Chapter 111: Wieon Mountain Villa (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 111: Wieon Mountain Villa (2)
Hyeok Woo-seon, who had been marching toward the Sea Cloud Sect while radiating killing intent, came to a sudden halt.
It was only natural.
The moniker "Azure Star Sword" was now gradually spreading beyond Anhui Province and into the rest of the Jianghu. Hubei Province, which shared a border with Anhui, was no exception. Any martial artist in Hubei who paid attention to the world would have heard the name at least once.
‘The Righteous Path's Number One Rising Star, the one who dominated the Mount Song Gathering!’
Hyeok Woo-seon immediately scanned Namgung Jun's surroundings. Neither his eyes nor his senses detected anyone else. It was clear the young man before him had blocked their retreat all by himself.
He seemed to have absolute confidence in his reputation and his martial arts. Having quickly assessed the situation, Hyeok Woo-seon’s hand moved.
Swoosh!
Without a word, he drew his blade, aiming straight for Namgung Jun's throat.
After all, weren't the members of the Azure Heaven Association a stubborn bunch who couldn't be reasoned with? Whatever the cause, as long as they stood in the way of Wieon Mountain Villa, conflict was inevitable.
‘We’ve met sooner than the Villa Lord anticipated, but it doesn’t matter.’
The best course of action was a preemptive strike.
It was an abrupt attack, born from the suddenness of the situation, but his execution was flawless. He was confident that even if he couldn’t take the boy's head in a single blow, the strike would allow him to seize the initiative.
‘Huh?’
By the time his straight blade, drawn in a flash, was halfway to its target, Hyeok Woo-seon sensed something was wrong.
The moment he’d drawn his weapon, Namgung Jun's hands had been hanging loosely at his sides. Yet now, reflected in his eyes was the image of Namgung Jun grasping a long bolt of blue lightning. A fierce, azure sword light stretched out, taking the form of a thunderbolt.
‘When did he draw his sword?’
He hadn't even perceived the boy grasping the hilt, let alone unsheathing the blade.
Drawn as if in a dream, Namgung Jun's sword sliced through the air in a magnificent arc, carrying an incredibly fierce momentum.
Claaang!
The moment their weapons clashed, Hyeok Woo-seon felt his grip grow light. It was no illusion. Unable to withstand the young swordsman's strike, the blade of his weapon shattered into pieces.
Utterly helpless.
As Hyeok Woo-seon stared at the fragments of his blade scattering through the air, a violent storm of shock erupted in his eyes. The pride and confidence he had built over a lifetime as a martial artist crumbled in much the same way.
"How...?"
No matter how much of a genius the Righteous Path's Number One Rising Star was, Hyeok Woo-seon was a seasoned expert who had survived in the Jianghu for decades. Had he not crawled up from the very bottom to become the second-in-command of Wieon Mountain Villa?
"Since you drew your blade so lightly, you shall depart just as lightly."
Before Namgung Jun's emotionless words had even finished, blood began to pour from Hyeok Woo-seon's chest, where the Eternal Righteous Sword was now deeply embedded.
"Guh...?"
Hyeok Woo-seon hadn't even seen the final sword strike that pierced his heart. All he could manage was a groan mixed with a bewildered gasp.
The question in his mind would remain an eternal mystery. He would never find the answer.
"Vice Lord!"
"So suddenly...!"
The martial artists of Wieon Mountain Villa standing beside him were thrown into utter panic. The battle had been decided in an instant—so quickly that they hadn't even dared to intervene.
Hyeok Woo-seon, the Vice Lord of Wieon Mountain Villa, was undeniably a strong man. Few experts or leaders of minor sects in the area could withstand his straight blade. As one of the two Vice Lords serving directly under the Villa Lord, he had achieved countless brilliant exploits.
Yet this man, who enjoyed considerable fame and influence on the eastern edge of Hubei Province, had been slaughtered in the blink of an eye. He lost his cherished weapon on the first exchange and had his heart pierced on the second.
The process had been so natural, so instantaneous. To those with lesser martial prowess, it almost looked as if he had died in a single blow.
The martial artists of Wieon Mountain Villa felt a simultaneous wave of futility and terror.
"Ah!"
"What do we do...!"
Namgung Jun had done nothing more than block their retreat alone. Yet, the Wieon Mountain Villa martial artists did not dare charge him.
"Our youngest has claimed another achievement."
"Hyeok Woo-seon wasn't someone who should have gone down so easily. His skills were quite seasoned."
"That only proves how profound our youngest's swordsmanship is."
Before they knew it, the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Hall had crossed the mountain gate of the Sea Cloud Sect and were closing in, drawing their swords one by one.
They were surrounded. There was no escape.
Worse, Hyeok Woo-seon, the man who should have been commanding them, was already dead.
"We still outnumber them!"
"Yes! The rear! Head for the rear!"
The panicked martial artists turned their heads toward the escape route blocked solely by Namgung Jun. They knew he was an expert capable of easily slaying their Vice Lord, but surely he couldn't handle dozens of men fleeing at once. No matter how great an expert he was, he only had one sword.
"Scatter! Run at the same time!"
"Every man for himself!"
About fifteen martial artists near the back of the group leaped forward simultaneously, scattering in all directions. If they fled like this, even if a few died, the rest would surely survive.
The Eternal Righteous Sword trembled slightly, scattering blue light in all directions. A moment later, sword strikes poured down like raindrops, filling the entire area.
The bodies of the fleeing men were drenched in an indigo rainstorm.
Slash-slash-slash!
Fountains of blood erupted from the martial artists of Wieon Mountain Villa as they scrambled to save their own skins. The sword strikes, which had split into dozens of paths in an instant, slaughtered every single one of them without exception.
It was a form of the Sookwoo Sword Technique.
For a brief moment, a faint red shower drizzled over the area.
Despite the thick drops of blood falling onto his bamboo hat, Namgung Jun merely flicked his sword lightly and lowered it.
"Do you possess footwork capable of outrunning a rainstorm? If not..."
Namgung Jun's bamboo hat tilted up slightly, revealing his piercing blue eyes. Confronted by a gaze that seemed to writhe with dozens of lightning bolts, the remaining Wieon Mountain Villa martial artists lost all will to fight.
"You should behave with humility and wait for the storm to pass."
Namgung Jun's solemn voice struck their ears with absolute precision.
*
The Wieon Mountain Villa martial artists who had invaded the Sea Cloud Sect were all subdued.
After securing the prisoners with the help of the Sea Cloud Sect, Namgung Jun met with its leader.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Namgung Jun of the Azure Heaven Association."
"Welcome, Young Hero Namgung. We have received immense help from you this time."
The Sea Cloud Sect Leader showed Namgung Jun the utmost courtesy. A significant number of his disciples had already headed to Mount Wudang to assist the Wudang Sect, leaving the Sea Cloud Sect practically an empty house. That was likely why Wieon Mountain Villa, which had been biding its time, had boldly dispatched its forces. Had it not been for the sudden arrival of the Heavenly Sword Hall, the Sea Cloud Sect would have been utterly trampled.
"I heard that Wieon Mountain Villa's tyranny has grown even worse lately."
"They began to run wild after the clash between the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and the Wudang Sect. Wieon Mountain Villa originally avoided clashing with the Wudang Lay Sect, so for them to send their forces on such a large scale now is proof enough."
Namgung Jun nodded quietly. "Our association also suspects there has been some communication between the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and Wieon Mountain Villa. Their movements have become far too bold for them to have acted simply by observing the situation in Hubei Province."
"Wieon Mountain Villa belongs to the unorthodox path, so they wouldn't think twice about joining hands with the Demonic Path. The Villa Lord's ambition is also quite grand. Our sect was worried about whether we should take additional action."
Namgung Jun shook his head. "Please continue holding your ground firmly, just as the Sea Cloud Sect is doing now."
"Oh. Does that mean...?"
Seeing the Sea Cloud Sect Leader trail off, Namgung Jun continued, "Wieon Mountain Villa will soon be erased."
The Sect Leader realized it immediately. The Heavenly Sword Hall forces that had come to their aid today were only a fraction of their total strength.
‘Even the forces stationed outside were considerable.’
The Sea Cloud Sect Leader recalled the faces of the warriors who had entered his sect. Among them were quite a few he recognized. Once one reached the rank of Third Cloud in the Azure Heaven Association, their reputation was usually high enough to have earned them their own moniker.
‘Come to think of it, the Wall-Repelling Sword, Gong Jun-am, was also there. He has long been famous as the second-in-command of the Heavenly Sword Hall.’
A sudden question arose in the Sect Leader's mind. He knew that Hyeok Woo-seon had crossed the Sanzu River at Namgung Jun's hand. Even so, he wondered if the boy was truly worthy of taking the lead instead of Gong Jun-am, who had been the second-in-command for so long.
However, the Sea Cloud Sect Leader skillfully suppressed his doubt.
‘It was said that he received guidance from the Sect Master at the Mount Song Gathering. There must be something I don't know.’
The Sea Cloud Sect Leader reached for his teacup. "Young Hero Namgung. Is there anything our sect can do to help?"
"Once Wieon Mountain Villa falls, miscellaneous rabble seeking to exploit the power vacuum might run rampant. Please look after the livelihoods of the local people."
"That is naturally our sect's duty."
"I have heard of the Sea Cloud Sect's high reputation. Simply doing your duty will be of immense help."
The Sea Cloud Sect Leader subtly sipped his tea. "We are the ones who received great help, yet you flatter our sect so. It makes me quite embarrassed."
"It is not flattery. The reputation of the Sea Cloud Sect precedes it, and it is fully deserving of such praise. It is only right that I show proper respect."
Though it was a brief conversation, the Sea Cloud Sect Leader realized something.
‘Despite his young age, he exudes a unique aura.’
Apart from his martial skill, there was a power that emanated from the man himself. It wasn't a presence that dominated the room, nor did he leave an aggressively strong impression that burned into one's memory. Instead, a solemnity and composure seeped in gently like the aroma of tea, making one forget Namgung Jun's youth.
‘The rumors were not false. He is indeed a true talent of the Azure Heaven Association.’
He had no choice but to understand why a newcomer like Namgung Jun was in this position, surpassing even the veteran Third Clouds of the Heavenly Sword Hall.
‘What a pity.’
If he had a daughter, he would have subtly arranged a meeting. Though they hadn't spoken for long, he took a great liking to Namgung Jun, who possessed a deep poise that martial artists his age could never hope to harbor.
"Are you leaving immediately? Wouldn't it be better to rest for at least a day before moving?"
Namgung Jun politely declined with a bow. "By now, the Heavenly Sword Hall Master has likely executed the other Vice Lord of Wieon Mountain Villa, who headed to Huanggang."
Huanggang was located three to four days' journey from Tuanfeng, where the Sea Cloud Sect was situated. If a martial artist used Lightness Skills, the time could be shortened even further.
"To kill both Vice Lords who were responsible for Wieon Mountain Villa's military force..."
"Yes. Since we have severed all of Wieon Mountain Villa's core forces, the Heavenly Sword Hall intends to strike their headquarters immediately."
The Heavenly Sword Hall had no intention of dragging out the campaign. They planned to end it with extreme speed.
*
Wieon Mountain Villa.
Situated halfway up a mountain, the villa was quite grand. The size of the manor exceeded ordinary standards, and the walls surrounding it were so high and thick that they resembled a small fortress.
The Lord of Wieon Mountain Villa, the Dark Forest Guest, stood at the highest point of the pavilion, taking in the panoramic view.
"So, my sworn brothers are all dead?"
"Yes. According to news from unorthodox contacts in Huanggang and Tuanfeng, it is certain."
Even at his subordinate's report, the Dark Forest Guest's eyes remained dry and emotionless, with only a faint trace of annoyance mixed in. He recalled the two Vice Lords with whom he had sworn brotherhood. He had bound those useful men to Wieon Mountain Villa with the dual titles of sworn brother and Vice Lord, and he had made good use of them for over a decade. Losing them at such a critical juncture was a painful blow.
‘They used their superior information and mobility to pick us off one by one.’
The forces led by the two Vice Lords had accounted for a significant portion of their strength. Since a substantial number of his troops had been dealt with outside the villa, the Heavenly Sword Hall would surely push straight for his headquarters next.
"To be defeated without accomplishing a single thing with that much strength... Pathetic fools."
Clicking his tongue, the Dark Forest Guest placed his hands behind his back and ordered, "The Azure Heaven Association will storm this place soon. Raise the alert level!"
"Understood!"
As his subordinate replied, a roaring explosion erupted in the distance.
It came from the main gate.
The Dark Forest Guest's head whipped toward the sound. Through the shattered gate, swordsmen were leaping in one after another.
"This quickly?"
The Dark Forest Guest's slightly deflated tone made his subordinate tremble.