Chapter 248 : Commotion
"The Hoicheon Association. I will tell you everything I know about that place."
"What? You'll tell me everything about the Hoicheon Association? Did I hear you correctly?"
"Yes. You heard me correctly. If you defeat me, I will tell you everything I know."
Just as Mo Socheon had been surprised to hear the name Namgung Jayeon before.
This time, Namgung Hui was surprised to hear his remark.
For a person from the Murong family, which belonged to the Hoicheon Association, specifically the Northern Heaven, to willingly confess information about the Association.
It was so absurd that it was even suspicious.
"Why would you go that far? You could have offered something else even if it wasn't that condition, couldn't you?"
For example, silver. Or he could have offered attractive conditions, including the specialties of Liaodong that the Murong family could provide.
Nevertheless, Mo Socheon had presented the information of the Hoicheon Association, the condition that Namgung Hui would be most tempted by.
It was such a delicious-looking bait that it was suspicious to bite it rashly.
"Because it's the most attractive condition I can offer, and it's the information I need the least. It's a good thing for both of us, so there's no reason to refuse, is there?"
"You don't need it? You're not afraid of the Hoicheon Association's retaliation?"
"Even if I am retaliated against, it's me who will suffer, so it's none of your business. And it won't happen."
He didn't know what position he held in the Murong family.
But it seemed he didn't have to worry about forbidden techniques or retaliation.
Thinking about it that way, he wondered how much information such a person would know.
Still, thinking that he would know more than a complete stranger, he nodded his head.
"Alright. If you want me to defeat you that much, I'll beat you thoroughly."
"Yes. That's how it should be to be fun. Don't be careless. There will be no mercy in my sword."
An unusual energy stirred from Mo Socheon's body, who had strengthened his fighting spirit.
Since he was capable of detailed application of Ki, it felt as if he had released the Ki he had been concealing until now.
An energy he hadn't felt from the Heavenly Dragon, Murong Junseong.
A golden light bloomed brilliantly from Mo Socheon's back.
When that brilliant light was in full bloom, he took a step.
-Phat!
It was definitely faster than before.
The sword strike, with added explosive power, flew like a hawk, aiming for Namgung Hui's neck.
-Chaeng!
The golden sword strike, having shed the form of the Sun-Shooting Sword Art, was even different in the principles it contained.
This was a sword art Namgung Hui was seeing for the first time.
He had wondered if it was the Murong family's heirloom martial art, but there was no such martial art in their family.
If so, it was reasonable to see it as a martial art that Mo Socheon had newly obtained and learned from somewhere.
The golden dawn light raged once.
And Namgung Hui's counterattack, who had fully received the sword strike, began.
The golden sun set, and now a new moon rose.
Light-Splitting Sword Art. First Stance, Light-Splitting Flash.
This time, a silver flash drew a horizon and went straight in a straight line.
It was like an arrow shot to bring down the golden sun.
-Swoosh! Slice!
Since Namgung Hui was ahead in terms of speed, Mo Socheon's sleeve was cut and fluttered.
Still, since he hadn't allowed a cut, Namgung Hui felt a little disappointed.
He had at least expected to see blood, but Mo Socheon's senses were more outstanding than he thought.
But Mo Socheon, whose sleeve was cut, seemed to have a different thought.
He bit his lip and made a frustrated face.
"Indeed, you are worthy of taking the title from me. Let's see if you can block this too."
The golden dawn light became even more intense, and he even had the illusion that a halo was shining from Mo Socheon's face.
The moment he had that illusion, Mo Socheon thrust his sword.
Similar to the principle of the Light-Splitting Sword Art, he had disturbed his vision with light and aimed for that opening.
-Chang, chang, chang, chang!
But Namgung Hui was at a level where he did not rely solely on sight.
He had already felt the intense energy and had gone out to meet it with a silver flash.
It was the law not to be late when greeting a guest.
Namgung Hui, not content with just greeting him, persistently saw off Mo Socheon, who was retreating.
"Keuk...!"
He was pushed back in speed.
And he was pushed back in strength.
As this piled up, he had no choice but to repeat his retreat.
Furthermore, Namgung Hui was far ahead in the total amount of internal energy.
It was a matter of course.
There was no way Mo Socheon, who was still just a youth, could have more internal energy than Namgung Hui, who had taken various spirit medicines.
Well, even if they had the same amount of internal energy, the result would not have changed.
But on Mo Socheon's face, there was still hope.
As if he had prepared a final ultimate stance, his eyebrows furrowed, and his mouth was firmly shut.
The golden dawn light that had been shining from him disappeared, and this time, no energy leaked out.
To say he had given up, his resolute expression seemed as if he would never back down.
If so, all he had to do was thoroughly crush the opponent.
Not only did Namgung Hui not like him, but since he had offered the information of the Hoicheon Association as a condition, there was no reason to go easy on him.
This time, an unprecedented great power surged from Namgung Hui's body.
Although it had no color, it was felt.
The chill a beast feels when it meets its natural enemy.
The sense of pressure gradually took over the training ground, and a single beast that had sensed it gripped its sword hilt and roared.
"Come!"
At Mo Socheon's shout, Namgung Hui nodded his head and unfolded his stance.
Light-Splitting Sword Art, Second Stance, Light-Splitting Explosive Flash.
An intense group of lights ran down Namgung Hui's arm towards the tip of his sword.
The One Yang Divine Art, which contained the energy of the sun.
The Light-Splitting Sword Art, which began with an explosion of light, fully showed off that it was the true martial art of the Diancang Sect.
Mo Socheon, who quickly took a defensive posture amidst the dazzling light.
Namgung Hui shot the light straight at the rather defenseless-looking Mo Socheon.
-Kaaang!!
With an intense explosion, a roar filled the training ground.
Mo Socheon, who should have endured the sword strike, should have been thrown back or retreated with a large wound.
But rather, after that clash, the one who was pushed back was not Mo Socheon, but Namgung Hui himself.
Namgung Hui, feeling the strong repulsive force from his hand, looked at his palm and tilted his head.
'I definitely clashed swords with Mo Socheon, so why was I pushed back?'
Before Namgung Hui could harbor any doubts, this time, Mo Socheon's sword flew in.
A feast of sword strikes fired like a rapid-fire cannon.
It was persistent, as if not to miss Namgung Hui's opening.
-Chae, chae, chaeng!
Namgung Hui quickly came to his senses and received Mo Socheon's sword.
Although he was surprised by how outstanding Mo Socheon's skills were, Namgung Hui still had many things he hadn't shown.
Since he was using the name Namgung, this time he decided to perform the Azure Sky Peerless Sword Art instead of the Light-Splitting Sword Art.
Azure Sky Peerless Sword Art. Ultimate Technique. Heaven Severing.
A hegemonic momentum that seemed to split the heavens went to split Mo Socheon.
This time too, Mo Socheon took a defensive posture and fully received Namgung Hui's sword momentum.
KABOOOM!!
A roar more fierce than before made even the floor of the training ground shake.
Clearly, a considerable shock must have been transmitted to Mo Socheon, who had received the sword this time as well.
As proof of that, a certain radius of the training ground was all overturned.
And due to the shockwave, dust had risen thickly in the area.
But strangely, the one who was pushed back was not Mo Socheon, but Namgung Hui.
Only then did Namgung Hui, who had realized something was strange, open his mouth.
"Flower Grafting... No, how can the Murong family use Flower Grafting?"
Flower Grafting.
A technique of using the opponent's power in reverse.
It was usually a school of thought mainly used by the Wudang Sect, the symbol of Taiji.
Although there was no law that said the Murong family couldn't use it, it was still inevitably unfamiliar.
"Is there a law that says you can't use Flower Grafting if you're not from the Wudang Sect? And if it's a martial art I created myself, there's no reason I can't use it."
"What? You created it yourself?"
Namgung Hui had also created quite a few martial arts.
But that was possible because Namgung Hui had the memories of his past life.
Of course, a great master could appear at any time.
And there was no law that said anyone couldn't become one.
All founding masters had the qualities of such a great master, and they would surely exist in the current generation as well.
'For such a person to be Mo Socheon in front of my eyes. It's not a particularly pleasant feeling.'
And for good reason. It was right to consider the Murong family as an enemy.
Not only because they belonged to the Hoicheon Association, but also because they were the family that had annihilated the sect of one of his few friends in his past life.
Since the Sun-Shooting Sword Art clearly remained as evidence, it was difficult to forgive them, even to appease the vengeful spirit of his friend.
"Are you surprised that I created it myself? Or are you surprised by the potential of a martial art that is more outstanding than you thought?"
"Both. But don't you have to measure it to know if it's long or short? Let's continue the battle of the spear and the shield."
Hadn't Namgung Hui also created a martial art?
Although the opponent had returned Namgung Hui's sword momentum with the technique of Flower Grafting, that would only be possible within the range that he could handle himself.
To reverse all the energy in the world was in the realm of impossibility in principle.
Just as one cannot create something from nothing.
This time, Namgung Hui decided to perform a martial art that he had created.
And one that he was confident in.
He operated the Heavenly Thunder Emperor Divine Art and readjusted his grip on his sword.
A grand and heroic energy began to fill his whole body with vitality and imbue his sword.
When that energy was fully gathered, Namgung Hui extended his sword.
Thirteen Flashes of Lightning. Sixth Stance, Falling Lightning.
A single bolt of lightning falling from the enraged sky.
Amidst the flashing lightning, a weak human raised his sword to block the heavenly punishment.
-Rumble! KABOOOM!!!
In an instant, the atmosphere turned into a vacuum, and even the dust that had accumulated around was completely incinerated.
The floor of the training ground, burned by the lightning, emitted a pungent smell and also gave off black smoke.
Mo Socheon, standing in the center of that smoke.
This time too, as if he had received the Thirteen Flashes of Lightning with the technique of Flower Grafting, he did not retreat a single step.
Such a Mo Socheon lowered his sword and asked Namgung Hui.
"You weren't just hiding your martial arts."
"Isn't it the same for you?"
Sarak.
The hero's headband tied tightly around his forehead, unable to withstand the energy of the lightning, fell to the ground.
At the same time, his long hair fluttered.
And Mo Socheon, who had regained his long hair, was the very picture of a beautiful woman.
That's right. Not only Namgung Hui, but even Mo Socheon had been disguised as a man.
At Mo Socheon's appearance, Namgung Hui could recall another talent of the younger generation of the Murong family.
'Murong Soran. One of the Six Phoenixes, called the Moving Phoenix. I had wondered why she was angry at me, but it was because she thought her title of Heavenly Phoenix had been taken away.'
As if to confirm Namgung Hui's guess, Murong Soran's cute lips moved.
"Although I had my title of Heavenly Phoenix taken away, I can get it back."
"I wonder. You are the Moving Phoenix, and I am a different Heavenly Phoenix, so is there a need to be obsessed with the title?"
"Hahaha! Now, is the title of Hidden Dragon not enough, and you're coveting the title of Heavenly Phoenix as well? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to take away the title of Heavenly Dragon?"
Murong Soran had also realized Namgung Hui's identity.
Then again, since the Thirteen Flashes of Lightning imbued with Thunder Ki had been used, it would have been strange if she hadn't realized it.
"Well, as for me, whether it's Heavenly Dragon or Hidden Dragon, honestly, I have no interest in such titles."
Namgung Hui had no intention of getting involved in the childish play of the talents of the younger generation.
The opponents he had to face right now were all people comparable to the Ten Great Masters.
No. He would have to go far beyond the Ten Great Masters and face the heads of each organization.
In other words, it meant that he had no time to be complacent with titles like Hidden Dragon or Heavenly Dragon.
And so, the moment they entered a brief lull.
Namgung Hui took a step closer to get the answer he wanted from Murong Soran, but in the end, he couldn't get any answer from her.
(End of Chapter)