Chapter 121: The Sword Tip is Not Straight. (2)
The Sword Tip is Not Straight. (2)
'Fuck…'
[Please stop cursing…. For a Taoist, your mouth is remarkably foul.]
'Truly the most shameless in all the world…. To hand this off to an old man and still have the nerve to show your face.'
[You're not even paying rent, so wouldn't it be fine to help out a little?]
'I wish you'd just go out and die….'
Shin Noya's complaints were endless. Yet even while saying such things, Shin Noya ultimately took hold of the sword.
'I will surely take this body from you, so know that.'
[Are you a righteous bandit? Giving advance warning like that?]
Control of the body shifted to Shin Noya.
According to Shin Noya, he couldn't do this often.
But seeing it now, that didn't seem quite right.
'There is no falsehood in my words. I truly cannot remain in your body for long.'
The posture gripping the sword and the breathing changed.
This was a refreshingly new experience.
Even last time, I could feel various things.
Was this also enlightenment? If so, what should I gain from this?
'You could have just fought without a sword, so is there a reason you went out of your way to leave it to me?'
A reason, huh.
[Well…]
There was the choice of a more extreme option, and it was also words spoken to invite carelessness.
No one in the world would know that Noya was residing in my body.
'As a martial faction, I assume you haven't considered the odds to be low. You're not a fool lacking that much discernment.'
[I know.]
I had to fight a duel without using qi. To do so, I thought drawing a sword to stimulate Namgung Jin was the better approach.
The result flowed as expected, but there were some regrettable aspects.
'You're disappointed you can't fight, when you pushed all the work onto me…. Shall I switch back even now?'
For someone who calls himself a martial artist. A little greed arose in the face of fighting a strong opponent. Knowing it wasn't the right time, I suppressed it firmly.
[No. I ask of you, please.]
'Tsk….'
Shin Noya stood still and looked at Namgung Jin. He seemed quite angry, as he showed no intention of smoothing his furrowed brow.
"How did I end up stuck with this kind of brat…. Shin must surely be dead."
Noya slowly raised his sword. Seeing that, a gleam entered Namgung Jin's eyes.
Namgung Jin asked.
"Have you ever learned the sword?"
Did he sense something just from seeing this unremarkable posture? As expected, the epithet of Sword King was no lie.
I had to answer somehow, so I quietly whispered to Noya.
[In the past.]
"…In the past."
[I learned a little as a joke.]
"As, as a j-joke, I learned a little."
[Noya…your way of speaking.]
'Do I have to use honorifics to that young brat?!'
It was something Noya's remaining pride wouldn't allow, but fortunately it didn't cause a problem.
Rather, it seemed to help more in provoking him, as Namgung Jin's expression contorted fiercely.
"Making a joke until the very end."
[He seems really angry.]
'…Don't you think you know whose fault that is?'
"I wonder how long you can show such an attitude before me. Very well, I shall take your arm just as you desire."
Uung—
The sword Namgung Jin drew rang quietly. That was sword resonance (Jianming).
It was said that when a swordsman reaches a certain level, assimilation with the sword begins. It was not a technique created using qi.
Assimilation.
The more a swordsman assimilates with the sword in hand, the louder the sword rings.
If so, sword resonance was ultimately the starting point of Sword-Body Unity, the dream of all swordsmen—proof that a swordsman had gotten on the right track.
'Not a bad resonance.'
Even while Namgung Jin's sword howled fiercely, Shin Noya was offering his critique.
'Compared to that Myeong fellow, the difference in level is like heaven and earth, but it's a well-tempered body.'
[Myeong?]
'There was such a fellow. A hopeless brat who used the Namgung surname and only chased after women.'
…Could the Namgung fellow Shin Noya was referring to be Namgung Myeong?
If it was the Lightning Heaven One Sword Namgung Myeong, he was one of the five heroes who killed the Blood Demon and prevented disaster alongside the Huashan Sword Immortal.
As if my guess wasn't wrong, Shin Noya clicked his tongue and continued.
'Tsk, I may not be able to share a drink after his death, but to think I'd have to grapple with that damned fellow's descendant.'
At Shin Noya's words, a sudden pang of conscience arose. I didn't really feel it before, but…
'This wretched brat, really.'
[But, will you be alright?]
'…What do you mean.'
[Even if you don't use qi…. The opponent is who he is.]
'Hah, you've already thrown caution to the wind and handed it over, and now you're worried?'
Shin Noya spoke to me as if dumbfounded. It wasn't a remark dismissing my ability, but since he was borrowing my immature and insufficient body rather than Shin Noya's own, I wondered if it would be okay.
'Put away such useless worries.'
At Shin Noya's words, Namgung Jin lowered his sword and spoke.
"Come here, you brat. I'll give you ten moves…."
Namgung Jin, who was about to speak arrogantly, couldn't finish his words.
Uuuuung—!
It was because the ringing piercing his ears was too loud. A much louder and more resonant sound than the one coming from Namgung Jin's sword.
A sound full of weight, as if a giant bell had rung nearby, was echoing from the sword Shin Noya held.
Shin Noya spoke.
'You little sprout, remember who I am.'
Namgung Jin's horrified expression didn't enter my sight.
The surroundings were already filled with Noya's presence. How could he create such an atmosphere without even using qi?
Even if I brought forth the realm of my past life, I wouldn't be able to display such an overwhelming presence.
I didn't know the quality of a soul could differ to this extent.
While admiring Noya's appearance, a question arose on one side.
'Save for time itself, there is no one who can stop me.'
Just what kind of realm had Shin Noya reached, and…
How could a martial artist of this level have his soul trapped in a cursed object? That was the greatest question.
'I am the Huashan Sword Immortal, Shin Cheol.'
Uuuung!
Now there are geniuses called the Shooting Star generation.
But in the past as well, there were those called by similar titles.
Genius pays no mind to eras. Without distinguishing seasons, stars always hang in the night sky.
Namgung Jin was also one of such people.
The late leader Namgung Jin, once called the Sword Dragon, didn't take long to inherit the title of Sword King.
At that time, it was a natural progression.
The title of Sword Dragon was the exclusive property of the Namgung family.
The title of Sword King was the same.
By now, if a being with the bizarre talent called Yeongpung hadn't appeared, there was no reason Namgung Cheon-jun wouldn't have received the title of Sword Dragon.
Namgung Jin didn't doubt that he would ascend to the heavens.
His grandfather also failed to obtain the name of Sword Venerable, but was called Heavenly Venerable, meaning one who had risen above the heavens.
He didn't think he himself couldn't reach that place.
His inherent arrogance was backed by skill, so it could hardly be called lacking in hegemony.
With time, he would stand alone above the heavens. He was a being sufficient for that, the Namgung Jin of that time would have judged so himself.
If only that one hadn't existed.
'…Your remnants remain even now to torment me.'
The autumn night was still cold. The faint white breath escaping from the mouth was proof of that.
Accordingly, Namgung Jin's emotions also slowly settled.
He took in the boy standing before his eyes. The boy who looked exactly like Gu Cheol-un from those days.
Foolishly, Namgung Jin had even gathered information about that boy.
He was Gu Cheol-un's son. Simply because of that reason, he had shown a little interest.
The talent was unimpressive, lazy and idle. He even heard that his violent temperament was hard to handle.
Though he produced the rare genius called the Sword Peak, it seems he had no fortune with his son.
Thinking so, he drank alone in the middle of the night.
That was merely a year ago.
Then what on earth was the monster standing before his eyes right now?
Namgung Jin couldn't understand.
Uuuung… Uung….
"Impossible…!"
Sword resonance rang out.
That was clearly sword resonance. It wasn't something easily believed just from hearing about it.
'That can't be.'
Even if one had reached a higher realm, whether one could produce sword resonance or not was a different matter entirely. Even swordsmen who endured training close to abuse found it difficult to produce.
Moreover, Gu Yang-cheon was of the martial faction. His walking gait, his breathing, even his use of qi—he stood on the completely opposite side from swordsmen.
But now?
'…Everything has reversed.'
Breathing, movements, everything had changed. So naturally, as if it had always been that way.
Was he hiding his skill… his martial arts? What for, that small young brat?
It wasn't even an age where he could have developed skill worth hiding.
He wondered if something absurd had been done to the sword, but that was a sword of the Namgung family.
It meant Namgung Jin had seen with his own two eyes him pick it up from the martial artist lying on the ground.
"Did you say you would yield ten moves?"
At Gu Yang-cheon's voice, Namgung Jin's breathing faltered.
"I have no intention of refusing this. Think again before you regret it."
The way of speaking had changed oddly, but Namgung Jin didn't have the presence of mind to think that far.
Ten moves. Originally, let alone ten moves, even three shouldn't have been worth considering.
The difference in realm was like that, and the domain of enlightenment was different.
It meant the positions they stood as martial artists were different.
Even without qi, this should have been the same.
What they saw was different, what they felt was different. That was how it should have been originally.
Now? What about now?
Namgung Jin had to feel this texture of uncertainty he couldn't even confirm himself.
Grind. A rough sound came from Namgung Jin's mouth. Was he frightened? By a brat younger than his own child?
This Blue Heaven Sword King?
'That's impossible.'
He denied it. No, it naturally shouldn't be possible.
"It seems you're putting on a show of remnants."
At Namgung Jin's words, Gu Yang-cheon's expression became somewhat displeased. Namgung Jin could tell. That was how full of disappointment Gu Yang-cheon's expression was.
"You're different from that Myeong fellow. How disappointing."
"What are you saying."
"It's nothing."
With those words, the sound from Gu Yang-cheon's sword stopped.
It meant the sword resonance had ceased ringing.
The night wind still blew cold, but the boiling emotions didn't easily subside.
He wanted to fly his sword right now and sever his limbs, but he held back.
If he exploded here, everything would be ruined.
So he had to endure.
However, he felt he couldn't let pass this brat acting above his station.
'He said to tear off my arm.'
That was the condition. Namgung Jin forced down the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.
He was the next young lord acknowledged by Gu Cheol-un's own mouth. Even for Namgung Jin, doing such a thing would be unreasonable.
'I'll have to cut it.'
He would cut it cleanly. So it could be easily reattached.
Namgung Jin knew he was staying at the Gu family. It was more open information than expected, as he seemed to have no intention of hiding it.
He didn't know why the Divine Doctor, who had stayed at Namgung and gone to Seomseo, had followed that brat into the Gu family.
If the Divine Doctor was there, he wouldn't hesitate to give him a scolding.
"I will yield ten moves."
"Hmm… are you sure?"
"How ridiculous, daring to worry about me now."
"…You're right, how did I end up like this."
No matter what he resented, Gu Yang-cheon let out a sigh while raising his sword.
Tap!
He rested the sword on his shoulder and moved languidly. It was an incredibly sloppy motion.
'Was it a misconception?'
The breathing and movement up until just now had been that of a seasoned swordsman, but as if even that was a lie, it had vanished in an instant.
Why even lay down qi for something like this.
Was the flimsy thinking of a childish brat originally like that?
While having such thoughts, Gu Yang-cheon silently walked forward.
It was full of openings. It seemed like no matter where he swung his sword, he could kill with a single strike.
'It seems it was unnecessary worry.'
Gu Yang-cheon, who had come right up to his nose, moved his sword-holding hand with an indifferent expression.
Uung.
In that instant, sword resonance rang out once more from the sword in Gu Yang-cheon's hand.
A shiver.
The moment he heard the sword resonance, a chilling sensation ran down Namgung Jin's spine. Gu Yang-cheon's sword moved.
The sword slashing horizontally was slow. Drawing a semicircle like the current moon, it was so slow that every ordinary movement was visible.
The Namgung family uses swift swords. They are people who wrap lightning qi around their swords and live within a faster time than others.
Namgung Jin, standing high after trampling such people, couldn't possibly fail to dodge such a dull sword.
He definitely shouldn't have been able to.
Why wasn't his body moving?
Following the slowly approaching sword tip, the night sky was split.
What unfolded from the unremarkable movement was a stride more noble than anything.
What was this? How could such enlightenment emanate from a sword?
The stars were split, and even the moonlight was split. The countless meanings contained in that meager single strike crashed down upon Namgung Jin.
Swish—!
An eternity-like moment ended.
The resulting outcome was utterly insignificant.
Gu Yang-cheon had simply drawn his sword downward.
But for Namgung Jin, it wasn't so.
Gu Yang-cheon spoke in an indifferent voice.
"Didn't you promise?"
Namgung Jin, who should have been in front of Gu Yang-cheon, was not there. Gu Yang-cheon's gaze also didn't remain before him but was directed elsewhere.
Haa….
Rough breathing could be heard. It wasn't Gu Yang-cheon's.
Several paces away from Gu Yang-cheon, Namgung Jin was panting heavily.
Cold sweat streamed down. It was the aftermath of his body having tensed to its limit.
"I believe we agreed not to use qi."
At Gu Yang-cheon's words, Namgung Jin finally checked his own body.
What was wrapped around his body was clearly lightning qi (Leiqi).
Namgung Jin looked at Gu Yang-cheon with a horrified expression.
"What on earth…"
"Let's pretend I didn't hear about the yield. I would like to show that much consideration, but unfortunately, it seems too much for this meager body. I ask for your understanding."
Gu Yang-cheon's sword tip pointed toward Namgung Jin. The sword resonance was not ringing. But Namgung Jin had the illusion that he could hear it.
What had been invisible to the eye began to be seen. Was it a hallucination? In Namgung Jin's eyes, Gu Yang-cheon's body seemed to have become a sword itself.
'Sword-Body Unity (Shenjian Heyi)?'
At that heavy name, Namgung Jin had to shake his head.
It was a realm even he hadn't reached. No, should it even be called a realm? His grandfather had said it was a somewhat separate domain from the realm a martial artist reaches.
Was that Sword-Body Unity then? Namgung Jin wanted to firmly deny it, but he couldn't bring himself to be so certain.
"The sword tip is not straight."
At Gu Yang-cheon's voice, Namgung Jin snapped out of his pale thoughts.
"Those are words I once said to a close friend."
"How dare you try to teach me…"
"That part is similar. That crazy fellow gave the same answer."
"What are you saying right now…!"
"It's nothing much. Times have passed, so it's right for many things to change."
His moving footsteps did not waver. The posture holding the sword was still unimpressive, but Namgung Jin's mind was completely tangled up from the movement he had just shown.
Gu Yang-cheon took a step forward.
"At the very least, that fellow wouldn't have wanted things to change like this, so I suppose I must clean up after him. How ridiculous, this originally wasn't my role."
"You brat…."
The moment his crumbling self-esteem was about to twist into rage, something brushed past Namgung Jin's neck.
Namgung Jin grabbed his neck and stumbled backward. Unlike the vivid sensation, his neck hadn't been cut.
"It would be best to concentrate. Otherwise, you'll regret it."
As soon as the words ended, Gu Yang-cheon's sword once again cleaved through the air.