60. Demon Yin Blood Shadow – The Fierce Spar
The Demon Yin Blood Shadow spar was intense. The Yongmun branch tournament was yet another stage for proving one's worth. Moreover, those who won at this Yongmun branch would be awarded the title of Dragon Phoenix. The thirteen late-generation experts known as the Thirteen Asuras of the current murim lacked names of divine beasts like dragons or phoenixes before their epithets. Baek Su-gyeong found that peculiar. For them to vie for the top spot among the late-generation experts without bearing the names of divine dragons or phoenixes? It was a strange tale indeed. At least, any reader familiar with Korean wuxia would have felt that way.
"As expected of the Peng family!"
"Powerful but simple."
"So domineering!"
A heavy roar echoed as fragments of the shattered sparring platform scattered into the air. It was a strike so forceful it bordered on excessive. Even though it wasn't the Peng family's signature heavy saber but a swift straight sword executing saber arts, each blow carried a profound weightiness. "Grand and heavy" didn't quite capture it. As one of the Eight Great Clans that established its name with the sole saber art among the righteous sects, the Peng family's saber arts transcended mere grandeur to display destructive power worthy of being called domineering.
Boom!
Another plunging strike shattered more platform debris, sending it flying in all directions.
"But he's not landing a single hit!"
"As expected of the Namgung family!"
Amid the flying wood splinters, a blurry afterimage lingered and faded. Without laboriously blocking the upturned saber slicing through the platform floor, she evaded with a single step. Proof that her foe had read his trajectory. No matter how they criticized the Peng family's saber arts as simple, at their core, they were domineering sabers that overwhelmed enemies with footwork and momentum, crushing them utterly. Seeing Namgung Som-in lightly shrug off the pressure of his unleashed aura and retreat, the Peng family warrior bit his lip.
'Even if my attainment in Tiger Lord Step is lacking... Could she really be completely unaffected?!'
Tiger Lord Step was the pinnacle of the Peng family's footwork. More precisely, it was a footwork specialized in binding and pressuring foes with sheer presence, much like the legendary supreme demonic footwork Demon Sovereign Step from the old murim era, which remained unforgotten and oft-discussed even now. Of course, Demon Sovereign Step was said to go further, utterly subjugating the opponent—but that was merely a legend of the ancient murim. Even so, for her to so easily dispel the pressure of Tiger Lord Step.
"Haat!"
His charging steps instantly closed the gap in a flash via Tiger Leap Gorge. Sword aura vividly bloomed from his raised straight saber. The rainbow-like shimmering saber aura transformed into a storm, swirling to pressure Namgung Som-in. Following Flowing Water Saber came Ferocious Wind Saber. The saber aura, which had been stabbing the air like scattered droplets, suddenly shifted form and swept across the platform like a gale. A linked saber technique transitioning from Ferocious Wind Saber to Flowing Water Saber form—the chain of Ferocious Flowing Water Saber.
"Swirling Ferocious Saber Wheel!"
Slashes tore the air to shreds, pouring down toward Namgung Som-in. She gripped her lowered sword properly and narrowed her eyes. Heavenly Thunder Sovereign Divine Art coursed through her body. The internal energy surging through her surged into the sword, sprouting golden sword aura like leaves budding on a tree in spring.
A strike falling straight from above to below—utterly simple. The moment the Peng warrior saw it, an inexplicable sense of wrongness overwhelmed him.
"What...?"
With belated shock, the saber momentum of Swirling Ferocious Saber Wheel shattered like glass, scattering everywhere. Whoooosh.
The saber aura of Swirling Ferocious Saber Wheel, caught in the sharp wind rising around Namgung Som-in, flew off in all directions. Her sword still pointed downward. With eyes arrogantly calm—serene to the point of seeming haughty—she regarded the Peng warrior.
"Is that all?"
At her words, his molars ground together as if they might shatter.
Grind.
"Namgung family...! I've heard you're arrogant, but you're beyond the rumors!"
"Who knows. Rather than wasting energy swinging a saber that can't reach, wouldn't forfeiting preserve your strength better?"
Namgung Som-in and the Peng warrior's gazes clashed. This was a battle of pride. The showdown between the Namgung family, long reigning as the leader among the Eight Great Clans, and the North Peng family, the only one to make its name with saber arts. Saber versus sword. They had no choice but to see each other as rivals. After all, they wielded the weapons held by the most people under heaven.
"Haat!"
Internal energy raced through his body like a fierce tiger leaping, his two hands gripping the saber dancing as if racing across gold. Arms and wrists moving independently in bizarrely swift slashes. Blurry, terrifying speed tore the air as rapid saber strikes poured down on Namgung Som-in like a storm. One of the Peng family's secret swift saber arts, Mist Flow Saber.
Namgung Som-in evaded the saber strikes flaying toward her like flowing water with fluid footwork, her golden eyes gleaming with sharp light. Thud. A heavy true step pressed down on the platform. The sovereign's dignity emanating from Heavenly Thunder Sovereign Divine Art. Sovereign King Step.
"Urk?!"
The saber aura of Mist Flow Saber was swept away in an instant, as if washed clean. Realizing it had been utterly crushed by the sharp waves of Sovereign King Step, the Peng warrior flipped his body hastily and swung his saber again. Light steps followed by heavy slashes. True to a clan famed for saber arts, the transitions were swift. Switching from swift saber to heavy saber when his intent to pin her failed was praiseworthy.
However.
His opponent was Namgung Som-in.
'The transitions are quick, but...'
The Peng family's saber arts weren't meant to fight by endlessly shifting forms like that. The swift saber lacked sharpness, and the heavy saber seemed weighty but was hollow inside. They fixated on the superficial form of martial arts without delving into their profound principles. His shallow enlightenment was plain to see, like something skimmed over. Lacking the fundamentals of a true warrior—his foundation was weak.
Namgung Som-in's gaze naturally chilled.
'No basics. The Peng family can't be this level.'
For scions of the famed house—the only among the Eight Great Clans to shine with saber arts—to be this mediocre. Erasing her discomfort, Namgung Som-in swung her sword. Sword edge clashed with saber tip, exploding with a sound like shattering glass that rang out everywhere. Lightly parrying the Peng warrior's saber, she planted her true step.
This time, it wasn't just a step. Heavenly Thunder Sovereign Divine Art surged, propelling Sovereign King Step forward. A projected energy shot forth, effortlessly tearing through the heavy saber momentum hurtling toward her.
"Ah...!"
His downward saber was deflected by the projected energy. Seeing his saber momentum weaken sharply and his form falter, Namgung Som-in's eyes narrowed.
"Your foundation is lacking."
Being a woman wasn't an excuse. Martial arts cultivation offset a woman's inherent weaknesses to some degree, so it couldn't serve as a pretext. Women are weak? Perhaps for the untrained, but once trained, that gap closes. Thus, the sight before her simply meant insufficient training. The typical state of those coasting on their famed family name.
'Disappointing.'
Those she'd seen in Wudang Sword Hero weren't like this. They were strong. And tenacious. Man or woman, they ceaselessly made her ponder the true essence of martial prowess. What was true martial arts? At least, she was certain the Peng warrior before her was far from its pinnacle.
Namgung Som-in stepped forward with Sovereign King Step again. Heavy sharp waves arose, whipping the air like a lash toward the Peng warrior.
"Kuh...!"
He hurriedly swung his saber to dispel the waves of Sovereign King Step, but only briefly. As she advanced with Sovereign King Step, her single sword strike fell like a guillotine on his saber.
Boom!
A strike so powerful the platform caved in.
"Ooooh!"
"That's the Namgung family's power sword!"
As the crowd acclaimed, the Namgung family's sword was indeed the power sword. Of course, they had swift and heavy swords too, but their mainstream was unmistakably power sword. If Soaring Palace Unfettered Sword blended swift and soft swords, then the Namgung family's sword arts, buoyed by Sovereign King Step, took unyielding might as their core—not inferior to the North Peng family's domineering sabers, dubbed hegemonic.
If domineering sabers bound and crushed foes with momentum, power swords simply crushed through any defense.
"Kuh!"
His stance crumbling as he staggered. Barely blocking her sword strike, he kicked to push her away and reset his form with footwork. But creating distance was futile. Having seized the initiative, Namgung Som-in had no intention of letting go.
In an instant, she caught up, her stance dropping low to the ground. Simultaneously, condensed internal energy raced along her arm, golden lightning surging upward against the heavens. A golden sword gleam rising as if defying the sky. The Peng warrior narrowly dodged and retreated to reset, but.
It was a feint.
"You let your guard down."
When had she circled behind? Her sword now rested on his shoulder.
"H-How...?"
"Even when resetting your guard, you shouldn't take your eyes off your opponent."
Yielding the shoulder meant defeat in sparring. In the jianghu, in a life-or-death duel, it would have cost his life. The Peng warrior bowed his head.
"...I lose."
"Winner, Jade Sword Flower Namgung Som-in!!"
A thunderous shout proclaimed Namgung Som-in's victory, met with roaring cheers.
"Namgung! Namgung! Namgung!"
"The Peng family fought well too!"
"So strong! This is the Namgung family!"
"The jianghu's future is bright!"
Leaving the crowd's adulation behind, Namgung Som-in descended the platform.
Despite the fairly intense spar, not a drop of sweat beaded on Namgung Som-in's face. The gap with her opponent had been so vast there was no need, so it was only natural. Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a greeted her as she came down.
Seeing Baek Su-gyeong, Namgung Som-in's cheeks flushed slightly.
"T-Teacher."
"I watched the spar well, Namgung Sojeo."
"It was nothing... I hope it didn't offend your eyes, Teacher."
"Splendid."
Unable to hide her bashfulness at Baek Su-gyeong's praise, she smiled shyly. He chuckled at the sight.
"A delightful spar for the eyes."
Unlike at the Murim Alliance, the spar had proceeded at a leisurely pace, so Baek Su-gyeong had no trouble spectating. Perhaps his eyes had opened a bit from the Murim Alliance experience.
Baek Su-gyeong said, "The Namgung family's power sword and the North Peng family's domineering saber are similar yet different. It's fortunate I could witness that subtle distinction firsthand."
"Did it inspire your writing?"
At Namgung Som-in's question, Baek Su-gyeong nodded.
"Of course."
"Then I'm glad."
"You were amazing, Namgung Sojeo."
"Thank you, So Danju-nim."
Namgung Som-in and So Ssaang-a exchanged smiles in conversation. Baek Su-gyeong folded the notebook where he'd lightly jotted notes on the Peng and Namgung families' martial characteristics during the spar and tucked it away.
"We should go watch Gal Sojeo's spar."
"I'll accompany you, Teacher."
Namgung Som-in naturally fell in step beside the departing Baek Su-gyeong.