68 - Heavenly Demon of the Huashan Sect

Chapter 68 "Gasp!" Namgoong Jin-gyeong, who had fainted for quite a while, suddenly sat up. "This place is..." As soon as he lifted his sweat-drenched upper body, he hurriedly glanced around and began searching for Cheonhui. "That, that man..." "Are you awake?" At that moment, a voice came from beside him. "Uncle?" The man, called Uncle and also the head of the medical hall, approached and sat next to Namgoong Jin-gyeong. "This place is..." "This is the medical hall. Is your body alright?" "Did I lose?" "Never mind that for now. Take care of your body first. It may appear that there's nothing wrong now, but you were unconscious for nearly half a day." "Oh, understood." Chided by his uncle, Namgoong Jin-gyeong hastily assumed a meditative posture to regulate his breathing and energy. Fortunately, there were no internal injuries. "My cheek stings a little, but everything else seems fine." "That's a relief. However, don't overexert yourself just yet. You haven't fully recovered, and your energy needs balance..." Despite the worried advice from the head of the medical hall, Namgoong Jin-gyeong's mind was already filled with thoughts of Cheonhui. 'My sword technique didn't stand a chance.' Even after using the Cheonraejewang Divine Art and displaying the Changgongmuae Sword Technique, it was all in vain. A beautifully wielded sword strike. With that strike, the Sky Thunder was entirely severed and even split himself apart. 'It was an unbelievable sword strike.' The overwhelming defeat was such that he couldn’t even muster a hollow laugh. 'I thought my only rival was my brother...' Since becoming one of the Nine Dragons, he believed that there were no more opponents among his peers. But he was wrong. The world was vast, and there were many masters. 'There’s always a higher sky.' As he reflected, he began to recall the conversations with Cheonhui. 'I must have been crazy!' Embarrassment colored his face red. Remembering his confident challenge and the words he’d uttered during the duel made him twist in discomfort. How foolish he must have seemed. Just when he wished the ground would swallow him for the shame, he heard: "Did you step forward to firmly secure your position as heir?" The head of the medical hall, aware of something that Namgoong Jin-gyeong had recently been sensitive about, brought it up. Startled, Jin-gyeong nodded silently. The head of the medical hall closed his eyes tightly. Outwardly, Namgoong Jin-gyeong was known to have no interest in the position of head. But that wasn't the case. "I thought you weren't interested." "I wasn't, initially." Namgoong Cheon, the grand prince of the Namgoong family, was known for his martial prowess, scholarly knowledge, and impeccable character. Everyone believed he would be the next head, including Jin-gyeong. However, Jin-gyeong's thoughts slowly changed. The starting point of everything was when he earned the nickname, the Sky Dragon Swordsman. Originally, he was the second son and distanced from succession. However, after his recent rise and becoming one of the Nine Dragons and Five Peaks, people began to consider him as a candidate for the head role. Everything changed because of it. The sudden attention focused on him. Gazes filled with envy that he occasionally noticed. At first, it was burdensome, but he gradually grew accustomed to it, and it unknowingly awoke desires within him. A desire for the position of head. "I thought now was a chance to make an impression on father and the clan in my brother’s absence. Since you were quite young, I assumed I could win against you..." But he couldn't finish his sentence. What more was there to say? In the end, he lost. And it was a crushing defeat. Surely, the succession was now out of reach. "I lost." He completed his unfinished thought and a smile suddenly spread across his face. Despite the distance from the position he so desired, he somehow felt relieved. As if he'd shed a long-standing burden. "Are you alright?" The head of the medical hall asked out of concern. "Hahaha. I'm fine. No, in fact, I feel refreshed." Saying this, Namgoong Jin-gyeong stood up. "Well, I guess I'll be going now." The head of the medical hall hesitated, trying to stop him, but then smiled gently. "...If your condition worsens, come back." "Hahaha, understood." Namgoong Jin-gyeong gathered his sword placed nearby and left the medical hall. Was he truly unconscious for that long? The once blue midday sky was now painted with the deep hues of a setting sun. "...Alright." Namgoong Jin-gyeong began walking away immediately. * * * "When they said renowned families of the martial world, I expected more, but this is disappointing." Cheonhui wore his disappointment openly. Despite wandering around the Namgoong family's estate for a while, he found nothing particularly interesting or worth noting. Just the buildings and the occasional glares directed his way. 'At least I realized one thing.' Though there was nothing to see, there was one thing he understood. 'All the buildings I've seen here are better than the accommodations at the Martial Alliance.’ The place he stayed at while at the Martial Alliance was a bit run-down, but he hadn't thought it was too bad. But visiting here made it clear. The accommodations at the Martial Alliance weren't merely old; they were borderline insulting. 'They gave me a place worse than so many of these scattered buildings as my lodgings?' Cheonhui’s eyes darkened. 'They treated me like trash?' A cold smile formed on his lips. Perhaps he should turn everything upside down. He was considering what to prioritize when returning to the Martial Alliance when— "Little brother." Someone stood in his path. It was Namgoong Jin-gyeong. "Huh?" What's this? Are you planning to challenge me again? Have you still not come to your senses? To think he'd come back even after the beating he got—this time, maybe I should thrash him thoroughly so he won't ever think of challenging again... "Thanks to you, I realized a lot." "What?" He let out a sound as if the air was knocked out of him. 'What on earth did you realize?' It was baffling. After taking a beating and passing out, what could he have realized? "I regained my senses thanks to your strike." Regained his senses by being hit? 'No way...' Cheonhui suddenly felt a chill down his spine. In his previous life, he had encountered such kinds—deranged individuals who got excited from being beaten. "Little brother." When Namgoong Jin-gyeong took a step forward, Cheonhui instinctively took a step back. "Don't come any closer." When Cheonhui spoke coldly, Namgoong Jin-gyeong flinched, seemingly caught off guard. "Why, why not?" As Namgoong Jin-gyeong tried to approach again— Whoosh! A chilling intent enveloped him. ‘Such killing intent!’ Namgoong Jin-gyeong swallowed hard. He had never experienced such intense malice before. ‘It's almost like... the Demon Sect's...’ He quickly swallowed his thought. ‘What am I thinking?’ His opponent was a Taoist from the Mount Hua Sect. The notion of associating him with the Demon Sect was absurd. "I’m not sure what misunderstanding there is, but thanks to you, I realized how arrogant I’d become." Was that all it was? Cheonhui's wariness eased. He regarded Namgoong Jin-gyeong closely. His steady gaze and honest words suggested sincerity. With that, Cheonhui retracted his killing aura. "Alright then." As Cheonhui resumed his walk, Namgoong Jin-gyeong hurriedly called out. "What were you doing?" "I was just checking out the Namgoong family's place." "You mean our estate? Let me guide you." "No, that's alright." Cheonhui declined the offer. "There's really nothing much to see. Plus, I keep getting stared at whenever I walk around." Cheonhui discreetly glanced around. There, members of the Namgoong family were covertly watching him, their eyes sharp and scrutinous. "Haha." Namgoong Jin-gyeong laughed awkwardly. "There might still be something worth seeing." "I doubt it." Cheonhui said decisively. "The only thing remotely interesting was the martial arts you showed during our duel." Namgoong Jin-gyeong's eyes widened. "My martial arts? But I was thoroughly beaten by you..." "It was the only thing remotely interesting." As he said, it was just that—remotely interesting. Though not executed perfectly, it was far more engaging than anything else he'd seen in the Namgoong estate. "I’d be curious to see other martial arts from the Namgoong family, though." "Other martial arts from our family?" Namgoong Jin-gyeong's head perked up. "If that's the case, I can demonstrate them." "Besides the Cheonrai Thirteen Thundersomething or that Changgong Muae Sword Technique, do you know any others?" Namgoong Jin-gyeong visibly shrank back. "I can't display them as perfectly as the techniques in our duel, but..." "Hmm." Seeing Cheonhui's interest piqued, Namgoong Jin-gyeong cautiously offered. "Would you like to see it anyway?" "Sure, that sounds good to me." Cheonhui agreed with a grin. Whether or not the techniques were perfectly executed didn't matter. It was a chance to see something new. His interest rekindled. "Then follow me." Excited, Namgoong Jin-gyeong led the way. "I have a favorite spot for training and meditation." After walking for some time, they finally stopped by a small lakeside. Unlike other places he’d seen, this serene location was devoid of any human presence, with a charming small pavilion right in the center of the lake catching the eye. "How is it? Isn’t it perfect for training, being so peaceful?" "It is." Cheonhui gave a nonchalant reply. That alone seemed to please Namgoong Jin-gyeong, as he continued with an eager stride. "Let’s head inside." Soon, their reflections rippled in the tranquil waters of the lake. The silence was almost haunting. Even though they were within the Namgoong family grounds, the lakeside felt like a different realm entirely. Cheonhui, liking the atmosphere, nodded approvingly, then gestured with his finger. "I'll let you take the lead." Namgoong Jin-gyeong chuckled to himself. It was a dismissive gesture, but given the stark difference in skill displayed during their duel, it was understandable. The gulf between them was immeasurable. Especially that sword strike... A shiver ran down his arm gripping the sword. It was undoubtedly one of the styles within the Liuhe Sword Technique, specifically "One Stroke, Two Halves." A simple, downward slashing motion, contrary to its grandiose name. Yet that simple strike had split the Sky Thunder in half, precisely as the name implied. Pshh— A small chuckle escaped his lips. He had been a frog in a well, thinking he was unmatched, blinded by the hollow fame as one of the Nine Dragons and Five Peaks, known as the Sky Dragon Swordsman. ‘I am weak…!’ Admitting his own frailty brought a sense of relief. Perhaps for that reason, the sword in his grasp felt inexplicably light. ‘My heart feels unburdened.’ Slowly, he began to harness his internal energy. Crackle— Crackle— Cheonhui, watching Namgoong Jin-gyeong's hair stand on end from the influence of his Thunder Emperor Divine Art, whispered, "That’s much better than during the duel." His previously erratic internal energy now flowed with smooth control and strength. "I'll demonstrate the Thunder Flash Thirteen Sword." "Hmm. I've already seen that one." "This time it's different." Namgoong Jin-gyeong's eyes turned a deep blue. Simultaneously, he kicked off the ground, charging straight at Cheonhui and swinging his sword. Slash! The sword left a brilliant flash in its wake, slashing through the space—and Cheonhui. But Namgoong Jin-gyeong didn't let his guard down. 'I can't believe he'd be taken down so easily.' Just as he thought, the image of Cheonhui cut in half wavered and vanished. It was an afterimage. "Definitely improved from the duel." Hearing the voice from behind, Namgoong Jin-gyeong's skin crawled with goosebumps. 'When did he get behind me…?' Even with illusionary movement techniques, the speed was astonishing. As Namgoong Jin-gyeong broke into a cold sweat, 'The internal energy management and swordplay are completely different from during the duel.' Cheonhui looked down at Namgoong Jin-gyeong. The recent sword strike bore an entirely different feel from those during the duel. Its power was ferociously overwhelming. This time, however, the strike lived up to the name of Thunder Flash Thirteen Sword. There was a definitive end and beginning. Just before the strike severed, it concluded decisively. Almost like a whip, it created a vacuum at the tip, instantly amplifying its power. ‘It’s different from the duel.’ This slight change made it genuinely feel akin to a thunderous strike. Then, Namgoong Jin-gyeong twisted his sword. "It's not over yet! Hah!" With a robust yell, Namgoong Jin-gyeong twisted his waist, launching the next strike. A faster sword strike than before! The relentless chain of blinding flashes, glowing with intensity, hounded Cheonhui with no end in sight. ‘At this rate, it’s quite usable.’ Cheonhui revised his assessment of Namgoong Jin-gyeong. From an insect, he now regarded him as perhaps a dog. As Cheonhui effortlessly evaded Namgoong Jin-gyeong’s sword strikes, he finally lifted his hand to counterattack. Swish— Thunk! He deflected some strikes with the back of his hand, while others he rendered useless with a simple palm strike to the sword blade. As this pattern continued— “…!” Namgoong Jin-gyeong's eyes wavered. The Thunder Flash Thirteen Sword Technique was easily misdirected and dismantled with casual gestures. ‘So even this won’t reach him!’ Just as he gritted his teeth in frustration— Thunk! A piercing pain erupted in his chest. “Gah!” Namgoong Jin-gyeong staggered from the impact. Cheonhui, having landed a palm strike to his chest, casually rested his sword on his shoulder. "I’ve seen enough of that." He spoke with a tone of complete indifference to Namgoong Jin-gyeong's shock. "Let’s see some other techniques now."