The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 40 - The First Solo Mission (5)

The sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master, thrusting for his left side. At the same time, from the right, a middle-aged pugilist fiercely stomped his foot and came rushing in.

The way the two of them rushed in like an attack dog, aiming for the same single breath, made it seem as if they had agreed to it beforehand via a telepathic message.

‘The Mountain Fist Gang Leader, Tong San-kwon.’

Namgung Jun immediately grasped the identity of the middle-aged pugilist.

It was thanks to the fact that while wandering all over Hefei, he had secured in advance not only a list of the sects that had a friendly relationship with the Heavy Punishment Gate, but also the names of their key masters.

‘So they’re coming at me like this, as expected.’

Despite the sudden joint attack, Namgung Jun calmly tilted his sword. He immediately pushed his thumb and index finger up to the top of the hilt and changed his grip.

At the same time, he circulated his internal energy as if cutting it into short bursts, generating a series of Sword Qi in sequence.

The sight of the cerulean Sword Qi soaring up in order was like seeing five streaks of lightning writhing in succession.

TZZZZZZZZZZANG!

The artistry, which had mixed Sword Skill and Sword Qi, cast aside the sword of the First Sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate, who had been inducing an internal energy contest, in a single blow.

“Keo-heuk!”

Because his own internal energy had flowed in reverse, and on top of that, Namgung Jun’s Lightning Qi had also rushed in, the First Sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate immediately vomited blood and went tumbling to the floor.

The way he was continuously spewing dead blood made it seem he had sustained a considerable internal injury.

The pupils of Namgung Jun, who had defeated the First Sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate with a single move, quickly swept over both sides.

SWOOSH!

In that interval, the forms of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and Tong San-kwon rushed toward Namgung Jun’s left nape and right ribs, respectively.

An explosive sound erupted from both sides, centered on Namgung Jun.

The sword, extended horizontally as if slung over his shoulder, deflected the blade of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master, and the fist that Tong San-kwon had brought down as if striking with a hammer was parried with his palm.

Perhaps because he had handled the attacks of two Peak Realm masters at the same time, the floor of the dueling stage where Namgung Jun had been standing drew fine cracks and split apart.

But Namgung Jun gritted his teeth and endured the pressure that was rushing in from both sides simultaneously, maintaining his posture.

It was thanks to his physical body, which had become much stronger thanks to the external art training of the Iron Pagoda Hall.

“This bastard!”

“How can you so easily… my fist?”

In the interval while the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and Tong San-kwon were opening their mouths in surprise, Namgung Jun asked in a low voice.

“In the end, the method you have chosen is to murder me to silence me?”

“It is a common thing for a martial artist to die away from home. Especially if it is a righteous warrior who makes a habit of meddling in others’ affairs out of a useless sense of nosiness!”

“Pay the price for running wild, believing in your paltry martial arts!”

The two Peak Realm masters drew up even more internal energy. While raising their wariness of Namgung Jun even higher.

KREANG!

THUMP!

The swords of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and Namgung Jun crossed and clashed once again, and in that interval, Tong San-kwon stomped his foot powerfully to crush Namgung Jun’s right foot.

The joint attack of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and Tong San-kwon was quite well-coordinated. Though they had only exchanged glances, they were skillfully piercing into Namgung Jun’s other directions on their own.

Despite this, Namgung Jun’s eyes did not stir in the slightest. The only thing that was shaking was the hem of his indigo blue sleeve.

The hem of his robe, which had been fluttering calmly, suddenly shot up and then drew a soft arc.

The Layered Cloud Form.

The sword path, which embraced a cloud, tilted as if to slip and then deflected the sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master. Namgung Jun, using this as a recoil to rotate his entire body.

His feet, which moved in a whitish blur, dodged the powerful stomp of the Mountain Fist with a hair's breadth.

Namgung Jun, who had thus turned to the side and escaped the combat distance of the two Peak Realm masters’ joint attack.

The two Peak Realm masters immediately gave chase, but Namgung Jun, who had raised his sword high at the same time as he moved, was half a breath faster.

The sword, raised high into an upper stance, was swung diagonally, pouring out the sword strikes of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style. A thick, clear, indigo blue sword wind arose.

FWOOOOOSH!

The two Peak Realm masters, who had been charging in again, were pushed back just as they were by the heavy sword wind of the Heavenly Wind Sword Style. Originally, they had intended to tear right through the sword wind and charge in, but the might of the sword wind surpassed the ordinary.

If they had not unfolded their forms in succession belatedly, they would have suffered the shame of being pushed off the dueling stage.

“Hmm.”

“Huu.”

The Heavy Punishment Gate Master had a look of extreme bewilderment, and though Tong San-kwon was calmly evening out his breathing, he could not hide his trembling eyes.

Though the two Peak Realm masters tried to readjust their combat distance, Namgung Jun did not give them an opening. He performed the Infinite Steps Footwork, pierced through first, and took the offensive.

The one Namgung Jun aimed for first was Tong San-kwon. He intentionally kept the combat distance short to induce a moment of carelessness.

“You arrogant bastard!”

As the optimal combat distance for a pugilist was formed, Tong San-kwon did not retreat and thrust out his fist.

The eyes of Namgung Jun, who was looking at the fist surging toward his Cinnabar Field, spewed forth a piercing blue glare.

He had read the form of Tong San-kwon’s fist style perfectly. With the hilt of his sword held short, Namgung Jun pressed down firmly on Tong San-kwon’s fist.

‘How did he… my fist?’

As the eyes of Tong San-kwon, whose chest was now exposed, opened in a bewildered fashion, Namgung Jun’s left hand rotated halfway, and a fierce lightning bolt struck.

The Heavenly Thunder Palm Style.

RUMBLE!

Along with a short crash of thunder and lightning, the large upper body of Tong San-kwon trembled as if it would crumble.

Namgung Jun looked at Tong San-kwon, who was barely managing to stand, then struck upward with the blade of his sword held sideways.

Spurt!

Along with the left arm of Tong San-kwon that went soaring high into the sky, fresh blood was sprayed in all directions.

You are right, that name is quite long. A more concise and fluid name would be better for the flow of the story.

“Keu-haak!”

It was the moment Tong San-kwon collapsed, clutching the spot where his arm had been cut off.

“You vicious bastard! Your methods are excessive!”

“Gate Master! I will help you!”

The Heavy Punishment Gate Master and the First Sword of the Heavy Punishment Gate, who had suppressed his internal injuries and gotten up again, mercilessly poured out their killing moves on Namgung Jun.

Now that the situation had been driven to such an extreme, their intention was to kill Namgung Jun no matter what.

Though the two swordsmen rushed at him while scattering a terrible killing intent, Namgung Jun showed no signs of retreating.

The three swords, mixing together just as they were. The three streaks of sword paths became chaotically entangled, persistently aiming for one another.

Though it seemed Namgung Jun, who was receiving a joint attack, would be at a disadvantage, the one who, on the contrary, held the initiative was Namgung Jun’s sword, which was showing off a cerulean radiance.

The sword strikes of Namgung Jun, which showed off an overwhelming sword speed, were far more numerous than the sword strikes that the two swordsmen had poured out.

Because of this, it was not a joint attack, but a state where they were combining their strength to barely block Namgung Jun’s offensive.

Every time a sharp metallic sound erupted in succession, the two swordsmen had to step backward and be pushed away.

‘How can such a Swift Sword exist?’

‘What on earth is that bastard’s identity.’

Even though they had unfolded a joint attack, the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and the First Sword had to feel with their entire bodies the heavy pressure, as if their flow were being sucked in.

Thump!

Even while experiencing the joint attack, Namgung Jun’s eyes did not waver, and on the contrary, as if he had been waiting for this moment, he fiercely pushed them back.

“I cannot let things be ruined because of you, you bastard!”

The Heavy Punishment Gate Master swung his sword with a voice choked with rage. Though it was a strike with all his power, there was no way it could reach Namgung Jun.

Namgung Jun lightly pushed the sword away and asked.

“Did you discuss the great cause of Hefei with merely this much strength?”

“You bastard. Do not speak of things you know nothing of. If not for the Heavy Punishment Gate, what do you think would become of Hefei? It is because our sect is here that the peace of Hefei is maintained.”

A conviction was laden in the natural voice of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master.

At that distorted belief, Namgung Jun’s eyebrows shot up sharply.

GONG!

Sparks flew from the sword of Namgung Jun as it roughly struck away the sword of the First Sword. Though the First Sword tried to counterattack again, Namgung Jun’s single palm strike was faster.

“Keuk!”

The First Sword, his chest crushed by a single move of the Heavenly Thunder Palm Style, was sent flying just as he was and could not get up again.

Now, only one person was left.

Namgung Jun aimed his sword at the only one left standing, the Heavy Punishment Gate Master.

“If the peace of Hefei is the Heavy Punishment Gate that crumbles before just me, then I would rather take responsibility for Hefei myself.”

The sight of Namgung Jun, who had overcome the joint attack of three Peak Realm masters and was making his declaration in a solemn voice, was truly lofty and aloof.

No one in the hall could laugh at Namgung Jun’s words. The martial prowess that Namgung Jun had displayed himself gave power to his words.

Only after letting out five breaths did the Heavy Punishment Gate Master let out a suppressed voice.

“A bastard like you will discuss the peace of Hefei?”

It was truly audacious.

Though Namgung Jun’s declaration was astonishing, it could not be lightly dismissed.

Because it was clear that Namgung Jun’s martial power was beyond common sense.

Though his martial skill level was clearly at the threshold of the Peak Realm, the body movements he displayed, along with his talent with the blade, were like watching a veteran master thoroughly steeped in the experience of the Martial World.

“No matter how strong you are, in the end, you are a member of the younger generation. There is no way a bastard like you could protect the peace of Hefei…”

“Enough. That is not a matter for you to worry about. What is certain is.”

Namgung Jun’s blade came to rest. It was next to the nape of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master’s neck.

“That there is no place for the Heavy Punishment Gate in Hefei.”

Jang Il-su, who was watching this scene from before his eyes, let his mouth hang agape.

‘He really did it?’

It was an unbelievable event.

When Namgung Jun had discussed dealing with the Heavy Punishment Gate, he had thought that other righteous warriors from the Azure Sky Society would appear.

But to think he would take care of it all by himself like this.

‘To think he pacified the chaos of Hefei single-handedly. A path like that of a comet.’

Jang Il-su, who had been shifting in his seat, showed a bright smile, but soon the corners of his mouth lowered.

The words of the Heavy Punishment Gate Master were not entirely wrong. Should one call it a necessary evil?

Though the Heavy Punishment Gate had committed villainous acts, it was true that they played an important role in keeping the Unorthodox Faction of Hefei in check.

‘If the Heavy Punishment Gate collapses like this.’

What should be done about that void?

The Unorthodox Faction of Hefei would not stand by idly. It was clear that they would try to nibble away at the empty spot left by the Heavy Punishment Gate.

And it was not as if Namgung Jun would stay in Hefei forever.

It was when the others were having the same thought.

Namgung Jun, who had withdrawn his sword, paid his respects to those who remained.

“Would you all be able to gather in one place tomorrow? I wish to discuss the matter of Hefei.”

……

A letter sent by Namgung Jun arrived at the main fortress of the Azure Sky Society.

Gang Mong, who had personally brought the letter from the Bright Destiny Pavilion which managed information, headed for the innermost part of the Ink Scent Division.

“Ink Lord. It is a letter sent by Namgung Jun.”

“Hmm. It has arrived sooner than I thought.”

Yun Gyeong-jong immediately unfolded the letter that Gang Mong had brought.

Ordinarily, the scribes under the Ink Scent Division would check the letter first and classify whether it was a matter to be reported, but Namgung Jun was an exception.

He was one of the key figures whose movements Yun Gyeong-jong always checked himself.

“Oho.”

Yun Gyeong-jong, who had confirmed the contents of the letter, let out a short exclamation of admiration. After being lost in thought for a moment, Yun Gyeong-jong showed the letter to Gang Mong, who was on standby before him.

“What do you think?”

Unlike Yun Gyeong-jong, Gang Mong let out a low hum of thought instead of admiration.

“No matter that you gave him the authority, this is too…”

“That does not matter. What is important is that it is a rational plan.”

Gang Mong, who had been contemplating for a moment, read Namgung Jun’s letter once again and then nodded his head.

“It seems he has prepared two plans depending on the situation. Both plans have a sense of realism. For a Two-Cloud with little experience, he is very intuitive.”

“In your view, Scribe Gang, which situation do you think it will flow toward?”

“According to Namgung Jun’s report, there is no way the Heavy Punishment Gate will back down meekly. The weight is on the second plan, which assumes a clash with the Heavy Punishment Gate.”

Yun Gyeong-jong leaned back in his chair and showed a smile.

“I am curious. As to how he will face a mid-sized sect like the Heavy Punishment Gate single-handedly.”

“You are certain of Namgung Jun’s success, Ink Lord.”

“Are you not?”

Gang Mong looked down at the letter and then shook his head.

“The conviction laden in the handwriting and the contents of this letter is far too strong. Whatever the method may be, he must be confident.”

Having finished his thoughts, Yun Gyeong-jong picked up the brush he had set down again.

“It is something we would have had to carry out again at some point anyway. But now that Namgung Jun has opened the path, we cannot refuse it.”

“In that case.”

Yun Gyeong-jong nodded his head.

“Proceed with Namgung Jun’s plan as it is.”

A new order had fallen upon the Ink Scent Division.