Chapter 386
Translator: penny
Chapter: 395
Chapter Title: The Sword's Dual Face
Whoosh!
Daoist Heo Won bulged his eyes wide and stared at the demonic sword flying straight toward him, still sheathed in its scabbard.
The sword, sealed within its scabbard, landed perfectly in Daoist Heo Won's grasp.
His pupils trembled violently.
This madman—if he's a martial artist, how could he toss away a sword as precious as his own life so carelessly!
...No way it's just an ordinary sword, is it?
Impossible.
Daoist Heo Won's eyes, which had beheld the finest blades of Songmun High Swords and Haegumji throughout his life, could not be wrong.
It was described as a chilling sword from which demonic energy poured forth in streams.
Based on that testimony, they had investigated the sword owned by Namgung Hyuk and confirmed it was different from any other.
The Wudang Sect's intelligence network was formidable enough to crush the information capabilities of most sects.
With confirmation from the Wudang Sect, it had to be certain.
Yet...
Why...
...why is it holy?
Why was holy energy emanating from the scabbard?
Even at a glance, the antique and luxurious scabbard, bearing the clear touch of a master craftsman's hand, exuded an eerily sacred aura.
The moment he gripped it, his dantian—trained in the Wudang Sect's inner cultivation method—resonated with its pure clarity.
It was said to spew demonic energy like a raging gale.
But it was far too serene.
Daoist Heo Won's expression began to twist awkwardly.
What if this wasn't a demonic sword?
I-if it's not a demonic sword...
The Wudang Sect would suffer a massive humiliation in front of all the world's people.
They might mock the sect for failing to recognize a demonic sword and arresting an innocent man.
The people of the world might ridicule the Wudang Sect...
What to do about this...
Daoist Heo Won glanced at Namgung Hyuk, sweat beading coldly on his brow in secret.
As he stood there blankly in the arena, unarmed except for the sword, puzzled reactions began to emerge from the elders' seats.
"Why is Daoist Heo Won acting like that all of a sudden?"
"He looked like he was going to draw it with such vigor..."
"Isn't it because the demonic energy is too thick?"
"Hmm! No way it's not a demonic sword, is it?"
The atmosphere shifted abruptly at one elder's remark.
The elders of the Five Great Families lit up their eyes.
"Elder Heo Won! What are you waiting for? Draw it already!"
"Indeed. We're dying to know if it's truly a demonic sword!"
"Show us! We have to see it with our own eyes to believe it!"
Daoist Heo Won's hand tightened on the demonic sword's hilt.
The murmurs from the spectators grew louder by the moment.
Daoist Heo Won's gaze darted toward Daoist Heo Jong.
'DON'T HESITATE! DRAW IT NOW!'
Unnecessary hesitation only breeds suspicion and distrust.
They had already confirmed everything.
'It's all a bluff!'
Daoist Heo Won gripped the hilt firmly.
Shiiiing!
He raised the sword confidently and shouted.
"Behold, this demonic e...vil...?"
Dazzling sword light danced along the elegant blade, blinding his vision.
In an instant, the surrounding noise died down, and Daoist Heo Won's mouth fell open.
"T-this can't be...?"
The sharp blue edge emanating from the blade spread across the arena.
What was going on?
This?
A demonic sword was supposed to be here?
Daoist Heo Won rolled his eyes toward the spectator stands.
The mouths of the entranced onlookers slowly gaped wider.
"It's a divine sword!"
"Crazy! Look at that edge! Gasp!"
"What the hell kind of sword is that?!"
"Wooow! Insane."
"It's not a demonic sword—it's a divine sword! Divine sword!"
Daoist Heo Won's bewildered eyes shook, lost for direction.
This was completely unexpected.
At that moment, as he panicked...
The Radiant Dragon crew in the crowd clenched their fists.
'What the hell just happened?'
'Did Radiant Dragon pull some trick?'
'Of course! There's no way he only dug one pit!'
Paeng Jung-hyuk bellowed.
"The Wudang Sect—explain yourselves!"
"It's a divine sword! Divine sword!"
"It's a holy sword!"
Dang Myeong-jin and So Geolgae screamed at the top of their lungs.
Those bastards?!
Chaos erupted even among the elders.
"Elder Heo Won! What in the world is this?!"
"What a humiliation!"
"A divine sword called a demonic one? Demonic sword! Demonic sword! DEMONIC SWORD!"
"What nonsense? Look—it's a demonic sword right there! DEMONIC SWORD!"
The elders' eyes nearly popped out.
Daoist Heo Won, already flustered, plunged into further confusion.
What the hell were they saying?
Divine sword, demonic sword!
This damned... what the...
Fwoooosh!
Suddenly, a torrent of sharp blue energy burst from the sword in his hand.
Stream after stream...
Like a snake's flickering tongue, a coiled serpent, or writhing flames—dark red-black aura rose along the demonic sword.
It blazed.
Ceaselessly.
It swelled uncontrollably.
Daoist Heo Won's eyes bulged impossibly wide, swelling and shaking.
In a split second, his mind went blank.
"Infinite Mercy! What is this?!"
Whoooosh!
Daoist Heo Won shook the demonic sword in horror.
Fwoooosh!
Fwooooosh!
The demonic energy extending from the sword through his hand rampaged wildly.
The spectators gathered on three sides recoiled as the energy surged beyond the arena into the stands.
"It's demonic energy!"
"It's a demonic sword!"
"Egg money! It's a demonic sword!"
"Gasp!"
Amid the fleeing crowd, the Radiant Dragon crew's jaws dropped.
So Geolgae jumped up.
"Why the hell is it so calm now?!"
"Wasn't it purified or something?"
"You sons of bitches... I thought he'd switched it, but he really threw a genuine demonic sword? That's our Radiant Dragon for you!"
Dang Myeong-jin and Paeng Jung-hyuk chimed in.
"We're screwed, totally screwed. Damn it, the alliance is done for—extermination! Extermination... Fuck, extermination. Sniff, sniiiif! One wrong step and we'll be public enemies, dying as such. Sniff!"
Tears welled up in Hwang Bo-chung's big eyes.
"Elders! I'm innocent! All the blame is...!"
"Shut your trap, you ox worm bastard! You're driving me nuts!"
Bam!
"Ugh!"
Paeng Yeon-hwa's slap sent Hwang Bo-chung sprawling face-first into the ground.
Ignoring the fallen Hwang Bo-chung, the Radiant Dragon crew stared at the arena's center.
The demonic sword in Daoist Heo Won's hand thrashed madly, scattering demonic energy.
The elders in the high seats rose with twitching hips, and Jeok In-wi instantly pressed a sword to Namgung Hyuk's neck.
Seeing this, Namgung Ryong tightened his grip on his sword.
"I'm begging you. My brother."
"Namgung! Hold on! If you start a commotion now, it really will be unstoppable!"
"My brother!"
"Not yet! Not yet! Nothing's happened yet!"
Even as Paeng Jung-hyuk spoke, his face paled white.
No, what now?!
'Is this really okay?!'
His gaze remained fixed on the utterly nonchalant Namgung Hyuk.
Daoist Heo Won circulated his Taiji Divine Art to suppress the erupting demonic energy.
Crackle! Crackle!
"Hup!"
What vicious demonic energy!
Even with the Wudang Sect's inner art—at the pinnacle of Daoist cultivation—he could barely hold it back.
And his own cultivation was no trifling matter!
Daoist Heo Won bared his teeth at the bulging veins on the back of his hand.
"You worm! Even after this, you deny it's a demonic sword?! What atrocities have you committed with this thing, and where did you get it from?! You've plotted to plunge the world into chaos!"
Namgung Hyuk scratched his ear.
"Who said it wasn't a demonic sword?"
"What?! Are you playing word games with me now?!"
"I did say it. A sword's a sword. It's the person wielding it that matters, and if you're overcome by demonic energy, that's just a lack of cultivation."
"You fiend!"
Boom!
Ssssssh!
The demonic energy surging from the sword gouged into the arena floor.
Jeok In-wi nearby recoiled in shock at the terrifying cutting power.
Daoist Heo Won slammed the demonic sword into the ground with bloodshot eyes.
Rumble! Rumbllllle!
His pupils spasmed as the ground shook like it might flip over.
"Wielding such a demonic sword! What did you plan to do?!"
"Hey, I told you—it's just a hunk of metal."
"Silence! I could declare you a public enemy right now...!"
"You think public enemy status is that easy? You word-spewing bastard... Ah, slipped out. Anyway, you think one old man's word means 'Oh no, great demon lord appeared! Let's beat him down!'?"
"You think we won't?"
"And you're misunderstanding something..."
Namgung Hyuk shrugged and stepped forward.
The demonic energy piercing the ground kept even Jeok In-wi at bay, and Daoist Heo Won could only barely withstand the vortex.
Daoist Heo Won's cheeks quivered.
"You fiend! Don't come closer—I said don't come closer!"
Namgung Hyuk chuckled.
"I'm trying to help."
"What?"
"How's a guy who can't even hold one sword going to handle the hassle? Tsk tsk, that's why I was worried and didn't show it."
In an instant, Namgung Hyuk turned the Wudang elder into a frail old man and seized the demonic sword from his grasp.
Then, he pulled.
"Hup!"
Schluck!
The sword slid out like it was being plucked from dough.
Daoist Heo Won, startled by the bursting demonic energy, swung a palm strike at Namgung Hyuk.
"You fiend..."
Schluuuuck!
The demonic energy, whipping wildly like hair loosened in water, sucked back into the blade like it was fleeing.
Namgung Hyuk lightly took the sword from Daoist Heo Won's hand and grinned.
Zing! Ziiing!
The sword trembled, then spewed forth its sharp blue edge again—but its aura was utterly different from the demonic frenzy moments before.
"...W-where'd the demonic energy go?"
"I-it disappeared?"
"No demonic energy? None, gone."
"It was there, now gone!"
"It's gone!"
The spectators' mouths gaped wide.
What kind of sorcery was this?
A demonic sword turning divine?
What insane sword was this?!
Even the world's renowned masters trembled at the bizarre, unprecedented sight.
Namgung Hyuk channeled his Celestial Bright King Art to its peak.
'Damn it, behave, behave! Before I melt you down in a furnace!'
Quit your bullshit tantrum—you trying to die?!
While his killing intent toward the sword burned, Namgung Hyuk's inner energy was pure—purer than pure.
He smiled faintly.
At the same time, his voice boomed across the arena.
"Everyone shocked, right? Me too. I never dreamed a Righteous Heaven Alliance elder couldn't handle one sword!"
Daoist Heo Won's eyes nearly popped out, then shook violently.
That scoundrel, how dare he...
Namgung Hyuk grinned, unperturbed.
"You said earlier? The Righteous Heaven Alliance stops the chaos and bloodshed in the martial world."
"T-that..."
"I was doing what even a Wudang elder couldn't, so shouldn't I be praised? Look— is this a demonic sword? Huh? Just a hunk of metal!"
Namgung Hyuk hoisted the demonic sword high and shook it vigorously.
A flash of sword light accompanied a burst of pure energy.
Daoist Heo Won's face stiffened, then paled.
How? It couldn't be.
That vivid demonic energy vanishing without a trace!
Namgung Hyuk spoke.
"A sword is just a sword. Holding a demonic sword doesn't make you evil, and wielding a divine one doesn't make a villain good."
"..."
"It's all about how and where you use it. A kitchen knife becomes a famed sword in a swordmaster's hands, and a famed sword left in the kitchen turns into a cleaver. Am I a villain? Huh? Eyes rolling? Huh, rol—ah, they are. Anyway!"
Namgung Hyuk stared straight at Daoist Heo Won with eyes flowing clear pure light.
Then he emphasized.
"I'm keeping this sword safe so it doesn't fall into a villain's hands. And I'd like to know where it came from too?"
"Don't spout nonsense! Just because you intend that doesn't make it not a demonic sword! A blade that summons rivers of blood..."
"I've crushed dozens of evil sect bastards with this demonic sword, though?"
As Namgung Hyuk's voice thundered, Daoist Heo Won's expression grew urgent.
The mood was turning strange.
Oddly, everyone was starting to be convinced by Namgung Hyuk's words.
Demonic sword—demonic sword!
Just possessing it could brand you a criminal!
"How dare you play word games here! This is the Righteous Heaven Alliance—no one will side with your delusions."
He glanced at the Nine Great Sects elders.
"Hah! Isn't it ridiculous? Will you keep listening to that fool's drivel? He's a man tainted by demonic energy from wielding a demonic sword! We must list him as a public enemy and seize the blade at once!"
"..."
"Surely you're not swayed by such nonsense?"
The Nine Great Sects had already made up their minds—they wouldn't side with that...
"Hahaha! Exactly right! A hunk of metal is just a hunk of metal, isn't it?"
...What?
Right?
Agreeing?
Who was this fish-mouthed fool...
What?
Amid flashing brilliance, a Shaolin monk in tattered robes stepped into the arena.
An elderly monk with a plump face and kindly smile.
It was Hye-gwang, elder of Shaolin among the Nine Great Sects.
Hye-gwang chuckled.
"That young one has true insight! Hahaha!"
Why the hell was this crazy monk popping up here?!
Daoist Heo Won's bewilderment deepened.