Chapter 30: So Yeong-hyeon (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: So Yeong-hyeon (2)
"Brother, your internal power...?"
Yeong-yeong, her eyes rimmed with red, stared at me with an expression of pure disbelief.
It seemed Song Yang-hwa hadn't mentioned it to her.
She must have been trying to protect me all this time, still believing my dantian was destroyed.
Indeed.
As her older brother, I felt ashamed. I never realized Yeong-yeong was such a thoughtful child.
"Urgh."
Flash!
At that moment, So Yeong-hyeon, who had been sprawled on the ground, snapped his waist and sprang back to his feet.
Right. I had struck him with moderate force, so he should at least be able to handle that much.
I had no intention of ending this easily, either.
Since he had nearly brought tears to Yeong-yeong's eyes, I intended to make him pay a corresponding price.
The Lesser Conversation Sword asked curiously.
Judging by the energy he radiated, he seemed to be a first-rate master. He was certainly more skilled than his younger brother, So Jang-yun. Considering the level of the successors representing various sects and families in the martial world, he was at least average.
So Yeong-hyeon, whom I expected to be consumed by uncontrollable rage, asked with a look of bewilderment.
"Has your dantian... somehow healed?"
"Who knows?"
There was no need to tell him. It was easier to deal with him if he lost his cool and acted recklessly, just like So Jang-yun.
However, my vague response only made him more wary.
My expectation that he would charge at me immediately out of wounded pride after being slammed into the dirt was wrong. If anything, it seemed to have brought him back to his senses.
His eyes darted around. He was trying to gauge my level by sensing my energy.
Once one reaches the Supreme Peak Realm, they can conceal their aura to some extent; unless he possessed a similar level of skill, it would be difficult for him to figure it out.
At the Lesser Conversation Sword's suggestion, I circulated the Myeongnyun Divine Art in my lower dantian.
I let out just enough energy to place me somewhere between a second-rate and a first-rate master.
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Just as the sword said, a sense of relief washed over his face. He seemed convinced that he was superior.
Shring!
Without a word, he drew his sword and took a Qi Control Stance. Now that he was certain, he was ready to attack.
[Brother!]
Yeong-yeong sent me a message via Sound Transmission.
[Just because your dantian has recovered doesn't mean he's an opponent you can easily defeat.]
Ah.
Because I had revealed my energy, Yeong-yeong also mistakenly believed that was the extent of my martial prowess.
Then again, who would believe that someone whose dantian was destroyed only a year and a few months ago could defeat the Young Family Head of the Yikyang So Family—someone who had trained for over a decade and likely consumed spirit medicines?
Still, it didn't feel bad to have my only blood relative worrying about me.
[It's okay. Trust your brother.]
[What do you mean it's okay? You're going to get seriously hurt!]
Yeong-yeong wasn't easily convinced.
It was then.
Seeing that my attention was momentarily on Yeong-yeong, So Yeong-hyeon lunged forward. Given that he had even suppressed his presence, it was clearly a sneak attack.
"Watch out!"
Yeong-yeong cried out and hurriedly drew her sword, intending to block it for me.
However, I was faster.
Shring! Clang!
Drawing the Namcheon Iron Sword from its cloth-wrapped scabbard, I struck upward, parrying his blade as it aimed for my right shoulder.
Then, I swiftly delivered a slap to his face.
Slap!
His head snapped to the side, and his pupils trembled violently. I hadn't put much internal power into it, but it must have felt humiliating.
"That's for aiming for my sister's cheek."
"You bastard!"
He deployed his footwork, widening the distance by two paces before unleashing a sword technique. It was the Sohyeon Sword Technique, one of the three prized sword styles of the Yikyang So Family.
It had been a long time since I'd seen it.
I swung my sword leisurely, parrying his techniques with ease.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
I didn't even need to use a specific technique. Using the Sohyeon Sword Technique against me was a foolish decision on his part. It might have been different if he had used a style I didn't know. Not only was there a fundamental difference in our skills, but since I already knew the technique, finding openings was trivial.
After blocking about three forms, I struck his incoming blade diagonally downward and—
Slap!
I slapped his cheek again. And on the same left side, no less.
"This is for insulting the Junior Brother who saved my life."
"You... you son of a bitch!"
His composure completely shattered, and foul curses spewed from So Yeong-hyeon's mouth. After being slapped twice, he was finally showing the side of himself I wanted to see.
Yes, that look suits you much better.
"Ha!"
On the other hand, a gasp of admiration escaped my sister, So Yeong-yeong. She had been worried I might get hurt, but seeing me toy with him instead clearly left her stunned.
The family warriors and So Jang-yun's cronies were the same.
"Is that really the brat of Yul Rang-hyeon?"
"How can he hold his own against Brother Yeong-hyeon?"
Following the second son, So Jang-yun, even the eldest son, So Yeong-hyeon, was being humiliated. They were all shocked by my strength. Because So Jang-yun was so weak, my previous display hadn't garnered much attention, but facing someone considered a prominent successor of the family made my performance stand out even more.
The Namcheon Iron Sword called out to me.
In that instant, countless aliases echoed in my mind.
'Ugh.'
With so many swords making noise as they approached, my head began to throb. I briefly circulated the Innate Heart Method, concentrating Innate True Qi in my head, and the headache subsided.
Being in a family of swordsmen like the Yikyang So Family was difficult at times like this.
But thanks to that, I knew.
Yes, Namcheon.
With this many people, the Family Head must have returned.
Three of them?
The Lesser Conversation Sword and the Namcheon Iron Sword had a specific criteria for what they considered a "strong sword." First, a sword that had grown alongside a master of great martial prowess. Second, an ancient treasure sword or a divine sword. No matter how good the material, they treated newly forged swords like infants.
'Ah.'
I think I know.
One sword obviously belonged to the Family Head, and the other two likely belonged to the two eccentrics of the Hengshan Sect: Hengshan's First Sword and the Hengshan Lady Hero.
Stalling for time had paid off. They had arrived at the perfect moment.
Now, it was time to reap the harvest.
"You bastard!"
Finally, So Yeong-hyeon, feeling the sting of humiliation from the slaps, let out a roar and charged. His grip on the sword changed. Realizing the Sohyeon Sword Technique wouldn't cut it, he switched styles.
Judging by the heavy sword intent and the domineering momentum, it was undoubtedly the Cave Breaker Sword Technique, which only the Family Head and the Young Family Head were permitted to learn.
Unlike before, this was a high-level sword technique.
'Shall I see what level he's at?'
I was suddenly curious. I wanted to see just how formidable the Yikyang So Family's ultimate sword technique really was.
Clang! Clang, clang!
I blocked each of his sword forms one by one. Every time our blades met, the heavy momentum flowing through them was no joke. The essence of heavy sword techniques was properly embedded in the forms.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
However, the capability of the one performing these forms was nothing more or less than that of an ordinary successor. It might be effective against a swordsman of the same level, but it was nowhere near enough for me.
I effortlessly blocked all fourteen forms of his technique. And at the very end—
Clang! Step, step, step!
With a light swing of my sword, I sent him reeling back three paces.
So Yeong-hyeon muttered as if he couldn't believe it.
"Impossible. How could someone like you... against the Cave Breaker Sword Technique..."
As expected, it was the Cave Breaker Sword Technique. When I, whom he had treated with more than just contempt but utter loathing, even blocked the family's ultimate technique, he was plunged into a state of bewildered panic.
To him, I spoke as if granting a mercy.
"If you apologize to these two right now and seek forgiveness for insulting my late mother, I'll end it here."
"Forgiveness?"
Of course, I wasn't actually offering mercy. It was to provoke him further and to point out his wrongdoings to everyone else.
Grind!
The sound of teeth gnashing. As expected, So Yeong-hyeon could not contain his rage.
"Who do you think you are to talk about forgiveness!"
"You'll regret this."
At my words, he seemed to suddenly realize something and shouted.
"Now I see! You've practiced wicked arts! Even if your dantian miraculously healed, there's no way your martial arts could improve this much in just one year!"
Ha.
To think he'd try to use his head like this. It was a classic frame-up. I had blocked him with swordsmanship, not internal power, yet he was spouting such nonsense.
Meanwhile, the family warriors began to murmur.
"He's right, isn't he?"
"Is that even possible in just a year and a few months?"
"Does that mean he really practiced wicked arts?"
Among martial arts, there are those called wicked arts or demonic arts. Literally, they amplify power through unorthodox and sinister training methods rather than traditional ones. Because the side effects are severe and there's a limit to how far one can go, even those in the Evil Faction rarely pursue them.
"He'd rather die than admit he's just weak."
"What?"
"It's pathetic that the martial prowess of the Yikyang So Family's Young Family Head is only at this level, Senior Brother."
Sama Yeong sneered, her sarcasm loud enough for everyone to hear. She did a good job this time.
Provoked by her taunt, the expression on his face shifted. No matter what excuse he made, he was the Young Family Head and the future symbol of the Yikyang So Family. Losing to me—someone who wasn't even a renowned successor—was nothing short of a disgrace.
"You wild colt, you've finally reached the end of your rope. I was going to go easy on you, considering you have at least a bit of the family's blood in you."
Did I hear that right? He was going to go easy on me?
The Lesser Conversation Sword clicked its tongue.
He leaned his body slightly forward, taking a front-heavy stance. Judging by the rising energy and the trembling tip of his sword, he was about to unleash the ultimate move of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique. It was a killing strike, thick with murderous intent.
"If you're so confident, you should be able to block this too, right?"
So Yeong-hyeon spoke provocatively. He was trying to goad me into taking the technique head-on. He was trying to be clever in his own way.
"That won't change anything."
"Arrogant brat!"
Flash!
At my words, he lunged forward with explosive momentum. Fitting for the ultimate move of the Cave Breaker Sword Technique, it carried the essence of a heavy sword, with each strike targeting vital points for an instant kill.
"Be careful!"
Yeong-yeong cried out in worry. But there was no longer any need to hide my strength.
Clang!
His first strike collided with my sword. As the blades met, he immediately tried to link it to the next form, but—
Slap!
In that split second, I struck So Yeong-hyeon's cheek. This time, I properly infused it with internal power from my lower dantian.
"You... you son of a bitch, again...!"
He forced himself to endure it and continued his sword forms. However, I simply stood my ground, raised my sword, and parried his strike upward. Since his hands were raised, another opening appeared.
Slap!
This time, I struck the other cheek. I must have hit his nose as well, as blood erupted from it.
Grind!
He gnashed his teeth and tried to bring his raised sword down, but my fist reached his chest first.
Thump!
"Urgh!"
Struck in the chest, he was about to be sent flying backward. In that moment, I grabbed him by the collar, pulled him back, and kicked him in the shin.
Crack!
The shinbone must have fractured or snapped completely.
"Aaargh! You... you! You piece of...!"
His rage seemed greater than his pain as he desperately tried to unleash another sword form. His blade swung toward my neck. But it was already too late.
I infused eighty percent of my internal power and struck his blade.
Clang!
"Ugh!"
The sword vibrated violently, and unable to withstand the aftershocks of the internal power, his palm flew open. The sword went spinning through the air.
In his moment of panic—
[This is for insulting my mother, you son of a bitch.]
"!?"
Crunch!
"Gah!"
I slammed my fist into his face with all my might. His face twisted to the side, and the sound of teeth shattering rang satisfyingly in my ears.
He collapsed onto the ground, coughing and spitting out broken teeth. His face was a complete mess.
'Phew.'
That felt refreshing. It felt like some of the resentment that had built up over time was finally being released. How much had these brothers tormented us and insulted our mother?
[Lord!]
Jo Seong-won's Sound Transmission echoed in my ear. I knew why he was calling me. The fact that the crowd had become deathly silent told me who had arrived.
Turning my head, I saw a middle-aged man with a fierce face and a well-groomed beard, dressed in light green silk robes, standing between the parting ranks of the family warriors.
It was the Family Head, So Ik-heon.
Beside him were a middle-aged man and woman dressed in indigo Taoist robes.
'Hengshan's First Sword and the Hengshan Lady Hero.'
Faces I hadn't seen in a long time. But right now, they wouldn't know me. Before my regression, I was considered the shame of the family and never had contact with outsiders. I had only seen them later when I was a spy in the Martial Alliance.
"Family Head, what is the meaning of this?"
The Hengshan Lady Hero, Jo Il-hye, asked with a furrowed brow. Seeing the brothers So Jang-yun and So Yeong-hyeon sprawled on the ground, she must have realized some trouble had occurred.
"And who exactly is that young hero?"
She said, looking at me. As expected of the two eccentrics of Hengshan, she seemed to have sensed my aura. The energy radiating from her was sharp enough that it could only belong to someone at the top tier of Supreme Peak masters.
'She's strong.'
Hengshan's First Sword was even stronger than her. He didn't have the overwhelming pressure of someone like Hae Ak-cheon, but it was certain he had crossed the wall of the Supreme Peak Realm.
On the other hand, the energy radiating from the Family Head, So Ik-heon, was unexpectedly almost equal to or slightly superior to Jo Il-hye's. Of course, a battle in the martial world cannot be judged by aura alone.
So Ik-heon's expression was complicated. He didn't answer Jo Il-hye's question.
I couldn't quite tell either. Perhaps it was because the son he had discarded as useless had returned strong.
It was then.
"Fa... Father! It's wicked arts! He used sinister wicked arts!"
So Yeong-hyeon, having spotted the Family Head and the Hengshan experts, shouted to them. I should have broken his jaw so he couldn't speak. To think he'd try to explain away his defeat like this.
"Wicked arts?"
But an unexpected person reacted. It was none other than Hengshan's First Sword, Jo Un-cheong.
'Ah!'
I remembered. This man was always gentle and shy, even in the Alliance. However, if he witnessed injustice or faced someone from the Evil Faction or the Blood Cult, that personality would flip 180 degrees.
"It's not wicked arts—"
Flash!
In that instant, before I could even explain, Jo Un-cheong moved. He closed the distance of nearly fifteen paces in the blink of an eye.
'Wait!'
I knew the Hengshan Sect excelled in fast swords and body lightening methods, but I didn't expect it to be this much.
Stopping right in front of me, he spoke.
"Young So. Have you practiced wicked arts?"
"I have not."
"Then why does the Young Family Head of the Yikyang So Family claim you have?"
Because wicked arts also negatively affect a person's character, many in the Orthodox Faction loathed them. It seemed Jo Un-cheong was one of them.
Then So Yeong-yeong shouted.
"Martial Uncle! The young man in front of you is my brother!"
"Your brother? So Un-hwi?"
Jo Un-cheong frowned. From his reaction, it seemed he had heard about me from Yeong-yeong. I thought things might go smoothly, but I was wrong.
"I heard your dantian was damaged. Was that not the case?"
Swish!
Jo Un-cheong tried to grab my wrist using a Golden Snake Hand technique. No matter how much I was suspected of practicing wicked arts, I couldn't just let him check my internal power at his whim.
I quickly deployed my footwork and retreated.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Your dantian was damaged over a year ago. How could you have reached such a realm in that time?"
Step, step, step!
Jo Un-cheong followed me, his steps fluid and graceful. He truly possessed the skill to be called an eccentric of Hengshan.
"Please give me a chance to explain."
Shring!
At my words, Jo Un-cheong drew the sword from his back.
"Do you think an explanation is possible while you refuse to even let me verify your internal power?"
"Are you really going to do this?"
"If we trade blows, I'll be able to tell whether it's a wicked art or not, and what its origin is. Draw your sword."
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, Jo Un-cheong's sword traced a cool path as it pursued me. It was the famous Azure Wind Sword Formula. While it was a technique every Taoist of the Hengshan Sect learned, the Azure Wind Sword Formula performed by his hands was said to be no different from a high-level sword technique.
'I have no choice.'
Then I would have to prove it with my sword. Jo Un-cheong's sword, creating myriad changes like the wind, fitting for the name "Azure Wind." To counter it, a similarly fluid sword was best.
'Illuminating Shadow Sword!'
The third form of the Life Bright Sword Technique, the Illuminating Shadow Sword. It was a form where the changes in the sword were as prominent as a supple willow branch.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Jo Un-cheong's sword and mine collided. Like a willow branch meeting the wind, our swords became intricately entwined. Every time the blades met, my palms stung.
'He's different.'
He was on a completely different level from anyone I had faced so far. Jo Un-cheong, the eccentric of Hengshan, was a master I could barely hope to face even if I opened my middle dantian. To think such power could be contained in such fluid sword forms.
I should use a variation and widen the distance... Huh?
Flash!
Jo Un-cheong, who had been exchanging forms with me, was the first to withdraw his sword and step back. The others were also puzzled by his sudden change in attitude.
Then, Jo Un-cheong asked me in a trembling voice.
"What is your relationship with Great Hero Ho Jong-dae?"
At his words, the silent courtyard erupted into a commotion.
Murmur, murmur!
"Ho Jong-dae?"
"Did he just say Ho Jong-dae?"
Great Hero Ho Jong-dae. Even after fifteen years, who among martial artists wouldn't know that name? It was the name of the hegemon of Yunnan Province and the peerless master, the Namcheon Sword Guest.
Jo Un-cheong asked me once more.
"Tell me clearly. Do you know Great Hero Ho Jong-dae?"
To his question, I gave a respectful fist-and-palm salute and spoke confidently.
"He is my master."
'!!!'
No sooner had I spoken than the entire place was thrown into an uproar.