Chapter 23 – The Judgment Is Yours

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 23 – The Judgment Is Yours

At Cheol Ryu-heun's expressionless reaction, Namgung Sang-rin scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"As you probably know… our family suffered a great calamity in the past and has fallen into a state that exists in name only."

"It's completely gone now."

When Cheol Ryu-heun struck a nerve with his words, a bitter smile flickered across Namgung Sang-rin's lips.

"Yes… That's true."

Though the other's words were blunt, he showed no sign of being offended.

More than anything, his gratitude for today's events was far greater.

Also… it was an undeniable reality.

Still, pride in being from the Namgung clan was the pillar that supported him and the driving force of his life.

Originally, the Namgung Family was a prestigious martial family ranking among the best in the martial world.

Since ancient times, there were various families in the orthodox martial world that possessed superior martial arts, and those with the most illustrious history and tradition were called the Seven Great Families.

One of them was the Namgung Family, a sword family representing Anhui Province.

The unique martial art of the family's founder, Namgung Je – the Azure Heaven Great Evolution Sword Art – was truly a great legacy.

As proof of this, the successive family heads who inherited that sword technique's essence had, without exception, all made a name for themselves as superior masters in the martial world.

Having produced countless first-rate masters including the family heads of each era, the Namgung Family, which had continued for over two hundred years, was truly a noble house standing at the pinnacle.

Through the long years, they had weathered all kinds of storms, but always stood firm like an iron wall without wavering.

That was why no one in that era had ever imagined the fall and extinction of the Namgung Family.

And yet, that very thing had actually happened.

Exactly eleven years ago, the family was literally torn apart before a night attack by an unidentified enemy.

Countless people were killed, regardless of whether they were direct or branch family members, and even the family head, the family's center, lost his life.

The halls and armories were reduced to black ash by flames, and the inherited treasures and various elixirs were all lost.

In just one night.

At the time, the survivors of the Namgung Family numbered only about two hundred.

Eighty percent of the total members had died tragically at the hands of the unknown enemy's powerful attacks.

It was the depths of despair.

With the core masters who had followed the family head and the main forces all having departed this world, and with all the secret manuals including the Azure Heaven Great Evolution Sword Art burned up, they fell into a state of irrecoverable collapse, unable to properly continue the family line.

The six other noble houses that had shared fame with the Namgung Family, unable to turn a blind eye as a matter of principle, declared they would punish the enemy and conducted a large-scale search for over a year.

However, most of it was just for show and hit limits, and naturally, progress was slow.

Meanwhile, the Namgung Family broke apart due to discord among relatives and faded into the shadows of history.

The unidentified enemy completely vanished after the night attack, and as public interest faded because of this, they were now only occasionally mentioned by curious gossips.

A face suddenly came to Cheol Ryu-heun's mind along with old memories.

Namgung Je.

The first family head of the Namgung Family in the past, a powerful figure known by the title Azure Sky Sword Saint.

Namgung Je had once possessed him, the Divine Martial Sword.

The time they spent together was roughly seven years.

They could no longer stay together.

Because the owner had changed.

Namgung Je was a supreme swordsman among the strongest of the orthodox faction, but one day he was challenged by a demonic man and, after a fight of just over fifty moves, was brought to his knees.

That public match had been conducted with the Divine Martial Sword as the stake from the beginning.

And so the owner changed.

Paradoxically, Namgung Je's defeat enhanced his fame, for at the time, fewer than five people could withstand that demonic man's dominating sword forms for over fifty moves.

Later, that demonic man was recorded as one of the very few absolute beings ranked as the strongest in all of history.

The Blood God, a legendary supreme master who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Heavenly Demon, Sword Emperor, Evil Emperor, and Martial Immortal – that was him.

Cheol Ryu-heun knew well.

Just how great an achievement it was to withstand nearly fifty moves against the Blood God's terrifying martial power.

However, the Namgung Family had now fallen, and that accomplishment would only remain as a past event fading with the passage of time.

'The reason that kid, who lost even his parents, came here is obvious.'

Rebuilding the Namgung Family.

It was surely part of a long-term plan to revive the family so that the martial achievements of the first family head, the Azure Sky Sword Saint, would not fade away.

With that thought, Cheol Ryu-heun threw out a question.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-two."

"As I know it, there are two direct sons of the Namgung family."

"Yes, I have a younger brother one year my junior. That child had no interest in inheriting the family business and became a military official. It's been over three years since we last saw each other."

"Then are you living off others' charity?"

For a moment, Namgung Sang-rin's expression darkened slightly.

"That's right. At first, I stayed with the Murong Family, who had a close relationship with our family, but feeling their scrutiny, I've now moved to the Jingzhou Ban Family. I receive various kinds of help from my great-uncle and great-aunt there… Actually, I took on this mission because they asked me to."

"Did they set conditions?"

"They promised that if I succeeded, they would provide some of the capital I need for independence."

Cheol Ryu-heun had already grasped the picture.

That the other was still living while watching others' faces.

"Seeing that you haven't given up hope, you must have memorized all the formulas of the Azure Heaven Great Evolution Sword Art. That's the most important part for rebuilding the family."

"That's right. My father taught me long ago. However, due to insufficient study, I haven't yet been able to fully manifest it with the sword."

A peculiar light flickered and disappeared in Cheol Ryu-heun's eyes.

'If he had already memorized all the Azure Heaven Great Evolution Sword Art formulas by the age of eleven, the family head must have valued his talent quite highly in his lifetime. The Namgung Family normally doesn't teach the remaining essence until the successor turns sixteen.'

It seemed he was born with exceptional talent befitting the bloodline of a representative noble house among martial world aristocracy.

If so, given the right environment, there was a high possibility he would awaken his potential and shine greatly, just like the successive family heads.

Suddenly, Cheol Ryu-heun handed him an object.

"Take this."

A scabbard with a pitch-black dragon engraved on it.

It was something that Ascending Heaven Sword Dragon had specially made to sheathe the Gan Jiang.

Seeing it, Namgung Sang-rin wore a bewildered expression.

"Why are you suddenly giving me this…?"

"Your sword is similar in size to mine, so there should be no problem using it. Throw away that worn-out scabbard."

"No, I can't. Even at a glance, it looks like a precious scabbard, so how could I…"

"I have more money than I know what to do with, so I can just have a new one made. Just use it. I don't care if you sell it. It's expensive material, so it'll probably add to your capital."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's words, Namgung Sang-rin's curiosity was freshly piqued.

What was this person?

Could he be the heir of a great martial sect wealthy enough to be counted on one hand?

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke in an indifferent tone as if reading his mind.

"I'm the new Sect Master of White Peak Sword Sect, Cheol Ryu-heun."

Simultaneously, small ripples spread across Namgung Sang-rin's pupils.

"…!"

It was unexpected.

To think he was a swordsman of a fallen orthodox martial sect.

Although Cheol Ryu-heun wasn't a famous martial talent, he had once heard news that he had become a vegetative state, so he wasn't completely unaware of him.

It was truly incomprehensible.

When exactly had he recovered and started being active?

And what of the overwhelming martial power he had displayed before the famous swordsman of Shimen, Mantis Twin Swords Jo Jung-eung?

On top of that, White Peak Sword Sect is overflowing with money?

Did they dig up the ground and find a treasure trove of gold and silver?

None of this matched the rumors circulating in the world.

For Namgung Sang-rin, it was naturally hard to comprehend…

But looking at Cheol Ryu-heun's attitude, it didn't seem like empty words.

Just as he had told him, he had created chaos without anyone getting hurt and cleaned up the enemies – he was a man far removed from falseness.

Cheol Ryu-heun paid no mind and opened his mouth.

"From your reaction, it seems you've heard my name at least once. Well, the officials will be a nuisance if they come barging in, so let's each take care of our business."

The moment his words ended, he moved like the wind toward the other side.

Namgung Sang-rin also forcibly suppressed his bewilderment and headed for the northern pavilion, Jo Jung-eung's quarters.

Shortly after.

Cheol Ryu-heun returned to the training grounds carrying several large boxes and a couple of ledgers.

They were various poison pills and secret transaction ledgers that had been stored in the underground secret room within the Mantis Martial Academy.

He had purposely retrieved them so the officials could easily discover them when they came.

"Good, that's done."

Right then, Namgung Sang-rin arrived beside him using graceful lightness technique, wearing a bright expression.

"I finally found what I wanted! Thank you again!"

Then he held out an old book to show.

"Oh, I found this while searching Academy Master Jo's room."

It was the Seven Poisons Manual – the lost legacy of the Seven Ghost Hall, an unorthodox faction from Jiangxi Province decades ago.

Cheol Ryu-heun smiled faintly as he took the book.

"It seems the Mantis Martial Academy brought ruin upon itself because of this."

"Could the Scentless Soul-Sealing Pill you mentioned earlier be…?"

"That's right, it's a poison pill manufactured according to the book's contents. That's what made me a vegetable."

Cheol Ryu-heun tossed the Seven Poisons Manual onto the poison pill boxes.

"I have to leave now, so I'll skip the explanation of the whole story."

"Understood. Though my circumstances are not favorable at the moment… I will definitely repay you later."

"I don't need repayment. If you get tired of watching others' faces, come to our sect anytime."

"Pardon?"

"If you receive my help, you can achieve the rebuilding of your family faster. Also, the other major sword techniques that have already been lost can be restored."

"Wh-What do you mean by…!"

Namgung Sang-rin's eyes shook greatly as if an earthquake had struck.

Whoosh-

Cheol Ryu-heun, having mounted Divine Wind, gripped the reins.

"Whether you believe it or not, the judgment is yours."

Right after, Divine Wind made a crash sound, creating a fierce wind as it disappeared from the Mantis Martial Academy.

Thud-thud-thud-thud… thud-thud-thud-thud…

Namgung Sang-rin stood frozen, staring in the direction he had left.

'What he just said… what does it mean?'

No matter how much he tried to understand, he couldn't.

Soon, he withdrew his gaze and switched his sword's scabbard.

Click-

Just as Cheol Ryu-heun had said, the scabbard's fit was right for his sword with no looseness.

'Cheol Ryu-heun… He's a mysterious person. From what I heard, he wasn't the genius or prodigy type… Those rumors were all false.'

That's right.

Cheol Ryu-heun's ability that he had witnessed today was at a higher level than any genius or prodigy he currently knew of.

He couldn't simply be viewed as an capable emerging swordsman.

He had outstanding martial prowess reminiscent of Thunder Cloud Sword Duke, the Thunder Lightning Sect Master and one of the current Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province.

Additionally, Cheol Ryu-heun had acted like a superior from the first time they met, but somehow it felt strangely natural.

Now, having seen martial prowess transcending his age, that feeling had grown even stronger.

'Hmm… I wonder if there's some secret story related to his seniority in the martial world.'

It was coiling inside his heart.

The curiosity to learn more about the man called Cheol Ryu-heun.

However, for now, he had to finish his existing business first.

'I'll visit White Peak Sword Sect later if the opportunity arises. Anyway, I will never forget this grace and will definitely repay it.'

Just then, he saw bright lights approaching in a group from beyond the collapsed wall.

"There, over there!"

"Even from far away, it looks like there's been a big commotion, doesn't it?"

"Let's hurry and check!"

It was the officials who had been urgently dispatched.

Whoosh!

Kicking off the ground, Namgung Sang-rin deployed his lightness footwork and leaped over the wall on the opposite side.