Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 71

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 71

Cursed sword.

At those words, bewilderment crossed Namgung Hwi’s face.

He stepped forward and spoke up.

“Hall Master, may I ask why you suddenly say such things?”

Rather, it was Wunhak who seemed puzzled by those words.

“Do you not know that sword?”

“I know that my younger brother received it through sword selection.”

Sword selection?

Wunhak narrowed his eyes.

He too knew of the Namgung sword selection.

And…

“Are you saying the Sword Emperor placed that sword in Geomhongdong?”

Wunhak let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

Then, as if recalling something, he narrowed his eyes and looked at Mukhon before speaking again.

“The last time that sword appeared in Gangho was during the Orthodox-Demonic War. Back then, the Sword Emperor personally cut down countless demons with that sword. However, that sword originally belonged to…”

Wunhak let out a quiet sigh.

“The Young Sect Leader at the time. Cheon Myeonghyeon, who later became Cheonma.”

“…!”

Namgung Hwi’s eyes widened greatly.

Cheonma’s sword.

Why was such a sword in the clan’s Geomhongdong, and why of all people was it in his younger brother’s hands?

His mind filled with confusion.

Wunhak’s gaze turned back to Namgung Cheon.

“The Sword Emperor must have had his reasons for allowing you that sword. I don’t doubt his judgment. However…”

He paused briefly and looked at Namgung Hwi.

“Hwi, you know this too. Cursed objects sometimes devour their masters. Especially that sword is no ordinary cursed object.”

Wunhak’s eyes deepened.

“Therefore, no matter how extraordinary your brother may be, as a senior in the martial world, I cannot help but worry.”

Worry as a martial senior.

Namgung Hwi knew what kind of character the Hall Master usually had, so he knew those words were sincere.

That’s why Namgung Hwi could no longer argue back and bit his lips.

“So I want to confirm.”

Wunhak looked at Namgung Cheon again.

“Whether you’re being controlled by that sword, or whether you completely dominate it. Do you know?”

Wunhak stepped forward and continued.

“Even the Sword Emperor had quite a difficult time when he first handled that sword. It was because the demonic energy contained in that sword was too strong.”

Namgung Hwi’s eyes widened once more.

A sword that even father had struggled with.

To think his younger brother was carrying such a dangerous object.

At the moment Namgung Hwi was lost in anguish.

Namgung Cheon, who had maintained silence until now, nodded his head.

“Very well.”

There wasn’t the slightest tremor in his voice.

“I will show you.”

“Cheon-ah.”

Namgung Hwi called out quietly, but Namgung Cheon only stared at Wunhak without answering.

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Wunhak silently nodded and turned first toward the door.

Namgung Cheon followed behind him.

“…Huu.”

After hesitating briefly, Namgung Hwi also sighed and followed the two men.

* * *

“Everyone stop training and withdraw.”

Wunhak’s powerful voice echoed throughout the entire training ground.

At that single command, dozens of Cheonui-dae members who had been focused on training uniformly sheathed their swords and withdrew to the edges of the training ground.

The vast training ground that became empty in an instant.

The gazes of those who had withdrawn were fixed on Wunhak and the two people standing beside him.

Hall Master Wunhak, Sword Dragon Namgung Hwi, and Namgung Cheon, the Cheoncheon Sword Hero they had only heard about in rumors.

The members who sensed something was about to happen held their breath and watched them from a distance.

In one corner of the training ground, Flash Sword Danri Chu, who had joined late, quietly whispered to Hyeolryong Myeongjin.

“Do you know what’s happening?”

“I also just arrived, so I don’t know well. I didn’t even know the Sword Dragon had returned.”

Myeongjin shook his head as he answered.

Danri Chu’s gaze turned back to the center.

‘Standing in the training ground means…’

Surely it meant they would use swords.

If so.

‘A duel between brothers?’

But Danri Chu soon shook his head.

If the two dueled and a victor was decided, it would surely affect the decision of Namgung’s next young clan leader.

‘Unless those two came forward saying they would duel, the Hall Master wouldn’t allow such a thing.’

The Hall Master wasn’t someone who would interfere in others’ family affairs and create discord.

That’s when it happened.

“Myeongjin.”

Wunhak looked at Myeongjin and called out quietly.

At that call, Myeongjin sent a puzzled look to Danri Chu, then shrugged and walked toward the center of the training ground.

“You called for me?”

When Myeongjin spoke respectfully, Wunhak opened his mouth.

“You said you learned much from watching Young Master Namgung’s swordsmanship at the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly.”

Myeongjin silently nodded.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Since meeting at the Yeongang Martial Arts Assembly, Myeongjin had recalled that day’s duel countless times.

A sword that was orthodox yet simultaneously unrestrained and domineering.

A sword completely opposite to his own.

That’s why it was burned even more intensely into his mind, and since that day, Myeongjin had devoted himself even more to training.

At that moment.

“Then, this time you show us.”

Wunhak stepped back and continued.

“How breathlessly you’ve been running.”

“…!”

At Wunhak’s words, a strange light appeared in Myeongjin’s clear eyes.

It was a sudden command, a story with no context whatsoever.

And yet.

Thump, thump.

His heart began beating fiercely.

Competitive spirit.

That emotion that any hot-blooded martial artist must possess gradually pushed away all other thoughts.

“Understood.”

Myeongjin nodded heavily and faced Namgung Cheon.

“It’s been a while, Young Master Namgung. I never thought we’d meet again like this.”

“I feel the same way.”

The two exchanged brief greetings.

But sparks were already flying in their eyes.

Namgung Cheon’s hand moved toward the sword at his waist.

But what he grasped was not Cheoncheon.

Srrring―.

A pitch-black blade that seemed to devour even sunlight.

Mukhon revealed itself.

Myeongjin also drew the sword from his waist.

Sring―.

In complete contrast to Mukhon, a pure white blade appeared with a clear sword cry.

When it caught the sunlight, the pine bark-like patterns engraved on the blade’s surface glowed softly.

It was the Songmun Sword, a treasured blade that was the symbol of Mudang Sect and only permitted to those above the sect’s supreme level.

“Please treat me well.”

Myeongjin pointed his sword tip downward and showed proper courtesy.

At the same time.

Whoosh―.

Clear blue energy of Mudang began rising from his entire body.

* * *

“Begin.”

As soon as Wunhak’s words ended.

Thud!

Myeongjin’s feet left the ground.

Whoosh!

Though his toes only lightly pushed off the ground, his form rose smoothly as if there were stairs in midair, then glided down.

Mudang Sect’s supreme technique, Ladder Cloud Step.

It was a movement as soft as clouds drifting in the wind.

The distance opened in an instant.

Namgung Cheon gripped Mukhon tightly.

‘Mudang’s swordsmanship focuses more on defense than offense, so he’s creating distance.’

He would continue this tedious probing battle in that state.

But Namgung Cheon had no intention of waiting.

Destroying the enemy before being read.

That was Mukhon’s way and Cheonma’s way.

Bang!

Namgung Cheon kicked off the ground.

A sudden charge that caught Myeongjin off guard.

The distance between them closed in an instant.

Slash―!

Mukhon traced a black trajectory as it flew toward Myeongjin’s shoulder.

A linear, destructive strike without any fancy techniques.

“Hup!”

Myeongjin immediately raised his sword.

Mudang’s supreme art, Taecheong Sword.

First form, Flowing Clouds Cross the Sea.

It was a technique that softly deflected the sword like flowing clouds crossing the sea, dispersing the opponent’s force.

The Songmun Sword drew a gentle circle, trying to receive Namgung Cheon’s sword.

An intention to neutralize the attack with the principle of softness overcoming hardness.

But Namgung Cheon saw through even that intention.

At the moment their swords were about to meet, he subtly twisted his wrist.

The black trajectory struck a different spot than Myeongjin had anticipated.

“Kuk.”

Clang!

The sound of sword clashing against sword rang out sharply.

At the same time, Myeongjin’s brow furrowed.

‘What is this?’

Though the trajectory had changed, he had definitely blocked it.

But at that moment, his sword and feet became heavy as if stepping into a sticky swamp.

Simultaneously.

“If you don’t think you can block it, just say so.”

Namgung Cheon’s cold voice struck Myeongjin’s ears.

Swish swish swish!

Mukhon began to dance once again.

Black afterimages struck Myeongjin like a storm.

Relentless powerful consecutive attacks.

Myeongjin was busy just swinging his sword to block without a moment to breathe.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The explosive sounds of clashing sword energy continuously echoed.

Myeongjin defended using all variations of the Taecheong Sword.

Sword paths as fast as wind and as ever-changing as clouds.

But Namgung Cheon’s sword pierced through all those changes.

‘Heavy. And… fierce.’

Myeongjin was flustered.

A ferocious momentum that was hard to believe came from an Orthodox Faction sword.

But the eyes of Namgung Cheon wielding that sword were far too calm.

That incongruous discord made Myeongjin even more tense.

Moreover.

‘There are no openings.’

The characteristic of such strong swordsmanship was that gaps inevitably appeared.

Because movements had to become larger to exert great force.

But now, on the contrary.

‘He’s targeting the gaps in my defense.’

Every attack came in precisely piercing through his breathing and rhythm.

The most troublesome angles to defend, the most inconvenient moments to circulate internal energy.

Namgung Cheon’s sword, persistently boring into those gaps, was like a living beast.

Rip!

Finally, the hem of Myeongjin’s robe was torn away.

It was close.

If he had been even slightly slower, flesh would have been torn off.

‘This won’t do.’

Myeongjin made a decision to break through the situation where he was being pushed back.

He pretended to retreat using Ladder Cloud Step, then suddenly bored forward.

A counterattack that caught the opponent off guard.

Blue sword energy formed at the tip of his Songmun Sword.

Taecheong Sword’s fifth form, Clear Wind Bright Moon.

A sword strike swift as wind and dazzling as the bright moon aimed for Namgung Cheon’s heart.

It was a decisive blow meant to overturn the defensive stance he had maintained until now.

But Namgung Cheon raised Mukhon as if he had been waiting for this moment.

His eyes gleamed coldly.

Wooooong!

Mukhon let out a sword cry.

Blue light began to gather over the black blade.

Cheoncheon Mansang Style, Heaven’s Thunder Shaking the Sky.

Azure lightning flashed.

Kwaang!

The two sword strikes collided head-on.

Myeongjin’s Clear Wind Bright Moon was sharp and fast, but Namgung Cheon’s Heaven’s Thunder Shaking the Sky was even faster and more destructive.

From the tremendous shockwave, Myeongjin was pushed back several steps.

The impact was enough to make his wrist tingle.

Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon stood firmly in place.

A gap in power.

Myeongjin realized it.

The Taecheong Sword could not handle this ferocious blade.

At that moment.

Bang!

Once again, Namgung Cheon kicked off the ground with ferocious momentum.

Myeongjin’s gaze deepened.

‘Right, the Taecheong Sword cannot handle it.’

Even so.

His sword, Mudang’s sword, could not crumble here.

“Huuu.”

He steadied his breathing and held the Songmun Sword vertically.

Swoooosh―!

The surrounding air changed.

All the energy around seemed to be drawn into Myeongjin’s sword.

One of the Twenty-Eight Stars of the World, the Mudang Sect Leader, Sword Immortal Baekryeongja.

And Myeongjin, the direct disciple of that Sword Immortal.

“…I will show you.”

Myeongjin’s voice resonated low.

“Mudang’s true sword, the Taegeuk Wisdom Sword.”

Wooooong―.

The Songmun Sword began to trace a massive circle.

Following the sword’s trajectory, the atmosphere twisted, and overwhelming energy swirled within.

Taegeuk Wisdom Sword, First Form.

Mugeuk Gives Birth to Taegeuk.

It was the beginning of Taegeuk, giving birth to existence from nothingness, drawing motion from stillness.

Kwaaaaah―!

A massive whirlwind of energy swept toward Namgung Cheon.

An absolute force that would devour everything and return it to nothingness.

But facing this, a smile played at the corners of Namgung Cheon’s lips.

‘To think I would see that sword again.’

The Taegeuk Wisdom Sword.

The vast history that the Mudang Sect had built up over hundreds of years.

The most perfect and ideal path that countless predecessors had completed through trial and error.

However, in Namgung Cheon’s eyes, that very perfection appeared as a fatal poison.

‘Each person is born with different form and energy.’

The length of limbs differs, the depth of breathing differs, and the heartbeat differs.

Overcoming this is achieving great mastery.

It is fully embodying and mastering a martial art as one’s own.

‘However, since he has not achieved mastery of the Taegeuk Wisdom Sword…’

Blue light rippled in Namgung Cheon’s eyes.

‘Such a flaw is bound to remain.’

In his eyes, the connecting link transitioning from yin to yang was clearly visible.

If he could just sever that connecting link.

Swish.

Namgung Cheon brought his sword down.

A single point of light was sufficient to penetrate the minute gap in the massive circular flow his opponent had created.

Cheoncheon Mansang Style.

Moonlight Piercing Heaven.

A single ray of moonlight cutting through the pitch-black night sky was drawn into the rotation of Taegeuk.

Sshhaek―!

Myeongjin’s eyes widened.

The moment when his sword force was at its strongest, yet also the most vulnerable instant when the energy transition occurred.

Namgung Cheon’s sword tip pierced precisely into that point.

“…!”

Clang!

A sharp sound rang out.

And then.

Crack!

The perfect circle collapsed in an instant.

Swoooosh―!

As the harmony of yin and yang broke, the energies with nowhere to go ran wild in all directions.

Myeongjin desperately tried to retrieve his sword and gather the scattered energy.

But.

Swish.

The pitch-black blade was positioned before Myeongjin’s throat.

At that moment, a sword cry rang out.

Wooooong.

Perhaps from disappointment at not seeing blood, a subtle vibration flowed along the blade.

Then Namgung Cheon looked down at the sword with indifferent eyes.

Under that gaze, Mukhon’s sword cry quickly subsided.

The sword became quiet as if nothing had happened.

Namgung Cheon slowly withdrew the sword and sheathed it.

Click.

The sound of the sword entering the sheath rang out unusually loud.

Only then did Myeongjin release the breath he had been holding.

“Haah…”

Cold sweat poured down like rain.

More than the fear of nearly losing his head, the sense of futility that Mudang’s sword, which he had devoted his entire life to building, had been broken through in a single strike was greater.

He stared blankly at Namgung Cheon before deeply bowing his head.

“…I have lost.”

There was not a trace of resentment in Myeongjin’s voice.

The watching Cheonui-dae members stared blankly at the scene.

Hyeolryong Myeongjin had been defeated.

Even after displaying Mudang’s ultimate technique, the Taegeuk Wisdom Sword.

At that moment.

“Remarkable.”

Wunhak quietly opened his mouth.

Then his gaze turned toward Mukhon.

‘It was definitely a sword cry.’

A sword cry was when a blade resonated with its master’s energy and revealed its own will.

Therefore, the fact that the demonic sword had let out a sword cry meant it had revealed its own will.

‘But that child…’

Wunhak’s eyes narrowed.

As soon as the sword began to cry, Namgung Cheon cut it off with an indifferent gaze.

So very nonchalantly.

‘He doesn’t let himself be swayed by the sword’s will.’

The moment an unwanted sword cry rang out, he mercilessly cut off that flow and seized control.

This was impossible without placing the sword completely under one’s control.

In the past, Sword Emperor Namgung Mugang had silenced his sword by pressing it down with his absolute power.

Overwhelming tyranny. That was the Sword Emperor’s way.

But the child before his eyes was different.

‘He had the sword beneath his feet from the very beginning.’

An attitude as if he were the master of the world, treating even the sword in his hand as merely a tool to temper himself.

‘His center has been established.’

It was possible because he had an unshakeable center of his own.

Though the method was different, his caliber was in no way inferior to the Sword Emperor’s.

Wunhak gave a light nod toward Namgung Cheon.

No further confirmation was needed.

Wunhak turned his gaze to look at Namgung Hwi, who stood there dazed.

His eyes deepened.

“Hwi.”

“…Yes.”

“There’s no need to worry. Your younger brother is already walking his own path. His own path that no one can block.”

Wunhak clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

The endlessly spread blue sky.

Under that sky, countless martial artists had risen and fallen.

And they would continue to do so in the future.

A faint smile spread across Wunhak’s lips.

“So you too must run like mad.”

His gaze fixed on Namgung Cheon again.

“If you don’t want to be overshadowed by the vast heavens that child will paint.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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