Chapter 269: Chapter 269
Clang, clang, clang!
A fierce clash of offense and defense unfolded.
Since it was a fight between two families that had once been the pillars of the orthodox faction, the intensity was not something easily seen even on a battlefield.
In particular, as Murong Gong and Namgung Jong-ak’s swords flashed brilliantly and scattered, the surrounding area was quickly turning into a wasteland.
However, the situation was clear.
It was clear that the Namgung Family had seized the momentum in the beginning, but it was the Murong Family that was gradually breaking that momentum and overwhelming them.
Perhaps because the number of people from the Namgung Family was not large from the start, one could feel that their numbers had noticeably decreased.
‘Was the Murong Family… this strong?’
Namgung Yong ground his teeth and swung his sword.
Had he thought too lightly of this?
Was his judgment wrong?
He ground his teeth as he watched his family members dying.
Although he drew his sword to avenge his father, the situation seemed somewhat difficult to achieve that goal.
The power of the Murong Family was stronger than he had thought.
At the center of it was Murong Gong, and he had an ominous feeling that Namgung Jong-ak, who was holding him off, would not be able to hold out for much longer.
Namgung Yong cut down the enemy in front of him and rushed toward Murong Gong. This was because if he could cut off Murong Gong’s head in the current situation, he could turn the tables at once.
“What a foolish bastard!”
Murong Gong mocked Namgung Yong’s judgment and moved his body. There was nothing more foolish than throwing oneself at an opponent one could not handle.
Even more so if the Family Head, who was the most central figure, acted like that in a situation where they were locked in a tight battle like Namgung Jong-ak.
“Family Head!”
Namgung Jong-ak shouted loudly, but it was already too late.
Deflecting Namgung Jong-ak’s outstretched sword, Murong Gong turned around and aimed at Namgung Yong.
That extremely precise move was so subtle that no one could have predicted it.
Startled, Namgung Jong-ak hastily tried to strike down the sword.
But as if he had anticipated even that, Murong Gong lightly avoided it, and instead dug forward, twisting his body sharply.
The target from the very beginning was not Namgung Yong.
“They say you should get rid of the annoying one first.”
Murong Gong laughed.
He could kill the Head of the Namgung Family whenever he wanted. But on the contrary, Namgung Jong-ak was stronger than expected, making it not so easy.
In such a situation, since Namgung Yong’s mistake had shown a gap, it was only natural to target it.
Stab!
“Urgh!”
“Elder!”
Murong Gong’s sword pierced Namgung Jong-ak’s abdomen.
Since it was originally a move aimed at the heart, it was slightly disappointing, but he was fully satisfied just by inflicting a serious wound.
Slash!
As he pulled out the sword, blood splattered.
Staggering heavily, Namgung Jong-ak fell backward.
When Murong Gong raised his sword again with the intention of finishing him off for sure, Namgung Yong’s sword, having quickly closed the distance, blocked him.
As the swords clashed, Murong Gong failed to achieve his goal.
He looked at Namgung Yong with a somewhat surprised expression at the heavy sensation.
“So, you are a tiger cub after all?”
“Ugh…!”
“Family Head… p… please escape!”
The situation was not good.
Even though he was somewhat tired, Murong Gong was fine, and many members of the Murong Family were still alive. There was nothing good about continuing to fight like this.
The Namgung Family, having lost the Sword Emperor, absolutely needed Namgung Yong.
Although he was still inexperienced, knowing that he was a talent who would lead the family well, Namgung Jong-ak had to send Namgung Yong away alive at all costs.
Therefore, he stood up from his spot, disregarding his sword wound.
He stood straight with his sword in hand.
“Hurry, take the children and go back. I will handle this place.”
“What tearful loyalty… tsk tsk.”
Murong Woon clicked his tongue and raised his sword.
A terrible power pressed down in all directions, enough to feel that the internal energy infused into the sword was extraordinary. The moment he swung it, Namgung Jong-ak would die without even being able to block it.
Swish!
Soon, the sword carrying killing intent was swung fiercely.
Clang!
“Urgh?!”
However, a pebble flying from somewhere struck the side of the blade.
At the same time, someone flew into the arena, flashing a sword light before Murong Gong’s eyes.
It was neither slow nor fast, but the precisely extended sword moved subtly, aiming at Murong Gong’s neck.
Slash!
Unfortunately, however, it failed to achieve that goal.
Although the shoulder was cut by a surprise attack, it could not be considered a major wound.
Murong Gong took a step back.
Who on earth was it to launch such a threatening attack?
“Who is it!”
Murong Gong shouted and glared at the person in front of him.
At the same time, everyone’s eyes turned toward that figure. Soon, the moment the face of the figure that appeared in front of them came clearly into view.
Everyone gasped and opened their eyes wide.
“Whew.”
There stood Namgung So-hye, catching her breath.
* * *
Sa Do-hak, wearing a mask, looked down from a tall tree with an interested expression. Namgung So-hye’s move just now was truly amazing.
Not only did she block the attack, but she also leaped out at the same time and perfectly penetrated the gap.
No matter how much of a difference in skill existed, it was an attack that could have resulted in death in a single strike if one was careless.
“Haha.”
He smiled and sat on a tree branch.
It was a thin branch that would not have been strange to break immediately, but even when Sa Do-hak moved his body here and there, it held out without breaking.
Anyone who had seen Sa Do-hak like that would not have been able to hide their astonishment.
“This is why the Martial World is interesting.”
This was the reason why he had not followed Namgung Cheon but had followed Namgung So-hye to this place.
The fight between Murong Hyeok-mun and Namgung Cheon would also be very interesting, but the situation unfolding before his eyes now captured Sa Do-hak’s interest even more.
“So-hye, it would not be an exaggeration to say that child’s talent is the best in the history of the Namgung Family.”
Even Namgung Cheon, who was called the Sword Emperor, had not reached that level at Namgung So-hye’s age.
Of course, it was possible because of Namgung Cheon’s teachings, Sa Do-hak, and Dan Woo-hyun being by her side, but it was Namgung So-hye, solely her own ability, that made that experience her own.
However, right now in front of her was an opponent she could never defeat.
Although there were outstanding individuals in the Namgung Family as well, their momentum was broken due to Namgung Jong-ak’s defeat, and the Family Head, Namgung Yong, was also not of reliable skill.
Only Namgung So-hye could reverse this unfavorable situation.
Could she really win?
The advantageous point for Namgung So-hye was that Murong Gong had wasted his internal energy and mental energy due to the fight with Namgung Jong-ak.
However, that much of a difference was a small thing that a master could easily flip like the palm of their hand.
Sa Do-hak watched Namgung So-hye.
“Show me. The power you possess.”
Yet another person.
Sa Do-hak was waiting for a talent who could match swords with him.
* * *
“Namgung So-hye… My, it has been a long time.”
Murong Gong muttered softly.
He could not hide his considerable surprise that the one who blocked his move was Namgung So-hye.
“So… So-hye…”
“Why are you in a place like this…”
On the other hand, the Namgung Family side opened their eyes wide in a different sense.
The child who had been missing until now suddenly appeared before their eyes.
Moreover, since she had launched a surprise attack on Murong Gong and even forced him to step back for a moment, they felt that she was somehow different from the Namgung So-hye they knew.
“Not just Grandfather, but even the Elder…”
At the sound of her grinding her teeth, Murong Gong let out an absurd laugh.
“The Murong and Namgung can no longer live under the same sky anyway… no matter who I tried to kill, what meaning does that have now?”
“…!”
Gritting her teeth, Namgung So-hye rushed forward like an arrow. Her movements were so swift that it was hard to believe she was moving with a body that had not yet fully healed.
However, since the Murong Family and the Namgung Family had competed for a long time, they could predict each other’s footwork as well as their sword techniques to some extent.
Murong Gong snorted and slid his body.
“So-hye!”
Namgung Yong called his daughter’s name with distress.
It was clear that Murong Gong’s movements had already anticipated So-hye.
Thus, if she swung her sword as read, she would only end up suffering a setback.
“Whether it is your father or you, you are both foolish… Ugh!?”
Having sneered as he checked Namgung So-hye’s approaching footwork, Murong Gong hastily lifted his head in embarrassment.
Slash!
Namgung So-hye’s sword, which struck upward from below, lightly cut his chin.
Because it was an completely unexpected move, Murong Gong, who was unprepared, took two steps back unconsciously and tried to predict the next move.
But Namgung So-hye’s fierce sword did not allow that.
Clang, clang, clang!
He had thought that if it was the unique sword technique of the Namgung Family, he would already be familiar with it and could easily deal with it, but Namgung So-hye’s sword lightly and surely targeted gaps, and also defied prediction.
“What…! On earth!”
“Is… isn’t that the Boundless Sword Technique?”
The people of the Namgung Family who were watching also could not hide their surprise.
They had thought for sure that she was performing the unique sword technique of the family, but even though the atmosphere was similar, she was showing a completely different sword technique.
Furthermore, it was a clean sword path without any discomfort, as if it had been made for Namgung So-hye.
Murong Gong, whose skill was clearly superior, slowly began to be pushed back.
Slash, slash, slash!
“Ugh!”
Murong Gong ground his teeth and swung his sword. However, he was busy blocking and could not even launch a proper attack.
“Are you familiar with the sword technique of the Namgung Family? Then you should have thought of the opposite as well.”
Her eyes narrowing, Namgung So-hye muttered as she fiercely swung her sword.
“I have also seen the martial arts of the Murong Family until I was sick of it!”
Yet, although she was completely overwhelming the opponent by performing the Blue Sky Illusion Creation Sword, there was no ease on her face to an strange degree.
Namgung So-hye gritted her teeth.
Her wrist throbbed every time the swords clashed. Although she took him by surprise with the Blue Sky Illusion Creation Sword, the difference in their basic internal energy was just too large.
In addition, it was impossible to fight a prolonged battle against Murong Gong, who was gradually getting used to Namgung So-hye’s sword technique.
Since he was an extremely experienced martial artist, if she did not overwhelm and kill him at once, it would be Namgung So-hye who would face the backlash instead.
Knowing that as well, she did not stop for even a moment.
Swoosh!
At that moment, Murong Gong deflected Namgung So-hye’s sword and created a gap. Murong Gong was not one to miss a barely created opening.
“Foolish bitch!”
Murong Gong’s blade, loaded with powerful internal energy, advanced fiercely toward Namgung So-hye.
It was completely unavoidable, and it seemed impossible for Namgung So-hye to even block it with her internal energy.
It was also at that moment that Namgung So-hye’s movements changed.
“What!?”
As if she had predicted this entire situation, she kicked the ground and leaped.
Namgung So-hye’s body vanished from that spot in an instant, and at the same time, she appeared behind Murong Gong.
Then, along with a flash of light.
Slice!
Bright red blood splattered.
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