artist, an injury is an occupational hazard.

Despite this, every time another Hall member came back injured, Lee Se-ha’s heart ached.

And in the case of her disciple, that feeling was even greater. For that reason, she could not turn her gaze away.

‘I wonder if he’s just pretending not to be in pain for no reason.’

It was then.

Namgung Jun, who had been looking intently at her for a moment, slowly sat down.

“It seems I must perform Qi circulation and breath regulation. Master. May I ask you to stand guard?”

Could it be that she had noticed his feelings?

Lee Se-ha smiled gently at the sight of Namgung Jun, who was letting her get close as if he were awkward.

“Of course. I am by your side, so no one will be able to touch you, Jun.”

Namgung Jun entered into Qi circulation and breath regulation just as he was.

He had eaten the inner core of the Sunfire Carp and broken through the first point of his Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

Though a portion of the energy had been inevitably blown away due to the life-and-death duel with the Moon-Defying Saber Demon, he still had to gather up the residual energy that remained in his meridians.

As his Qi circulation continued, Namgung Jun at some point entered a deep place in his mind's eye.

To have risen to the Peak Realm meant that the mindscape, which is the foundation of the Path of Martial Arts, had been constructed.

Namgung Jun faced the mindscape of this life.

“...…”

Namgung Jun looked at the miserable scene before his eyes.

It was exactly the same as the dream he had had last time.

The final, decisive battle of his past life.

All around was filled with the corpses of his disciples, and the blood-dyed ground was squelching.

Amidst that, above the blood-red fields, a clear, blue firmament was spread high.

The heavens and the earth were a completely contradictory sight.

“Am I still unable to let go.”

The guilt and regret for his disciples.

The resentment and hatred for the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult.

The anguish over the choice of that day.

All of it must have gathered to create the present mindscape.

“My disciples. I will advance.”

Steadfast and upright.

It was only right that he must do so, to show his disciples a side he would not be ashamed of.

“Please watch over me.”

Namgung Jun made a vow.

That the day would come when he would change this miserable mindscape.

That day would be the day he could truly face his disciples.

Namgung Jun, who had finished his Qi circulation, opened his eyes.

“Jun-ah. Did you gather up all the energy?”

“As expected of Young Hero Namgung. You have truly accomplished a great thing.”

“Namgung Jun. We owe you a debt.”

As he opened his eyes, the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall, with Lee Se-ha at the lead, were waiting while standing guard.

The sight of the Heavenly Sword Hall, standing guard by his side like a dependable rampart, filled Namgung Jun’s vision.

Though his disciples were gone, he had a master and new comrades who were watching over his side.

Lee Se-ha, who was closest to Namgung Jun, held out her hand.

“Let’s go back. To the main fortress.”

“Yes, Master.”

The disciple took the master’s hand without hesitation.

It was a truly soft and warm heat.