hotmtlnovel Chapter 119
Chapter 119
The Namgung Clan, famed as one of the Six Great Clans, was abuzz with the sparring match between Seo-jun, the suitor of Namgung Jin-cheon’s daughter, and Namgung Hyeok, the clan’s esteemed elder.
The spectators, entranced by the intensity and agility of the match, watched with bated breath. Seo-jun seemed to dominate initially, blending martial techniques with sorcery, his style vibrant enough to draw cheers.
“You go, my lucky charm!” Namgung Yeon, Seo-jun’s vocal supporter, cheered, hopping with excitement.
Yet, though Seo-jun held the advantage, victory wasn’t yet his. Namgung Hyun-cheol, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, muttered thoughtfully beside her.
“His skill is truly remarkable. Especially in energy cultivation, he’s already at a master’s level.”
“Old man! Stop overthinking and cheer! Just cheer!” Yeon chided him.
“You should pay attention, too, and watch closely. There’s much to learn from this duel.”
Soon, the enchanted pillars exploded in sequence as Seo-jun unleashed his techniques. The crowd’s excitement surged, thinking he had secured the upper hand. But as Namgung Hyeok retaliated, summoning a sea of blue from the sky, Su-a clenched her fists, watching in awe.
“He’s truly made the Sword of the Vast Skies his own.”
Chun-bong, however, scoffed. “Seo-jun’s going to win anyway.”
“But that technique...”
The sky opened up, and a massive tidal wave bore down on Seo-jun. Even Chun-bong fell silent, clenching her sweaty palms. Pae Jin-gwang, observing the scene with relaxed amusement, scratched his arm.
“That kid won’t be taken down so easily...”
The critical question was whether he’d counter the wave or take a significant hit.
“Come on, brother...!”
Chun-bong’s increasingly fervent cheers drew a chuckle from Pae Jin-gwang.
As the tidal wave engulfed Seo-jun, a collective sigh arose from the onlookers, many presuming his defeat.
“Still, isn’t it impressive?”
“They say he’s only been training martial arts for two years... achieving this much is almost unbelievable.”@@@@
Amused by the ignorant comments, Pae Jin-gwang scoffed internally.
‘Let’s see...’
His heart raced as he anticipated the unfolding of Heaven-Reversing Sun and Moon Aura, a rare thrill even for the Fist King.
“Brother...! Crush that bastard...!” Chun-bong’s cheer broke Pae Jin-gwang’s focus momentarily, but it was short-lived.
As Seo-jun’s sword cut through the air, silence fell over the crowd.
“Haha!”
Pae Jin-gwang alone laughed heartily, struggling to contain his growing excitement.
“This is the fortune of the martial world!”
His eyes gleamed with a fierce desire to clash fists and blades with Seo-jun, suppressing his impulse with a wide grin. Though Seo-jun wasn’t fully utilizing Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-mu yet, its integration into his techniques was undeniable. Seo-jun’s external energy reinforced his internal energy, amplifying the strength of every move.
The tidal wave surged forward, but Seo-jun remained calm within the torrent, swinging his sword.
Heaven-Reversing Sun and Moon Aura.
The essence of the Taiji, balanced in harmony, flowed from Seo-jun’s sword and the spectral emperor at his back. The Taiji expanded, merging with the wave, and as it melded, Seo-jun redirected it with a sweeping motion.
Whoosh—
With the support of the spirit of White Lotus Ghost Blade and Absorptive Art, Seo-jun’s Taiji-infused sword danced in a circular arc, pulling the wave with it.
The immense weight strained his body, threatening to shatter him under the pressure. But as he bore the tidal force, Spirit Manifestation Art and Pa-ryeok-gwae-shin-mu held him steady, guiding the titanic weight of the wave smoothly.
“Impressive...”
Namgung Hyeok’s mouth fell open, stunned by how his devastating strike had been countered.
‘Is this...the Wudang? No, it’s slightly different...’
Anyone familiar with Wudang’s Taiji Sword would have been even more awestruck, yet it wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Realizing the implications, albeit a bit late, Namgung Hyeok hastily moved to respond.
“Damn...!”
Seo-jun completed the movement, sending the combined wave and aura surging skyward. Namgung Hyeok’s trembling hand met the onslaught with his sword.
BOOM—!
A mere clash of swords, yet the impact shook the space around them.
“Whoa...!”
“Get back!”
The onlookers flinched and scrambled to evade the shockwave, though Namgung Jin-cheon’s swift intervention absorbed the blast into the sky with a simple gesture, sparing the crowd below.
Under the cloudless sky, Seo-jun looked up, panting from the exertion.
“Ugh...”
Namgung Hyeok, reeling slightly, steadied himself as he landed on the ground. Though he hadn’t sustained any critical wounds, he was visibly exhausted.
‘So, he’s at an advantage...’
Namgung Hyeok had blocked the redirected blow just in time, but his internal channels weren’t unscathed. Blood trickled from his lips.
Seo-jun, on the other hand, had only accumulated strain and fatigue from the burden on his body, both rapidly healing. Seo-jun raised his sword again, prompting Namgung Hyeok to burst into hearty laughter.
“Haha...!”
Seo-jun glanced at him, puzzled, as a grin spread across Namgung Hyeok’s face.
“An old fool who couldn’t even see the world clearly. Yes, you are truly the blessing of the Namgung Clan!”
Now, the only thing left was the Yongbong Gathering, though there was still some time before it started.
“Ah, Elder! Congratulations!” someone called.
“Oh, thank you! But Elder sounds old... Could we stick with ‘Young Lord’ instead?”
Grateful for the congratulatory remarks, Seo-jun pondered what to do next with his free time.
‘Maybe I should create a new martial art.’
If he wandered around the clan grounds, he’d be called “Elder” fifty times a day, and that wasn’t ideal.
Plus, he still had plenty of techniques to develop.
There was Chun-bong’s technique, a skill for Pae Jin-gwang, and finishing touches on Life and Death Interchange Technique.
Not to mention, with the ongoing war, developing a counter for the Ice Constriction Art of North Sea Ice Palace, something he’d learned from an interrogation during the Green Forest expedition, wouldn’t hurt.
Moreover, Chun-bong and Su-a had both recently improved their bodies through the Cheonin Elixir, so checking in on that was essential.
‘Why am I suddenly so busy?’
Just as he pondered his growing list of tasks, he felt a tug on his sleeve. Turning, he found Chun-bong looking up at him.
“Yes, my dear Chun-bong? What’s up?”
“They said the Yongbong Gathering will be held this spring, right?”
“Yep. Why? Are you thinking of joining?”
“Yeah, that, and...”
Chun-bong hesitated, staring intently at Seo-jun.
“Are you planning on competing?”
“Me? What would I even do at a youth tournament?”
“You scared?”
“What? You...”
“Chicken?”
“...!”
Unable to hold back, Seo-jun declared, “This oppa will win it all!”
“I’m counting on you, oppa.”
“Hurk...!”
The Yongbong Gathering? They’re all going down.
Watching Seo-jun’s growing excitement, Chun-bong chuckled slyly to herself.
‘This will spread the name of the Gold Sword Clan far and wide...!’
Of course, Namgung Jin-cheon intervened.
“Son-in-law... Considering the purpose of the Yongbong Gathering, I would ask you to reconsider participating.”
The Yongbong Gathering was meant to encourage the growth of the younger generation and reward those who achieved notable accomplishments. If Seo-jun, whose prowess rivaled even seasoned martial artists, were to join, it would shatter the young contestants' spirits rather than motivate them.
With war on the horizon, crushing the morale of rising talents would be unwise.
‘But Chun-bong’s counting on me...’
Seo-jun clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“Guess I don’t have a choice. What’s the prize for this tournament?”
“As I recall, it’s the Great Rejuvenation Pill...”
“Oh.”
The Great Rejuvenation Pill—the pinnacle of elixirs.
Perfect for Chun-bong.
Seo-jun asked, “But if I participate...?”
“It would be a great relief if you could refrain...”
Regrettably, he had to decline.
“Clan Head.”
This time, Chun-bong stepped forward. However, it wasn’t to argue for Seo-jun’s participation.
Though disappointed, she knew what she wanted and would strive to achieve it herself.
“In this Yongbong Gathering, I wish to reassert the prominence of the Gold Sword Clan.”
“Your words mean...?”
“I hope to not dishonor the Namgung Clan.”
With the Namgung Clan’s support, Chun-bong finally had the foundation she needed to establish herself as Geum Hee of the Gold Sword Clan.
This was her chance to declare to the world that the rightful successor of the Gold Sword Clan lived.
Namgung Jin-cheon, moved by her determined gaze, smiled gently.
“Of course... The Namgung Clan will gladly support the revival of the Gold Sword Clan.”
The revival of the Gold Sword Clan was finally within reach.