Chapter 111 : Weiyeon Mountain Manor (2)
Chapter 111: Weiyeon Mountain Manor (2)
Hyeok U-seon's footsteps, advancing toward the Haiyun Sect while releasing killing intent, came to an abrupt halt.
It was only natural.
The title Azure Star Sword had already begun spreading beyond Anhui Province into other provinces.
There was no need to mention Hubei Province, which bordered Anhui Province.
Any martial artist in Hubei Province who paid attention to the rumors would have heard the title Azure Star Sword at least once.
‘The greatest righteous rising star who conquered the Songshan Gathering!’
Hyeok U-seon immediately examined Namgung Jun's surroundings.
Nothing appeared within either his sight or his perception.
It was obvious that the young man before him was guarding the rear alone.
He seemed to possess tremendous confidence in both his reputation and martial arts.
Having quickly assessed the situation, Hyeok U-seon's hand moved.
Swaang!
Without another word, Hyeok U-seon drew his saber and slashed toward Namgung Jun's neck.
The Azure Sky Society had always been a stubborn bunch with whom compromise through words was impossible.
Regardless of the reason, if the Azure Sky Society intended to obstruct Weiyeon Mountain Manor's actions, conflict was unavoidable.
‘We met sooner than the Manor Lord expected, but it doesn't matter.’
In the end, the only sound decision left for Hyeok U-seon was to strike first.
It was an unexpected situation, making it an equally unexpected attack.
Even so, there was not the slightest excess in Hyeok U-seon's draw.
Even if he could not sever the youth's head in a single blow, he was certain this strike would seize the flow of battle.
‘Huh?’
Around the moment his straight saber had traveled halfway through its draw, Hyeok U-seon sensed something strange.
The instant he drew his saber, Namgung Jun had definitely been standing with both hands hanging loosely at his sides.
Yet now, reflected in his eyes, was Namgung Jun grasping a long bolt of lightning.
A fierce blue sword light stretched out, taking the shape of lightning itself.
‘When did he draw it?’
He had failed to perceive not only the sword being drawn, but even the movement of the hand grasping its hilt.
Like something from a dream, Namgung Jun's sword swept through the air in a graceful arc with overwhelming might.
Jjeeeong!
The instant their saber and sword paths crossed, Hyeok U-seon felt his grip become light.
It was no illusion.
Unable to withstand the sudden sword strike of the young swordsman, the saber blade shattered.
Utterly helplessly.
As Hyeok U-seon watched fragments of his blade scatter into pieces, violent waves surged through his eyes.
The pride and confidence he had built throughout his life as a martial artist crumbled away in much the same fashion.
“How...?”
No matter if his opponent was the greatest righteous rising star, he himself had been a seasoned master who had survived in the Jianghu for decades.
Had he not clawed his way up from the bottom and reached the position of Weiyeon Mountain Manor's Second Manor Master?
“You drew your blade lightly.
So leave lightly as well.”
Before Namgung Jun's emotionless words had even finished—
Blood began flowing from Hyeok U-seon's chest, where the Eternal Clarity Sword had already pierced deeply.
“Urk?”
Hyeok U-seon never even saw the final sword strike that pierced his heart.
All he managed was an involuntary groan mixed with bewilderment.
The question Hyeok U-seon died with remained forever unanswered.
“Vice Manor Master!”
“It happened so suddenly!”
The martial artists of Weiyeon Mountain Manor standing beside Hyeok U-seon were dumbfounded.
The battle had ended far too quickly.
So quickly that none of them had even dared intervene.
Hyeok U-seon, the Vice Manor Master of Weiyeon Mountain Manor, had undoubtedly been a formidable expert.
Few experts or leaders of medium and small sects in the surrounding region could withstand Hyeok U-seon's straight saber.
As one of the two Vice Manor Masters serving beneath the Manor Lord, he had amassed countless achievements.
Yet Hyeok U-seon, whose reputation had spread throughout the eastern reaches of Hubei Province, had been cut down in an instant.
His treasured weapon was destroyed with the first exchange.
His heart was pierced with the second.
The entire sequence had been so smooth and so swift.
To those with comparatively lower cultivation, it looked as though Hyeok U-seon had died in a single strike.
The martial artists of Weiyeon Mountain Manor felt both emptiness and terror.
“Ah!”
“What do we do...!”
Namgung Jun alone stood blocking their escape.
Yet not one martial artist of Weiyeon Mountain Manor dared charge him.
“Our youngest has quietly earned another great merit.”
“Hyeok U-seon wasn't someone who should have fallen so easily.
His skills were quite seasoned.”
“That only proves how extraordinary our youngest's swordsmanship is.”
Before long, the Heavenly Sword Hall swordsmen crossed through the gates of the Haiyun Sect and approached the martial artists of Weiyeon Mountain Manor, each drawing their swords.
They were now surrounded from both front and rear.
There was no path left to escape.
Moreover, even Hyeok U-seon, who should have been leading them, was already dead.
“We still outnumber them!”
“That's right!
The rear! Head for the rear!”
The confused martial artists of Weiyeon Mountain Manor turned toward the rear escape route guarded solely by Namgung Jun.
They knew well enough that he was strong enough to kill Hyeok U-seon effortlessly.
But surely, no matter how powerful he was, he could not stop dozens of fleeing martial artists all at once.
After all, no matter how skilled a master was, he still wielded only one sword.
“Scatter!
Run at the same time!”
“Survive however you can!”
More than a dozen martial artists near the rear leapt away simultaneously.
Each fled in a different direction.
If they scattered like this, even if some died, the rest would surely survive.
The Eternal Clarity Sword trembled faintly before scattering blue radiance in every direction.
Before anyone realized it, sword strikes poured across the battlefield like raindrops.
The fleeing martial artists became drenched in an azure rainstorm.
Chwajajajak!
Blood erupted from the bodies of every martial artist desperately trying to save himself.
The sword strikes, which had split into dozens of separate trajectories in an instant, cut down every fleeing martial artist without missing a single one.
It was a strike from the Drizzling Rain Sword Art.
For a brief moment, a crimson shower fell across the area.
Even as thick drops of blood splashed onto his bamboo hat, Namgung Jun merely flicked his sword clean before lowering it.
“Can you move swiftly enough to escape the rainstorm?
If not...”
The brim of his bamboo hat lifted slightly, revealing Namgung Jun's blue eyes.
Facing the gaze that resembled dozens of bolts of lightning writhing within them, the martial artists of Weiyeon Mountain Manor lost all will to fight.
“Then conduct yourselves properly and respectfully wait for the wind and rain to pass.”
Namgung Jun's calm voice drove straight into the ears of every martial artist from Weiyeon Mountain Manor.
Every martial artist from Weiyeon Mountain Manor who had attacked the Haiyun Sect was subdued.
After imprisoning them with the Haiyun Sect's assistance, Namgung Jun met with the Haiyun Sect Master.
“This is our first meeting.
I am Namgung Jun of the Azure Sky Society.”
“Welcome, Young Hero Namgung.
You have rendered our sect tremendous assistance this time.”
The Haiyun Sect Master treated Namgung Jun with the utmost courtesy.
Most of the Haiyun Sect's disciples had departed for Mount Wudang to aid the Wudang Sect.
The current Haiyun Sect was practically an empty shell.
That was precisely why Weiyeon Mountain Manor, which had long sought an opportunity, had boldly dispatched its forces.
Had the Heavenly Sword Hall not arrived unexpectedly, the Haiyun Sect would have been completely crushed.
“I have heard that Weiyeon Mountain Manor's atrocities have become increasingly severe lately.”
“They have grown even more active since the conflict between the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and the Wudang Sect began.
Weiyeon Mountain Manor originally avoided provoking the Wudang Sect's affiliated sects, but the fact that they dispatched such a large force this time speaks for itself.”
Namgung Jun quietly nodded.
“Our Society also suspects that there has been some communication between the Sun and Moon Demonic Cult and Weiyeon Mountain Manor.
Weiyeon Mountain Manor's actions have become far too bold compared to before to simply be the result of observing the situation in Hubei Province.”
“Weiyeon Mountain Manor belongs to the unorthodox path from the beginning, so they would hardly care about joining hands with the Demonic Path.
Besides, the Manor Lord's ambitions are quite great.
Even our sect has been wondering whether we should make additional moves.”
Namgung Jun shook his head.
“Please continue holding your position here just as you have been.”
“Hoh.
The meaning behind those words is...?”
Looking at the Haiyun Sect Master, whose sentence trailed off, Namgung Jun continued.
“Weiyeon Mountain Manor will soon be erased.”
The Haiyun Sect Master understood immediately.
The Heavenly Sword Hall force that had come to reinforce the Haiyun Sect today was only a portion of their strength.
‘Even the force stationed outside was considerable.’
The Haiyun Sect Master recalled the members of the Azure Sky Society who had entered the Haiyun Sect.
Among them were several individuals he had recognized immediately.
By the Third Rank, members of the Azure Sky Society were already renowned enough to possess their own titles.
‘Come to think of it, Gong Jun-am, the Giant Wall Sword, was also there.
He has long been known as the second strongest member of the Heavenly Sword Hall.’
Suddenly, the Haiyun Sect Master became curious.
He knew that Namgung Jun had slain Hyeok U-seon with a single sword strike.
Even so, was that truly enough to place him above Gong Jun-am, who had long been regarded as the Heavenly Sword Hall's second strongest?
Yet the Haiyun Sect Master quickly suppressed the question.
‘He did receive guidance from the Sect Leader during the Songshan Gathering.
There must be something I don't know.’
The Haiyun Sect Master reached for his teacup.
“Young Hero Namgung.
Is there anything our sect can do to assist?”
“Once Weiyeon Mountain Manor falls, all manner of unsavory groups may seek to fill the vacuum.
Please look after the people living in the surrounding region.”
“That is naturally our duty.”
“I've heard of the Haiyun Sect's reputation.
Merely fulfilling your proper role will already be of tremendous help.”
The Haiyun Sect Master quietly took a sip of tea.
“You've rendered our sect great assistance, yet now you flatter us as well.
It's almost embarrassing for me to remain seated here.”
“It isn't flattery.
The Haiyun Sect I heard about through the rumors truly deserves such respect.
It is only proper that I treat you accordingly.”
Though their conversation had been brief, the Haiyun Sect Master realized something.
‘Though still so young, he possesses a presence all his own.’
There was a strength that came not from martial arts, but from the person himself.
It was not the sort of overwhelming charisma that instantly dominated everyone present, nor the sort that left an unforgettable first impression.
Instead, like the lingering fragrance of tea, his calm dignity quietly permeated the surroundings, making one forget Namgung Jun's age.
‘The rumors were no exaggeration.
He truly is one of the Azure Sky Society's greatest talents.’
He could no longer question why this promising young swordsman had been placed above the Heavenly Sword Hall's many Third Rank members.
‘What a pity.’
Had he possessed a daughter, he would have discreetly arranged an introduction.
Though they had not spoken for long, he found himself greatly admiring Namgung Jun, whose composed presence far surpassed that of ordinary young martial artists.
“Are you leaving immediately?
Wouldn't it be better to rest here for at least a day?”
Namgung Jun cupped his hands in salute and politely declined.
“By now, the Hall Master of the Heavenly Sword Hall has likely already slain Weiyeon Mountain Manor's other Vice Manor Master, who headed toward Hwanggang.”
Hwanggang was located three or four days from Tuanfeng, where the Haiyun Sect stood.
A martial artist using Qinggong could shorten that journey considerably.
“If both Vice Manor Masters responsible for Weiyeon Mountain Manor's military operations have been killed, then...”
“Yes.
Now that Weiyeon Mountain Manor's core fighting force has been eliminated, the Heavenly Sword Hall intends to strike directly at their headquarters.”
The Heavenly Sword Hall had no intention of dragging out the campaign against Weiyeon Mountain Manor.
They intended to finish it as swiftly as possible.
Weiyeon Mountain Manor.
Located halfway up the mountainside, Weiyeon Mountain Manor was remarkably grand.
Its estate far exceeded ordinary manors in size, while the walls surrounding it were so high and thick that they resembled the walls of a small fortress.
The master of Weiyeon Mountain Manor, the Dark Forest Wanderer, stood atop the tallest pavilion, surveying the estate below.
“So both of my sworn brothers are dead?”
“Yes.
According to reports sent by the Black Path groups in Hwanggang and Tuanfeng, it has been confirmed.”
Even after hearing his subordinate's report, the Dark Forest Wanderer's eyes remained indifferent.
Only the slightest trace of irritation appeared.
He recalled the two Vice Manor Masters with whom he had sworn brotherhood.
They had seemed reasonably capable, so he had bound them to Weiyeon Mountain Manor with the dual titles of sworn brothers and Vice Manor Masters.
He had used them effectively for more than ten years, only to lose them at such a crucial moment.
The loss was painful.
‘They used their intelligence advantage and mobility to defeat us piece by piece.’
The forces led by the two Vice Manor Masters had accounted for a considerable portion of Weiyeon Mountain Manor's strength.
Having first eliminated those powerful forces outside, the Heavenly Sword Hall would surely march here next.
“To think they accomplished nothing with that much strength.
Utterly pathetic fools.”
Clicking his tongue, the Dark Forest Wanderer clasped his hands behind his back and gave his orders.
“The Azure Sky Society will arrive soon.
Raise the alert level!”
“Yes!”
At the very moment his subordinate answered—
A tremendous explosion erupted in the distance.
It came from the direction of Weiyeon Mountain Manor's main gate.
The Dark Forest Wanderer instantly turned toward it.
Through the shattered remains of the main gate, swordsmen were already charging inside one after another.
“They've arrived this quickly?”
Hearing the slight loss of composure in the Dark Forest Wanderer's voice, the subordinate beside him trembled.