Chapter 135

Namgung Family.

The resonance carried by that name spread far and wide, creating ripples.

“Namgung Family, you say?”

“From what I overheard, it seems they have some history with the Pae So-gun, but how…?”

“I knew it! Of course! At that age, with such martial prowess! If they’re the last warrior left by the Namgung Family, it makes perfect sense!”

“There’s a rumor that Changcheon Peak is a survivor of the Namgung Family… So the Blue Sword Emperor recognized that and took him as his disciple!”

Amidst a mix of admiration, envy, and disbelief from the onlookers, the members of Changcheon Pavilion exchanged whispers using their secret transmission technique.

[We planned to reveal it at this martial duel, but I thought it was over…]

[Now is the right time. The opponent is also a direct descendant of the Dokgo Family. There won’t be a better opportunity than this.]

[Still, isn’t this too rushed?]

[The Great Master must have his reasons.]

[That aside, the way these guys changed their attitude is just mind-blowing.]

[True, the condescending glances they used to give us wanderers have significantly decreased.]

[It’s inevitable. The weight of a strong wanderer group and the remnants of a fallen prestigious family rebuilding their foundation—those two carry entirely different gravitas.]

[Well, aren’t we also from a prestigious family?]

[Hah, but isn’t the Cheongjeong Sect pretty much the same as a fallen family?]

[Huh? What? Are you saying a fallen prestigious family isn’t prestigious anymore? You do realize that includes the Great Master’s Namgung Family, right?]

They conversed using a multi-target transmission technique, sending the same message to multiple people simultaneously.

However, three people remained silent.

Paeng Ha-ryeong, Jegal Seon-a, and Namgung Sol. The three of them didn’t join the conversation, focusing solely on what was happening in the martial arena.

Especially Namgung Sol, whose hands were drenched in sweat, clenched tightly, and whose heart was pounding so loudly that even the secret transmissions were drowned out.

As the conversation shifted from serious reflections to casual chatter, Paeng Ha-ryeong finally spoke.

“Enough, everyone. It’s starting.”

When Namgung Woo wasn’t present, Paeng Ha-ryeong acted as the temporary leader of Changcheon Pavilion.

Following the unspoken chain of command, the rapid exchange of secret transmissions came to an abrupt halt.

Finally, the two began to clash.

§

Meanwhile, Princess Jihyang was seated in a special area reserved for the VIPs of the tournament. She had agreed to watch the final match with Prince Ju Si-yeol, who had insisted on spending the last moments of the tournament together.

Initially, Jihyang had wanted to decline due to the unease she felt about Paeng Ha-ryeong’s presence, but she couldn’t refuse the earnest request of her uncle, who was one of her closest relatives aside from Han Gyeran. After all, Prince Ju Si-yeol had helped her countless times.

Jihyang subtly brought up Paeng Ha-ryeong’s presence, showing signs of worry, but Ju Si-yeol brushed it off, saying there was no need to fret over such things. It wasn’t that he underestimated Jihyang, but rather he believed that anything could be achieved if the Imperial Family willed it.

In any case, though she was quite far from the martial arena, Jihyang had heard the entire conversation. The Far Listening Technique, which allows one to hear even the faintest sounds from a distance, is a basic skill for any peak master who has mastered internal energy.

To see far, hear far, travel far, live long, and ultimately reach the realm of ascension—that is the pursuit of martial arts.

Namgung Woo and Dokgo Bin. Neither of them unleashed their aura or disrupted sound waves, so eavesdropping on their conversation was a simple task.

And upon hearing Namgung Woo’s words, Jihyang was startled and turned to Yang Se-rim to speak.

Naturally, the topic was similar to what others were discussing.

“Namgung… Se-rim, isn’t that the family that was annihilated after clashing with the Dokgo Family?”

“Yes. It happened before Your Highness was even born.”

“Se-rim, you weren’t born yet either.”

Ju Si-yeol chimed in as well.

“Namgung Family… Now it makes sense. No wonder they’re so strong. If that’s the case…”

What had started as a lighthearted observation of the martial tournament, where he planned to watch his future nephew-in-law (who was older than him) shine, now became a tangled mess in Ju Si-yeol’s mind.

‘With the Yang Family head and the Martial Governor both having retreated to the northeast, I heard there’s a need for someone to manage the now-vacant martial world…’

While there are regional lords in each area, their power is insufficient in many ways to handle the martial sects.

Thus, the lords compromise. Just as the Yi Royal Residence negotiated with the Martial Alliance to transfer control of Luoyang.

‘The Dokgo Family in the Southern Directly Administered Region is cooperative, but having a son-in-law’s family would be…’

Before Ju Si-yeol’s thoughts could deepen further, a massive shockwave engulfed the VIP seats.

§

Namgung Woo and Dokgo Bin immediately unleashed their aura energy from the start.

They wrapped their bodies in protective aura energy and coated their blades with sword aura.

Just by releasing their internal energy, the airflow in the area changed.

A typhoon centered around the two swept beyond the martial arena, reaching the spectator seats.

Almost simultaneously, the three judges seated as referees spread their aura barriers to block it, but even a single gust of wind was enough to feel the immense power of their internal energy.

Before the stunned audience could even catch their breath, Dokgo Bin charged forward.

The Above and Below Poison Step, executed at full power, created a reverse field.

A footwork technique that subtly disrupts the opponent’s flow, causing them to falter under the Dokgo Family’s sword techniques.

Once caught in it, the fight becomes dominated by Dokgo’s sword techniques.

But Namgung Woo remained unshaken.

Like a towering tree with deep roots, unshaken by the storm, he took heavy steps.

Infinite Steps. The boundless footwork of Mugeuk disrupted the reverse field of the Above and Below Poison Step.

The difference in skill became apparent.

Even if two martial arts are of equal level, the power they wield depends entirely on who uses them.

The advantage of striking first fades in the face of overwhelming strength.

Kwoong-!

With the deep resonance of Infinite Steps, the Bonding Sword extended. The blue sword aura seemed to tear the sky and paint the space as if it had been attached to the ground.

‘It’s different from what I saw last time!’

Dokgo Bin’s pupils dilated as her consciousness accelerated.

Not the Changgung Boundless Sword Technique she had seen at Guyajang, but the first strike of the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords.

The relentless Single Flash of Extreme Light sliced through Dokgo Bin’s field of vision.

Zzzzzzzz-!!

“Kuhk!”

Even though she blocked it, the shockwave sent a numbing sensation through her entire body.

If it weren’t for the Lawless Heaven Sword Technique, which is the pinnacle of adaptability, she wouldn’t have been able to block that strike.

There was clearly no killing intent. It meant Namgung Woo had anticipated her defense. He had completely seen through Dokgo Bin’s abilities.

‘Those eyes…!’

Eyes glowing with a blue light.

Eyes that seemed to gaze down upon the world from the heavens.

Dokgo Bin, who also possessed special eyes, could tell.

Those eyes undoubtedly held a higher level of power than hers, and Namgung Woo was fully controlling them at will.

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul.

But beyond Namgung Woo’s eyes, there was only clarity.

Unreadable thoughts. Unfathomable emotions.

It was like facing a wall… no, the sky itself.

No matter how much she swung her sword, swinging at the void would only cut through the air. It was futile.

Facing Namgung Woo felt just like that.

Their swords only clashed when Dokgo Bin had to block Namgung Woo’s attacks.

Every attack Dokgo Bin launched ended in futility.

Footwork, body techniques, sword techniques… Despite all her aggressive moves, none of her strikes landed. Was it due to Namgung Woo’s special eyes, or the vast gap in their strength?

Before she could even find an answer, Namgung Woo’s Bonding Sword bared its fangs once more.

Cutting off hesitation, he filled the space with determination.

The months since they parted at Guyajang.

It wasn’t just Dokgo Bin who had grown.

Namgung Woo had taken even greater strides forward.

At some point, their duel had turned into a one-sided display of Namgung Woo’s sword techniques.

Namgung Woo’s sword transformed.

Starting with the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords, it shifted to the Changgung Boundless Sword Technique, then to the Great Flame Sword Technique, and finally to the Ten Iron Sword Techniques.

Yet, Namgung Woo refrained from using his ultimate technique, except for the Single Flash of Extreme Light he had shown earlier.

This was merely a stage to announce the return of the Namgung Family.

There was no need to reveal everything.

Namgung Woo freely displayed his sword techniques against Dokgo Bin.

‘I’ve already seen all the sword techniques Dokgo Bin can show.’

She had clearly grown since Guyajang.

From her basic internal energy to the perfection of the Above and Below Poison Step and the Lawless Heaven Sword Technique, her progress was remarkable.

If there’s a true genius, it must be Dokgo Bin. While Namgung Woo’s growth was about fully harnessing his existing power, Dokgo Bin’s growth was about expanding her power itself.

But now, Namgung Woo no longer cared about that.

He just needed to grow stronger.

And he had to grow stronger.

‘I spoke of Namgung. Next, it won’t be just Dokgo Bin, but the entire Dokgo Family.’

Ultimately, the one he would face wouldn’t be Dokgo Bin, but the head of the Dokgo Family, Dokgo Wol.

The Sword Sovereign.

That name carried significant weight even for Namgung Woo.

The moment he thought of Dokgo Wol, Namgung Woo unconsciously put more strength into his sword.

Dokgo Bin, who had been barely holding on, couldn’t withstand the pressure and collapsed.

The sword dance disguised as a martial duel came to an end.

Lying on the ground, Dokgo Bin looked up at the sky.

Above her, the tip of the Bonding Sword hovered.

But it went no further.

The Bonding Sword disappeared without advancing.

“You’re not going to kill me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

Why.

Namgung Woo voiced the answer they both already knew.

“Spilling blood at a martial duel would only ruin a good occasion.”

Since this was the Martial Alliance, an extension of the martial duel, Namgung Woo couldn’t kill Dokgo Bin.

He could injure her, but not to the point of crippling her.

The Namgung Family is a righteous martial family.

From the perspective of rebuilding the family, they would want to avoid any actions that could stir controversy.

No matter how deep the enmity between Namgung and Dokgo, bringing personal grudges into such an occasion and ruining the event would inevitably cause an uproar.

Setting aside the justification, purely in terms of outcome, it would undoubtedly tarnish the Martial Alliance’s reputation and stain the long-standing tradition.

“You knew that too, didn’t you? That’s why you came here.”

At Namgung Woo’s words, Dokgo Bin smiled slightly.

“Right.”

“Clever.”

Dokgo Bin must have also calculated that before coming here.

However, the risk wasn’t zero, so this was a gamble for Dokgo Bin as well.

Yet, she came to Luoyang.

“Perhaps this is the last chance.”

Namgung Woo could read Dokgo Bin’s thoughts.

“Probably.”

Next time we meet, I’ll kill you.

With genuine killing intent, we’ll sow the seeds of death for each other.

There won’t be another opportunity like this, where we can face each other purely through sword techniques without the intent to kill.

Namgung Woo sheathed the Bonding Sword.

The next time the Bonding Sword emerges from the Dragon Eye Wood scabbard to point at Dokgo Bin, one of them will surely leave this world.

‘That’s… kind of sad.’

This is so enjoyable.

So much fun.

Is it inevitable to feel empty when you realize you can’t do it anymore?

There are many stronger than Dokgo Bin.

The Three Poles and Twelve Honored Ones, and most of the Martial Alliance’s Eight Unit Leaders, are stronger than Dokgo Bin, if not equal.

But they wouldn’t give the same sense of fulfillment.

Feeling regret, Dokgo Bin spoke.

“Even if you kill me, it wouldn’t mean much.”

The Dokgo Family is unique.

Unlike other families where the head’s position is passed down through direct lineage, the Dokgo Family has a different method of succession.

Only the strongest bloodline member can sit in the head’s seat.

A strict rule of the strong.

Even if the current head has no sons, as long as someone with Dokgo blood and Dokgo martial arts is stronger, they will take the next head’s position.

Thus, Dokgo Bin embarked on the Martial Solitary Journey to grow stronger, overcoming countless hardships.

But is that the end? The future is something you can’t be sure of even an inch ahead.

Didn’t the current head, Dokgo Wol, already prove that?

He killed the direct lineage heir who was originally next in line and took the head’s position himself. Despite being from a collateral line, Dokgo Wol reached the pinnacle of the Dokgo Family through his talent.

Even if Dokgo Bin were to die, the Dokgo Family would find someone stronger to fill her place.

Namgung Woo knew about the Dokgo Family’s succession method.

He had thought about it to the point of exhaustion.

Perhaps because of that, the answer came quickly.

“I don’t know what meaning there is in killing you, but there’s meaning in the method.”

“…What meaning?”

“Proving that the head is the strongest.”

The Namgung Family resisted even after their head died.

But what about the Dokgo Family?

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