37 - Dragon Phoenix Assembly (10) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

In the participant waiting room of the martial arts competition, Mok Riwon sat cross-legged in the middle of the small room, lost in thought. What occupied his mind was the doubt that had not left him since watching the duel between Il Woon and Hyun Gong a week ago. 'Why did he harbor intent to kill?' Why did Hyun Gong harbor such malice? Why did he, who should embody justice and fellowship, foster malice in his heart? It would have been easy to label him a villain. To dismiss him as one who does not follow the path of righteousness. But Mok Riwon did not want to jump to conclusions so easily. -A true warrior is one who continually questions. This was why his teacher, Mok Seon O, always said those words. 'Personal grudge?' Did Hyun Gong hate Il Woon? 'External pressure?' Was it a struggle between martial factions? 'Or if not...' Was it simply a pleasure derived from killing? "..." Mok Riwon's eyes snapped open. Within them lay a profound emptiness. "Seeing is believing." Mok Riwon unfolded his legs and stood up. Despite being inside, the echoing cheers seemed to lift the shadow creeping into his heart, propelling him forward. * Sword King Namgung Hyuk. He sat in the highest seat of the martial arena, speaking to the elderly lady seated next to him. "I thought you'd have no interest in such matters." "I came out for a trip. As one gets older, curiosity only seems to grow, no?" The elderly lady responded with a chuckle, emitting an incredibly quaint aura. This piqued the curiosity of those around Namgung Hyuk. 'Who is this elderly lady?' Given Namgung Hyuk's usually hierarchical demeanor, if he allowed someone a seat beside him, they must be a master of the previous generation. However, among the known masters, no one remembered an elderly lady with such a quaint demeanor. Need it be said, the elderly lady's identity was the Killing Star, Yeom So So. Like Namgung Hyuk, she was one of the Four Stars and Six Kings and had made a certain choice alongside him in the blood feud twenty years ago. "Are you aiming for the Silent Sword?" "I've told you, I came for a trip. And what about you, Sword King? Are you also interested in him, despite having such grandsons?" "Well." Namgung Hyuk silently gazed at the yet-empty martial arena. The Silent Sword, Mok Riwon. The rising star causing a stir in the martial world. Upon hearing that, Namgung Hyuk couldn't deny the memories that surfaced. -Are you the Sword Dragon? A man overflowing with confidence yet not arrogance. A man he could never surpass till the very end. With the arrival of the Silent Sword, Namgung Hyuk recalled a man who might no longer be called the Sword Saint. 'If the Sword Saint had ultimately raised that child.' If the child he had taken in at the end of the blood feud had grown up safely, he would be about Mok Riwon's age now. Namgung Hyuk wanted to confirm whether he was indeed the child who had inherited the intentions of the Sword Saint. If so, had the child raised by the man he so desired to surpass truly grown as intended? Did the Sword Saint succeed in his purpose? ...And was he still alive? "...Let's consider it entertainment for myself." "Hmph, you're as dull as ever." The guards gawked at Yeom So So, who paid them no heed and focused on the martial arena. At that moment, two men were ascending to the arena. 'He's quite handsome, isn't he?' Mok Riwon's face, unlike the rugged Mok Seon O of his youth, drew a smirk from Yeom So So. * The cheering grew louder. Amidst the crowd's warmth and clinging humidity, Mok Riwon faced Seon Ryong Hyun Gong. "Please, take care." He bowed slightly with a wry smile, facing Hyun Gong who returned the gesture. "Why did you harbor intent to kill?" "Pardon?" "The duel with Monk Il Woon. Did that make it clear?" Hyun Gong flinched. Mok Riwon noticed and felt more certain about his speculation, but the response was disappointing. "I'm not sure what you mean." Hyun Gong simply laughed it off. Mok Riwon quietly observed, then relaxed his stance. "No need to say more. I understand." As the announcer stepped back and raised his hand, Mok Riwon's own hand touched his sword. Though no clear answer was given, he could feel it. The moment he asked, the piercing intent to kill filled the air, serving as irrefutable evidence. "It seems we cannot discuss chivalry." The announcer's hand dropped. Instantly, Mok Riwon lunged forward. Clash! The duel began. * Whenever people discussed the Silent Sword Mok Riwon in Seohyeon, one topic always came up. 'What kind of swordsmanship does he practice?' It was an inevitable subject. Mok Riwon had never once revealed his skills for more than a second during his attendance at the Yongbong Assembly. That single second always ended with his opponent's sword being cleaved in two. Someone had once claimed: -Strong Sword! It's nothing but strength! The Silent Sword is a swordsman who overwhelms his opponent with overpowering force! Yet another person argued: -Strong Sword? Nonsense! He employs the Mid-Range Sword! How could splitting a sword in two be a mere act of strength? It's a skill that comes from knowing exactly where to apply force! And someone who negated both views said: -I believe the Silent Sword's technique harbors the same aesthetic as the Taoist arts. Don't you think so? He never draws his sword first. He only draws after his opponent has struck. Considering that, it seems more accurate to say he uses his opponent's force to sever the sword. Until today, no one had been able to provide a definitive answer to these musings. And many who had debated this finally saw his true swordsmanship. "Rapid sword…" His swordsmanship contained the essence of a rapid attack, overpowering his opponent with swift successive strikes. However, that expectation was short-lived. The next move Mok Riwon exhibited was far too peculiar to be considered rapid swordsmanship. It weaved like a snake, sprung like bamboo, and at times, stopped abruptly in motion. "Illusionary sword?" That's what it seemed to them. To the more discerning masters present, from renowned families across the Central Plains, they could only chuckle as they watched his technique. "No, it's neither." These were beings who had reached the realm of transcendence, able to visualize the inherent flow of Nature itself. They understood. "...Anomaly." This was an anomaly. From a mid-range to a strong sword, shaking it into an illusionary sword, then stabbing swiftly like a rapid sword. A technique all swordsmen dream of mastering yet one no one could truly execute. "What absurdity…" This was merely recklessness leaning on the blessing of talent. One of the prominent onlookers murmured. "...Prepare the negotiations immediately." Not long after these words, several individuals from various affiliations made their exit from the spectator stands. An extraordinary talent. In the martial world, where power reigns supreme, such talent is usually met with jealousy and resentment. But not in this moment. Mok Riwon had no affiliation. That meant his talent was up for grabs. Just that fact alone engraved him in their eyes not as a marvel but as a treasure, a desire waiting to be claimed. The stagnant martial world began to move. * Mok Riwon relentlessly pushed Hyun Gong. He drove him with a force that left no room for retaliation or for any revealed murderous intent to be suppressed. Originally, Mok Riwon had no intention to go to such lengths, but there was one reason that changed his mind. 'That's the wrong mindset.' He judged Seon Ryong Hyun Gong's mindset to be off. Yet, he hoped he understood the way of chivalry. Ma Il Seok once said: -People from renowned families are the ones who easily tread down the wrong path. -Why? They always grow up admiring the heroes. -That's exactly why. They only know how to dominate and lose their sense of direction. Every generation produces martial successors who, intoxicated with arrogance, act no better than those in the demonic sects. Well, in our generation, my brother took care of them. -Your brother? -Yes, during the Blue Dragon Martial Festival. Among those who faced my brother was that Sword King. He was so insolent I didn't even want to talk to him, but he became somewhat tamer after being beaten by my brother. -Gosh, brother! We agreed not to talk about that! -Oops, my mistake. The more prestigious one’s background, the easier it is to stray off the path. The higher one's position, the more prone they are to recklessness. -Child. -Yes! -One day, you will meet those mentioned by Ma Il Seok. When that time comes, could you show a little compassion and lead them back to the right path? -Yes! I will do just that! -Good, you're truly kind. Thus, those who know the way of chivalry must right their wrongs. Clang! Hyun Gong's sword was flung away. As Mok Riwon charged again, Hyun Gong steeled his breath and unleashed the martial prowess of the Taoists. Tai Chi. The pinnacle of the Taoists, wielding the harmony of all creation within a circle to counter. And the most elegant countermove in the Central Plains martial arts. The force exerted by Mok Riwon reverberated back to him. However, Mok Riwon easily evaded it. Swoosh. The moment his sword pierced the air, Mok Riwon flicked his wrist, causing the sword to quiver. Swish. A dark energy enveloped his sword, while a pale azure energy wrapped around Hyun Gong's weapon. A clash of sword energies. With similar levels of internal energy, the outcome would now depend on how they were employed. "You need to reflect." Mok Riwon declared, swinging his sword in a flow different from before. For the first time, Mok Riwon took on a formalized stance after utilizing various unconventional techniques with his sword. Opening Move. The essence of martial arts, physicalized into a form, thereby imbuing a single move with depth, is the flower of martial skills. A dark aura shone faintly around his sword. Despite the gloomy color, as if covered in ink, it resonated uniquely enough to create the illusion of light. Mok Riwon recalled his teacher's guidance. 'The Seven Falling Stars Sword comprises seven sword forms replicating the trajectory of stars.' Mok Riwon pulled back his sword to its fullest extent, assuming a clear stance for thrusting. In that instant, he seemed as unshakeable as Mount Tai itself. -"The first form is fashioned after the Big Dipper. It represents the brightest star, symbolizing unwavering eternity. Our ancestor created this sword technique, stabbing at the heavens seven times while gazing at it." Seven unstoppable consecutive strikes. The Seven Falling Stars Sword, first form: Big Dipper Piercing Sword. Thud. Mok Riwon stepped forward, and simultaneously, his sword, shooting forward like a ray of light, aimed for Hyun Gong's shoulder. Hyun Gong cloaked his shoulder in qi, but it was a futile resistance. Crack. With a gruesome sound, Hyun Gong's left shoulder caved in. It wasn't the sword that had made contact but the accompanying qi that had twisted his joint. "Gah...!" Hyun Gong's eyes widened. Mok Riwon did not halt his motion. With his next moves, he consecutively targeted the right shoulder, lungs, core, the right waist and knee supporting the body, and finally the foot. Hyun Gong's posture collapsed. As Mok Riwon was about to finish his opening move and swing his sword for the final blow. '...A smile?' He caught a glimpse of a smile on Hyun Gong's face. Confused by this unexpected response, Mok Riwon hesitated momentarily. During this, his body stiffened. Clang. Hyun Gong's sword fell to the ground. "[The Silent Sword! Victorious!!!]" Simultaneously, the announcer's proclamation and the ensuing cheers erupted. And there laid Hyun Gong, defeated. Mok Riwon, taken aback, took in the entire scene and then realized. 'Just now...' Hyun Gong had intentionally let himself be struck by the opening move. His last-second release of the sword was not due to a lack of strength, but a conscious choice. His smile hinted at something significant. '...Winning wasn’t the goal.' Hyun Gong had entered this duel with the intention to lose. * Namgung Hyuk's grip on the armrest of his chair was crushing. "Did you know?" "Know what?" Namgung Hyuk glared menacingly at Yeom So So. He then created a curtain of qi around them to contain their conversation before continuing. "The Seven Falling Stars Sword. You didn’t think I’d recognize it?" Namgung Hyuk was truly angry. Not at Mok Riwon, but at the elderly lady before him. "You knew this person wasn’t just anyone from the start. Was it fun mocking me?" She had known from the beginning. That this young man named the Silent Sword was the Sword Saint's child. The child from the day the blood feud ended. Namgung Hyuk’s demeanor turned even more hostile. Unknown to the guards, but certainly perceptible to Yeom So So, was the swirling internal energy within him. Yeom So So chuckled. "How is it? That old man created something impressive, didn’t he?" "..." Namgung Hyuk’s brow furrowed as his gaze turned toward Mok Riwon, whose expression was one of bewilderment. 'Sword Saint...' Looking at Mok Riwon and recalling the first form he had displayed, Namgung Hyuk couldn't help but laugh wryly. '...This means he's alive.' Crunch. The armrest broke under his grip. The flames that had dimmed in his heart since the blood feud reignited once more.