Chapter 158. Completion of the Four Gods (2)
“Incredible.”
Namgung Pyo’s expression, as he watched the training ground from a distance, was truly peculiar. A mix of admiration, fighting spirit, jealousy, and envy etched across his face, blending into a chaotic aura that defied description.
“A magnificent spar. And not just any spar, but one that casts life and death aside.”
Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted, sending a ferocious heatwave rippling all the way to them. It was the fiery qi of the Vermilion Bird, the madness of the clash, and a killing intent that had no place in a father-son duel.
“I’d heard that the Yeon family’s eldest son was stronger than Ilryong Sambong and beyond. Seeing it in person, the rumors seem understated…”
Namgung Pyo trailed off. Namgung In’s face, as he gazed at the training ground, was expressionless. This was not the man who always wore a mask of leisure.
‘…’
For some reason, Namgung Pyo felt he could understand his father.
‘Am I looking at Yeon Hojeong the way Father is looking at the Yeon family head?’
He was spot on.
Namgung In was deeply shaken by Yeon Wi’s orthodox and overwhelmingly powerful swordsmanship.
‘How in the world…’
Yeon Wi’s expression was crystal clear amid his terrifying speed. A face brimming with joy, tension, fighting spirit, and pride.
‘When did he become this strong?’
The Namgung family had dominated the martial world with their title of supreme swordsmanship. As the world’s greatest sword clan, the family head’s skills naturally had to represent that prestige. And Namgung In’s own prowess was certainly fitting for a leader of one of the Six Great Families.
But Yeon Wi surpassed even that.
‘How can he possess such fluidity…’
It was a fearsome sword. Its foundation was rigid strength, yet it seamlessly unleashed countless sword forms as needed. The fluidity was like flowing water—changes so subtle that even seeing them made it hard to pinpoint when they occurred.
A master of the Hundred Sword Styles. It felt as if he had synthesized every sword art under heaven. The acclaim as one of this era’s greatest swordsmen, blessed by the heavens themselves, was well-deserved.
Of course, Namgung In knew the Yeon family’s swordsmanship was the epitome of orthodoxy. He also knew that perfecting it could yield such astonishing sword forms.
Thus, Namgung In’s shock wasn’t merely from Yeon Wi’s superior martial arts.
Shiiiing!
The longsword sliced in a straight line, boiling the air with its sword wave. Invisible flames seemed to cling to the blade, imbuing Yeon Wi’s sword with terrifying majesty and the weight of a mountain.
He dominated the air. Yeon Wi’s sword, his very presence, extended beyond the training ground to engulf the entire plaza.
And that overwhelming presence evoked one figure in Namgung In’s mind.
‘Father?!’
Sword Emperor Namgung Seung. The supreme title among all who lived by the sword, held without the slightest flaw—a true sovereign.
The invincible swordsman who vied for the title of world’s greatest sword alongside Sword Immortal Tak Muja cast his shadow over Yeon Wi as well.
Drip.
Blood trickled from his lip, bitten unconsciously.
‘This bastard.’
He had talent with the sword, but not to his father’s level. So Namgung In had abandoned the dream of becoming the supreme swordsman. Instead, he turned to schemes and stratagems. If he couldn’t be the best with the sword, he’d elevate his family’s status to the pinnacle.
But why? The dream of supreme swordsmanship, long forsaken, stirred at the sight of Yeon Wi’s terrifying sword force.
It infuriated him all the more, knowing his own talent could never catch that arrogant swordsman. And it thrilled him. He wanted that sword for his own, no matter the cost. As head of another Great Family, the desire burned fiercely.
The fiery blaze in Namgung In’s eyes gradually cooled to ice.
‘You can never be the supreme sword.’
The Yeon father and son’s ferocious clash shocked more than just the Namgung duo.
“Gang-a.”
“Yes, Grand Martial Uncle.”
Paeryul’s eyes deepened.
“When the Myeol Sa Army swept through their enemies, did Yeon Hojeong—or rather, Commander Yeon—join the battles?”
Cheok Gang answered respectfully, his gaze fixed on the training ground as if entranced.
“Sometimes he did, sometimes he didn’t.”
“It varied by situation?”
“Yes. He never stepped in unless it was truly dire. He knew like a ghost when we were in real danger.”
“…That figures.”
Paeryul’s eyes deepened further. He inwardly marveled at Yeon Hojeong wielding an over-eighty-geun heavy weapon like a switch, unleashing devastating assaults.
‘Was I dulled? Or had my senses grown rusty?’
When he’d seen Yeon Hojeong at the Muryeong Alliance’s Cheongryongdae Gate, Paeryul had spotted a flaw in his fierce yet pure aura. A gap no master of that caliber should show.
So he’d assumed Yeon Hojeong was gravely injured.
He was wrong. Now he saw it clearly. Even if his body wasn’t at peak, Yeon Hojeong was no warrior who’d reveal such a flaw.
‘Lack of real combat. Or perhaps concern for his subordinates dulled his edge.’
A subtle yearning flickered in Paeryul’s eyes. Pure fighting spirit.
‘You’ve heated up, Yeon Hojeong.’
Boom!
Yeon Hojeong, flung back by the explosion, spun midair and swung the Gwangryongbu.
Whoooosh!!
The Gwangryongbu spun at blinding speed toward Yeon Wi, infused with such mighty true energy that it resembled a massive wheel of fire.
Yeon Wi’s response was simple and efficient.
Kwang!
Like swatting away a boulder tumbling from a mountaintop. Sweeping his sword from low to high, he deflected the Gwangryongbu upward. His body jolted from the lingering shock on the blade.
Paak!
No one knew when he’d launched skyward. Yeon Hojeong, trailing crimson afterimages, snatched the rebounding Gwangryongbu and swung it straight at Yeon Wi.
Thud!
Krunch!
The ground beneath Yeon Wi’s feet shattered wildly.
“That guy’s completely insane.”
Paeryul was dumbfounded by Yeon Hojeong’s assault.
“Throwing an axe there? Hah!”
That was Yeon Hojeong’s style. Utterly unconventional martial arts, yet astonishingly practical in battle. Infused with one-strike-kill principles, his movements anticipated counters, always prepared to press the foe relentlessly.
‘A clash between those who’ve glimpsed the ultimate in their domains.’
The incarnation of the sword: Yeon Wi.
The incarnation of real combat: Yeon Hojeong.
A monstrous father-son pair. Though their arts differed entirely, they were gradually mirroring each other’s realms.
‘No weaknesses left.’
The looseness around Yeon Hojeong had vanished in an instant. His focus had sharpened to a razor’s edge. Now, only his father, Yeon Wi, filled his vision.
Thus, countless onlookers witnessed the Yeon duo’s duel. Sparking awe in some, envy in others, emotion in yet more—amid their lethally intense exchanges, the bout raced toward its climax.
Craaaang!
A eardrum-shattering clash rang out, forcing both to retreat.
“Hoo.”
“Hah! Hah!”
Unlike Yeon Wi’s brief catch of breath, Yeon Hojeong’s was ragged. He’d immersed himself utterly to kill.
Yet Yeon Wi had parried every technique with ironclad defense.
Yeon Wi smiled, his face flushed with excitement.
“Magnificent.”
“Hoo, hoo.”
“A thrill I’ve never felt before. Your hyper-practical arts have pushed me to my limits like nothing else.”
After steadying his breath, Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“You didn’t go all out, Father.”
“Of course not. You’re still far from handling my full power, boy.”
“Hahaha!”
It was true. Their skill gap remained clear. If Yeon Wi unleashed true killing intent, Yeon Hojeong couldn’t last thirty exchanges at his current level.
Though only actual combat would confirm it.
“Shall we wrap this up?”
“I think so too.”
“You end this spar.”
“Pardon?”
Confusion crossed Yeon Hojeong’s face. End it? What did that mean?
Shh.
Yeon Wi lowered into stance. The starting form of the Iron Sword Dayeon Thirty-Six Forms’ Lightning Flash in One Breath.
“Are you afraid?”
An out-of-left-field question. Yeon Wi’s eyes deepened.
“I felt your arts sharpening as time passed. Your reactions quickened, your mind expanding with each moment to counter my every strike.”
“…?”
“It’s not growth mid-battle. That superhuman reaction speed and creative combat prowess are innate talents you’ve always had.”
“Pardon?”
“How did such astonishing senses crumble like that?”
“That’s…?”
“You didn’t even realize it yourself.”
Flash!
Stern qi flared in Yeon Wi’s eyes.
“What do you fear? What burdens you so?”
“…?!”
“Has this changed you from before become such a heavy load?”
Yeon Hojeong felt as if struck on the back of the head.
Seeing his son’s expression, Yeon Wi’s lip curved upward.
“Nothing in this world is unchanging—people, objects, thoughts, truths. But your convictions mustn’t waver.”
Whoosh!
Yeon Wi appeared a zhang before Yeon Hojeong.
Shh.
Yeon Hojeong stared dazedly at his abdomen. The sword tip rested on his right side, where the liver lay.
“No matter how you change, the family will always welcome you. So cast off those lingering dregs in your heart and soar once more.”
Yeon Wi smiled.
“And stop parading such obvious weaknesses.”
Thump!
Yeon Hojeong’s body shuddered violently.
“Cough!”
Dark blood poured out, unusually murky. Shockingly, it contained a heavy turbidity.
A turbidity even Yeon Hojeong hadn’t noticed—born of heart demons.
His mind cleared in a flash.
“How’s that?”
Yeon Hojeong looked up at Yeon Wi.
“I know you have an ace you haven’t played. Am I right?”
“…Yes.”
“Then, why not end this splendid duel with it?”
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Gladly.”
Whoosh!
Yeon Wi’s sword rose to an overhead guard, pointing at the sky. Close enough to feel each other’s breath.
One downward strike would cleave Yeon Hojeong in two.
That was when it happened.
Ziiing!
Ziiiiiing!
Formless lightning crackled along Yeon Wi’s longsword. Not a Yeon family art. A new martial insight he’d attained.
The single ultimate strike he’d once longed to show his son. That absolute sword was about to manifest now.
“…”
Silence fell. The Yeon duo’s hush weighed oppressively on all onlookers.
Cheok Gang swallowed hard.
Paeryul clenched his fist unconsciously.
Bloodshot veins marred Namgung In’s eyes; tension gripped Namgung Pyo’s clenched jaw.
How much time passed?
Kaboom!
With thunderous roar, Yeon Wi’s sword plunged like lightning.
At that exact instant.
Flash!
Cyan light exploded from Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
BOOM!
A colossal blast engulfed the entire training ground in thick dust clouds.
And within that haze.
Hummm.
A massive something with shimmering cyan scales began writhing like a phantom.