Chapter 120: Your Sword Tip Isn’t Straight. (2)

Your sword’s tip isn’t straight. (2)

‘You fucking bastard….’

‘Hey, stop swearing so much…. You’re a Taoist, why is your mouth so foul?’

‘You truly are the world’s number one shameless bastard…. To entrust something like this to an old geezer and still not have the iron plate on your face crack.’

‘You don’t even pay rent, so wouldn’t it be okay to help out a little?’

‘I wish you’d just go die….’

Shin Noya’s laments never cease. Even while saying that, Shin Noya ended up grabbing the sword.

‘Know this, I will definitely steal this body.’

‘Are you a righteous thief? To send a warning beforehand.’

Control of the body passed to Shin Noya.

According to Shin Noya, he couldn’t do things like this often.

But seeing it now, it didn’t seem like that was the case.

‘There was no lie, I truly cannot stay in your body for that long.’

The posture and breathing while holding the sword change.

This is truly a strange experience.

Just like last time, I could feel various things.

Is this also enlightenment? If so, what should I gain from this place?

‘Why bother entrusting this to me when you could have just fought without drawing a sword?’

A reason.

‘I don’t know.’

It was partly chosen as a more extreme option, and partly words spoken to invite complacency.

Because no one in the world would know that Noya was staying in my body.

‘I don’t think you believe there’s little chance of victory because you’re a martial arts type. You wouldn’t be the kind of person with such poor judgment.’

‘I know.’

I had to engage in a duel without using internal energy. To do that, I thought drawing my sword to provoke Namgung Jin was a better method.

Although the result unfolded as expected, there were some parts that were slightly disappointing.

‘You’re regretting not being able to fight, aren’t you? After pushing all the work onto me… Shall I switch back even now?’

For someone who’s a martial artist. A bit of greed arose before a fight with a strong opponent. Knowing now wasn’t the time, I firmly suppressed it.

‘No. Please, I beg you.’

‘Tsk….’

Shin Noya stood still, gazing at Namgung Jin. He seemed quite angry, as his furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing.

“How did I end up attached to a guy like this… The gods must surely be dead.”

Noya slowly raised his sword. Namgung Jin’s eyes showed a spark upon seeing it.

Namgung Jin asks.

“Have you ever learned swordsmanship.”

Did he sense something just from this unremarkable posture? Indeed, it was clear his title ‘Sword King’ was not a lie.

Since I had to answer anyway, I quietly whispered to Noya.

‘A long time ago.’

“…A long time ago.”

‘I learned a little, just for fun.’

“Y-you learned a little, just for fun, you say.”

‘Noya… your way of speaking.’

‘Must I even use polite speech towards that brat?!’

It was something Noya’s remaining pride wouldn’t allow, but fortunately, no problem arose.

Rather, it seemed to help provoke him, as Namgung Jin’s expression twisted terrifyingly.

“Playing games until the very end.”

‘He seems very angry.’

‘…Do you know who’s the reason for that right now?’

“I’m curious how long you can maintain that attitude in front of me. Very well, I shall take your arm as you wish.”

Woong-

The sword Namgung Jin drew rang quietly. That is a Sword’s Resonance (劍鳴).

It is said that when a sword practitioner reaches a certain level, assimilation with the sword begins. It’s not a technique made using internal energy.

Assimilation.

The more the swordsman assimilates with the sword they hold, the louder the sword rings.

Then, Sword’s Resonance is ultimately the starting point of Body-Sword Unity (神劍合一), the dream of every swordsman, and proof that the swordsman has entered the right path.

‘It’s not a bad resonance.’

Even as Namgung Jin’s sword cried out fiercely, Shin Noya was making an assessment.

‘Compared to that guy Myung, the level is worlds apart, but it’s a well-trained body.’

‘Myung?’

‘There was such a guy. A guy with no potential who used the Namgung Seong surname and only chased women.’

…Could the Namgung guy Shin Noya is talking about possibly be Namgung Myung?

If it’s Namgung Myung, the ‘Thunderous Sword of Heaven’ (뇌천일검), he was one of the five heroes who stopped the calamity by killing the Blood Demon, along with the ‘Volcanic Sword Sage’ (화산선검).

It seems my guess isn’t wrong, as Shin Noya clicks his tongue and continues.

‘Tsk, rather than being able to toast drinks in the afterlife, I have to get into a brawl with that damned guy’s descendant.’

Shin Noya’s words suddenly made me feel guilty. I didn’t really feel it before, you know.

‘This rotten bastard.’

‘But, will you be alright?’

‘…What are you talking about.’

‘Even if you don’t use internal energy… considering who the opponent is.’

‘Hah, you already entrusted it to me as if demanding I do it, and now you’re worried?’

Shin Noya said to me as if incredulous. It wasn’t a statement dismissing my skill, but rather, since it was my immature and lacking body being borrowed, not Shin Noya’s own, I wondered if it would be alright.

‘Put aside those useless worries.’

The moment Shin Noya spoke, Namgung Jin lowered his sword and said.

“Come here, little brat. I’ll give you ten seconds….”

Namgung Jin, about to speak arrogantly, couldn’t continue.

Woooooong-!

It was because the tinnitus drilling into my ears was too loud. It was a resonance far louder and deeper than the sound from Namgung Jin’s sword.

The sound, full of weight as if a giant bell had rung nearby, was echoing from the sword Shin Noya was holding.

Shin Noya speaks.

‘Listen, brat, remember who I am.’

Namgung Jin’s shocked expression didn’t register.

The surroundings were already filled with Noya’s presence. How could he create such an atmosphere without using internal energy?

Even if I brought forth my previous life’s cultivation, I couldn’t display such an overwhelming presence.

I didn’t realize the quality of souls could differ this much.

While admiring Noya’s form, a question arose in my mind.

‘Unless it’s time itself, there’s no one who can stop me.’

Just where exactly was the level Shin Noya had reached, and.

How could a martial artist of this level have their soul trapped in a cursed object? That was the biggest question.

‘I am Shin Cheol, the Volcanic Sword Sage.’

Wooooong!

---

While there are geniuses called the ‘Meteor Generation’ now.

In the past, there were also those called by similar epithets.

Genius doesn’t consider centuries. Stars always remain in the night sky, regardless of the season.

Namgung Jin was also one of those individuals.

Namgung Jin, the late-stage disciple called the ‘Sword Dragon,’ didn’t take long to inherit the epithet ‘Sword King.’

At the time, it was a natural progression.

The epithet ‘Sword Dragon’ was exclusive to the Namgung Family.

And the epithet ‘Sword King’ was the same.

If a being with the bizarre talent called ‘Young Wind’ (영풍) hadn’t appeared by now, Namgung Cheonjun would undoubtedly have received the epithet ‘Sword Dragon.’

Namgung Jin had no doubt that he would ascend to the heavens.

Although his grandfather didn’t attain the name ‘Sword Venerable’ (검존), he was called ‘Heavenly Venerable’ (천존), meaning one who ascended above the heavens.

He didn’t think he himself couldn’t reach that place.

His inherent arrogance, combined with his skill, was more than enough to be called the ‘Overbearing Path’ (패도).

As time passed, he would stand proudly in the heavens. Namgung Jin at that time must have judged himself sufficient to do so.

If only that guy hadn’t existed.

‘…Your remnants remain even here to torment me.’

The autumn night was still cold. The faint white breath exhaling from my mouth was proof.

Accordingly, Namgung Jin’s emotions slowly subsided.

He took in the boy standing before his eyes. A boy who looked exactly like Gu Cheol-un from back then.

Foolishly, Namgung Jin had even gathered information about that boy.

He’s Gu Cheol-un’s son. I only took a slight interest simply for that reason.

His talent is unremarkable, he’s lazy and indolent. I even heard that his vicious temper is difficult to handle.

He produced the once-in-a-lifetime genius Sword Phoenix, but seems to have no luck with his son Un.

Thinking thus, I drank alone in the middle of the night.

That was just a year ago.

So then, what on earth is the monster standing before my eyes now?

Namgung Jin couldn’t know.

Wooooong… Woooong….

“This is unbelievable…!”

The Sword’s Resonance rings.

That was definitely a Sword’s Resonance. Even hearing and speaking it, it wasn’t something easily believable.

‘It can’t be.’

Even if one has reached a certain level, making a Sword’s Resonance ring or not is another matter. It’s difficult even for a swordsman who has endured training close to abuse.

Moreover, Gu Yangcheon is a martial artist. His gait, his breathing, even in his use of internal energy, he stood on the completely opposite side from a swordsman.

But now?

‘…Everything has been reversed.’

His breathing, his movements, everything had changed. As if it had always been this way, so familiarly.

His skill… Was he hiding his martial arts? For what reason, that small, young brat?

He wasn’t even the age where one could develop skills worth hiding in the first place.

Or perhaps he’d done something nonsensical to the sword, I thought, but that’s a Namgung family sword.

Namgung Jin himself saw with his own eyes picking it up from the martial artist lying on the ground.

“Did you say you’d yield ten seconds?”

Namgung Jin’s breathing faltered at Gu Yangcheon’s voice.

“I have no intention of refusing this. Don’t regret it, think again.”

His tone had changed strangely, but Namgung Jin didn’t have time to think about that.

Ten seconds. Normally, it shouldn’t have even been three seconds, let alone ten.

The difference in cultivation level was like that, and the realm of enlightenment was also different.

It means the position one stands in as a martial artist is different.

Even without internal energy, this should be the same.

What one sees is different, what one feels is different. It should have been that way originally.

What about now? How is it now?

Namgung Jin had to feel a sense of alienation from something he couldn’t be sure of himself.

Grrr. A rough sound echoed from Namgung Jin’s lips. Is he scared? Of a brat younger than his own child.

This Sky-Piercing Sword King (창천검왕)?

‘It can’t be.’

He denied it. No, it absolutely shouldn’t be.

“You seem to be showing off cheap tricks.”

Gu Yangcheon’s expression turned somewhat displeased at Namgung Jin’s words. Namgung Jin could tell. That’s how much disappointment was etched onto Gu Yangcheon’s face.

“You’re different from that guy Myung. What a shame.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s nothing.”

Having said that, the sound from Gu Yangcheon’s sword stopped.

It means the Sword’s Resonance stopped ringing.

The night wind still blew coldly, but the boiling emotions didn’t cool down easily.

I wanted to draw my sword and sever his limbs right away, but I held back.

If I exploded here, everything would be ruined.

So I had to endure.

However, I couldn’t overlook him acting so presumptuously towards me.

‘Did I tell him to rip off the arm?’

That was the condition. Namgung Jin forced down the corners of his mouth that were trying to rise.

He’s the next family head acknowledged by Gu Cheol-un himself. No matter who Namgung Jin is, it would be too much to do such a thing.

‘I must cut him.’

I will cut him cleanly. So it’s easy to reattach.

Namgung Jin knows that Shin Eui is staying in Gu Family. It was surprisingly open information, as if he had no intention of hiding it.

I don’t know how Shin Eui, who stayed in Namgung and went to Shanxi, ended up following that guy into the Gu Family, but.

If Shin Eui is there, I won’t have to hesitate in punishing him, right?

“I will yield ten seconds.”

“Hmm… Are you sure?”

“How laughable, who are you daring to worry about right now?”

“…Indeed, how did my situation end up like this.”

As if lamenting something, Gu Yangcheon raised his sword while sighing.

Tak!

He rested the sword on his shoulder and moved casually. Truly a disgracefully sloppy movement.

‘Was it a mistake?’

His breathing and movements until just before were those of a master swordsman, but as if even that was a lie, his form instantly vanished.

Seriously, for what reason did he make the bet if it was like this?

Is this the flimsy ideology of a naive child?

Even while thinking this, Gu Yangcheon simply walked forward silently.

He’s full of openings. It felt like I could kill him in one strike no matter where I swung my sword.

‘It seems I worried for nothing.’

Gu Yangcheon, who had approached right in front of me, moved the hand holding the sword with a nonchalant expression.

Woong.

In that moment, the Sword’s Resonance rang out again from the sword in Gu Yangcheon’s hand.

It sent a jolt. The moment I heard the Sword’s Resonance, a chilling sensation ran down Namgung Jin’s spine. Gu Yangcheon’s sword moved.

The sword slashing horizontally is slow. It draws a semicircle like the moon now, but it’s so slow that every trivial movement is visible.

The Namgung Family uses ‘Swift Sword’ (속검). They are people who wrap lightning energy around their swords and live in a faster timeframe than others.

Namgung Jin, who stood atop others by stepping on them, couldn’t possibly fail to dodge such a slow sword.

It definitely shouldn’t have happened.

Why isn’t my body moving?

The night sky splits along the slowly approaching sword tip.

What unfolds from an unremarkable movement is a step more noble than anything.

What is this? How does such enlightenment emanate from a sword?

Stars were split, even the moonlight was cleaved. The countless meanings contained within that meager single strike overwhelmed Namgung Jin.

Hwik-!

The time, like eons, ended.

The resulting outcome was utterly insignificant.

Because Gu Yangcheon had simply lowered his sword.

However, it wasn’t like that for Namgung Jin.

Gu Yangcheon says in a calm voice.

“We didn’t make that promise.”

Namgung Jin, who should have been in front of Gu Yangcheon, was not there. Gu Yangcheon’s gaze also wasn’t fixed ahead but directed elsewhere.

Hoo….

Rough breaths could be heard. They weren’t Gu Yangcheon’s.

A few paces away from Gu Yangcheon, Namgung Jin was gasping for breath.

Cold sweat trickled down. It was the aftereffect of his body being fully tensed.

“I’m sure we agreed not to use internal energy.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, Namgung Jin finally examined his own body.

Wrapped around his body was definitely lightning energy (뇌기).

Namgung Jin looked at Gu Yangcheon with a look of utter shock.

“Just what….”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear about the yielding. As much as I’d like to offer such consideration, unfortunately, it seems impossible with this frail body. I hope you understand.”

Gu Yangcheon’s sword tip pointed towards Namgung Jin. The Sword’s Resonance wasn’t ringing. But Namgung Jin felt the illusion that he could hear it.

Things unseen began to appear. Was it a hallucination? In Namgung Jin’s eyes, Gu Yangcheon’s body seemed to have become a single sword.

‘Body-Sword Unity (身劍合一)?’

At that weighty name, Namgung Jin had to shake his head.

It’s a level I haven’t reached myself. No, should I call it a level? My grandfather said it was a realm somewhat separate from the levels a martial artist could reach.

Then is that Body-Sword Unity? Namgung Jin firmly wanted to say no, but he couldn’t be so certain.

“Your sword’s tip isn’t straight.”

Namgung Jin snapped out of his contemplation at Gu Yangcheon’s voice.

“That’s something I told a friend in the old days.”

“Daring to offer me guidance…”

“You resemble him in that aspect, that crazy bastard answered the same way.”

“What are you talking about right now…!”

“It’s nothing much. It’s right that many things change as time passes, but.”

His moving steps didn’t waver. His posture holding the sword was still unremarkable, but the movement he just showed had completely scrambled Namgung Jin’s mind.

Gu Yangcheon took a step forward.

“At least that guy wouldn’t have wanted things to change like this, so I’ll have to clean up the mess. It’s become ridiculous, this wasn’t supposed to be my role.”

“You bastard…”

The moment his crumbling pride was about to turn into rage. Something sliced past Namgung Jin’s neck.

Namgung Jin grabbed his neck and retreated. Unlike the vivid sensation, his neck wasn’t actually cut.

“You should focus. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

As soon as the words ended, Gu Yangcheon’s sword sliced through the air once more.