Chapter 31
“Appearance of the Sword Ghost (2)”
A major alarm spread throughout the entire Nine Dragons Sect.
This was because, starting with the Seven Dragons’ elite troops, and then affecting the Eight Dragons and Six Dragons, lives had been lost at the hands of someone who called himself the Sword Ghost.
“……”
The First Dragon, Black Dragon King Jang Muryong, checked the body of the Sixth Dragon, Hwa Hwa Prince, who had returned as a corpse, and then turned away.
There were still four senior members remaining in the main hall.
“……Where is that fiend?”
“I’m sorry, we failed to track him down.”
Dokshim Seosaeng, the Third Dragon, replied with a tense expression.
Returning to his seat as Grand Commander, Jang Muryong frowned as he looked at the empty spots around the hall.
“What did you find out about this Sword Ghost?”
“We inquired through Hao Sect, but they reported that no martial artist claiming to be a Sword Ghost has appeared in the past year.”
It wasn’t just the Hao Sect.
In order to uncover the identity of this suddenly appearing Sword Ghost, information was gathered from every corner: from the Open Sect, other intelligence groups, and more.
Yet nowhere could they find any trace of his identity or actions.
“Then it seems this is a first-time visitor to the martial world who, seeking fame as the Sword Ghost, has chosen our Nine Dragons Sect as his prey.”
“……”
“Hahaha! Hohoho!”
Jang Muryong threw his head back and laughed loudly.
Yet in his eyes, there was not a trace of amusement.
“We cannot ignore this challenge to our Nine Dragons Sect.”
These words were, in effect, a declaration to mobilize every bit of the sect’s strength to exterminate the Sword Ghost.
At that moment, a voice came from Jang Muryong’s left—Famous Elder Hyulong.
“Have you forgotten that our matter with Yushin Moon is not yet resolved?”
“……Yushin Moon can be destroyed at any time.”
Jang Muryong replied, visibly displeased.
No matter the support from Paecheon Province, the Nine Dragons Sect was a sect he had built with his own hands.
He could not accept an outsider like Famous Elder Hyulong interfering in internal affairs.
Yet Hyulong continued unbothered.
“Haha, that’s not the point, is it? If we push just a little more, everything will go according to our plan. Will you let such a minor matter ruin it?”
“Minor?”
Suddenly, Jang Muryong’s aura flared violently.
The fury of an elite martial artist at the peak of his abilities shook the walls and ceiling of the hall.
Yet Famous Elder Hyulong did not even raise an eyebrow.
Instead, he subtly pressured Jang Muryong with his words.
“You’re not planning to go against my wishes now, are you?”
“……”
“Of course, we cannot allow more harm to come to the Nine Dragons Sect. That Sword Ghost will be dealt with personally by me.”
Hyulong said, clasping his hands behind his back.
Then—
“Outsiders will not intervene in our affairs.”
Naeng Muak, the Fourth Dragon, spoke sharply, his cold gaze flashing, and stood from his seat.
Jang Muryong and Hyulong turned their attention to him.
“I will slay him myself.”
Naeng Muak’s words were resolute, his aura as sharp as a finely honed blade.
“Very well.”
Jang Muryong consented to his decision.
Without looking back, Naeng Muak left the main hall.
“Why did you send him? I said I would handle it.”
“Once he sets his mind on something, Naeng Muak cannot be stopped.”
Though now calm, he had once been a notorious figure in Jiangsu and Fujian provinces.
Moreover, he was a Sword Master of the rogue sects who also sought the fame of the Sword Ghost.
Meanwhile, outside in Namchang, members of the Open Sect, Hao Sect, and others scoured everywhere in search of the Sword Ghost.
Yet he seemed to vanish into the sky or sink into the ground—he was nowhere to be found.
Even someone skilled in tracking could not locate him.
Because he was nowhere in the martial world.
“Shall we go find our final opponent?”
Namgung Hyuk, having left the room, now dressed in the Sword Ghost’s attire, used his mastered Reverse Body Technique to alter his face.
He then used lightness skills to move toward the Nine Dragons Sect’s main base.
“Since their senior members have fallen one after another, the Nine Dragons Sect’s defenses must be at maximum.”
He targeted anyone who acted alone, like Hwa Hwa Prince, who had once tried to assault women under the cover of darkness.
But now, with their heightened vigilance, such reckless action might no longer exist.
“I’ve achieved my purpose for now; it’s time for the Sword Ghost to fade away.”
If he didn’t leave soon, he couldn’t predict how his Phoenix Order allies and Yushin Moon’s forces might act.
As Namgung Hyuk leapt across rooftops, he stopped.
Ahead stood the Nine Dragons Sect’s Grand Commander.
“Let’s wait until midnight.”
Namgung Hyuk settled on the rooftop and waited.
Hours passed… the crescent moon climbed high into the night sky.
“Time to leave.”
Just as he moved, a door between walls slowly opened.
A man in black robes, with a grim expression, walked through without acknowledging the bowing gatekeepers.
“Judging by his appearance, that must be Naeng Muak, the Fourth Dragon and the Sword Ghost Slayer of the Sect.”
Namgung Hyuk had already memorized the appearance and martial arts of each member of the Nine Dragons Sect.
He quietly followed Naeng Muak as he walked alone down the empty street.
“Alone, after three have already fallen, without guards…?”
Yet the aura he exuded was that of someone preparing for battle.
Namgung Hyuk realized that Naeng Muak intended to challenge him—the Sword Ghost.
“I’m the bait to draw out the Sword Ghost?”
At first, he wondered if it might be a trap.
But he recalled that Naeng Muak despised deceit and only revered the sword.
Hence, this behavior meant…
“Come out.”
Naeng Muak stopped in a deserted square and called out.
Namgung Hyuk, secretly following, revealed himself.
“You knew I was following?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice while you tried to conceal your presence?”
Namgung Hyuk felt slightly embarrassed.
‘I tried to hide my movements as best as I could.’
Naeng Muak, exuding a sharp aura, sized up Namgung Hyuk—the Sword Ghost.
Slowly, he drew his sword.
“You claim to be the Sword Ghost yourself.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Then let’s see if your skill is worthy of that name!”
In an instant, Naeng Muak vanished—or rather, melted into the darkness and struck toward Namgung Hyuk.
Slash!
A single sword stroke reached out from the darkness!
Namgung Hyuk drew his sword to meet the strike.
“Baekya Ilju!”
He executed one move of his Chuhon Blood Sword Technique.
The strike was swift and deadly, but Namgung Hyuk dodged it, simultaneously countering with his sword.
“Hmm!”
Naeng Muak raised his eyebrows at the oncoming attack.
He swung his sword to intercept, but his blade struck empty air. His eyes widened.
‘An illusion?’
The attack had been filled with killing intent.
Suddenly, Namgung Hyuk’s sword pierced Naeng Muak’s side.
“…Impressive.”
Naeng Muak pressed his hand to the wound, silently admiring the deceptive skill of the Sword Ghost.
Namgung Hyuk said to him,
“How about it? Do you finally acknowledge me as the Sword Ghost?”
“I acknowledge your skill, but the title of Sword Ghost belongs to me!”
Naeng Muak unleashed a deadly aura, attacking again.
Namgung Hyuk met him blow for blow.
Under the moonlight, the two sword masters clashed.
The nearly fifty-year-old Naeng Muak, who had devoted his life to the sword, was truly formidable.
‘His understanding of swordsmanship surpasses mine.’
Yet Namgung Hyuk could not yield the name of Sword Ghost.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing that I can’t beat him in skill despite claiming the name Sword Ghost.’
Even the sword techniques of the Shinmu Ten Swords or the Namgung family would not have changed the outcome much.
But the fight is still a fight.
Namgung Hyuk’s aura shifted suddenly as he struck.
“……!”
Naeng Muak, startled by the explosive energy, took an involuntary step back.
He realized Namgung Hyuk had not yet revealed his full inner strength.
And then,
“That aura… you’re a righteous martial artist?”
Namgung Hyuk had been concealing his identity, using the heart techniques he gained from capturing Hyul Young-dae instead of his full power.
Because it was newly learned and managed differently, it was difficult to control his energy fully.
Hence, he had fought with suppressed strength, but now he stopped hiding his identity.
“Humph.”
Namgung Hyuk lightly smiled, neither confirming nor denying.
Seeing this, Naeng Muak growled,
“What are you really?”
“…Namgung Hyuk. That is my name.”
“Namgung? Then…!”
Naeng Hyuk slowly released his disguise, revealing his true face.
Naeng Muak was shocked.
Seeing that reaction, Namgung Hyuk wiped his smile.
Now that his identity was revealed, he could not leave Naeng Muak alive.
“I’ll show you my true skill.”
Namgung Hyuk channeled his cultivated energy through the Changchung Great Continuous Skill and swung his sword.
Whoosh!
Blood spurted from Naeng Muak’s shoulder.
‘What is this sword?!’
Although he knew the Namgung family techniques, this was a new sword style.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he asked,
“What was that sword just now?”
“The Shinmu Ten Swords.”
“Shinmu Ten Swords? I’ve never heard of it in the Namgung family.”
“I created it myself. It’s not known to the world yet, so naturally, you wouldn’t know.”
“What?!”
Naeng Muak was astonished. Even after a lifetime devoted to the sword, he had never created such a style.
And now, seeing the youthful face of Namgung Hyuk, he could not believe such a sword style was invented.
This shattered Naeng Muak’s composure.
‘Unacceptable!’
He raised his inner strength to the extreme, executing a move from the Jeolyeong Sword Technique.
Like its name, it slashed diagonally as if to cut the moon—Flash Dragon Stance!
Namgung Hyuk countered with a diagonal strike of his own.
The two blades crossed and paused.
Naeng Muak spoke:
“…You call that the Shinmu Ten Swords. An excellent strike… indeed.”
Praising the sword that had taken his life, Naeng Muak met his end.
