Book 27 Chapter 14

Namgung Sang, Despair

―A Path Close Yet Far

Nothing.

He could do nothing.

Even as friends died and comrades were injured, Namgung Sang could do nothing.

He felt utterly helpless.

Namgung Sang had never experienced such despair before.

"This can't be!"

'Even if I die, I must save my friends!'

That was the only thought in his mind now.

But how?

Seocheon's power was overwhelming.

The mere release of his ki made Cheongheon, Baek Muyoung, Namgung Sang, and Jinryeong's teeth chatter and cold sweat pour down their faces.

Invisible hands seemed to grip their hearts, squeezing them. A coldness called fear was freezing their hearts.

Their legs trembled. Their hands trembled. Their teeth chattered.

Run! Run! Run!

Their instincts screamed at them. They had to run now. There was no chance of winning this fight. To fight would mean certain death. It would be a meaningless death. The outcome was decided before the fight even began. With their current strength, there was no escaping the death that was upon them. The only path to survival was to flee.

Gritting his teeth.

Namgung Sang clenched his jaw. Then, enduring all the pressure pouring towards him, he took a step forward. Seocheon's eyes gleamed at the sight. To maintain his reason and move despite facing his killing intent… it seemed there was a surprisingly strong-willed one among the youngsters.

"I will stop him. You all hurry to the ship."

Raising his sword, he pointed it at the space between Seocheon's eyebrows. Then, the killing intent directed at him split along the sword's edge, widening his range of movement slightly.

"You wish to die."

"A true man sometimes cannot back down, even knowing he will die. And now is that time. I will not take a single step back from this spot. I am their shield. If you wish to pass, you must first defeat me, Namgung Sang!"

"Ho, are you the son of Namgung Jin, the current head of the Namgung family?"

"I am Namgung Sang, the third son. And do not speak my father's name so carelessly!"

"Hahahaha! You should be thanking me instead. You should be bowing in deep gratitude, yet you point a sword at me. Truly, you are ungrateful."

At Seocheon's laughing words, Namgung Sang's eyes flickered slightly.

"Gratitude? What are you talking about? My father owes nothing to a villain like you."

"No, he owes me. He received a great favor. Because it was I who made Namgung Jin the current head of the Namgung family."

"What nonsense are you spouting!"

"Kekekeke, I am the one who killed the former head of the Namgung family, Namgung Jin's incompetent elder brother, and made Namgung Jin, who was said to be several times more skilled with the sword than his brother, the head."

Namgung Sang's eyes widened in shock. He vaguely remembered hearing stories about that.

"You… you were the 'Family Enemy' my father was pursuing."

Even though he was the head of the Namgung family, one of the Eight Great Families, Namgung Jin volunteered to serve as an enforcer in the Jeongcheon Alliance to track down his family's enemy using the alliance's intelligence network. What happened nine years ago was a top secret, but Namgung Jin, being one of the direct participants that day, had access to information. Of course, Namgung Sang didn't know all this. Namgung Jin knew the identity of his enemy but couldn't even tell his son due to the extreme secrecy.

"Pah, Family Enemy? You must mean Family Benefactor. Because of the foolish head, the Namgung family, which was in decline among the Eight Great Families, was able to regain its standing thanks to me. Do you think the Namgung family would be enjoying its current prosperity if the incompetent and sycophantic Namgung Ho had remained the head?"

"Indeed…"

His words held a degree of truth. When the incompetent Namgung Ho became the head, the Namgung family's status had been steadily declining. It was the current head, Namgung Jin, who reversed that trend. He was a genius unparalleled by his incompetent elder brother, having mastered the family's secret technique, the Thunderclap Swordplay, to its highest level.

"Tsk, tsk. Namgung Jin is foolish. When I helped him become the head, he should have enjoyed wealth and glory. Instead, he acts like a dog for the leader of the Murim Alliance while holding the position of family head."

"My father said he would never return to the Namgung family until he avenged my uncle. He said he is merely acting as the head. He swore that on the day he avenged his enemy, he would ascend to the position of Namgung family head. How could a villain like you understand the weight of such an oath!"

The world recognized Namgung Jin as the head of the Namgung family, but he himself still referred to himself as acting head. Although he managed the affairs of the Namgung family, he still worked as an enforcer in the Murim Alliance because the closest place to track the murderer of his elder brother was by the side of the Murim Alliance Leader, Na Baekcheon.

"You said you were the third son? That's regrettable. But there is a way. If you think your elder brothers are incompetent, sever their heads with your sword. Then you can become the next head of the Namgung family. Isn't that a very attractive prospect?"

"Don't spout such nonsense! I, Namgung Sang, have no desire to become the head by harming my own blood through dirty means!"

"I question if you even have the balls. How can you call yourself a man then?"

"I don't want to hear that from a murderer like you!"

Namgung Sang shouted, looking directly at Seocheon.

"How can a man be called a man without ambition? Truly, do you even have a pair of balls?"

"Shut up. This person is a perfectly fine and dignified man! I can prove it."

It was Jinryeong, who had been worriedly watching the others trying to stop the bleeding of the elder scholar and Dang Munhye, who suddenly interjected. She had become heated and intervened the moment her man was not treated as a man.

"Ho, speaking as if you've directly confirmed it? Are you his woman?"

"Wh-what does that have to do with you?! Whether someone confirmed it or not! It has nothing to do with you!"

Jinryeong shouted, her face red as a ripe persimmon. She realized she had dug her own grave by not being able to control her momentary anger, but it was too late.

Namgung Sang forcefully stopped Jinryeong from saying anything further. If she continued, the situation would only worsen, and unnecessary gossip would spread.

"I am unequivocally a man. Aren't you the one who is jealous like a woman? Did you want the position of family head that badly? To the point of becoming crippled?"

No matter what anyone said, Namgung Sang was a disciple of Byulyeoen. He had watched the most closely how his eldest senior brother could turn people inside out. His knack for tearing others down had fully matured within him.

"Heh heh heh, your mouth is hastening the end for four people. Don't expect to go back alive today."

"I've already given up on that! But I won't let you lay a finger on my lover and friends! Even if it costs me my life!"

It was at that very moment.

"Tsk, you dense fool. How many times do I have to tell you? I told you not to give up, no matter what happens. When is the moment your spirit breaks?"

That voice came from directly behind Namgung Sang's right. Without turning around, Namgung Sang spoke, looking directly into Seocheon's eyes, as if challenging him.

"It is the moment of defeat."

Then, he turned around and exclaimed joyfully.

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

Standing proudly behind him was none other than Byulyeoen.

'Who is this forgotten bone fragment? This guy with the long bangs?'

That was the first thought that entered Seocheon's mind upon seeing Byulyeoen.

"……!"

Then he was surprised, and then enraged.

Standing beside Byulyeoen was Na Yerinn. And Byulyeoen's hand was around Na Yerinn's waist under the guise of support. Even more surprising was that Na Yerinn, who extremely disliked physical contact with others, showed no sign of revulsion.

A terrifying light flashed in Seocheon's eyes. Dark desire overflowed through his eyes.

The pure white little bird he so desperately wanted to possess was leaning on some forgotten bone fragment with bangs covering his eyes.

At that moment, boundless jealousy surged within his dark heart.

"Yerinn, you are mine! You can be no one else's. How dare you try to escape from my grasp! I will send you back to your cage!"

"You should abandon that thought. I belong to no one. I am no longer afraid of you. That is why I stand here, like this. To cut away the nightmare of the past."

Her fear of him fading meant his very presence was diminishing. Such a thing was absolutely unacceptable.

"Are you thinking of leaving me, like your mother did?! To that old woman!"

Seocheon shouted in a voice tinged with madness.

"My mother left you? What do you mean by that?"

Na Yerinn asked, flinching and stiffening. It was not a statement to be easily dismissed.

Seocheon shouted without answering her question.

"You say you are not afraid? Have you recovered from the wounds of the past? Don't make me laugh. But don't worry. Today, I will leave an indelible scar on you. You're still a virgin, aren't you? Good, I will take it! I won't give it to anyone else! I will no longer have what I want taken from me by that person! Never again!"

Dark and ominous energy rose from Seocheon's surroundings. It was like poison emanating from the cracks of hell. That poison instinctively made Na Yerinn shrink back and evoked disgust. A red tongue like a snake and black eyes turned her into stone.

The wounds she believed had healed, that she had overcome, were groaning and creaking, threatening to reopen. Cold sweat poured down her body like rain. She was expending immense mental strength to counter the oppressive aura.

Just then, a warm hand embraced her shoulder. To her surprise, the oppressive aura vanished as if washed away. Na Yerinn, suddenly feeling lighter, looked to her side. Byulyeoen was smiling, his hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright. Yerinn, you can overcome this. As I said, you shouldn't listen to perverts and lunatics. It's already losing to care about the words of someone who's not sane. You don't need to be afraid of a perverted old man like that. And I'm here, aren't I?"

"Ryeoen…"

A warm emotion bloomed from the depths of her heart. That emotion seemed to envelop and protect her entire body. It was as Byulyeoen said. She was not alone now. She had decided to face herself. She had decided not to run from the nightmares of the past anymore. She had decided to break free from the nightmares of the past and move forward.

'Yes, I'm not afraid. Ryeoen, because you are with me. I will no longer run from nightmares. I will not run from myself. I will face the nightmares of the past and the world that tormented me. I am no longer a scared little girl with my heart locked shut. You unlocked that tightly shut heart for me. I will move forward.'

Clang!

A sword as dazzling as fresh snow was drawn from its scabbard. The sword's tip, radiating a chilling white aura, pointed towards Seocheon's brow.

"I will not let you disturb my slumber again."

It was a bold declaration of her resolve to overcome her past.

Clap, clap, clap!

Byulyeoen, watching from the side, applauded her. Then, he took her hand, the one holding the sword, and said with a smiling face.

"Of course, you should. But would you leave this place to me, Yerinn?"

"But…"

"I need to make up for being late."

Byulyeoen said with a smile again. In truth, Na Yerinn did not have enough internal energy left to fight anyone. She had used most of her true qi escaping the prison and then fighting Muyeom by chance. The fact that she could still stand there, drawing her sword, was due to sheer willpower. And at this moment, that 'will' to confront the opponent was the most important thing. So, Byulyeoen was saying.

I saw your will. Now leave the rest to me.

Not with words, but with actions.

"Yes. Then I will leave it to Ryeoen for now."

Na Yerinn sheathed her sword again.

"You made the right decision."

Byulyeoen kept Seocheon in check and signaled Jinryeong. Seocheon, in a seemingly defenseless posture, with his arms crossed, was smirking at Byulyeoen's back as if enjoying a bizarre spectacle, but they couldn't afford to be careless either.

Receiving the signal from her eldest senior brother, Jinryeong, along with her colleagues from the Suzaku Corps, escorted her towards the ship.

The elder scholar, bleeding profusely and unconscious, Dang Munhye, whose chest was pierced and bleeding profusely with every movement despite being bandaged, Hyeon-un, still in a comatose state and hovering between life and death, and Namgung Sansan, who had received treatment but had not yet regained consciousness, were moved as quickly as possible.

Ok Yukyeong, working with Yeongryeong, passed by Seocheon while carrying Namgung Sansan. However, when she saw his face, Ok Yukyeong's eyes flashed for a moment, but she uttered no words. Of course, Ok Yukyeong was wearing a borrowed straw hat, so Seocheon did not recognize her.

Moreover, perhaps due to the confidence that he could obtain Na Yerinn at any time? Or perhaps due to the confidence that they could never leave this island? Seocheon, who was smirking without any significant obstruction, even burst into laughter when Na Yerinn passed by.

He seemed to think he could easily deal with Byulyeoen, a mere novice of Muyeom, and obtain her before the ship left the harbor.

Furthermore, just then, his subordinates were seen rushing from that direction. The confidence that everything was already within his grasp. That arrogant confidence was clearly felt by Byulyeoen as well.

The last one to remain by Byulyeoen's side was Namgung Sang.

"Gungsang, you go ahead too."

Byulyeoen said without looking at Namgung Sang.

"Eldest Senior Brother!"

His gaze was fixed on Seocheon, the man in the red robe approaching. The devilish might he had displayed moments ago still made his body tremble. Could his eldest senior brother really defeat such a monster? This time, Namgung Sang was not sure.

"I will block him here. So, take the children and quickly set sail."

It was still too early for Namgung Sang and the rest of the Suzaku Corps to face him. In their current state, he couldn't predict the outcome.

"I refuse. I will stay by your side, Eldest Senior Brother. I can fight too."

His colleagues from the Suzaku Corps, Dang Munhye and the elder scholar, as well as Cheon Yaejin and his companions, had shed blood at the hands of that devil. He didn't want to flee without paying respects to their sacrifice, without avenging them.

"Fool, how can you fight in that condition? With a body that looks like it could collapse at any moment? You'll just be a hindrance."

"I refuse. My comrades whom I learned with, my friends with whom I laughed and chatted, their enemy is right before my eyes. I cannot just leave him and go."

Then, Byulyeoen ruffled Namgung Sang's hair wildly.

"Ugh, Eldest Senior Brother!"

"Fool, you are a leader. You must protect the ones you are responsible for until the end. Sometimes you have to throw away a piece of yourself."

"Eldest Senior Brother…"

He meant for Namgung Sang to use himself as that piece.

"Do you understand? You don't need to wait for me. As soon as you get on the ship, raise the sails and leave immediately. Now, go!"

"Eldest Senior Brother, you must not die."

"Fool, if I die, I won't be able to bother you. I won't die. I'm originally a super-top immortal young god."

He smiled faintly at Namgung Sang. Namgung Sang bowed respectfully to Byulyeoen, cupping his fists. Tears flowed from his eyes as he bowed.

That their troublesome eldest senior brother was willing to sacrifice himself for them like this… he was simply overwhelmed with emotion. His heart felt like it was burning with emotion. But he had no choice but to obey his eldest senior brother's words. Seocheon's subordinates were already close. If he stopped here, all the sacrifices so far would be in vain.

"Then I will take my leave, Eldest Senior Brother!"

Namgung Sang gritted his teeth and ran towards the ship. Byulyeoen waved without looking back.

"Yes, see you later."

Swish!

With a wave of his hand, Byulyeoen drew a long crack at his feet. It was a crack at least three zhang long.

"No trespassing from here. You should find another way."

However, the First Division members who had rushed right up to him had no intention of listening to Byulyeoen's words. To them, he was simply an enemy to be eliminated. They all drew their weapons and charged. As expected of the First Division, their training and skill were different.

But today, they had the wrong opponent.

Flying Thunder Sword (飛雷刀) Ultimate Technique (奧義)

Sword Qi (劍氣) Death Art (死殺技)

Chapter of Wind, Cloud, Thunder, and Lightning (風雲雷鳴)

Thunder Light Flowing River Curve (雷光流河曲)

As five streams of Flying Thunder Sword were unleashed from Byulyeoen's hands, his fingers danced across the thunder spirit string like playing music.

It was a performance, a thrilling performance that conjured wind, cloud, and thunder.

Lightning flashed, tearing through space.

The thunder spirit string became a net of lightning, encompassing the space between heaven and earth, slicing apart everything caught in it.

And it did so, leaving only lives intact, meticulously cutting away clothes and weapons.

That was the true power of the Flying Thunder Sword. The life or death of a person depended on the master of the Flying Thunder Sword dancing across the thunder spirit string.

As the Thunder Light Flowing River Curve swept through the surroundings in an instant, screams erupted from the First Division members here and there. They fell without even knowing how they were defeated.

He hadn't killed them, but he didn't hesitate to wound them. However, the Fourth Division would be busy, and the treated First Division members would be left with a terrible memory. This could be seen as punishment for those who followed the one who kidnapped Na Yerinn.

'As expected, there's no issue with the power…'

Although it was the Thunder Light Flowing River Curve unfolded with five handles, it didn't seem to have any significant problem with its power. Rather, considering it was unfolded with five handles, its sharpness and power seemed to have increased compared to before. Perhaps it was due to gaining a slight realization and subduing the Left Water Dragon? The subtle control seemed to have been further strengthened.

But why was it deciphered earlier? There was no issue with its power.

Who was that person?

Well, even he himself didn't know, so there was no one to tell him who that person was.

Byulyeoen shook his head and focused more intently on the enemies before him. He wouldn't be meeting that person named Muyeom for a while, so he could think about that person later.

Byulyeoen raised his eyes and looked directly at Seocheon.

That person was his enemy.

And Yerinn's enemy.

And the Murim's enemy.

He had finally encountered the one who had wounded Yerinn's heart.