Chapter 158: Chapter 158

Was there any martial artist who did not know the name of Namgung So-hye?

The backbone family of the Eight Great Families and the home of the Sword Emperor.

Although its name was rarely mentioned now, the Namgung Family was still engraved in the minds of many as a prestigious orthodox family.

As the eldest daughter of such a place, Namgung So-hye was widely rumored for her outstanding martial arts and beautiful face.

Just looking at the position she held in the Martial Alliance at a young age, she was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly.

The men stepped back in shock.

However.

Slash!

The moment they tried to retreat, an outstretched sword slashed another man’s body. The spraying blood stimulated the men’s fear.

“Keugh…!”

The expression of the man who appeared to be the leader stiffened.

Unlike what he had heard about only having to deal with officers, the mere presence of Namgung So-hye put them in a very unfavorable situation.

He knew very well how much damage a single high-level martial artist could cause.

‘Should we retreat?’

Thud, thud!

At that moment, Gwon Mu-jin, who was behind Namgung So-hye, stepped forward.

He looked at the hesitant leader and wore a faint smile on his lips. It was clearly a smile mocking his opponent.

“It is the Lord’s command. You all will die.”

“Crazy bastard! Are you looking down on us just because you’re relying on Namgung So-hye alone!”

The man grew angry.

Although it was true they feared Namgung So-hye, they themselves were not lacking in skill.

If they set their minds to it and accepted some sacrifices, they could kill her.

“Huh?”

At the moment he was thinking that.

The man’s eyes widened.

The twin blades Gwon Mu-jin held in both hands.

They looked too familiar.

The man who had stood in his way long ago, during the conflict with the unorthodox path.

The weapons resembled the ones that man carried.

Looking closely again, those eyes and that face were familiar.

“No way… could you be… the Twin Blades?”

“Do you know me?”

“Crazy bastard!”

“I guess you do.”

The man spat out a curse and gritted his teeth.

What about this job was supposed to be easy?

They just had to capture the arrogant county magistrate?

They just had to kill the interfering officers?

This was complete bullshit.

To call this situation, which included Namgung So-hye and even the Little Twin Blades Gwon Mu-jin, the worst would be a joke. It was no different from opening the gates of hell.

If they wanted to live, they had to run.

“Ru…!”

“Didn’t I tell you to abandon any thought of running away!”

Woong!

A thunderous roar resounded.

Hong Won-chang, who had shouted loudly from the very back, leaped into the air and landed right between them.

Thud!

The deep crater left in the ground did not seem to be due to his weight alone.

Hong Won-chang, who had gained sixty years of internal energy through the elixirs and core he had purchased for his son Hong Jin-rang, swept through his surroundings, swinging his sword without hesitation.

Was it confidence?

It was nothing like that.

The moment he realized the enemies’ momentum had crumbled, he instinctively knew he had to dig in.

Hong Won-chang’s blade danced relentlessly.

Slash, slash!

“Aaack!”

“Aaargh!”

Although he was not skilled enough to subdue the opponents in a single blow like Gwon Mu-jin or Namgung So-hye, it was an action sufficient to completely crush the spirits of those who were already terrified.

Namgung So-hye and Gwon Mu-jin pounced on the men who were backing away in terror.

* * *

“Daddy! Look at this!”

She held out a pebble she had picked up from somewhere in front of Dan Woo-hyun. It was a tiny stone, but its shape was quite pretty.

Dan Woo-hyun took it and pulled out a dagger.

There was a reason why Dan So-mi brought things like this to Dan Woo-hyun.

Scrape, scrape!

As the dagger moved back and forth, the small stone was carved away. Dan So-mi watched it intently with sparkling eyes, a bright flower-like smile blooming on her face from her good mood.

Before long, an incredibly precise drawing was engraved on the small stone.

It was a picture of a small child picking up stones by the river.

“Wow! Thank you! It’s so pretty!”

“Haha, thank you for saying so.”

There were many things in Dan So-mi’s room.

Most of them were made by Dan Woo-hyun, and these carved crafts were also his creations.

Once, when Dan So-mi took them out to show off to Hong Jin-rang, some merchants had even made a fuss, asking her to sell them.

Dan So-mi smiled as she took the stone and carried it to her room.

She seemed to intend to display it there again.

“That handiwork of yours is as remarkable as ever, hohoho.”

Namgung Cheon, who had approached them at some point, laughed.

Although he knew Dan Woo-hyun was dexterous, he had not expected him to carve a picture on such a tiny stone. Thus, Namgung Cheon subtly held out a stone in his hand.

“What is this?”

“Make one for this old man too.”

“…”

“I would like you to do it.”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a long sigh.

It was not a particularly difficult task, but it was annoying when he came to ask every time, as it required considerable concentration.

Moreover, what this old man asked to be carved was always the same.

“Please carve it in the likeness of So-hye.”

It was indeed Namgung So-hye.

He thought of his granddaughter so much that most of the crafts hanging in Namgung Cheon’s room were of Namgung So-hye’s face or figure.

“If you cherish her that much, why didn’t you go with her?”

Dan Woo-hyun muttered, slowly moving his hands.

Just as he thought of Dan So-mi, Namgung Cheon thought of Namgung So-hye.

Therefore, he wondered if being apart made him feel somewhat anxious.

After all, the place Namgung So-hye went to was a battlefield.

At those words, Namgung Cheon laughed and sat down beside him.

“Don’t you know well? She is a born martial artist.”

“I know.”

“Once you hold a sword, you must entrust your life to the hilt. Living and dying is heaven’s will, and since it is her own skill, she must overcome it by herself. And she needs real combat experience.”

“Didn’t she experience enough of that in the Martial Alliance?”

“Hohoho, could the missions assigned by the Alliance truly be considered real combat?”

Namgung Cheon knew.

That many people watched the Sword Emperor’s reactions and refrained from giving her dangerous missions.

However, to grow, one had to experience life-or-death battles.

“So that is the case now?”

“Well…?”

Since he did not know the enemy, he could not say one way or another, but it was true she had thrown herself into the battlefield. Namgung Cheon was satisfied with just that.

However, Dan Woo-hyun smiled.

“This task is not for Namgung So-hye and Gwon Mu-jin.”

“Huh?”

“It would have been enough if only one of them had gone.”

Knowing the abilities of the two better than anyone, Dan Woo-hyun knew very well that this task was actually easier than eating cold porridge.

On the other hand, since the enemy had no idea of their capabilities, the people they sent would not be very strong either.

“Then… perhaps?”

“Yes, it is Hong Won-chang.”

Hong Won-chang was someone who served Dan Woo-hyun in a different sense than Jang Sam-tae.

While Jang Sam-tae remained in this manor out of affection, reverence for Dan So-mi, and respect for Dan Woo-hyun, Hong Won-chang possessed blind loyalty solely toward Dan Woo-hyun.

However, if he felt he gained nothing in return for the loyalty he offered, he could turn his back at any moment.

Given Hong Won-chang’s calculating and career-oriented personality, that might well be the case.

Thus, he had also sent him to assess his own skills through this opportunity.

“Hasn’t he already passed his forties? It seems… a bit late for him to achieve greatness.”

“Why do many martial artists learn martial arts from childhood?”

“It is because they must learn properly from a young age to absorb it quickly, not to mention the body’s flexibility.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

That was the reason why many accepted young disciples, talking about talent and the like.

Although a certain amount of talent was important, basically, what Namgung Cheon said was correct.

“True, but even as one ages, flexibility is not a problem if one makes an effort. The issue is how quickly one can make the things learned through real combat one’s own.”

“…Hmm, thinking of it that way, it does not seem wrong.”

Namgung Cheon nodded as well.

No matter how stiff a person’s body was, it was bound to gradually loosen up if they trained hard.

It was only a problem because it was slower than in children, but it posed no major obstacle to learning martial arts.

“Hong Won-chang will move forward. This fight is the first step toward that.”

“Ho… you intend to keep employing him?”

“I do not cast out those who follow me first.”

“Hohoho, indeed.”

Namgung Cheon wore a pleasant smile.

Dan Woo-hyun sometimes showed a harsh personality.

Having observed him from the side, this was absolutely true.

If he felt anyone in the manor was unnecessary, he might have discarded them indifferently.

Yet such a man was now trying to embrace people one by one.

This was could be considered a very positive change.

“You have changed.”

“Changed? Me? I am still just myself.”

“Isn’t that obvious.”

Dan Woo-hyun had not yet realized his own change.

Because he was always himself, he did not notice the gradual shifts.

However, those watching from the side could see that change, even if just a little.

“By the way, where on earth did Jang Sam-tae and Ma Jang-gang go?”

“An errand.”

“Isn’t it taking a bit long?”

Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes.

For something called an errand, they had not seen their faces for several months now.

Considering that the people of the manor had never been away for more than three days before, it seemed Jang Sam-tae had gone somewhere extremely far.

Last time, he let it go, thinking he would return soon, but taking this long meant there was another reason.

“Is there perhaps another matter?”

“I told you then as well, if there is, there is; if there isn’t, there isn’t. If nothing is going on, nothing could be better than that.”

Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes.

These were words coming from none other than Dan Woo-hyun.

Not a single word from his mouth could be ignored.

But for now, he had to let it go.

No matter how he asked, the same answer would return.

That was how tight-lipped Dan Woo-hyun was.

“Well… you will handle it well on your own. Ah, by the way, did you hear that news?”

“What news?”

“They say the crowds from the unorthodox path who invaded Shaanxi have withdrawn.”

Dan Woo-hyun gave a slight nod.

Whether they withdrew or not, or whether a bloody fight broke out, his expression did not even change, as if he did not feel the slightest interest.

He just quietly stroked the stone and spoke.

“That is fortunate.”

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