#49 Clash with Yang Yongjun
The duel between Yang Yongjun and Nam Gyuil had begun. Their wooden swords clashed.
Up until now, Public Guild had easily overpowered their opponents, but not this time. Yang Yongjun was a Sword Aura user. Unlike the others, his swordsmanship was systematic—textbook perfect. There were no openings, and he didn't attack recklessly.
But Nam Gyuil was the same. Their skills seemed evenly matched. Neither had unleashed Sword Aura yet, so the fight dragged on.
Nam Gyuil observed Yang Yongjun's footwork. Not anything flashy, but solid basics for a Sword Aura user.
A formidable opponent indeed. But not unbeatable.
Nam Gyuil revealed his true prowess. He hadn't fully mastered Yang's Heart Method yet, so he couldn't deploy a wide array of martial arts. But he could mimic the forms. Without channeling internal energy, the power would be greatly diminished, of course.
But that's enough.
Nam Gyuil pressed Yang Yongjun using the Nangong clan's footwork.
"Ugh. What the hell?!"
Yang Yongjun faltered at the flashy Nangong footwork and retreated a few steps. A wise choice. No need to clash head-on when outmatched in mobility.
But Nam Gyuil kept shifting unpredictably through his forms. He flowed into the Nangong clan's swift steps, then—
Whoosh.
—switched to the Moyong clan's heavy strikes. Tap-tap. Then Huashan sect's dazzling assault left him reeling.
Yang Yongjun broke into a cold sweat. What the?! I'm fighting one guy, so why does it feel like I'm up against a whole squad?
Nam Gyuil's ever-changing offense was dizzying. What the hell is this guy?
He'd assumed even with Sword Aura, Nam Gyuil was inferior. Wrong. He wasn't just holding his own—he was being dominated.
Thwack! Nam Gyuil's wooden sword struck Yang Yongjun's shoulder. The impact was brutal. Overwhelmed by the pain, Yang Yongjun dropped to one knee.
A masterful display of swordsmanship. Stunned at being so thoroughly outclassed, he froze.
Nam Gyuil asked his intent. "Do you surrender?"
The words snapped Yang Yongjun back. His lips trembled—not in surrender.
Baring his teeth, he suddenly unleashed Sword Aura. His wooden sword glowed blue.
"!!"
Nam Gyuil leaped back. Whoosh. Yang Yongjun swung, but it barely missed.
Anger surged in Nam Gyuil. A direct hit would've meant serious injury—maybe days in the hospital. Or worse, death if unlucky.
With Sword Aura in play, this was no longer sparring. It was a duel to the death.
Nam Gyuil warned him. "Using Sword Aura means you intend to kill me, right?"
"Then you use yours too." Yang Yongjun grinned shamelessly, nodding at him.
Nam Gyuil exhaled deeply. No choice—he activated his own Sword Aura. He wouldn't go down easy.
He decided to tap the internal energy refined by Yang's Heart Method. The yin-yang energies circulating in his body. He adjusted their ratio at will.
Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword.
One of Huashan's signature arts. Normally a barrage of twenty-four strikes, but his skill was limited to the first form.
Tap-tap. Nam Gyuil surged forward—serene yet swift. Everyone held their breath at the crystalline motion. Before they knew it, he was upon Yang Yongjun.
Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword, First Form: Plum Blossom Falling.
Nam Gyuil swung his Sword Aura in a flourish as radiant and delicate as scattering petals.
Yang Yongjun countered desperately with his own Sword Aura. But...
Plum blossom scent?
The thick fragrance from Huashan internal energy harmony pierced his nose. Unmistakably plum blossoms.
Nam Gyuil's swordplay bloomed pure and brilliant, like roadside petals.
Clack! The moment their Sword Auras met—
Crunch.
Yang Yongjun's Sword Aura shattered, his wooden sword snapping. The gap between raw Sword Aura and amplified martial prowess laid bare.
Yang Yongjun paled. Slicing Sword Aura with Sword Aura? No ordinary skill!
His heart sank. If Nam Gyuil had fought to kill from the start, he'd be dead in one blow.
Where did this monster come from?
His mind reeled, thoughts slowing.
Then—Thud!
Nam Gyuil drove his fist into Yang Yongjun's solar plexus.
"Gah."
Yang Yongjun collapsed with a scream. Excruciating pain. He could barely breathe.
Nam Gyuil smirked. "Surrender? Or finish this properly?"
Gasping, Yang Yongjun nodded frantically in surrender, dropping his broken sword.
Nam Gyuil's victory.
Public Guild members gaped at his feat. Too awe-inspiring to close their mouths. They could still smell the plum blossoms with eyes shut.
Nam Gyuil signaled the remaining Unha Guild members. "Take your boss and get out."
"......"
"First, hand over that dagger you bet."
The Unha Guild handed over Yang Yongjun's wagered dagger. Then they supported him and fled Public Guild like the wind.
Nam Gyuil stepped down from the arena. Public Guild erupted in admiration.
"Hyung, how'd you do that?!"
"Incredible, sir."
"Like something out of a dream."
Praise poured in. Nam Gyuil waved it off. "Hey, enough. Like I always say, no free rides."
He eyed the dagger in his hand. A blade that multiplies with Sichuan Tang clan arts. With this, he could wield their supreme technique, Manteon Hwau.
Though reaching that level won't be easy.
He smiled faintly. He wanted to bask in victory, but no time. Unha Guild's harassment would continue—endless provocations, maybe retaliation.
He had to stop it. And I have just the way.
He pulled out his smartphone and dialed.
"Hello. This is Public Guild Master Nam Gyuil. Calling to pay respects to my senior."
Nam Gyuil arrived at Presento Guild. He met Chairman Jo Sangmin for a quiet chat.
"So, here to pay respects?" Jo Sangmin opened coldly, sipping green tea.
Nam Gyuil nodded. "Should've come sooner to greet my senior. Apologies for the delay."
Jo Sangmin cleared his throat awkwardly. He couldn't read Nam Gyuil's intent. Unha Guild probably roughed up the newbies under 'training' pretext. Why meet me now?
He hadn't heard the duel outcome yet. He considered refusing, but curiosity won.
"Fine. What is it?"
"You hate beating around the bush, so straight to it."
Nam Gyuil smiled. "Help me out."
"What?"
"Hunter Association sent someone to 'teach' us."
"And you lost the bet? ...Unha Guild merger?"
Jo Sangmin snorted. Standard big guild expansion tactic.
Nam Gyuil sipped his tea. "Of course, I won the bet."
"Naturally you'd lose—wait, what? You won?"
Jo Sangmin's eyes widened. Unheard of.
"You beat an Unha exec? They aren't pushovers."
"Eh, nothing special."
Jo Sangmin set down his cup, crossing his legs. "Doesn't add up. You won the bet, so why ask for help?"
"Make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Again?"
"Keep the big guilds off my back."
Jo Sangmin was dumbfounded. Laughter burst out at the absurdity. He eyed Nam Gyuil with disdain. What an idiot.
Big guilds collude—this was probably their doing. Asking him for help? Comedy gold.
Leisurely, he asked, "Why should I help you... or Public Guild? What's in it for me?"
"I've got something very interesting."
"What?"
Nam Gyuil pulled out a ring: the Memorial Jewel. An item recording all gate events as video.
He played the footage.
"Even if we kill you, no evidence left. This is a gate—destroy the core, and your body and proof vanish. Our word's all that matters."
"You've done this before?"
"Obviously."
Jo Sangmin's face darkened. The footage chilled him to the bone.
Nam Gyuil's lips curved slightly. Recorded during an orc hunt: Presento execs plotting his murder.
Jo Sangmin ground his teeth. Damn it, what the hell?
He clenched his fist. He'd ordered execs to claim top contributions—by any means, even killing Nam Gyuil if needed. They tried.
But evidence survived!
He hadn't anticipated this. Nam Gyuil's silence seemed like fear—wrong. Blackmail material.
Jo Sangmin exhaled. He could bury it—fake video, media spin.
"Big guilds have media and politics on speed dial. Think this blackmail works?"
"Yes."
"I can make it disappear."
"Sure."
Nam Gyuil nodded agreeably. Then the dagger twist:
"But will other big guilds sit idle? I'd seize the chance."
"What?!"
"Easy pickings for Presento. No exec-level talent left—you run it solo."
"Th-that's..."
"Like they tried swallowing Public Guild, others will eye Presento."
Jo Sangmin groaned. Uncomfortable truth. In the selfish Hunter Association, weakness was fatal.
He pictured rival chairmen. Hyenas. Spot a gap, they'll pounce. With justification...
He clicked his tongue. Everything he'd built could crumble overnight. Not like that.
"Fine. I'll ensure no retaliation hits you."
"Thank you."
Nam Gyuil pocketed the Memorial Jewel and left Presento Guild. He gazed at the sun.
Got myself a fine pawn.
Cold-faced, he walked the street. Just stall a little longer.
Public Guild will grow fast and devour you all.