Chapter 37: First Solo Mission (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 37: First Solo Mission (2)
The boy’s single remark cast a heavy silence over the area.
It was a different kind of heaviness from the oppressive weight that had filled the air when the Blood-Pearl Sword dominated the scene.
An atmosphere mixed with awe, shock, and anticipation swirled around the young swordsman.
Who on earth is that boy?
Jang Il-su, the Merchant Guild Leader, stared at Namgung Jun’s back with wide, startled eyes.
The boy had been incredibly diligent and sincere, never slacking off during the journey, and was actually quite good at his work. Jang Il-su had even planned to officially recruit him into the merchant group and groom him properly once this trade run was successfully completed.
But the side of him he had suddenly revealed was shocking.
Though it was a mystery where he had hidden it, the sword he now wore looked perfectly natural on him.
He was, without a doubt, a young swordsman.
Even the worn-out clothes of a laborer couldn't hide the noble air about him, making his appearance as a swordsman all the more gallant.
The Azure Heaven Association?
Jang Il-su swallowed hard, recalling the name the Blood-Pearl Sword had uttered. He had heard rumors about the Azure Heaven Association. They were a gathering of chivalrous heroes who fought against the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult and put righteousness into practice. Many said they were better than most orthodox sects.
After all, quite a few sects only carried the name of the Righteous Faction while acting no differently from the Unorthodox Faction, or even secretly cooperating with the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult to preserve their own power.
This is a stroke of heavenly luck.
It was an immense relief that a chivalrous hero of the Azure Heaven Association had been hiding his identity within their trade caravan.
But can that boy really match the Blood-Pearl Sword?
While he was glad to see a young hero step forward, the presence of the Blood-Pearl Sword, a peak expert, was far too overwhelming. The man’s ferocious Qi Wave spread in all directions, fiercely clawing at the air.
In contrast, nothing could be felt from Namgung Jun. His sleeves fluttered gently, making him look precariously vulnerable.
Isn't the Blood-Pearl Sword an incredibly cruel bastard?
He was a swordsman who had to draw blood whenever he unsheathed his sword, a mercenary who took any job as long as it paid. Rumor had it that the Blood-Pearl Sword was involved in several murders that had recently occurred in Hefei.
Staring at Namgung Jun’s back as he stood alone against the infamous killer, Jang Il-su was overcome with anxiety.
At this rate…
Although he hadn't been able to properly follow their brief clash, it felt as though Namgung Jun had been pushed back. He had reacted a split second late to the Blood-Pearl Sword’s surprise attack. Even the bold words he’d spoken after their clash now sounded like a desperate attempt to steel himself against the Blood-Pearl Sword's intimidation.
Clutching his collar, Jang Il-su quickly shouted, "Young hero! There is no need for you to do this on our account! Save yourself!"
Even as he shouted, Jang Il-su reproached himself. He should have been desperately begging for help, not urging the boy to run. But he could not just stand by and watch an outsider die in vain for their troubles. It was especially true for a young hero with a bright future, whose righteous spirit and youth were being wasted as he stepped into this death trap without hesitation.
At Jang Il-su’s shout, Namgung Jun slowly turned his head. His profile came into view, the corners of his lips curled slightly upward.
"Do not worry. It will be over soon."
Swoosh!
The moment Namgung Jun turned his head, a chilling sound split the air.
Closing a distance of six paces in an instant, the Blood-Pearl Sword fiercely twisted his waist and thrust his sword forward.
I must seize the momentum now!
The Blood-Pearl Sword found Namgung Jun’s audacity insolent—daring to look away with an enemy right before him—but he was also grateful. Until a moment ago, he hadn't been able to find even the slightest opening in the boy's stance.
Clang!
A clear metallic ring echoed.
The Blood-Pearl Sword’s thrust was blocked by the sword Namgung Jun had drawn. To be precise, it was blocked by the edge of the blade.
Seeing this, the Blood-Pearl Sword’s jaw twitched.
"Is he insane?"
The tip of one sword and the edge of the other. Point to point, they had locked together with absolute precision. Had he been off by even a hair's breadth, his throat would have been pierced.
Yet Namgung Jun had accomplished this without even looking.
It was a terrifying display of sensory perception and swordsmanship—a feat so profoundly advanced that the Blood-Pearl Sword wouldn't dare attempt to mimic it.
Was that luck? Or skill?
To find out, the Blood-Pearl Sword violently flicked his wrist and unleashed a rapid succession of thrusts. It was a lethal technique targeting all of Namgung Jun’s vital points, starting with his eyes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
However, Namgung Jun simply shifted his hilt, blocking every single strike. Just like before, he deflected the tip of the Blood-Pearl Sword’s weapon using only the narrow edge of his blade.
When more than ten attempts all ended in failure, the Blood-Pearl Sword bit his lip hard and retreated.
Only then did Namgung Jun turn his head to face him. Meeting the fiercely flickering blue light in the boy’s eyes, the Blood-Pearl Sword suddenly felt a damp chill on his back. Cold sweat was already pouring down his spine from witnessing Namgung Jun’s astounding sword technique.
As the Blood-Pearl Sword hesitated, merely staring, Namgung Jun asked quietly, "Is that all?"
"Don't make me laugh!"
Knowing that losing his momentum meant defeat, the Blood-Pearl Sword let out a fierce battle cry and lunged forward.
Swish!
His weapon fluttered in a dizzying blur, unleashing countless sword strikes. A sticky, suffocating killing intent emanated from every single blow. Allowing even one to land would be fatal.
Nine paths of sword strikes scattered in multiple directions, only to suddenly pivot and converge on a single point. To Jang Il-su and Steadfast Blade watching from behind, it looked as if a massive, vermilion bead was forming around Namgung Jun.
The Blood-Pearl Fourteen Swords.
The Great Deceptive Blood Pearl.
The Blood-Pearl Sword had immediately unleashed his most powerful ultimate technique. He felt an immense threat from Namgung Jun.
If this drags on, I will die.
Their first clash had been more than enough to gauge Namgung Jun's level. Though his exact realm was not revealed, it was clear that his innate talent for the sword transcended his years. The Blood-Pearl Sword sought to decide the battle using his internal energy—which he believed to be his sole advantage—and a lethal technique born from real combat experience.
Crackle!
Amidst the red sword strikes, blue lightning erupted.
The blue sword strikes erupted like vigorous young shoots, rapidly growing in size before converging into a long, horizontal sweep.
Deflect the three strikes from the upper left, pull them aside, and block the central sword path.
Having read the flow of the technique, Namgung Jun executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp, violently crushing the ground beneath him.
Thirteen Lightning Flash Sword Thunders.
First Form: Single Flash.
It happened in an instant.
The sword strike, rushing forward like a bolt of lightning, completely tore through the Great Deceptive Blood Pearl. It pierced the precise gap in the form, shattering its flow.
With residual power, the single streak of lightning surged fiercely, brushing past the Blood-Pearl Sword’s Adam’s apple.
Click!
Just as Namgung Jun sheathed his sword, a fountain of blood erupted from the Blood-Pearl Sword’s throat. He collapsed helplessly, unable to even utter a scream.
The life-and-death duel had ended in the blink of an eye.
Yet everyone nearby had seen it clearly. The young swordsman had utterly crushed the Blood-Pearl Sword. It was a duel that laid bare the vast difference between a master and a novice.
The boy's indigo martial uniform, completely undisturbed, seemed to symbolize the gulf between the two swordsmen.
"The Blood-Pearl Sword… defeated so helplessly?"
"Are all the chivalrous heroes of the Azure Heaven Association this strong?!"
Jang Il-su’s heart swelled with emotion at Namgung Jun’s brilliant display, and he clenched his fists tightly. Meanwhile, Steadfast Blade’s face flushed red with embarrassment at the thought of having offered to take such a master as his disciple.
Hmm.
In the meantime, Namgung Jun thoroughly searched the Blood-Pearl Sword’s body.
There wasn't much on the corpse. A bottle of wound-healing medicine, what appeared to be poison, and a money pouch containing bank notes, silver, and copper coins.
And finally, a small scroll, rolled up and tied with a string.
Namgung Jun unfurled it.
It's certain the Blood-Pearl Sword was acting on someone's request.
The scroll was a commission letter. Several requests were written inside, some of which had been crossed out with red lines, indicating they were completed.
Hyeongyong Escort Agency, Three Wolves Gang, Ilseon Sect, and Yeongjun Merchant Group.
After examining the contents, Namgung Jun brought the scroll to Jang Il-su. A man as well-versed in the affairs of Hefei as him would likely spot a common thread immediately.
"Merchant Guild Leader. Does anything come to mind when you look at this?"
Though the question was sudden, Jang Il-su calmly examined the scroll.
Soon, his hands began to tremble violently.
"These are all incidents that have recently occurred in Hefei. And all of these groups are in conflict with a single sect."
"Is that sect the Clear-Center Sect?"
After a brief hesitation, Jang Il-su nodded with difficulty.
The Clear-Center Sect. It was the largest of the orthodox sects situated in Hefei.
"So the mastermind is the Clear-Center Sect."
Even at the prospect of facing an orthodox sect, Namgung Jun’s eyes only gleamed with a sharp, cold light.
*
After clearing away the corpses, including that of the Blood-Pearl Sword, the Yeongjun Merchant Group had to halt their journey and take a brief rest.
"Merchant Guild Leader, do you intend to continue the journey?"
"No. We previously only suspected the Clear-Center Sect's underhanded schemes, but now we have proof. How could we take another step forward? We must return for now."
Jang Il-su’s judgment was correct. If the Clear-Center Sect found out that the Blood-Pearl Sword had failed, there was no telling what they would do next. It would be far safer to return to the merchant group’s headquarters and keep a low profile.
"What will you do, Young Hero Namgung?" Ever since learning Namgung Jun’s true identity, Jang Il-su had treated him with the utmost politeness.
"May I continue to accompany the caravan and return to Hefei with you? It would be easier to evade the Clear-Center Sect’s attention that way."
Jang Il-su readily welcomed the request. "If you are traveling with us, Young Hero Namgung, we will have nothing to worry about."
"Thank you for your understanding, especially since I joined the caravan while hiding my identity."
"Oh, please do not say that. It is embarrassing for us when our savior speaks so humbly."
Having finished his conversation with Jang Il-su, Namgung Jun turned and looked up.
Steadfast Blade was standing by a tree a short distance away, wearing an awkward expression. He seemed to be waiting.
As Namgung Jun approached, Steadfast Blade bowed deeply and clasped his hands.
"Young hero. I committed a grave discourtesy the other day. I was blind and failed to recognize your greatness."
Steadfast Blade showed the utmost respect. His previous actions had been a direct blow to Namgung Jun’s pride. It wouldn't have been surprising if Namgung Jun had demanded a duel to the death right then and there.
"Not at all. Please do not worry about it." However, Namgung Jun simply clasped his hands in return. "When the Blood-Pearl Sword appeared, you were the only one who stepped forward. I admired your courage."
"Courage? No. I was merely trying to earn my keep as someone who lives by the blade."
"For one who lives by the blade, throwing away one's life is the hardest thing to do."
As Namgung Jun offered a gentle smile, Steadfast Blade shook his head sheepishly. "That's just loyalty bought with money. It's nothing like the righteous deeds you perform, Young Hero."
Namgung Jun spoke firmly. "I do not believe that chivalry is anything grand. Is it not enough to practice martial arts in a way one believes to be right and to help the weak?"
"You flatter me so much that I do not know what to do with myself." Steadfast Blade finally let out a smile, his tension melting away.
"Chivalry..."
He stared at Namgung Jun’s back as the boy walked ahead. Though it was clearly a small back, it felt incredibly vast.
Then, gazing up at the blue sky, Steadfast Blade suddenly recalled his youth. There was a time when he had blindly dreamed of becoming a chivalrous hero. Of course, that was when he had first picked up a saber. Once reality set in, he had been too busy earning money and practicing his martial arts to think of such things. He had no leeway to perform righteous deeds, finding solace only in the fact that he never sold his blade for dirty work.
"I wonder if it's still not too late."
Staring blankly at the blue sky, Steadfast Blade ran toward Namgung Jun as if he had made up his mind.
"Young hero!"
"What is it?"
"I would like to help you. Would that be alright?" Steadfast Blade spoke while looking at the scroll in Namgung Jun’s hand. "I know the wandering warrior market of Hefei inside out. If you share the details with me, I can help you find the mastermind behind the commission, or other martial artists who received the same request."
Namgung Jun stared intently at Steadfast Blade. "You might die."
"Ha! You seem to have forgotten that I almost died today anyway. Didn't you save me, Young Hero? I must repay the debt I owe you for saving my life."
Lowering his eyes for a moment, Namgung Jun clasped his hands. "Then I shall count on you."
"Thank you for trusting me."
Namgung Jun returned to Hefei with the Yeongjun Merchant Group.