Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Mutual Destruction
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As Namgung Urin swung his sword, Baekri Jang-won's primordial chaos energies scattered in alarm.
Baekri Jang-won was also desperate.
He knew the sword was coming for him, but he hadn't expected it to be this fast. Baekri Jang-won hurriedly raised his own blade to block Namgung Urin's, which threatened to cleave him in two.
No.
It was a sword swung as if to dare him to block it.
*CRACK!*
There was nothing graceful about it. A deafening roar, as if everything was being shattered, shook the spectator stands.
The primordial chaos within Baekri Jang-won's body raged. His internal organs screamed for mercy.
"Kuhk."
In the end, unable to withstand the crushing force of Namgung Urin's primordial chaos, he let out a groan.
Namgung Urin's sword did not stop there.
*CRASH!*
Baekri Jang-won's primordial chaos shattered.
*BOOM!*
The broken energies scattered in utter chaos.
*CRACK!*
The dispersed energies could only watch. They were powerless before Namgung Urin's primordial chaos.
Pushed back by Namgung Urin's immense primordial chaos, Baekri Jang-won was driven to the very edge of the stage.
"Keok, keok."
Finally, unable to bear the impact, Baekri Jang-won coughed up blood.
"...Damn it."
He could endure the pain coursing through his body.
But...
Why was he, Baekri Jang-won, being overpowered by that young brat? No, he was strong. Hadn't he easily won his duel against the leader of the Hwahwa Sword Brigade?
He's just absurdly strong.
That young brat!
After learning to wield primordial chaos, he had been confident he would one day become the strongest under heaven!
Why!
How!
How could that young brat be stronger than him, Baekri Jang-won!
"...This... isn't right..."
Baekri Jang-won spat out his fury as if vomiting blood.
"It's not right!"
As Baekri Jang-won spat blood, leaning on his sword to stay upright, Namgung Urin spoke.
"This is too easy; it's getting boring. Don't you have any hidden moves? If not, I'll end it now."
It was a clear threat: if he wasn't entertained any further, he would kill him on the spot.
"Shut up! Shut that mouth of yours! It's not over yet. I haven't lost!"
Though the blood hadn't yet dried on his lips, Baekri Jang-won declared his refusal to be defeated.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"I can't let it end here."
How could I, after coming all this way!
I can't let everything be ruined because of one young brat.
Besides.
He hadn't even shown his true strength yet. It would be a bitter regret to die without unleashing his full potential.
"I'll be waiting."
Baekri Jang-won steeled his resolve, straightening his slumped posture. He gripped his sword with renewed focus. Slowly, the blade began to move.
If not now, when would he reveal the true martial prowess he had hidden for so long?
The time had come to show the true skills he had even concealed from his father, Baekri U, the head of the Baekri Family.
He had mastered the Baekri Family's supreme sword art, the White Flower Sword Art, to the seventh level. And with the power of primordial chaos, he could push it to the eighth.
He had to do everything he could.
Slowly, Baekri Jang-won began to move.
Baekri Jang-won danced.
The sword in his hand danced.
A single white flower blossomed from his sword. Soon, the number grew. Before long, twenty white flowers had bloomed.
This was the seventh level of the White Flower Sword Art.
He couldn't stop.
He had to push it further.
Ten more white flowers bloomed.
Now, it was the eighth level.
Baekri Jang-won had brought out everything he had.
They were beautiful white flowers that captured everyone's gaze. But the ferocity hidden within was beyond words.
For these were terrifying white flowers that swallowed men whole and spat out only red blood.
*Swoosh.*
Thirty white flowers shot forward with terrifying speed.
Intent on swallowing Namgung Urin.
However.
*Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, BOOM!*
The white flowers vanished all too easily against Namgung Urin's barrage of sword energy.
Baekri Jang-won's all-or-nothing move had turned to nothing.
Baekri Jang-won's eyes widened as if they would pop out of his head.
He couldn't believe it.
As the flowers disappeared, Namgung Urin's form was revealed, the corners of his mouth curled into a smirk.
Namgung Urin suddenly sent a telepathic message to Baekri Jang-won.
*'Your primordial chaos is not true primordial chaos. Did you know?'*
This was because no one else should hear the words 'primordial chaos'.
*'...How... do you...?'*
*'You can't see primordial chaos, can you?'*
*'...That's right. Then you...'*
*'I can see it.'*
Namgung Urin stopped using telepathy and spoke aloud.
"Nothing more to show me, is there?"
There was no reply from Baekri Jang-won. His face was blank, utterly stunned.
No.
He was in the middle of recalling something.
Baekri Jang-won had been able to learn primordial chaos thanks to the master of the Illusionary Shadow Sect. It was only possible because of his father's earnest plea and an enormous payment.
The head of the Baekri Family had made a massive investment for the family's future.
A particular phrase spoken by the Illusionary Shadow Sect's master, the one who had taught him primordial chaos, suddenly came to mind.
At the time, he had dismissed it. The master himself had said it was an unlikely scenario, a purely hypothetical 'what if'.
If.
If, by some chance, someone appeared who knew that Baekri Jang-won had learned primordial chaos, that person would be the master of primordial chaos.
And that person would be Baekri Jang-won's master, and the master of the Illusionary Shadow Sect. Therefore, he must pledge his loyalty and follow him.
He had been told that if he failed to obey, only death would await him.
*'...Submit... to him...?'*
Me?
No.
As things stood, there was no way to escape this brat's clutches. In the end, his goal was to kill him for his own revenge. That's why he had set this whole stage.
*'In that case...'*
I just have to submit.
It's a matter of closing my eyes and kneeling. What reason is there to die while clinging to my pride?
I have to survive first, don't I?
I trained to death to live a grand life in the martial world. Shouldn't I live to receive at least the minimum reward for my efforts?
If I die, it all becomes meaningless.
Baekri Jang-won dropped to one knee.
At this sight, the head of the Baekri Family, Baekri U, who was watching from their section, shot to his feet.
The spectators, who had been watching with bated breath, also jumped up from their seats.
Namgung Urin's mouth opened.
"I have no intention of letting you live."
His intentions were obvious.
Just then, Baekri Jang-won sent a telepathic message to Namgung Urin.
*'Greetings to the Master of Primordial Chaos.'*
*'Master of Primordial Chaos?'*
The master of primordial chaos?
Since he had learned the Primordial Chaos Art, calling him the master of primordial chaos wasn't entirely wrong. Still, interpreting Baekri Jang-won's words...
Didn't it imply there was another group that used primordial chaos?
*'That is correct, Master. I was told that one who can see primordial chaos is its master. And I have sworn an oath. To be loyal to the master of primordial chaos.'*
Loyalty?
Namgung Urin was not foolish enough to miss that this was a cowardly man's last desperate attempt to survive.
Furthermore.
He also knew full well that he could accomplish much more by using Baekri Jang-won, the young lord of the Baekri Family.
However.
Namgung Urin was not a calculating person. He was someone who had always done only what he wanted.
The curiosity, the interest, and today's entertainment were over.
The revenge he had sworn upon his father's keepsake.
He had to carry out that revenge now.
Hadn't his father left him the Primordial Chaos Art so he could have his revenge?
That was why he had created this entire situation.
Namgung Urin raised his sword.
"You can offer that loyalty in the heavens."
Baekri Jang-won's pupils trembled. He sensed this was the end.
It was then.
A tremendous aura surged from the Baekri Family's section.
The head of the Baekri Family, Baekri U, was rushing toward the stage at an incredible speed.
Having learned the Primordial Chaos Art, Namgung Urin couldn't have missed this presence. He brought his raised sword down without hesitation.
*CRACK!*
The sword energy unleashed by Family Head Baekri U struck Namgung Urin's sword precisely.
With a tremendous roar, Namgung Urin was pushed back twenty feet from his position. Naturally, he had failed to strike Baekri Jang-won's neck.
At that moment, for the first time, Namgung Urin came face to face with the emotion of rage.
His father had kept his promise. The promise to show him the Primordial Chaos Art when he turned thirteen. It was a pity he wasn't here, but his father's promise had been kept.
So, naturally, shouldn't he also keep the oath he swore on his father's keepsake?
But now, because of the Baekri Family Head, he was being prevented from keeping that promise.
The head of the Baekri Family, Baekri U, stepped onto the stage.
The crowd grew restless.
What is he doing!
Interfering the moment a victor was decided!
The spectators couldn't bring themselves to shout or point fingers directly at the Baekri Family Head.
He was, after all, the head of the Baekri Family.
They feared the repercussions.
Startled by Baekri U's sudden action, Namgung Yul, the head of the Namgung Family, ordered the Azure Sky Sword Brigade to protect Lady Yeonhwa before belatedly stepping onto the stage himself.
Namgung Yul's eyes blazed at the Baekri Family Head. However, in this situation, it was difficult to say that Baekri U's actions were entirely wrong.
Baekri Jang-won had knelt and conceded. Though it was a death match, the duel had ended with the Namgung Young Lord's victory.
In his heart, Namgung Yul had also been eagerly waiting for his nephew to take Baekri Jang-won's head.
But what could he do?
The Baekri Family Head had reacted swiftly.
Family Head Baekri U slapped his son, Baekri Jang-won, across the face.
"You pathetic fool. You should have died. To bring such shame upon our family just to save your own skin."
He hadn't wanted his son to die, but for the sake of the family, it would have been right for Baekri Jang-won to fight to the end and die a glorious death here.
But Baekri Jang-won had thought of his own future before the family's.
They were in front of a massive crowd. How many stories would this generate? For the foreseeable future, the Baekri Family would be unable to hold their heads high as losers.
Moreover, since the Baekri Young Lord had knelt before the Namgung Young Lord, this incident would follow them to their graves.
The Baekri Family that knelt to the Namgung Family.
Baekri Jang-won couldn't lift his head.
No, he didn't lift it.
He couldn't let his father see the look of relief on his face for having survived.
Just then, the enraged Namgung Urin spoke.
"This is perfect, Uncle."
"...What are you talking about?"
No.
Whatever my nephew is thinking right now, it can't happen. Would anything that comes from his head be ordinary?
Besides, this situation is far from ordinary.
"Let's kill these two right here, then kill everyone else and end this. It's an opportunity from the heavens. Father would be pleased."
Namgung Yul desperately wanted to do the same.
Why wouldn't he?
Hadn't Namgung Yul witnessed with his own eyes the deaths of his father five years ago, of his older brother, the brutal deaths of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade he led, and the deaths of so many Namgung warriors?
He, more than anyone, had carved the pain, the agony, and the horror of that day deep into his heart.
Did he think he himself wanted to come back alive!
But.
That crazy!
"Are you in your right mind!"
Revenge?
My brother and father in the heavens would be pleased?
Revenge, of course, must be had. If he could erase even a fraction of that day's resentment by taking all their heads right here, why wouldn't he?
But to do so now would mean mutual destruction.
Mutual destruction.
Family Head Namgung Yul did not want to see the Namgung people he loved and cherished die again.
No.
He didn't have the courage to watch it happen.
If...
If something like that were to truly happen again.
He felt that he, Namgung Yul, would break.