Chapter 119: Yama King vs Sword God -01
Only a single oil lamp was casting light in the spacious room.
Amid the flickering glow that swayed like it was dancing with the wind, as if it might go out at any mont, a middle-aged man with a dignified impression was sitting alone.
“Greetings.”
“There is no need for to introduce myself, is there?”
“Yes.”
In this life, it was their first eting, but in their previous life, they had fought across battlefields together.
That was why Ban Hojin was able to recognize Namgung Ho at a glance.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
With a short reply, Ban Hojin sat down without showing the slightest sign of tension.
At the sight of Ban Hojin like that, a strange light flickered in Namgung Ho’s eyes.
No matter how outstanding a rising junior was, one would inevitably grow tense when facing him, yet Ban Hojin showed none of that.
Rather, he was openly giving off an air of annoyance.
“It seems you are not pleased about being summoned at this hour.”
“If there had been a normal reason, I would not have been invited at this hour.”
“As you know, I have been busy preparing for my son’s wedding. You could say I have only now managed to find so spare ti.”
“Is that so.”
He answered, but he did not particularly agree.
He knew well that all of that was nothing more than an excuse.
If he truly wished to, it would not have been difficult at all for Namgung Ho to make a brief mont of ti.
Knowing that, Ban Hojin replied crookedly.
“It seems you do not believe .”
“Is that not the case?”
“Ha ha ha.”
Hearing of Ban Hojin’s bold personality just as rumored, Namgung Ho burst into laughter.
However, he did not think him arrogant.
If what he was seeing now was accurate, Ban Hojin had more than enough qualification to display such an attitude before him.
For one, he had already proven his existence to Murim by defeating the Green Forest Great Lord.
‘But he is too much.’
Namgung Ho’s clear eyes turned toward Ban Hojin.
He was known by the epithet Yama King (閻王) because he rendered cold and precise judgnts regardless of who stood before him.
It was a nickna given because he judged as sharply as King Yama of the underworld.
Yet with Ban Hojin before him, it was not easy to maintain that composure.
‘A gap of this degree cannot be closed in a short period of ti.’
Namgung Gwang was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses.
But Ban Hojin was a master capable of lightly pressing down even such a Namgung Gwang.
Moreover, they were the sa age.
Even though he had known it in theory, seeing it in person left his heart unsettled.
Namgung Gwang was a peerless genius, yet Ban Hojin surpassed even that.
Furthermore, the problem was that he could not feel certain that Namgung Gwang would be able to catch up to Ban Hojin.
‘It would be fortunate if he stagnated as he is now, but that will not happen.’
Upon reaching a certain realm, one’s rate of growth would gradually slow.
That was the general and normal phenonon.
But the important point was that even if it slowed, growth still continued.
In other words, although the gap might narrow, it would take a great deal of ti for Namgung Gwang to catch up to Ban Hojin.
‘…Perhaps he may never surpass him in his lifeti.’
Even he himself, from birth until the day he beca the head of the Namgung Family, had always been called a genius and a prodigy.
Yet even so, he had not beco the Best Under Heaven.
He had been counted among the three strongest of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, but he had not risen to the seat of the absolute strongest, the very best.
Of course, personally, he believed he could defeat the other two if they fought, but the possibility of defeat had not been entirely nonexistent.
Thus, he was sincerely concerned.
It was because the thought had occurred to him that Namgung Gwang, too, might fail to rise to the position of Best Under Heaven.
‘To prevent that….’
In that instant, Namgung Ho was startled out of his thoughts.
A thought utterly disgraceful had arisen in his mind.
Of course, as a person—indeed, as a father—such a thought could naturally occur.
But at the very least, he must never act upon it.
‘If nowhere else, the great Namgung Family must not do such a thing.’
Moreover, he was a martial artist called the Yama King for rendering cold judgnts.
All the more reason he must not commit such a deed.
Yet the mont his thoughts reached that point, sothing else flashed across his mind.
‘As expected, that may be the only way.’
If he could not remove him, then embracing him was also one thod.
If he could not defeat him, then befriending him—as the saying went—if surpassing him was impossible, then becoming family was not a bad option.
He had already laid so groundwork, to a certain extent.
Clink.
While Namgung Ho was lost in his thoughts, Ban Hojin picked up the teapot on his own and poured himself so tea.
It had cooled just enough, so there was no need to ignite Sammaejinhwa to heat it.
As if to boast that this was the Namgung Family, the tea was Longjing Tea, but being from Shaolin did not an he was ignorant of the taste of fine tea.
“My apologies. I did not even pour the tea for you.”
“It is fine.”
“There seems to be a barb in your words.”
“Is there?”
Ban Hojin neither denied nor affird it.
Instead, he quietly sipped his tea.
Namgung Ho thought he was managing his expression, but unfortunately, Ban Hojin knew exactly what he had been thinking.
Including why he had summoned him at this hour.
“It is late, so I will not add unnecessary words. I summoned you because I wished to et you in person at least once.”
“Is that so.”
“You truly are not surprised.”
“Should I be?”
“There is no particular need.”
He had felt it from the beginning, but Namgung Ho beca certain once more.
Ban Hojin was not tense in the slightest while facing him.
Even the distinguished figures of Jianghu would freeze before the Yama King, yet Ban Hojin did not.
He remained composed from start to finish.
“Then have you finished your business with ?”
“What do you think?”
“It seems you have sufficiently done so.”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Would it not be stranger not to notice?”
Ban Hojin spoke his thoughts aloud boldly, and at that sight, Namgung Ho ford a subtle smile.
It was because he found him bold yet gutsy.
In another sense, it was also an expression of confidence.
And soone at Ban Hojin’s level had every right to be confident.
‘Rather, it is impressive that he does not act arrogant.’
To speak frankly, if his son Namgung Gwang had reached Ban Hojin’s level, he would have surely behaved as though the world lay beneath his feet.
Strutting about with all manner of conceit.
In contrast, though Ban Hojin was bold, he was not arrogant.
“May I leave now?”
“It has not even been a dayang since you sat down.”
“Have you not already finished what you wished to do?”
“Hm. Do you perhaps hold so ill feeling toward ?”
Namgung Ho tilted his head.
This treatnt was a first for him, and it felt both fresh and amusing.
Most people tried by any ans to et him or wished to exchange even a single word with him, yet Ban Hojin was the complete opposite.
Rather, he seed eager to leave this 자리 as soon as possible.
“I do not.”
“Then why are you in such a hurry to part?”
“Conversely, is there any reason for to remain here?”
“From your position, you might think so. You have no interest whatsoever in Gwang or my twin daughters. I suppose the sa applies to .”
“Yes.”
Ban Hojin did not bother to deny it.
He knew well that Namgung Ho was not the type to hold grudges.
And he had no desire to be led about according to Namgung Ho’s intentions.
He had responded to the invitation to prevent sothing more troubleso, not to curry favor with Namgung Ho.
“Still, is that not too honest? You did not even hesitate.”
“I am not the type to leave unnecessary room.”
“You certainly have spirit.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“Which brings to sothing. I have grown curious. About your ability.”
Shuuaaaat!
Watching Ban Hojin rise from his seat, Namgung Ho grinned.
But the aura flowing from his entire body was by no ans friendly.
An overwhelming force instantly swallowed the surroundings and pressed down on Ban Hojin.
“So this was the true point after all.”
“Did you expect it?”
Even though Namgung Ho had revealed his aura, Ban Hojin did not show the slightest sign of surprise.
Rather, he seed calm, as though he had anticipated it.
“If it were not this, there would be no reason to summon at this hour.”
“But is there any reason for you to dislike it? I do not an to boast, but there are quite a few martial artists who would dearly wish to cross swords with .”
“They are not the sa as I am.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
In other words, he had no interest whatsoever.
That was both unfamiliar and intriguing to Namgung Ho.
He was far too different from ordinary rising juniors.
In particular, his indifferent expression further provoked him.
“Being forceful would not reflect well on you either, Family Head.”
“The backing of Shaolin is certainly burdenso even to . Moreover, are you not the Abbot’s disciple? Yet from what I see, you do not seem the type to hide behind your master or your background.”
“Well, that is true.”
Though he had not revealed his full strength, Namgung Ho was still releasing enough pressure that most mid-generation masters would not even be able to breathe properly.
Yet Ban Hojin’s expression remained completely composed.
As though he were not affected in the slightest.
At that sight, Namgung Ho gradually increased his aura.
“Therefore, let us exchange swords once. Is it not said that a swordsman speaks with his sword?”
“It seems you have omitted too many steps in between.”
“That sounds like you are indirectly calling forceful.”
“That is correct.”
Namgung Ho let out a faint chuckle.
If one looked only at the conversation, it almost seed as though he were the one pleading.
At the sa ti, however, a strange feeling arose within him.
A sudden thought occurred that what he had seen might not be everything.
“I cannot deny it. But to speak honestly, I am curious. I do not believe what I have seen is all there is. And I would also like to see the sword of the Divine Dragon.”
“The Divine Dragon, hm.”
“It seems you are not particularly fond of that epithet?”
Seeing Ban Hojin’s lukewarm expression, Namgung Ho found it curious.
He had felt it earlier, but Ban Hojin was far removed from typical rising juniors.
At the sa ti, he recalled when Namgung Gwang had first obtained the epithet Heavenly Dragon.
At that ti, his son had worn an expression as though he possessed the entire world, yet Ban Hojin was the complete opposite.
“In the first place, it is rare to obtain the epithet one desires. If you wish, let us go outside.”
“Heh heh. So you accept?”
“Yes.”
At Ban Hojin’s manner of speaking, which naturally seized the initiative, Namgung Ho let out a hollow laugh.
Since being called the Yama King, he had never received such treatnt before. Feeling unfamiliar sensations, he followed Ban Hojin outside.
They then headed to his personal training grounds, where no one could interfere.
“In this place, we can exchange swords at ease. I took care in constructing it.”
“Is that so.”
“You seem unconvinced.”
“That is not the case.”
Maintaining his consistently indifferent attitude, Ban Hojin watched as Namgung Ho smirked and drew his sword.
As the Changcheon Sword, a divine blade passed down only to the head of the Namgung Family and long renowned throughout Jianghu, slowly revealed itself from its scabbard, the atmosphere of the training grounds changed entirely.
In an instant, a chilling aura descended upon the grounds.
Srrrng.
Unlike the Changcheon Sword, which erged silently from its scabbard, Ban Hojin’s beloved sword revealed itself with a clear, resonant sound.
As the beloved sword, rejuvenated along with Ban Hojin’s return to the past, appeared, Namgung Ho ford a subtle smile.
“It is a fine sword, but it does not seem to suit you.”
“A true master does not choose his tools.”
“That is true. However, if two possess similar skill, surely you know that the one with the superior weapon holds the advantage.”
“This is sufficient for .”
At Ban Hojin’s bold reply once more, Namgung Ho shook his head slowly.
Then he raised his sword and pointed it toward Ban Hojin.
Whoooong!
At that mont, a pressure of an entirely different dinsion bore down upon Ban Hojin.
Though he had rely leveled his sword, an imnse sword pressure erupted forth.
‘To begin with the Emperor’s Sword Form, hm.’
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