Chapter 37
37 – Namgung Busugi (6).
Overwhelming.
That was the thought of everyone who watched Han Seo-jin’s match.
At first, he defeated an opponent using a sword with a sword.
Then, he defeated an opponent using a spear and shield with a spear.
“hehehehe.”
In the audience, Lee Geum-sung, also known as Geumsung, stroked his chin.
Capturing Namgung Hyeok is something he can do himself.
But if asked if he can capture him cleanly like that…
“It’s possible.”
Instead, it requires a bit of effort.
Because of his trait [Rage]. Once used, there are things that must be seen to the end.
But that’s not the real problem.
That man…
“He only used basic swordsmanship.”
Namgung Se captured Namgung Se’s with his basic swordsmanship.
There was nothing else added to it.
As it is in the text.
However, that foundation was incredibly shocking.
Could it become like that when the foundation is applied to the extreme?
That was the feeling.
“Could it?”
Even in the midst of the middle-grade, dominating the upper ranks with just the foundation.
When using characteristics, stronger than the upper-grade.
Facing such a person with basic swordsmanship, even with a wooden sword.
Impossible.
That was the immediate thought.
To overpower the author, one must also exert oneself.
Despite being praised as both upper-grade and sword saint.
However, Han Seojin confronted with basic swordsmanship.
No traces of using characteristics are visible.
‘Talent in martial arts.’
And what an incredible talent it was.
“…What the heck is that?”
“Is talent not limited to [education]? How can someone of that age have such skills?”
“Truly frightening. It’s not something you can accumulate overnight. The rumors spreading in the Iron Blood Sword Sect are all baseless rumors!”
Those who appeared to be scouts had contacted someone somewhere.
Others were observing with interest.
At this level, it’s understandable why he became the chief professor.
Even without that, I thought his talent was in [education], but it seems to be related to knowledge after all.
‘That too, a memory related to [lost heritage].’
Lost heritage.
It’s also the reason why the magical realm and the martial world are currently unable to use their power properly.
Staking so much on two geniuses born once every thousand years.
Because of that, both the martial world and the magical realm have experienced setbacks of over a hundred years each.
Geom Seong turned his gaze towards the other side.
There, the head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan was sitting upright.
Geom Seong approached the head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan.
As Geom Seong approached, someone tried to intervene, but…
“…Stop.”
“Yes.”
Geom Seong took a seat next to the clan head.
“You’ve raised him well.”
“Heh, he grew up on his own.”
“Still, you must have learned something from the Iron Blood Sword Clan to be active like that.”
“…It might seem that way.”
The head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan remained silent.
Gum Sung could read one emotion in his eyes.
Confusion and dismay.
Gum Sung smiled inwardly.
The head of the Cheolhong Sword Clan.
That sinister and trash-like thing had shown confusion for the first time.
After subduing the professor who wrote the final book with basic swordsmanship, Gum Sung looked over at this side.
Han Seojin was smiling brightly.
If someone saw them, it might seem like an ordinary master-disciple relationship.
The enmity in Han Seojin’s eyes was apparent to Gum Sung.
“How amusing.”
Gum Sung felt unintentionally rewarded.
He had come out to have a drink once because Han Seojin was making such a fuss.
It felt like discovering a weapon to stab into the back of the Cheolhong Sword Clan.
*
“…Our master sometimes thinks, aren’t you too outstanding?”
Yoo Eunchae’s words.
Without her usual chirpiness, it was a pure sound of admiration.
Wigunak nodded as if agreeing with her.
“Basic swordsmanship and basic spear techniques. It was basic martial arts.”
“They were all orthodox, but you poked at the opponent’s weaknesses. It came unexpectedly at the optimal timing. Some underestimated you at first when you used basic swordsmanship.”
But.
There is no one here who can easily catch an opponent who has reached a similar level as oneself.
“No, maybe there is.”
Sun Woo-hyun pondered deeply.
The title of his master, Cheong-an’s untitled work.
With his unwavering power, it seems possible. After all, he is a transcendent who caused the eruption of the volcanic bloodline.
Those who reached the highest rank among the high ranks.
And the three transcendent beings.
They alone withstood such power and erased all of that power from the world.
That is how it is known among the bloodline.
However.
Lately, doubts have arisen.
Is that man truly superior to Han Seo-jin?
Regarding that.
*
At that moment.
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Nam Hye-rin was quietly meditating.
There is no worry about the master.
Imperial Sword Formation.
By learning that, she came to know a little more about Han Seo-jin.
‘Like the sea.’
He is like the sea.
At first glance, a person whose depth cannot be dared to measure.
The imperial sword style he displayed turned the training hall floor into a scene as if a bomb had exploded, making it seem like they could barely survive the theft.
Mere, a single sword.
A feat that would be impossible for oneself, even if they were to wake up dead.
He casually unfolded it as if it were nothing.
Srrung.
He drew the sword.
A sword.
The form of a blade resembling undulating waves appeared.
‘Different.’
It is different from the sword he had touched until now.
This sword, tailored to himself. A sword made by Han Seojin himself.
It was crafted with such outstanding skill that even the nearby blacksmith showed a surprising level of expertise.
‘No end in sight.’
He has too many talents.
That’s why it was good.
That much he has to teach.
Nam Hyerin swung the sword.
The sword fits snugly in my hand. It’s the kind of sword I want to swing right away.
But I hold back.
Because my opponent is Nam Gung Mire.
Still, in my heart, I think again.
‘A single strike.’
There’s no need to think of anything else.
I will defeat Nam Gung Mire with my Imperial Swordsmanship.
That’s all I think about.
That’s why I’ve been struggling for a month.
I climbed up and down the cliffs with a steel ring similar to Han Seojin’s weight.
At night, I studied martial arts and contemplated about the sword.
There were times when I passed out.
Every time, Han Seojin forced me to muster my strength.
Nam Hye Rin, being a human, sometimes resented Han Seojin.
But the effort paid off.
“Student Nam Hye Rin, are you ready?”
“Yes.”
The exam is coming soon.
The being that wants to suppress the existence of Nam Hye Rin is trying to suppress it once again.
‘It’s okay.’
Recalling a nightmare.
The most challenging memory in life.
It was a month spent with Han Seojin.
There was no time for good sleep, climbing cliffs every day, receiving swordsmanship training at night, and practicing meditation.
And when she collapsed, she would take a tonic to boost her energy.
Her life was dreadful.
But there were results.
Nam Hye Rin moved forward.
*
“A showdown with Namgung.”
“Dark Sword, Nam Hye Rin, and Brain Sword Namgung Mire. Both individuals worth keeping an eye on.”
“It’s a bit awkward because they are Namgung Se Ga’s swords. Not as loud as the Five Great Families, but still a powerful aristocrat in the provinces.”
“Both Nam Hye Rin and Namgung Mire are promising, but there’s no need to fight to the death imitating Namgung Se Ga.”
The conversations of the martial artists.
Nam Hye Rin ignored them and went up to the stage.
Namgung Mire has yet to appear.
Nam Hye Rin calmly closed her eyes.
Quietly sharpening her sword in her mind.
Tap, tap.
Footsteps were heard. Nam Hye Rin realized she was more focused on the sound than she thought.
“I was nervous, or so I thought.”
My body feels better than expected.
Releasing the tension.
Taking a deep breath to wash away the accumulated fatigue.
Those are some of the reasons.
“No.”
That’s not it.
It’s because I’ve grown.
Nam Hye-rin opened her eyes.
Nam Gung Mi-ryeo was there. Holding Nam Gung’s sword, she stood.
The sound of footsteps. The way the body moves.
Taking all of that into account, she came to one conclusion.
She can win.
*
“Don’t you think the world has become better? Even someone of humble origins can come out here.”
Nam Gung Mi-ryeo looked at Nam Hye-rin.
Their relationship didn’t deteriorate like this from the beginning. Nam Gung Mi-ryeo and Nam Hye-rin used to have a good relationship.
Something happened that changed them.
Nam Gung Mi-ryeo deliberately provoked Nam Hye-rin.
But Nam Hye-rin silently prepared for the fight.
“You, not that. Us…”
“Quiet. No chit-chat before the match.”
Nahm Goong Mireyo glanced at the instructor.
A stubborn instructor who wouldn’t yield to external pressure. It was okay to play tough, but for the remaining six months, he could be a bothersome person.
With an expression that seemed to say it was unavoidable, Nahm Goong Mireyo prepared for the fight.
They distanced themselves from each other.
Judging that a sufficient distance had been established, the instructor announced the beginning of the match.
“Start!”
Neither of them moved.
Nahm Goong Mireyo exuded leisure disguised as arrogance.
Nahm Hye Rin observed her opponent.
Sleek.
It was Nahm Hye Rin who moved first.
Drawing her sword, she observed her opponent.
She infused energy into her blade.
Energy extended. The energy, wound around the blade in a circle, lingered at the hilt and circulated again.
And then, acceleration.
The mysteries of the Spear Archery Great Continuation Art.
Circulation.
Endlessly circulating energy to amplify the refined internal energy.
Cycles and accelerations incessantly spin.
Wooong!!
The sound of swarming bees echoed. My hand trembled. A tremendous force emanated from the sword.
Imperial Sword Form.
It is both a mid-sword and a reversed sword.
The mid-sword begins with understanding the opponent, while the reversed sword begins with knowing oneself.
That was the knowledge injected into Han Seojin.
The world was still too profound for him to comprehend fully.
But if he could grasp just that, he could somehow use the Imperial Sword Form.
Kwoong.
Energy surged through the feet. The energy imbued in the sword surrounded the surroundings.
Certainly, the form of the emperor.
“I still have a long way to go.”
The shadow of the emperor shown by that person was not just this much.
“Hooeup.”
I regulate my breathing.
Although the Imperial Sword Form is close to the realm of reversed sword, its origin lies in the mid-sword.
The mid-sword begins with understanding the opponent.
‘How much do I really know?’
Nam Gung Mire.
The Brain Sword, wielded by a left-handed fighter, has no unique characteristics.
Its traits are only related to the sword.
No, that wasn’t the important thing.
Could I win or not, that was the most important.
And Nam Hye-rin looked at Nam Gung Mirye.
“I can win.”
She felt so sure.
“…What?”
Nam Gung Mirye stopped in her tracks.
Something was pressing her down.
What is it, what’s pressing me down?
She looked ahead.
Nam Hye-rin was there.
She was exuding her energy.
Nam Hye-rin’s sword was humming and shaking. That’s why it was confusing.
Her sword is not a flashy, circulating sword.
She didn’t learn the orthodox sword techniques.
She didn’t even learn the Seven Dragon Heart Technique because it didn’t suit her.
Nam Gung-se studied only the basics at the Nam Gung Clan.
But is such a cycle possible?
‘I don’t know what mischief he’s up to.’
Nam Gung Mi-re can’t lose here.
Because this case involves a lot.
Swish!
He drew his sword. Immediately, he unleashed the Changyong Sword. Sizzle! A blue lightning wrapped around the sword.
And a leap.
Thud!
Quickly approaching Nam Hye-rin with the Brain Dragon Spear. He took a stance to swing the sword.
It was dangerous, but at this level, victory was secured.
Because Nam Gung’s boasted hidden sword is not something the current Nam Hye-rin can handle.
But.
‘…Something.’
His breath caught.
As if a giant mountain had blocked his way.
A tremendous force was felt.
However, is that possible?
In terms of realm, it’s similar.
But even within that, strength differs.
And she is stronger than Nam Hyerin.
Yet.
“It’s unbelievable.”
The momentum that Nam Hyerin feels right now seems higher than herself.
Thwoong.
Nam Hyerin took her stance. She extended her front leg and bent her waist.
She aimed the sword downwards.
Suddenly.
She saw the sky.
It seemed like an infinitely high and blue sky.
Below that.
Nam Hyerin’s shadow loomed.
That shadow looked infinitely large.
Twisting the heavens, like an emperor embracing it.
It felt like an emperor’s shadow, capable of blocking everything even with all the tricks in the world, standing behind Nam Hyerin.
It took that stance.
The same stance as Nam Hyerin.
And.
The sword.
Hwaaah!!
A deep blue sword, as if measuring everything, descended toward oneself.