Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: What Did You Say? (2)
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I followed Namgung Hak toward the family head's private training ground. Namgung Hye and Eon So-young came along as well.
Namgung Hak was clearly a cut above me, at least one realm higher. I'd already confirmed that much during the wedding assault.
Not only was his presence overwhelming, but his flowing, elusive swordsmanship—utterly unlike his brute-force appearance that suggested he'd smash through anything—made me doubt whether I could even block it if I knew where it was coming from.
[My lord, just accept it. It'll be fine for me, and surely for the others too...]
Eon So-young, who knew the full situation better than anyone, sent me a telepathic message. She probably guessed why I was refusing Namgung Hak's words.
But I shook my head slightly.
I knew full well that building a milf harem accepted—or at least tolerated—by everyone was a daunting goal.
But I also knew that if you kept retreating and giving up one step at a time because it was hard, the most important parts of your original goal would slip away before you knew it.
'I can't make her bear my child, then leave that kid forever unable to even say who their parents are.'
On the path to that tough goal, Namgung Hak wasn't that big an obstacle.
"I'm glad you're accepting, Young Hero Kang. Ever since I became family head, there've been all sorts of gossips and rumors flying around. Especially when it comes to mixing with outsiders over swords—the elders go berserk. They go on about the family head's dignity and all that."
Does the leader losing damage the group's prestige? Lucky Triad thugs, alright.
But he'd issued a strict order not to let anyone into this family head's private training ground, so at least no one would learn the outcome of this scuffle.
"Sounds like being family head isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"Ha, you think it is? Truth be told, I'd rather just live as a brother who cherishes his family, but the world being what it is, there's no helping it."
He spoke with feigned cheer, but emphasizing "a brother who cherishes his family" made his intent to smash me as Namgung Hye's brother crystal clear.
Namgung Hak gripped his antique long sword, and even the rising hostility began to settle as he calmed himself.
With his hostility fully subsided and his clear gaze fixed on me, it felt like a silent declaration: he was going to give me a proper thrashing—or just kill me outright.
'No take-backs, huh? Thanks, I guess.'
If he'd said even now that surrendering would earn forgiveness, would I have? Feeling the inner energy surging from my dantian and flooding my limbs, I concluded no.
Boom!
The instant the two young masters clashed, an explosion like gunpowder detonating rang out.
The Namgung family's Soaring Palace Swordsmanship originally blended the traits of elusive changes and forceful might.
Namgung Hak usually favored elusive changes, but now, thoroughly riled up, he unleashed pure aggressive strikes against Kang Yun from the start.
Meanwhile, Kang Yun, whose abundant inner energy made him a powerhouse in such force clashes, met it head-on without backing down, surging his fist aura in response.
'What do I do...!'
Eon So-young stomped her feet watching her son and husband fight.
Her son's sword forms unfolded with mature grace, pressing the foe relentlessly, while her husband's footwork slipped out of that precise attack range like wind you couldn't catch.
For two martial artists who'd reached the peak realm at such a young—nay, boyish—age, their deadly dance would normally delight Eon So-young's eyes...
but not today.
'My lord, that's a feint...! The real strike is...'
As the sword shadow slicing at his side blurred and Kang Yun swept away the frost-like sword energy aimed at his chest with his hand sword, Eon So-young inwardly sighed in relief.
Having become another man's woman, she couldn't help fretting over her husband's overall disadvantaged position.
The give-and-take seemed balanced at a glance, but her son expended far less effort deflecting attacks.
Even in this aggressive mode, the elusive sword arts Namgung Hak practiced weren't going anywhere.
Though stripped of many feints for simpler forms, he preserved the core of change to restrict his opponent's movements, slowly tightening the noose around her husband's neck.
"You're better than I thought. As expected of one of the Nine Dragons—no, more than that."
As the exchange dragged on, the son gradually regained control of his sword path.
To more easily handle the massive energy pouring from his foe's body, the best way was to calmly probe and nullify moves from the outset.
Sensing the tightening net of that stabilizing sword path, the man busily tore it apart once more.
Fierce palm force laced with scorching hot energy smashed through the sword path, and Namgung Hak's blade seemed to retreat momentarily.
But Namgung Hak's elusive sword handled such brute assaults with ease.
Rather than dominating the air outright, his sword methodically claimed space bit by bit, shrinking room for palm force to extend.
Like patiently dismantling an enemy's options one by one.
To counter Namgung Hak's sword, there were two paths.
'Unleash a superior art packed with higher-level changes, or ignore the damage from his sword forms and smash the man executing them head-on.'
The man understood this well and, knowing the former impossible, chose the latter.
Palm force layered thickly in his extended hands invaded territory already claimed by Namgung Hak's sword, which met it with concentrated sword energy.
It looked like a return to raw force clash, but Eon So-young saw the palm force swallowed in the gaps of his changes.
"No...!"
Namgung Hak's swordsmanship was ever-changing yet rigidly precise, forcing lesser foes into her husband's current choice without breaking the flow.
Ignoring Eon So-young's stifled scream, Namgung Hak's sword poured toward Kang Yun as if waiting.
Not quite intending to kill, but a strike that would deal serious injury.
Had the man's hand not unleashed a sinister, sticky energy then, it surely would have landed.
'Knew it.'
Kang Yun, rarely ambushed in Jianghu scuffles since venturing out, wasn't naive enough to meekly offer his neck to the one obvious choice.
'Ah, no, this is...!'
Namgung Hak, assuming a hidden trump, sliced through the Finger Wind of Phantom Finger with his sword, bracing with protective energy against the remnants—then panicked as his movements slowed abruptly.
The energy tangled his body despite its disruption, briefly hindering him, as the foe's two fingers, loaded with vicious power, sped toward his forehead.
Namgung Hak urgently erupted inner energy across his body to shake off the bind, then barely parried the finger force with his raised sword.
"Wh-what art was that just now?"
Forgetting momentarily his plan to discipline Kang Yun's habits, Namgung Hak asked about the technique.
"I don't really know either."
Namgung Hak figured Kang Yun just didn't want to share, but truly, Kang Yun didn't know.
To be precise, he'd drawn inspiration from when the cult leader had seized and yanked his palm force, wondering if he could do the same with palm force or Finger Wind.
Since he'd mimicked it without proper knowledge, he had no name for it.
Namgung Hak, well aware that prying techniques from another sect's disciple was rude, bowed politely in apology.
"My apologies. I spoke without thinking... rude of me."
"No, no. It's understandable."
Kang Yun relaxed, thinking it'd blow over amicably, but Namgung Hak was diligent in the best light—or tenacious in the worst.
"Thank you for understanding. Now, let's continue where we left off."
"Pardon?"
Having seduced his sister, you must take responsibility—or face the consequences without mercy.
Namgung Hak raised his sword once more.
We're screwed.
I barely endured Namgung Hak's elusive sword by dodging by a hair's breadth.
From the start, I figured even a bloody victory over him wouldn't end well for me.
Meaning no backstabs or hurling weapons from that rack over there—every dirty trick sealed off.
'Normally, the skill gap means I'd lose for sure.'
But after getting thrashed by the cult leader last time, I'd tried mimicking that one move he'd shown.
Still crude, but if used right, I could create an opening for a flashy takedown and victory claim.
The problem? The binding power was weaker than hoped.
"Your footwork is truly superb!"
Like saying, "Stop scurrying like a rat and take your licks."
Despite total dominance, Namgung Hak showed not a shred of carelessness.
'If only I could use Hyeoncheon Energy.'
Thanks to steady training since reaching true peak master realm, my Hyeoncheon Energy reserves had grown decently. Now good for two uses—three if rationed.
But I lacked confidence in controlling its power.
Everyone—or everything—I'd used it on so far was fair game to kill.
Namgung Hak was neither, so a direct hit might genuinely kill him.
Then his sword energy-laced blade sought to dominate my upper body again, and I unleashed Dragon Ascending Footwork to evade.
Or tried to.
"No...!"
Too fixated on Hyeoncheon Energy, I hadn't checked the ground properly and stumbled—Namgung Hak paled, hastily retracting his strike, but too late.
This hits, I'm dead.
The world slowed like slo-mo, but so did my actions—useless.
Then, as I twisted desperately from the sword's range mid-fall, a figure interposed in my view. And the next instant.
Kaboom!
A colossal roar erupted, time snapping back to normal. The first thing I saw was Namgung Hak staggering back several steps before collapsing to the ground.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah... I'm fine..."
I'd nearly met an absurd end, so my voice trembled.
And then I realized I was cradled in Eon So-young's arms.
"Come to your senses now... that's enough..."
"You're really, really okay? Right?"
"I'm fine... ah."
Reassuring her and trying to pull away, my eyes met Namgung Hak's—wide as saucers.
Dusted with dirt and looking messy, but no major injuries...
'How many times today have I thought we're done for?'
His eyes, unmistakably darting between me and Eon So-young, defined the situation in one word.
Caught.