Chapter 51: The Sword Demon and the Brotherhood of the Black Blade
—Hey! Hey! Hey! Let me go, damn it!
“What the hell is he saying?”
—You damn brat! Don’t you dare touch my body, you idiot!
“What, is he insane?”
Hyoyeon instinctively cursed back, sensing from the tone that it was 100% profanity.
—He’s speaking Eastern dialect. He said: ‘You damn brat, don’t touch me, you fool.’
Cheonraegeom helpfully translated the words of the Black Night Blade.
As expected—it was indeed profanity.
“This bastard. Talking like that to my master?”
Hyoyeon scowled at the Black Night Blade. The unruly voice from the blade shouted back incredulously.
—Nani? Aruji? Ikaretenno?
—What? Master? Are you crazy?
—A samurai chooses his shogun! Who would acknowledge a weakling like you as a master?!
“This crazy sword bastard. You want me to melt you down in a furnace? And don’t pretend you don’t understand me—you just did. Why not speak in the common tongue?”
—No way! You damned brat!
Clang!
Hyoyeon unsheathed the Black Night Blade.
The mysterious black blade curved ever so slightly in a graceful arc. The rippling grain along the blade absorbed the light, and its unique width was thicker than a typical sword but thinner than a broadsword.
But Hyoyeon didn’t take a moment to appreciate its elegance—he immediately slammed the blade onto the floor.
Bang!
—Kuh! What are you doing?!
“Training.”
Bang!
—Stop it, you idiot!
“Use honorifics.”
Bang!
—I said stop, you little bastard! If you damage me, are you going to reforge me?!
“Oh, look at that—you can speak the common tongue. But you’re still not using honorifics.”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hyoyeon slammed the blade down repeatedly.
The Black Night Blade vibrated, flexing like a bow and trembling with resistance.
—Tch! A samurai does not yield to external pressure! I’d rather commit seppuku! You fool!
—Heh. What a strange one.
Still, the Black Night Blade never once used honorific speech toward Hyoyeon.
With a twitch of his lip, Hyoyeon asked the sword,
“So, why are you being so sour? What did I even do?”
—You stole me from a powerful swordsman using cowardly tricks! Damn it!
“Cowardly tricks? A powerful swordsman?”
**—If you had killed Moryong Sangcheon and taken me by force, I might’ve served you as my shogun. But instead, you used your silver tongue to claim me!”
“…”
—More importantly, you’re weak! I hate being wielded by a weakling! Send me back to Moryong Sangcheon!
Now Hyoyeon understood why the sword was so upset.
“So, you’re mad because I took you with words instead of strength? And I’m weaker than that swordmaster, so you’re disgusted?”
Hyoyeon was both dumbfounded and, to a degree, understanding.
In his past life, he’d decapitated a Japanese pirate chief who had raided Zhejiang Province and taken the Black Night Blade from him.
The sword must’ve thought that was a legitimate method of acquisition.
“…So what level do I have to be for you to acknowledge me as your shogun?”
—At the very least, manifest your aura, you bastard!
“Can’t do that yet.”
—Ha! Talking like you ever could. I hate braggarts, you fool!
“What about a Sword Demon? Would that count?”
—Huh?
The blade wavered, confused by Hyoyeon’s words.
—Sword Demon? Ah, Oni-yaro.
The Black Night Blade murmured in a nostalgic voice,
—If you’re referring to that man, he was the best master. A true warrior who stood alone against the world.
“…Really? Is that so?”
—Of course! If he hadn’t died that way, I’d still be serving him today.
“Too bad. No point in talking about the dead.”
As Hyoyeon shrugged, the Black Night Blade’s tone grew serious.
—If you’re planning to mock my friend, stop now. I’d rather be melted down than serve someone like you.
“Friend… huh.”
—Just as humans become attached to swords, swords can grow fond of humans. You wouldn’t understand, brat. I’m not just any sword—I’m a beloved blade, full of memories.
Hearing the sword’s solemn voice, a smile crept across Hyoyeon’s lips.
—Say what you will, but Danwimyung was a warrior worthy of recognition—and a true friend to me, Black Night. I won’t forgive anyone who insults him!
Hyoyeon wiped his face dryly and laughed.
“Haha, hahaha!”
—…I have nothing more to say to you.
“Oh, but I do.”
—I refuse. I won’t speak to someone who mocked my only friend.
“C’mon, tell me more. What kind of person was the Sword Demon?”
—…
Despite Hyoyeon’s playful tone, the sword remained silent.
Scratching his head, Hyoyeon muttered,
“Maybe I went too far? I just didn’t expect to run into you again. Who knew you’d be able to talk? The world really is full of surprises.”
—…?
“It’s me, Black Night. Danwimyung.”
At Hyoyeon’s declaration, the sword growled.
—If this is a joke…!
“It’s real. I’ve returned. I’m glad to see you again.”
Vmmm!
As Hyoyeon tossed the sword into the air, he activated Yi Gi Yeomdong (Spiritual Resonance).
The long blade floated vertically, facing Hyoyeon directly.
—Th-This power… It’s really you… Danwimyung!
“From the day we met in Zhejiang, you’ve always been part of my arsenal. There was no better sword for cleaving through annoying enemies.”
—Impossible! The Oni-yaro died! Ambushed by cowards!
“That’s true. I don’t even know how I came back. But I’m glad I did.”
Shunk!
Hyoyeon caught the sword.
The black blade stretched proudly, tall enough to reach the ceiling.
“I thought I had no friends, having lived only for the sword. But here you are.”
—You… you really are Danwimyung?
“My name now is Namgung Hyoyeon. Remember Namgung Cheongang, the old man? I’m his distant descendant.”
—If you truly are Oni-yaro…!
The sword trembled with emotion and shouted,
—My friend! Shall we once again shake the martial world together?!
“Of course. Just give me a bit more time.”
As Hyoyeon and the Black Night Blade bonded, Cheonraegeom, feeling left out, cleared his throat.
—Ahem! Such inconsiderate youths. Having private conversations right in front of me.
—By the way, I don’t think I’ve seen you before. Are you strong?
—Watch your mouth, boy! Of course I’m strong! I’m a Great Spirit Sword!
—What? Great Spirit Sword? Sugoi! Even reversed, it’s the same. Subarashii!
As the two swords began conversing via Sword Resonance, Hyoyeon thought to himself,
‘I always thought Sword Resonance was far inferior to Yi Gi Yeomdong, but maybe not.’
They simply had different uses.
There were clearly roles only Sword Resonance could fulfill.
And Hyoyeon found himself liking that very much.
‘Alright. I’ll reclaim my lost swords.’
For the first time, he found a new purpose beyond rebuilding the Namgung Clan.
In the words of Moryong Sangcheon: restoring the Namgung Clan was a public ambition, but reclaiming his old swords—a private one.
—Oni-yaro! The time for revenge has come! Let’s grow stronger and show those cowards we’ve returned!
As the Black Night Blade cried out excitedly, Hyoyeon chuckled and nodded.
“Revenge sounds good. First, let’s find out who they are.”
His gaze turned to the bed.
Lying there was another sword, wrapped up alongside the Black Night Blade.
It was broken in half—the blade severed by Moryong Sangcheon’s Light Sword.
This was once the weapon of Yukgupae, a member of the deadly Surozansal Six.
Thump.
Hyoyeon picked it up and activated Sword Resonance.
Ziinng! Ziiinng!
The broken sword let out a faint vibration, sharing its will with Hyoyeon.
“Of course I can fix you. But in return, tell me.”
Hyoyeon asked with a cold smile,
“You must’ve heard. Who ordered you to capture me for the Hae-shin Clan?”
“There he is! The brat from the Namgung Clan!”
“Hand over Namgung Hyoyeon and we’ll let the rest of you go!”
Yukgupae hadn’t bothered hiding his motive.
He was a top-tier master and had mobilized elite forces on three warships—he expected guaranteed victory.
If Moryong Sangcheon hadn’t been there, it would’ve been a dire situation.
That’s why Hyoyeon needed to know.
Who had bared their fangs at him?
Ziiing… Ziiiing…
The broken sword began emitting a faint hum.
As Hyoyeon listened, his lips curled up in a smirk.
“These bastards…”
The enemy had been identified.
BAM!
“Failure?!”
A hefty middle-aged man slammed the table and roared in rage.
Chief Steward Woo flinched and stammered,
“Th-There’s been no contact…”
“I heard Namgung Hyoyeon returned this morning! That means they failed!”
The man growled furiously.
“They took all that damn money and still failed?! That damn Hae-shin Clan dared deceive me, Baek Wonkang?!”
He was the head of the Baek Merchant Guild, a powerful tycoon of Hefei made rich through the silk trade.
‘The Baekga Sword Meeting was the perfect chance!’
He had been waiting for Namgung Hyoyeon to leave the safety of his clan.
Once he learned Hyoyeon would attend the sword meeting, he immediately hired the Hae-shin Clan with a fortune.
Capture him—or kill him.
Their relationship had always been tied through gold and trade.
“What Surozansal? What Grand River Alliance? Can’t even capture one brat?!”
But the Hae-shin Clan had failed him.
Hyoyeon had safely returned home.
‘That damn brat ruined the foundation of my family! That little rat…!’
Grit!
Baek Wonkang clenched his jaw, remembering everything.
A fire had suddenly broken out at his silk warehouse, leading to massive penalty fees and the loss of royal contracts.
He thought he was saved when he acquired farmland from Namgung Baek.
The land between Dongpo Lake and Daebang Lake had always yielded reliable harvests.
‘But why… why did the land suddenly die?!’
For no reason, the fields turned barren.
‘And I bought up all the debt notes at ten times the market rate… just to absorb the Namgung Clan!’
All that effort and money—gone.
He could’ve just cursed the heavens.
But then—
“They turned that wasteland into fertile land?!”
Bam! Bam! CRAAASH!
Baek Wonkang slammed his desk in rage.
What? The Black Tortoise died and the White Tiger was born?
That a Divine Dragon rose from the Namgung Clan?
All nonsense.
“Huff… Huff… There must be some trick! That brat knows how to revive dead land!”
“But is that even humanly possible…?”
“Then how do you explain it?! The tea leaves harvested from there are flying off the shelves!”
Blood vessels popped in Baek Wonkang’s eyes.
He had hoped to capture Hyoyeon and extract the secret.
If he couldn’t revive the land up north, the Baek Merchant Guild was finished.
“…In that case, I have no choice. I’ll call on them again.”
“Gasp! M-My lord, that’s too dangerous! If we’re discovered…”
“That’s why I’ve kept those connections alive! Enough talk—contact them!”
“…Yes, sir.”
Steward Woo swallowed hard and nodded.
“What about Won-ui?”
“Well… he’s…”
“Still at the brothel?”
“…Yes.”
BAM!
Baek Wonkang smashed his desk again and screamed.
“Drag him back immediately!”
“Eek! Y-Yes, sir!”
Tap tap tap! SLAM!
As Steward Woo ran out, Baek Wonkang took a few deep breaths and murmured,
“Whew… Yes. It’s time for Won-ui to swim in deeper waters.”
Love him or hate him—he was still his only son.
It was time for him to get serious and inherit the true legacy of the Baek Merchant Guild.
