Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: What Was Lost (2)
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Chungkyung Jo Clan's second son, Jo Yang-chu, was in a good mood.
It was only natural.
He had come to Sacheon alongside friendly comrades from the Murim Alliance.
"Hahaha!! Can you all see it? This is Sacheon!!"
Unlike the Dragon Corps members, he had visited Sacheon several times before.
He volunteered to guide them in his characteristically jovial tone.
"Haven't we already been in Sacheon for a while?"
The strongest member of the Dragon Corps—and the young lord of the Nangong Clan, known as the Sword Dragon, Nangong Seon-jae—muttered with a sour expression.
Ever since entering Sacheon, Jo Yang-chu had been overly excited.
"Haha! My friend! Isn't it because you're so stoic that I'm chattering away like this!!"
Nangong Seon-jae unwittingly frowned.
He preferred quiet, making him and Jo Yang-chu polar opposites.
"Wow!! It looks so nice!!"
Moyong Hwa-ryeon of the Moyong Clan, whose main house was in Yunnan, chattered happily as well.
Jo Yang-chu, who got along splendidly with her, grinned.
"Haha! Lady Moyong has a good eye!! Now! Over there..."
"Sword Dragon. You alright?"
So Gyeok, the captain of the Dragon Corps and the oldest member, a Taoist from Mount Hua Sect, smiled wryly.
Nangong Seon-jae's expression was growing worse by the minute.
"I'm fine."
"If it's too much, just say the word. I'll rein him in."
Nangong Seon-jae shook his head.
Though those two were especially boisterous, the others seemed fairly enjoying themselves too.
"This mission is to verify whether the Black Alliance is truly advancing into Sacheon."
"Right."
"If we wrap it up as quickly as possible, how long do you think it'll take?"
"Hm. I plan to pay respects at Emei Sect first, then gather intel here."
No telling how long it would take.
Nangong Seon-jae let out a small sigh at So Gyeok's words.
"Haha! Everyone!! Look! That's Mount Emei right there!!"
At Jo Yang-chu's shout, Nangong Seon-jae looked up.
He was right.
A magnificent mountain loomed before them.
'Once we enter Emei Sect, things should quiet down.'
He might even get to witness Emei swordsmanship if he was lucky.
A flicker of anticipation stirred in him.
"There are a lot of people around."
So Gyeok scanned their surroundings.
Being a Buddhist holy site, many had come to pay respects.
"Everyone, stay sharp."
He knew martial artists were objects of fear to common folk.
The Dragon Corps members flashed bitter smiles at his warning not to cause trouble.
"We go up this way, right?"
"That's right! Now then..."
Jo Yang-chu, who had been guiding them with buoyant enthusiasm, suddenly stopped.
Moyong Hwa-ryeon looked at him puzzled.
In the meantime, Jo Yang-chu excused himself and dashed to one side.
'What's that about?'
Nangong Seon-jae peered over.
A young man who looked far younger than him was approaching the spot Jo Yang-chu was heading to.
'...My word.'
He could tell just from a glance.
A master.
Or was he?
'The aura he's emanating is barely first-rate...'
But the presence was different.
'Like a finely forged sword.'
He was merely walking casually.
Yet it was impossible to fathom how to attack him.
Nangong Seon-jae clenched his fist tightly.
'The world is vast indeed.'
He was hailed as the greatest among the later generation talents.
Even he found this man difficult to handle.
"What's up?"
"Someone he knows?"
All the Dragon Corps members turned to watch Jo Yang-chu.
Receiving their gazes as he approached, the man looked delighted.
"Could you be the young clan head of Sacheon Tang Clan?! Young Master Tang?!"
"You know me?"
"Haha, of course. Who wouldn't know the great young lord of the Tang Clan, given your recent feats?"
-Must be nice to be famous.
'Not really.'
"Ah, apologies for the late introduction. I'm Jo Yang-chu of the Chungkyung Jo Clan."
"Dang Yu-wol of the Tang Clan."
-Know him?
'Heard the name. Back when the Blood Cult ravaged Sacheon and pushed forward, he risked his life to protect thousands of refugees.'
-Oh ho. Sounds like a decent fellow.
"We're climbing Mount Emei with the Murim Alliance Dragon Corps right now."
"Is that so?"
"If you'd like, why not join us?"
Just then, his companions approached.
They looked older than the exceptional youths he'd glimpsed earlier.
But to Dang Yu-wol, they were merely indifferent strangers.
-What'll you do? Vengeful spirit who's lived decades?
'Hm. Better to decline.'
"...Forgive my rudeness on our first meeting, but did you truly defeat Cheongsung's First Sword?"
"Who are you?"
"Pardon the delay. Nangong Seon-jae of the Nangong Clan."
Dang Yu-wol returned his courteous greeting in kind.
"Dang Yu-wol of the Tang Clan. And to your earlier question, yes."
"I heard your martial prowess is only at first-rate. How did you overcome superhuman experts?"
"Martial level doesn't decide victory."
"Are you speaking of real combat experience?"
"Exactly."
"...Impressive. If it wouldn't offend, might I witness your skills?"
Interest gleamed in Nangong Seon-jae's eyes.
How could any martial artist not be curious?
Rude or not, he yearned to clash swords once.
"Here?"
"Yes."
-What say you?
'Never seen Nangong Clan techniques before.'
Before the Blood Cult destroyed the Nangong Clan, Dang Yu-wol had already crushed the cult.
Thus, he'd never acquired their arts to study.
'They say when the Blood Cult seized half the world, the Nangong Clan fought most fiercely alongside the imperial court.'
-Then no reason to refuse.
"Let's begin."
As Dang Yu-wol gripped his dagger, a smile curved Nangong Seon-jae's lips.
He could tell just from the stance.
'This is talent.'
Taoists and monks called martial arts "wuhak"—scholarship of arms.
For martial arts were a form of study.
But to others, it was simply superlative murder craft.
'In that regard, he possesses innate genius.'
He swallowed dryly amid the tension.
'He could kill the man before him without hesitation.'
In the martial world, such people were called heaven's slayers.
Most devolved into bloodthirsty maniacs.
'But not him.'
He perfectly controlled his killing intent.
What would his martial arts look like?
Nangong Seon-jae gritted his teeth and swung his sword.
"Infinite Sky Sword Art, Third Stance. Heaven-Piercing Net!!"
Sword qi exploded from the blade, weaving dozens of sword threads into a net that flew forth.
As the sword net closed in, Dang Yu-wol slowly lowered his dagger.
"My word..."
Green, exquisite sword qi severed the net.
In a single strike.
His sword qi was that refined and sturdy.
"Take this."
The instant the net shattered, light shot from Dang Yu-wol's hand.
Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart.
The sharp secret dart targeted Nangong Seon-jae's shoulder.
-Chaeng!!
Nangong Seon-jae deflected it with Infinite Sky Sword Art and bared his teeth.
Good.
This opponent deserved his all.
Vast energy surged from Nangong Seon-jae.
-Keep going?
'No.'
Dang Yu-wol lowered his dagger.
Seeing this, puzzlement mixed into Nangong Seon-jae's expression.
"What's wrong?"
"I could continue, but I came to Emei Sect on business."
"Same here."
Dang Yu-wol chuckled.
Nangong Seon-jae realized the reason for the laugh.
"Ah..."
This was right in front of Emei Sect.
Exchanging a single move could pass as martial courtesy.
But an open spar?
"If you wish to tarnish Emei Sect's face, I'll oblige."
"...I nearly made a grave mistake. Thank you for the lesson."
"No trouble."
Dang Yu-wol had wanted this too, after all.
-How was it?
Dang Yu-wol would've gauged him from that single exchange.
To Ye-ui's question, he smiled faintly.
'Got the gist. But I want to see more.'
Sending him off like this felt regrettable.
Besides, he was from the Nangong Clan.
Befriending him would aid against the Blood Cult.
"Come to the Tang Clan. We'll have a proper bout."
Nangong Seon-jae didn't refuse the offer.
Of course not.
He'd met a peer worthy of igniting his competitive spirit for the first time.
"Naturally."
No reason to decline.
Nangong Seon-jae gladly accepted.
At that, So Gyeok of Mount Hua, leading the Dragon Corps, sighed.
'Going to the Tang Clan isn't the mission...'
Given the opponent, even Emei Sect couldn't treat Dang Yu-wol lightly.
Thus, it was none other than Emei Sect's sect leader, Hye-won, who received him.
"It's an honor to meet you."
"I never imagined the hottest figure in Sacheon right now, Benefactor Tang, would grace us in person."
"How could I send just anyone to pay respects to Emei Sect?"
"True enough."
She offered a warm smile and a cup of hot tea before Dang Yu-wol.
"Toppling the Sacheon Merchant Alliance must have left few survivors. You've stained your hands with much blood."
"Life happens."
"Namu Amida Butsu. Excessive killing intent rebounds upon oneself."
"Thank you for the teaching."
He responded leisurely, showing no intent to heed it.
Hye-won sighed.
"So? What brings you all this way?"
Curiosity was inevitable.
"Perhaps like with Cheongsung, you seek an alliance with Emei too?"
"That would be nice, but not right now."
"Then why?"
"I want an item Emei keeps."
"Item?"
"The Blood Ring Sword, obtained after slaying the Blood Ring Demon in the past. I seek that."
Blood Ring Sword.
A demonic blade that drove its wielder mad with bloodlust.
She gazed at Dang Yu-wol, who desired it, with narrowed eyes.
'I expected something outrageous, but not this...'
Hye-won looked into his eyes.
He seemed nothing but a slayer.
'Yet... Benefactor Tang saved countless by dismantling the Sacheon Merchant Alliance.'
A slayer saving people?
Incomprehensible.
Thus, she couldn't judge Dang Yu-wol rashly.
"Of course, I'm not asking for it for free."
"No..."
"I'll give it."
"...For what?"
"What Emei Sect lost."