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“What are you punks doing here? Do you even know this is the Namgung Clan?”

Jin So-cheong strode towards the entrance of the Namgung Clan, spear in hand, naturally drawing everyone’s attention. A couple of guard warriors flinched and pulled out their weapons.

The head gatekeeper, sporting wild tiger-like eyes, glared at Jin So-cheong.

“I know what your name is!”

“Yeah, I’m fully aware of that.”

“You look like a wandering hero who knows a bit of martial arts, so beat it! This isn’t a place for riffraff.”

Upon hearing that warning, the guard warriors nearby chuckled; they probably believed their threats usually made opponents back off. Because really, no one in their right mind would start a brawl at the Namgung Clan’s entrance.

But they were out of luck. It was just me and Jin So-cheong here, and he had zero intentions of playing nice. Breathing deeply, he asked, “Is Namgung Myeong inside?”

In an instant, the guard warriors’ expressions changed. What they had considered a prank was now met with cold killing intent.

“How dare you speak our clan leader’s name!”

“Grab him—!”

Boom! Jin So-cheong’s Thunder Spirit Seal erupted from his left hand, sweeping across the area. Five out of six guard warriors were sent flying three paces back, crashing to the ground and going out cold. Normally, it could scorch their upper bodies, but he had dialed it back a bit.

The guard captain looked utterly confused at what was happening, stumbling backward in shock.

“Who are you?!”

“I asked whether Namgung Myeong is inside.”

“C—Clan leader is…”

He darted his panicked eyes around, but before he could do much else, Jin So-cheong charged in and kicked him.

Smack! “Ugh!”

The guard captain flew off with one kick and hit the floor out cold, and Jin So-cheong coldly muttered, “Asking gets results!”

With that, he sheathed his spear again, thinking it was like using a cow-killing knife for chicken back against these guards.

“…”

I followed him in disbelief, saying, “You really think storming in like this is a good idea?!”

This was not the kind of frontal assault I had in mind. There should’ve been some negotiations with the experts of Namgung Clan involved. I even thought of bringing Namgung Hwan into play, but this felt too reckless.

“Trust me on this.”

“This is downright insane.”

Grumbling, I trekked behind Jin So-cheong as we walked towards the entrance of the Namgung Clan, catching a glimpse of the scene ahead.

“Looks like the show has started.”

Swoosh! Arrows began raining down from all directions. Apparently, news of the earlier chaos had reached those inside, prompting bow-wielding warriors to join the fray. You’d expect swordsmen in a place like Namgung Clan, but they seemed to deploy archers for outer security, knowing arrows were way more efficient against outsiders.

Jin So-cheong didn’t even glance at the hundreds of arrows flying towards him; he dodged them like it was child’s play. He performed a maneuver called the Ground-impact Technique, sending stones from the ground flying into the air, powered by his internal energy, then he flicked his fingers lightly.

Thud! “Ugh.”

“Ah.”

The stone hit an archer squarely, giving him a concussion. It was impressive how he could shoot from such a distance like that. With a wave of his hand and a flicker of the Soul Removal Technique, he wiped out the entire squad of archers in under ten seconds.

“You brat!! “

“Die!”

And just like that, a horde of Namgung Clan swordsmen rushed out from somewhere, charging at Jin So-cheong. They looked stronger than the guards and archers, possibly approaching the first-class level in martial arts.

But Jin So-cheong had already trampled over first-class experts before. He charged forward, filling his sleeves with internal energy, and slapped the first three attackers effortlessly, without breaking stride.

Bam! “Just you alone?”

“Bring it!”

Pow! “Wait, hold on…”

Nothing could stop Jin So-cheong. Warriors flew through the air as they screamed.

In a matter of fifty paces, dozens of warriors attempted to attack, yet they stood no chance against his barrage of punches. Their sword techniques barely even grazed him. Occasionally, there were a few who tried to strike using mind control techniques, but they instantly got knocked out cold.

With the last warrior collapsing, Jin So-cheong reached the large iron gate.

He turned to me and said, “This is the end of the Namgung Clan’s outer perimeter; now we begin the internal war.”

At that point, I didn’t need to lend a hand. The overwhelming nature of his fighting made my involvement unnecessary. Secretly disappointed by the Namgung Clan’s level of skill, I remarked, “Will there be anyone decent coming out?”

“You’ll have to ask the one behind the door.”

Jin So-cheong slowly raised his hand towards the firmly shut iron door. Moments later, he filled the air with his energy and executed the powerful technique.

Bang! “Woah!”

In the next instant, two huge iron doors burst wide open, and the warriors of Namgung Clan waiting behind them howled in terror. Even a dozen men would struggle to lift those doors, yet he just blew them away with a single kick!

Jin So-cheong burst inside, his fists flying once again. There were about a hundred warriors waiting on the other side, but with one punch from him, five of them went soaring through the air.

Crash! “Ah!”

“Mother!”

As he fought enthusiastically, I stood with my arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold, muttering to myself, “What a spectacle.”

Jin So-cheong had yet to show even half of his true power, and already fifty were sprawled out cold. Practically, the Namgung Clan was supposed to be a great clan, possessing plenty of low to mid-level warriors, but they were no match for him. If Jin So-cheong had used his spear, this place would surely be a bloodbath by now.

Then it happened.

“Sky Team, Special Investigative Team! Surround them!!”

From the back gate, dozens of people dressed in blue clothes surged to Jin So-cheong’s left, while a group in red flanked to the right. Realizing he was being boxed in, Jin So-cheong momentarily hesitated.

The martial artists commanding the encirclement walked out from the back, and they were all middle-aged men with significant strength.

“You don’t know who you’re messing with. I’ll turn this into your grave in the name of the Eight Swords of Namgung!”

The Eight Swords of Namgung! They were the eight peak experts known throughout the martial world! Renowned for their tremendous skills honed over decades in the sub-clan.

And the Sky Team and Special Investigative Team were also formidable. They amounted to thirty to forty warriors, all shaping their poses sternly. Individual martial prowess might seem weaker than the eight masters, but they were still on the verge of achieving peak expert status. They were an intimidating power that could shake the martial world.

I was trapped with Jin So-cheong in their encirclement, but bizarrely, I felt no fear. Clearly, Jin So-cheong felt the same way as he calmly told me, “Baek Woong. If you just watch, things will be over quickly.”

“You bet.”

Then one of the elder masters of the Eight Swords growled in disbelief, “You lunatics! Watching? Let’s see your insides!”

Swish! In the blink of an eye, the encircling Sky Team and Special Investigative Team rushed forward. Their sword techniques carried the weight of Namgung Clan training, the air around us thick with murderous intent.

But instead of watching the enemies, I focused on Jin So-cheong, realizing one particular fact.

Wait, huh?

Jin So-cheong still hadn’t drawn his spear.

Whack! Jin So-cheong’s punch shot out like a beam of light, hitting three members of the Sky Team’s chin. In the split second they hung in the air, he moved with famous Thunder Shadow, and multiple shadow-like movements flew at the attackers. Each movement was brutally efficient.

In that surreal moment, all attacks were nullified, and Jin So-cheong’s body drew back into place, as if he had engulfed the Thunder Shadow.

“What the…?!”

Time seemed frozen. The experts from both teams had been rushing toward him, but now they stood utterly still. Moments later, they began to tremble, blood spewing from their mouths.

“Ack!”

Crash! The martial artists of the Sky Team and Special Investigative Team fell forward, shrieking. Many were out cold without even a chance to scream. Remarkably, every expert within a fifteen-pace radius fell to Jin So-cheong’s decisive strike.

What just happened? Did anyone else see that?

The Eight Swords members struggled to comprehend their predicament, their expressions stuck in shock. But they were still peak experts and exceptionally powerful beings revered in Jianghu. They straightened their swords and formed a defensive perimeter once again around Jin So-cheong.

“Uninvited guest. Draw your weapon.”

The leader of the Eight Swords, stroking his white beard, spoke with venom. There was a mix of determination, anxiety, and rage in his eyes.

“Can’t you hear? Draw your weapon.”

They recognized Jin So-cheong reserved the spear as his primary weapon and that they had grossly underestimated him.

“Hmph.”

Jin So-cheong didn’t respond; instead, he tightened his fist. It seemed he intended to fight with nothing but his bare hands. Watching him, I thought it was reckless even if he was a madman.

‘Come on, they’re peak experts!’

Even I wasn’t confident about sweeping all of them out in one go. Even landing a flurry of internal energy strikes wouldn’t easily break through their formidable alignment. I once had to maximize my energy to take down six of Zhongnan Sect’s elders with my blade. I wondered if the original Jin So-cheong could stand against the Eight Swords with only his fists.

But his resolve was unshakeable. Jin So-cheong’s determination never wavered as the Eight Swords began to heat things up.

A moment later, they charged, enhancing their blades with the fierce blue flame.

Blue flames swirled around them!

Each of them appeared to wield skills reaching Jin Pyeong’s level, their amazing sword flames flickering into an aggressive formation. The sight was downright terrifying. If I had been in Jin So-cheong’s place, I would have been worried and would’ve dodged using the Soul Removal Technique.

But instead of evading, Jin So-cheong pressed his hands together in a prayer position. He took a gentle step forward, which sent chills down my spine.

‘Three Steps! The Step of Heaven!’

I realized, having heard this described before. Deep within lay the principles of the Mind Control Technique.

At that very moment, Jin So-cheong stepped down—the transformation was visceral. I blinked, watching three of the Eight Swords fall over, as if their strings had been cut. It all happened in an instant! I couldn’t follow the movements with my eyes; Jin So-cheong’s speed was utterly surreal.

Impressively, even after dropping three, he still appeared more than ready to continue. He took another step, grabbing the wrist of one elder trying to slash down at him and flinging him into another’s oncoming blade!

Clash! “Ugh!”

Two members of the Eight Swords screamed in unison as Jin So-cheong crashed them together, forcing the blade to cross against them. One of the caught elders struggled to escape, but it was futile; for a moment, he inadvertently crashed blades with his own partner.

Jin So-cheong wielded a sword while striking like a peak expert!

“Enough!”

“Stop this!”

They howled in outrage, but Jin So-cheong ignored their howls, continuing the bizarre skirmish, wrestling the elder towards his comrades, re-launching another attack.

With another hit, the elder flew into the air, raining punches toward the ground.

As six of the Eight Swords fell to his unseen force, the remaining two staggered back, overwhelmed.

Their formation was futile against the brute force Jin So-cheong displayed; his movements eclipsed their reaction times, making their alignment pointless.

“Ugh… monster…”

Bamm! With a straight uppercut to the solar plexus, the one who exclaimed “monster” was sent flying back several paces. He too seemed completely unaware of Jin So-cheong’s attack until it was too late.

The last two soon fell five seconds after. They threw frantically kindled sword flames, yet they couldn’t even graze Jin So-cheong’s cloak. In mere moments, all eight of the Eight Swords lay defeated, and Jin So-cheong turned to me, saying, “Baek Woong, did you see that?”

“Definitely…!! Perfect!”

“It was a bit rough, but I pushed hard to show you the intricacies of the Three Steps, as it’s easier to learn once you’ve seen it.”

“…”

He didn’t look a bit fatigued! Staring at Jin So-cheong in disbelief, I wondered, “Will a genuine challenger finally come?”

Suddenly, we heard a voice come from behind.

“A formidable master has arrived.”

A middle-aged man with an imposing voice floated in with Kung Fu, flanked by two skilled swordsmen. Jin So-cheong recognized him immediately.

“Long time, no see, Namgung Hwan.”

It was the leader of Namgung Clan, Namgung Myeong, who twitched his eyebrows at Jin So-cheong’s words. A serious-looking man in a white cloak, he seemed to have refined his physique through years of martial discipline.

“Are you Jin So-cheong? What on earth is going on here?”

Indeed, as Jin So-cheong stormed into the Namgung Clan, the illustrious king of swords, Namgung Myeong, appeared! Having intertwined lives prior, Namgung Myeong found his current position utterly baffling.

Yet Jin So-cheong’s reply silenced the onlookers once more.

“Shut up and come at me.”

“What did you say?!”

Jin So-cheong glared, speaking clearly, “You should get hit like a dog for raising your child like a little brat.”

Namgung Myeong’s face reddened with anger at those words, yet Jin So-cheong remained undeterred, emanating a subtle, lethal air.

“If you don’t come, I’ll be forced to.”

With a loud bang, Jin So-cheong dashed toward the sword king, Namgung Myeong, without drawing his spear once again!

“What the hell are you thinking?!”

His technique, Emperor Sword Technique, surged forth in response.

Namgung Myeong entered a trance-like state, channeling his methods in a split-second, unleashing his secret technique, a display of formidable skill known as the Mind Control Technique.

With the Emperor’s Dance unfolding, blue energy encased Namgung Myeong, as his blade morphed into a twisting dragon, unleashing dozens of energy strikes.

Even I doubted my ability to handle that oncoming storm!

“Damn! He saw how the Eight Swords unprepared and got cautious.”

Those concerns sprang to action as Namgung Myeong, an experienced martial artist, sensed Jin So-cheong’s strength and poured every ounce of power he had into this conflict! It would be easier rowing upstream if they relaxed, but here we are, bracing for a bloody brawl!

As I reached for my weapon, intending to jump in, Jin So-cheong launched into motion again, performing the Three Steps while taking on the step of Heaven.

Namgung Myeong’s fierce energy contracted, and as Jin So-cheong stepped further, delivering a single punch, it burst open! Namgung Myeong, caught off guard, left his defense wide open. He moved in again!

 

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