ALL NOVEL Ch 13
A man wearing a dark black robe flapped as he walked forward.
Looking at the back of the man, Cho Hwi’s face was filled with complexity.
The man in the black robe was the leader of the Jeongcheon Corps, a direct military unit under the Wulin Alliance’s Inspection Bureau.
Cho Hwi, having already heard of the overwhelming power of the Wulin Alliance’s Inspection Bureau, couldn’t help but feel tense.
Although he had been called to the Namgung family a few times before and scolded, this time the atmosphere felt completely different.
As Cho Hwi passed through the front gates of the Namgung family and was about to write his name in the guestbook to receive his audience pass, a guard who had come to greet him stopped him.
“The Lord of the Inner Circle has commanded that the audience pass be omitted. Please follow me.”
“Hmm? Understood.”
Cho Hwi was lightly surprised.
The Namgung family usually didn’t ignore formalities or procedures.
Yet, skipping the audience pass meant that something urgent was happening.
As Cho Hwi followed the guard into the Inner Circle, the leader of the Jeongcheon Corps bowed courteously.
“I hope you will uphold the righteous cause.”
Righteous cause?
What did that mean?
Cho Hwi responded awkwardly with a bow.
“Take care.”
After the greeting, Cho Hwi entered the Changryong Hall, and the overwhelming atmosphere nearly sent a chill down his spine.
‘Huh? It seems like most of the people are here already.’
The first person who caught his eye was the highest-ranking family head, Namgung Su.
On his right stood Namgung Baek, the lord of the Inner Circle, and on his left was Namgung Woo, the lord of the Outer Circle.
Also, standing behind the family head was his master, Namgung Seongchan, the leader of the Changcheondam Ro Won.
Namgung Jangho, the lord of the Small Sword Sect, was also glowing with a sharp gaze, standing by the family head’s side.
Additionally, leaders of various corps and teams were arrayed on either side, fully armed.
Indeed, the great Namgung family!
The rulers of Anhui, the Namgung family’s prestige among the Five Great Families, was truly immense.
But there was another notable person.
‘Jeogal Un?’
His usual playful demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a cold, stern face that somehow felt ominous.
Soon, Jeogal Un’s businesslike voice echoed.
“I will first convey the Alliance’s stance to you, the representative of the Cao Family Trading Company.”
His voice rang out clearly, explaining the dismantling of the Nanchang intelligence network, its implications, the troubling movements of the Black Heaven League toward Heabi, and the position of the Wulin Alliance. He then fell silent.
It all sounded complicated, but the Alliance’s message was simple.
“Integrate all of your businesses into the Namgung family. Submit to the supervision of the Wulin Alliance. And pay the designated tribute every month. If not, we will not protect you from the Black Heaven League’s claws.”
The threat was so simple that it almost seemed absurd.
The righteous Wulin Alliance, the embodiment of justice—yet this almost felt like a gangster’s threat.
Cho Hwi’s cold gaze turned toward Jeogal Un.
“It seems the elders of the Alliance are mistaken.”
Jeogal Un asked, “What mistake are you referring to?”
“You’re judging me by the standards of the martial world, aren’t you?”
Cho Hwi scanned the room and bit his lip.
“Do you think I cannot turn Nanchang into another Heabi?”
At those words, a chill ran down Jeogal Un’s spine.
“Turning Nanchang into Heabi?”
That meant he could potentially give wings to the Black Heaven League.
“What is this nonsense?”
“I am fundamentally a merchant. I do not shy away from risky ventures if they promise profit. But…”
Cho Hwi’s voice deepened.
“Many people seek to take the wealth that others have risked their lives to earn. In such situations, merchants think one thing.”
The next words stunned everyone.
“Who will give me greater profit?”
The shock made Namgung Baek, the lord of the Inner Circle, lose his temper and shout loudly.
“Are you saying that, for the right price, you would even work with the dogs of the Black Heaven League?”
“Isn’t that the inevitable choice when they’re trying to take everything from me?”
Cho Hwi glared at Namgung Baek relentlessly before speaking again.
“Human greed truly knows no bounds. Lord Baek, have I ever harmed the interests of the Namgung family?”
“Is that a serious question? If you had looked at any of the family’s businesses even once…”
“No,” Cho Hwi interrupted.
His mocking face swept across the room.
“Three years ago, Heabi’s population was about 86,000. Now, it’s 170,000. Let me ask you again.”
Cho Hwi turned his gaze back to Namgung Baek.
“Has my Cao Family Trading Company harmed the Namgung family’s businesses?”
In fact, the Namgung family’s income had increased slightly compared to three years ago, just as Cho Hwi said. The population of Heabi had grown significantly, after all.
But human greed was always relative.
Compared to the enormous profits the Cao Family Trading Company had made in Heabi, the Namgung family’s increase in revenue was negligible, so dissatisfaction was only natural.
“You…”
“If the elders of the family ask me to yield, I will. Though I bear a different surname, I am certainly a person of the Namgung family.”
Cho Hwi’s chilling, polar-star-like eyes locked onto Jeogal Un.
“But I am not of the Alliance. Go and tell your superiors. I belong to neither the righteous nor the wicked.”
A heavy voice suddenly echoed through the room.
It was the voice of Namgung Su, the family head.
“Between righteousness and evil… very few have ever held such an attitude in the history of the martial world. And they all shared a common trait.”
Cho Hwi nodded.
“Exactly. A wise elder once told me, ‘Anyone who falls into the swamp of compromise will inevitably become the weak. The only way to become strong is to stake your life to protect your people, your values.’”
At that moment, the black pupils in Cho Hwi’s eyes disappeared.
His white eyes were now glowing with a vast, divine light.
*Boom… boom… boom…*
The vibrating battlefield!
“I will walk the path of the strong.”
A chilling world of black and white spreads before his eyes.
The flow of air.
Dust swirling in the sunlight.
The energy emitted by the martial artists.
Mirages rising above the teacup.
The world he gazes at all turns into physical diagrams.
Everywhere, equations and functions scatter.
The information from countless physical formulas naturally embeds itself into his mind.
At first, he couldn’t accept it at all.
A state of no-self (State of egolessness).
The blissful enlightenment in the world of images felt fleeting, lasting only a short ten minutes or so.
However, when he left that world of images and checked his own body, he was left speechless in disbelief.
Faded, worn-out school clothes.
A mountain of dust covering his body.
Though the old swordsman laughed heartily and mentioned that three years had passed, it still seemed impossible.
The most shocking thing, however, was the change in his body.
Unimaginable potential abilities that no human body should be able to possess. These unnatural powers had fully blossomed.
The old swordsman had referred to this state as the “Sword Heaven Omnipotent Body” (Sword Heaven All-Powerful Body).
Though there was the issue of his pupils turning ghostly white as a side effect.
Still, Zhao Hui calmly scanned the crowd.
Anyone with a sharp sense would understand that this display wasn’t even his full power.
The intermediary position.
A position only the strong could take.
The old swordsman had assured him that there were no more than ten martial artists in the entire martial world that surpassed him.
He was a true powerhouse.
The one looking at him with the most astonished face was none other than the family head, Namgung Su.
‘What the heck!’
A human’s martial soul engraved in their eyes.
Except for special martial techniques like Zhaoxin Gong, this phenomenon clearly indicated an absolute state.
This meant that Zhao Hui’s level was on par with the “Azure Sky Eye” of the Namgung family.
There had been many martial artists in the past who were called geniuses.
Even those had been called miracles for surpassing the boundary of “Transformation” at the age of forty.
But now, a young man past the age of twenty had reached the level beyond Transformation, the absolute level?
Logically, it made no sense.
Had there ever been such a martial artist in the history of the martial world?
The renowned sword immortal of the Namgung family, Namgung Seongchan, looked at Zhao Hui, who had revealed his martial soul, and burst into laughter.
“…Hehehe!”
A disciple?
Even without a famous name, this was laughable!
Zhao Hui was someone who had already surpassed the presence of the master himself without revealing his full strength.
He was at the threshold of absolute power, a level of martial artist that even someone at Namgung Seongchan’s level couldn’t fully understand!
How could such a person be his disciple!
Namgung Seongchan looked at his assistant, Zegal Woon, with half-opened eyes.
“Do you feel it too?”
“What? What do you mean?”
Whenever faced with an incomprehensible phenomenon, Zegal Woon’s brain always stalled.
Namgung Seongchan chuckled warmly.
“He is absolute.”
“Absolute level!”
A martial artist at the absolute level — the possession of such a martial artist could determine the rise and fall of a sect.
Among the renowned ancient sects, only four had martial artists at the absolute level: Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and Kunlun.
The once powerful sect, the “Point Blue” from the Silent Sword Sect of Yunnan, had failed to produce an absolute-level expert for seventy years.
The traditional sect, “Zhongnan” of Shaanxi, had not had any notable developments for a century.
The famous monastery of the Buddhist nuns, Emei, had not produced any new absolute-level experts since their founder’s death.
In this way, it was extremely difficult for a sect to produce even one absolute-level martial artist in a generation.
The value and destructive power of a single such martial artist were indescribable.
One martial artist could be the entire sect itself.
“To break his will, we would need to bring the sect leader or deputy sect leader,” Namgung Seongchan commented.
Hearing this, Zegal Woon was at a loss for words.
However, he could not forget his mission.
“…I will return to the Alliance for now.”
Zegal Woon hurriedly left the hall, his face pale, and the heavy silence in the room was finally broken by Namgung Su.
“What does the Namgung family mean to you?”
Zhao Hui slowly retracted his white eyes and, after a moment of thought, replied.
“It feels like an uncle.”
An uncle who always fixes things when trouble arises!
An uncle who buys whatever you want if you throw a tantrum!
To Zhao Hui, the Namgung family felt exactly like that.
“…You see them as family?”
Namgung Su somewhat misunderstood, but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Namgung Su’s deep eyes turned toward Namgung Baek, the head of the inner court.
“What do you think about appointing this young man to the position of serving the family?”
At the family head’s words, Namgung Baek’s mind began to race fiercely. He had quickly read the family head’s intentions.
Namgung Baek recalled the family regulations and began reviewing them carefully.
He was looking for any potential reasons for disqualification.
After organizing his thoughts, he finally spoke.
“To appoint someone outside the direct line of descent to the position of service, one condition must be met, Family Head.”
“What condition?”
Namgung Baek swallowed hard.
“Marriage. The person must marry into the family.”
“Mm…”
At those words, the head of the family, Namgung Soo, could not help but fall into deep thought. Marrying off a daughter from the family was no simple matter.
Most importantly, the problem was…
“…It’s impossible. Father.”
At Namgung Jangho’s response, all the warriors in the great hall seemed to sigh deeply in agreement.
The first person they thought of as a potential match for the family’s daughter was, of course, Namgung Sosoo.
But Sosoo was completely infatuated with that muscular man, bringing him food daily without fail.
“…Hmm…”
The head of the family, Namgung Soo, was clearly troubled.
However, it was well-known that an absolute master in the same generation was almost impossible to come by in one sect.
Namgung Seongchan had already achieved the Heavenly Eye, but how could the ambition of the family head stop there?
If they could recruit Jo Hwi, they would have three such masters. The Huashan and Shaolin sects each had two, but Namgung’s sect would have three!
This was not something they could afford to miss.
“…Isn’t So Mi available?”
All the heads turned in disbelief toward the family head.
Was he seriously thinking of this?
While they understood the effort to recruit an absolute master, could he really be sacrificing his integrity like this?
Namgung Jangho hastily tried to dissuade his father.
“Father, no, family head. So Mi is only nine years old.”
Upon hearing this, Jo Hwi was furious.
“Crazy! Are you serious? What do you think I am? This is too inappropriate!”
“Inappropriate?”
As Namgung Soo tilted his head in confusion, Jo Hwi immediately rejected the suggestion.
“Such things exist. Anyway, no! Absolutely not!”
But someone else spoke up.
“If you don’t want to accept the position, then you must return the Heavenly Sword Seal.”
Namgung Seongchan, grinning maliciously.
“That’s dirty!” Jo Hwi exclaimed.
How could they take back what they had given? Could they really be this shameless?
Jo Hwi was completely caught off guard.
Of course, he had his own martial strength, and he had cultivated good relationships with the officials, but without the Heavenly Sword Seal, he would face numerous problems. He couldn’t keep solving everything with force or relying on the government.
The King of Anhui was Namgung’s family, after all.
Namgung Seongchan knew this weakness of Jo Hwi perfectly.
“Didn’t you say you consider Namgung as family?”
“…Sigh…”
The family head’s words were not empty. In the Namgung family, the position of “vassal” meant subordination in the end.
“You can continue your business as usual, and Namgung will never take a share of your profits. However…”
Namgung Seongchan’s eyes narrowed once again.
“Isn’t the essence of family, and by extension, a sect, about sharing life and death together? The fate of a community?”
“Yes, yes. It sure feels like family,” Jo Hwi muttered.
No matter how much he tried to think of an escape, there was no way out. Running a business without the Heavenly Sword Seal was far too difficult.
Jo Hwi’s shoulders drooped.
“Fine… I’ll accept the vassal position. But I will *never* agree to that marriage!”
The family head, Namgung Soo, smiled with satisfaction and looked at Namgung Baek.
“Call the elders and the Family Law Council to prepare for a meeting.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
Namgung Soo smiled warmly.
“Simple. We can change the family laws, can’t we?”
“Huh?”
Namgung Baek was stunned by the straightforward logic.
Yes. According to the family’s procedures, if the Elder Council and the Family Law Council reached a unanimous agreement, the family laws could be amended.
Namgung’s family, which highly valued procedures, was willing to change the family law just to recruit him. This made Jo Hwi suddenly realize the power he had obtained.
“So, can I leave now?”
Namgung Baek shook his head.
“No, you can’t.”
“What now?”
Jo Hwi’s voice was tinged with annoyance as Namgung Baek glared at him.
“Didn’t you see the guesthouse on your way here?”
“I didn’t even get a guest pass and rushed here!” Jo Hwi replied, puzzled.
Namgung Baek pointed toward the guesthouse.
“All the influential figures from Anhui are here because of your Habbinguan.”
“Why? What’s wrong with the Habbinguan?” Jo Hwi asked.
“Of course there’s a problem! The heirs of prominent families are wasting their entire family fortune at the Habbinguan! Even the sons of the local officials, who should be focusing on their studies, are wasting their time there! Is that all? There are bachelors celebrating their pre-marriage parties there, and young women are hosting their own bachelorette parties! Do you know how many families in Heifei have had their engagements broken because of the Habbinguan?”
Jo Hwi flinched, then puffed out his chest.
“I’m not forcing them to buy expensive alcohol. They’re spending their own money, so what do you want me to do?”
“And yet this person…” Namgung Baek was exasperated, rubbing his head.
This damn kid was using the deep-rooted obsession with face among Central Plains men as a business strategy.
How meticulous his business tactics were had left even Namgung Baek in awe.
“At least stop the business temporarily. That way we can send them back,” Namgung Baek urged. “Please, just tone it down.”
“Hmm…”
Jo Hwi sighed, resigned.
“Fine, I’ll close the Zhoga Daosanghui for the next half month.”
At that, all the officials in the great hall erupted in protest.
“What? What do you mean? Why close everything else? Just close the Habbinguan!”
“Not the Zoga Shengming Hall!”
“Not the Zoga Guesthouse!”
“Ah! Zoga Distillery should be fine, right?”
Jo Hwi replied slyly.
“We won’t close just one place, all the businesses must close for fairness. How can some work while others take a break? Don’t you want to lower the morale of my workers?”
Even Namgung Baek was now desperate.
“Can’t you just pay extra for those who worked more?”
Jo Hwi glared at him incredulously.
“What? Who’s making me close the doors? Is Namgung going to cover my losses? Do you know how much I’ll lose if I close for just one day?”
“N-no, wait, Jo!”
The thought of not being able to have Hekkcheongsoo’s honeyed brew for half a month made everyone’s mind go blank, especially since they had all become addicted to it.
“Ugh! I can’t live without the cold tea from the Zhao Family Tavern!”
“Our son won’t eat anything unless it’s made from six-layered noodle dough.”
“A life without Hanbing wine… is that really life at all?”
The most remarkable reaction came from the family head, Namgung Su.
“Hmm… what was the name of the limited-edition wine I ordered? Anyway, will it be available this time?”
Zhao Hui nodded.
“Are you referring to the Gaecheon Wine you ordered?”
“Yes, that’s it!”
“I’ve received a report that it should arrive in about ten days.”
“Ten days!”
The Gaecheon Wine (Opening Sky Wine) was a rare limited-edition wine produced only three or four times a year by Anhui Cheolbang. Namgung Su was enchanted by its open-roof design, resembling a modern open-top car, and he couldn’t stop thinking about it. In just a week, he would finally receive the wine’s splendid beauty.
But what if the Zhao Family Tavern closed for fifteen days?
Suddenly, Namgung Su turned to Namgung Jangho.
“Where is the guesthouse where the prominent figures are gathered?”
“It’s the Cheongryong Hall.”
At this, Namgung Su turned with his hands behind his back and started walking.
“I’ll go ahead and do a round of Qi training.”
As he walked away, Namgung Baek’s expression darkened, and his eyes lowered in deep thought.
Ah, where is Namgung’s family heading?
—
The coachman of the Inspectors’ Department waited patiently for a long time, but Zhuge Yun, standing in the courtyard, seemed uninterested in departing.
Zhuge Yun’s eyes, drained of energy, showed no signs of intent to leave.
Originally appointed to be the Yi Byeolgam (official post for public service), he was reassigned to the Inspectors’ Department because of his connection to Zhao Hui, the head of the Zhao Family Tavern.
This matter was of utmost importance.
The Zhao Family Tavern was now threatening even the top merchant group in the Central Plains, the Manggeum Clan.
If the Zhao Family Tavern could fall under the leadership of the Wulin Alliance, it would change the balance of power in the martial arts world, which coexisted with the Three-Power Alliance.
Therefore, once the decision was made for the Habi operation, countless potential scenarios and countermeasures had already been prepared.
From analyzing the temperaments and psychology of all the key members of the Namgung Family to understanding the weaknesses of the Zhao Family Tavern, building persuasive arguments, and even preparing appropriate threats, nothing had been left to chance.
However, everything was shattered by one unpredictable factor.
The Absolute Realm!
Isn’t this going too far?
Could anyone have predicted that a young man who had barely passed his twenties would achieve the Absolute Realm?
Moreover, this was someone from the business world, not from the martial arts world!
Even someone like Zhuge Yun, who was known as the “Little Zhuge,” couldn’t handle such an unexpected variable.
This was the first time since that event that he felt this devastated.
A martial arts match.
Right now, it felt like the same bewildering emotion he had experienced back then.
A situation that could not be explained by human logic—this was exactly that kind of situation.
And yet, both the renowned master of martial arts and the young man who achieved the Absolute Realm were the same person.
Is he even human?
Zhuge Yun’s feelings now went beyond disbelief and into outright anger.
“Wow! How can a person be like this?”
As he turned around, Zhuge Yun saw Zhao Hui staring at him with a dissatisfied look on his face.
“Do you know how much money I gave you for the design of the Gaecheon Wine? A hundred gold coins, a hundred! A person should have a conscience, you know? How could you turn your back on me the moment you get a job with the Alliance? Now I understand why the Zhuge Family gets so much bad reputation.”
At that moment, an overwhelming aura of power swept through from the direction of the Cheongryong Hall, where influential figures were gathered.
Boom, boom, boom…
A heavy tremor emanated from the ground.
Ugh!
Ahhh!
Even from this distance, the loud screams of people echoed, but Zhao Hui dismissed them, casually waving his hand.
“Ah, don’t worry about that. Let’s hear your excuses.”
Zhuge Yun sighed thinly.
“Sigh, as long as I’m part of the Alliance, what can I do? Everything is according to the will of the Alliance.”
“I knew you would say that. Ugh, so you plan to continue interfering with my business, don’t you?”
Zhuge Yun instinctively took a step back, sensing the unusual aura.
“Please, let’s discuss this calmly. I am the officer of the Alliance’s Inspectorate, you know?”
Zhao Hui shook his head.
It’s not that he couldn’t understand. When you’re an employee, you have to follow orders.
But the unsettling feeling of being backstabbed by someone he trusted was hard to shake off.
“Anyway, stop causing trouble, and just report back to the Alliance. I’ll let this slide. But have you thought about the offer I made to you before?”
“I told you that’s not going to happen.”
Zhao Hui had offered him a position as Vice President of the Zhao Family Tavern, with a monthly salary of 200 gold coins.
For Zhao Hui, such a sum was not much when it came to bringing in someone like Zhuge Yun.
“Why? The salary from the Alliance is far less than this, isn’t it?”
Zhuge Yun sighed again.
Power is a matter that cannot be solved by money alone. Zhao Hui didn’t understand the dynamics of the martial arts world.
“It’s not about the salary, Zhao Hui. The Alliance and our Zhuge Family…”
“Zhao Fenggong!”
Just then, Namgung Jangho appeared in the courtyard.
Zhao Hui instinctively took a step back, feeling the intense, passionate gaze from Namgung Jangho.
That fierce gaze… it reminded him of the look that Namgung had when he looked at the young master of the Hwasan Clan, Cheongwoon.
“I humbly request a lesson from the honored Fenggong!”
Namgung Jangho bowed deeply.
His face was so serious that it sent shivers down Zhao Hui’s spine.
“Why the sudden change? This hasn’t been finalized yet, has it?”
Namgung Jangho’s eyes shone with admiration as he persistently stared at Zhao Hui.
—
“My father has moved, so it is surely something that will come to pass! In any case, the head of our family holds the same position as the elders. Naturally, the elders of the family have the duty to impart wisdom to the younger generation!”
It sounds good in theory, but in the end, it just means he wants to fight.
I had heard the passionate rumors about him.
The legendary sword master, known for seeking out every great martial artist and requesting guidance, the Sword Demon, So Geomju.
In his eyes, there was a profound sense of respect.
“I can’t believe someone my age has achieved such a level. I genuinely admire you.”
Sensing something unusual, Jo Hwi sneaked toward the back garden.
As he tried to slip away, Namgung Jangho bowed deeply again.
“I am not worthy compared to you, but please do not disregard my martial spirit.”
—Do not ignore the sincerity of the sword master.
The quiet voice of the elder sword god echoed in Jo Hwi’s mind, and he couldn’t help but adopt a more serious expression.
“Hmm…”
After a moment of contemplation, Jo Hwi headed toward the training grounds.
“I understand. Let’s go.”
Namgung Jangho’s face lit up with joy.
“Thank you, Jo Bonggong!”
—
The news of Jo Hwi and Namgung Jangho’s duel spread rapidly throughout the family.
The higher-ups in the family were eager to witness it, but to the lower-ranking martial artists, it was nothing short of shocking.
One of the lower-ranked martial artists in the outer area stared at his comrades with a perplexed expression.
“Although Jo Hwi of the Jo Family is quite a remarkable figure, a ‘duel’ with So Geomju? Is he out of his mind?”
“Are you still unaware? Jo Hwi is a master in the Absolute Realm! The Absolute Realm!”
“What? What are you saying?!”
“Just wait and see! Let’s go watch! Hey, clear the way!”
The training grounds were soon filled with martial artists, and as Jo Hwi frowned, he was greeted by Namgung Jangho’s voice.
“Then, I ask for your guidance!”
With a confident stance, Namgung Jangho raised his sword, his aura expanding with the power of the Changcheondae Yeon Sin Gong technique.
Jo Hwi, his eyes narrowed like a sharp blade, stared at him.
“Come.”
Jo Hwi wasn’t the type to take a duel lightly, especially since it was a test of his opponent’s sincerity.
Soon, Namgung Jangho swung his sword in a mighty, unwavering strike.
A sweeping motion, free from hesitation.
The intensity of his training was clear from the sheer power of his attack.
The sword did not deceive the eyes.
Namgung Jangho wasn’t trying to trick his opponent with deceitful tricks; he was moving with purpose, and his blade was as heavy as his intentions.
The King’s Sword Form—mighty and unyielding.
As the attack approached, Jo Hwi swiftly executed a defensive step, taking a calculated evasive maneuver, avoiding the devastating sword flow with remarkable precision.
“Yi Hyung Hwan Wi?” (A technique that shifts the form and position)
Namgung Jangho’s eyes widened in disbelief.
No, that couldn’t have been the case. The shift had been too quick to be an actual form change.
Jo Hwi had evaded the sword’s trajectory with a single motion, immediately charging forward, launching three swift strikes.
One horizontal slash, one thrust to the right, and one upward cut.
For a moment, Namgung Jangho’s eyes flickered with confusion.
There was something strange about the movement.
A human’s movements should always have some kind of preparatory action.
But Jo Hwi’s strikes seemed to materialize from thin air.
Yet, despite the rapid succession of attacks, the blows lacked true power.
The slash was slow, the thrust weak, and the upward cut lacked force.
Namgung Jangho skillfully parried, sending Jo Hwi’s blows flying, but the impact that followed was strange.
Klang!
Grrk!
Namgung Jangho coughed up blood, staggering back, his swordsmanship faltering.
“Cough!”
The three strikes—simple, almost rudimentary—were not meant to be powerful.
But they had struck with a force that couldn’t be explained easily.
—
This was not just a regular slash or thrust.
The combination of these seemingly minor strikes had created a reaction that could not be described without actually experiencing it.
“How…?”
A seasoned swordsman like Namgung Jangho could typically predict his opponent’s next move by observing their eyes, shoulders, and feet.
But Jo Hwi’s movements were beyond explanation.
It was as though Jo Hwi was reading the flow of the energy surrounding Namgung Jangho—the energy of the Changcheondae Yeon Sin Gong technique itself.
That was the only way to explain how Jo Hwi could evade the attacks.
When Jo Hwi had made the slash, the internal energy of the Changcheondae Yeon Sin Gong had perfectly matched the attack’s force.
Even when Jo Hwi executed the thrust and the upward cut, the internal energy he wielded matched the force of his movements, as though the techniques were perfectly synchronized.
But the real question was the impact.
As soon as the attack made contact, a tremendous internal shockwave spread throughout Namgung Jangho’s body, directly impacting his dantian, avoiding his heart altogether.
This was a level of control over internal energy that Namgung Jangho could not comprehend.
Could this really be the work of a human’s martial arts?
—
Just as Namgung Jangho tried to recover, Jo Hwi’s next three strikes came without warning.
Another horizontal slash, thrust, and upward cut.
Their trajectories were as slow as before, but the power they held was unmistakable.
A chill ran down Namgung Jangho’s spine.
This was no ordinary battle. He could not afford to be foolish again.
With a roar, Namgung Jangho countered, unleashing his full might.
The King’s Sword Form once more—this time with the full force of the Emperor’s Thunder Dance.
The overwhelming force of the sword filled the air, but as Jo Hwi adjusted his stance, his own energy, a wave of light, broke through the darkness of Namgung Jangho’s sword.
Namgung Jangho’s world turned black as the massive force of his attack collided with the radiant light emanating from Jo Hwi.
The dazzling, almost celestial lights filled the world with brilliance.
Some of the light moved slowly, some shot forward with incredible speed, tracing arcs or rushing in straight lines, shimmering as they danced through the air.
It was a surreal sight—an illusion of every form in the world.
The light trails of the Jeongwangjincheonmu (Emperor King’s Heavenly Dance Sword) were swirling as if in play.
The overwhelming power of the sword, which had just begun to manifest, slowly settled like the melting snow, falling downwards.
Gurgle!
With his body supported by his sword, Namgung Jangho began to spit blood.
Though temporary, this was a natural result of reaching a state close to the Hwa-gyeong (Transformation Realm).
Namgung Jangho’s eyes, filled with awe, turned towards Jo Hwi.
“Ckheh… Your sword… I can see why your name is so well-known…”
Jo Hwi, having withdrawn his sword energy, calmly looked at Namgung Jangho.
“My famous sword style is the Cheongeomryu (Heavenly Sword Stream).”
As Jo Hwi sheathed his sword, he continued.
“This is the sword form called Cheonha Yuseonggeom (Heavenly Flowing Star Sword).”
Clang!
Namgung Baek, the Lord of the Inner Circle, dropped his teacup in surprise, still staring blankly.
“…How can such a genius in martial arts exist?”
Nearby, Namgung Seongchan, the Master of the Heavenly Sword, shook his head quietly.
“He is no genius. Rather, our Jangho could be considered a genius. Even though it is incomplete, he has reached the threshold of Hwa-gyeong. To achieve this at his age… truly astonishing.”
Namgung Seongchan looked at Namgung Jangho, who was on the ground, more with admiration than at Jo Hwi, who had won.
Was he implying that he was unfazed by Jo Hwi’s overwhelming sword stance just moments ago?
Namgung Baek, filled with questions, turned his gaze back to Namgung Seongchan.
“Then what exactly is that person who defeated Jangho in just two moves?”
Namgung Seongchan smiled bitterly, still gazing at Jo Hwi.
“Why don’t you try explaining, Namgung Baek?”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Namgung Seongchan’s eyes darkened.
“Such a person cannot be interpreted by anyone’s eye. No matter how refined a martial artist may be, they will not understand him.”
He turned his gaze to Namgung Su, the head of the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Su, sitting calmly, had his eyes half-closed, lost in deep contemplation.
“The one who can throw someone like our clan head, who sits at the pinnacle of the Chilmuza (Seven Martial Seats), into the world of Simyang (Mind’s World) with just one sword strike… This means the issue isn’t just about martial skill.”
Namgung Seongchan’s gaze returned to Jo Hwi.
“The sword technique Jo Hwi uses seems dazzling at first glance, but there’s a strange feeling—something that doesn’t align with the martial principles of the Jianghu (martial world). How should I put it… It feels like something from another realm, not from the human world?”
At that moment, Namgung Su slowly opened his eyes.
“I see. The person my uncle showed me in the Nongeomnok (Treatise on Swordsmanship) was this young man.”
Namgung Seongchan’s eyes widened in recognition.
He had intentionally kept this information from him, fearing preconceived notions, yet Namgung Su had immediately recognized his opponent from the Nongeomnok.
“Can my uncle break through the three strikes of that young man and recover from the defensive position?”
Namgung Seongchan, his face serious, shook his head quietly.
“I can’t say for sure.”
Namgung Su nodded as if he had expected this.
“His three strikes are perfect.”
Namgung Baek, standing nearby, widened his eyes in shock.
The Chilmuza and the Cheongcheongeomhyup (Heavenly Sword Union) had a common saying:
Unfortunately, the Jeongwanggeomhyung (Emperor King Sword Style) is an incomplete sword.
The most powerful sword form in the Namgung Clan, Jeongwanggeomhyung, was always considered incomplete by the masters. To hear such a person say that the three strikes of Jo Hwi are “perfect” was unheard of.
“These three strikes have already claimed the trajectory of all movements. They completely dominate the space, not allowing any variations. It’s a perfectly constructed offensive sword style that forces the opponent into a defensive stance…”
Namgung Su slowly opened his eyes, deep in thought.
“If that young man were to use Eonyeom (Yi-nyeom) and apply the principles of Simyang to those three strikes…”
“He would be a divine sword.”
“Hmm…”
As Namgung Su returned to his internal thoughts, Namgung Seongchan muttered quietly.
“He’s no genius. What we call a genius is still within human limits.”
The existence of martial artists like Jo Hwi couldn’t be understood by conventional wisdom of the Jianghu. They felt like beings from another world, like fallen gods.
“Shin-in (Divine Being). Looking at that person, I feel as though the Three Gods are rising in my mind.”
The Three Gods, three divine figures from the ancient history of the Jianghu, came to Namgung Seongchan’s mind.
At this, Namgung Baek was stunned, his expression frozen.
The highest martial masters of the Namgung Clan were now evaluating Jo Hwi.
If he truly was a candidate for a divine being, the Namgung Clan could never afford to let him slip away.