noveltune Chapter 279:
Chapter 279:
Nogangho
Namgung Chang-hwi, the head of the Namgung Family, was quietly attending to his duties today as well. He frowned and then spoke up.
“What is it?”
He sensed someone’s presence near the entrance of the patriarch hall, besides the guard warriors.
“I have come to report something related to the Elder Patriarch.”
“Come in.”
As soon as Namgung Chang-hwi’s command was given, the chief steward entered the patriarch hall.
“Father has entered seclusion, so what brings you here?”
At the patriarch’s question, the chief steward hesitated, looking troubled, and spoke cautiously.
“Well... It seems the Elder Patriarch has completed his seclusion. The door to the seclusion training hall was open.”
At his words, Namgung Chang-hwi’s face showed surprise.
“Then, where is Father now?”
“We have urgently checked everywhere within the family grounds, but it seems he is no longer here.”
Hearing the chief steward’s words, Namgung Chang-hwi fell into deep thought.
Despite completing his seclusion training, he disappeared without notifying his son, the patriarch, or anyone else.
So, where could Father have gone?
Naturally, his eyes were drawn to the plaque hanging above the entrance.@@@@
As he stared at the inscription “The Greatest Sword Family in the World,” the current state of the martial world flashed through his mind.
“Could it be...?”
Namgung Chang-hwi quickly deduced where Namgung Muguk might have headed.
* * *
At Sa-doryeon Near Hengshan, Hunan Province
At the center of Sa-doryeon, Hyeok Jin-gang, the Sa-doryeon leader, was holding a meeting with the top officials of the organization.
“The vanguard has set up a temporary camp near Daewohyeon, Hubei Province. It would be best to monitor the movements of the Jegal and Wudang factions first and then determine our course of action accordingly.” ʀaŊǑBЕș
The Jegal family and the Wudang Sect were situated in the northwest region of Hubei Province.
Thus, Sa-doryeon’s vanguard avoided that area and was creating a supply route by crossing Hubei towards Henan Province through the northeast.
When Hyeok Jin-gang nodded at the man’s words, another man spoke up.
“We have issued a mobilization order to all factions under Sa-doryeon, but the Seven Evils’ response has been slower than expected.”
“Hmm... Is Amcheonhoe hesitating again?”
“Amcheonhoe is showing a surprisingly positive response. However, the reactions from Guryongbang and Hao Clan are not favorable. Since Guryongbang is not moving, Guangdong’s Jin family is also hesitating.”
Hearing his subordinate’s explanation, Hyeok Jin-gang frowned.
The seven major factions known as the Seven Evils consisted of Pakeomgak, Amcheonhoe, Noklim, Hao Clan, Guryongbang, Guangdong Jin family, and Salmak. Among them, Salmak was destroyed by Shaolin.
Pakeomgak, founded by Hyeok Jin-gang himself, was actively supporting his cause, but the problem lay with the other factions.
Noklim, at least, was actively participating in the war, seeking revenge against Shaolin for past grievances.
Amcheonhoe, a group of despicable merchants, surprisingly showed active participation, likely because they also held a grudge against Shaolin.
However, Guryongbang and Hao Clan had never been favorable towards Sa-doryeon’s initiatives.
Although the Jin family in Guangdong Province was supportive of Sa-doryeon’s actions, they were cautious due to concerns about Guryongbang in Guangxi Province betraying them.
‘Once this matter is settled, internal reorganization will be necessary.’
Previously, Hyeok Jin-gang had tolerated Hao Clan and Guryongbang under the pretext of opposing the orthodox factions, but that was no longer necessary.
After dealing with the orthodox factions, including Shaolin and Shinchun, there was no reason to keep such rebellious factions alive.
As Hyeok Jin-gang gathered his thoughts and was about to issue an order.
“!!!”
A massive surge of energy emanated from the entrance of Sa-doryeon, jolting Hyeok Jin-gang’s senses.
It wasn’t just Hyeok Jin-gang who felt it. The presence was so intense that everyone in the meeting room could feel it.
Realizing that an enemy had arrived at Sa-doryeon, Hyeok Jin-gang and the executives ended the meeting and moved towards the entrance.
Many warriors stationed throughout Sa-doryeon were converging on the entrance, curious about what had happened.
As they saw Sa-doryeon Leader Hyeok Jin-gang, they made way for him.
Following the path opened by his subordinates, Hyeok Jin-gang reached the entrance and saw:
His unique martial art, the “Sword Breaking Technique,” involved infusing immense internal energy into the sword and exploding it all at once.
A terrifying technique that swept the area with a storm of concentrated sword energy. The problem was that the swords often shattered into pieces because they couldn’t withstand the explosive power.
The fragments of the shattered sword were also useful as hidden weapons, but a swordsman losing his sword was inevitably problematic.
Hence, he always carried multiple swords. However, the situation changed after he obtained the “Unyielding Will.”
A mysterious metal that was said to have come from a meteorite that fell in the Yunnan region long ago. Over the years, countless blacksmiths had tried to turn this metal into weapons but were frustrated by its ridiculous hardness.
The current blunt form was a testament to the frustration of countless blacksmiths.
Unable to shape it into the desired form by any means, the sword that earned the name “Unyielding Will” momentarily let out a fierce cry.
The internal energy that had been condensed to its limit caused a crack in the sword.
The concentrated sword energy on his blunt sword shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Swaaaa!
The fragments flew towards Namgung Muguk.
* * *
Namgung Muguk, watching the countless fragments of sword energy flying towards him, swung his sword with a calm face.
Boom!!
Every time the energy of Namgung Muguk’s sword clashed with the fragments of the sword energy from the “Unyielding Will,” it sounded like thunder.
Despite the intense recoil, Namgung Muguk steadily moved his sword without any hesitation.
Boom!!
Among the countless fragments that obstructed his view, he precisely struck down only the ones flying directly at him.
Then, using his light-footed technique, he quickly closed in on the “Unyielding Will.”
Boom!!
The clash of Namgung Muguk’s sword and the “Unyielding Will” once again produced a thunderous sound.
Then, the two swords that met kept screaming.
However, the nature of their screams was entirely different.
Namgung Muguk’s sword, faced with the absurd hardness of the “Unyielding Will,” screamed in agony as if it would break at any moment.
The “Unyielding Will” screamed again because it was infused with immense internal energy.
At close range, Namgung Muguk tried to overpower his opponent with the “Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship,” but...
Boom!
With the formidable strength of the “Unyielding Will,” Hyukjin Gang easily countered all the moves of the “Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship.”
After receiving Namgung Muguk’s attack three times...
Zzang!!!
The internal energy condensed on the “Unyielding Will” caused another crack, and the fragments flew towards Namgung Muguk.
“Still using those dirty tricks!”
Namgung Muguk stepped back and swiftly struck down the fragments.
Dealing with the sword energy from afar was annoying, but fighting at close range was even more troublesome.
Blocking the hundreds of fragments flying towards him while clashing swords with the enemy was not an easy task.
But why was it?
A smile appeared on Namgung Muguk’s lips as he fought against the troublesome opponent.
The joy of a martial artist lies in fighting a strong enemy. His entire body, which had felt lethargic as if hitting a wall recently, now felt invigorated. The vitality was not only in his body.
His mind, which had felt clouded and blocked, was now racing with thoughts on how to defeat this formidable foe.
“Hahaha!!”
The old swordsman, who had been despairing daily while meditating on the teachings of Hyun-gwang, now swung his sword with a hearty laugh.
Perhaps, without realizing it himself, a demon had grown in his heart.
The despair that he could never surpass Hyun-gwang.
Or maybe it was the emptiness he felt as he realized that he didn’t have much time left.
As he sensed his time was running out, anxiety grew in the heart of the once steadfast old warrior.
But in this moment, clashing swords with a strong enemy, he did not get caught up in such useless thoughts.
He felt that he was still a worthy martial artist capable of competing for the title of the best in the world.
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