Chapter 159: What I Wanted to Show You (3)
Thud.
As I took a step forward, a powerful surge of energy erupted with each footfall.
The intense sensation coursing through me was undoubtedly the result of Lightning Qi.
In the vicinity of Namgung Bi-ah, the heaviness of that energy felt almost as if thunder was striking nearby.
Crack.
Jang Seonyeon gritted his teeth, forcing his stiff body to respond.
He had to expend a significant amount of Qi just to move.
‘Is this it? Is this really the best I can do?’
He steadied the trembling tip of his sword and tried to ignore the cold sweat trickling down his face.
Taking slow breaths, Jang Seonyeon turned his gaze to Namgung Bi-ah.
With her sword lowered and a serene expression, she seemed more like someone enjoying a leisurely stroll than preparing for battle.
Though her beauty exuded a regal air, her energy was an entirely different matter.
‘Is this… the Master of Swords?’
That described the very foundation of Namgung Clan’s existence.
It represented everything they stood for.
The Master of Swords art of the Namgung Clan—the overwhelming power of the foremost clan radiated from Namgung Bi-ah.
‘…So this is what it means to be Namgung.’
Despite bearing the name of a Swords Master, Namgung’s art wasn’t about flashy swordsmanship.
Her Qi blended with the Lightning Qi, amplifying its destructive nature, imposing a unique pressure that magnified its form.
It felt as if a gigantic weight pressed down helplessly upon them.
The art demanded submission from opponents, with an aura that exposed fangs, intimidating in its very presence.
They didn’t conceal their ambition to rise above others.
In fact, the title of “Master” was rightly earned as it showcased the user’s self-made authority.
And so it was a Sword Art because it encapsulated the intent to wield strength through the sword itself.
The Master of Swords—a heavy presence that Namgung Bi-ah unfolded before him now felt overwhelmingly potent.
“…Aren’t you coming?”
Her soft whisper prompted an instinctual realization in Jang Seonyeon.
If he didn’t act NOW, it might be too late; he needed to reassess his opponent.
With the Master of Swords activated, Namgung Bi-ah advanced gracefully.
Her steps seemed so light, akin to her going for a casual walk, yet Jang Seonyeon instinctively raised his sword. It felt necessary.
Clang!
“…!”
Along with the sound of impact, Jang Seonyeon was pushed back.
Though they had been ten steps apart, Namgung Bi-ah had closed the distance in an instant, now standing directly before him.
Their swords met, sending sparks flying into the air.
It was a heavy clash.
The sword he barely managed to block from Namgung Bi-ah was astoundingly weighty.
Could such power truly emanate from that slender arm?
He realized he couldn’t linger on such thoughts; he didn’t have the luxury of time.
Jang Seonyeon gathered his Qi.
Ring-
A soft echo resounded—coming from Jang Seonyeon’s sword.
This was Jang Cheon’s exclusive technique, the Typhoon Harmonic Wave Sword.
A technique crafted through resonating the sword with Sound Arts.
This was the Taeryung Clan’s martial art and the spell that granted the current Alliance Leader his moniker, the Harmonic Sword.
‘I can’t maintain this for long.’
Such a skill was hard to sustain over time.
Sound Arts required considerable proficiency to harness one’s Qi effectively.
That Jang Seonyeon could deploy such a challenging technique at a young age spoke volumes about his innate talent.
He had to use a formidable amount of Qi while swinging his sword, which naturally made it harder to maintain, compounded by the complexity of his movements.
Consequently, his sword swings slowed down from their usual speed.
Of course, there was some leverage with Sound Arts, as it could disrupt his opponent, compensating for the slower strike.
With time, he would find a solution to this issue as he matured.
Eventually, it would become second nature to him, wielding his sword effortlessly while maintaining the skill. Once the energy from the baptism fully integrated into his body, it would be even easier.
This level should have sufficed to handle any prodigy of his time.
Well, it should have, but—
Swish!
The sharp tip of the sword grazed Jang Seonyeon’s hair.
A few strands fell to the ground—a clear indicator of how dire the situation had grown.
The true problem loomed again as the sword attacked once more.
Zap-!
Following the explosive release of Lightning Qi, Jang Seonyeon stepped back.
‘Damn it.’
Whether wielding a sword or Sound Arts, he hadn’t managed to inflict a single blow on that woman.
The terrifying pressure emanating from Namgung Bi-ah ensnared Jang Seonyeon’s feet, forcing him to evade the relentless onslaught.
He couldn’t wield his usual styles effectively.
What about her?
‘Can she move so quickly while maintaining that art?’
He found it unfathomable.
He needed to sacrifice speed to sustain his skills.
Engaging with the Master of Swords firsthand, he understood that to use it, she must channel even more Qi than he did.
Moreover, she surely needed finer control over it.
‘And yet, she’s still able to swing her sword that rapidly?’
Jang Seonyeon was in disbelief.
But the evidence before him was irrefutable.
Clang! Clang!
Namgung Bi-ah’s strikes didn’t relent, indicating she had no intention to gift him an opportunity for retaliation. She showed no signs of fatigue.
The Lightning Qi imbued within her attacks felt so intense that it seemed to burn with each contact—every parry taunted the brink of unconsciousness.
Ultimately, Jang Seonyeon intensely focused, channeling all his Qi in one swift motion. Just as Namgung Bi-ah approached him,
Ring!
His sword echoed loudly—enough to disrupt her.
He might have overextended his Qi doing this, but he had to shift the battle’s tide.
At this rate, he saw no alternative strategies unfolding.
‘I’ll just have to make her stop first, create some distance—’
Bam!
“Ugh!”
Something heavy slammed against his chest. Jang Seonyeon groaned and rolled along the ground.
He had assumed she would falter, unable to breach his Sound Arts.
However, Namgung Bi-ah effortlessly penetrated it and delivered a punch right to his ribcage.
“Cough… Cough…!”
Once he finally managed to rise, Jang Seonyeon immediately surveyed his surroundings.
He had to locate Namgung Bi-ah, preparing to defend against her subsequent attack. Yet, contrary to his expectations…
Namgung Bi-ah stood still.
‘Is she not following up her attack?’
‘What was that earlier, then?’
Jang Seonyeon recalled the recent encounter.
‘Did my skills fail to work?’
That couldn’t be true.
He was certain that he had executed his skill with precision.
But then, how…?
“…”
Drawing his eyes to Namgung Bi-ah’s impassive face, he noticed a thin trail of crimson sliding down her mouth.
Suddenly, it all clicked.
It wasn’t that his attack had failed—it was merely that Namgung Bi-ah had endured it. How was that even feasible?
Her mind should have whirled from the blow.
‘Just like the Poison Phoenix last time, she should’ve been spitting blood and dropped to the floor when she didn’t see this coming.’
Yet, here was Namgung Bi-ah, nonchalantly wiping blood away with her hand.
She hadn’t emitted even a groan.
Nor had she grimaced in pain.
The Master of Swords remained active, and Namgung Bi-ah was simply gazing down at Jang Seonyeon.
There was no arrogance reflected in her eyes.
Only serenity.
She resembled a tranquil lake, quiet and undisturbed.
There was an ethereal beauty to her—an elegance that radiated like a flawlessly crafted pearl.
In that moment, she exuded an aura of nobility.
‘So this is the essence of the Namgung Clan.’
When that thought drifted through Jang Seonyeon’s mind, he felt compelled to bite his lips tightly.
So much so that blood began to seep.
‘I can’t keep up with this.’
He had to face the truth—at this moment, defeating that woman seemed an insurmountable challenge.
So…
He’d have to find a different approach.
How much time had passed since the duel began?
In real-world terms, perhaps not long at all.
There hadn’t been that many exchanges yet.
However, the silence had persisted for an unusually extended duration. For a multitude to remain quiet spoke to the shock of the situation.
Finally, someone broke the silence.
“There’s… no way.”
His voice dripped with astonishment.
That was merely the spark.
From that remark, whispers began echoing from all around.
“Isn’t that the Master of Swords? How is she able to wield it so expertly, when even the Lightning Dragon failed to—”
“The way she moves her sword… it’s like she’s dancing. Truly exquisite.”
If one asked a person from the Central Plains if they knew the Namgung Clan, they would all undoubtedly respond affirmatively.
The Namgung Clan was so infamous that even the hermits residing deep in the mountains couldn’t remain ignorant of its name.
And their signature art, the Master of Swords, was equally well-known.
For only this technique held the power to manifest such overwhelming, destructive energy.
It didn’t merely involve physical training but also required reaching a certain martial level to fully harness and manipulate Lightning Qi.
Those were bare minimums for utilizing the clan’s art.
Even though that didn’t sound overly complicated at first glance,
Reaching that level was far from simple. The teachings were only passed down through direct blood relatives.
Thus, it wasn’t easily learned.
The level of mastery required was unattainable even for the most talented.
Just look at Namgung Cheonjun.
Even he, regarded as a genius, had just begun learning to channel Lightning Qi and had yet to master the Master of Swords.
But how did Namgung Bi-ah fare?
‘She had already been using it by the time we first met.’
Recalling the day I first encountered her after my regression.
It was during my journey to Sichuan when I stumbled upon a lost Namgung Bi-ah.
When she mentioned her ties to the Namgung Clan, her aura was undoubtedly that of the Master of Swords.
That meant she had been nearing the completion of that art since the very first moment.
“Sis is so cool…”
Tang Soyeol, sitting beside me, couldn’t contain her excitement as she watched the duel unfold.
Wi Seol-Ah, next to her, nodded vigorously in agreement.
It was indeed impressive to witness Namgung Bi-ah, who emanated such overpowering presence over Jang Seonyeon.
‘…She really broke free.’
This wasn’t surprising; Namgung Bi-ah had liberated herself from the constraints she had imposed.
Just before stepping onto the arena stage, she had asked me if she could unleash the energy she’d been restraining.
We referred to the Qi I had been wrapping around her presence.
I had shown her how to do this because it looked cumbersome for her to wear the mask every time we went outside.
‘I barely explained it, demonstrated it briefly, and she grasped it immediately.’
How was that even fair?
I had worked so hard to learn that little trick.
She had a talent too frightening for this era and its plethora of geniuses.
And there I was, rotting in the shadows of the rankings.
Had I made any progress since then?
I could hardly confirm that.
Looking back, the Demonic Sword Queen was a formidable being.
‘She could wipe out an entire clan by herself, after all.’
Even with the absence of the deity, for someone to annihilate a clan alone, that spoke volumes.
Unlike me, who had to rely on the powers of the Heavenly Demon and spend an eternity in the Abyss to evolve into a monster.
The Demonic Sword Queen wielded demonic Qi but had never absorbed any techniques from the Heavenly Demon.
What could possibly drive her to become a demonic entity?
Such questions had been on my mind, and I often sought answers from her.
Of course, every time I brought it up, the Demonic Sword Queen evaded giving me a solid reply.
—A simple life.
She merely repeated that one notion.
“Sis… she’s stronger than before, without a doubt.”
“Right?”
I couldn’t help but empathize with Tang Soyeol’s astonishment.
Namgung Bi-ah had far surpassed my assumptions.
Although I recognized her strength and some of her martial prowess…
She turned out to be overwhelmingly more powerful than I had anticipated.
“Sis Bi-ah is amazing!”
Wi Seol-Ah shouted enthusiastically, while I simply nodded, unable to find my voice.
‘Indeed.’
I kept that thought internalized this time. Somehow, embarrassment washed over me.
My earlier worries felt ludicrous beside the image of Namgung Bi-ah overwhelming Jang Seonyeon with her sheer presence.
There had been a moment of danger when Jang Seonyeon had hit her, but…
Namgung Bi-ah had stood her ground.
Could it be defined by her immense mental resilience?
Inside, she must still be battling with the aftershocks.
Her Qi may have jealously roared within due to the blow she had received, yet Namgung Bi-ah maintained control over her art.
That only meant she expertly regulated the chaotic surge of power circulating in her.
‘…This is insane.’
She effortlessly bypassed whatever limits typical emerging talents faced.
Even Jang Seonyeon held considerable talent.
As much as I wanted to deny it, he was without doubt an exceptional martial artist—both present and future.
No one could pull off such feats without being innately gifted.
‘I wonder what expression he wears right now.’
My gaze wasn’t fixed on the arena, but rather at a high vantage point on a nearby structure.
That was the assembly point for significant figures in the Murim Alliance.
I was unable to see them, but the Alliance Leader would undoubtedly be present, and perhaps even Shaolin’s Chief Abbot was there.
For a brief moment, I contemplated enhancing my senses to get a closer look, but I abandoned the idea.
It would have been troublesome if I got detected.
‘Has his expression soured, or is he amused?’
Either way, I didn’t particularly care.
Though I did lean towards hoping for the former.
‘I must admit, I feel disappointed not to have had the chance to beat him up myself.’
Initially, I’d wanted to break a limb or two, but I viewed this outcome as acceptable.
After all, I would eliminate him eventually.
“She asked for my trust.”
At the time, I hadn’t comprehended what Namgung Bi-ah truly meant with those words.
Now, however, I began to grasp a portion of it.
‘Perhaps I can take it easy here.’
She wouldn’t trip like Gu Jeolyub, who fumbled his way through his combat techniques.
Nor would she be so daft and careless as to tumble to the ground, like Namgung Cheonjun had done.
She commanded the fight and appeared poised to bring it all to a swift conclusion.
My focus now shifted entirely on strategizing how to handle my own match against Moyong Hi-ah—
“What?”
While lost in thought, I suddenly turned towards Jang Seonyeon.
It was as though my instincts guided me there.
Thud!
The sound that followed was unmistakable—it was the noise of someone rolling on the ground.
Events transpired in an instant.
The previously downed Jang Seonyeon now stood upright, while Namgung Bi-ah had rolled on the ground a few times before instantly recovering her stance.
Namgung Bi-ah stared at Jang Seonyeon in astonishment, covering her nose.
“What just… happened?”
Tang Soyeol, observing this unfold, bore the same shocked expression as Namgung Bi-ah.
I was not in a position to respond to Tang Soyeol’s inquiries.
The unease stirred within me.
Something was vibrating within my abdomen.
I wondered what on earth was stirring with such intensity.
Moments later, it clicked—this was the unknown energy I had absorbed from Namgung Cheonjun, now rampaging wildly inside me.
Though it was a meager amount, my Flame Qi had nearly consumed all of it.
Yet, regardless, its intensity exceeded all my expectations.
At once, it became clear to me.
“That bastard.”
It was because of Jang Seonyeon that the energy inside me had begun to stir so chaotically.
Unconsciously, I tightened my fist.
The energy surged even more in response.
The very same energy coursing through both my being and Jang Seonyeon’s.
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