Chapter 156: Seventh Young Lady (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 156: Seventh Young Lady (2)
"Haa."
A heavy chill clung to Namgung Jun's breath as he concluded his Qi Circulation.
He had sensed the warning signs of a seizure from his Nine Yin Severed Meridian, forcing him to continue his Qi Circulation for far longer than usual. Although he had been able to suppress the seizures in advance since learning the Taiji Taoyuan Technique, the process was never a smooth one.
As the Yin Cold Qi of the Nine Yin Severed Meridian grew stronger, the time and mental effort required for his Qi Circulation increased day by day. Every time he circulated his qi to suppress an attack, it felt like an intense internal battle against a supreme master of ice arts. If he relaxed his control over his internal energy for even a moment, he could suffer severe internal injuries at any time.
'The herbal decoction I received from the Tang Clan is also a great help.'
Perhaps because the decoction was formulated to overcome the Three Yin Severed Meridian, he was able to obtain a significant amount of pure, scorching Yang Qi from it.
Now that he had turned eighteen, he could feel the Yin Cold Qi of his Nine Yin Severed Meridian swelling with even greater clarity each day. Namgung Jun was also making steady progress, but the rate at which the Nine Yin Severed Meridian expanded its mass of Yin Cold Qi was always a step ahead.
Lately, whenever he felt a sudden chill, Namgung Jun would be reminded of why the Nine Yin Severed Meridian and Nine Yang Severed Meridian were known throughout the Jianghu as heavenly punishments.
'There's a limit to how many elixirs of extreme Yang I can obtain.'
In the end, his only choice was to overcome this innate heavenly punishment through his own martial arts.
After regulating his breathing, he stepped out of the pavilion and saw Sa Dan-hae approaching, his serrated saber slung over his shoulder. Spotting Namgung Jun, Sa Dan-hae bowed awkwardly, his posture stiff.
"What brings you here? You should be by Senior Sword Demon's side."
"Our Hall Master is already surrounded by the other bastards. Still, it seems he recovered his strength quickly thanks to the Azure Firmament Hall Master, so I came to express my gratitude."
The corners of Namgung Jun's mouth, tight from the cold qi emanating from his body, relaxed slightly.
"How unexpected. I thought the members of Mokryun Hall only looked out for themselves."
"Well, since they're all bastards who used to belong to unorthodox factions or walked the line between orthodox and unorthodox, they’ve got some wild tendencies. But they still feel a sense of belonging and camaraderie. Besides, we're all in a similar boat, moving toward the same goal…"
The conversation between the two men, standing a slight distance apart, quickly fizzled out. They had little in common, and their only shared connection was swinging blades together in battle, leaving them with hardly anything to discuss.
Although he had come to express gratitude on behalf of Mokryun Hall, Sa Dan-hae looked visibly uncomfortable, shifting his weight and fidgeting.
Watching him quietly, Namgung Jun offered a faint smile.
"I thought Mokryun Hall prioritized revenge against the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult above all else. I didn't think you'd care about anything else, but I suppose I was wrong. I heard several rumors on my way to Mount Emei—that Mokryun Hall protected two nearby minor sects and the common folk."
"It's only natural for the Azure Firmament Hall Master to think so."
Mokryun Hall was a gathering of vengeful ghosts seeking the utter annihilation of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult. Since most had joined the Azure Heaven Association solely for revenge, the missions assigned to them were extremely limited compared to those of the other Ten Halls.
"When I first became a Cloud of the Azure Heaven Association and entered Mokryun Hall, I was exactly as you described. Revenge was the only thing I could see. But gradually, things change."
"Why is that?"
"The commoners who aren't part of the martial world don't know how to distinguish between an ordinary Cloud and a member of Mokryun Hall. They approach us without hesitation, showing us kindness and gratitude. In their eyes, we all look like the same chivalrous heroes."
Glancing at Namgung Jun, Sa Dan-hae continued with an embarrassed expression.
"When you see the sparkling eyes and smiles of the common people, your hardened heart slowly softens. You find your eyes drifting toward them from time to time. After hesitating a few times, you end up reaching out a hand. It sounds strange, saying it out loud. I didn't even know I had this kind of compassion left in me."
"Isn't it normal to discover parts of yourself you never knew existed as you live? That is how people reflect on themselves, how they change."
"Anyone listening would think the Azure Firmament Hall Master has lived longer than I have."
Namgung Jun looked at the fierce-faced, middle-aged man, whose cheeks had reddened just from bringing up the topic. He hadn't seen it firsthand, but Namgung Jun was certain the other Clouds of Mokryun Hall would wear the same expression as Sa Dan-hae.
That fact was truly gratifying. He had confirmed that a tiny seed of righteous chivalry was sprouting in the hearts of these vengeful ghosts, men who had long lingered on the fringes of the Azure Heaven Association. Even if their pasts were flawed, he wanted to cheer on those who now wished to walk an upright path.
After all, no one was perfect. Everyone made mistakes.
As a faint smile played on his lips, Namgung Jun's eyes flashed.
His smile slowly vanished.
"They're coming."
"What do you mean, all of a sudden?"
Namgung Jun slowly rose to his feet. "The Sun-Moon Demonic Cult will be here shortly. There is somewhere I must go right now. Deliver the news to Senior Sword Demon and the Azure Firmament Hall."
Leaving Sa Dan-hae with the command, Namgung Jun kicked off the ground and vanished.
A gathering of Demonic Qi was approaching from the eastern mountain path. It felt like two of the Nine Cult-Protecting Guards and the demonic practitioners of the Sichuan Branch.
However, the direction Namgung Jun was heading was southwest.
A distinct Demonic Qi was also spreading from there. The difference was that this Demonic Qi belonged to a single person.
Furthermore, the Demonic Qi from the southwest was locked directly onto him.
Its owner was undoubtedly calling him out.
* * *
The Sword Demon strode forward with his usual gait.
Glancing at his Hall Master's expression, Sa Dan-hae asked cautiously, "Hall Master. Will you be alright?"
"Suddenly pretending to be worried? Is this the first or second time I've fought with injuries like these?"
"Geez."
Sa Dan-hae hadn't been asking about the shoulder injury, but he didn't bother to say more.
Led by the Sword Demon, the members of Mokryun Hall, the Azure Firmament Hall, and the disciples of the Emei and Qingcheng Sects moved quickly to intercept the Demonic Cult's forces surging up the eastern mountainside.
Looking around the quiet forest, Sa Dan-hae muttered softly, "Strange. The Azure Firmament Hall Master definitely left first, so why is he nowhere to be seen?"
"The Namgung brat went in a different direction," the Sword Demon said. "It looks like he went to greet someone moving stealthily from the other side."
"Then isn't that a huge problem?" Sa Dan-hae's brow furrowed as he grasped the situation. "Normally, you and Hall Master Namgung would each have to face one of the two leaders from the Nine Cult-Protecting Guards."
With Namgung Jun gone, the only supreme expert capable of fighting at full strength was the Sword Demon. The Qingcheng Sect Master, Hyeonbaek, was still suffering from severe internal injuries and couldn't exert his full power. As for the Emei Sect, they currently had no supreme expert who had achieved Three Flowers Gather at the Crown. Their previous Sect Master, who had reached that realm, had been killed by the Fifth Mirror Master half a year ago. Since then, the Emei Sect had been unable to produce a new supreme expert.
"I'll take care of it." Waving a hand to push Sa Dan-hae back, the Sword Demon turned his head toward the Azure Firmament Hall, which was moving alongside them. "Can you lot fight properly without your Hall Master?"
"Of course," Gong Jun-am replied, leading the response. "You don't need to worry about the Azure Firmament Hall."
In unison, the members of the Azure Firmament Hall unleashed their Qi Waves. The vividly shimmering, sky-blue energy grew denser with every step they took. Even before the battle had begun, the Azure Firmament Hall was already moving as one.
* * *
'For now, let's focus on this side.'
A figure was clearly reflected in Namgung Jun's blue eyes.
A sharp chin, tilted slightly upward. A twisted corner of her mouth. A crooked stance, leaning on one leg. Arrogance was palpable in her every gesture. She was a beauty who exuded a thick, haughty, and overbearing charm.
Her deep navy-blue eyes, a murky blend of blue and red, feasted openly on Namgung Jun.
"Quite surprising. You're more than I expected, aren't you?"
"What are you referring to?"
"Everything about you."
With every step the Seventh Young Lady took, her waist-length hair fluttered like a cloak woven from priceless silk.
"The Azure Heaven Association couldn't have given you any real help. At best, they could only feed you minor elixirs of extreme Yang."
The Seventh Young Lady snorted as she looked at the blue Thunder Qi crackling around Namgung Jun's body.
"The Heavenly Thunder True Yang Formula, was it? You've done well to survive with such a trashy martial art. If you had learned our cult's Sun Wheel True Formula, you would have achieved twice as much in half the time."
"I have no intention of relying on a Demonic Art."
"Is that so? I wonder if you'll still say that when you're on the verge of death, having failed to overcome your Nine Yin Severed Meridian by a hair's breadth."
Before he knew it, the distance between the Seventh Young Lady and Namgung Jun had narrowed to ten paces. Tilting her head, she brought her left hand to her chin.
"The talent you were born with is truly beautiful. To have achieved this much in a place like the Azure Heaven Association… If you had only mediocre talent, you wouldn't be standing here. You'd be stuck in bed, unable to even leave your room."
Caressing the hilt of his sword, Namgung Jun observed her and asked, "I heard you were born with the Nine Yang Severed Meridian in a woman's body. Is that correct?"
The Seventh Young Lady merely lowered her chin slightly in response.
"Then were you also kidnapped by the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult?"
Her eyes widened slightly before she burst into loud laughter. She pursed her lips, clearly trying to hold it back, but to no avail.
"How could that be? You and I are in completely different positions."
The Seventh Young Lady raised her right arm elegantly. As it rose, the sleeve of her white court dress, densely embroidered with splendid patterns, was put on full display.
"Though I am of illegitimate birth, I am still undeniably of the Cult Leader's bloodline."
"So you're the Cult Leader's daughter…"
"Of course, the man I call father has never once called me by name. I've only seen his face twice in my life."
As she lowered her arm, the sleeve of her dress fluttered like a lonely sigh.
"Still, there were more advantages than disadvantages. Despite being born with such a peculiar constitution, I was able to grow up quietly and secretly, with no one keeping me in check. All while receiving every bit of support our cult's resources could muster."
The Seventh Young Lady's eyes narrowed as she let out a coquettish laugh.
"You, on the other hand, were just a sword attendant following some worthless wandering warrior. If you had just let our cult capture you without a fuss, you would have known true happiness."
Her halted steps began to move again.
"If you had been brought to our cult, you would have met me. And you would have become the most precious existence guarding my side."
The distance between them shrank again. The gap between the man and woman was now so close that if either leaned forward, their noses and lips would touch. As their breaths mingled, the air between them grew warmer.
"We would have always been together. You would have become my only family, my only friend, my only lover."
The Seventh Young Lady's crimson lips slowly parted into a wide, bewitching grin. Her breath flowed out from between them.
"And in the end, you would have become a living elixir, for me and me alone. Sooner or later, we would have become one. Because I would have taken everything that is yours."
"I understand."
The Seventh Young Lady slowly spread her arms, as if about to embrace him then and there.
"It's not too late. Come to my side. I will let you experience all the ecstasy in the world."
"Ecstasy? My life is already full of it."
The Seventh Young Lady parted her lips, her beautiful brows furrowed in genuine curiosity. "How? With what?"
Before she knew it, the Eternal Righteous Sword was in Namgung Jun's hand. It was a natural draw, completely unhindered despite their extreme proximity. A deep blue mist gathered on the blade, fluttering fiercely like flames.
"Am I not roaming the Jianghu with a sword in hand, guided solely by my own will and conviction?"
"How boring. Men are always—"
The attacks from the man and woman, who had been standing as close as lovers, were unleashed with sudden, explosive speed.
Clash!
The indigo blade and the navy-blue fingernails crossed, sending fierce sparks flying into the air. The sharp energy radiating from the collision of sword and claw split the ground beneath them, creating a web of cracks like parched earth during a severe drought.
Even as the ground grew unstable, the distance between the man and woman, now exchanging a flurry of strikes, drew even closer.