The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 58 - Venturing into the Martial World (1)

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong left the main fortress side-by-side.

It was for the purpose of participating in the meeting. However, they were not heading straight for Mount Song.

There was another mission in a region they were passing through on the way.

Because the Azure Sky Society was short on hands, the task of handling two missions at the same time was quite common.

It was a method of assigning a minor mission along with a major one.

“The sun is already setting.”

“I see an inn over there, let us stay the night there and go.”

Namgung Jun readily nodded his head at Baek Ri-cheong’s suggestion.

There were a fair number of customers inside the inn, and the majority of them appeared to be martial artists.

The gazes of those inside the inn were drawn to the two rising stars in a single glance. It was not a very favorable gaze, giving off a slightly sticky feeling.

But the two rising stars pretended not to notice and naturally found an empty seat and sat down.

“Younger Brother. It might be nothing new, but it is an honor to be going on a mission with you.”

“On the contrary, those are my words.”

The two swordsmen, who were looking at each other, held a smile on their faces.

They had already gone through two duels. In essence, they had shared an earnest conversation through their swords.

Though one could say there had been no particular exchange of emotions, there are times when martial artists speak not with words, but with their swords.

The two swordsmen had no awkward atmosphere between them, as if they had already continued a friendship for a long time.

“What is the atmosphere of the Heavenly Sword Hall like?”

“It is good. I feel like I am being taken care of for being the youngest one.”

“If an outstanding youngest one like you were to come, I think I would do the same.”

Namgung Jun smiled brightly.

“Is it not the same for you, Young Hero Baek Ri?”

“Hmm. Of course, I also received a great welcome. I mean, I held three duels as soon as I arrived.”

“It seems the Martial Conquest Hall is also thirsty for new recruits.”

“That’s right. Because the Azure Sky Society is always short on hands. Even more so for outstanding new recruits.”

A middle-aged man who was next to them suddenly cut into the two swordsmen’s conversation.

“Do you know the reason why the Azure Sky Society is especially short on hands?”

Though Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong did not reply, the middle-aged man paid them no mind.

“It is partly because the Azure Sky Society needlessly makes a big deal out of things, but separate from that, there are many who find the Azure Sky Society grating.”

The middle-aged man looked at the cloud embroidery stitched onto the sleeves of the two swordsmen and smiled sneeringly.

“The Sun and Moon Demonic Cult, the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers, and on top of that, even the Orthodox Faction sects. There are many places that look upon the Azure Sky Society with disdain. While claiming to perform righteous deeds, don’t they go around meddling in all directions? So ridiculously.”

Baek Ri-cheong retorted with eyes that had grown cold.

“By the looks of it, Senior, you seem to have a great grudge against the Azure Sky Society.”

“A grudge? Of course, I do. Because my three younger brothers were killed by the Iron Pagoda Hall Master.”

A killing intent began to jut out little by little from the middle-aged man’s two eyes.

However, Namgung Jun paid it no mind and asked.

“Young Hero Baek Ri. Do you know who he is?”

“The expression ‘three younger brothers,’ and looking at that appearance, it seems he is the eldest brother of the Four Fiends of Daeil.”

“The Four Fiends of Daeil.”

“They are four villains who have committed all sorts of wicked deeds, and they were killed when their heads were smashed by the Iron Pagoda Hall Master. But I heard that they were never able to catch their eldest brother.”

The middle-aged man, who had been listening to Baek Ri-cheong’s words until the end, burst into a booming laugh.

“That’s right. I am the eldest brother of the Four Fiends of Daeil, the Crimson Commander.”

As the Crimson Commander revealed his identity, a few of the men in the surroundings stood up.

They were the ones who had been watching the two swordsmen with particular attention when they had first entered the inn.

Though their numbers were not many, they had taken up positions in each direction, making it so that they could not easily get away.

Baek Ri-cheong, who had set down his teacup, looked at the Crimson Commander.

“How very coincidental. Were you waiting for us?”

“How would I have known that you would be passing through this place? We have met by chance.”

The Crimson Commander drew the saber from his waist.

“Consider yourselves unlucky. Both for the fact that you are from the Azure Sky Society, and for the fact that you are brats who are merely Two-Cloud members.”

A peculiar aura erupted from the Crimson Commander’s body.

Looking at its turbid color and fierce flow, it was certain that he had reached the pinnacle of the Peak Realm.

Though he was clearly a master of a higher rank, Baek Ri-cheong spat out the words he wanted to say without a hint of being intimidated.

“Looking at your brazen face, it seems you were thinking of just letting us pass if we had been Three-Cloud members?”

It was the same for Namgung Jun, who was calmly bringing thin noodles to his mouth from the side.

“There is no one else who is such a petty villain, who draws his saber only when he sees someone who looks weak.”

At the two rising stars’ leisurely appearance, the Crimson Commander let out a dry laugh.

“You young things still haven’t grasped the situation! Strike!”

The moment the subordinates who had been on standby drew their weapons at the Crimson Commander’s order.

The ones who moved first were Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong.

Could it be that they had both had the same thought?

Though there had been no particular exchange of opinions, the two swordsmen had moved in the same way and rushed at the Crimson Commander.

‘There is no need to play along with these bastards’ tune.’

‘If I send the Crimson Commander’s head flying first, there is a high probability that their joint attack will fall apart.’

Namgung Jun was on the left, and Baek Ri-cheong was on the right.

A subtle smile was suffused on the lips of the two swordsmen as they poured out their sword strikes simultaneously with drawing their swords.

It was that a smile had naturally formed as they had confirmed that their hearts were in good harmony.

“You young bastards. You have no shame!”

The Crimson Commander opened his eyes wide and deflected in succession the swords that were extending from different trajectories.

‘To think they would rush at me so unceremoniously.’

Ordinarily, would it not be normal to be bewildered in a sudden situation?

But the rising stars before him showed no such signs at all. On the contrary, they had reacted by making a quick judgment, like veteran mid-level masters.

The Crimson Commander roughly parried Namgung Jun’s sword, which was aiming for his head first.

GONG!

“Keu-heuk?”

The shoulder of the Crimson Commander, who had swung his saber wide, trembled minutely. His posture had been twisted by the heavy sword power that had far surpassed his expectations.

It felt as if he had blocked a powerful strike unfolded by a master of the same level, who was not thinking of what came after.

In the interval while the Crimson Commander was faltering, the thrust of Baek Ri-cheong, which accurately pierced the opening, burst forth.

The Crimson Commander urgently tilted his saber to the side.

Baek Ri-cheong was also formidable.

He pierced the opening that Namgung Jun had created and tried to apply pressure even more boldly.

Though they had gained the upper hand for a moment by unfolding a joint attack, he had not forgotten that the Crimson Commander was a master of a higher rank, so he had deployed his ultimate skill from the very beginning.

The Crimson Commander, who had retreated three full steps, crumpled his expression.

The two rising stars, closing the combat distance without even giving him a gap to catch his breath.

‘How dare these bastards!’

Furthermore, as if they had matched hands quite a bit until now, the breathing of their joint attack was in perfect sync.

The Crimson Commander’s breathing and the movement of his hands and feet gradually became more urgent.

“Hurry up and help the Commander!”

“But we can’t see any opening to get in.”

The subordinates of the Crimson Commander could only stand in an awkward posture with bewildered eyes.

As the two rising stars were stuck fast to him and pushing him back, the subordinates, whose level of martial skill was comparatively lower, could not easily interfere.

If Baek Ri-cheong was displaying an orthodox and stable sword, Namgung Jun was creating a clamorous change from the side, confusing the eyes of the Crimson Commander.

‘If it’s the Illusory Sword and the Shifting Sword, they will be a complete contrast to the Centurion Sword Style. It will be just that much more difficult to respond.’

Namgung Jun’s judgment was accurate.

The Crimson Commander was confused by the sequence of the exquisitely entangled joint attack. This was even more so because his opponents were novices who were much younger.

‘These bastards. Their skill is not that of someone who should only be wearing two clouds. Especially.’

The eyes of the Crimson Commander were plunged into Namgung Jun.

At first, he had been more wary of Baek Ri-cheong, who was comparatively older, but after experiencing five exchanges, he knew it had been a mistaken judgment.

‘How can a fresh-faced blood clot have such swordplay?’

The Crimson Commander could tell.

Going beyond just matching hands and unfolding a joint attack, he was breathtakingly coordinating and leading the flow.

In the middle of all that, as if he had the leisure, he would even receive the checks that were heading for Baek Ri-cheong in his stead.

The Crimson Commander was to the point where he was going beyond simple surprise and admiration and was beginning to feel a little fear.

An age that had not yet even reached twenty.

If time were to be added to this, what kind of sword would he one day display?

A question that naturally arose whenever one witnessed Namgung Jun’s talent.

But the Crimson Commander quickly regained his composure.

Now was not the time to be lost in such idle thoughts.

CRASH!

The Crimson Commander, who had stomped his foot powerfully, drew upon his internal energy without holding back and poured out his ultimate skills.

Though the vermilion blade strikes split the inn’s floor apart and poked around here and there, they could not pose a great threat.

“Younger Brother.”

“I know.”

The two swords moved as harmoniously as if they were being held by a single swordsman.

Baek Ri-cheong suppressed the blade strikes that were aiming for their vital points from the front, and Namgung Jun cut off all the trajectories of the Crimson Commander with an Illusory Sword and a Shifting Sword that created countless variations.

In that process, Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong marveled at each other.

It was a feat that would have been impossible if they did not know each other’s martial arts and dispositions well, going beyond the problem of breathing.

‘To be this in sync. He is looking at the exact same point as me. As expected of Younger Brother.’

‘Magnificent. To think his skill has risen to this level already.’

Clang-clang-clang-clang!

The ultimate skill of the Crimson Commander, being dismantled by the two swords.

Baek Ri-cheong, who was enduring the after-effects of that all by himself, broke out in a cold sweat and shouted.

“Younger Brother!”

Namgung Jun, who had shot out half a breath faster than Baek Ri-cheong, had opened his mouth.

The sword of Namgung Jun, as he unfolded the Empyrean Aegis and advanced forward, had a piercing blue light differentiate into countless streaks.

Slice!

A bizarrely twisted blue sword strike cut through the Crimson Commander’s shoulder.

A gushing of blood along with a burning, intense pain.

He had been cut properly. A situation where if he were to drag out the time, his life would be in danger from the bleeding alone.

The Crimson Commander shouted urgently.

“What are you all looking at!”

Despite the Crimson Commander’s roar, his subordinates could not easily interfere.

It was because of the sword wind that was clamorously pulsing from Namgung Jun’s sword.

Namgung Jun was using the sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style like a curtain.

Because of this, the subordinates did not know what to do, and could only stamp their feet in frustration.

“A young bastard and his petty tricks!”

Thump!

The Crimson Commander, who had sent Baek Ri-cheong flying with a powerful strike that he had unleashed while stomping his foot.

The Crimson Commander fiercely twisted his waist and plunged his saber toward Namgung Jun’s shoulder.

It was for the purpose of killing Namgung Jun, or at the very least inflicting a fatal wound, before Baek Ri-cheong could close the combat distance again.

A desperate strike for survival, rather than for victory.

As if to prove this, the Crimson Commander’s two eyes were covered with killing intent and fighting spirit.

Despite this, Namgung Jun showed no signs of being intimidated.

The angle of Namgung Jun’s arm, which had soared to an upper stance, shifted. His grip also changed.

The sword of Namgung Jun, which had created countless variations, was raised diagonally from a low stance and then transformed into a blue streak of light.

A bold switch from the Illusory Sword to the Swift Sword.

The Thirteen Sword-Thunders of the Lightning Flash.

Twelfth Form. Eternal Lightning Forge.

The sword strike, which bent here and there and soared up in reverse, tore the atmosphere apart in an instant.

Spurt!

Though the Crimson Commander had retreated a step faster, he could not avoid having his chest cut.

It was the moment his skin split and his chest was instantly dyed red.

Stab!

A blade pierced through his chest and jutted out diagonally. It was Baek Ri-cheong, who had plunged his sword in from behind.

“By brats like these!”

The Crimson Commander could not continue his words. It was because Namgung Jun, who had twisted his sword, had immediately sent his head flying.

It was a hand movement without any hesitation.

“Heuk!”

“The Commander, so futilely like this?”

The subordinates could do nothing but let out cries of astonishment at the sight of the headless Crimson Commander collapsing powerlessly.

The two swordsmen, who had exchanged a brief glance, threw their bodies in different directions.

Now that they had killed the Crimson Commander, the only thing left was to clean up the remaining remnants.

The remnants, who until just now had been surrounding them, now on the contrary had to face the swords of the two swordsmen head-on and flee.

But there was no way the two swordsmen would let the remnants escape.

One sword, one kill.

Compared to the Crimson Commander, the martial prowess of his subordinates was unimpressive. They were nothing more than numbers.

“Younger Brother, did you miss any?”

“None.”

The two swordsmen, who had taken care of the remnants, paid the innkeeper for the damages and then left the inn.

“Though all sorts of things happen in an inn, I never thought we would be attacked like this just for being from the Azure Sky Society.”

“Hmm. It was a part where we could clearly see how the martial artists belonging to the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths think of the Azure Sky Society. And it is likely that a portion of the Orthodox Faction that practices hypocrisy would be no different.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head.

“For that reason, I feel the importance of this meeting even more.”

“That’s right. Even if we can only receive the assistance of the great sects scattered throughout the Martial World, it will be a great help.”

The two swordsmen, who had lightly handled the sudden attack in the middle of the day, immediately walked toward the east.

Soon, it would be the border of Henan Province.