Chapter 33
Peng Seojin was a prodigy with the blade, personally trained by Peng Jiryang, the Dao Emperor (刀帝) and head of the Hebei Peng household.
Because of his vigorous, distinctive sword style he had also earned the nickname “Dragon-Striking Blade” (博龍刀).
Even someone like him—seeking to broaden his horizons across the martial world like Jegal Sagun—was kidnapped by the demonic sect while traveling through the rivers-and-lakes. When Peng Jiryang heard the news he could not contain his fury and personally led the campaign to wipe out the demonic sect.
As a result, one year ago Peng Jiryang himself eradicated one of the demonic sect’s Four Corners, Imagak. But Peng Seojin could not be found there, and Peng Jiryang himself was gravely wounded in that battle and did not show himself in public for a year.
“Peng Seojin—the one Dao Emperor was looking for—shows up at the Namgung estate, and as a madman, no less.” Namgung Jin groaned.
“For the Dao Emperor’s sake, I must sever Peng Seojin’s head cleanly.” The madmen seemed to keep moving unless their necks were cut.
At that moment, Peng Seojin swung his blade in a wide arc. His footwork was light and almost dancelike, but the power behind the blade was exceptional.
KWAANG—!
Namgung Jin’s body skidded backward. Every time he met that destructive blade head-on, his wrist tingled with pain. If the fight dragged on, it would be disadvantageous for him. Even if Peng Seojin alone was formidable, Namgung Jin also had to deal with other madmen.
“I’ll give it everything to take out Peng Seojin first.” As a tremendous martial aura rose from Namgung Jin, a bright flash—like an eye—leapt from his sword.
It was Namgung Jin’s personal adaptation of the Namgung family’s signature imperial sword form, modified slightly. A heavy-sword (중검) method with the imperial form’s artistry plus quickness: strikes come down heavily but the tip slips lightly through. Namgung Jin’s blade pierced through Peng Seojin’s openings like a hungry wolf.
SHEAR!
No matter how fast Peng Seojin’s Dao movements were, they could not rival Namgung Jin’s sword. Namgung Jin’s blade ruthlessly sliced Peng Seojin’s flank.
“Ugh—.” The figure that no longer seemed entirely human emitted a strange groan, but gave no sign of pain. He looked as if he had even forgotten what pain was.
“This time I’ll aim for the neck.” Namgung Jin moved to strike quickly.
But Peng Seojin, as if determined not to be caught by the same trick twice, transferred the heavy blade to his other hand and thrust one hand forward.
KWA-KWANG!
Blue flames rose from the hand that tightly gripped Namgung Jin’s sword. It was a fearsome manifestation almost like sorcery. The Hebei Peng house was famed for its external-energy techniques, and even as a madman he clearly had not lost that skill.
Peng Seojin did not stop there; with the blade in his other hand he swung broadly. It happened in a blink.
“…!” Namgung Jin barely had time to dodge. Before Peng Seojin’s blade could embed itself in his shoulder, the very neck that had been intact a moment before was suddenly—cleanly—cut off.
Then came a lion-like shout.
“How dare they! Vile scoundrels invade the Namgung estate!” The cry, loaded with fierce inner force, rolled like thunder and made every hair on one’s body stand on end.
The owner of that mighty shout was Namgung Sunyul. He hovered through the air as if pacing the void and stood before Namgung Jin. Behind him appeared Seollin, Yeongwoldae, and other warriors of the Namgung house.
It had been Namgung Sunyul’s sword strength that severed Peng Seojin’s head in a single stroke. The clean sword strike left no afterimage; Namgung Jin, forgetting even that they were on a battlefield, was dumbstruck and admired his father’s martial prowess.
“A master at the transformation realm….” Indeed, a terrifying martial skill worthy of being called one of the Heaven’s Seven Pillars. Namgung Jin belatedly called to his father.
“Father!”
“Jin, I’m a little late. Leave this to us now.”
“Then I’ll go see Baek Sojeo.”
“All right.”
His father was the powerful warrior who had cut down even the struggling Peng Seojin in one stroke; he would easily deal with the remaining madmen. Even if Soma-gi reappeared, it would be the same. Namgung Jin, trusting Namgung Sunyul, left the place. As he sped away through lightness-arts, anxiety burned in his chest.
Dae-woo, confronting Namgung Hyuk, was having a hard time. Namgung Hyuk was stronger than expected.
Namgung Hyuk felt his own strength and let out a snort of amusement. “The effect of the Blood-Fragrance Pills from the demonic sect is very good,” he thought. He had been continuously taking the demonic sect’s elite pill, the Blood-Fragrance Pill, which increased his inner power and even enabled him to wield sword qi he previously could not. The momentum of victory was clearly with him.
Dae-woo’s body bore many wounds. He was fighting while protecting Baek Sojeo and Jegal Haesu, and so could not use his full power. For Namgung Hyuk, this was a luxury; the match would likely be decided in seconds.
‘I wonder if Soma-gi handled Namgung Jin’s side well.’ Before coming to the reception hall, Namgung Hyuk had also burned Thousand-Red-Beauty incense near the household head’s quarters to put people to sleep. While everyone slept, he had opened the Namgung family’s back gate and arranged for Soma-gi and the demonic sect’s madmen to enter. Then he lured Namgung Jin there, hoping Namgung Jin would be badly wounded or killed by fighting the madmen alone. This plot had been Soma-gi’s initial suggestion.
A few days earlier it had been Soma-gi—rather than the usual demonic sect contact—who came to see Namgung Hyuk in person.
“First time seeing you up close. Do you know who I am, headman? Heh heh.”
Unkempt white hair, upturned eyes, and fierce gaze. Unlike other demonic sect members they had met, he had a different air. Namgung Hyuk was certain this man was Soma-gi, the leader of the Venomous Serpent Band.
“C-could it be the Venomous Serpent Band leader Soma-gi…? Why did you come here yourself?”
“I came with a proposal.”
“What sort of proposal?”
“If I give you the chance to rule the Namgung house… would you accept?”
“…!”
In other words, Soma-gi offered Namgung Hyuk the opportunity to become the household head. To be the head was a long-cherished dream—an ambition Namgung Hyuk had painfully suppressed so as not to be discovered by Namgung Sunyul. Soma-gi exuded an unmistakable menace, not a joke. A red light shimmered like heat haze behind Soma-gi in a strangely enthralling way. Namgung Hyuk felt a strength from him that he had never possessed—and thus desired intensely.
“What must I do?” Namgung Hyuk asked, as if spellbound by that red light.
“Haha! So the rumor that you secretly arranged a deal with us out of hatred for Namgung Sunyul wasn’t a lie.”
“You are more devious than I thought, brother.”
“Pity. Then I suppose you must be punished more.”
“But brother is not someone who can be taken out easily. You know that, don’t you?”
Namgung Sunyul was a transformation-realm master. Soma-gi was also a master, but not to the extent of toppling a transformation-realm expert. As expected, Soma-gi mentioned another name.
“Are you foolish? Do you think I’d aim at the Imperial Sword God? My target is So Gaju. If you kill or maim him, the Namgung house could fall into your hands.”
“To kill or maim Namgung Jin.” If that happened, a father who doted on his son—Namgung Sunyul—could fall into despair and the family might decline. If the house declined, Namgung Hyuk’s chance to swallow the family whole would grow.
“What must I do, precisely?” Namgung Hyuk pressed.
“Haha, I knew an ambitious headman would accept my proposal. Good decision.”
“But when your brother and other heads are present, you won’t be able to handle Namgung Jin. You must either lure Namgung Jin outside the estate or strike when your brother has left the Namgung house.”
“Heh heh. I think the same way. I’ll lure Namgung Sunyul and the main forces outside the estate.”
“But Namgung Sunyul rarely leaves the house for anything less than a major event.”
“Don’t worry about that! I’ll leak false intel to the Martial Alliance to lure him out. That day will be Namgung Jin’s funeral day.”
