Chapter 373
Chapter 373
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 373
Chapter Title: A Duel of Intentions
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Bu Eun-seol stared intently at Namgung Jeong and opened his mouth.
“So you truly intend to kill me.”
Namgung Jeong calmly nodded in affirmation.
“That child's talent and character are the finest in our family. He is only called reckless because he has yet to fully blossom.”
Namgung Jeong's eyes flashed with a solemn expression.
“So how can I allow him to become entangled with the leader of the Demonic Path and ruin his brilliant future?”
Surprisingly, Namgung Jeong not only cherished him deeply but had also chosen him as the next family head.
Then why did Namgung Un think his father hated him?
‘The father and son have such different personalities.’
Bu Eun-seol sighed.
Namgung Un had a lively personality and a tendency to express all his inner emotions outwardly.
In contrast, Namgung Jeong was incredibly taciturn, a man who never voiced the thoughts within his heart.
“Draw your sword.”
Namgung Jeong stood tall and extended a hand.
“I cannot cut down a man who hasn't even drawn his weapon.”
Bu Eun-seol was not one to refuse a challenge.
Especially if he could duel the head of the Namgung family—a man who could be called the leader of the Eight Great Families—and survive… he would gain immense insight.
But Bu Eun-seol sighed and shook his head.
“Let's not.”
Namgung Jeong's skill was not something to be taken lightly or trifled with.
If they were to clash with their full strength, one of them would surely suffer a fatal wound.
“I will leave quietly.”
Bu Eun-seol turned away bitterly.
He couldn't bring himself to cut down his sworn brother's father.
In the end, he had even given up on the Reward Hall he so desperately wanted.
“And rest assured.”
Bu Eun-seol said with a calm expression.
“From this day forward, I will never show myself before Namgung Un again. I swear it on my honor.”
A strange thought occurred to Namgung Jeong.
The successor of the Demonic Cult must desperately need the Reward Hall. Otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled a thousand leagues to come to the Namgung family.
Yet, wasn't he avoiding a confrontation for Namgung Un's sake, and to not shatter the peace of the Namgung family?
‘Could it be that he has truly formed a bond of sworn brotherhood with Un?’
“Don't you need the Reward Hall?”
“I do. Desperately.”
Bu Eun-seol gave a dry smile in response to Namgung Jeong's question.
“But rather than drive a nail into his heart for the rest of his life…”
Shaking his head, Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
“Open the mechanism. If I break it with my own strength, the masters of the Namgung family will swarm here.”
“…”
“If that happens, you, the family head, might have to explain the relationship between him and me, wouldn't you?”
Namgung Jeong was at a loss for words.
Bu Eun-seol was considering Namgung Un in every single thing he did, and his actions didn't seem feigned.
“So even a man of the Demonic Path knows of principle.”
“Do you think men of the Demonic Path are three-headed, six-armed monsters?”
“Didn't the Demonic Cult embrace villains like the Seven-Branched Demonic Path?”
A bitter resentment flowed from Namgung Jeong's body.
“That is why I cannot let you live!”
*Shing!*
Namgung Jeong drew his sword.
But he felt something was wrong. He sensed that his senses and reflexes were several times slower than usual.
“How can this be.”
“I considered launching a surprise attack to kill you.”
A chilling energy was swirling in Bu Eun-seol's left hand.
Glacial Heavenly Flow Art.
For his duel with Namgung Jeong, known as the Righteous Sword, Bu Eun-seol had cooled the interior of the armory.
However, since Namgung Jeong's internal energy had reached a level immune to heat and cold, he would have merely thought the air had grown chilly.
If he were to launch a surprise attack after secretly dulling his senses and reflexes like this?
The moment Namgung Jeong crossed swords with Bu Eun-seol, his chances of defeat would be high.
*Crack. Crackle.*
Just then, cracks began to form in the mechanism of the Spiral Hall, which was layered with hard steel.
*KABOOM!*
Finally, the iron partition shattered, and a blood-soaked figure stumbled inside.
It was Namgung Un.
“Youngest Master!”
And behind Namgung Un, Namgung Jeong's trusted subordinate, Mok Han-jeong, the captain of the Sword Vassals, rushed in.
Namgung Un had fought a desperate battle with Mok Han-jeong, who tried to stop him, before breaking through the Spiral Hall to get inside.
“Family Head! If you touch Brother Bu…”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol quickly flicked his finger.
A soft and subtle finger wind lightly struck a major acupoint on Namgung Un's chest.
“Brother Bu, why…”
“Nothing happened. Don't get excited. Just rest.”
Supporting Namgung Un, Bu Eun-seol looked at Mok Han-jeong and said.
“His injuries seem severe. Help him and take him away.”
Mok Han-jeong blinked and took Namgung Un. Then, Namgung Jeong nodded.
“Do as he says.”
Once the order was given, Mok Han-jeong bowed his head and quickly disappeared out of the Spiral Hall.
“Hmm.”
Faced with this unexpected situation, Namgung Jeong let out a low hum.
If Bu Eun-seol had intended to put him in a difficult position, he could have just stood by and let Namgung Un cause a scene.
But hadn't he, worried about Namgung Un's injuries, quickly struck his acupoints and sent him away?
That was an action that could never be faked.
“I admit that you are a man of principle.”
Flames erupted in the eyes of Namgung Jeong as he gripped the Golden Needle Sword.
“However, I can never let you, the successor of the Demonic Cult, leave unscathed.”
“…”
“Forgive me!”
And he immediately thrust the Golden Needle Sword forward.
*KABOOM!*
In that moment, Bu Eun-seol felt his surroundings go dark, as if he had been dropped into the middle of a distant universe.
Simultaneously, a powerful energy of unknown origin pressed down on his body.
Emperor's Sword Form.
The Namgung family's Heavy Sword Arts—said to have reached the pinnacle among all heavy sword techniques in the martial world—was unleashed upon Bu Eun-seol.
***
Deeply asleep, Namgung Un slowly opened his eyes, feeling a pain as if his spine were collapsing.
“Ugh.”
He let out a groan and sat up.
As soon as he had come out of the Spiral Hall, the family head's subordinate, Mok Han-jeong, had tried to restrain him.
Only then did he realize that something was wrong.
The reason the family head had summoned Bu Eun-seol to the Spiral Hall—he realized it was to kill him quietly.
Namgung Un had completely lost his senses.
After barely shaking off Mok Han-jeong who tried to restrain him, he had immediately shattered the Spiral Hall's mechanism with the Emperor's Sword Form.
But since the first three forms alone couldn't completely destroy the mechanism, he had poured all of his internal energy into it, prepared to use his Origin True Energy.
Alarmed, Mok Han-jeong had unleashed a sword technique on his shoulder.
When Namgung Un still didn't stop, he had aimed for the Gate of Life acupoint and delivered a heavy palm strike.
But this was strange.
The deep wound on his shoulder had vanished without a trace, and his internal injuries were also completely healed.
“Brother Bu…”
Namgung Un finally came to his senses and looked around.
He now remembered that Bu Eun-seol had struck his acupoints.
“Knowing Brother Bu's personality, he must have clashed fiercely with the family head!”
Namgung Un leaped up as if propelled by a spring.
The Namgung family would either be holding a feast or be in a state of mourning.
Bu Eun-seol and Namgung Jeong.
If those two peerless swordsmen were to clash, one of them would surely suffer a fatal injury.
“Brother Bu… Family Head!”
*CRASH!*
As Namgung Un shattered the pavilion door and burst outside,
“…”
two people who were drinking tea in the gazebo in front of the pavilion stared at him.
Surprisingly, the two were none other than Bu Eun-seol, disguised as Seol-so, and Namgung Jeong.
“Brother Bu! Family Head!”
Namgung Un's eyes widened.
The two men, who had been facing off with their internal energy pushed to the limit just before he passed out... how could they be sitting together so peacefully, drinking tea?
“You're awake.”
As Bu Eun-seol gave a faint smile, Namgung Un blinked and said.
“What is going on?”
“The family head and I came to check on you, and we were just having some tea.”
“What I mean is…”
Namgung Un looked at Namgung Jeong.
His solemn and cold gaze was the same, but now, for some reason, a glimmer of emotion seemed to peek through.
“You reckless fool. If you've recovered, you should open the door, not break it down.”
Namgung Jeong said with a stern gaze.
“This is why you're called the family's ruffian!”
“Family Head.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol frowned and said.
“Have you already forgotten your promise?”
“Hm? Ahem.”
Seeing Bu Eun-seol's gaze, Namgung Jeong retracted his stern look.
And he looked at Namgung Un and said.
“Un-ah. How are you feeling?”
“What?”
“I asked if your injuries are alright.”
Namgung Un couldn't believe his ears.
‘Un-ah?’
From childhood until now, the only names Namgung Jeong had ever called him were 'worthless fool!' or 'you ruffian!'.
But for Namgung Jeong to suddenly call him by his name.
“Family Head. Are you alright? Are you feeling sick somewhere?”
Namgung Un walked up to Namgung Jeong and waved a hand in front of his eyes.
Normally, if he had done such a thing, he would have been slapped as quick as lightning.
But Namgung Jeong had made a promise to Bu Eun-seol, so he suppressed his anger and just watched.
“Something's not right.”
Namgung Un looked at Namgung Jeong as if he were a cursed doll radiating an ominous aura.
Wasn't Namgung Jeong, who should have slapped him long ago, just staring at him?
“Don't tell me, a disguise?”
Tilting his head, Namgung Un reached out with both hands, grabbed Namgung Jeong's lips, and pulled them apart.
“Huh? It's not a disguise.”
“You ruffian!”
As Namgung Un committed this flippant act, Namgung Jeong shot up and roared in fury.
“This is why you…”
“Family Head.”
But when Bu Eun-seol spoke again, Namgung Jeong's body trembled.
His face turned red, and he spun around and left the gazebo.
“Take good care of yourself.”
…leaving behind those unbelievably warm words.
“Brother Bu.”
Namgung Un approached Bu Eun-seol, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
“Am I still dreaming?”
“What are you talking about?”
“My family head… is strange.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eun-seol took a sip of tea from his cup with a peculiar smile.
Then he gazed at the distant sky and spoke.
“What kind of person is the family head you know?”
“Well…”
Tilting his head, Namgung Un whispered in a low voice.
“He's always out to get me, constantly comparing me to my other brothers and cursing me…”
As he continued, he lowered his head and said.
“…He's someone who hates me very much.”
“That's all wrong.”
“What?”
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath and said calmly.
“The family head loves you more than anything.”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“It's because he cherishes and loves you so much that he has been cold and strict. He did it to make your talent blossom sooner, and to change your free-spirited nature into a character befitting the dignity of a family head.”
“Hahaha.”
Namgung Un let out a hollow laugh.
“Brother Bu. That's a really bad joke.”
“Does it sound like a joke?”
“Of course.”
Namgung Un bit his lip.
“He's the one who, when I was just a mischievous child, broke a vase he cherished, and he beat me harshly before locking me in a storage shed.”
“…”
“When I was older, I stole some plum wine hidden in the cellar, and he punished me by starving me for three days.”
Shaking his head with a look of disbelief, he shouted.
“You're saying that man loves me more than anything? Does that even make sense?”
A moment of silence fell.
Only then did Namgung Un realize his mistake and touch his forehead.
“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you, Brother Bu.”
“It's alright.”
“Brother Bu. I don't know what's gotten into the family head, but he's not the kind of person you think he is.”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eun-seol crossed his arms.
The deep rift between the two had lasted for so long that it showed no signs of healing easily.
‘This will take time.’
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of forcing the father and son to reconcile.
If an outsider were to intervene, it could instead become a catalyst that ruins their relationship.
“But what on earth happened?”
Namgung Un asked with a puzzled expression.
“For the family head to treat you so cordially even after knowing your identity... What happened?”
“Hmm.”
Bu Eun-seol hummed for a moment.
And he recalled the events of that time.
***
“I can never let you, the successor of the Demonic Cult, leave unscathed!”
As Namgung Jeong let out a thunderous roar and raised his Golden Needle Sword, Bu Eun-seol momentarily felt as if he were floating in space.
What is a heavy sword?
It is a sword art that unleashes immense pressure to seal an enemy's movements, or exhibits destructive power to shatter everything in its path.
But upon facing Namgung Jeong's Emperor's Sword Form, Bu Eun-seol realized one thing.
The pinnacle of the heavy sword.
It was not about unleashing pressure, but about filling empty space with pressure to seal the enemy's movements.
In other words, the Emperor's Sword Form attempted to control space, something no one had ever done with a heavy sword technique before.
‘I can't move.’
As the empty space around him filled with pressure, Bu Eun-seol couldn't even lift a finger.
Meanwhile, the sharp Golden Needle Sword was smoothly piercing toward the spot between his eyebrows.
‘An ordinary master would be finished with this one move.’
*Woooong!*
Unable to lift even a finger, a faint light erupted from Bu Eun-seol's body.
He had unleashed the As-You-Will True Art, which could shape and emit powerful internal true energy into any form.
*CLANG!*
A metallic sound rang out as the Golden Needle Sword clashed with the sword created by the As-You-Will True Art.
At the same time, a circular shockwave spread out around Namgung Jeong's body.
As Bu Eun-seol blocked the first move with the As-You-Will True Art, Namgung Jeong redirected the pressure of the heavy sword that had been controlling the space to crush his body.
*Shing!*
But in that interval, the Dark Sword was already in Bu Eun-seol's hand.
And he took the pouring power of the heavy sword, turned it into thin wires, and split it in all directions.
Using the principle of Reversing Heaven and Earth's Power, he had given form to the immense pressure of the Emperor's Sword Form that crushed heaven and earth, and spread it thin like splitting bamboo.
“So you've stolen the sword arts of the Orthodox Faction.”
Namgung Jeong recognized the sword principle Bu Eun-seol had used as the Sword Venerable's Myriad Forms, One Style, and scoffed.
“Then again, that's typical of the people from the Wolf Fang Pavilion.”
With a sneer, Namgung Jeong continuously unleashed pressure.
*Swish!*
In response, Bu Eun-seol relentlessly split the pressure of the Emperor's Sword Form.
And he pierced through a loosened gap, thrusting toward Namgung Jeong's neck.
‘This man is proficient in all kinds of sword arts.’
The principle of Reversing Heaven and Earth's Power was a tenet of supreme martial arts that could never be performed without understanding the properties and principles of the incoming external force.
Yet, even in the midst of a fierce battle, Bu Eun-seol deeply understood the key principle of the Namgung family's Emperor's Sword Form: embedding all one's internal energy into the sword.
He deeply understood the sword principle of *Submerged Heroism in the Sword*.
‘If I keep using the Emperor's Sword Form against someone like this, it's the same as teaching him its mysteries.’
Only then did Namgung Jeong realize that Bu Eun-seol's level of enlightenment was beyond imagination, capable of instantly grasping his sword principles.
“Fine!”
Namgung Jeong was also a swordsman who had immersed himself in the way of the sword his entire life.
Unfazed by Bu Eun-seol's greater-than-expected skill, he rotated the Golden Needle Sword in the opposite direction in mid-air, unleashing thirteen sharp sword energies like swallows.
It was another of the Namgung family's ultimate sword arts, the Sun-Flake Cloud-Thunder Sword.
*Swiiiiish!*
The fine, dust-like sword energy that poured out, skimming the ground, swirled around Bu Eun-seol's body, aiming for his vital points.
It was a sword form that seemed to combine the Dispersing Sword and the Whirling Wind Sword.
‘Unique.’
The Namgung family had long established its own school with original sword arts.
Although it was a Central Plains sword art, its techniques were different, originating from a source distinct from the Nine Sects and One Union.
*Ch-ch-clang!*
Bu Eun-seol swung the Dark Sword repeatedly to neutralize the moves of the Cloud-Thunder Sword.
Conversely, as the exchange of moves continued, Namgung Jeong felt a sense of unease.
‘Something's strange.’
Bu Eun-seol's swordsmanship was of a very high level, and his internal energy easily blocked his own, which far exceeded four cycles of sixty years.
But he was only occasionally using the principle of Reversing Heaven and Earth's Power. Wasn't he focusing solely on defense without counterattacking?
‘So he intends to hide his true intentions until the end.’
Namgung Jeong scoffed.
He thought Bu Eun-seol was maintaining a defensive stance, acting like a righteous gentleman.
‘But I, the family head, am not one to go easy on him for that!’
Crying out in his mind, Namgung Jeong once again unleashed the Sun-Flake Cloud-Thunder Sword.
*CLANG!*
In that instant, the Dark Sword and the Golden Needle Sword clashed.
As a clear metallic sound rang out, Bu Eun-seol executed two consecutive sword forms.
The first sword form was as elegant as a phoenix soaring through the sky, and the second was so profound that it was impossible to grasp.
‘What sword art is this now?’
Unable to break through the sword form in an instant, Namgung Jeong had no choice but to follow the path of Bu Eun-seol's sword to block it.
*CLANG!*
Again, swords clashed, and sparks flew. In that moment, a realization flashed through Namgung Jeong's mind.
‘So that's it.’
A calligrapher can reveal his mastery with a single character, and a scholar can display his learning with a single poem.
And a swordsman who wields a sword can reveal the true nature of his spirit through his sword art.
‘This man's sword art is supremely upright and powerful.’
It is a sword style that can never be performed by one whose spirit is not clear and upright.
‘How shameful.’
Namgung Jeong belatedly realized Bu Eun-seol's intention and bit his lip.
‘For I, the family head who has lived his entire life with a sword, to fail to grasp the meaning behind the sword art displayed by that young man.’
Bu Eun-seol hadn't been using his sword art to fight him until now.
He had been unleashing a series of grand and clear sword forms to reveal his own upright heart.
*CLANG!*
As the swords clashed again, Namgung Jeong took a step back.
Surprisingly, the young man's level of internal energy surpassed his own.
Furthermore, upon realizing Bu Eun-seol's sword intent, which he had failed to see through all this time, Namgung Jeong felt confused.
‘Ugh.’
As his mental energy was scattered, the power of his sword art naturally dropped significantly.
*Thud.*
Namgung Jeong finally lowered the Golden Needle Sword toward the floor.
And he let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“How shameful. For I, the family head who has immersed himself in the way of the sword his entire life, to have realized your sword's intent so late.”
*Click.*
Sheathing the Golden Needle Sword back at his waist, Namgung Jeong said with a bitter expression.
“I admit that you have not been tainted by evil.”
And he said in a low voice.
“However, our family has walked the path of the righteous for generations, so we have no intention of forming a bond with a person of the Demonic Path. Therefore… please leave quietly as you are.”
“Is that all?”
“What did you say?”
“I'm asking if that's all you felt from my sword.”
Namgung Jeong furrowed his brow deeply.
“What are you trying to say?”
“What sword art have I been using until now?”
“Your sword art?”
Pondering deeply, Namgung Jeong's eyes widened.
The sword art Bu Eun-seol had used until now.
Hadn't he only used defensive forms, employing just the principle of Reversing Heaven and Earth's Power?
And those defensive forms…
‘So that's what it was.’
Namgung Jeong's eyes widened further.
The sword art Bu Eun-seol had been using all along.
Wasn't it a cleverly modified version of the Azure Sky Soaring Swallow Sword Art that he himself had taught to Namgung Un?
Bu Eun-seol said with a solemn expression.
“Since you, Family Head, have immersed yourself in the way of the sword your entire life, I trust you have grasped the intention behind the sword art I performed.”
For a moment, Namgung Jeong trembled.
Only then did he realize the true sword intent that Bu Eun-seol had embedded within his sword art.