Namgung Heavenly Demon - Chapter 8

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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 8

Silence fell over the Guest Hall at Namgung Cheon’s words.

Gwak San unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

He hadn’t come to find fault with something, nor to discuss other matters.

A challenge as a pure martial artist.

It was an utterly arrogant and bold declaration that he had come to test his martial prowess.

Displeasure surged within him.

No matter if he was a young master of the Namgung Clan, he himself was the master of a sect and a peak expert who had experienced all manner of trials.

To be openly treated as a test subject by a youngster who had barely passed his coming of age made his blood boil in reverse.

However, Gwak San suppressed his rising emotions and thought of the realistic problem that needed to be resolved first.

His opponent was a direct descendant of the Realm’s Greatest Swordsmen.

If he got entangled wrongly, the entire sect could fall into danger.

As the master of a sect, he spoke with a calm voice.

“Before discussing a duel, I must clarify one thing. Is this challenge your personal will, Young Master, or does it carry the intent of the Namgung Clan?”

To that question, Namgung Cheon answered without the slightest hesitation.

“It is merely my personal will as Namgung Cheon, not that of the Namgung Clan.”

Gwak San’s gaze deepened further.

“Then I understand that we will not hold each other responsible for any mishaps that occur in this duel.”

Upon hearing those words, Namgung Cheon smiled faintly for the first time.

“Of course.”

The moment he heard that answer, the last shackle binding Gwak San was released.

Now all that remained was purely a confrontation between martial artist and martial artist.

Only then did the suppressed emotions deep in Gwak San’s heart raise their head.

Gwak San looked into his opponent’s eyes.

They contained purely the desire to break his blade.

If that was the case.

A hearty smile finally crossed Gwak San’s lips.

He now faced the man before him not as a young master of the Namgung Clan, but as a single martial artist.

“Good!”

A resounding answer burst from his mouth.

“If the Young Master’s personal will is truly so, how could this Gwak San refuse? I will gladly face you, staking the honor of this Thunderbolt Blade.”

Gwak San intended to prepare with all his heart.

“When and where do you wish to do this?”

Gwak San asked.

Setting a date and holding a formal duel with witnesses before ten thousand people was the orthodox sect’s custom.

But Namgung Cheon’s answer mocked that custom.

“Is there any need to delay?”

A faint smile crossed his lips.

“Right now, here at Bieliong Gate.”

Confidence oozed from his voice.

Gwak San said nothing more.

Proving with the sword rather than words was the martial artist’s way.

“…Let us go to the Training Ground.”

The two men silently left the Guest Hall.

The rumor that the Third Young Master of the Namgung Clan had challenged the Bieliong Gate Master spread throughout the entire sect in an instant.

Along the path where the two headed to the Training Ground, disciples of Bieliong Gate gathered like clouds to watch the confrontation.

Their faces were filled with tension and anticipation that their gate master would defeat the Namgung young master.

If that happened, Bieliong Gate’s reputation would fill all of Anhui Province.

Thus, amid everyone’s expectations, the two stood in the center of the Training Ground.

* * *

Countless disciples of Bieliong Gate surrounding the Training Ground.

Namgung Cheon felt their wariness but paid it no mind.

Compared to the hostility of tens of thousands he had experienced in his previous life, this was like a child’s tantrum.

His gaze was fixed solely on the man standing before him, Gwak San.

‘Peak realm, is it?’

The energy flowing from Gwak San’s body was quite substantial.

There was a high-purity fierceness that could only be felt from one who had devoted himself to the blade alone for a long time.

As a first opponent, he was not lacking.

“Draw your sword, Young Master.”

Gwak San said quietly as he drew the great blade at his waist.

Fighting spirit blazed in his eyes.

Namgung Cheon liked that sight.

Even facing himself, a young master who was rumored to be hopeless, he never let his guard down.

‘Good.’

Namgung Cheon brought his hand to the sword at his waist.

Sring—.

With a clear and pure sound, a blue blade revealed itself.

The beloved sword of Namgung Cheong, who was the previous generation’s family head and called the Sword King, Changcheon.

The treasured sword that had finally met its new master after leaping over decades of time emitted a cool yet dazzling blue light as it caught the sunlight of the Training Ground.

The clear and upright energy flowing from the blade was overwhelming enough to make observers naturally feel awe.

Gwak San unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

To emit such presence just by drawing the sword.

He felt his fighting spirit burn even more fiercely at the cool thrill running down his spine.

“A famous sword.”

With a quiet exclamation, Gwak San readjusted his grip on his great blade.

Though his opponent’s presence exceeded his imagination, the pride of one who had spent his lifetime with the blade did not waver.

Therefore, he showed courtesy as an elder.

“I will yield the first strike. Please come at me first.”

However.

“There’s no need for that.”

Gwak San’s eyebrows twitched.

He immediately changed his mind about yielding the first strike.

“…You will regret this.”

With those words, Gwak San’s body moved.

Thump—!

With a true step, Gwak San’s body charged forward.

It was swift movement that didn’t match his heavy build.

The great blade came crashing down in an instant.

It was the first move of his proud Thunderbolt Blade Technique, Thunderbolt Mountain Collapse.

Like the technique’s name, blade energy that seemed to collapse mountains headed toward Namgung Cheon’s head.

However.

‘Slow.’

Namgung Cheon lightly twisted his body and deflected his strike.

Like flowing water, his form was soft and graceful.

Crash—!

The blade that passed by him struck the Training Ground floor, leaving deep cracks in the solid stone slabs.

Gwak San’s face hardened.

He hadn’t underestimated him, but he never thought his first move would be dodged so simply.

“Hap!”

Gwak San immediately swung his blade with a short battle cry.

Relentless consecutive attacks.

Second technique, Absolute Wind Steel Slash.

Third technique, Thunder Shattering River and Sky.

Swoosh—! Swooosh—!

The techniques of the Thunder Blade Method unfolded like a storm without pause.

Each time his great blade cut through the air, sharp sounds of splitting air burst forth in succession.

Amidst the thunderous roar of air being torn apart, heavy blade energy scattered in all directions, leaving deep scars throughout the training ground.

“Wow!”

The watching disciples couldn’t help but cry out in admiration.

The sect master’s blade technique possessed the might to command all under heaven.

But Namgung Cheon, standing at the center of those attacks, was far too calm.

He evaded all of Gwak San’s attacks with minimal movement.

Half a step to the right, one span to the left.

Gwak San’s blade repeatedly cut only empty air.

His movements seemed as if he was reading all of Gwak San’s actions.

“This is impossible…”

A sigh burst from Gwak San’s lips.

Clang—!

His great blade clashed with Namgung Cheon’s sword.

With the thunderous sound of scraping metal, the heavy internal energy transmitted through the blade made his entire arm tingle.

Even his internal energy far surpassed his own.

Everything he had built up over his lifetime was being completely denied before this young master.

That realization completely shattered Gwak San’s composure.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead and his breathing became uncontrollably rough.

There was no longer any precision in his techniques.

Only the instinct to defeat his opponent remained, making him swing his blade like a madman.

Namgung Cheon calmly watched this sight.

‘Is this the end?’

His opponent’s techniques had already become completely disheveled, showing openings.

He could counterattack and end it at any time, but he didn’t.

There were things to learn even from the movements of a small ant.

‘Thunder Blade Method, is it?’

A straightforward blade technique that was fierce, direct, and staked everything on destructive power.

The strengths and weaknesses contained within, the flow and changes of energy.

Namgung Cheon was taking all of it in with his eyes.

And the moment he grasped everything.

“Uaaaahap!”

Gwak San squeezed out all his internal energy, raising tremendous blade energy.

The final technique of the Thunder Blade Method.

Ten Thousand Thunder Under Heaven.

As if dozens of lightning bolts were falling, blade energy attacked Namgung Cheon from all directions.

It was a killing technique with nowhere to dodge or block.

But Namgung Cheon faced it without any change in expression.

Step—.

Into the storm of countless blade energies, he took one step forward.

And.

Swoosh—!

Just once, he swung his sword.

A movement that was neither fast nor flashy.

But what was contained within was the Cheonma’s will to destroy everything and stand tall above it all.

Kwaaang—!

Blue sword energy tore straight through Gwak San’s storm of blade energy.

“…!”

Gwak San’s eyes filled with shock.

To think his life’s ultimate technique would be broken so futilely.

And the next moment.

A cool sensation brushed against his nape.

Without him noticing when it had approached, the tip of Namgung Cheon’s sword had stopped at his neck.

As the cool blade touched his skin, along with the sensation of his hair standing on end, a single drop of blood trickled down his nape.

If even a little more force had been applied, his neck would have already been separated from his body.

The shouts and sounds of splitting air that had filled the training ground stopped as if it were a lie.

Silence.

Only Gwak San’s rough breathing echoed through the training ground.

Namgung Cheon looked at Gwak San without saying a word.

In his eyes was neither the joy of victory nor mockery toward the defeated.

Only the calm acceptance that everything was over.

Thud. Clatter.

The great blade fell powerlessly from Gwak San’s hand.

He slowly opened his mouth.

“…I have lost.”

At Gwak San’s words, Namgung Cheon sheathed his sword.

“It was a good match.”

Click—.

Having sheathed his sword, Namgung Cheon turned around and tried to leave the training ground.

There was nothing more for him to see here.

But from behind him came an urgent voice.

“Please wait a moment, Young Master!”

When Namgung Cheon stopped walking and turned around, Gwak San approached him and knelt without hesitation.

It was an utterly humiliating posture for a supreme master and the head of a sect to take.

The surrounding disciples murmured in shock, but Gwak San paid no attention.

He opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“Seeing your sword today, I realized that I was a frog in a well.”

His voice trembled.

And within it was not the servility of the defeated, but pure longing for a higher realm.

“Please, bestow your teachings upon me.”

Heavy silence flowed through the training ground once again.

Namgung Cheon silently looked down at the kneeling Gwak San for a moment.

His gaze was still calm, but a small interest sparked.

One who could abandon pride and bow his head before strength.

This type was easy to handle.

Just throw them a scrap of food, and they become faithful dogs that bark and bite for their master.

‘He would be useful.’

Having made his judgment, Namgung Cheon opened his mouth.

“Teachings, you say.”

A faint smile crossed his lips.

“I have no such intention.”

The moment disappointment flashed across Gwak San’s face, Namgung Cheon continued.

“However, I will repay your sincerity.”

When Gwak San looked up in surprise, Namgung Cheon’s voice pierced through his ears.

“If you’re too rigid, you’ll only break. You’re obsessed with cutting, so you can’t see what should be allowed to flow.”

“…!”

A shock like being struck in the head with a hammer.

He had pierced through the core of the problem that had bound him for years with just one sentence.

A thrill of enlightenment flowed down Gwak San’s spine.

Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon turned around without hesitation and began to leave the training ground.

Coming to his senses, Gwak San urgently shouted toward his retreating figure.

“Thank you, Young Master! I will never forget this grace for the rest of my life!”

Even at his resounding cry, Namgung Cheon did not look back.

Toward Namgung Cheon’s back, Gwak San bowed with sincere heart until his forehead touched the ground.

Until Namgung Cheon completely disappeared from sight.

A faint smile crossed Namgung Cheon’s lips as he left Bieliong Gate.

Gwak San.

The attitude he had shown aligned with the path he himself pursued.

However, Namgung Cheon did not feel any greater inspiration from him beyond that.

‘I’ve only just crossed the first mountain.’

His gaze turned toward the vast sky of Anhui Province beyond Bieliong Gate.

‘This is only the beginning.’

Until all the strong ones under this sky kneel down.

I will not stop, my struggle.

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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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