Chapter 23 – The Namgung Clan (1)

The sudden appearance of the reanimated corpses during the Mount Hua Blood Incident was completely covered up.

All people knew was that countless martial artists had fought over a non-existent martial manual, only to lose their lives in vain.

The moment Yu-jin killed Tak Un-jin, the Martial Alliance dispatched its combat and exorcism units, joining forces with the Moon Empress to eradicate all the reanimated corpses.

Afterward, the Martial Alliance officially closed the case by announcing that while the Sword God’s tomb was on Mount Hua, there was no such thing as a martial manual.

***

“Well then, we shall be on our way.”

Namgung Hwi nodded at Mo Yong-jin’s words. Mo Yong-jin wasn’t the only one leaving.

The siblings Dang Geon-woo and Dang Ga-hee departed for Sichuan with their clan’s warriors, while Paeng Won-jun and Je-gal Min also left for Hebei.

They all left for a single reason. They had keenly felt their own inadequacies this time.

“You’ve learned something.”

“Yes. People called us the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes and thought we were remarkable, but in the end, that was just talk among our peers. I realized it means nothing before true masters.”

Namgung Hwi nodded at Mo Yong-jin’s words and patted his shoulder.

Mo Yong-jin bowed his head and headed north with his clan’s warriors. Jin Won-ho of Shaolin and Yong Cheon-hwi of Wudang also returned to their respective sects, leaving only Kang Yong-hoon behind.

“I wonder how this will turn out.”

Kang Yong-hoon had challenged Yu-jin to a duel, and Yu-jin, after a moment of observation, had nodded and accepted.

Neither man showed any hostility toward the other, but sensing the tense atmosphere, Namgung Hwi could only hope no one would get hurt. Of course, he didn’t realize his worries were unfounded.

***

Seeing Kang Yu-jin standing there with a relaxed smile, Kang Yong-hoon gripped his sword tightly. He was tense just looking at him, yet Yu-jin was so composed. The difference in their mindsets weighed heavily on Kang Yong-hoon.

“I wanted to spar with you again, brother, before I leave.”

At Kang Yong-hoon’s words, Yu-jin gave a slight nod and looked at him. It was obvious he was contemplating something.

Of course, Yu-jin wasn’t the kind of nice brother who would kindly counsel his younger sibling on his worries.

“Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter. Draw your sword.”

At Yu-jin’s command, Kang Yong-hoon slowly drew his sword, and Yu-jin did the same. Kang Yong-hoon’s face contorted as he spoke, pointing to the other sword that had been hanging at Yu-jin’s waist for some time now.

“Are you not going to draw that sword?”

Yu-jin let out an involuntary smirk. He had made a vow when he first entered the martial world. If he ever drew the Ink Dragon Sword, he would never let the person who forced his hand live.

Not that it mattered; he had never felt the need to use the Ink Dragon Sword until now. Drawing it to kill the living corpse had been a mere whim.

“If I draw this sword, you will die. I have no desire to kill my own brother with my own hands.”

One might have expected Kang Yong-hoon to be enraged by Yu-jin’s arrogant words, but sensing the killing intent within them, he simply nodded. He then charged at Yu-jin, swinging his sword.

The only way to defeat someone stronger was to catch them off guard and startle them.

*Swoosh!*

Drawn without any warning, Kang Yong-hoon’s sword traced a white arc reminiscent of a flash of light, slicing through Yu-jin’s body.

But Kang Yong-hoon felt no sensation of cutting anything. His surprise attack had been nullified.

Yu-jin, who had appeared to be split in two by Kang Yong-hoon’s sword qi, reappeared a few steps away, completely unscathed.

“Your thinking has become quite flexible. A surprise attack… I was slightly taken aback.”

“But it still couldn’t touch you, brother.”

As Kang Yong-hoon spoke, Yu-jin smiled again. Then, he slowly began to build his momentum. As he did, Kang Yong-hoon’s complexion grew paler and paler. An immense pressure began to slowly constrict and crush him.

‘Such powerful Intangible Sword Qi…’

Intangible Sword Qi was a formless sword energy that only martial artists at the peak realm or higher could wield.

It wasn’t a technique that just anyone could use, though Kang Yong-hoon himself was capable of it. However, he couldn’t manifest Intangible Sword Qi powerful enough to restrain an opponent’s body like this.

“But I cannot lose like this!”

*Kwoooar!*

Unleashing all of his internal energy to break free from Yu-jin’s restraint, Kang Yong-hoon charged again at incredible speed, bringing his sword down in a wide arc.

He used no particular form, but the power contained in the sword far surpassed that of an ordinary peak master.

“But even a powerful attack is meaningless if it can’t hit its target.”

When had it happened? When had Yu-jin’s hand touched Kang Yong-hoon’s chest?

Kang Yong-hoon hadn’t even perceived Yu-jin’s hand moving, but it was already on his chest. And in the instant he realized it, *BAM!*

With a loud crash, Kang Yong-hoon was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.

“Ugh!”

The impact felt as if his insides had been twisted, and Kang Yong-hoon vomited a large amount of blood.

‘As I thought…’

He had expected to lose, but he never imagined he would be defeated in a single move. This, however, solidified Kang Yong-hoon’s conviction. He had to master the martial art that had been given to him as if by fate. Otherwise, he would never be able to surpass Yu-jin.

“I see potential for growth. Continue to strive.”

With those words, Yu-jin began to walk away. He let out a sigh and muttered to himself.

“Brothers… they’re no help at all, yet they constantly challenge their older siblings.”

“Still, you handled him well, didn’t you? Children in his state can gain great enlightenment from just a single exchange. Well, not that I think he could surpass you even with that enlightenment.”

Already aware of who was there, Yu-jin answered without being startled by the sudden voice.

“That is true.”

Even if he gained enlightenment, the gap between him and Yong-hoon was already too vast to be easily closed. Not unless Kang Yong-hoon stumbled upon some great fortune.

For him to reach Yu-jin’s level through ordinary effort would require at least thirty to forty years of investment.

At Yu-jin’s reply, the Moon Empress, Na Ye-jin, slowly revealed herself. Yu-jin suddenly approached her, embraced her, and kissed her. Na Ye-jin blushed at his sudden kiss but did not resist.

“Shall we not share our love joyfully here, where no one is around?”

Blushing even more deeply, Na Ye-jin replied in a small voice.

“I shall.”

Her body, which had first known a man in her forties, was already burning with heat.

At Na Ye-jin’s answer, Yu-jin unhesitatingly unfastened the buttons of her top.

Then, her ivory skin was revealed, the graceful curve of her long neck flowing down to her shoulders, her fully ripened, ample breasts, and their rosy peaks.

Seeing Na Ye-jin’s body, which stirred his desires, Yu-jin boldly cupped her breast and began to lick it. Na Ye-jin gently embraced Yu-jin as he ravenously explored her body.

“Your body is truly the best, Ye-jin.”

After saying that, Yu-jin slid his other hand between her legs. In an instant, his hand reached her secret place.

“Hnngh!”

Yu-jin’s left hand fiddled with and caressed Na Ye-jin’s sensitive spot, while his right hand kneaded her breast. Attacked from both sides at once, Na Ye-jin’s body could only tremble.

After caressing her for a while, Yu-jin pulled off her lower garments as well. Now, the only thing she wore was a small pair of underpants covering her mysterious region.

‘She possesses two kinds of magic at once.’

Who would have guessed that a woman with such an innocent and intelligent face would hide such a provocative and sensual body?

Yu-jin removed her underpants as well, leaving Na Ye-jin completely naked. Even though no one was watching, being completely nude in the middle of the mountains was more than enough to shake Na Ye-jin’s composure.

“I was truly fortunate to have made you my woman.”

Yu-jin stared at Ye-jin’s secret place and muttered unconsciously. A lush forest of brown hair covered the plump mound, and beneath it, crimson petals were slightly parted.

Within that shaded flesh, her enchanting, hidden palace exuded a musky scent, beckoning him. Yu-jin could feel his member hardening. He had no patience left.

“First…”

Staring intently at Na Ye-jin’s petals, Yu-jin lifted one of her slender legs high. Her petals parted further, exposing her secret place even more.

Yu-jin lowered his head and greedily indulged in the vista before him. He parted her forest with his fingers, reveling in the coarse texture.

“Now, I’m really coming in.”

Yu-jin’s member was already fully aroused, and his body had grown hot. He lowered his trousers and took out his hardened shaft. Then, he charged toward Na Ye-jin’s already thoroughly wet petals.

*Squelch!*

“Haaaahng!”

Yu-jin’s massive member easily slid deep inside her. He thrust his essence as far as it would go, burying it deep within Ye-jin’s body.

‘I’m a really lucky bastard. Collecting such masterpieces like this.’

Yu-jin thought, feeling the suction and pressure on his member.

The other women were one thing, but obtaining Eun Seol-rin and Na Ye-jin was something he considered the best thing he had ever done.

“Haaahng! Haaaahng!”

Na Ye-jin’s body, already burning hot, responded quickly. Her waist arched like a bow, and her whole body shivered at the heat filling her from within. Even so, her body moved in rhythm with Yu-jin’s movements.

Overcome by waves of pleasure, she clung tightly to Yu-jin. She had already lost her reason. Yu-jin lowered his head and pushed his tongue into Na Ye-jin’s wide-open, moaning mouth.

“Uhmph… Mmmph…”

Na Ye-jin couldn’t control her own body. The pleasure she was feeling for the first time in her forties was intense enough to shake her spirit, which had been tempered to steel by reaching the Transformation Realm.

Even so, she could feel herself becoming even more bound to Yu-jin’s body.

‘It doesn’t matter! None of that matters anymore!’

Her body, now a slave to pleasure, craved even deeper sensations, and succumbing to it, Na Ye-jin finally cried out.

“Yu-jin! I will follow only you! You are my only man!”

“I know that well without you having to say it, Ye-jin.”

Yu-jin pulled his member from Na Ye-jin’s petals and had her get on all fours.

The position Yu-jin put her in was incredibly provocative. Like a dog, her head was forward, supporting her body with her arms and legs, her thighs spread wide. It was the posture of a bitch in heat, ready to mate.

Was it because he had heard Na Ye-jin’s confession again? Yu-jin’s instincts sought even more intense desire, resulting in a position that might have been somewhat shameful for Na Ye-jin.

“This position is…”

Before Na Ye-jin could say anything more, Yu-jin plunged his member into her petals, which were already wet and slightly parted from his previous assault.

“Shameful… Hahng!”

Yu-jin’s glistening tool began to move in and out of her petals. As the two made love intensely once more, they reached their climax at the same time.

“Hyaaaahng!”

“Keuk!”

Ye-jin powerfully sprayed a clear fluid. And inside her body, Yu-jin released a milky white fluid.