Chapter 82

The charge of the Unorthodox Martial World began immediately after.

In Namgung Woo’s vision, their faces and… the weapons in their hands came into view.

The first attack was an arrow.

An arrow imbued with internal energy. The arrow, tearing through the atmosphere in a straight line, was more like a flash of light.

Among the four Supreme Peak Masters of the Banunbang faction, one of them, Gwigungyeop (Ghost Bow Hunter) Natal, unleashed his ultimate technique, Yeopryeokchukjeongung (Hunting Lightning Bow).

“Swish—Thwang—!”

Namgung Woo deflected the incoming arrow with his sword. Even though he had infused his aura energy into an external object and sent it away, the force carried by the arrow was incredibly fierce.

‘This isn’t just aura energy. A follow-up attack is coming!’

The power generated from the extreme edge of Infinite Steps amplified through the subtle rotation of his body and was transmitted to his arms. The Thirteen Thunder Swords, Dry Thunderfall, descended, imbued with aura energy.

“Crash—!”

A roar incomparable to the first arrow. The iron arrowhead, condensed with aura energy, shattered upon Namgung Woo’s single sword strike.

Surprisingly, Namgung Woo swung his sword with one hand. His remaining free hand grabbed the spear shaft that thrust diagonally at him. The Nine Walls Divine Fist, a martial art that emphasizes defense among the generally aggressive martial arts of the Namgung Family, struck the spear shaft.

“Thud! Crack!”

The sound of the spear shaft cracking as Namgung Woo twisted his body. Three arrows grazed Namgung Woo’s robe, stirred by the subtlety of the Heavenly Wind Body Technique.

It was the technique of shooting three arrows simultaneously, known as Samdumyeolsal (Three-Headed Slaughter).

Up to this point, Namgung Woo had exchanged a total of four attacks and defenses.

The time he endured the combined assault of two Supreme Peak Masters of Banunbang alone had come to an end.

“Now! I’ll take care of you!”

The spear that had been rushing toward Namgung Woo twisted like a snake, and the Female Taoist, shouting fiercely, closed in.

But that was exactly what Taemun Jinin had been waiting for. The Hyeong Mountain Sect’s ultimate technique, Hoepungnakanggeom (Returning Wind Falling Goose Sword), swung the spear shaft and instead slashed through the opponent’s grip.

“Slash—!”

Blood spurted out. But Taemun Jinin’s sword never changed its target once decided.

Taemun Jinin closed the distance to the spearman in an instant with the Suhansuyoubo (Life-Limiting Instant Step). Taemun Jinin’s sword technique had subtly shifted from Hoepungnakanggeom to Yeonunhwangeombeop (Smoke Cloud Scattering Sword Technique), incorporating the subtlety of illusionary swords.

Taemun Jinin’s sword shadow loomed over the spearman’s wrist. The opponent acted without hesitation. He immediately let go of his spear.

Any martial artist would cherish their beloved weapon, but no such attachment or sentiment was felt from the opponent. A fierce desire for life. Martial arts, beloved weapons, all were insignificant before one’s own life.

Such was the mindset of the martial artists of Banunbang, who pursued immortality.

And for Taemun Jinin, who was closer to a martial artist than a Taoist, such a heretical mindset was utterly unacceptable.

“Die—!!”

With a shout, Taemun Jinin’s sword drew a semicircle toward the spearman’s neck. The sword shadow reflected on the wrist was merely an illusion created by the principles of the illusionary sword.

Just before the Yeonunhwangeombeop’s ultimate technique, Ilyeonghwangeom (Illusionary Sword), could slash the spearman’s neck, Namgung Woo grabbed Taemun Jinin and leaped back.

“Namgung Woo!”

“…I’m here.”

Taemun Jinin no longer urged Namgung Woo for any explanation.

He had come. That one word was enough.

“…Thank you. I almost died together with him.”

Beside the spearman whom Taemun Jinin had almost beheaded. The now-familiar gray martial robe fluttered from the residual shockwaves of the previous exchange.

“As expected. Your eyes are too sharp. It was a sneak attack with extreme concealment, yet you noticed.”

Perhaps the previous sparring session with Taemun Jinin had been particularly grating.

The man did not hide his intention to use the spearman as bait to eliminate Taemun Jinin first.

“Jinin, I’ll handle this place.”

“…Are you sure you can handle it alone? Your opponent is the Five Yin Demon Emperor!”

The man let out a small exclamation, as if pleased that his nickname had been recognized.

The Jegal Family was not one to easily dismiss a stranger with unfamiliar martial arts as a reclusive master suddenly appearing.

They had dug through old records, sought advice from others, and uncovered the man’s identity. And finally, they had discovered it.

The Five Yin Demon Emperor, Aban.

Over 50 years ago, during the Blood Sect Calamity, this man was a supreme master from several generations prior.

At that time, when the orthodox sects united to fight against the Blood Sect, Aban fought as an unorthodox supreme master and was believed to have died. But the true history was different.

The Five Yin Demon Emperor had survived and joined Banunbang to avoid death. That was the truth.

“If Taemun Jinin remains tied up here, gaps will appear elsewhere. I leave Changcheon Pavilion to you.”

“…Don’t worry. I won’t let any of them die.”

There was no time for luxury. Taemun Jinin quickly made a decision. Leaving the safety of Changcheon Pavilion to Namgung Woo, Taemun Jinin swiftly departed after promising to do his best.

“You should go too.”

“Understood.”

Just as Namgung Woo had sent off Taemun Jinin, the Five Yin Demon Emperor also sent the spearman away.

Unlike orthodox martial artists, who could engage in gentle sparring due to their pure internal energy, the sparring of unorthodox martial artists was much more limited.

After all, the way of the world is for many good guys to catch one bad guy.

Especially since the Five Yin Demon Emperor’s internal energy was particularly unique, it was better to fight alone unless using someone as a meat shield.

“Three years ago… no, 53 years ago. After sleeping for so long, sometimes it’s hard to adjust.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’ll speak my mind. Three years ago, the orthodox alliance launched an operation to attack a hidden den of the Blood Sect. Many died. But we won. We destroyed one branch of the Blood Sect and seized their legacy. If I had taken it, I wouldn’t have had to join hands with a rookie like Dongbang Hwa.”

The Five Yin Demon Emperor brought up an old story in the middle of the battlefield.

Namgung Woo tightened his grip on his sword. The moment he saw an opening, he intended to strike without hesitation.

But the Five Yin Demon Emperor showed no openings, even while leisurely speaking.

“There was someone who prevented me from taking it.”

The Sword Emperor, Namgung Jin.

As if unwilling to even speak the name, it was transmitted through Whispering Transmission.

Namgung Woo seemed to understand why. Even though his body was controlled to the extreme, the Azure Tranquility Eyes, which were observing the Five Yin Demon Emperor’s entire body, detected a faint trace of fear.

“What is your relationship with him?”

A heavy voice flowed out.

Was there a magical power that stopped the fight and drew attention?

The people around, who had been fiercely clashing with spears and swords, gradually lowered their intensity and began to step back one by one.

The chilling aura of the Five Yin Demon Emperor spread, lowering the surrounding temperature and making the air, mixed with a fishy smell, even more humid and suffocating.

Amidst the converging gazes, the Five Yin Demon Emperor looked only at one person. A young man with an expressionless face and glowing blue eyes.

A gaze that pierced the soul. How many had looked at the one called the Five Yin Demon Emperor with such unwavering eyes?

The incarnation of Demonic Arts. Even the Blood Sect called him a demon. His superiors and comrades looked at him with fear-filled eyes. Except for one.

A faint crack appeared on Namgung Woo’s firm lips.

“Well.”

And then he smirked.

“It’s probably what you think.”

In terms of hierarchy, the gap between them was like heaven and earth.

Yet Namgung Woo answered without showing a shred of respect.

The Five Yin Demon Emperor’s aura changed its nature in an instant.

Beyond just making it hard to breathe, a strong will to not allow breathing was contained in the killing intent.

Even Namgung Woo, protected by the Heavenly Aura Protective Technique, felt a chilling sensation from the terrifying killing intent that exploded from the Five Yin Demon Emperor.

“Disgusting bloodline. Are you going to keep getting in my way until the end?!”

The surging demonic energy of the Five Yin Demon Emperor engulfed Namgung Woo.

§

“Damn! It’s already started!”

A monk who had pushed through the crowd of spectators and confirmed the battlefield sighed. It was Hangwi, the martial monk of Hwaseong Temple.

Even though he was a supreme master who had trained his martial arts to the peak, Hangwi’s breathing was completely disrupted. It was proof that he had exhausted almost all his internal energy and had forced his body to run here.

“Master Hangwi! It’s dangerous to go alone!”

The martial monks of Hwaseong Temple, who had run with Hangwi, panted as they followed behind. They quickly surrounded Hangwi, fearing that he might be ambushed.

Hangwi rapidly rolled his eyes, scanning the battlefield. His role was not to join the battlefield and fight together, but to deliver one item safely.

Clutching the wooden box in his arms, Hangwi looked toward the place where the most explosive aura was felt. The owner of this box was there.

“There… Geumjong, we need to go there.”

When Hangwi pointed with his finger to where he had seen, Geumjong was startled and tried to dissuade him.

“What? There? No! If you go there, you’ll get caught in the shockwaves and die! Even if Geumshin comes, I absolutely won’t allow it.”

“We have to go. We made a promise.”

“If it gets stolen or lost, it’ll be putting the cart before the horse. Let’s wait for a better opportunity…”

“Hey, bald monks.”

Geumjong was calmly trying to persuade Hangwi when a clear voice suddenly interrupted and cut in.

But the problem wasn’t just that the conversation was cut off. The voice came from inside the circle of martial monks. Geumjong turned his head with a shocked expression toward where the voice had come from.

“Who are you planning to give that to?”

A suspiciously dressed Female Taoist asked.