Chapter 58 :

#58. <A First-Rate Warrior Who Shocked the Divine Sword (6)>

“Is what you possess truly worth as much as the Changgung Merchant Guild?”

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword’s suspicion had not yet disappeared.

I drew my sword.

“Please look at this first.”

I began to unfold the same martial art the Divine Sword had just displayed.

Because the movements had not yet become familiar to my body, there were deficiencies, and because the difference in our experience of learning martial arts was like heaven and earth, it was different from the Divine Sword’s sword, which showed will even in a simple sword path.

But it was clearly the same sword art.

At the sight of me copying it exactly, without even an inch of error, the Divine Sword’s eyes widened.

“You…… memorized that in the meantime?”

“It is my heavenly punishment.”

“That is?”

The Divine Sword tilted his head as if he could not understand.

It was the reaction most people showed when they heard that I had the ability to remember everything.

“The scene of the puppy I raised as a child being bitten and carried away by a fox is still as vivid as if it just happened.”

One cannot understand what one has not experienced.

“……Hmm, I suppose that could be true.”

But that was not what mattered right now.

“This time, please look at this. It is the breaking method I thought of.”

I began unfolding the breaking form of the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art.

A sword art entirely meant to break the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art.

It was the method by which the demonic practitioners of the Demonic Cult had been able to cut down the orthodox sects helplessly.

It pierced the weaknesses more decisively than the breaking method the Divine Sword had displayed.

At the same time, I deliberately thrust into completely wrong places that were not part of the breaking form.

If I showed him the complete breaking form that even the Divine Sword could not create, it could make him feel a sense of crisis.

Even so, the breaking form made by Jegal Cheon-gi far surpassed the breaking form made by the Divine Sword.

“I understand why San was flustered.”

“However, there is a major problem shared by both this breaking form and the breaking form you created, senior.”

“What do you think that is?”

“First, it is too difficult for those who have learned the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art.”

A sword is learned with the body.

At first, it is learned with the head, and afterward, it is learned with the body.

A posture ingrained in the body does not change easily.

“Second, aside from breaking the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art, in ordinary combat, it is actually worse than a third-rate sword art.”

“……I agree.”

“Third, the direction of this sword is too clear.”

“What is the problem with having a clear direction?”

“What happens when the Namgung Family’s martial art denies the foundation of the Namgung Family?”

“……It was a wise choice for this old man to try to meet you.”

Suppressing a traditional sword art that had continued for hundreds of years while also inheriting the secret essence of that sword art.

It was a complex problem unimaginable unless one was a genius like Jegal Cheon-gi.

Jegal Cheon-gi divided the breaking method into three categories.

Low technique, middle technique, and upper technique.

Each name differed not according to the strength of the technique, but according to how many weaknesses it showed.

A luring technique that exposes the body to the opponent is a low technique.

A technique that connects one technique to another is a middle technique.

A technique that protects oneself is an upper technique.

Because of this classification, the final technique of a martial art could become a low technique, and the first technique used to show courtesy could become an upper technique.

“This is the price I am offering.”

I unfolded the opening stance.

Starting with the first technique, Blue Sky Leaping Kite, I began unfolding the breaking method of the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art, the ascending form.

Among the total thirty-six techniques, I showed the perfect ascending form for exactly half of them and mixed in techniques I had made on my own for the rest.

At the Divine Sword’s level, he would distinguish the jade from the stone within it, and through that jade, he would be able to recreate the perfect ascending form.

After unfolding all thirty-six techniques, sweat flowed down my forehead.

“Huh…….”

The Divine Sword remained dazed for a while, as if reassembling the techniques he had just seen inside his head.

Then, realizing that he had briefly lost himself, he shook his head and said.

“How were you able to think of this?”

Here, I began telling a plausible lie.

“In Anhui Province, where the Taeul Sect is located, there are two dragons. For the Taeul Sect to ascend, it must oppose those dragons. But for that, the martial arts of our sect were too weak.”

“You used the memories that do not fade from your mind?”

“For me, finding weaknesses was easier than making futile efforts to forget memories.”

“Even so…….”

The Divine Sword, who had been speaking, shook his head.

“It is astonishing. Though its killing intent is too strong, it is a sword that can overcome and dominate the weaknesses of the Boundless Blue Sky Sword Art.”

The high evaluation belonged to Jegal Cheon-gi.

His wish was for the Murim Alliance to stand tall in the murim world once more and restore the righteous energy of the murim world.

However, not all sects looked kindly on someone breaking their own martial arts.

Rather, it was common for him to be falsely accused of handing the weaknesses of the righteous faction’s martial arts over to the Demonic Cult.

And now, Jegal Cheon-gi’s wish had been conveyed through me to Namgung Taeha, the family head of the Namgung Family.

“Was what you used against San based on this?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you force yourself to grab the sword?”

“I had never seen the Imperial Sword Technique, and even if I had, it was too complex for me to break, so I had no choice but to take a risk.”

“……Ah, you are right. But why did you only show eighteen?”

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword accurately recognized the remaining half I had left out.

“With my insufficient mind and ability, even completing half was difficult.”

The Divine Sword chuckled.

“That is not it. You must have thought about the danger if you showed all the techniques.”

“…….”

As expected, it was impossible to deceive the Divine Sword’s eyes.

“……It is a sufficient price. No, it is more than enough. Even if I handed over not just a branch of the Changgung Merchant Guild but the whole thing, it would not be a waste.”

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword nodded.

As if he had found the solution to a problem that had given him a headache for a long time, his face was full of ease.

“I will open an elder meeting. I will present the agenda you mentioned, but the final persuasion will be done by you.”

“That alone is enough.”

“In addition, I will give you one Great Swallow Divine Pill. And I will give two Great Swallow Divine Pills to the Taeul Sect. I would like to give more, but that is everything that remains in the Namgung Family.”

I bowed as deeply as possible and clasped my fists.

“I will never forget this grace for as long as I live.”

“You should not. You are the one pulling out the roots of the Namgung Family’s pillars.”

The Divine Sword, who had been smiling warmly, briefly put on a serious expression.

“By the way, there is something I am curious about. Why do you show an incomplete form when unfolding martial arts?”

Even though it was the maximum I could display without knowing the internal energy operation method, in the Divine Sword’s eyes, even that seemed to look intentional.

“One can learn techniques with the eyes, but one cannot learn chants with the eyes, can one?”

“What do you mean? Did you not say that you can remember everything you see once?”

“How can something remembered by the head be expressed immediately by the body?”

The Divine Sword tilted his head.

“I do not know what fortuitous encounter you had, but had you not already reached the realm of Five Dragons Sealing the Saint and achieved the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit?”

Previously, inside the Infinite Buddha Indestructible Soul-Destroying Formation, I had forcibly opened my upper dantian to identify the path and even opened my middle dantian.

It had not been a good situation, but if it was a fortuitous encounter, then it was a fortuitous encounter.

Thanks to that, I was able to reach the realm of Five Dragons Sealing the Saint.

Even though I had avoided his probing energy, had the Divine Sword figured out my level just from that?

“……That is correct.”

“Achieving the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit means that the body moves according to the will of thought, does it not? If the head has memorized it, then the body also remembers it.”

“……!”

In that instant, thunder and lightning struck inside my head, and my body trembled.

Although I had reached the realm of Five Dragons Sealing the Saint through a fortuitous encounter, I had never thought about what the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit meant.

The Divine Sword noticed that and clicked his tongue.

“Look at this foolish fellow. The fact that the harmony of essence, energy, and spirit has already been achieved means that internal energy, the body, and thought have become one. Think carefully. If a clear memory remains in your head, then your body also remembers it clearly.”

“…….”

“You did not know?”

“……I had never thought about it.”

“Haha, hmm…… I do not mean to look down on your sect, but perhaps there was no one in your sect who had reached a realm like yours?”

“……Yes.”

Because both the Taeul True Scripture and the elixirs were things they had obtained through me for the first time.

“That was likely the problem.”

“…….”

“Do not worry. Now, do they not have you? In the generation below you, there may be someone even more outstanding than you.”

“……Thank you for your teaching.”

“Sit quickly. If you do not organize enlightenment the moment it comes, it will fly away.”

I immediately sat down cross-legged on the spot and drew up the Taeul True Scripture.

At this moment, I could not let go of an enlightenment more precious than a thousand gold pieces.

“Keulkeul, have I repaid a little with this? Of course, it still seems insufficient……. How shall I repay the rest…….”

As I sank into a state of selflessness, the Divine Sword’s tongue-clicking echoed around my ears.

#

Clear memories rose inside the state of selflessness.

Gye Cheolyeong of the Taeul Sect unfolded the Three Shadows Sword, and Hong Saryeon unfolded the Flashing Thunder Sword Art.

Hwa Jeongsan of Mount Hua from the Murim Alliance unfolded the Plum Blossom Sword Art, and Ilmyeong of Shaolin unfolded the Eighteen Arhat Palms.

The Red Demon-Eye Unit slaughtered with the Red Demon Ghost Sword Formation, and Black Lion Gwak Gung erased Mount Tai with a single fist.

Soon after, my figure began imitating them.

It was not merely copying movements like before.

Within their movements, my intent newly settled in place.

And whenever my intent moved, internal energy moved in the most efficient direction.

After that, I appeared again, holding the Black Dragon Sword drawn.

I drew up the Taeul True Scripture and unfolded ten thousand swords.

Inside those ten thousand swords, both others and I shattered to pieces and disappeared forever.

When I slowly opened my eyes amid the scattering powder, I saw Namgung San with his arms crossed and Namgung Seonhwa looking at me with worried eyes.

“You have awakened?”

“……How long was I like this?”

“You were like that for a full day.”

I had thought it was only a moment, yet this much time had already passed?

“Were you waiting for me here this whole time?”

Namgung San shook his head.

“Grandfather said you would wake up around now and told us to bring you.”

When I nodded and stood up, Namgung San looked at me quietly for a long while.

“You…… something happened with Grandfather, did it not?”

“What do you mean, Orabeoni?”

Namgung San answered Namgung Seonhwa’s question.

“I am saying the Young Master Jin I saw yesterday and the Young Master Jin I saw today are two different people.”

“……Pardon?”

Namgung Seonhwa had an expression that showed she could not understand at all, while Namgung San was revealing his competitive spirit.

“If not for Grandfather’s order, I would have sparred with you right away. Of course, this time, there should be no restriction on internal energy, right?”

At Namgung San’s words, which seemed to imply he knew something, Namgung Seonhwa looked back and forth between Namgung San and me with a shocked expression.

Feeling embarrassed, I quickly changed the subject.

“You said the Divine Sword was calling for me, correct?”

“Let us go.”

Namgung Seonhwa, who had still been unable to properly join the conversation, finally grabbed the hem of my clothes.

“Grandfather opened an elder meeting. He said to bring Young Master Jin there. What on earth happened?”

“Ah, the Divine Sword said he would give me a gift as thanks and told me to say what I wanted.”

“What did you ask for?”

“I asked for the Changgung Merchant Guild.”

“……Pardon?”

“!!”

Not only Namgung Seonhwa, but even Namgung San snapped his head around and looked at me as if looking at a madman.

#

A chill flowed through the inner chamber.

The elders seated in rows on both sides did not look kindly at me at all as I entered with the Namgung siblings.

It seemed the Divine Sword had already brought up the matter of the Changgung Merchant Guild.

I sat beside the Azure Emperor Divine Sword, across from Namgung Songju, the actual owner of the Changgung Merchant Guild, and the Namgung siblings stood against the wall behind me, watching anxiously.

“…….”

In contrast to the elders openly showing hostility toward me, Namgung Songju was calmly drinking tea.

“I just heard something unimaginable from the family head. After hearing that story, the elders here were quite indignant as well.”

Namgung Songju set down his tea with a calm expression.

“It is not easy to believe…… but the family head said it was his own thought.”

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword had said it was his own choice out of consideration for me.

“If so, in the end, I cannot help but ask what you think. The family head said he would give you the Changgung Merchant Guild of Hefei. What do you think?”

No sooner had Namgung Songju finished speaking than the elders released their energy.

Among them were some who secretly released killing intent and choked my throat.

I drew up the Taeul True Scripture to protect my mind and body, then spoke.

“Since I did not do it hoping for compensation, I think it is excessive.”

Namgung Songju gave a faint smile.

“Of course…….”

“……However, since it is something the great senior is giving me, I intend to accept it gratefully.”

“!”

Namgung Songju’s brow furrowed deeply.

Excessive sighs also flowed among the elders.

‘Huh…… Look at this ignorant fellow.’

‘He is like a wild foal running around without knowing his place.’

‘A mere snake is trying to swallow an ox.’

Most were words that could not be said in front of a guest.

They were this greatly enraged.

“Seeing as you are not surprised even though the Changgung Merchant Guild was mentioned, this must not have been merely the family head’s will. Am I wrong?”

“Is that important?”

“I thought I had warned you beforehand. It seems that did not get through.”

A blue killing light burst from Namgung Songju’s eyes.

“The Changgung Merchant Guild is the same as a pillar of the Namgung Family. In particular, Hefei of Anhui is the foundation of the Changgung Merchant Guild. And you dare ask for such a thing? How lightly do you look down on the Namgung Family?”

The elders also began openly revealing killing intent now.

The Namgung siblings standing behind me and Namgung Gitae standing behind Namgung Songju were slowly starting to flinch, unable to endure it.

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword, the family head, should have been displeased by Namgung Songju’s presumptuous words, yet he merely watched with an intrigued expression.

“If the Changgung Merchant Guild is a pillar of the Namgung Family, then its foundation should be the Namgung Family of Mount Huang. Why is distant Hefei its foundation?”

“!!”

“The Changgung Merchant Guild is already a giant merchant guild counted among the top five in Jiangnan. However, since most of its territory is concentrated in Jiangnan, is operating from Hefei of Anhui not merely increasing unnecessary distance to the north?”

Namgung Songju tightly closed his mouth.

It was something everyone knew in theory, but could not bring out openly because of their own interests.

“Hefei of Anhui Province is an important place geopolitically, but from the perspective of the Changgung Merchant Guild, is it not a meaningless place? Giving one such branch should not be very difficult for the great Namgung Family. Or is the Changgung Merchant Guild of Hefei in a more important position than the Namgung Family of Mount Huang?”

No sooner had I finished speaking than angry shouts burst out from among the elders.

“You bastard! Your words go too far!”

“We praised you a little, and now you have no manners at all.”

“That is not something an outsider like you should concern yourself with!”

Most of the people in the Elder Hall were either former warriors of the family or blood relatives of the branch line.

They did not want the power of the direct line to grow stronger and reduce their influence.

“Hmph, you brought quite a decent argument.”

And at the center of them was Namgung Songju.

“What you say may be partly correct. However, even so, we cannot hand over Hefei.”

“…….”

The elders all nodded at once.

“We also cannot ignore the family head’s wish to give you a gift. Recently, your sect made an inquiry about iron distribution. I hear you were lucky enough to discover a mine. The Changgung Merchant Guild will handle that distribution. Let us consider that a substitute for the family head’s gift.”

Just as the elders nodded as if they could concede that much.

I spoke.

“I want the Hefei branch of the Changgung Merchant Guild.”

“…….”

The tension that had been about to ease tightened again.

Namgung Gitae seemed unable to endure any longer, and the whites of his eyes were gradually starting to show.

“You. Do you want to see this through to the end?”

“…….”

Namgung Songju, who had been speaking to me, looked at the Azure Emperor Divine Sword and spoke, as if threatening him.

“Even if you take the Changgung Merchant Guild, I am confident I can erase your sect and take the Changgung Merchant Guild back.”

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword showed no sign of wavering even under that ominous gaze.

It was the confidence that, now that he had obtained the breaking form and ascending form, there was nothing to worry about.

However, the Azure Emperor Divine Sword was closely watching how I would act.

“Do you really want to go that far?”

The heat was overheating.

Namgung Songju was staring at me as if he were facing a mortal enemy.

“……Calm yourself and think about it once. This is not such a bad proposal.”

“You bastard……”

I sent a voice transmission to Namgung Songju, who was about to spring to his feet.

-The reason you said before that I did not look good in your eyes…… it must be because of Wang Soso of the Wang Family Estate, correct?

Namgung Songju’s cold expression broke for an instant.

He was trying hard to steady his expression and regain his composure, but his eyes were shaking violently.

-When I saved Wang Soso, I formed a slight connection with the lord of the Wang Family Estate. That man is still desperately searching for the culprit who abducted Soso. He said he would pour out all his power to throw that person into hell. I knew the inside story, but I kept my mouth shut because I wondered if a massive blood calamity might occur between the Wang Family Estate and the Namgung Family.

Panic began appearing on Namgung Songju’s face.

After a long while, Namgung Songju spoke through voice transmission.

-……What are you talking about?

-Although the warriors of the Secret Palace Unit belong among the ranks of experts, when caught off guard, they ultimately revealed the martial arts of the Namgung Family. ……For things like abduction and assassination, you are supposed to use people who have received specialized training.

-Do you have evidence?

-May I tell him the location of the corpse? It should not have fully rotted yet.

Seeing Namgung Songju and me moving only our lips while speaking, the elders began tilting their heads one by one.

-Moreover, after speaking with Senior Azure Emperor Divine Sword, I realized that the Changgung Merchant Guild…… no, the branch line and direct line are opposed to each other. In that case, if the lord of the Wang Family Estate learns the inside story and joins wills with the Azure Emperor Divine Sword…… it seems it would become a good justification for the Divine Sword…… I wonder whether any of those who stood on the opposite side of the Divine Sword until just now would survive?

As I spoke, I looked at Namgung Gitae.

At the same time, Namgung Songju also followed my gaze and looked at Namgung Gitae.

-The great justification that had been holding back the Azure Emperor Divine Sword has already been shattered because of your mistake, senior. Can you endure his wrath?

Namgung Songju looked at the Azure Emperor Divine Sword.

“…….”

The Divine Sword was watching Namgung Songju’s flustered expression with interest.

-What will you do? Will you endure the wrath of Estate Lord Wang Geumsan and the Azure Emperor Divine Sword? Or will you pay the price with the Hefei branch of the Changgung Merchant Guild?

-The secret……

-Even if the Hefei branch of the Changgung Merchant Guild falls into my hands, would it not be a loss for me too if the Changgung Merchant Guild disappeared?

-If you threaten me again with this as your excuse, I will stake everything I have to destroy you and your sect.

-From now on, are you and I not people who share benefits together? I am someone who makes requests of comrades, not threats.

-…….

Namgung Songju hesitated several times over whether to send a voice transmission, then looked at Namgung Taeha and opened his mouth.

“Family head…… after thinking about it, not only the Namgung Family but many comrades of the murim world at Maling Plateau owe a debt to Young Master Jin and the Taeul Sect. For the Namgung Family, called one of the pillars of the murim world, to not repay that debt would be absurd. I think it would be good to hand over the Hefei branch of the Changgung Merchant Guild according to the family head’s will.”

“What is that……!”

“No! Corps Leader, what are you suddenly saying!”

At Namgung Songju’s absurd words, the elders instantly rose from their seats and crowded around him.

The Azure Emperor Divine Sword and the Namgung siblings had their mouths open as wide as washbasins at the unbelievable event they were seeing with their own eyes, and I calmly savored the Biluochun and said to them.

“The fragrance of Biluochun is excellent as well.”