The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 61 - Venturing into the Martial World (4)

Even though it was deep in the night, the sharp sounds of metal and screams did not cease in the Fortress Guard Sect.

The Brilliant Spirit Gang, which had launched a night raid.

It seemed that, as if they had no intention of failing, they had mobilized all the fighting power they could muster.

‘Their numbers are greater than what I saw during the day.’

Furthermore, it seemed that not only the Brilliant Spirit Gang, but also the ruffians of the Black Path under their command had all been brought along.

Baek Ri-cheong, who was watching the number of those coming over the wall endlessly increase, surveyed his surroundings.

The complexions of the disciples of the Fortress Guard Sect, who had hastily come out having roughly thrown on their sleepwear, were gradually darkening.

Even though all around was dark, they had instinctively realized that they were severely lacking in numbers.

‘The morale of the Fortress Guard Sect must not be allowed to fall.’

To do that, he himself had to display his overwhelming martial prowess at the vanguard.

Only then would the fighting spirit of the Fortress Guard Sect not be extinguished and would burn hotly.

Baek Ri-cheong, who had finished his thoughts, moved his steps with a long stride.

The sword of Baek Ri-cheong, which extended out once again, cut down all the members of the Brilliant Spirit Gang who were charging at him.

Though there were numerous martial artists within the Fortress Guard Sect, the martial prowess of Baek Ri-cheong certainly stood out.

In Baek Ri-cheong’s refined and powerful sword, there was the potential to reverse the situation.

“That bastard is also of the Azure Sky Society.”

“I would know even if you didn’t point him out. His very bearing is different.”

The Brilliant Spirit Gang Leader, who had come leading his subordinates from the direction of the main gate, pointed at Baek Ri-cheong with his finger.

The spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect who had entered with the Brilliant Spirit Gang Leader did not even pay any mind to the disciples of the Fortress Guard Sect.

They carefully observed his movements while keeping their watch only on Baek Ri-cheong.

Was this what it meant to be the martial artists of a great sect belonging to the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers?

They had recognized Baek Ri-cheong right away.

“A cool and clean bearing. And that tall and handsome appearance.”

“It’s certain. He is the Great Young Master of the annihilated Baek Ri Clan.”

“Is this not an unexpected gain? That bastard’s head will have a higher value than the Fortress Guard Sect Leader’s.”

Slice!

Baek Ri-cheong, who had heard what the martial artists of the Revered Spear Sect were saying, slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

It was a serene smile in which leisureliness dwelled.

“You are overflowing with confidence. I suppose you have not observed and learned from the sword style of my main family?”

“Why would we bother with the martial arts of an annihilated family?”

Baek Ri-cheong approached the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect without hesitation.

The sneers of the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect, who saw this, deepened.

“Are you charging at us by yourself?”

“Unfold the formation.”

The spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect moved in perfect order. At that, the auras that the ten men were emitting were woven into one and swelled in size.

It was the prelude to the unfolding of a formation.

Despite the undeniable pressure, Baek Ri-cheong immediately picked up his speed.

His opponent used a spear. He had to close the combat distance, even if just a little, to take the advantageous range for his sword.

‘It will be difficult to end the situation here quickly. Younger Brother will have to hold on well by himself.’

GONG!

The formation deployed by the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect rotated, and five spear strikes surged in sequence.

In the middle of that, as the auras were bound into one through the finer points of the formation, the might was extraordinary.

Baek Ri-cheong swung his sword up and down, cutting off the spear strikes that were aiming for his vital points.

‘It seems the master leading these bastards is the one Younger Brother is facing.’

Baek Ri-cheong, who had widened his Qi Sense while facing the spearmen, confirmed the situation on the outside.

Namgung Jun’s opponent seemed to have reached the pinnacle of the Peak Realm, at the very least. No matter how overflowing with talent the boy was, it would surely be overwhelming for him alone.

He had to go and help, quickly.

But the situation here was also not an easy one.

In front of him was the formation of the Revered Spear Sect’s spearmen.

Behind him was the Brilliant Spirit Gang, pushing back the Fortress Guard Sect.

He could not easily leave either place alone.

Strength entered the hands of Baek Ri-cheong, who had calmed his naturally quickened heart.

‘I will end this as quickly as possible.’

FLAAAARE!

A pure white Sword Qi flapped its wings from Baek Ri-cheong’s sword.

……

Slice!

The sword of Baek Ri-cheong, fully cloaked in a pure white Sword Qi, freely cut across the darkness.

Baek Ri-cheong, who had cut down the two spears that were thrusting for his abdomen and thigh in succession.

It was a hegemonic sword strike, laden with the finer points of the Art of Martial Supremacy.

“How can this be?”

“He’s cloaked in the formation’s aura, so how?”

The spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect stared at Baek Ri-cheong with bewildered eyes.

With the fighting power of the ten men gathered here, and on top of that, having even unfolded a formation, they should have been able to ably handle at least one Peak Realm master.

But Baek Ri-cheong was going beyond just handling the formation by himself and was, in reverse, pushing back the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect.

“Haap!”

Though his pure white martial arts uniform was dyed red in places, Baek Ri-cheong let out a kiai and threw his body at the driving spearheads.

Clang-clang-clang!

The sword strikes, which were swiftly drawn diagonally to both sides, knocked away all the spears. Every time they did, a considerable shock assaulted his body, but Baek Ri-cheong paid it no mind.

‘Almost there.’

The formation that the ten spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect had unfolded was certainly threatening.

The Ten-Hand Continuous Spear Formation of the Revered Spear Sect.

The might of the formation, which bound the power of ten First-Class masters into one, was certain. It was worthy of being the basic formation for a great sect like the Revered Spear Sect.

But Baek Ri-cheong was looking at a place much more distant than the Ten-Hand Continuous Spear Formation before his eyes.

He could not forgive his sword being blocked by something like this.

“Hah!”

Baek Ri-cheong, who had seen right through the finer points of the Ten-Hand Continuous Spear Formation, immediately pierced into the formation’s weak points.

“Keuk!”

Baek Ri-cheong’s steps and sword strikes interfered with and twisted the unfolding of the formation. Along with that, an opening naturally appeared in the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect.

The pure white sword strike that was mercilessly piercing through did not miss this.

Spurt!

Following the refined sword strike, the heads of the Revered Spear Sect spearmen fell smoothly.

As if even that were not enough, Baek Ri-cheong did not give them a gap and unfolded the ultimate skill of the Centurion Sword Style, hammering it into the formation.

KWAAAANG!

Baek Ri-cheong had gritted his teeth and broken through the Ten-Hand Continuous Spear Formation.

“Keu-heuk!”

“Damn it!”

The spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect staggered from the after-effects of the formation being dismantled.

Six of them had already lost their heads, and the remaining four were also in a terrible state from internal injuries.

‘This is not the time for this. I must go and help Younger Brother, quickly!’

It was the moment Baek Ri-cheong was about to take care of the remaining spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect.

Thud!

Something fell with a thud between the spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect and Baek Ri-cheong.

Though it was dark as it was a moonless night, with the visual prowess of a martial artist, it could be clearly identified.

It was a person’s head.

“Heuk!”

“The Torrential Chaos Spear!”

The spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect could not hide their cries of astonishment.

Baek Ri-cheong was just as surprised.

‘How did he, by himself?’

Baek Ri-cheong raised his gaze to the place from where the Torrential Chaos Spear’s head had flown.

Namgung Jun was standing tall on top of a wall.

Crackle!

Because he was cloaked in a blue lightning-thunderbolt, Namgung Jun’s silhouette could be clearly seen.

Thanks to that, everyone could tell.

That there was not a single wound on Namgung Jun.

“The Torrential Chaos Spear has met his end by my sword. The Brilliant Spirit Gang has been defeated.”

At Namgung Jun’s single, internal energy-mixed sentence, the members of the Brilliant Spirit Gang, including their leader, all flinched at once.

The movement of the Brilliant Spirit Gang, which had been pressing the Fortress Guard Sect hard and driving them into a corner, became extremely sluggish.

“Everyone, move! If we stop, we will die!”

The Brilliant Spirit Gang Leader, who had clenched his teeth, encouraged his members with a loud voice.

At the same time, the sleeve of Namgung Jun’s robe blurred.

THWACK!

The palm force of the Heavenly Thunder Palm Style crushed the left side of the Brilliant Spirit Gang Leader’s head.

Namgung Jun, who had cut off the Brilliant Spirit Gang Leader’s breath with a single move, looked at the remaining gang members.

“Will you continue?”

The members of the Brilliant Spirit Gang, who had lost their will to fight, quietly set down their weapons.

……

The night raid of the Brilliant Spirit Gang had ended in failure.

Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong helped the Fortress Guard Sect with the cleanup of the aftermath. In that process, Baek Ri-cheong was dumbfounded at the fierce punishment that Namgung Jun displayed.

‘His decisions and actions are also like a sharp sword.’

Namgung Jun had cut down all the surviving spearmen of the Revered Spear Sect, and for the disciples of the Brilliant Spirit Gang and the ruffians of the Black Path, he had crippled their Cinnabar Fields and sent one of their arms flying.

His appearance of having no compromise and no mercy when it came to the punishment of the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths came to him in a new light.

“We will not forget the help of you two Young Heroes.”

The Fortress Guard Sect Leader repeatedly bowed his head and expressed his thanks.

He had incurred a debt for the saving of his own life and the lives of his disciples, and a great favor for being able to preserve his sect.

Naturally, the Fortress Guard Sect Leader’s attitude was extremely cordial.

That was not all.

All the disciples of the Fortress Guard Sect came out to see the two swordsmen off as they left.

‘If not for these two people, our sect would have…’

The Fortress Guard Sect would have been annihilated overnight. No matter how many times he thought about it, a cold sweat trickled down his back.

The fact that Namgung Jun and Baek Ri-cheong had visited the Fortress Guard Sect at the right time was truly a stroke of heavenly luck.

The Fortress Guard Sect Leader, who was observing the faces of his disciples lined up on both his sides, bowed his head once again.

“Thank you so much.”

Namgung Jun also performed a fist-and-palm salute and returned the courtesy.

“Though you have brought down the Brilliant Spirit Gang, you must not lower your guard.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“We will also inform the Shaolin Temple quickly so that the Fortress Guard Sect may lessen its burden.”

“We will be counting on you.”

The two swordsmen, who had exchanged short farewells, left the Fortress Guard Sect behind them and moved their feet toward Mount Song.

“Fortunately, we have handled the mission in Shangqiu without incident.”

“Yes. Now we just have to get through the Mount Song meeting well.”

Baek Ri-cheong, who was smiling as he watched the calmly replying Namgung Jun, opened his mouth.

“You are always so tranquil, Younger Brother. Even if it is your innate disposition, it is not an easy thing.”

“Is that so? The seniors of the Heavenly Sword Hall sometimes tease me, saying I am like a little old man.”

“Hmph. I consider that a compliment. Seeing as I myself feel that there are many things to learn from you.”

Namgung Jun also put a faint smile on his lips at Baek Ri-cheong’s sociable remark.

“That is a relief. I am also learning much from you, Young Hero Baek Ri. A relationship that is of help to each other is truly precious.”

Namgung Jun looked at Baek Ri-cheong and then asked.

“By the way, Young Hero Baek Ri. How long do you intend to call me Younger Brother*? Is there not a distance in that title?”

[TL/N: The “Younger Brother” Sohyeongje(소형제) here is is a polite, somewhat formal, and standard term of address in the Martial World for a male martial artist who is younger or junior to the speaker. It's a sign of friendly respect but maintains a certain professional distance.]

“Hmm. Come to think of it, that’s true. I suppose the first title I used just became familiar to my mouth.”

Baek Ri-cheong, who had been contemplating for a moment, smiled and said.

“We were initiated at the same time, so it is a bit much to divide us into senior and junior. How about we call each other older brother and younger brother?”

“That is good, Brother Baek Ri.”

As Namgung Jun immediately changed the title and called him that, Baek Ri-cheong paused for a moment.

As if he had been struck by a sudden variation form.

‘It has been a long time since I have heard that.’

At first, it was a word he had brought out without much thought.

But actually hearing it from Namgung Jun, it had quite an echo.

‘It reminds me of Hyeon.’

Baek Ri-cheong thought of his own younger brother, Baek Ri-hyeon.

If he had been alive until now, he would have been the same age as Namgung Jun.

In truth, it was not the first time he had thought of Baek Ri-hyeon upon seeing Namgung Jun.

Because Namgung Jun’s and Baek Ri-hyeon’s builds were similar and their personalities were almost the same, there were many times when various thoughts would come to him while they were talking.

It was not that he was considering Namgung Jun a substitute for Baek Ri-hyeon.

The two of them were strictly different beings.

But he could not help it that Baek Ri-hyeon would come to mind whenever he saw Namgung Jun.

Because he was a younger brother whom he always missed.

“Brother Baek Ri?”

As Namgung Jun called him again, only then did Baek Ri-cheong answer.

“I was lost in another thought for a moment. My apologies.”

Baek Ri-cheong hesitated for a moment, then continued.

“Younger Brother Namgung*.”

[TL/N: The Hangeul used here for “Younger Brother” is “남궁 아우(Namgung Au)”. The 아우 (Au) is a much more personal and intimate term and an actual word for a younger brother within a family.]

“It is a relief that you know my surname properly, Brother Baek Ri. My Master knew it incorrectly at first.”

“What? The Heavenly Sword Hall Master?”

Namgung Jun stealthily lowered his eyelids as he saw Baek Ri-cheong burst out laughing.

Though he could not know the exact reason, he could feel that Baek Ri-cheong’s heart was in turmoil.

For that reason, he had lightly thrown a joke, and fortunately, it seemed to have been well-received.

‘Older brother. And younger brother…’

It was a relationship he had not experienced in his past life. For that reason, it came to him as even newer.

The smile of Namgung Jun, who was mulling over the new titles in his heart, deepened.

‘Yes. Something like this wouldn’t be so bad.’

The two swordsmen, who had come to call each other older brother and younger brother, moved their feet with a light gait.

Their destination was Mount Song, where the meeting was being held.