Chapter 121: Yama King vs. Sword God. -03
Ban Hojin’s single sword strike cleaved through the air.
An invisible slash split everything in its path and shot forward at trendous speed toward Namgung Ho.
Startled by the overwhelming force, Namgung Ho snapped back to his senses and reflexively thrust out his sword.
It was to block the oncoming strike from Ban Hojin.
Tuuuung!
Soon, Ban Hojin’s sword strike and Namgung Ho’s single thrust collided in midair.
Yet unlike Ban Hojin, who remained completely unshaken, Namgung Ho’s Sword Domain wavered violently.
The very space under Namgung Ho’s dominion had trembled from a single strike.
There was only one thing that could an, and Namgung Ho’s pupils shook fiercely.
“Chaah!”
At the sa ti, Namgung Ho kicked off the ground.
He, who had not taken a single step since the spar began, was now the first to charge at Ban Hojin.
Ban Hojin could not possibly miss the aning behind that, and as he watched Namgung Ho rush toward him, he grinned.
Ssaeaeaeak!
Namgung Ho, too, understood the aning of that smile.
He still could not believe it, nor could he fully comprehend it, but swords and instincts did not lie.
Knowing that this mont was reality and not a dream, Namgung Ho swung his sword with a markedly different expression than before.
The composure that had filled him monts ago had now vanished completely.
Kuaaaang!
A heavy and massive sword strike descended with enough force to split Ban Hojin in two.
Moreover, the only thing Ban Hojin had to deal with was not Namgung Ho’s sword strike.
He also had to contend with the domain that moved centered around Namgung Ho.
As Namgung Ho moved, so too did the space he controlled, forcing Ban Hojin to concentrate with every fiber of his being.
‘Left.’
Even as he wielded the Changcheon Sword, Namgung Ho continuously manipulated his Formless Energy.
Within his domain, he was no different from a king, and he assaulted Ban Hojin without pause.
Unfortunately, not a single one of those attacks touched Ban Hojin’s body.
Though invisible to the naked eye and thus threatening to others, he had chosen the wrong opponent.
Having returned to the past and regained a youthful body, Ban Hojin’s already sharp senses had beco even more acute.
And unlike Namgung Ho, who had little experience fighting warriors of similar realms, Ban Hojin had fought countless tis.
Not sparring matches or practice bouts, but battles to the death.
Namgung Ho might believe his experience was overwhelming, but that was nothing more than his own delusion.
Sseuseuk!
Ban Hojin proved that fact with his sword.
With a single slash, he split apart the very space that Namgung Ho perfectly dominated around himself.
The absolute domain that blocked or deflected any attack.
“Huh!”
Though it could not be seen with the naked eye, the clearly felt rift in space made Namgung Ho gasp in shock.
He simply could not believe it, even as he perceived it.
But it was too soon to be astonished.
With successive slashes raining down, his space was torn apart as if being ruthlessly shredded.
Jiiik! Jiik!
With a sound like silk being ripped, Namgung Ho’s Sword Domain split rcilessly.
From outside Namgung Ho’s domain, Ban Hojin unleashed a relentless wave offensive.
Yet despite having found a thod to break through in that brief instant, Ban Hojin’s expression was not particularly good.
It was true that he had gained the upper hand, but that did not an he held an overwhelming advantage.
‘As expected, my Inner Energy is lacking. If this becos a prolonged fight, I’ll be at a disadvantage.’
Though consuming wild ginseng had greatly increased his Inner Energy, it was still far inferior to Namgung Ho’s.
Thus, Ban Hojin adjusted his stance.
He had seen enough of Namgung Ho’s sword. Now he intended to settle it.
“Haaap!”
Namgung Ho seed to sense it as well, gathering all his strength into a single point.
Soon, Ban Hojin’s sword and Namgung Ho’s Changcheon Sword collided in midair.
Kwaaaang!
With a thunderous roar, a blinding light of milky white and golden radiance filled the training grounds and shot up into the sky.
At the sa ti, a trendous explosion swept across the surroundings.
The clash of power against power had triggered a terrifying detonation.
And the victor was decided.
Thud. Thuk.
As befitting a decisive, all-or-nothing clash, it took quite so ti for the aftershock to settle.
Clods of earth that had soared high into the sky and shattered stones rained down, and the dust cloud gradually cleared.
Then the figures of the two n slowly ca into view.
Both stood in the posture of having thrust out their swords, but their conditions were starkly different.
Ban Hojin appeared immaculate, while Namgung Ho’s clothes were torn in several places.
Ban Hojin had completely blocked the explosion that followed the collision, whereas Namgung Ho had not.
“…….”
Still holding his sword out, Namgung Ho slowly lowered his head and looked down at his chest.
More precisely, at the left side.
Seeing the sharply cut mark, Namgung Ho swallowed dryly without realizing it.
“I believe I’ve sufficiently demonstrated my skill. So I shall take my leave.”
To Namgung Ho, who rely stared at the cut portion in silence, Ban Hojin spoke indifferently and turned around.
The spar was over, so he was leaving.
It had never been a match he wanted in the first place, and without waiting for Namgung Ho’s response, Ban Hojin leapt away.
Whiiiiiing.
Left alone in the devastated training grounds, Namgung Ho slowly lifted his head.
Staring at the place where Ban Hojin had stood just monts ago, he let out a deep sigh.
He wished to cast off the shock and fear filling his mind with that sigh, but unfortunately, that was impossible.
“How can this… make sense?”
With a blank expression, Namgung Ho muttered.
The outco was completely different from what he had expected, and the situation felt like a dream.
But the cold wind brushing his skin and the trembling in his right hand gripping the sword clearly told him that all of this was reality.
“……If we had gone all the way, would I have won?”
The haze in his eyes quickly cleared.
By all appearances, it was his defeat.
But what if Ban Hojin’s blade cutting his garnt was all there was?
If it had not been intentional, and he had only barely managed to graze the left side of his chest, then the outco had not truly been decided.
Of course, that might have been a forced justification.
Considering Ban Hojin’s attitude, it had not been luck that cut near his chest.
“No. Considering his age… considering our difference in seniority… it was my complete defeat.”
Namgung Ho soon shook his head.
He felt that making pitiful excuses would only be more shaful.
A true man had to acknowledge what must be acknowledged.
Even if it was sothing so astonishing as to leave one in shock.
“It wasn’t that he was a candidate for the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven—he was already one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.”
Once he frankly admitted his defeat, Namgung Ho understood why Ban Hojin had not been particularly pleased with the epithet Divine Dragon.
When he was worthy even of a king’s title, tying him together with Rising Juniors would naturally irritate him.
Of course, in reality Ban Hojin had no particular thoughts about it, but Namgung Ho reached that conclusion on his own and let out a faint chuckle.
At the sa ti, he stopped hesitating any further.
“I must bring him in.”
In truth, until just monts ago, he had hesitated slightly.
He knew Ban Hojin was extraordinary, but to him his daughter was a treasure.
Before being the Family Head of the Namgung Family, he was also a father.
That was why he had wavered, even if only a little—but not anymore.
“Absolutely.”
He had hesitated before eting Ban Hojin, but now he did not.
Thus, Namgung Ho’s eyes glead as he looked toward the direction where Ban Hojin had disappeared.
Seonwu Cheong looked at the son seated before him with a beaming smile.
Simply watching him made his heart full, and laughter rose naturally.
“Hohohoho! To think the day would co when my son would be called the Sword Dragon!”
“It’s embarrassing.”
“Hah! Embarrassing? You should be proud!”
Seonwu Cheong’s voice was far louder than usual as he grinned.
Seonwu Bang might have felt shy, but he did not.
Seeing his son beco one of the strongest among the Rising Juniors filled Seonwu Cheong with imnse pride.
Seonwu Bang had achieved the dream he himself had never been able to fulfill.
“It’s not over yet. In a way, this is just the beginning.”
“That’s a good mindset. Gaining the title of dragon isn’t the end. Experts in Jianghu are as nurous as grains of sand. You may stand out among the Rising Juniors, but in the grand scope of the world, it isn’t that extraordinary. Even so, I am proud of you. You’ve worked truly hard. And thank you for achieving what I could not.”
“No. Honestly, I didn’t do much. I just kept working as I always have. The reason I’ve reached this point is thanks to Hojin.”
“He had quite an influence.”
Seonwu Cheong nodded.
He, too, acknowledged that Ban Hojin’s influence had played a major role in his son’s transformation.
In a sense, while he had given birth to Seonwu Bang, it was Ban Hojin who had raised him.
“If Hojin hadn’t reached out his hand to , I wouldn’t be who I am now.”
“All the more reason you must treat him well. It’s not enough to just feel that way in your heart. You must express it. Ah, perhaps I should give him a gift.”
“For reference, Hojin has an enormous amount of money. The wealth he gained from subjugating the Dark Moon Sect is trendous.”
“I-Is that so?”
Seonwu Cheong stamred.
The financial situation of the Seonwu Family was not poor, but neither was it abundant.
As such, he abandoned the idea of giving spending money as a token of sincerity.
“I’ve earned quite a bit myself as well. Of course, the greatest gain was experience. All sorts of experiences have helped trendously. Joun, Cheok, and I-ryong constantly stimulate as well.”
“I’ve heard quite a bit. I hear there are many youngsters who want to be chosen by Young Master Ban.”
“You’d be even more surprised if you saw it yourself.”
Seonwu Bang let out a small laugh.
Quite a number of people had subtly asked him how they might receive Ban Hojin’s selection.
So even went beyond asking and tried to entice him with money.
Begging to be allowed to join.
“I’m already more than surprised. Not just you, but all of them are remarkably skilled. It wouldn’t be easy to gather such people intentionally.”
“But the one who stands out the most is Hojin. He’s my goal, actually… though I don’t know if I can reach it. Still, I intend to try as far as I can.”
“To that extent?”
“Yes. What’s known about him is only the tip of the iceberg.”
Seonwu Bang spoke in a firm tone.
Everyone evaluated Ban Hojin as a future mber of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.
But that was said out of ignorance.
Ban Hojin was not a future mber—he was already one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.
‘If that beca known, every martial artist in Murim would be shocked.’
Though ranked at the lowest seat, Danwi was undeniably one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.
And Ban Hojin had defeated such a man without difficulty.
Recalling the shock of that day, Seonwu Bang wore a faint smile.
“You would know best, being his friend. But life is sothing one cannot know until the mont of death. No one knows what may happen. So you must simply work hard and persist steadily.”
“Of course. That’s exactly what I learned from you, Father.”
“Hahaha!”
Seonwu Cheong burst into hearty laughter.
Even if it was flattery, it felt good.
“The problem is that Hojin—and the others—work incredibly hard as well.”
“Yet you’ve already risen this far, haven’t you? Just continue as you are. Then one day, you’ll find yourself where you wish to be.”
“Yes.”
“Ahem! More importantly, there is sothing I wish to ask you.”
Seonwu Bang tilted his head.
Unlike usual, his father seed to be watching his reaction.
That struck Seonwu Bang as strange.
“What is it?”
“Ahem! What do you think of the eldest daughter of the Hebei Peng Family?”
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