Chapter 367
Chapter 367
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 96
>Chapter Title: Sword (5)
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The right arm of Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu, still twitching with sensation alive and spewing blood.
-Crunch-crack-crack!
The floor where the right arm had fallen split into several fissures, as if struck by a sharp sword.
His right arm, honed over long years to reach the realms of sword-and-self-as-one and sword-path-to-sword-extreme, was like a sword in itself.
This alone showed how high a realm he had attained with the sword, but more shocking still was,
"Clan Head?"
"Why would he himself?"
That he had severed his own right arm, a treasure as both craftsman and swordmaster.
At this sight, everyone momentarily lost their words.
Why on earth would he make such a choice?
He was the master of Sword Valley, hailed as a holy land of the sword, and the lord of Spirit Sword Manor—one of the pinnacle figures in the current martial world.
No matter how one thought about it, there was no reason for him to go this far.
Even if that monster-like man's sword arts exceeded imagination, no one present believed Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu would lose to him.
"Ah...... Ahhhh......"
The eyes of Second Young Master Gu Woong-seong, whose tongue was pinned by Mok Kyung-un's true energy, shook wildly.
He too was greatly shocked.
He had assumed his father, Gu Cheon-mu, would naturally fight for honor and pride.
Even though he was merely a son whose martial prowess fell short of his elder brother the Young Manor Lord, and whose skill as a craftsman paled compared to his youngest brother Yeon-u, thus not receiving much favor.
That was why he had no great expectations of his father.
He thought it fortunate if his father merely refrained from letting him die.
But,
"Wh......why?"
Why had he severed the arm he cherished so dearly with his own hand?
Was a sore finger still a finger?
Enough to cast aside his pride as a martial artist and his very life as a craftsman?
Though he had been narrow-minded and wayward compared to his brothers, in this moment, his heart swelled with complex emotions.
"Ughhh."
Seeing Gu Woong-seong shed tears, the onlookers regarded Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu as a father too.
A father willing to sacrifice anything for his son.
However,
"Hah!"
'They're all mistaken.'
Ji Oe, watching the scene from afar, scoffed.
They now believed Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu had unhesitatingly sacrificed his precious arm to save his son.
But in his eyes, that was far from the truth.
Humans tend to see only as much as they know.
Excluding Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu, the one who had reached the highest realm in both sword and martial arts here was none other than himself, having surpassed the wall.
Perhaps Monk Jeong-myeong of Hang Mountain Sect vaguely sensed it, standing before that wall, but the sword traces carved on the cliff were the epitome of peerless supremacy.
Even he had been momentarily gripped by defeat upon seeing those traces on the cliff.
It was incomparable to the shock of witnessing sword-path-to-sword-extreme.
An unattainable, distant height.
'That's a real monster.'
A monster who had reached a realm even Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu could not.
Honestly speaking, if Gu Cheon-mu fought that man, the outcome was more or less predetermined.
Without some special variable, victory for Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu was unlikely.
Knowing this himself, he had severed his own arm.
'Cunning old fox.'
Having stayed here long, Ji Oe knew well how cunning the revered Gu Cheon-mu truly was.
Under the pretext of leading successors with sword-path-to-sword-extreme, he had detained countless swordsmen here, sharing insights to advance himself further—a great man indeed.
He never acted at a loss.
Even when forging swords, he demanded their unique sword styles in return.
Who else could make such a bold demand?
'If he engages, he loses everything.'
Thus, Gu Cheon-mu had made the extreme choice of severing his own arm.
Those present still believed in Gu Cheon-mu and thus could not see it, but he could.
Without showing at least this much sincerity, who knew how the opponent would react.
'He's secured his justification.'
Now, even that monster would find it hard to press further.
Having severed his right arm for his son, advancing more would cross the line.
If the opponent had any sense of propriety, he would stop here.
Though Gu Cheon-mu had lost an arm, the world's praise for his sacrifice for his son would preserve his pride as a martial artist.
But it was right then.
"You've done something needless."
'!?'
"One's own wrong is just one's own wrong."
"What do you mean right now......"
"I did tell you. That you've done something needless."
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un moved his hand.
Then, Second Young Master Gu Woong-seong's tongue twisted beyond endurance, tearing partially as blood burst forth.
-Pfbt!
"Aaack!"
It was one step from being fully ripped out.
At this sight, Gu Cheon-mu could no longer hold back his rage and shouted.
"How can you do such a thing!"
"It's not 'how can you.' I never told the Clan Head to take responsibility as a parent. And one's own wrong should be borne by oneself."
"What?"
At Mok Kyung-un's firm words, Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu went from anger to sheer absurdity.
As Ji Oe had predicted, from the cliff traces, he realized his chances of victory against Mok Kyung-un were slim even if they clashed.
Thus, to gain justification for sacrificing for his son, he had gritted his teeth and severed his own right arm.
'A fight to avoid.'
Too much at stake; he had to evade it somehow.
Severing his right hand was, to any onlooker, a great sacrifice.
Yet, pursuing higher sword arts, he had trained his left hand to a degree, so losing it would not be catastrophic.
All calculated to some extent.
But,
'This guy really?'
Even after showing such submission by severing his own right arm, he still insisted on taking the boy's tongue?
Utterly bewildering.
No more justification to endure.
Failing to step forward now would shatter not honor, but face.
-Grip!
In an instant, Gu Cheon-mu's mind grew chaotic.
Fighting to preserve face meant certain defeat.
Yet abstaining meant being branded a coward who watched his son suffer without lifting a finger.
A true dilemma, advance or retreat both dire.
'Foolish......'
What he thought a masterstroke was a blunder.
Normally, propriety would halt things here, but this man's actions were the opposite of prediction.
Perhaps better not to sever the arm and stake his life in battle.
It was right then.
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un feigned rotating his hand, then said,
"I must have grown soft-hearted indeed."
"......"
Puzzlement flashed in Gu Cheon-mu's eyes.
Just when he thought battle inevitable, he suddenly stopped—what intent?
A whim after acting tough?
But,
"The Clan Head's affection for his child is so touching; ripping out your son's tongue on top would look rather poor."
"......Then will you withdraw as well?"
"Of course. Though I don't particularly like leaving loose ends."
"Loose ends?"
Demanding a vow of no revenge?
That he could easily grant.
Revenge was never considered.
He himself had surpassed the wall over long years to reach sword-path-to-sword-extreme.
Yet this man was far younger, no matter how one looked.
On what timeline would he catch up for revenge?
'......Too much to lose.'
The more one holds, the more one prioritizes stability over vendettas.
Thus, Gu Cheon-mu spoke cautiously.
"My actions were to save my son; how can you blame that? If this satisfies you, this old man will make it final here."
"How magnanimous. But I'm rather cautious myself."
Gu Cheon-mu inwardly clicked his tongue.
What a troublesome fellow.
Could a powerhouse of such heights be this prudent?
Or meticulous?
Thus, Gu Cheon-mu exhaled softly and said,
"Then what do you want? If a promise, I can put it in writing."
"Writing. Not bad. But paper promises can be torn anytime."
"......Then what do you want exactly?"
"I have some shame, so demanding your dantian crippled seems excessive...... Since it's come to this, how about the remaining arm too?"
'!!!!!!'
In that instant, Gu Cheon-mu's face twisted ferociously.
He had wondered what demand, but never imagined the remaining arm.
-Murmur-murmur!
The surroundings stirred.
Had this man gone mad?
The former Clan Head had set aside his pride as one of the Six Transcendents for his son, yielding this far—yet demand the last arm too?
Truly crossing the line.
Thus,
"Clan Head! This won't do!"
"We'll aid the Clan Head too!"
"The Second Young Master will understand your heart. Don't yield!"
"No need to hold back anymore!"
Outcries of fury erupted everywhere.
At their boiling shouts, force entered the hand of Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu, gripping his sword in his left.
Severing his son's two arms was not enough; now demanding his last.
Indeed, properly crossed the line.
No more......
"You all seem quite angry. But you should hear the story to the end."
"To the end? You mean right now......"
"If the Clan Head, with great sacrificial spirit, severs his remaining left arm himself, I'll reattach your son's arm."
"What?"
At Mok Kyung-un's words, everyone was dumbfounded.
Reattach an already severed arm how?
Spouting impossibilities even gods couldn't achieve—did he take the Clan Head and them for fools?
"You don't believe it?"
Mok Kyung-un smirked and said.
Then they shouted.
"What nonsense is this! Clan Head! He's insulting you."
"No need to listen. Strike now......"
But then,
-Slash!
A sword floating via telekinetic sword control sliced off the arm of one screaming swordsman from Spirit Sword Manor.
"Aaack!"
-Clang!
At the sudden stroke, all around drew swords.
Finally to fight?
It was then.
-Pop!
"Hngh!"
Mok Kyung-un spread his hand and pulled; the swordsman, arm severed, was forcibly dragged before him by vast true energy, soaring through the air.
A first-rate master, but compared to Mok Kyung-un's realm, no better than a worm on the ground—unable to withstand the true energy.
-Swish!
"Will you see it through to the end?"
Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu aimed at Mok Kyung-un with the sword in his left hand.
Mok Kyung-un shrugged and said,
"Just showing you since you don't believe."
"What do you......"
It was then.
-Thud-thud!
The severed arm floated up, flying toward the swordsman held by true energy.
In that state, Mok Kyung-un lightly struck pressure points on the severed stump.
Blood flow stanched somewhat.
"It'll hurt a bit."
"Wh-what are you......"
-Thwack!
Then the floating severed arm attached to the swordsman's stump.
Holding sword mudra with his right hand, Mok Kyung-un pressed it to the join.
Then with his left,
-Clasp! Clasp! Clasp! Clasp! Clasp! Clasp!
'Lin (臨)! Dou (鬪)! Zhen (前)! Zai (在)! Chen (陳)! Jie (皆)!'
He formed abbreviated hand seals of the Nine Syllable Activation Method.
As the seals formed, red heat flowed from the tip of his right sword mudra finger.
"Huh?"
The swordsman flinched in shock, at a loss.
But bound by true energy, he couldn't move.
Then Mok Kyung-un moved the sword mudra along the severed join.
While inwardly reciting the incantation,
'Eastern Azure Emperor General Star Inner Aid, Central Yellow Emperor General Star Inner Aid, Western White Emperor General Star Inner Aid, Northern Black Emperor General Star Inner Aid, Central Yellow Emperor General Star Inner Aid.'
-Sizzle-hiss!
Smoke rose from the path of the sword mudra on the stump.
At the burning pain, the swordsman screamed.
"Kuaaaaaaaa!"
At the swordsman's agony, Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu finally stepped forward.
Only he could oppose this man.
"Stop at once!"
-Pop!
Kicking off the ground, Gu Cheon-mu closed the distance in a breath, targeting Mok Kyung-un's glabella.
Then Mok Kyung-un shoved the swordsman forward as a shield on that trajectory.
'Damn!'
Gu Cheon-mu had to alter his sword path.
-Slash!
Masterfully changing direction, Gu Cheon-mu created a dozen sword shadows, forming a blooming flower bud inversely wilting and closing.
All marveled at his splendid sword technique.
Even with left hand, not right, so exquisite—making one wonder why he had yielded earlier.
But,
-Thwack!
Mok Kyung-un thrust the swordsman's head into the center of the wilting flower bud trajectory.
Gu Cheon-mu's eyes shook.
His left hand well-trained allowed precise evasion to target Mok Kyung-un, but the slightest deviation killed the swordsman.
-Pop!
Ultimately abandoning the technique, Gu Cheon-mu retreated and shouted,
"How can you be so cowardly......"
His eyes widened mid-shout.
For the swordsman, writhing in pain moments ago, had unconsciously moved his severed arm.
"Huh?"
Realizing only now, the swordsman stared in shock at his severed arm.
Pain gone, arm and fingers moved freely.
The swordsman looked incredulous.
"This...... what is this?"
Other swordsmen and guests reacted the same.
What was he doing? Yet truly, the severed arm was reattached.
Unbelievable even seeing it.
As all marveled, Mok Kyung-un said,
"I told you. I can reattach severed arms."
"......"
"Did it sound empty?"
This was the Three Wonders Method, a healing incantation.
With certain stringent conditions met, it could even reattach severed limbs—a wondrous art.
The greatest constraint among them: it consumed the patient's vital energy.
In simple terms, sacrificing lifespan.
Stronger incantations naturally had greater costs, but since it used the patient's own vital energy, not the caster's, it was useful.
"Now, what will you do? Give me your remaining arm, and I'll reattach your son's. The choice is entirely yours, Clan Head."
"......"
At Mok Kyung-un's proposal, Clan Head Gu Cheon-mu was speechless.
As the foremost craftsman of the Central Plains and one of the Six Transcendents, he always held the advantage in dealings, no matter the opponent.
But not this time.
Never encountered such cunning.
Give his last arm, and he'd reattach his son's severed one?
"Hurry and choose. Your son's arm, or your own?"
-Grip!
Gu Cheon-mu bit his lip hard.
Never such a vicious one.
This proposal offered no real choice.
Either way, all lost.
Sever the arm, and as martial artist or craftsman, life ended.
Refuse, abandon son and inevitably fight this man—losing all likewise.
-Drip-drip!
Unable to choose either in this dire dilemma.
Sweat soaked Clan Head's brow, head throbbing as if splitting.
-Murmur-murmur!
Shouts from around, unheard.
Gu Cheon-mu's dazed gaze turned to Mok Kyung-un.
-Chill!
Seeing Mok Kyung-un's face, his expression froze.
Smiling as if delighting in it all, that smile brimmed with malice.
The bastard was testing—no, toying with him.
'Demon...... This one's truly a demon.'
Now he understood.
From the start, he knew Gu Cheon-mu sought to evade fight under pretext of son's sake.
Thus engineering this.
A situation where any choice led to ruin.
-Tremble-tremble!
Realizing it, for the first time, Gu Cheon-mu felt visceral fear and terror from a human.
Not because he was an unparalleled swordmaster surpassing him.
This demon-like man toyed with and subjugated others' hearts utterly.
Unable to choose anything, Gu Cheon-mu,
-Thud!
Dropped to both knees there.
"Clan Head!"
"Father!"
All cried out in shock.
But Gu Cheon-mu heard no voices or gazes now.
In torment of two paths filled with ruin, head near bursting, he finally let go like enlightenment.
-Thud!
Gu Cheon-mu bowed his head fully to Mok Kyung-un and said,
"This old man begs forgiveness thus. I'll do all you desire; please show mercy."
'!!!!!!!!!'