The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 41 - The First Solo Mission (6)

Namgung Jun was in the middle of meditation, sitting in the lotus position.

He was mentally replaying the time he had faced the three Peak Realm masters at the Heavy Punishment Gate.

Though there was a difference in the level of their realms, if one were to be objective, there was no one who was weaker than Namgung Jun.

Despite this, he had not only made up for his numerical inferiority with his experience as the Sword Emperor and his Sword Skill, but had also overwhelmed his opponents. However, Namgung Jun was not satisfied.

‘I could have reduced the number of exchanges a little more.’

At the time, he had thought it was the best he could do, but as he replayed it again, a better move flickered in his eyes.

It meant that he still had a long way to go.

But Namgung Jun took it in a good way. For it meant that there was a great deal of potential for growth.

‘I must bring out the linkage between each sword style more.’

If he were to naturally connect the various sword styles he had learned so far and weave them into one, he would surely be able to create a new sword style on the other side of that.

A new sword style that he had not been able to create even in his past life.

This made Namgung Jun’s heart flutter.

For the creation of that new sword style would be the first step in being able to surpass the Sword Emperor of his past life.

“Huu.”

Namgung Jun, who had finished his meditation, let out a light exhale and evened out his breathing. At the same time, he felt a familiar presence in front of his door.

“Young Hero Namgung.”

It was the Bright Talisman Caravan Leader, Jang Il-su.

Namgung Jun, who knew the reason Jang Il-su had come personally, immediately straightened his clothes.

“I will be right out.”

Namgung Jun, together with Jang Il-su, immediately headed for a certain pavilion. Inside the pavilion, a dozen or so people were gathered.

They were the ones in charge as the heads of various organizations in Hefei, such as escort bureaus, caravans, martial halls, and small-to-medium-sized sects.

Excluding those who had submitted to or sided with the Heavy Punishment Gate at their banquet, he had had them all gather in one place.

As Namgung Jun entered, the heads, who had gathered in advance, all rose at once and paid their respects.

“Young Hero Namgung.”

“You’ve come? Please, have a seat.”

“Are you well?”

The heads guided Namgung Jun to the highest seat of honor.

Though Namgung Jun declined, the heads repeatedly invited him. It seemed the conversation would not proceed if he did not sit down.

Namgung Jun had no choice but to politely pay his respects and then sit in the seat the heads had guided him to.

“Confirming the documents we have obtained this time, it seems the Heavy Punishment Gate has been up to a great many things.”

After he had subdued the Heavy Punishment Gate Master and the Four Swords of the Heavy Punishment Gate, the matter had proceeded without a hitch.

With the help of the powers that supported Namgung Jun, including Jang Il-su, they had been able to secure all the proof and documents from inside the Heavy Punishment Gate.

“It has been confirmed that they extorted or obtained commercial rights and businesses through illicit methods, and grew their sect through all sorts of dirty ways.”

The heads nodded.

Everyone in this place was a victim who had suffered the tyranny of the Heavy Punishment Gate, so there was no need for a separate explanation.

“By cross-referencing the ledgers of the Heavy Punishment Gate with the documents that each of your organizations has brought, all the commercial rights and businesses that the Heavy Punishment Gate has stolen will be returned.”

As the words that they had been waiting for the most came from Namgung Jun’s mouth, an intense reaction immediately came from all sides.

“Ah…!”

“Thank you so much, Young Hero Namgung.”

“Thanks to you, we can breathe again.”

The heads repeatedly bowed their heads and expressed their thanks. Around the time the words of thanks were ending, Jang Il-su cautiously asked.

“Young Hero Namgung. What will become of the Heavy Punishment Gate?”

“After all the unjustly exploited commercial rights and businesses have been sorted out, the Heavy Punishment Gate will be forced to seal its gates.”

The heads nodded.

“Hmm.”

“So that’s how it will be.”

Though the heads made expressions of relief, they could not hide the worry in a corner of their hearts.

Though there had been this and that said, it was clear that the Heavy Punishment Gate was the number one of the Orthodox Faction in Hefei.

There was a very high possibility that the Unorthodox Faction of Hefei would run rampant due to the void left by the Heavy Punishment Gate. If this happened, it would just be another headache.

For a group the size of the Heavy Punishment Gate, whether it was in a good way or a bad way, the void it left would surely be considerable.

Namgung Jun, who had been confirming the expressions of the heads, opened his mouth.

“And this is the final agenda item.”

As if they had not known there was another agenda item, the heads once again focused their gazes on Namgung Jun.

“Our society intends to establish a branch in Hefei again.”

The Azure Sky Society varied the type of branch it established depending on the situation and objective.

There was the ordinary branch, which was openly revealed like the branch or sub-division of a normal sect, and the secret branch, which was stealthily hidden in the shadows.

Secret branches were mainly established in regions where the influence of the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult or a great Unorthodox Faction sect was strong.

The type of branch to be established in Hefei, Anhui Province, was an ordinary branch.

As it was for the purpose of filling the void left by the Heavy Punishment Gate and expanding their influence in the northern part of Anhui Province, it was right to establish an ordinary branch.

At the unexpected news, the eyes of the heads went round with surprise.

“A branch of the Azure Sky Society, in Hefei, you say?”

“Heo-eo. This is very good news!”

“If the Azure Sky Society were to fill the empty spot left by the Heavy Punishment Gate, that would be the icing on the cake.”

Namgung Jun looked at the reactions of the heads and asked.

“I have heard that there was originally a branch of the Azure Sky Society in Hefei as well.”

The heads, including Jang Il-su, nodded.

“Yes. But it was burned down and disappeared in a surprise attack by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult a few years ago.”

“Come to think of it, it was from that time that the Heavy Punishment Gate slowly began to run rampant.”

“Because the one place that could keep them in check had disappeared.”

Namgung Jun nodded his head.

“I judged that a Hefei branch must exist in order to fill the void of the Heavy Punishment Gate and to make the movements of our society within Anhui Province smoother, and I proposed this to the main fortress.”

The eyes of the heads widened, as if they had not known that Namgung Jun had paid attention to even this aspect.

‘I thought he would just take care of the current situation and disappear, but he was concerned about the aftermath as well.’

‘Though he is young, his field of vision is wide.’

‘What an incredible caliber of person. Is this the Azure Sky Society?’

Namgung Jun rose from his seat and performed a fist-and-palm salute.

“Therefore, I ask this of you. In the future, when the Azure Sky Society’s Hefei branch is established, I ask for your great assistance.”

The heads also shot up from their seats and tried to stop him.

“On the contrary, this is something we must ask of you.”

“If the Azure Sky Society’s Hefei branch is here in place of the Heavy Punishment Gate, it will be very reassuring.”

“Young Hero Namgung. You have truly done a great thing for us.”

They were the heads who had already had a high opinion of Namgung Jun. After the talk of establishing a branch came out, they were to the point where they would not hesitate to bow their heads deeply.

‘The peace of Hefei. Young Hero Namgung has truly kept the words he spoke.’

Jang Il-su, who was watching the overjoyed heads beside him, felt truly grateful toward Namgung Jun.

They were heads who, of late, had been living because they could not die. They had been forcibly enduring because they each had things they were responsible for.

But then one day, Namgung Jun had suddenly appeared and brought down the tyranny of the Heavy Punishment Gate overnight.

It was a sight like a sky that had been stuffily covered with clouds clearing up in a single breath.

To the heads of Hefei, Namgung Jun was an existence like the sunlight that softly wrapped around their bodies.

‘A righteous warrior…’

Jang Il-su, who had seen with his own eyes from right beside him the path of a righteous warrior that he had only heard of in rumors as a child, felt his heart become uplifted for some reason.

……

To establish the branch in Hefei, Anhui Province, the Azure Sky Society immediately dispatched personnel. The person in charge of leading that personnel was none other than the Ink Scent Division’s Gang Mong.

“Namgung Jun. I had my expectations, but I did not know you would accomplish it this magnificently. If one were to look at the details of the mission, it was one where it would not have been strange for a Hall Master-level figure to step in.”

“It is thanks to the Ink Lord believing in me and giving me the authority.”

Gang Mong walked with his arms crossed and continued to speak.

“The heads were unsparing in their praise for you. The majority of them have recommended you as the Hefei branch leader.”

Gang Mong, who had come out after finishing his meeting with the heads, looked at Namgung Jun as if he were admirable.

Because Namgung Jun had gained the favor of the heads in a short period of time, they had been able to receive great assistance in the establishment of the Anhui branch as well.

Not only the establishment, but if they were to cooperate organically with the heads in the future as well, the Hefei branch would be able to set down its roots even more firmly.

It was an accomplishment that could never have been achieved if Namgung Jun had been rash and had focused his attention only on the punishment of the Heavy Punishment Gate.

‘As expected, for his age, his field of vision is wide and his thoughts are deep.’

Gang Mong considered Namgung Jun’s innate disposition to be another of his strengths.

Since he possessed both martial prowess and character, he would surely take on an important role in the Azure Sky Society in the near future.

‘Though being a branch leader is an important position, it is a waste for Namgung Jun.’

Gang Mong suddenly became curious.

In a year’s time, just how many clouds would be fluttering on that sleeve of Namgung Jun’s?

Gang Mong intuited it. That the days where he could treat Namgung Jun as a junior were numbered.

“Namgung Jun. Now that the handover is finished, are you intending to return right away?”

Namgung Jun shook his head.

“I intend to stay at the Bright Talisman Caravan for a short while. Would that be alright?”

“As long as it does not exceed seven days and nights, it does not matter. I will see you at the main fortress later.”

“Yes, Scribe Gang.”

……

Namgung Jun, who held his sword in a middle stance, unfolded the forms of the Greater Amplification Sword Style in sequence.

With just that, the sword path connected smoothly, and all sorts of sword strikes were scattered, cutting off five directions.

The Virtuous Saber, who had been trying to handle it from the front, hurriedly retreated.

Though he parried a few forms, he did not have the capacity to do more. Judging by his long experience as a wandering warrior, it was right to withdraw without overdoing it.

But as if he had easily predicted that action, Namgung Jun immediately performed the Infinite Steps Footwork and closed the distance.

Namgung Jun, who did not give The Virtuous Saber a gap to swing his saber, brought his sword down just as he was.

GONG!

At the fiercely flying sword strike, the great saber that The Virtuous Saber had been holding was sent flying backward.

“Heuk!”

The Virtuous Saber broke out in a cold sweat as he saw the tip of the sword that had arrived before his neck.

Namgung Jun withdrew his sword and paid his respects.

“Your skill has improved a lot.”

“Heuk! Hah! It is thanks to your help, Young Hero Namgung.”

“If you continue to strive like this, you will be able to rise to the Peak Realm.”

The Virtuous Saber could not answer and could only manage to nod his head.

It was partly because he was out of breath from the strenuous duel, but it was also because this situation itself was unbelievable. For he, who had been stuck at the threshold of the First-Class realm for several years, had at some point reached the perfection of the First-Class.

He had been pulled up this far by dueling for the past seven days and nights.

He was truly an astonishing boy.

“I have heard that you have become an official escort of the Bright Talisman Caravan.”

“That is right. It is thanks to the Caravan Leader presenting me with very good conditions. And I also wanted to find a stable place now.”

Due to the bond formed on the last trade journey, The Virtuous Saber had ended up staying with the Bright Talisman Caravan. It was a good thing for Jang Il-su as well, who had been looking for a reliable talent.

“If it is Hefei, I will likely have a reason to visit often in the future. I will look forward to your growth.”

“Ah.”

The Virtuous Saber let out a sigh without realizing it.

Today was the last day that Namgung Jun would be staying in Hefei.

‘They were truly busy days.’

Until the personnel to be dispatched to the Azure Sky Society’s Hefei branch arrived and he could hand over his duties, Namgung Jun had taken responsibility for the void in Hefei all by himself.

In fact, two or three of the Unorthodox Faction groups in Hefei had tried to test the waters, but as Namgung Jun preemptively stepped in and sent the heads of their leaders flying, there were no more groups that tried to make a move.

Namgung Jun had properly taken responsibility for the words he had spoken, with his sword.

“Ah. And about the matter of a disciple you mentioned before.”

“It is embarrassing. Please forget what I said at that time.”

Namgung Jun shook his head.

“I have found a rather useful talent in this place. It would be good for you to take a look yourself. While working together in the caravan.”

“Oho. If you tell me, I will go and find him right away.”

Namgung Jun thought of Unchan, who had been protecting his younger siblings by himself.

‘If he has the heart to protect his siblings and the tenacity that never stopped while doing forced labor, he will be better than an average martial artist.’

Namgung Jun, who had introduced Unchan to The Virtuous Saber, moved his feet.

Now that he had finished his mission, it was time to return.