Chapter 59: Forced Choice (5)

At one point, the fight, which had been neck and neck, tilted to one side.

Namgung Yong-ho, who had approached the duel lightly, was losing his composure in the face of Namgung Yun-ho’s sword strikes.

*Clang!*

“Ugh!”

Before he could even execute his techniques, attacks targeted his elbows, knees, and center of gravity, disrupting his movements.

The ferocity of the techniques was one thing, but what made it worse were the bizarre rhythms and relentless assaults.

‘Huff… Again!’

*Swish!*

Just as he tried to catch his breath, a thrust came at him.

‘Phew. Ugh.’

As he exhaled, a ghostly slash followed.

The flow of his internal energy was disrupted, making it hard to breathe.

Without proper breathing, his energy and internal strength didn’t move as he intended.

Namgung Yong-ho was at his wits’ end, facing sword strikes that cut off his breath and sealed his techniques from the start.

‘Could it be? Has my brother mastered a counter to Namgung Clan’s martial arts?’

A counter technique.

A strategy to exploit the weaknesses of martial arts.

Namgung Yong-ho shook his head.

‘The Namgung Clan’s martial arts are absolute. Who could counter the martial arts of the world’s greatest sword clan?’

But unfortunately, Namgung Yong-ho’s guess was somewhat correct.

The difference was that instead of a simple counter, Namgung Yun-ho had memorized all the Namgung Clan’s techniques and found ways to exploit their gaps.

Having watched his grandfather’s sword dance, Namgung Yun-ho had grasped the essence of Namgung Clan’s martial arts from deep within.

It was the result of relentless effort and rigorous repeated training.

*Clang. Clang, clang, clang.*

Namgung Yun-ho’s defense was impeccable, deflecting the relentless attacks.

The Little Sword Dragon. Or the name Ten-Second Slayer, was like a ghost.

Like the two sides of a coin that would never meet, he was a ghost that existed before him but couldn’t be grasped.

*Clang!*

“Ugh!”

The recoil from the deflected sword made his wrist throb.

His hand, holding the sword, trembled, but the real problem was the internal energy surging within him.

With his breath cut off, the once smooth flow of internal energy was now jagged, making his head spin.

*Drip, drip.*

The strain from his flashy attacks caused a nosebleed, staining the ground.

His vision blurred, and in his dazed state, his mind was filled with intense shame and competitiveness.

‘Not just the students, but even the instructors aren’t worth my time.’

‘What about Dongcheon Hall? I heard it’s a mess. You’ve been there long enough to know.’

‘You’ve done enough, haven’t you? What more can you learn from a place like that?’

His own words from not long ago echoed in his mind, making it impossible to stay calm.

“Ahhhhh!”

With his internal energy disrupted and his mind in turmoil, the boiling heat seemed to fry his brain.

“Do you think I’ll lose?”

As primal desires filled his mind, vile desires surfaced.

“I just need to win!”

He began to recklessly unleash larger and flashier techniques.

*Clang! Clang!*

But the less familiar the technique, the easier and simpler it was to break.

“Argh!”

*Drip, drip, drip.*

With his internal energy in chaos, blood vessels in his eyes burst, and Namgung Yong-ho roared like an enraged beast.

***

“Yong-ho!”

“Hold on. Where are you going?”

*Thud.*

The sword sheath blocked his chest, and Namgung Il-jun’s eyes glinted with murderous intent.

“Move this. You know that if you leave him like that, he could fall into qi deviation, don’t you?”

Qi deviation.

A phenomenon where the balance of mind, energy, and body collapses, causing one to go berserk.

Even if lucky, it could cause severe internal injuries. In most cases, it leads to internal energy reversal, resulting in paralysis or death.

It’s not common when learning orthodox martial arts, but the situation was dire.

‘The shock must be greater for a child who has always succeeded.’

Never losing was a great source of pride.

Conversely, it meant he had no experience or immunity to defeat.

It was even more so because the opponent was his brother, whom he looked down on.

But the opponent was persistent.

“It’s not right for adults to intervene in children’s fights.”

“Do you really want to die?”

*Thud.*

Kicking the table, the sword propped against it spun into the air.

Catching the sword in mid-air, Namgung Il-jun growled.

“This is your last warning. If you interfere, I’ll cut you down.”

“Oh, scary.”

*Shiver.*

Pretending to shiver, Namgung Il-jun’s patience snapped.

*Clench.*

With a burst of internal energy, he flicked the sword out of its sheath with his thumb and pushed the sheath with his other hand, drawing the sword.

As he prepared to cut down the insolent man before him, Namgung Il-jun’s eyebrows furrowed.

‘The sword… won’t come out?’

*Clench. Clench.*

He pulled with all his might, but the sword didn’t budge.

“Hehe. The sword sheath is quite unique.”

Seeing where his fingers pointed, Namgung Il-jun realized why the sword wouldn’t come out.

Two chopsticks were stuck through the sheath, which was made of refined iron and covered with sharkskin.

The wooden chopsticks, which had been lying around the table, had not only pierced the sheath but also the sword itself.

‘When did he do this?’

The heat that had risen to his head cooled, sending a chill down his spine.

“I think I’m the one who should be angry.”

‘I’m going to be cut.’

*Flash.*

In an instant, the opponent was pushing the sword back into the sheath.

*Snap.*

“Let’s let it go this time.”

*Snap.*

Seeing the sword in his hands break into two, Namgung Il-jun felt a chill run down his spine.

‘An incredible fast sword.’

His body hadn’t even reacted.

Who is this person?

“Let the children solve their own problems.”

*Glug, glug.*

As he drank alone, Namgung Il-jun’s eyes wavered.

Meanwhile.

The duel reached its climax.

*Swish! Swish!*

Namgung Yong-ho screamed as he unleashed his full strength with each sword strike.

His wild, frenzied sword swings contrasted sharply with Namgung Yun-ho, who stood still like a great tree swaying in the wind.

*Clang, clang, clang!*

Standing at opposite ends, one stood tall while the other was pushed back disgracefully.

The one pushed back was Namgung Yong-ho, the Little Sword Dragon and Ten-Second Slayer of the Namgung Clan.

Despite unleashing his full power, he was pushed back, and Namgung Yong-ho pounded the ground with his fist, shouting in frustration.

“This is impossible! It can’t be!”

Consumed by competitiveness, Namgung Yong-ho raised his sword with a flushed face.

Unlike before, a blue aura began to emanate from the silver blade.

*Crackle.*

The powerful energy radiating from the blade sent a hot wind swirling.

Facing this, Namgung Yun-ho raised his left hand, pointing at his opponent, while hiding his sword behind his back with his right hand, lowering his stance.

*Crackle.*

As the sword wind swirled, Namgung Il-jun shouted.

“No! Yong-ho!”

Using sword energy in a duel.

Seeing Namgung Yong-ho losing his sanity, Namgung Il-jun quickly tried to intervene.

“Hold on.”

*Thud.*

The sword sheath blocked his path again, and Namgung Il-jun shouted in frustration.

“Are you going to stand by and let the children get hurt?”

“They grow by fighting. Why are you so angry?”

“If either of them gets hurt, I won’t let you off.”

“Do what you want.”

While he hesitated, Namgung Yong-ho, who had fully unleashed his sword energy, kicked off the ground.

*Swish!*

Even in his competitive frenzy, his graceful movements were commendable.

Like the wind, he leaped into the air and unleashed a thunderous sword strike towards the ground.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.*

The massive sword energy fell from the sky, kicking up dust.

The unavoidable blade of death seemed ready to split Namgung Yun-ho’s head.

At that moment.

Namgung Yun-ho, who had his eyes closed, muttered.

“Phoenix Ascending.”

He sprang up from his low stance, shaking his hands like a thunderbolt.

*Whizz!*

Before the sword energy could fully descend, Namgung Yong-ho’s wrist twisted, and with a scream, he lost his balance in mid-air.

*Whizz!*

*Spin, crash.*

The shattered pieces of sword energy grazed the pillar of the pavilion.

*Creak.*

The ornate roof collapsed with a crash.

“Y-Yong-ho. Yong-ho!”

Fortunately, Yong-ho was safe.

Namgung Yun-ho had caught him as he fell unconscious.

Namgung Yong-ho, limp in his arms, mumbled.

It seemed he wanted to say something, but Namgung Yun-ho pretended not to hear and dropped his sword, declaring.

“I lose.”

“Cough, cough.”

Namgung Yong-ho, injured internally, tried to speak but kept slipping.

Namgung Yun-ho bowed to Namgung Il-jun, who rushed to lift him.

“Uncle. I was greedy and lost. I have no face to stay in the clan. Please understand my departure.”

“Yun-ho.”

“Instructor.”

“…”

“I have nowhere to go under the sky. The old quarters of Dongcheon Hall are the only place I can return to.”

With that, Namgung Yun-ho dusted off the bundle he had prepared and slung it over his shoulder.

“Goodbye.”

It seemed he had planned to leave from the start, as he showed no hesitation.

*Step, step.*

As Namgung Yun-ho walked away, Namgung Il-jun had to clench his trembling hands repeatedly.

***

On the way back.

Walking with a heavy heart, he heard a low voice.

“Why did you let him win?”

Namgung Yun-ho quickly answered his stern master’s question.

“I just followed your teachings, Instructor.”

“What did I teach you?”

“To make a choice that allows you to smile in the end, even if you lose everything. You conveyed it through Miss Mo Yong.”

When he was filled with worries, those words were a great relief.

Recalling the memory from the other day, Namgung Yun-ho smiled brightly.

“Looking back, you were right, Instructor. Reflecting on my worries, I realized my attachments delayed my decision.”

Indeed.

“I wanted to return to the clan. I wanted recognition from everyone. I wondered if I could become the heir. It was all my greed.”

The answer was to let go.

Even if I lose everything, I can smile when I think of today.

As the instructor said, thinking of losing everything made the answer clear.

“Haha. Even if I lose the clan, I won’t regret it. What are fame and recognition? Ah, I even smacked my devilish brother’s butt, so I’ve done my duty as an elder brother, haven’t I?”

He had abandoned the clan but couldn’t help but laugh.

As the instructor said, laughter welled up from deep within.

“Is that so?”

“Isn’t it a pretty good choice?”

The instructor smiled.

Namgung Yun-ho smiled back.

*Thud.*

Happiness vanished in an instant.

The warmth was replaced by cold pain.

*Thud. Thud.*

“Ow!”

Holding his shin, Namgung Yun-ho whimpered.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

“Why? You idiot.”

*Thud. Thud.*

The instructor struck his back and head, grinding his teeth.

“If you want to risk something, risk your own. Why risk my money too?”

“Didn’t you approve?”

“I thought you’d double it. Damn it, you idiot.”

“You left without hesitation.”

“It’s embarrassing to ask for money after losing.”

*Thud, thud.*

The stone fists pummeled his head and sides mercilessly.

The pain was so intense that all happiness evaporated, replaced by regret.

The tower of respect he had built in his heart quickly crumbled, leaving no trace.

“Ugh. Ugh. You said it’s fine if I can smile in the end.”

“Smile, you idiot. Today is your end.”

Ahhh.

This isn’t right.

Amidst the merciless beating, a phrase from Mo Yong So-hye came to mind.

The instructor told me.

She had whispered it cutely in his ear.

– The Jianghu is inherently sadistic.

Indeed, it was.

Namgung Yun-ho, who had experienced most of the Jianghu and would continue to do so, realized that his instructor was inherently sadistic.