Chapter 44: Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 44: Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword (2)
“Halt!”
In front of the main gate of the Golden Martial Association, two sentries glared sharply at a single point. Their sudden hostility was triggered by the unannounced appearance of an old man and a young woman.
“Perhaps it is because they belong to the Unorthodox Faction, but they certainly seem full of hot-blooded energy.”
Song Hak, having walked directly up to the gate, paid no heed to their aggressive stance. A thick tension crackled between him and the guards, fueled by his provocative remark.
“I suggest you take your hands off your hilts—before I decide to kill every last one of you.”
The moment a terrifying light flashed in Song Hak’s eyes, the warriors’ hands instinctively dropped away from their scabbards as if by magic.
They were consumed by primal fear. Despite being martial artists tempered by years of training, they could not withstand Song Hak’s overwhelming pressure.
Creak.
At that moment, as if he had been waiting for the right time to intervene, a man with a sturdy, powerful build stepped out.
“What is your business here?”
Unlike the gatekeepers, this man was polite. He had quickly realized that the pressure emanating from the old man before him was anything but ordinary.
Song Hak nodded, seemingly satisfied by the man’s discernment. “You, at least, have eyes that can see.”
“Please, state your business first.”
“I am looking for someone.”
“And who might that be?”
“The Qingcheng Taoist who is currently dueling in the Hall of Submission.”
At those words, the man’s gaze briefly lingered on the faces of Song Hak and Yeon-hui.
Song Hak spoke up immediately, as if anticipating a delay. “I’m warning you, don’t try to play any clever tricks. My heart wants to smash this gate down and storm in right now, but I am showing as much courtesy as possible out of consideration for our respective positions.”
The warning jolted the man’s senses. Sensing Song Hak’s extraordinary aura, the man bowed deeply and moved with haste.
“I will go and check. Please wait.”
Leaving those words behind, he rushed toward the Hall of Submission.
*
A short while after the two young men appeared on the training ground, a man in black approached Cheol Jung.
Cheol Mu-jin was looking down at the arena from a distance, so he remained unaware of the subordinate's arrival.
“What is it?” Cheol Jung asked.
The man in black whispered into his ear. “An elder from the Qingcheng Sect has arrived.”
“What? Where?”
“He is currently at the main gate.”
“Could it be? Did he come knowing a duel was taking place?”
“I am not certain of that, sir.”
“How many of them are there?”
“One woman and one elder.”
Cheol Jung glanced at Cheol Mu-jin. Fortunately, the old man was focused on the scene below and likely wouldn't hear their conversation.
Should he send them away? Or let them in?
A justification. Yes, now that I think about it, this could work.
He made a decision in an instant. A few days ago, he had received a firm confirmation from the Qingcheng Taoist that he would have no complaints even if he died during the duel.
What would happen if he revealed that fact to the newcomers?
The Qingcheng elder would become a witness. If the boy died, the sect wouldn't be able to say a word. In other words, an environment was being created where a legal killing could occur—a justification to kill a single Taoist without triggering a full-scale war.
“Let them in.”
“Pardon? Sir?” The man in black, startled by the command, asked for clarification. To let not just any Orthodox martial artist, but an elder of the Qingcheng Sect into the heart of the Golden Martial Association?
But Cheol Jung was firm. “Let them in. And give them the best seats.”
“Ah... understood.”
“Go, now.”
The man in black bowed and vanished in an instant.
Cheol Jung looked at Cheol Mu-jin. The old man was still looking down, laughing joyfully. A smile played on Cheol Jung’s lips as well. Everything was flowing exactly according to his intentions.
Father, what shall we do? It seems the very thing you worry about is about to happen.
*
As the two young men stepped onto the training ground, the faces of the elders watching from the Hall of Submission were clouded with bewilderment.
It was hard enough to understand why a duel was being held in this place, which was rarely used more than once a year, but the youth who had stepped onto the stage was none other than Cheol Gun.
He was a warrior of whom it was said that even before reaching the age of twenty, it was difficult to find a rival for him—not just among his peers, but among all the young Rising Stars.
Though rumors had circulated for several years that he had fallen into a life of debauchery and wine, no one dared to criticize him because his skills were simply too outstanding.
“Do you happen to know who that boy is?”
Ha Jeong-ui, who carried a greatsword that looked heavy just to behold, spoke to Wol Pung, who was watching with intense focus.
Currently, the leaders of the Three Bands and Five Halls were all gathered on the stairs surrounding the Hall of Submission. Among them, Ha Jeong-ui was the one in charge of all the border guards within the territory. He was commonly referred to as Party Leader Ha.
“I do not know. I haven't been here long myself,” Wol Pung replied, looking down with a curious gaze. The youth below had sharp features and a composed posture. Even the way he drew his sword was far from ordinary.
“I shall tell you. That boy is a Taoist from the Qingcheng Sect.”
An explanation drifted in from above. The gazes of the seven elders turned toward the eaves. Someone who had been lying on the roof instead of watching from the stairs spoke down to them nonchalantly.
It was the old man Shin Bu-jae, the owner of the Snow Pavilion. He was relatively short in stature, but those who saw him did not think of him that way. It was said that everyone who met him left with the impression that he was taller than themselves.
“Pavilion Master Shin, is that true? That boy is a Qingcheng Taoist?” Ha Jeong-ui asked quickly.
“He is the one who came with the Estate Owner a few days ago. The Estate Owner brought him here specifically for this duel.”
“Hmph.”
The seven elders exchanged uneasy glances. A duel between the Young Master and a Qingcheng Taoist—they didn't know how to interpret this situation.
Meanwhile, below them, the conversation between Cheol Gun and Seok Myeong continued.
Cheol Gun’s expression had changed. His relaxed laughter had vanished, replaced by gravity and sharpness. It seemed the incident he had experienced previously had brought about a significant change in him.
In contrast, Seok Myeong remained the same. A sense of ease could be seen within his seriousness; in a way, he looked like someone who didn't particularly care about the task at hand.
“It seems you’ve been doing well,” Cheol Gun said, his words edged with hostility.
“There was no reason not to.”
“Even though you know who you have to face?”
“He is standing right in front of me, is he not?”
At those words, Cheol Gun shook his head as if he found it absurd. “Surely you aren't thinking of actually fighting and winning against me right now?”
“Is there any reason I couldn't?”
“Hahaha, how amusing.” He laughed heartily before his hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “Is there a need for more words?”
Srrrng.
He drew his sword.
“I think not.”
Seok Myeong, who had been watching him, also drew his blade.
*
“Martial Uncle, I think it’s that place.”
Yeon-hui pointed toward a towering building. It was a massive structure with an equally grand gate.
“The gate is open.”
Yeon-hui confirmed that the main gate of the building was halfway open.
“Let’s go inside for now,” Song Hak urged.
With that, the two of them stepped inside the Hall of Submission.
“...!”
The moment they saw the interior, they could hardly believe their eyes. A long training ground paved with dense blue stone, tiered stairs flanking both sides, and a towering pavilion built to overlook the scene below. Everything was magnificent.
“Wow, to think such a building exists...”
“Shh!”
When Song Hak gave a warning, Yeon-hui realized her mistake and fell silent. They saw several people around the training ground and spotted the young men standing upon it.
“Is this... then those two are...”
“Let’s just watch for now.”
Unlike the flustered Yeon-hui, Song Hak was excessively calm. Even if they had been granted permission to enter, this was the heart of enemy territory. Despite the situation, Song Hak displayed a startling level of composure born of experience and confidence. It allowed him to maintain a dignified spirit even in the middle of the Unorthodox Faction's stronghold.
“Who are they?”
Perhaps it was because of Yeon-hui’s voice, but someone pointed toward the entrance. At his words, the gazes of the elders all shifted toward the newcomers with ambiguous expressions.
*
“White Light Phantom Step.”
At the very moment it seemed Cheol Gun’s stationary body was dissolving like bubbles, white linear shapes filled the air. He moved so rapidly that his true form could not be discerned.
Seok Myeong tried to follow Cheol Gun’s movements but eventually took a step back. Having lost track of Cheol Gun’s physical form, he instinctively transitioned into a defensive stance.
“...!”
In that split second, Cheol Gun emerged through the white light and swung his sword down violently, seizing the opening. Just before he swung, his form had appeared from a completely different direction; it was a maneuver designed to steal Seok Myeong’s gaze once more in that brief interval.
Seok Myeong twisted his body reflexively. The sword aura narrowly grazed his chest and flew behind him.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the stairs, stone blocks, and spirit wall on the right were simultaneously shattered, vanishing without a trace. It was a terrifying level of power for sword aura accompanied by footwork.
“Ugh.”
Seok Myeong, having dodged the strike by a hair’s breadth, steadied his staggering body.
Whoosh.
In that instant, the white linear shapes appeared before Seok Myeong’s eyes once again.
Bang!
The moment Seok Myeong leaped, another blast of sword aura was unleashed. This time, it was even stronger. Though they didn't collide, the sword aura appeared to be at least a foot and a half long.
Swish, swish, swish.
Unlike before, Cheol Gun’s movements were incredibly domineering and relentless. He drove forward with terrifying speed, intent on obliterating his opponent without giving him a single chance to counter. Seok Myeong struggled to respond to the relentless onslaught, continuing the fight with difficulty.
“Martial Uncle, it looks like it’s going to end any second,” Yeon-hui said, unable to contain her frustration.
A duel between two young men. According to the Beggar Sect, one was the Young Master of the Golden Martial Association, and the other was a Qingcheng Taoist. However, to her eyes, both young men were strangers. To be precise, the youth currently busy defending felt much more familiar, yet he didn't seem to be the person they knew.
In a situation where interfering recklessly might only lead to disgrace, she demanded an answer from Song Hak on what to do.
“Not yet.”
Song Hak continued to watch the duel with a cautious gaze. Though it was a one-sided fight to the point where a difference in skill was apparent, the youth had not lost yet. In fact, the youth was acting in a way that inspired hope.
Even amidst a wave of attacks that were incredibly difficult to block, he had not forgotten the most important thing: his sword posture.
Despite several life-threatening moments, the youth in plain clothes maintained his sword in a middle-level guard rather than letting the tip drop. This was not a posture someone whose life was in imminent danger could maintain; it indicated that the situation was not as perilous as others might think.
Then.
“That is!” Song Hak’s eyes widened.
He wasn't the only one. Even Yeon-hui stared at the training ground with a dazed expression, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing.
The youth, who had been constantly retreating, attempted his first counterattack. And that attack was a martial art they knew all too well.
It was the sixteenth form of the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword: Sea Wind Cloud Mist.
Clear sword qi erupted like a waterfall, scattering in all directions. Because the range was so wide, Cheol Gun, who had leaped into the air, was forced to change directions six times while stepping through the void.
But Seok Myeong did not stop. He closed the three-jang distance between him and Cheol Gun in an instant and unleashed sword qi toward his chest.
Cheol Gun did not retreat, meeting the attack by drawing out a foot and a half of sword qi. Against his fierce resistance, Seok Myeong took a step back and drew his sword in a zigzagging pattern. He spun his body, pouring out sword qi wildly without a specific path to block the opponent’s retreat.
Ping.
Judging that the primary wave of sword qi was too difficult to block, Cheol Gun slipped to the left. In that moment, he realized that the broken strands of Seok Myeong’s sword qi were rushing at him from all sides, and he ultimately decided to meet them with a powerful frontal strike.
The sword shadows clinging around Seok Myeong’s sword qi poured down indiscriminately toward Cheol Gun.
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted from where Cheol Gun stood.
“This is impossible!” Song Hak cried out in shock.
The swordsmanship the youth in plain clothes had just displayed—it was a form that incorporated not only the Qingcheng martial art, the Azure Cloud Red Mist Sword, but also the Heaven and Earth Sword and the 72 Wave Swords.
It was unbelievable. How could he link martial arts with such different characteristics so continuously and without any obstruction?
“It makes no sense. How can he perform such a linked attack with martial arts of entirely different natures?”
Song Hak refused to believe it even after seeing it with his own eyes. Linking martial arts with different characteristics as if they were a single form is an extremely difficult feat. It wasn't a method one could easily mimic even after gaining vast experience, because the movements and the application of forms differed entirely depending on the situation.
Furthermore, linking three different forms was nearly impossible. And yet, the youth had done it. A young man who looked like he had only just passed twenty. The martial art he had just shown was shocking enough to be described as eerie.
Ah...
Song Hak was certain now. The youth in plain clothes was strong. And he was perfect. It was swordsmanship that didn't put all its power into a single strike but went through two or three stages. It was efficient, calculated, and a perfect offensive development.
Song Hak pondered. Setting aside internal energy and level of achievement, if he were to judge based on pure swordsmanship, could he actually fight and win against that youth? He didn't know. Because it was hard to grasp what kind of forms or what style the youth was using, he couldn't reach a conclusion.
“It’s become clear that your skill that day wasn't a fluke.”
As the mist cleared, Cheol Gun’s figure appeared. His clothes were torn in several places. Judging by that, it seemed he hadn't been able to block Seok Myeong’s previous attack easily.
When Seok Myeong didn't speak, Cheol Gun spoke again. “From now on, things will get interesting.”
Thud.
Cheol Gun held the Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword high for everyone to see and began to mutter something.
Zzzzzing.
The sword began to vibrate, emitting a resonant sound. It started to cry out so loudly that even those standing far away could feel it. As time passed, particles of true qi began to gather noticeably along the blade. Those energies tangled together, turning into glowing spheres like fireflies that circled the sword.
The energy continued to grow. It even appeared beneath the feet of Seok Myeong, who was maintaining a distance of two jang from Cheol Gun.
“Brother Seok Myeong, it’s dangerous!”
The moment a thread-like energy shimmered near Seok Myeong’s leg, Hyeok-jin shouted at the top of his lungs. Because he had been watching that energy for a while, he had discovered it before Seok Myeong.
The moment Seok Myeong moved his left foot back—
Cr-cr-crack.
The paving stones of the training ground shattered, and true qi shot up into the sky. Seok Myeong’s face hardened at the sight. The things moving like fireflies weren't just simple energy; they were a type of sword qi known as 'Qi'.
Could it be that all of those are sword qi?
It was terrifying just to look at. It felt as though anything they touched would be annihilated instantly.
“Seok Myeong? Did that boy just call him Seok Myeong?” Song Hak spoke from below, his voice full of doubt.
At his words, Seok Myeong’s gaze turned toward him.
“Martial Uncle Song Hak?”
“Seok Myeong? Is that really you, Seok Myeong?”
Perhaps because of his changed face, Song Hak couldn't immediately tell even after looking at him. But Yeon-hui was different. After hesitating for a moment, she looked at the scabbard Seok Myeong was wearing and was instantly certain.
“The Azure Clarity Sword? Brother, is it really you?”
“Yeon-hui, why are you here...”
Seok Myeong was surprised once again to see Yeon-hui. He couldn't understand how they had come all the way here.
It was then. Just as Cheol Gun’s energy was about to pour toward Seok Myeong, Cheol So-yeon shouted.
“What are you doing! It’s dangerous to get distracted like that during a duel!”
At Cheol So-yeon’s words, Yeon-hui’s gaze shifted. There, an ice-cold woman was staring at Seok Myeong. Seok Myeong was also looking toward her with a strange light in his eyes. For a moment, Yeon-hui’s expression showed that she found this situation difficult to understand.
It was then.
Zzzzzing.
As all the power gathered into the Iron Ridge Fire Bright Sword, a sword qi reaching a full three feet was unleashed. It was power that had reached the very peak of the Transcendence Realm.
That wasn't all. The firefly-like energies were swirling around Cheol Gun’s body.
“Shall we begin?” Cheol Gun asked.
But even amidst such power that left everyone else aghast, Seok Myeong replied calmly.
“Anytime.”
(To be continued in Volume 3 of Sword Emperor)