Chapter 686

“Urghhhh!”

Oil Sword rolled on the ground.

“Haaaahhh!!”

Clutching his groin, he twisted and turned in agony, a pathetic sight to behold. Yet, no one dared to comment.

At least, none of the men.

“I heard it…”

“It definitely broke. That sound… there’s no mistaking it.”

The clarity of the sound left everyone speechless, their expressions filled with pity as they looked at Oil Sword.

“Urgh… Urghhh…”

He barely managed to stop flailing and tried to regain his posture, but his face was darkened with humiliation, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

“You… you!!”

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon remarked casually.

“Oh, my mistake. I was aiming for your thigh. My apologies, senior.”

He delivered the apology with a face that clearly didn’t mean it.

Hearing this, Oil Sword’s eyes turned bloodshot with fury.

“You devilish brat—!!”

“Well, maybe don’t swing your cock around recklessly and end up in such a shitty situation, huh?”

Even as Oil Sword screamed in rage, Gu Yangcheon simply shook his head, showing no particular reaction.

Unable to endure it any longer, Oil Sword drew his sword.

Srring—!!

The blade, thin and sharp, gleamed as it reflected the light. A faint but distinct aura began to swirl around it.

Qi energy.

A pale blue Qi swirled violently at the tip of Oil Sword’s blade.

Though the sight of him clutching his groin while releasing sword energy was somewhat comical, those who saw it couldn’t help but marvel.

“…What an elegant display of sword energy…”

“That must be the ‘Yuseon-ui Seomgong’ of the Yo-ryeong Baek Clan… As beautiful as the rumors say.”

Yuseon-ui Seomgong.

A direct martial technique of the Yo-ryeong Baek Clan. Known for its flowing energy that resembled stars drifting in the sky, it was often listed among the most beautiful martial arts.

Swish—!

The tip of the sword swayed, releasing energy that gradually spread outward.

Despite the immense pain he must have been in, Oil Sword’s grip on his blade was steady. Whatever else he might be, he was undeniably Hwagyeong.

“How dare you… use sorcery!?”

“Sorcery?”

Gu Yangcheon tilted his head quizzically at Oil Sword’s words.

Sorcery?

The mere mention of the word caused a stir among the crowd.

“Sorcery, did he say?”

“Did Oil Sword just accuse him of using sorcery?”

“Does that mean what happened earlier was because of sorcery?”

For words spoken in a fit of anger, the ripple effect was significant, amplified by Oil Sword’s reputation.

“Well, now that you mention it… It is strange how that young man managed to do that to Oil Sword…”

“But there didn’t seem to be anything unusual just now… Actually, wasn’t it too fast to even see?”

To ordinary people, or at most second-rate martial artists, the speed had been too great to perceive.

Only those of first-rate or higher might have seen what happened clearly. But even among them, the expressions on their faces were conflicted.

It was no surprise.

After all, Oil Sword was one of the Hundred Great Masters of Zhongyuan, a recognized grandmaster. Despite his notorious issues with women, his skills with the sword were beyond reproach.

And yet, this grandmaster of Zhongyuan—

‘Was bested by someone so young?’

Even having witnessed it, they couldn’t believe it. It seemed impossible unless sorcery was involved.

“To use sorcery here, in Hanan, and at a Murim Alliance event no less…! It’s madness!”

Oil Sword shouted as he pointed his sword at Gu Yangcheon.

Seeing the swirling energy, Gu Yangcheon smirked.

“Been a while since I’ve heard that one.”

Sorcery.

He used to hear that accusation all the time, but it had been ages since anyone had said it.

Well…

‘I’ve been killing people before they could talk lately.’

Before anyone could spew nonsense, he’d simply eliminated them. There hadn’t been time for accusations.

Gu Yangcheon’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Oil Sword.

“Go ahead. Keep talking. So? What exactly about this is sorcery?”

“You’re still trying to mock me?!”

“No, not mocking… Sigh…”

Gu Yangcheon exhaled deeply, cutting himself off.

Why was it that things always devolved into nonsense like this?

“Forget it. Let’s skip the conversation and just fight.”

As he stepped forward, Gu Yangcheon glanced around.

All eyes were on him.

The gazes piled up, one on top of the other, until they weighed heavily on him.

The sensation was stifling and suffocating.

“…Now that I think about it, that young man… isn’t he So Yeomra?”

“What? He’s So Yeomra?”

The mention of the title caused the crowd to ripple like a wave.

“I saw it yesterday as well! Bi Seongdo recognized him!”

“They said Pang So-ju caused a commotion yesterday… Is it true, then?”

The more the whispers spread, the more intense the stares became.

Gu Yangcheon, as always, found such attention utterly distasteful.

The turbulent sensation made him want to throw up, but he held it in. A faint sense of regret also passed through his mind.

‘I shouldn’t have stepped in.’

He hadn’t planned to intervene. He hadn’t planned to draw this much attention either.

The Bi-mu-je hadn’t even started, and already, this incident would cause complications later.

He had intended to let things slide. But—

‘That bastard.’

If it weren’t for this damned Oil Sword, this wouldn’t have happened.

If Oil Sword had simply stopped when the Murim Alliance warrior intervened, Gu Yangcheon would have let it go. But no, the man couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

‘And his face pissed me off too.’

For someone with such a rotten personality, his face was annoyingly handsome. Even in his forties, he was the kind of man women would flock to.

And that made it all the more irritating.

Even when Gu Yangcheon tried to hold back, his feelings wouldn’t let him.

As Gu Yangcheon stepped forward—

“You brat! Do you think the same move will work twice?!”

Oil Sword roared as his aura flared, executing a precise sword technique.

Ssss—!

A smooth and polished path of Qi marked his sword’s trajectory, reflecting his mastery.

Gu Yangcheon moved lightly, his gaze tracing the sword’s arc.

Then, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

The reason?

‘This old man is scared.’

He detected a subtle hesitation in Oil Sword’s sword path.

‘So, he’s not completely brainless. He knows.’

Despite the accusations of sorcery, Oil Sword wasn’t entirely ruled by his rage.

He knew.

He knew that what had happened earlier wasn’t sorcery.

And that hesitation was reflected in the tip of his blade.

Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon moved calmly.

Lightly skimming past Oil Sword’s sword trajectory, he began closing the distance.

“You bastard—!”

As his attacks continued to fail, Oil Sword poured more energy into his sword, intensifying its aura.

Finally—

Paaaah!

Rippling energy spread out like waves, filling the air.

It was as if stars had appeared in the sky in broad daylight.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he observed.

‘This is similar to Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.’

At first glance, it seemed so, but he couldn’t be sure without further analysis.

Buzz.

Activating his Siman (Inner Eye), Gu Yangcheon studied Oil Sword’s technique.

‘Judging by the refinement, the destructive power isn’t bad.’

While it seemed somewhat lacking in appearance, the energy contained within was precise.

If unleashed fully, it could devastate the surrounding area.

As for Oil Sword’s skill level…

‘He’s above Tang So-yeol in a direct confrontation.’

If Tang So-yeol fought Oil Sword during the day, she would likely lose.

But if it were at night—

‘That, I don’t know.’

Since Gu Yangcheon didn’t fully understand Tang So-yeol’s abilities, he couldn’t be certain.

However, one thing was clear: Oil Sword’s reputation wasn’t undeserved.

‘So, should I just break him now?’

If Gu Yangcheon revealed his flames, he could easily crush him.

He pondered whether to half-destroy the bastard.

But then, Gu Yangcheon shook his head internally.

‘It’s not worth revealing my full strength.’

Although he had stepped in, he had a clear line he wouldn’t cross.

And even if he didn’t take further action—

‘Someone else will step in soon enough.’

The person who would end this situation was already in position.

With that in mind, Gu Yangcheon shifted his gaze somewhere beyond the crowd.

Through the sea of onlookers, his Siman caught a presence approaching.

‘If I’ve caused this much of a commotion, I might as well gain something from it.’

If chaos had already erupted, there was no point in taking a loss.

He decided he would take whatever he could from the situation.

Having made up his mind, Gu Yangcheon turned back to Oil Sword.

Ssss—!

By the time he returned his focus, Oil Sword’s sword technique had gained speed.

Gu Yangcheon widened the distance between them.

But like a ghost, Oil Sword’s blade followed.

Along with the aura Oil Sword had spread, it all surged toward Gu Yangcheon.

It rained down.

Countless fragments of Qi rained upon him like a storm.

Thudududududuk—!!!

The energy began tearing through the ground.

“Arghhh!”

“Eeeek!”

Screams erupted from the onlookers as the sudden bombardment shook the area. Fortunately, no one seemed to be seriously harmed. It appeared Oil Sword had at least managed to control the spread of his attack.

‘He must be scared.’

Despite his furious outburst, Oil Sword surely understood.

Causing a scene like this at a Murim Alliance event wouldn’t end well for him.

Swish—!

The sword’s blade grazed past the top of Gu Yangcheon’s head. He evaded the Qi-charged strike while Oil Sword relentlessly pursued, swinging his sword with dogged determination.

It was an irritating martial art to deal with. It would have been easy to crush it head-on with overwhelming power, but doing so would create even more problems.

Not that it mattered.

“You’re nothing but a rat, scurrying away!”

He could taunt all he wanted—it wouldn’t be long now.

Boom!

Oil Sword, sensing that he was gaining the upper hand, let out a roar and surged forward, slamming his foot into the ground to propel himself like a cannonball.

In an instant, the distance between them closed.

Or rather, it was allowed to close.

“This is the end!”

Oil Sword thrust his blade forward. The Qi-charged tip of the sword shot toward Gu Yangcheon’s chest. Gu Yangcheon, watching the blade’s approach, slowly reached out his hand.

It moved slightly slower than the incoming blade, just enough that the sword’s tip would reach him first if they clashed.

But just as the blade was about to make contact—

“Enough.”

Someone appeared between them.

Tap!

“Huh!”

Both Oil Sword’s blade and Gu Yangcheon’s hand were stopped simultaneously.

Woooong—!!!

A deep resonance echoed as the impact reverberated through the air.

The vibration came from Oil Sword’s blade, which was now clutched between someone’s thumb and forefinger, trembling violently.

Gu Yangcheon’s hand, too, had been halted in midair.

“It seems the two of you have forgotten where you are.”

The chilling voice made Oil Sword’s shoulders twitch involuntarily.

Gu Yangcheon, on the other hand, lifted the corner of his mouth into a smirk.

‘Finally, you’re here.’

It seemed his timing was impeccable.

Flutter.

A white robe billowed in the wind.

The sight caused murmurs of admiration to ripple through the crowd.

“That… That’s…”

“…The Sword Emperor of Jinryeong!”

The whispered exclamations spread quickly, and the commotion in the area quieted instantly.

The figure, dressed in the white martial robes that symbolized his status within the Murim Alliance, commanded absolute attention.

The elderly man glanced at the two combatants, his white eyebrows slightly raised.

“Within the Murim Alliance, it is strictly forbidden to draw swords except for sanctioned duels.”

His gaze turned to Oil Sword, whose hands trembled violently.

“Furthermore, any disputes between martial artists are prohibited during the Bi-mu-je.”

This was Jinryeong Sword Emperor.

Also known as The Greatest Sword of Hanan.

One of the ten supreme masters of Zhongyuan and a protector of the Murim Alliance.

‘One of the Ten Grand Masters of Zhongyuan.’

He was one of the Seven Wills and Three Powers. His eyes gleamed sharply as he spoke.

“By the laws of the Alliance, the two of you, having violated these rules, are hereby placed under arrest.”

“B-but!”

Oil Sword, his face pale, tried to protest, but—

The Sword Emperor’s piercing gaze landed on him like a blade.

“Are you resisting me, Oil Sword?”

“…!”

The weight of the question made Oil Sword’s lips tremble uncontrollably.

“…No, I’m not.”

The so-called grandmaster, one of the Hundred Greats, who had always carried himself with pride and arrogance, now looked like a mere child in the face of the Sword Emperor.

Unlike the countless rumors that surrounded Oil Sword, silence now engulfed the area.

This was the authority that came with being one of the Ten Grand Masters.

As Oil Sword closed his mouth, his face twisted in humiliation. The Sword Emperor then turned his attention to Gu Yangcheon.

Their eyes met.

Gu Yangcheon immediately grinned and said cheerfully, “Please, go ahead and arrest me. I won’t resist.”

“…”

The elder’s expression twisted slightly, but Gu Yangcheon didn’t seem to care.

Even the prospect of being arrested didn’t faze him.

‘Even if I’m taken in.’

He knew he’d be released soon enough.

******************

“What do you mean by this?”

The leader of the Murim Alliance, Wudang Sword Saint, furrowed his brows as he read the report.

“…Oil Sword has been arrested?”

“Yes, that is correct.”

The Sword Emperor, kneeling on one knee before him, responded.

“He engaged in combat within the Alliance grounds and was subdued. He is currently detained in the underground interrogation chamber.”

“…”

Even with the explanation, the Sword Saint’s expression remained tense. Oil Sword, arrested? And subdued in combat, no less?

‘That Oil Sword?’

One of the Hundred Great Masters, renowned for his swordsmanship, had been brought down in a fight?

And within the Alliance’s own grounds?

Still grappling with this perplexing situation, the Sword Saint turned his gaze to the report in his hand.

Flap.

The document detailed the events leading up to Oil Sword’s arrest.

As he read further, the Sword Saint’s expression grew increasingly grim.

“His… groin?”

“…”

The Sword Emperor remained silent, evidently reluctant to utter the words aloud.

“…What is his condition?”

“He will require some treatment, but it’s nothing life-threatening.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

In more ways than one.

“Still… This means Oil Sword’s abilities were on display, correct?”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“Did he fight seriously?”

The Sword Saint asked whether Oil Sword had been serious in the battle. The Sword Emperor responded,

“While it wasn’t a full display of his abilities, as he was caught off guard, he did not appear to underestimate his opponent.”

“Hmm…”

It was a cautious yet precise answer.

Regardless, it was undeniable that Oil Sword had shown his skills.

The real issue, however, was Oil Sword’s opponent.

“So Yeomra… A member of the Gu family?”

The Sword Saint’s eyes widened as he read the name.

It was familiar to him.

After all, this was the same child that someone he respected yet found troubling had spoken about.

‘So, it’s him.’

The Sword Saint recalled So Yeomra’s face.

They had met during a past righteous faction assembly.

The child of the Heroic Tiger, who had been referred to as the True Dragon at the time.

‘He fought Oil Sword?’

Not only had he fought him, but he had also reportedly shattered his groin and blocked his sword.

‘Hmph.’

The Sword Saint’s frown deepened.

‘Is that even possible?’

An ambush might explain part of it, but the reported details didn’t suggest a mere surprise attack.

Could the Gu family’s child truly have faced Oil Sword in direct combat?

Withstood his blade and lasted until the Sword Emperor intervened?

‘This is peculiar.’

Though rumors circulated about his abilities surpassing the limits of a late-stage prodigy, it was—

‘Still just a child.’

Barely past his coming-of-age, and younger than Dormant Dragon Woo Hyuk, no less. Could such a child really have endured Oil Sword’s attacks?

The Sword Saint turned to the Sword Emperor and asked directly.

“Sword Emperor.”

“Yes, Leader?”

“What level would you say So Yeomra has reached?”

“…”

The Sword Emperor, who had been the one to confront the boy, should have been able to gauge his level.

Confident in this, the Sword Saint posed his question.

“I do not know.”

“…!”

The Sword Saint’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“You don’t know?”

“Yes.”

The Sword Emperor admitted that he couldn’t gauge So Yeomra’s level.

The Sword Saint frowned deeply at this response.

“How is that possible?”

This was no ordinary martial artist—it was the Sword Emperor himself.

If not for the presence of the Sword Sovereign, he would have inherited the title of Sword King. Known as Hanan’s Greatest Sword, he was the protector of the Alliance.

Was he saying he couldn’t assess the level of a mere late-stage prodigy?

Though stunned, the Sword Saint could see that the Sword Emperor’s expression remained unchanged.

“I speak no lies. I was unable to discern So Yeomra’s level.”

More precisely, he couldn’t see it.

While he hadn’t fully exerted himself in trying to gauge it, the fact remained that it was beyond his perception.

Despite this, the Sword Emperor had failed to discern So Yeomra’s abilities.

The implication was clear.

‘Either his level is comparable to the Sword Emperor’s, or…’

‘He has mastered some special technique.’

If it were the latter, it could be a technique designed to obscure one’s level.

The Sword Saint ran his fingers over the report as he mulled over the details.

‘Oil Sword mentioned sorcery.’

According to the report, Oil Sword had shouted accusations of sorcery while releasing his Qi.

‘Sorcery…’

Could So Yeomra truly have used sorcery?

And within the Murim Alliance grounds? As a member of a righteous family?

‘The former seems unlikely.’

The idea that his level was comparable to the Sword Emperor’s didn’t cross his mind.

Such a notion would defy all logic and enter the realm of impossibility.

But one thing did bother him.

‘The fact that he is the son of that Heroic Tiger.’

That infamous Tiger of Shanxi.

The fact that So Yeomra carried his bloodline complicated things.

Rustle.

The Sword Saint folded the report carefully and placed it in his robe.

“Hmmm…”

This was troubling.

Not because of the clash before the Bi-mu-je—it wasn’t that simple.

What truly concerned the Sword Saint was the attention So Yeomra had begun to attract.

No matter how much they tried to suppress the rumors, word would spread.

Stories of So Yeomra standing toe-to-toe with Oil Sword.

Of a young martial artist landing a decisive blow on him.

The rumors would circulate, and this posed a significant problem for the Sword Saint.

‘Why must he draw attention now, of all times?’

Yes, now, of all times.

At the same age as the Divine Dragon, another martial artist was making waves.

‘If that boy has truly reached Hwagyeong alongside the Divine Dragon…’

He wanted to dismiss the idea, but the circumstances made it difficult not to consider.

If true, it would undoubtedly spell trouble.

It could jeopardize the current efforts of the Alliance and the Shaolin Sect.

‘The Meteor Ascension Project may face complications.’

The project aimed to preemptively eliminate the demonic sects and prepare for the catastrophe predicted by the Shaolin Sect’s Abbot.

This unsettling thought took root within the Sword Saint.

Creak.

Feeling this unease, he finally stood up from his desk.

“Where are they now?”

“They are in the underground interrogation chamber.”

“Then I shall go there myself.”

The Sword Emperor’s brows twitched slightly at this declaration.

“You will personally oversee this, Leader?”

“Yes.”

The Sword Saint nodded firmly as he began walking.

He needed to see it with his own eyes.

Whether the Gu family’s child would become an asset to the Alliance or…

A threat.