Chapter 210
Chapter 210
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Standing Against the Absolute
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Those called 'absolute' are beings who have transcended the realm of mortals. Thus, all revere them, and even making eye contact is enough to intimidate most.
The Sword Emperor, Namgung Mu-wi. A man who dominated an era with a single sword.
His existence brought greater praise to the Namgung family name, and the power of the renowned clan grew even stronger. Countless people flocked to join the Namgung family, drawn by the allure of his absolute title.
But now, Namgung Mu-wi faced a tenacious assault from those who refused to bow to that name.
“Ice Shot!”
“Take this!”
“Hah!”
The eyes of the thirty or so warriors charging him were not filled with fear of the 'absolute,' but with venom.
“These damn bastards!”
A final strike would have been enough to kill the damned assassin. But the moment he extended his sword, he found himself vulnerable, forcing him to hastily alter its trajectory.
Kaaaaang!
However, the ones who swung their swords a step faster than the others were Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, who were protecting Neung Un-bi's flanks.
“Ice Lotus Flower!”
The tangible cold energy erupting from Wang Cheon’s body diminished the power of the sword strike.
Shwaaak!
Ju Seung’s sword followed, digging into Namgung Mu-wi’s opening like the fangs of a beast.
Shwaaak!
“Th-These things?”
Not only was his sword blocked, but he was even counterattacked. A look of bewilderment crossed Namgung Mu-wi’s face.
Even though it was a hasty block, it was still a strike from the Sword Emperor. It should have been more than enough to slice their bodies in two.
But the reason it failed was that Wang Cheon and Ju Seung’s skills had changed drastically from the past.
The days of relentless training, striving to keep up with their lord, Neung Un-bi, who grew stronger by the day after coming to the Central Plains.
And the life-threatening training they endured through Hyang-i, which transcended the senses.
All of this had drastically improved their skills.
Of course, having only Neung Un-bi and Hyang-i as opponents, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung were unaware of their own true strength.
“Hah!”
Following his first strike, Ju Seung fiercely launched a second.
The eyes of the momentarily flustered Namgung Mu-wi blazed with fury.
He... by these mongrels...
“Fine! You filthy followers of the Demonic Cult! I’ll kill every last one of you!”
Grit!
His eyes gleaming with rage, Namgung Mu-wi clenched his teeth and amplified his power.
It is said that a warrior always reserves thirty percent of their strength, even in the fiercest of battles. They know that this reserve might one day save their life.
But in this moment, Namgung Mu-wi disregarded that wisdom and unleashed his full power. Though it was only thirty percent, for one bearing the title of 'absolute,' it was a force beyond imagination.
Fwoooosh!
The rapidly boiling energy swelled Namgung Mu-wi’s robes as if to burst them, and the unleashed aura raged like a savage storm.
“Hah!”
As he parried the sword strike aimed at him, he simultaneously thrust a palm deep into Ju Seung’s abdomen.
Thwack!
“Keuk!”
Though the sequence was different, both Wang Cheon, who blocked Namgung Mu-wi's sword, and Ju Seung, who was struck by his palm, spewed fountains of blood and were flung away like kites with their strings cut.
A master of sword energy. The title of 'absolute.'
No matter how strong they had become, they were but fireflies before a full moon. The gap between them and Namgung Mu-wi was far too vast to be overcome by willpower alone.
“Block him! Protect the Guard Captain and the Grand Commander!”
“Waaah!”
Despite this, no one faltered.
Thirty members of the Waning Moon Brigade.
They unhesitatingly leaped into Namgung Mu-wi’s killing intent, an aura so intense it felt like it could tear their skin just by approaching.
“Squad One and Squad Two, deploy the Iron Gate Lock Formation! Squad Three, provide support from the rear! Seon-cheong, tend to the Guard Captain and the Grand Commander! Il-seo, check on the maid!”
“Yes, sir!”
Squad One Leader Pyeong-su filled the gap left by Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, taking command of the Waning Moon Brigade. In an instant, the sword formation enveloped Namgung Mu-wi, who was rampaging like an enraged tiger.
“Formation, engage! Chain attacks!”
“...?!”
The formation moved the moment it was set, launching an immediate barrage of attacks.
Clang! Clang!
Namgung Mu-wi’s face contorted further.
Do these Demonic Cult bastards know no fear?
How can they witness my aura and continue attacking without the slightest hesitation?
Moreover, the power contained in each and every sword was substantial.
It was like trying to swat away stones, wasn't it?
Although they were weaker than Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, the assault of thirty swords was enough to make Namgung Mu-wi falter.
In truth, it wasn't all that surprising.
Could it be that only Ju Seung and Wang Cheon had trained after coming to the Central Plains?
With only thirty men, they had survived a bloody battle against the Heavenly Pillar Gate and had fought in numerous skirmishes since.
Among their opponents had been the King of the Green Forest and Changrang, the king of the river pirates, no less.
With every opponent being extraordinary, their skills were bound to improve, even without separate training.
Besides, what was the predecessor of the Waning Moon Brigade?
The Black Leopard Cavalry of Snow Mountain Manor, who had defended the Demonic Cult by fighting enemies north of the Heavenly Mountains almost daily.
For them, the battles and training in the Central Plains were enough to amplify their skills severalfold.
Just as Neung Un-bi had grown, and just as Wang Cheon and Ju Seung had desperately followed in his wake, the Waning Moon Brigade had also grown stronger.
“The left flank is in danger! Reinforce it!”
“Layer the formation! Stop the Sword Emperor!”
The Waning Moon Brigade pressed Namgung Mu-wi relentlessly, giving him no room to breathe. Their seamless attacks, flowing like a sophisticated mechanism, were truly admirable.
However, no matter how much stronger they had become, the Sword Emperor was still the Sword Emperor.
Despite their desperate efforts to contain him, the sword formation soon grew precarious, as if about to be torn apart.
Crash! Cra-crash!
With every clash of swords, the grips of the Waning Moon Brigade warriors tore, splattering blood. The shockwaves inflicted internal injuries, causing them to cough up blood.
“Don’t lose your swords! Tie them to your hands with torn cloth if you have to, but hold on!”
Pyeong-su’s venomous shout rang out, but holding on any longer was a difficult task.
“Haaap!”
Kraaaaaa!
The energy infused in the powerful downward strike overturned the very ground.
Booooom!
More than half of the thirty warriors, unable to withstand the aftershock, were sent flying and tumbling across the ground.
The sword formation had finally been broken.
“You bastards! This is the end!”
Namgung Mu-wi appeared in the middle of the shattered formation, his disheveled hair whipping in the wind.
Looking down at the fallen members of the Waning Moon Brigade, Namgung Mu-wi slowly raised his sword.
“Forcing me this far is worthy of praise. But the price for it is death!”
The tip of his vertically held sword pointed toward the sky and stopped. Namgung Mu-wi’s ferocious aura gradually subsided.
A simple vertical slash, the first form of the three-part Emperor Sword Style.
Though the form was exceedingly simple, the strike could split a great mountain in two, and the wave of energy generated the moment the sword stopped at mid-level would devastate the surroundings.
“Hah!”
With a kiai, the sword sliced vertically, following Namgung Mu-wi’s hand.
But the sword never reached the mid-level.
Claaaaaaang!
Before it could arrive at the halfway point and unleash its full power, Namgung Mu-wi’s sword was stopped by another blade, thin and sleek.
“Kuh... Dammit, it’s heavy.”
“...!”
A deeply grimacing face, a voice spat out as if chewing on the words, and obsidian eyes staring straight at his opponent.
It was Neung Un-bi.
“You...”
“It wouldn’t do to forget about me. I have quite a grudge against you.”
Screee, screee.
The two clashing swords.
One trying to press down, the other trying to lift up.
The two held their ground as if in a test of strength, the screech of metal growing louder and louder.
“What’s wrong? Has the great Sword Emperor of the world lost his strength? Or is it that even the Sword Emperor can’t escape old age?”
“You bastard...”
Seeing Neung Un-bi hold his ground without yielding an inch, Namgung Mu-wi’s lips trembled.
How dare this young brat from the Demonic Cult mock him?
But contrary to Namgung Mu-wi’s thoughts, Neung Un-bi was truly giving it his all.
How could an old man be this strong?
And on top of that, the pressure added to the sword.
His leisurely demeanor was nothing but a bluff.
Despite having fought against Hyang-i and the Waning Moon Brigade—all formidable masters in their own right—his strength hadn't diminished in the slightest. The Sword Emperor was still the Sword Emperor.
But he could not back down.
After Yun An-ro’s death, Cheok Wol-rin died. All that remained was Neung Un-bi.
The third disciple of the Demonic Cult’s Leader, the lord whom Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Waning Moon Brigade trusted and followed.
Therefore... I will survive.
I will take all of them and return safely to the Demonic Cult.
And in the distant future, I will surely bring your world crashing down.
Steeling his will once more, Neung Un-bi focused his strength, and the demonic energy within him began to boil as if running rampant.
The Tyrant's Asura Art.
It was a power he could barely control, one that had not yet fully settled within his body.
Furthermore, he had already used an excessive amount of power in the previous fight. He was desperately holding on, but he felt as if his consciousness might slip away at any moment.
But for now, this was the only way.
Even if his blood vessels burst and his muscles tore.
“Ughh!”
With a rough kiai, Neung Un-bi lifted his sword as if uprooting a giant tree.
Screeeeech!
With a loud screech of metal, the sword was slowly pushed upward.
“Th-This bastard!”
The flustered Namgung Mu-wi tried to exert more force, but it was difficult to stop the power of Neung Un-bi, who had already seized the momentum.
“Hah!”
Clang!
With a kiai forced through clenched teeth, Neung Un-bi finally pushed Namgung Mu-wi’s sword away.
Forced to retreat, Namgung Mu-wi glared at Neung Un-bi with contorted eyes.
“Hoo...”
Calming his energy with a long sigh, Neung Un-bi faced him with cold eyes and twisted his lips.
“So the Sword Emperor is nothing special after all.”
“What?”
“Then again, what can a washed-up old man do?”
He said that, but inside, he was a wreck. He himself didn’t know how much longer he could last.
But despite the mocking words, Namgung Mu-wi did not attack immediately.
Just like Neung Un-bi, Namgung Mu-wi had also expended a great deal of energy in their recent clash.
Even now, the tip of his sword was trembling faintly. His fingertips were tingling from the excessive use of force.
He needed to catch his breath first. No matter how urgent the situation, he couldn’t risk attacking recklessly and falling to the brat, could he?
Not with the Sword Emperor's dignity on the line...
“My lord!”
“Third Young Master!”
In the meantime, Hyang-i, Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Waning Moon Brigade, having recovered, approached Neung Un-bi.
A quick glance at them sent a chill through Neung Un-bi’s heart.
These were people who had risked their lives for a cause that had nothing to do with them.
People who had trusted him without needing any explanation.
“...Thank you.”
“Sir?”
“Huh?”
Neung Un-bi muttered, his voice barely audible, then quickly changed the subject as if embarrassed.
“There aren’t many of them left.”
“...?”
“Your injuries are severe, so it’ll be hard to move, but... I’m counting on you.”
With those words, Neung Un-bi walked straight toward Namgung Mu-wi without looking back at his companions.
His request.
Wang Cheon and the others soon realized he was talking about the surviving Namgung family warriors.
Neung Un-bi was asking them to finish the job he had started.
And he himself was walking alone toward the Sword Emperor, a man of immense renown.
Today, the sight of his back looked as dignified as a general commanding an army of tens of thousands.
His back seemed as broad as the earth that formed the world.
This was the image of the lord they had longed and hoped for.
“Yes, my lord!”
Hearing the powerful reply from Wang Cheon and the others, Neung Un-bi gave a slight nod and walked on, his Flying Swallow Sword hanging low.
Right, what is there to hesitate about?
This damn life of mine... it wouldn't matter if I died now anyway.
“Sword Emperor!!”
At Neung Un-bi’s ragged cry, Namgung Mu-wi’s face twisted in fury.