Chapter 60: Journeying Through the Jianghu (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 60: Journeying Through the Jianghu (3)
Sleeping in the Suseong Sect’s guest house, Namgung Jun and Baekri Cheong snapped their eyes open at the exact same moment.
Springing up in unison, the two looked at each other with grim expressions.
"Young Master Baekri, could you wake the Suseong Sect Leader and the others?"
"Little Brother. Will you be alright on your own?"
"Of course."
With a nod, Baekri Cheong leaped toward the inner quarters of the Suseong Sect, while Namgung Jun made his way toward the main gate.
It was an exceptionally dark night.
The sky was pitch black, with neither the moon nor a single star in sight. Perhaps because of that, the torches placed at intervals along the Suseong Sect's walls did not feel bright at all. Instead, the undulating darkness only seemed more pronounced.
"Hmm? Young Master Namgung?"
"Why are you out here instead of sleeping?"
The Suseong Sect disciples on night watch called out, but Namgung Jun did not reply. Instead, he drew his sword and swung it without hesitation.
Clang!
Namgung Jun's sword flashed directly in front of a disciple's face, colliding with something in midair.
"Ah!"
The Suseong Sect disciple, who had jumped in fright thinking Namgung Jun was attacking him, only realized what had happened when he saw a dagger clatter to the ground.
"An ambush?"
"Go and sound the alarm!"
"Thank you, Young Master Namgung!"
Watching the Suseong Sect disciples run inside, Namgung Jun stood firm, blocking the path. With his sword lowered, he scanned the walls stretching out on either side of the main gate.
"Come out."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than members of the Jeongyeong Gang began scaling the walls, appearing one by one. Finally, the Jeongyeong Gang Leader and an old man holding a spear leisurely crossed the threshold of the main gate.
Unlike during the day, when he had fled immediately upon seeing Namgung Jun, the Jeongyeong Gang Leader now wore a relaxed, confident expression. He seemed to place absolute trust in the martial prowess of the old man beside him.
"That boy is one of those Azure Heaven Association bastards who interfered this time," the Jeongyeong Gang Leader said, pointing his sword at Namgung Jun as if reporting to a superior.
"A brat with quite sharp senses."
The old man leisurely scanned Namgung Jun from head to toe, a faint trace of admiration in his eyes. Yet, the way he stroked his spear carried a distinct, palpable killing intent.
"Everyone wake up! It's the enemy!"
"The Jeongyeong Gang is here!"
Hearing the commotion rising from within the Suseong Sect, Namgung Jun raised his sword to a middle stance.
The news has safely reached the inside.
His attention was now focused solely on the old man with the spear.
Namgung Jun threw himself forward without hesitation, his blade slicing horizontally through the air. The resulting wave of sword wind bent and stretched, swaying like a single reed in the breeze.
Heavenly Wind Sword Technique.
Single-Reed Wind.
Whoosh!
Even as the sword wind rushed before his eyes, the old man's composure did not waver. He lightly spun his spear with one hand, striking the side of the incoming gale and shattering it. The dismantled sword wind did nothing more than ruffle his beard.
Despite this, Namgung Jun's gaze remained extremely calm as he watched the old man.
"The brat has some skill."
The old man looked at his finely trembling spear tip, and his eyes grew colder. He had realized it with just that single exchange. This was a sword wind born of seasoned mastery. The boy possessed a refined aura and a sharp gaze.
This was no frog in a well, drunk on some fleeting achievement born of mediocre talent.
This one is the real deal.
Though countless rising stars of the Jianghu tried to stand out by showing off their talent, those who truly possessed heaven-sent genius were extremely rare. The boy in front of him was undoubtedly one of them. He was certain that if he underestimated him due to his young age, he would suffer a terrible defeat.
Shattering the common sense of ordinary standards—that was the true value of genius.
Whoosh!
A sudden, rushing wave of energy ruffled Namgung Jun's hair. Even so, he did not budge.
The old man, who had closed the distance to twenty paces in the blink of an eye, nodded. "To think the Azure Heaven Association possessed such a gem."
He slowly raised his spear and pointed it at Namgung Jun.
"What is your name?"
"Namgung Jun."
"Namgung Jun? A name I've never heard of."
It was a subtle provocation, but Namgung Jun did not give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He merely retorted calmly.
"It will be the last name you ever hear."
"Arrogant brat. But you have the right to be."
Chuckling, the old man waved his hand, and the Jeongyeong Gang Leader and his men bypassed Namgung Jun. They moved to enter the Suseong Sect immediately, but Namgung Jun did not bother to stop them. He had no need to handle both the old man and the Jeongyeong Gang by himself. He was not alone.
Young Master Baekri is inside, so there is no need to worry.
Namgung Jun decided to focus entirely on the old man before him.
"This old man is Samun Spear. Since you are going to die anyway, it won't hurt for you to know my moniker."
"The moniker of someone from the Demonic and Heretical Paths is not worth knowing."
Namgung Jun wasted no more words. Although Baekri Cheong was inside, finishing this as quickly as possible to go help would minimize the damage to the Suseong Sect.
Thud!
With an Earth-Trembling Stomp, Namgung Jun lunged forward. Since his opponent wielded a long weapon like a spear, closing the distance was essential.
"Your intentions are obvious!"
Vibrating through Samun Spear's touch, the spear rippled as smoothly as a whip. In an instant, the spear tip split into four, targeting Namgung Jun's legs.
Namgung Jun did not retreat or dodge. He only pressed forward.
Guided by the honest movements of his Infinite Steps and the Heaven-Pillar Resolute Advance Movement Art, his sword moved naturally.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
His sword, sweeping low, deflected the spear tips one after another. At the same time, his right ankle pivoted. Using the recoil from deflecting the spear as rotational force, Namgung Jun dug into Samun Spear's flank.
That movement. As expected!
Surprise flashed through Samun Spear's eyes as Namgung Jun closed the distance in an instant. This was not the movement or technique a mere boy should be capable of.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The spear's forms, piercing the air in rapid succession, tangled in a dizzying manner. It was like dozens of snakes twisting together, making it difficult to discern where the spear tip was heading.
However, the clear blue light in Namgung Jun's eyes did not waver. He simply read the spear's forms calmly.
Slash!
The blade, splitting into dozens of paths, embroidered the darkness with blue light. Samun Spear's technique was full of dizzying subtleties, but Namgung Jun's was even more profound.
"What?!"
Namgung Jun demonstrated an even higher level of illusion and change, completely stripping bare Samun Spear's forms. The composure finally vanished from Samun Spear's face as all his strikes were completely blocked.
"How can someone who has only reached the mature stage of the Peak Realm wield such a sword?!"
He knew the divisions of the Peak Realm: Entry, Mature, and Extreme. When one first reached the Peak Realm, it was called Entry. When one's control was skilled enough to maintain Sword Qi for half a day, its sharpness and strength surpassing steel, it was called Mature. Extreme referred to a state where one had achieved harmony of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, but had not yet achieved complete unity.
Although the boy’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit were somewhat balanced, they were far from being in harmony.
That brat hasn't even properly achieved the harmony of Essence, Qi, and Spirit.
On the other hand, Samun Spear was at the Extreme of the Peak Realm, having achieved a certain level of harmony and currently attempting unity. The gap between Mature and Extreme was quite large; it was unheard of to fight on equal terms like this.
"The division of realms is not absolute. You should know that well, shouldn't you?"
Boom!
Having suppressed Samun Spear's spear technique with his Illusion Sword and Change Sword, Namgung Jun unleashed the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique. The heavy blade, wrapped in sword wind, struck the spear shaft, shaking Samun Spear's entire body.
"Ugh!"
Samun Spear, who almost lost his grip, tightened his hold with both hands and executed an Earth-Trembling Stomp.
Thud!
Spinning the spear, he unleashed half-moon-shaped spear winds in rapid succession. Six strands of spear wind poured out, but they scattered powerlessly against a single gale from the Heavenly Wind Sword Technique.
"Hmm. Your martial power is not that of a two-cloud rank. You are someone who deserves a three-cloud rank."
Samun Spear's face turned slightly pale. He tried to widen the distance, but Namgung Jun refused to allow it. He never let the fight move to a range advantageous to the spear. Instead, he began to break Samun Spear's technique head-on.
Once again, more than ten changes occurred in the indigo blade. The sword rippled as if flexible, whipping through countless bizarre paths to cut off Samun Spear's forms.
"Haa!"
The spear tip, thrusting straight ahead, trembled finely before splitting into more than ten strands in an instant. It rushed toward Namgung Jun's vital points, but he simply kicked off the ground and pressed forward. He did more than just deflect the spear; he guided its trajectory as he intended.
Three in the upper stance, five in the middle stance.
Having grasped Samun Spear's form in an instant, Namgung Jun's sword subtly twisted its path, suppressing the attack before it could be properly executed. At the same time, he slipped a sword strike through the old man’s offensive.
Splat!
Blood spurted from Samun Spear's thigh. If his reaction had been a fraction of a second slower, his leg would have been pierced through.
Stumbling, Samun Spear hastily retreated while thrusting his spear. Like a seasoned expert, he didn't just back away; it was a strike aimed at Namgung Jun's forward momentum.
Clang!
Namgung Jun tilted his sword as if resting it on his shoulder, deflecting the spear tip upward. Sparks flew as his blade slid along the shaft, but he paid it no mind. He dragged his sword straight down, letting it slide along the spear.
If this continued, all the fingers holding the spear would be sliced off.
Samun Spear hastily let go with his right hand and grabbed the butt of the spear with his left, swinging it like a staff. He managed to shake off Namgung Jun's sword, but he had to accept that his stance was broken.
"Ugh. What on earth are you?!" Samun Spear shouted in bewilderment, having been so thoroughly defeated by Namgung Jun's amazing technique. The boy's swordsmanship contained a subtlety born of years he could not possibly possess. Moreover, he could glimpse a higher realm within it that surpassed his own.
"I have obtained everything I could from you."
"What?"
Closing the distance to seven steps in an instant, Namgung Jun's sword began to vibrate finely. With the shaking of his wrist and successive changes in his grip, the nature of his sword strikes changed countless times. Within them, the techniques he had just learned from Samun Spear's spear method were naturally mixed.
Whoosh!
Samun Spear, about to swing his spear in response, hesitated.
Brilliant sword strikes filled his vision.
Conversely, his mind went blank. He had no idea where to block or how to pierce. He felt utterly lost. If Namgung Jun had simply poured out a random flurry of illusory changes, he wouldn't have been so worried.
Exquisite. Profound.
Countless subtleties swirled within a single, clear flow. How on earth could anyone unfold such a sword?
The repeatedly changing sword strikes poured down like rain, as uncontrollable and violent as a summer downpour.
The moment Samun Spear blankly admired the sword strikes—a very brief instant—was all it took. The countless blades were already scratching and tearing at his entire body.
Splat!
Only after his vision was dyed red with his own blood did Samun Spear realize he had lost.
And so futilely, so helplessly.
In Samun Spear's blurry vision, Namgung Jun's face was reflected.
"Remember this old man's moniker... My sect will punish you..."
Namgung Jun raised his sword, his face expressionless.
"You... I don't remember who you were."
He drove his sword into Samun Spear's neck. With the sound of tearing flesh, the night air fell silent once more.