Chapter 112
Chapter 112
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Baek Heon-so's Bold Challenge
-----------------------------------------------------------------
One of the chief stewards collapsed.
It wasn't an act—he really collapsed.
His elation had caused his qi and blood to surge in reverse.
"Chief Steward Han!"
"Loosen his collar and lay him down comfortably so the blood can flow freely!"
"Pull yourself together!"
Amid the commotion, Yang-hui just kept smiling.
Because he knew one surefire way to revive Chief Steward Han.
"Chief Steward Han. That said, we have to give half to the Tang family."
"W-what?!"
The fallen chief steward shot right back up.
"Why! How come!"
"We suffered together. I can't hog it all myself."
"Ugh... Really? Truly? Absolutely? Is that necessary?"
"Strictly speaking, I was the one who grabbed the gold, so Brother Tang or Sister Tang won't complain..."
"Ooooooh!"
Chief Steward Han's face lit up.
Then he began fumbling about, preparing to collapse again.
"We still have to split it. I've already taken plenty on the side, so at least the money will salve my conscience a bit."
Five thousand taels—even half—was still a massive sum.
"......"
Chief Steward Han stared blankly at the ceiling, his expression like that of a man who'd lost his family.
He asked in a heartbroken tone.
"You took a lot of other things, you say? For example? Something valuable, Young Master Hui?"
"Sadly, no money. It's already in my belly."
He explained about the iron rings sealing the Blood God Demon Sword at the end of the Sword King Arsenal, and the Heaven-Dulling Sword Technique contained within.
"I see. So the Sword King Arsenal was truly the seal for that demonic creature."
"Eight Spirit Pills? Even if your strength had waned, that's impressive. You must have gained tremendous inner power."
Yang-hui chuckled and patted his lower abdomen where his dantian lay.
"Yes. In jia terms, a bit over one jia."
"Ooooooh!"
"One jia of inner power at fifteen! Ah, but days have passed, so sixteen now."
"Incredible, either way!"
Suddenly, Baek Mu-ryang looked concerned.
"Gaining such fortune is good, but excess can be harmful. Can you handle it?"
Yang-hui nodded confidently.
"Yes. I've long focused on physical training, so my body is holding up without issue."
The more perfectly tempered the body, the more inner power it could contain.
One jia was substantial, but no problem for him.
"That's fortunate, then. Now, tell us more about this sword technique you obtained."
As befitting the head of a sword clan, Baek Mu-ryang showed the greatest interest in the Heaven-Dulling Sword Technique.
'Too bad I can't teach it to Father.'
The reason was simple. Only those who harbored sword intent could fully execute the Heaven-Dulling Sword Technique.
Of course, relentless study might allow him to infuse its insights into other martial arts.
'Hm? Wait. Could it be...?'
In his past life, the Namgung Clan had monopolized everything in the Sword King Arsenal.
The first form of the Heaven-Dulling Sword Technique: Heaven-Pressing. It embodied the image of the vast, high sky pressing down on all things.
'Originally, the Namgung Clan's signature technique was the Soaring Bow Limitless Sword Method.'
But around the time of the Orthodox-Demonic War, the Namgung Clan astonished the world with a new, self-created unique art.
'Emperor Sword Form. Could it have originated from Heaven-Pressing?'
Emperor Sword Form. A sword art that surpassed even the Soaring Bow Limitless Sword Method, one of the world's top supreme techniques.
Judging by the imagery and principles, his guess seemed plausible.
But how did they derive Emperor Sword Form from Heaven-Pressing?
For ordinary talents, impossible...
Oh, right—Namgung Cheon-yeong was there.
Namgung Cheon-yeong, a transcendent genius hailed as the greatest sword of his generation across eras.
That guy could easily innovate Emperor Sword Form from Heaven-Dulling.
'So in this life, the Namgung Clan won't get Emperor Sword Form. Interesting.'
He'd unintentionally clipped the Namgung brats' wings.
"Heh heh heh heh."
"Young Master Hui. Why the sudden laugh?"
"Ah, sorry. Anyway, I'll interpret and analyze the Sword King Arsenal's legacy as best I can and apply it to the Baek Clan's martial arts."
"Hui, can you really do it?"
"I'll make it happen. If successful, I guarantee our clan's arts will rise another level."
If Namgung Cheon-yeong created Emperor Sword Form from Heaven-Pressing, he could produce the same—or better.
"Ooooooh!"
"Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art and Heaven-Covering 108 Swords already hold profound principles. Advancing them further... I'm looking forward to it."
Baek Mu-ryang's eyes gleamed as he asked.
"Is there nothing this father can help with? Insights on Peak Realm enlightenment or handling sword qi, perhaps?"
Oh, right—he'd forgotten to mention it.
Yang-hui raised one finger with a grin stretching ear to ear.
"Heavens! Sword qi!"
"Hui! You've reached the Peak Realm?!"
"That's right."
Everyone in the room fell into admiration—no, shock.
"Impossible!"
"Peak Realm at sixteen? Unprecedented in the current martial world, wouldn't you say?"
"Of course! Even direct descendants of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans are called once-in-a-generation geniuses if they reach Peak at around thirty!"
"And already manifesting sword qi without a sword at that proficiency. Hui, you're a true genius!"
Yang-hui basked in the flood of exclamations and praise with a pleased smile.
'All true and obvious, but still feels good.'
Sixteen years old with one jia of inner power and Peak Realm attainment?
This meant the world's top young expert had been born in the Baek Clan.
Perhaps the greatest in a century—no, two hundred years.
"Now we have three Peak experts in the main house. Our expansion will accelerate."
"Our fame will soar, naturally."
"We'll need to revise our clan expansion plans substantially!"
"Thrilled even as work piles up—truly wonderful!"
Music to his ears, but the meeting might drag into the night at this rate.
Yang-hui raised the final item at an opportune moment.
"One issue remains. We need to decide what to do with the demon sword we brought."
He picked up the Blood God Demon Sword from the floor and unwrapped the cloth binding it tightly.
Blood-red blade and ominous aura filled the room.
"Heavens, just looking at it feels sinister."
"Worthy of being called a demonic beast of the era."
"Those with weak minds might suffer just from gazing upon it."
They'd already shared the Blood God Demon Sword's traits.
No one stepped forward to touch it.
"Hui, it's your trophy, so your thoughts first. What do you want to do with the demon sword?"
"Destroy it."
"Of course. That's the way."
A demonic thing that shouldn't exist in the world.
Sturdy and sharp, but considering potential malign influences, better to smash it worry-free.
"The problem is how. I tried everything on the way back, but it's unscratched."
Not even a nick from striking it with ultra-refined sword qi.
A true divine artifact, demonic or not.
"Hm. We'll need an expert opinion."
He summoned a servant and ordered Baek Cheol brought in.
Moments later, Baek Cheol entered with a timid expression.
"You called for me, Clan Head...?"
Baek Cheol, rescued from slavery at Black Wolf Escort Agency and made the Baek Clan's master blacksmith.
Years later, he remained timid and easily cowed.
Still, his transcendent talent in smithing had blossomed splendidly—no issue there.
"Master Baek, examine it and tell us how to destroy it. Don't touch it."
Baek Cheol peered at the Blood God Demon Sword for a long while.
He asked Yang-hui to flip it occasionally, scrutinizing every angle with grunts and groans.
"Um... Sorry, but I can't say anything right now..."
"Why not?"
"Metals have different properties by type. My knowledge is too shallow; I can't even identify what alloy it's made from."
In short, no way to destroy the Blood Demon Sword at present.
"Then devote yourself to researching the demon sword and finding a destruction method. I'll arrange help from the Tang Clan's smiths if needed."
"Y-yes, understood..."
Thus ended the agenda from Yang-hui's excursion.
The senior meeting shifted to discussing future plans altered by their gains.
"First, solidify dominance over Wuju..."
"Coordinate with Jeongwol Sect to pressure South Heaven Martial Hall..."
"Time to discuss advances into Wonju, Gilju, and Namchang..."
About half a shichen later.
One retainer burst through the meeting hall doors.
"Clan Head!"
"Tch. Can't you see we're in a meeting?"
"Urgent news! Young Master So has returned!"
Yang-hui and Baek Mu-ryang both looked puzzled.
Yeo Un-hyeok and Chief Steward Han, meanwhile, looked guilty.
"Returned? Where had the young master gone?"
"That brat skipped training and went where?"
"Ahem. Clan Head, I'll explain."
Chief Steward Han pondered how to soften the news of Baek Heon-so's elopement.
Before he could, Baek Heon-so entered the hall.
"Fa... Father..."
"So, speak for yourself. Where have you been?"
"Well..."
Yang-hui eyed the fidgeting Baek Heon-so.
'Closed off training and left immediately for the escort mission—half a year since I last saw the kid.'
He'd grown noticeably, as boys that age do.
Taller by half a chi, and his aura suggested diligent training.
So why the hesitation?
"So. Elders are present. Compose yourself and speak."
"Y-yes, Brother."
Baek Heon-so took a deep breath and continued.
"I... went on a trip."
"A trip? How long?"
"Well... about half a month..."
"So! Is that true?! What business did you have wandering outside for half a month?!"
As the shocked Baek Mu-ryang demanded answers, Baek Heon-so glanced at Yang-hui.
"Brother left for the escort mission... I wanted to do something for the clan too."
Yang-hui resisted slapping his forehead.
'The kid felt left out since I didn't tell him and took Chui-dal, his peer, along.'
His demeanor screamed more than a simple outing—he'd caused trouble.
"So. Tell us what happened on your trip. What did you do?"
"Brother... I went to Soak-hyeon."
Yang-hui couldn't help furrowing his brow.
Soak-hyeon housed South Heaven Martial Hall, rivals with the Baek Clan and Jeongwol Sect for Wuju dominance.
Unlike recently improved ties with Jeongwol Sect, tensions ran high with South Heaven Martial Hall.
To be precise, they were the ones sharpening blades and checking the Baek Clan.
"Surely not. Did something happen with South Heaven Martial Hall?"
"......I arranged a duel. Somehow it turned into a wager..."
"A duel! With a wager, no less!"
The full story was this.
Pondering ways to benefit the clan, he wandered into Soak-hyeon.
There he met South Heaven Martial Hall members and set a duel with their young hall leader.
"What did you wager? Speak!"
"We'll duel after a year of training. Loser grants winner one wish."
To casual ears, just impulsive young geniuses betting.
But it could give South Heaven Martial Hall pretext and opportunity.
Especially since they already bristled at the Baek Clan—surely plotting something.
"South Heaven's young hall leader is two years older than Young Master So and reportedly at the peak of second-rate."
"Young Master So has just entered second-rate, so even a year won't close the gap easily."
"If it happens, we'll likely suffer losses."
Baek Heon-so hung his head, listening.
He knew he'd messed up big time.
But.
"Heon-so."
"......Yes, Brother."
"Well done."
"......Pardon?"
Yang-hui grinned and surveyed the room.
"So brought us a fine pretext for the clan."
"How so, Young Master Hui?"
"Got a clever scheme?"
The reason was simple.
"Win the duel, and we can demand something from South Heaven Martial Hall."
"But Young Master So is clearly inferior to their young hall leader."
"Even in a year, he'll be just sixteen. Theirs is eighteen, fully grown. Odds worsen."
All valid points.
Currently, So's chances were slimmer.
However.
'Time to get involved.'
"One year. Exactly one year, and I'll make So a first-rate expert."
"Hm? Possible?"
"From early second-rate to first-rate in a mere year? Absurd."
"Young Master Hui, regrettably, Young Master So isn't a transcendent genius like you."
First-rate at sixteen?
An achievement hard even for heaven-blessed talents.
So their skepticism was natural.
But.
'I have ways.'
Yang-hui grinned at Baek Heon-so.