Chapter 33
Sword Lightning (1)
Namgung Hyuk knew that once word of his return spread, his enemies would surely come for him.
So he decided to use that very fact to his advantage—to lure out and eradicate the forces of Paecheon Castle that were hiding behind the Nine Dragons Guild.
“That’s why I spread the Heavenly Thunder Formation all around beforehand.”
Today, the heavens were filled with thunder energy, amplifying the power of the Heavenly Thunder Formation to its peak.
Thanks to that, Namgung Hyuk detected the presence of the Blood Shadow Squad even before they crossed the wall.
And that wasn’t all—
when he channeled the heightened thunder energy into the formation, he was able to summon lightning bolts of devastating power like the one just now.
Tadat!
“I was wondering what caused that lightning to fall all of a sudden.”
“Ha! What a coincidence, huh?”
The other members of the squad who arrived next were dumbfounded when they saw the Blood Shadow Squad sprawled on the ground, unaware of what Namgung Hyuk had done.
Ki Woo-seong also arrived and met Namgung Hyuk’s eyes.
‘Just as you predicted. Once they found out about Paecheon Castle’s involvement, there was no way they’d just let us be.’
Ki Woo-seong staggered forward and shouted toward the remaining assassins of the Blood Shadow Squad.
“Throw down your weapons and surrender!”
At once, the rest of the team unleashed their killing intent and aimed their weapons.
But the assassins did not let go of their daggers.
Having been trained solely for assassination, the word surrender did not exist in their minds.
Tash!
They burst forth, killing intent radiating as they charged.
“Subdue them!”
Ki Woo-seong shouted, slashing his blade.
Under the pounding rain, both sides clashed.
Chwarak!
Ki Woo-seong’s blade split the falling rain as it flashed, cutting down three assassins before they could even react.
The other squad members each took on their opponents, handling them with ease.
Assassins, skilled in ambush and stealth, were no match for elite warriors of the Vermilion Bird Unit in open combat.
Meanwhile, Namgung Hyuk did not join the battle.
‘These can’t be all of them.’
From the captured squad leader, he had learned that there was someone higher up giving them orders—
a high-ranking Protector of Paecheon Castle known as Gongson Chaek, the “Elder of the Blooded Abyss.”
Namgung Hyuk was on guard for that man’s presence.
‘Found you!’
The wide-reaching Heavenly Thunder Formation—spanning nearly twenty jang—picked up a distinct aura.
Unlike the subtle presences of assassins, this one was heavy and oppressive.
“Captain Ki!”
Namgung Hyuk shouted to alert Ki Woo-seong.
But before he could finish—
KWAANG!
With a thunderous explosion, the wall the assassins had scaled earlier shattered into pieces.
Through the breach stepped an old man.
It was none other than Gongson Chaek, the Elder of the Blooded Abyss.
The old man surveyed the scene and raised his eyebrows.
“Useless trash.”
“S–sorry, Elder…”
The surviving assassins barely managed to speak.
Ignoring them, Gongson Chaek strode slowly inside.
At that moment, Ki Woo-seong addressed him.
“May I ask your name, elder?”
“The old man’s name is Gongson Chaek.”
“…So it is the Elder of the Blooded Abyss.”
Even though Namgung Hyuk had already briefed him, the sheer pressure radiating from the old man was enough to make Ki Woo-seong’s heart tighten.
But there was one man who didn’t flinch.
“Bringing assassins to storm Yu Manor—must be quite desperate, are you not?”
Namgung Hyuk’s tone was openly derisive.
Gongson Chaek’s eyes flashed coldly.
“So you’re Namgung Hyuk.”
“That’s right.”
Gongson Chaek already knew Namgung Hyuk was the one who had ruined his plans—
and that was reason enough to execute him on the spot.
“You’ll pay for interfering in my affairs—with your life.”
“Repayment, you say? My life’s worth a lot more than that—you’ll need quite a bit of change.”
“What?”
“My life doesn’t come cheap.”
Namgung Hyuk smiled faintly.
Just as Gongson Chaek was about to explode in anger, Ki Woo-seong stepped in.
“Elder, do you truly mean to make an enemy of the Martial Alliance?”
“Keukeukeu! Do you think I fear the Martial Alliance? Once I kill everyone here, who’ll be left to know I was ever here?”
His tone was calm, but everyone could sense he wasn’t bluffing—he meant every word.
“Well then, who wants to go first? Or shall you all come at once? It matters not to me.”
Gongson Chaek clasped his hands behind his back.
The Vermilion Bird members swallowed hard, tension thick in the air.
This was a man whose name had long haunted the martial world—a supreme master of legendary skill.
But then—
“Everyone, fall back.”
Ki Woo-seong extended his arm, signaling his men to stand down.
He intended to face Gongson Chaek alone.
“Captain!”
“Let us fight with you!”
The others protested.
They knew full well they couldn’t match the elder,
but they were willing to fight out of loyalty.
“Stand down!”
Ki Woo-seong’s tone left no room for argument.
As their leader, he wouldn’t allow needless sacrifice.
The members reluctantly retreated a few steps.
But Namgung Hyuk did not.
“You can’t handle him alone.”
“You…”
“Don’t worry. I can take care of myself. Let’s fight together.”
Seeing his resolve, Ki Woo-seong didn’t refuse.
He trusted Namgung Hyuk’s skill.
The two stood side by side, sword and blade aimed at Gongson Chaek.
“We’ll face you together.”
“Keukeke, good.”
Gongson Chaek smiled, dropping his hands to his sides.
Though he held no weapon, his art was the Phantom Spirit Palm—his hands alone were enough.
Kwarururung!
Thunder boomed across the sky.
Taking that as a signal, both men moved at once.
‘He’s a transcendent master—no holding back!’
Namgung Hyuk focused his immense inner power and unleashed the opening form of Thirteen Lightning Sword Strikes.
Bolts of sword-light rained down like thunderbolts,
and Gongson Chaek met them with a surge of chilling palm force.
KWAANG!
Frosty energy clashed with sword-light, exploding violently.
Ki Woo-seong followed up instantly, unleashing a wave of Heavenly Fire Blade Arts,
which Gongson Chaek blocked with his other palm.
Pababat!
Though they had never trained together, Namgung Hyuk and Ki Woo-seong moved in perfect harmony, flowing like water.
“You two are skilled indeed. But—!”
With a flick of his sleeves, Gongson Chaek unleashed a far greater blast of palm force.
A wave of invisible, oppressive energy surged toward them.
Both men were forced to defend.
But blocking it was not enough.
‘Damn! The yin-cold energy is seeping in!’
Though Namgung Hyuk blocked the palm, the frigid yin energy penetrated through his sword,
threatening to freeze his very bones and organs.
“Hrrgh!”
He gathered his inner power to drive it out,
and thanks to his vast reserves, he managed to expel it with only minor loss of energy.
‘What about Captain Ki?’
He looked over—
Chiiiik!
Steam rose from Ki Woo-seong’s body, his soaked clothes drying instantly from intense internal heat.
“Yang energy? You’ve mastered the Heat-Sun Art?”
“…”
Ki Woo-seong remained silent.
Gongson Chaek frowned.
His own Phantom Spirit Palm was built on yin energy—making Ki Woo-seong’s art its natural nemesis.
‘Then I’ll kill that one first.’
Eyes gleaming murderously, he gathered both palms.
Swoooosh!
Enormous energy converged—
‘Ghost-Crying Twin Palms!’
A gray-white force, like countless wailing spirits, surged forward.
Ki Woo-seong spun his blade.
“White Flame Calamity!”
A wave of blazing blade energy met the attack head-on.
Yet the difference in power was clear—Ki Woo-seong began to be pushed back.
“No matter how opposing our energies, power is still power.”
Gongson Chaek sneered—
but then twisted his torso sharply as he sensed a sharp killing intent from his flank.
“Tch.”
Namgung Hyuk’s surprise strike had barely missed.
“Impudent wretch!”
Gongson Chaek retaliated with a palm strike,
but Namgung Hyuk countered with a sweeping horizontal slash—
the Flying Dragon Form!
Gongson Chaek barely leaned back in time to avoid his throat being cut.
He glared at Namgung Hyuk.
“Hmph!”
Namgung Hyuk met his gaze calmly, unfazed.
Shwaaaak!
Taking advantage of the distraction, Ki Woo-seong slashed again.
The young sword and blade masters’ combined assault pressed Gongson Chaek back.
“Whoa!”
“They’re amazing!”
The Vermilion Bird members, keeping their distance with the captured assassins, couldn’t hide their excitement.
But their joy didn’t last.
Gongson Chaek’s aura suddenly expanded—his attacks turning fiercer, heavier.
Kwakwakwakwaang!
“Urgh!”
Namgung Hyuk barely held off the flood of energy,
unleashing the Ten Thousand-Heaven Sword Net of the Limitless Sky Sword Art.
Countless sword trails wove into a shining web that formed a barrier,
barely blocking the elder’s onslaught.
‘That old man’s inner power… he’s been hiding his true strength!’
Namgung Hyuk realized Gongson Chaek’s energy exceeded even two full cycles of sixty years of cultivation.
It was only natural—
for someone who had reached transcendence and lived so long, anything less would be shocking.
“Khuhk…”
A groan escaped from Ki Woo-seong.
Namgung Hyuk turned—
and saw him kneeling on one knee.
He hadn’t been able to block the attack completely.
–Captain Ki, are you all right?
–I’m fine.
He replied through sound transmission,
but his pale face said otherwise.
The yin energy had struck his chest and was now seeping into his heart.
Had it been anyone else, they would’ve died instantly.
Namgung Hyuk sent another transmission.
–Fall back and circulate your energy to drive it out!
–I can’t. You can’t handle him alone.
Ki Woo-seong shook his head weakly.
But Namgung Hyuk knew that if he kept fighting in that state, he’d die.
–Honestly, you’ll only get in the way.
–Hah… very well. Hold on until I return, then.
Understanding his sincerity, Ki Woo-seong finally withdrew.
Now, only two remained in the rain-soaked courtyard—
Namgung Hyuk and Gongson Chaek, the Elder of the Blooded Abyss.
Their duel was just beginning.
