Chapter 61

Unlike Namgung Woo, who was startled by the black egg-shaped glasses the woman was wearing, the woman turned her face straight forward as if she was interested.

At her action, Namgung Woo thought that the woman might not be interested in others, but he was wrong.

Rather, her mind was in a state of confusion due to Namgung Woo’s presence.

‘What was that just now? Something… it felt like I was being read… that can’t be…’

Outwardly, she seemed fine, but her spirit was shaken.

However, Namgung Woo, who had been flustered by the unexpected appearance of the item, quickly regained his composure. The Spiritual Energy of the Void, which he had been using whenever he had the chance, helped clear the chaotic thoughts in his head.

In his now clear mind, Namgung Woo calmly reflected on the sensation he had felt.

That woman is indeed a Supreme Peak Master.

But there was something ambiguous about her.

In the case of Paeng Ja-ryeong, although it felt like he still had a long way to go, it was clear that he was a Supreme Peak Master. However, with this woman, the feeling that she had entered the realm of the Supreme Peak was quite vague.

‘She’s similar to the Black Tortoise Lion. She’s just entered the Supreme Peak.’

Even so, it was an astonishing level.

It might be laughable for Namgung Woo to judge, but it was undoubtedly a remarkable achievement.

However, something else caught his attention even more.

‘But what’s with those glasses? Were there glasses like that back then?’

The round, black egg-shaped glasses the woman was wearing. To anyone, they looked like sunglasses.

And what Namgung Woo didn’t know was that such black egg-shaped glasses had been in use in the Central Plains for hundreds of years. Since the Song Dynasty, in fact.

However, during the Song Dynasty, officials and military officers would blacken crystal lenses over fire to hide their gaze, whereas now, they were made by processing black crystal. There was a difference.

Not knowing this, Namgung Woo could only speculate that it was a special artifact created in a world where martial arts and sorcery existed.

Namgung Woo’s thoughts didn’t last long. Hwa Yeok-pil, who had been watching the two standing side by side and observing each other, began to speak.

“I am Hwa Yeok-pil, the master of Guyajang. At first, I was considering three options, but the content of your requests was the most interesting.”

At Hwa Yeok-pil’s words, Wi Seong-ha muttered in a small voice.

“Three? Could we have been one of them?”

“Hmm? Where did the lady behind you come from?”

“Huh? Ah, sorry, sorry. I, um, came from Cheongsu Gate…”

“Oh ho. Right. Cheongsu Gate was one of the three. You brought quite good material. Unfortunately, these two’s requests were more special. But are you two part of the same group?”

At the question of why they had overlapping requests, Wi Ji-ryang awkwardly answered.

“We are part of the same group, but not closely related. It’s just that we hired Namgung Woo from Changcheon Pavilion. So if our request was accepted, we planned to entrust it to Namgung Woo.”

“Hmm?”

What Wi Ji-ryang just said was something Namgung Woo didn’t know either.

But since the other two from Cheongsu Gate had already finished their discussion, they silently supported Wi Ji-ryang’s statement.

“I don’t know much, but from what you just said, it sounds like a very precious item. Why would you give it to me…?”

“To be honest, I realized my level through this matter. Even if I possess a treasure, if I don’t have the strength to protect it, it’s just a seed of disaster. So rather than that, I wanted to use it to form a precious connection that will last for generations.”

At Wi Ji-ryang’s hesitant explanation, Namgung Woo let out a small sigh.

It’s human nature to desire something precious that comes into your hands. Especially for a martial artist, it’s inevitable to be tempted by something that can be turned into a weapon.

Yet, Wi Ji-ryang objectively analyzed himself and decided to invest in forming a connection with Namgung Woo. The young master of Cheongsu Gate was a complete successor, ready to give up something small to gain something greater.

“Will you accept it?”

The question of why Wi Ji-ryang had brought the Dragon Eye Wood was answered. It wasn’t because he couldn’t leave such a precious item unattended at the inn.

Wi Ji-ryang had brought it from the start to give it to Namgung Woo.

“Gladly.”

The moment Namgung Woo accepted Wi Ji-ryang’s words, Hwa Yeok-pil suddenly clapped.

Clap, clap, clap.

“Excellent. I saw something good. Dragon Eye Wood imbued with spiritual energy… it would make a perfect scabbard.”

If it had ended here, it would have been a wonderful folktale with a happy ending for everyone… but there was a third person here.

“Master of Guyajang.”

The voice was extremely flat, with no emotion.

“Hmm?”

“I thought you said to come alone. Did you show this to make me give up?”

Though it sounded cold and emotionless, someone with Hwa Yeok-pil’s experience could detect the faint irritation and anger mixed within.

The displeasure of a noble beauty could evoke fear in the listener, but Hwa Yeok-pil spoke in his usual relaxed tone.

“Not at all. The request hasn’t been decided yet. You still have a chance, miss.”

As the master of Guyajang, Hwa Yeok-pil had faced even more grotesque and ferocious individuals. He wouldn’t tremble at such a mild warning.

Hwa Yeok-pil openly mentioned that he was in a higher position than her. But the woman showed no particular reaction.

Losing interest, Hwa Yeok-pil gave a brief explanation before getting to the main point.

“I told you to come alone, but they came together. Such differences are also good information to learn about a person. I was just testing which of the two would stimulate my creative desire more.”

“…I understand.”

Though it didn’t seem like she really did, Hwa Yeok-pil thought to himself.

But there was no point in provoking her further.

“Now, to the main point… what you two just showed was impressive, but ending it here would diminish the significance of this place. So I want to make a proposal to both requesters.”

Show me your skills as swordsmen.

The meaning of Hwa Yeok-pil’s following words was clear enough for anyone to understand.

Have a martial duel.

“Ah, I forgot one thing. Don’t use Aura Energy.”

Namgung Woo’s eyes widened like lanterns. Had he been seen through? It hadn’t happened since he finished adjusting his energy flow. How did Hwa Yeok-pil, whose internal energy was lower than Paeng Ha-ryeong’s, know?

It was an even greater surprise than when Wi Ji-ryang offered the Dragon Eye Wood as a gift.

And Namgung Woo wasn’t the only one surprised.

“You both look like you’re wondering how I knew? Haha, if an excellent swordsman can recognize an excellent sword, can’t a sword master also recognize a swordsman?”

Compared to the shock the two felt, the explanation was too vague, but Namgung Woo and the woman accepted it as true.

A fragment of enlightenment shared by those who have reached a certain level. It was the principle of separation and union within the grand flow known as the return to the origin.

“Will we do it here right now?”

Namgung Woo looked around and asked. If they had planned for a duel in advance, the front yard was flat, devoid of any decorations or flowers.

“Is it inconvenient?”

“Not at all.”

Namgung Woo’s body was no longer bound by the hours of the day. Unless it was a fight that lasted for days.

“Me neither.”

The woman was the same.

Even though she had heard that her opponent was someone who had entered the Supreme Peak like herself, she didn’t back down at all.

“Your companions, come over here.”

Instead of Hwa Yeok-pil, who was focused solely on the duel, Ju Yang-hong guided the people.

Without anyone giving instructions, Namgung Woo and the woman stood where they thought their positions were and naturally faced each other.

“Changcheon Pavilion, Nam Woo.”

“…Dokgo Bin.”

Namgung Woo’s sword-like eyebrows twitched at the woman’s name.

“Dokgo… Bin.”

It was a surname he remembered. A surname he could never forget.

Because it was the name of the family that had annihilated the Namgung Family in this world.

“Dokgo Family?”

“And if it is?”

Dokgo Bin’s retort was strangely curt. It was the demeanor of someone who disliked being judged by their affiliation.

But Namgung Woo didn’t stop at that.

“I have one question.”

“……”

Dokgo Bin didn’t answer.

But her sword was still in its scabbard.

Namgung Woo asked.

“Do you remember the Namgung Family?”

This time, Dokgo Bin’s willow-like eyebrows twitched.

The question Namgung Woo asked was something Dokgo Bin had never expected.

“…I won’t answer.”

Namgung Family.

How could she not know?

For someone from the Dokgo Family, it was a name they could never forget.

Even if they were born after the bloody war with the Namgung Family had effectively ended.

Swoosh-

With a clear sword sound, Dokgo Bin’s sword was drawn from her waist.

“If you want an answer, defeat me.”

Namgung Woo also gripped his sword.

“Then, it would be good to think of the answer in advance.”