Chapter 33: Breaking Namgoong (2)

Namgoong Clan.

Once, it was called the greatest sword clan under the heavens.

Sword Emperor, Namgoong Daeryong.

Although he did not surpass the Orthodox faction's greatest swordsman, Seo Ryonghun, he fiercely chased right below him, becoming the Sword Emperor.

Therefore, the Namgoong Clan was called the greatest sword clan under the heavens.

Seo Ryonghun was a figure standing alone.

Originally, the leading Namgoong family was different in nature.

Even if they wanted to form their own forces, they couldn't due to the checks from other powers.

Thus, people praised the Namgoong Clan as the greatest sword clan under the heavens.

Yet, now it doesn't even qualify as one of the five great families in Korea.

Even if a wealthy family dies, they can still live comfortably for three years. Plus, those kinds of families are not easily broken.

However, the Namgoong Clan fell.

How could all of that collapse?

"It was because of one person."

The reason is simple.

Blue-Eyed Martial Emperor.

The terrifyingly powerful monster erased the greatest swordsmanship clan from the world.

In the process, the Namgoong Clan lost most of its martial arts.

Only the Sword Emperor Namgoong Daeryong and the weakest force, Celestial Sword Brigade, managed to survive.

It would have been fine if it had ended there.

But the Sword Emperor dreamed of revenge to kill the Blue-Eyed Martial Emperor.

He gathered forces to exact revenge against the martial artist who erased the name, Namgoong.

The ones who joined his cause were the Five Great Clans, the Nine Sects One Union, and the leaders of the righteous factions.

They devised a plan thought to be surely successful and safe.

However, it was recorded as a bloody event.

The Bloodshed of Mount Hua.

There, Namgoong Daeryong lost his life.

Along with the Martial Emperor, Peng Juhyuk, and the greatest swordsman of the Orthodox Sect, Seo Ryonghyun.

And countless other forces.

Since then, the Namgoong Clan has been in endless decline. Despite establishing a foothold in China, they no longer had the prowess to become a major force. They were pushed out to Korea and couldn't properly secure a position in this cramped land.

Nam Hyerin was born from the most incompetent head of the Namgoong family in its history.

Unable to settle in Anhui Province, he was even chased out from the fringes of China. In the midst of it all, he abandoned his armed forces, claiming he would live on his own.

Despite that, he indulged in pleasures, taking in a legal wife and more than five concubines.

Nam Hyerin's position was inevitably narrow, being born from a maid.

Even though she had talent in swordsmanship, she was not permitted to wield a sword. Therefore, she learned swordsmanship from those practicing over the wall. This is the story Nam Hyerin tells me.

"…Is that so."

Inside the training ground,

There, I was sitting, listening to Nam Hyerin's story.

I crossed my arms and let out a groan.

Though I could infer from the sporadic pieces of information,

'Listening to it being real, I feel odd.'

That this world is connected to the worlds I had reincarnated into.

"At that time, the Namgoong Clan had lost most of their sword techniques and internal arts. They've been in decline ever since."

Nam Hyerin looked at me.

In her eyes, there was a question of how I seemed to know the Namgoong Clan's swordsmanship.

But now, there was a greater desire than that.

She wants to learn the sword from me.

However, the reason I knew the Lightning Swordsmanship was simple.

'Because I annihilated them.'

I didn't say that.

I'll have to tell her someday.

But it's not important right now.

"Before we start training, there's something I want to ask."

"What is it?"

"What do you think of Namgoong's swordsmanship?"

"Namgoong's swordsmanship includes… Swift Sword, Changing Sword, Heavy Sword, and Defeating Sword."

"Isn't that strange?"

"Yes?"

"Typically, a family or the old nine sects would handle at most one or two types of swordsmanship."

If Mount Hua Sect specializes in the Changing Sword and Illusionary Sword,

Mudang Sect is about the Soft Sword and Strong Sword.

Tianshan Sect focuses on the Piercing Sword, that is, stabbing.

But the Namgoong Clan is different.

Even if they master two, they handle swords that have synergistic effects.

'Because they are difficult to master.'

Even those called geniuses struggle to encompass two types of swords. Yet, Namgoong handles four types. It's the same reason why not all descendants of a great genius become geniuses themselves.

Swift Sword and Changing Sword.

Heavy Sword and Defeating Sword.

Handling these seemingly incompatible swords is precisely what Namgoong Clan does.

A fast and quickly transforming Lightning Sword.

And the Emperor Sword Form that combines the Defeating Sword and Heavy Sword.

These two seem very different.

But to conclude.

They are quite related.

And they know that something interesting happens if you get both the Lightning Sword and the Emperor Sword Form.

The person who created the Emperor Sword Form of the Namgoong Clan is a genius.

A genius that I can acknowledge.

Once known for creating an internal art of Lightning Sword that generates Blue Dragon Qi, the Namgoong Clan's history was changed by the genius who created the Emperor Sword Form.

If there was a turning point for the Namgoong Clan, I am confident it was then.

'In other words.'

If he had not existed, the Namgoong Clan might not have received the title of the greatest sword clan under the heavens.

「Namgoong's sword is straightforward. However, it cannot contain the sky, so I wanted to contain the sky with this sword.」

It was a monologue containing the essence of the Emperor Sword Form.

When I annihilated the Namgoong Clan, I acquired their martial arts.

At that time, I was desperate for martial arts as I had just found the beginnings of the Great Sky Dancing Divine Mantra.

I sought not only the Azure Heaven Cosmic Godly Technique and Azure Sky Heavenly Thunder Godly Technique but also all sorts of sword arts and godly arts.

True to their reputation as the greatest sword family under the heavens, the Namgoong Clan possessed many things.

'I felt this before as well.'

This one is suited for something other than the Lightning Sword.

It's not that the Lightning Sword is bad.

But if there's one sword that represents the Namgoong Clan.

It is the Emperor Sword Form.

No matter how I think about it, this one should learn the Emperor Sword Form.

"What would you say is your specialty in swordsmanship?"

"Swift Sword."

She answered without hesitation.

I nodded, too.

Those known as Sword Monsters are generally specialized in Swift Sword.

"Swift Sword is good too. The Blue Dragon Qi, forged by the Azure Sky Heavenly Thunder Godly Technique, can take down quite a lot of things."

"In that case…"

Nam Hyerin looked at me with eyes full of anticipation.

Azure Sky Heavenly Thunder Godly Technique.

Initially, I intended to teach her that.

It seemed necessary for Nam Hyerin to learn this to move on to the next stage.

'But something else wouldn't be bad either.'

That thought changed.

Because of Yoo Eunchae.

「Do you want to know about Nam Hyerin?」

「Yes.」

「She's a typical Swift Swordsman. Ah, but she has a Unique Trait that makes it unsuitable to raise her as a Swift Swordsman…」

「Unique Trait?」

「Yes, Nam Hyerin is like you, Master.」

「Like me?」

「Yes, a case where she awakened her Unique Trait later…」

In the conversation I had with Yoo Eunchae, she said that the Unique Trait that Nam Hyerin would awaken was very special.

"But I will teach you something different."

So, I will not pass on the Lightning Sword to Nam Hyerin.

"What kind of thing…?"

A sword more fundamental than that.

A sword that symbolizes Namgoong.

"Emperor Sword Form."

I looked at Nam Hyerin.

Namgoong's sword.

I intend to teach it to Nam Hyerin.

Not only because the Emperor Sword Form suits Nam Hyerin well.

'Was it Namgoong Miryeo?'

I also wanted to distort that arrogant expression.

So, I will teach the Emperor Sword Form to Nam Hyerin.

However.

"That… I'm sorry, but I cannot learn the Emperor Sword Form."

Nam Hyerin refused my offer.

"…Why?"

I had to ask the reason.

Isn't this an opportunity worth its weight in gold for Nam Hyerin?

So, I was curious.

"I do want to learn the Emperor Sword Form. I may not know where you learned it, but it's an opportunity worth its weight in gold."

"That's true."

"However, it would be dangerous for it to become known that I have mastered the Emperor Sword Form and that I was taught by you, Professor Han Seojin. If that happens, this fight won't be between me and Namgoong Miryeo, but between Professor Han Seojin and the Namgoong Clan."

So, that was her worry.

I couldn't help but smirk.

"Don't worry."

"What?"

The Namgoong Clan has fallen from grace since my time.

They're almost powerless now.

I'm sure of it.

Namgoong Daeryong mobilized everything to kill me.

Even so, as the head of the Namgoong Clan, he hid his cards to raise the clan again.

But, he did so to prevent any unforeseen threats in his fight against me.

'The copy of the sword might have been left behind.'

The sacred relics and elixirs of the Namgoong Clan.

Namgoong Daeryong used most of them in the fight against me.

No matter how, when a tremendous force was gathered at that time, he wouldn't have known I could withstand seven days and nights.

'Thanks to that, he gained enlightenment at the last moment, which was really dangerous.'

Anyway, there's really nothing left in the Namgoong Clan.

Rather, unless one coveted the sword of Namgoong or wanted to inherit the karma they had committed.

Even if they somehow survived, Namgoong is now a desolate family, not even among the five great families existing in Korea.

'There are several families below the five great families.'

The Namgoong Clan has simply become a common, ordinary family.

It's almost certain since Yoo Eunchae provided the information.

There's no superior rank, but there are things equivalent to their former rank.

"Opposing the Namgoong Clan or something like that."

It's not difficult at all.

If it comes to it, just smash it to pieces.

Thinking of the professors and students, it's easier than you'd think.

'So.'

I want to crush the arrogance of the boastful Namgoong Miryeo.

"…"

Nam Hyerin was deep in thought.

And then she looked at me with clearer eyes than before.

"I once wanted to become a sword. To live a life of loyalty to someone."

"Really?"

"No, to be precise, I was raised that way, so I don't know how to live any other life. I am the sword of Namgoong. I was raised more as a sword than as a human being named Nam Hyerin. The hidden sword of the Namgoong Clan. That was my future."

"Really?"

"No one said they would fight against the Namgoong Clan for me. Well, there were people who said it, but they were looking at the future. They were not looking at me."

"Yoo Eunchae and Seon Woohyeon?"

"…Yes, those two."

I looked at Nam Hyerin. Her face wore a cold gaze. She must have known what they saw in Nam Hyerin. They didn't see her as a person, but simply as a person with talent.

"That's why I swear here. I will become your sword."

"There's no need to swear."

"…What?"

Nam Hyerin blinked her eyes as if she didn't expect to be refused.

"It might be strange, but I'm not a good person who forces loyalty or takes lives."

I'm someone who struggles to protect even myself, because my karma as a reincarnator always results in people trying to kill me.

Despite knowing this, I'm someone who seeks to explore other powers. Rather than creating my fence and safely planning for the future, I'm someone who wants to learn abilities according to my interests.

"The professor… is worried about my future."

"Huh?"

"Probably, that's what you would say. That I should live my life rather than devoting loyalty to someone like you."

"…No."

Just a moment.

"But, I was raised by the sword. I will follow my teacher's words, but first, I will act as your sword."

"No, Hyerin?"

"Thank you. Please teach me quickly. Shouldn't we defeat Namgoong Miryeo?"

Nam Hyerin, holding a sword, with an excited expression.

No, that's not it.

Before we knew it, a month had passed.

The unity event. Though it bears that name, its meaning has long been lost.

Once, she heard it was a competition created for everyone to join forces and fight against monsters. But now, it's a place where students compete against each other, pointing swords. And for the professors, it was a place to prove that they were superior to others.

Namgoong Miryeo closed her eyes.

Lightning Sword, Namgoong Miryeo.

There were many epithets for her.

The Flower of Namgoong.

The Hope of the Namgoong Clan.

And the one to establish the greatest swordsmanship clan under the heavens again.

That's why it was laughable.

That head professor, Han Seojin.

'Because he's been too successful lately. That must be it.'

His attitude, as if he was superior, was laughable.

She acknowledges that Nam Hyerin has talent, but she picked up the sword too late. And she didn't receive proper training. These are not issues that can be resolved in just a month.

The principal was also a problem. Just because someone has a bit of talent, she immediately shows her true colors?

And the professor shouldn't have done that. The one leading their students shouldn't bring personal feelings.

'So.'

She swore to step on Nam Hyerin publicly and return the insults she had received.

Namgoong Miryeo looked at her instructor.

The instructor nodded.

Enlightenment.

Her instructor would reach the next realm soon.

Among the professors, he is also known as the most outstanding in martial prowess.

So, even Han Seojin, the head professor, would kneel.

Namgoong Miryeo looked forward to that scene as she watched the training ground.

Kwaang!!

"…?"

And then she saw that instructor kneeling and collapsing.

"Next."

Han Seojin was holding a blood-stained wooden sword, smiling brighter than anyone.