Chapter 373
Bu Eun-seol stared straight at Namgung Jeong as he spoke.
"You're determined to kill me, I see."
Namgung Jeong nodded indifferently in acknowledgment.
"That child's talent and character are the finest in the main family. The only reason he's called reckless is because his potential hasn't yet blossomed."
His eyes flashed with solemn intensity.
"But how could I stand by and let him tangle with the Head Leader of the Demonic Path, ruining his bright future?"
Surprisingly, Namgung Jeong not only cherished him deeply but had already designated him as the next Family Head.
So why did Namgung Un believe his father despised him?
'Their personalities are too different.'
Bu Eun-seol let out a sigh.
Namgung Un was outgoing by nature, the type to wear all his emotions openly.
In stark contrast, Namgung Jeong was excessively reticent, never voicing the thoughts in his heart.
"Draw your sword."
Namgung Jeong stood tall, extending his hand.
"I cannot strike down an unarmed man."
Bu Eun-seol wasn't one to refuse a challenge.
Especially not against Namgung Jeong—both the leader of the Namgung Clan and arguably the foremost among the Eight Great Clans. Surviving such a duel would grant him... an unparalleled martial insight.
Yet Bu Eun-seol shook his head with another sigh.
"Let's drop this."
Namgung Jeong's skill left no room for holding back or half-measures.
If they clashed at full strength, one of them would inevitably suffer fatal wounds.
"I'll leave quietly."
Bu Eun-seol turned away bitterly.
He couldn't bring himself to cut down the father of his sworn brother.
In the end, he was abandoning even the Gratitude Coin he so desperately sought.
"And rest assured."
His expression was calm as he spoke.
"After today, I won't appear before Namgung Un again. You have my word of honor."
Namgung Jeong found the thought bizarre.
The Heir of the Demon Hall must need that Gratitude Coin urgently. Otherwise, why would he have traveled a thousand li to the Namgung estate?
Yet here he was, avoiding their duel—for Namgung Un's sake, and to preserve the Namgung family's peace.
'Could he truly have formed a Golden Bond of Friendship with Un?'
"Don't you need the Gratitude Coin?"
"I do. Desperately."
Bu Eun-seol offered a dry smile at the question.
"But rather than driving a nail into his heart for life..."
He shook his head and spoke flatly.
"Open the mechanism. If I break through by force, your clan's masters will swarm me. Wouldn't that force you, Family Head, to explain our connection to him?"
Namgung Jeong fell silent.
From start to finish, Bu Eun-seol had acted in Namgung Un's interest—with no trace of pretense.
"So even demons understand duty."
"Do you think demons are three-headed, six-armed monsters?"
"Didn't the Demon Hall harbor villains like the Seven Fingers Demonic Blade?"
Namgung Jeong radiated bitter anguish.
"That's precisely why I cannot let you live!"
Shhhk!
His sword left its sheath.
But something felt off. His senses and reflexes had dulled severalfold from their usual sharpness.
"What is this—"
"I did consider ambushing you to kill you."
Bu Eun-seol's left hand swirled with glacial energy.
Glacier Thousand Streams Art.
Preparing for this duel against Namgung Jeong—the so-called "Righteous Sword"—he had chilled the entire weapon warehouse beforehand.
Yet Namgung Jeong, whose internal energy had reached the "Impervious to Cold and Heat" realm, would only perceive the air as slightly cooler.
With his senses and reflexes stealthily numbed like this, how would he fare against a sudden strike?
The moment their blades crossed, Namgung Jeong's odds of defeat soared.
Creeeak. Scrrrrtch.
Just then, cracks began spreading through the layered iron mechanisms of the Spiral Hall.
KABOOM!
The wrought-iron partition shattered, and a bloodied shadow staggered inside.
It was Namgung Un.
"Young Master!"
Close behind him rushed Mok Han-jeong, Namgung Jeong's trusted Sword Unit Commander, in frantic pursuit.
Namgung Un had fought his way past Mok Han-jeong's restraints, broken into the Spiral Hall, and forced his way inside.
"Family Head! If you lay a hand on Brother Bu—"
Bu Eun-seol flicked his fingers swiftly.
A soft, insidious Finger Wind grazed the vital point on Namgung Un's chest.
"Brother Bu... why...?"
"Nothing happened. Calm down and rest."
Supporting Namgung Un, Bu Eun-seol turned to Mok Han-jeong.
"His injuries are severe. Escort him back."
Blinking rapidly, Mok Han-jeong caught Namgung Un as Namgung Jeong gave a nod.
"Do as he says."
At the command, Mok Han-jeong bowed and swiftly carried him out of the Spiral Hall.
As the unexpected scene unfolded, Namgung Jeong exhaled deeply.
Had Bu Eun-seol wanted to corner him? All he needed to do was let Namgung Un make a scene.
But hadn't he been concerned about Namgung Un's injuries, swiftly pressing his acupoints before sending him away?
That was not an act anyone could fake.
"I acknowledge that you're a man who understands propriety."
Flames ignited in Namgung Jeong's eyes as he gripped the Golden Needle Sword.
"However, I cannot possibly let the Heir of the Demon Hall leave here unharmed."
"Forgive me!"
And in the next instant, he thrust the Golden Needle Sword forward.
BOOM!
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol felt as though the world had plunged into darkness—as if he had been cast adrift in the vast emptiness of the cosmos.
Simultaneously, an overwhelming surge of energy, its origin unknown, crushed down upon his body.
Emperor Sword Form.
The Heavy Sword Technique of the Namgung Clan, renowned as one of the pinnacle heavy sword arts in the martial world, came crashing down upon Bu Eun-seol.
Meanwhile, Namgung Un, who had been deeply unconscious, slowly opened his eyes as a pain like his spine being shattered wracked his body.
"Ugh..."
He groaned, forcing himself upright.
The moment he stepped out of the Spiral Hall, Mok Han-jeong, the Family Head's confidant, had tried to restrain him.
Only then did he realize—something had gone terribly wrong.
The reason the Family Head had summoned Bu Eun-seol to the Spiral Hall... He understood now. It had been to quietly eliminate him.
Namgung Un's vision burned red with fury.
Shaking off Mok Han-jeong's attempt to restrain him, he immediately shattered the Spiral Hall's mechanisms with the Emperor Sword Form.
But even the first three forms weren't enough to completely destroy the mechanisms, so he poured all his internal power into the strike, prepared to draw on his Primordial Essence True Qi.
A panicked Mok Han-jeong retaliated, unleashing a sword technique aimed at his shoulder.
Yet Namgung Jeong did not stop.
Mok Han-jeong then targeted a vital acupoint, delivering a crushing palm strike.
But something was strange.
The deep wound on his shoulder had vanished without a trace, and even his internal injuries were completely healed.
"Brother Bu...?"
Only then did Namgung Un regain his senses and look around.
Now he remembered—Bu Eun-seol had pressed his acupoints before he lost consciousness.
"With Brother Bu's temperament, he must have clashed fiercely with the Family Head!"
Namgung Un sprang up like a coiled spring.
By now, the Namgung estate was either hosting a grand celebration... or had turned into a house of mourning.
Bu Eun-seol and Namgung Jeong.
If those two peerless swordsmen collided, one of them was bound to suffer fatal injuries.
"Brother Bu! Family Head!"
CRASH!
As Namgung Un burst through the shattered doors of the hall,
two figures seated in a pavilion outside, sipping tea, turned to stare at him.
To his astonishment, they were none other than Bu Eun-seol—disguised as Seol-so—and Namgung Jeong.
"Brother Bu! Family Head!"
Namgung Un's eyes bulged.
Just before he blacked out, those two had been at the brink of battle, their energies pushed to the absolute limit—so how were they now sitting peacefully, drinking tea together?
"You're awake."
Bu Eun-seol offered a faint smile, while Namgung Un blinked rapidly.
"What... what is happening?"
"The Family Head and I came to check on your condition. We ended up sharing tea."
"That's not what I—"
Namgung Un turned to Namgung Jeong.
Though his stern, icy gaze remained, there was something unfamiliar in his eyes now—a flicker of emotion.
"You reckless fool. If you were well enough, you could've opened the door like a normal person. Did you have to break it down?"
Namgung Jeong spoke with his usual severe tone.
"This is exactly why you're called the clan's reckless ruffian!"
"Family Head."
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol frowned slightly.
"Have you already forgotten our agreement?"
"Hm? ...Ah."
Namgung Jeong met Bu Eun-seol's gaze and reluctantly softened his expression.
Then, turning back to Namgung Un, he spoke again.
"Un. How is your body?"
"...What?"
"I'm asking if your injuries have healed."
Namgung Un doubted his own ears.
"'Un'?
From childhood until now, the only names Namgung Jeong had ever called him were "Worthless brat!" or "You reckless fool!"
Yet now, he was addressing him by name?
"Family Head... are you feeling alright? Are you in pain somewhere?"
Namgung Un stepped closer, waving a hand in front of Namgung Jeong's face.
Normally, such insolence would have earned him an instant slap—lightning-quick.
But Namgung Jeong, bound by his agreement with Bu Eun-seol, suppressed his anger and simply stared.
"Something's wrong here..."
Namgung Un studied him like a cursed doll radiating ominous energy.
Why wasn't Namgung Jeong slapping him already?
"Could it be... a disguise?"
Tilting his head, Namgung Un reached out, pinching Namgung Jeong's lips and stretching them up and down.
"Huh? No, not a disguise..."
"YOU RECKLESS BRAT!"
Namgung Jeong shot to his feet, roaring in fury.
"This is exactly why you—!"
"Family Head."
The moment Bu Eun-seol spoke again, Namgung Jeong trembled violently.
His face flushed crimson, and with a sharp turn, he stormed out of the pavilion.
"Take good care of your health."
...were the last words he left behind—words so unexpectedly warm they were hard to believe.
"Young Master Bu."
Namgung Un approached Bu Eun-seol with an expression as if he'd seen a ghost.
"Am I still dreaming?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Our Family Head... something's off."
Bu Eun-seol sipped his tea with a cryptic smile.
Then, gazing at the distant sky, he asked,
"What kind of person is the Family Head you know?"
"Well—"
Namgung Un tilted his head and whispered in a low voice,
"He acts like he's itching to throttle me, compares me to my brothers every day while hurling insults..."
His voice trailed off as he lowered his head.
"...He's someone who despises me deeply."
"You're wrong about all of it."
"Huh?"
Bu Eun-seol exhaled deeply and spoke plainly.
"The Family Head loves you more than anything."
"What kind of absurd statement is that?"
"Because he cherishes and loves you so much, he ruled you with cold severity. To hasten the bloom of your talent, and to temper your free-spirited nature into a demeanor befitting the dignity of a Family Head."
"Hahaha."
Namgung Un let out a hollow laugh.
"Young Master Bu. That's a really unfunny joke."
"Does it sound like a joke?"
"Of course it does."
Namgung Un bit his lip.
"The man who once whipped me half to death and locked me in a storeroom for breaking his favorite vase when I was still a child—that's the Family Head I know."
"And when I grew older, he starved me for three days as punishment for sneaking into the wine cellar and drinking his prized Plum Blossom Wine."
Shaking his head in disbelief, he suddenly raised his voice.
"That man loves me more than anything? Does that make any sense?"
A heavy silence fell.
Only then did Namgung Un realize his outburst and pressed a hand to his forehead.
"My apologies. I shouldn't have lost my temper at you."
"It's fine."
"Young Master Bu, I don't know what wind has changed the Family Head's mind, but he isn't the person you think he is."
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol crossed his arms.
The rift between the two had festered for so long that there was no sign of it healing easily.
This will take time.
Bu Eun-seol had no intention of forcibly mending their relationship.
If an outsider intervened, it might only worsen things between them.
"But really, what happened?"
Namgung Un asked, his expression puzzled.
"For the Family Head to know your true identity and still treat you so warmly—what in the world occurred?"
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled slowly, recalling the events of that day.
"As the Heir of the Demon Hall, I cannot possibly let you leave unharmed!"
As Namgung Jeong roared like thunder and raised his Golden Needle Sword, Bu Eun-seol felt as though he were floating in the void.
What was the essence of the Heavy Sword Art?
It was either unleashing overwhelming pressure to seal an enemy's movements or wielding destructive force to shatter all defenses.
But facing Namgung Jeong's Emperor Sword Form, Bu Eun-seol realized one truth.
The pinnacle of the Heavy Sword Art was not about exerting pressure—
It was about filling empty space with pressure, locking the enemy in place.
In other words, the Emperor Sword Form was attempting something no Heavy Sword practitioner had ever achieved before—
Dominion over space itself.
I can't move.
As the surrounding void filled with crushing pressure, Bu Eun-seol couldn't even twitch a finger.
Meanwhile, the razor-sharp Golden Needle Sword glided smoothly toward his brow.
Any ordinary master would have met their end with this single strike.
Huum—!
The moment his body froze, a faint light surged from Bu Eun-seol's form.
He unleashed the Wish-Fulfilling Qi Formula, a secret technique that allowed him to shape his powerful internal energy into any form.
Clang—!
The Golden Needle Sword clashed against the qi-forged blade, ringing with a metallic chime.
At the same time, a circular shockwave rippled outward, pressing down on Namgung Jeong's body.
Having blocked the first strike with the Wish-Fulfilling Qi Formula, Bu Eun-seol redirected the Heavy Sword's spatial pressure to crush his opponent instead.
Sshhk—!
But in that same instant, the Ink Sword was already in Bu Eun-seol's grip.
And with it, he split the cascading force of the Heavy Sword into fine threads, scattering it in all directions.
Using the Move Heaven Exchange Force—the supreme principle of Half Ascent and Half Descent—he materialized the Emperor Sword Form's crushing pressure into tangible strands, splitting them apart like bamboo.
"You've stolen the sword techniques of the Righteous Path, I see."
Namgung Jeong scoffed as he recognized the Sword Principle Bu Eun-seol wielded—the Myriad Forms One Style of the Sword Sovereign.
"Though I suppose that's typical of Langya Pavilion's ilk."
With a derisive smirk, Namgung Jeong unleashed wave after wave of pressure.
Swish—!
Bu Eun-seol countered without pause, slicing the Emperor Sword Form's force into thinner and thinner layers.
Then, slipping through the loosened gaps, he thrust toward Namgung Jeong's throat.
This man is frighteningly skilled in all sword arts.
The Move Heaven Exchange Force is a principle of Superior Martial Arts that can never be executed without comprehending the attributes and underlying principles of the opposing force.
Yet even amidst this fierce battle, Bu Eun-seol had grasped the essence of the Namgung Family's Emperor Sword Form—the sword principle of loading all one's Internal Power into the blade.
He had deeply understood the Sword Principle of Sword Within Sinking Hero.
'If I continue displaying the Emperor Sword Form against someone like him, it would be no different from imparting its profundity to him.'
Only then did Namgung Jeong realize that Bu Eun-seol's aptitude surpassed all imagination—his ability to instantly discern sword principles was beyond comprehension.
Namgung Jeong, too, was a swordsman who had devoted his entire life to the Sword Path.
Despite Bu Eun-seol's unexpectedly superior skill, he remained unshaken. Instead, he reversed the rotation of his Golden Needle Sword midair and unleashed thirteen razor-sharp sword energies, swift as swallows.
This was yet another pinnacle sword art of the Namgung Family—the Yang Snow Cloud Thunder Sword.
CRACKLE—SHING!
Like dust scattering across the ground, countless fine sword energies spiraled around Bu Eun-seol's body, seeking to pierce his vital points.
It was a Sword Stroke that seemed to merge the principles of Scattering Sword and Whirlwind Sword.
'Unique.'
The Namgung Family had long established its own school through innovative sword techniques.
Though rooted in the Central Plains' Sword Studies, their methods diverged from the orthodox traditions of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
CLANG—SHING!
Bu Eun-seol swung his Ink Sword in rapid succession, dismantling the opening strikes of the Cloud Thunder Sword.
But the longer this exchange of opening moves persisted, the more Namgung Jeong felt an inexplicable unease.
'Something is off.'
Bu Eun-seol's sword techniques were of an exceptionally high level, and his Internal Energy effortlessly withstood Namgung Jeong's own power, which far exceeded 240 years of cultivation.
Yet he only occasionally employed the Move Heaven Exchange Force—never counterattacking, solely focused on defense.
'He intends to conceal his true scheme until the very end.'
Namgung Jeong scoffed inwardly.
He assumed Bu Eun-seol was maintaining this defensive stance to feign righteousness, acting the part of an honorable gentleman.
'But I am no Family Head who will indulge such deception!'
With this silent declaration, Namgung Jeong unleashed the Yang Snow Cloud Thunder Sword once more.
CLANG!
In that instant, the Ink Sword and Golden Needle Sword clashed.
As the clear Metallic Sound reverberated, Bu Eun-seol executed two consecutive sword techniques.
The first Sword Stroke was as elegant as a phoenix soaring through the heavens, while the second was so profound it defied comprehension.
'What kind of sword technique is this now?'
Unable to decipher the strokes in a single moment, Namgung Un had no choice but to follow the trajectory of Bu Eun-seol's Sword Path and intercept.
CLANG!
Once again, blades met, sparks flying. And in that fleeting moment, a realization flashed through Namgung Jeong's mind.
'So that's how it is.'
A calligrapher reveals his mastery with a single stroke. A scholar exposes his learning through a single poem.
And a swordsman—through his sword techniques—lays bare the essence of his spirit.
'This man's sword techniques possess the overwhelming might of a dragon piercing the heavens, yet they also carry profound depth.'
Bu Eun-seol's swordplay was unwaveringly upright and formidable.
It was a Sword Form that could only be wielded by one whose Spirit and Mind were pure and untainted.
'How shameful.'
Belatedly grasping Bu Eun-seol's intent, Namgung Un bit his lip.
'I, a Family Head who has lived my entire life by the sword, failed to recognize the meaning behind this young man's sword artistry.'
Bu Eun-seol had not been displaying his sword techniques merely to fight him.
He had been pouring forth noble and unblemished Sword Strokes—one after another—to reveal the purity of his heart.
CLANG!
When their swords clashed once more, Namgung Jeong took a step back.
To his astonishment, this young man's level of Internal Power now surpassed his own.
Moreover, having finally discerned Bu Eun-seol's Sword Intent—something he had failed to perceive all along—Namgung Jeong was thrown into disarray.
'Hmm...'
As his Mental Power scattered, the might of his sword techniques diminished drastically.
THUD.
In the end, Namgung Jeong lowered his Golden Needle Sword to the ground.
He exhaled a deep sigh and spoke.
"How shameful. I, a Family Head who has devoted my life to the Sword Path, realized your Sword Intent far too late."
SHING.
Re-sheathing his Golden Needle Sword at his waist, Namgung Jeong wore a bitter expression as he continued.
"I acknowledge that you are untainted by evil."
Then, in a low voice, he added:
"But our family has walked the Righteous Path for generations. I have no intention of forming bonds with a figure from the Demonic Path. So... leave quietly now."
"Is that all?"
"What?"
"Are you saying that's all you sensed from my sword?"
Namgung Jeong's brow furrowed deeply.
"What are you trying to say?"
"What sword techniques have I been using until now?"
"Your sword techniques?"
After a moment of contemplation, Namgung Jeong's eyes widened.
The techniques Bu Eun-seol had displayed—hadn't they solely employed the Move Heaven Exchange Force in a defensive stance?
And that defensive form...
'So that's what it was.'
Namgung Jeong's eyes flew open.
The sword techniques Bu Eun-seol had been using all along—weren't they a masterfully altered variation of the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword technique he had taught Namgung Un?
Bu Eun-seol spoke with solemn gravity.
"As one who has immersed himself in the Sword Path for a lifetime, I trust you have discerned the intent behind my techniques."
Namgung Jeong trembled.
Only now had he truly grasped the genuine Sword Intent Bu Eun-seol had embedded within his swordplay.