Chapter 40
40 – Imperial Sword Style (3).
“Long time no see.”
There were many rumors about the head of the Bloodsteel Sword Sect.
However, the first impression was an image of a gentle fatherly figure.
“It’s interesting.”
It’s really interesting.
A smile deepened.
As soon as I saw the main character of the Bloodthirsty Sword Family, there were memories of getting injured.
“I had high expectations for the firstborn… but their talent is lower than I thought.”
Memories from when I was five years old.
“I showed it to you so many times, and you still can’t memorize it. Your body is weak too…”
Memories from when I was seven years old.
“…You still can’t sense mana?”
Memories from when I was ten years old.
An expression of disbelief and anger crossed my mind.
I found out later that as soon as the main character of the Bloodthirsty Sword Family heard about me, they went for a genetic test.
To confirm if I was their biological son or not.
And it turned out that I was their son.
“Hanseojin. I’ll give you one last chance.”
“There’s an organization we have a cooperative relationship with. If you do as they say, I will accept you as a member of the family.”
The main character of the Bloodthirsty Sword Family smiled bitterly.
And that revealed the result of my first life.
I don’t know what kind of experiment they did.
But the main character of the Bloodthirsty Sword Family let Hanseojin suffer until death.
“By the way, is your body okay?”
“Well, there are sore spots here and there…”
The complexion hardened at my words.
I’m not hurt. Because I brought down the opponent with basic swordsmanship and spear techniques.
It wasn’t difficult.
From Noble mtl dot com
I’m just talking to the head of the Cheolhyeol Sword Clan.
“Did my body get messed up in the lab where you sent me?”
Roughly interpreted, it means this.
The head must have been taken aback because I brought up such a topic from the start.
“I see. You did well in the professor’s battle this time. I thought of you as my child, but you showed an unexpected side.”
“Seems like my abilities have awakened anew thanks to being sent to the lab. It’s fortunate that I played the role of a father.”
… Roughly interpreted, it goes like this.
Wow, this guy.
I couldn’t help but admire him.
As a reincarnated individual, I’ve experienced three lives.
Among them, I haven’t seen many personality wrecks like him.
“So, my body is sore everywhere. Come to think of it, are my younger siblings attending this place? Oh, right. That cousin of yours? How is he?”
“If you don’t want your siblings to be treated like cousins, be careful with your words.”
“Cheoljin has made a lot of mistakes. Thanks to your good discipline this time, he’s reflecting a lot.”
“I’ll take care of what you did to him as a punishment, so let’s stop here.”
“hahahaha. That’s quite nice. Oh, come to think of it, these days, things seem to be going well for the Iron Blood Sword Sect.”
“Add some money to that. On top of it.”
“It seems like they’re pushing Han Seo-jin, the senior professor at the academy. But as a gesture of trust for our son and daughter, we can contribute more.”
“I know exactly how much money you’re receiving. Are you going to skimp on the flea’s liver? But if you put our daughter and son in there, I’ll support generously.”
“That’s good. Oh, by the way, I heard there are a lot of beggars around the pawnshop these days. Is everything okay there?”
“Nah, let Nanggungse handle those guys, give him a hand.”
“Oh, those parasites. It’s been a bit of an issue lately. But it’s fine since our son and daughter are interested in quarantine.”
“I’ll give a few swords to your son and daughter and send them off. I’ll chip in too.”
I chuckled.
“This guy.”
I really didn’t want to get close to him.
Well, taking in more students won’t hurt anyway.
“I should start preparing other guys for the final exams soon.”
I extended my hand with a smile.
Gajudo also smiled and shook hands with me.
“… I didn’t expect us to have this kind of relationship, but please take care of us in the future, Professor Han Seo-jin.”
“I’ve made some mistakes too, so I won’t call you ‘son.’ Let’s go with friends or something.”
That’s what it meant.
I chuckled.
Surely not.
We can never become friends. Under any circumstances.
*
“Ugh, starting work from dawn again today, it’s dreadful.”
“I haven’t had a proper break in a year. Since we’ve deployed more laborers, it feels even busier.”
Nam Gung-se’s mornings start a bit early.
They used to train in the early morning as warriors, but these days, the reasons are different.
As the ruling family dominating Incheon as local nobles, they are currently excavating an artifact.
They are not sure about the details as foot soldiers.
But Nam Gung-se’s family head is deeply concerned about this matter.
The family head keeps moving to the excavation site continuously.
Naturally, the foot soldiers suffer, and to quickly excavate the site, they forcibly conscript civilians from the surroundings.
Even if they protest to the government, it’s okay.
Around that time, they will bury the relevant individuals, continue excavating the artifact.
That was the world they lived in.
Rules and order collapsed once, and the country couldn’t fulfill its role.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, Leader!”
Nam Gung-se’s leader looked around once and walked with brisk steps, deep in thought.
‘The pressure has increased lately.’
The government.
The Korean government was pressuring them.
Recently, they had forcefully conscripted laborers from Incheon.
They paid them and provided food, but they were causing damage to their livelihood by being too overbearing.
“Even though the lowly people gave Namgung Sae-ga the opportunity to contribute.”
But one cannot act so recklessly as Namgung Sae-ga.
Lately, the government’s scrutiny had become more intense.
Nevertheless, there was a plan in place.
The artifacts they were currently excavating.
Soon, they would be able to excavate them.
“Just a little longer. Then we can cover up anything.”
It’s a world where strength is everything.
Forced out of China, Namgung Sae-ga’s leader had witnessed his downfall in this distant land.
That’s why he desired strength more than anyone.
And soon, it was time for that desire to bear fruit.
Namgung Sae-ga’s leader hurried toward the artifacts.
Today, perhaps because it was early, there weren’t many people around.
“How’s everything around here?”
“Everything around here? Oh, the kids aren’t listening well. They’re complaining about forced conscription and all that…”
Tsk, he lightly clicked his tongue.
“Forget about that. What about the government and the local gang?”
“Ah, these days, attention has significantly decreased, whether from the Three Powers or the government.”
“It decreased?”
He narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, attention decreased?
‘Not a good sign.’
The Commissioner knew well where Nam Gung-se was at the moment.
As such, caution was necessary this time.
The government had directly intervened, explicitly advising not to make a big fuss about this matter.
Other Three Powers subtly hinted at the same.
It seemed manageable.
But those who warned so suddenly decreased their attention?
Rather than increasing it?
Such cases were rare.
Unless they withdrew due to a major incident.
However, that’s too optimistic.
The highest probability is…
‘They’ve deployed experts.’
Having highly skilled personnel that others wouldn’t easily notice.
‘I need to move more quickly.’
This requires a discreet approach.
Therefore, even deploying laborers was hesitated.
It was a fleeting moment.
A peculiar sense of unease crept in.
The senses as an unmanned quietly warned.
That danger was imminent.
“Hey, look here. Guests have arrived!”
A voice echoed from outside the door.
However, it was strange. It seemed like a small voice, but surprisingly clear, reaching everyone present.
‘Did they already make a move?’
Evidence that the manipulation of qi was surprisingly excellent.
In other words, it meant that a master had arrived.
Immediately after.
Kwaaang!
The door exploded, and a man was confidently striding in.
The man’s appearance was peculiar.
Eyes gleaming with a bluish hue of white hair. The confident strides exuded self-assurance.
How about his attire?
Wearing a Hawaiian shirt, with a short-sleeved tee underneath. As if going on a trip, he had shorts on with sandals.
What was even more amusing is that he was carrying a wooden sword on his shoulder.
“Who goes there?!”
“These guys haven’t changed since last time.”
The man, Han Seo-jin, chuckled.
When was it?
The last time he had a confrontation with the Namgung guys, they reacted the same way.
And the result was total annihilation.
Han Seo-jin had erased Namgung Se-ga from the martial world.
“As a greeting.”
He assumed a stance.
‘Huh?’
The leader staggered for a moment.
For an instant, it seemed like a giant was standing beneath the heavens.
Woooooosh!
The wooden sword emitted a dazzling light. The aura of the sword’s sharpness circulated as if pouring down.
Sword energy.
It was the power that only those who reached the pinnacle of martial arts could use.
‘No.’
It wasn’t that.
But it was something similar to it.
Perhaps it was a power called a characteristic.
Woo-woo-woo-woo-woong!!
A blue light was devouring everything. The spreading radiance was entangling everything like spider silk.
Whoo.
Just exhaling.
But a chill ran through the entire body.
As if they were about to die.
No one could move, like an ordinary person facing a tiger, everyone was frozen.
“Imperial Sword Formation Eclipse.”
A languid voice.
Yet, within it, a dense intention.
The leader realized with an alarmed mind.
This man. He intends to kill us all.
“…Stop!!”
“Oh, someone can speak in this situation? Is courage the virtue of fools?”
“What is your purpose, anyway? If you attack here, do you not know that you’ll become an enemy of our Nangong family? If you don’t sheathe that sword now, life will be difficult for you.”
Nangong family couldn’t afford to divert their attention right now.
But after a month.
He will make sure this guy can’t wander freely in Korea.
“So, sheathe the sword! If you want to live quietly in Korea!!”
“Is the testament over?”
Han Se-jin chuckled.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
And right after that, the emperor’s divine sword struck below the sky.