Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: The Master's Smile
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Chapter 67.
An extreme yin energy that could soak one's back with a cold sweat even in the warm sunlight.
Though it was but a tiny seed, it would sprout from time to time, causing a portion of his energy to slip beyond his control.
The chestnut-sized yin energy, mingled with poison, was so stubborn and tenacious that it could not be pushed away by ordinary means. Namgung Yeoul looked at that energy, feeling a sense of absurdity, yet he did not push away the now-familiar presence.
Even as it was gnawing away at his life.
There had been one chance, a single opportunity given to him. A chance to expel this energy in one fell swoop and awaken his true self.
But he had lightly set that chance aside. He had given that opportunity to another, not himself. To the disciple he had taken in his later years.
The energy engraved in that child's body brought a smile to my face, allowed me to laugh.
So I have no regrets.
For it has found its true master, who is not me.
Are you well? I pray you are not in pain.
A smile as benevolent as the warm sunlight graced his features.
This was none other than Namgung Yeoul.
What did you say! Another intruder?
Another?
At Han Ilsangs words, Yeogon wore an expression of disbelief.
I received a report that someone had infiltrated the entrance of the Ice Palace, so I dispatched the Ice River Sword Unit.
Could they be in league with those from the Namgung Family?
Yeogon let out a sigh and recounted what had happened to him.
An intruder came from the outside. My junior brother was taken down. It seems those who wish to harm the North Sea have invaded.
At those words, Han Ilsang shot to his feet, a horrified look on his face. Just when his grand plan was about to be completed, an interruption from the outside.
Han Ilsang hesitated for a few steps, then finally.
M-Master Yeogon. What should we do about this?
He sought out Yeogon. Seeing this, Yeogon patted him on the shoulder, telling him not to worry.
Do not worry. First, order Won Ilhong to find the fleeing members of the Ice River Sword Unit and kill them on sight. And you, Palace Lord, must go to Han Taemun.
Yeogons words made him nod, but he looked up at the mention of finding Han Taemun.
Why are you looking for the former Palace Lord?
The remaining members of the Ice River Sword Unit won't find a rallying point through those from the Central Plains. They need a just cause to act. That is why we must eliminate Han Taemun as soon as possible.
At the words that he must kill Han Taemun, Han Ilsang froze for the first time.
Must we go that far?
For the first time, Yeogons expression twisted. Had he not heard a single word that was said?
N-no. Thats not it. I just thought we dont necessarily have to kill him. If we hold him hostage, he could be more useful
At his stammering response, a fire lit in Yeogons eyes. His fists clenched involuntarily, but Yeogon forced out a sigh.
This situation had to be resolved quickly. If those men managed to escape the North Sea, it was obvious that Mount Qingchengs pursuit team would enter the region.
That absolutely could not be allowed to happen, so Yeogon steeled himself.
Think of only one thing, Palace Lord.
The North Sea Ice Palace. Becoming the lord of this palace. Think only of that.
At Yeogons words, Han Ilsang stood stock-still as if struck by lightning, all traces of his previous hesitation gone.
Thats right. Why had he come this far?
He had walked this blood-soaked path for the sole position of Palace Lord, to become the master of the North Sea Ice Palace.
I understand.
Han Ilsangs eyes shimmered, filled with a surging desire. Seeing him start to move, Yeogon rose to his feet, feeling he could delay no longer.
The place he headed for was none other than where the ginseng diggers were resting.
Screeeeeech!
Riding the sled down the snowy path, Kang Seok and Chunsik turned their gazes from the dizzying descent to the bloody battle unfolding behind them. There, the man called Black Tiger who had been dragging them, along with two young men who had barely managed to get back on their feet, were struggling desperately against the warriors of the Ice Palace.
The Ice River Sword Unit was not about to stand by and watch the two escape. The units commander, Won Ilhong, raised his sword high and shouted.
You bastards! Dont let them get away! Kill every last one of those rats!
However.
As if they were prepared to die, the two young men, who looked as though they lacked the strength to even hold their swords after being drained by the Ice River Sword Unit, blocked their path.
Those two are a problem, but this one especially.
Seeing the black-clothed man before him, panting, with two daggers held in a reverse grip, Won Ilhong had to swallow hard.
To ensure they could escape on the sled hidden by the fortress wall, Black Tiger had burned his own life force to save the two men. The Ice Palace warriors, who had underestimated the man called Black Tiger, were helpless against the movements and dagger techniques of an assassin they had never before witnessed. They were especially terrified by his uniquely melancholic energy.
It was different from the cold of the North Sea.
A different kind of cold, an energy steeped in sorrow.
Strictly speaking, it was an energy akin to a ghostly presence. Seeing the daggers shimmering with it, the commander of the Ice River Sword Unit, Won Ilhong, instinctively flinched.
He feels in no way inferior to Commander Bupyeong
He, who had been a mere squad leader in the Ice River Sword Unit, had become its commander not only because he was quick-witted but also because he had helped imprison Bupyeong. For him to face the man before him was out of the question. Moreover, the men he led could hardly be called the elite of the Ice River Sword Unit, so his worries mounted.
Now I can finally swing my sword with a clear mind.
Dont be reckless and get hurt again.
Donghwi and Kang Umuns words reached Won Ilhongs ears, and a vein popped on his forehead. His pride cracked as the nearly dead men acted so casually before them. As if reading Won Ilhongs mind, the members of the Ice River Sword Unit began to close in, surrounding the wounded beasts.
There are only three of them, and theyre already exhausted. The North Sea is ours; theres no way these men from the Central Plains have witnessed our swordsmanship. Use your ice arts as much as possible and capture them!
At Won Ilhongs command, energy gathered at the tips of the Ice River Sword Unit's swords. The coalescing beads of energy were all filled with frigid yin energy.
So theyre still warriors of the Ice Palace, even if theyre a ragtag bunch.
Are you scared?
Scared, my foot!
Claaaaang!
An Ice River Sword Unit member kicked off the ground, imbuing his descending blade with the lingering cold energy. Simultaneously, the tip of Donghwis sword shot up sharply to meet it.
With a dull thud, the speed of the downward strike slowed, but it wasnt enough. The frigid energy still clung to the blade, creeping toward Donghwis hand and threatening him. Just then, Kang Umuns body spun, using the slippery snow to his advantage as he raised his nimble sword tip and swept it toward the flank of the warrior facing Donghwi.
The dumbfounded warrior hastily retreated, and Donghwi, not to be outdone, pursued him closely, his sword tip raised.
The sword strike, coming from a bizarre angle, ultimately found its mark on the warriors shoulder, inflicting a fatal wound.
Panting, the two stood back-to-back, and the Ice River Sword Unit members couldnt approach them easily. Whenever they tried to attack Donghwi and Kang Umun at the same time
Shing!
A crimson-black energy slashed across the eyes of the approaching warriors.
Aaargh!
As crimson blood burst from his eyes, the blinded man screamed in agony. Black Tiger, as if refusing to tolerate even that, thrust his reverse-grip dagger into the mans throat.
Kh, ghk! Ghk!
It was two strikes, exceedingly simple and practical. Seeing it, even Donghwi and Kang Umun exchanged glances and clicked their tongues.
I knew Lord Black Tiger was hiding something, but was he always this strong?
Theres a saying in the martial world: hide three-tenths of your skill.
This seems more like thirty percent than three-tenths.
Though they had been together for six years, the two young men realized they still didnt know the extent of Black Tigers abilities and momentarily pushed the thought aside. If not for Black Tigers fierce performance, they would have been dead long ago. They had to pull themselves together now, lest they become a burden to him.
Dammit.
Won Ilhongs brow furrowed deeply.
Is this what it feels like to fall into an abyss?
Is this what it feels like to be sucked into a quagmire?
Or perhaps.
The Ten-Thousand-Fathom Gorge.
Would it be like this, if I were to cast my body into that place known as a chasm of unknowable depth?
Some would struggle to survive.
Some would despair and submit.
And yet others would try to mediate between the two.
My current state was just like that.
My uncontrolled energies were struggling, submitting, and weaving between the two forces. It was a reaction to the energy that sought to harm its own master. My body couldn't stay still.
A sound like a drum bursting and a shock savaged my entire body. Even as I felt myself losing consciousness, I could feel blood flowing from my eyes, nose, and mouth.
The invading energy was that intense. It reached its demonic claws toward my dantian, squeezed my heart, and began to force its way in to ravage my five viscera and six bowels.
It was a horrifying sensation, as if a great serpent were burrowing through my insides. And yet, despite it all.
I forcibly swallowed the groan that rose to my throat and began to gather the seething energy from all the vessels in my body.
How did I have such strength, you ask?
It was only natural. I did not want to be a worthless disciple.
The student surpasses the master.
It wasn't that I wished to be greater than my master, but I knew my master would have wanted it so.
Had my master, Namgung Yeoul, truly endured this energy within his body for so long without dying? This extreme yin energy that could freeze the entire body in an instant, that felt as if it would freeze every single internal organ, and this poison that infiltrated like smoke dissolving into the air, approaching with the intent to disable my dantian.
That's right.
My master had given up his own life force to grant me the power to resist this energy.
In that case, shouldn't I also live up to my master's expectations?
Is that not the duty of a disciple?
Twitch.
The Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art, manifesting to its extreme, began to resonate with the energy of the Heavenly Thunder Pill latent in my dantian. The energy of the pill, which I had thought fully absorbed, began to rear its head. It had been my arrogance. This was the energy of the Heavenly Thunder Pill, said to be on par with Shaolin's Great Rebirth Elixir. There was no way such energy would be completely absorbed. And this was the foresight of my master, the man known as the Sword of Namgung, Namgung Yeoul.
Crackle-crackle-fizz!
As the serpent bared its fangs and opened its maw toward the lightning energy, the Heavenly Thunder Pill united with the Heavenly Thunder Imperial Divine Art, forming a swirling torrent of protective energy.
A leap one step beyond Heavenly Thunder Energy.
The energy of a lightning dragon wrapped around my entire body like a protective aura. An unbreakable wall of energy gradually spread out from my dantian. The encroaching yin and poison energies began to be devoured, bit by bit, by the white lightning. The maw of the lightning dragon swallowed the serpent's maw.
As if it had never happened.
Like an illusory shadow, the energy of the Heart-Crushing Palm vanished, completely incinerated by the lightning.
And so, I began to take another step forward. In my tightly shut eyes, I saw a faint smile.
Are you well? I pray you are not in pain.
Always worrying about his disciple before his own well-being.
It was the smile of a true master, Namgung Yeoul.
So now, it is the disciple's turn to act.
Please wait just a little longer, Master.
This unworthy disciple will be there to help you soon.
Please, trust in me. Trust in this unworthy disciple and do not let go.
I hoped my earnest heart would reach him. No, I believed without a doubt that it would.
Because I had sworn never to lose my people.