Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Chapter 50. The Invincible Sect (4)

The moment Chang Myeong’s figure reached close proximity, Lee Byeok’s sword was finally drawn from its sheath.

The two swords clashed.

“Hmph, so you know how to use a sword, eh? Let’s see if you have the right to be arrogant in front of the sword of Diancang.”

The next moment, Chang Myeong’s clashing sword began to vibrate lightly. The vibration quickly intensified.

Lee Byeok’s sword vibrated along with it.

The vibration pushed Lee Byeok’s sword away.

And with that as a start, a faint wind began to rise around Chang Myeong.

The vibration of the sword blade was shaking the atmosphere awake. The air gathered and formed a solid layer.

“Take this. Rushing Wind Swift Sword.”

The gathered wind exploded.

In the midst of the air current, Chang Myeong’s sword began to dance like a single blade of grass caught in a storm.

But of course, the sword was not a blade of grass.

A sharp piece of metal imbued with internal energy was embroidering the air as chaotically as a blade of grass.

Regularity within irregularity.

It was clearly an excellent sword art.

But… Lee Byeok was suddenly reminded of the battle with the Qingcheng Sect disciple on the market street of Gathering Lake in the past.

It was similar in that it contained the irregular movements of the wind as a Daoist lineage sword art.

At that time, Lee Byeok, who had not yet realized the principles of the Jincheon Falling Sword Divine Art, squeezed out his Innate energy and unleashed a single technique.

The Third Form of the Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style’s Sword-Withdrawal Style, Flowing Sword.

And as a price, Lee Byeok lost all his energy and collapsed from exhaustion.

But at that moment, he clearly remembered that his wooden sword had surpassed his opponent’s sword and inflicted a wound.

In other words, he had succeeded in breaking through it.

“Haha! Yes, quite something! That’s how you should be! Let’s see how long you can last!”

Lee Byeok thought while focusing on defense.

At this moment, he could take him down if he wanted to.

Of course, to unleash the Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style, he needed a corresponding opening from his opponent.

But opening an opening against an opponent who was mired in arrogance and carelessness through the Azure River Sword Style was as easy as flipping one's palm.

However, Gongson Su had said that it would be better to drag out the time as much as possible just in case.

For Lee Byeok as well, the one he had to be concerned about now was not the opponent he was facing, but the Righteous Sword Sect leader, Yang Ho-myeong.

Above all, if he ended the match too easily , there would likely be messy talk afterward, like he had been careless.

Chae-aeng, chaeng! Chaeng!

“…Ha, haha! Yes, yes! Indeed, you have to be at that level to be called the number one of the evil faction!”

Lee Byeok decided not to unleash the Azure River Flowing Leaf Sword Style.

He deflected Chang Myeong’s storming sword one by one and at the same time calmly analyzed his movements.

Regardless of the opponent’s strength or weakness, if you set your mind to it, there is something to learn from every opponent.

From his perspective, the opponent’s sword was composed of the subtleties of 'Swift' and 'Change'.

But as if his training was lacking, the two types did not blend together completely.

He could not control the direction his sword flowed in the storm, and his hard-won momentum often leaked out to strange places.

Lee Byeok was suddenly reminded of Pa Jin-seong.

If the two of them fought, it would be a very good match. If they were at a similar level, should he try to face him in a similar way?

Lee Byeok unleashed the Azure River Sword Style.

The subtleties of the Sword-Drawing Form's 'Swift' and the Sword-Withdrawal Form's 'Change' alternated.

The first time Lee Byeok went on the offensive, Chang Myeong let out a flustered sound. Suddenly, he began to be caught up in the speed and changes.

“…Keuk! Where are you doing such a wicked thing!!”

Chang Myeong drew upon even more internal energy.

And another dozens of exchanges followed.

To an outsider to the sword, it would have looked as if the two were performing the same sword art.

But of course, to the eyes of Yang Ho-myeong, a peak master of the sword, something completely different was visible.

Yang Ho-myeong frowned.

The disciple of the evil faction named Lee Byeok was even stronger than he had thought.

The moment he thought he could win without difficulty, the brat pulled out his hidden skills and began to have a close match with Chang Myeong.

But it wasn't even that.

A subtle sense of unease lingered again.

‘…He is exactly as fast as Chang Myeong, and exactly as strong.’

He was maintaining a perfect balance.

When Chang Myeong drew upon even more power, he became just as strong again.

He knew what that meant.

It was less like a match and more like he was giving ‘guidance’ to someone of a much lower realm.

Yang Ho-myeong suddenly felt displeased.

No matter how pure his energy was, there was no way a disciple of the evil faction could do such a thing against a disciple of Diancang.

Let alone not even being twenty years of age.

He must be using some kind of strange technique that even he couldn't notice.

Once he began to entertain doubts, the brat’s sword also began to look a little different.

At first glance, it looked clean and honest like the sword of the Daoist path, but its substance was empty.

It was as if someone who had learned various types of Daoist swords superficially had forcibly patched them together.

‘…Wait, I think I’ve seen it somewhere.’

Yes, he had definitely seen it before.

The moment Chang Myeong’s and Lee Byeok’s swords were about to clash again, another sword intervened between them.

The match was stopped.

“Enough. Any further match seems meaningless.”

“It’s just as I said. Senior Brother.”

The owner of the intervening sword was another disciple of Diancang and Chang Myeong’s junior brother, Chang Seong.

“You know, don’t you? As you are now, Senior Brother, you cannot defeat this man. Please step back.”

Chang Myeong tried to protest.

But the moment Chang Seong’s sunken gaze turned to Chang Myeong, Chang Myeong closed his mouth.

“…What is the meaning of this?”

“My apologies. I apologize for underestimating your skill. From now on, I will face you with all my heart in place of my senior brother.”

As Lee Byeok asked, Chang Seong replied.

But there was no reason to go along with their circumstances. Lee Byeok turned his head towards Yang Ho-myeong.

“Isn’t the story different? I believe you promised to withdraw obediently if I defeated one of the two.”

Yang Ho-myeong frowned.

An impossible situation had arisen.

But… it was not that he had nothing to say.

“…I think it’s you whose story is different. Didn’t you clearly say you were a prodigy belonging to the Evil Faction Alliance?”

“That’s right. Is there a problem?”

And Yang Ho-myeong spoke again.

“You, what is your relationship with the Seonwoo Clan?”

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Lee Byeok replied, feigning composure.

At every moment, the Innate energy was flowing through Lee Byeok's body, guiding the Azure River Flowing Leaf Heart Art.

As a result, Lee Byeok was able to calm his mind and not show his surprise on the outside.

“Is that so? Then I'll ask again. What is your sect?”

“It is said to be the Falling Sword Sect of Yunnan.”

“Ha! A name I've never heard of. In that case, I ask you. Would you not show a little more of the Falling Sword Sect’s martial arts against that child?”

“…Why should I? Do you, the Righteous Sword Sect leader, speak with two tongues?”

“Please understand. It's to prepare for any eventuality. This time, you don't have to win. You probably couldn't win even if you tried anyway.”

Lee Byeok racked his brain.

But no other words came to mind that could break through this situation.

Gongson Su, who was standing far away, would not be able to understand the situation at all.

No, in the first place, it had been a mistake to rely on her too much.

“If it is sufficiently confirmed that the sword you use is not that of the Seonwoo Clan, I will withdraw obediently for today as promised.”

Yang Ho-myeong said as if declaring.

Lee Byeok felt a sense of crisis rising in his heart.

At this moment, the opponent had the initiative.

If by any chance Yang Ho-myeong decided to endure just a single moment of dishonor, a full-scale battle would be unavoidable no matter what.

That was the worst-case scenario.

Lee Byeok re-gripped his sword.

At an unexpected moment, the past had caught up with him. No, he should have expected it.

—By any chance, someone might recognize your martial arts and think of the Seonwoo Clan.

Jaegal Somi had warned him before that someone might recognize his martial arts.

He had not taken his senior sister’s advice to heart. And he had displayed the Azure River Sword Style in front of the righteous faction forces as if to show off.

Lee Byeok examined Yang Ho-myeong’s expression. He didn’t seem to be completely sure. But…….

“I am Chang Seong, the third disciple of Diancang.”

Nod, Chang Seong made a clasped hands greeting.

Lee Byeok returned the greeting.

The opponent’s presence was not to be taken lightly.

What was clear was that he was by no means an opponent who could be subdued with mere tricks without using a sword style.

But if he didn’t use the Seonwoo Clan’s martial arts… Lee Byeok had other options.

But he couldn’t readily choose.

…Can I use the Saber of Butchery and not lose control of my mind? Can I not kill my opponent?

That had been one of the topics that had preoccupied Lee Byeok since leaving the village that had been occupied by bandits.

Although he had gone through countless spars with the members of the Flying Dragon Squad during his journey, he had not dared to try it.

A life cannot be collateral. Once someone’s life is gone, it cannot be undone.

“Do you intend to yield the first move? If so, I will not refuse.”

At that moment, Chang Seong spoke. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novel{f}ire.net

Taat, his figure shot out quickly.

It was not just his body that shot out.

The drawn sword was tilted in a straight line, and its sharp tip stabbed towards Lee Byeok’s chest.

Lee Byeok blocked it.

But the weight of the sword was heavy.

Chaeng, chae-aeng! Chaeng!

Lightning-fast thrusts followed.

Despite being senior and junior brothers, Chang Seong’s sword path was completely different from his senior brother, Chang Myeong’s.

The straight sword was as sharp and agile as an arrow. A chilling rain of blows repeatedly struck Lee Byeok’s sword blade.

Sun-Shooting Sword Art.

It was the sword art that had made the current Diancang, a famous sword art of the Jianghu that honed the single-point thrust to the extreme.

Lee Byeok repeatedly stepped back.

The impact was intense. Also, as he consciously tried not to follow the sword of the Seonwoo Clan, his sword path began to get tangled.

Let alone attacking, even defending was not easy.

“Strange. Where did all the momentum that cornered my senior brother go? Don't tell me you're tired?”

A line was drawn on Lee Byeok’s cheek.

The sword of the Seonwoo Clan, or the Saber of Butchery.

He could do neither this nor that. But he had to make a decision before it was too late. It was then.

Someone approached at high speed from far outside the Invincible Sect. It was a tremendous presence.

The figure, who had leaped over the wall of the Invincible Sect in an instant, finally appeared on the scene of the battle.

Seuk, he stood behind Lee Byeok.

And Chang Seong’s sword was blocked.

Chang Seong’s eyes shot up.

The tip of his sword was precisely blocked by the tip of the unknown intruder’s sword.

To block the tip of a sword with the tip of a sword.

It was a sword art close to divine skill.

No, Chang Seong shook his head.

Looking again, what had blocked his sword was not a sword.

A brush made of iron, or a weapon called a Judge's Pen.

“Ohoho! Quite an intense thrust! I don’t dislike men like you!”

But it was not that of a woman.

Lee Byeok looked up at the man standing nearby. A strange, sticky scent emanated from him.

His face was as white as if it were powdered.

At that moment, another figure leaped over the wall. The moment he landed, he bounced off the ground and quickly approached Lee Byeok's side.

“A-are you alright, Young Master?! I'm sorry I'm late!”

Finally, Lee Byeok was relieved.

The fact that Eon Mi-hee was here meant that things had worked out well. If so, the identity of this man was probably.

“Who are you?! Reveal your identity at once!”

At that moment, Yang Ho-myeong, who had understood the situation a beat too late, roared.

But despite Yang Ho-myeong’s furious voice, the unidentified man let out a very coquettish laugh.

“Ohoho! This humble one is called Cho Yeon-seo. I’m a lowly painter who makes a living by my brushwork. Ohoho!”

“Of course! But since the world is a bit rough for a delicate person like me, I have a place in the Rogues' Guild!”

The man who had introduced himself as Cho Yeon-seo’s left hand stealthily went into his robes. He took out a plaque, showed it to Lee Byeok, and then put it away again.

Rogues' Guild Guardian Order Lord.

An item that announced one's affiliation with the Guardian Squad.

Suddenly, the man who had introduced himself as Cho Yeon-seo winked at Lee Byeok.