noveltune Chapter 191:
Chapter 191:
The Greatest Under Heaven
Namgung Muguk reacted to Mu-jin’s words, but it wasn’t out of curiosity.
“A brazen fool dares to speak of being the greatest under heaven!”
Before Mu-jin could respond to the anger and ridicule in Namgung Muguk’s voice, Yunheo Zhenren, who had been facing Namgung Muguk, spoke first.
“What the child says is true, Namgung Senior.”
“You are not as you used to be. Are you mocking me with ridiculous lies to avoid a fight?”
“Have you not heard the rumor that Hyun-gwang of Shaolin has regained his health?”
“What difference does it make if the man who has been bedridden for over thirty years has regained his health?”
As if there was no need for further conversation, Namgung Muguk began to summon his sword energy again. However, Yunheo Zhenren, retrieving his two swords, spoke once more.
“I was already defeated by him two years ago. By Hyun-gwang, who had been bedridden for over thirty years.”
Having long lost interest in the title of the greatest under heaven, Yunheo Zhenren spoke as if there was no reason to continue the fight. Namgung Muguk glared at Yunheo Zhenren with suspicion for a moment.
“If what you say is a lie, Wudang will pay for deceiving me.”
In the end, Namgung Muguk, whose interest had waned, also retrieved his sword. The abrupt end of the fierce battle left everyone who had been watching in a state of astonishment, but one person was particularly desperate.
“Namgung Sword Emperor Senior! How can you believe their words?!”
The desperate cry came from Jegal Gi-hwan, who had returned, relying solely on Namgung Muguk. But Namgung Muguk’s response was cold.
“A worm that betrayed his own family dares to wag his tongue at me?”
As Mu-jin had anticipated, Namgung Muguk’s purpose was solely a life-and-death battle with Yunheo Zhenren. He had no interest in the Jegal Family’s matters, and Jegal Gi-hwan, who had invited foreign forces for power, was the type of person Namgung Muguk despised.
Swish.
Namgung Muguk swung his sword at Jegal Gi-hwan, who screamed in agony.
“Aaagh!!”
“I’ve cut his legs so he can’t run. You deal with the rest.”
Jegal Gi-hwan, writhing on the ground with his legs severed, looked like a worm. Realizing the situation was turning dire, the one-armed swordsman, Yeom Do-cheol, moved quickly. However...
“There’s no need to keep that one alive.”
Swish!
Namgung Muguk’s sword energy tore Yeom Do-cheol’s body apart.
“......”
“......”
Silence descended on the scene. The people of the Jegal Family watching from the wall felt dizzy. A man who had stormed in, threatening to kill everyone, suddenly crippled Jegal Gi-hwan and killed the swordsman at the mention of “the greatest under heaven is in Shaolin.”
For the logical and rational people of the Jegal Family, Namgung Muguk’s actions were utterly unpredictable. Meanwhile, Mu-jin had a different thought.
“No, you shouldn’t have killed that guy, you reckless old man!”
The man seemed to have valuable information, not at the level of the Seven Great Lords but still useful. Capturing and interrogating him, or feeding him the Simnyeong Pill through the Tang Clan, could have been highly beneficial.
As Mu-jin was lost in such thoughts, Namgung Muguk, who had dealt with Yeom Do-cheol, looked at Mu-jin and spoke.
“What are you doing?”
“......Yes?”
“You said the greatest under heaven is in Shaolin. Shouldn’t you guide me to that greatest under heaven?”
“Right now?”
“A true man acts on his thoughts immediately. Or do you have a reason to delay?”
“......”
Mu-jin felt momentarily speechless. He also believed in acting rather than overthinking, but this kind of abruptness was new to him.
Namgung Muguk looked at Mu-jin without a word.
“Are you displeased to be traveling with me?”
“Are you referring to the Yongbongji Conference?”
“Yes.”
At the Yongbongji Conference, Namgung Jin-cheon, Namgung Muguk’s grandson, had been defeated by Mu-jin. Mu-jin’s question was about whether there were any hard feelings from that incident.
Of course, Mu-gyeong and Mu-gung glared at Mu-jin, thinking, “Why ask that now?” while Mu-jin returned their gaze with, “What else should I talk about?”
But Namgung Muguk seemed indifferent.
“Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Why should I be displeased? What matters is who stands on top in the end. Your defeat of my grandson only spurred him on. He will win in the end anyway.”
Mu-jin was inwardly impressed by Namgung Muguk’s answer.
“I thought he was just a senile old man, but he has his own principles?”
Of course, voicing such thoughts would mean immediate decapitation.
Intrigued by Namgung Muguk’s response, Mu-yul asked innocently, “So, did you ever lose, Grandpa Namgung?”
“Ooo~?”
Everyone tensed at the rude question, but Namgung Muguk didn’t seem to mind.
“I’ve never been defeated in a direct fight, but I did meet a few superior masters in my youth.”
Namgung Muguk stroked his white beard as if reminiscing.
“Yes, thirty-eight years ago. The Heavenly Demon of Xinjiang’s Demonic Sect during their invasion of the central plains was one such person. He was undeniably the greatest under heaven.”
Speaking as if recalling his first love, Namgung Muguk tilted his head.
“Come to think of it, it was strange. The Demonic Sect’s special forces attacking Shaolin and crippling Hyun-gwang didn’t fit the Heavenly Demon’s style.”
Perhaps because Hyun-gwang was mentioned, Mu-jin asked actively, ”
What do you mean it didn’t fit the Heavenly Demon?”
“He was truly a man worthy of being the greatest under heaven. Although we say the Demonic Sect invaded the central plains, he always fought head-on. We should have driven them out the same way. We should have trained and defeated him in a direct confrontation, even if it took years.”
Namgung Muguk’s voice was filled with regret.
This was understandable. To Namgung Muguk, then a young heir of the Namgung Family, the Heavenly Demon was the one who showed him what it meant to be an unparalleled master.
But true to the Namgung Family’s lineage, Namgung Muguk didn’t feel humiliation or jealousy; instead, he aimed to surpass the Heavenly Demon with his own sword.
However, that goal was never realized. To resist the Demonic Sect’s invasion, the orthodox sects formed an alliance, and in the final battle...
Hundreds of retired masters and reclusive experts ambushed and killed the Heavenly Demon. Many of these masters were slaughtered, but Namgung Muguk was dissatisfied with the result.
Even though his father, the previous Namgung family head, also died in that final battle, his regret wasn’t over his father’s death. He believed he could have surpassed the Heavenly Demon given enough time.
Unable to fight the Heavenly Demon one-on-one, Namgung Muguk changed his goal. Succeeding his father as the family head, he aspired to become the greatest under heaven.
Even while fulfilling his duties as the family head, he spent every night recalling the Heavenly Demon’s techniques, sparring against an imaginary opponent.
After nearly twenty years, when he felt his skills matched the Heavenly Demon’s, he gladly handed over the family headship to his son, Namgung Chang-hwi, and set out on a journey to prove he was the greatest under heaven.
He even created the Emperor’s Sword Form to surpass the family’s supreme technique, inspired by the Heavenly Demon. It was a martial art developed from nightly recollections of the Heavenly Demon Suppression Steps, which had overwhelmed hundreds of orthodox masters.
* * *
After sharing his tale about the Heavenly Demon, Namgung Muguk fell silent, seemingly lost in thought, as he continued his journey.
Thus, Mu-jin’s group had to endure the awkward silence once more as they hastened their steps.
Before long, the familiar sight of a mountain came into view for Mu-jin’s party.
“It feels like coming home.”
After about seven months, Mu-jin’s group was finally returning to Mount Song.