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Chapter 76: The Family Recognized by the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain
September.
Bobong County.
Five Peaks Mountain.
A group of over eighty people was making their way into Five Peaks Mountain.
They were merchants from the Sangjo Chamber of Commerce, returning to Luoyang after concluding a business deal in Nanjing.
Namgung Jin, the leader of the Blue Sky Division, spoke to Son Hak, the head of the caravan.
“Chief, as I mentioned, the Sogaju* and I will climb the mountain to meet with the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain. You go ahead with the caravan. We will join you for dinner.” (*Sogaju = Young Master of the Family)
“Do that. We will move slowly, so don’t exert yourselves too much.”
Son Hak, grateful for the savings the Namgung Family had secured for them, had no objections.
In reality, challenging Five Peaks Mountain was also to the benefit of the caravan. If the Namgung Family defeated the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain, they wouldn’t have to pay tolls in the future.
After walking the mountain path for about an hour...
Bandits, who were crouched in the dark forest like tigers, suddenly appeared.
Son Hak calmly took out a pouch containing twenty taels of silver.
Hwang Yomyeong, the thief known as the Poisonous Wanderer, accepted the money bag and glanced at Namgung Jin.
“Are members of the Namgung Family going to climb the mountain?”
Namgung Jin nodded.
“That’s right. The Sogaju Blue Cloud Sword and I will go.”
“Follow me.”
Hwang Yomyeong said no more and immediately turned around.
To him, the experts of the Namgung Family were like messengers of death, so he avoided getting involved with them as much as possible.
Upon crossing the huge wooden gate on the narrow path, a different world unfolded before them.
Large buildings and impeccably built houses.
And in the wide front yard, a dozen children were playing.
Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon were pleasantly surprised by the unexpected scene.
It seemed more like a village inhabited by nobles than a bandit camp of Nokrim.
“Wait here. I’ll go inform the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain.”
Hwang Yomyeong said this briefly and hurried away.
The other bandits also dispersed one by one.
Despite having the experts of the Namgung Family in front of them, they showed no signs of alertness.
Namgung Jin let out a thoughtful sound.
“Hmm... Perhaps the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain are more impressive than we thought.”
“I think so too. Creating such a village in the mountain... It’s really astonishing.”
“Why are they not known in the Murim?”
“I guess it’s because they are hidden here in Five Peaks Mountain.”
“Usually, the greater the martial arts skills, the more the ambition for fame appears. This is really strange.”
While the two speculated about the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain, an old man approached them.
It was Sim Yanggak, the Immortal Sword Demon.
Sim Yanggak recognized Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon.
“Are you from the Namgung Family?”
Namgung Jin, seeing the old man who looked like a servant, responded.
“Yes. Where are the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain?”
“Hehe, they will be here soon. Young Master Yeon is at the top of the mountain, so you will have to wait a bit.”
“Hum! We don’t have much time...”
Namgung Jin did not hide his discomfort.
“Still, you are from the Namgung Family, so you receive special treatment. Anyone else wouldn’t even have had the chance to see the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain.”
“Are you saying that one must be from the Seven Great Sects to receive special treatment?”
“Hehe, not even the Seven Great Sects receive this treatment. Only the Namgung Family has this privilege.”
Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon frowned.
They couldn’t discern if the old man was serious or joking.
After thinking for a moment, Namgung Jin laughed coldly.
“Hmph! Are you mocking us because the main house in Hefei fell?”
“Oh, no! Not at all. In the whole world, the only family recognized by the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain is the Namgung Family. Never say such a thing in front of them.”
When the old man got serious, Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon felt even more confused.
While the two were wondering what was going on...
“They are coming. They will soon come around that corner. I wish you a good time.”
At that moment, the eyes of Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon brightened.
Although they hadn’t heard anything, the old man spoke as if he had heard something.
Shortly after, the two felt a presence.
Suddenly, they thought the old man might be a martial arts expert with supernatural hearing.
Namgung Jin shuddered.
He quickly looked at Namgung Cheon, who also had a surprised expression.
Although they regretted climbing Five Peaks Mountain unprepared, there was no turning back now.
They had forgotten how vast the world was!
While Namgung Jin reproached himself, three men approached.
They were Ma Hyeongdo, Heo Imdal, and Yeon Jeokha, who were temporarily in charge of the camp.
Ma Hyeongdo, as the oldest, greeted first.
“I am Ma Hyeongdo, the third of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain. This is the fourth, Heo Imdal, and this is the seventh, Yeon Jeokha.”
Ma Hyeongdo introduced his companions and then looked at the Namgung Family members with a significant gaze.
The Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain had only recently discovered that Yeon Jeokha had sympathy for the Namgung Family. They had heard that they would someday visit the camp, and since then, Yeon Jeokha had been smiling all day. They didn’t know the details but thought it must be a good relationship.
Although Han Chaeyeon and Ha Sobaek asked him several times, he only smiled without answering.
The warmth of his smile made them think it must be a good relationship.
So when they met the Namgung Family members, they couldn’t help but be interested.
Namgung Jin responded quickly.
“I am Namgung Jin, leader of the Blue Sky Division of the Namgung Family, and this is Young Master Namgung Cheon, the Blue Cloud Sword.”
Seeing that the others were older, Namgung Jin couldn’t help but speak respectfully.
Normally, he would have addressed them less formally, considering they were bandits.
“Ah! I see, I see. A few months ago, we heard from your followers that you wanted to test the skills of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain.”
“Ah, yes...”
Namgung Jin responded weakly.
He couldn’t stop looking at the old man behind the Ten Heroes, whose face showed an expression difficult to interpret, kind but mocking at the same time.
“Although we are called the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain, it is an undeserved title. We became known thanks to our younger brother. Consider our brother Yeon as our representative. You can now speak with him.”
Ma Hyeongdo discreetly stepped back.
Namgung Jin finally turned his attention to the young man named “Yeon.” Although he had heard the name before, he had focused so much on the old man and Ma Hyeongdo that he only remembered the reference to “Yeon.”
If the young man had been the youngest among the ten, he would have remembered. But with only three people present and his distracted attention, he had overlooked his name.
For his part, Yeon Jeokha felt embarrassed facing the Namgung Family members.
Shim Yanggak, who was watching, intervened as if frustrated.
“Young Master, since we have these distinguished guests, why don’t you show them one of your skills?”
“Why do you always have to speak, old man? What do you mean by showing a skill? The more mature the rice spike, the lower it bends. A man close to death acts like an impetuous child. Tch!”
Embarrassed, Yeon Jeokha directed his frustration towards Shim Yanggak.
“Hehe, impetuousness is a sign of good health. Come on, why don’t you show them your long-distance manipulation skill?”
Yeon Jeokha, who didn’t want to duel with the Namgung Family members, suddenly became animated.
“Long-distance manipulation?”
With those words, Yeon Jeokha extended his hand.
With a clear sound, the dagger hanging at Shim Yanggak’s waist was drawn towards Yeon Jeokha’s hand.
“Oh!”
Namgung Jin’s jaw dropped.
Long-distance manipulation is such an advanced technique that even the best masters find it impossible. That a young man could execute it so easily was incredible.
Namgung Cheon was also stunned by the demonstration of the technique.
Even his father, known as the Sword Emperor, couldn’t perform it so naturally.
But that Yeon, the bandit, had done it as easily as taking something out of his pocket.
While Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon tensed up, Yeon Jeokha quickly threw the dagger back.
With a snap, the dagger returned to its place in the blink of an eye.
That simple action left Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon stupefied.
The distance between the old man and Yeon was about three meters.
In that distance, Yeon had drawn the dagger with long-distance manipulation and returned it in an instant.
It was a high-level sword technique that they couldn’t even imagine replicating.
Yeon Jeokha, still unsatisfied with his skill, continued to look around.
But Namgung Jin had already decided not to duel after seeing the long-distance manipulation technique.
Namgung Jin spoke quickly.
“The skill of the Young Hero Yeon has already been confirmed. I see no need for a duel. I recognize that I am no match for the Young Hero Yeon. What do you think, young master?”
“I... want a duel.”
Namgung Cheon wanted to measure the difference between his skills and his.
Namgung Jin understood Namgung Cheon’s desire and did not dissuade him.
“Young master, don’t exert yourself too much.”
“Yes. Young Hero Yeon, would you allow me a duel?”
Namgung Cheon acknowledged his inferiority and respectfully requested a duel. Since his opponent was such a formidable master, he no longer thought in terms of a bandit.
“Okay.”
Yeon Jeokha, sighing slightly, moved to the center of the yard.
When Namgung Cheon took his position, Yeon Jeokha spoke.
“I don’t have much experience in duels, so if I can’t control my strength, please understand.”
“Don’t worry. Anyone traveling through the Murim must be prepared for that.”
Although Namgung Cheon said that, drops of sweat appeared on his forehead.
If a master of that level didn’t control his strength, even a touch could cause serious injuries.
For a moment, he regretted his recklessness.
Yeon Jeokha drew his sword.
It was his first duel since he had switched from dagger to sword.
Yeon Jeokha, worried about injuring his opponent, was very tense.
Shim Yanggak, seeing this, smiled and spoke.
“Hehe, young master, you look like a dog needing to go to the bathroom. Do you want to go first and then come back?”
“Old Shim, please be quiet! I am a man who lives only on dew.”
However, the conversation with Shim Yanggak relaxed Yeon Jeokha’s tense shoulders a bit.
A bitter smile appeared on Namgung Cheon’s face.
That they could chat like this in front of the Young Master of the Namgung Family was a complicated feeling.
But what could he do? That was the reality.
With a sigh, Namgung Cheon was the first to move his sword.
That was what was expected when facing a master.
Namgung Cheon’s swords attacked Yeon Jeokha like butterflies in unpredictable directions.
Yeon Jeokha calmly deflected the attacks or let them pass to the sides.
Their swords, without killing intent, looked like a complex, well-choreographed dance.
As the duel progressed, Namgung Cheon’s tense face became calmer.
Although young, his opponent had already transcended the limits of martial arts.
It was as if he was striking the sea or a mountain with his sword.
Feelings of amazement, shame, and discomfort invaded him before disappearing.
Namgung Cheon had left his prejudices behind and was giving his all.
At some point, his Blue Cloud Sword technique mixed with the Sword Emperor’s technique.
Oscillating between techniques and no techniques, Namgung Cheon entered a state of trance.
How long did it last?
With a clear sound, Namgung Cheon woke from his trance.
His sword had been deflected towards the sky.
The sudden feeling of fatigue made his arms and legs feel heavy.
As he stood there, dazed, Yeon Jeokha repeatedly bowed in apology.
“I’m very sorry. I lost control for a moment. It was not my intention.”
Not fully understanding, Namgung Cheon just blinked.
Namgung Jin hurriedly approached.
“Young master, don’t move.”
“Why...?”
Before he could finish speaking, Namgung Cheon collapsed.
Bleeding, Namgung Cheon fainted in Namgung Jin’s arms.