One Sword
With a single sword strike, the Blood Sect warriors who had lunged at Ju Geum-ye were reduced to minced meat. There was no time for regeneration or any such nonsense. Perhaps because she had infused it with such overwhelming inner energy, the sword couldn't withstand her power and shattered into pieces. The hilt snapped with a sharp crack, crumbling completely. That was proof of just how formidable the inner energy behind that blow had been.
"P-Pa-hwang Heavenly Flow Blade..."
A gasp of astonishment escaped Jin Yeong-ban's lips.
People said the imperial palace had no unique martial arts of its own, but that wasn't true. It was just that the experts residing there never ventured into the jianghu, so their exclusive techniques were dismissed as nonexistent. In reality, the palace housed ten arts classified among the Ten Supreme Techniques, and the Pa-hwang Heavenly Flow Blade that Ju Geum-ye had just unleashed was one of the three known as the palace's Three Absolutes.
"It couldn't hold up after all."
Turning her gaze from what had once been a sword but was now scattered powder, Ju Geum-ye extended crimson inner energy from both hands, flowing like flames. The Blood Sect warriors flinched at the aura emanating from her and began to back away slowly.
"This is ridiculous."
"Did you really come to take the life of the imperial family's crimson daughter without any preparation?"
Ju Geum-ye's voice was ice-cold.
"Even harboring killing intent toward imperial blood is enough to brand you traitors with no defense. And since you've attempted assassination, your fate with the Blood Sect is sealed."
It had been decided over twenty years ago already. Emperor Myeongjeong had merely held it in abeyance due to the pleas of his ministers. And no one knew that disposition better than Ju Geum-ye herself.
"So, die quietly."
Her twin palms, brimming with destructive sword aura, whipped up a terrifying heat as they swept forward.
Leaving the rear to So Seon-ha, Namgung Som-in protected Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a while slashing through the charging Blood Sect warriors and pressing forward. It felt like they were surrounded on all sides. The Blood Sect warriors in their blood-red uniforms charged without fear of death. They could be cut down endlessly since regeneration wasn't an issue for them.
There's no end to them...
Namgung Som-in was a powerful warrior, but this war of attrition wasn't favorable. Protecting Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a on top of that would eventually corner her. So Ssaang-a and Baek Su-gyeong, following behind her, knew it too.
"What in the world is..."
Baek Su-gyeong stared in stunned disbelief at the martial arena, which had turned into a cauldron of chaos in an instant. Blood Sect? The Blood Sect had slithered all the way to Luoyang? He even heard warriors calling his name here and there, numbing his mind and draining the strength from his body. Forcing himself to steel his nerves and grit his teeth, he watched as Namgung Som-in stepped in front of him.
How did it come to this?
Was this the ripple effect of a single novel? It felt utterly insane, but since it was the murim, maybe it made sense—he hated himself for trying to rationalize it. There was no normalcy in this world. That was why he'd always avoided getting entangled with the murim as much as possible.
As he swallowed a bursting sigh, Namgung Som-in's voice reached his ear.
"Young Leader So, Teacher, stay right behind me."
"Namgung So-jeo."
At Baek Su-gyeong's call, Namgung Som-in flashed a slight smile. But it was fleeting. The eerie aura pouring from the Blood Sect warriors advancing on her sent chills racing across Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a's skin. It was demonic energy—deathly energy that stimulated the survival instincts deep within. Commonly called demonic qi, it emanated from orthodox demonic arts, stirring primal fears.
Naturally, Baek Su-gyeong's face paled.
"Two women. That's the Jade Sword Flower."
"They said she travels with the Jade Sword Flower. Then that's the guy!"
"Ignore the imperial princess! Capturing that scholar alive fulfills the order!"
"Damn it, that bitch has us hurting all over!"
"Cut off some limbs to use!"
"Kahaha, that works too!"
It wasn't just anyone—it was an order from the Demonic Cult's luminaries. Leading a subunit of the Mad Blood Corps meant they had a target, and they'd singled out Baek Su-gyeong. The imperial princess could be sidelined.
"Women don't matter! Keep that guy alive!"
"Coordinate attack!"
The Blood Sect warriors knew no shame. As they circulated the Blood Nether Demonic Spirit Art, their hair swayed like red silk, and viscous sword energy like blood oozed from their blade tips. Seeing it, Namgung Som-in tightened her grip on her beloved sword.
Shing.
Her sword sliced through the air with a clear ring, ending in a chilling whine that pierced the heart. The tip pointed at the ground. The sword energy of the shattered Blood Sect warriors scattered like fragments along its trajectory.
"Not a single hair of Teacher will you take."
"Namgung So-jeo?"
Ignoring Baek Su-gyeong's call, sensing something off in her words, the Blood Sect warriors charged. Knowing her movements were restricted while protecting him, they unleashed a ferocious demonic qi from their bodies. Viscous sword energy like blood splattered the air in droplets. The Blood Sect's signature Blood Drop Sword Technique spread like water droplets, casting a crimson net.
A net of blood summoning death unfurled.
It wasn't just one or two. Over ten crimson nets blanketed the sky. As Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a gasped in shock behind her, a massive shockwave erupted centered on Namgung Som-in. Golden sword energy surged from her sword, infused with the Heavenly Thunder Emperor King Divine Art.
Her feet shifted in alternation as she spun her body, her sword tip dancing like a musician's fingers on a geomungo. Amid the golden twilight fluttering like a banner, her eyes gleamed coldly like a beast's burning through the night.
"This is...?"
Beautiful golden sword energy embroidered the air like stars in the night sky. A golden cross star effortlessly tore through the Blood Tribulation Net. The sword intent of the Blood Drop Sword Technique shredded apart with absurd ease, scattering and tousling Namgung Som-in's hair.
To protect Baek Su-gyeong and So Ssaang-a. She neither advanced nor retreated, and the torn net's sword energy swirled around her sword tip like a bloody gale.
"...!"
Beautiful sword energy, Baek Su-gyeong thought.
"Don't just stand there gawking! Attack!"
"You think you can fight protecting a powerless human alone? Big mistake, Jade Sword Flower!"
Namgung Som-in smiled at the Blood Sect warriors' taunts. Even if the Blood Sect were remnants of the old murim, not all could be veterans—even the low ranks. The survivors from back then would have risen higher, leaving only a handful at the bottom. New recruits or abductees trained as Blood Sect forces were something she could handle alone.
"Alone?"
Her smile deepened.
"And what if I am?"
Namgung Som-in stomped lightly. Shockwaves rippled outward like waves from her center. The energy brushed past the Blood Sect warriors like wind, then seized their napes like a giant's hand.
The warriors felt their bodies slow momentarily, and in that instant, they saw Namgung Som-in raising her sword. Slowly, languidly, the tip rose toward the sky, then leveled horizontally. Even though her sword tip moved leisurely into view, they couldn't tear their eyes away. Like iron filings drawn to a magnet, countless gazes locked onto it.
The sword tip, slicing air leisurely, vanished amid the stares in a flash.
Piiing—
Like an arrow loosed from a bow piercing the air, the sharp whistle was followed by the belated scream of rending atmosphere.
"Kaaak!"
"Kuhuk."
"Wh-what happened..."
Groans erupted from the Blood Sect warriors charging straight at Namgung Som-in, splattering the arena with blood. No one understood what had occurred—not even the attackers or the onlookers watching her sword. Seeing smoke rising from their fallen comrades' chests, the warriors finally uttered a delayed groan.
"Em-Emperor King Sword Form..."
"The Emperor King's Three Absolutes!"
Namgung family's supreme absolute art. Paired with the Emperor King Steps and Heavenly Thunder Emperor King Divine Art, it consists of only three stances and three forms, also called the Emperor King's Three Swords. Known as the Namgung family's strongest techniques: the Emperor King's Three Absolutes.
The Namgung family's supreme sword. They had witnessed a mere glimpse of it.
"Impossible...!"
"As expected of the Heaven-Piercing Sword King's daughter!"
"How can she have mastered the Emperor King Sword Form at that age!!"
The Blood Sect warriors' shocked cries even stirred the warriors of Zhangzhong, but Namgung Som-in herself raised her sword as if it meant nothing.
"Next."
Her voice dropped coldly.