Chapter 366
Chapter 366
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 96
>Chapter Title: Sword (4)
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-Swish!
In an instant, the face of Gu Cheon-mu, the head of Spirit Sword Manor, was drenched in cold sweat.
His eyes refused to leave the single character "sword" that Mok Kyung-un had carved into the cliff.
On the surface, it looked like he was merely staring at it,
-Slash! Clang clang clang!
But before he knew it, he had sunk into a trance, pitting his own sword intent against the sword intent contained within that character.
No, the word "pitting" wasn't quite right.
Overwhelmed by the sword intent, he was desperately struggling just to defend himself, even though he had manifested his Sword-to-Sword Extreme.
'How can this be...'
It was just a single character, yet it brimmed with infinite potential.
He unleashed every ultimate technique he had comprehended, drawing on all his insights, but none of them could even touch it.
'There are no openings.'
He mobilized every sword technique he knew in search of a flaw, but nothing could match this "sword."
This was the sword nearing the pinnacle he had so desperately sought.
How could such a thing happen?
The generations of forging and cultivating swords felt utterly futile.
"Ah..."
He wasn't the only one lost in shock.
Over half of those present had fallen into trances upon seeing the "sword" Mok Kyung-un had inscribed, gripped by shivers and unable to regain their senses.
It hit them even harder because they had devoted their lives to the sword.
The same went for Jeong Myeong of the Sword Sage School.
'...This can't be.'
She had gained enlightenment just from observing Gu Clan's Sword-to-Sword Extreme, her talent considerable by any measure.
But this was on another level entirely.
If the manor head's Sword-to-Sword Extreme resembled the lofty soliloquy of a swordsman atop a mountain peak, this "sword" followed a completely different path.
It demonstrated the ultimate sharpness of the sword itself.
Truly arrogant—no, insanely magnificent.
As if declaring that beneath the heavens, this alone was the sword.
'A sword that subjugates all.'
That was her honest sentiment.
Any true swordmaster would inevitably be plunged into shock, awe, and defeat.
-Clang!
In the end, she even dropped the sword she held.
Sword Valley fell into utter silence, as if everything had frozen still.
The only sounds were the helpless clatters of swords dropping here and there.
-Clang! Clang!
Watching this, Gu Yeon-woo, who lay prostrated, could barely contain his inner excitement.
'This is... the one the church has awaited?'
He had witnessed Mok Kyung-un's strength firsthand, yet he had assumed deep down that even this powerhouse couldn't surpass his father—one of the Six Heavens, the pinnacle of the current martial world.
Yet here was his father, Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu, along with all these swordmasters, struck speechless by that single carved word "sword" on the cliff.
The reactions around him were the same.
This alone decided the victor of the sword debate.
Gu Yeon-woo's eyes reddened.
He had feared losing his betrothed, Ye Song-a.
But now, neither his father Gu Cheon-mu nor anyone else here would hold her accountable. He could finally relax.
-Thud!
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Gu Yeon-woo slammed his forehead to the ground in a deep bow toward Mok Kyung-un.
A true savior.
But then,
"Huh!"
A cry rang out from somewhere.
Looking over, near the cave exit from Sword Valley, Gu Ung-seong—Gu Clan's second young master—was clutching the ground with one hand.
He had been nearby just moments ago—when had he gotten all the way over there?
As they puzzled over it,
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Th-this..."
"Come here."
-Tap!
Mok Kyung-un, stepping through the air down from the cliff, made a pulling gesture with his hand.
Gu Ung-seong, who had been gripping the ground with his left hand, was forcibly dragged toward him.
"Uwaaaah!"
-Screeech!
He struggled so desperately that his nails gouged the ground.
In the end, his nails tore off, leaving bloody streaks.
"Young Master Gu!"
"Grab the young master!"
Some of Spirit Sword Manor's swordsmen, whose realizations were shallow and thus only lightly entranced, startled at his screams and rushed to block the way.
However,
-Pah!
As Mok Kyung-un lightly raised his hand upward,
-Pah!
Gu Ung-seong's body, which had been sliding across the ground, floated up, soared over them, and crashed in a heap near Mok Kyung-un.
'Damn it all!'
Sprawled on the ground, Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong floundered in confusion.
From the manor head—his father Gu Cheon-mu—down to most of the swordmasters, all unable to hide their awe and shock, he knew everything had gone wrong. He had to escape this place somehow.
Yet he was caught before he could even flee.
In his bewilderment, Gu Ung-seong soon shouted as if realizing it was hopeless.
"Wh-what is the meaning of this? The manor head graciously yielded, and we agreed to end it with a sword debate. Why resort to such barbarism?"
"Barbarism? That's an amusing way to put it."
At that moment, Spirit Sword Manor's swordsmen hurriedly rushed over to protect Gu Ung-seong.
"Don't touch Young Master Gu!"
"Protect Young Master Gu!"
Just as they tried to close in on Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong,
-Slash!
Mok Kyung-un drew a sword formula in front of them.
A line of sharp energy formed on the ground, forcing them to halt momentarily.
To them, Mok Kyung-un issued a dry warning.
"I advise you not to cross that line."
There was no particular killing intent, but the pressure made the swordsmen's faces stiffen as they hesitated to cross.
However, failing to cross didn't mean their mouths were sealed.
"Is this how you repay the manor head's generosity?"
"Do you really intend to go against our manor?"
Mok Kyung-un ignored their protests.
Instead, he approached Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong and said,
"Not content with coveting what isn't yours, you proved quite troublesome."
"Wh-what are you talking about? I didn't covet any object—I was warning of the danger from the Hundred Flower Cult..."
-Slash!
Before he could finish,
'!?'
-Thud!
Something flopped onto the ground.
In that instant, a scream of agony burst from Gu Ung-seong's mouth.
"Graaaargh!"
The reason: his remaining left arm had been severed.
He had barely stanched the bleeding from his right arm, but now with the left gone too, blood sprayed like a fountain, turning his face ghostly pale in seconds.
"Y-you madman!"
"Young Master!"
As Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong writhed, soaking the ground in blood, the swordsmen yelled and tried to cross the line regardless.
Right then,
-Rumble! Pop!
On the cliff base lay the swords of the swordsmen killed earlier by the sword guest.
Those ownerless blades suddenly floated up all at once, flying like living things to block the swordsmen's path.
Faced with the eight or so swords barring their way, their expressions hardened.
"This... Sword Control with Qi?"
It was the technique of Controlling Swords with Qi.
Not one, but eight swords blocking them—a shocking sight that filled them with pressure, leaving them momentarily at a loss.
They had occasionally seen Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu—one of the Six Heavens—perform Sword Control with Qi.
But even that was one sword, or at most two or three.
Seeing eight handled simultaneously before their eyes planted seeds of doubt: could it be?
'No way.'
'No matter what, this guy can't be stronger than the manor head, right?'
'Just a bluff? But that doesn't feel like...'
The swords' movements were unnatural.
Each one felt truly alive.
If he could truly control this many swords not with mere telekinesis but through the subtleties of Sword Control with Qi, he would be a monster beyond imagination.
As they stood frozen under the pressure of the controlled swords, Mok Kyung-un walked over to the writhing Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong and continued,
"It's not over yet."
"Guh... Wh-what have you..."
"That tongue."
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un extended his hand.
Then,
"Ugh! Hack!"
Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong's mouth was forcibly pried open, his tongue pulled out.
His eyes, already streaming tears from the agony of his severed arms, shook wildly.
No matter how he looked at it, this monster's goal was clear.
His tongue.
"Ugh... Uwaaa... Pl-please..."
With his tongue gripped, he could barely enunciate, mumbling unintelligibly.
It looked like pleading to anyone watching.
Then, someone else hurriedly rushed over and knelt on the ground.
It was none other than Gu Yeon-woo and Young Manor Head Gu Ung-hwang.
"Holy Lord. Please, have mercy and stop."
"Clan Head! We apologize, so please show mercy to my little brother!"
As if they had coordinated beforehand, they tried to shield Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong.
At the sight, Mok Kyung-un smiled faintly and said,
"What devoted brothers. But that's that, and payment is payment."
-Swish!
"Aaack!"
With just a slight twitch of Mok Kyung-un's hand, Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong's tongue began to twist.
Not slicing it off, but tearing it out by wrenching.
Gu Yeon-woo slammed his head to the ground and cried out desperately.
"Please! Please! Spare my brother!"
"Who said anything about killing him? I'm just taking payment for that loose three-inch tongue."
Mok Kyung-un's attitude was utterly resolute.
Then, a voice rang out.
"You there, stop."
'!?'
The surroundings stirred.
The speaker was none other than Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu.
He, who had been entranced by the carved "sword" on the wall, unable to tear his eyes away, had come to his senses.
As the only one here who could oppose this monster—one of the Six Heavens, Gu Clan Head—everyone's eyes filled with relief.
As if meeting their expectations, Gu Cheon-mu approached Mok Kyung-un's position and said,
"Are you planning to rip out that child's tongue?"
"Ripping might be too clean a word for it."
-Roar!
No sooner had he spoken than Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu's true energy erupted in all directions.
Anyone could see he was enraged.
At his demeanor, those around sighed in relief—then grew inwardly anxious.
They had thought the fight wouldn't break out since the manor head had yielded once.
But that man's actions had changed the mood.
No matter how magnanimous the Gu manor head, no parent could tolerate this.
'In the end, it comes to this.'
'The aftermath could be severe.'
Everyone watched tensely.
But right then,
-Swish!
Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu shuddered, suppressed his rage, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Mok Kyung-un—what?
No one could hide their bewilderment at the scene.
What on earth?
The manor head then spoke.
"The child has already lost both arms and paid enough. Taking his tongue too would leave him worse than dead. I beseech you, in your magnanimity, to show mercy."
'!?'
Everyone was stunned.
They had expected him to explode in fury, yet the Gu manor head suppressed it and yielded once more.
Was it paternal love? Or endurance to prevent greater sacrifice?
Regardless, Mok Kyung-un smirked indifferently and said,
"My apologies. Sparing his life is mercy enough. And crucially, I lack that magnanimity."
-Swish!
With those words, Mok Kyung-un twitched his finger.
Second Young Master Gu Ung-seong's already half-twisted tongue wrenched further.
-Crack!
"Aaaaagh!"
The pain was so excruciating that Gu Ung-seong screamed and rolled on the ground.
His blood loss was already dire, his face deathly pale; without hasty treatment, he might lose his life.
Then,
-Shing!
Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu drew his sword from its sheath.
Would it lead to combat after all?
In that instant,
-Slash!
Something no one anticipated occurred.
Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu gripped the sword in his opposite hand and sliced off his own right arm.
-Thud!
His right arm fell limply to the ground.
'!!!!!!!!!'
Everyone was too shocked to speak, staring in disbelief.
For a swordsmith and swordsman like him, his right arm was a priceless treasure.
Yet he severed it without the slightest hesitation.
As the crowd gaped silently, Manor Head Gu Cheon-mu clutched his bleeding stump, enduring the pain, and spoke.
"Haa... haa... A child's failings stem from the parents who raised him. Let this serve as payment."