Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Sword of Namgung (12)
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-CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Fierce clashes of steel rang out, sending sparks flying.
Im Jeok-san and So-yeon swung their weapons at each other with savage intensity.
"Khahahahat! As expected of a daughter of the Namgung Clan! To think you can fight me on equal footing!"
"Kugh!"
However, as time passed, the tide seemed to be turning, with So-yeon slowly being pushed back.
Despite having consumed many elixirs and mastered higher-level martial arts, So-yeon had no real experience.
Among the Namgung Clan's techniques she had learned, the 'Azure Firmament Divine Art' turned the user's energy a clear blue, which was why So-yeon's aura was azure.
Although she hadn't been taught the complete art because she was a girl, as an internal energy technique from a prestigious clan, it was exceptionally efficient and on a different level from ordinary internal arts.
Even after building her strength with such an outstanding martial art, her lack of experience prevented her from using it to its full potential.
So-yeon had never once fought a desperate battle where her life was on the line.
As a result, she was overly tense, her breathing was ragged, and she was rapidly depleting her energy.
In contrast, Im Jeok-san, who had fought countless battles despite his lack of formal training, was calmly analyzing So-yeon.
'Her internal energy and technique are excellent, but she's not composed and has no experience. This is my victory!'
While not the brightest when it came to literature, Im Jeok-san's mind worked well enough in combat, and he was certain of his victory.
'I was nervous because she's a daughter of the Namgung, but she's nothing special, is she?'
He smirked cruelly as he gradually cornered So-yeon.
"Kugh!"
Watching this, the Black Moon Sword scoffed.
[Is this all you've got? How do you plan to prove your skills when you're struggling to defeat a single bandit?]
At that, So-yeon remembered why she had run away from home.
Beyond her stubborn desire to dedicate herself to the sword, there was a situation that had forced her to leave.
She had made a life-or-death bet with the demonic sword.
If she couldn't prove her abilities on her own, without her family's help, she faced the risk of losing the body her parents gave her to a wicked great demon.
Like it or not, she had to prove her independence.
But the world was not such an easy place.
This world was too complex and intricate to achieve one's desires with sheer will alone.
[Foolish girl. In this world where the strong devour the weak, no one will go easy on you just because you're young.]
Just as it said, So-yeon was swinging her sword desperately with every moment, but her lack of experience held her back.
Realizing she was being cornered, she used a Namgung Clan sword art to break the stalemate.
The technique she used was none other than the 'Azure Firmament Sword Art'.
It was the foundational sword art of the Namgung Clan.
But the will behind it was heavy and hegemonic, just like all Namgung sword arts.
-To cut down all enemies under the heavens.
The Azure Firmament, meaning the vast blue sky, carried a spirit so broad and deep that a single swing was said to mercilessly cut through the air as if cleaving the heavens.
Though it fell far short of secret arts like the Emperor's Sword Form or the Divine Art of the Heavenly Thunder Emperor, and there was a superior version called the Unhindered Azure Firmament Sword Art, its level of perfection was in a different league from the low-grade sword arts sold in the market.
There was a reason it was used as the most fundamental sword art by a prestigious martial clan.
It contained the arrogance and heavy power of the Namgung, who sought to wield their swords with the heavens beneath their feet.
-Shhhng.
As blue energy flowed into the Black Moon Sword, it emitted a brilliant light.
Because So-yeon was born a girl, the clan's sword arts she could learn were limited.
Therefore, she practiced the techniques she had already learned over and over again.
Though she lacked experience, her understanding of the sword art itself was second to none.
When a blue flash suddenly erupted, alarm bells rang in Im Jeok-san's head.
"Kugh?!"
-Whoooosh.
The blade, imbued with blue internal energy, momentarily grazed past Im Jeok-san's face.
If he had dodged a fraction of a second later, his head would have been split in two.
-Ffft.
But he hadn't dodged completely, and his nose was slightly cut, drawing blood.
"You little...!"
Just then, the second-in-command who had been watching from the side swung his blade and attacked So-yeon.
But she didn't dodge, simply continuing with the forms of the Azure Firmament Sword Art.
"Azure Sky, Flying Star."
-Like a meteor streaking across the blue sky, the light of the sword scattered.
As she swung her sword heavily from top to bottom, blue sword energy spread out like falling stars.
Because of this, the second-in-command's blade was deflected without even touching a single hair on So-yeon.
"Kugh!"
Normally, it wouldn't have this much power, but it was a feat made possible by So-yeon, who had long trained in a limited number of sword arts.
So-yeon continued her assault, using the principles of the Hegemon's Sword and the Strong Sword, the foundation of the Namgung Clan.
It was a style that pressured the opponent by swinging the blade from top to bottom.
A half-hearted defense couldn't block it, forcing a full-powered defense. Even if they dodged, the continuous chain of attacks would overwhelm the opponent with the Namgung sword.
The second-in-command's blade had been deflected for the same reason.
An attack is nullified and dissipated by a stronger attack.
"Firmament's Shadow, Overturning Clouds."
-Like the sky's shadow overturning the clouds, it enveloped the space in an instant.
As So-yeon uttered the name of the next form, the energy from her blue blade struck down even faster and more fiercely.
Im Jeok-san, who had been winning the fight, tried to block with his crude techniques, but they were nothing more than child's play before the sword art of a prestigious martial clan.
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
Upon closer inspection, the Namgung sword art wasn't flashy or varied.
It followed a straightforward and similar path, but its power was simply overwhelming.
The relentless barrage of attacks and forward advances intimidated the opponent, forcing a passive reaction and causing them to lose the initiative.
If the first form was mainly about these combos and advances, Firmament's Shadow, Overturning Clouds added extra strikes between the flurry of attacks, aiming for the opponent's blind spots.
No matter how experienced one was, their skills were bound to falter before the intricately woven swordplay of the Namgung.
The reason was none other than the fact that it was a sword art created by those with even more experience and greater skill.
Namgung So-yeon was, in effect, wielding her sword with the strength of the Namgung warriors who came before her.
"Kuuugh! You...!"
Unable to bear being cornered, Im Jeok-san finally swung his massive axe with all his might, trying to break her chain of attacks.
-Whoooosh.
A great gust of wind rose, attempting to disrupt So-yeon's sword art, but it was useless.
Her combo was already in full swing, and once started, the Namgung swordplay was not easily broken.
The power of the Namgung was not to be hindered by external factors, but to overwhelm and dominate the surroundings.
"Jade Firmament, Crimson Stain."
As she uttered the name of the next form, So-yeon's blue energy gathered to a single point, then momentarily flared up, dyed in crimson.
The sword that had been pressuring the enemy with consistent power and trajectory now revealed its destructive force to end the fight.
Its speed and weight were far more savage than anything she had shown before, leaving Im Jeok-san utterly flustered.
"H-Heuk?!"
-Crack-k-k.
Im Jeok-san's rusty axe shattered, breaking into pieces in all directions.
It was the result of the demonic Black Moon Sword combined with So-yeon's refined swordsmanship.
Unlike at the beginning, she was now in a state of extreme focus, swinging her sword to end Im Jeok-san's life.
-Whoooosh.
The second-in-command beside him hastily thrust his blade forward to block, but it was useless.
The second-in-command's sword also snapped and shattered, and So-yeon's sword energy shot forward, aiming for Im Jeok-san's thick neck.
He saw the blade coming for his neck and desperately tried to pull back, but it was too late.
Im Jeok-san's heavy body could not evade the blue sword of Namgung.
-Shhhlick!
Her blue sword energy precisely sliced through his neck.
Simultaneously, Im Jeok-san's red blood sprayed wide, scattering everywhere.
"K-Keoheok..."
Even as his head fell, he stared at So-yeon with a look of disbelief.
-H...ow...
No sound came out, but his mouth was clearly mouthing those words.
Im Jeok-san couldn't understand why he had lost to such a greenhorn.
The reason was that Im Jeok-san had overlooked one thing.
Among his countless battle experiences, there had never been a 'Namgung Clan warrior'.
He would never know how they had come to dominate the provincial capital of Anhui as they pleased.
The most arrogant and hegemonic sword under the heavens.
The power of tradition, honed over a long period by the clan of blue energy, was a high-level art that a mere bandit could never hope to match.
What So-yeon wielded was not just a sword.
It was the foundation of the Namgung Clan, perfected through the painstaking efforts of her ancestors.
It was the power of a ruler, forged from the essence of ages. In this moment, Namgung So-yeon was no greenhorn.
Her eyes blazing with a sharp, blue light, she spoke to the bandits surrounding her.
"If there are any other fools who wish to face the sword of Namgung, step forward now. I will send you to join your leader."
With just one experience, So-yeon had achieved tremendous growth.
The novice who had just been swept away by the atmosphere had awakened the blue blood of Namgung slumbering within her heart.
Watching her, the Black Moon Sword let out a chuckle.
[Keke, not bad at all.]
The bandits, overwhelmed by her presence, dared not make a move.
Meanwhile, the second-in-command, his sword broken, looked at the decapitated Im Jeok-san and thought.
'That guy may have been an idiot, but his skills were real. At this rate, do we even have a chance...?'
Thinking about it calmly, he couldn't come up with any viable way to defeat So-yeon.
'I guess we really shouldn't have messed with the Namgung Clan. Damn it. I underestimated her because she's not even of age yet...'
He finished his calculations.
The second-in-command quickly turned and bolted into the forest.
"R-Running away?"
So-yeon, who had been inwardly tensing for another fight, was a little taken aback to see the second-in-command flee.
She had expected them to charge at her, vowing to avenge their leader.
But she didn't understand the bandits' interests at all.
What were bandits?
Weren't they just a wretched band of thieves living in the mountains?
Would thieves have loyalty or pride? When they thought they were going to die, they would all run away.
Some might romanticize them as cool and free-spirited, but in truth, bandits were just uneducated riffraff.
Seeing the second-in-command flee, the small-fry bandits likewise dropped their weapons and started to run.
"D-Damn it!"
"We really shouldn't have messed with the Namgung!"
"That damn second-in-command! Trying to escape all by himself!"
They too tried to flee into the forest, but they were soon forced to stop.
"Kuaaaaaaaargh!"
The second-in-command's scream echoed out.
Everyone flinched in surprise and stared toward the forest.
The bandits gulped nervously.
Just then, two blue eyes flickered to life in the dense forest.
They were like will-o'-the-wisps, creating an eerie atmosphere.
"To think vermin like these bandits would dare to target my sister. The martial world is truly a dangerous place."
The owner of the blue eyes, Namgung Yeol, gradually revealed himself.
-Drip. Drip.
His sharp, blue blade dripped with red blood, exuding a menacing aura.
Seeing her older brother, Namgung So-yeon unknowingly let out a sigh of relief.
"Brother!!"
"So-yeon."
But strangely, Namgung Yeol didn't seem to return So-yeon's cheerful greeting.
"It's time to go home."
"H-Huh?"
His cold voice pressed down on the surroundings.
The cold command came from the eldest son of the Namgung Clan's direct line, the next head who would lead the family.
"Stop this foolishness and follow me quietly."