The Youngest Son of the Nanyang Jin Family - Chapter 75

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Nakhyang Jin Family – Chapter 136

I felt the weight of countless gazes pressing down upon me and lowered my eyes slightly.
The fallen Namgung Yeon seemed to have faded from view, but I could clearly see Moryeong Hyeok’s eyes as he sat watching me—his gaze was unmistakable.
Envy, jealousy, inferiority—every bitter emotion was laid bare across his face and in his eyes.
Despite the presence of so many onlookers, he made no attempt to conceal his feelings.
It was evident that he had long since lost the ability to control his own emotions.
Even Paeng Dohan and Eon Garyeo, who had been observing, could not hide their astonishment.
“Will you accept a match with me?”
Moryeong Hyeok’s voice carried a heavy weight and undeniable force—a resolute determination to crush me beneath his feet and rise above.
I glanced briefly toward Hoyeon.
He watched the situation unfold with calm composure, yet his eyes gleamed with unmistakable amusement.
Did he see this as an opportunity to gauge my true strength?
Whatever his reasoning, it was a reckless notion.
My gaze naturally shifted toward Gam Cheong-un.
This gathering had been arranged to honor him. It would be improper to step forward without his permission.
“If the sect leader permits, I would be delighted to add some excitement to the festivities.”
“Hehehehe, this too is entertainment. If you wish to try, then by all means, do so.”
The moment his approval was granted, the expressions of the seated Murim Alliance masters—all except Hoyeon—became decidedly complicated.
In this small martial tournament that had yielded little of note, the clash between the Namgung and Moyong families had created quite the compelling narrative.
Though the aftertaste was bitter, it had ultimately concluded with Moryeong Hyeok’s victory.
This was a story that would circulate widely.
But a match with me was different.
If he won, he would gain overwhelming prestige by defeating the one who had bested Cheon Yul. But if he lost, he would suffer irredeemable disgrace.
Though many wished to stop him, Hoyeon remained silent, merely observing the unfolding situation.
I cast aside their gazes and expressions, launching myself toward the arena.
Whoosh—
As I descended with light, graceful movements, cheers erupted from the crowd.
“Wow! What is this? Moryeong Hyeok against the Golden Dragon?”
“This is a matchup you rarely see. Who will prevail?”
“That swordsmanship which defeated Namgung Yeon just now—it must surely be the Sword Emperor’s secret technique. Even the renowned Jin Cheon-u will have difficulty with this, I suspect?”
“Still, he is the very one who defeated Cheon Yul. The level is simply different.”
Murmur, murmur—
The voices of those with differing opinions spread endlessly throughout the arena.
The child of the Number One Sword Sect, or the Sword Emperor himself.
Beyond such prestigious lineage, the prevailing opinion was that he would not have challenged to a match here unless he possessed considerable confidence.
But what caught my attention was something else entirely.
The Golden Dragon?
I realized that the epithet flowing naturally from their lips referred to me. It seemed that through recent events, I had earned a title that even Moryeong Hyeok had yet to obtain.
So the Golden Dragon, then?
It suits him rather well, doesn’t it?
With that thought, I gazed at Moryeong Hyeok standing before me and smiled.
“I didn’t take you for someone capable of such recklessness.”
“Recklessness?”
“Yes—the final display you showed Namgung Yeon, and now this discourteous challenge to a duel. It seems the Number One Sword Sect lacks refinement.”
Twitch—!
Moryeong Hyeok’s brow twitched as he glared fiercely.
The fact that his face hadn’t flushed meant he was still maintaining composure, didn’t it?
It was quite different from what I’d observed when he held the Pyo Hyeong-geom.
Yet his pride still seemed to pierce the heavens.
His gaze burned with lethal intensity, as if to prove this very point.
He emanated a killing intent so fierce it made one wonder if he even remembered this was supposed to be a friendly duel.
Ssshhh—
Releasing such murderous aura like that.
My skin prickled at the killing intent radiating from Moryeong Hyeok.
Yet unlike the aura, his actual power was remarkably weak.
Nowhere near comparable to Cheon Yul.
I found myself confirming once more that the reputation of Moryeong Hyeok as the most outstanding among the younger generation had been built largely on the prestige of the Number One Sword Sect and the name of the Sword Emperor.
It was precisely as I was thinking this.
Moryeong Hyeok’s voice came forth gravely.
“I humbly request to learn from you.”
“Yes, and I shall learn from the Number One Sword Sect’s martial arts as well.”
Though Moryeong Hyeok had assumed a respectful fist salute, his eyes gleamed with sharp intensity as he took his stance.
Then, drawing his energy even higher, he poured it into his blade.
I felt the flowing wind grow turbulent and violent.
Narrowing my eyes to slits, I watched intently.
Moryeong Hyeok kicked off the ground and rushed forward.
The distance closed in an instant.
The moment he entered my range, he drew his sword.
The blade flew faster than the flash of light that accompanied the draw.
I tilted my head back slightly.
Slash!
The blade scraped perilously close to the tip of my nose.
Then, with a light swing, my sword guard struck Moryeong Hyeok’s abdomen.
Thud!
“Ugh?!”
The struck man retreated with a groan, creating distance. Yet, as if to show it wasn’t over, he closed in again and unleashed a sword technique as swift as lightning.
Flashes of light flickered before my eyes multiple times.
His blade left afterimages that dazzled my vision.
He swung with such blinding speed that I couldn’t distinguish what was real from illusion—a dozen sword blades seemed to descend upon me at once.
But I had already seen this.
Unlike last time, I had no intention of blocking and deflecting them all.
Just one point.
Etching a single trajectory among the densely packed blades that seemed to leave no opening, I thrust my sword guard toward that singular target.
Whoosh!
Clang clang clang!
As the afterimages scattered and lost their force, Moryeong Hyeok, pierced in the chest by my sword guard, flew backward absurdly and tumbled across the ground.
“Ugh…!”
The man who had been rolling groaned and attempted to rise unsteadily to his feet.
His eyes fixed on me burned with venom.
Unlike himself, who was desperately swinging his blade, I hadn’t even drawn my sword yet—he seemed to believe he was being disrespected.
An obvious expression.
At the sight of his clear determination to make me regret this, I found myself laughing and swung my sword guard toward the ground.
Boom!
The sword guard shattered the floor, and its fragments flew toward Moryeong Hyeok.
Patter patter patter thud!
The fragments, traveling at a vicious speed, pelted Moryeong Hyeok’s entire body, sending him flying backward once more as he fell prone.
Writhe writhe—
He squirmed like a worthless worm, attempting to rise.
I closed the distance as I watched.
“…!”
As Moryeong Hyeok was getting up, he saw me appear suddenly before him, his eyes widening. Then, confirming the incoming sword guard, he rolled across the ground to evade.
Boom!
The impact was forceful enough to crater the floor.
Barely rolling away to safety, Moryeong Hyeok rose to his feet faster than anyone else and regained his stance.
However, there was too little time to compose himself.
Whoosh!
“Ack?!”
As my sword guard appeared before his eyes and lashed across his face, he grabbed his bleeding nose and staggered, barely maintaining his balance.
Drip drip—
Blood poured relentlessly, soaking the ground beneath him.
I took in the sight and glanced around the surroundings.
The crowd that had been cheering moments before now trembled at the sudden turn of events, their mouths sealed shut in stunned silence.
Even though I had supposedly suppressed Cheon Yul, they had not expected me to display such overwhelming dominance against Moryeong Hyeok, the Sword Emperor’s son.
I spoke to Moryeong Hyeok with an air of leisure.
“Shall we continue?”
“…It’s not over yet!”
“Perhaps you don’t realize? If I had drawn my sword, this wouldn’t have ended with just a nosebleed.”
“Grrr! How long do you think you can maintain this composure!”
“If that’s how it appeared, I apologize. But perhaps it’s simply that I seem more composed when facing you compared to when I faced Soocheonchu.”
Moryeong Hyeok’s face flushed crimson.
As if he could endure no longer, he ground his teeth and gripped his sword once more.
Explosive power radiated outward in all directions.
Drawing upon every ounce of strength he had not revealed even during his clash with Namgung Yeon, a tremendous gale of force came crashing down with violent intensity.
I furrowed my brow and clicked my tongue.
At that same moment, Moryeong Hyeok’s momentum transformed.
His cultivation method was no longer the same as before.
Now he was finally revealing it.
The martial arts of the Sword Emperor.
“Let’s see how much longer you can maintain that arrogance!”
Charged with renewed momentum, Moryeong Hyeok rushed toward me once again.
It was undoubtedly different from before—drastically so.
As the nature of his energy had shifted, so too had his martial techniques.
The footwork with which he struck the ground was starkly different from moments earlier.
With each step, afterimages lingered faintly in the air from his speed, and the sword wielded in rhythm with that velocity carried a force far swifter and more intense than before.
Clang—!
The moment I blocked it with my sword,
a numbing impact reverberated through my wrists.
Yet as if it were not finished, blades came flying from all directions.
Clang—clang clang—!
Tremendous speed and power, combined with swordwork of unparalleled precision.
Any master would be renowned for excelling in merely one of these three—strength, speed, or technique—yet the Sword Emperor’s martial arts seemed to harmonize all three flawlessly.
Voices began to emerge from the previously silent arena.
“It’s the Sword Emperor’s Ascendant Heavenly Sword Technique!”
“To think we’d witness Moyong’s junior displaying this!”
Unlike the brief glimpse shown during his earlier exchange with Namgung Yeon, as the complete Sword Emperor’s technique revealed itself, the arena filled with clamorous voices.
The pitiful state Moryeong Hyeok had displayed moments before seemed utterly forgotten.
This was the weight that the Sword Emperor’s name carried.
Moryeong Hyeok, who understood this better than anyone, poured even greater strength into his strikes.
The relentless barrage showed no signs of exhaustion, and there was a palpable sense that he intended to press forward without mercy until the end came in a single decisive moment.
“I will crush you! And prove once more that I am supreme!”
At that moment, a voice erupted from Moryeong Hyeok’s lips, creating a powerful resonance.
His determination to reclaim the highest position was unwavering.
Was this the inferiority complex he harbored toward me?
At such a ridiculous notion, I let out a scoff of exasperation.
Clang clang clang—rumble rumble!
Did he perceive that scorn?
Moryeong Hyeok’s sword swung with even greater ferocity.
As if he intended to tear me to shreds.
Each strike I blocked sent a considerable shock through my arms.
With the relentless barrage of attacks, my wrists threatened to give way, and I felt the sword nearly slip from my grasp.
Sensing this, I rolled my eyes and fixed my gaze upon Hoyeon.
The light in his eyes was extraordinarily sharp.
As if driven by the will to pierce through everything itself, he was intently observing my movements and sword forms.
The moment a smile crept back to my lips, my gaze naturally shifted toward Moryeong Hyeok.
“…!”
In that instant, his pupils trembled.
As if he had recalled someone he wished never to think of.
Because of that, I felt his previously sharp swordplay dull somewhat.
I seized that opening and posed a question.
“Is that what they call the Ascending Heaven Sword Technique?”
As I spoke, I evaded his incoming blade, retreated two steps backward, and drew my own sword.
Shing—!
Grasping the blade as it revealed its azure radiance with a sharp ring, I lunged toward Moryeong Hyeok.
“What—?!”
Closing the distance without giving him even a moment to blink, I locked eyes directly with Moryeong Hyeok and swung my blade.
Clang—!
“…!”
With the sharp metallic shriek, half of Moryeong Hyeok’s sword flew through the air.
The moment I confirmed the shock in his wide-open eyes, I twisted my body with a cold sneer and extended my leg.
Crack—!
With the violent sound of bone shattering, Moryeong Hyeok’s body lifted from the impact to his jaw.
Boom!
Finally, he crashed to the ground with a heavy sound.
Once again, silence fell over the assembly.

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