ISS-Chapter 191

Chapter 191

“I’ll be going.”

‘Amazing.’

Cho Hyun clenched her fists tightly as she watched Baek Riyun’s back climbing onto the dueling stage with those quiet words, her eyes hazy. Her heart pounded as if she had met her destined rival.

‘He’s really like a martial arts novel protagonist.’

She had left the palace out of longing for martial arts novels.

But she hadn’t truly thought the world would be like a martial arts novel. She wasn’t completely ignorant about how the world worked. She was old enough to know that the world wasn’t like a book.

She had simply come out to experience the place names and martial arts that appeared in martial arts novels. To broaden her horizons while traveling the world, and satisfy her curiosity along the way.

That was supposed to be it.

‘A small sect standing equal to a great sect. And it’s a sect that was only recently established?’

This wasn’t a battle between good and evil. The Namgung Family wasn’t evil. But it was a path that seemed to shatter the solid walls of the martial world.

That path was just like the protagonists from the martial arts novels Cho Hyun had read. Like a fighter resisting against a world that stood firm in its place.

‘I want to know more.’

It wasn’t interest as a member of the opposite sex. If she had to define it, it was admiration.

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Cho Hyun suppressed the rising emotions to keep them from showing on her face, and cleared her throat as she looked at Seo Hwa, who had returned after checking on Wang Pal’s condition.

“How is Young Hero Wang Pal’s condition?”

“Hm? Oh.”

Seo Hwa blinked at Cho Hyun’s words, smiled bitterly, and nodded. Her following words:

“He just collapsed from exhaustion. He’s fine.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. He has some minor cuts from the sword here and there, but the bleeding isn’t severe, and it doesn’t look like there will be scars…”

“…! That’s truly fortunate. The wounds looked serious.”

He already had a fierce-looking build—how much more intimidating would he look with scars?

Seo Hwa smiled bitterly at Cho Hyun’s psychology that could be understood without being spoken aloud. She inwardly agreed as well.

“By the way, you really did well. Even though it was a duel between late-stage masters, to win one match against the Namgung Family. Moreover, didn’t Young Hero Wang Pal almost win too? I was watching with bated breath.”

“Thank you for viewing it favorably. But we’re still lacking. Both me and Wang Pal.”

“What do you mean? When you’re this strong…”

“This level is far from enough. To chase after the Sect Leader’s back.”

Seo Hwa smiled bitterly and clenched her fists as she watched Baek Riyun climbing the dueling stage stairs.

“When we set out on this dueling journey, the Sect Leader told us this: Don’t worry about winning or losing, focus on gaining experience.”

“…”

“Those words weren’t simply meant to ease our burden. The Sect Leader doesn’t make empty comforting statements.”

Baek Riyun’s thoughts were crystal clear. If the purpose of the dueling journey was to gain experience and raise their reputation, he must think he alone was sufficient for the latter.

“After this dueling journey, the Sect Leader’s name will shake the martial world. And we will continue to be tested.”

“…To that extent?”

“Yes. That’s why we must keep striving.”

So as not to fall behind, so they could proudly say they are disciples of that Baek Riyun.

‘…’

Cho Hyun looked at the dueling stage with fresh eyes as she watched Seo Hwa speaking with force in her hands. She gazed at Baek Riyun standing confidently on the stage. His figure in white robes facing his opponent.

‘Against the leaders of the Nine Great Sects and One League and the Five Great Families… he can guarantee victory?’

Duels in the martial world generally match opponents by tier. And Baek Riyun’s tier was equivalent to the older young family heads of the current Five Great Families, or those who quickly rose to family head positions.

It was essentially like facing family heads with each duel. To guarantee victory in such situations wasn’t easy even for the abbot of the thousand-year-old Shaolin.

And yet.

‘It doesn’t sound like empty boasting.’

Eyes filled with conviction.

Cho Hyun clasped her hands together tightly as she confirmed the expression on Baek Riyun’s face holding his sword. A sudden thought arose.

‘Perhaps.’

Perhaps she was standing at a moment in a new history.

Cho Hyun swallowed dryly as she stared at the dueling stage after indulging in this small reflection.

The duel was about to begin.

Namgung Yeoncheon’s assessment upon seeing Baek Riyun take his ready stance on the dueling stage was extremely simple.

‘…I can’t see through him.’

Namgung Yeoncheon clicked his tongue as he gauged Baek Riyun’s skill level and glared at him. Baek Riyun pointing his sword tip at him in a firm yet relaxed posture.

A monster in his own right. At that age.

Though Namgung Yeoncheon clicked his tongue at this assessment, he gripped his sword tightly. He had already expected this.

‘It was the same over ten years ago.’

Over ten years ago.

Namgung Yeoncheon had heard there was an incredible newcomer at the Dragon Phoenix Assembly and went to see. Though he was already past the age to enter the Dragon Phoenix Assembly, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity when he heard an outstanding talent had emerged from another of the Five Great Families.

The opponent was the young family head of the Baekri Family, and he was the young family head of the Namgung Family, so it would be good to build a rapport. That’s what he thought as he went to meet him.

That was his only thought. However.

‘He was a monster.’

Sword strikes that didn’t easily yield despite being over ten years younger than himself.

Namgung Yeoncheon, one of the most talented individuals of his generation, learned the irrationality of talent that day. He realized that in just five years, no, even three years, he couldn’t guarantee victory in a match.

And now, over ten years later, Namgung Yeoncheon was somewhat certain.

That Baek Riyun was stronger than him.

“You’ve become much stronger.”

“Many things have happened.”

“That strength doesn’t seem like something that could be excused by ‘many things happened.'”

“Don’t different people process the same events differently?”

“Are you saying you’re a genius?”

“Must I say it myself?”

Namgung Yeoncheon smiled bitterly despite himself at Baek Riyun’s cheeky grin and quietly gripped his sword while spreading his feet.

“You haven’t changed—you’re still insufferable.”

“That’s strange. If we’re talking about insufferable, the Namgung Family can’t be left out. Then can I become an honorary member of the Namgung Family? Namgung Un. Not bad. Though it sounds a bit worse than Baek Riyun.”

“Right. That’s what I mean—you never let anyone have the last word. So I should teach you a lesson with this opportunity.”

“Can you manage that?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Taking his ready stance, he exhales. With the inhale, he observes the world; with the exhale, he presents himself to the world.

“Are you both ready?”

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

At the Sword Empress’s confirmation after seeing Namgung Yeoncheon take his ready stance, both Baek Riyun and Namgung Yeoncheon signaled they were prepared. And then.

“Then, begin!”

The moment the duel began.

Namgung Yeoncheon’s body stiffened. Because.

‘…I can’t see any openings.’

Despite the relaxed posture, there wasn’t a single thing that could be called an opening.

‘What is that.’

A brief silence after the duel’s start.

Namgung Yeoncheon, maintaining an immobile stance in his ready position, enhanced his eyesight to examine Baek Riyun and let out a groan. Baek Riyun maintained a sharp aura like a single sword.

“Are you not planning to come?”

“…I’ll yield the first move.”

“I don’t think I’m in a position to receive such courtesy.”

But if you insist on yielding.

With a faint smile, Baek Riyun lowered his sword and took a step forward. Simultaneously, his form stretched out in an instant.

Flowing Moon Step (Yuweolbo) New Moon (Sakwol)

Like permeating moonlight.

By the time he regained his senses, the sword strike was already before his eyes, and Namgung Yeoncheon reflexively moved his fingertips to deflect Baek Riyun’s sword. But the continuous strikes didn’t cease.

Righteous Heaven Red Art (Uicheonjeokgong) Third Form New Year’s Day (Wondan)

Righteous Heaven Blue Art (Uicheoncheonggong) Second Form Yin Origin One Self (Eumwonilgi)

Sparks flew, and cold energy traveled up his fingertips.

“Such crude tricks.”

Frowning at the sight of what seemed like embodying supernatural powers in one body, Namgung Yeoncheon thrust his sword forward. And the martial art unfolded.

Thirteen Lightning Swords of Flashing Lightning (Seomjeonsipcsamgeomroe) Thunder Dragon Crossing the River (Noeryongdoha)

A dragon roams the void.

Though similar in essence to what Namgung Yeon had displayed, the result was completely different. Like the legendary dragon that controls wind and rain, a dragon wreathed in flames and cold energy twisted its body and erased the phenomena. Continuing strikes followed.

Boundless Azure Sky Sword (Changgungmuaegeom) Blue Sky Thunder Rain (Cheongcheonnoeu)

The dragon summons clouds. It wraps itself in lightning.

“Are you finally showing your true colors?”

Baek Riyun smiled broadly as he shook off his sword to dissipate the momentum from the long dragon’s writhing. Finally, it seemed he could engage in earnest.

“From what I saw earlier, your disciples each use different types of qi.”

“Yes. They’re all different.”

“I heard that you also use martial arts based on lightning qi, different from when you were at the Baekri Family.”

“That’s also correct.”

“Your family’s sword is the Sword of Heaven.”

Whether the Boundless Azure Sky Sword or the Emperor’s Sword Form, they all embodied the sky. And whether lightning, thunder, or storms, all of these were included in heaven.

“If lightning qi is the most destructive energy in the world, then imperial qi is the most oppressive. Can you escape from this family’s heaven with mere lightning?”

Can you avoid being suppressed?

“Test me.”

At Namgung Yeoncheon’s words, Baek Riyun grinned and drew up his internal energy. Lightning qi crackled and sparked.

Heavenly Thunder Body (Cheonnoeshin) Entry Opening the Body (Gaesin)

Opening the body to make it a gateway for communicating with heaven and earth. Centering oneself to reorganize the world.

At the suddenly changed aura, Namgung Yeoncheon raised his sword straight and thrust. And as if responding to that sword, Baek Riyun diagonally parried the blade.

‘I can’t give him any opening. He is lightning. Lightning that could strike anywhere.’

To contain lightning, there must be no gaps at all. Otherwise, the lightning that finds a gap will break through everything and consume the world.

Then there’s only one thing to do.

Boundless Azure Sky Sword (Changgungmuaegeom) Boundless Azure Sky (Changgungmuhan)

A forest of swords blooms.

The sword forest that Namgung Hyeon had shown rose from the ground more detailed and dense. Vision entirely dyed blue. Namgung Yeoncheon moving freely within it.

‘Dominate the battlefield.’

He mustn’t give even the slightest room to move. To embody heaven, one must become vast. Become overwhelming. Don’t take a form that can be broken.

“Receive this.”

The Sword of Heaven.

Boundless Azure Sky Sword (Changgungmuaegeom) Secret Art Azure Sky Creation (Changgungjoha)

The final technique of the Boundless Azure Sky Sword that defeated Wang Pal unfolds. And before it, Baek Riyun’s body sways precariously like a candle in the wind.

“The Namgung Family Head said the Namgung sword is the Sword of Heaven, and my sword is lightning.”

“…”

“But those words are wrong.”

My sword is not lightning.

Baek Riyun smiled bitterly as he slowly drew his sword tip. And then.

“What my sword depicts is one thing.”

“…”

“Creation.”

With those next words.

Creation Heaven Sword Style (Gaebeokcheonggeomryu) Heaven Strike (Cheongyeok)

The heavens split apart.