Tangmunjeon - Chapter 313



Only Noblemtl

Episode 313: The Sword King

Everyone held their breath and waited for Namgung Jincheon’s answer. Even Seolhwa, perhaps sensing the ominous atmosphere, did not ask for an explanation.

“I thought a lot as I chased away my reckless son. I told him to come back when he was an adult, but I wasn’t sure about that. People say that people grow through experience, but as you live in the world, you come to realize that not everyone grows.”

Namgung Jincheon answered while sitting down.

“Fortunately, you have grown. You have grown as a person, and your swordsmanship seems to have become quite useful. There are not many people your age who have achieved more than you.”

Namgung Jincheon’s tone was no different from usual. It was a calm yet heavy tone.

But when Namgung Jincheon leaned forward and put his weight on the armrests of the chair, the atmosphere changed.

“But it’s too early.”

Fierce, rough. An atmosphere that seems to weigh down on the surroundings.

Namgung Jin got up from his seat and pulled out the sword hanging from his waist.

‘Is that the Heonwon sword?’

The Heonwon Sword had a blade much brighter in color than an ordinary sword. I couldn’t tell for sure because I was looking at it from far away, but I thought it was most likely made of cloud iron.

In fact, if you think that the material of the sword is a bit strange, it is probably mixed with iron. The properties of iron are slightly different for each.

Although the properties of the swords are varied, they all have one thing in common: they are much more difficult to craft than ordinary swords.

Judging from the difficulty, the craftsman who made the Hyeonwon Sword must have had fairly good skills even by Dang Mujin’s standards. Although it may not have been particularly unique or elegant, there was no major flaw in the craftsmanship of the Hyeonwon Sword.

As Namgung Jincheon stood in front of Namgung Myung with the Hyeonwon Sword hanging down, the Namgung family members slowly retreated and put more distance between them. The two would need more space for their confrontation.

Namgung Myung occasionally rubbed his palms against the hem of his pants.

Hyun-gong said.

“That guy Namgung Myung is nervous.”

“I think so.”

It didn’t seem like Namgung Jincheon was nervous, as he was one of the strongest fighters in the Jeongpa martial arts world. Namgung Myung had never been afraid even when he crossed swords with other top-class masters.

Even if Namgung Jincheon was inferior to Namgung Myung, I thought that Namgung Myung would have been equally nervous in front of Namgung Jincheon. To Namgung Myung, Namgung Jincheon was that kind of father.

There was no reason for Namgung Myung to yield the player. Namgung Myung spoke while raising his sword.

“Then, I will take the player…”

But before Namgung Myung could finish his story, Namgung Jincheon’s sword flew horizontally.

Since it was a situation where he could have cut his right shoulder if he had stayed still, Namgung Myung hurriedly raised his sword and blocked Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

“···!”

However, it was not a perfect defense.

The internal energy contained in Namgung Jincheon’s sword was too great to block from the front, and the attack was too sudden to allow the sword’s power to flow flexibly.

That is why Namgung Myung’s defense had to rely solely on the strength of his sword. If Namgung Myung had been holding an ordinary sword, it would not have been strange at all if it had broken in this one strike.

However, the black sword made by Dang Mu-jin firmly blocked Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword.

Hyun-gong, who was watching this scene, immediately took a step closer to Dang Mu-jin and praised him.

“Indeed, it is a world-renowned sword. Will there ever be a sword like Ganjang and Makya that can rival that sword?”

“If you make a sword like that, I’ll use it.”

“If three swords were to form a pair, that would also be quite a unique feature.”

“···.”

Dang Mu-jin did not answer any further. This was because he knew there was no need to respond to Hyun-gong’s nonsense one by one, and because Namgung Myeong and Namgung Jin-cheon had started to move again.

Namgung Myung’s expression was not good. He had been attacked before he could even finish his story, so it seemed as if the energy and blood in his body were shaking violently.

Geuggeuggeuggeuk-

Namgung Myung tilted his sword and swung his arm widely, trying to shake off Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

However, Namgung Jincheon’s sword was stuck to Namgung Myung’s sword and would not come off easily. If this continued, it was clear that he would be pushed back in the next attack, so Namgung Myung made a bold move. He extended his prosthetic left arm, grabbed Namgung Jincheon’s sword with his hand, and pushed it away.

This time, Namgung Jincheon’s sword did not fall easily. Instead, Namgung Jincheon’s sword changed direction and sank straight into Namgung Myung’s prosthetic hand. The sword cut through the palm of the prosthetic hand and only stopped after reaching a little below the wrist.

Namgung Myung also looked flustered, but Dang Mujin’s face also darkened. It was clearly Dang Mujin’s job to repair that prosthetic hand.

After a single collision, he suffered minor internal injuries and his left arm was paralyzed. Only then did Namgung Jincheon take a half step back and speak.

“If you had a left arm, the match would have been decided by now.”

It’s a story that cannot be denied. Namgung Myung let out a loud voice.

“Isn’t that too sudden? You’re taking action before I’ve even finished speaking.”

Then Namgung Jincheon frowned.

“Are you telling me to be polite even when holding a sword? I learned nothing. It’s a shame that I’ve survived this far.”

“I don’t know if it would be different in real life, but this is a secret.”

“There is only one difference between a combat and a real fight. Fewer people die in a combat than in a real fight.”

What this means is that if you don’t come to your senses, you can die even in the middle of a fight.

As if to teach Namgung Jincheon that his story was not a lie, he immediately swung his sword and aimed for Namgung Myeong’s side.

It was too dangerous a move to be performed in a non-combat environment. If you couldn’t stop it in time, the sword would dig deep into your side and you might lose your life.

However, Namgung Myung had guessed this attack and was able to block the sword relatively safely.

Thanks to the stable reception of the sword, Namgung Myung was also able to take the offensive this time.

Namgung Myung raised his internal energy to the max and shook off Namgung Jincheon’s sword, creating a small opening, and at the same time, he displayed a subtle technique.

At first glance, it looked like the Muhanbo, the representative technique of the Namgung Se family, but Dang Mujin thought that the atmosphere permeating the technique was subtle.

On top of the bold and magnificent infinite framework, there was the secret and mysterious secret of the black swordsman and the gentleman of Yangsang.

Namgung Jincheon let out a hollow laugh.

“You’ve learned some strange things.”

“After wandering in a foreign land for seven years, isn’t it natural that your martial arts skills would change little by little?”

“That’s not wrong. But I don’t know if it’s a desirable direction.”

Before Namgung Jincheon could finish his story, Namgung Myeong swung his sword and aimed for Namgung Jincheon’s head. It seemed like he was resentful of what had happened earlier.

Namgung Jincheon slightly turned his head and dodged Namgung Myung’s sword. No, it was a bit too subtle to say that he dodged. The sword only grazed his skin, not delivering a fatal blow. A long sword wound was left on Namgung Jincheon’s forehead.

Thanks to avoiding Namgung Myung’s sword with minimal movement, Namgung Jincheon was able to catch Namgung Myung’s sword as it passed by with his Hyeonwon Sword.

He didn’t just grab him, but he subtly twisted his wrist and dragged Namgung Myung’s sword to the floor, slamming him into the floor.

Following this, Namgung Jincheon stepped on the side of Namgung Myung’s sword with his foot, pulled out his own sword, and aimed for Namgung Myung’s chest. This time, too, it was a kill.

If you miss the sword, you lose, and if you fail to dodge the sword, you lose.

Namgung Myung lowered his posture as much as possible, pulled the sword out from under Namgung Jincheon’s feet, and then threw his body backward while still lowering his posture.

It was a method that Dang Mu-jin remembered. It was the method that Salmak’s Salsu used when he swept away the Salsu in Yangyang.

Namgung Jincheon seemed displeased with the sight.

“This is a technique that only black magicians can use.”

“I caught and killed the assassins and took them as loot.”

“You’re reaching out for spoils of war, aren’t you? Can you call yourself the King of Swords with such a frivolous sword?”

“It doesn’t seem like a story worth hearing from someone other than the Sword King.”

Namgung Jincheon laughed. It was a hearty laugh, but it was a little creepy because of the blood flowing down his forehead.

“Really? Then I will show you what the Sword of the Sword King is. It is the sword that your grandfather loved to use.”

Namgung Myung swung his sword towards Namgung Jincheon’s knee without waiting for Namgung Jincheon’s sword. Namgung Jincheon also extended his sword and blocked Namgung Myung’s sword.

The moment the balance between the two swords that had been balanced for a moment at the knees was broken, Namgung Myung’s sword flew to the side. However, Namgung Jincheon’s sword naturally headed upwards.

Namgung Jincheon spoke from above, sitting in a stable posture.

“The vast sky has no boundaries (蒼穹無涯), so there is no hole to escape through.”

Namgung Jincheon displayed the Changgungmuae Sword Technique.

A sword that swings slowly downwards.

The Changgungmuae Sword Technique that Namgung Myung occasionally showed was the same in form and form, but the depth of the implications contained within it was different. The Changgungmuae Sword Technique that Namgung Jincheon displayed seemed to pour down from above rather than being swung down from above.

A sword that clearly embodies the unique spirit of Namgung Se-ga. It was a sword that Dang Mu-jin could not find a way to use.

Dang Mu-jin immediately looked at Namgung Jin-cheon’s face.

Even though his face was covered in blood, and even though he could have taken his son’s life, Namgung Jincheon was smiling contentedly. He was truly enjoying this fight.

Only then did Dang Mu-jin realize. Contrary to Namgung Myeong’s thoughts, the reason Namgung Jin-cheon was given the nickname Geom-gwi was not because he was unworthy of being called the Sword King.

He probably got the nickname Sword Ghost because it suited him better than the nickname Sword King.

In a situation where there was no clear way out, Namgung Myung used his improvisation to force Namgung Jincheon’s sword out, even though it was difficult to tell what its source was.

Of course, it wasn’t a clean defense. In return, Namgung Myung was gifted a long sword that extended from his left shoulder to his left waist.

Dang Mu-jin instinctively tried to get up from his seat, but Hong Geol-gae pushed down on Dang Mu-jin’s shoulder.

“Wait a minute.”

“It’s not a minor injury.”

“I’m not dead yet.”

So are you saying I should only move after I’ve been seriously injured?

Although it was a bit of a subtle remark, Dang Mu-jin sighed and sat down again.

That’s because I remembered Namgung Myung spouting out such arrogant things earlier. If I spouted those things in front of so many people and lost, I might die of shame.

Hyun-gong’s hands trembled slightly. Hyun-gong felt a deeper sense of crisis than Dang Mu-jin.

If Namgung Myung dies without inheriting the position of head of the household, there will be no such disaster. The friendship that has been built up with Namgung Myung up until now will go down the drain.

But there was no way to intervene.

Namgung Jincheon evaluated Namgung Myeong’s sword.

“I’ve mastered many talents, but none of them have any depth. It’s disappointing.”

“They are just lighthouses to help you find your way.”

“It’s long.”

“Let me show you the path I found.”

The number chosen by Namgung Myung is the Emperor’s Sword type.

It was clear that if the fight dragged on, we would lose, so we had to make a decisive move as soon as possible.

Also, I had no intention of competing with other herbivores in front of the King of Swords. It was the law that those who walk the royal path must unleash the King’s sword.

Namgung Myung took a few steps back and raised his sword with all his internal energy.

If Namgung Jincheon’s Changgungmuae Sword Technique focused on offense while keeping defense in mind, Namgung Myeong’s Emperor Sword Technique was a posture that ignored defense. It was a posture where both the upper and lower body were completely open.

But at the same time, it was a posture that could not be easily broken. If there was someone who tried to exploit that weakness, the situation would surely end with Donggwi Eojin.

A game of chance. Gather all your strengths and stake everything on one goal.

Not only the position of the head of the household, but perhaps even his life.

Namgung Jincheon also took the same stance as Namgung Myeong. His intention to respond to the Emperor’s Sword with the Emperor’s Sword was clearly revealed.

However, unlike the solemn Namgung Myung, Namgung Jincheon’s face was filled with interest and joy.

The swords of the two men moved. The Emperor Sword was a sword technique that reached the extreme of the heavy sword and the sword of the weak sword. However, the swords of the two men clashed quickly as if such classifications were meaningless.

Geuggeuggeuk-

The swords that had touched each other stopped with a loud noise, and Namgung Myung and Namgung Jincheon’s faces simultaneously frowned.

It is rare to put such a huge amount of internal energy into a sword without thinking about the consequences, and it is even rarer for such swords to meet. My stomach twisted and the internal energy of the eight meridians shook. After drinking a lot of alcohol, I was beaten up, and finally, I felt like I was being shaken while holding my hair.

Just before Namgung Myung couldn’t hold it in and vomited blood, the blade of Namgung Jincheon’s Heonwon Sword that had touched him twisted slightly. It was unclear whether he had lost his composure, lost strength, or lost concentration. Namgung Jinya’s expression, which was watching the scene, frowned.

The reason was unknown, but it was clear that Namgung Jincheon’s sword had lost its balance. As if a small crack had burst a dam, Namgung Myung’s sword quickly tilted toward Namgung Jincheon.

Namgung Jincheon’s posture still did not collapse. However, Namgung Myeong’s sword began to cut through the blade of Heonwon Sword and began to dig in.

Namgung Myung thought he had to stop the sword, but he didn’t know how to stop the sword that was full of power.

Finally, Namgung Jincheon’s Heonwon sword was cut diagonally. Someone shouted in shock.

“The Heonwon Sword!”

The next moment, Namgung Myung’s sword grazed Namgung Jincheon’s chest. A deep sword wound was left on Namgung Jincheon’s chest. The blood that spurted from Namgung Jincheon’s chest stained Namgung Myung’s face red. It was clearly a serious injury.

Namgung Myung looked ahead, not knowing what to do.

I didn’t expect the fight to end cleanly, and in fact both men had suffered minor and major injuries. But I didn’t think it would end up this seriously.

However, there was no pain or anger on Namgung Jincheon’s lips. All that could be seen on Namgung Jincheon’s face was a smile full of satisfaction.

“It’s useful.”

“Father, it hurts!”

Namgung Jincheon smiled and dug his index finger deep into his wound. As a human, it would be impossible not to feel pain, but Namgung Jincheon seemed very accustomed to sword wounds. Namgung Jincheon spoke while assessing the depth of the wound.

“It’s a noisy wound, but not deep. I’m not so easy on you that I’ll kill you.”

However, Namgung Jincheon looked at the sword and made a pitiful expression.

“But I can’t fight anymore since I can’t use my sword.”

It was a remarkably calm reaction considering he had lost his family heirloom. Namgung Jincheon absentmindedly threw away the half-used Hyeonwon Sword, then approached Namgung Myung and smiled generously.

“That’s a great accomplishment. Better than what I accomplished when I was your age.”

“···.”

Namgung Myung was a little confused. He couldn’t quite remember when he had last been praised by Namgung Jincheon.

It seems that this was not the first or last time that he stole Dang Mu-jin’s sword and returned to Namgung Sega. However, he was later slapped when the truth was revealed.

But this time, there was no truth to be revealed. For some reason, I felt relieved.

Namgung Jincheon said.

“It seems like we’ve got the direction right, so we just need to keep moving forward.”

“All right.”

Namgung Jincheon smiled faintly again. It was a small smile that only Namgung Myung could see.

“Sword King. What a great nickname.”

Namgung Myung nodded without realizing it, and Namgung Jincheon shouted loudly.

“This inspection ends here. Everyone disperse.”

Namgung Jincheon turned around and walked back to Gajujeon. Namgung Jincheon’s steps still did not waver at all.

If there had not been drops of blood falling along his steps, no one would have thought that Namgung Jincheon was injured.

Namgung Jincheon, who had been taking three or four steps forward, looked back. Namgung Myung was still standing there, bewildered.

Namgung Jincheon spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“yes?”

“Take the lead.”

Namgung Myung walked a little ahead of Namgung Jincheon, as Namgung Jincheon had told him to do.

Only after the backs of the two people disappeared into the house of the head of the household did people realize that a new head of the Namgung family had appeared.