Chapter 410 : The Duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven (2)

Chapter 410: The Duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven (2)

Jeong Minji muttered to herself as she looked at Jong Munhye.

“Gaga truly seems to be a person blessed with good fortune in people. No matter who it is, they all work so hard for Gaga.”

“That’s probably because I lived so pitifully in my previous life, so even the heavens felt sorry for me and granted me blessings in people.”

As Yong Hwarin spoke with layered meaning and turned away, Jeong Minji followed behind him.

“Where are we going this time?”

She asked while trailing after him, and Yong Hwarin replied.

“We’re going to Elder Masa and Lady Deung.”

As they walked, Yong Hwarin explained to her about the parasite poison inside the two.

“After that, we’ll bring them to Teacher Nan Myeonggwak. He knows how to remove the parasite poison. We should take care of it while we have the time.”

Yong Hwarin brought Masa and Deung Hwaun to visit Nan Myeonggwak.

Nan Myeonggwak was virtually acting as the Chief Administrator of the Heavenly Central Sect.

Because he was in charge of inspecting provisions and supplies and managing inventory, he didn’t often run into Yong Hwarin like the others did.

“Teacher Nan.”

When Yong Hwarin called, Nan Myeonggwak, who had been rummaging through documents, paused and looked up at him.

“Ah, Young Master Yong.”

“I heard from Kijoong that thanks to you, his worries were greatly eased. Thank you.”

“I couldn’t just keep eating without doing any work, so I helped out. But I assume this visit isn’t just to say thanks.”

Nan Myeonggwak, ever perceptive, glanced behind Yong Hwarin at Masa and Deung Hwaun and asked.

“The truth is, both of them are infected with Yin-Yang Twin Parasites. Can you remove it?”

“Yin-Yang Twin Parasites, huh.”

Repeating the term, Nan Myeonggwak looked at Masa and Deung Hwaun and smirked.

Since arriving at the Heavenly Central Sect, Nan Myeonggwak had seen Masa before but hadn’t had the chance to grow close.

Nan Myeonggwak had been far too busy with his duties to socialize.

“I do know how to remove the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites. However, it’s a unique parasite, and ordinary methods won’t work.”

“Then what must we do?”

Deung Hwaun asked, and Nan Myeonggwak appeared deep in thought.

“Any method is fine. Please, just tell us.”

At Deung Hwaun’s earnest words, Nan Myeonggwak scratched his nose and finally spoke.

“Yin-Yang Twin Parasites—when one host dies, the other dies with them. And as they die, they release poison. This is because the two parasites are reactive to one another.”

Masa and Deung Hwaun listened intently, not wanting to miss a single word.

“To remove them, you must make the two parasites react intensely with each other.”

“So you’re saying the key is how to trigger that reaction between the two.”

As Nan Myeonggwak kept skirting around the point, Masa cut to the chase.

“The Yin-Yang Twin Parasites… hmm, well, they react best when the two hosts… mate. In other words, during intercourse, the parasites can transfer from one person to the other. But this doesn’t happen in just one or two encounters. It takes numerous sessions for the parasites to harmonize enough to be drawn out of the body. No other method is known.”

Hearing Nan Myeonggwak’s explanation, Masa and Deung Hwaun were left speechless, mouths slightly agape, staring at his lips.

They suspected he might be making it all up.

“This isn’t nonsense. That’s precisely why the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites are often used on sworn enemies.”

From the sincerity in Nan Myeonggwak’s eyes, it was clear he wasn’t lying.

“Well, this is…”

Yong Hwarin interjected, choosing his words carefully.

“It’s best if the two of you discuss this yourselves.”

Since it involved physical intimacy to expel the Yin-Yang Twin Parasites, he decided it was best not to intervene further.

“Ahem, I’m quite busy, so I’ll take my leave…”

Nan Myeonggwak, having finished the awkward explanation, hurriedly escaped the room with a stack of documents in hand.

“I also have something urgent to do…”

Yong Hwarin quietly slipped away as well.

Left alone, Masa and Deung Hwaun stared blankly into space.

Eventually, their eyes met.

At that moment, both of their cheeks flushed red without them realizing it.

Perhaps due to Nan Myeonggwak’s explanation, a strange atmosphere lingered between them.

Once outside, Yong Hwarin found Mo Biyoung waiting for him. However, her expression was somewhat odd.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

As Yong Hwarin finished asking, the Greatest Sword Under Heaven, Zhao Qiansheng, suddenly stepped out from behind Mo Biyoung and spoke.

“Young Brother.”

“Yes, Elder.”

“Don’t call me that. Just call me Brother.”

Yong Hwarin smiled at Zhao Qiansheng’s easygoing demeanor.

Even though he had ascended to the ranks of absolute masters, Zhao Qiansheng had no airs about him—that was just his nature.

“What brings you here?”

“I need to have a duel with you.”

“A duel?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“The people here seem to doubt my skills. But it feels like you’re the only one here who can properly receive my martial arts. And while we’re at it, I think it’s a good chance for everyone to see just what you’re capable of…”

“Show them whether you've reached the realm. That way, more people will rally behind the Heavenly Central Sect and you.”

Now that he heard it, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Many of the guests and disciples gathered at the Heavenly Central Sect had only heard rumors of Yong Hwarin’s martial prowess—they hadn’t felt it for themselves.

So it was no surprise that many doubted whether his martial skill was real.

If Yong Hwarin could clearly demonstrate his strength and instill confidence in them, it would serve as a great boon in the upcoming war with the Daebyeol Sect alliance.

Just knowing that there was a master capable of Sword Unification behind them would erase the fear of defeat.

That was what the Greatest Sword Under Heaven was pointing out.

He had said it was because others didn’t believe in his strength, but in truth, it was all for Yong Hwarin’s sake.

“I understand. I will follow your will, Elder.”

“Young brother, if I win, from now on, you’ll have to call me ‘Older Brother.’ If you win, you can call me whatever you like.”

“You’re proposing an impossible wager.”

“That’s how the world works. The strong always come out ahead.”

“I understand. But I’ll also show you that even those without strength live for the sake of miracles.”

“Good. I look forward to it.”

When word spread that Yong Hwarin would be dueling with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven, every disciple of the Heavenly Central Sect swarmed to the training ground in an instant.

Yong Hwarin thought to himself that this was perfect.

Surely among the crowd were spies dispatched by the Daebyeol Sect alliance.

His plan was to demonstrate true martial strength to keep them from acting rashly.

From the start, Zhao Qiansheng displayed Sword Unification.

Srrrng!

The sword slid out of its scabbard on its own and floated lightly into the air, drawing gasps from the onlookers.

“It’s Sword Unification!”

Srring!

Right after, Yong Hwarin’s White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword also slipped from its sheath and rose into the sky.

“Look at that! The Young Sect Leader is also using Sword Unification!”

“To think someone like that is our Young Sect Leader!”

The crowd trembled with emotion.

“Let’s see just what level you’re at.”

Zhao Qiansheng spoke, and Yong Hwarin replied.

“It won’t be easy.”

At Zhao Qiansheng’s gesture, the steel sword transformed rapidly and launched an attack at Yong Hwarin.

In response, the floating White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword clashed against the steel blade.

Jjjjjzzzhang!

A thunderous roar rang out as the two swords collided fiercely, sending shockwaves through the surroundings.

“Not bad at all!”

Excited, Zhao Qiansheng increased the speed of his steel sword.

Yong Hwarin responded by channeling the energy of Thunderous Lightning Formation into his Sword Unification.

Kwoooroom!

Blue lightning qi burst forth in all directions under the bright daylight.

There was no better visual effect than this.

The two swords moved brilliantly in mid-air as if held in hand, executing complex techniques and colliding again and again.

The spectators, entranced, found themselves applauding involuntarily; some couldn’t tear their eyes away and let out gasps of awe.

Even after a lifetime roaming Murim, it was rare to encounter a master who could perform Sword Unification.

A duel between such masters was something not even dreamed of.

That was why the Sword Debate of the Three Externals had become a must-see duel for every martial artist before they died.

But now they were witnessing a duel of that very caliber unfold before their eyes, and some were moved to tears.

“To think he’s reached this level with Sword Unification—truly incredible. It must be thanks to the dragon’s qi he carries. But… I bet he hasn’t reached dual Sword Unification yet.”

Zhao Qiansheng extended his remaining hand, and from the scabbard of a Heavenly Central Sect warrior watching the duel, a steel sword flew out and into Zhao Qiansheng’s hand. He then slowly walked toward Yong Hwarin.

Yong Hwarin responded by stretching his remaining hand toward Mo Biyoung. As expected, her sword snapped into his hand with a clack.

“What the—? Is he seriously going to fight with one sword using Sword Unification and the other in his hand? Is that even possible?”

People could no longer view these two as mere humans, given the unimaginable way they dueled.

Now holding a second sword, both began exchanging attacks directly by hand.

Yong Hwarin unleashed the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword, pouring qi into it without reservation.

KRROOOM! KRAAANG!

Each clash of their swords echoed like thunder and lit up the sky with flashes of light.

“Ahahahaha! The Greatest Sword of the Central Plains and the Greatest Sword of the Continent should’ve seen this! If those bastards saw this, they’d probably bite their tongues in shock!”

Zhao Qiansheng was delighted to see Yong Hwarin performing Sword Unification so masterfully.

Above their heads, the two floating swords continued to clash with dazzling techniques. Below, the steel swords in their hands struck and parried fiercely.

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

Hundreds of spectators were watching this spectacle, and not a single one could look away.

Two days after the duel with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven, Nan Myeonggwak came to see Yong Hwarin.

“Young Master Yong, we’re short on labor. We’ve got more guests than we can handle, and the number of pavilions keeps increasing, but there’s no one to do the work. We’ve already hired as many as we could from nearby villages, but it’s nowhere near enough. And since we only hire those with verified backgrounds, the numbers just don’t add up.”

At those words, Yong Hwarin suddenly remembered people he had completely forgotten about.

“Don’t worry too much. In a few days, many will come.”

As Nan Myeonggwak looked at him, puzzled by his cryptic response, a guard martial artist rushed over to Yong Hwarin to report.

“Young Sect Leader! A group who appear to be refugees are outside the front gate asking to see you!”

At that, Yong Hwarin gave a soft smile.

“Perfect timing. These are the people I was talking about. They were supposed to arrive a day or two ago—it seems they were delayed. Come with me.”