Chapter 62

Dokgo Bin observed the person in front of him through the black crystal orb.

Hwa Yeok-pil said, “Don’t use Aura Energy. It’s not to impose restrictions on Dokgo Bin for the sake of the opponent. Judging from the opponent’s reaction, it was clear that they too had entered the realm of handling Aura Energy.”

‘At least an opponent of equal standing.’

Dokgo Bin’s consciousness began to calmly and quietly perceive the situation.

Himself. The enemy to fight. The surrounding environment. Among these, there was nothing he didn’t know.

‘First, confirm.’

A cold light flashed in Dokgo Bin’s eyes.

The Dokgo Family’s sword is a sword of counterattack. From the moment the opponent moves, the flow reverses towards Dokgo Bin.

*Kwoong-*

The steps are heavy. They come in aggressively. Yet, it’s a fierce footwork that leaves no openings. A power fiercer than any footwork Dokgo Bin had ever seen was rising from the opponent’s feet.

But if it’s only strong, it will break after being swung.

The moment Dokgo Bin stepped and moved, Namgung Woo’s sword stance slightly wavered. It was because Dokgo Bin’s form perfectly exploited the flaw in the stance.

Thanks to an amazing display of wit, the counterattack was blocked, but the original power of the sword was halved. Essentially, Dokgo Bin’s single step had dismantled the sword’s initial move.

Above and Below Poison Step. A step solely for oneself.

The Dokgo Family’s secret technique, which disrupts the opponent’s flow and naturally creates a favorable situation, unfolds with Dokgo Bin’s steps.

Thus, Dokgo Bin’s blade stretches out, exploiting the gap created by disrupting the opponent’s flow.

*Jjeo-eong!*

‘Heavy.’

According to Hwa Yeok-pil, the opponent is also a Supreme Peak Master. Indeed, it was so. The sharp rebound coming up through the hand was considerable. It was evidence that the density of the Sword Energy was higher than Dokgo Bin’s own.

‘It will be difficult in a contest of strength.’

The shock at the opponent’s achievement was secondary. Dokgo Bin coldly recognized the gap between himself and the opponent and devised a plan.

And the plan Dokgo Bin came up with was the way the Dokgo Family, more than anyone else in the world, was confident in.

No matter how the opponent approaches, it doesn’t matter. The Above and Below Poison Step was created to dismantle all footwork. Whether it’s a strong push, a quick thrust, or a smooth deflection, all fall within the scope of the Above and Below Poison Step.

That’s not all. The Dokgo Family’s secret sword technique, the Lawless Heaven Sword Technique, transcends the limits of fixed forms, reaching the extreme of improvisation.

Because of this, compared to formalized techniques with specific energy paths for each move, the pure power is somewhat lacking, but this could be compensated for with sufficient Internal Energy.

Even if, like now, the opponent’s Internal Energy is superior and the power is overwhelming, the combination with the Above and Below Poison Step offsets such weaknesses.

World’s Greatest Sword Family.

The Dokgo Family’s reputation was earned by defeating and crushing all sword families.

No swordsman can hold a sword before the Dokgo Family.

Of course, it has always been so, and it will continue to be so.

But then…

‘Why can’t I reach him?’

Neither the dismantling steps through the Above and Below Poison Step.

Nor the infinite paths of the Lawless Heaven Sword Technique.

Can reach that man.

Like a mirage in the desert, it feels as if it’s within grasp but forever out of reach, as if fallen into another world.

From the moment this was realized, the feeling of having grasped the flow burst like a bubble. After all the bubbles disappeared, what remained was a more objective reality.

Dokgo Bin’s sword stopped. Even though he no longer took a step, no counterattack came from the opponent.

That was the final nail.

“You… are mocking me.”

§

When Dokgo Bin’s movements suddenly stopped, Namgung Woo also stood up.

There was no carelessness. He continued to circulate his Internal Energy, keeping his muscles tense, ready to respond to any surprise attack from Dokgo Bin at any moment.

Although prepared for an attack, he had not anticipated Dokgo Bin saying such a thing.

At Dokgo Bin’s sudden, anger-laced words, Namgung Woo hid his confusion as much as possible and thought.

‘He’s also a Supreme Peak Master. Even if he pretends otherwise, it must have been revealed when our swords clashed.’

The first exchange had truly been swept away by Dokgo Bin’s counterattack.

There were certainly moments of awkwardness in the face of unfamiliar martial arts and situations. But Namgung Woo had experienced martial arts similar to what Dokgo Bin was showing, yet at an even higher level.

The Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade. Compared to that time when he was utterly defeated despite giving his all, Dokgo Bin’s martial arts were at a level that could be sufficiently dealt with using the Azure Tranquility Eyes.

From that moment, Namgung Woo had guided Dokgo Bin to freely display his martial arts.

Perhaps the Dokgo Family could become his greatest enemy. If he could witness their martial arts in advance, it would be of great help in the future.

But Namgung Woo hadn’t thought about what to say if it was discovered.

The brief silence was almost an affirmation, and Dokgo Bin, with a cold expression, took off the glasses he was wearing.

“Then, I’ll make you go all out.”

With a chilling declaration.

The second round begins.

Dokgo Bin charges in again. It’s different. Unlike the first time when he waited for Namgung Woo’s attack to display the subtlety of counterattack, this time he aggressively steps with the Above and Below Poison Step, rushing to disrupt Namgung Woo’s flow.

*Jjeo-eong!*

The clashing swords. The energy carried by Dokgo Bin’s sword is different from before. Was he also conserving his strength?

Namgung Woo realized that he could no longer handle the opponent with the momentary combination of the Ten Iron Sword Techniques and the Great Flame Sword Technique.

Pushing aside the Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords that he habitually almost extended, Namgung Woo drew a new sword in his heart.

‘If that is the true martial art of the Dokgo Family… then I too…’

In truth, Namgung Woo has no connection with the Dokgo Family.

Just a family with the same surname, the Namgung Family. Even if the Dokgo Family annihilated them, they are not Namgung Woo’s enemies.

But the more he became serious about martial arts, the deeper his love for the sword grew, the more he became aware.

Of the existence of the Dokgo Family, who trampled the Namgung Family and stood tall as the World’s Greatest Sword Family.

So Namgung Woo also goes all out.

The Thirteen Lightning Flash Swords are excellent martial arts, but if it’s the sword of the Namgung Family, it’s undoubtedly this.

The Changgung Boundless Sword Technique.

The elevated sword technique that he had been conscious of the Namgung Family and hadn’t used finally rose in Namgung Woo’s hands.

Its first move.

The stance of “There is Heaven, No End” with deep blue Sword Energy shattered Dokgo Bin’s Lawless Heaven Sword Technique.

§

The martial duel ended.

The outcome was as clear as day to anyone watching.

Dokgo Bin threw away his broken sword and took out the glasses he had tucked away, putting them back on. His head was throbbing.

It was the first time since that day that he had used his eyes so much. And like that day, he had been utterly defeated.

As the martial duel ended, Hwa Yeok-pil, who had been watching with bated breath, finally took a deep breath and descended into the ruined front yard.

Initially, the odds were 6 to 4, and after seeing Wi Ji-ryang offering the Dragon Eye Wood, the odds in his mind tilted to 7 to 3, resulting in an overwhelming 9 to 1 outcome.

“I believe Miss Dokgo will also understand my decision.”

“Do as you please. After all, the decision on the Four Seasons Brew is up to Guyajang.”

The Four Seasons Brew was no longer an important issue for Dokgo Bin. There would be other opportunities, and besides, the family had a few weapons that could be called divine artifacts. Making a sword that perfectly suited Dokgo Bin could be postponed.

What dominated Dokgo Bin’s thoughts now was none other than the opponent who had defeated him, Namgung Woo.

Indifferently brushing off Hwa Yeok-pil’s words, Dokgo Bin faced Namgung Woo directly and spoke.

“…You asked if I remember the Namgung Family.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know what answer you’re looking for, but I have nothing to say. By the time I was born, the Namgung Family was already on the path to ruin.”

Dokgo Bin was young. Born too late to witness the rapid decline of the Namgung Family, which began immediately after the life-and-death duel between the heads of the two families over twenty years ago.

But he had heard stories.

“The family head, my father, said that the Dokgo Family became the world’s greatest sword family after defeating the Namgung Family. That we must prevent them from rising again and threatening us. That’s all I know.”

With a look as if asking if that was the answer, Dokgo Bin’s expression made Namgung Woo nod.

From the beginning, there was no specific answer he wanted to hear. He was just curious. About what kind of existence the Namgung Family, whom the Dokgo Family had annihilated and even issued a kill order for, was to the Dokgo Family.

And Dokgo Bin’s answer mostly satisfied Namgung Woo’s curiosity. A sworn enemy. That’s how the relationship between the two families could be seen.

“But why do you ask about the Namgung Family?”

Did Dokgo Bin indeed see a glimpse of the Namgung Family in him?

Namgung Woo struggled to uncover the meaning behind that question. But with a face that showed only the slightest change, as if his facial muscles had stiffened, and with Dokgo Bin’s eyes hidden behind black crystal glasses, reading his emotions was no easy task.

With no change in the tone of his voice, Namgung Woo gave up trying to understand the intention behind Dokgo Bin’s question and followed the way she had done.

“If you want an answer, defeat me and ask.”

“Defeat me and ask…”

Although his own words came back unchanged, not thinking it was sarcasm, Dokgo Bin muttered while touching his chin and mouth.

And after interpreting the meaning, he asked again.

“Is that you telling me to follow you?”