Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Nine Deaths One Life (15)
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Everything had proceeded exactly according to the Patriarch's plan.
Until the Patriarch stabilized his mind and body with meditative breathing and arrived here, they had to keep him pinned in place. Judging purely by the results, they could say they had perfectly carried out the orders.
But was this really okay? That question clung to Moyong Heisu's ankles like a shadow. The command to sacrifice anything for the goal shook her resolve.
Thank goodness the Great Hero had held back. If he had swung his sword without mercy from the start? If he had even unleashed his sword qi, the hallmark of the Pinnacle Realm?
Then not a single warrior here would be standing. And that hypothesis turned into certainty as she watched the clash between the Patriarch and the Great Hero.
In that moment, words the Great Hero had spoken earlier flashed through Moyong Heisu's mind like a ripple across a serene lake. Firm words, utterly unshaken.
[If you stay silent on one injustice, it will return to you tenfold in the end.]
'The Great Hero's words ring true without a single flaw.'
Warriors of the Moyong Clan carried out the Patriarch's orders without question. Until now, she had never doubted that this was loyalty. Never realizing it might mean turning a blind eye to injustice...
"Hall Leader, shouldn't we join the Patriarch now?"
"No, we won't join him."
"But..."
"The only thing we can do right now is step back and avoid getting caught up."
"Understood."
Even as she issued the order to her subordinates, Moyong Heisu couldn't suppress a wry smile. Just a short while ago, she would have thrown herself into aiding the Patriarch without hesitation, no sacrifice too great.
Was this change truly right?
Or merely a fleeting whim?
Unable to commit to an answer, Moyong Heisu watched the duel of absolute masters with her own eyes. They had clashed for nearly half a shichen already, yet the fight showed no sign of ending.
But the warriors witnessing it forgot even the passage of time, staring in a daze. The depth they sensed was beyond anything they could imagine.
Yet sudden change came to what seemed an eternal sword duel. Someone let out a short, hacking cough and spat blood. It was Nameless.
"I clearly blocked everything...?"
"Did you think the essence the Moyong Clan pursues is just some fast sword?"
"..."
"Speed is merely a path one passes through to reach the pinnacle."
Moyong Gang openly sneered at Nameless. Ignorant fools thought the Moyong Clan's sword arts chased nothing but speed. How laughable.
The pinnacle Moyong Clan warriors had pursued wasn't some mere fast sword. The Moyong Clan had succeeded in embodying the laws and truths of the world in their swords.
Rain becomes streams, streams become rivers, and rivers flow into vast oceans. The dragon, matured through this cycle, departs the sea, ascends to the heavens, and brings rain.
That was the sword art infused with the dragon's essence.
The Moyong Clan's sword qi of perfect offense and defense as one.
The Dragon Stream Sword.
Moyong Gang's sword, imbued with the mystery of endless cycles, easily parried Nameless's blade. Though Moyong Gang was on the defensive, the cycle's mystery turned the opponent's sword against him.
It wasn't some petty counterattack. He did nothing but defend, yet the opponent's internal energy and essence embedded in the sword rebounded, ravaging from within.
Even if Nameless tried to defend, the situation was much the same. Merely clashing swords allowed the internal energy within to flow like water, continuously slicing the body.
Thankfully, his opponent was a Pinnacle Realm master on his level. Otherwise, he would have been shredded and collapsed long ago. Moyong Gang nodded and spoke.
"For a nameless warrior, holding out this long deserves praise. But mere ferocity like that can't break the mystery of the Dragon Stream Sword."
"...You're right about that."
Nameless bled but resumed his stance. In that instant, fierce sword qi like a waterfall enveloped his blade. Moyong Gang's expression hardened swiftly upon seeing it.
"...That's sword qi, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"I've never seen sword qi so devoid of any essence. And yet it can be that massive...? Or is it just an empty cart rattling loudly?"
"You can only tell long from short by comparing them."
"...You're right!! A warrior speaks with his sword!!"
Moyong Gang's hardened face broke into a grin in an instant. The irrepressible fighting spirit pouring from him looked far more like a demonic cult leader than an orthodox faction warrior, in Nameless's eyes.
But Nameless soon focused all his mind on his sword. As expected of a first-rate warrior on the same level. This opponent was incomparably tougher than any he'd faced before.
'But it's not like there's no way.'
Honestly, it was a gamble. A bet with his life on the line. Success meant victory, but failure would put his own life at even greater risk.
Did Moyong Gang read Nameless's resolute will? He stopped his chatter and took his stance as well. An eternity-like moment passed.
Moyong Gang struck first. He was confident. The ultimate Dragon Stream Sword, reached through history and tradition, would never lose.
But in that instant, Nameless responded in kind. Astonishingly, he chose not defense or evasion, but attack. His thrust shot forward like lightning, reaching in an instant.
'Fast...'
The moment the lightning thrust's tip touched Moyong Gang's sword, an absurd clash shattered it and pierced his body. Moyong Gang's form floated limply into the air.
And tumbled across the ground. The watching Moyong Clan warriors gasped in unison. The Dragon Stream Sword was the clan's martial art.
And the ultimate essence they had pursued. Yet a nameless warrior had broken it with a single strike. How could they not be shocked?
But no one could have predicted it. The technique that shattered the Moyong Clan's ultimate mystery wasn't even worthy of being called a proper form—it was part of the Three Disasters Sword Art.
Its name:
Thrust Sword.
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I really thought I was done for.
I could finally breathe a sigh of relief after confirming the opponent was definitely down. What was it called again? Dragon Stream Sword? Dragon Heaven Sword? Whatever, I was too focused on the fight to catch it properly.
But I could easily grasp its nature. In wuxia tales, martial arts that return an opponent's force were common enough. That one was probably the same type.
So I judged that concentrating all power into a single point with a thrust would be better than slashing with a wide surface, and since I'm still standing, it looks like I was right.
"Great Hero!!!"
"You saved him."
Seeing Sua waving from afar, Moyong Hyeon on her back, it seemed the rescue had succeeded. I smiled in satisfaction and turned to the warriors.
"If anyone else wants to fight, pick up your sword!!!"
Of course, it was bravado. Truth be told, that last guy had drained me completely. Sure, I could still fight, but at this point, I just wanted some rest.
Fortunately, no one raised their weapons to continue. Seeing them all lower theirs, I sighed inwardly in relief. Now I could finally relax.
But such idle thoughts didn't last long. A sinister sound like ripping paper echoed. From the spot where I'd sent that troublesome warrior flying.
Astonishingly, the man who had clearly collapsed unconscious was back on his feet. But he didn't look normal at a glance. His eyes showed only whites, no pupils.
Foam even dripped from his mouth. I started worrying if I'd turned him into a cripple—right then, a red aura began to flow.
Utterly different from the white sword qi I'd seen during that Dragon Stream whatever. And red to boot. I muttered without thinking.
"That's... demonic arts, isn't it?"
"Father?!"
Sua and I locked eyes simultaneously. Did she recognize that ominous power? Her face mixed shock and horror.
"Do you have any idea what that ominous power is?!"
"Father? You mean that guy's the Moyong Clan Patriarch?!"
And I wasn't much different.