Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Things Left by the Heavenly Qi Master
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"More unfamiliar faces than before."
At the Sword King's words, Namgung Han quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"Namgung Han of the Southern Palace School offers his respects to the Sword King."
Namgung Han's polite greeting softened the Sword King's mood a touch. The Sword King nodded, accepting the bow.
"Namgung Hak. How's that old friend of mine doing?"
Namgung Han replied with a joyful expression.
"Of course, Grandfather is as hale as ever."
"I see. He must be getting on in years now, too."
The Sword King muttered to himself, then rose from his sickbed. His gaze turned to Geum Yuhwa.
"I'm sorry to you. But you're safe now, and that's what matters. From here on, I'll watch over you more carefully."
The Sword King's kind words warmed Geum Yuhwa's heart. Her eyes welled up in an instant, and she hurriedly bowed her head.
"I'm just glad you're safe."
"Yes, yes."
The Sword King nodded with a faint smile. Then he turned toward Dan Hyeong-u, who stood quietly in the corner of the room.
"And... you there."
At the Sword King's call, Jong Chil dashed forward in a flash and stood ramrod straight.
"Yes, sir!"
The Sword King was momentarily speechless at Jong Chil's swift movement. He'd actually been calling for Dan Hyeong-u, so with Jong Chil jumping in, he had nothing to say.
"You're safe too, I see."
"All thanks to you, Sword King, sir!"
The Sword King chuckled softly at Jong Chil's booming response. It had certainly lifted his spirits, regardless.
"Yes, yes. Anyway, you—the one standing over there."
The Sword King's eyes shifted to Dan Hyeong-u. Meeting his gaze, the Sword King grinned.
"What's your deal?"
The Sword King's question echoed through the room, striking everyone to the core.
Dan Hyeong-u stared silently at the Sword King for a long moment. Growing impatient, Namgung Han stepped forward.
"What rudeness is this? The elder asks, and you don't answer? Show some respect."
Dan Hyeong-u shot Namgung Han a brief glance but said nothing more. After dragging it out a bit longer, he finally spoke.
"Freelance warrior."
The room's occupants exchanged baffled looks at his answer. The Sword King's expression twisted oddly.
"Freelance warrior? So you're telling me a mere freelance warrior split the Demonic Alliance's elites in half and saved my life?"
Namgung Han gasped at the Sword King's words. Saved his life? What was this?
"I can't shake the feeling I've misunderstood something about you. What do you say? Care to cross swords with me?"
A chill silence blanketed the room at the Sword King's challenge. Had anyone else received that question, they'd have taken it as a death sentence.
All eyes turned to Dan Hyeong-u. He stared impassively at the Sword King.
"Does asking to fight mean it's okay to kill you?"
The Sword King burst into laughter at Dan Hyeong-u's retort.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
After laughing heartily, he spoke with a face full of mirth.
"Indeed! So my instincts were right. 'Is it okay to kill you?' Who in the world could say that to the Sword King? You never even considered me a threat from the start!"
Despite his words, joy overflowed on the Sword King's face.
"Truth be told, I wouldn't mind dying, but I at least want to see my granddaughter's face one more time! Let's not kill each other, eh? Ha ha ha!"
The Sword King laughed uproariously.
The onlookers watched in slack-jawed shock.
Episode 8. Things Left by the Heavenly Qi Master
The spacious courtyard was vast enough to seem excessive for a duel between two people—but for the Sword King, it might not be so vast after all.
The Sword King faced Dan Hyeong-u and raised his sword. Dan Hyeong-u's indifferent gaze pierced the Sword King's mind anew. It was frightening. Terrifying eyes.
"Let me see that lightning-fast sword of yours."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Dan Hyeong-u appeared before the Sword King. The spectators gasped at the ghostly footwork. Yet the Sword King calmly swung his blade.
Flash!
Lightning struck.
Clang!
The bolt was halted mid-strike. It was the first time Heavenly Thunder had been blocked. But the Sword King's eyes widened in utter astonishment as he parried it.
Clang clang clang!
Dan Hyeong-u's sword twisted forward, boring into the Sword King's guard.
Crack!
The Sword King's sword shattered at last, and Dan Hyeong-u's blade halted a mere inch from his crown.
The Sword King stared blankly at Dan Hyeong-u and his sword. This had nothing to do with the quality of the blade. He'd long surpassed any realm where sharpness mattered. His sword brimmed with his mighty qi—it shouldn't have broken. But it had.
The Sword King couldn't comprehend it. How could this happen?
"Try blocking it faster this time."
Dan Hyeong-u's words puzzled the Sword King.
Dan Hyeong-u extended his hand, and a sword flew silently from one of the Namgung family's guards straight into his grasp. It was so swift and subtle that no one noticed until he held it.
Mouths gaped open once more.
Dan Hyeong-u tossed the sword to the Sword King, who caught it with wide eyes.
'He held back on purpose before! But why...!'
"Again."
As Dan Hyeong-u spoke, the Sword King nodded. This time, he'd uncover the secret.
Flash!
Lightning struck.
Crack!
Dan Hyeong-u's sword shattered the Sword King's blade and stopped an inch above his head. The Sword King couldn't believe it. How?
He glanced at the two broken swords. They had fractured in similar jagged patterns, like lightning bolts.
Something flashed in the Sword King's mind.
"No way!"
Dan Hyeong-u ignored his cry and returned to his room.
The stunned crowd in the courtyard stood frozen for over fifteen minutes.
Geum Yuhwa saw off Namgung Han and his group as they left the inn.
"I need to head back to the family manor for now, so I'll take my leave."
"Yes, thank you for your help. I'll repay you properly later."
"No need."
Namgung Han paused briefly before speaking again.
"About that spar between the Sword King and that man... forget you saw it. Something's off. It's just that his sword is exceptionally good. Not that he lacks skill, but... you know."
Geum Yuhwa smiled and nodded.
"I think so too. The Sword King couldn't lose a duel like that. Especially not to someone so young."
Namgung Han's face brightened a little.
"Right? Still, what an incredible sword to cleave the Sword King's blade..."
Deep down, Namgung Han knew it wasn't about the sword. But he wanted to believe that if they'd swapped blades, the outcome might have differed.
He just wanted to believe it. The Sword King, Yeom Cheol-gun, was his idol alongside his grandfather, Namgung Hak.
Realizing he'd lingered too long, Namgung Han bowed hastily.
"Well then, farewell."
As he turned and led his guards away, his back seemed somehow forlorn.
Geum Yuhwa let out a soft sigh and reentered the inn. It was nearly time to set off again.
Her eyes lingered briefly on the room where Dan Hyeong-u was before looking away.
The escort procession departed once more. Despite the inn's brutal attack, the wagons and horses were unscathed.
Around the time they left Sohyeon, rumors spread far and wide: the Demonic Alliance had collapsed. The culprits? The Golden Lotus.
The Golden Lotus's own warriors, their elites, and a horde of ronin bought with vast sums had utterly crushed the Demonic Alliance. Its leader, Gal Cheon-ak, had fled with grievous wounds.
The details circulated as if deliberately spread—naturally, funded by the Golden Lotus. The rumors elevated their prestige, ensuring no martial artist would trifle with them lightly.
With the Demonic Alliance's fall, the Greenwoods Bandits crumbled too. Not destroyed outright, but crippled nearly as badly. Losing their top experts sparked power struggles among the bandit dens.
The Greenwoods were sliding toward ruin as well.
No time to heed such tales—the wagon carrying the Sword King and Geum Yuhwa raced along the official road.
Inside, the Sword King sat with eyes closed in thought. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
"I was under a huge misunderstanding after all."
Geum Yuhwa looked at him in surprise at his murmur.
"I'll step out for a bit."
The Sword King opened the wagon door and leaped to the roof with ghostly lightness.
Geum Yuhwa sighed and closed the door.
On the roof, the Sword King clicked his tongue at Dan Hyeong-u, who stood there facing the wind.
"Tsk tsk, what a sorry sight."
Dan Hyeong-u glanced over briefly before turning back into the breeze.
"You planning to stand there forever, kid?"
The Sword King now treated Dan Hyeong-u like a grandson. His tone had softened completely from before.
Dan Hyeong-u looked at him again. The man who'd looked so aged recently had regained his forties-like vigor.
"Back to normal already."
The Sword King's eyes widened at Dan Hyeong-u's sudden polite speech. He'd been putting up with curt words until recently; this change gave him chills.
"What'd you eat to start speaking properly all of a sudden?"
Jong Chil, on the driver's seat, whipped his head around in shock at the Sword King's undignified slang.
"Come to think of it, you're the one I feel sorriest for."
Jong Chil turned again in surprise but had to face forward as the wagon jolted. He hastily steadied it, ears perked to catch every word from above.
"Want to go again? I think I can block it this time."
Dan Hyeong-u nodded readily and drew his sword. Light shattered silently from the blade.
The Sword King nodded as he watched.
"Definitely a fine sword. Impressive."
He drew his own— an ordinary blade. But in his hands, ordinary no longer.
Dan Hyeong-u eyed him calmly, then raised his sword slightly. In that instant, the Sword King's blade moved.
Flash!
Clang!
Lightning fell, sliced midair by the Sword King's sword.
A satisfied smile crossed his face as he pushed back Dan Hyeong-u's blade. Sparks flew where edges met.
Sizzle!
It looked like residual thunder discharging. Sparks and qi erupted from the contact, scattering debris. Yet both swords held.
"How's that?"
The Sword King beamed proudly. Dan Hyeong-u smirked at his expression.
Clang clang clang!
The Sword King's sword shattered to pieces.
"Urk!"
He staggered back a step, staring in horror. This was different from before. Last time, technique had prevailed; now, pure power overwhelmed him. Neither skill nor strength could match.
"You're utterly incomprehensible. How does a man with no inner energy push me back with raw force?"
Dan Hyeong-u merely smiled faintly. The Sword King muttered about hopeless kids and sighed softly. He eyed the wreckage—utterly pulverized this time.
He plopped down on the wagon roof.
"You really gonna keep standing like that?"
"It's comfortable."
The Sword King shook his head.
"Sheesh, what a guy."
Silence fell for a while. At last, he spoke.
"Thanks, kid."
Dan Hyeong-u returned a faint smile. The sincerity in the Sword King's voice touched him.