Chapter 39: First Solo Mission (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 39: First Solo Mission (4)
Posing as Jang Il-su's bodyguard, Namgung Jun entered the Clear-Center Sect.
As he stepped onto the grounds, a vast training field filled his vision. Behind it, tall pavilions stood in neat rows. The rumors of it being the largest Righteous Faction sect in Hefei were clearly no exaggeration.
"Haa!"
A powerful shout erupted from the center of the training ground. Turning his head, Namgung Jun saw the disciples of the Clear-Center Sect gathered for practice.
They wore high-quality uniforms and wielded well-maintained longswords. Their bearing was disciplined, their flow of qi surprisingly unified. It was a clear display of the Clear-Center Sect's power.
Normally, an outsider watching another sect train was a taboo in the Jianghu. Yet the Clear-Center Sect openly displayed their martial arts for all the banquet attendees to see as they entered.
It was a blatant show of force.
Is that their basic martial art?
It appeared to be the sect's basic sword art, a simple mix of a few forms based on the Three Powers Sword Technique. They must have judged that showing off this level of training was perfectly fine, no matter how many outsiders saw it. After all, the core martial arts of the Clear-Center Sect would remain strictly hidden.
"Haap!"
The Clear-Center Sect's primary goal seemed to be intimidating their guests.
Indeed, Jang Il-su, who was not a martial artist, flinched every time the disciples let out a thunderous shout. The reaction was similar even among those who had trained in martial arts. The expressions of the middle-aged men—likely leaders of Hefei's smaller sects and martial halls—were just as strained.
The Clear-Center Sect's intimidation tactic was working.
"Merchant Guild Leader. Breathe slowly."
"Ah. I understand, Young Hero."
Reminding himself that Namgung Jun was by his side, Jang Il-su managed to calm his nerves.
"You are from the Yeongjun Merchant Group. Please enter."
After they presented their invitation, a disciple of the Clear-Center Sect guided Jang Il-su and Namgung Jun inside.
In the circular banquet hall, over a dozen small tables laden with food and wine were arranged in a ring. At the head of the hall, directly facing the entrance, the Clear-Center Sect Leader sat with an arrogant, overbearing posture.
He welcomed Jang Il-su.
"Leader Jang. Welcome. I heard you went through quite an ordeal with your recent trade caravan. I am glad you are safe."
Jang Il-su's brow twitched, but he couldn't refute the words. He forced a nod and offered a polite excuse.
"I was lucky. Though the trade caravan failed, I consider it a great gain just to have escaped with my life."
Jang Il-su found his seat and sat down, while Namgung Jun stood behind him, playing the part of a bodyguard. A few people glanced at the unfamiliar face accompanying Jang Il-su, but they quickly looked away.
A newly hired bodyguard? He's young.
His aura is nothing special. Did he bring some cheap swordsman?
While no one recognized Namgung Jun's true worth, the last of the empty seats in the banquet hall began to fill. As if he had been waiting for that exact moment, the Clear-Center Sect Leader spoke up.
"Everyone, thank you for attending this banquet and gracing us with your presence."
"It is a banquet hosted by the Sect Leader. Of course we had to attend."
"I saw them on my way in—the momentum of the Clear-Center Sect disciples is truly magnificent. I am deeply envious."
Those who followed or wished to curry favor with the Clear-Center Sect showered the Sect Leader with flattery. On the other hand, those hostile to the sect kept their faces grim and quietly observed the situation.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the Clear-Center Sect Leader set down his cup.
Clack!
He'd infused a trace of internal energy into the motion, and the sharp sound drew every eye in the hall to him.
"The reason I invited you all to this banquet is to discuss the greater cause of Hefei."
"The greater cause?"
The Clear-Center Sect Leader nodded. "Lately, the unorthodox factions of Hefei have shown signs of banding together and moving in unison."
He scanned the faces in the hall with a solemn expression. "I believe we must also unite our strength to counter them."
As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged men sitting right next to him chimed in.
"The sooner, the better."
"Forming an alliance is a matter of grave importance. Everyone must join."
Of course, not everyone agreed. Opposition to the Clear-Center Sect was clearly present.
Jang Il-su, one of the dissenters, asked, "What of those who do not wish to join the alliance?"
"If you don't join the alliance, does that not mean you intend to side with the unorthodox factions? We are not so soft as to overlook those who side with our enemies."
Refusing to join was practically a declaration of war.
The leaders of the factions hostile to the Clear-Center Sect, including Jang Il-su, protested all at once.
"Isn't that just forcing us to join?"
"How can you be so high-handed? Using brute force to get your way!"
The Clear-Center Sect Leader let out a cold laugh as he toyed with his cup. "Then you can simply join. When our sect takes the lead to discuss the greater cause, turning a blind eye makes you no different from the unorthodox factions."
"What absurd tyranny!"
The Clear-Center Sect Leader refused to hear any more dissent. He clapped his hands, and four swordsmen stepped forward.
They were the experts representing the Clear-Center Sect.
The Clear-Center Four Swords.
In the hand of the eldest, the man known as the First Sword, was a covenant.
"Sign it," the Clear-Center Sect Leader commanded, his gaze sweeping across the banquet hall. "If you do not join the alliance, prepare to face us starting tomorrow."
"Ugh! How can you be so reckless?"
"A greater cause requires decisiveness."
It was then that someone suddenly stepped into the center of the hall.
It was Namgung Jun.
"How laughable. Is this petty extortion the best you can do while wearing the mask of the Righteous Faction?"
"Who is that?"
"What does a young brat like him know to be running his mouth!"
Namgung Jun threw off the black robe draped over his shoulders. Instantly, his brilliant blue martial uniform was revealed. Two white clouds were embroidered on his sleeves.
Recognizing the Azure Heaven Garment, the Clear-Center Sect Leader's eyes widened. "Why is the Azure Heaven Association here?"
His panic was short-lived. The Sect Leader quickly composed himself and scolded Namgung Jun. "You bastard. Do you have any idea where you are to be acting like such a reckless fool?"
"I thought this was a place to discuss the Clear-Center Sect's 'greater cause'?"
"You little..."
Thud!
As the Sect Leader’s voice trailed off, Namgung Jun drew his sword—sheath and all—and slammed it into the floor of the banquet hall.
"Clear-Center Sect Leader. Does the Clear-Center Sect truly have the right to speak of a greater cause?"
"By what authority do you spout such nonsense?"
Namgung Jun pulled a book from his chest pocket. "This is a ledger detailing the dirty work you commissioned to unorthodox martial artists and wandering warriors, including the Blood-Pearl Sword."
He opened the book and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "The Hoyeon Gang, Muksan Iron Workshop, Janglim Escort Agency, Museong Martial Arts Hall, Jincheong Sect, and the Yeongjun Merchant Group. You certainly kept yourself busy."
Steadfast Blade had infiltrated Hefei's network of wandering warriors to get the list of commissions, while Jang Il-su's resourcefulness had allowed them to track the transaction records and cross-reference everything. The book in Namgung Jun's hand was the evidence born from the cooperation of the two men.
"Clear-Center Sect Leader! Is what that boy is saying true?"
"I had my suspicions, but since you are supposedly of the Righteous Faction, I never imagined...!"
The leaders of the groups Namgung Jun had named protested at once, but the Clear-Center Sect Leader didn't even pretend to listen. His burning gaze was fixed solely on Namgung Jun.
He came knowing everything. I can't just kill everyone here to silence them. There are too many eyes, and the Azure Heaven Association must already know.
If he rashly killed Namgung Jun, a higher-ranking hero from the Azure Heaven Association would surely return. Rather than letting the matter escalate, it was best to settle it here and now with this young swordsman who wore only two clouds.
The Clear-Center Sect Leader forced a calm smile. "What is it that you want?"
"The normalization of everything. And the sealing of the Clear-Center Sect."
"Let's talk first. There seems to be a misunderstanding."
Thump!
Namgung Jun slammed his sheathed sword into the floor once more. "For martial artists, isn't combat the most definitive form of conversation?"
After a moment's thought, the Clear-Center Sect Leader proposed, "Let's do this. We shall hold a duel. The winning side's proposal will be accepted."
When Namgung Jun nodded, the Sect Leader flicked his hand. The Clear-Center Four Swords, who had been waiting, stepped forward.
"Our sect shall send forth the Clear-Center Four Swords. What about your side?"
If the opponent sent four fighters, it was only right for his side to send four as well. However, no one had even decided who would step up. The Sect Leader immediately saw that Namgung Jun was the only member of the Azure Heaven Association present. He intended to use the duel as an excuse to drive him away for now.
I just need to get through this crisis.
If he could just get Namgung Jun out of here, the Azure Heaven Association would have to face the Righteous Union Alliance—the coalition of Hefei's Righteous Faction—not just the Clear-Center Sect. If that happened, not even the Azure Heaven Association could touch them so easily.
However, the answer that came from Namgung Jun's mouth completely shattered the Sect Leader's expectations.
"I will face them alone."
*
Clang!
In a mere seven exchanges, the Second Sword's diagonally plunging blade shattered.
"Ugh."
The Clear-Center Second Sword groaned, staring at the tip of Namgung Jun's blade at his throat. The Third Sword and Fourth Sword had been defeated in the exact same way, their swords broken. Because of that, he had infused as much internal energy into his sword as possible, but it had been meaningless.
How can this young brat's sword be so heavy?
His awe at Namgung Jun's Sword Force was fleeting. Now, only one of the Clear-Center Four Swords remained. If the First Sword was also defeated, the Clear-Center Sect's plans would suffer a massive setback. That could not be allowed to happen.
"My word..."
"The Clear-Center Four Swords, defeated so easily?"
"No, the leader, the First Sword, still remains."
When the duel began, most of the crowd had watched with amusement, wondering how long Namgung Jun would last. But as they watched him utterly dismantle the Clear-Center Four Swords, a stunned silence fell over them. Only the few leaders hostile to the Clear-Center Sect struggled to hide their delight.
Ah, Young Hero Namgung!
Jang Il-su's heart pounded at Namgung Jun's stellar performance. He knew the young man's martial prowess was extraordinary for his age, but he had never imagined it was to this extent.
The Clear-Center Four Swords are men who could hold their own anywhere in Hefei!
Namgung Jun was single-handedly stopping the Clear-Center Sect's ambitions. With a racing heart, Jang Il-su waited for the final duel to begin.
Unlike Jang Il-su's bright expression, the Clear-Center Sect Leader was openly scowling.
At this rate, all my plans will go awry.
Driven to the edge, only one option remained in the Sect Leader's mind. He had tried to steer things toward a duel to avoid the high risk, but it had come to this anyway.
If things continue like this, it's all over. I might as well...!
In what was now an all-or-nothing situation, the Sect Leader gestured to the First Sword without hesitation.
"First Sword."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Only after a brief, silent exchange via voice transmission with the Sect Leader did the First Sword step into the ring. Namgung Jun watched this closely.
Soon, the final match began: Namgung Jun versus the Clear-Center First Sword.
While Namgung Jun raised his sword in a gesture of minimal courtesy, the First Sword was busy assuming his stance with a stiff expression. The two swordsmen sized each other up with sharp eyes, then threw themselves forward the moment their gazes locked.
Both had chosen a bold offensive.
Clang!
Their swords crossed diagonally, grinding against each other.
Ugh!
The First Sword, nearly losing his grip for a moment, tightened his hold on the hilt and channeled all the strength in his body. Now he understood how his three brothers had lost so helplessly. The pressure radiating from Namgung Jun's sword was terrifying.
He was certain that if the duel had proceeded normally, he would have lost. But the First Sword wasn't worried. He only needed to carry out the Sect Leader's instructions.
Hum!
The First Sword pushed his blade forward, pouring internal energy into it. The energy surged up the steel and immediately spread to Namgung Jun's sword. Feeling this, Namgung Jun's eyes narrowed.
Is he trying to force a clash of internal energy? No.
Namgung Jun's gaze shifted past the First Sword.
The moment the First Sword initiated the clash to lock Namgung Jun in place, figures leaped from the left and right, storming the stage. Judging by the auras they released, they were Peak Experts who had reached the Peak Realm. And one of them was the Clear-Center Sect Leader himself—the very man who had proposed the duel.
"Naive brat!"
The Clear-Center Sect Leader's sneer cut through the air.
Yet, Namgung Jun's breathing remained perfectly calm.
Within his clear pupils, blue lightning began to crackle.