Chapter 50
Honed and Forged (2)
The warriors of Mukryun Hall finally looked at one another and began speaking.
"He's handling our coordinated assault this easily?"
"Isn't he practically a monster? Could he have cultivated a demonic art—"
"You can still say that after seeing his qi? Idiot."
The eyes of the Mukryun Hall warriors gleamed.
Even though their coordinated attack had failed, their spirits had not broken.
If anything, their fighting spirit and stubborn pride only burned hotter.
"That's not the issue, you fools. Did you not see that last sword strike of his?"
"It was definitely different. It was as if he learned from our coordinated attack."
"That brat is a freak of nature."
The members of Mukryun Hall muttered among themselves while staring directly at Namgung Jun.
At the same time, they subtly shifted their feet and occupied their respective positions.
And that wasn't all.
Even the Mukryun Hall warriors who had not joined the assault were rising from their seats, intrigued.
"If we let this stand, the hall's reputation will suffer."
"When have we ever cared about reputation? You're just frustrated."
The Mukryun Hall warriors spat blood-stained saliva onto the ground and straightened their bent backs.
They looked ready to charge at Namgung Jun once again.
Tap.
At that moment, footsteps sounded from behind them.
The advancing warriors immediately halted.
A displeased click of the tongue followed.
"Pathetic. At this rate, how do you expect to tear the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult's bastards apart?"
The Sword Demon, Hall Master of Mukryun Hall, had appeared.
With a sword resting diagonally on his right shoulder, he staggered forward with an arrogantly carefree gait.
Yet despite that relaxed posture, there wasn't a single opening to be found.
If an enemy stood before him, it felt as though he could cut them down naturally and effortlessly.
The Sword Demon motioned his subordinates aside with a tilt of his chin and looked Namgung Jun up and down.
His persistent and chilling gaze flickered briefly.
"You've changed quite a bit, brat."
"Have I?"
"Did you come to cross swords with me?"
"Yes. A promise is a promise."
The Sword Demon's eyes narrowed sharply.
The audacious promise to become his sword companion.
Even now, it was an unbelievably bold thing to say.
Yet at the same time, it was fascinating.
No one within the Changcheon Society had ever dared say such words to him, yet a boy who had only recently begun practicing martial arts had done exactly that.
Recalling their first meeting, the Sword Demon began emitting a dark red demonic aura.
His qi exploded outward in every direction, making the very air feel heavier.
Crackle!
Blue lightning qi flowed from Namgung Jun's shoulders and tore apart the incoming pressure.
Thanks to that, Namgung Jun could stand tall and face the Sword Demon head-on.
"This time, you might actually amuse me a little."
The Sword Demon glanced at the surrounding Mukryun Hall experts and shook his head.
"I was growing tired of those useless scraps."
"I gained great inspiration from them."
"From those lot?"
"I'll show you myself."
Seeing Namgung Jun calmly place his hand on his sword hilt, the Sword Demon broke into a broad grin.
"You heard the news of the tournament and came here to hone your swordsmanship, didn't you?"
"That's correct."
"Arrogant bastard. You're using me as a whetstone?"
Namgung Jun did not deny it.
The Sword Demon stepped forward with his right foot.
At the same time, he lowered the sword resting on his shoulder.
"I'm coming."
Kiiiiiik!
The sound of the Sword Demon drawing his blade was unusually low and sinister.
The unpleasant sword cry scraped against Namgung Jun's ears.
Even the act of drawing his sword felt like a technique meant to disturb an opponent's mind.
At some point, he had already discarded the scabbard and was gripping only the blade.
KRAAASH!
The Sword Demon's sword undulated up and down as it ruthlessly gouged the training ground floor.
The dark-red demonic aura made it look as though a muddy flood were surging across the earth.
Watching the trajectory of the sword, Namgung Jun realized something.
'He's using his ultimate technique.'
Unlike their first spar, the Sword Demon immediately unleashed the Ascending Sword Art.
His face looked genuinely excited.
Evil Specter All-Demon Sword
Bizarre sword strikes surged forth along absurd trajectories, sweeping up toward Namgung Jun's feet.
Crackle!
Namgung Jun answered with the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Sword Thunders.
Sharp peals of thunder erupted as lightning-like sword strikes branched countless times, scattering blue sparks throughout the air.
Unlike before, the technique had been refined considerably.
The newly polished sword art swept across the training ground.
The trembling air alone revealed that its depth had completely changed.
'He's stripped away the unnecessary forms. It's become far more concise and powerful. Has he refined it through real combat?'
The Sword Demon's eyelids twitched.
He had personally witnessed the birth of the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Sword Thunders.
After confirming Namgung Jun's growth, he stepped forward once more and launched a relentless barrage of thrusts.
Every single strike targeted a vital point.
Yet Namgung Jun showed no sign of shrinking back.
CLANG! BOOM! BOOM!
He knocked aside a sword strike aimed at splitting open his abdomen and followed with successive strikes of the Heavenly Thunder Palm Art, protecting his shoulders and elbows.
Even then, another strike descended toward his collarbone.
Yet Namgung Jun's steps were already light and free.
Using the Infinite Step, he retreated and evaded the final strike.
Then he immediately launched a counteroffensive.
As though it were naturally his turn.
KWA-GA-GA-GANG!
The two blades—one infused with demonic qi and the other with lightning qi—collided repeatedly, scattering showers of sparks.
Powerful gusts swept across the training ground.
The Sword Demon pressed forward again.
Namgung Jun twisted his body to the left and continued his assault.
Their swords shot out violently from both sides.
Yet neither blade touched its owner.
As a result, only deep sword scars were carved into the unfortunate ground.
"He's actually exchanging blows with the Hall Master like that?"
"Even if the Hall Master is holding back!"
The Mukryun Hall warriors watching the brutal sparring match could not hide their shock.
Their pride had already been wounded when they failed to subdue a newcomer through coordinated attacks, but they now realized that was hardly the issue.
The new recruit was unquestionably a monster.
KRAANG!
Namgung Jun raised his blade and received a horizontal slash head-on before naturally retreating a step.
'He relaxed the strength in his body. He deliberately widened the distance.'
Even though the Sword Demon could tell Namgung Jun was preparing something, he gave him no opening.
Who in the Jianghu would ever grant an enemy time?
"You've seen enough of the Thirteen Flashing Lightning Sword Thunders by now."
A smile appeared on Namgung Jun's face as both his grip and stance changed.
His body, which normally maintained stability by lowering its center of gravity, tilted strangely forward.
The Mukryun Hall warriors immediately noticed and cried out.
"Is that the sword strike he showed at the end earlier?!"
"He's going to use a sword he only just learned?"
Ignoring their cries of astonishment, the Sword Demon instantly closed the distance.
At that moment, a strangely twisting sword strike shot toward his forehead.
'This brat?'
It was completely different from any sword style Namgung Jun had shown thus far.
The Sword Demon tilted his head to evade it, but the sword suddenly bent as though alive and continued pursuing him.
In the blink of an eye, it was already rushing toward his temple.
The Sword Demon's smile widened.
He casually swatted it aside.
But that was only the beginning.
Both swordsmen stepped forward simultaneously, rapidly shortening the distance between them.
Within that close range, countless fierce exchanges followed.
"Interesting!"
Namgung Jun's sword strikes twisted, curled, and tangled like living things, forming chaotic and persistent techniques.
As he defended against the sticky, relentless sword that clung to him, the Sword Demon burst into delighted laughter.
Clang-clang-clang-clang!
Thirty-four exchanges passed in an instant.
Namgung Jun's martial robe split apart in numerous places, and thin streams of blood emerged from shallow wounds.
The Sword Demon paid it no mind.
On the contrary, he seemed even more excited.
His sword became increasingly violent.
Nineteen sword strikes surged forward simultaneously.
Yet Namgung Jun charged directly into them without a trace of hesitation.
"Shouldn't we stop this?"
"It looks like the Hall Master has completely lost himself."
"Has his excitement gotten so high that demonic qi has gone to his head?"
The battle between the two swordsmen had become so intense that even the Mukryun Hall warriors watching from the sidelines instinctively stepped back.
"Still not enough! More! More! More!"
The Sword Demon laughed madly.
He genuinely looked as though he was enjoying himself.
At some point, killing intent had begun pouring from his sword.
The techniques of the Evil Specter All-Demon Sword became twice as terrifying once infused with killing intent.
Everything before now had apparently been nothing more than play.
'Such killing intent. It's been a long time.'
It was more blatant and overwhelming than any killing intent Namgung Jun had encountered in this life.
Simply being exposed to it made his skin tingle and caused his sword wounds to feel deeper.
'I originally only intended to refine my sword techniques...'
Namgung Jun tightened his grip with a solemn expression.
'But I may be able to draw out my battlefield instincts as well.'
The sensation was like performing acrobatics atop the line between life and death.
His entire body was becoming unnaturally sensitive under the pressure of mortal danger.
Feeling exhilaration surge through him, Namgung Jun stepped forward powerfully.
"I'll come again."
The Sword Demon's roar, infused with internal qi, thundered throughout the training ground.
"Then come!"
BOOOOM!
Their swords collided, releasing a tremendous shockwave.
The Mukryun Hall experts watching nearby were forced to circulate their own internal qi just to withstand it.
Shrrrack!
Namgung Jun's sword split into countless afterimages.
Dozens of sword shadows bent, twisted, and intertwined endlessly, sweeping through the air like a raging storm.
The Sword Demon smashed apart every incoming strike before countering with even stranger and more sinister techniques.
It took only an instant for the crimson sword aura to swallow the blue one whole.
Slash!
A chilling sound tore through the air.
Blood erupted from Namgung Jun's forearm.
It was only the beginning.
Puhak!
His blue martial robe gradually became stained red.
The wounds were still shallow for now, but it was impossible to know when a serious injury might occur.
Yet the clash between their swords only became more vicious and chaotic.
Neither the Sword Demon nor Namgung Jun retreated.
Meanwhile, the Sword Demon's demonic qi grew denser and denser.
Until now he had been controlling his strength.
Now it seemed he had abandoned even that intention.
Such a situation was extremely rare.
Even the Mukryun Hall experts could not conceal their alarm.
'At this rate, something disastrous is going to happen!'
Sa Danhae, who had been watching in stunned silence, finally shouted.
"Stop the Hall Master!"
Led by Sa Danhae, the Mukryun Hall experts charged between the two swordsmen.
Dozens of weapons struck at the Sword Demon from every direction.
Despite attacking their own Hall Master, none of them held back.
The Sword Demon's sword, originally aimed at Namgung Jun, suddenly changed direction and swept toward the Mukryun Hall experts instead.
KWA-GA-GA-GANG!
Despite the sudden coordinated assault, the Sword Demon suffered no damage whatsoever.
The only thing that changed was that he stopped where he stood.
After a brief pause, the killing intent faded from his eyes.
Yet he did not even glance at the subordinates blocking his path.
His gaze remained fixed solely on Namgung Jun, who still maintained a certain stance in the distance.
Breaking the brief silence, the Sword Demon suddenly let out a fierce laugh.
"You arrogant brat. You were preparing a new ultimate technique in the middle of all that."
Only then did Namgung Jun calm his internal qi and lower his sword.
"You'll have a chance to see it next time."
"Have you already created another sword art?"
"Not yet. I've merely found a clue."
The Sword Demon tossed his sword onto the ground and turned away.
"The next time you come, bring an entirely new sword art—properly refined."
Namgung Jun answered with a respectful fist-and-palm salute.
His composure remained as steady as it had been at the beginning.
Clicking his tongue, Sa Danhae asked,
"You know you nearly died just now, don't you?"
"I wouldn't have died."
"What? The Hall Master was serious then."
"So was I."
Sa Danhae found himself speechless.
He could not tell how much of Namgung Jun's claim—that he had intended to receive the Sword Demon's attack head-on—should be believed.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.
The new ultimate technique the Sword Demon had mentioned.
Namgung Jun truly had been preparing something.
What could it possibly have been, for him to remain so calm even with the Sword Demon's blade right before him?
"You really do have absolute confidence in your talent with the sword."
Sa Danhae stared blankly at Namgung Jun's departing figure as he left Mukryun Hall.
And in that moment, he realized something.
All the gifted individuals and geniuses he had seen until now were nothing special.
The one who truly possessed the qualifications to be called a genius was that young boy disappearing into the distance.