Chapter 85
Stalemate (2)
Namgung Hyuk and the Vermilion Bird Squad did not return immediately.
Instead, they temporarily took over patrol duties until the Namgung Clan’s security forces had fully recuperated.
A few days passed like that.
“Hope we’re not too late.”
A man with a solid build and thick arms—his fists enormous, befitting a martial artist—bowed apologetically as he spoke.
His name was Hwangbo Gyun, bearer of the epithet Iron-Armed Hero, and current head of the Hwangbo Clan.
The reinforcements had come from faraway Hebei and Shandong—the Hwangbo Clan and Hebei Peng Clan.
As fellow members of the Six Great Clans, the clan leaders had personally led hundreds of martial artists to rush here.
Namgung Mugang welcomed them and replied:
“Your mere presence to support us is thanks enough.”
“Haha, glad to hear you say that.”
Laughing, Hwangbo Gyun studied Namgung Mugang with a curious expression.
He couldn’t help it.
‘Rumor had it the young clan head never left his residence and completely shut himself off from outside affairs.’
Yet here he was, appearing perfectly composed—making the rumors seem absurd.
“How is the Sword King doing these days?”
Next to Hwangbo Gyun, Peng Manho—the head of the Hebei Peng Clan—asked after Namgung Bi.
Namgung Mugang answered politely.
“He has said he wishes to stay away from combat now, but he’s still vigorous enough to defeat the assassins of Salmak all on his own.”
“Oh? Truly?”
“I’d heard the Namgung Clan fought off Salmak’s attacks recently, but I didn’t expect the Sword King to personally intervene!”
Both clan heads were genuinely impressed.
The Sword King’s presence in the martial world had faded greatly after long years in seclusion.
But with a single remark, Namgung Mugang revived that presence instantly.
Perhaps he intentionally mentioned his grandfather’s exploits to achieve that effect.
Then Peng Manho said:
“Since we’ve come all this way, I’d like to at least pay my respects to the Sword King.”
“I’m afraid the Supreme Elder returned to his place of seclusion after assessing our clan’s situation.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
But the truth was different.
After a private meeting with Namgung Hyuk, Namgung Bi had left behind only a letter and vanished from the clan.
No one must know he had left during such troubled times.
Thus, Mugang gave an excuse.
“A shame, but it can’t be helped. Then I’d like to meet that friend—Thunder Dragon.”
“Yes, I’d also like to see him myself.”
Though overshadowed by the massive incident of the Orthodox–Demonic War, Namgung Hyuk had become someone the orthodox leaders all paid attention to.
Mugang could not refuse this request.
So he led the two clan heads to where Namgung Hyuk was.
Unexpectedly, they arrived at the training grounds.
* * *
“Haaat!”
With a sharp shout, a swordsman in blue training robes extended his blade.
He was a member of the Azure Sky Sword Unit, fighting Namgung Hyuk who responded with the Flying Dragon Stance.
Claaang!
Unable to withstand the force of the stance, the swordsman was pushed all the way to the edge of the grounds.
His hands trembled so violently he could barely hold his sword.
“I—I yield!”
“A good match.”
Namgung Hyuk offered a polite acknowledgment, then turned his gaze.
Another swordsman from the Azure Sky Unit rose onto the platform.
“I am Oh Dongpa of the Azure Sky Sword Unit.”
“No need to stand on ceremony. Come.”
Thus began their match.
Namgung Hyuk carefully suppressed his internal strength to match their level.
Even so, none of the elite swordsmen—hand-picked from the clan’s martial forces—could last ten exchanges against him.
[Level Up!]
Having displayed overwhelming superiority once again, Namgung Hyuk defeated Oh Dongpa, and his level rose.
‘I didn’t expect light sparring requested by the Sword Unit to help this much.’
Fighting weak opponents usually offered nearly no experience.
But the Azure Sky Unit consisted of capable martial artists selected from the clan’s best.
After fighting around thirty of them, he’d gained two full levels.
‘And they all took the spar seriously instead of treating it casually. That helped too.’
Namgung Hyuk also treated each match with sincerity, continuing his streak of consecutive victories.
“Kuh!”
When his blade touched the next opponent’s neck, the man dropped his sword in defeat.
Yet the atmosphere around the grounds remained bright.
One swordsman suddenly noted:
“Have you noticed? He’s been using the same sword technique every time.”
“Really?”
“Then shouldn’t we just read his next move and counter it?”
The next challenger stepped out confidently.
But he too was defeated instantly.
“Didn’t you say you could predict the next move?”
“B-but…! The form was the same, but it wasn’t the same!”
He stammered, trying to describe Namgung Hyuk’s blade.
The others tilted their heads.
From the outside, Hyuk’s sword movements looked identical each time.
But in truth, he made subtle changes—breathing, timing, rhythm—minute differences that decided victory.
Those who failed to sense them lost.
But someone had indeed sensed them.
“To control your sword intent like that at your age…”
“That means he’s completely mastered those forms.”
Voices rose from one side.
The swordsmen turned, startled—and quickly bowed.
Even Namgung Hyuk stopped waiting for his next challenger, stepped down, and bowed.
“This junior greets the clan heads.”
“Haha! I hope we didn’t interrupt. I am Hwangbo Gyun, clan head of the Hwangbo Clan.”
“I have long heard of your reputation.”
“And we’ve met once before.”
“Yes, Clan Head Peng.”
Hyuk had seen Peng Manho briefly at the Martial Alliance.
Barely after exchanging greetings, Hwangbo Gyun—meeting him for the first time—spoke bluntly.
“You seem far more skilled than rumors say. Would you care to cross fists with me?”
“What? You! Trying to jump ahead of me?!”
Peng Manho exclaimed indignantly.
Their competitive fighting spirit outweighed their dignity as clan heads.
Namgung Mugang sighed and secretly sent Hyuk a sound transmission:
—We depart tomorrow. Keep it to a reasonable level.
Hyuk nodded subtly.
“I would never refuse the honor of learning from the clan head of the Hwangbo Clan.”
He smiled.
And thus, the duel with Hwangbo Gyun was set.
‘An unexpected opportunity.’
To see the Hwangbo Clan’s martial arts firsthand—Hyuk eagerly followed him onto the platform.
“Normally, as the senior, I should give you three moves… but against you, I doubt I can afford that luxury.”
“I too must decline such generosity.”
“Hahaha! Good. Our hearts align.”
Hwangbo Gyun laughed heartily.
Then he released a massive surge of energy.
His power shook even the ground beneath the training platform.
‘So this is the Hwangbo Clan’s Heavenly King Divine Art.’
Namgung Hyuk raised his Heavenly Thunder Qi in response.
Crackle—!
Lightning flickered around him, and Hwangbo Gyun’s eyes widened slightly.
“So this is the Lightning Qi of the Thunder Dragon. Remarkable!”
With excitement, Hwangbo Gyun clashed his fists together.
Then he struck the air.
BOOM!
With the sound of air splitting, a formless shockwave slammed into where Hyuk had stood.
‘Oh?’
Seeing Hyuk leave only an afterimage, Hwangbo Gyun heightened his senses.
BOOM BOOM BOOM—!
His fists blurred—rapid, powerful, explosive.
“Oh! That technique—”
“It’s the Hwangbo Clan’s Thunderclap Divine Fist.”
Between the countless fist shadows, Hyuk moved like someone strolling through a summer shower.
“Incredible!”
Hwangbo Gyun was delighted.
Only a handful could enter the range of his Thunderclap Divine Fist and remain untouched.
‘My blood… is boiling.’
He acknowledged Hyuk as a worthy opponent.
Thus, he decided to show his clan’s ultimate technique.
“Hmmmm—!”
As he inhaled deeply, his muscles bulged further.
His qi rose with them.
“Him?!”
Peng Manho exclaimed.
Before anyone could stop him, Hwangbo Gyun charged.
‘Huge!’
Hyuk felt as though a mountain were rushing at him.
“Hyeop!”
With the force of a raging storm, Hwangbo Gyun unleashed a barrage—every part of his body turned into a weapon.
‘Can’t dodge this.’
Hyuk raised the Diamond Body of Shaolin to bolster his defense.
WHAM WHAM WHAM—!
The impacts rattled him to the bone.
Fists, feet, elbows, knees—even the man’s head.
Every part was an attack—predicting them was nearly impossible.
‘Weren’t we supposed to be lightly sparring…?’
Seeing the delighted expression on Hwangbo Gyun’s face, Hyuk realized the man was truly enjoying this.
He had forgotten how quickly the Hwangbo Clan’s blood ran hot.
‘If that’s how it is, then I have no choice.’
Hyuk gathered Heavenly Thunder Qi in his fist.
And unleashed the Exploding Thunder Fist.
BOOOOM!
As fists collided, lightning surged through Hwangbo Gyun’s body.
“Khaha! That’s sharp!”
But he barely reacted, continuing his assault.
Hyuk wasn’t done.
Crackle—!
Lightning intensified, gathering in his fist.
‘That stance…?’
Hwangbo Gyun widened his eyes.
Hyuk stamped forward and threw his punch—
Baekbo Divine Fist!
Shaolin’s supreme strike—enhanced with powerful lightning.
KRRRRAAAAAM!
The deafening boom made everyone cover their ears.
Hyuk instantly regretted it.
‘My mastery is still low—adding Heavenly Thunder Qi made it too strong!’
He worried Hwangbo Gyun might be injured.
But aside from having his hair blown wildly, Hwangbo Gyun was completely fine.
Instead, he asked excitedly:
“How does a young man like you know Shaolin techniques?”
“It was merely imitation. Not the true Baekbo Divine Fist.”
Hyuk answered, then glanced at the system message.
[Understanding of ‘Heavenly King Chain Martial Art’ has increased by 3%.]
So that was the name of Hwangbo Gyun’s technique.
Hyuk subtly shifted the topic.
“The technique you displayed at the end was truly formidable.”
“Our previous clan head perfected it—the Heavenly King Chain Martial Art.”
Hwangbo Gyun said with pride.
It combined numerous unarmed arts of the Hwangbo Clan into a single ultimate style—the future signature technique of the clan.
Peng Manho clicked his tongue.
“To use such a dangerous technique on a boy who must soon fight in real battle… Once your blood gets pumping, you forget everything else, as usual.”
“K-Khm! I barely used any internal strength, didn’t I?”
He tried to defend himself.
Hyuk, watching him, stared with awe.
‘That physical conditioning… to generate such force is truly astonishing.’
The Hwangbo Clan truly valued external arts as much as internal ones.
‘For me to reach that level, I’ll need many more level ups.’
Indeed, the heads of the Six Great Clans were on a different plane entirely.
Since they were departing tomorrow, they had to end the duel here—something Hyuk found disappointing.
