Chapter 45

Severed Meridians (4)

Lee Seha looked ready to draw his sword at any moment.

Startled, the middle-aged man hurriedly spoke.

"Wait! The Second Young Master wishes for this matter to be resolved as peacefully as possible."

"Now that it's come to this, you're finally spewing your nonsense at length?"

"Didn't your side also arrive here without any proper rest? Even if you intend to fight, wouldn't it be better to hear the proposal first?"

Lee Seha's gaze shifted slightly to the rear.

Namgung Jun's eyes still shone with a cold light, but the Tang siblings looked completely exhausted. In truth, the fact that they had managed to keep up with the forced march until now without falling behind was impressive enough.

Miss Tang's episode could strike again at any time.

He had heard that when the body was overworked and weakened, attacks caused by her severed meridians became more likely. If it happened in the middle of a battle, dealing with it would be difficult.

In this situation, directly clashing with the Second Young Master's faction was best avoided.

At this point...

Lee Seha looked up to check the position of the sun before giving a small nod.

"Lead the way."

"This way."

As they moved deeper into the ferry dock, warriors of the Geukmu Sect were stationed everywhere. Seeing every direction openly blocked off, Tang Boseon's expression gradually darkened.

If a clash broke out now, escaping would be difficult.

It was like voluntarily swimming into the center of a fishing net.

On the other hand, turning around and attempting to seize one of the boats at the dock did not seem easy either.

Tang Boseon quietly wrapped his right hand inside his green sleeve.

He was touching his hidden weapons and poison, preparing to strike at a moment's notice.

"I wonder if we're not sticking our heads straight into a tiger's mouth."

"For now, there isn't a single supreme master under the Second Young Master capable of dealing with me."

Namgung Jun quietly asked,

"Master, how can you be so certain?"

"The First Young Master's faction killed them all. The only ones left now are small fry."

Lee Seha did not bother watching the middle-aged man's reaction.

He said exactly what he wanted while casually examining the Geukmu Sect warriors from the corner of his eye.

The middle-aged guide shot Lee Seha a glare but said nothing. All he could do was continue walking with stiffened steps.

"Even if there's a hidden master we failed to identify, don't worry. I've already prepared a countermeasure."

Namgung Jun wanted to ask what that countermeasure was, but a distinct aura spreading from ahead forced him to turn his head.

Geukmu Sect warriors stood in long lines on both sides.

At the center sat a man repeatedly clenching and unclenching his fists.

Whenever those massive fists opened, dozens of scars covering his hands twisted vividly into view.

Though still young, it was obvious at a glance that he was a fist artist who had undergone considerable training.

So that's the Second Young Master of the Geukmu Sect.

The Second Young Master took in both Lee Seha and Namgung Jun, who stood beside the Tang siblings, before curling his lips.

"Helping complete strangers. The meddlesome nature of Changcheon Society's chivalrous warriors hasn't changed. I never expected things to become this troublesome."

Letting out an irritated sigh, he leaned back in his chair.

Not bad.

The aura he emitted was quite weighty.

It was obvious he had not practiced martial arts carelessly.

Most impressive of all were those large, scar-covered fists.

Most young martial artists wouldn't be able to withstand even five strikes from those fists.

At the same time, a question arose.

It was obvious at a glance that the Second Young Master was a remarkably talented genius himself.

Then what kind of monster was the First Young Master, the man who had utterly crushed someone like him?

One of the Eight Great Evil Sects... the Eight Great Powers of the Unorthodox Path. Not something to underestimate.

Namgung Jun found himself intrigued by the Second Young Master.

If he could personally face those massive fists, he might gain some understanding of the level possessed by the younger generation of the Eight Great Powers.

While Namgung Jun observed him, the Second Young Master was studying Lee Seha.

His gaze was persistent, assessing how much stamina had been consumed and whether there were any internal or external injuries.

"It is an honor to meet the famed Cheukun Cloud Wanderer."

His eyes gleamed like a wolf's, but after finding no obvious weakness, the Second Young Master naturally shifted his gaze.

Namgung Jun's eyes met his in midair.

"And you're the Azure Star Sword."

Realizing the unfamiliar title was directed at him, Namgung Jun repeated it.

"Azure Star Sword?"

"Ah, you didn't know? That's what they're calling you in Hefei. They say a blue star suddenly appeared and saved them."

Though not much time had passed, the Second Young Master seemed already informed about what had happened in Hefei.

Unlike when he looked at Lee Seha, his expression now held pure curiosity.

"What exactly did you do? Other than hearing that Hyeongjung Gate fell at your hands, I haven't received any details yet."

"Jun-ah. There's no need to answer."

Lee Seha cut him off firmly.

"Get to the point."

When dealing with members of the Demonic and Unorthodox factions, he became an entirely different person.

By nature, he was cold and blunt.

He looked ready to draw his sword the moment a conversation went even slightly astray.

That side of Lee Seha was apparently famous throughout the Murim, because the Second Young Master showed no surprise and continued speaking.

"If we clash head-on like this, both sides will suffer severe losses. Let's make a deal instead."

At a nod from the Second Young Master, the subordinate standing beside him opened the chest he was carrying.

"Gold equivalent to the value of the Crimson Pattern Flower Ginseng, along with medicinal herbs obtainable only in Zhejiang Province. All of them are precious items that help treat illnesses related to yin energy."

Tang Boseon, who had been listening silently, clenched his teeth.

"You're proposing to exchange those things for the Crimson Pattern Flower Ginseng?"

"Isn't that preferable to returning empty-handed—or having your only sister get hurt?"

"Don't speak such nonsense! The Crimson Pattern Flower Ginseng is a priceless spiritual medicine that cannot be bought with wealth."

"Is that so?"

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

The Geukmu Sect warriors surrounding the ferry dock slowly began closing the distance.

The heavy and violent aura unique to the Geukmu Sect spread clearly through the air.

"Just because my faction has weakened, you're taking me far too lightly."

The Second Young Master's eyes settled squarely on Lee Seha and Namgung Jun.

"Cheukun Cloud Wanderer and Azure Star Sword. Even if I can't kill the two of you, I have more than enough strength to tie you down. Do you really think those siblings can survive without the help of you two heroes?"

From Namgung Jun's perspective, there was no bluff in the Second Young Master's words.

He had not prepared this gathering solely in the hope that the deal would succeed.

Naturally, he had also been prepared for a violent confrontation.

Those five men?

Five middle-aged men stood gathered to one side.

Every one of them was a fist artist who had reached at least the mature stage of the Peak Realm. There might even be one among them who had stepped into the pinnacle of the Peak Realm.

If they formed a coordinated formation and attacked together, they would be more than capable of occupying Lee Seha.

The same was true for Namgung Jun.

If battle broke out now, the safety of the Tang siblings would be placed in serious danger.

I don't know what plan Master prepared...

But if things continued along their current course, there was a high probability that the Tang siblings would at least be injured—or even killed.

Step.

At that explosive moment, with conflict only a breath away, Namgung Jun took a step forward.

Naturally, everyone's attention focused on the young man.

"Second Young Master. You're doing a poor imitation of a merchant."

"What?"

"If you were truly a martial artist, you should have proposed a martial duel."

Namgung Jun slowly drew his sword and lowered it before him.

"Come. Let us settle this through a martial duel. The ownership of the Crimson Pattern Flower Ginseng will be the wager."

Silence fell over the area.

Lee Seha, still staring ahead, allowed the corners of his mouth to rise slightly, while the Tang siblings looked at Namgung Jun's back with startled eyes.

Only after a moment did the Second Young Master respond.

"A brat who only recently earned a title is challenging me to a martial duel? You're overflowing with confidence."

A mocking grin spread across his face before he shook his head.

"But your side rejected the deal I offered, and that has put me in a very foul mood. Why should I accept your challenge?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Namgung Jun nodded.

The confidence in his demeanor piqued the man's curiosity.

"And why is that?"

"It seems you didn't hear me properly. I proposed a martial duel, not a duel to the death."

"And what's the difference?"

A faint blue current of lightning flickered beneath Namgung Jun's lowered eyelids.

"Because you'll get to live."

The Second Young Master burst out laughing.

It was a sneer mixed with both anger and disbelief.

You're saying that if our forces had clashed directly, you would have killed me? Arrogant little brat.

Even while glaring at Namgung Jun, the Second Young Master calmly and meticulously extended his senses.

Again and again, he read Namgung Jun's aura.

Yet he found nothing particularly threatening.

He's only slightly stronger than others his age.

The Second Young Master couldn't understand it.

Where did this boy's confidence come from?

He wasn't even twenty yet. He was still immature.

Or perhaps he was merely an overconfident disciple relying on the reputation of the master standing beside him.

If I win this duel, the outcome couldn't be better.

He would obtain the Crimson Pattern Flower Ginseng while simultaneously earning both fame and prestige by defeating a rising talent of the Changcheon Society.

That alone would go a long way toward restoring his diminished standing.

The Second Young Master subtly glanced toward Lee Seha.

Judging by his attitude, the man had no intention of interfering in the duel.

After one final assessment of Namgung Jun's aura, he rose to his feet.

"Very well. Let us settle this situation cleanly with a martial duel."

Thus, the duel between Namgung Jun and the Second Young Master began.

***

"Hyeongjung Gate was forced to close its doors?"

"Yes. And the Changcheon Society has rebuilt its Hefei branch."

The middle-aged man listening to the report slowly tightened his grip.

"So the Changcheon Society filled the void left by Hyeongjung Gate as naturally as water flowing downhill."

Veins bulged across the back of Sword Corpse Demon's hand.

Crunch!

The head of the man he was holding exploded like a smashed watermelon.

Blood and fragments of flesh dripped through his fingers.

Looking at the headless corpse, Sword Corpse Demon clicked his tongue in disappointment.

"I was hoping to enjoy a pleasant session of soul absorption..."

"My apologies."

Behind the sighing Sword Corpse Demon lay corpses scattered across the ground.

Every one of them resembled dried, dead trees.

Their shriveled bodies looked like mummies.

Bright Prospect Devouring Art.

They were victims of the Sun-Moon Demonic Cult's soul-absorbing technique.

"Things have become troublesome. My plan to quietly bring Hyeongjung Gate into the cult has gone to waste."

At his muttering, the subordinate hurriedly spoke.

"The cause of this situation is someone called the Azure Star Sword of the Changcheon Society. There is something you should know."

"What is it?"

"We suspect he may be the boy with the Nine Yin Severed Meridians whom the Heavenly Sword Hall Master took from our cult."

Sword Corpse Demon's hand abruptly stopped.

"You mean the special constitution that the Cult Leader personally ordered us to find?"

"Yes."

The subordinate presented a report he had prepared in advance.

"Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Hall Master who cultivates the Heavenly Thunder True Yang Art. His appearance closely matches the description we have on file. A newly recruited Hall member who has only recently earned two cloud insignias."

As Sword Corpse Demon summarized the report, the corners of his mouth slowly rose.

"We may have hooked a truly large fish."

"It would be a tremendous achievement."

"A tremendous achievement? It is far more than that. I may even have a chance to become the Fourteenth Mirror Master."

Seeing his mood improve, the subordinate breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

"Moon Demon of the Low Moon. That pathetic old fool has already eliminated himself. With one competitor gone, we've now found the Nine Yin Severed Meridians that slipped through our fingers."

Sword Corpse Demon fixed the subordinate with blazing eyes.

"You said his title is Azure Star Sword? Gather every scrap of information related to him. And make sure no one else learns of this."

"Of course."

At Sword Corpse Demon's command, the subordinate immediately vanished into the shadows.