Freedom of the Azure Dragon
The Azure Dragon of Freedom. “What in the world—!”
The Murim Alliance Lord, Namgung Yeong, who had been gazing down at the dueling stage with a satisfied expression, shot to his feet in shock. Everyone else reacted the same way. Baekri Hyeong had merely closed his eyes and swung his sword once, lightly. Yet the aftermath was anything but light. A single sword strike carried the force to cleave the entire world in two. If one imagined standing in that position, could anyone possibly block that strike without the slightest recoil? Absolutely not.
“What kind of monstrous sword art is that…? Don’t tell me it was Baekri Hyeok’s doing!?”
Namgung Yeong’s gaze, trembling as though an earthquake had struck his pupils, landed on Baekri Hyeok. Seeing the satisfied look on the man’s face, he finally understood the origin of Baekri Hyeong’s swordsmanship. The one who had created that insane sword art was Baekri Hyeok.
After receiving the order of expulsion from the Murim Alliance, Baekri Hyeok had spent over twenty years at the Baekri Clan residence. He had not remained idle—he had raised monsters. The monstrous sword art known as the Hundred Heavens Three Stances, and the monstrous children Baekri Hyang and Baekri Hyeong.
He had not been wallowing in despair. He had been waiting. Waiting for the moment when a force capable of opposing the colossal Murim Alliance could be built.
“Baekri Hyeok… damn you!”
He had been outmaneuvered in every respect. He had believed that if he dragged Namgung Suryeon onto the dueling stage, she would surely win. After all, she possessed the miraculous ability to read the flow of sword paths. But that ability had a fatal weakness: it was useless against sword arts that were either too simple or lacked a discernible path altogether. And the sword art Baekri Hyeong had displayed was nothing more than a straightforward vertical slash from above to below. Yet that simple motion had produced overwhelming destructive power.
The high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance looked down at the dueling stage with grim faces.
“Haa… haa…”
“Want to keep going? I deliberately avoided hitting you just now.”
“I… won’t give up!”
Namgung Suryeon exhaled roughly and lifted her head. A moment ago, she should have been bisected by Baekri Hyeong’s sword art and met her death. Instead, his blade had twisted at the last instant, grazing her cheek. To her, it felt no different from humiliation. Even if the gap in skill was obvious, she did not want to be shown mercy. Moreover, she had realized that when the sword path was too simple, her ability became ineffective. Baekri Hyeong had become the one who granted her enlightenment.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I feel like I can advance another step.”
“Then I’m glad as well.”
“I’m coming again.”
Namgung Suryeon steadied her stance once more and began to move. Baekri Hyeong watched her, pondering how he should respond. The story he had heard from Hwa Wol yesterday had been truly shocking. The bad blood between the Namgung Clan and the Baekri Clan was not something that could be resolved through conversation. The Namgung Clan had concealed the death of a Baekri bloodline member and continued to pressure the Baekri Clan. Unable to endure it any longer, the Baekri Clan had severed the right arm of the Namgung Clan’s young lord at the time, resulting in his exile to the North Sea. No matter how much one disliked guilt by association, this was a place where the parties involved harbored deep grudges. Baekri Hyeong still felt uncertain about how to treat Namgung Suryeon as he crossed swords with her.
Tap-tap-tap.
After demonstrating the first stance of the Hundred Heavens Three Stances, Baekri Hyeong returned to the Azure Dragon Sword Art. The Azure Dragon Sword Art was a freeform style unbound by fixed forms. Thanks to that, he avoided suspicion that he had learned other sword arts. Of course, Baekri Hyeong did not yet realize that his father already knew he had mastered the Four Guardian Deities Sword. Because of this, the duel could continue.
“Huuup!”
“Tahat!”
When Baekri Hyeong lunged forward, Namgung Suryeon used her supple feminine body to evade the strike. Her sword carried a high-voltage lightning qi that would electrocute anyone it touched. Her fluid movements gave her the advantage of being able to strike from unexpected angles.
Crackle-crackle-crackle!!
Blue lightning erupted from Namgung Suryeon’s crouched form. Baekri Hyeong reversed his grip on his sword and unleashed Azure Dragon qi, completely blocking the lightning. But she had already closed the distance and was ready to thrust.
The outcome of the duel hung on a single strike. At that moment, Baekri Hyeong used his Azure Dragon qi to execute the White Tiger Phantom Step and escaped the spot. Or perhaps it should be called the Azure Dragon Phantom Step. It was the first time he had mixed techniques from his past and present lives, and the result was not bad. At the same time, Baekri Hyeong gained another realization.
‘The Azure Dragon Sword Art is free. Therefore, I might be able to use the other Guardian Deity swords in limited forms.’
The Azure Dragon Phantom Step, which borrowed the principles of the White Tiger Phantom Step, was proof of this. Although it lacked the ferocious aura of White Tiger qi, the leaping power concentrated at the tips of his toes was not to be underestimated. Now he understood why there had never been a technique perfectly tailored to the Azure Dragon Sword Art. And the moment Baekri Hyeong attained this realization, Namgung Suryeon swallowed dryly. Just as she had changed after witnessing his swordsmanship, he too had sensed something and was transforming. His previously peaceful gaze had grown sharper.
Then it happened.
Shwaaaaak!
“Kuk!”
Namgung Suryeon barely managed to deflect the sword qi that shot toward her at tremendous speed and let out a groan. The force behind the qi was weak, but its speed was so great that it sent a chill down her spine. It was the first stance of the Vermilion Bird Killing Sword, executed with Azure Dragon qi—the Azure Wing Explosion.
“What’s wrong? Suddenly you’re only running away.”
“Wouldn’t you run away if you were me!?”
Namgung Suryeon had no choice but to abandon her attack and roll across the ground to avoid Baekri Hyeong’s strikes. The boy had used the Penetration Realm once before and was now firing sword qi using the same method. The speed was so overwhelming that proper response was impossible. Baekri Hyeong also recognized the usefulness of the Azure Wing Explosion beyond his expectations.
‘If I can use this level of killing sword without invoking Vermilion Bird qi…’
Of course, he did not infuse killing intent when using it against Namgung Suryeon. Still, he thought it would be extremely useful in real combat without relying on Vermilion Bird qi. Perhaps he would no longer need to use the Vermilion Bird qi that constantly demanded to be unleashed.
With newfound confidence, Baekri Hyeong began executing the White Tiger True Sword with Azure Dragon qi.
“Take this as well.”
“What!?”
Kwoooooooar!!
A massive dragon stimulated Namgung Suryeon’s pupils. Its body covered in sleek blue scales resembled the Azure Dragon that guarded the east. The Azure Dragon Cross Slash—created by using Azure Dragon qi to execute the first stance of the White Tiger True Sword, the Fierce Tiger Cross Slash—descended upon her.
“Krrrrgh!”
“It’s over now.”
“Not yet!”
Unable to fully withstand the Azure Dragon Cross Slash, Namgung Suryeon’s robes were left in tatters. Baekri Hyeong saw this as an opportunity and charged. Believing this was her final chance, she unleashed her hidden trump card—the Imperial Sword Form.
Rumble!
“What!?”
“This is my full power!”
An enormous gravitational pressure instantly crushed Baekri Hyeong’s legs. A blue sword qi shot toward his startled face, but his body, already accustomed to the Imperial Sword Form from his duel with Namgung Ha-yeon, resisted the pressure with ease.
“Sorry, but…”
“..!”
“This duel is my victory.”
Shwaaaak!
Baekri Hyeong used the first stance of the Black Tortoise Breaking Sword executed with Azure Dragon qi—the Four Blood North Wall. More precisely, it should have been the Four Blood East Wall. The unyielding black energy reminiscent of the Black Tortoise’s sturdy shell advanced while imbued with the free, long azure energy of the Azure Dragon. It shattered Namgung Suryeon’s Imperial Sword Form and grazed past her neck, destroying the edge of the dueling stage.
Namgung Suryeon collapsed on the spot. Un So, who had been stunned by Baekri Hyeong’s swordsmanship, regained his composure and declared the winner.
“The victor of this duel is the rising star of the Hubei Alliance… Baekri Hyeong!”
“Well done, my little brother! I knew you’d win! Woooooo!!”
“How could this happen…?”
Once the duel concluded, the two alliances displayed opposite reactions. The Hubei Alliance roared at the top of their lungs, empowered by Baekri Hyeong’s overwhelming victory. The Murim Alliance sank into a dark atmosphere as if their signboard were about to come down at any moment.
“…”
Namgung Yeong’s eyes, as he gazed at his fallen granddaughter, were filled with deep disappointment. This duel was one the Murim Alliance side absolutely had to win. Yet they had foolishly lost it.
‘This damned clan…!’
In the end, Namgung Yeong let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. Why was it that no trustworthy person was ever born into this cursed Namgung Clan?
Meanwhile, seeing the cold look in her grandfather’s eyes as he stared at her, Namgung Suryeon wore a bitter expression. In the end, she was nothing more than a tool to Namgung Yeong. If she had known it would come to this, she would rather have—
“Let’s go together.”
“Huh?”
A hand was extended toward the despondent Namgung Suryeon. It was Baekri Hyeong.
“Don’t you hate this kind of family too?”
“Huh? Uh…”
“Let’s go together.”
Why was it? She had only known him for a single day. Yet the hand he offered felt so warm. As if entranced, Namgung Suryeon took Baekri Hyeong’s hand and stood up. With just a single duel, the Murim Alliance had lost a promising rising star to the Hubei Alliance.