Chapter 83

Chapter 83

Looking at the people in front of him, Namgung Cheon closed his eyes tightly.

It could never be. Those with the name of the orthodox Murim Alliance could never do something they absolutely should not do.

Namgung Cheon suddenly recalled the conversation he had shared with Dan Woo-hyun.

‘What if they come with swords?’

‘Haha, that could never happen. No matter how pathetic they are, they are also a pillar of the Murim Alliance. They would never do something so shameless.’

Dan Woo-hyun sneered.

Gwon Mu-jin, who was beside him, also wore a strange smile.

Namgung Cheon disliked that very much.

The Wind Sword Sect.

In the mind of Namgung Cheon, who had been the leader of the Murim Alliance, it was nothing more than a small sect whose name he did not even remember, but since they were registered with the Murim Alliance and he believed they walked the path of the orthodox Murim, he inwardly thought they would not cross the line.

‘If they come, this old man will step forward.’

‘Without one arm and internal energy?’

‘Haha, what do you take this Namgung Cheon for?’

Namgung Cheon was confident.

Not confident in defeating them with a body missing an arm and lacking internal energy, but confident in his belief that they would not do anything foolish.

Only a few months ago, he was the leader of the Murim Alliance. If he did not trust those belonging to the Alliance, who would trust the Murim Alliance?

However, looking at the people in front of him like this, the sense of helplessness was beyond words.

The swords they held, the murderous intent they emitted, the eyes they showed… Looking at that, it seemed like this was by no means the first time.

That alone was enough to incur Namgung Cheon's wrath.

‘Everything is my fault.’

The leader of the Murim Alliance, the Sword Emperor.

Namgung Cheon, who had risen to a position higher than anyone else, had no idea what was happening beneath him. He had merely nodded at the reports he received.

Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that he had lived until now with only the belief that orthodox martial artists were different from the unorthodox path and did not act like the Demonic Cult.

But they were not.

Dan Woo-hyun's words pierced into his mind.

"Human nature has no orthodox or unorthodox. Depending on their resolve, the unorthodox can walk the orthodox path, and the orthodox can walk the heretical path."

Those words were true.

Dan Woo-hyun and Gwon Mu-jin penetrated the essence of human nature better than anyone.

‘To realize this only now when it is time to die.’

And Namgung Cheon realized.

Even excluding the people in front of him now, there would still be many places where people wore the mask of the Murim Alliance and dirtied its name.

‘If that is the case…’

Namgung Cheon gripped his sword and exhaled a small sigh.

"I shall teach you the way of a gentleman."

"Buhahaha! Old man! Did you watch a puppet show? You are talking nonsense as if you became the main character!"

A disciple of the Wind Sword Sect burst into loud laughter.

Those words of Namgung Cheon were the lines spoken by the Gentleman Sword, the protagonist of the puppet show, to those who committed evil deeds, and it was quite famous among young children.

One disciple rushed forward holding a sword.

They had to kill everyone anyway. Although Hu Ja-ryung's order had not fallen yet, what they had to do would not change much.

Thus, he rushed forward without hesitation and swung his sword.

Was he not just an old, one-armed man? He thought that killing one such old man would be easier than eating rice cake while lying down.

Clang!

"Huh?"

However, a strange thing happened.

The sword of the disciple, who had tried to cut down the remaining right arm of the old man in a single strike, was bounced away all too easily.

And before the man could show any reaction, the old man's sword pierced the man's abdomen.

Stab!

"Cough!"

"Do not worry. I did not pierce your vital points. But it will be difficult for you to move for the time being."

Namgung Cheon, who pulled out his sword, muttered as he looked at the slumped man.

Namgung Cheon had no internal energy. Moreover, his left arm, which he mainly used, was also cut off.

But what of it?

To use his right arm, he had shed blood and sweat over the past few months, gripping and wielding the sword. As he grew accustomed to it before he knew it, whichever sword technique he displayed flowed out naturally.

He had no internal energy, but the Sword Emperor was still the Sword Emperor.

One of the strongest existences whom no one could match in terms of experience itself.

No matter how weakened he was compared to the past, enough strength remained to easily finish off the likes of the Wind Sword Sect in front of him.

"Th-This makes no sense!"

"This crazy old man!"

Rumble…

The disciples began to rush toward Namgung Cheon. Since one of them was defeated, it was naturally to avenge him.

Murderous intent billowed from them as they pounced with fire in their eyes. It looked as if they were determined to tear Namgung Cheon to shreds.

Nevertheless, Namgung Cheon's movements were unusual.

To the point that one would wonder if this man was indeed someone who had lost his internal energy and had an arm cut off, he quickly avoided and deflected the incoming swords, targeting their openings.

The experienced swordsmanship that did not target vital points was also great.

Slash, Slash…

"Argh!"

"Aaah!"

Harsh groans were heard one after another.

As if there was no one who could block the sword of the enraged Gentleman Sword, the members of the Wind Sword Sect lay helplessly on the ground, revealing their miserable state.

"Urgh… Unbelievable…!"

Hu Ja-ryung could not hide his embarrassment.

Seeing all the sect members collapse, he could not conceal his anger.

When he saw the first move, he only thought he was a somewhat skilled person, but looking at him now, that was not it.

He was considerable.

But he was not afraid.

Rather than fear, anger toward the old man called Gentleman Sword surged, and his murderous intent rose like a haze.

Hu Ja-ryung ran headlong while infusing internal energy into his sword. Then, he flew in with a surprise attack and swung his sword toward the Gentleman Sword, who happened to be piercing the body of the remaining disciple.

At the same time as feeling Hu Ja-ryung's momentum, Namgung Cheon swung his sword.

Clang!

However, he was a step too late.

Also, the moment the swords clashed, the harsh internal energy transmitted from the tip of the sword shook his entire body. It was a power on a different level from the sect members lying fallen here now.

"Haha, this is indeed…"

"Do you mistakenly think you are strong just because you cut down a few sect members?"

Hu Ja-ryung raised his sword with a confident expression.

He had realized that his strike had dealt a blow to the opponent. Hu Ja-ryung could be sure that the old man had no internal energy.

The thought that he held the key to victory made Hu Ja-ryung laugh even more.

"Old man, you seem to have some skill, but this is the end!"

Hu Ja-ryung laughed and rushed forward.

Namgung Cheon's swordsmanship was quite precise and fast. However, he had no internal energy and his movements were also slow.

It might have worked against the sect members, but it was useless against Hu Ja-ryung, who had already reached the master stage.

‘This is the difference in level, hehe.’

Hu Ja-ryung grinned and swung his sword. The penetrating blade extended like a flash of light.

Slash!

It was a sword that Namgung Cheon could not possibly block. No matter how much the basics had not disappeared, the abilities one could display with and without internal energy were bound to have too much of a difference.

Blood sprayed from his entire body. However, despite suffering no small wounds, Namgung Cheon did not let out a single groan. Namgung Cheon, who had been in the position of the Sword Emperor, had received countless wounds worse than this.

But his body did not follow.

The moment he took a faltering step backward, the strength left his legs without him realizing.

"Ha… Haha, this old man has indeed grown old."

"Damn, then why did you step forward?"

At Jang Sam-tae's words, Namgung Cheon only laughed heartily.

As if he did not like his appearance covered in blood all over his body, Jang Sam-tae clenched his fists and tried to take a step forward.

"No, it is fine. This old man will do it."

"Geez, what a stubborn old man. Can you really do it?"

"An old man? You might get hit again if you talk like that."

"…"

Namgung Cheon loosened up his body. Then, unlike before, he looked at Hu Ja-ryung with a very serious expression. He let out a short sigh, "Hoo, ", and assumed a stillness as if gathering his exhausted mind.

Come to think of it, his heart fluttered slightly. It was a flutter that he had not felt at all since he had risen to the position of the Sword Emperor.

"Still… I am a martial artist."

Namgung Cheon muttered and laughed heartily once again.

Meanwhile, he thought he had transcended. No matter what opponent he met, the longing for martial arts he felt in his childhood, or the desire to defeat the opponent, did not arise.

It was because he recognized that he had already risen to the highest position.

However, that forgotten emotion was only now reviving, and his grand spirit boiled over.

Through the mask, he looked extremely joyful.

"Now, come again."

"Haha! This old man is truly begging for death!"

Clang, Clang-clang!

Inside the manor.

Inside, Dan Woo-hyun was leisurely drinking alcohol and looking up at the moonlight. In his arms, little So-mi was sleeping soundly.

Unconcerned by the sound of sword fights heard, one would think her blood points had been sealed.

It was a very peaceful expression.

"Will it be alright? Confronting a master stage expert without internal energy is risking one's life."

Gwon Mu-jin could not understand Dan Woo-hyun.

Leaving Namgung Cheon like that was driving him to death. If everyone lacked internal energy, it would be Namgung Cheon's victory. If looking only at the forms, even Gwon Mu-jin still could not defeat Namgung Cheon.

But the difference of whether one had internal energy or not was very clear. Even more so if the opponent was a master stage expert, the result was all the more obvious.

This time, no matter if he was the Sword Emperor, he would not be able to win.

Therefore, Gwon Mu-jin found it strange that Dan Woo-hyun had not stepped forward yet.

"Do you know the difference between the person who rises to the highest place and the one who does not?"

"Is it not effort?"

Gwon Mu-jin had risen to this position now through blood, sweat, and effort. Therefore, it was a firm voice as if he could not acknowledge anything other than effort.

However, Dan Woo-hyun smirked and shook his head.

That was quite a shock to Gwon Mu-jin.

"It is instinct."

"Ins… tinct…?"

"Yes, in any situation, they instinctively find the way. The way to win, or the way to go rightly. That is the instinct that only gifted martial artists possess."

"…Is there such a thing?"

"Yes, though you would hate to admit it."

Gwon Mu-jin clenched his fists tightly.

He did not want to admit it.

Furthermore, an instinct that only gifted martial artists possessed.

He had never felt it even once, so he did not want to admit it even more.

The moment he gritted his teeth.

"Argh!"

At Hu Ja-ryung's scream, Gwon Mu-jin snapped out of it. Then, he looked toward the wall with wide-open eyes.

He had thought it would naturally be Hu Ja-ryung's victory.

"This is… that instinct."

"…!"

Gwon Mu-jin could not say anything.