Chapter 250 – Difficult Guest (5)

The Hyeongsocheon army, which had been blocked, was once again unleashed, this time right in front of Namgungcheon.

“Hyuaaaaaah!”

The muscles throughout my body contracted smoothly, and my joints rotated one by one, adding strength.

Precise body control made possible by the extraordinary senses of the Chojuljeong and the skills of the Muryeongshingong.

The great power created without much movement was completely imbued in my sword.

Carddudeuk.

“Hmm?”

Namgungcheon was surprised by my sword, which brushed against his own sword. Or rather, was he impressed? He was surprised, but he didn’t seem to be in a hurry.

In fact, Namgungcheon easily avoided my attack by simply rotating his upper body.

So I decided to surprise him a little more.

Kwaaaah!

I didn’t shoot the storm of Kanggi’s strong energy wrapped around my sword, but instead released it in place.

Was he really surprised by the unexpected attack? Namgungcheon quickly stepped back and raised his defensive posture.

Kanggi’s strong energy requires considerable concentration and internal energy. I was prepared in advance, so it was okay, but…

Namgungcheon didn’t have time for that. He could only flinch for a moment.

A suitable distance was created, and he was the perfect opponent to swing my sword at.

He quickly and deeply planted his feet towards me.

His sword was already attached to his right side. All that was left was to quickly swing it.

“Hup!”

Palbangpungwoo.

My fastest strike aimed precisely at a spot where Namgungcheon’s sword couldn’t reach, with a satisfying sound.

I thought he wouldn’t be able to avoid it no matter how good he was…

But Namgungcheon was much more impressive than I expected.

With a satisfied voice, he lightly twisted his wrist, and his sword flew in a strange trajectory, reaching a spot I thought was impossible to reach.

My impossible was not Namgungcheon’s impossible.

This is crazy. What did he do?

I’ve met many opponents who were better than me so far, but he’s the first opponent whose skills are so different that I misjudged him.

While I was stunned, Namgungcheon’s sword had already swung more than half.

If this continues, he will deflect my thrust and almost certainly cut part of my side.

I forced myself to change my posture by putting strength into my whole body.

Eudeuk.

There was a cracking sound as I made an unnatural movement, but it was okay.

I’ve done this a few times now, so I’ve got the hang of it.

At this point, it’s only at the level of making a popping sound in my finger joints.

Twisting my body somehow, I managed to avoid Namgungcheon’s sword and corrected my posture.

We were facing each other at a distance, just like when we started the duel.

In that state, Namgungcheon momentarily lowered his momentum and nodded his head.

“There was no unexpected black sword, but they all aim for the gaps so accurately. It’s a difficult sword to deal with even if you know it… Excellent. I didn’t know that the Samjae swordsmanship could be so intense.”

“It’s a bit awkward to hear that from someone who blocked all my attacks.”

“Haha! I’m not a sword king yet. At least for now, there’s no one who can use a sword better than me.”

Namgungcheon laughed cheerfully, boasting of his title.

But soon, his smile turned into a question.

“By the way, there’s something I’m curious about, Sohyeop.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve heard from my son and seen it myself, so I know that Sohyeop uses the Samjae swordsmanship as its main technique. But I don’t know why. Is there a reason for it?”

“Uh…”

Even Namgunghyeok, his son, was surprised by the question, and Namgungcheon seemed to feel uncomfortable about it. He raised his head as if to tell him not to worry about it.

“If it’s related to your martial arts, you don’t have to answer. It’s just my curiosity.”

“No, it’s not that. Um… How should I explain this?”

After carefully choosing his words, he finally spoke.

“I just couldn’t learn anything other than the Samjae swordsmanship. I was so talentless that it was pathetic.”

“Does that make sense? If Sohyeop is really that dull, then what about that sword energy… No, never mind. I shouldn’t have asked first.”

“It’s okay. Actually, it’s thanks to the experiences I’ve had, meeting my master and learning the Muryeongshingong, meeting Hong Yeonhwa, and going through the trials of the Yeonghwa that I’ve achieved so much.”

Receiving the Muryeongshingong from his master, meeting Hong Yeonhwa, and achieving great experience and the opening of the Sangdanjeon through the trials of the Yeonghwa.

If he didn’t have any of those three, he wouldn’t be who he is today.

“Well, of course, now I can learn most martial arts to some extent… but…”

“Since you’ve already reached this level with the Samjae swordsmanship, it’s difficult to change your swordsmanship easily. The time to envy the Sangseung swordsmanship has already passed.”

That’s right. After all, isn’t the Sangseung swordsmanship a martial art that guarantees a certain level of achievement?

Although I can now move my body as I intend, I will only achieve a certain level of accomplishment, unlike before.

Most Sangseung martial arts have clear teachings. To me, who doesn’t understand them properly, it would be an impossible area to achieve.

“I see. So that’s why… I understand why I was drawn to Sohyeop’s sword. The premise was different from the beginning.”

Namgungcheon’s face relaxed as if he had finally understood something.

“The Namgung sword is full of greed. It’s a sword that wants everything that can be done with just one sword, daring to resemble the sky.”

I know.

From the martial arts I did with Namgunghyeok before and from the current duel, I can tell that the Changgungmuae swordsmanship, Namgung Se-ga’s vision martial arts, is quite explicit.

Middle sword, split sword, flow sword, swift sword, changing sword, and so on.

A sword that is close to being a universal tool, using all kinds of techniques at a high level. It is a martial art that is full of the ambition of a swordsman.

Perhaps it is a sword that every martial artist desires, but usually, they are blocked by the wall of reality and give up.

How many martial arts are there that incorporate various techniques into one swordsmanship that works together?

How many opportunities are there to learn the rare martial arts? And what about the talent to master various techniques? Is there a guarantee that you won’t lose your way on the path that stretches out in all directions?

In fact, isn’t it a dreamlike state?

…But Namgung Se-ga achieved it.

A sword that makes the opponent feel helpless, pursuing the extreme of the sword in a sense, a sword that resembles the sky.

Namgung Se-ga is the one who has achieved the Changgungmuae swordsmanship for generations.

That’s why he is called the best swordsman in the world.

“Contrary to Namgung, who wants everything, Sohyeop’s sword only wants one, and it is a straightforward and honest sword.”

“That was the only way.”

Most of the fights I’ve been through so far were like that.

If you can’t win, you either die or see yourself in a worse state than death. Even my precious people, not just me.

How can I retreat?

I cling to what I have and struggle to win somehow.

I understand what Namgungcheon wants to say.

My sword and Namgung’s sword are completely opposite.

The Changgungmuae swordsmanship that wants to embrace everything and the Samjae swordsmanship that has only three basic techniques.

Namgung Se-ga, who is obsessed with the sword itself, and me, who likes the sword but sees it only as a means.

It’s a relationship between extremes, but our standards are similar.

Of course, Namgungcheon can’t help but be interested. It’s human nature to be interested in what you don’t have.

Maybe that’s why the fire was ignited between me and Namgungcheon during our duel.

As I nodded my head inwardly, Namgungcheon began to regain his momentum, looking at my women who were watching with great interest from behind with a curious expression, and then smiled and nodded his head.

“People say I’m crazy, but I’m not really that crazy. Above all, Namgung Se-ga is not a member of the orthodox faction. If this is the best Sohyeop can do now, that’s enough.”

Did Namgungcheon realize that I become stronger when I try to protect my women in such a short time?

Maybe. He might have seen me fighting with Samaryeonju.

“Now, it’s time for Sohyeop to show Namgung’s sword.”

Kuwong!

Namgungcheon’s momentum suddenly exploded.

It’s much stronger than when he first provoked me.

Even though the characteristics of Muryeongsingong are less affected by external energy, this pressure is intense.

Namgungcheon’s sword moved slowly in a pressure that felt like the world was crushing me.

“Emperor Sword Style.”

Namgungcheon aimed his sword at me and spoke in a low voice.

“This is my full power.”

The feeling is somewhat familiar.

In terms of pressuring the opponent, it is very similar to Cheonmagunrimbo, but fundamentally different.

If Hong Yeon-hwa’s Cheonmagunrimbo is a crushing technique that overwhelms the opponent with an unreasonable amount of power.

Namgungcheon’s Emperor Sword Style is a martial art that makes the opponent feel pressure, like Changgungmuae swordsmanship.

There may be only one sword aimed at me, but it feels like Namgungcheon’s sword is surrounding me from all sides.

Even each one has a different posture and is ready to strike with a different technique.

Is that why it’s not a Geomcho swordsmanship but a Geomhyeong sword style?

Of course, no one is really aiming a sword at me.

It’s a feeling that high-level martial artists feel when they fight, that if they do this, the opponent will do that.

It’s the pressure that comes from the “sword that hasn’t swung yet, but can swing at any moment” that fills my surroundings.

And this is not just a simple bluff.

Namgung Se-ga’s swordsmanship, Changgungmuae swordsmanship, contains countless swords.

He will swing a technique that can perfectly counter me according to my next move.

It’s a sword that can dominate the opponent without even moving a finger… The name Emperor Sword Style suits it very well.

However, I can’t just stand still and take it.

I promised Hong Yeon-hwa that I would do my best, and I want to do it for myself too.

“Hoo…”

I took a deep breath and adjusted my posture.

My legs are shoulder-width apart. The tip of the sword is straight, pointing to the end of my gaze. I slowly raised my arm in that position.

It’s a posture that is good for increasing power, but if it misses, there’s no turning back. It’s a posture that can only be used during training.

But… if this one move determines the outcome, there’s no need to compromise for the next move.

If Namgungcheon has formidable skills, I have the ability to match him.

I’ve always fought with brute force, relying solely on my strength to win.

And I plan to do the same this time.

Woong-

With a strange resonance, the sword I raised above my head emitted a sword aura that was almost twice as strong as usual.

Just like how Namgungcheon revealed his sword style name earlier, I did the same.

“I am Taesanapjeong.”

“I know.”

“No, what you know is very different from the reality.”

As I said that with a smirk, Namgungcheon also smiled and nodded as if he was enjoying himself.

“Then let’s see if that’s true.”

A moment of silence.

And then the clash began.

Kwaaaang!!

…To cut to the chase, I was not yet able to match Namgungcheon’s level of skill.