The Sword Emperor's Way of Establishing the Namgung Clan

Chapter 45 - Severed Meridians (4)

Lee Se-ha was on the verge of drawing her sword at any moment.

The startled middle-aged man spoke urgently.

“Stop! The Second Young Master wishes for this matter to be concluded as amicably as possible.”

“Now that things have come to this, you’re spouting a lot of nonsense.”

“Your side has also reached this place without any particular rest, have you not? Even if we are to fight, it would be better to clash after hearing the proposal.”

Lee Se-ha’s gaze shifted slightly to the rear.

Namgung Jun’s two eyes were still emitting a chillingly sharp glint, but the Tang siblings looked completely exhausted. In truth, it was remarkable that they had managed to keep up without falling behind during the forced march until now.

‘I don’t know when Young Lady Tang’s attack will occur again.’

She had heard that when the body is overexerted and one’s stamina is weakened, an attack of severed meridians is also likely to occur. If an attack were to occur in the middle of a battle, it would be difficult to handle.

In a situation like this, she had to avoid clashing head-on with the Second Young Master’s forces.

‘At about this time.’

Lee Se-ha raised her head and confirmed the position of the sun, then gave a sharp nod.

“Lead the way.”

“This way.”

As they went to the inner part of the docks, martial artists from the Martial Strike Sect were spread out everywhere. At the sight of them openly blocking off each direction, Tang Bo-seon’s expression gradually darkened.

If they were to clash as things were, it would surely be difficult to get away. It was a state of being a fish that was voluntarily entering the middle of a net.

That being said, it did not seem it would be easy to turn their steps and seize a boat at the docks either.

Tang Bo-seon stealthily hid his right hand in his green sleeve. He was fiddling with his hidden weapons and poison. So that he could make a move at any moment.

“I do not know if this is not putting our necks in the tiger’s jaws.”

“For now, there will be no supreme masters under the Second Young Master’s command who can face me.”

Namgung Jun asked quietly.

“Master. How can you be so certain?”

“Because they were all killed by the Great Young Master’s forces. The ones left now are only small fry.”

Lee Se-ha did not spare a glance for the middle-aged man. She spat out the words she wanted to say just as they were and observed the Martial Strike Sect martial artists with a sidelong glance.

The middle-aged man who was guiding Namgung Jun’s party stealthily glared at Lee Se-ha. But he could not say much and could only put strength into his feet and walk.

“Even if there is a supreme master that we have not identified, do not worry. Because I have already prepared a way.”

Namgung Jun wanted to ask what that way was, but he had to turn his head at the distinct aura that was spreading from the front.

Martial artists from the Martial Strike Sect, lined up long on both sides. A man, who was sitting in the center of them, was in the middle of clenching and unclenching his fist.

Every time the two massive fists were unclenched, the dozens of scars that covered his hands writhed clearly.

Though he was still young, one could tell at a glance that he was a pugilist who had accumulated a considerable amount of training.

‘Is that man the Second Young Master of the Martial Strike Sect.’

The Second Young Master twisted his lips as he took in the sight of Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun, who were guarding the Tang siblings, at the same time.

“To think you would help a man and woman you’ve never even met. The meddling of the Azure Sky Society’s righteous warriors is the same as ever. I never thought things would get twisted like this.”

The Second Young Master, who had let out a sigh with a look of irritation, leaned back in the chair he was sitting in.

‘He’s quite something.’

The aura he was revealing was quite heavy. It was visible at a glance that he had not learned his martial arts carelessly. Especially his two large, scar-filled fists were impressive.

‘An average member of the younger generation would find it difficult to receive even five of those fists.’

At the same time, a question arose.

He could tell at a glance that the Second Young Master was also a rather outstanding prodigy. But what kind of person, with what kind of resourcefulness, was the Great Young Master who had crushed such a man?

‘The Eight Great Unorthodox Powers, the eight great sects of the Unorthodox Faction. They are not a group to be taken lightly.’

An interest in the Second Young Master arose in Namgung Jun.

If he were to face those large fists directly, he would be able to get a faint idea of the level of a rising star belonging to the Eight Great Unorthodox Powers.

While Namgung Jun was observing the Second Young Master, the Second Young Master was in the middle of observing Lee Se-ha.

It was a persistent gaze that was checking how much of her stamina had been consumed, and whether she had any internal or external injuries.

“It is an honor to meet the renowned Wandering Princess of the Black Cloud.”

The Second Young Master, who had not found any particular variables even as his eyes gleamed like a wolf’s, naturally turned his gaze.

The gazes of Namgung Jun and the Second Young Master clashed in mid-air.

“And you must be the Azure Star Sword.”

Namgung Jun, who had realized that the unfamiliar epithet he had never heard before was referring to him, mulled it over.

“The Azure Star Sword?”

“Ah. Did you not know? I heard that is what they call you in Hefei. Saying that a suddenly appeared blue star had saved them.”

It seemed the Second Young Master had grasped what had happened in Hefei, even though not much time had passed.

Unlike when he was looking at Lee Se-ha, the Second Young Master asked a question with a purely curious expression.

“What on earth did you do? I have not yet received any information other than the fact that the Heavy Punishment Gate collapsed at your hands.”

“Jun-ah. You don’t need to say anything.”

Lee Se-ha cut off the Second Young Master’s words firmly.

“Just get to the main point.”

When facing those of the Unorthodox and Demonic Paths, she was like a completely different person. She was fundamentally very cold and blunt.

It was an air that said she would draw her sword right away if even a single word went amiss. As if this behavior from Lee Se-ha was famous in the Martial World, the Second Young Master continued his words without being flustered.

“If we clash head-on like this, the damage to both sides will be immense. Let’s make a deal instead.”

As the Second Young Master gestured with his head, a subordinate who was standing right beside him opened the crate he was holding.

“Gold bars of a value converted from that of the Red-Veined Fire Ginseng, and medicinal herbs that can only be obtained in Zhejiang Province. They are all precious things that are helpful for sicknesses related to Yin Qi.”

Tang Bo-seon, who had been listening quietly to the story, clenched his teeth.

“Are you saying we should exchange the Red-Veined Fire Ginseng for those things?”

“Is it not better than returning empty-handed, or having your one and only younger sister get hurt?”

“Do not speak such nonsense! The Red-Veined Fire Ginseng is a precious spiritual medicine that cannot be bought with wealth.”

“Is that so?”

The atmosphere became frosty in an instant. The martial artists of the Martial Strike Sect, who had been surrounding all corners of the docks, began to very slowly close the distance.

The heavy and fierce aura unique to the Martial Strike Sect began to spread clearly through the air.

“It seems you are looking down on me too much, just because my forces have been weakened.”

The Second Young Master’s eyes were fixed precisely on Lee Se-ha and Namgung Jun.

“The Wandering Princess of the Black Cloud and the Azure Star Sword. I may not be able to kill these two, but my fighting power is sufficient to tie their feet. I wonder, can you two siblings endure without the help of the two righteous warriors?”

In Namgung Jun’s view, there was no bluff in the Second Young Master’s declaration.

He had not prepared this place trusting only in a deal. He must have naturally kept an armed conflict in mind.

‘Those five over there.’

Five middle-aged men, gathered on one side. All of them were pugilists who had achieved at least the perfection of the Peak Realm. Perhaps there was even a pugilist who had stepped on the pinnacle of the Peak Realm.

If they were to engage in a joint attack using a formation, they would surely be able to tie Lee Se-ha’s feet.

This was the same for his own case.

If a battle were to break out like this, the possibility of the Tang siblings’ safety being endangered was high.

‘Though I do not know what the plan is that my Master has prepared.’

If the situation were to flow as it was now, there was a high probability that the Tang siblings would be, at the very least, injured or killed.

Step.

A hair-trigger situation, on the verge of a clash.

Namgung Jun took a step forward.

At that, the gazes of all were naturally focused on the boy.

“Second Young Master. You are ineptly imitating a merchant.”

“What?”

“If you were truly a martial artist, you should have proposed a formal duel.”

Namgung Jun slowly drew his sword and held it down.

“Come out. We will hold a formal duel. With the ownership of the Red-Veined Fire Ginseng at stake.”

The grounds became quiet.

Lee Se-ha, who was still staring ahead, had the corners of her mouth raised slightly, and the Tang siblings looked at Namgung Jun’s back with startled eyes.

Only after a single breath did the Second Young Master ask.

“A brat who has only just now gotten his epithet is proposing a formal duel to me? You are overflowing with confidence.”

The Second Young Master let out a sneering smile and then shook his head.

“But my mood is quite foul since the deal I proposed was rejected. Is there any reason I should accept your formal duel?”

Namgung Jun nodded his head without a moment’s hesitation.

At that dignified appearance, the Second Young Master made a curious expression.

“And what is that?”

“It seems you did not hear me properly. What I proposed was a formal duel, not a life-and-death duel.”

“And what about it?”

A clear, blue lightning energy writhed on Namgung Jun’s slightly lowered eyelids.

“It means you get to live.”

The Second Young Master burst out laughing. It was a sneer mixed with anger and contempt.

‘Are you saying you would have killed me if both our sides had clashed? What an arrogant young bastard.’

Even while glaring at Namgung Jun, the Second Young Master calmly and minutely circulated his Qi Sense.

Though he read Namgung Jun’s bearing several times, it was not threatening.

‘He is just at a level slightly superior to his peers.’

A question arose in the Second Young Master’s mind.

What on earth was this boy’s confidence? And him not even twenty yet, an unripe brat at that. Or could it be the childish whim of a young disciple who was acting cocky because he trusted in the master by his side?

‘If I win in a formal duel, that is the best result.’

He could obtain both the honor of defeating a rising star of the Azure Sky Society who had recently been distinguishing himself, and the practical benefit of obtaining the Red-Veined Fire Ginseng.

If it turned out that way, he would be able to recover his narrowed standing to some extent.

The Second Young Master stealthily gauged Lee Se-ha’s expression.

By the looks of it, she did not seem as if she would interfere in a formal duel.

The Second Young Master, who had scanned Namgung Jun’s bearing one last time, rose from his seat.

“Good. Let’s end this situation cleanly with a formal duel.”

The duel between Namgung Jun and the Second Young Master resumed.

……

“The Heavy Punishment Gate was forced to seal its gates?”

“Yes. And the Azure Sky Society has rebuilt its Hefei branch.”

“So the Azure Sky Society has filled the void left by the Heavy Punishment Gate. As naturally as flowing water.”

Veins bulged on the back of the hand of the middle-aged man, the Sword Corpse Demon, who had been listening to his subordinate’s report.

THWACK!

The head of the man who had been held in the Sword Corpse Demon’s hand burst like a watermelon. Fresh blood and bits of flesh dripped down from between his fingers.

The Sword Corpse Demon clicked his tongue as he looked at the headless corpse, as if it were a waste.

“And here I was about to have a pleasant absorption session…”

“My apologies.”

The corpses of those who had been rolling on the ground were scattered behind the back of the sighing Sword Corpse Demon. All of them looked like dried-up trees, like mummies.

The Bright Prospect Absorption Art.

They were the corpses of those who had been struck by the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult’s Energy-Absorbing Great Art.

“Things have gotten properly twisted. The plan to stealthily draw the Heavy Punishment Gate into our cult has become a futile effort.”

At the Sword Corpse Demon’s muttering, his subordinate urgently opened his mouth.

“The cause of this situation is a bastard called the Azure Star Sword of the Azure Sky Society, and there is a part that you must confirm.”

“What is it?”

“He is suspected of being the boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians that our cult lost to the Heavenly Sword Hall Master last time.”

The hand of the Sword Corpse Demon came to a sudden halt at his subordinate’s report.

“You mean the unique constitution that the Cult Leader himself ordered us to find?”

“That is correct.”

The subordinate showed the Sword Corpse Demon the report he had prepared in advance.

“A disciple of the Heavenly Sword Hall Master who has learned the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art. An appearance that is very similar to the description. A newcomer Cloud who has only just now received two clouds.”

The corners of the Sword Corpse Demon’s mouth, who had been summarizing the contents of the report, slowly rose.

“Perhaps we might be able to catch a big fish.”

“It will be a great meritorious deed.”

“A great meritorious deed? It is not of that level. Perhaps I might be able to rise to become the fourteenth Radiant Master.”

As the Sword Corpse Demon’s mood seemed to improve, the subordinate let out an inward sigh of relief.

“The Moon-Defying Saber Demon. That pathetic old man has gone and gotten himself knocked out of the picture. In a situation where the number of competitors has been reduced, to think we would find the Nine Yin Severed Meridians that we had lost.”

The Sword Corpse Demon looked at his subordinate with blazing eyes.

“The Azure Star Sword, was it. Scrape together all information related to that bastard. And you will have to pay attention to information management so that the other side does not find out about this.”

“Of course.”

At the Sword Corpse Demon’s command, the subordinate immediately disappeared into the shadows.