Chapter 281 : Manifestation of the Inner Demon (3)
Chapter 281: Manifestation of the Inner Demon (3)
Great Master Gakgong stood protectively before Namgung Baek while glaring at Namgung Myeong.
‘How could this be…’
As he looked into Namgung Myeong’s eyes, dyed red like blood, he let out a sorrowful sigh.
“Are you all right?”
“Cough… how did the Abbot come to be here?”
“…The Chairman of the Paetcheon Association sent me a letter.”
“—!!”
When Great Master Gakgong spoke quietly, Namgung Baek was visibly startled.
Amazingly, Tang Sewoon had foreseen that Namgung Myeong would end up like this.
Fearing that matters might turn dangerous, he had sent Great Master Gakgong ahead in advance.
‘It is exactly as Donor Tang warned.’
Before arriving here, Great Master Gakgong recalled the contents of the letter Tang Sewoon had handed him.
[Abbot, once the battlefield has been settled, please head to the headquarters of the White Path Union. If the Blood Demon’s next scheme proceeds as I predict, the Head of the White Path Union will cause a great bloodshed. It must be stopped.]
Even while traveling here, it had been difficult to guess what would happen.
Yet Great Master Gakgong had departed without a shred of doubt.
He trusted the fact that Tang Sewoon had never once been wrong.
And upon arriving, Great Master Gakgong had no choice but to be astonished once more by the foresight of Tang Sewoon, Chairman of the Paetcheon Association.
Not only his overwhelming power, but even his strategy and insight were this exceptional.
Great Master Gakgong shouted at Namgung Myeong.
Though his voice was gentle, the strength contained within it was as firm as a massive mountain.
“Donor Namgung, regain your senses. How could you allow yourself to be tainted by demons!”
“Tsk tsk, tainted by demons? You blind, shaven monk who got led around by the Tang Clan’s dog—open your eyes properly. This is true power!”
Yet Namgung Myeong did not wipe the sneer from his face even at Great Master Gakgong’s admonition.
“…If you refuse to step aside, I will subdue you by force, Donor Namgung.”
Shing!
Great Master Gakgong drew forth the Green Jade Buddha Staff.
A vivid, impeccably pure energy flared up from his body like blazing flames.
Namgung Myeong frowned.
The power of Shaolin had always been the most effective at subduing demons.
“Heh heh, such grand words. But do you truly think you can dare block my path?”
Bang!
Namgung Myeong sneered as he charged toward Great Master Gakgong.
With each step tearing at space itself, he closed the distance in an instant and swung a sword overflowing with demonic qi.
Kugugugung!
Kwaaaar!
Each time Namgung Myeong’s sword strikes poured forth, everything around them shattered to pieces.
The majesty of the Imperial Sword Forms was no longer present in his blade, but the destructive demonic qi contained within it seemed capable of devouring all things.
“Is that all you have!”
Yet Great Master Gakgong was not pushed back by Namgung Myeong’s assault.
Swaaa!
The pure energy imbued within the Green Jade Buddha Staff purified Namgung Myeong’s demonic qi and effortlessly blocked his attacks.
“Amitabha.”
“Shut up!!”
At the same time, the Buddhist chant uttered by Great Master Gakgong began to shake Namgung Myeong’s madness-ridden mind little by little.
Even so, Namgung Myeong forcibly ignored the voice and unleashed even fiercer attacks.
His body was no longer human.
No matter how his wounds increased, he felt no pain.
He was filled with nothing but killing intent aimed at Great Master Gakgong.
Paaat!
Puhk!
“Ghk!”
“Kahaha! What a sight!”
At that moment, Namgung Myeong’s sword pierced through Great Master Gakgong’s Protective Qi Barrier.
Whooosh!
The demonic qi carried on the blade spread through Great Master Gakgong’s entire body like a virulent poison.
Clenching his teeth, Great Master Gakgong focused his senses and purified the invading demonic qi.
Wooooong!
Kwang! Crack!
Each time Namgung Myeong’s sword and the Green Jade Buddha Staff crossed, space twisted and heavy roars erupted.
The battle between the two supreme masters had already transcended the human realm.
Whenever Namgung Myeong’s sword moved, blue flashes burst forth as if lightning were striking down.
And the Green Jade Buddha Staff once again swallowed all that lightning qi and spewed forth a tremendous radiance.
“Donor Namgung! Martial attainment consumed by demons is nothing but a sandcastle!”
“Then die buried beneath that sandcastle!”
Namgung Myeong laughed like a madman as he swung his sword.
Kwarrrrr!
He drew out the Blood Demon’s power beyond its limits.
His body swelled as if about to burst, even his blood vessels rupturing.
Dense demonic qi coiled around him, forming a grotesque shape.
Though his body was collapsing in real time, Namgung Myeong did not care in the slightest.
“Kahaha! This power! This power is…!”
Laughing wildly, Namgung Myeong charged toward Great Master Gakgong.
Great Master Gakgong looked upon the attack with sorrowful eyes.
‘…There is no other choice.’
An aura rivaling that of his master, the New Monk, began to surge from his body.
“Donor Namgung, please be freed from your suffering.”
Great Master Gakgong’s voice was full of pity.
In the rampaging Namgung Myeong, he saw not anger or hatred, but despair.
Namgung Myeong had become a demonic practitioner not out of greed for power, but from the desperate despair of wanting to survive the Blood Demon at any cost.
Screeeech!
“Die!”
With a piercing sound that tore through the air, Namgung Myeong’s sword strikes poured down like torrential rain.
Amid that terrifying thunderstorm—
“The rain shall cease.”
Great Master Gakgong quietly swung the Green Jade Buddha Staff horizontally.
Paaat!
Crack!
With that simple, concise strike—
“…!”
The raging thunderstorm vanished without a trace.
At the same time, Namgung Myeong violently spat out blood.
The demon-subduing power pouring forth from Great Master Gakgong was violently churning Namgung Myeong’s insides.
‘…I’m being pushed back by Great Master Gakgong of all people?’
He could not accept the fact that he was being overwhelmed by Great Master Gakgong.
What had he not given up to obtain this power?
And yet, that old monk—who had once been weaker than him—had not succumbed to the Blood Demon and had grown this strong?
“Unacceptable… I can’t accept this!!”
Namgung Myeong grew even angrier at Great Master Gakgong’s pity.
His sword surged toward Great Master Gakgong faster and more savagely.
But Great Master Gakgong blocked every single attack.
“Amitabha.”
Then Great Master Gakgong began to subdue Namgung Myeong. His martial arts were not mere attacks.
The Green Jade Buddha Staff pressed down on Namgung Myeong’s demonic qi, radiating light as if it were purifying his very mind.
“…Ghk, huff….”
Great Master Gakgong drew heavy breaths.
The process was neither smooth nor easy.
He, too, was clearly using power beyond his own limits.
If this dragged on even a little longer, the situation was perilous enough that he might have to use even his Innate True Qi.
But he could not give up.
‘Just as Donor Tang saved me… perhaps I, too, can save Donor Namgung.’
He sought to practice the same teaching that Sewoon had once used to save him.
“Uaaah!! I’ll kill you!!”
Namgung Myeong, ignorant of such feelings, screamed in a blood-soaked, battered state.
Though his gaze was still steeped in madness, fear had now taken root within it.
At that very moment—
“…Father.”
“Step back…!”
Namgung Baek slowly rose to his feet.
Great Master Gakgong cried out in alarm, but Namgung Baek did not stop.
His body was drenched in blood, yet his gaze did not waver.
In his hand was the Divine Artifact that Sewoon had given him.
The Divine Sword, Boundless.
It was the name Sewoon had bestowed upon it, saying it symbolized the inexhaustible might of the Namgung Clan.
Swaaa!
Boundless began to emit a blue radiance from his grasp.
Only then did Namgung Baek understand why Sewoon had given him this sword.
Sewoon had already known.
That Namgung Myeong’s madness would finally come to an end by the power contained within this blade.
‘I must stop Father.’
With that resolve, Namgung Baek raised his sword upright.
Standing behind Great Master Gakgong, he had been watching the fierce clash between the two.
After realizing that even Great Master Gakgong—following his uncles—might meet death, he hesitated no longer.
Namgung Baek’s gaze changed.
Swaaaa!
A blue aura began to blaze from his body.
It was the Qi Manifestation of the Namgung Clan, and the embodiment of his unshakable will.
Bang!
Kicking off the ground with a stamping cleaving step, Namgung Baek joined the battlefield.
“Donor Namgung!”
Great Master Gakgong shouted in alarm, but he could not stop him.
Clang!
Shaaah!
Namgung Baek’s sword strikes were far faster and more powerful than before.
The true function of the Boundless Divine Sword that Sewoon had bestowed lay elsewhere.
Just as the long-held name “Azure Heavens” that represented the Namgung Clan implied—
‘Only the Namgung Clan.’
It was a Divine Sword optimized solely to unfold the Namgung sword to absolute perfection.
Swaaaa!
‘How…?!’
Even Great Master Gakgong was astonished—within it was a pure, upright energy that did not yield to him.
“You foolish wretch! Do you think your sword can defeat mine?!”
Sneering, Namgung Myeong charged forward fiercely to kill his own son.
But Namgung Baek neither shrank back nor took a single step away.
Graaaah!!
Like a ruler seated upon the throne that governed the world stepping forward to protect the people, braving every danger—
Imperial Sword Forms
Ultimate Technique
Imperial Reign
From Namgung Baek’s hands, the final form of the Namgung sword unfolded.
The emperor’s sword meant to protect all pierced straight through Namgung Myeong’s chest.
Precisely where the dantian was located.
Pssssss!!
With a sound like air leaking out, the immense demonic qi throughout Namgung Myeong’s body began to dissipate at a rapid pace.
Namgung Myeong collapsed to his knees and violently spewed black blood.
“Guehk! N-no, it can’t be… I, I went through so much to obtain this power…!”
Namgung Myeong’s scream continued.
Great Master Gakgong withdrew his Green Jade Buddha Staff and let out a sigh filled with sorrow.
In his eyes was not the joy of victory, but only deep compassion for a man who had succumbed to demons.
At that moment, Namgung Baek passed by Great Master Gakgong and slowly walked toward his blood-soaked father.
His steps were heavy, and the sword in his hand trembled weakly.
‘Father….’
Hot tears streamed from Namgung Baek’s eyes.
Though they had diverged so tragically, within his memories still remained the warm moments when his father had once smiled at him.
But precisely because he loved him so deeply, he could no longer delay his choice.
“…Father, please find peace now.”
With those final words—
Puhk!
“…!”
Namgung Baek’s sword released its final light and pierced through Namgung Myeong’s heart.
The vitality gradually drained from Namgung Myeong’s eyes.
With clouded vision, Namgung Myeong slowly looked at Namgung Baek.
For a fleeting instant, those eyes that had regained clarity—
Those eyes fading away weakly held neither anger nor hatred toward the one who killed him.
There was only gratitude.
Watching his son, Namgung Myeong’s head soon slumped.
Pssss!
The end of one who had accepted the Blood Demon’s power was horrific.
Even his corpse could not remain intact, as Namgung Myeong’s body crumbled into dust and scattered.
“…Donor Namgung.”
Great Master Gakgong’s voice rang softly.
He placed a hand on Namgung Baek’s shoulder.
The gentle energy flowing from his hand calmed Namgung Baek’s trembling heart.
“Khk… khhkh….”
Hot tears continued to fall from Namgung Baek’s eyes.
As he watched Namgung Baek weep uncontrollably, Great Master Gakgong slowly closed his eyes.
“Amitabha….”
The heavy Buddhist Chant echoed sorrowfully through the air.