Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 135

135. Lightning Sword and Martial Emperor

Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, having plunged into the Hwangcheon Troop [Yellow River Troop, likely a bandit group], moved through them like a phantom, scattering sword energy.

Each time his blue sword energy sliced through the air, those clad in thick yellow uniforms died without resistance.

Over a hundred members of the Hwangcheon Troop, said to rival even the top disciples, were unable to stop Namgung Jincheon alone.

‘Hmm, at this rate.’

It was just as Jinheo of Shaolin was predicting an overwhelming victory for the Namgung Clan.

“Huh?”

Hyeokryun Pil, the representative of the Hyeokryun Clan, suddenly frowned.

“They’re changing their tactics.”

Jinheo raised his eyes.

The Hwangcheon Troop was splitting to the left and right.

The Hwangcheon Troop, which had been rushing towards Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, was slowly retreating.

But it was by no means a retreat.

Step, step.

“Could it be?”

Hyeokryun Pil muttered with a frown.

But that ‘could it be’ became a reality.

A man was walking out from between the Hwangcheon Troop, which had split to the left and right and was retreating.

Step, step.

The man, dressed in black martial attire and an overcoat, exuded an intense aura even from a distance.

“Is that the leader of the Heartless Faction, Lee Musim?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Mukhyul Yeop scowled at someone’s question.

“There’s no way a mere faction leader could emit such an aura.”

He was right.

The aura of the man in black martial attire was by no means ordinary.

If his aura could be felt even from here, how much pressure must Namgung Jincheon, who was facing him directly, be feeling?

‘Hoo.’

Shaolin’s representative, Jinheo, inwardly exclaimed, a wave of unease washing over him.

A terribly uneasy premonition filled his heart.

***

Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon, who had been scattering sword energy, stopped moving.

Namgung Jincheon also knew the man walking out from between the slowly retreating Hwangcheon Troop.

And the extraordinary aura he was emitting.

Step, step.

The man in black martial attire and an overcoat was a strong-looking man with a large build.

He looked much younger than himself, but the man’s aura told him that his martial prowess was by no means low.

Step.

The man in black martial attire stopped.

Namgung Jincheon also stopped his white horse and looked at the man.

“You are…”

Namgung Jincheon said in a heavy voice.

“You don’t seem like someone who should be with bandits.”

That was Namgung Jincheon’s sincere thought.

Those who have reached the realm of masters have an aura that cannot be hidden.

The man in black martial attire standing before Namgung Jincheon was exuding a very serious and heavy aura.

Above all, his clear and intense gaze was not something that a mere bandit could possess.

Rather, an aura that a master of a prestigious orthodox sect might have was emanating from the man in black martial attire.

“You too.”

The man in black martial attire said in a heavy voice.

“You are not one to be with the despicable rabble of clans.”

Namgung Jincheon could tell that it was not a criticism or provocation.

Just as he was acknowledging his opponent, his opponent was also regarding him as special.

“Huhu.”

Namgung Jincheon chuckled.

“We should have met in a different place, not here.”

That was both sincere and a sign of favor.

The instinct of a martial artist craving a strong opponent was now stirring within Namgung Jincheon.

Swoosh.

Namgung Jincheon dismounted from his horse.

After stroking the loyal white horse that had charged into the pouring arrows for him, Namgung Jincheon struck the horse with his palm.

“Go.”

Tap.

The intelligent horse immediately left the spot, following its master’s will.

But it soon stopped, keeping a certain distance.

“You.”

Namgung Jincheon chuckled and turned his body.

Then, he put his hands together and paid his respects to the man in black martial attire.

Shuk.

It was an unconventional act.

Even though he didn’t bow his head, it was unheard of for the head of the Namgung Clan to pay respects first.

He didn’t care that the representatives of the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] were watching.

“I am Namgung Jincheon, the head of the Namgung Clan. I hold the title of Lightning Sword.”

Sreung.

The man in black martial attire drew his sword.

The straight blade shone red in the setting sun.

Shuk.

He pointed the sword downwards and put his hands together.

“I am the one who stands under the dark sky, Dark Heaven Martial Emperor.”

His eyes, paying respects, shone more intensely than the gleaming blade.

“It is an honor to face the Lightning Sword.”

The title of Dark Heaven Martial Emperor was probably not his name.

But Namgung Jincheon didn’t care.

The opponent had revealed himself by drawing his sword.

That alone was enough for him to have shown the respect of a martial artist.

Shuk.

Dark Heaven Martial Emperor raised his sword.

Woong.

A low cry flowed from his sword.

Along with it, an unfamiliar energy flickered on Dark Heaven Martial Emperor’s sword, and soon a red sword energy appeared.

Hoo-ook.

That unwavering red sword energy was by no means inferior to the sword energy emanating from Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

At the same time, blue sword energy appeared on Lightning Sword’s sword.

Woong, woong.

The sound of the two swords crying resonated through the blood-soaked valley.

In that place where twilight was beginning to fall, the red and blue sword energies flickered, scattering eerie light.

‘It won’t be easy.’

Namgung Jincheon suddenly thought.

After reaching this realm, he thought there would be no more opponents.

If he had to pick, it would be the heads of the other Four Great Clans or the leaders of Shaolin and Hwasan [Two of the most famous and influential martial arts sects].

Although he hadn’t confirmed their levels, they wouldn’t have been idle either.

But today, he had found a worthy opponent in an unexpected place.

That aroused both surprise and an intense desire to compete.

The instinct of a martial artist craving a strong opponent began to stir in Namgung Jincheon’s heart.

‘But it only has meaning if it’s not easy.’

A weak opponent is of no interest.

Only the strong make Namgung Jincheon’s heart race, and only then is there meaning in holding a sword.

Woong.

The low sound of the sword crying somehow sounded like a cheer of joy.

Namgung Jincheon slowly raised his sword and took a stance.

Twilight was slowly falling, but Namgung Jincheon could only see Dark Heaven Martial Emperor.

Shwik.

And the next moment, the two men’s swords were already clashing.

Kwaang.

The red and blue sword energies collided with each other, and a fierce explosion shook the valley.

***

Bang, kwaang.

“Ugh…”

One of the representatives groaned.

But no one looked back.

The clash between Namgung Jincheon and Dark Heaven Martial Emperor had captured everyone’s attention.

Kwaang.

The two men’s clash was beyond people’s imagination.

Every time their swords collided, an explosion shook the valley.

Not only the representatives of the Murim Alliance and the elites of the Namgung Clan, but even the Hwangcheon Troop and the bandits could not take their eyes off the sight of the sword energies flying around.

And that was the same for Lee Seoyeon.

‘Good heavens.’

Lee Seoyeon couldn’t believe what she was seeing, even as she watched the scene unfold before her eyes.

She had already seen Yunhyun’s sword dance on Dongting Lake, but the clash between Namgung Jincheon and Dark Heaven Martial Emperor aroused another kind of thrill.

There was no comparison.

Yunhyun’s sword dance and the clash before her eyes were completely different, and her insight could not judge which was superior.

If she had to say, Yunhyun’s sword dance was like a huge and overwhelming flow, while the battle before her eyes was very destructive and violent.

But there was something Lee Seoyeon could clearly see.

Her eye, which was praised as the eye of a hawk, had already seen Yunhyun’s sword dance, and so she could suddenly realize it.

The fact that Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon was being pushed back against Dark Heaven Martial Emperor.

‘No way.’

Lee Seoyeon felt her hands trembling.

It couldn’t be.

It shouldn’t be.

But her insight was clearly telling her.

‘The Lightning Sword.’

Lee Seoyeon bit her lip.

‘…is being pushed back.’

The others in the Namgung Clan wouldn’t know.

The flashing sword energies and explosions were blocking their eyes and ears, and they had never seen such a battle before.

The few people who could realize it might also be denying it themselves out of pride in the Namgung Clan.

‘Dark Heaven Martial Emperor.’

Lee Seoyeon watched the battle with a firm expression.

But her gaze was already on the man who had revealed himself as Dark Heaven Martial Emperor, not Namgung Jincheon.

It was her instinctive reaction towards the victor.

‘Who the hell is that guy?’

Lee Seoyeon stared at Dark Heaven Martial Emperor with a hardened expression.

Because of that, she had no time to observe the expressions of the Namgung Clan elites around her.

The Namgung Clan elites, who had been shining with pride when the sword energy was emitted from Lightning Sword Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

As the battle dragged on, what was faintly spreading across their faces was the shadow of anxiety.

***

“Tsk.”

A gorgeously dressed young man clicked his tongue, and those standing around him flinched.

“How boring. Isn’t it time to end this?”

The young man sitting on the red platform frowned openly.

They were hiding in the darkness, watching the battle between Namgung Jincheon and Dark Heaven Martial Emperor from afar.

“Hey, Bireon.”

When the young man turned his head, the elaborate decorations of the small golden crown on his head sparkled and swayed.

A young woman watching the battle turned her head.

Swish.

She, Bireon, in white martial attire, bowed her head and paid her respects politely.

Black, long hair flowed down her slender shoulders.

“What are your orders, Your Highness, the Prince Moon?”

It was a very thin, monotonous voice with no inflection.

The young man called Prince Moon stroked a small silk fan and said.

“What do you think? Do you think he can beat the Lightning Sword?”

He asked in a half-mocking tone.

Bireon answered quietly.

“The Martial Emperor knows no defeat.”

The meticulously groomed, slender eyebrows of Prince Moon contorted greatly.

He hates the Martial Emperor.

So much so that he feels uncomfortable even with the word ‘Martial Emperor.’

So, the people around Prince Moon intentionally avoid the title of Martial Emperor.

“Hmph.”

Chwaak.

Prince Moon spread out a colorful silk fan to cover below his eyes.

“Really? Then the Lightning Sword must die today.”

“That is for the Martial Emperor to decide.”

Bireon said calmly.

The Martial Emperor has never been defeated.

But he has rarely taken the lives of his opponents.

Especially not dignified martial artists like the Lightning Sword.

It was a very natural answer for Bireon, who knew the Martial Emperor well.

“Hoo, really?”

Prince Moon looked down at Bireon and said.

“Even though the Merchant has ordered it with the Decree of the Overlord?”

Bireon’s slender shoulders flinched.

Seeing that, Prince Moon smiled bitterly.

“Didn’t you know? But he will know, so don’t worry.”

Shuk.

Prince Moon turned his head to look at the battle and said.

“No matter how arrogant he is, he wouldn’t dare to defy the Decree of the Overlord. How could he not know that sparing the Lightning Sword is tantamount to rebelling against the Merchant?”

Prince Moon muttered to himself and glanced at Bireon.

As expected.

Bireon asked in a low voice.

“Did you say that it was ordered by the Decree of the Overlord?”

“Yes.”

Prince Moon answered indifferently, touching it, and folded the fan.

Tak.

“The Lightning Sword must die here. That is the will of the Merchant, as ordered by the Decree of the Overlord.”

The young Prince Moon stared straight at Bireon and said sternly.

Bireon bit her lip.

Prince Moon was watching her eyes tremble with a bitter smile.