Chapter 159: The Thing I Wished To Show You (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 159: The Thing I Wished To Show You (3)
Step.
With every step she took, a wave of Qi rolled outward.
The prickling sensation in the air was unmistakably the work of Lightning Qi.
And its power was so immense…
It felt like thunder was crashing down right beside Namgung Bi-ah.
Crack.
Jang Seonyeon gritted his teeth, forcing his frozen body back to life. It took a tremendous output of Qi just to make his limbs obey him again.
Is this… the best I can do?
He pointed his sword toward the ground, trying to ignore the cold sweat beading on his face. As he steadied his breathing, his eyes remained fixed on Namgung Bi-ah.
With her sword held low and her expression utterly relaxed, she looked less like she was in a duel and more like she was taking a casual stroll. Her beauty lent her a regal, untouchable air…
But her Qi told a completely different story.
This is… the Master of Swords?
It was the signature art of the Namgung Clan—a technique that served as a warning, a display of the user’s true power meant to overwhelm the opponent.
The Master of Swords art of the Namgung Clan. The overwhelming might of the greatest clan in the land was now radiating from Namgung Bi-ah herself.
…So she truly lives up to the Namgung name.
Though classified as a Sword Art, the Master of Swords did not rely on physical blade techniques. Instead, it infused the user’s Qi with the lightning element, magnifying its destructive force.
It pressed down on the opponent like some colossal, invisible weight—a force meant to bend knees and force acknowledgment of the user’s fangs and dominance. It was an art that did not hide its greed for supremacy.
The title “Master” was fitting; it showcased power earned through one’s own merit. And it was considered a Sword Art precisely because it demonstrated the wielder’s resolve to express that might through the sword.
The presence of the Namgung Clan, unfolding before his very eyes, was terrifying.
“…Aren’t you… coming?”
Her whisper was quiet, but it stirred something primal in Jang Seonyeon. His instincts screamed at him—if he didn’t move now, it would be over. He had to reassess the opponent in front of him.
With the Master of Sounds active, Namgung Bi-ah began to move with an almost balletic grace. Her steps were so light she might have been out for a walk, yet Jang Seonyeon instinctively raised his sword. He had no choice.
Clang!
“…!”
The impact threw him backward. Though they had started ten paces apart, Namgung Bi-ah closed the distance in an instant. Sparks flew where their blades met.
Her sword was impossibly heavy. How could such power reside in such a slender arm?
Jang Seonyeon had no time to wonder. He channeled his Qi.
Ring—
A faint resonance echoed from his blade—the Typhoon Harmonic Wave Sword, an exclusive skill of the Jangcheon Sect. It was a Sword Art born from merging blade technique with Sound Arts, the very martial art that had earned the current Alliance Leader the title “Harmonic Sword.”
I can’t maintain this for long.
It was a high-ranking technique, demanding extreme Qi proficiency. That Jang Seonyeon could use it at his age was a mark of his genius. But it required reckless Qi expenditure, and even standing still was a strain—adding movement slowed his sword considerably.
Of course, Sound Arts had its advantages: it could disrupt an opponent’s balance, compensating for the loss of speed. In time, he would refine it, merging the energy from his baptism until he could wield it effortlessly. With this ability, he should have surpassed every young prodigy of his generation.
That should have been the case, but—
Swish!
The deadly tip of her sword grazed his hair, shearing off a few strands. Before he could react, her blade lunged again.
Zap!
Lightning Qi detonated with her strike, forcing Jang Seonyeon to retreat another step.
Damn it.
Whether he used his sword or Sound Arts, he couldn’t land a single blow on her. Her oppressive pressure ensnared his feet, leaving him no room for his usual techniques. He could only evade her relentless assault.
And what of her? How can she move that fast while maintaining an art like that?
It made no sense. He had to sacrifice speed to uphold his technique—shouldn’t she, using an art that demanded even more Qi and finer control, be even more constrained?
Yet she swings her sword at that speed?
He couldn’t believe it, but the evidence was right in front of him.
Clang! Clang!
Namgung Bi-ah’s attacks did not cease. She showed no fatigue, no intention of letting him counter. Each clash sent searing Lightning Qi through his blade, threatening to burn it—and with every block, his consciousness flickered.
Finally, Jang Seonyeon gathered all his Qi, focusing it into one burst. As Namgung Bi-ah closed in—
Ring!
His sword resonated loudly. This should slow her down. The effort drained him, but he had to change the flow of battle. Continuing like this was impossible.
I’ll stop her, create some distance, and—
Slam!
“Ugh!”
A heavy impact smashed into his chest. Jang Seonyeon groaned as he was sent rolling across the ground. He had assumed she couldn’t break through his Sound Arts—but she had passed through effortlessly and struck him.
“Cough…! Cough…!”
When he managed to rise, his eyes darted around, searching for her. He expected another attack, but…
Namgung Bi-ah stood motionless.
Is she not pressing the advantage?
He replayed the last moments in his head. Did my technique not work? No—he was certain it had. Then how…?
“…”
That was when he noticed her expressionless face. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
He understood then. His attack had landed, but she had forced her way through it. How? Her head and body should have been affected; like the Poison Phoenix before her, she should have been vomiting blood and collapsing—especially since she hadn’t seen it coming.
But Namgung Bi-ah simply stood there, calmly wiping the blood away with her hand. She didn’t groan. She didn’t frown. The Master of Swords art remained active, and her gaze as she looked down at him held no arrogance—only peace, like a still, undisturbed lake.
She was so beautiful and majestic she seemed like a pearl given human form. Her very presence exuded dignity.
So this is the Namgung Clan.
The thought crossed his mind, and Jang Seonyeon bit his lip until he drew blood.
I can’t win like this.
He had to admit it. Beating the girl before him seemed nearly impossible.
Which was why… he had to change tactics.
* * *
How long had the fight lasted? In real time, probably not long—there hadn’t been that many exchanges. But the silence that had fallen over the crowd felt endless. The fact that so many were watching, utterly speechless, spoke volumes about the shock of what they were witnessing.
Finally, someone broke the silence. “There’s… no way.”
The words were spoken in sheer disbelief. And they were only the beginning.
Others began to murmur. “She’s wielding the Master of Swords like a true master… Even the Lightning Dragon wouldn’t dare…”
“The way she moves her sword… it’s like a dance. She’s breathtaking.”
Ask anyone in the Central Plains if they knew of the Namgung Clan, and the answer would be yes. Their fame reached even the most remote mountains and hidden caves. And their signature skill, the Master of Swords, was equally legendary—a technique known for its overwhelming, destructive power.
Mastering it required not only physical training but also a martial realm high enough to fully control Lightning Qi. The teachings were reserved for blood relatives of the clan, making it nearly impossible for an outsider to learn. Even average talent wasn’t enough.
Namgung Cheonjun was proof. Widely regarded as a genius, he had only recently begun to touch his Lightning Qi—he wouldn’t dare attempt the Master of Swords yet.
But Namgung Bi-ah? She’s been using it since the first time I met her.
I remembered encountering her on the road to Sichuan, a lost girl who revealed she was from the Namgung Clan. The energy she emitted then was unmistakably the Master of Swords. She had been nearing perfection even back then.
“Sis is so cool…”
Beside me, Tang Soyeol watched with excitement. Wi Seol-Ah, standing next to her, nodded in agreement.
Even I had to admit—Namgung Bi-ah, looking down on Jang Seonyeon with that overwhelming aura, was undeniably impressive.
…She really let loose.
It made sense. Before stepping onto the stage, she had asked me if she could release the energy that suppressed her presence—the Qi block I’d taught her so she wouldn’t need to wear a mask in public.
I gave her the briefest explanation and a quick demonstration, and she grasped it instantly.
It was absurd. That one technique had taken me forever to learn. I had to admit her talent was fearsome. This generation of the Central Plains was simply overflowing with geniuses.
And then there was me, who had once rotted away in that other world. Had I improved since then? I still couldn’t say for sure.
Thinking back, the Demonic Sword had been a monster. She was strong enough to single-handedly destroy her own clan.
Even without the Lord of Heaven’s influence, that alone was proof of her power. She was different from me—I had needed Demonic Qi and arts from the Heavenly Demon, plus years in the Abyss, to become what I was. The Demonic Sword had Demonic Qi, but she never received any Demonic Arts. So why had she chosen to become a demonic human?
I had asked her repeatedly, out of curiosity. But she never gave a satisfying answer.
-A peaceful life.
That was all she ever said.
“Sis… she’s much stronger than before.”
“Yeah.”
I shared Tang Soyeol’s shock. Namgung Bi-ah had far exceeded my expectations. I knew she was strong, but the level she was displaying now was beyond what I had imagined.
“Sis Bi-ah is so cool!”
Wi Seol-Ah’s enthusiastic exclamation drew a silent nod from me.
Yeah.
I didn’t say it aloud. For some reason, I felt embarrassed that I had ever worried about her.
Namgung Bi-ah was dominating Jang Seonyeon with absolute superiority. There had been one dangerous moment when his Sound Arts struck her… but she endured it.
Was it exceptional mental fortitude? Her insides were probably in turmoil, her Qi running wild from the damage—yet she showed no struggle, maintaining her art with precise control.
…She’s crazy, for real.
She had effortlessly surpassed the level of most young prodigies.
Jang Seonyeon was talented in his own right—I hated to admit it, but his skill as a martial artist, both now and in the future, was undeniable. You couldn’t achieve what he had without innate gift.
I wonder what expression he’s making right now.
My gaze drifted away from the arena, toward a high vantage point in a nearby building—where the Murim Alliance’s leadership was surely watching. The Alliance Leader would be there, and likely the Shaolin Chief Abbot as well.
I considered using my Qi to get a better look, but held back. Getting caught would be troublesome.
Is his expression sour, or is he entertained?
I didn’t really care, though I preferred the former.
I’m a little disappointed I didn’t get to beat him up myself.
I would have liked to break an arm or a leg, but I supposed this was fine too. I’d deal with him personally in the future anyway.
“She told me to believe in her.”
I hadn’t fully understood what Namgung Bi-ah meant when she said those words to me. But now, I thought I was starting to.
I can relax a little.
She wasn’t like the foolish Gu Jeolyub, who messed up his movements mid-attack. She wasn’t like the weak-willed Namgung Cheonjun, who let his guard down and ended up rolling in the dirt. She had full control of this fight. In my eyes, it wouldn’t last much longer.
All I needed to focus on now was how I would handle my own coming duel against Moyong Hi-ah—
“Huh?”
My thoughts cut off as my attention snapped back to Jang Seonyeon. My instincts had screamed at me to look.
Thud!
The next sound was of someone hitting the ground. It happened in an instant: Jang Seonyeon, who had been down, was now standing. Namgung Bi-ah, who had been standing, was now rolling across the earth before quickly rising again. She held a hand to her nose, staring at Jang Seonyeon in shock.
“What just… happened?” Tang Soyeol murmured, mirroring Bi-ah’s expression.
I couldn’t answer. Something was stirring—flinching—inside my dantian.
What the hell is moving around so violently?
I realized it almost immediately: it was the unknown energy I had absorbed from Namgung Cheonjun. There was only a little left; my Flame Qi had nearly devoured it all. Yet that remnant was raging with a power far beyond what I had anticipated.
In that moment, it became perfectly clear.
“That bastard.”
It was Jang Seonyeon’s doing. The energy inside me was going wild because of him.
Unintentionally, my fist clenched. And the energy inside me—the same energy that resided in both my body and Jang Seonyeon’s—surged in response.