Chapter 157: Couldn't Hear Because of the Wind
The tremor of the sword ceased in an instant, and the Gyeok Ok Tower regained its tranquility.
Of course, Yeop Hyeon outside the tower was unaware of this.
Yeop Hyeon spread his arms wide and deeply inhaled the fresh air around him. His body and mind felt lighter than ever, unburdened in a way he couldn't remember.
Until now, he had sensed a vagueness about his own sword path. In other words, he hadn't truly understood it.
He hadn't even grasped the concept of sword intent clearly.
But now, it was as if he had slain the clouds and winds to gaze upon a clear blue sky—everything had become crystal clear.
Good and evil!
In truth, up until moments ago, his sword intent had merely taken the form of Good and Evil Sword Intent. But through this recent enlightenment, it had fully transformed into true Good and Evil Sword Intent.
Yeop Hyeon could feel that his sword intent was now incomparably stronger than before.
If he faced that gray-robed man from earlier right now, he was confident he could settle it in five exchanges—without even using One Sword Determines Life and Death.
'Do sword intents have realms too?'
The thought suddenly intrigued him. But he couldn't find an answer to that question.
Not yet, because the Heavenly Maiden—no, the Sword Immortal—hadn't awakened.
Putting the thought aside, Yeop Hyeon began walking along the riverbank.
He casually spread his right hand. A chill rose from his palm.
'I can sense it...'
When practicing Sword Eyes, Yeop Hyeon could perceive everything around him.
Now, he sought to go beyond mere sensing—to borrow.
During the battle just now, he had blended his battle intent and sword intent into his sword momentum. In that moment, a realization struck.
'If I can fuse sword intent and battle intent, couldn't I fuse other things too? Like... the wind... the earth...'
Yeop Hyeon planted his foot on the ground—without invoking the Dochik. It wasn't something born purely from himself, after all.
As a brief moment passed, a strand of momentum flowed from his entire body.
Sword Momentum!
At the same time, his battle intent and sword intent slowly began fusing within his 'momentum.' Just then, a gust of wind rode along his palm, blending into the momentum. The ground beneath his feet trembled, and a power from the earth surged up through his soles, flowing into it as well.
His 'momentum' felt far stronger than before.
With each step he took, the river to his right churned violently, and the earth cracked underfoot.
'Borrowed Power! Borrowing momentum!'
Yeop Hyeon inwardly leaped with joy. Just as he'd thought—he could borrow momentum from elsewhere. Moreover, he could fuse it with his own powers.
Blending battle intent, sword intent, wind, and earth's energy into his momentum made it something beyond the sword momentum he once knew.
The momentum a person could contain was finite, like filling a cup with water—overflow it, and it spills. But swap the cup for a basin and shatter the cup, and you hold far more.
Momentum was like that water. To contain more, one must shatter their own limits.
Yeop Hyeon continued walking slowly forward. The river to his right surged upward, forming a tremendous momentum.
Water Momentum!
This water momentum began condensing toward him bit by bit.
Boom—!
Suddenly, the ground beneath his feet collapsed.
The earth couldn't withstand the momentum focused on his body.
Now, with just Good and Evil Sword Intent and this 'momentum,' Yeop Hyeon could easily slay a Penetrating Nether Realm expert. If he faced that earlier opponent again, he'd kill him in three strikes. With One Sword Determines Life and Death, it would be a single slash to sever his head.
Strength wasn't measured by realm alone. Momentum, combat experience, weapons—all factored in. Excluding realm, Yeop Hyeon's were all top-tier. Once he reached Divine Fusion Realm, his power would soar like wings sprouting from his back.
Yeop Hyeon halted and pressed his palm downward.
"Disperse!"
With those words, the various momenta gathered around him vanished in an instant.
The river quickly calmed.
Sword Lord!
A smile tugged at Yeop Hyeon's lips. His state already qualified as such.
He pointed a finger into the distance. A sword shot forth like light. Thirty-odd zhang away, a tree branch snapped with a crack. As it fell, the Spirit Water Sword appeared beneath it, catching it gently atop its blade.
Then, the Spirit Water Sword flashed back to him like lightning.
A grin spread across Yeop Hyeon's face, erupting into laughter.
His sword control had evolved a full stage in speed and power compared to before.
Most crucially, he could now wield his sword as freely as moving a finger.
Right then, an elderly man appeared before him.
It was O Lu Ju of Chwiseonru.
Yeop Hyeon subtly pressed his foot into the ground, and the earth power he'd generated vanished into the Dochik.
He'd already discovered he could conceal power within the Dochik. No need before, but now, prudence demanded hiding his true strength. A hidden trump card struck hardest when unseen.
O Lu Ju gave Yeop Hyeon a wry smile and spoke.
"My friend, forgive me. Chwiseonru is withdrawing from this matter."
Yeop Hyeon nodded calmly.
"I expected as much."
"My apologies."
"No need for that. You've already granted Chwiseonru's favors aplenty."
With a serious expression, Yeop Hyeon continued.
"Whenever I've been in peril, Chwiseonru has aided me without fail. This debt is etched in my bones—I swear to repay it when you need it most."
O Lu Ju felt a pang in his heart. Initially, they'd approached for the Sword Immortal behind Yeop Hyeon. But over time, Yeop Hyeon himself had won him over. Impulsive at times, yet a rare youth who prized loyalty and righteousness.
Changmok Academy's brutal expulsion of him was the dumbest blunder in a century.
A man like Yeop Hyeon repaid favors with his life.
Like Canglan Academy's Dean Ji Yuan Zhang...
O Lu Ju sighed softly and extended his hand. A long box appeared in his palm. He offered it to Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, what you requested."
Opening it, Yeop Hyeon found two swords—identical, as if forged in the same forge.
Each was about five chi long but narrow as a finger joint.
"These swords, named Swift Shadow, were crafted specially for a sword immortal wielding imperial sword arts. If you control swords remotely, they'll unleash double the power of ordinary blades."
'Swift Shadow...'
Yeop Hyeon raised his palm upward, and the two swords floated lightly from the box.
Pointing into the distance, he sent them flying fifty-odd zhang to a tree, then back like lightning. At that moment, two leaves drifted slowly from the treetop.
O Lu Ju's eyes trembled fiercely at the sight.
He knew Yeop Hyeon could control swords remotely, but not at such speed. It was beyond what a mere Penetrating Nether Realm cultivator could achieve.
Yeop Hyeon stroked the blades in admiration.
"Swift Shadow—truly fine swords!"
As if understanding, the blades quivered lightly, humming their sword cry.
Yeop Hyeon laughed heartily in satisfaction, stored the swords, and cupped his fists toward O Lu Ju.
"Lord O Lu Ju! My deepest thanks!"
From his bosom, he drew a golden plaque. O Lu Ju waved both hands.
"No need. These swords are a token of our friendship from Chwiseonru."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head gravely.
"Friendship is friendship; trade is trade."
When O Lu Ju still refused, Yeop Hyeon added,
"If you won't take it, then Chwiseonru and I are done dealing."
Reluctantly, O Lu Ju accepted the plaque.
It held two hundred million in gold.
"If possible, I'd like your continued aid with information. And permission to buy more from Chwiseonru?"
"Worry not. The upper echelons have ordered aid within our means. Though our warriors stepping forward..."
"Haha, that's plenty! Until we meet again soon."
With that, Yeop Hyeon turned and walked away.
Gazing at his retreating figure, O Lu Ju murmured,
"Barring mishaps, he'll surely become a Sword Immortal!"
O Lu Ju vanished, leaving only the river's flow.
Yeop Hyeon headed toward Gaeyang Fortress's watchtower. Soldiers along the way bowed deeply, faces alight with excitement upon seeing him.
The Sword Cultivator! Kanguk's Sword Cultivator!
His status as a Kanguk native alone filled them with pride.
Atop the wall, he approached Gang Gu, who gazed outward.
"They haven't retreated yet!"
Looking out, Yeop Hyeon saw countless soldiers arrayed densely beyond.
Just then, a group of about twenty cavalry approached the fortress. Their attire marked them not as Cho Kingdom troops.
Gang Gu shouted,
"Daeun Empire soldiers!"
The Daeun Empire had finally shown itself.
A middle-aged rider at the base looked up at Yeop Hyeon and Gang Gu, yelling,
"Surrender, or die!"
In that instant, a sword flew forth, halting before the man's forehead.
Yeop Hyeon gazed down and said,
"What was that? Couldn't hear over the wind—say it again?"
"......"