Chapter 114: Testing is About Tearing Apart (3)
Chapter 113 – Testing is About Tearing Apart (3)
Son U-gon pointed his finger with a flushed face.
“Why did a bastard like you come here?”
“Geez, those are harsh words for a first meeting.”
At that, Bok-seong quickly approached and whispered.
“Young Master, it’s not your first meeting.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Yes, you used to see him often a long time ago.”
“I see.”
Namgung Cheon raised his head and corrected his words.
“Geez, those are harsh words even though we’re old acquaintances.”
“What are you talking about? Get away from my wife this instant!”
“I was planning to do just that anyway. Let’s go, Bok-seong.”
“Yes. Yes? Uh, what?”
Bok-seong, who had answered reflexively, widened his eyes.
To think they had come to meet the Azure Eagle Captain, only to turn back the moment they saw him?
“Um… that person is Son U-gon, the Azure Eagle Captain.”
“I know.”
“But why are you just going back? Shouldn’t you persuade him?”
Even though persuasion seemed like a lost cause anyway.
Still, shouldn’t he at least try to talk to him?
However, an unexpected response came out of Namgung Cheon’s mouth.
“I’d rather have you in charge of the Azure Eagle Squad than keep a guy like that under my command. From today on, you be the Azure Eagle Captain.”
“Ugh. I understand… Wait, that’s not it! Wh-what did you just say?”
“Exactly what I said. I mean you’re better than a pathetic guy like him. Let’s go, Azure Eagle Captain.”
“Oh, Young Master! Why are you really being like this?”
While Bok-seong followed behind with a bewildered expression, a low voice leaked out of Son U-gon’s mouth.
“Wait.”
“……?”
“Repeat what you just said. What did you say?”
Namgung Cheon furrowed his brows, turned around, and stared at Son U-gon.
“Well, if you insist on hearing it again. I said Bok-seong would be better than a pathetic human being like you. Got it? Former Azure Eagle Captain.”
“You crazy…! Just because the Patriarch passed down the Namgung surname to you, you seem to act as if you’ve actually been recognized by the clan…”
“Of course. Because I’m going to become the Young Patriarch.”
“Wh-what?”
“I will become the Young Patriarch. That’s why I came to reassemble the Azure Eagle Squad. But you don’t deserve to be under my command.”
“Who are you to judge who…”
“Naturally, I judge you. Since when does a subordinate judge their master?”
“Youuu!”
Sheeeing!
Unable to hold back any longer, Son U-gon drew his sword from his waist and pointed it at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon shook his head from side to side.
“It’s getting more and more absurd. His wife is sick and on her deathbed, yet the husband shows up after drinking alcohol outside and tries to dance with a blade out of nowhere. Well, not knowing his place is a given. Bok-seong, if I keep a guy like this under me, I don’t think I’ll live out my natural lifespan. I’ll die of anger. Let’s just go back.”
Having suffered a massive insult right in front of him, Son U-gon was now on the verge of losing his mind.
Just as Namgung Cheon was about to step out of the brushwood gate, Son U-gon shouted as if in a frenzy.
“Stop!”
“What is it now?”
As Namgung Cheon looked back with an irritated expression, Son U-gon’s cheek twitched as he continued speaking.
“Because of whom…! Because of whom are we living like this! How dare a bastard like you say such things? No matter what anyone says, you are the bastard son of the Great Killing Star! You are the proof that the world has abandoned the Namgung Clan! Yet what does that mere proof think it is? Youuu!”
In that instant, a stream of internal energy surged violently from Son U-gon’s dantian and began to flow rapidly along the meridians of his entire body.
Namgung Cheon’s eyes narrowed.
‘Considering that his five phases cannot be discerned, he has reached the realm of Peak Master.’
If so, letting his guard down was forbidden.
Although the provocation had worked, he had to be cautious since the opponent was a rare expert.
Thwip-thwip-thwip!
Son U-gon rushed in dazzlingly while executing the Boundless Sky Limitless Sword Art.
For Namgung Cheon, it was an incredibly familiar situation.
Tap!
In an instant, he stepped with the Boundless Steps and narrowly slipped past the rushing blade.
At that moment, Son U-gon’s pupils dilated.
Pow!
Namgung Cheon’s fist slammed directly into Son U-gon’s face.
“Argh!”
The moment the scream erupted, Namgung Cheon stepped in with his footwork and drove his left fist into the opponent’s flank.
Bam!
“Ugh!”
Son U-gon immediately doubled over, twisting his waist.
It was excruciating pain.
It was a pain that truly felt as if his lower abdomen was being torn apart.
He could not understand this situation at all.
‘This guy is really Namgung Cheon?’
The Namgung Cheon he remembered was a child who was always dispirited and did nothing but walk on eggshells around others.
He hated that sight even more.
It was frustrating and infuriating that the child of Namgung Seon, whom he had once respected, showed such a pathetic appearance.
Most of all, he disliked the fact that the child was the offspring of the Great Killing Star.
Anyway, when he heard the news that the child had eventually committed suicide because he could not bear the weight of life, he had secretly sneered.
But what was this?
He had heard rumors that the child who returned from the dead seemed to have changed somehow.
And not long after, he had also heard the surprising news that the child won the Joint Conference.
However, even so, he was merely a rising star.
The Jianghu was different. The world was different. Real combat was different.
There would be no world that would accept the bastard child of the Great Killing Star.
He had been disregarding him like that.
But now, he was getting beaten up by that child like this?
How could this be!
“Yaaah!”
The moment he let out a shout and forcefully expelled the alcohol vapor, his mind cleared up.
‘Impudent!’
Son U-gon’s eyes became bloodshot.
Just then, he saw a fist flying toward his face.
‘Where do you think you’re aiming!’
Son U-gon quickly stepped with his footwork and retreated.
Instead, using his left foot as a support, he threw away his sword and rapidly extended his right hand.
A stream of internal energy arising from his dantian surged down his right arm along his meridians.
This entire process was clearly visible to Namgung Cheon.
‘It’s the Three Palms of Heavenly Thunder!’
Having instantly grasped the martial art and the stance, Namgung Cheon executed the Nine Walls Divine Fist, which was its polar opposite.
Shooooosh!
Seeing Namgung Cheon facing him head-on instead of avoiding his palm technique, Son U-gon widened his eyes.
‘You want to fight me head-on? Kid!’
He recognized that the martial art Namgung Cheon was executing was the Nine Walls Divine Fist.
Indeed, if it was the Nine Walls Divine Fist, it was impeccable as a fist technique to block the Three Palms of Heavenly Thunder.
‘You’ve used your brain to some extent. However, you’re still young. I will show you a world you do not know.’
There was no way Namgung Cheon, who was at best a rising star, could overcome his internal energy.
It was certain that the moment their fist and palm clashed, Namgung Cheon’s fist and wrist would be crushed.
And finally, the moment the palm and fist collided,
Boom!
A sound like an explosion erupted, and a blast of qi wind blew out in all directions.
‘Ugh!’
Son U-gon’s expression shook violently.
What was this?
Clearly, his palm technique should have gained the upper hand and crushed Namgung Cheon’s fist.
In fact, his internal energy was also superior.
Yet, he felt the internal energy extending from Namgung Cheon’s fist piercing through the center of his palm and penetrating up to his wrist.
‘Wh-what is this! Damn it!’
If the Three Palms of Heavenly Thunder he swung raged like a tsunami, Namgung Cheon’s Nine Walls Divine Fist was sharp like an awl.
But the Nine Walls Divine Fist was not supposed to be like that.
Literally, the Nine Walls Divine Fist had to form a single barrier.
Therefore, it was a fist technique designed for defense rather than offense.
Yet, to think he concentrated his internal energy in one spot to pierce through the palm instead?
Where in the world was there such a way of fighting?
Was this not a monster who controlled internal energy at will?
Without clearly seeing the human body’s meridians and the flow of internal energy, how could one apply it in this manner?
His thoughts did not proceed any further.
Crack-crack-crack!
“Aaagh!”
Finally unable to bear the excruciating pain, Son U-gon screamed and was sent flying.
Had he retreated even a moment later, his bones might have been ground to dust from his wrist all the way to his shoulder.
Crash!
As Son U-gon rolled on the ground, smashing the miscellaneous items piled in a corner of the yard, the watching Bok-seong gaped.
“H-he won…”
Namgung Cheon had won.
Against that Azure Eagle Captain!
Who was the Azure Eagle Captain?
Even during the days when the Namgung Clan’s power was mighty, he was a man counted among the top ten in terms of martial prowess.
Yet, to think he would lose to Namgung Cheon so quickly!
No matter how off-guard he was, did this make any sense?
“Y-Young Master… you really were the winner of the Joint Conference?”
“Why do you sound like that? Did you not believe me all this time?”
“N-no. It’s not that, but seeing it directly with my own eyes is just so shocking…”
Namgung Cheon chuckled and stared at Son U-gon, who had collapsed in a corner.
Just then, the woman who was standing with a pale face collapsed and lost consciousness.
“Ah! Please wake up!”
Startled, Bok-seong rushed over to the woman.
* * *
“Drink.”
Son U-gon handed over a teacup with a somewhat sullen expression.
Namgung Cheon curled the corners of his mouth.
“Anyway, whether it’s humans or beasts, they only listen after getting beaten up.”
“Hey, watch your words!”
Son U-gon flared up and shouted, but frowned deeply upon feeling the pain in his shoulder.
Namgung Cheon smiled broadly.
“Be careful. It will take at least five days to fully heal.”
“I never imagined you would execute the Nine Walls Divine Fist in such a way.”
“There are no absolute rules in the world. You must twist and turn everything to survive.”
“You speak as if you’ve lived a whole lifetime despite your young age.”
“My father told me in a dream.”
“A dream…?”
“Whatever. Let’s just move past that.”
At Namgung Cheon’s half-hearted reply, Son U-gon let out a sigh and looked out the window.
“I understand the situation well. However, I have no intention of leading the Azure Eagle Squad. I won’t stop you even if you appoint that servant as the Azure Eagle Captain.”
“Don’t tell me you’re sulking because of those words?”
Who is sulking! You crazy bastard!
Son U-gon suppressed his rising anger and replied.
“It’s not that, but I don’t have the luxury of returning to the Azure Eagle Squad right now.”
“I can pay you a salary.”
“It’s not a matter of salary.”
“Then?”
Son U-gon hesitated for a moment, then turned his head and glanced toward the bedroom.
Namgung Cheon nodded as if he understood.
“Is it because of your wife?”
“As you said, my wife is on her deathbed. Still, as a human being, shouldn’t I stay by her side until the very end?”
“Hmm. Indeed, that is the duty of a human being.”
Namgung Cheon nodded in compliance unexpectedly easily, and Son U-gon flinched and stared at him.
Was it because he was still young?
He did not expect him to back down so meekly…
“Then you must take on the role of Azure Eagle Captain all the more.”
“What? Did you not hear what I just said? I admit that your martial arts are surprisingly powerful, Young Master. However, this is not a matter of that…”
“Searing Heat Sickness. Has your wife ever been caught in a fight between martial artists? She seems to have been afflicted by Searing Heat Poison. Normally, there is no cure for it. She would run a raging fever at all hours, and if the symptoms are severe, she might even hallucinate. In particular, her throat would crack like a dry paddy field, making it difficult to even swallow saliva in many cases.”
“H-how do you know such a thing…?”
How else?
In his past life, he had seen more than one or two unorthodox bastards carrying around Searing Heat Poison.
Namgung Cheon composed his inner thoughts and continued speaking.
“What if I cure that sickness? Will you be loyal?”
“Are you… joking right now? Didn’t you say so yourself, Young Master! That normally there is no cu…”
Tak!
Namgung Cheon placed a wooden box on the table, and Son U-gon’s eyebrows twitched as he asked.
“What is this?”
“Ten-thousand-year snow ginseng.”
“Ten-thousand-year snow… wh-what did you say!”
Son U-gon’s eyes grew so wide they seemed about to rip.