Chapter 256: King's Philosophy (2)
Chapter 255 – King’s Philosophy (2)
Tang Go-ryun stared blankly at Namgung Cheon with only his eyes wide open.
“The Jiangling Divine Art embraced by the Namgung Clan. If you speak carelessly, it will cause a major stir.”
“It does not matter. Rather, it is something that the Jinzhou Eon Clan also knows about.”
“The Jinzhou Eon Clan also knows?”
“Because I found the clue to the Jinzhou Eon Clan’s Jiangling Divine Art for them.”
What on earth was this about?
Namgung Cheon gave a hint about the Jinzhou Eon Clan’s martial arts?
And that was all thanks to the Namgung Clan’s martial arts?
It was completely incomprehensible.
A martial art that could embrace other martial arts.
He had heard of martial arts that absorbed other internal energies, but it was the first time he had seen a martial art that absorbed other martial arts.
No, since martial arts originally belonged to a single form and technique, the word “embraced,” as Namgung Cheon said, was more appropriate than “absorbed.”
Even so, how could this be?
Tang Go-ryun narrowed his eyes and stared blankly at the Emerald Silk Sword that Namgung Cheon extended.
It was a treasure sword that was hard to obtain easily.
The blade was so sharp that even if a three- or four-year-old child brandished it, an adult could easily be injured.
Was he telling him to strike him with this now?
Tang Go-ryun glanced at Namgung Geom with a settled gaze.
Namgung Geom had no change in expression, as if he had literally turned into a rock.
Since things had turned out this way, a subtle stubbornness arose within him.
The Sovereign’s philosophy?
Calling the Namgung Clan’s martial arts a sovereign in front of him.
Having made up his mind, Tang Go-ryun spoke with a cold expression.
“If that is indeed your intention, then let us see. What kind of thing that Sovereign’s philosophy is.”
His tone was as cold as his frozen expression.
Namgung Cheon grinned and extended the Emerald Silk Sword once more.
“Go ahead.”
“Fine.”
Tang Go-ryun did not refuse any longer and grabbed the Emerald Silk Sword.
Zzzzing.
As he intentionally injected internal energy, the blade trembled at the unfamiliar touch and let out a resonant ring.
It was certainly an excellent sword.
Handing over such a sword without any hesitation meant he was that confident in his martial arts.
Also, it was probably to gain trust by first showing trust in the opponent.
Namgung Cheon swung his fisted arm out to the side.
“Try it.”
Tang Go-ryun narrowed his eyes and looked at Namgung Cheon.
He slowly raised the sword while glancing at Namgung Geom.
However, Namgung Geom still did not budge with that stone-like expression. At this point, Tang Go-ryun felt slightly displeased, thinking they were ignoring him.
What if… what if, by some chance, Namgung Cheon did not receive a single scratch from the sword he swung?
‘That wouldn’t look very good either.’
Of course, the Tang Clan was more skilled in poison and hidden weapons than sword arts. But if he swung a sword at the opponent’s Young Patriarch and could not inflict any damage, wouldn’t that be a disgrace in its own right?
‘Wait, to think that I would fail.’
A chuckle came out instantly.
Indeed, Namgung Cheon was an extraordinary fellow.
Had he not already half-overwhelmed him with a few words and actions?
Tang Go-ryun spoke while holding up the blue sword blade.
“Do not regret it.”
“Geez, you talk too much. Just strike. Are you scared?”
“……!”
Ultimately, Tang Go-ryun chuckled and lowered the Emerald Silk Sword.
“There is no need for me to step forward myself. Jeon Wi.”
“Yes, Patriarch.”
The bodyguard named Jeon Wi quickly approached.
“You do it.”
“I will obey the command.”
“Take this back, Young Patriarch.”
Tang Go-ryun spun the Emerald Silk Sword and extended it to Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon looked at the bodyguard once, received the Emerald Silk Sword, and neatly sheathed it.
“You cannot say anything else later because you did not step forward yourself, Patriarch?”
“Of course.”
“Great. Then please strike with all your might.”
Namgung Cheon extended his fist again.
Jeon Wi alternated his gaze between Tang Go-ryun and Namgung Cheon before raising his own sword and injecting energy.
Wuuuung.
The blade resonated and let out a strange cry.
Even until then, Tang Go-ryun’s mind was complicated.
‘What on earth are they trying to do? Are they really going to block that blade with their bare body? Or do they think we won’t swing the sword in the end and just accept?’
Meanwhile, Jeon Wi looked back at Tang Go-ryun as if asking for his intent once more.
‘Since it has come to this, our clan bears no responsibility.’
As Tang Go-ryun nodded after making up his mind, Jeon Wi quickly struck down with the blade along with a shout.
“Haaat!”
Swish!
The moment the blade, which fell tearing through the air, finally touched Namgung Cheon’s forearm,
Clang!
“……!”
“……!”
Tang Go-ryun and Jeon Wi’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
Although he clearly struck the arm, did the blade not break into two pieces and fly away with a metallic clang?
Whirlick, crack!
The sword blade fragment that flew to the side was deeply embedded in the wall.
“Now it’s fine, right?”
Namgung Cheon dusted off his clothes as if showing a simple demonstration.
Then the hem of his robe parted and fell off.
However, his solid arm did not even have a scratch.
“Th-this… makes no…”
It made no sense.
Weren’t the only martial arts impervious to blades and swords the Eon Clan’s Jiangling Divine Art and the Shaolin Temple’s Vajra Body?
Yet did he really just display the Jiangling Divine Art?
The Jiangling Divine Art embraced by the Namgung Clan!
Namgung Cheon’s voice reached the ears of the startled Tang Go-ryun.
“How is it? Has your mind changed a bit now?”
“Mmh.”
Namgung Cheon stared intently at Tang Go-ryun.
If he had told him about the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes from the beginning, there would have been no need to show such a demonstration.
However, it was still too early.
Since they did not know how far Tang Go-ryun and the Alliance Leader had joined hands, he must not easily expose the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes.
It would be better to keep the secret until they built a bit more foundation.
Tang Go-ryun spoke heavily.
“It is indeed… grand. I am once again impressed by the Namgung Clan’s martial arts.”
“Don’t mention it. Couldn’t you look at it the same way as the Tang Clan’s poison arts being able to digest all poisons?”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Tang Go-ryun twisted his lips.
It was a truly subtle way of speaking.
He did not lower his own clan while raising the opponent’s clan. In doing so, he drew empathy. Moreover, he even erased competitiveness.
How could a boy who had not even reached twenty speak with such eloquence?
Tang Go-ryun looked at Namgung Geom with a fresh gaze.
‘You must be happy. To have such a reliable Young Patriarch to succeed the family.’
He newly compared him to his own son, Tang Wu-gi.
‘Like the Tang Clan that digests all poisons in the world, indeed.’
For some reason, that single comment made him feel much closer to the Namgung Clan.
Tang Go-ryun let out a shallow sigh and sat down. Only then did Namgung Cheon sit down as well.
The bodyguards who had surrounded them also vanished like ghosts.
Tang Go-ryun took a sip of the completely cold tea and said.
“Then, do you mean to embrace the Demonic God Pill with the Namgung Clan’s cultivation method that embraces the world?”
“Indeed.”
“However, human affairs do not always go as planned. In case of emergency…”
“I have already prepared.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“If I fail to fully purify the energy of the Demonic God Pill and become a madman… the Patriarch, who will be watching right beside me, will strike off my head.”
“……!”
Tang Go-ryun turned back to Namgung Geom as if genuinely shocked.
Namgung Geom still wore a calm expression.
‘Indeed, what an incomprehensible family.’
Was a clan trying to rise from the rock bottom different in some way?
Namgung Cheon continued speaking.
“Recently, I heard that the Tang Clan has been gathering rare ingredients from all over the Central Plains to manufacture a new poison.”
“I will not deny it.”
“Then, aren’t the ingredients for the Demonic God Pill precisely the ones that are hard to obtain?”
“However, we might fail to make it even after using all of these.”
“Then there is nothing we can do. Our clan, which trusted the Tang Clan, has failed. It is a mutual loss, but if we did our best, each must bear their own responsibility.”
“I like your straightforwardness.”
“Then let’s do it? Manufacturing the Demonic God Pill.”
“…….”
“The remnants of the Demonic Cult still remain. Looking at the history of the Jianghu so far, after the unorthodox factions rose, the Demonic Cult always appeared. The Demonic Cult is that kind of place. Those who dig into weaknesses like rats. There is nothing bad about preparing in advance.”
“Mmh.”
Tang Go-ryun let out a groan.
A long time passed like that.
Namgung Geom and Namgung Cheon said nothing more.
Since they had done all they could, it was time to wait for the decision.
Finally, Tang Go-ryun spoke.
“Fine. Let us manufacture it.”
Namgung Cheon and Namgung Geom looked at each other and smiled faintly.
“However, you must keep what you promised. First, our clan will take the remaining ingredients. Second, the completed Demonic God Pill must be consumed by you.”
“Of course.”
“I will add one more condition to that.”
“What is it?”
“When you consume the Demonic God Pill, I will also be there with Patriarch Namgung Geom.”
At the unexpected proposal, Namgung Cheon and Namgung Geom looked at each other.
Tang Go-ryun smiled faintly.
“Although that should not happen, in the unlikely event that you become a semi-madman, Patriarch Namgung might get weak-hearted and make a mistake, could he not?”