Chapter 54 – Honey Belly Sword (13)
Namgung Seon-wi identified Mu-myung’s weakness that his movements were too large. This wasn’t a problem when dealing with weaker warriors. As they couldn’t block them anyway.
However, for Namgung Seon-wi, who had been called the Dark Sword and handled the Namgung family’s dirty work for decades, it was a significant weakness. He could simply block the techniques beforehand.
Nevertheless, even Namgung Seon-wi had to acknowledge that Mu-myung’s techniques were extraordinary. The Emperor Sword Form of the Namgung family wouldn’t lose, but it would be a good match.
‘I should block the variables immediately.’
However, Namgung Seon-wi wasn’t hoping for a good match. Although he had martial pride, his priority was always practicality.
While dealing with the Sword Demon directly, he realized that without overwhelming force to gain practical advantage, even a martial artist as powerful as the Sword Demon would eventually disappear into history.
Could the Namgung family be an exception to this rule? How many famous families had risen and fallen throughout history? That’s why Namgung Seon-wi made a decision that day.
He would become the sword that protected the Namgung family himself. Because of this resolve, when he heard rumors that the Sword Demon had returned to Hanam, he was able to immediately prepare his current plan.
“So you’re not entirely a phantom. Are you the Sword Demon’s companion? You seem too old to be a disciple.”
“……”
“Well, age doesn’t matter now. The Sword Demon will die here today anyway.”
Even if this person was merely a phantom, it didn’t matter. Seeing someone like this calling himself the Sword Demon and causing trouble, the real Sword Demon must have died long ago.
“You still talk too much.”
“…?”
At that moment, the metallic-sounding voice from Mu-myung’s mouth made Namgung Seon-wi unconsciously step back with a stiff expression. Five steps back, in fact.
In that instant, memories flashed before his eyes. Memories of when he had directly confronted the Sword Demon in the past. Why were these memories suddenly coming back? His opponent was just a phantom, wasn’t he?
Namgung Seon-wi stroked his white beard and observed Mu-myung slowly rising before him. No matter how he looked at him, this definitely wasn’t the real Sword Demon.
“…Was it just my imagination? If not, then…”
“This is boring. I’ll go first.”
“?!”
In that moment, Mu-myung’s figure disappeared like an illusion before Namgung Seon-wi’s eyes. The reason Namgung Seon-wi instinctively raised his sword like a shield was because of his instinct to survive.
Kwaaaang!!!
Crushed by its weight — the Emperor’s Sword, said to be the heaviest and most powerful in all the vast martial world of the Central Plains. But Namgung Seon-wi clenched his teeth and shook it off.
‘There’s no such thing as the impossible in this world!!!’
Who would have dared predict that someone like the Sword Demon would emerge from the Righteous sect?
A master who was both the spiritual pillar of the righteous sect and one of the few who could fight on equal footing with the legendary Sword God.
Thinking of the Sword Demon, who had shattered the pride and prejudice of the righteous sect at that time, being surprised at this level was a luxury. With this in mind, the Dark Sword regained his composure.
“That bored? Then I’ll gladly entertain you.”
The heaviest and strongest sword energy, imbued with the mysteries of the Emperor Sword Form, began to flow from Namgung Seon-wi’s sword. Despite the formidable presence of the Dark Sword, Mu-myung burst into laughter.
Iron Sword Ten Forms Iron Sword First Form
Buncheonji
A slash that splits the heaven and earth was swung rapidly toward Mu-myung.
But at that moment, something astonishing happened. Mu-myung’s subsequent movement was too familiar.
The mysterious nature embodied in that sword honored the Emperor who owned the iron sword that divided heaven and earth. That mystery could be said to belong entirely to the Namgung family.
But right now, although Mu-myung had swung his sword later than Namgung Seon-wi, why was it somehow colliding with Namgung Seon-wi’s Buncheonji at exactly the same speed?
Iron Sword Ten Forms Iron Sword First Form Buncheonji
Kwaaaang!!!
The firstform with the same technique collided and canceled each other out, at least on the surface. Namgung Seon-wi silently glared at his left hand holding the sword.
“Iron Sword Ten Forms? It’s quite unexpected for someone called the Dark Sword in the Namgung family to use such a basic sword technique.”
“The simplest is often the strongest. I use the Iron Sword Ten Forms simply because it’s the sword technique I’m most comfortable with.”
“Impressive. I can’t help but acknowledge the dominance in your sword.”
With each exchange of dialogue, the questions multiplied. At first, he had denied it as an absurd thought, but with each conversation with the man before him, his doubts increased.
Was it just a trick?
If not, then…
But Namgung Seon-wi soon stopped his thoughts. Unnecessary extrapolations only make the opponent seem stronger and greater. So for now, the only option was to confront directly to find out.
When he concentrated, he could see his opponent’s movements that weren’t visible earlier. However, they were completely unpredictable. Movements closer to a beast than a martial artist.
Of course, a third-rate martial artist moving like a beast would only get themselves killed. As far as Namgung Seon-wi could remember, there is only one person who had movements that were sharp and irregular.
He was gradually being caught up. Finding it difficult to track the movements with his eyes, he yielded the initiative to his opponent and could only defend, giving him the feeling that he was being driven into a corner little by little.
“…Retreating here would be too costly.”
The moment he heard rumors about the fake Sword Demon, he had planned to use the evil sect members to kill two birds with one stone. Even if that didn’t work out, the death of either would have been beneficial.
And Namgung Seon-wi’s plan was about to succeed. He just needed to dispose of the fake Sword Demon here and then go down to the prison to eliminate all the remaining witnesses.
But somehow, he found himself gradually being driven back by the fake Sword Demon whom he thought he could easily handle. How did this happen?
◇
It felt like I was half-conscious. It was as if memories residing in my head, not my own, were controlling my body. However, I remembered every aspect of the fight during this process.
How to swing the sword faster and more accurately. How to absorb the opponent’s martial arts, and so on. And simultaneously, I was seeing the person beyond the fight.
In the past, there was someone who had waged a lone battle against the vast Central Plains martial world. The young man killed all members of the Evil Sect who had hidden in the martial world and everyone associated with them using overwhelming force.
He believed it was right. He thought only he could do it. As a result, he instilled fear in the martial artists and made more enemies than he expected.
And among them were even martial artists from the evil sect whom he had considered allies. In the end, due to unexpected betrayal, he barely escaped with his life.
[Don’t think this is the end.]
[I will definitely return someday.]
[Whatever form I take, whatever person I become.]
[I will certainly return and have my revenge on you all.]
With that oath alone, he hid in the mountains and waited for his time. Fearing that his blade might become dull, he continued to refine his martial arts, waiting for the time to take revenge again.
But time was not on his side. Over decades, the man who was nearly forty became an old man. Even though he had practiced martial arts every day without fail.
Nevertheless, he was gradually weakening due to age. Am I going to die without accomplishing anything? I can’t accept that. There’s something I must do.
It was then that he finally discovered it. The figure of a child crying at the spot where he had torn a tiger apart. If he could give everything to this child.
Not just my internal energy and martial arts, but even my memories.
Then… Wouldn’t I be immortal?
“Master!!!!”
Just as an immense anxiety began to consume my mind, I barely regained my senses at the voice that sounded like a scream in my ears. What happened?
I blankly stared at something in my hand. Soaked in blood, it was none other than a person’s arm. I could immediately identify its owner.
“…I see, now I understand clearly. I didn’t expect the Sword Demon to go this far.”
“Huh…?”
“Losing one arm to uncover the Sword Demon’s scheme is a small price to pay. Isn’t that right, Sword Demon?”
Namgung Seon-wi, having lost one arm, escaped quickly with a bloody smile. However, Mu-myung just stood there blankly, holding the severed arm.
He thought he clearly heard his disciples’ voices, but sadly, there was no sign of them around. Mu-myung thought that might be for the better.
…What If it hadn’t been for the voices of the disciples calling him?
Would he have been able to return to his original self?
If he had made a mistake, wouldn’t he have been eaten up in his memories?
Thinking this, Mu-myung felt chills run down his body.
