Chapter 2573 – 2573. The Ascent To Radiance

The Sword King, having completed his decades-long secluded training, was stronger than the Martial Alliance Leader. His overwhelming aura was palpable. Moreover, he seemed to have an even worse temper than the Martial Alliance Leader. In fact, his temper was truly atrocious.

‘I heard he caused quite a few incidents when he was younger.’

I couldn’t guarantee victory if I fought the Sword King. I would likely lose, and with high probability. So, I tried to avoid getting involved with him.

‘It’s not hard to live without making my presence known. I’ve been practically holed up in my room for the past two months.’

I had enjoyed spending time with the Namgung sisters, Seol and Rin. I had also sparred with the Martial Alliance Leader. I hadn’t even stepped foot in a brothel. Why would I go to a brothel when I had two peerless beauties by my side?

However, contrary to my efforts to stay low-key, the Sword King barged into my room the day after his secluded training ended.

“I heard from the family head. You’re not satisfied with marrying my great-granddaughter and want to marry another one?”

The problem was that the Namgung sisters were on either side of me.

“Great-grandfather?!”

“……!!”

Seol and Rin hastily covered themselves with the blanket. Annoyed, I jumped out of bed, completely naked.

“Esteemed Elder, what kind of rudeness is this so early in the morning? Even if you are an elder, you should still observe proper decorum.”

“Morning? Boy, the sun is already high in the sky. And what kind of way is that to speak to an elder? Ah, I apologize to Rin and Seol. But you must understand. This is important.”

The Sword King was headstrong. He didn’t seem to care much about his great-granddaughters, Rin and Seol. His eyes were fixed solely on me.

“There’s no need for a long discussion. Come to the training grounds.”

“Why should I?”

“An elder of the family tells you to come, and you have so much to say. But it reminds me of my younger days, so I like it.”

“I’m not going. I need to eat breakfast.”

“You want to marry Rin, don’t you? If you prove your skills in front of me, I’ll acknowledge it.”

I looked at Rin. She looked as surprised as if she were hearing it for the first time. In fact, she was hearing it for the first time. Even though rumors had spread, I had never said it directly to Rin.

‘Rin is already my sex partner, so there’s no real need to marry her….’

As you can see from Rin’s appearance, there are many guys who are always trying to hit on her. Of course, I know that Rin doesn’t even glance at those kinds of guys. But from my perspective, the fact that such flies are buzzing around is unpleasant.

So, if I declare that Rin is my woman, those clueless flies will disappear.

“Looks like I’m getting married again today!”

I shouted boldly and tried to go outside. The Sword King frowned and blocked my path with his scabbard.

“Put on some clothes first. I know you’re well-endowed, but as the son-in-law of the Namgung family, you should observe proper decorum.”

I put on my martial attire and headed to the training grounds with the Sword King. As we closed the door and left, I could sense the Namgung sisters hastily putting on their clothes.

Walking behind the Sword King, who was walking proudly, I thought about him.

In his youth, he was called the Southern Lightning Sword Dragon, and later, the Azure Sky Sword Demon. Despite being from the Namgung family, a prestigious family of the righteous faction, the fact that he was called a sword demon shows what kind of personality he had.

‘Can I win if I use the Supreme Demonic Art? But it’s not a life-or-death match, so it’s a bit much to use the Supreme Demonic Art.’

We arrived at the training grounds.

People were swarming. It seemed like all the members of the Namgung family had gathered. The Namgung family head and the Martial Alliance Leader were watching from a special platform.

“Was this a public duel?”

“Your reputation isn’t very good even within the family. Use this opportunity to prove your skills to them.”

As a minor demon of the Demonic Cult, it was natural that my reputation wasn’t good. Even if no one openly opposed me, I knew they were talking behind my back. If I were the family head, I would have found them and crushed them… but now I was the son-in-law of the Namgung family. For Seol’s sake, I decided to ignore it.

“I don’t care what the riffraff say.”

“Seol and Rin will get dragged into it.”

“Those guys were fawning over Seol and Rin.”

“Isn’t it true that Seol and Rin’s reputation is falling?”

“Hmm. That’s true. I should show them the difference in power this time. But can I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“If the Elder and the Heavenly Demon fought, who would win?”

“I don’t know.”

“……That’s unexpected. I heard that you’ve reached the end of the Harmonious Realm.”

“The extent of the Heavenly Demon’s realm is not well known. Perhaps he has already reached the Realm of Myriad Forms. Even if we were in the same realm… the name Heavenly Demon has existed in the martial world for a very long time. I cannot guarantee victory.”

I stepped onto the training grounds. The Sword King and I stood at a distance, each holding our weapons.

Crack.

Electricity crackled from both our bodies. The training grounds were instantly filled with lightning energy.

It was the Namgung family’s Divine Emperor Art. It is often said that the Namgung’s Emperor commands heavenly lightning. However, the true power of the Divine Emperor Art is that the lightning is only an additional force. The real power lies in the sword energy. There is a reason why it is called the Divine Emperor Sword Form.

The Sword King raised his sword towards the sky. His immense inner energy gathered into the single sword. The sword gathered strong energy and grew in size. The sword instantly grew to nearly 10 meters.

I raised the Crimson Lotus Flying Daggers. As inner energy gathered in the Crimson Lotus Flying Daggers, red lightning surged.

Dozens of swords appeared in the air around the Sword King. I created meteor swords and aimed them at those swords.

Dozens of swords clashed against each other, and flashing lightning intertwined. Amidst the chaotic situation, I gripped my sword hilt and charged towards the Sword King.

And ten minutes later.

I was defeated.

• • •

After the duel with the Sword King, the martial artists of the Namgung family looked at me with respect. It seemed that the duel with the Sword King had been quite impressive.

Anyway, I had proven my skills and was acknowledged to marry Rin. The wedding was scheduled to take place soon.

The family head, Namgung Hocheon, approached me with a displeased expression.

“Do you have no intention of leaving the Demonic Cult?”

“I thought I had already discussed that with the Elder?”

The Sword King had told me to do as I pleased. That meant I could do as I pleased, but I would also be responsible for the consequences. The Sword King wasn’t very afraid of the Demonic Cult. Well, it would be strange if he were afraid of the Demonic Cult with that level of power.

‘Isn’t the Sword King stronger than the Heavenly Demon who has fallen into demonic cultivation?’

The Sword King didn’t know that fact. It seemed that the Martial Alliance Leader hadn’t told him.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“How long are you going to live idly? As an elder, you should do your duties.”

“I thought you were telling me to live idly since you haven’t said anything until now…. Hmm. What should I do?”

“Originally, elders are in charge of important matters within the family… but I’m uneasy about entrusting you with a major role. Let’s start with something simple. Patrol. First, go and patrol Anhui Province.”

“You want me to patrol myself? Can’t I just look at the kids’ martial arts? We need to nurture the next generation.”

“The children who will be responsible for the future of the Namgung family are growing according to plan. There’s nothing for you to do. It would be good if you didn’t have a negative influence. Please, as an elder, do something that will help the family. The reason I’m making you patrol is to familiarize you with the duties of the Namgung family, so don’t complain. Maintaining the security of Anhui Province is very important.”

Namgung Hocheon said with a serious expression. He was starting to nag. I quickly nodded.

“Yes, yes. I understand how important patrol is. I will personally patrol.”

I patrolled Anhui Province with the martial artists of the Namgung family. Perhaps because of the duel with the Sword King, the martial artists of the Namgung family were very disciplined.

There was a commotion at an inn. Two martial artists were throwing punches. Food was overturned, and tables and chairs were broken and scattered.

“It’s a common occurrence. Drunken vagrants causing trouble.”

“Just go and give them a warning and collect a fine.”

“Tsk. It’s because we let them off with fines that these guys are getting out of hand.”

I approached the martial artists who were causing the disturbance. The martial artists became docile as soon as they saw the Namgung family’s martial artists.

“Lords! We were drunk and acting out! Please forgive us!”

“We, we will show our sincerity.”

They handed over their money pouches. I took the money pouches, threw them behind me, and drew the Crimson Lotus Flying Daggers.

“How dare you cause a disturbance in the Namgung family’s territory and try to get away with money? You dare to look down on the Namgung family! Today, I will cut off your heads and raise the name of the Namgung family!”

Swoosh!

Before they could make excuses, I cut off their heads.

“Hang their heads on poles in the streets along with their crimes.”

“…Yes, Elder.”

Perhaps because Anhui Province was large, there were quite a few guys causing trouble at the inns. I beheaded and displayed anyone causing trouble, even if they weren’t martial artists.

After that, rumors spread, and Anhui Province became quiet. There wasn’t a single person causing a disturbance.

“See? Just by killing a few pieces of trash, order is restored. Those in power need to be decisive.”

“Y-yes, Elder, you are right.”

Unfortunately, this was a method that couldn’t be used in modern times. But this wasn’t modern times. In a world where the strong are justice! Therefore, I am justice in this world!

While patrolling the quiet streets, I saw a beggar begging for money. I examined the beggar’s body. He was perfectly healthy but was still begging.

“You’re making the streets dirty because of you.”

I killed the beggar. The beggar’s corpse was burned because it was a source of disease. There were beggars everywhere. I spread my senses and killed every beggar I saw.

“Elder, you’ve already killed more than 30 beggars. You should restrain yourself….”

“There were also members of the Beggar Clan among the beggars. The Beggar Clan might protest.”

“The Beggar Clan or whatever, beggars are just beggars. They’re useless trash. I’m personally cleaning up the trash, so the family head will be pleased.”

I killed any beggar I saw. Whether they were old or young, I didn’t care. I was about to kill the young beggars this time when the martial artists stepped forward.

“These young beggars lost their parents and had no choice but to become beggars. Shouldn’t we give them a chance instead of just killing them? If we kill the young beggars, the reputation of the Namgung family will fall.”

“That’s true. Wash the young beggars and make them servants or whatever. As long as they’re not beggars.”

I showed special mercy to the young beggars.

I returned to the main family after killing about 130 people, including beggars. The family head sighed as soon as he saw me.

“…You just shouldn’t do anything.”

I was released from my duties.

Just as planned.

“But family head, beggars should be killed. They’re freeloaders who are of no help to the main family.”

“…I’ll take care of it.”

“I have a good idea. Let’s hold a beggar-killing competition. Give one gold coin to whoever finds and kills a beggar.”

“That’s a terrible competition just imagining it. Why do you hate beggars so much?”

“Because beggars are like cockroaches.”

“Sigh. I’ll take care of the beggars, so please just stay still.”