Chapter 68: Accusation (2)
There’s a reason why martial artists were obsessed with famous swords.
It’s not simply because they’re stylish, or because they seek fame by wielding them. If that were the case, there wouldn’t be any reason to fight to the death over a famous sword.
A famous sword can save a swordsman’s life.
If a sword imbued with internal strength simply clashed with an ordinary sword, its edges would chip and fracture.
If it were to face sword energy, an average sword would easily snap. Just as Sohwa’s sword shattered into pieces.
However, when you wielded that famed cold iron sword, the story changed. A sword forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron could even block sword energy.
That’s why martial artists desired famous swords.
So, what about a sword made from meteoric iron?
Meteorite, a sword forged from star iron, how powerful would it be?
According to those who have witnessed it, it could even block the sword energy produced by martial artists of the Supreme Peak level, Sword Aura.
「Seventh form. One Stroke Splits the Moon!」
With the shout of the Immortal Divine Sword, Yi-gang’s movements accelerated.
Under normal circumstances, in the short time he was wielding the sword, Yi-gang wouldn’t have had the chance to hear the advice of the Immortal Divine Sword.
However, time seemed to stretch endlessly, and the words of the Immortal Divine Sword, now in spirit form, resonated directly in Yi-gang’s mind.
「Facing head-on will lead to certain defeat. You lack both strength and internal energy, so you must deflect the power. Step with precise orientation.」
Yi-gang took a step forward, grounding his weight to the floor, swinging his sword, hilt and all.
His waist bent fluidly. While Yi-gang could not use his inner energy, the techniques of the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique were ingrained in him.
The Immortal Divine Sword’s praise of him being a genius was not empty words.
However, the approaching sword of Baek Jin-tae was still fierce. A fiery glow settled on its blade.
Baek Jin-tae was also a swordsman who had reached the Supreme Peak. His sword energy was condensing, forming into Sword Aura.
The elders, with faces of utter shock, unsheathed their swords and charged forward.
But before they could reach him, Baek Jin-tae seemed poised to cut through Yi-gang entirely.
The moment the two swords clashed.
Ka-gak—
The sound of Sword Aura digging into the wooden scabbard rang out first.
The blade of the Shooting Star Fang made contact with Baek Jin-tae’s sword.
Kwa-aang!
With a sound like an explosive clash, sparks flew everywhere.
The wooden scabbard, unable to withstand the vibrations, shattered into pieces. Splinters dug into Yi-gang’s face, tearing his cheek, but he never closed his eyes throughout.
The revealed sword body of the Shooting Star Fang shone brightly. Its sleek black sheen was dazzling.
Despite blocking the Sword Aura, the sword didn’t have a single scratch on it.
「Impressive—!」
A chilling silence enveloped the hall.
Everyone couldn’t believe the current situation.
It was clear, Yi-gang, who couldn’t even use his inner energy, had blocked Baek Jin-tae’s Sword Aura.
The charging elders and Baek Jin-tae, who had drawn his sword, both stopped dead in their tracks.
The overwhelming move, “One Stroke Splits the Moon,” had severed the Sword Aura.
“That, that sword is…!”
Someone seemed to recognize the sword Yi-gang was holding.
And at that moment, Soryu, who was by his side, lunged at Baek Jin-tae.
“Cough—!”
Baek Jin-tae’s eyes bulged. The tip of a short sword was embedded in his side. It was Soryu who had stabbed him.
In that brief moment, he managed to grasp her wrist, but the tip of the sword had penetrated his skin.
The burning pain, it surely had poison on it. That’s how she was trained.
“You killed my sister…”
Rage was evident in Soryu’s eyes. If anyone harbored resentment towards Baek Jin-tae, it was undoubtedly her.
Caught off-guard for a split second, Baek Jin-tae’s face turned livid.
“You wretch!”
Just as Baek Jin-tae was pushing Soryu away and was about to slash at her throat, Yi-gang stepped in.
Yi-gang’s sword swiftly ascended, vibrating, scattering afterimages. It was the eighth form of the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique, Heaven’s Net White Light.
Baek Jin-tae, with a drastically changed expression, clashed his sword against Yi-gang’s. In that moment, Soryu was able to dodge out of the way.
Clang clang clang—
The sounds of consecutive collisions resonated in a split second.
However, the outcome of this clash was clear. Yi-gang’s sword was greatly repelled.
Although it was a swift technique like a net of light covering the sky, he had only mastered its form and not its essence.
The fact that Yi-gang managed to block the initial clash was indeed fortunate. It was possible because Baek Jin-tae was unaware that Yi-gang’s sword was the meteorite sword.
However, Baek Jin-tae had completely missed his opportunity to kill Yi-gang.
“Catch that brat!”
“That crazy bastard—!”
The charging elders rescued Yi-gang. Yi-gang, led by the elders’ grip, withdrew himself backward.
Baek Jin-tae’s sword merely sliced through empty air.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Once again, the gleam of a sword flashed, and Baek Jin-tae roared. It was a raw rage that he hadn’t displayed since his mind had broken.
“Now that it’s come to this, let’s all die together!”
The light from Baek Jin-tae’s sword surged even more.
It was clear he was no longer thinking of fleeing and was intent on using all of his internal energy.
The atmosphere in the hall grew more intense.
However, not a single person retreated.
“This madman. He can’t even discern heaven from earth,” commented Baek Do-yeom, who stepped forward first.
Baek Seo-ok also channeled Sword Aura into her slender, long sword. These two elders were also absolute martial masters who had broken through the wall of Supreme Peak long ago.
The other elders also released their fierce sword energy.
Baek Jin-tae gritted his teeth. The unpleasant sound of his molars grinding resonated.
“Yi-gang—!” he shouted, spitting as he called out Yi-gang’s name.
Yi-gang stood amidst the elders, silently locking eyes with Baek Jin-tae.
“You damned son of a dog! All because of you!”
It was a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
However, instead of getting angry in response, Yi-gang mocked him, “Laugh a little. As you usually do.”
“What, what did you say?!”
Baek Jin-tae became agitated, and the elders lunged at him.
Zing- Zzzing—
The sound when Sword Aura clashed sounded like thunder. It seemed as if a storm was raging within the Council of Elders.
When martial artists beyond Peak fought in a confined space, the scene couldn’t get any messier.
They didn’t just fight on a flat surface. Some leaped into the air, while others slid along the ground as if clinging to it.
Still, Baek Jin-tae managed to hold his ground even against such a combined assault.
He certainly concealed his true martial prowess, and it seemed the effect of the drug he had consumed earlier played a role too. Even when injured, his wounds healed in a flash.
「Tsk, tsk. He’s getting desperate.」
But as evaluated by the Immortal Divine Sword, it was nothing more than a desperate effort.
Under the furious combined attack of the elders, Baek Jin-tae eventually had no choice but to fall.
In the end, when he tried to escape using light footwork techniques, Baek Do-yeom threw his sword, striking him. An elder each held onto his arms and legs, pinning him down.
With his face planted on the ground, Baek Jin-tae spat in anger.
“Let go of me, you bastards! Release me!”
Foaming at the mouth and shedding tears mixed with blood, the sight of Baek Jin-tae was gruesomely pathetic. The grip of the elders was as firm as iron chains, binding him tightly.
Standing beside Yi-gang, who was watching the scene, someone approached.
“Yi-gang.”
“…Father.”
It was Baek Ryu-san.
He, with a pale face, grasped Yi-gang’s shoulder.
Suddenly, Yi-gang felt a heavy weight in his chest. After all, Baek Jin-tae was his father’s younger blood brother. When Yi-gang had informed his father about his uncle’s betrayal, he had been deeply shocked.
In the end, he did follow Yi-gang’s wishes, but seeing his own brother subdued like this must not have been pleasant.
“Stay still for a moment.”
However, Baek Ryu-san silently grasped Yi-gang’s face.
He then removed the wood splinters embedded in his neck and face.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No… I’m alright.”
“That’s good then.”
Yi-gang suddenly realized.
From the look in his father’s eyes, staring directly into the face of his son and not his brother, he had made a choice.
「Didn’t I tell you before? Being a father…」
The Immortal Divine Sword began to mumble something but closed its mouth without finishing the sentence.
“Lend me your shoulder.”
“Yes.”
Yi-gang supported his father.
Though still not fully recovered, Baek Ryu-san, stumbling slightly, began to walk with difficulty.
He was heading towards the fallen Baek Jin-tae.
Upon seeing Baek Ryu-san standing before him, Baek Jin-tae ceased his struggling.
“Red Dragon Corps Commander… No, Jin-tae.”
Baek Jin-tae clenched his lips tight and then spat out saliva.
The blood-mixed spit landed only on Baek Ryu-san’s shoe.
“Why did you do this?”
“Shut up! You heartless bastard.”
It seemed contradictory for someone who was just trying to kill his own nephew a moment ago to say such things.
One of the elders pressed a point on Baek Jin-tae’s neck, rendering him unable to resist any further.
“…Fine, I can ask you about the reasons later,” Baek Ryu-san said with a cold expression.
That demeanor seemed to have provoked something within Baek Jin-tae.
“You’ve always been like this. Because of you…!”
Baek Jin-tae could not continue. Baek Ryu-san had moved his finger to jab Baek Jin-tae’s shoulder.
The Jianjing point - when this acupuncture point was pressed, it silenced the person. With this action, Baek Ryu-san took away even Baek Jin-tae’s voice.
“Cough, cough.”
After a harsh cough, Baek Ryu-san turned to the gathered officials.
“From this moment, all powers of the Red Dragon Corps Commander are revoked. This is an order from the Clan Head.”
The elders who were holding down Baek Jin-tae all stood up and bowed.
Even in his sickened state, Baek Ryu-san maintained the dignity of a Clan Head.
“Former Red Dragon Corps Commander, Baek Jin-tae, has sold our clan’s information to the unorthodox faction. The first charge is conspiracy.”
He spoke with the solemnity as if he were a judge.
“He also attempted to kill my two sons. That’s the second charge. Break Baek Jin-tae’s dantian and nullify his martial arts. Seal his Qihai point.”
Although it was expected, the decision was more resolute and swift than anticipated.
“Law Enforcement Chief, interrogate the criminal Baek Jin-tae. The remaining verdict will be made afterward. Cough.”
“We will follow your orders, Clan Head.”
Law Enforcement Chief, who had been standing behind the general, stepped forward and seized Baek Jin-tae. With his acupuncture points sealed, Baek Jin-tae was dragged away like baggage.
He glared at Yi-gang and Baek Ryu-san with tearful eyes, but his appearance was pitiful.
“Whew…”
As the general took over supporting Baek Ryu-san from Yi-gang, the disturbance settled for a moment.
The interior of the Council of Elders was halfway destroyed due to the aftermath of the battle.
However, Yi-gang’s duties were not over yet.
Every elder, even the Grand Elder, was now looking at Yi-gang. They alternately looked at Yi-gang and the sword he held.
“I still can’t believe it.”
“That sword is surely…”
The sword that the elders had believed in their whole lives to be the Immortal Divine Sword’s Shooting Star Fang hung on that wall.
However, Yi-gang held an identical sword, and clearly, one forged from meteoric iron.
“Yi-gang, come here.”
The Grand Elder, standing in front of the fake Shooting Star Fang, called out to Yi-gang. Her voice trembled. It seemed the shock was overwhelming.
Yet, more than what Baek Jin-tae had done, it appeared to be due to the sword Yi-gang was holding.
Holding the Shooting Star Fang, Yi-gang took steady steps towards the Grand Elder.
「Yi-gang…」
The Immortal Divine Sword called out Yi-gang’s name.
It was the first time Yi-gang heard its frail voice.
「I-I am…」
‘Now. Now is the exact opportunity.’
Yi-gang had promised to fulfill the long-held wish of the Immortal Divine Sword.
He was aware of the sorrowful and pitiable tale linked between Grand Elder and him.
Seeing her great-grandson before her, Grand Elder descended from the stage with shaky steps.
“That sword is…”
“The real Shooting Star Fang.”
“Ah…”
A sigh escaped Grand Elder Baek Young-ryeong. She found it hard to breathe properly.
“So… the sword technique you used is…”
“It’s the latter three forms of the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.”
Yi-gang swallowed hard.
He wanted to tell Grand Elder. That right beside him was the dead Immortal Divine Sword, Baek Sung-cheon. And that her grandfather, who had committed sins and fled, was there.
But Yi-gang couldn’t.
“Th-that can’t be… Ah.”
It was because Grand Elder couldn’t finish her sentence and fainted. Yi-gang was barely able to catch her as she collapsed.
“Grand Elder!”
“Good heavens!”
The elders were all taken aback and rose simultaneously.
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