Chapter 94

The Art of Instant Slaying (6)

Nangong Mi once mentioned surrender and persuasion.

This time, the duel that was successfully arranged was special. The disparity in strength was extreme. Apart from four individuals, all were seasoned experts.

Each of them was in a position to teach the younger generation. The bloodbath took on an unusual form.

It meant that the withdrawal of a junior who had already fought a life-or-death battle in this place would not be considered a blemish.

The Changling Flower Master, Nangong Mi, had her intentions there.

However.

At this very moment.

Her younger sister's head falls.

The world seems to close in like a snail.

The light sword (光劍) that brushes past Nangong Mi's body, the neck from which no blood flows, the body that collapses and loses its balance in an instant... The gruesome scene slowly sears into the mind.

If the ones who engaged in battle were Shimae and her sister.

Nangong Sejin, the young master of the Nangong family, thought it could have ended this way.

He did not try to stop it before the duel. It was impossible. Both sides of the renowned martial arts schools had agreed to a life-or-death battle.

If the disparity in strength was not so extreme, honor would have been prioritized over life in such a duel.

A fight with Shimae or Baekgirin.

For Nangong Mi, it was all or nothing.

She was the one who proposed a life-or-death battle where the juniors would fight first.

If she failed to slay Shimae and Baekgirin, she herself would die. She must have known this, even if she did not envision her own defeat.

'So it ends.'

The harsh blade of the martial world fell. The Changling Flower Master could not withstand Shimae's sword, and thus, she died.

The result of the life-or-death battle. Those who surrounded the layered mountains must have known about the life-or-death battle.

But Nangong Mi, as one of the Nine Phoenixes of the Martial World (武林九鳳), was a direct descendant of the Nangong family. No one would have expected her to be killed with a single strike.

The numerous martial heroes present were silent, as if they could not fathom the number of heads.

"..."

The young master was also prepared.

This was the martial world. Death could come unexpectedly. Even a blind sword could approach through death, and such occurrences were not rare.

But perhaps because he was not a good older brother, or because it was harder to bear the sight of his younger sister's death.

The young master suddenly turned his gaze to his father standing beside him.

The head of the Nangong family.

A stern and cold-blooded patriarch. No one in the family dared to approach him.

When Nangong Huashen wanted to leave the main house, he ordered the assassination of the illegitimate son through the swordsmen of the Jianya.

His face now was the same as then. His expression only slightly hardened.

"Young Master."

The Nangong patriarch said.

"Prepare yourself."

"..."

"Yes."

The patriarch's words, as always, were concise.

He was a villain who ignored the Blood Flame Sect's behavior and saw the Nangong family's foundation in his own conscience and his children's lives.

The young master's life was also handled this way. He could not deviate from the path defined by his father's will.

Assisting Nangong Huashen's departure from the main house was perhaps the young master's greatest achievement in life.

"I, this unworthy one, will return."

The young master said.

The patriarch did not respond. He only nodded slightly.

Next after the Changling Flower Master was the young master. He felt the cold, detached gaze of his father, who was about to fight a life-or-death battle.

The young master slowly took a step. His breathing was steady, and he walked towards the boy, Shimae.

Shimae Jeongyeonshin stood calmly with two swords at his waist.

His long robe, similar in color to the Nangong family's blue martial attire, fluttered with a faint scent of blood.

'He is composed.'

The young master thought.

He envied the posture of Jeongyeonshin, who bowed his head slightly. He had spoken to this boy before.

That he, like Taeyeonryong of the Huangbo family, desired freedom.

Shimae already had it. The posture of a martial artist who excelled at a young age was dazzling. It shone brighter than anything in the world.

The young master took a step. To measure his martial skills against the boy.

Thud.

Only then.

The Nangong family's side began to speak. Comments about the duel started to emerge.

While some maintained a solemn silence, many in the family, another martial world, were eagerly waiting for an opportunity.

"The Changling Flower Master..."

"How could this happen? She accurately stepped into the Wu'ai Qingliu Divine Step (無碍淸流神步)."

"An extraordinary stepping technique. The sword technique was also quite destructive."

Some of the family members whispered in dismay. They were mostly young men from the collateral line.

The collateral line outnumbered the direct line. The Nangong family was very large. Many did not react strongly to Nangong Mi's death.

Since the direct line was present, they restrained their words and actions. But it did not happen.

The shock delivered by Shimae of the Yibei City was too intense. To the Nangong family's retainers, Nangong Mi was like a noble royal.

"I didn't expect her to pass away so futilely."

"Futile? It seems her cultivation of the stepping technique was insufficient. It was a lifetime's worth of techniques. Shimae's accumulated life's work was more intense than hers."

"Indeed, he is strong. He is worthy to represent Yibei City."

"But can he match the young master's sword? How many people of his age have refined the Imperial Sword Form to such a degree?"

Their conversation reached Jeongyeonshin's ears. He had heightened his senses to the extreme.

His heightened senses did not easily subside. It felt very good. It should be this way.

'Strong.'

It was because of the young master. He was walking towards him with a straight posture.

His initially relaxed aura seemed to converge and extend like a sword blade. It was a tangible momentum. The sensation of the skin being cut by the air made his hair stand on end.

It was hard to believe he had only recently toured the martial world with this boy. He was not the predestined master of the family.

A swordsman who had honed his skills to the peak. Now, he was an opponent far beyond his match.

The two stood ten steps apart.

"About your younger sister, Ami."

The young master spoke.

"I won't say much. The unworthy child met a rather splendid end as a martial artist... That's enough."

"..."

"You and I... one or both of us might die. This is a place where our lives hang in the balance. I don't see this as a conflict between Nangong and Yibei. It's a life-or-death battle. If I were to die, I don't want to close my eyes like a chess piece."

Soon.

A good-looking man with a kind face smiled heartily.

"I've lived a comfortable life under the shadow of Nangong. It might sound like a complaint, but it was a shackle."

"Indeed, it was."

Jeongyeonshin's short response deepened his smile.

"Even so, I once wanted to break free. They say one can feel freedom in the gap between life and death, but I still wonder if it's true. I want to experience it now. Is it possible with the strength of Shimae of Yibei City?"

It was a provocative question.

Jeongyeonshin did not answer. He had to draw his sword again. This time, he gripped the handle of the Yibei Sword.

Before a major battle, he always did this. Although the Beiming Sword was a famous sword, it was not as familiar to him as the Yibei Sword.

"..."

The clash between Yibei and Nangong. The weight of a life-or-death battle between major sects seemed to loom larger due to Nangong Mi's death.

The crowd surrounding the Qingya Valley was still silent. Occasionally, the wind in the valley blew fiercely.

The aura between the two became denser.

The young master's smile faded.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

There was no referee. It was a world of experts.

Swish.

The two simultaneously drew their swords.

The dry wind teased their hair once and passed. Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt it.

'He has widened the sword's range.'

It was a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against the skin. It happened the moment the young master drew his exquisite sword.

It was an extremely sharp momentum. It was as if an invisible forest of swords had risen, sending shivers down his spine.

It was hard to believe they had toured the martial world together for a short time. He was not the family's predestined master.

A swordsman who had honed his skills to the peak. Now, he was an opponent far beyond his match.

The two stood ten steps apart.

"About your younger sister, Ami."

The young master spoke.

"I won't say much. The unworthy child met a rather splendid end as a martial artist... That's enough."

"..."

"You and I... one or both of us might die. This is a place where our lives hang in the balance. I don't see this as a conflict between Nangong and Yibei. It's a life-or-death battle. If I were to die, I don't want to close my eyes like a chess piece."

Soon.

A good-looking man with a kind face smiled heartily.

"I've lived a comfortable life under the shadow of Nangong. It might sound like a complaint, but it was a shackle."

"Indeed, it was."

Jeongyeonshin's short response deepened his smile.

"Even so, I once wanted to break free. They say one can feel freedom in the gap between life and death, but I still wonder if it's true. I want to experience it now. Is it possible with the strength of Shimae of Yibei City?"

It was a provocative question.

Jeongyeonshin did not answer. He had to draw his sword again. This time, he gripped the handle of the Yibei Sword.

Before a major battle, he always did this. Although the Beiming Sword was a famous sword, it was not as familiar to him as the Yibei Sword.

"..."

The clash between Yibei and Nangong. The weight of a life-or-death battle between major sects seemed to loom larger due to Nangong Mi's death.

The crowd surrounding the Qingya Valley was still silent. Occasionally, the wind in the valley blew fiercely.

The aura between the two became denser.

The young master's smile faded.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

There was no referee. It was a world of experts.

Swish.

The two simultaneously drew their swords.

The dry wind teased their hair once and passed. Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt it.

'He has widened the sword's range.'

It was a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against the skin. It happened the moment the young master drew his exquisite sword.

It was an extremely sharp momentum. It was as if an invisible forest of swords had risen, sending shivers down his spine.

It was hard to believe they had toured the martial world together for a short time. He was not the family's predestined master.

A swordsman who had honed his skills to the peak. Now, he was an opponent far beyond his match.

The two stood ten steps apart.

"About your younger sister, Ami."

The young master spoke.

"I won't say much. The unworthy child met a rather splendid end as a martial artist... That's enough."

"..."

"You and I... one or both of us might die. This is a place where our lives hang in the balance. I don't see this as a conflict between Nangong and Yibei. It's a life-or-death battle. If I were to die, I don't want to close my eyes like a chess piece."

Soon.

A good-looking man with a kind face smiled heartily.

"I've lived a comfortable life under the shadow of Nangong. It might sound like a complaint, but it was a shackle."

"Indeed, it was."

Jeongyeonshin's short response deepened his smile.

"Even so, I once wanted to break free. They say one can feel freedom in the gap between life and death, but I still wonder if it's true. I want to experience it now. Is it possible with the strength of Shimae of Yibei City?"

It was a provocative question.

Jeongyeonshin did not answer. He had to draw his sword again. This time, he gripped the handle of the Yibei Sword.

Before a major battle, he always did this. Although the Beiming Sword was a famous sword, it was not as familiar to him as the Yibei Sword.

"..."

The clash between Yibei and Nangong. The weight of a life-or-death battle between major sects seemed to loom larger due to Nangong Mi's death.

The crowd surrounding the Qingya Valley was still silent. Occasionally, the wind in the valley blew fiercely.

The aura between the two became denser.

The young master's smile faded.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

There was no referee. It was a world of experts.

Swish.

The two simultaneously drew their swords.

The dry wind teased their hair once and passed. Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt it.

'He has widened the sword's range.'

It was a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against the skin. It happened the moment the young master drew his exquisite sword.

It was an extremely sharp momentum. It was as if an invisible forest of swords had risen, sending shivers down his spine.

It was hard to believe they had toured the martial world together for a short time. He was not the family's predestined master.

A swordsman who had honed his skills to the peak. Now, he was an opponent far beyond his match.

The two stood ten steps apart.

"About your younger sister, Ami."

The young master spoke.

"I won't say much. The unworthy child met a rather splendid end as a martial artist... That's enough."

"..."

"You and I... one or both of us might die. This is a place where our lives hang in the balance. I don't see this as a conflict between Nangong and Yibei. It's a life-or-death battle. If I were to die, I don't want to close my eyes like a chess piece."

Soon.

A good-looking man with a kind face smiled heartily.

"I've lived a comfortable life under the shadow of Nangong. It might sound like a complaint, but it was a shackle."

"Indeed, it was."

Jeongyeonshin's short response deepened his smile.

"Even so, I once wanted to break free. They say one can feel freedom in the gap between life and death, but I still wonder if it's true. I want to experience it now. Is it possible with the strength of Shimae of Yibei City?"

It was a provocative question.

Jeongyeonshin did not answer. He had to draw his sword again. This time, he gripped the handle of the Yibei Sword.

Before a major battle, he always did this. Although the Beiming Sword was a famous sword, it was not as familiar to him as the Yibei Sword.

"..."

The clash between Yibei and Nangong. The weight of a life-or-death battle between major sects seemed to loom larger due to Nangong Mi's death.

The crowd surrounding the Qingya Valley was still silent. Occasionally, the wind in the valley blew fiercely.

The aura between the two became denser.

The young master's smile faded.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

There was no referee. It was a world of experts.

Swish.

The two simultaneously drew their swords.

The dry wind teased their hair once and passed. Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt it.

'He has widened the sword's range.'

It was a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against the skin. It happened the moment the young master drew his exquisite sword.

It was an extremely sharp momentum. It was as if an invisible forest of swords had risen, sending shivers down his spine.

It was hard to believe they had toured the martial world together for a short time. He was not the family's predestined master.

A swordsman who had honed his skills to the peak. Now, he was an opponent far beyond his match.

The two stood ten steps apart.

"About your younger sister, Ami."

The young master spoke.

"I won't say much. The unworthy child met a rather splendid end as a martial artist... That's enough."

"..."

"You and I... one or both of us might die. This is a place where our lives hang in the balance. I don't see this as a conflict between Nangong and Yibei. It's a life-or-death battle. If I were to die, I don't want to close my eyes like a chess piece."

Soon.

A good-looking man with a kind face smiled heartily.

"I've lived a comfortable life under the shadow of Nangong. It might sound like a complaint, but it was a shackle."

"Indeed, it was."

Jeongyeonshin's short response deepened his smile.

"Even so, I once wanted to break free. They say one can feel freedom in the gap between life and death, but I still wonder if it's true. I want to experience it now. Is it possible with the strength of Shimae of Yibei City?"

It was a provocative question.

Jeongyeonshin did not answer. He had to draw his sword again. This time, he gripped the handle of the Yibei Sword.

Before a major battle, he always did this. Although the Beiming Sword was a famous sword, it was not as familiar to him as the Yibei Sword.

"..."

The clash between Yibei and Nangong. The weight of a life-or-death battle between major sects seemed to loom larger due to Nangong Mi's death.

The crowd surrounding the Qingya Valley was still silent. Occasionally, the wind in the valley blew fiercely.

The aura between the two became denser.

The young master's smile faded.

"Let's begin."

"Yes."

There was no referee. It was a world of experts.

Swish.

The two simultaneously drew their swords.

The dry wind teased their hair once and passed. Jeongyeonshin suddenly felt it.

'He has widened the sword's range.'

It was a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against the skin. It happened the moment the young master drew his exquisite sword.

It was an extremely sharp momentum. It was as if an invisible forest of swords had risen, sending shivers down his spine.

It was hard to believe they had toured the martial world together for a short time. He was not the family's predestined master.

A swordsman who