Chapter 226: Branch Leader Myeong Gujeong (3)

Suddenly, I felt a surge of competitiveness—I wanted to compare whether the enlightenment I had achieved so far surpassed Myeong Gujeong’s.

Having attained the inner-outer realm of the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra and even begun manifesting Protective Energy, I still didn’t know where my own martial path truly stood.

That made me all the more curious.

I didn’t want to keep fighting only moderately skilled opponents by the Kirin River. I wanted to face experts who had gone beyond Master Level, those who stood at the Transcendent Stage.

“Amazing, truly amazing.”

Even while composed, Myeong Gujeong couldn’t help but admire how I absorbed his violent aura without difficulty.

“You mean to say you’ve reached a level that harmonizes with Nature’s Energy? I’d like to see for myself.”

He thrust his sword in a straight line toward my chest.

But in that moment, I was shocked.

That sword… didn’t seem to carry any intent to kill. I couldn’t sense any killing intent from it.

Because of that, I didn’t feel any sense of danger. I just stared at the sword blankly.

It was only when it was almost touching my chest that I snapped to my senses and leapt back by nearly one jang.

It was the first time. The first time I had been frozen before a sword aiming to kill me.

‘Is this the realm attained by those who have grasped the Boundary of the Upper World?’

I could feel it—Myeong Gujeong had reached the same realm as Namgung Bi.

I had sensed it earlier, when he summoned those nameless mountain birds, but I still hadn’t fully accepted it.

I never imagined I’d be fighting someone on the same level as Namgung Bi, who was called the King of Three Swords.

‘This will surely bring great harm upon me today.’

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

“You’re worse than I expected. Such talent on one so young… what a waste. Show me everything you have. Who knows? If I like what I see, I might spare your life.”

Myeong Gujeong said it with a faint smile, but to me, it felt like a smile of death.

‘If we make one wrong move, we might all be buried here.’

If Myeong Gujeong made a move, none of us would survive.

Now I understood why Lee Yung hadn’t arranged for a more thorough escort.

It was because of Myeong Gujeong.

He alone was worth a hundred men. There was no need to assign more escorts.

“Why do you remain still? Isn’t it natural for bold, young ones to strike first?”

He even scolded me now, but my body wouldn’t budge.

“Since you won’t come, I shall.”

As he approached, Myeong Gujeong swung his sword again.

Only then did I truly feel the terror of a master at the Boundary of the Upper World.

‘Masters at that level resemble nature itself. They don’t give off any sense of threat. That’s why… even when I see them swing a sword, I can’t dodge. I have no choice but to meet death with open eyes.’

I leapt far back again.

‘The reason Deuksang didn’t sense this is because his level is still lower than mine. That’s why he managed to counter Myeong Gujeong’s sword better than I did. Just like a child who doesn’t know what heat is touches fire without hesitation.’

Suddenly, a thought struck me—perhaps to overcome Myeong Gujeong’s Boundary of the Upper World, I needed to become like a child, in a state of unknowing.

‘This is clearly a different kind of upper realm than Namgung Senior’s. Namgung Bi’s Boundary of the Upper World never felt this oppressive. It’s the same realm, but the path they took to reach it must be different.’

With that thought, I let go of my Clairvoyant Eye Technique and returned to the pure mindset I had when I first picked up a sword.

Strangely enough, Myeong Gujeong’s sword thrusts became clearer.

Then, I used the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword to deflect his blade and launched my counterattack.

“Impressive. So you know how to break free of the shell you’ve trapped yourself in.”

Hearing that made my heart drop.

‘I trapped myself inside a shell?’

Yet somehow, the words shook me deeply. Lately, even after manifesting Protective Energy, I had felt like something was still missing despite believing I had reached a significant level.

I had always thought of it as a wall to break through for the next realm—not a shell I had locked myself into.

Myeong Gujeong’s eyes sparkled in surprise as he watched my Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword erupt like a storm.

Then he stopped attacking. He simply received my strikes, watching my techniques.

His gaze changed.

The cold intensity from before was now replaced with warmth.

Then, he murmured quietly,

“Remarkable. But there’s something you must understand. At your current level, you still won’t get through someone like me. Do you know why?”

I was furious.

The fact that he could speak so casually while receiving my sword strikes—so calm and composed—infuriated me.

“You’re suppressing your own killing intent.”

As I continued my assault, I tried not to fall for his psychological provocation.

But hearing his words, I realized they weren’t mere taunts.

What kind of enemy lectures you about your flaws while you’re trying to kill him?

That only helps the opponent.

When Myeong Gujeong twisted his body to the left, I loosed the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm from my left hand and struck.

Myeong Gujeong activated Protective Energy the moment the black object pierced toward his body.

Tung!

The Black Silk Celestial Silkworm was deflected, repelled by Myeong Gujeong’s Protective Energy.

When even the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm failed to work, rage surged to the top of my head.

In near Ego-less State, I infused the sword with Sword Qi and launched a fierce assault with the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.

“Yes, that’s it. That’s exactly it. Your sword technique is brimming with Killing Intent, but you’ve wrapped it in the pretense of an orthodox form. That’s why it’s not showing its true power.”

Just as Myeong Gujeong said.

As I became consumed by the desire to tear my opponent to pieces for the first time, the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword displayed even greater might.

Then I finally realized what that lingering sense of dissatisfaction had been.

It wasn’t a lack of realm—but a lack of Killing Intent.

Because of that, the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword had never manifested its true power.

‘The Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword of our clan originated from the Demonic Dragon Emperor Sword of the Hidden Saint Cult. That sword art is filled with dense and overwhelming Killing Intent. But by suppressing and removing that intent, the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword had become nothing more than a mediocre technique. That’s why it grew stronger when I accepted the martial principles of the Hidden Saint Cult. But that still wasn’t enough.’

That line of thought reminded me of Yong Gosan of the Heavenly Central Sect, who, thirty years ago under the anonymous name Supreme Dragon of Henan, had been the representative swordsman of Henan.

‘I heard another alias of that elder was Blood Dragon of Henan. They say he earned that name due to his intense Killing Intent. Indeed, it was because Elder Yong Gosan expressed Killing Intent properly that he fully embodied the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and became the representative swordsman of Henan.’

But over time, suppressing and eliminating that Killing Intent caused the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword to degenerate into a common sword technique practiced by other martial households.

I halted my assault and stared directly at Myeong Gujeong.

‘Why is he granting me such realization? To me, his enemy? He’s powerful enough to drive me into a corner if he truly pressed me.’

Even though I didn’t think I’d be defeated easily by Myeong Gujeong, I also didn’t believe I could win against him.

So why was he offering me such clarity with such generosity?

Eventually, a telepathic message flowed in from Myeong Gujeong.

—It would be best for you to leave this place quickly. There’s someone called Sam Taegong at the peak of this mountain. Not even three of me could defeat him. He’ll soon hear the sound of our battle and come running. If you don’t flee now, none of you will survive.

As Myeong Gujeong continued attacking, he sent the message directly to me, and I furrowed my brow.

Whatever Myeong Gujeong’s true intent, I realized now that even he couldn’t overcome what was coming. Retreat was the wisest move.

But as I still hesitated, unable to fully trust his words, another message flowed in again.

—Boy, leave now. A massive aura is descending from the mountain summit. I think he’s coming. Leave at once.

There was urgency in Myeong Gujeong’s tone all of a sudden.

I turned to Deuksang.

“Give the order to retreat. Immediately abandon the battlefield and withdraw from this place.”

Deuksang tilted his head slightly, confused as to why I’d order a retreat when we had the upper hand.

“Hurry! There’s no time. Trust me!”

When I shouted, Deuksang was dumbfounded but chose to follow my instructions.

“Everyone, withdraw from the battlefield and regroup at the safe house!”

At his command, the assassins instantly stopped their attacks and began to retreat.

Though they might have had doubts, none of them questioned Deuksang’s order, carrying it out without hesitation.

Just then, I felt an immensely powerful aura heading straight for us.

“You must retreat as well, Captain!”

Deuksang still looked bewildered as he stared at me.

But something in my voice must have reached him, and he led the remaining subordinates down the slope.

Just as I was about to escape last, Cheong Geonmin and Jeok Gwang blocked my path.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Cheong Geonmin and Jeok Gwang had been bewildered when their enemies suddenly withdrew despite having them close to defeat.

Seeing that I hadn’t left the battlefield yet, they decided to at least capture me and reveal my identity.

“Out of my way!”

I charged directly at the Sword Qi they released, cloaking my body in Protective Energy.

If I responded with my sword, I’d have to exchange blows for several dozen seconds. I couldn’t afford to be tied down like that.

Jjeojeong!

Their swords bounced off my Protective Energy, and I slipped through.

“Where!”

In the moment his sword was repelled, Cheong Geonmin used the Flying Crane Soaring Heaven technique to strike at my neck.

At the same time, Jeok Gwang lowered his stance and targeted my lower body. I infused Killing Intent into my blade, spun my body, and counterthrust.

It was a technique from Returning Dragon Circling Heaven, but with so much variation that the two didn’t realize it belonged to the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword.

As my aura suddenly shifted and I charged in while sweeping aside their blades, Cheong Geonmin thought he was as good as dead.

Just as my sword was about to pierce through Cheong Geonmin’s chest—something flew in and struck my sword.

Jiiiiing!

My sword vibrated violently, and the trajectory twisted. I quickly adjusted my stance and turned to face the attacker.

I looked at the object that had struck my sword.

A small bean.

A peanut—the kind elderly men chew on for idle pastime.

‘A peanut shook my Qi-infused sword? Who in the world…’

In that brief moment, I saw the scrawny old man who had somehow reached right in front of me.

The instant I met the eyes of that old man, I chose to flee.

I launched myself straight forward toward the forest—but Lee Yung had already blocked my escape path.

Finding myself surrounded, I let out a long sigh.

At the very least, it was fortunate that I had ordered the full retreat of the Blood Green Unit.

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