Emperor's Sword [EN]: Chapter 7

8. The Absolute Master of Shaolin Temple

“Hand that girl over to us.”

“Hahahahahaha!”

U Hyeon-chung, the ‘Smiling Blade,’ laughed without stopping. The sound, almost manic, echoed through the room. After laughing for a good while, the Smiling Blade abruptly stopped, as if he had never laughed at all. Then, his mouth twisted, and his eyes gleamed! This was the habit that appeared when he felt the urge to kill.

“Heh heh, you’re looking down on our Yulryeongdae [a special unit of the Northern Sword Society], aren’t you? You immature young masters! You’re just flaunting your family’s influence, not knowing your place. Try taking her away, you pompous nobles!”

“Very well, then we will accompany the girl. We will observe the investigation process. You wouldn’t refuse that, would you? Whether her father is a demonic cultivator or an enemy of the world, it has nothing to do with the girl! If you refuse even this, we won’t just stand by.”

Namgung Hyeokryeon’s words showed how carefully he was handling the situation. He was determined not to lose his justification under any circumstances, and his words were reasonable. In his own way, he was making a significant concession.

“We will decide that. Since when has the Ohryeon Association [Five Dragons Association, a martial arts alliance] been so interested in our Northern Sword Society’s internal affairs? Sorry, but… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. Let’s go.”

He turned to leave, but then…

*Swish, swish, swish.*

Eight people, except for Pacheon, surrounded them. It was a clear expression of their intention to go all the way.

“Y-you really mean to go all the way? There are about 200 of the 500 swordsmen of the Yulryeongdae here. Are you going to confront us over this insignificant girl? How absurd.”

His hand grabbed the girl’s hair, who was being held by the vice-commander next to him.

“Aaaah!”

*Clang!*

The eight members of the Ohryeon Association drew their weapons. They were secretly exchanging messages through telepathy.

“How about this? What if I kill this child right here? Hehehehe.”

“You vile fiend! Can you even call yourself a righteous person? Release that child at once!”

“Try it, then. What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me with that sword?”

He was being nonchalant and relaxed. On the other hand, Namgung Hyeokryeon and the others were already overly agitated.

“How about this?”

“Aaaah, please save me, sob sob.”

The girl finally burst into tears! Still young, the hand was shamelessly invading the girl’s tender flesh! The Smiling Blade, U Hyeon-chung’s hand, was digging into the girl’s chest. Seeing this, Namgung Hyemi could no longer hold back and charged at him…

“You villain! Can’t you take that hand away? Die!”

As expected of a descendant of the Namgung family, her sword strike was quite fierce. However, her sword could not advance any further and was blocked midway.

*Clang!*

It was the vice-commander of the Yulryeongdae. He had released the girl and was now facing Namgung Hyemi. Seeing this, Namgung Hyeokryeon shouted,

“Attack!”

They all pressed forward, and the light of swords, blades, and staffs danced in the air. Their opponents were six, but there were 200 swordsmen surrounding the area. Yet, they did not hesitate. It was their duty, and they were carrying it out with dignity. Namgung Hyeokryeon extended his sword towards the Smiling Blade. It was an incredibly swift and fast sword.

*Swoosh!*

“Heh heh.”

Still fondling the girl’s chest, he turned her to face him.

“Hmph!”

Namgung Hyeokryeon had no choice but to retreat his sword and turn to the left. His body, moving to the left using the Soul Shadow Step [a movement technique], was barely visible. He was probably trying to attack his rear. However, the Smiling Blade was also a strong opponent and turned with him, still facing him. What a despicable person!

“Everyone stop! If you move any further, I will kill this girl!”

With his other hand, he drew his beloved Snake Sword. It was a sword with a wavy blade, like a snake slithering. The blade emitted a sharp gleam, and it was pressed against the girl’s neck. Everyone in the room froze. Although three of the Yulryeongdae’s silver swordsmen had been injured in the previous exchanges, it didn’t seem to be serious.

“Y-you! How can you be so despicable…”

“Hahahaha, I’ve always been despicable. I don’t care about the means or methods to achieve my goals. Are you finally understanding? There’s nothing you can do. No matter how much you struggle, today’s events won’t just pass… You can look forward to it.”

[Namgung hyung! What should we do about this?]

It was the telepathic voice of the Iron Blood Fist, Paeng Jeong-hu.

[We must save that girl no matter what. If we can’t, we’ll have to use the power of our Ohryeon Association.]

[If that guy goes back like this, who knows what he’ll do… But we have no other way.]

“Now, it seems you understand the situation. Everyone, go down below.”

Following his command, the swordsmen retreated downstairs. Only the vice-commander remained by the Smiling Blade’s side.

“Then, let’s see each other later. Let’s go.”

The two of them also moved, cautiously, and the Namgung group followed closely behind. The people in the room were murmuring and following them, creating a truly bizarre scene.

-Pacheon, are you just going to let him go?

=Benefactor, it is right to save that girl first. Amitabha [a Buddhist invocation].

For the first time, their opinions were in agreement. However, Pacheon still seemed indifferent. He didn’t seem to care much. After all, what happened to the girl had nothing to do with him.

But look at those eyes. The girl, held in the Smiling Blade’s arms, was shedding tears. The Smiling Blade’s hand was still caressing her chest, and her face, on the verge of fainting from shame, evoked both pity and anger in those who saw it.

Damn it! Those eyes are bothering me!

He still remembered the eyes of the palace maids who committed suicide before he escaped through the secret passage of the palace. He had never forgotten those gazes. The gazes of the old ministers who bowed to him for the last time as he left! Damn it! That bastard! I’ll kill him!

He had already lost his composure. His old painful memories had resurfaced. And that anger was focused entirely on the Smiling Blade.

No one in the room noticed him disappearing from behind Namgung Hyeokryeon and the others. Even the people with their eyes wide open didn’t notice. It was truly a bizarre movement technique.

The Smiling Blade, who had already descended to the first floor, was grinning and mocking them.

“Haha, you pompous young masters! Then, let’s see each other later.”

He was heading towards the door, but no one stopped him. It was then that his grinning face contorted horribly.

*Clang!*

The sound of the Snake Sword, which had been pressed against the girl’s neck, falling to the ground.

“I was trying not to interfere, but your actions are so vile that I cannot simply ignore them.”

It was the air. Everyone’s gaze turned upwards, and there he was! The handsome young master who had been behind them just a moment ago? Namgung Hyeokryeon and everyone else in the room were gaping, unable to close their mouths.

“N-Nenggong Cheonsangje [a Shaolin movement technique]!”

“It’s a Shaolin martial art!”

He was slowly descending, stepping on the air using the Nenggong Cheonsangje, a technique of the Nenggong Heodo [a Shaolin martial art].

“Th-this…”

The Smiling Blade was looking at his hand. A hole the size of a coin had been punched through his wrist. Blood was gushing out, staining his clothes and the girl’s clothes. However, his opponent was a mysterious figure using Shaolin techniques! He couldn’t dare to confront him recklessly. He might even be a hidden master of the Nine Great Sects [the most powerful martial arts sects].

“Who are you, young master?”

His uncharacteristic attitude made people frown. They didn’t like how he was cowering just because he thought his opponent was strong.

“Release that child, or I will open my killing path today!”

-Heh heh, that guy is quite the actor! Just a few days ago, he was killing people like he was smashing frogs…

Oh my, look at them admiring him.

=Amitabha.

“Why are you doing this? I am from the Northern Sword Society…”

“Ah! I know. I’ve heard countless times that you’re a dog of the Northern Sword Society. Enough already… Just release her.”

Just as his original personality was about to emerge, his voice suddenly became gentle.

“That is not possible. This girl…”

“Hey, are you testing my patience? Hey, you better release that girl now, or that wiggling hand of yours will be chopped off before you let her go!”

-Puhahahaha, that’s more like you.

Everyone was bewildered by his eccentricity. Regardless of their reactions, he had already begun to act. Before they could even comprehend his movements using the Buddha Shadow Immortal Step [a Shaolin movement technique], his hand had already pierced the Smiling Blade’s abdomen. His head was lowered, and his hand was forced out of the girl’s chest. In that instant, he unleashed a series of swift kicks to his knees and head.

*Ugh!*

The Smiling Blade screamed in agony and flew three yards away, crashing into a corner. Blood was gushing from his mouth. It had all happened so quickly that people couldn’t even understand what had happened. The retreat technique he used was the Subduing Demon Consecutive Divine Hammer [a Shaolin technique], a Shaolin technique. It was impossible to show the level of mastery he had displayed without at least ten years of training. The attacks, which involved spinning, striking, and downward kicks, were focused on the vital points, making it difficult to defend against even a single blow.

Meanwhile, the Smiling Blade, who had been sent flying, was struggling to get up. He was staggering, seemingly suffering from severe internal injuries. His eyes were blazing, and a voice, mixed with blood, burst from his mouth.

“Yulryeongdae, wipe them out!”

*Crash! Bang! Thud!*

The door was smashed, and the side of the building was blown out. Dozens of swordsmen, brandishing their gleaming swords, charged inside. The girl was already in Namgung Hyemi’s arms, still trembling with fear. Namgung Hyeokryeon and the others did not dare to be negligent and prepared to fight again. Now that the obstacle that had been hindering their movements was gone, there was no reason to hesitate. However, that was only their perception. Pacheon immediately used the Nenggong Cheonsangje and floated into the air. From his hands, Shaolin techniques poured out like a river, endlessly. Bamboo Leaf Hand, Cactus Palm, Arhat Skill, Guanyin Palm, Great Strength Vajra Palm, Golden Dragon Twelve Dissections, Light Limit Finger, and other Shaolin 72 Arts [a collection of Shaolin martial arts], as well as unheard-of techniques, were unleashed. They could only stare blankly at the scene.

*Thud! Ugh!*

*Thwack!*

*Thwack thwack thwack!*

*Crash!*

Objects were constantly being destroyed and sent flying, and screams erupted. Those who entered were immediately sent flying back! It seemed impossible to even enter. Then, his body seemed to disappear for a moment, and he was suddenly in front of the Smiling Blade.

His hand was already gripping the Smiling Blade’s collar, lifting him up.

[Listen carefully. If I were to follow my mood right now, I could kill all of you. I’ll say it only once. Retreat everyone, and don’t make an issue of this any further. If… you ignore my words, you won’t even be able to die and will suffer the pain of hell… Do you understand?]

Pacheon’s back was to the people in the room, so his expression was not visible. And because he was speaking telepathically, they couldn’t hear what he was saying. All they could see was the Smiling Blade’s face, pale as a sheet, nodding frantically. He was filled with fear and was nodding like crazy. The Yulryeongdae members, who were hesitating because their leader was captured by the enemy, paused and looked at the vice-commander. However, he had no solution.

“Haha, now let’s stop the commotion here and clean everything up.”

His nonchalant words silenced the room. He was an unfathomable person. Especially Namgung Hyeokryeon and the others were deeply confused. It was astonishing that he, who they thought was a scholar, was actually a peerless master, that he was from the Shaolin Temple, and that he was such an immeasurable monster. Some even felt betrayed, as if he had deceived them. How could he have been so brazenly deceitful? However, rather than such thoughts, they were also admiring Munyun’s lofty martial arts. They were already curious about his true identity.

Title: [Serial] Emperor’s Sword 9. Disciple of Hyeneung? Related Materials: None [58768]

Sender: Im Samyeol (logos333) 2000-12-21 15:20 Views: 2047

-Emperor’s Sword-