130 - Sword King Appearance (2) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

The drinking cup wobbles. One cup turns into two, and then two morph into three. "How is it? This is a rare wine I've managed to acquire. They say it's quite precious. To my taste, it seems to have a splendid aroma, but I wonder how the Sword King perceives it." Mok Seon-o chuckles. Namgung Hyeok responds, "The wine of our sect holds more value." "My, my, Supreme Head of the Family!" Namgung Un gasps in horror, but Namgung Hyeok couldn't understand his alarm. It was only natural. The wine enjoyed within the sect is chosen among the rarest across the Central Plains, and only the finest are brought. It was not surprising that they were incomparable. "Did I speak incorrectly?" "No, it’s not that...!" Namgung Un's eyes dart around. Namgung Hyeok snorts and takes another drink. "Well, this one isn’t too bad either." "You really have a way of speaking without any sugarcoating." "Always me, brother." "I find it unfair having to endure this all the time." "You know that’s not the case." "I do not see it." Ma Ilseok's lips pout. Namgung Hyeok retorts, "You've become quite womanly with age." "You little...?" Ma Ilseok jumps to his feet. Namgung Un follows, bowing his head. "I apologize! Our Supreme Head..." His face was full of discomfort. Namgung Hyeok felt uneasy. "Is it right for a member of the Namgung family to yield so easily?" "Supreme Head, please!" In an instant, Mok Seon-o bursts into laughter. "Ah, it’s been a while since we've had such a moment. The Sword King remains unchanged." "I have changed. I've progressed incomparably since then." "I speak of your character. The Sword King still possesses a firm spirit." Mok Seon-o smiles warmly. "Indeed, you've always been one to stand tall with pride. Living in the mountains has made me forget that." Namgung Hyeok snorts. As he briefly gazes at Mok Seon-o, a thought strikes him. '...Indeed.' They resemble each other. Mok Riwon and Mok Seon-o. Namgung Hyeok looks at his wine cup. Namgung Un has already refilled it, the cup brimming with clear wine. The reflected scenery wavers on its surface before resettling. Only after this does Namgung Hyeok speak, "I met him. That boy." "Hmm?" "The child you took with you." Pause— Mok Seon-o's hand stops. Ma Ilseok also widens his eyes with interest. "He resembles you." "Is that so?" Mok Seon-o lets out a small laugh. But his demeanor was not as hearty as before. He seemed hesitant and slightly worried. "How is he? I take pride in raising that child to the best of my abilities. Truly, the child’s nature was brighter and warmer than I imagined. I believe that child knows love." How was it? Namgung Hyeok closed his eyes, recalling his meeting with Mok Riwon. -A disciple of the Star Connection Sect, the young master Mok Riwon. The audacity with which he introduced himself. His appearance differed from Mok Seon-o; he was handsome, with an exceptionally sharp aura. Moreover, his martial arts skills, as seen from the seats, far surpassed those of his peers. To summarize, "His swordsmanship was commendable." This was one of the higher compliments Namgung Hyeok could offer. Mok Seon-o's eyes widened before slowly settling into a smile. "Is that so?" "He seemed friendly with the girl from the Tang clan and a boy from the Jegal clan. He appears to be unfamiliar with the ways of the world, from what I've heard." "Seems he's been doing well, making friends already." "Ah, brother. You mentioned the girl from the Tang clan. That one, the Poison Girl from the Tang clan with an unbeatable poison. Won Yi, that handsome chap, isn’t he?" Ma Ilseok wiggles his pinky finger. Mok Seon-o's eyes widen before he bursts into laughter. "Our Won Yi being knowledgeable in such areas? He must simply enjoy their company." "Ah, brother, really. At their age, friendship between a boy and a girl? Well, you wouldn’t know, having spent those years in the mountains." In the midst of this conversation, Namgung Un nervously raises his hand. "Uh..." His expression awkwardly twisted into a smile, sweat beading on his forehead. "Are you talking about the Ink Dragon?" "Hmm?" "There’s someone I know who fits the current topic..." Namgung Hyeok snorts. "Only realized that now?" Namgung Un's mouth falls open. "Wait, just a moment." Abruptly, Namgung Un stands up and exclaims, "The Ink Dragon was a disciple of the Swordsmanship Duel?!" Indeed, his reaction was the most exaggerated in all the Central Plains. Namgung Hyeok thought so, shaking his head. * The one to lead the conversation next was Namgung Un. "My word! I thought it was strange! Where did such a young master come from? The first time the Ink Dragon appeared in the Yongbongji Society, it caused quite the stir! Now I understand! Truly a disciple of the Star Connection Sect! It makes sense!" "Ha, Our Won Yi received the nickname of the dragon?" "Would any dragon simply be a dragon! During the Yongbongji Society, our Jincheon, who had never lost a single championship, was almost turned into a complete defeat..." "It wasn't quite like that." Namgung Hyeok corrected him, a hint of discomfort in his tone. Namgung Un licked his lips before continuing, "Well, yes. It wasn’t a complete defeat but a fierce competition which led to the Ink Dragon becoming the champion. The duel was truly remarkable..." "Ah, I was unaware of such news." "Hm? Sword Star, you didn't know?" "I didn't. Living secluded in these mountains makes one distant from the outside news. Even the affairs of the Poison King only reached me because it was widely talked about." Mok Seon-o’s face showed a hint of emotion as he then asked Namgung Un, "So, if it's alright with you, could you share more about our Won Yi?" "Of course! Ah, after winning the Yongbongji Society, the Ink Dragon headed to the Murim Alliance. He was following the child from the Tang Clan." "Has the boy already gotten himself entangled in a girl’s skirt?" Ma Ilseok frowned. Namgung Un chuckled and shook his head, "It didn't seem that way, and there's more to the story, if you’d like to hear." "Go on." Ma Ilseok also focused on the story. Namgung Un realized the relationship between the two elders and Mok Riwon was deeper than he thought, so he detailed further, "A new group was formed within the Alliance. Jincheon is also a member of this group." The turmoil that bubbled up immediately following the Yongbongji Society and the formation of Yongbongdan by the Baekdo Moorim to counter it, along with what the group had accomplished, "And thus, with these young warriors gathered, they achieved an unbelievable feat in the recent Sacheonhaeng!" Namgung Un ended with a hearty laugh. Mok Seon-o’s face at that moment carried a deep mix of emotions. "Is that so..." The look on his face clearly resembled that of a parent receiving news about their child. "Our Won Yi..." "Fortunate, brother. It seems he's doing well. I was worried when we sent him off, fearing he knew too little of the world." "It must be the good people around him. Didn’t you mention the child from the Tang Clan and the Jegal Clan? Well, regardless of the other, if it's a child from the Jegal Clan, they must be wise and noble, leading our Won Yi well." Pause— Namgung Un halted. 'Should I tell him?' How the child from the Jegal Clan, Jegal San, was known by a certain nickname in the current Murim. '...No, there's no need to worry him.' It seems they are getting along well, no need to add unnecessary worries. Namgung Un concluded and brightened up as he continued, "Anyway, I heard he's taking a short break from his duties now." "Hm?" "Ah, brother. It’s almost time for the Blue Dragon Rain Dance Association." "Ah!" Mok Seon-o expressed his astonishment. Namgung Un also nodded, "Yes, they plan to hold it even bigger this time to boost morale amid the ongoing turmoil. The winner this time is even awarded a whole bottle of Gongcheong Stone Oil." "Oh, that’s something." Ma Ilseok smacked his lips. Mok Seon-o chuckled and then asked Namgung Un, "Are you planning to participate?" "I have no such plans." "Why, Un, you could easily win a prize." "Jincheon will be entering. It wouldn’t look good for the Namgung family to have more than one person participating, so it was concluded internally." The Blue Dragon Rain Dance Association was the largest duel event held by the Murim Alliance, open to all of Baekdo Moorim without age restrictions, unlike the Yongbongji Society. For these masters present, it was also a duel event that held nostalgic value. After all, wasn't it the duel event where Sword Star Mok Seon-o first made his name known in the Gangho Murim? "Won’t you go watch, Sword Star? You could go incognito." "After declaring I would leave Gangho, how could I? I am content just hearing the news." "I see…" Seeing Mok Riwon in person might have pleased him more. Namgung Un thought to himself but didn’t voice it out. This was the minimum respect due to the Unparalleled under the heavens of all time. "Our Won Yi is already looking towards the Blue Dragon Rain Dance Association." "He truly is unparalleled. If only he’d slow down a bit." "One encounters people and the world, gaining deeper insights. Our Won Yi isn’t one to rush blindly." "That’s true, but..." Ma Ilseok and Mok Seon-o’s conversation continued smoothly. The consensus they reached, "Anyway, now that he’s participated, it'd be good if the boy won." "It won't be easy. There are many hidden masters in Gangho." "Still, if it's him, he might be able to do it." "No." Namgung Hyeok interjected, "The winner will be my grandson." His face carried a hint of determination and stubbornness. Flames seem to blaze within their gazes. Namgung Un chuckled under his breath. 'After all, he really treasures Jincheon.' Could it be because they are similar? That was all Namgung Un could think. "And, I suppose that's enough idle talk." Namgung Hyeok set down his cup. His aura turned noticeably more fierce, as if his body was itching for action. Mok Seon-o smiled softly and nodded. "After tipping the cup, a duel follows. It reminds me of old times. I would request a match." "It won't be as easy as before." "I have never once thought of the Sword King as an easy opponent." Namgung Hyeok's nose twitched. "...Come then." With that, they headed to the courtyard. * Shortly after, two elders stood in the courtyard, each holding a sword. Namgung Hyeok, tension raised to the limit throughout his body, faced Mok Seon-o. 'Indeed...' Had he grown? He was still a warrior worthy of the title Unparalleled under the heavens. "Would you like to go first?" His aura was gentle. What came to mind was the cold shine of a star. A tranquil yet destructive resonance. "Gladly." Namgung Hyeok raised his sword, matched by Mok Seon-o lifting his. That moment. "...Huh." Namgung Hyeok let out a hollow laugh. It wasn't for any other reason than, as Mok Seon-o raised his sword, the previously concealed fragments of his power became perceptible. He was smiling faintly. "Why hesitate? Come at me." He taunted. Quite, infuriatingly so. "I've surpassed it." "By a stroke of heavenly luck." "Heavenly luck..." No, perhaps the term 'heavenly luck' was indeed apt. On the brink of transcendence. Namgung Hyeok, who had reached that precipice over the 18 years, realized something. 'He has transcended transcendence.' Sword Star Mok Seon-o. In the 18 years since he had departed from the martial world to seclude himself in the mountains, he had stepped beyond the realm of transcendence. Was that fact despairing? To the question that arose, Namgung Hyeok responded with a fierce smile. "Indeed..." No matter how he pondered, that was the case. There was no reason to despair over being surpassed now. If anything, he was grateful to have such a figure to aim for. "...It was worth coming all this way." Namgung Hyeok thought. The only rival he ever wanted to surpass in his lifetime would forever be this man. "Here I come." Namgung Hyeok swung his sword. It was the beginning of a relentless duel that would continue without pause, much like the relentless nights.