Chapter 353
Chapter 353
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 93
>Chapter Title: Spirit Sword Manor (3)
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“Yeon-woo!”
The eyes of Ye Song-ah, the granddaughter of the Holy Fire Spirit Lord, reddened.
She had missed Gu Yeon-woo terribly while they were apart.
Gu Yeon-woo felt the same way.
“Song-ah!”
The moment he saw her, the tip of his nose stung.
He had believed the only way to hide and protect the holy relic from the imperial palace and various enemies was within the territory of his own clan, Spirit Sword Manor.
But things had gone awry, and he had feared disappointing her. Seeing her now stirred a whirlwind of emotions.
“Song-ah... I...”
- Squeeze!
As Gu Yeon-woo tried to say something, Ye Song-ah pulled him into a tight embrace.
She whispered soothingly.
“It’s okay. It’s okay, so you don’t need to blame yourself.”
“Song-ah...”
Gu Yeon-woo’s throat tightened.
Where in the world could he find a woman like this?
Meeting her after leaving the Church had been an incredible blessing for him.
Just then, a voice interrupted their reunion.
“I get that it’s a happy reunion, but how about toning it down and asking if they’ve found the holy relic?”
The owner of the voice was none other than Mok Kyung-un.
Gu Yeon-woo looked at him with puzzled eyes and cautiously asked.
“Song-ah. Who is that man?”
Ye Song-ah whispered into his ear.
“That’s him.”
“Him who?”
“The master of the Holy Fire.”
‘!!!!!!’
Gu Yeon-woo’s eyes widened in shock.
He had guessed it wasn’t an ordinary person from the immense pressure, but he never imagined that man was the one from the prophecy.
Now that he knew the truth, his heart pounded wildly.
Though he had pledged himself to the Plague Fire Church, he had harbored secret doubts about that person’s existence.
But hearing Ye Song-ah’s voice full of conviction—she who could be called the new Holy Fire Spirit Lord—and feeling this pressure firsthand overwhelmed him with emotion.
“I-is it really him?”
“Yes. It’s the one we’ve been waiting for.”
“Aaah...”
“Phew.”
A shallow sigh came from behind, startling Ye Song-ah. She hurriedly asked him.
“Did you find the holy relic?”
“No. My brother took it from me, and it’s not here.”
“It’s not?”
“My brother knows where the holy relic is.”
With that, Gu Yeon-woo turned his tense gaze toward Gu Ung-hwang, the eldest son of Spirit Sword Manor and the young clan head, who was slowly gathering his energy.
Gu Ung-hwang parted his lips under that gaze.
“...Is he your ally?”
“Where is it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. The holy relic you took from me... Where did you put it?”
Gu Ung-hwang’s eyes narrowed at the question.
A mysterious orb with a brilliant glow.
Yeon-woo had called it the holy relic, and every night, he would leave the manor to bow before it and recite some doctrine about sacred flames.
Seeing even this incredible master appear searching for it confirmed it was something vitally important to the Plague Fire Church.
‘If I just hand over something like that, who knows how these people will react. And this guy definitely...’
Gu Ung-hwang glanced at Gu Yeon-woo’s face and suddenly recalled something.
It was quite a coincidence.
Weren’t they already searching for the true culprit who massacred Namgung Jin, the Heavenly Sword of the Justice Alliance, and the elites of the Namgung family?
The reason his father, Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu—a traveler, not a wanderer—was under suspicion was that he was the only one with the martial prowess to slaughter them.
And the immense pressure he felt from behind was on the level one might sense from his father.
With conviction, Gu Ung-hwang spoke.
“...So it’s you. You’re the one who killed the Namgung family head and his elites.”
He was certain the culprit was standing behind him.
Gu Yeon-woo snorted in disbelief.
“Don’t spout nonsense. Just tell me where the holy relic is.”
“I can’t do that.”
“What?”
“You killed the Namgung family head and his elites, putting our clan in crisis. Do you think I’d hand over something that important so casually?”
Even as he spoke, Young Clan Head Gu Ung-hwang racked his brains.
From the pressure alone, he vaguely sensed that the unidentified person behind him was a master a level above him.
If they fought, his chances of victory were extremely slim.
But clashing with a supreme expert like this would naturally create massive repercussions, alerting his father, Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu, and many other high-level experts in Spirit Sword Manor.
He didn’t even need the others.
If just his father noticed, the situation would resolve itself.
‘I’m not the one at a disadvantage.’
It might be precarious now, but if he stalled for time, the advantage would shift to him.
Gu Ung-hwang spoke calmly.
“I’ll address the esteemed one behind you. This is the territory of Spirit Sword Manor. You understand what that means, right?”
“Who knows? What do you mean?”
‘!?’
One of Young Clan Head Gu Ung-hwang’s eyebrows twitched upward.
Was this guy doing this on purpose?
“...This is also the domain of Gu Cheon-mu, the Extreme Spirit Sword Lord and one of the Six Heavens. I know you’re an incredible master, but you must know how different a being of the Six Heavens is.”
‘I need to make him aware first.’
As someone near the Grandmaster level, he’d understand.
How vast the senses of a supreme expert like his father were.
He had to prevent any rash actions.
“So, I advise you in turn. It’s not too late even now...”
Before he could finish.
“If you want to test how many of Spirit Sword Manor’s retainers I can kill before your father moves, feel free to keep talking.”
‘What?’
Gu Ung-hwang’s pupils trembled.
The opponent came out even stronger.
Normally, one would be wary of the strongest foe, but the one behind him stayed focused on his goal.
‘Retainers...’
If this man got serious, half the retainers would die before his father arrived.
He was that dangerous.
His instincts warned him against fighting this man.
What should he do?
Should he push harder?
Then Mok Kyung-un shook his troubled thoughts.
“The choice is simple. Hand over the holy relic and Gu Yeon-woo, and this ends quietly. Otherwise, Spirit Sword Manor will suffer heavy losses.”
- Grind!
Gu Ung-hwang gritted his teeth.
How did scum like this infiltrate the sacred land of swords and start making threats?
His anger grew over reason.
There was a high chance things would go as this man said, but if they did, he’d let the true culprit who killed the Namgung guests escape, and his father would remain under suspicion.
In that case, wouldn’t it resolve if he staked his life and held them off with mutual destruction, even briefly?
Having made up his mind, Gu Ung-hwang immediately unleashed his full power in rebound energy.
- Paaaang!
A sharp aura erupted from his entire body with tremendous wind pressure.
Gu Ung-hwang’s plan was simple:
Counter the one behind him seizing his back with rebound force, then—
- Shing!
Strike the man’s vital points with his quick-draw sword technique.
Gu Ung-hwang’s sword shot out of its sheath at blinding speed, exquisitely aimed at Mok Kyung-un’s forehead.
A sword path possible only after thousands, tens of thousands of practices.
However,
- Clang! Thud!
His sword futilely bounced upward, piercing the ceiling, while Mok Kyung-un’s sword finger struck his nape with deadly momentum.
Gu Ung-hwang’s face twisted.
‘...I was mistaken.’
He had thought things would settle once his father arrived.
But this single exchange confirmed it.
This man was already a monster comparable to his father, one of the Six Heavens.
Even more astonishing,
‘And so young...’
Not even in his thirties, with striking features and a face he’d never seen or heard of.
What was his identity?
How had such a person remained unknown in the martial world?
As he reeled in shock, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly.
“You made the first move. Too bad.”
With that, Mok Kyung-un’s left hand had already gripped his head.
- Pow!
Thinking it was the Capturing Hand technique, he hurriedly tried to swat it away, but—
- Crack!
‘Hngh!’
A cracking sound rang out as fingers dug into his skull, overwhelming pain seizing Gu Ung-hwang. A scream nearly escaped his lips.
Of course, Mok Kyung-un switched his sword finger to a hand blade and struck his throat, turning it into a cough.
- Pow!
“Khck! Hack!”
Mok Kyung-un leaned in with a sinister smile and whispered in his ear.
“This could’ve ended quietly if you’d just handed over the holy relic, but since you escalated it, let’s test how firm your resolve really is.”
- Chill!
That whisper was like a demon opening the gates of hell.
* * *
Spirit Sword Manor’s Sword Discussion Hall was where many swordsmen gathered to discuss the sword.
The swordsmen assembled here were renowned even in the martial world, each deeply proficient in swordsmanship.
With such exceptional swordsmen debating, the level surpassed what ordinary swordsmen could approach.
Even Jeong Myeong, the eminent nun of Mount Hang, who had her own mastery with the sword, could only click her tongue in admiration at their discussions.
‘Amitabha. If not for the Justice Alliance’s matters, I’d love to stay here for months exchanging insights on the sword.’
Any swordsman would feel the same.
But she had work to do.
Finding the culprit who massacred the Namgung family head and their elites.
- Step step!
Jeong Myeong was walking through a cave passage with Mo Yong-hak, the eldest son of the Mo Yong family, following Gu Ung-seong, the second son of the former clan head.
Because the targets were beyond this place, not in the Sword Discussion Hall building.
They had inspected most of Spirit Sword Manor for the investigation, but this was their first time here.
The passage was hidden behind a small waterfall in the rear garden of the Sword Discussion Hall, a spot not easily noticeable at a glance.
‘...He didn’t tell us to show it, but keeping a place like this secret?’
Mo Yong-hak clicked his tongue inwardly.
They could excuse the former clan head’s workshop, but they should have mentioned this.
Feeling slightly irritated, he finally spoke up.
“After days of investigation, I’ve only now learned Spirit Sword Manor has such a secret space. Knowing earlier would’ve made the investigation smoother. Hahaha.”
His hearty laugh contrasted with the pointed content.
At his words, Gu Ung-seong cupped his fists in salute and replied.
“My apologies. The Sword Discussion Hall aside, this rear area requires full focus for trials and training, so even guests weren’t informed. Please forgive us.”
The slick response made Mo Yong-hak click his tongue inwardly again.
As he opened his mouth for another retort,
“Nothing...”
“Amitabha. But what’s back there that it requires such focus from guests?”
Jeong Myeong cut him off.
It was her way of preventing an awkward atmosphere.
“Ahem.”
Realizing her intent and his mistake, Mo Yong-hak shut his mouth.
Gu Ung-seong smiled and answered.
“It’s because of the trial left by Father—no, the Clan Head.”
“What is it?”
“You’ll see when you reach Sword Valley.”
“Sword Valley?”
“Ah, yes. At some point, guests started calling it Sword Valley.”
“Sword Valley... How fitting. Anyway, you’ve piqued my interest apart from meeting the seniors. I can’t wait to see it.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
Gu Ung-seong said with full confidence.
Then Jeong Myeong frowned and asked.
“But is that a luminous pearl in the pouch at your waist?”
“Pardon? What do you—”
“Light is leaking from the pouch.”
At her words, Gu Ung-seong puzzledly looked at his waist.
Sure enough, faint light seeped from the pouch, just as she said.
‘What?’
His expression turned strange.
This pouch was from his brother, Gu Ung-hwang.
Inside was the thing Gu Yeon-woo called the holy relic.
[With trash like this, no wonder the kid can’t get his head straight. I’ll melt it in the furnace right away.]
[You’re destroying it?]
[What else would I do with it?]
“Of course. For the youngest’s sake, it’s best to get rid of it. Mind if I examine it a bit before melting?]
[Examine it?]
[Yes. It’s unusual—not jade, not metal. I just want a look before destroying it.]
[Hm... Fine. Examine it briefly and dispose of it.]
[Understood.]
Of course, he took it partly out of curiosity, but the real reason was his certainty that something precious to Gu Yeon-woo could be useful.
But what was this thing?
Not a luminous pearl, so why was it glowing?
He’d need to inspect it properly.
Hiding his bewilderment, he smiled at Jeong Myeong.
“Hahaha. Sharp eyes. Yes, it’s a luminous pearl.”
“As I thought. With light leaking out, we won’t need torches.”
“Right. I use it for that sometimes. Ah! The passage ends.”
Bright light appeared where the passage bent.
Their attention shifted from the pouch to there.
Exiting the passage, a massive cliff stretched before them.
Jeong Myeong and Mo Yong-hak involuntarily exclaimed at the spectacular sight.
Soon, their gazes turned somewhere.
A large stele about three zhang tall stood right before the cliff and the abyss.
Around twenty men sat in meditation before the stele.
‘What?’
They all stared intently at the large stele, but why?
“What are they all doing there?”
At Jeong Myeong’s question, Gu Ung-seong shrugged.
“They’re taking the Clan Head’s trial and receiving his teachings.”
“Trial and teachings?”
Puzzled, they approached.
As they drew nearer, Mo Yong-hak spotted something engraved on the stele.
[Sword Path Sword Extreme]
It read “Sword Path Sword Extreme.”
Nothing else was there, yet all these people sat meditating, staring intently at it?
Finding it strange, he tried to tell Jeong Myeong, but—
“Sister...!?”
Jeong Myeong had stopped, gazing at the stele’s inscription with a shocked expression, unblinking.
“Sister?”
Calling again, she didn’t respond, her eyes fixed on the stele.
As he moved to call her once more,
“Leave her be.”
Gu Ung-seong quietly intervened.
“Leave her?”
“Sister Jeong Myeong is undergoing the Clan Head’s trial.”
“What?”
This was the trial?
What was going on?
End of Chapter 93: Spirit Sword Manor (3)
ⓒ Han Jung-wol-ya