Episode 313: The Sword King

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Namgung Jincheon’s response. Even Seolhwa, sensing the tense atmosphere, refrained from asking for an explanation.

“When I sent my reckless son away, I had many thoughts. I told him to return as an adult, but deep down, I wasn’t sure. People say we grow through experience, but living in this world, you realize not everyone does.”

Namgung Jincheon spoke while seated, his voice calm yet weighty.

“Fortunately, you have grown. You’ve matured as a person, and your swordsmanship has become quite impressive. There aren’t many your age who have achieved what you have.”

His tone was as steady as ever, but when he leaned forward, resting his weight on the armrest, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

“But it’s still too soon.”

His voice was fierce and commanding, pressing down on everyone around him.

Namgung Jin rose from his seat and drew the sword hanging at his waist.

“Is that the Heonwon Sword?”

The blade of the Heonwon Sword shone brighter than ordinary swords. Though it was hard to tell from a distance, it seemed likely to be made of meteoric iron.

When a sword’s material seems unusual, it’s often because meteoric iron is involved. Each piece of meteoric iron has unique properties, but they all share one trait: they’re much harder to forge than regular swords.

Judging by the difficulty of working with such material, the blacksmith who crafted the Heonwon Sword must have been quite skilled, even by Tang Mujin’s standards. The sword’s craftsmanship was impeccable, even if its design wasn’t particularly unique or elegant.

As Namgung Jincheon stood before Namgung Myung with the Heonwon Sword in hand, the Namgung family members quietly stepped back, giving the two combatants more space.

Namgung Myung occasionally rubbed his palm against his trousers.

Hyun Gong commented, “Namgung Myung seems nervous.”

“It appears so.”

It wasn’t because Namgung Jincheon was one of the most formidable figures in the martial world. Namgung Myung had faced other top-tier masters without fear.

Even if Namgung Jincheon had been less skilled than Namgung Myung, he would have felt the same tension. To Namgung Myung, Namgung Jincheon was that kind of father.

There was no reason for Namgung Myung to hold back. He raised his sword and spoke.

“Then, I’ll take the initiative…”

But before he could finish, Namgung Jincheon’s sword sliced horizontally through the air.

With his right shoulder in danger of being severely cut, Namgung Myung quickly raised his sword to block the attack.

”···!”

It wasn’t a perfect defense.

The internal energy behind Namgung Jincheon’s sword was overwhelming, and the attack was too sudden to deflect smoothly.

Namgung Myung had to rely entirely on the strength of his sword. If he had wielded an ordinary blade, it might have shattered under the impact.

However, the sword crafted by Tang Mujin held firm against Namgung Jincheon’s strike.

Hyun Gong, observing the scene, stepped closer to Tang Mujin and praised, “Truly, a sword of legend. I wonder if a blade to rival it, like Ganjiang and Moye, will ever appear.”

“If I make such a sword, I’ll be the one to wield it.”

“A trio of legendary swords would indeed be remarkable.”

”···.”

Tang Mujin didn’t respond further. He knew there was no need to entertain Hyun Gong’s idle chatter, especially as Namgung Myung and Namgung Jincheon began to move again.

Namgung Myung’s expression was troubled. Having been attacked before he could finish speaking, his internal energy seemed to be in turmoil.

Creak—

Namgung Myung tilted his sword and swung his arm wide, trying to shake off Namgung Jincheon’s blade.

But Namgung Jincheon’s sword clung to Namgung Myung’s, refusing to let go. Realizing he would be on the defensive again in the next exchange, Namgung Myung made a bold move. He extended his prosthetic left arm to grab and push away Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

Yet, Namgung Jincheon’s sword didn’t easily budge. Instead, it changed direction, driving straight into Namgung Myung’s prosthetic hand. The blade pierced through the palm and stopped just below the wrist.

Namgung Myung looked startled, and Tang Mujin’s face darkened. Repairing that prosthetic would undoubtedly fall to him.

With a light internal injury and his left arm incapacitated, Namgung Jincheon finally stepped back half a step and spoke.

“If you had your left arm, the outcome might have been different.”

It was a statement hard to refute. Namgung Myung grumbled.

“That was too sudden. Attacking before I could finish speaking.”

Namgung Jincheon frowned.

“Do you expect courtesy while holding a sword? You’ve learned poorly. It’s a wonder you’ve survived this long.”

“In a real fight, maybe, but this is a spar.”

“The only difference between sparring and a real fight is that fewer people die in sparring.”

In other words, if you don’t stay alert, you could die even in a spar.

Namgung Jincheon, as if to prove his point, swung his sword at Namgung Myung’s side.

It was a dangerously aggressive move for a spar. If not blocked in time, the sword could pierce deep into his side, possibly costing him his life.

But Namgung Myung anticipated the move and managed to block it more steadily this time.

Thanks to his stable defense, Namgung Myung could finally go on the offensive.

He gathered his internal energy, shook off Namgung Jincheon’s sword to create a small opening, and executed a subtle footwork.

To the untrained eye, it resembled the Namgung family’s signature Infinite Step, but Tang Mujin noticed something peculiar about it.

The foundation was the bold and grand Infinite Step, but it was infused with the stealthy and unpredictable essence of an assassin or a gentleman thief.

Namgung Jincheon chuckled.

“You’ve learned some interesting techniques.”

“After wandering for seven years, it’s only natural for my skills to evolve, isn’t it?”

“Not wrong, but whether it’s a desirable direction is another matter.”

Before Namgung Jincheon could finish speaking, Namgung Myung swung his sword at his head, clearly still upset about the earlier attack.

Namgung Jincheon tilted his head slightly, avoiding the strike. Or rather, it was a near miss. The blade grazed his skin, leaving a long cut on his forehead.

By minimizing his movement, Namgung Jincheon managed to catch Namgung Myung’s passing sword with his own.

Not only did he catch it, but he also twisted his wrist subtly, driving Namgung Myung’s sword into the ground.

Then, Namgung Jincheon stepped on the side of Namgung Myung’s sword, freeing his own to aim at Namgung Myung’s chest. Another lethal move.

Losing his sword meant defeat, and failing to dodge meant defeat.

Namgung Myung lowered his stance, pulled his sword from beneath Namgung Jincheon’s foot, and threw himself backward.

It was a footwork Tang Mujin recognized. It was the same technique used by the assassins in Yangyang when they were wiped out.

Namgung Jincheon seemed displeased.

“A technique fit for the dark path.”

“I killed assassins and claimed it as a trophy.”

“Reaching for any trophy you can find. Can you call yourself the Sword King with such a frivolous sword?”

“Not something to hear from someone who isn’t the Sword King.”

Namgung Jincheon laughed, a hearty laugh that was slightly chilling with blood streaming down his forehead.

“Is that so? Then let me show you what the Sword King’s sword is. It’s the sword your grandfather favored.”

Namgung Myung didn’t wait for Namgung Jincheon’s sword. He swung his sword at Namgung Jincheon’s knee. Namgung Jincheon met it with his own.

As the two swords clashed at knee level, the balance between them broke, and Namgung Myung’s sword veered off. But Namgung Jincheon’s sword naturally rose.

In a stable position with the upper hand, Namgung Jincheon spoke.

“The vast sky has no boundaries (蒼穹無涯), leaving no escape.”

Namgung Jincheon unleashed the Changungmuae Sword Technique.

The sword descended slowly.

The form was identical to the Changungmuae Sword Technique Namgung Myung occasionally displayed, but the depth of meaning was different. Namgung Jincheon’s execution felt less like a downward swing and more like a deluge from above.

A sword imbued with the Namgung family’s characteristic domineering spirit. Even with Tang Mujin’s skills, he couldn’t see a way out.

Tang Mujin immediately looked at Namgung Jincheon’s face.

Despite being covered in blood, despite having the power to take his son’s life, Namgung Jincheon was smiling contentedly. He was genuinely enjoying the fight.

Only then did Tang Mujin realize. Contrary to Namgung Myung’s belief, Namgung Jincheon wasn’t called the Sword Demon because he lacked the qualifications to be the Sword King.

The title “Sword Demon” suited him far better than “Sword King,” and thus, he had earned the moniker of Sword Demon.

In a situation with no clear path forward, Namgung Myung struggled to deflect Namgung Jincheon’s sword, improvising with a technique whose origins he could barely discern.

It wasn’t a flawless defense, of course. In exchange, Namgung Myung received a long slash from his left shoulder down to his waist.

Tang Mujin instinctively tried to rise from his seat, but Hong Geolge held him down by the shoulder.

“Wait.”

“That’s not a minor wound.”

“He’s not dead yet.”

So, should he only move when the wound is fatal?

It was a peculiar statement, but Tang Mujin sighed and sat back down. He recalled how Namgung Myung had boasted arrogantly earlier. If he lost after such grandstanding in front of so many people, he might die of shame.

Hyun Gong’s hands trembled slightly. He felt an even deeper sense of crisis than Tang Mujin.

If Namgung Myung failed to inherit the family headship and died here, it would be a disaster. All the camaraderie built with Namgung Myung would vanish like smoke.

Yet, there was no appropriate way to intervene.

Namgung Jincheon assessed Namgung Myung’s swordplay.

“You’ve learned many techniques, but none with depth. Disappointing.”

“They’re merely lighthouses guiding me to my path.”

“A path, you say.”

“Allow me to show you the path I’ve discovered.”

Namgung Myung chose the Sovereign Sword Form.

Knowing he would lose if the fight dragged on, he had to make a decisive move quickly. He had no intention of using any other technique to claim the title of Sword King. A king must wield a king’s sword.

Namgung Myung stepped back a few paces, raising his sword infused with all his inner strength.

While Namgung Jincheon’s Changgungmuae Sword Technique focused on offense with defense in mind, Namgung Myung’s Sovereign Sword Form disregarded defense entirely. His stance left both his upper and lower body exposed.

Yet, it was not a stance easily exploited. Anyone attempting to capitalize on its openings would likely end up in a mutual destruction scenario.

A do-or-die gamble. He staked everything on a single move, not just the family headship, but perhaps his life as well.

Namgung Jincheon mirrored Namgung Myung’s stance, clearly intending to counter the Sovereign Sword Form with the same technique.

However, unlike the solemn Namgung Myung, Namgung Jincheon’s face was filled with interest and delight.

Their swords moved. The Sovereign Sword Form was the pinnacle of both heavy and destructive swordplay. Yet, the speed of their clash rendered such classifications meaningless.

Clang—

With a deafening sound, their swords collided and halted, both Namgung Myung and Namgung Jincheon grimacing simultaneously.

It was rare to pour such immense inner strength into a sword, and even rarer for such swords to meet. Their insides churned, and their energy channels roiled as if they’d been heavily beaten after a night of drinking.

Just as Namgung Myung was about to cough up blood, the blade of Namgung Jincheon’s Hyeonwon Sword twisted slightly. Whether it was due to losing composure, strength, or focus was unclear. Namgung Jinya, watching the scene, frowned.

For reasons unknown, it was clear that Namgung Jincheon’s sword had lost its balance. Like a small crack bursting a dam, Namgung Myung’s sword rapidly tilted toward Namgung Jincheon.

Namgung Jincheon’s stance remained unbroken. However, Namgung Myung’s sword began to slice through the blade of the Hyeonwon Sword.

Namgung Myung thought he should stop his sword, but he didn’t know how to halt a sword imbued with his full power.

Finally, Namgung Jincheon’s Hyeonwon Sword was severed diagonally. Someone gasped in shock.

“The Hyeonwon Sword!”

In the next moment, Namgung Myung’s sword grazed Namgung Jincheon’s chest, leaving a deep gash. Blood from Namgung Jincheon’s chest splattered across Namgung Myung’s face, staining it red. It was undoubtedly a severe wound.

Namgung Myung, unsure of what to do, looked ahead.

He hadn’t expected the fight to end cleanly, and indeed, both had sustained significant injuries. But he hadn’t anticipated inflicting such a grave wound.

Yet, there was no pain or anger on Namgung Jincheon’s face. Only a satisfied smile.

“Impressive.”

“Father, your wound!”

Namgung Jincheon grinned, inserting his index finger into the wound. Despite the inevitable pain, he seemed accustomed to such injuries. He gauged the depth of the wound and spoke.

“It’s a flashy wound, but not deep. I’m not so easily defeated.”

However, as he looked at his sword, his expression turned regretful.

“But with the sword unusable, I can’t continue the fight.”

For someone who had lost a family heirloom, his reaction was remarkably calm. Namgung Jincheon casually tossed aside the half-broken Hyeonwon Sword and approached Namgung Myung with a generous smile.

“A remarkable achievement. You’ve surpassed what I accomplished at your age.”

”···.”

Namgung Myung was a bit bewildered. He couldn’t recall the last time Namgung Jincheon had praised him.

Perhaps it was the day he returned to the Namgung family after stealing Tang Mujin’s sword. Though he’d been slapped when the truth came out.

But this time, there was no hidden truth to be revealed. Somehow, he felt at ease.

Namgung Jincheon spoke.

“It seems you’ve found the right direction. Keep advancing.”

“Understood.”

Namgung Jincheon gave a faint smile, one that seemed meant only for Namgung Myung.

“Sword King, indeed. A fitting title.”

Namgung Myung nodded unconsciously, and Namgung Jincheon announced loudly.

“This sword meeting is concluded. Everyone, disperse.”

Namgung Jincheon turned and walked toward the family head’s quarters. His steps remained steady, unaffected by his injury.

If not for the drops of blood trailing his path, no one would have believed Namgung Jincheon was wounded.

After taking a few steps, Namgung Jincheon looked back. Namgung Myung still stood there, bewildered.

Namgung Jincheon called out.

“What are you doing?”

“Yes?”

“Lead the way.”

Namgung Myung did as instructed, walking slightly ahead of Namgung Jincheon.

Only after the two figures disappeared into the family head’s quarters did the people realize that a new head of the Namgung family had emerged.